Our Hearts Beat For Each Other:

A/N: Wow! I'm pretty glad that a few of you actually liked the story. I'd like to thank everyone for their support. Here's the next chapter, but beware. This one has a few intimate scenes which I simply couldn't help adding. :)

On with the story.

Chapter-2:

Hidden Feelings

Eren kept walking. The rain had stopped now, making things a bit easier for him.

He looked down at Mikasa. He'd always pictured something like this before. He'd always hoped that one day, he'd get to help her, to protect her.

And yet all he felt was guilt.

Jean's words still rang in his ears..

'She's been running after you your whole life, hasn't she?'

And it was true. Every word of it. He'd been so obsessed with getting revenge for his mother, so keen to prove himself, that he had left her in the dust- to clean up after him.

He cursed himself. How could he have been so stupid? He'd always scolded her for treating him like a child. But the truth was that he was already acting like one. Getting into fights whenever he felt like it. Taking risks without bothering about the consequences. And he'd blamed all of it on her.

And the worst part was that she had never said something harsh in return. She had always remained calm and cool, no matter what he said.

That was why Eren had said the blasted thing in the first place. Of course, he had phrased it poorly, but he hadn't meant that he would have just left her there with those two heartless swines to die.

What he had actually wanted to say was that he had wished that the whole situation had never come up in the first place. Because now, Mikasa felt indebted to him, and their relationship with each other would never be the same. She'd always end up following him blindly, not caring about her self.

Eren wanted Mikasa to be with him. But he wanted her to be with him because of who he was, and not because he'd happened to save her that night.

He sighed and stared at her face. She looked so... peaceful when she was unconscious. Usually, she'd always have that sad look on her face, and no one could do anything to cheer her up. But now, she was like a normal person. A person who didn't have to deal with so many problems. A person who could afford to smile.

Mikasa stirred. She didn't open her eyes, but she brought her hands up and placed them behind Eren's neck. Slowly, she started to play with his hair and stroke his skin. Eren felt his neck tingle where her fingers touched him. It was an amazing sensation. And it made Eren feel happy, even at a time like this.

He had never really thought about it before, but Mikasa was... pretty. Beautiful even. Eren watched her, entranced by the way her hair fluttered in the wind.

He shook his head violently. What was happening to him? Why was he feeling so strange all of a sudden? She was his sister. What would she say if she found out that he was thinking about things like this, especially after he had been so mean to her.

But then Mikasa lurched forward. She brought her hands back, gripped the front of Eren's shirt and buried her face into it.

And Eren froze. He could feel her nose and forehead rubbing against his chest. She exhaled into him.

Something inside Eren shattered. He nearly dropped Mikasa.

'What is she doing?'

It was as if something which had stayed dormant inside him had suddenly been unleashed. Thoughts flooded into his mind and it was as if his whole world had turned upside down. Something was clawing at him from the inside, trying it's best to escape, fighting for its freedom.

His heart was beating violently against his chest. So violently, that he was afraid it would wake her up. He was sweating profusely.

Mikasa's features suddenly seemed crystal clear to him. Her ears, her perfect nose, her raised cheek bones.

And her delicate, cherry-red lips. Her lips that beckoned to him, drawing him towards her.

Eren was trembling now.

Mikasa suddenly weighed a ton.

'What is happening to me?'

Jean ran through the woods, unable to find a way out.

He dashed past the gigantic trees, jumping over the small obstacles that got in his way.

He didn't know if he was chasing someone or if he was the one who was being hunted down.

All he knew was that he had to keep running. Running till he'd pushed himself to the limit. Running, so that he could leave his pain behind.

But then he tripped over a gnarled root and landed face-first in the mud. He lay on the ground, panting heavily, gasping for breath.

He gazed ahead and saw someone's boots sinking into the wet mud, a few inches away from him. He looked up and barely restrained himself from screaming.

It was Mikasa. But she was different. Her eyes flashed maliciously. The smile she was giving him was a harsh, evil one.

"Look who's here!" She whispered. "Our little knight in armor!"

Jean tried to get up, but she raised her foot and smashed it into the back of his skull.

Jean choked on the dirt. He didn't know what was worse. The pain in his head, or the agony in his heart.

"I found it amusing..." She purred. "How you tried so hard... so hard to be as good as him."

And then from the corner of his eye, Jean could see Eren leaning against a tree, a wicked grin on his face.

Jean struggled even harder. He couldn't let Eren see him in this pitiable state. But Mikasa was strong, and she stomped down even harder, making Jean grimace in pain.

"Your half- hearted attempts to save me make me laugh." She confessed. "You tried so hard to be better than him, but he was always one step ahead of you."

Jean stayed silent. He knew it was true. Eren had managed to outclass him in everything, no matter how hard he tried.

"But Mikasa! He's your hero isn't he?" Eren exclaimed mockingly. "He saved you before and almost ended up killing himself in the process, didn't he?"

Mikasa giggled, grinding her boot harder on Jean's head. "Him? He's a joke! It would have been much more entertaining if he just died trying. Isn't that right, Jean?"

Jean stared at her. He felt like his heart had shattered into a million pieces.

What had he ever done to deserve something like this? He only wanted her to be happy. He wasn't exactly a saint, but he hadn't really hurt anyone either. Was this really what she thought of him? Was he no more to her than an annoyance, a mosquito which she wanted to swat away?

They both stared at Jean and laughed. Laughed at his helpless form which lay on the floor.

And he hated it. Hated it, hated it, hated it!

Mikasa stepped away from him. She knelt down, cupped a hand to his chin and forced him to look in to her eyes.

"Now, Jean. I'd like to hear it from you."

Jean blinked at her, but didn't respond.

"I want you..." said Mikasa, stressing every syllable, "...to admit that Eren's better than you."

Jean looked into her eyes, her eyes which held absolutely no sympathy for him. Those bottomless pits which were trying to suck him in.

"N..Never" he whispered.

Mikasa shrugged. She walked back to Eren and they held each other in a tight embrace. Eren placed a hand behind her head and another around her waist. He looked at Jean and smirked at his pained expression.

"You're jealous, Aren't you?" He asked Jean.

Jean slowly got up. He balled his hands into fists.

"Stop it." He murmured.

Mikasa turned to him.

"Really? You're going to stop us? You are nothing."

Jean raised his hands towards her.

"No more..." He whispered.

He could feel his blood flowing faster and faster.

"NO MORE!"

And suddenly, the whole world started shaking.

Pieces of the earth collapsed inwards. The trees shook and fell.

And past those trees, Jean could still see them embracing each other as if nothing else mattered in the world. As if he didn't matter.

And then the ground beneath him gave way and he found himself falling... in to the depths of hell.

Jean was safely tucked into his bed.

He lay panting.

'Another dream...'

His face contorted. Dreams sometimes told the truth. And his case, he was sure of it.

Screw the world. Screw them all.

If Jean couldn't face them, he would just have to avoid them.

Forever if he had to.

Eren finally burst into the room. He gently lowered her down to the bed and sat down in a corner, rubbing his hands vigorously, trying to generate some heat.

He was wet. And so was she. But for now, she was safe.

Eren stared at her for a second before realizing something.

"Oh..."

If he left her like this, she'd probably get a bad, bad cold.

Eren sighed. He really wished he'd tried to learn something useful from his mother when he had the chance. He had no idea about the things a person was supposed to do while he was taking care of a... girl.

He felt a bitter taste in his mouth when he realized that things would have been much better if she was taking care of him.

But Eren stopped himself, restraining his rage. He needed to control himself. For her sake. For the sake of the person who was stupid enough to do anything for him without giving it a second thought.

How he wished that Mikasa would have slapped him at least once in his whole miserable life. That would probably have put Eren in his place.

But she probably wouldn't even dream about it.

He stared at her damp hair and had a revelation.

'I need to dry her off.'

Eren stood up, walked away and returned with a towel he'd grabbed from the bathroom.

He sat at the head of her bed. He looked at her and found his heart throbbing.

Why wouldn't it slow down?

He looked away.

Then he cursed himself. He couldn't waste time like this! He needed to be strong.

He brushed her hair away so he could get a clear view of her face.

The stains left on her cheeks by her tears made him flinch.

'I did that to her.'

He tried to wipe them away with a corner of the towel.

And then, things became worse.

Why were her cheeks so soft?

It must definitely be his imagination. He carefully proceeded to poke and prod them, and it felt like he was touching a slab of hot, melting butter.

Yep. He was definitely losing it.

And suddenly, a weird suggestion, a ghost of an idea, rose from the depths of his mind.

How would her cheeks feel against his.

The next moment, he was leaning downwards, towards her.

He paused. Should he really do it? Should he risk it?

But he couldn't stop now, when she was so close.

He brought his face forward, sinking his chin into her shoulder.

He took a deep breath and pressed his cheeks into hers.

It was nearly impossible to describe what he felt next. Tendrils of electricity snaked through him from the point of contact. Whenever she inhaled, her cheeks expanded a bit, and Eren could literally feel it. She was delicate, like a gentle breeze. He felt cold where he was touching her, but the rest of his body was burning. Every little sound she made echoed through his entire body. At that moment, he knew what was going on. They were connected.

Mikasa purred into his ear, as if she was subconsciously enjoying it too. Eren even thought he heard her whisper his name.

But that wasn't possible. It was probably just his imagination.

He pulled away, and took in large gulps of air. He closed his eyes, hoping that the feeling would stay with him for some time before fading away.

He blinked, trying to dispel his wooziness and clapped his face with his hands.

Once again, Eren was in the world of the living. He used the towel and moved it around her face.

He tried his best to ignore the small bumps he felt when the towel went over her nose and her lips.

He brought the towel away and proceeded to admire his work. In his opinion, he'd done a pretty good job.

Now to take care of her hair.

Eren thought for a moment. Then he proceeded to fold the towel in half.

He snuck a hand under the back of her head and gently lifted it, while using his other hand to slide the towel underneath it.

He let her head drop on to the folded towel.

He then lifted both the corners and raised them.

'Alright. Time to start rubbing!'

And suddenly, he felt a powerful grip on his hands. A grip which was so strong, it hurt.

He looked down into the eyes of Mikasa Ackerman, who was now awake.

"Eren.." She whispered, her brows furrowed."...what are you doing?"

Whew! I swear I nearly fainted while writing this. This whole romance thingy is pretty draining. But I think it came out well. Once again, I'd like to thank everyone for the positive feedback.

See you in the next chapter!