Oh my gosh I am so sorry this took so long! Finding time coupled with art block does that to a writer I suppose. Along with my newest obsession, I'm not ashamed to say I am now a diehard Miraculous Ladybug fan lol. (It's cheesy but awesome, seriously go watch it...in French or Korean...don't do the English *shudders*) But I rewatched the first season to inspire myself and it worked like a charm. Speaking of seasons, season 2 is officially confirmed for the later half of 2016 (speculated to be June) so Glory Hallelujah! *tears of joy*
Anywho, continuing on with last chapter's theme, Mikasa's girly week and finishing that up, so the But I am pleasantly surprised that this chapter came out more Eren-centric. We're starting to get more serious now, delve into their relationship and start adding some tension, solve issues, more stuff like that. Granted they've already gone through a ton of horrid trials and tension in their relationship so I won't be a drama queen when it comes to that. (Dontcha hate it when authors do that?)
Enjoy guys! And I decided I honestly can't keep criticizing myself for adding smut scenes, it's what most of you are here for right? Lol.
(Edit: fixed the bold and italics)
•
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Day: 3
She twists in place as she wakes, her eyes barely peel open, and she looks up at her sleeping partner with a contented sigh. It's still early, the sun hasn't risen, and he is fast asleep, the deep blue hue of the earliest dawn highlighting his features. She smiles, observing his parted lips, his luscious brown lashes, and how his delectable chest rises and falls with each steady breath.
Her hand, which is currently resting on the mattress, reaches up to allow her to swipe her thumb across his sleep-swollen lips. And she stifles a giggle when he smacks them together and shifts just slightly. He rolls onto his back and falls still yet again, and she shuffles closer so she can place her arms on his chest, prop her chin upon them, and gaze lovingly at him. She sometimes ponders what life would have been like for them, had all those unspeakable tragedies not occurred. She wonders if they would have grown to love each other still, and if they would have had a more tender, less agonized relationship over the past few years. Granted, she wouldn't change a thing about how they are now. But it doesn't hurt to wonder.
She feels him move, his arm comes up to drape across her back, and she knows he's partially awake. She lays her head down on his chest and palms the skin there. "Good morning." she murmurs, and she hears him hum in response.
"Too...early." he mumbles, and she smiles when he gathers her up in his arms and rolls back onto his side. She's trapped most comfortably in his grasp, but she doesn't mind one bit. His lips are gently pecking her shoulder, and he moves to entangle their fingers together. She pulls their joined hands to her face so she can press a kiss to the back of his calloused hand. And she hears him give a light chuckle as he nuzzles into her neck.
She doesn't really register that her eyes close, or that she falls asleep - along with him - for the next hour or so. It feels like she's blinked and the sun is suddenly up in the sky and rising steadily. She shifts and sits up, his loose arms falling from her waist as she moves. It's late, she needs to get up, and so does he. "Eren." she says, shaking him by his shoulder.
He mumbles in his sleep and stretches before he rolls to his opposite side and simply stays asleep. She sits back on her haunches and scoffs, "Five minutes." she tells his sleeping form, despite knowing he can't hear her. She stands and moves to dress, making a quick trip to the bathroom before her internal clock tells her to try again with Eren.
She stares at him with her hands on her hips, observing his parted, pouty, sleep-swollen lips. His hair is all over the place, it makes her want to thread her fingers in it and kiss him all over his gorgeous face. He really shouldn't be allowed to look so cute, it makes her hesitate, and that makes her feel somewhat infuriated. She really doesn't want to wake him, but they are soldiers, and they have training to do, chores to finish. She bites her lip and shakes his shoulder again, persistently even when he rolls and tries to act like he's still asleep after he is clearly awake. "Eren!" she whines when he smiles. "I know you're awake, get up or we'll miss breakfast." she finally pulls away and turns around to cross her arms over her chest in wait. He won't get up until she ignores him.
Of course it works like a charm, she hears him shuffling, but she fights the urge to look over her shoulder with every ounce of her being. He's moving closer, she can tell without looking anyways. And she smirks in triumph when his arms lace around her waist and tug her back into his warm chest in a loose embrace. "What a rude awakening..." he whispers in that husky, sleepy voice she absolutely adores. She hears the teasing lilt in his voice and simply scoffs.
"You were being stubborn." she plays along.
He hums and she rolls her eyes when he starts planting kisses on her clothed shoulder. He's about to say something else but there is a light knock at the door. He groans and releases her, moving to crack the door open. She sits on the bed while he converses rather quietly with whoever is outside. It sounds like Hanji, but it could be Armin, she doesn't know, so she'll simply wait until they are done talking.
He turns around and closes the door, peering at her sheepishly from under his bangs. She knows that look, he's going to do something she doesn't like. "I...um, Hanji needs to do another experiment, with my shifting." he mumbles.
Yea. Of course he does. She just hates how much of a toll shifting takes on his body. But, it's beneficial to humanity's survival, so she can't say no, or at the very least protest. "Okay." she says in a sigh. She's not going to make a fuss, it's not worth it because he'll just get angry and vent on her. She's learned from experience that she shouldn't contradict him in every dangerous situation, no matter how much she wants to protect him.
He sees how worried she is though, "Mikasa, I'll be fine. I'll take bigger breaks, that one time...I know I was overdoing it. And I promised I wouldn't overdo it anymore. So I won't, okay?" he's moved close enough to cup her face in his hands, and she nods slowly, though her lip is pouty and her eyes downcast.
"I understand, Eren. Just be careful, I'll come watch after I'm done with my own duties." she says, returning the gesture by placing her own thin hands upon his cheeks. He smiles assuringly and kisses her long and soft, his thumb drawing a circle on her cheekbone.
"I will." is all he says before he moves to get dressed in something disposable. Granted he has gotten much better at not losing his clothing, but there's no harm in precautions. After all, he loses more control with each subsequent transformation, best be prepared in any case.
She watches him with a sad smile, she knows he's going to be rather out of it later, maybe even have a fever. So she can't help but feel melancholy watching him prepare. He gives her one last kiss before he leaves, and she makes him promise to eat between transformations and drink lots of water or else he'll answer to her. He laughs and tells her that he kind of looks forward to that, leaving the girl with warm cheeks and a wistful, hesitant smile on her face.
•
•
He gives a sharp gasp as he releases his transformation for the third time today. Hanji promised only once more after this, and he's rather glad of it. As he tugs his arm from the superheated flesh of his Titan body, he cringes as the familiar sensation of warm liquid trickling from his nose. He crawls from the neck and nearly collapses into sudden, strong arms that help him stand. "That was very good, Eren." Hanji's voice reaches his ears.
"You don't seem to be deteriorating in intelligence like that one time. It seems that - with proper training - you can hold it longer and your body can withstand more and more transformations." she says as she sits him down.
Eren lets out a heavy, ragged breath and gags slightly on the blood running unbidden down his throat when he turns his head up to alleviate his nosebleed. "Well, withstand is a rather loose term." he can hear the cringe in Hanji's voice as she dumps cold water on a rag and drapes it over his forehead. "I'm sorry this is so hard for you, Eren. I wish I didn't need anymore data today." she apologizes and uses a cloth to wipe the blood from his nose.
He huffs and gives a light smile, "It's o-" he gasps and gives a cough, doubling over as he chokes, simply over his dry throat, accompanied by the bleeding, and a coughing fit overtakes him.
"Easy, easy, Eren. Breathe." Hanji rubs circles on his back and hands him a cup of water.
He takes it gratefully, holding in his next few coughs as he gulps it down and gasps again when he's finished. His breath is still ragged, and he sees Hanji frown out of the corner of his eye. "It's okay..." he finishes his earlier sentence with a heave of breath.
"Not really." she mumbles, he looks very pale, and she ponders whether or not another transformation is a good idea. She needs the data, granted, but she also needs her shifter in good health. "Answer honestly." she says, "Do you think you can take another transformation in an hour?"
He doesn't really think, he just nods. He'd rather not postpone this transformation until another day and add a few more bedridden days to the schedule. "Yeah. I just need to eat and I'll be ready."
"Take the hour, Eren. Go relax for a bit first." Hanji orders, helping him to his shaky feet.
"Squad Leader." Eren jumps at the new voice, and he lets out a sigh at the familiar arms suddenly swaddling his waist. "I'll take him to lunch." Mikasa says with a nod of respect, and he puts as much weight on his own legs as he possibly can. Despite the fact that his limbs are screaming in stress. He hates being a burden like this. But he also doesn't want to seem whiny or ungrateful, so he still drapes his arm over her shoulders and let's her hold him close. Even so, she notices and frowns, "Eren, you're tripping, lean on me." she says.
He stubbornly holds back, "I'm fine."
She stops walking and closes her eyes, "Eren-" she begins, and he flinches at the tone of her voice, she doesn't sound very happy. In fact, he's never really acknowledged how scary she can sound when she's angry. Her speaking through gritted teeth and a forced calm demeanor is honestly a little terrifying. "-I'm not in the mood for your stubbornness. You need help. I don't give a damn about your pride or whatever has always made you act this way around me." she says with finality.
He blinks down at her, granted he's only just barely taller, but even so he feels a little small next to her glowering stare. He sighs and gives in, feeling relief swim through his muscles when he leans on her. "I'm sorry." he murmurs.
She begins walking and nods, "I'm used to it." she whispers, yet he hears her anyway.
'Okay, ouch...' he flinches yet again. She has a point, but it still hurts to hear her say that, to point out that he's never been very good in this regard. Trusting other people to care for him, her in particular. He still mentally kicks himself at night for being so mean and stubborn even as she's wrapped comfortably within his arms. He's feeling very guilty now, he keeps doing it, after all. Trying to push her away when all she's doing is helping. 'I'm such a stubborn, selfish brat!' he admonishes himself in his head. He knows he better make it up to her.
"Mikasa, really, I'm sorry. I did it again." he sighs.
"Eren, it's fine, really I-"
"No, Mika. It's not. I need to curb my habits, they don't do me or you any good anyways." he interrupts, causing her to stop walking again, they are almost in the mess hall after all, there isn't much privacy there. "I want to change, but it will take me a while. I don't want to hurt you anymore, and I just did. So I'm really, very sorry." he kisses her forehead to emphasize. "I can't promise I'll stop right away, old habits die hard, after all. But I'll do my best."
She feels silly, because he's really being very nice, but she's got tears shimmering in her eyes despite her smile. She's touched that he's changed so much already, the Eren she knows doesn't usually apologize. She chuckles in a hiccup when he wipes a stray tear from her cheek and kisses her there. "Thank you." she murmurs and hugs him, allowing him to lean his weight on her. He still needs her help after all.
"Are you hungry?" he asks.
"I should ask you the same." she says, that stern tone re-entering her voice as she pulls back to face him.
"Yes, mum." he smiles and chuckles when she gives him a playful swat on the shoulder.
•
•
He feels a little nervous with her watching, he knows she hates it when he transforms. Even when she concedes without a fight he can still feel her steely, scrutinizing gaze upon him. It's a little unnerving, and he has to take a moment to keep himself calm. He takes a deep breath and focuses, he has to transform, do the experiment.
'Got to do the experiment.' he repeats in a mantra, making his goal clear and precise. Determined and focused, he lifts his hand up and sinks his teeth into the skin there without hesitation. There's that familiar sting of almost agonizing pain, the tang of iron on his tongue, and then the yellowy-green spark before he's enveloped in blazing heat and seeing from fifteen meters above ground.
He doesn't remember much, strangely. There are flashes of something like him building yet another log house. But he doesn't register that he's out of that mass of flesh and in a bed only a few minutes after transforming. He doesn't know that he's actually remembering earlier transformations either. And now he doesn't really see anything. In fact, everything goes blank, and he's out like a light, simply sleeping in darkness.
•
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Day: 4
She lets out yet another sigh and pushes his sweaty bangs from his forehead. While she was expecting this, she still can't stand it every time, it never gets better. In fact, she feels sick to her stomach thinking of how he must feel. After he transformed he seemed rather disoriented, and he very clumsily followed Hanji's instructions. Before the crazed scientist called it to a very abrupt halt and asked him to come out.
He surprisingly obeyed and kneeled before his true body left the nape in a daze. She cringes when she remembers how he seemed barely conscious as he doubled over and retched onto the grass. And how unnaturally hot his skin was. It still makes her sweat being around him, his fever is so high. She had a rather firm talk with Hanji, Erwin, and Levi. The latter of which were unimpressed by her vigor in the matter of Eren's experiments. And she was pleasantly surprised when Hanji readily agreed that it is time to take his testing down a notch if he gets this sick over it. Saying that she had, in fact, been about to suggest the same.
His face suddenly twists in a grimace and she's already hovering over him when he lets out a light moan. "Eren?" she murmurs, gently palming his forehead. His fever is still raging, but it's only just lighter than last night. Speaking of last night, she doesn't want to be selfish, but she was very lonely. She couldn't comfortably be in the same bed with him because he just radiates heat, and she was moved to her own bed when she fell asleep at his side. She realized when she awoke without him just how much she needs him sleeping there next to her. She's addicted to his presence, she supposes.
His eyes flutter, and she grabs a cup of broth that Hanji left there in case he became coherent. Studying his movement, she can tell he's conscious now. His fingers curl experimentally and his breathing is controlled. "Eren..." she says his name softly again, and his eyes flutter once more before they barely peel open. "Eren, can you hear me?" she prods, gently rubbing her thumb against his cheek.
He inhales sharply and nods, "Hey, Mika..." he murmurs, and she sighs in relief. "How-"he pauses and gulps, his throat is awfully dry and talking hurts somewhat. He lets out a pained gasp as she gently props him up on a pillow so she can pour the broth into his mouth. He hears her whispered apology, and he accepts it with another nod, it's not her fault he gets so weak. He licks his lips to regain some moisture there, "How long was I...was I out?" he manages, closing his eyes against the light.
She dips a rag into the water bucket she had attained the night before and wrings it out to place on his forehead. "Only a day." she answers, "It's an improvement though. I remember you were out of it for nearly a week the first few times you transformed." she says, smiling warmly when he covers the hand she's placed upon his face with his own and leans into her touch.
"That's good. Did the experiment go well?" he asks, opening his eyes again.
She purses her lip, "In honesty I'm not certain. You acted disoriented so Hanji ended it early. And after we got you out...you uh, vomited, so, yeah...we called it quits." she recalls with a lump in her throat just how sickly he looked.
He hums in acknowledgement and looks down, "How are you doing?" it's obvious she's not very happy, but not in an angry way, she looks tired, stressed, and upset.
She shrugs, "I'm okay. And I know you pull through every time, but it still scares me." she grasps his hand and pulls it up to her lips so she can press them against it endearingly.
He feels the slightest smile tug at his lips and he taps her nose with his pointer finger. "I'm fine." he assures. "And hey-" she looks up at him, he tilts his head to the side and allows his smile to spread wider, "-I love you."
She smiles despite her watery eyes and climbs onto the bed to wrap her arms around his waist and press her face into his chest. She nearly regrets doing so when she feels his sharp intake of breath and how shaky his arms are when they swaddle her. "Sorry." she murmurs again.
"It's okay, Mikasa." he says and threads his fingers through her hair idly.
"Oh, you're awake." both teens jump and Mikasa scrambles to get off of him and sit down again, blushing in embarrassment. Hanji laughs and pats the raven-haired girl on the head as she walks over. "No worries, Ackerman, I just came to check up on him. Seems he's doing well if he's up for cuddling." she says with a teasing lilt to her voice that makes both of them blush again.
"Hello, Hanji." Eren smiles hesitantly.
"Hi, Eren." Hanji smiles back and begins gently examining him, prodding as softly as she can at his tender limbs and muscles. She pulls the candle up to his eyes to make sure they are dilating correctly, then pulls back with a satisfied harrumph. "You look very good, and I can see you are healing well. That scar seems to stay longer each time though...I hope it doesn't end up permanent one day." she says, lightly dabbing her finger on the red "wings" that his Titan form always leaves upon his face.
He presses his own hands to his face with a questioning brow raised. He's heard about them, but never really seen the scars flowering across his face after a transformation. He's usually asleep too long to see them anyways, or never around a mirror. He looks at the mirror Mikasa suddenly (almost magically) procures for him and purses his lip in study. They don't look too bad, in honesty they actually look somewhat intriguing and he wouldn't really mind them staying. He shrugs and hands the mirror back.
"We are cutting down on your tests though." Hanji says.
Eren's eyes immediately dart to Mikasa's face, watching her shrink under his suspicious gaze.
"No, no, it wasn't Mikasa. I made the call, actually." Hanji corrects before he can get accusatory. He looks up at her in surprise, his gaze beckoning her to continue. "Despite how much we need the data, having you out of it for so long is just too strenuous on our already-tight schedule. I know I said you are getting better, but after study it would seem only your Titan form is getting more durable. Your body is still too fragile to deal with this magnitude of transformations so soon. With practice, I'm sure it will get better. But more than two times in one day is just too much, I have come to understand." she explains.
"I want you to rest as long as your body deserves, then we'll schedule another test day a few days after. We'll do one test on your hardening ability. And that will be it." she informs before she turns to leave.
"Yes, Hanji." Eren nods as she goes, and turns to Mikasa, who's twiddling her fingers nervously. Oh, she must think he's angry or something. After all, from how quickly Hanji covered for her, she probably suggested the cutbacks first, regardless of what was said in her defense. He can tell. "I'm not mad." he says, and she relaxes slightly. "I'm just a little upset, because I wish I wasn't so weak."
"You aren't weak. That's just the transformations." she's quick to assure.
"I know, but...just...still." he shuffles in place, "I'm tired of getting so sick every time I have a test session. I wish my body could take more, so I can be more helpful." he explains.
"Eren-" she admonishes and climbs back onto the bed, he doesn't protest when she takes her turn to take him in her arms and cradle his head to her chest. "-how can you think you are anything but helpful?" she finishes in a whisper.
He nuzzles her stomach and allows himself a smile. Of course she'd say something like that. "I suppose you're right. Thanks, Mikasa." he murmurs, he pulls her form closer as he closes his eyes. He feels her fingers thread through his hair, and he relaxes entirely against her. It may be the fever, but he's suddenly very tired, and he doesn't register that he's asleep within minutes.
She sighs deeply, her hand moves to his arm to simply stroke the cloth-covered skin there. He's still warm, and she knows she'll probably be uncomfortable soon, but it's worth it. He's always worth it. So she stays, she doesn't make a move for her own comfort. She observes his sleeping, feverish form for hours before sleep claims her as well.
•
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Day: 5
He vaguely remembers waking up when someone wriggled their way out of his arms. But he fell asleep almost immediately after, having no energy to make himself get up. Now he wakes again and he holds a hand to his eyes to filter some of the blinding sunlight of the late morning. "Mikasa?" he murmurs, sitting up and holding his head with a groan. The fever is diminishing, but he still has the burning headache that comes with the after effects.
He pulls the blanket off of his sweat-laced form and swings his legs over the edge. He's glad no one is around to hear his belly growl loudly, he's only eaten broth since he was indisposed after all. He stands, frowning at the weakness in his muscles as he pulls his sweat drenched clothes off to switch into clean ones. He jumps when the door opens and a tray of what looks like porridge and bread enters his line of sight.
Mikasa struggles with closing the door behind her and holding the tray, so he takes it from her. She thanks him and turns, her teeth almost immediately start digging into her lip, as he hasn't got a shirt on yet. She still can't get over how delectable he is, and a quick glance at the V-line of his waist makes her smile. She doesn't realize she's staring most longingly at his bare skin until he speaks, "Oi, my face is up here, Mika." he teases with a smile.
She giggles nervously and mentally slaps herself, no doubt he isn't feeling peachy enough for it just yet. It's also not the time to be thinking like that. "Sorry." she blushes and sits down to watch him devour his food rather earnestly. "Hungry, huh?" she smiles.
"Not as hungry as you it seems." he insinuates, smirking when she covers her face in embarrassment.
"Eren..." she whines, shaking her head, "It's not my fault you're attractive." she whispers, peering between her fingers at his face.
He smiles again, "So it's my fault then? Well, I'll try to be less attractive." he continues to eat, almost choking on his sniggering when she swats his arm and sits beside him. He watches her redirect her gaze a few times, debating how he feels in is head. In honesty he has no qualms, but his body might. "I'm not against the idea you know." he adds, watching her out of the corner of his eye.
"But you do need to rest. So no." she says in a tone that suggests finality but also betrays that she doesn't really want to say what she is saying.
He puts down his spoon and places his hand around her back to tug her closer by the hip. "What if I don't feel like resting?" he purrs in her ear. And he grins in satisfaction at her shuddering breath. Granted his muscles are very sore and he doesn't really intend to follow through with his insinuations (despite how much he wants to).
"Eren!" she admonishes half-heartedly. "Hey! No, no." she bops him twice on the nose with her finger on each syllable and smiles when he pulls back in defeat with a huffy pout. "Now, how are you feeling?" she asks.
He throws his arms above his head and stretches, grunting as he does so. "Tired. Tired and sore. But, considering my regeneration, the soreness should be gone soon." he shrugs.
"I see. You want to go sit outside? Get some air?" she offers a hand to him as she stands. Which he takes without much thought and starts to follow her out. "Ahh! Um, shirt." she exclaims, hustling to dig through his dresser and pull out a shirt. She hands it to him with a blush and he chuckles as he slips it on.
"I don't know why you're still so shy around me, you've already seen all there is to see." he says as he links his arm in hers and leads her out the door.
"I don't think I'll ever be any less flustered." she mumbles, resting her head on his shoulder as they walk. "At least when we're not in the heat of the moment."
"Hey, Eren!" both come to a halt at the familiar voice, and Eren smiles at Armin, who looks just as equally happy to see him. "Feeling better?"
"Yeah I'm okay." Eren says as they fall back into step, Armin tagging along.
"Good." Armin chirps, he seems to be in a good mood, and his rare smile is surprisingly infectious.
Mikasa and Eren both know he's been having a hard time lately. After all, he's so different from the little boy they knew five years ago. He's not innocent anymore. He's taken lives, manipulated. He's cunning, a risk-taker, relentless, some could say downright cruel if need be. His way with words is always beneficial to his cause and the lives of his friends and the Survey Corps. But in the process of becoming such a great asset, he seems to have slowly begun to wear at his own morals and soul.
They've talked about it a few times, when they were alone together in the dark, hands entwined and fingers threading through hair. About how the boy is almost sadistic sometimes, even though it's directly called for, and he doesn't seem to enjoy that role. And how he so easily adopted the unspoken motto of Commander Erwin. Abandoning his own humanity to make a change. It's sad really, but then again Eren and Mikasa are no different.
They've learned to abandon their humanity as well. Eren most especially. And that's why he needs her, needs Mikasa. Because he has someone to ground him, to keep him from losing his humanity entirely. He sometimes wonders if they aren't close enough to Armin in that regard. Does he need grounding too?
Eren glances over at the blonde, who is preparing to sit upon the patch of grass they've decided to use to sunbathe. He knows he's not exactly the best role model for how a human should feel or act, but he wishes he could change that underlying sadness in his best friend's eyes. He pulls at grass while Mikasa makes polite conversation with Armin. He's not really listening, just pondering how they would be if things were different.
He doesn't realize his eyelids are heavy, and that Mikasa is vying for his attention until Armin snaps his fingers in front of his face. "Are you tired already?" the blonde teases.
Eren blinks his bleary eyes with a slight smile, and he feels Mikasa urging him to lay back. "Why don't you sleep? I'll wake you for lunch." she suggests, to which he gives in with a sigh. No use fighting his sudden, dire need for sleep.
"Speaking of lunch, everyone kind of misses you two." Armin says, and Eren simply listens to their conversation as he waits for sleep.
"Well I need to take care of Eren." Mikasa counters. And it's silent for a few minutes, the wind the only sound there is, along with the distant sound of horses nickering.
"At least come to the mess hall for lunch?" Armin suggests after a time. "Eren can come too after all, he's not bedridden anymore. Tired, granted, but not bedridden."
Eren hears Mikasa sigh, "Okay. No harm in it anyways."
"You are pretty possessive, Mikasa. You know that?" he hears that teasing lilt in Armin's voice again.
"What?" there's utter disbelief in her voice.
"You know, we have been seeing less and less of Eren since you two started this relationship. And you aren't exactly always innocent when you slink away to be alone are you?" Oh the blatant teasing! Eren almost cracks a smile. She is rather anxious for his attention in that regard.
"A-Armin!" Mikasa is entirely flustered now.
"Just be careful where you do it, I had to steer a few people away from the bathroom the other day." Armin is almost laughing.
He hears a soft thump, and a quiet "Ow.." and he assumes she socked him in the shoulder or something. He's still laughing though.
"There's more to it than just that, Armin." Mikasa says once the boy's chuckling quiets down. "Hell, most days I just sit next to him and that's fulfilling enough for me." she gives a sigh. Eren hopes she doesn't notice his cheeks blooming with color as he pretends to sleep. "I can't imagine going a day without at least holding his hand for a few minutes anymore. And I can hardly remember when we weren't like this, it almost feels like a dream."
"Wow." Armin says, genuine awe in his voice, "You really love him don't you? I mean, I knew you did but, it seems so much more real and endearing than I imagined to hear you talk about him like that." there's a smile in his words, and Eren can hear Mikasa shuffle closer to him.
"Yeah, I do. You should hear Eren, though. Granted, I think it's sweet, but he gets kinda sappy sometimes. And it's adorable to see him when he's cuddly or he's concerned about me." Eren can feel his cheeks blazing with Armin's laughter, and he makes a mental note to get Mikasa back for that comment later tonight.
"Aww!"
And Armin too, he's gotta find a way to get Armin back for that.
•
•
"Eren?" he grumbles as someone shakes his arm and pats his cheek.
Opening his eyes, he goes still at the sight. This looks so familiar, Mikasa hovering above him with the sun crowning her in a golden glow. He remembers she woke him like this all the time before the Colossal Titan appeared. He sits up and rubs at his eyes, "What time is it?" he murmurs.
"Lunch was over an hour ago. I couldn't wake you." she reaches down to help him stand, and he takes the hand she offers gratefully.
His eyes widen when he realizes he doesn't feel so sore anymore. "Hey, I must have healed while I was sleeping." he stretches his arm and flexes his muscles experimentally to test his thought.
She smiles, "That's probably why I couldn't get you to wake up." she says as she leads him towards the castle. "We'll eat lunch, and then I need to go train. I delayed because I wanted to make sure you stayed safe while you slept. You can come watch if you want."
He nods, "Okay." is all he says. Granted he wants to train with her, but he's on orders to rest, so he can't do much about that. "Don't skip lunch next time." he says when he realizes she's going to eat with him. "I don't mind you eating without me."
She ducks her head in embarrassment, "Sorry." she murmurs. There's her obsessiveness again, she really wants to quit, but it's kind of instinctual now, and old habits die hard.
After eating a simple lunch of bread and stew he sits on the grass and watches her fly through the air, dodging trees and makeshift faux Titans. She twirls and flips with utmost perfection as she slices deep grooves into the "Titan necks" of the dummies. She barely lingers for more than a second before she's zooming about yet again, looking for another target to wreak her inescapable wrath upon. He vaguely remembers a time when those moves made him jealous. Now it's entirely different.
Her grace is undeniably en pointe, magnificent, and enchanting to watch, but it's not exactly that aspect of her physique he's focusing on. He's never really noticed before how, well, sensual, she can look while arching her back and pirouetting in the air. It honestly reminds him of when he has her pinned on a mattress. Her back twists in nearly the same way it does when she is writhing in pleasure beneath him.
And he notices how flexible she is when she comes to a controlled stop against a tree. Her legs bend dangerously past the average person's limit as she crouches vertically before pushing off again. Captain Levi's been teaching her most likely, as that's one of his moves. Or she stole it, either way. Yet that move brings to mind a whole other set of unbidden, but not entirely unwanted, and somewhat perverted thoughts of Mikasa.
'Okay, stop!' he literally gives himself a slight whack on his cheek. He doesn't want to be aroused right now, somebody will see and that's going to be awkward. But another glance at her lithe form in the air has him groaning as he runs his hand through his hair in frustration. That's about all he can take. He thinks it's gonna be a long night for both of them. To hell with his rest order!
•
A.N.
And to think I was going to end this chapter here! That would have been torturous for my readers XD
•
She is not surprised in the least. To say there was no sexual tension slowly rising between them ever since this morning would be a lie. And he was eyeing her with a predatory glint in his gaze since her training. That was an hour ago. And he's been staring most unabashedly at her butt this whole time. He is not very subtle, not in the slightest. And while she may not be surprised, per se, she is slightly startled when he spins her around to face him instead of her gear compartment and aggressively captures her mouth. A move that makes her gasp, and grants his highly-adventurous tongue entry. Her fingers move to his scalp and grasp handfuls of his hair when he hoists her up onto his hips so he can grind feverishly into her core.
She loves that feeling when her back hits the wall, the slight rise and fall of her body with each of his careful, slow thrusts is almost as soothing as it is erotic. She tightens her legs around his waist, feeling the muscles flex there, and she parts from him with a gasp when he hits a particularly sensitive spot down below. She feels his lips against her already-superheated skin, covering and lightly tonguing along her sensitive neck. Her hand moves to his shoulder for support at that, followed by a soft moan that makes him speed up.
It is somewhat difficult for him, to say the least. And while he most certainly isn't regretting this rash decision, he is hoping he can actually follow through. He can tell she's starting to notice that he's faltering, ever so slightly, but too repetitively to ignore. And he's right, of course, she starts to glance at him carefully, as if sizing him up, and her body has been rapidly stilling over the course of the past minute. "Eren? Are you okay?"
'Damnit!'
Those inevitable words, and he's pulled his lips away from her intoxicating neck with a sigh. He presses his forehead into her chest, slight pride swelling in his own when he feels her heavy breathing. "Mikasa...I'm fine." he murmurs.
"No you aren't. Are you sure you're up for something like this?" she lowers one leg, from his hip to the floor. Why does that move seem to physically hurt? He grasps onto her tighter, as if he feels like she's trying to go.
"Mikasa, believe me when I say that if I don't do this I think I may just explode." he chuckles mirthlessly. Gosh, has he missed her slim figure against his own! Only a few days without her has him near desperation. How dependent he has come to be on her! Or maybe it's addiction. He hears her hum in acknowledgment, and he dares to open his eyes and look up at her face. She has this slight grin on her lips, and her eyes have drifted shut in an almost dreamy expression. He presses a soft kiss to those swollen lips to make her open her eyes. And he pulls back with a pout that almost looks - to her - like a kicked puppy. "Please?"
There's a slight whine in his voice, he's practically begging. At that her pupils dilate, and he barely has time to register that she's switched their positions and pressed him up against the wall. He lets out a strangled gasp when her hand dives into his pants to wrap slender fingers carefully around the length of him. Her teeth graze against the thin skin of his neck and he accidentally bangs his head against the wall when he arches backward in a rare move that she's almost never made him do. "In that case-" his breath hitches at the subtle, erotic husk of her voice, there's another sound he's never heard from Mikasa before. He finds there's tiny, carefully hidden aspects of her personality that he discovers almost every day. "-let me do some of the work for once." she finishes in a murmur against his skin. Before she bites gently and suckles at the apex of his jawline. Her hand also starts pumping long and slow around the length of him.
"Augh!" his gasp almost sounds pained, although it is anything but that. In fact, he doesn't think she's ever made him feel this good. Granted, he's going to have a lot of unexplainable love marks tomorrow if she keeps this up. Now he understands why she likes her neck kissed and suckled upon so much. Because damn, does this make his body weak! In a rather pleasant way that he doesn't ever want to end.
Her unoccupied hand cups the back of his neck to tug him even closer, and he can't help his moan when she tightens her grip down below. "F-fuck...!" he whispers through grit teeth, throwing his head back and tightening his grip on her shoulders.
She chuckles against his neck and pulls back, her hand never ceasing in its relentless pumping. "It's too easy to make you swear like this, Eren." she says, and the way she purrs the words makes his knees want to buckle. She leans forward and kisses his trembling lips in her own passive form of aggressiveness. Her tongue expertly peruses his mouth, making him shudder as it swipes along his gums and tangles with his own tongue. He can't do much but pant into her mouth and let his groans rumble forth as she works him towards completion.
His hands move to thread through her short locks and he begins to return her oral ministrations in a slight frenzy as he nears his breaking point. And he can practically hear her smug grin when he comes undone under her hand. He breaks from the kiss and rests his forehead against her shoulder, letting out a sharp gasp and a low moan as he releases. 'Okay, fuck...again.' cause now he has to change his pants. Or maybe...if she's up for it...
"You okay?" she asks, giggling somewhat as she twists her neck to try and look at him. His impromptu "hug" is a little awkward after all.
He pulls back with an incredulous brow raised, "What do you think?" he heaved with a ragged breath. Ragged for all the best reasons, though.
She smiles and tugs on the hem of his pants, "I think-" she begins, "-that we need to take this somewhere more private." she leans closer to his face in a murmur that sends chills down his spine.
He grins, grasping her hand and purposefully leading her down the castle corridors. Both hiding in an alcove whenever someone walks their way. And they can't help a few hurried, heated kisses that happen in almost every hiding spot. As such the usual two minute walk turns into nearly ten minutes. After the third time she pulls him into an alcove he has to insist they finally walk the remaining few yards to his room. And by the time they stumble inside, kicking the door shut, they are both breathless, hot, and very bothered in the most pleasant of ways.
She's a tad more aggressive than usual, (something that he doesn't mind in the slightest), and she demonstrates by practically pushing him to lie on the bed as she sits with her knees on either side of his legs. Her hands immediately go to the buttons of his shirt, and he sits up to cup her cheek and kiss her long and low. Lips move rhythmically against each other, all the while her fingers work tirelessly to rid him of his clothing. She moans only just barely in anticipation, but it's enough to send a rush of warm electricity down his body and make him shudder.
She's rid him of his shirt and she swiftly tugs his pants away too, nary minding his nudity before she gets up and goes to lock the door. Rightly so, being walked in on once was already more than enough. She tugs her shirt off as she walks back, stopping beside the bed to shimmy her pants down, underwear and all, before she steps out of them, along with her boots, to crawl back onto the bed.
He inhales sharply when she lays her palm flat against his chest and pushes him back until he's laying down again. His breath turns into a hiss when she straddles him and pulls her bra over her head, exposing those soft mounds he loves so much. She shifts her hips and he gasps, his hands moving to grip the delectable swells of her waist so he can buck upwards into her warmth just barely out of sheer instinct. Once she's comfortable with her position she pauses, bracing her hands against him as she raises her hips and align herself.
It briefly occurs to him that they've never done it like this before, he's always been atop her, or they've been against a wall. Either way it's strange and different, but he sure as hell doesn't mind it. Especially when she sinks down onto him, so slowly and sensually. And he feels embarrassed at the sounds she's so easily ripping from his throat as she swathes his length in her moist heat. He isn't usually the one who needs to be hushed, but she's leaning close to press a finger against his lips as she adjusts to his girth.
"Shh...don't you always say to be quiet, Eren?" she murmurs, though he can hear the shakiness of her voice, and it makes him smile briefly. She still loses some of her composure, whether or not she is dominant in the bedroom. He nods, promptly letting out another sharp gasp when she lifts her hips again. His toes curl and his hands flex with her movements. He wonders if his thumbs will leave marks from how hard he's gripping her skin. Her hand is pressed heavily against his stomach as she leans back for a better angle on him.
His eyes, which have been screwed shut, open to look down at her, and the sight her panting, sweating form sends a whole new wave of euphoria rocketing down his nerves. He isn't even sure it's his lips that whisper her name in a moan, but he sees her look up in acknowledgment, sending a labored smile his way as she increases her pace. He only has one qualm with this position, he can't reach her or kiss her, and he really, really wants to, he's aching to. So he sits up even as she moves and he cups both sides of her face to bring her close enough for a desperate kiss. One that makes both of them moan in pleasure and let's the pace slow a bit, just a little bit.
His hand moves to gently palm and grope her breast while his lips move to the other points of her face, like her nose, or her cheek, chin even. And he's got to at least bite her lip a little as he passes on his way to her jaw. She moves very slowly now, drawing out each of her thrusts until every inch she moves makes him stiffen and groan against her skin. He can feel her labored breath gracing the hair beside his ear while he caresses her skin with his mouth, moving ever so gradually to her neck.
"Eren..." she breathes, and he's tempted to spin them around and ravage her at the sound of it. But he wills himself to let her have this one. Be the one to bring them both to that teetering, precarious edge where they both crash over together. One of her hands moves from his shoulder and down to where they are joined. And he doesn't really know why he feels an intense spike of pleasure just at the knowledge that she's rubbing that little bundle of nerves down there. His hand moves to join hers, his calloused thumb replacing her finger every so often. And he revels in the loud gasp that she emits while throwing her head back. All the while she's still lifting her hips and dropping them back down.
His other hand moves to the small of her back and presses her closer, trapping their hands between them. He hums appreciatively at the feeling of her soft breasts pressing against his chest. And he smiles against her neck when she kisses desperately at the nearest skin she can reach on his face. She's getting frantic, so she's close now, and she increases her pace to prove it. He pulls his hand back from her core and let's it join his other against her back. She follows shortly, wrapping both her hands around his neck and burying her fingers in his hair as she cums.
He doesn't hesitate to follow her, and he muffles both of their satisfied moans with a soft kiss, his hands moving to cup her thighs. She gasps for air when they part, and he lays back instinctively, his thumbs rubbing soothingly into her legs while she pants against his neck. God, he feels like he could do this, be like this, with her for the rest of his life! Even just when they are laying together, coming down from their highs is enough to be so satisfactory that it's pleasantly suffocating.
"Damn." he says after the minutes of silence grow long, and he wants to hear her husky, sleepy voice that she always has after they've made love.
It works, and she looks up at him with furrowed brows, "Damn...what?"
"I think I wouldn't mind you doing that again sometime." he smirks.
She returns it and kisses him gently, "I'm just giving as good as I get." she says, her pointer finger tracing unknown designs on his pectoral.
He raises his brows at that, "Really? That's quite the compliment...you've been giving out a lot of those the past few weeks." he reaches up to twirl a strand of her hair around his own fingers.
She shrugs, "Well you've been rather generous in our...umm...lovemaking." she says the word with slight embarrassment, as putting a name to these activities tends to make one blush. "So I thought, you know, I'd focus on you for once."
"You already did that before. But I'm not complaining." he says, dragging his fingertips down her arm and giving her gooseflesh.
She ducks her head and bites her lip, "Yeah..." she buries her face in his neck and he sighs when she starts gently kissing there. "Hey, Eren?" she mumbles against his skin.
"Hmm?"
"I don't really think I'm done, for today at least." she shifts her hips, and for the first time he realizes that they haven't separated yet. He stiffens and stifles his gasp by biting his lip.
"What did you have in mind?" he asks, he's both excited and a little nervous.
"After dinner." she says, pulling her hips up and cringing as he slips out. He chuckles at the rather obscene noise and she swats at his arm.
"What?! It's funny!" he continues to laugh.
"It's gross!" she blushes and presses her thighs together self consciously. "I think a bath is in order." she mumbles.
"Hey!" he says suddenly, "Your cycle is over." he points out.
She ponders and nods, "Yeah. Oh God...I forgot I was even on it!" she groans and facepalms.
"Oh...and speaking of baths..." he wiggles his eyebrows and chuckles when she rolls her eyes.
"Maybe...I don't know about the bathroom though, Armin says he...heard us!" she squeaks.
He bites his lip, he already knows that, but he can't tell her he was awake. "We'll just have to be extra quiet then." he smirks. And she scoffs as she swings her legs off the side of the bed. "Right?" he calls when she doesn't answer, admiring her ass when she bends over to dig through a drawer. "Of course we will." he murmurs under his breath.
•
•
A.N.
I suppose you can guess where the next chapter will be starting off ;)
