"Mikasa, darling, why don't you take off that scarf?"
"But" hiding her face on said scarf, Mikasa looked down "I'll be cold"
"Oh" Carla straightened herself, smiling down at Mikasa "Alright, when you think you won't be cold, you can give it to me so I can wash it, okay?"
"Okay" nodding, Mikasa turned around to go and find Eren and Armin.
"Grisha" turning to her husband, Carla rested her hands on the kitchen table "Do you think she will be okay? I mean, it's been two weeks already"
"Carla, the girl saw her own parents being murdered in front of her. It will be a long time before her nightmares go away. And right now, that scarf is what reminds her that she does have a home, here, with us" Grisha got up, walking to his wife. "We just have to give her time" hugging her, he rested his head on hers.
"I'm just…worried"
"And it is okay. But there is not much we can do, except for being here for her"
"Right" taking a deep breath, Carla pulled away "but if she keeps on like this, she's going to be buried with it when she dies"
Grisha just chuckles.
"Mikasa, where is your scarf?" Sasha pulled her bread away from her mouth to talk, already having been scolded for talking with her mouth full.
"I…left it in the barracks. It's too hot to wear it" Mikasa played with her food; touching her neck with her other hand.
"I thought I would never see you without it" Sasha shrugged, her attention back to her food "You just wear it so much one would think it was attached to you"
"It's…special"
"I'm going out to chop some wood" getting up, Mikasa turned to Eren.
"Alright. Don't forget the scarf, people might freak out if they see you without it" he tossed her the scarf with a smile, getting up too.
"Ha-ha, so funny"
"Don't be too hard in yourself, take someone with you" he kissed her forehead, smiling.
"Yes, honey"
"Are you taking this off?" Eren stopped his kisses on her neck, grabbing her scarf with two fingers.
"Mmm…maybe not" she smirked, a light blush on her cheeks.
"Oh, really? Because if I remember right, this was mine" he brushes his lips against her chin, his nose trailing down her cheek.
"Sorry, mine now" she pressed her head to the side, closing her eyes and feeling peaceful.
"Yeah, yours" he answered, but she was not really sure he meant the scarf.
"Ackerman, leave the scarf here!"
"But sir!"
"No buts, Ackerman, the cloth stays here" frowning to the soldier in front of her, Mikasa shook her head.
"No, sir. With all respect, I've been with this scarf in every mission and this one will be no different!"
"Acker-" the soldier's voice was cut short by Levi coming towards them.
"It's useless; you won't get her to leave it. She'll be dead and even then she won't let go of it. Mikasa, come now" he nodded to her, turning without other word.
"Yes sir!" falling into step with him, Mikasa softened her eyes when she looked down at him "Thank you"
"MIKASA!" his voice reached her through the steam around them sounding desperate "What happened?!" his voice cracked, and she opened her eyes to see his blond hair moving with the wind.
"Hey…Armin" she reached for him with one hand and he fell on his knees at her side.
"Mikasa, what happened?" he demanded, taking her hands in his, moving some hair from her eyes.
"A titan got…too close and I had to save him" she smiled a little, and her eyes show him their comrade sitting there, too scared to move.
"MIKASA!" another voice yelled, three people getting closer to them.
"Mikasa!" Eren fell to his knees, a sharp pain traveling up his legs. He didn't know where to put his hands, awkwardly leaving them in the air centimeters away from her skin.
Jean and Sasha knelt close to her too, and she smiled at all of them.
"C'mon Mikasa, don't do this. I can't lose you" tears rolled down his scarred face, steam leaving his body as he tried to heal "You are my home, remember? If you are gone I'm not going to have one anymore. You're half of my family Mikasa, don't do this!"
She could see Armin crying at her side, and Sasha and Jean had tears on their eyes.
"Here" she reached her neck with the hand that was not holding Armin's, and tugged her scarf until it was free. She threw it on Eren's neck, putting it on him in a sloppy way, just like he had done so many years ago "it's warm, right?" she could feel the tears on her own eyes, but she smiled anyway before reaching with her hand to touch his face.
"Please" he took her hand, pressing it against his cheek.
"Guess I'm not going to be buried with it, am I?" she coughed, some blood trailing down the corner of her lip.
Eren frowned at her, closing his eyes as he knew what was coming.
"Hey, Armin. Make sure he doesn't get in much trouble, would you?" she looked then to her others comrades, nodding in their direction. Words weren't really necessary when you were a soldier ready to give your life for humanity.
As she gave her last breath, Eren took her scarf off his neck. He shoved it in Armin's way, giving him a short nod. He could keep it safe, away from the heat of his titan.
Getting up, he took some steps before raising his hand to his mouth.
The sound that came out of the Rogue Titan had more than a few heads turning. It was a furious scream, a desperate yell.
It was a pained cry.
