Jean, Connie and Sasha had their doubts but they went along. The trio had their own matters to deal with, while Jean made sure to remind Armin about washing his hands. Unlike the soldiers, Historia had to return back to her duties. They had split up, for the time being, still giddy about the fantastic night of wine they had.
While Mikasa met up with lady kyomi again. They had developed a form of comradery which did compel her to discover more about her heritage. A part of her was ready to even visit the country. During the week she pondered her disposition, Eren kept avoiding her. In any moment their eyes met, he would turn and practically run away. She tried to confront him once or twice but gave him. After what he had done, now he was the one avoiding her. It irritated her, as her desire to visit her ancestor's country deepened. Till the point, she said 'yes' to Kyomi's offer.
Mikasa found the way around the building, following the path leading into the forest. There she spotted a lantern, sitting next to it was a hooded figure― Eren.
He looked up and his face split into a small smile on her sight. Yet there were impending decisions hanging in the air. She looked around and could see a packed bag laying next to his feet. This was going to be a goodbye.
"I saw your message, I'm here." She held up the scrunched up paper. For the most parts, she could guess why he had called her out.
"I'll be leaving for Marley," Eren informed with a sigh.
As expected, he was going to go away. Again and again, yet this time she wasn't upset. Having experienced his kidnapping and leaving too many times, she had grown rather numb to the prospect.
"If you die, we die. You know that." She composed her words and laid down the factual outcome.
"I know, but I won't die. I know I won't." Eren's voice was cold as he started in the harrowing night sky. He hunched over and supported his elbows on the knees, the log moved with his weight.
"You can see the future, right?" She tried to understand. There was so much they couldn't process, so much was in Eren's head that was only accessible to him.
He nodded. "I'll be fine, I know I will. I'll be back once I talk with Zeke." He couldn't look her way.
"You avoid me for a week and now you are leaving," she said dryly folding her arms. She could be sad, but at that moment she was rather annoyed.
"Sorry. . ." Eren trailed off. He wasn't sorry, he was confused. He didn't intend to avoid her, if anything he desired more of her company.
"Is that all you have to say? Sorry and goodbye? I do wish you'd say something different once." Even though she was irritated, her words were nothing but dejected. Her upper lip quivered and she turned to her side.
He looked to her side and studied the change in atmosphere. The last thing he wanted to do was to upset her, yet that was clearly what he did. He forgot to see the consequences, as he was too used to simplifying doing what his mind dictated.
"I didn't mean to upset you. I just couldn't face you," he began, as a slight blush grew. He stood up and walked closer to her.
Why couldn't he face her? Her mind was puzzled. She turned to face where he sat, but now he was standing in front of her. Close, he was close enough for her to see how his hair brushed against his chin. Rather startled she stumbled back a little.
"Whenever I saw you my heart just sped up." He clutched the front of his shirt. "I found it so hard to speak, like right now . . ." his voice grew soft as he looked down. Even in that moment, he felt like running away, avoiding her instead of confronting this feeling. But he had to make his goodbye count.
Mikasa's face lit up in a slight red. She didn't consider this, if anything this was surprising as it got. "I, uh―"
He gently grabbed her hand and placed it against his chest. As admitted a few seconds before, it was beating rapidly. He could see the future and the past, he could manipulate and change, but in that moment he was nothing but an emotionally repressed child soldier trying to express himself. No amount of 'Path' could help in this matter.
"It is beating, yes," Mikasa narrated the obvious. She could feel her skin getting hotter as his hand held hers in place. He tightened the grip and drew in closer. He wasn't imposing or intimating, if anything he felt like a comforting figure looming over her.
"Do you feel the same way?" He asked for reassurance in a whisper. A part of him wanted her to return the feelings, else he'd feel stupid for feeling the way he felt. The other part of him knew she did, but even then anxiety of what if crippled it. Even though he could so easily see every what-if scenario; his mind fuzzled in its vast comprehension. The alternative of shutting that part of it felt needed. So he did.
Mikasa bit her lip. She did feel her beats increasing, but she wasn't going to press his hand against her chest. An act like that was too forward, something she wasn't ready to tackle. "Yeah, it's beating. I mean, more than usual."
A slight 'oh' escaped Eren's lips. They stood there absorbing the silence, as the wind breezed by and the trees shivered. A serene moment that neither wanted to break, but then he had an idea. A devilish smile played on his face and the rest grew redder.
"I want to test something, do I have your permission?" He leaned in close and stated his proposition.
Her body seized up as she could feel his hot breath on her skin. Feeling a little daring, she didn't ask what it was for. "Sure."
In the slightest movement, he grabbed the ends of her scarf. Thankfully, she hadn't wrapped it around her neck. He studied the red coarse fabric and felt a little fire burn inside. It amazed him how she still had it with her.
With a little tug on the ends, he pulled her closer. She could resist, but she simply allowed her body to move along. When her face was close enough, he leaned in and their lips met once again. Unlike the briefness of before, this time their contract was elongated.
Her face had gone scarlet as she realized what was happening. She didn't move at first, simply keeping her eyes closed. Yet a part of her wanted more, a sudden desire she never knew of. Her hands went deep in his hair, cupping the back of his head. She deepened the kiss, rather forcefully.
In a surprise, his eyes widened, as he grew redder; especially, on the tip of his ears. He settled in the refreshing change in positions. Closing his eyes once again, as he enjoyed the softness of her lips. His hands continued to grip the scarf as if his life depended on it.
She turned her head to the side and pulled away, savouring in the sight of his face. As almost a tease, she traced his lower lip with her thumb. Feeling it and looking as if she was ready to devour. He gulped, his green eyes growing bright as a slight shiver went through him.
Not skipping a beat, she crashed their lips together again. This time there was intended roughness― his stomach knotted and the palpation worsened.
"Mikasa. . ." he murmured against her lips. Lost in the moment, he could only muster so much. As every ounce of emotion exploded inside.
She had cupped his face, as her fingers caressed his soft skin. "Mm?"
She drew back to breathe. In the moment of impulsivity, she had done her actions, but the lack of experience hampered her breathing. While the self-conscious part of her wondered if she even did it right. But from the looks of his unravelling, she knew she must've done something right.
He allowed his smile to remain large on his flustered face. The embarrassment and simply the prospect of what had occurred did arouse the need to look away. But, he didn't. Their eyes were locked.
"I have to go." Even this aspect couldn't sully the giddy feeling blossoming inside him.
Her pout couldn't contain itself. "I know, I know."
Just the sight of her new expression, the utter cuteness, did enable a desire for another kiss. Yet he had to show some semblance of composure. Especially, against the part which wanted to drop everything and continue this. Why did he waste so much time avoiding her?
Allowing the scarf to fall loose, he wrapped his arms around her for a few seconds. It wasn't a passionate hug, rather him keeping her close for comfort. He dropped his head on her shoulder and took in the delightful scent of her hair.
"Goodbye," he added with a growing sorrow. Ending the hug and moving away, feeling the emptiness growing.
She wanted to stop him, yet no words left. Instead, she waved him off.
Authors note Confession, I have never written a proper kissing scene before. Hope this came across as not weird xD