Chapter 45: The female titan
Mikasa listens to the voice of their commander as he tells them about the upcoming mission, her eyes are on Eren. Her friend looks nervous, no not nervous, preoccupied as if his mind is somewhere else. She is worried about him, since he woke up and the training had started they didn't have any time to really talk. Yes, he sat with them during dinner or breakfast and after a training session he would talk to them together with Levi to show them points where they can improve but they are never alone. Armin is worried too, still they didn't get a chance to talk to Eren.
They know it´s important to train and everything and she can understand Captain Levi to keep him close after nearly losing Eren. She just wished that they had some quiet time together like they had during their cadet times.
She would like to ask how he really feels, now that everyone knows. She would be really interested in how he would be presented if the whole Reiner fiasco didn't happen. It would have gone worse she thinks. So they had already seen Eren as a titan, see him fight and protect humans. That he ate Reiner in the end wasn't pretty but what else should they have done.
The death of Reiner is also something she wants to talk to Eren about. He always said he protects humans and kills titans. Reiner was a shifter. Mikasa is thinking about it. What are shifter? Did Eren kill a human (and ate him) or did he kill another titan. Do they have to expand their understanding to more than human and titan.
Her mind is overflowing and even talking to Armin doesn't help her much. For her the only important thing is that Eren and Armin are safe. She doesn't care if they are humans or shifters or magical transform to titans and stay like that forever. As long as she is breathing her brothers will never stop doing everything she can to protect them.
The plan is simple as Commander Erwin puts it. The shifter want Eren or at least are not happy with his existence or surprised or whatever. She didn't really pay attention. There were a lot of information missing and they work on pretty much guess work. What seems to be the norm around here and honestly, she doesn't mind. Better then working for the king or watching gates.
The wall is titan free again so they would go to Wall Maria and if they find any prove for the whereabout of the shifter they would follow it. If not they would continue to the outside world for exploring. That is there job.
To be fair the plan was rubbish. They would use Eren as bait and that's it. Who came up with it. Sadly she doesn't have a better one, neither does Armin so they share a look, unhappy about it but unable to change it. Even looking forward to go outside the wall for the first time feels wrong.
After the meeting Eren waits for them. He must have watched them because his first question is, if THEY are alright.
"Yes, Eren we are fine." Armin answers. "We are just a bit worried. Do you have nothing against being used as bait?"
Mikasa likes this confused look on Eren´s face. It makes him look like a child who doesn't know enough of the world and want to learn all about the things he doesn't understand but not in this situation. "I don't mind. I can protect myself, you are there and Levi is too. He won´t let them take me." So full of trust. No one ever really betrayed or hurt him.
… Except Reiner, Berthold and Annie. Their friends, his friends and one is dead.
"Promise us to tell me or Armin or Levi when something is wrong or you don't feel good. Okay. We are your family and we don't want you to get hurt." Eren looks directly in her eyes and nods. Offered with a small smile.
"You should go to bed early, tomorrow will be a long day." They say good-bye and watch Eren following Levi who had waited at the door for him.