"You're doing it again", she announced in her usual deadpan.
"Hmm?", enquired Armin, blowing his fringe from his eyes.
"Oh please, like you don't know?", Mikasa huffed "You're fiddling with your thumbs, you always do it when you're nervous".
"I-I don't…", the blond teen began,
"Armin, you're the smartest and most perceptive person I've ever met, yet you don't even notice your own worst habits", Mikasa interjected before realising her rudeness. "Sorry I snapped at you, but it's a habit you would do well to end before it becomes associated with you barely thirty seconds into your first day at college", she gave him a slight smile and fixed her deep, gray, Asiatic eyes on him.
"What's up?", enquired Eren, removing his ear buds, heavy-metal music blaring from them.
Mikasa sighed in frustration, "Always the observationist aren't you, Jaeger?", saying this as she flicked her boyfriend behind the ear.
"Hey, cut that out raven", Eren retorted, feigning annoyance while addressing Mikasa by her pet name.
Mikasa looked down "Aren't you forgetting something?", she eyed him cheekily with the slightest of smiles forming on the corners of her lips.
"Oh, yeah", Eren began to lean in for a kiss and suddenly lost his balance, waving his arms around before falling flat on his face.
"Your shoelaces, perhaps?", Mikasa giggled, not a usual sight from her.
"Real Smooth", Armin chuckled, Eren looked taken aback by the sudden sassiness of his usually laid-back childhood friend.
"..."
"Eren Jaeger at a loss for words, what date is it, I need to record this moment?", Armin continued, mockingly reaching for his signature pocket-diary.
"Armin Arlert not knowing something for once, best record that too, no?", Eren responded with a slight glare towards the diminutive blond.
"Calm down boys, we're almost there", Mikasa had returned to her typical stoic state, "We should be approaching the registration desk soon".
Trost City University was exceptionally large, the three freshman had been walking through the campus for twenty minutes now and still hadn't reached their destination. At over a hundred and thirty years old it still remained as one of the country's top Universities and seemed to excel at just about everything from academics to varsity sports.
Historic red brick buildings mingled with modern dormitories and high tech laboratories and student facilities, while the famous architecture of the Reiss Library stood tall and proud to the three's immediate right. Armin's eyes marvelled upon its facade, he had done his research and was well aware that the library possessed every book published in existence either physically or digitally, and now he had access to them.
"Armin, keep up"
"Right, Sorry".
Twenty minutes later the three had met up again following registration. All three had received their keys to their respective rooms along with all sorts of tedious documents assembled together with 'Freshman Year Survival Pack' typed on the front. All three began to converse about their prospective roommates.
Armin took a look at his accommodation document to see who he would be spending the next academic year rooming with; Connie Springer, a Criminal Justice major from the small town of Ragako, which was a mere thirty minutes drive from campus. Marco Bodt was the other roommate, a Political Science major from Trost. Since rooming on campus was mandatory for all undergraduates, Armin didn't bat an eyelid.
Since Eren was on a football scholarship he would likely be rooming with fellow varsity sports stars; Jean Kirchstein, an Engineering major, and like Armin's roommate Marco, also from Trost. The other roommate was Reiner Braun, a Sports Science with Management major and from the city of Marley on the other side of the country. "Long way from home", Eren thought to himself.
Since gender was segregated in student accommodation Mikasa, would be rooming in the girls' dormitory. Taking a quick look at her documents, she let a small smile form on her lips; Mina Carolina, a fellow graduate from Shiganshina High School and somewhat her friend was now her roommate. A small giggle escaped her lips as she noticed Mina's major; Drama and English. Armin and Eren just stared at her both looking puzzled. "Nothing, girl stuff", she replied, bluntly.
"Oh?", Eren mockingly enquired, while raising an eyebrow.
"Mind your own, please, still nosey after all these years?", she sighed her expression as stone-faced as ever.
"Is that not what charmed you in the first place?"
Armin rolled his eyes.
"That, and how easy you are to manipulate", her voice maintained its monotonous tone. She continued to read her documents to find out who her other roommate was; Annie Leonhart, a Finance major and like Eren's roommate coming all the way from Marley. Mikasa thanked her blessings that she was rooming with someone she already knew, the less effort she had to spend making new friends the better, Armin and Eren was all she ever needed.
"I say we take some time to settle in, meet up for dinner later?", announced Eren.
"Sure see you guys then"
And with that all three of them split.
Armin cursed his lack of physical strength while struggling with his luggage, he had always been small and despite a three inch growth spurt over the summer he still only stood at 5'6", still a full inch shorter than a 15 year old Eren Jaeger. Nonetheless he had finally reached his destination and collapsed on a bed he claimed as his own. The last thing he wanted to do was unpack. Armin had hoped for a quick afternoon snooze following the three hour train journey from Shiganshina and the exhausting trek to his dorm room,, trust his luck for the elevator to be broken on the day he moved in.
"WHAT UP ROOMIES", a voice erupted from the dorm apartment's living area.
"Well so much for that", Armin groaned to himself, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and made his way into the living area. The source of the voice came from a shaven-headed boy who had his back turned to Armin. The boy noticed he had company and turned around. "You must be one of the roommates, name's Connie Springer, pleased to meet ya bud", he smiled while extending a hand.
"Armin, Art- sorry Arlert", great start Mr. Mojo he thought to himself while meeting Connie's hand. Armin was met with a bone-crushing grip. "Great to put a face to the name, just want to let ya know whatever questions you have about me or living habits, feel free to fire away", the smile hadn't left his face. At least he's friendly Armin sighed, perhaps meeting new people wouldn't be so daunting after all.
Armin took a moment to take a closer look at Connie, his head was shaved to a buzzcut, athletic, short, but still taller than Armin by about two inches. Armin smiled at the grinning face of Rick Sanchez on Connie's t-shirt with his trademark catchphrase of 'Wubba Lubba Dub Dub'. "I see you've good taste in TV at least", Armin said after breaking the momentary silence. "You know it", Connie returned Armin's smile "Ricky and Morty has to be one of the funniest shows ever made, I'm just hoping it isn't ruined the same way The Simpsons and Family Guy were".
"Excuse me, is this room 407", a deep voice came from the doorway making both boys jump a little. Both turned to see a tallish boy with black hair and a bridge of freckles running across his face from cheek to cheek. "That depends, you got any booze?", Connie replied.
"I...uh-"
"Relax brother, I kid of course, Connie Springer proud representative of Ragako".
He's certainly not lacking in confidence, Armin said to himself in his head.
"Bodt. Marco Bodt", the tall boy responded.
"Wait, High School All-State Quarterback, Marco Bodt"
"The very same"
"You gave a beating to my school last October, lucky for you I was injured for that game", Connie beamed at him.
"I thought your name sounded familiar, no doubt you're also here on a scholarship?"
"You betcha, hope you're mentally preparing yourself for throwing a few interceptions my way come practise".
Marco just smiled "We shall see", finally turning his attention to Armin, "Apologies how rude of me, nice to meet you", extending his hand which Armin greeted. "Armin Arlert, from Shiganshina", at least he didn't embarrass himself this time. He compared the differing handshakes of his roommates, Marco's grip was firm but not overwhelming like Connie's was. "Again, a pleasure, hopefully we all get on like a house on fire". "Shouldn't be hard", called Connie from the other side of the room. Of course you would say that, Armin thought to himself the subtlest of smiles forming on his face.
Eren's hopes of securing dibs on his pick of beds were dashed upon seeing the luggage planted on the the beds in the dormitory apartment. Looks like his bedroom was placed dead centre between those of his fellow roommates. "I hope to God they're not snorers", he muttered to himself.
He dumped his luggage in his room and sank back into the sofa in the living area and took in his surroundings. The dormitory apartment was spacious with enough room for both a small kitchen and a space to chill in the living area. There was a coffee table with an arrangement of info brochures on both Trost City University and the greater urban area of Trost itself. A modern television set sat on a stand in the corner of the room. He had already seen the three bedrooms each equipped with a large bed, a modest wardrobe, a dresser and a desk built into the wall with an overhead study lamp.
He went to take a look at what he presumed was the bathroom but was met with a locked door. Eren slumped back down on the couch when the door to the apartment opened. In stepped a towering, well-built young man with light blond hair and piercing amber eyes. "Hey, you must be Jaeger", the colossal teen spoke with a deep voice that commanded authority yet still had a calming-like quality. "Yeah, sorry, hi", Eren offered his hand and watched in awe as the giant's hand completely engulfed his own. "Reiner Braun, I'm from Marley, in case the accent didn't already give it away".
As both boys withdrew their hands the bathroom door swung open. Out came a tallish, gangly boy with blond-brown hair and a long face that Eren Couldn't help but compare to a horse's. "Eren this is obviously Jean Kirchstein, a hometown boy from this fair city", there was a hint of mockery in Reiner's voice. Jean just glared at Reiner. "About time you showed up I thought I'd only have to share with one roommate", the boy spoke as if he were full of his own importance, Eren thought to himself. "You don't make friends easily, do you Kirchstein", Reiner was sharp in his retort and Eren could tell he didn't suffer people like Jean Kirstein lightly.
After an awkward minute or so of silence Eren finally spoke up "So, you guys on football scholarships too?".
"Sure thing, defensive end"
"Cornerback, and what about you, Jaeger?", Jean continued to glare at Eren,
"Running-back", Eren knew how they would respond.
"Hopefully we don't hit you too hard when training starts", Reiner smirked at him.
"Don't expect us to hold back just 'cause we're roommates", there was a hint of a smile on Jean's face.
"You'll be face down in the dirt before you even lay a finger on me", Eren's trademark confidence was beginning to shine through.
"Self-assured, I like it", Reiner continued to smirk at him. Jean just rolled his eyes.
Mikasa Ackerman had not always been an introvert. In her much younger years she was a lot more bubbly and outgoing. A traumatic kidnapping of both her and her mother resulting in the near-murder of her father by the same kidnappers before her tenth birthday was what changed that. She began to see the world for what it truly was; cruel and unforgiving in which only the strong survive. It was not that she hated people, she still had her mother and father as well as Eren and Armin after all. She was just more aware of the inner evil that all humans possess no matter how kind-hearted they may appear. Everyone had their demons and she was no exception.
She had not been in the room thirty seconds before she was greeted by a call of; "Mikasa!" and she was wrapped in an embrace from behind. Had she not known who the owner of the voice was she would have flipped them over her shoulder. Mikasa turned around and greeted her former high-school classmate. "Hey, Mina as calm and reserved as ever", doing little to avoid the deadpan in her voice.
"Whatcha been up to to all summer, girl", Mina released her grip around her.
"Not much, Armin, Eren and I travelled along the coast for most of it, camping by the ocean on some nights".
"Don't tell me you guys third-wheeled poor little blondie all summer, did you?", Mina let out a small giggle.
"All three of us have been friends since we've been nine, Eren and I being an item doesn't change that and he's not as little as he used to be", Mikasa retorted rather bluntly.
"Oh, I kid of course, funny how not only did we apply to the same college but also became roomies", Mina's excitement still hadn't left her voice. "Did you carry all that up yourself?", she continued gesturing to Mikasa's luggage.
"I'm a big girl, I can handle just fine".
"Thomas insisted that he bring my stuff up for me, I saw no reason to deny him that"
"You two are never too far apart, are you?"
"Nothing wrong with someone showing a little chivalry towards their girlfriend, why didn't Eren do the same?"
"He offered, but I made it perfectly clear to him that I didn't need his help".
Their conversation came to a halt after Mikasa noticed a shape appear at the doorway. A girl of short stature with light blonde hair tied up in a messy bun and piercing pale-blue eyes leaned against the door frame with a rather sullen look on her face, arms crossed. "Oh, you must be Annie, pleased to meet you roomie", Mina began to give the girl a hug.
"What are you doing?", Even Mikasa was taken aback by the newcomer's bluntness.
Mina withdrew her hug and was met with a less than pleased look which looked far more sullen than previously and from Mina's point of view not far off from terrifying.
"I, uh...well-"
"I'm not really the hugging type"
"Well, I guess-"
"What?"
"Nothing I just-"
"Have you ever considered that strangers might not like to be hugged?", Annie furrowed her brow even further.
"..."
"Whatever, didn't think so", she walked by the stunned noirette.
Annie began placing her luggage in one of the bedrooms. "Actually, I thought we could draw straws to decide who got which room", Mina began, having regained her composure. Annie turned her head around while cocking an eyebrow at her. Mikasa gave Mina a discouraging look. Annie continued into her chosen room and slammed the door behind her.
Mina collapsed on the couch and waited until Annie was out of earshot. "Wow", she sighed. "Not used to that and I thought you were harsh".
Mikasa just shrugged "Whatever, as long as she stays quiet and doesn't snore, I'm at peace", noticing the somewhat crestfallen look on her friend's face "It's not like you can be friends with everyone, Mina".
"I know, I'm just a little shocked she would act that way, you would think she was actively avoiding making friends."
"She might just be tired, she did come all the way from Marley after all", Mikasa replied, her attention focused on the view outside the window. Mina took a look at her watch, "Oh, I forgot, I'm meeting Thomas for coffee, we'll chat later", standing up giving Mikasa a hug. Mikasa returned the embrace, she wasn't really the hugging type either but she reckoned it was the least she could do given the circumstances.
Mikasa moved her luggage into her room and quickly began to unpack. Making sure everything was neatly folded and organised by colour, purpose and climate in her wardrobe and dresser, she took a quick glance at her phone. She still had a few hours to kill so decided she would hit the campus gym. Grabbing her gym bag she made her way outside her room. She noticed Annie had taken a seat on the couch and was preoccupied with her phone. Mikasa left with both girls not acknowledging the other. "Bitch", Mikasa said to herself outside the door in a hushed voice. In the apartment Annie let out a satisfied sigh knowing that she would have the place to herself, for the next few hours at least.