Hello all! It has come to my attention that an intense lack of Chronicles of Mikannie has occurred! Therefore, I have returned from my 'hiatus' to bring you all several gifts that I have learned over the course of my travels through life. Since summer is coming, I should be updating more often but I wanted to bring a few chapters to you all. The first one will be my first somewhat non-Mikannie fic, and it features Eren and Mikasa. No, it is not Eren x Mikasa but it may reveal some things that I thought of that may debunk some theories of how Eren and Mikasa act towards one another and her strength's "dependence" on Eren's survival. Without further ado, I am Strong.

"Damn it, Mikasa!"

The bowl fell to the ground, the only sound beside his outraged yell that echoed throughout the dining room. Everyone stopped to look at Eren who was glaring daggers at the raven haired girl across from him. Once again, she was babying him treating him like he was just a kid. Getting into a fight with Jean who had decided to steal his dinner roll without him knowing, Mikasa ran to his rescue without a second thought. Why couldn't she just let him handle things by himself? Why was she always there getting in his way?! It was so irritating. She wasn't his mom! She wasn't his actual sister! She was just his friend, so why couldn't she understand when she wasn't needed?! He didn't know what was coming over him but the words needed to be said.

"You always do this kind of thing! You always baby me, you always treat me like a child! I know you made a promise to Mom but that doesn't mean that you have to keep doing this! I thought we were friends. We aren't family at all! You're supposed to let me make my own mistakes, don't you get that?! Quit treating me like a k-"

Her hand flew almost like lightning and struck him dead in the face sending him spiraling to the floor. Droplets of blood fell from his nose and the sound of many chairs scraping the ground sounded as everyone crowded around Eren. He could hear Petra worrying over him, and the outraged cries from Armin who was trying to get an explanation out of Mikasa. However, when Eren could sit up keen on giving her a peace of his mind, he could see the look in her eyes. The look of utter desolation. Those grey irises that were filled with so many emotions gazed at him slowly icing over with a look of utter disappointment. She allowed her eyes to shut for a moment, long lashes touching the bottom of her eyelid before they opened once again to look at Eren.

It was as though no one existed in that one moment. It was simply her and him.

"I protect you because I want to. With all of the reckless antics you display, without your Titan abilities they would have killed you long ago. You lack the means to make rational decision, you lack the strength to carry out your duties and you use your ability as a way to hide your weakness. You say that we are not family, you say that you wish for me to allow your growth? Then fine."

She turned on her heel, the red scarf around her neck unraveling with the movement. Everything seemed to move in slow motion for that moment. It fell to the ground. Mikasa's precious scarf. The one that symbolized her bond to Eren. She didn't bother to grab it, to stop it from falling. Leaving, it sat on the ground helplessly. Eren numbly stood to his feet trying to keep himself steady from the punch and stumbled towards it. Taking the scarf in his hands, he could feel Mikasa's warmth from it and in the back of his mind he knew that she was gone. Even if her physical body was still in his midst, he had said things that would only hurt her. But he meant them, she had to let him grow stronger so that he could protect everyone.

But all that she wanted was to protect him.

That evening, he went to visit Mikasa. The halls were quiet, no one was about. He looked at the door and hesitated before reaching to knock. It flew open, and there she stood with dark eyes gazing at him in silence. He said nothing, and neither did she. Slowly, her eyes closed.

"Mi-"

"I understand, you didn't mean what you said, Eren. However, I know there was some truth behind it. Therefore, I am willing to let you make your own decision. I am strong enough to do at least th-"

Red filled her vision.

She blinked once and then twice before looking towards the scarf that was once again wrapped around her neck.

"I didn't mean it like that! I just.."

He trembled.

"I want to protect you, okay? You're.. we're.. we're all each other has left as family! We have to stay together and I'm supposed to protect you not the other way around! I'm strong, I can get stronger, I can contain this power and I can help! Just.. just give me a chance to prove myself. Believe in me, Mikasa."

She stared at him as he shook before placing a hand on his shoulder. Placing her forehead to Eren's, she spared a soft smile.

"...Okay. Okay, Eren."

Once Eren had left, Mikasa shut the door before going to lay in her bed once again. Annie rolled over and wrapped an arm around Mikasa's center.

"Well, that was a show."