A/N: Shout out to all my readers, you guys are really amazing and you actually make me so happy. When I decided to join fanfiction a little ago it was something new and awesome and I loved reading all these great stories created by fans. When I decided to write my own stories I thought maybe two or three people would read them, but to get this kind of praise and reception has been amazing and it has made me so happy. If anyone ever wants to PM me about the story or AoT or life, don't hesitate I'm always checking my messages and account, so I will always reply to you. One of my enjoyments of this website is interacting with readers and other writers; it makes the ride more interesting. Alright enough from me now, here's the next chapter. Again I'm sorry for the long wait between chapters, I've got one more week of exams and then I'm done and updates will come a lot faster I promise. As well as a couple new stories for you guys!

Thanks to the guest who left a really nice and funny review, I can't reply directly to you, but I'm super glad you love the story!

The title is a line from the song Hey Ya! by Outkast

Chapter 6 – What Makes Love the Exception?

Mikasa ran to her room leaving a trail of tears behind her. She had heard Eren call after her, but it just made her heart ache more. She didn't want to see anyone right now; she just wanted to hide in her room forever. She ran into her room shutting the door and locking it behind herself. However she had forgotten that it was three o'clock in the morning and Sasha was fast asleep in her bed. She forgot about everyone else, she was so caught up in the moment and Eren's injury that she forgot it was the middle of the night. She saw Sasha stir when she closed the door, but she just rolled over and went back to sleep without a word.

She lied down upon her bed and buried her head in her pillow. She threw her blankets over herself cutting off all outside air she felt. She was suffocating under the sheets, but she didn't have a care in the world. She couldn't for the life of herself stop her body from shivering. She felt cold, colder than ever before. It was as if someone had stripped her of her clothes and left her bare in the snow. She forgot what it felt like to be this cold; she hadn't felt like this since the day she lost her parents. She hated it; her home was once again gone, gone off with some blonde chick with no emotions.

She reached up to grab at the scarf around her neck as more tears started to fall from her eyes. She felt the tears drop on her scarf, soaking through the material. She pulled it up over her mouth like she had so many times before when she was embarrassed or sad and needed comfort, but today it felt different, it felt empty. Today, her body kept shivering and the scarf didn't bring her the warmth that it always had. She couldn't contain herself any longer, sobs began to escape her lips and all restraint was gone. First she lost the boy that she loved and now she lost the warmth from his scarf, the one that she was given nine years ago, the one that came with the promise that they would always be together. Some promise that was, nothing lasts forever.

She continued to cry and cry, not knowing how long she had been going for, but she didn't care either way. There was no way she was getting any sleep tonight anyways, not with the trauma she had experienced today. Her body shook with every sob and her chest ached with every breath. She furiously rubbed at her eyes causing them to puff up. She no longer had anyone to live for.

"M-Mikasa?"

It was Sasha's quiet and concerned whisper coming from the other side of the room. Sasha had heard Mikasa cries in her sleep before, it used to happen quite often the first couple of weeks of training. That was when Mikasa told her about the nightmares and her parents and everything that went on in her past life. How Eren used to bring her comfort at night and they would sleep together to make the nightmares go away. Tonight was different though, these weren't the quiet muffled sobs that Sasha was used to. These were screams compared to the usual contained ones. Sasha could see Mikasa's body shaking from the other side of the room. There was definitely something else wrong. She made her way towards Mikasa's bed and placed a hand on the bump in her blankets, assuming it was Mikasa's hip.

"Hey Mikasa, what's wrong?"

Once again Mikasa had forgotten Sasha was even in the room, she was so caught up in her sorrows that she didn't notice how much of a commotion she was causing. She slowly pulled the blanket down revealing the top half of her face, but that was enough to make Sasha gasp.

Sasha saw Mikasa's swollen eyes, her tear stricken cheeks, her sweat coated forehead and the look of pure hurt in her eyes. Sasha was on her feet in a second.

"Hey, hey, hey Mikasa, what's up?"

Mikasa still didn't want to talk to anyone, her throat was constricted and her voice hoarse from all the crying. She didn't want to burden Sasha with her problems. She didn't deserve that, she waved her off.

"I'm fine Sasha, just another nightmare."

"Mikasa don't give me that, you know I see right through your crap. Tell me the truth." Sasha wasn't demanding, but Mikasa could hear the concern in her voice.

"That is the truth." Mikasa pressed on.

"No it's not. I know your nightmare cries and they aren't nearly as desperate as these ones."

"It was just a really bad one…" Mikasa whispered.

Sasha wasn't buying Mikasa's lies, something was up, but she would humour her just to give her the privacy she wanted. Sasha always respected Mikasa and understood all the pain and hurt she had been through.

"Alright Mikasa, you can just tell me what Eren did in the morning."

Mikasa gasped, a shocked look appearing on her face, "H-How did you know it was Eren?"

"Mikasa there's only one person in the world that could cause this," she motioned over Mikasa's disheveled body and messy bed.

"Plus Eren wouldn't let anyone else treat you like this, only his stubborn clueless self."

Mikasa would've laughed if she wasn't so devastated. Sasha knew her better than she thought and she was right. Eren was the only one who could do this to her. It was actually quite stupid of her to get so flustered over him, but she couldn't help it, she loved him. Mikasa looked up from her downcast eyes to see Sasha looking at her with concerned ones. However Sasha had a reassuring smile on her lips as she rubbed Mikasa's leg and told her, "It's Eren, I'm sure he will apologize tomorrow, you know how he is."

That really didn't make Mikasa feel any better because this wasn't something he could apologize for. But she faked her smile and thanked Sasha for her kindness before telling her she needed some air. With that Sasha was back in bed and Mikasa wandering the halls again, except this time she had a destination in mind.

Jean pushed open the door to the gym; he loved his independent workouts early in the morning. Any extra training that he could do to secure his spot in the top ten was worth it. He walked through the doorway and instantly felt his heart rate speed up, heat rising to his cheeks and his shorts tightening. Across the room, clad in short gym shorts and a sports bra was Mikasa. Jean always thought Mikasa looked good, but decked out in her gym clothing, he didn't know if he could contain himself.

Jean knew it was going to end in disappointment, but he still found himself gravitating towards the girl, her rock hard abs and legs of steel making him drool. She was working at a punching bag and man was she working that punching bag. Her punches and kicks swift and breathless, she was moving faster than Jean could follow and yet her breathing didn't falter. The sound of skin and muscle connecting with hard cushion echoing throughout the gym as the bag periodically smacked against the back wall as it swayed back and forth. Her scarf swaying, with the motions of her attacks. Jean couldn't stop staring at her toned muscles, each curve and bump clearly visible and the thin layer of sweat that made her glow. She reminded him of an angel. He walked up behind her, his stare not faltering from her body as he whispered.

"Hey Mikasa."

She spun around obviously startled by the sudden voice and looked ready to strike.

"Jean never sneak up on someone practicing combat training. I was in my zone."

"S-Sorry, I just didn't expect anyone in here at this time."

Mikasa just shrugged, positioning the bag at a halt in front of her again as she got into her ready position. She began her assault on the bag and Jean got lost in her attacks again, fascinated by the swiftness and beauty of her movements. After a few minutes, Mikasa still wasn't tiring, but Jean wasn't complaining.

"I-I've never seen anyone like you before, your b-beautiful black hair flows with the wind."

Mikasa jumped again, this time spinning around and connecting a right jab straight to the bridge of Jean's nose. Jean yelled out cupping his now broken nose.

"Thank you," Mikasa whispered as she turned to exit the gym finished with her workout. Jean had startled her again, but this time she was so into her zone that she instinctively hit him.

As Mikasa changed out of her gym clothes she thought about the realization she came to during her workout. It wasn't Eren's fault that he loves another girl, it's her own foolish self who thought by some chance Eren would feel the same way back. This was stupid of her to ignore Eren for falling for a girl; she knew it would happen one day, when he looked past his drive to kill titans. She just didn't think it would happen this fast and she hoped, just hoped that it would've been her. No matter how hard she tried not to think about it, she still worried about Eren. She left him in the infirmary, yeah he was with Annie, but Mikasa had seen how she cared for Eren, she just beat on him and never showed any apathy or care. Mikasa realized Eren still needed her, especially now that she was the reason he was in the infirmary in the first place.

Mikasa slowly snuck past the nurse at the infirmary, visiting hours were long over and everyone in the barracks were either asleep or at least pretending to be. Thankfully Eren and Armin were the only ones in the infirmary tonight.

She cracked open the door just enough to see through a slit. Eren and Armin were passed out on their respective beds. It brought a smile to her face bringing back the memories of when they used to fall asleep leaving Mikasa alone in the park. Some days she would cuddle up with Eren and fall asleep on his chest. They always looked so peaceful when they were asleep, especially Eren because he was reckless when he was awake, especially as a kid. Even now, not much had changed. Eren was still his foolish, reckless, idiotic, OBLIVIOUS self.

Why couldn't he just see how much I love him, why can't he just reciprocate the feelings?

Mikasa crept up to the two boys in their beds. She slowly snuck her way through the room, taking gentle steps in order to not put too much pressure on a creaky floorboard.

Step

Step

Step

Step

Creak.

Shit

Mikasa halted in her place, she wasn't ready to face an awoken Eren just yet, not after the bomb he dropped on her earlier. She saw both boys stir but neither motioned to get up. The two boys were heavy sleepers, nothing had definitely changed, she smiled to herself.

She walked over to the chair next to Eren's bed, most likely previously occupied by Annie. She sat herself down on the chair and stared down at Eren's sleeping body. His chest inflated and deflated in pattern as he breathed in and out. He was always a peaceful sleeper, he never snored and barely shuffled around, but he loved to kick. She learned that the hard way when they were kids, when he used to comfort her nightmares by crawling into bed with her and it always worked, up until she got a swift kick right to the thigh. It didn't matter though, she still loved being in his embrace, so much that she was tempted to crawl into bed with him right now if the situation deemed appropriate.

Mikasa leaned down to brush a couple of stray strands of hair off his forehead, running her hand through his hair to cement them in place. She always had an obsession with his long brown locks. She never told him, but when he would fall asleep next to her, she would run her hands all through his hair trying to capture every bit in her grasp. Now as her hand came back she brushed it against his forehead checking his temperature for any sign of a fever. There was nothing though, so she went back to running her hands through his beautiful chocolate mane.

. . .

Eren heard the unmistakable crack of the floorboard, the one floorboard a few steps away from his bed. He might not have been the best soldier, but he was observant that's for sure. He knew right away there was only one girl who would sneak into the room with even a bother for their sleep. The nurse, Shadis, Hanji and even Annie would've just trudged right in without a care for their sleep.

He remembered Mikasa storming out the door earlier, he remembered trying to catch her and talk with her. He realized now was his chance, there was no one else, but he knew she wasn't trying to wake either of them. He decided to humour her, pausing mid stir to let her relax in peace of their sleep. He heard the soft sound of the small cushion being squashed as she sat down and felt a warm presence dangling over him. He could feel her eyes on him, a trait he had picked up a long time ago, not even needing to see her eyeing him to known when she was watching or staring.

There were a few minutes of silence before he felt Mikasa's hand on his forehead seemingly brushing away the hair. He had to use all his strength to not flinch at her touch and give himself away, but Mikasa's touch was so kind, so gentle he easily relaxed into it. This wasn't the first time Eren pretended to be asleep next to Mikasa, he knew the drill. She loved to run her hands through his hair, especially when she thought he didn't know, he struggled to keep the smile off his face as she did exactly that. He reminisced in her touch, relaxing and feeling every muscle and nerve loosen as she ran each finger through the hair on his head. He knew she would be back, he didn't think she would even last as long as she did before she came creeping back into the room. She could never leave his side, which was one thing Eren always hated. He loved Mikasa, he loved having her by his side all day, all the time, but when she followed him into the survey corps, he knew it was only bad to come. What else was he expecting her to do, live at home alone, farming, cleaning while he fought? A life where she would have no idea what he was doing. She could never live that way, she could never live without him. He felt the soft brush of Mikasa's palm on his forehead feeling his temperature, he internally scoffed.

Things never really change do they?

. . .

Mikasa brought her hand back down to her lap, she knew it wasn't right to interfere with Eren and Annie's relationship, but it was too much stress for her to handle. How could her crush for so many years, her only family, love another girl? She knew it was always just a dream that he would love her back, but secretly she always hoped it was a reality. She remembered Sasha always telling her, 'tell him, tell him, you never know what he'll say.' She was always afraid, always afraid of being heartbroken. She could deal with never asking and bundling up all her love inside, but she couldn't deal with the heartbreak of being rejected by him. Well she knew the answer now and she was right, it crushed her into millions of pieces. Armin's words alone were enough to send her into a spiral of devastation and angst. She had to leave the room or else the nurse might come in and think she was having an emotional breakdown. She was, but that's beside the point, her state was not important; she just needed to protect Eren at any costs.

She grabbed for Eren's hand, trying to find comfort in his touch, something she always did as a child. She was calming but then realized maybe she shouldn't hold his hand because of his newly updated relationship status. She started to pull away as her other hand reached up to subconsciously pull at her scarf, when Eren's hand tightened around hers. To say she was surprised would be a massive understatement and she couldn't hold in the gasp that escaped her lips. She looked down at him, expecting to see his bright emerald eyes looking up at her, but he was still out like a brick. No sign of his sleep being disturbed and he looked peaceful as ever. She felt the heat rise to her cheeks and this time she pulled the scarf over her mouth to hide her embarrassment and most prominently her everlasting love.

. . .

Eren instantly missed Mikasa's touch. The second she pulled away from his hair and scalp, he felt a shiver rush down his back, as if something had just sucked all the heat out of his body, the cold pouncing on him like a pack of wild dogs. He waited a few seconds to see if her touch would return, but there was nothing. Maybe she fell asleep; it wouldn't be the first time. Back when they were younger she would always eventually fall asleep during her untangling of his mop. Although Eren would usually be the one to fall asleep first, so he honestly didn't know if there was fact behind his thoughts.

No, he didn't feel her head or body resting over him, but he still felt her presence, he knew it was a risk of being exposed but he opened his eyes slightly to look up at her. Thankfully she wasn't looking back, Mikasa was staring off into space, specifically the wall across the room, but something told Eren she wasn't thinking about the wall. He saw that her eyes were still slightly puffy, had she been crying? Instead of the stoic expression she usually held, it was replaced with a frown. Mikasa never showed her displeasure around him unless he was getting himself hurt or someone was hurting him. All the pain he never gets to see, all the hurt and despair she fells all the time, but keeps it locked away, how could he be so foolish to not notice?

He was done with pretending to sleep, he needed to comfort her now, but that was when she reached for his hand, Eren panicked and slammed his eyes shut. He felt her wiggle her hand into his, intertwining their fingers together. Another action she used to do when they slept as kids, except this one was mutual. Eren would do the same for her when she had nightmares.

He was just relaxing in her touch, reminiscing in the return of the warmth, when she started to pull away. Eren didn't think before he acted and regretted his decision immediately. Locking their hold together, not letting her pull away. He heard the small gasp that fell from her lips as she was shocked by his grip. He fucked up, he knew it. Surprisingly she didn't react verbally or physically, Eren couldn't see, but he could feel her questioning gaze on him. Then he heard the o so familiar sound of her scarf brushing up against her cheeks and ears, something she loved to do when she was embarrassed or nervous. He knew now he could relax in her touch and hopefully comfort that frown of hers that he couldn't get out of his mind.

. . .

Mikasa always felt like an idiot getting embarrassed over Eren, but she couldn't help it, she loved him, for a very long time at that. After she got over her embarrassment, she heard Sasha's voice echo in her head again, 'tell him.' Maybe telling him wasn't such a bad idea now, he was asleep so he would never know and maybe getting it off her chest would help with the heartbreak.

So she tried it, she tightened her grip on his hand and began to confess. She started easy, telling him about how much she cared for him, how much he meant to her, how she protected him because she cared and because she wanted him to be safe, not just for his safety, but for her own selfish reasons. She needed him by her side, not the other way around. He was her home, he was everything she had left, and he was everything she ever cared for. She couldn't live without him. She thanked him for saving her that day, for coming to find her, even though they were complete strangers at the time. He gave her a home when she had lost everything, but he gave her something, something new to hold on to, someone new to love.

She brings up the time he lost his mom, referring to Carla as their mom. How she lost her home all over again, but then quickly realized that it wasn't true, she hadn't lost her home, not all of it. Not if the little green eyed boy was still with her, Eren was her home and he always will be. All she ever wanted was to grow up with him, have a family and live the life she only got to experience until she was nine. One day try and give her child a life fulfilled with love and care. She could feel the tears threatening to fall, but she stayed strong, she fought them off and kept pushing forward. She could hear the hoarse tone in her voice, but she had to get it out. She couldn't contain it anymore, for her own good.

. . .

Eren was shocked to say the least, he knew Mikasa cared, and he knew she loved him, but this sounded like more. He always thought she felt indebted to him and that was her reason, but he could hear the raw emotion and passion in her voice. There was something bizarrely different in her tone.

Eren struggled to fight off the tears welling up in his own eyes as Mikasa brought up her parents and his mother's deaths. They never really talked about it, neither having the courage or desire to bring the topic up, but now Mikasa did and Eren was utterly shocked and confused. She brought up every part of the past, from their meeting to their days in his home and she kept bringing up the subject of her scarf. Many years ago when he wrapped that maroon scarf around her neck, his reasoning was simple, she said she was cold. How could he have stood there with a scarf warming his body, when she was standing there freezing, he just wanted her to be warm. He didn't realize all the importance that was bound to come from it, how one piece of fabric meant so much to her. He always questioned why she wore it every day, now she was giving him answers, she was giving him love. He was shocked because Mikasa never spoke like this, telling him she needed him for her selfish reasons. He would've saved her again and again; she didn't have to thank him for that. He could sense something that night when he went to visit the Ackermans and when Mikasa was missing, that drew the line for him. It's almost as if he could sense the legacy Mikasa would leave behind if she survived, she was a lost girl, sad and alone. But look at her now, one of the Scouting Legion's top soldiers. He was jealous, he knew it was true, but no matter how jealous he was, he was still proud of her and in Mikasa's words, he will always be her home.

. . .

It was time, time to tell him, time to confess. She could feel her throat constricting and her mouth drying up. Why did it always feel like this when it came to her love for Eren? It had been there her entire life, so why was she so shy now. She felt like she was confessing to a priest about all her sins, except her sins were love and Eren the priest. Just do it, she told herself, just do it. It's only Eren, what's the worst that can happen.

Well he says no and their friendship, relationship, family and her home is gone in the blink of an eye. Even just the thought of losing Eren was heart wrenching, it made her sick to her stomach. It just made her realize more and more how much she needed Eren, how desperate she would be without him. She needed to tell him, he deserved to know after all these years. Even though he doesn't reciprocate the feelings, he has the right to know. They always shared secrets and this was her biggest secret of all.

No more stalling, it's time to tell him, her thoughts kept wandering and if she kept pushing it off, then he would wake and that wasn't an option.

Well here goes nothing.

Mikasa tightened her grip on Eren hand and began her confession.

Eren, I love you. I will always love you and have always loved you since the day you saved me. And no not platonic love, love from the heart. The love that makes me want to have a family with you, the love that makes me blush every time I see you. The love that warms my body every day I get to be with you. The love that makes me jealous of you and Annie. The love that is apparently obvious to everyone else in the world except for you. Yes Eren, I care for you and I am over protective of you, but the reason is because I want to be with you every waking minute of the day. I love you Eren.

The tears started to fall from her eyes, the meaning behind her words settling in. The thought that Eren would never be hers once again becoming a reality.

For the first few weeks of joining the Survey Corps, I couldn't sleep. I missed your warmth; I still miss your warmth. I cried myself to sleep nights on end from the nightmares I couldn't get out of my mind. I had nightmares about losing you, something I can't help but think about all the time because it destroys my heart. I've experienced way more death than any teenager deserves to experience and I can't take any more of it. I wouldn't be able to live without you. I love you Eren, I always have.

When I heard about your relationship with Annie it crushed my heart. I was so clueless and hearing it come from Armin's voice made it worse. I knew one day that you would stop being clueless and fall for a girl, I always hoped it would be me. It's all I ever wanted in my life and now that the reality of it is impossible, I don't want to live anymore. The true reason why I ran out of the room today was because I couldn't handle seeing you and Annie together as a couple. I always feared it, when you started training with Annie, I could tell you guys were forming a connection and I hated it. I know it's selfish, but I want you to myself Eren. I always have, no girl is good enough for you, no girl understands you like I do, your rage and stubbornness, I know how to contain it and I know the true caring and loving individual that hides beneath all that rage. I know the true you Eren, Annie isn't good enough for you, she doesn't understand. I just want you Eren, it's all I've ever wanted, why do you have to do this to me, why Eren. I love you, please Eren, please.

Mikasa's tears were pouring at this point, all down her cheeks and chin onto Eren. Her sniffling and sobbing interrupting her speech and making her sound weak, but she was weak, she was broken.

. . .

Eren was speechless, literally without a word. What was he supposed to say, to do? Mikasa just confessed her everlasting love for him. He could obviously hear her sobs and sniffles throughout her speech and it broke his heart. What was he supposed to say though? He had to admit, he did start having weird feelings toward Mikasa. That day in his room when she came storming in all dressed up with makeup on. He couldn't get over how beautiful she was, how stunning she looked and how it left him speechless in a different way, but did he love her back? He loved Annie, didn't he? Everything was so confusing, he had known Mikasa for so many years, but he never thought of her as a sister. He always felt this special connection towards Mikasa, but then why did everyone always accidentally refer to them as boyfriend and girlfriend. Was Mikasa telling the truth when she said everyone else knew about her love except for him? Was it always that obvious? Eren couldn't think straight, he had no idea what to do.

That was until he felt the tears hit his skin, Mikasa's whimpering and waterworks soaking through his shirt and beating against his arm. That was the breaking point for him; he couldn't stand to lie there in silence anymore.

Eren sat up in his bed taking Mikasa in his arms, cupping the back of her head against his palm and pulled her head into the crook in his neck. He rubbed her back, not speaking a word just trying to comfort her.

"E-Eren? You're supposed to be sleeping."

Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. Eren's awake, how much did he hear? Oh god, no.

Mikasa's tears just intensified, now knowing that Eren had heard every word, her secret was revealed. Now Eren would lose every bit of care and respect he ever carried for her.

"Mikasa."

Eren said her name in the sweetest, softest voice. He pulled back from their embrace and looked at her. Staring right into her eyes, Mikasa could see tears welling up in his eyes. Eren gently wiped her tears off her cheeks with his thumb, Mikasa could feel callouses that had built up on his hands from training. He was so gentle, so calm as he wiped her tears away. He hushed her whimpering as he caressed her cheek. Even in her state, Mikasa could feel the heat rushing to her cheeks, the warmth spreading throughout her body from Eren's touch. He was still staring at her, delving deep into her eyes; she could see her own reflection in his stare. She didn't think her body could get any hotter.

That was until in one swift motion Eren pulled her lips into his, interlocking their love into one.

A/N:

Dun, dun, dun. Cliff-hanger!

Okay for those of you who are going to say Mikasa is out of character in the scene with Jean, I know she is. It is supposed to be inserted for humour and a parody of the scene when Jean first sees her in the cabin and is fascinated with her hair. She is also riled up from her devastation and that's why she doesn't apologize to Jean because the line is taken from the manga/anime. If it bothers people a lot I'll remove the scene. Once again, thanks for reading and please leave a review to let me know what you guys think of the ending! I'm really sorry for the long update time again!