Author's Note: Go back a chapter to see the new chapter guys. Originally this was gonna just be an OVA, but since I'm rebooting the Red String, I needed to write a reboot chapter for meeting Rubi.
"Eren! Eren!", Mikasa was shaking his shoulder. It was morning, the sun shining brightly in the window. Eren was fast asleep, and class started in just ten minutes.
He didn't fall asleep until 5 in the morning, so he was not moving this morning. He was still holding his game controller in his hand, as he drooled in his sleep.
"Eren, wake up! Class starts in 10 minutes!", Mikasa raised her voice, urgently. Eren grumbled, pulling his covers over his head, snoring.
"Eren...", Mikasa sighed.
Carla peered in, carrying a basket of laundry. "Sweetie, you're going to be late", she said. "But what about Eren?", asked Mikasa.
"If he doesn't move, it'll be his problem. He's gotta learn not to be up all night. Some extra homework should get him in gear", Carla answered.
"Oh, I washed it for you honey", Carla set the basket down, and took Mikasa's red scarf out of it. Mikasa came over, and took it.
"Thank you, Carla", Mikasa smiled, as she wrapped her red scarf around her neck. It felt so warm.
"You can't be missing school for Eren, honey. Now you better hurry", Carla said softly. Mikasa nodded. Carla's expression softened more.
"Sweetheart...are you all right to go?", Carla asked Mikasa then. It would be the first time Mikasa went to school without Eren.
Mikasa wanted to be honest...she wanted to say no. Because...she didn't feel all right. She could already feel a mild panic attack coming on, her heart racing.
But she...didn't want to say anything. She didn't want to burden Carla. Carla was like Mikasa's own mother.
She did so much for her. Plus...maybe she would be all right. Mikasa took a deep breath. "I'll be all right", she assured, forcing a small smile.
"Okay, well have a good day Mikasa", Carla smiled back, as she went down the hall to put clothes away.
Mikasa sighed, she then glanced at Eren one more time. He remained fast asleep, drooling on his pillow.
Mikasa walked over, and then quickly rubbed her scarf on his hair. She smelled it, and then wrapped it back around her neck.
When Mikasa exited the house, she hurried to school. She had to run fast to make it in time, otherwise she'd be late herself.
She saw Armin and Rubi waiting for her. "Mikasa!", Rubi waved. "Come on, we're gonna be late!", Armin added.
Mikasa ran with them. Rubi was a transfer student, who just came to the school only a week ago. But Mikasa and her became fast friends.
"Where's Eren?", Armin asked as they ran. "He overslept", Mikasa replied simply. Rubi glanced at her, worried.
"This is the first time I've seen you without Eren", she admitted. Mikasa looked down slightly, not saying anything.
When they arrived at school, they hurried into class. Rubi was sitting next to Mikasa. Mikasa kept looking at Eren's empty desk. Her heart continued to pound, as she struggled to control her breathing.
"Where's Jaeger?", Rico demanded. "He's absent, ma'am", Armin answered. Mikasa only somewhat heard any talking around her.
She clutched her scarf so tightly, her knuckles turned white. Rubi watched her. "Miki...", she said worriedly. It was a nickname Rubi gave to her.
The two were like sisters almost instantly. Rubi was the first friend Mikasa made aside from Eren and Armin.
Mikasa didn't hear her at first.
"Miki, hey...", Rubi carefully took Mikasa's hand, which was still crushing her scarf. Mikasa blinked, snapping out of it for a moment.
"Easy...you're gonna break your hand...", Rubi stated worriedly, as she gently massaged her friend's hand, which was white from how hard Mikasa was squeezing it shut.
"Sorry Rubi, I spaced out", Mikasa said quietly.
"Miki, I know a panic attack when I see one. Do you want me to take you to the infirmary?", Rubi asked, worriedly.
Mikasa shook her head. "No, I'm fine...it's just a few hours...", she replied, determined. Mikasa was determined to get through the day without Eren.
She kept telling herself in her head...she was a big girl now. She wasn't that scared 9 year old anymore. She couldn't always run to Eren, or expect him to be there for her when she needed him.
She was 15...she had to stop leaning on Eren, and grow a bit more independent. She took a deep breath, and focused on her school work. Anything to distract herself.
Both Rubi and Armin kept a worried eye on Mikasa. Armin especially did, since he knew she had a panic attack once before.
It was years ago, when they were still little kids, only two months after her parents were murdered.
And it was because the school had placed Eren and Mikasa in different classrooms. Neither Armin or Eren saw it happen, but they knew it was so bad, the teacher had to take Mikasa to the infirmary, and even arrange that Eren and Mikasa stay in the same close, all the way to senior year of high school.
The class went slow for Mikasa, but she kept herself focused. As long as she could keep busy...she would be all right.
Mikasa hardly touched her food at lunch, and spent the time in one of her books. She had to keep looking or doing something.
"Wow Rubi, you made this?!", Armin asked, impressed. Rubi blushed a bit.
"Well...it's my mom's recipe", she said sheepishly. "It looks amazing!", Armin admitted. "Would you like some?", asked Rubi.
She offered some of her lunch to Armin. Mikasa didn't really hear them, as she continued to read.
Her back was against the tree trunk they sat under. She only drank some of her water, but didn't really touch her food.
"Rubi, this is so good!", Armin admitted, loving her cooking. Rubi blushed more, but then she blinked, watching Mikasa worried.
"Miki, you should eat something", Rubi pressed. "I'm not hungry", Mikasa replied simply.
Armin and Rubi both exchanged worried looks. Armin sighed. Why did Eren have to do this?
Right after lunch, the class was called to the P.E field, where the swimming pool, track, and tennis court was.
"I think I heard we're having a game today", Marco whispered to Jean.
"About time!", Connie grinned, excited.
"Listen up!", Rico ordered. "Today we're having a Tennis match! Which ever team wins, gets the highest score on your P.E grade", Rico announced.
"And the loser team?", asked Sasha.
"Loser team has Classroom Cleanup for a week!", Rico answered. "Seriously?!", Sasha whined.
"Now then, we'll split the teams in two! Mikasa, Armin, Rubi, Jean, Connie, Sasha, you and ten others on that side!", Rico ordered.
The group went to the right side of the Tennis Court.
"Annie, Reiner, Bertolt, Krista, Ymir, and the rest of you, on the left side!", Rico ordered.
"Collect your rackets and balls, and we'll start right away!", Rico blew her whistle.
The first serve was Armin. He weakly hit the ball with the racket. The green ball didn't even go over the net.
"Oh come on!", Jean complained. "I got it!", Rubi went up, and was able to hit the ball across. "Mine!", Ymir hit it back.
Jean countered it, and then Annie hit it hard. "Sasha! Pay attention!", Rubi cried.
"Hm?", Sasha was eating an ice cream sandwich. "Sasha, why are you eating now?!", Armin yelled, panicked.
Sasha suddenly kept the ice cream sandwich in her mouth, and was able to hit the ball back. "What?!", Reiner gawked.
"She's good...", Rubi mused, impressed. Mikasa was barely paying attention to all the commotion, her thoughts traveling.
Her hand was barely holding onto her racket. She kept watching the school building...hoping Eren might appear.
She froze then, a memory flashed in her mind...of her parents.
"MIKASA!", Rubi yelled, as the ball was headed right for her. Mikasa glanced, and felt the ball hit her arm.
"Mikasa's out first round!", Rico blew her whistle. Some students whispered, surprised since Mikasa was always so athletic.
"Seriously?! Mikasa, you're supposed to be our star player!", Jean yelled, panicked. He was not about to be cleaning the classroom for a week.
Mikasa was quiet. She sighed, as she walked off the court. The game continued, as Mikasa went over to the bench. She took a shaky breath, and hid behind the bench area, leaning against the wall out of sight.
She began to hyperventilate, as she kept seeing memory flashes of her parents' deaths.
'Calm down...calm down Mikasa...come on...get a hold of yourself...'!', she thought, shaking badly. Her hand was visibly trembling, as she shut her eyes tightly.
Tears appeared in the corners of her eyes, as she gripped her scarf. "Eren...!", she cried, desperately unable to take it.
She heard the whistle blow again, meaning someone else was out.
"Miki! Mikasa!", she heard Rubi's voice suddenly. Rubi had purposely got out, as she hurried over.
Mikasa looked, still shaking badly. Rubi very gently took Mikasa's hands. "Easy...easy, Mikasa...deep breaths", Rubi soothed sweetly.
She gently rubbed Mikasa's back. Mikasa's entire body was tense, as she struggled to control her breathing.
Rubi could tell she was having a severe panic attack. "Shhhh, easy...deep breaths...", Rubi helped Mikasa sit down on the bench, continuing to rub her back.
The girls sat in silence for a while, as Mikasa continued to struggle with her breathing.
But she was able to keep it somewhat together thanks to Rubi. "T-Thank you Rubi...for sitting with me", Mikasa said shakily, grateful.
Rubi smiled, as she continued to rub her friend's tense back.
They heard the whistle blow again, indicating the first match was over.
Armin hurried over. "Mikasa!", he said worriedly, to see Rubi comforting her. "Rubi, how is she?", Armin asked.
Rubi shook her head, worriedly. "Not too good...", she admitted, as she continued rubbing Mikasa's back.
"Pathetic", a voice growled then. They looked to see Annie standing there. Rubi glared. "Back off, Annie!", Armin growled.
"So your brother's gone for a whole day, and you suddenly acts like a hurt little girl?", Annie sneered.
Mikasa didn't say anything. She wanted too...she even glared a bit. But she couldn't shake off this panic attack she was having.
She just...kept seeing her parents bodies.
"Annie, knock it off! Mikasa's having a panic attack!", Armin yelled. "You better turn the fuck around Annie...", Rubi warned, glaring dangerously.
"Just thought I'd let you know our team won the first round, so unless Jaeger shows up-"
"GUYS!", Eren's voice suddenly cut Annie off.
Mikasa's eyes opened, as she froze, and looked in the direction his voice came from. Everyone else looked too, seeing Eren standing on top of the stairs, panting.
He had clearly run to school.
"Sorry! I overslept!", he said, breathlessly. "Are you kidding me...", Annie growled. "Eren!", Armin smiled. Mikasa got up, as she sprinted towards him.
"Out of my way!", she shoved Jean aside, as she ran up the stairs to him.
"Mikasa, I'm sor-", Eren started, but she threw her arms around him tightly, cutting him off.
The force of her weight pushed him back a few feet, but he smiled and hugged her back.
"Don't ever do that again...!", Mikasa cried tearfully, holding him close.
"Mikasa...I'm so sorry", Eren stroked her hair, holding her close to him. They then shared a tender kiss, as Mikasa's breathing returned to normal.
She was able to push away those images of her parents, and her heart beat returned to normal.
Armin exhaled in relief. "He finally showed", Rubi grinned, also relieved for Mikasa.
Annie glared, annoyed.
The game began again. "First serve, Mikasa!", Rico blew her whistle.
Mikasa was standing next to Eren, Rubi and Armin. She glared at Annie across the court. She then threw the ball up high, and hit it hard.
The ball went far, above all of Annie's teammates, hitting the grass.
"Whoa...!", Rubi exclaimed. "Yeah, the difference! When Eren's around, Mikasa's skill is in top notch!", Armin said.
Bertolt glared, he hit the ball over, and then time Eren caught it. He hit it right back. Annie swung her racket, as the ball went so fast, but Mikasa caught it.
She swung it right back. Ymir just barely managed to hit it back, as Rubi hit it right back at her.
After a long game, in the end Eren and Mikasa's team won.
"It was close, but no classroom cleaning!", Jean grinned happily as the team went over to the benches to cool down.
"Mikasa, here, you must be really hot", Eren offered her a water bottle. Mikasa offered him a towel back, as they cooled off.
Eren gave her a look then, and Mikasa hesitated, but then removed her scarf. "Thank you, baby", Eren smiled, as he drank some water.
Mikasa drank water as well. She wet her towel with it, and brushed the towel against the back of her neck, under her hair.
"Sasha, you really should drink water, not soda...", Connie said, as Sasha was drinking a can of cold Pepsi from the vending machine.
"I'm good!", she assured him.
"Hey Rubi...thank you", Eren said, as Mikasa continued to drink water. "For what, Eren?", asked Rubi, drinking water herself.
"For being there for Mikasa while I was gone", Eren answered.
"It was really no problem", Rubi assured him. Mikasa finished drinking her water, exhaling. She blinked then, seeing some students gossiping with Annie.
Mikasa could see Annie's mouth moving, but couldn't hear what she was saying. And the students she was talking to looked disgusted and shocked, and they then glanced over at Mikasa and Eren.
Mikasa looked away...she chose to just ignore it.
When school finally ended, and after saying goodnight to Armin and Rubi, Eren and Mikasa arrived home. It was sunset.
"Hey that's weird, my parents' car isn't here", Eren noticed as they walked up to the porch. Mikasa saw a note taped to the front door.
"Eren", she said. Eren blinked, coming over. "Sorry, had to help your dad at the hospital. Won't be home until late. There's money on the table for takeout. Mom", Eren read it aloud.
They went inside. Mikasa turned the lights on, as Eren saw the money.
"Is she kidding me?! There isn't enough here to buy even a pizza!", Eren yelled, both shocked and disappointed.
"Maybe she was in a hurry and thought she left enough", Mikasa wondered. Eren groaned miserably, his stomach growling.
"If you want...I can cook dinner", Mikasa offered then. Eren blinked, he then looked at her. "Really?", he asked, hopefully.
"Sure", Mikasa nodded, she blushed a bit. The idea of making Eren dinner...she couldn't help but feel happy inside over it.
"Oh, yes! I love your cooking, Mikasa!", Eren grinned happily. Mikasa gave a small smile. "Okay, I'll go start dinner. Why don't you go get a shower, and maybe start your homework", Mikasa suggested.
"Okay!", Eren hurried upstairs. Mikasa blushed, her heart skipping a beat. She went into the kitchen, and decided to make a traditional Japanese dinner.
With cooked fish, stew and tea. She knew Eren liked spicy foods, so she decided to make curry instead of plan rice.
"What can I put in for dessert?", she wondered, as dinner cooked on the stove. She opened the fridge, to see there was still a cake box inside from yesterday. There was half a cheesecake left, and it was still very fresh.
When Eren returned downstairs, his hair still damp from his shower, he blinked. And even blushed. Mikasa was over the stove, finishing up the dinner. She was wearing Carla's light pink apron over her school uniform.
She looked so grown up. "Hey...", he said, blushing. "Oh, hey Eren. Could you set the table?", Mikasa asked.
"Sure", Eren saw what she was making, so he set two plates, a bowl and a cup for each of them on the table.
He also got some napkins out.
Mikasa glanced, watching him. She blushed. 'It...almost feels like we're married...', she thought, blushing more.
When she finished making dinner, the two sat at the table eating. Eren was of course loving it.
"Mikasa, I love your cooking!", he grinned, happy to eat. "Don't eat too fast, you'll burn yourself", Mikasa advised, although she was smiling.
"Did you get any homework done?", asked Mikasa, as she ate. Eren shrugged. "Nah, I'll do it later", he replied, as he ate the curry.
"Eren", Mikasa frowned.
"I'll do it, I'll do it! Don't worry!", he assured her as he stuffed his face.
After they finished eating dinner and dessert, Mikasa went upstairs to get a shower. They both did the dishes, and now Eren was stuck with his homework.
He groaned miserably as he starred at it, scratching his head, totally confused. "I don't get it...", he growled. He was in his bedroom, and he could hear the shower water.
He blushed a bit...why did he feel so nervous? This wasn't the first time he heard Mikasa taking a shower.
Then again...they were home alone. Eren shook his head...no, not until she was ready.
Eventually he heard the shower turn off, and Mikasa slipped into her white nightgown. She came in, to see Eren struggling with his homework.
"Still no luck?", Mikasa asked, as she sat at the table by him on the floor. "No...", Eren admitted. Mikasa looked for him.
Eren glanced at her. He was quite red. He could tell by her loose nightgown she hadn't bothered to put a bra on. Her hair was still a bit damp too.
Mikasa paused, feeling his eyes on her. She turned red, and the two suddenly made eye contact.
"You know...we're home alone", Mikasa spoke first, blushing. Eren's eyes softened, as he gently cupped her face, leaning in. They shared a deep passionate kiss.
Mikasa deepened the kiss, as she suddenly felt quite warm. They were home...alone. Just Eren and her. The thought and realization of this made her excited...eager.
And Eren felt the same way, although he wasn't sure if Mikasa felt like he did. To his surprise, Mikasa suddenly gripped his hand, and guided it to her breast.
Eren turned bright red, but he relaxed, cupping it through her nightgown. Mikasa released a small moan, they were just about to lay down...and possibly go further when...
"We're home!", Carla's voice was heard downstairs. "Shit!", Eren panicked, so did Mikasa, as she lost her balance, falling on top of Eren.
Eren grunted painfully, her weight hitting him right on the crotch.
"Eren? Mikasa?", they heard Grisha's voice downstairs as well. "We're up here! Doing homework!", Mikasa yelled, she looked extremely flushed.
"M-Mikasa...you're crushing my nuts!", Eren groaned, painfully. "Oh..! Sorry Eren!", Mikasa quickly got off of him, very red.
The two quickly sat up, and went back to Eren's homework.