He Trapped You

Rumours had multiplied like bacteria since Jean and Mikasa had started dating. Mikasa would agree that they weren't the most ordinary pairing: she was the quiet one that no one really knew anything about; he was the extroverted loud mouth with friends in every class. She didn't usually care about rumours, but after over hearing a group of girls discussing their relationship earlier, she was becoming increasingly bothered.

"I wonder if she's got some dirt on him."
"Maybe she's forcing him?"

"Remember when she threatened that teacher? She's violent. She's definitely forcing him."

"Jean's quite popular. It seems strange that he'd date a girl no one really knows or talks to."

"I thought she went out with that other loud guy?"
"The one who fell on his face in gym practice?"

"Yeah, him."
"I thought so too, but apparently they're related."

"Really? That's kind of disgusting..."

Mikasa hoped the girls wouldn't notice her as they left the classroom, trying to blend into the hustle of other students grabbing their coats and bags to leave. Once she couldn't see them, she breathed a small sigh of relief and collected her own things. As she made her way to the door, Jean appeared and cast her a small smile. She waved back.

"Tonight I'm staying behind to help the cricket club, so I can't walk home with you. One of their members is ill and they've got an important match coming up."

"I didn't know you could play cricket?"

"Well..." He squirmed uncomfortably. "I played a little in high school."
"I'll wait for you." Mikasa said. "I've got some maths work to do, so I'll sit next to the playing field and wait."
"You really don't have to." Jean seemed like he was begging her not to. Mikasa smirked a little and coyly replied,

"No, I really want to see you play..."

"You know, you can be kind of cruel sometimes." Jean sighed. He didn't argue any further though. "Just to clarify, when I said they were desperate... they were really desperate."

"Is that so?" Mikasa giggled to herself.

She was actually quite surprised, watching Jean play. He wasn't all that bad. Of course, he wasn't as good at the regulars like Reiner on the team, but he was still managing to keep up. He was racking up a few points for the team. Mikasa had long since finished her maths work and now sat on the grass at the edge of the sports field, shivering a little in the cold breeze. All of a sudden, she heard footsteps behind her and a warm coat was laid over her shoulder. She turned her head and tucked her hair behind her ear so that she could see who it was. Eren was stood in just a t-shirt, having removed his coat to give to Mikasa. She could feel the warmth of his body heat still lingering on the material.

"He's making you sit out in this temperature? What a jerk." Eren muttered.
"What are you doing here this late?"

"I had detention because they figured out I had copied Armin's homework... again."
"That's because you copy it word for word. Of course they can tell."

"That's because I don't understand it." Eren gritted his teeth. "How am I supposed to reword it when I can't understand it anyway?!"

"Show it me later. I'll go over it with you."

"Don't bother, I can figure it out." Eren scowled stubbornly and shoved his hands in his pockets.

All of a sudden, the noise on the pitch increased with shouts. Mikasa looked over to see what was going on, and spotted Jean on his knees with both hands on his face, the bat he had been using discarded at his side. Eren began laughing hysterically.
"He got hit in the face!"

Mikasa jumped to her feet and ran over, Eren's snorts of laughter fading and Jean's grunts of pain getting louder.

"Shit, SHIT." He swore.

"You're suppose to hit it with the bat, not your face." One of the fielders who had come over to help said (unhelpfully) between his fits of giggles. Jean swore profusely at him.

"Are you okay, Jean?" Mikasa asked, crouching down beside him. She prised his fingers away from his eyes. There was a red swelling already appearing on his cheek.

"The ball deflected off the bat and hit him in the face." Reiner said.

"It's a good job it did, to be honest." Berthold said. "Reiner has sent people to hospital with his bowls. If it had hit him straight and not hit the bat, he'd be hurting a hell of a lot more."

"That's why you're supposed to use the bat." The guy who was in fits of laughter (much like Eren) said.

"I'll take him home and get it fixed up." Mikasa said, lifting him to his feet and pulling him off the field.

"We'll leave it to you, Mikasa!"

Once Mikasa had got Jean home, she set about putting an ice pack under his eye and telling him to hold it on. She had received multiple text messages from people asking about Jean, one asking for a photo (Eren). She hastily replied to them and returned to Jean once more, who was pouting furiously.

"It's fucking cold." He complained.

"Can you see out of that eye?"

"Yeah, it just hurts."

"Keep the ice pack on. It'll reduce the swelling."

"The ice pack hurts the most."

"Keep it on."

Jean followed Mikasa with his eyes as she set up the TV to distract him, allowing his gaze to wander a little. She caught him doing so and looked away quickly.

"You're not wearing that necklace." He muttered.

"I didn't want to break it." She said, bending over to switch the plug on.

"That's a lie, you're still pissed off with me."

"I'm not angry any more."

"Well..." He leant forward in his chair and waiting until she turned her head to look at him. "Are you in the mood today?"

"Jean." She scolded, grabbing the remote and flicking through channels.

"Mikasa, you're not normal if you don't want to do that type of thing. Are you frigid? Is that it?"

"Jean, give it up."

"... Pass me the remote." Jean demanded. Mikasa threw it to him in relief at the subject change, sinking down on the sofa beside him. He flicked through pages and pages of channels. "You need something to get you in the mood? Is that it? Will this do you?" He selected a channel that Mikasa hadn't even known existed and she was likely to never watch again.

"Jean, turn it off." She averted her eyes, trying not to hear the sounds from the TV. "Isn't your mum coming home soon?"

"'Kasa..." He sighed. "Why don't you want to? Are you scared, is that it?"

"I'm going home." Mikasa stood abruptly and gathered her things. She held onto her phone in one hand... because something inside her was telling her that she needed to. Jean also stood up, following her.

"We're back to this again. Always doing the stuff you want and nothing that I want."

"We'll talk tomorrow." She hissed under her breath, heart beginning to pound in her chest. She fumbled for the living room door but he got there before her.

"Just try it, 'kasa... you'll enjoy it, I promise. Or do you prefer it when I take control?" Suddenly, her back was against the door and her wrists firmly in his grasp. Mikasa froze, but only for a second. Then, without holding back, she ripped her hands from his grip and punched him as hard as she could just below the diaphragm. Once he was on the floor gasping for breath, she ran.

The next day, she dreaded meeting him. He hadn't text her, and she wasn't about to message him either. She was drowning in a mess of emotions. Had she taken it too far? Was it really weird that she didn't want to do that stuff with him? They were dating, after all. But then, she was really irritated- really upset. Why was he acting that way with her.

"Mikasa!" A voice called. She stopped walking as Armin caught up.

"I've been * hah * shouting for * haa * ages.." Armin panted, hands on knees. "Are you okay?"
"Just a bit... distracted."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I'm okay Armin. But thanks."

They chatted away normally as they entered the college gates and made their way for their first class. Mikasa's nerves had eased a little now that her friend was beside her. It didn't take long for the effect to wear off though.

It seemed like the girls stood outside the classroom were looking at her. She made eye contact with one of them, who immediately glanced away. Another lowered her brow, frowning in disdain. Armin had even picked up on the animosity and made an effort to close the gap between them, protecting Mikasa in his own way. They entered the classroom together and one group at the other end of the room fell silent. Jean was at the centre of this group. Mikasa felt like turning back and going home, but Armin softly pulled on her jacket sleeve and lead her to her seat just behind where the group had gathered.

"She's got a right punch on her, the bitch." One girl in the group grunted viciously, gesturing to Jean's cheek. "If I were you, I'd get rid of her." Jean laughed awkwardly as a weight in Mikasa's stomach dropped. She felt sick. Had he possibly told them... No, he wasn't that horrible.

"She's a violent cow. Show us that mark again. The one where she hit you on your rib."
"That's just domestic abuse. You should get the police involved." Mikasa stood so quickly that her chair fell from underneath her, clattering to the floor. They turned in surprise.

"What, is she going to hit us too?" One of them mumbled, smirking. Mikasa was gasping for breath as a surge of rage and upset crashed into her.

He had. He had done it.

"J-Jean?!" She exclaimed, shocked.

"Mikasa, come outside for a minute..." Armin whispered in her ear.

"What's up?" Jean asked, a nervous edge to his bravado. "I only told them the truth. You hit me, didn't you?"

"T-that's! You were injured playing cricket!" She couldn't find the words to express her hurt and anger and confusion.

"And that's how I got this bruise, yeah?" Jean stood up and lifted his shirt. There was a bruise on his lower rib where she had punched him. She couldn't speak. Her face flushed red and her eyes began to burn. "They asked me what happened." He shrugged.

"I can't believe you-..."

"I only told the truth. It's not like I want to break up with you, though. You're not usually that type of girl, I know that."

"Jesus, you're too nice Jean. I'd ditch her if I were you."

"Mikasa!" Armin spoke louder this time, one again grabbing her sleeve but this time to drag her out of there.

Mikasa found that her fingers were trembling and a rush of adrenaline had set her heart racing. Armin led her outside for fresh air and text Eren to come as soon as he could.

"Are you going to break up with him, Mikasa?"

"... I don't know."

"Did you... hit him?"

"Yeah..."

"Can I ask why?"

"..."

"In fact, you don't need to tell me. Because I trust you, Mikasa. And so does Eren." Mikasa finally raised her eyes to meet Armin's worried gaze. She calmed significantly. Taking a deep breath, she came to a decision.

"I'll talk to him about it."

AN:

Long time no see... heheh... (sorry)

Well, I hope you enjoyed this new chapter!