Mikasa rested on the comfortable bed in her room. She wore a long, warm white nightgown. She was propped up on fluffy pillows, as the sun shined into the bedroom. It was late morning, things were quiet in the castle.
Mikasa rubbed her chest softly, the pain still there. She went to inhale but it ended in a small coughing fit.
"Breathe carefully, sweetie. That injury did a number on you", Mrs. Pots advised worriedly, as her cart wheeled into the room.
Mikasa took easy breaths, sighing weakly. "How are you feeling?", asked Mrs. Pots. "I've been better...", Mikasa confessed.
She hated being so useless. It was not her idea of fun to be stuck in bed all the time. "Be patient, and you'll be back on your feet soon enough", Mrs. Pots assured.
Mikasa sat up carefully, running her hand through her black hair. "Tell me...why are all of you like this? And what is that rose in the west wing?", she asked.
"I suppose there's no sense keeping it from you anymore", Mrs. Pots sighed.
"The rose in the West Wing is enchanted. You see, we were all cursed five years ago. The Master's cruel behavior towards an enchantress in disguise led to this", Armin explained.
"Every day a new petal falls, and we become less human", he added grimly.
"What happens when the last petal falls?", asked Mikasa worriedly. "The Master remains a beast forever...and we become lifeless nick nacks", Armin answered.
Mikasa looked down softly. "There must be something someone can do to break it...", she said. The candlestick and teapot exchanged anxious glances.
They couldn't come out and just say she had to fall in love with Eren. Mikasa was far too injured to be placed under such pressure.
But they knew it was the only way now.
But despite the way things were going, Eren remained in great doubt. There was no way such a beautiful girl would fall in love with such a hideous beast.
After the servants left, the room softly shook. Mikasa looked, to see Eren entering.
"How are you feeling?", he asked.
"I've had better days...but I'll live", Mikasa replied softly. Eren sat beside her bed, the top of his head touching the ceiling.
Mikasa blinked, noticing his fist was closed. "What's that in your hand?", she asked curiously.
"Oh...um...I figured you might be bored...", he opened it, holding it out to her. There were three books resting on his large palm.
Mikasa's eyes lit up, as she took the books. "I've...never read any of these", she said.
"Is...that a good thing?", asked Eren softly.
"Yes...my village barely has any books, and I've read them all", replied Mikasa giving a soft smile, as she opened one of the books.
"So...you like to read then?", Eren said. "I love it...what about you?", asked Mikasa. Eren blinked. The large beast looked confused...even shocked he was asked such a normal question.
Like he was a normal person.
"I...well...I didn't do much reading as a kid, but...I could give it another try", he replied.
Mikasa turned to the first page. "Can you read the first sentence?", she asked.
Eren hesitated, as he looked down at the page. "Let's see..um...", he squinted, struggling. He sighed then. "You don't know how to read...?", Mikasa realized.
"My father never taught me...", Eren replied sheepishly. Mikasa smiled. "I'll teach you then", she decided.
Eren watched, as Mikasa read the words aloud. "The night was foggy, and humid. The forest was dark, and the only sound were the small creatures of the night. Owls hooted, while crickets chirped in the near by pond...".
After reading for about an hour, Mikasa had drifted to sleep. She was exhausted, Eren could see that. He gently removed the book from her hand, placing it beside her on the bed.
Mikasa slept soundly, breathing softly. Eren gently tucked her in, using his fingers to lift the blanket over her body.
"She looks peaceful", Armin commented, entering. Eren looked down.
"I want to do something for her...something special", he said. "The girl loves to read...I think we have just the thing", Armin smiled.
The following day, Mikasa was still in bed, reading the second book now. Eren entered the room. "How are you feeling?", he asked worriedly.
Mikasa did a gesture with her hand, meaning so-so. "I have something for you", Eren said then. Mikasa blinked.
"Just trust me...", Eren held his large hand out. Mikasa climbed into it. Eren carried her softly out of the bedroom.
He moved slowly, holding his hand so intensely still. Mikasa could feel how tense it was, he didn't want to drop her or hurt her.
Mikasa felt safe in his hand though. She was totally relaxed. Eren pushed a set of double doors opened with his finger, and went inside. Mikasa looked up, and her breath was taken away.
It was the most largest and magnificent library she ever saw. There were thousands...no, millions of books.
"It's so beautiful...!", she cried, nearly speechless, clasping her hands over her mouth.
"It's yours", Eren stated. "What..?!", Mikasa cried. "As long as you live here, this is your library", Eren repeated.
Mikasa's eyes lit up, gazing around at all the books.
"Have you read any of them?", she asked curiously, forgetting for a second he still couldn't read well, too excited.
Eren chuckled. "No, some of them are in Greek", he admitted. Mikasa gave a soft laugh back, smiling. Eren felt color reach his cheeks...she never smiled like that at him before.
It was a beautiful smile.
"You're still too injured to climb the ladder...so...", Eren then raised his hand up high. Mikasa cried out in surprise, but it was quickly followed by laughter as she sat in the palm of his hand.
"Take your pick", Eren said. Mikasa looked at all the books on the high shelf. She didn't know where to start, so she just grabbed ten random ones.
Eren smiled softly, seeing her excitement.
After Mikasa brought down dozens of books, she was sitting on a soft window seat, with pillows for her back.
Eren set a table by her to set the books on, making it easy for her to reach.
"I'm sure you must have friends in the village who read with you...", Eren said, as Mikasa read a drama/history book.
"Actually no. The villagers think a girl has no business reading books", Mikasa replied.
Eren blinked, looking at her.
Mikasa sighed. "Or riding horses, or working out, or really anything in general", she let out a small rant.
"Your village sounds ridiculous", Eren admitted.
"It really is...if I'm not having to listen to other women gossip about me, I'm dodging Jean's horrid flirting", Mikasa said.
"Jean?", Eren raised his eyebrows. "Just some rude guy in my village who's obsessed with me. He says I'm beautiful, but then calls my father crazy", Mikasa explained.
Eren watched her as he listened. "You are beautiful...", the words escaped his lips before he could stop himself, and he instantly turned red.
Mikasa blinked, blushing herself. "What...?", she asked. Had she heard him right?
Eren turned even redder. "Nothing! Nothing at all! I...um...I'll go see what's taking the servants so long on lunch...!", he clumsily stumbled, knocking down a book shelf over top of himself.
"Are you okay...?!", Mikasa asked, both alarmed and a bit amused, still blushing.
"Fine!", Eren replied, as he hurried out of the library. Mikasa sat there, blushing, and even smiling. He was so cute when he got nervous.
She froze then...cute? It really was true...never to judge a book by its cover. Only a few days ago, she would have never seen Eren as cute.
Just a few days ago, she only saw him as a vicious beast who captured her father. But now...there was something sweet...almost kind.
Mikasa looked out the window, seeing all the snow outside.
After about a week, she was well enough to go outside. She wore a dark pink coat, as she stepped out onto the soft snow.
Eren followed her, keeping a protective eye on her. It was so strange...he was cruel in the beginning. And now...he's not only kind, but even nervous.
Mikasa smiled, as she formed a snowball. Eren didn't see at first, as he gazed up at the sky.
Mikasa grinned, and threw the snowball. It hit him straight in the arm.
Eren blinked, barely feeling it. Mikasa chuckled, as Eren grinned back at her. He then formed a giant snowball, it was boulder sized, but soft.
He tossed it. Mikasa panicked for a moment, backing up. It hit her, knocking her down, burying her.
Worried he hurt her, Eren hurried over, digging her out. But Mikasa laughed, as Eren helped her out of the snow pile.
He gently placed his finger on her shoulder, brushing snow off. She didn't even shudder at his touch.
Mikasa smiled softly...she wondered why she didn't see his kindness there before.
After playing in the snow for a while, Mikasa fell back on the fluffy snow, catching her breath.
Eren approached her worriedly, sitting beside her. "Are you all right?", he asked softly.
"Yes...just a bit out of breath", Mikasa replied, breathlessly. Her chest heaved as she took deep breaths.
Eren gently moved closer to her. "You're not fully healed yet", he said.
"Yeah...but it felt good to get outside", Mikasa smiled weakly. Eren gently lifted her up in his hand then.
"Let's get you back inside", he said.
When they entered the castle, the servants lit the fireplace. Mikasa was resting on the sofa by the fireplace, reading one of her books.
Eren sat beside her, gazing into the fire. The light reflected in his green eyes, he seemed deep in thought.
"That was...the first time I ever played outside", Eren confessed. Mikasa looked up at him from her book.
"You never did as a child...?", Mikasa asked softly. Eren looked down softly. "My father didn't want me...wasting my time with such things. Even though my mother encouraged me too...", he replied.
"I...heard about what happened to your mother", Mikasa said softly. Eren looked at her.
Mikasa sat up a bit, she gently placed her hand on his wrist.
"I...never knew mine. She died when I was a baby...", Mikasa confessed. Eren's eyes softened. "I'm sorry...how did she die?", he asked.
Mikasa shook her head.
"My father never told me...", she replied sadly. "I see...", Eren said.
"Did my servants...mention my father?", he asked after a few moments of silence.
"Yeah...", Mikasa replied. Eren looked away slightly. Mikasa saw a look of shame in his eyes. She knew he worried he was like his father.
"Eren, you're not like your father", she said. Eren blinked, as he looked at her.
"You're not...you're kind. You took care of me...you released my father...", Mikasa continued.
Eren sighed softly. "I always hated my father...but before I knew it, I was growing up like him. He was becoming selfish, cold, and all I cared about was myself", he said.
"You don't seem selfish now...", Mikasa smiled softly.
"I hope so...because...I don't want to be", Eren said. Mikasa smiled weakly, she lay back down. Her breathing was slightly heavy, since she still wasn't healed.
Eren watched over her, worried.
"Are you in pain, Mikasa?", he asked worriedly. "It still hurts, but I'll be okay. It needs more time to heal", Mikasa assured him, as she placed her hand over her chest.
Mrs. Pots cart suddenly wheeled in then. "I decided to make you both some hot chocolate, you were out in the snow for a while", she said.
Eren suddenly grumbled a bit, turning away, as Mrs. Pots poured the hot water into a mug, and Chip added the chocolate, stirring it.
"Thank you", Mikasa smiled, as she sat up, taking a sip. "Careful sweetie, its hot. Master, would...um...you like some?", Mrs. Pots asked.
"Is that some kind of joke, Mrs. Pots? I can't really taste it since I'm so big", Eren scoffed. Mikasa blinked.
"You've never had hot chocolate?", she asked. "I have! But...not since I was a boy. I can't even touch a mug without breaking it now...", Eren replied.
Mikasa thought for a moment. "Mrs. Pots, are there any barrels in the castle?", she asked then. "Well, I'm sure there must be some dearie. Why?", asked Mrs. Pots.
"How much chocolate can you make?", Mikasa asked.
Later that night, Eren was sitting out on the balcony, gazing up at the stars. He heard the doors open then, and something rolling out.
He blinked, seeing the servants rolling a closed barrel out. "What is that?", he asked.
"Well...you can't drink out of a mug because of your size, so I had Mrs. Pots brew enough hot chocolate to fill a large barrel", Mikasa replied, stepping out.
She leaned against the doorway.
Eren blinked...both shocked and even excited. He lifted the barrel up in his one hand. It was still a bit small, but it was workable.
The wood felt hot from the hot chocolate inside.
"Why didn't I think of that?", he asked, amused. Mikasa gave a soft chuckle. "Try it", she said eagerly.
Eren opened the top of the barrel, seeing the chocolate liquid inside. He could even smell it...he hadn't smelled chocolate for years.
Mikasa saw his eyes light up, as he drank it.
"I...don't believe it. It tastes...just like I remember", Eren mused after finishing.
"So...you like it?", asked Mikasa. "I love it...thank you. So much...I never thought I'd get to taste chocolate again", Eren confessed.
"The master loves chocolate", Armin muttered, chuckling.
Eren looked at Mikasa, he blushed slightly, but he leaned over, and gently held his hand out to her. Mikasa stepped in it, and sat down, as Eren brought her up to his face, holding her.
"Why did you do that for me?", he asked...after all, he was just a beast.
"You saved my life, Eren. And you're nursing me back to health. I had to do something for you in return", Mikasa replied.
Eren smiled softly. "Thank you...", he said.
Author's Note: So this fic is going to be pretty short since I have another new one planned that's gonna be quite a bit longer. There will only be two more chapters after this one. I also want to continue/finish Sword Attack Online and Tomodachi Connect in April and May.
