Chapter 7:
Home
What is a home? In literal terms, it's a place where one lives permantelty, especially as a member of a family or household. But with deeper meaning, a home is where you feel safe, secure and where you belong. Somewhere you feel emotionally attached as it brings warmrth, love, affection and comfort. That when someone calls a place home there are no constraints on your development and where you don't have to constantly fight for your own rights; a place where justice, democracy and equality should exist. However, sometimes home isn't defined or referring to as a physical place, but a person. When home is a person, it doesn't matter where you come from or what you've been through. Home is where you are loved wholly and unconditionally, without barriers, restrictions, judgments, or expectation.
That's something both Mikasa and Eren secretly saw within each other without expressing to one another.
They're not family in the sense of considering each other to be siblings, but they share a bond far, far deeper than friendship. They are family in the sense that they are all each other has left in this world. Or really the world through the power of the Founder within the paths known as this alternative reality. A world Eren only knows, is where he can return back to a form of familiar, something he's wanted back since he's lost it in Shiganshina. A home.
Something he always wanted to find and bring back and was one of the promises he made for himself and Mikasa when he retook wall Maria. If only if happened back in the real world known as reality before things got complicated. Before things got dark as Eren discovered the truth and future hell he inflicted. It was when he realised he couldn't bring back the version of home he wanted because of the cruel world, and the only way he could was through the rumbling to keep Mikasa, his friends and Elidans on Paradis safe. In hopes, that their true home and freedom from Titans would return to them. But in this world, he can go into this version of home and share it with her. Before one day Eren knew deep down it would come to an end...
His eyes shifts over to Mikasa's who is rolling up her sleeves as she heads out the door, totally in zone of her chores and closes the door shut, leaving Eren standing with a broom in his hand in complete silence.
Resuming with his task, Eren finds himself lost in his train of thoughts again. He couldn't help but feel this strange sort of bliss, a sense of relief and giddiness from eariler. It had been the first time in ages since he felt flustered and out of place, not serious or drowning in internal hell for the past few years.
The sound of the bristles of the broom scratched the floor, sweeping the dirt and getting rid of the grime. Eren was always a tidy person, he hated mess and it grew worse overtime when he spent many days with Captain Levi. Eren had to make sure everything was spotless, be had already wiped down the counters, cupboards and especially the bathroom with that decayed dead mouse and finally the floors down stairs as his final task for the day.
He got his cleanliness from his mother Carla Yeager, always reminding him to keep his bed net, put away the sticks in the drop, rinse his bowl when he was done and have a bath or at least rinse everyday. All of this reminded him of home, bringing comfort to his fond memories that Eren often done about when alone.
Once the floors were brushed, Eren starts to put away the groceries Mikasa had bought earlier, leaving it till now as he wanted to clean all the surfaces from within the cupboard When Eren finished tidying the goods away, something sparked his hearing as the sound of chopping made him arch his brow in confusion.
Outside Mikasa holds an axe she found round the corner of the cabin, it was when she left for town she noticed the chopped down tree trunk and assumed it had been used for getting firewood. A little exploring and she had already chopped down an oat tree, cutting it down in logs and harvested them for the cabin. Mikasa poses the axe, its blade resting on the centre, arches and slams for the perfect cut. She doesn't notice Eren coming up from behind as he spoke,
"Mikasa where did you-WOW!"
Spooked, Mikasa spins and almost swung back the axe, making Eren retreat almost immediately. Realising who it was, Mikasa recomposes the axe and lowers it off guard, letting Eren sigh in relief as he joked awkwardly,
"Ok, don't kill me just yet I'm not that annoying yet to live with."
"Don't walk up from behind when someone is holding an axe then." Mikasa rolled her eyes, a playful tone as she resumed to chopping.
"Where did you find it?" Asking again, Eren walks to the side of her.
"Spotted it from around the corner, and here I am."
Eren watches her continue, wanting to take over he offered, "Hey... I'll do it."
"What?" Mikasa stopped, straightening up and puts the axe to her side confused, "But.. It's nearly done?"
"Yeah," Eren agreed as he extends his hand out for the handle from Mikasa's side. A light smile forming on his face, "But I can finish it, you've done enough."
"No thank you." Mikasa declined, stiffening her grip that makes Eren's hand flinch.
"C'mon Mikasa," he insists, trying to grab for the axe, only seeing Mikasa step away that makes his voice tension, "Let me do it."
"No." Mikasa rejected in a simple tone.
Furrowing his eyebrows, trying to be helpful with a fake positive tone, "Let. Me. Help. You."
"It's. Ok. Eren. Thank. You." Mikasa copied, standing up to Eren with their faces staring eye to eye, "Why do you want to do this so badly?"
In question of his own actions. A sudden rush of subtle warmth touches his cheeks, scratching the back of his head. Eren also wondered why he wanted to take over the almost completed job. He steps back, shrugging with his reasons;
"Well, you do a lot for me anyway over the years. Be nice for a change for me to do more."
Mikasa looks art the axe, not sure in Eren's explanation, "But you do do stuff for me? You cleaned the whole bottom stairs and put away the groceries."
"What about the time I left you to get the sticks for the fire when we were kids...? Or when we were in cadets you always grabbed my bowl, and even when we were in the barracks after missions you made sure I didn't forget anything. Or finished my meals, I can go on-"
"Take the axe before you have a meltdown." Mikasa smiled, tossing up the handle so her hand was holding near the head of the blade and uses the handle to reach out to Eren.
"Good. You were up early this morning anyway.. you don't need to do as much anymore. Or look after me either." His hand takes the axe, adjusting f it as he examines it, "I mean this is a bit of a blunt blade."
"Well, no issue for me. Might be for you." Mikasa folded her arms, finding amusement, "Sure I can keep an eye if you're stuck and help.
"Ok you, you and your Ackerman strength. You forget I can handle things my own way.
"Oh yes, requires you to transform though. What is it that Jean mentioned once, dead 10 times over without it?"
Eren playfully looked offended by Mikasa's remark, rolling his eyes and makes his way to the tree stump to begin chopping,
"Alright you. I think we're gonna have problems living together, I never remember you this savy to me."
"I always was, I just remembered how much you depend on me especially when we were kids. Let me do all the heavy load, it's about time nearly 10 years later for you to get to it." Bland, but hidden a playful note in Mikasa's voice before she walked away from Eren leaving him smirking as he watched her head back into the cabin but stopped midway from entering inside to get one more look at him.
It was a gaze lasting moments longer than normal. It was one of the few exchange glances they shared just like their time in Marley and years when Eren had discovered he inherited Founding titan when he made contact with Dina's deranged titan. Eren's heart twitched at the sight of Mikasa's smile that was half hidden by the cabin door. A girl who barely did smile, but when she does he would do anything to protect it. It made Eren think for a second would he be recieving more of that graceful expression? Mikasa couldn't help it, it was the way he was looking at her, it was different since that day she confessed, thinking it was their final moments. It was when he risked his life as he was about to punch Dina's hand for her, promising to protect her and wrap her scarf forever and always.
When Eren looked at her before that day, it was either irritated by her protective nurture, neutral or slight blushing when he did do something nice. Now it was gentle and attentive as Mikasa wondered why he always seemed to look for a answer when Eren looked into her eyes. It confused her, however hoped one day she'll understand these moments. What felt like a bliss enterintiy only realistically lasted in seocnds, mikasa's scraf disrupts their gaze as it drifts off her sholder, surprising Mikasa slightly as she blinked out of trance and wraps it back into place. Eren too broke free from the gaze, shrugging it off and began chopping the leftover wood. Mikasa quickly looks to Eren, hoping he was looking back too but realised he was busy. Sadly ok with it, she sighed into herself and too looks away with the same light smile before entering the cabin... Not realising Eren did look back too in hope she'd be looking at him too if only Mikasa waited a little longer.
As the weeks flew into one whole month, Eren and Mikasa day by day worked piece by piece on the cabin. From fixing up the broken pieces of furniture, getting rid of the old clothes and Mikasa beginnng to go back to sitching the new clothes as she'd come home with matierals to make new clothes. Eren, using his knoweldhge to fix up doors and being in charge of the overall cleaning of the cabin, getting rid of anything and giving it a fresh and warmth feeling. Each day, it made Eren feel more and more in peace. A smile growing more frequently throughout the day. Mikasa, feeling klike she was twiddling into her childhood, living in a cosy Cabin with her parents up in the moutains. It was a familiar they didn't realise they were manifesitng itno their reality.
Mikasa would add her own feel to the cabin, buying plants and flowers to bring life. Something her mother done a lot when Mikasa watched her do so, telling the little girl how it brings a commidious and nature into home. On the floor, on tables, crates, hanging, pretty much everywhere, for Eren he didn't mind as he noticed Mikasa's blissful energy grow as she done this. To contribute to the decor, Eren too came into the villiage witgh Mikasa and chose a few rugs, growing fond of the idea of a nice to the eye home himself that when they came over and placed the rugs in various places of the cabin. They're just so fuzzy and warm and feel so good on your skin, it's instant happiness when I step or lie on them, something both Eren and Mikasa began to do when they sat next to the fire in the evening. It also breaks up the room and gives a nice pop of cream and texture. Soon there were candles added to the place, a note Eren suggested when it led to the darker evenings to brighten up the cabin. Then for the bedrooms and living spaces, Mikasa may have overloaded with cusions. that Eren had to playfully tease Mikasa to calm down or the place would be swandered. By the end of the month and were happy with the standards of the cabin from the inside, both Mikasa and Eren even got excited about their outside of the Cabin, allowing room for ideas and creaivity to merge them both as they planned out their garden area. Eren's task to build a fireshelter to gather all the wood to rest by the side of the cabin and Mikasa to begin something that truly brougth happy memories as she started to dig up the earth's grass to create her own garden.
By the end of the day, the sun settling behind the mountains creating the air to be tones of pinks and oranges, signalling the night to be near. Mikasa plunged the spde of the earth soil, showing the earth now avaiable to be planted tomorrow. She noticed to her right by the cabin the new little fireshed was ready S Eren had almsot finished stacking up the wood. But it wasn't the wood that made Mikasa lost focus, it was Eren' ntoiceably differnce in appedarance over the past few months. his hair using to hang just below his chin now reached his shoulders, the shorter bits of his bridge lightyl clinging his face. The emerald eyes foced as he layered each block of wood against the cabin. It makes Mikasa lean against the spade, folding her arms and watches Eren. She wasn't sure what to make of his longer hair, her heart flutrering that little bit faster.
The question was...
Did she like it?
Did she not?
Well, she loved it but also felt a blend of dislike towards it as Mikasa remembered all the times Eren kept his hair short due to the fact he felt more polished and put together. Even wouuld often to tell Mikasa to cit her own hair to ensure it didn't get czugvht in ODM gear, sadly that day came ttue as her hair has remained currently in a pixie cut. But that all changed after the medal ceremony after retaking Shiganishina. Eren graually cut his hair less and less often, revealing the length to his shoulders currently. He looked charming, carefree, but in Mikasa's heart...
It wasn't Eren.
Even though it was her Eren, just not how he use to be.
And not the Eren she knew deep down.
Unaware Eren had caught Mikasa watching him, feeling a little uneasy as she appeared to analyse. Eren pushed his hair back, feeling the strands stick to him as Mikasa still stared. He cleared his throat,
"Mikasa...?"
Eren watched Mikasa blink out of thought, realising she was in a haze rather than staring down at him. Alittle out of it, Mikasa shakes her head and pulled out Tbf spade from
The dirt and makes her way to Eren, "sorry I just noticed your hair has grown out quite abit since we gotten here."
For some reason his heart dropped.
"Oh."
"Oh, what...?"
"Is it bad?"
"Bad?" Mikasa quickly answered after, "no, no! It's not"
Relieved Eren chuckled awkwardly, "Right...I didn't realise I have grown it out this long now that you've mentioned it."
"You never noticed?"
"No.." Eren scratched the back of his head, "Well I have in a way.. Just never cared much attention to it."
"You use to." Mikasa replied, realising her inner thoughts came out to the surface that could lead to Eren questioning her reponse but doesn't and looked as if he knew what she meant deep down. His face lowered and his green eyes to the grace just beneath their feet he slowly answered.
"Yeah... I did didn't i?"
Silence returned to them both, surrounded by the sunset amongst the mountainous canvas. Mikasa's heart for some reason felt Eren's quitened deminer, the same vibe he gave her back in Marley over a month ago. A soft touch of wind breezed past them both, swifting their hair to the direction it was heading but their eyes and bodies stand still as Mikasa gazed at Eren whilst he remained phased in his thoughts. It was like Mikasa can sadness swarming inside of Eren and by that she extends her hand, touches Erens with brought him back in slight surprise she reassured,
"You really do suit the long hair. Just don't try get it caught in anything."
Triggering a memory, Eren gawked at Mikasa's sacratisc joke with a jag. A time when 12 year old Eren scowled Mikasa's over the sholder length black hair to cut it shorter in order to prevent herslef getting hurt using ODM gear. For two reasons, one because he didn't want her to get hurt. But secondly thanks to Jean Kirstens compliment he overheard in the barracks, saying how beautiful it was... Maybe a tint of unknown sour jealously in which made eren want to protect but also because he knew Mikasa would consider his opinion over horseface anyday. Who knew, it be something Mikasa still remembered to this day.
"Oh you raging I grew this out..?" Eren rolled his eyes playfully, "My bad didn't realise you took this so personally? At least I won't unlike you over half a year ago. What happened to you again? Your hair was reasonanly short until you got your pixie cut-"
"For your information, that had nothing to do with the ODM gear." mikasa cuts in, punching Eren's bicep and walks past retorting, "Blame Sasha getting excited over the lobster Niccolo made."
"oh sure, but we both know it you who decided to stand next to the girl who prays on anything edible along with the sharpish knife at hand."
"Fine, here's me trying to be nice and let you tajke it easy but you can make the dinner tonight." Mikasa joked in a punishing tone, "U;ll make sure to stand furthest away from you incase this hair of mine faces more trimmings."
"Good, wouldnt want the hairs in my food anyway, please stay upstairs for me," Eren continued, now following mikasa towards the cabin his face curled into a smirk when she barks back
"Shut it. It;ll be your hair if you don't it up."
There they go inside, ending their evening with more laughter and remarks as the day ended in their new cabin home; just the two of them.
Hehehehe... Oops..
Yeah, I have kinda left this story on the side. Not purposefully, I just don't think I am good at romance and fluffy stories XD So I get nervous and avoid it until a concept has breached my mind I am fully confident in. However I am tyring to push myself, honestly feel free to PM me and suggest how to be a romantic writer, I love reading them. Plz understand I have been flat out with shite and I hope you know I still continue this story in my imagination in hopes to type it out when I have the chance!
Sorry if my grammar in this is bad, I decided to not use a Beta Reader instead because of my other stories WIP...
Upcoming chapter: "Chapter 8: Remember those days?"