The following is request for Eren to protect Mikasa from bullies :3
Mother always said it's rude to stare. He makes it so difficult, though, with his movements, precise and full of strength. She looks on subtly, over the top of her textbook and lenses, admiring him and his lithe body. She hadn't known he was a boxer before this afternoon. But as she watches him in his element, she thinks the aura of it all suits him perfectly.
Her fingernail picks at the worn corner of her book, scraping harder when the slick skin of his shoulders and arms bulge with power. She bites her lip a little with the determination in his jaded eyes, ankles twisting and turning at the sight of him drinking water, neck exposed just right and collarbones as sharp as his tongue.
She's never seen Eren like this before, only in the hallways with his energetic and charming persona. Only in chemistry class when he's spaced out and lax directly in front of her. She sometimes fantasizes about building the courage to tap on his shoulder, to speak with the same smoothness he possesses with girls, but it would never happen. Could never happen.
He's, as they say, out of her league. If her senior class was a caste system, he'd be a king while she wouldn't even fit into the lowest category. She's too quiet and nerdy, too unsociable and dull where he is quite the opposite. Deep down, she knows he'd never go for someone like her. But it never hurts to dream, does it?
The last few people seated farther on the bleachers begin to gather their material and leave. Once they're gone, it'll only be them two inside the gym. Her anxious fingers fret with the bun of her hair, adjusting the tightness and pulling strands forward to frame her face. She thinks herself silly and naive as she dolls up some, ridiculing herself for believing he'd actually notice her. Her lips press and move lightly, smearing some flavored gloss as she fixes her glasses, pretending to be focused and suddenly the sound of his fists meeting the suspended bag cease. She glances up in time to see him throw a towel over his shoulder, gulping down water as he disappears into the locker room.
She wants to slap herself for the pangs of disappointment that shake her heart. She should have never anticipated for something to happen when she's no one to him. She gathers her belongings with a curl of longing, frustration flaring when her hair falls from her bun again. She tears the tie out, setting her reading glasses atop her books wistfully.
She makes the familiar way to her locker, shoulders rolling with the uncomfortable weight of her bag. She hears rhythmic vibrations from the side of her purse, and she sets her stuff down, unlocking the device.
Sorry Mikasa, looks like you're going to have to walk home again. Your father is coming late too. Don't wait up on us. Love you.
Of course.
She wants to throw her assignments in the air, leave them and her too heavy bookbag behind and take the little dignity she has left but she just can't .
She closes her locker slowly, feeling significantly heavier when she leans down to gather her things. She drops her glasses in the midst of it all, the matte frame sliding away. Sighing, she sets her books back on the floor, going to retrieve them when Nori beats her to it, mouth stretching into that grin she hates so much. His band of followers aren't far behind, standing idly like spectators. The stillness of the hall has her heart racing and she knows this won't end well. It never does.
"Missing something, Mikasa?"
She swallows, outstretching her trembling hand. "Give them back. Please."
He waves them about tauntingly, and she has no choice but to step into his trap, into the little game he loves to play. She reaches and he pulls back each time, eliciting snickers from behind. She waits a second, letting him wiggle them before her when she snatches them clean from his stubby fingers, tucking them neatly into her breast pocket. She kneels back down, fingers just grazing her bag when she's knocked over forcefully,
The laughs come louder and she hears the clatter of her utensils, her notebooks, her everything and anger flares.
She stands defiantly, going towards the clutter and Noki blocks her, face falling menacingly. She shoves him out of the way, only to have her head meet the knob of a nearby locker. A gasp of pain and then her hair is being pulled, nose dragging defeatedly along the floor and she doesn't recall yelling, but her throat feels a bit raw and the laughs and remarks keep coming. Tears well and they coo unsympathetically at her. She spits at them when the crouch to her level and her vision flashes white when one of the girls hits her, wiping saliva off her chin.
She can only cover her head then, and she only cranes her neck when a crack and a grunt come from above.
Eren is standing between her and Noki's group, shielding her wordlessly. She's surprised at the lack of response from them. From between his legs, she can see Noki bent over, clutching his jaw as one girl attends to him.
"Walk away."
He says it like a threat, tone as powerful as his jabs. All of them begin to back up, kicking her bag again as if they're trying to get the last word. The closing door echoes throughout the hall and he helps her sit against the bottom lockers, gathering her things while she wipes the blood from her nostril.
She in such a daze, wondering if he really just defended her, protected her from them. Her racing heart jumps into her throat when the warm skin of his palms cup her cheeks, lightly turning them side to side to inspect her face.
"Are you hurt anywhere else, Mikasa?"
He knows her name. Eren actually knows her name. He's looking at her lips now, blinking back up slowly to meet her quivering gaze and Jesus Christ he's gorgeous.
Seconds pass of just her processing and she jolts internally, gathering her muddled thoughts.
"M-my head…" she feels over the small bump on the side, tears beginning to well again because this is so embarrassing. Her imaginary first conversation never went like this. But there is no judgment within his jaded eyes, just understanding and he helps her stand, letting her use him as a crutch. She feebly grabs her backpack, just lifting it a couple inches off the ground.
"How did… how did you find me?" She can't help but wonder, surely he didn't see her walk out, hadn't even noticed her in the gym, so just… how?
"You screamed. I couldn't understand, but I heard you," he says plainly, like he's talking about how his day went. "I was shocked at first, you're always so quiet. I was in the middle of putting my stuff awa-"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause you any trouble, I just - I just -"
"It's fine . I'm glad you did. No one else has the balls to stand up to that bastard. It could have been really bad for you."
She's rendered speechless, breathless at his underlying sincerity and the feel of his toned body, his eyes on her .
"Well the nurse is definitely gone, I'm sure. How are you getting home?"
"I - I don't have a - I'm walking," she blurts, trying to suppress whatever the hell she's getting from his hand pressing into her waist.
"Walking? Like this? That's not a good idea." You're telling her. "My car is right outside. I was about to head out, so I could take you home - That is! - um well, if you want… I don't really care - I mean I do! It's.. your call."
Since when is he the inarticulate one?
"I'd really appreciate that... uh…" she trails off, feeling dizzy.
"Eren," he says, leading them outside.
Her head snaps up, "huh?"
"My name. It's Eren." She thinks back to a few seconds before, realizing that it sounded like she was asking for his name. It's kind of ironic, really.
For once, she doesn't screw up and she isn't invisible. Of all people, Eren was the last person she thought she would befriend, much less talk to. But she's so happy because despite the fact that she's no one, she finally feels like she someone as he helps her into his car. She's probably reading too much into this when she knows he's only trying to help.
But she can pretend, if only for a little.