Chapter Six
A Fresh Start
Yawning, stretching and felt like she had the best sleep in ages. Mikasa rose to the sun's natural light shinning through the window. As she walks to the window, seeing the mountainous view, a smile formed on her face. It was absolutely breath-taking. In her thoughts, maybe this wasn't a bad idea coming out here after all. Although, the cabin was far from perfect compared to the scenery. But it'll be her goal to make sure it will be.
In her nightdress, she opens her case with her belongings and wondered what would be appropriate to wear for the day. She already wore the blue attire from the night before, and the suit back from Marley was definitely a no go. For some reason, she wanted to feel nice. No longer having to dress formally for training, meetings and living most of her recent years as a soldier. Through unpacking her things, she finds nothing. Everything was related to military work. However, there was that typical skirt, blouse and cardigan Mikasa always wore. It'll do for today.
Once all dressed, putting her clothes in a drawer that was across from the bed. Mikasa heads down stairs, unsure of the time and how early it was she makes the decision to quietly go down them in case she woke Eren up.
"Where do I start?" Mikasa asked herself, looking around the place, to then was surprised as she heard her stomach grumbled.
In slight embarrassment, she covered her stomach and felt her cheeks burn by how loud her stomach was.
"I guess I'll start with food.."
Incase the previous family left any food behind, Mikasa scanned through the cupboards. Nothing bar the cobwebs. How generous. Although there were empty pots and pans, meaning at least there was nothing to worry about when it comes to what to cook the food with. Mikasa sighed, followed by her stomach signalling in distress.
"Alright, village it is then."
As Mikasa finds Eren's case by the hallway, assuring herself Eren wouldn't mind in doing so... Mikasa opened the case to find the bag that contained the money, taking several change and puts it in her pocket. Rising to her feet, Mikasa begins to rhyme off what would will be needed as basic necessities,
"Bread... Eggs... Milk...Vegetables.. Actually I'll go buy seeds too. Better trying to get things I can- I mean 'we' can do ourselves.." Mikasa stopped, thinking how it's not just her living in the cabin, but living with Eren now. Just the two of them.
"Alright... We need meat as well. Not sure what they do.. Do those in Switzerland have chicken?"
Feeling slightly stupid for her thinking process (feeling like Sasha for a brief moment too), Mikasa shakes her head and is about to head out the door. Something makes her stop by the door, looking back to see the corridor at the very end was the door to Eren's room. Mikasa wondered id she should wake and tell him he's off, in case something was to happen. Then again, they're in a completely different place. After all, Eren hasn't been sleeping well in the longest while. It was fair to allow him to get proper sleep she concluded.
"He'll survive a a couple hours without me." Mikasa affirmed herself, even sometimes it feels like be barely can't.
There as quite as she could Mikasa closes the door, ensuring the lock shut wouldn't wake up. The soft shine from the sky hits her body, softly feeling the warmth the sun offered. Mikasa smiled, leaving the cabin behind as she made her way through the forest and on her journey to the village.
Walking blissfully to herself down the country roads, Mikasa had spotted the village straight ahead of her. It was such a scenic location known as Soglio. All of this didn't feel feel real to Mikasa. Soglio is small Swiss village with awesome scenery. Wildflowers blossom on hills in the summer while snow-capped mountains fill the horizon. Overlooking this stunning scenery is Soglio's chief landmark, the Church of San Lorenzo with its bell tower that stands above the village. When Mikasa squinted her eyes to see the time of the belltower, she spots the time;
8;05.
Still early just yet.
Wandering around the narrow cobblestone streets to the Palazzo Solis, now a hotel, with its Mediterranean ambiance and giant sequoia trees. Bask in the solitude this tiny village begets, especially if you are hiking the Bergell trail or through the chestnut forest. Mikasa was truly in awe, seeing many faces doing their own thing. This, was her version of paradise. The mountains, the tranquillity and not one thing in relation to titans. Pure heaven.
There was a market happening, selling a range of foods and leisure. Switzerland so much more to offer than her home, which brought a sense of brief sadness as of course she wished Paradis had more markets like this. The villagers were so lovely too, complimenting and helping her around the place to get what she needed.
Fortunately it wasn't too bad prices either, however she couldn't buy meat as it was above the budget. Hunting may be a better open. But one day at the time to worry about that.
For once, for the longest time. Mikasa felt like everyone else, responsibilities were out the window and simple everyday life was right here in front of her. As Mikasa checks the time again, her eyes widen by the realisation of the time...
11;45
"Oh-oh."
She might've left Eren a little too long.
Awoken from a better sleep, they do say second time round was the charm. Eren pushes himself from his bed and went to his suitcase before closing door shut again. He thought maybe getting changed would be a good start, but due to his wreck less night and the sweat- a shower is a must. Eren could physically feel the stickiness. How he done it in Marley when he held himself hostage in the real world, remembering doing so washing himself once a week whether he rather daily. Eren will never put himself through that again.
Eren heads out of the bedroom and checked the bathroom, seeing there was a shower. In curiosity Eren noticed a small cabinet is at the bottom left to the sink, checking inside revealed to him a few towels, he pulled them out but shrieked at the sight when he spotted a dead mouse rotting in the corner of the drawer.
"SHITT-OW!" He groaned, managing to his head against the cabinet. How he achieved this, he didn't want to know.
Rubbing the pressure, Eren groaned as he used one of the towels and chucked the dead vermin out the window. Now choosing to not use either of the towels, problem was, what could he use once out of the shower? Maybe one the sheets? It wasn't the best option but will do till everything is freshly washed as god knows when any of the fabric has been washed last. It was a plan suited for the occasion. Eren moved his way to the kitchen and sets the towels on the table and goes to the bedroom again. He strips the bed, leaving the pillow case and mattress sheet behind, Eren uses the blanket sheet that was now going to be used for a different purpose.
'Better let Mikasa know, don't want her thinking I'm a freak.'
Eren wondered then if she would be awake about now, thinking why he hasn't seen her around the cabin yet. He checked his watch before taking it off,
12;15.
"Hm.. She must be shattered, or she's just waiting till I'm up."
Eren sets down the watch and picks up his sheet, leaving the room and shouts up the stairs,
"OY, MIKASA! I'M GETTING A SHOWER, BUT THE TOWELS HAD A DEAD MOUSE ON THEM! SO...STAY IN YOUR ROOM OKAY?"
'Idiot... You can close the door, why tell her to stay in her room? It's not like she'll peep.' Eren groaned, wondering why he had to go to that extent.
Heading in the shower, twisting the handle. Water falls to the floor. Eren puts his hand against the water, adjusting the handle to change it's temperature. Expecting it to stay freezing cold the touch, it warmed up rightly. Now at the right temperature to his liking, close to being scalding hot Eren stripped down and piled his clothes with the towels and emerged himself under the sprinkling water. Over the years, cleaning the sweat of fighting, the blood of his opponent or grime of whatever he fell into and of course where trauma was built within his head. The shower was where Eren used the shower as a place of mentally cleansing his thoughts, trying to forget everything as he pictured the awful emotions and memories as the droplets of water falling to the floor. Sometimes it helped, sometimes it made it worse. Either way, it was where he tried to focus on nothing. He spots a half bottle of shampoo, working it in his hair as an effort to get rid of the gunk. All he wanted was to feel fresh, feel cleansed and feel like he wasn't rotten anymore. Inside and out.
A sigh of relief, leaning back that the water hits his chest first and then leans forward as the water made his hair to fall over his face.
Everything felt more relaxed, his muscles and thoughts softening as the warmth worked through him. This was bliss.
After his shower, switching off the water and pulled his soaked hair behind his face and ears creating a more sleek look. Eren stepped out, wrapping his bedsheet around his waist, a little too long as the corner edged to the ground. But it'll do till he gets dressed. Outside the bathroom, Eren edged himself out, wondering if Mikasa was wondering downstairs. No where to be seen or heard he yelled up the stairs,
"MIKASA, THAT'S ME! YOU CAN COME DOWN WHENEVER!?"
Not a creak from the roof above him. She always answered back to him, even when he didn't want o her to at times.
'Mikasa still couldn't be asleep could she?'
Frowning, he goes into the room and felt the need to check what time it was, possibly thinking it was still early in the morning. In shock, he gasped;
"QUATER TO ONE?!" Eren span round to face the corridor of the cabin, "If she's not answering me this late into the day, then she's not here at all?!"
Panicked, Eren runs up the stairs and boomed in the room, calling her name but to confirm his theory. Mikasa was truly gone. He examined her room, the bed was made, the suit open, completely empty. Nothing made sense, where did she go? His heart was racing, unable to think rationally.
"Mikasa, where are you?! how long have you been gone!"
As Eren was freaking out upstairs, Mikasa just about entered the cabin and leaves the door open wide due to her hands being full.
"Flip me... Try not to get ahead of yourself Mikasa." Mikasa groaned, carrying the basket of food in her hands, also purchasing a little clock to help with the time and not depend so much on Eren's watch the past couple weeks.
Even though the path was peaceful, it sadly lost its touch with the amount of stuff Mikasa was carrying. But at least she knew the village wasn't far and can happily return back for more things. As Mikasa is standing by the wooden table, Eren stormed out of the room, speed as lighting. The thumping of the stairs doesn't bother Mikasa, thinking Eren possibly had to do something as she greeted turning to face Eren but was fixing her scarf,
"Afternoon! I was at the village this morning. Got a little carried away and-"
Not hearing her, lost in his thoughts and stress. Eren jumped the last steps onto the floor, using his arm to swing around the banister shouting,
"MIKASA, WHERE ARE YOU? DON'T WORRY I'M COMING-"
Colliding into one another, Eren body slammed Mikasa into the floor. Face smashed, chested at full pelt when they hit the ground it was quite a heavy thud. No longer the same height, especially weight- Eren now 82kg, he was one brute of a man as he laid flat down on top of Mikasa who may of received a concussion from hitting against him. Both groaning in slight pain, it was Eren first to realise who he banged into, crapping himself as he punched himself up peering down to Mikasa going,
"MIKASA?!"
Mikasa, startled by the sudden outburst, Eren continued, "WHERE DID YOU GO?!"
"I told you! I was down at the village! You were coming down the stairs there and just ran into me!"
"No I didn't, well I did..." Eren frowned, furring his brows, "But I got worried because I didn't know where you, I thought something had happened- and WHAT are you looking at...?"
Mikasa face was wide eyed, no longer looking at his face, cheeks tainted in deep red. Suddenly he felt the same too, realising he still only concealed in his bed sheet. That is, if he still was at this point. He shot down to look, seeing a gaping gap down his abdominal area and feared it something hadn't exposed itself to Mikasa. He scrambled up to his feet, synching in the waist of the bedsheet tighter, his face and ears burning intensely from embarrassment. Mikasa, still lying on the floor completely frozen but Eren stuttered apologising,
"S-sorry. I had a shower just now and- close your eyes dammit, please!"
Wanting to scurry into his room, so badly from the shame of almost being bare in front of Mikasa. Shirtless was fine, dammit she saw him many of times. But the concept of almost being completely nude was not his intention. Not in this circumstance in his head anyway. But failed quickly walk away from the situation, the tail end of the bed sheet was just under his feet, causing him to slip back and fall to the floor once more.
"Eren!" Mikasa shot up, couldn't help but check if was alright, about to tower over him but was paused by his hand halting her;
"Cover your eyes!"
"Oh!" She does, shutting them tightly and even uses her hands to conceal them as she knelt beside him. "Sorry I didn't say anything, I didn't want want to wake you.. I know you've been struggling with sleep..."
Lying on his back, Eren grunted as he pushed himself sitting up, blushing hard and yelping as he sees his lower half half properly revealed by the sheets being yanked away due to his carelessness. "N-no it's fine. I appreciate you worrying about my sleeping lately, just let me know next time..."
"Of course."
Eren pushed himself up, watching Mikasa still remaining blind sighted. "I am sorry Eren. I really didn't mean to get you worried."
Eren, briefly opening up the bedsheet to rewrap it again in order to regain his dignity he replied assuring her doing so, "It's alright now-"
"Is it?" Mikasa opened her hands and eyes, thinking he meant he was covered but clearly wasn't only to hear Eren freaking out again as she caught sight of his full body for a spilt second.
"MIKASA I MEANT ABOUT THIS MORNING!" Blushing badly, Eren managed to wrap the bedsheet tightly and sprinted into his room, slamming the door shut and leaves the shocked Ackerman in the corridor.
Only seeing Eren's figure, not the complete features and details to Mikasa's relief. the shock still hung in the air, knowing she accidently saw Eren bare. Unsure what to do, somehow, Mikasa couldn;t help but start giggling and finding the whole situation entirely whack. The last time Mikasa saw Eren close to bare was when he was 9, his mother drying his hair in a towel, wearing his shorts and gurned his mother was going too rough on his scalp. To now almost a decade later, not so much a boy anymore. Now feeling bad for giggling, she starts to burst out laughing, the playful guiltiness is eventually heard from Eren's room as he shouted through the door.
"What you laughing about!? YOU LAUGHING AT ME?"
Infectious, the laugh was unstoppable. Mikasa pushed herself to her feet, trying to stop but it only made it worse. Mikasa laughed into her scarf, muffling the sound as bed she could. It's been years to have a moment such as this, in complete fits by what just happened. Although, Mikasa did think for a second it was a shame she didn't see more clearer, gasping at the realisation of what she was thinking, how inappropriate for such a thing. Instead of scolding herself, Mikasa laughed even harder.
"Mikasa?!""
"I'm sorry!" Mikasa laughed, using the scarf to muffle the giggles, "I'm sorry Eren! Pfft-"
"Jeez you're really sounding it!" His voice sarcastically tutted through the door.
Maybe, she wasn't so sorry anymore.
Author's Note:
Another along awaited chapter. A purposeful lighthearted chapter after the long heavy one. I don't care what anyone says, it is canon that either Mikasa and Eren accidentally saw each other after a shower. Cannot change my mind XD
Coming soon will be "Chapter Seven: Home."
See ya till then!