"Everyone alright?" Levi shouted through the steam, one of Eren's arms around his neck, Hange at the teenager's other side.
"Sir!"Connie ran forward, stopping right in front of them and looking anxiously at Eren.
"What happened?" Levi looked at the now slightly taller boy in front of him.
"Mikasa, sir, she got hit by Eren's fist when she tried to jump on him to kill a titan that was getting too close"
"Where is she now?" starting to walk to the carts, the commander looked around trying to see the Special Operations Squad.
"She's in one of the carts, unconscious. She has small wounds on her torso and we think she broke her arm"
"Fuck. Fine. Hange-"Levi turned to see them, but they were already a step ahead.
"On it, we're getting here as soon as possible. Connie, come here and help Levi. I'll go get everything ready to retreat" Connie nodded and hurried to take Eren's arm.
"Sir?" Connie asked when they reached one of the carts; the same one Mikasa was on.
"Yes?"
"What are we going to do?" Connie jumped into the cart, bending down to take Eren's torso.
"We wait, just like every other time" pushing Eren's lower body, Levi jumped in the cart too. Taking off his cape to make a pillow, he kneeled at his side "They are lucky not many died. They can have this cart for themselves" breathing deeply and standing up, Levi looked at Connie "Was anyone else hurt?"
"Not from our squad, sir"
"Good. C'mon, they're going to need us out there"
Eren woke up with a groan and a fuck under his breath. His hands were still letting out some steam, and his head was killing him. And by the way everything under him was moving, he could say he was in a cart.
Opening his eyes a little, he took deep breaths to try and clear his mind.
"Good to see you are awake" Armin smiled, sitting some feet away "We're close to the Wall"
"You okay?" trying to sit, Eren supported himself in one hand while the other went to rub his eyes.
"Yes" Armin fell silent, and Eren knew something was wrong.
Looking up, Eren noticed Armin had his eyes on something in the other side of the cart. Following his glace, Eren recognized her black hair and her scarf.
"What happened?!" trying to stand, he fell on his ass when his head went dizzy.
"She broke her arm and probably bruised her ribs" Armin got closer to him and helped him lay down.
"How?"
"Emm…she wanted to kill a titan that got too close to you" Armin looked away and then it was not hard for Eren to put the pieces together.
"She got too close to me, didn't she?" he just looked down, the heavy weight of the guilt starting to form on his shoulders.
"But she's going to be fine!"
He didn't answer.
She woke up some hours later in a proper bed with Eren and Armin at her sides.
"Hey Mikasa" Armin smiled the instant she opened her eyes, waving from the feet of her bed, sitting much like the time Eren was in bed after the attack on the Female Titan.
"Hey" she waved back, her face twisting in pain.
"Don't move too much" from her side, Eren squeezed her hand softly, looking down.
"I'm fine"
"I'm sorry" she heard a quiet sniff, and Eren gripped her hand tightly "I'm sorry"
"Hey, it's not your fault"
"Yes it is. It's always my fault when you get hurt" standing suddenly, he let go of her and walked out of the room. She almost didn't notice the tears on his cheeks.
"Careful" Armin held Mikasa by her elbow, helping her sit on one of the chairs.
"Thank you, Armin" she smiled, her injured arm close to her body "Have you seen Eren?"
"No. He should get here soon" he sat beside her, resting his elbows on the table.
"Hey" Eren sat in front of them, his head bowed.
"Hey" both of his friends answered, starting to eat their food awkwardly.
"Alright, I can't deal with this anymore. You two, up. Now" Armin pushed his food away, standing and grabbing Mikasa.
"Where are you taking us?" Mikasa asked, looking back at Eren. He looked away.
"Your room"
Armin actually locked them, threatening not to open unless they talked like the friends they were.
Boy, if he knew (Even though Mikasa suspected he knew, because that smirk could mean only one thing).
"So… are you going to say something or do I start?" Mikasa sat on her bed, patting the space beside her.
"I'm sorry" he said, not looking up and not moving from his place near the door.
"Sorry for what?!" she shouted, standing up and raising her good arm.
"For that!" he yelled, pointing her arm "For all of that… I'm not supposed to hurt you, Mikasa"
"This wasn't your fault!" she got closer to him, and he took a step back. She stopped "I was the one being reckless…Eren, this isn't your fault. In any way, it never has been"
"Yes it is! It's always my fault!" he looked up, right into her eyes. Tears were falling from his eyes, and Mikasa felt her world shatter in that single moment.
They were so broken.
"Remember…" she got closer, slowly, step by step testing the waters, and he did not move "Remember what I told you some time ago, about you saving me? I thanked you… for this scarf and for my life. You saved me, Eren" she took his wrists in her hands, her broken arm making her grind her teeth "You saved me… you gave me a reason to live…and well, I got hurt, but that was not your fault. You would never hurt me, I know that. I love you, Eren. And I know that every time you hurt people you feel like a monster…But you are not a monster to me"
"When is a monster not a monster, Mikasa?" he sobbed, letting his head fall on her chest.
"Oh" she smiled a little, running her hands through his hair "when you love it".