Eren and Mikasa were thirteen when they got into their first real fight. Armin had witnessed the start, and remembered the blood and tears they produced because of it.

It all started when they were training. It was the first time they were using three- dimensional maneuver gear out in the forest. Of course, Eren wasn't all that great. And of course, Mikasa got a hang of it right on the dot. That angered Eren, to the point where he called her out on some pretty nasty things in front of the whole squad.

Mikasa dropped like a rock, midair. She fell to the ground and looked at him, rage filling her liquid eyes, and she marched right up to him, and asked him to repeat what he said.

He had called her a, 'Good for nothing, just trying to show off to everyone. Showing that she was better than her.' She was furious, exclaiming that it was just because she had practiced, and she wanted to protect him, and that put Eren into more of a fit. After more arguing, Mikasa lost her temper completely, and punched him in the face.

A full-out fight had broken in between them, and soon they were on the ground, throwing their best punches at each other. Keith came over and pulled them of each other and ordered them to go back to the barracks, and into their room, stating that he'd have a word with them later.

Armin escorted Eren, and Sasha with Mikasa.

After Eren and Armin arrived in their room, Eren punched the wall, and screamed, letting the last of his anger out.

Armin jumped and huffed when Eren began to blabber, "I can't believe her! I- She's so much better than me! How? I practice too! How dare she say that to me! She humiliated me in front of everybody!"

Armin watched as he flopped on his bed, "She knows you practice, Eren, but she was saying that you need to practice more."

"Armin, it was our first day out there, and she's already a pro. Didn't she see me practicing?"

"You were running into trees. And for the record, everytime you fell, Mikasa rushed up to see if you were okay, and she wanted to help you, but you just pushed her away." Armin crossed his arms and stared at his friend.

"She could've said something." Eren pouted and looked at the ground.

"She did." Armin said.

Eren stuttered, and then crossed his arms, "Well she should've been louder."

Armin sighed and sat next to the pouting Eren, who was glaring out the window, "Listen, Mikasa tries and tries to help you. But you won't let her. She's good because she has something worth protecting."

Eren shifted and his cheeks went pink, "But I want to kill the titans."

"And she does too. She wants to avenge your mother just as much as you do." Armin said calmly. "But she knows that you're...reckless and angry..." He pursed his lips when Eren snorted at him in disgust. "And that's why she needs to become a good fighter. She doesn't want to lose you."

Eren sighed and rubbed his hands together, "She won't lose me."

X

Mikasa fell on her bed. Blood was dripping from the split in her cheek, and some of Eren's blood was on her face and shirt. Tears were falling and she wiped them before Sasha could see.

Sasha whistled and said, "I've never seen you two fight before."

Mikasa sniffled and looked out the window. "It's never been that bad." She huffed and stood, still staring out the window, "He's just reckless. He thinks I'm better than him because I want to be."

Sasha was silent. Mikasa turned to face her and asked quietly, "Have you ever had something you would die to protect?"

Sasha's eyes grew wide, and she shook her head. Mikasa turned back to the window, "I have. I always had someone to protect. He protected me, and I swore to someone I would protect him." Her bloodied fingers touched the glass, "I promised myself that I would be whole if he was alive. And that's why I'm good. I have a goal. I have to protect him."

Sasha let the words sink in they escaped Mikasa's lips, "I won't lose him."