Chapter Five: 22

"WAKE UP!"

Mikasa's eyes are hardly open when she feels the full weight of a wild Sasha smash onto her, causing her to groan in pain. "Sash, what the hell?" She smushes her face deeper into her pillow, sighing. It couldn't be earlier than nine in the morning, so why was Sasha so awake? She was the kind of person who always overslept, even on days where she didn't particularly need to be anywhere.

"Happy birthday, Mikasa!" Sasha rolls onto her back (she's still spread out on top of a half asleep Mikasa).

Mikasa's eyes open a little bit more. She fights her arm out from her cocoon of covers (and Sasha's body) in order to reach for her phone. The date confirms it: Sunday, February 10, 2019. She already has a few happy birthday messages flooding in from people, including both of her parents. The earliest notification on her phone is from Eren, which confirms he made it home safe and he wished her good night again. She had been so caught up in their date that she had completely forgotten about her own birthday and also failed to tell him about it.

Sasha must have recognized this and decided to take matters into her own hands, which Mikasa confirmed once Sasha managed to drag her from the comfy, cozy confines of her bed into their small kitchen. Sasha had made them breakfast, along with a birthday cake for later. She had two large, golden "2" balloons, telling Mikasa she would have to dress cute at some point for instagram pics ("you only get your Taylor Swift birthday once, you know.").

After eating breakfast, Mikasa decided to crash again for a bit, more worn out from last night than she realized. Dating is hard. Not that she didn't have a good time; she had a great time. Things with Eren felt natural, but it was all new and she didn't quite know how she wanted him to fit into her life yet. It's a lot to think about.

Waking from her nap, Mikasa takes a quick shower and gets ready for Sasha's "photoshoot". She unlocks her phone after noticing that Eren has sent her a friend request on snapchat, along with requesting to follow her on Instagram. This definitely meant she would have to tell him her birthday is today and she has no doubts in her mind that he would feel bad for not doing something special last night. (He did cook her an amazing dinner, which she felt would be considered more than enough, but she could already hear him claiming he didn't make it specifically for her birthday, so it's not enough.) She accepts his requests and sends him a snap of herself doing a peace sign.

So I totally forgot to tell you that today's my birthday. You definitely don't need to do anything special.

Around fifteen minutes after Sasha's photoshoot, Mikasa had quickly changed out of the little black dress she had been wearing for pictures. Right on time, too, since there was a loud knock on the door, proceeded by Sasha yelling, "It's for you!" in a voice that sounded all too giddy.

Mikasa walks out of her room and blinks at Eren, who's currently standing in her doorway in a very nice peacoat with his red scarf wrapped tightly around his neck. His cheeks are dusted pink, likely from the cold winter night (how did they day pass so quickly? Mikasa wonders in the back of her mind). His hair is pulled up in his signature man bun with small pieces hanging loosely around his face. Beside him, still holding the door open, is Sasha, who's staring at Mikasa with a huge smirk and wiggling her eyebrows.

Mikasa approaches the two and swats Sasha away, who disappears to her room. Mikasa has no doubt her ear is pressed to the bedroom door, so she steps into the hallway and leaves the door cracked to talk to Eren.

"So, my roommate is a little nosy," she starts, looking up at him.

He smiles and fuck, it's blinding. "I gathered," he replies, hands buried in his coat pockets.

"So you ventured through this crazy weather for my birthday, I'm guessing?" she smiles in return.

"Well, it seemed liked I had to, considering we didn't celebrate yesterday at all."

Mikasa flashes a bashful smile, "I honestly forgot. I didn't remember until Sasha pounced on me this morning to wish me a happy birthday."

He tilts his head, a curious look in his eyes. Mikasa can't help but compare him to puppy, a super adorable, curious, puppy. "Are you always so forgetful?" he asks. The question sounds like it would be mean, but he says it with such humor and a touch of affection lacing his tone and she feels her heart melt a little bit.

"Mm, no, not normally. I mean, I was a little distracted, after all."

"Ah, were you now? I had no idea first dates were that distracting."

She shakes her head, laughing softly, "Only a little bit." She pauses, watching him for a moment. "How did you get in the building?" she asks.

"Oh, I uh," he pauses as well, looking away from her, "I may have waited outside until someone walked out of the building so I could get in."

She gives him an amused look, but doesn't reply.

"Does that sound stalkery?"

"A tiny bit, but I think I can let it slide this once. You must be freezing though."

He shakes his head, "No, no. I'm fine. I didn't wait that long, really. Besides, I actually wanted to ask if you'd want to go out to celebrate? Nothing crazy. I was thinking maybe some coffee."

Mikasa smiles, "That sounds lovely. Don't you get sick of coffee though, working in a coffee shop?"

"How could I get sick of coffee when it's always discounted for me?"

Nodding, Mikasa replies, "That's fair. I'm going to grab my coat and we can head out, okay?"

It's a little shorter than I intended, but it's here! This idea for this fic came from me listening to 22 and thinking about Mikasa's birthday. I think it's a little funny that this chapter is being posted shortly after my 22 birthday as well.

Anyways, the next chapter is when we really start to get into Eren and Mikasa's relationship!

Please continue to leave comments! They are my life source and encourage me to actually write.