Charcoal eyes stared back at her, just like they always had. No different, just her weary eyes. 17 years old now, was she? Seemed longer... Seemed like forever, actually.

Forever since her last birthday, that is. Every year before her seventeenth had seemed to fly by. Those were happier times, she supposed. When she was younger, her family would always celebrate her birthday; and then, the Jaegers would do their best to imitate her special day. After Carla died and she'd joined the Survey Corps, everything had changed. Birthdays weren't celebrated, in fact, most weren't even public knowledge. Last year, Eren and Armin and she had celebrated each of their birthdays by sitting around the wooden tables in the mess hall and sharing old stories. Honestly, that birthday had been one of the best. Or maybe it had just felt like it, given their shitty situation.

Mikasa sighed, tucking an ebony strand behind her ear and averting her gaze from the mirror. She was being selfish. Who could think of a celebration at a time like this anyway? At this point, people jealous of people who had never been born. Twisting the knobs on the sink, she washed the normal day from her hands, watching as the titan residue and the metallic scent rinsed down the drain. A peculiar wave of nostalgia tugged at her mind; today was no different than the others.

In retrospect, she guessed she should just be grateful to be alive; these days, life was a gift that practically increased in value tenfold a day.

As the swirl of lather and crimson dissipated, Mikasa's thoughts drifted back to the day's events. Well, Eren, in particular. He'd had a rough one; Hanji had focused him on shifting control for the hundredth day since she'd joined Levi's squad. Sighing, Mikasa tried to push away her selfish desires. Eren would be tired, tonight would not be the night to bother him. Heck, he was probably long since asleep.

She was about to hit the hay herself, when a familiar warmth wrapped around her. Instantly, her nerves tightened, her senses on high alert, as she stood frozen. She could practically imagine steam rises from the places where his warm touch had slid beneath her shirt to met her cool skin.

"Mmm, Mikasa?" His whispered tugged at her left earlobe. "Don't tell me you're not happy to see me," the boy murmured playfully, his arms tightening around her waist.

Eren.

Her gaze flicked towards the mirror, finding his bright emerald eyes staring at her, and a scarlet blush playing her cheeks.

"Eren," Mikasa swallowed, silently banishing that painfully girlish blush from her cheeks. "Shouldn't you be in bed?" In the mirror, she could see his signature eye roll.

"No?" He scoffed, unraveling himself from her. Taking her lean shoulders, Eren turned the girl so she faced him. "You're not my mother, Mika," he frowned in irritation, thought the loving tug at the corner of his lips told otherwise.

"Hmph, I know that," Mikasa huffed in return, fingers automatically reaching to tie the crisscrossed strings on his old tee. She'd almost finished the perfect bow when his hands grabbed hers, freezing them. Unable to hold his knowing emerald gaze, Mikasa's gaze averted to the skin beneath the untied shirt, his toned chest painfully obvious, even through the thick wool.

Clearing her throat, Mikasa quickly changed subjects. "So, you never told me why you were here."

"Can't I just come visit my friend?"

Mikasa lifted a brow.

"Okay, okay," Eren offered a boyish half smile, leaning in to press a brief kiss to her forehead. "I wanted to say I'm sorry," his lips hovered inches from hers, his long chestnut bangs tickling her forehead.

"For?" Her voice was faint, and a couple octaves higher than usual. A rosy heat pooled on her cheeks once more, as she found her lips brushing against his as she spoke. "You didn't do anything-"

"Your birthday?" She could feel his forehead crease against hers.

Oh, right.

"No, i-it's not big deal," Mikasa promised, her voice catching as his full lips fit another kiss to the corner of her mouth. Eyelids half closed, Mikasa depended only on Eren to guide her lips to his, which he did, expertly. Gentle, calloused hands cupped just beneath her jaw, as he delivered another haphazard birthday gift.

"Course it is," he insisted hoarsely between touches, the tip of his nose nuzzling at the base of her neck. "I would never forget your birthday, Mikasa."

Silently, the girl scolded herself for ever doubting him.

"Anyway, apparently, Sasha has a talent for taking stuff from the captain's closet, so, anything you see Levi with could be yours... I guess,uh, as long as we don't get caught." His rambling had been like gibberish in her mind, as she focused on how his tiny kisses were peppering their way back up her neck, and how her scarf had fallen into the sink behind them.

"Anyway, Armin's tied up with Hanji and the Commander, but he sent me down here to find out what you wanted for a gift."

"Well..." Two pale palms pressed against his pounding chest. "He already sent you, right? I don't want anything else."

Emerald eyes widened, and he had to pull back to look into her eyes.

"Really? Nothing?"

Mikasa shrugged, a sudden shyness overwhelming her sense. Barely audible, the girl responded. "Just you."

Eren watched her closely for any signs of jest, but the girl was serious as ever. Silvery grey eyes brimmed with timid excitement, and he had to stop himself from kissing her again. Mikasa had this certain quality... And he couldn't explain it, but he had a knack for pressing her soft spots. Lethal as her skill set may be, in this moment, she looked absolutely adorable, and he melted into a comfortably smug smile.

"Guess I am a pretty good gift, eh?"

"Oh shut it," Mikasa smirked, leaning back against the sink. Folding her arms, the girl raised a brow. "You're just glad you don't have to risk your ass to get into Levi's tea drawer."

"Th-that's not true!" The boy stuttered, mirroring her folded stance with his trademark stubbornness. "Seriously, I'm not a chicken."

"Oh, no?" Mikasa raised her brows, sliding her hands beneath the dark tresses at the back of his head. Fingertips tangling at the dark roots, she could feel the anticipation rolling from his nerves. "Then, I suppose I would like some black tea for my birthday."

"Dammit, Mikasa!"

a/n: Happy birthday, Mikasa.