It rained hard outside, the sunny day had turned into a cloud grey.

Eren was making breakfast, he flipped the eggs sunny side and poured enough tea for both of them. He plated the breakfast and placed it over the table, placed a small purple flower in a bottle filled with water. Almost on queue, Mikasa came into the kitchen rubbing her eyes, she was still wearing the cotton knee-length dress and her hair was standing in every place. The sight of her scrambled hair made him smile; she looked cute.

"Good morning," he announced, taking off the red apron. He walked over to her, a part of him just wanted to hug for all eternity while the other part of him wanted to cry. Compromising between the two he picked to pat her hair down, something he had wanted to do for a long time.

"Morning," she responded yawning and covering her mouth. She was too sleepy to notice how close he stood next to her and how long his hands lingered while brushing her hair in place.

"How did you sleep?" He added trying to distract himself from where his thoughts were going.

Mikasa stretched her arms out. "It was fine, no more nightmares."

Taking the opportunity he paraded her to the kitchen table and took the seat next to her. She took notice of how it was raining outside and the delicious breakfast laid out in front of her. The flower dangled across the bottle and her eyes followed his way, he had placed his elbows on the table and was staring at her face. His intense gaze made her self-conscious, she quickly went back to the breakfast and began eating it. However, his gaze made swallowing rather hard and she nearly choked on water.

"Arent you going to eat?" She said carefully, she didn't want to outright point out how his eyes were making her nervous. For some reason. Perhaps she was just not used to having his undivided attention focused on her.

"I will," he reassured but didn't avert his eyes from her.

Being unable to continue eating she found herself admitting. "Your stare," she nudged towards his face, "kinda hard to eat."

Immediately realization filled his face and he looked away. A bit of red did cover his cheeks as he scratched the back of his neck, clearly, he didn't even notice what he was doing. "Sorry," he muttered.

They were quiet for a while and both decided to eat instead. Despite the lack of outside words their minds kept working. Mikasa felt rather confused for the most parts, the last thing he said to her was that he hated her. But here he was doing everything a person who hates you shouldn't do, it was hard for her to digest this kindness knowing what he had said. The food began to taste stale the more she remembered his words. Eren's mind kept playing every little moment they had shared, he kept craving to do so much but her demeanour made it obvious she wasn't comfortable with it.

Soon they completed the breakfast and Eren insisted on washing the plates, this gave Mikasa the opening to leave the cottage. It was starting to get suffocating inside and she had no idea how she was going to fix it, or what was even supposed to be fixed. She watched the raindrops fall and enjoyed the serenity of the surrounding, she extended her arm out and collected raindrops in her palm. Eren was inside fixing up the place and channelling every bit of cleanliness ingrained in him through the captain.

Once done he looked out the window and noticed how she was standing in the middle of the downpour. Lightening was starting to blaze and the rain grew thicker, a bit of concern filled his emotions. He noticed she wanted space, but she was going to get sick. He weighed both options and realized he simply couldn't just standby. Not anymore, at least. He was going to be honest, and not do something for the greater good, were pushing her away was required regardless of how much it pained him.

It clicked: I've always hated you, Mikasa. He felt like the worse arsehole possible, here he was playing house with her while the last thing he had said devastated her.

He ran outside and rain began to soak him, he closed the distance between them and stood next to her. There was a smile filling her face, her clothes were completely soaked through and her hair was sticking to her face. He tried his best to not dwell his eyes on her soaked clothes clinging to her body, while also ignored how he was in a similar state.

"I'm sorry," he proclaimed as his voice filled with pain, he stared at the forest ahead hoping the downpour didn't drown his voice out.

She looked up and turned to him, it was as if she had just noticed he was there. "Huh?"

"I'm sorry for what I said to you," he explained as bits of his composure broke.

The memory came back to her it was much more bitter and hurtful. "I see." That was all she could manage to say.

"I know I don't deserve your forgiveness or well anything," he sorrowfully regarded. "Thank you for this. I don't deserve it, I really don't."

The moment filled them with emotions and the rain drowned out the rest. It was starting to get cold as they began to shiver, picking going back to the cottage to be the better option. Their wet feet dampened the floor as Eren looked for towels, he opted to give her the largest one and insisted she wrapped it around herself. She hadn't noticed their revealing clothes while he maintained his eyes to not look. After being a little dryer, the wet clothing was ditched for warmer ones and they both set next to the fireplace. Its warmth filled the room and Eren brought hot cocoa for both of them. Mikasa had wrapped a blanket around herself and Eren sat down beside her.

"You shouldn't have gone out in the rain, you'll get a cold." He broke the silence accompanying them as he clutched his mug harder.

"I won't, but you will." Almost on queue he sneezed and rubbed his nose which had gone slightly red, along with the tip of his ears.

"Of course, almost forgot for a second that you're an Ackerman," he retorted. It did stab his heart when he remembered the lie made up just to deter her.

"Amongst many things it seems," she muttered taking another sip. Her eyes were focused on the fire ahead, a part of her didn't want to look at him. She didn't like seeing him sad, that said, getting sad was the least he could do.

His hands began to slightly shake as he clutched the mug harder. "How can I make up for what I did?"

She shrugged. "I wouldn't know, I really don't know what to feel about anything." The sense of dejection and loss wasn't lost in her voice.

"Sorry. . ." that was all he could mutter before feeling like crawling in himself.

She had finished her hot cocoa and placed the mug to her side. She took in a deep breath and wondered what was even the point of anything? Instead, she preferred giving into the cosy feeling, she leaned her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes. The action caught him off-guard and tensed his body, but he relaxed and hesitantly looked at her face. She looked beautifully at peace in the moment.

"It's the exact opposite, you know," he quietly said looking into the fire, feeling his heartbeats flair up with the revelation. He knew how he felt about her, he knew it too well, but it an entirely different beast admitting it out loud.

"Hm?" She stirred barely even hearing anything as sleep drew in close.

I love you.

Authors note: I just feel like making them pine over each other and yearn for each other despite literally being 24/7 alone and together xD perhaps it's time for a kiss, too soon?