As expected...this chapter started off with a bang.
Hehe! Get it? Bang! Lol...ugh...I'm just gonna go sit in a corner with my miserable pun.
•
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The bath water must be getting cold by now...at least she thinks it might be. She's a little too hot to tell right now, and they aren't even doing anything more than simple roving of tongues and hands (yet at least). But Lord have mercy, she thinks it should be considered the same thing! What with how erotic his shadowed, turquoise eyes can be when he glances up at her through thick lashes during his ravishing of her breast. Her fingers lace and tug through his damp hair as she tosses her own wet locks from her face and throws her head back in ecstasy.
His hands move to grasp tightly at her thighs as he pulls her further onto his lap, close enough to reach her neck. And she hums in delight when she feels his tongue collect the droplets of water that glide down her skin. Teeth graze the surface above her jugular just barely and she can't seem to take it anymore. She grabs his face none-too-gently to tilt it up and crashes her lips against his in desperation.
His hands move to rest under her shoulderblades and press her body into his, smirking lightly into her eager mouth. And he gives a light grunt when she grinds her hips down against his own. He can feel her warmth even through the chilling water, and he's determined to be surrounded in it again. He shifts, moving her so he can attempt to slide inside.
"Ahh...Eren...wait, dinner is soon." she moans, pulling back from his lips, yet biting gently at his kiss-swollen bottom lip as she does.
He chases after her retreating mouth and manages a few quick pecks. "Damnit, Mikasa.." he murmurs, his fingers trailing up her inner thigh. "I just don't think I can wait until after dinner...I may do something drastic."
She lolls her head back in a bemused sigh, "I should have bathed alone, you've got me all hot and bothered now." she slips her hands around his neck and presses her forehead against his, closing her eyes.
He trails his finger against her core mischievously, and she lets out a light huff. "Mikasa..." he drawls, smirking when she opens her onyx eyes and scowls lightly at him.
"If I didn't love you to death, I think I may have kicked you from the tub by now." she mumbles with a groan. His breath hitches when she moves her lips to his neck and suckles on the love mark she's already left just below his jaw.
His fingers become adventurous and she gasps breathlessly when he gently thrusts them inside, curling just the way he knows she likes. Her hips jerk and her breath is loud in his ear as he lightly works her towards a climax, a little swiftly for his taste. But then again they are in a rush (or so she keeps saying). She moans a tad too loudly and he lets out a gasp of his own when she latches onto his skin again to keep quiet. Her body lifts and falls to meet his hand, and water sloshes over the edge of the tub noisily to compensate for her quieted exclamations of ecstasy.
"Fuck...fuck, Eren! Eren...okay.." she releases his neck with a whimper and reaches down into the water to pull his hand back. He inhales sharply when she practically slams herself back down onto the length of him with a satisfied gasp.
"Augh...I didn't mean to...mean to force you.." he pants, gritting his teeth with each of her noisy thrusts.
She shakes her head, "I doubt you could force me...ah...even if you t-tried." she smirks as she bounces lightly atop him. He makes himself busy by taking her pert breast in his mouth and swirling his warm tongue around the bud. Pulling soft mewls and gasps from her as he suckles just barely.
Just the sounds she makes alone make him feel like he could fall over the edge sometimes. She falters in her movements and moans loudly when he mischievously bites just barely at her nipple. Small mistake, but worth it, even as her fingers fist painfully in his hair and she tugs him back to slant her lips over his again. She breathes so heavily with each thrust of her hips and the rhythmic splash of the water. And the slight whine in her breath sends spikes of white-hot pleasure coursing through his body.
At this point she gives a muffled cry as her body stills, and he has to buck upwards a few times into her to achieve the same high as she's just managed. He moves to suck at her neck again as she milks him of his load. And she threads her fingers so very gently through his hair. Almost as if she's apologizing for nearly ripping it out a few moments ago.
"God..." she whispers, her succulent chest heaving under his now-tentative, lazy touch.
He smiles against the fresh mark he's just left on her collarbone and kisses the bruised flesh carefully before he moves to make eye contact. Her eyes are still lidded, and that gorgeous blackness that swallows the normal obsidian grey of her irises is still there. Still intoxicating. He knows he was not lying to himself earlier when he said this would be a long night. She's still not done yet, not nearly. She clearly has much more left in her.
"So you still want to wait until after dinner?" he murmurs teasingly, his thumbs rubbing circles tantalizingly on her inner thigh.
"I normally wouldn't, but you need to eat first. And...aren't you on rest order?" she asks suspiciously.
He pecks her lips lightly and smiles again, "Mhmm." he gives a full-out grin when she sends him a reprimanding look. "Hey, you started this." he accuses.
"No I didn't, you did. Remember?" she pokes her finger into his chest and he grabs it with speed that makes her gasp.
"I do.." he purrs as he brings her hand up to his face and kisses the inside of her wrist, tongue barely touching the soft, highly sensitive skin. Of course he does, and he also vividly remembers her skilled handwork. He feels her twitch around the length of him and he's already aroused again.
She tugs away as if he's on fire, "Our skin is pruning." she says, reaching for a towel and affording him a most appreciated view of her toned ass. He doesn't bother to resist the urge to lean forward and press a kiss on her hip while his hands caress her soft flesh there.
"I'm only getting out if we go straight to the bedroom. Dinner can wait." he challenges.
"Eren..." she bends to rest her hands on the side of the tub and lean heavily on them when his finger trails along the swell of her bottom and down into her wetness.
"Mikasa..." he returns in a tease, smirking when she gasps. "Come on..."
She's determined though, and she quickly, nimbly leaps from the tub, her foot narrowly missing his now-confused face. She hurriedly runs the towel over her body, all the while a grin is gracing her features. She looks over her shoulder at his pouty expression and puts on the robe she wisely brought. "Only if you catch me." she says before she slips out the door, her wet feet pattering loudly away as she runs down the hall.
"Hey! Fuck...wait, Mikasa!" he scrambles to unplug the tub and get out, toweling down his body carelessly and pulling on his pants with a frustrated groan. He is already out the door and chasing after her seconds later, even as he slips his loose shirt over his head. He nearly collides into a wall as he makes a sharp turn, and he manages to make it to his room just in time to stop her from closing the door.
She yelps and giggles in delight when he slips into the room and hoists her up bridal-style. Locking the door behind him. "That wasn't very nice." he kisses her forehead as he lays her gently upon the mattress.
"You probably wouldn't come otherwise." she trails a finger down his cheek endearingly.
"I said I would...if we did dinner after." he murmurs as his lips descend to her soft neck, leaving the lightest of kisses that feel like fire to her.
She wiggles underneath him and brings her knee up to stroke him through his pants. He lets out a hiss against her neck and his hands dive to untie her robe. "You didn't dry very well." she mutters as she threads her fingers through his dripping hair. A few droplets splatter on her face and make her laugh as she wipes them away.
He doesn't respond, as he's busy spreading the cloth of her robe so he can move to her chest yet again. She hums in pleasure and bucks her hips upwards when he takes her breast in his mouth yet again. He moves so very slowly, as if they have all the time in the world. And she can't stand it! Her hand grips his hair a little tighter and she keeps herself quiet while he works. She wagers that if he wants to hear her moan and whine, he's going to have to do more than that. "Eren?" she pleads, her knee moving up again and drawing a harsh gasp from him.
He releases her breast with a retreating kiss and sits up, feeling her hips shift desperately under him while he straddles her. He tugs his shirt over his head and tosses it away, following with his pants. She takes her small window of opportunity to pull her robe out from underneath them and toss it as well before his lips are back upon her skin. Caressing and suckling while his hand gently spreads her legs apart.
She is still determined not to make any noise, gritting her teeth to hold in the needy whine her throat desperately tries to emit when he enters. He doesn't wait, thank God...he immediately starts moving, and she can't help the light whimper that he pulls from her lips. And he's rough, tantalizingly so, a husky growl even rumbles in his chest as he buries his face in her neck and pants. She raises her hips to meet him each time and arches into the mattress, finally letting herself mewl and moan.
He falters slightly when her nails dig into his back, and he can tell she breaks the skin there when the faint hiss of steam reaches his ears. At that he stops moving and slips out, much to her disapproval, announced in a whine that sends more warm heat ricocheting down his spine. "I'm not stopping, just roll over..." he instructs, prodding her onto her stomach.
She bites her lip, eyes lighting up in excitement as she eagerly spins underneath him, raising her lower half up on her knees and grasping at the blankets in anticipation. He gently grasps her hips and grits his teeth as he re-enters. "Ahh...Er-en..." her voice breaks, and she presses her face into the sheets in an attempt to quiet her cries when he starts moving again.
Fuck, if those sounds don't make him feel weak he doesn't know what will! He leans forward to place a kiss upon the glistening, sweaty skin of her back, and he smiles when she bucks up into him desperately. His fingers roam to her sensitive clit and gently rub, and he revels in the choked cry she gives as she comes. Her body stiffens, back arching upwards before she goes limp against the mattress. He thrusts only a few more times to finish himself off, and rests his forehead against her back, groaning deeply while she shifts underneath him.
"Tired yet?" he whispers. He's honestly worn out, himself. After all, he never had much stamina to begin with when it came to the bedroom, and he's gone at it three times in one day. He doesn't think he can go again even though he wants to.
"You sound hopeful." she teases, wiggling out from under him and laying on her back.
He shrugs and lays beside her with a grunt, "Well...I kind of am." he chuckles.
She throws her leg over his own and pulls him closer, "Understandably so. I think I've been thoroughly fulfilled for now, Eren." she pecks his lips chastely. "Are you hungry now?"
He scoffs and ponders, "Yeah."
"Then let's go eat." she moves to sit up.
"Can't we just eat in here?" he whines, rolling onto his back, "I don't want to move..."
She grabs his arms and tugs him until he's sitting up too, "Not a chance, Armin is expecting us." she grunts when he tugs back. "Eren!
He just laughs as she releases him and he flops back down onto the bed. She huffs and gets up, purposefully swinging her hips as she walks to his dresser. "Eren, if you don't get up, you aren't fucking me for a week." she bites her lip to hold back her chuckle at the strangled sound he makes.
"What?!" he practically screeches.
"You heard me." she says as she slips on her underwear. She's only teasing, of course, but he's a stubborn jackass sometimes and he needs...motivation. She doesn't think she, herself, could last a week without being intimate, so it's a hollow threat after all. Though, she doesn't think she has ever seen him get out of bed faster than he has just now. "Come on." she tosses him his pants and tugs her shirt over her head.
She hears him grumble something among the lines of: "I can't believe you'd go that fucking far to get me out of bed..."
"Oh hush." she taps his nose with her pointer finger and chuckles at the scowl he sends her way.
"There, I'm dressed, happy?" he stands as he pulls a shirt on and crosses his arms.
"I was only teasing, Eren. I'd never hold back on you like that." she says with a triumphant smirk as she walks out the door.
"Mikasa!" he cries as he runs after her.
•
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Someone's tapping his shoulder when he wakes the next morning, but he knows it's not Mikasa. When he opens his eyes she's still asleep after all, head resting on his arm and her lips parted in the lightest of snores. He manages a small smile before he registers that someone is hovering over him. "Hanji?!" he gasps and presses a palm to his chest in surprise.
She has a knowing smirk on her face as she wags a finger in his direction, "Now Eren, I know many of us could consider fucking someone to fall within the rest order boundaries..." she begins, and Eren promptly makes a strangled, choking noise.
"Oh God..." he rubs at his forehead.
"-but next time...please refrain, it's no joke that you need your rest." she scolds. "Granted, Levi has the same ideas when it comes to what he calls resting." she snorts and shakes her head as if remembering something crude and humorous.
He looks at her with a twitching eye, "Are you saying that you and Captain Levi are...?" he implies.
She looks at him as if she's almost surprised he's there, and she covers her mouth with a giggle, "Oops! I don't usually let that slip. But yeah, no use lyin' about it." she shrugs.
"Oh my God!"
"What?"
"What's that even like? How long have you two been in that type of relationship?" he asks, absolutely flabbergasted.
Hanji chuckles, "Well, he's rather sweet once you break the ice in that regard. And damn does he have stamina!" Hanji gives a goofy smile and bites her lip, looking wistfully at the ceiling. Eren's officially decided that's too much information, and he turns red at her implication. "And maybe...erm...well, I don't know exactly, but we've been a couple since about...two years after he joined the Survey Corps." she explains.
"I didn't need that visual." he groans, looking down at Mikasa as she starts shifting beside him.
Hanji notices that the girl is waking and pulls back with a smile, "I best head down to breakfast. And try not to get all fuck-happy this morning. Seriously, get some rest, lover-boy!" she says far too loudly as she leaves the room, closing the door behind her.
Mikasa's brow furrows as she opens her eyes, "What did she just say?" she mumbles.
"Ugh...nothing." he mumbles as he runs his hand over his face, "Apparently she and Levi are in a relationship." he says to change the subject.
She blinks up at him, "Oh? I thought as much." she shrugs.
"Don't tell me you knew!"
"Well-" she smirks, "-when you happen to be walking past Levi's quarters...and you hear a certain Squad Leader-"
"Do NOT! Do not even go there!" he cries in mortification. "Dear God!" his eyebrows knit together as he seemingly tries to banish the obscene visuals she just gave him from his mind.
"-you put the pieces together." she finishes, earning a light swat on her shoulder as he sits up and swings his legs over the edge of the bed. She laughs and gets up on her knees, wrapping her arms around him from behind and resting her chin on his shoulder. "How are you feeling today?" she asks.
"Fine. More than fine, even." he answers, bringing her hand up to his face and kissing the palm.
She smiles at the gesture and buries her nose in his neck, inhaling deeply. His scent is rather intoxicating, and she hears the same from him regarding herself. "That's good." she breathes.
"Did you just sniff me?" he peers at her with an incredulous chuckle.
"Yeah."
"Heh...reminds me of Mike." he murmurs.
She frowns, Mike died nearly a month ago. While he never really seemed to be close to the man, Eren was still greatly saddened by that event. She does remember the man's strange habit of sniffing people. "I didn't know him very well." she says, "But I know what you mean."
Eren turns to her with a hesitant smile, "Sorry, I try not to think about things like that. I don't like to make you worry."
She shakes her head and hugs him, "You have a right to remember people who have passed, you know. It doesn't matter if I worry, what matters is that they stay alive in your thoughts." she pulls away and taps his forehead with a smile. "Ready for breakfast?" she prods, attempting to steer him towards something happier to dwell on.
His face brightens and he stands, taking her with him. "That's why I love you, Mikasa." he says as he kisses her.
"I remind you of breakfast?" she teases, and laughs when he sputters incredulously.
"N-no! I meant...ugh!"
"I know what you meant, Eren." she chuckles and kisses him in return. "I love you too."
•
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Despite her words, Eren finds himself thinking about just how many people he's seen die since that fateful day five years ago. There have also been people he hasn't seen die, or never even knew about until someone mentioned them. It really weighs him down, even though he knows it's not his fault. He grimaces when he remembers Thomas...and he can sometimes hear Mina, Millius, and Nack screaming as they are eaten. He closes his eyes and cringes lightly at the phantom noises in his head.
"Oi, Eren. Ride straight." he blinks and sits up in his seat, glancing to his side at Levi. The Captain, while emotionless in appearance, does seem to notice something is off with him. And he motions for his squad to stop, with the excuse of it being a routine break.
Eren sighs as he sits down on the grass beside his horse and pulls his knees up to his chest. He can see Mikasa out of the corner of his eye, she's stroking her horse's muzzle tenderly, even laying a soft kiss on its nose. He manages a slight smile at that, it's nice to see her in such a gentle setting. "So, Eren-" he jumps as Levi speaks to him again, "-hope you don't mind if I sit." he says, not even waiting for a response as he lowers himself onto the ground beside the startled teen.
"What's troubling you?" he asks, not looking at him, which Eren is grateful for. He's still not quite over that incident in the courtroom a couple months ago, despite how much he wants to be.
"Um...just thinking about, well, death to be honest. People who have died. It got brought up earlier and I haven't been able to get it off my mind." he replies, albeit uncomfortably. The Captain is no therapist, nor is he a very warm, inviting person, talking to him can be like talking to a piece of ice.
"Ahh." Levi says, pulling a cloth from seemingly nowhere to clean something minuscule from his hand. "Someone once told me never to dwell on those things. They make you regret the choices you've made in the past. They make you second-guess yourself in the here-and-now. And they make you fear your future choices." he says, voice still as monotonous as ever.
Yet Eren is intrigued, the Captain is known to be intellectual, but he never thought he could speak so comfortingly and wisely about such matters. "I suppose that's true." he murmurs, tugging his knees closer to his chest. "But it's easier said than done." he adds, closing his eyes briefly at the pain in his heart.
He sees Levi look at him out of the corner of his eye, then back at the horizon. "Indeed." is all he says, and it makes Eren wonder, what with how he said it, if he's ever lost somebody, besides his previous squad. He turns his head to observe the now-distracted Captain. He's looking at his squad, most particularly, at Mikasa. Why's he looking at her?
Peering carefully at Levi, Eren realizes he looks sad, almost confused. "Captain? W-why are you staring at her?" he asks in a stutter, mostly because he doesn't want to sound like a guard dog. Mikasa's not his possession, he's simply concerned for her, and worried about the Captain.
Levi looks at the teen out of the corner of his eye and his face loses all trace of emotion. "It's nothing." he says, standing and leaving without another word.
Eren watches him go with a confused frown, why was he looking at Mikasa like that? He supposes he'll likely never know, but it doesn't hurt to wonder. Then again...that guy Kenny...didn't he share Mikasa's last name? He glances at her again, and he wonders if Levi was, perhaps, thinking about her possible connection to the man?
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Mikasa feels a little wary about this, they haven't seen Historia in weeks. And whenever she has been brought up in a conversation, she's noticed that Eren shows discomfort. It is why, while holding his hand on the way to the mess hall (where she is absolutely certain the young queen will be), she is rather apprehensive. And sure enough, when she enters alongside him, she feels him stiffen at the sight of the girl.
Eren is frozen. Seeing her again causes painful, agonizing memories (of both his and his father's) to come flashing before his eyes. "Ow..." he hears the pointed sound, and he looks down in surprise as he releases Mikasa's abused hand.
"Sorry." he apologizes as he feels a cold sweat break out on his brow. He glances back over at Historia with a fearful, almost pained look on his face. And she's staring right back at him, concern etched across her features. Granted, she's not a sweet, innocent young lady, but she has allowed herself to somewhat revert back into that loving persona she's always had.
"Hello, Eren." Historia walks up to him indirectly, as if she doesn't want to provoke anything, be it fear or defense, on his part.
He gulps and licks his dry lips, "Hey...Historia." he whispers. He didn't expect to feel so petrified after seeing her again. To be honest, he had thought the ice was broken after she denied her father in favor of letting him keep his shifting (along with his life). But he supposes he must have a hidden, lingering fear that surfaced during her absence. And now that he sees her, he is feeling it very well.
"-here to discuss the upcoming mission to Shiganshina with Commander Erwin." the blonde in question is explaining to a strangely-civil Mikasa. He missed out on their conversation due to his own racing heart and thoughts.
"You're coming on the mission?" Mikasa asks in surprise.
Historia's face falls, "No, as much as I'd like to, the people need a leader. And there's very little chance that you all will come back. It's almost a suicide mission." she explains, "If I could go, I'd be on a horse in a heartbeat." she adds with a forced chuckle that Mikasa reciprocates.
"Anyway, I should probably go see the Commander now. Good seeing you two, Mikasa, Eren." she moves to pat his shoulder and he's ashamed when he flinches most noticeably under her touch. She pulls her hand back hesitantly, fingers curling and her features twisting into a frown. "Right." she barely murmurs loud enough to hear before she walks away.
"Eren?" Mikasa peers at him in concern as he watches the girl walk away with a lump in his throat. "Are you okay?"
He looks to her and musters what he is sure looks like the most artificial smile in history. "I'm fine." he says. When in reality, he's just as horrified as he was in that cave when she touched him. Because when her fingers lightly grazed his arm, he was bombarded with flashes of memory, both of himself and his father. He honestly fears he may start to cry if he doesn't change the subject. He never did properly mourn his father after all.
"Eren-"
"Let's go eat, I'm hungry." he says, most blatantly steering her away from this conversation. It's not that he doesn't want to tell her, he's just upset, and he needs to calm down first.
"You aren't getting out of discussing this." she murmurs, so quietly he doesn't even hear her.
•
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Despite it all, she fell asleep before she could strike up conversation with her stubborn partner. A fact she'll probably slap herself over in the morning. But for now, she's more worried about what she's just woken up to. She's not unused to it at all, but it's been some time, last time being before they entered the Cadets. She is woken from a dreamless sleep, during the darkest hours of night, to the familiar whimpers and sniffling of someone having a nightmare.
She quickly turns to face him, and her heart feels like it's been stabbed. He looks so pitiful, so sad, so...broken. "Eren?" she sits up and prods at him by shaking his shoulder, "Wake up, Eren. It's a nightmare." she leans closer so he might hear her through whatever he is seeing right now.
And she screws her eyes shut when she hears him whine in an almost childlike voice, calling for mum. 'Don't make me cry too.' she scolds in her head as she shuffles around and pulls him by his shoulders onto her lap. "Wake up!" she says loudly, shaking him vigorously once more.
He opens his eyes with a choked, teary gasp, and she sighs in relief. His shuddering breath as he looks around revives her worry though. And she starts to thread her fingers through his hair in an attempt to soothe him. Those beautiful, watery eyes meet hers for a mere moment, before he twists in her lap and clutches to her shirt. She gives a slight smile at being able to comfort him like this, but it fades when she hears the whimpers of his somewhat-subdued crying return.
"It's just a dream, Eren." she murmurs, "Just a dream, sweetie." she presses a kiss to his hairline and closes her eyes when he starts to sob.
"I-" he manages to say, but another round of tears silences him. She grimaces in an effort to keep herself from following his example. She waits patiently, her hand gently stroking his back. "I keep...keep seeing them, mom...and d-dad, and Hannes. But, even now..." he grits his teeth to keep from interrupting himself with more whimpers, "-even now...even though I'm stronger, I still can't s-save them!" he moves from clutching her shirt to fully wrapping his arms around her and tugging her close so he can drench her shirt with the next wave of tears and shameless wails that follow.
She doesn't speak, as she can't trust that her voice won't waver, but she returns his embrace and holds him tightly. As much as she loves comforting him when he's sad, this is on a whole other level. He's not just sad, he's heartbroken, terrified. And she can't help him much when he's like this. He quiets down quickly though, and she starts threading her fingers through his hair as his shoulders slowly stop shaking. The occasional sniffle reaches her ears, and she reaches up to wipe one of her own tears away.
"It's okay now." she murmurs. She feels him nod, and she looks down when he shuffles to simply lay his head on her lap and stare at nothing for a time. She gives an assuring smile when his eyes occasionally glance up at her, but she's still waiting for him to speak.
He opens his mouth and inhales deeply, "I'm sorry." he breathes, moving to pick absentmindedly at the hem of her sleeping shorts.
"Don't apologize." she leans down to kiss the peak of his cheekbone, placing a hand upon it as she pulls back. "I'm glad to be here for you."
He gulps as his eyes become shimmery once again, and he takes a few deep breaths before he attempts to speak again. "I haven't dreamt about them in a while...at least my mother. You've been fairly distracting these last few weeks, so I didn't focus much on my father."
"Historia." she summarizes before he even gets to the point. "Seeing her triggered it."
He nods, "I keep seeing the moment I...I..." he grits his teeth again as he loses his composure. And he closes his eyes in resignation when tears start to flow again.
She knows what he's trying to say, the moment he ate his own father. It wasn't his fault, it was entirely unbidden, and he never would have even known if Reiss hadn't gotten ahold of him. But she can't imagine the horrible burden of knowing that you were directly responsible for a parent's death. "I know." she murmurs.
He grimaces and curls in on himself, "It hurts." he whimpers, and the words cut through her heart, "It hurts so much." he starts to hiccup on sobs again, albeit far less intensely than before.
She sighs deeply and hugs him closer, "I know...I know..." she murmurs, pressing her lips to his hair as his body starts to shake again. The scene brings back memories, memories that make her smile despite herself. It wasn't long ago, only about six years, when he used to do the same for her.
He'd invite her into his bed even as a small child, and she started sleeping there habitually not long after she moved in with the Jäger's. She had nightmares, awful nightmares, and she was often awake all night whimpering until he started comforting her. He did it the exact same way, she would curl into a ball in his lap and cry into his chest, all the while he assured her with quiet whispers and gentle stroking of her hair.
They switched roles not long after the fall of Shiganshina. And she feels a sad sense of nostalgia, knowing this has been the centerpiece of their relationship for so long. Trying to pick up the shattered pieces of what they've both lost.
She gives a start when she realizes he's moved and is now looking her in the eye. He gives her a hesitant smile, despite his wet cheeks, which she gently wipes at with her thumb. "Thank you." he says, grabbing her hand and kissing it softly.
She pulls him in for a warm, comforting hug, smiling when he nuzzles his face into her shoulder and neck. "As if you need to thank me." she murmurs.
He pulls back to give her the most chaste, simple kiss she thinks they've ever shared. And it leaves her feeling fuzzy and content inside. She hopes he feels the same. "Every now and then, I get the nightmares." he says, frowning slightly. "I'm just glad I have you, Mika. Even though I don't enjoy venting my problems to other people." he adds with a chuckle.
"Well you've done more than enough for me in the past, you know I'd do anything for you. Something as simple as this doesn't burden me in the slightest, Eren." she cups his face and presses her forehead to his. she feels him nod against her, and she prods for him to lay down with her.
He snakes his arm around her waist and pulls her as close as she can comfortably be, finally closing his eyes in peace. She traces light patterns on his skin as he falls asleep, a smile painted onto her face and a warmth in her heart so different to only minutes before. She still feels concerned, as she knows he'll likely be seeing Historia again tomorrow. But perhaps he'll take her presence better now that he's vented his inner turmoil.
•
•
He inhales deeply and steels himself, fist held up to the door, and heart pounding in anxiety. His own conviction, along with Mikasa's earnest prodding, has led him to Historia's room. As his raven-haired lover said this morning, he needs to "-find closure." with the young queen. And she also mentioned that perhaps Historia wasn't exactly comfortable around him herself. After all, she saw memories too when she touched him in that cave.
He exhales and knocks a few times against the wood. He hears shuffling, a light groan, and the sound of dragging footsteps before the door opens. He looks away and bites his lip at her bedraggled appearance. She looks like she hasn't slept for at least a few days. Her hair is knotted, body haggard, eyes bloodshot, and face weary. "Historia." he greets.
"Eren?" she blinks a few times and opens the door further to allow him inside. She doesn't shut it, but rather leaves it open just barely before she moves to sit on the chair at her desk. "What brings you here?" she asks.
He finds a chair to sit in and fidgets with his hands as he plants himself upon it. Clearing his throat, he looks to the side as he speaks, "I guess I needed to talk to you. I'm sorry for yesterday...I was just, well, a little shocked." he says.
She seems a bit pleased to hear him say that, as her mouth twists into a calm smile, "I understand. I felt the same. Strange as it is, I thought I had gotten over our...difficulties." she refers to the brief grudge she held against the boy. Which her father instilled in her before she chose her path. "Are you feeling better about yourself?" she asks. After all, he seemed to be rather depressed and despairing when they tried to make him transform. Raving on about how insignificant he thought he was.
He gives a sheepish smile, "Yeah...I was a little...dramatic, wasn't I?"
She chuckles, glad that the tension around them seems to be easing up. "You were. Most definitely. But I think it's what saved your life, in a sense." she says as she sits back and props her feet up on the desk.
He gestures to the display and gives a light chuckle of his own, "Not very queen-like is it?"
"I do what I want." she says, tilting her nose in the air and pursing her lips haughtily.
"You're silly."
"And you have yet to tell me of this new relationship with Mikasa!" she accuses, pointing a finger at him, "I'm dying to know how that got started. Granted, I knew it would happen, but seeing that I missed it is rather vexing."
He blabbers and turns red, "I-uh..."
"Ahh, never mind, it's a girl thing to want to talk about that. I'll just get the details from Mikasa." she waves her hand with a smug smile. "You know, Eren, I may have mixed feelings about you sometimes, but I think of you like a brother in some aspects."
He grins somewhat nervously, "And I have absolutely no idea what to think of you, Historia."
She tuts and moves to stand with a smile, "Thanks for talking to me, Eren. I think it did us both a great deal of good."
He stands hesitantly, surprised himself that the conversation is already over. "Yeah, I think it did." he says, smiling warmly.
"I'd love to stay and catch up more, but I do have a meeting with the Commander soon." she says as she leads him to the door. "I suppose I should also thank you for waking me, I might've been late otherwise."
He chuckles as he exits her room, "You're welcome. Have a good day, Historia." he waves over his shoulder.
"You too, Eren. Say hi to Mikasa for me, I don't know if I'll see her today." she calls as she closes the door.
He walks into his room and leans against the closing door with a sigh. That did do him a great deal of good, even if it was simple, idle chatter. Granted, he's still unsettled by the girl's presence, but he already feels much better about having her here. "How'd it go?" Mikasa asks while scrubbing oil into the leather of her soldier's uniform.
He moves to sit on his bed and run a hand through his hair, "Good, I don't feel terrified around her anymore." he shrugs.
She puts the items she's holding down and moves to sit beside him, "That's good...but do you think you'll stop having nightmares?"
He frowns, "I don't know. I most likely won't. I don't think there's really anything I could do to stop things like that." he grasps her hands and examines how pruned her fingers are from the cleaning she's been doing.
She leans her head on his shoulder and nods, "I suppose."
"Do you have training today?" he asks.
She nods, "Not until later. How about you? When's your next shifting session?"
He shrugs, "Probably in a few days. Give or take one day."
"Why do you ask?" she peers around with raised brow and a smirk.
He scoffs and pulls her hand up to kiss her knuckles softly, "Just curiosity, Mikasa."
She hums and pulls her hand from his grasp, standing up and stretching her arms above her head with a contented sigh.
He bites his lip in a smile, he knows what she's doing, and he's not planning to resist. "You could just ask, you know?" he stands and pulls her closer by the hips, sweeping her hair away from her neck so he can kiss her there.
She giggles and leans back into him, "Who says I was trying to ask?"
"Shut up..." he scoffs, turning her around to capture her lips with his own.
She giggles more into the kiss and wraps her hands around his neck, "Okay, maybe I was." she pulls back with a smirk.
"Happy to oblige." he murmurs, nibbling at her lower lip.
•
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A.N.
Aaaaand gonna stop right there cause I need to give you poor souls something lol. But do not fear! I shall continue this with the next chapter ;)
