Grocery shopping had always brought Mikasa a strange sense of peace, one that no one else seemed to understand. While most found it tedious, a chore to be done and nothing more, Mikasa found something relaxing about combing the aisles one by one, finding what she needed and putting it into her cart. Maybe it was simply that it was one task in her life she didn't really have to analyze.
One thing she knew wouldn't be life altering if she messed up. It was late, there were only a handful of people in the store this late, most glossy eyed after a full day looking right through her, the rest probably people who worked the night shift or had something big happening the next day. She had recently discovered she enjoyed simple things like silence, the ability to blend right into the background every once in a while. She was in the cereal aisle trying to decide between coco puffs and chocolate kellogs when her phone rang. Not her work phone which she had left charging at home, because really no one called her on it at 3 am anyways, but her personal phone, the one only family members and closest of friends were privy to. She didn't have to look to know who was calling, he was after all the only one that knew she would be up at this ridiculous time.
"If you wake up Annie or the baby she is going to track me down and kick my ass and I don't think that's a risk I am willing to take Arlert" she says in form of greeting, pleasantries were not really a requirement when you had known someone the better part of your life. She is of course rewarded with a small chuckle, one she knew almost as well as her own.
"Contrary to popular belief my fiancée is not nearly as dangerous as you make her out to be Ackerman"
The dark haired girl smiles placing the Kellogs back on the shelf and pushing the cart towards the end of the aisle.
"Shouldn't you be sleeping? I would have thought a big name Lawyer like yourself needed all the time out of court to catch up on his beauty sleep. " banter between the two was never too serious, halfhearted and light, the advantages of growing up together.
"At least I am not in not shopping, and don't even try to tell me you aren't. It's Tuesday, and you my friend are nothing if not predictable."
She smiles for the second time, probably that whole day and shrugs knowing he couldn't see.
"What can I say? I don't really like having my picture taken when I try to decide weather or not I want hummus with my pita chips."
"Who eats pita chips without hummus?" the blonde asks, disgust evident in his tone.
"Mind your own business Arlert."
He laughs this time and she joins him, glancing around to make sure no one is watching her.
"So is there any reason you are calling me at this hour or are you just calling to insult my dietary choices?" she asks knowing there was more to the call than just a friend calling to check in.
"Well this is the only time I can call you when I know you aren't busy and will actually pick up, I am getting pretty tired of having Sasha tell me you are shooting and will get back to me." Mikasa bites her lip knowing she had no liable excuse. She had been the one who had told her assistant to keep everyone away for now; she just hadn't felt up to dealing with anyone lately.
"Sorry, I meant to ca..." He cuts her off and she stops knowing he meant business.
"I know you did Mika, I'm not really calling for an apology, just wanted to let you know that Abby is turning one this Saturday and because you have yet to RSVP I want to ensure that her godmother wouldn't be missing her birthday party. It starts at 1 and its carnival themed. God knows why but Annie insisted. Half the neighborhood is invited not to mention we have about a million people flying in. One would think it's a national party instead of a party for a baby who won't remember it. I guess pragmatic isn't in my lovely fiancée's dictionary. Oh by the way Eren is going to be there. Obviously."
The smile had held on her face as he spoke, she was fine until the last statement, already making plans, knowing she would probably have to fly in the day before, probably rent out a hotel nearby which would be complicated considering they New York was always full of paps, but his last words, tacked on almost as an afterthought, purposely omitted until now made her drop the packet of cheese she had been reading moments earlier. Because of course he would be there, he was Armin's daughters godfather and nothing less but his attendance, much like her own, was expected. Yet the simple mention of his name, her or well their former best friend had her coming undone.
Armin was still going on, something about clowns and ponies but she was no longer paying attention, instead saw nothing but the bright green eyes she had been avoiding for the better part of the year. Heard nothing but the half mumbled goodbye he had said the night they knew it was over.
She needed to get out, needed a way out.
"Hey, I um. Need to go. I'll be there promise." Her words are fast, too fast and she knows he knows what is happening but she doesn't know what more to say. "Give the girls a big kiss for me. See you soon" she doesn't wait for his response locking her phone already heading for the exit, her half-full cart left hazardously in the middle of the cheese and deli section.
It took her three tries to get the ignition running and once she finally gets the car on it takes her longer than it should have to remember where the gearshift was. Knowing she was in no condition to drive, at least not for now, instead she sets the car back to park and takes her hands off the wheel.
She knew this day would come sooner or later, one can only run for so long, but she had been hoping for later when it came to Eren Jaeger.
That was the one thing she wasn't sure if she was ready to face.