Pairing: Eren/Mikasa

Setting: Training Days

Words: 995

Rating: K+

Notes: I like to remember that these kids are just teenagers under a lot of pressure, and just because they are in the military and dealing with a lot more than normal teenagers would, that doesn't mean they wouldn't act like them too. So that's what I used. A girl who likes a boy who can be a real jerk and how that really makes her feel when no one is looking.

November 10 – Fight

Mikasa closed her eyes when she heard Eren's hands hit the wooden table.

She had done it again.

She didn't need to look at him to know he was already headed out the door. The room was quiet for a moment, but she heard the nightly chatter pick up again. They were used to Eren getting heated and leaving the area after disagreeing with Mikasa no doubt.

"Don't worry, Mikasa," Armin said from nearby. "You know how he is."

Yeah, she knew better than anyone she supposed with the way she could manage to get him pissed off when she only wanted to help. She gripped her hands against the table and pushed herself to her feet.

"Just give him a little time to cool off, you know he isn't gonna listen-"

Mikasa felt bad leaving before Armin finished his sentence, but she wasn't taking this from Eren tonight. She pushed the door open and walked out into the cool night air. She tugged her scarf closer to her while her eyes looked for where he might've gone off to.

"What do you want?"

Well, that didn't take too long. She turned to see Eren leaning up against one of the nearby barracks. "I just wanna talk," she shrugged slowly walking closer to him. Mikasa already saw the anger in his eyes, the way his body tensed up, the way he looked at her.

"Haven't you done enough talking? Like, oh I dunno, telling me I clearly wasn't cut out for this. Again."

"That isn't what I meant, Eren." She crossed her arms against her chest and tried to keep her face calm, to stop her emotions from getting the best of her. It didn't work; she could feel the hitch in her breath, the ache in her body, and the sting in her eyes. "I only meant-"

"That you don't think I can handle the military and that I should just pack up and go home because I'm a waste of space?"

"No. I never said that." She tried to step closer to him, but his glare halted her. "I only want to look out for you. To keep you-"

"Yeah, and that's great, Mikasa." Eren crossed his arms as his eyes narrowed at her. "But I don't need you to baby me. For the last goddamn time I am not your little brother. Stop treating me like one."

"I never said you were, but when you do reckless and dangerous things, what do you expect me to do? Sit back and watch you die?"

"You let me handle myself. That's what you do. It's none of your damn business anyway what I do. I never asked you to come with me. I especially didn't ask for a damn babysitter. I never asked for anything."

He was angry; angrier than she had seen him in a while. How could she tell him the reason she told him to leave was because she wanted him to be in a safe place? A safe home with her where they could be together again. She couldn't tell him though. Eren wouldn't understand; or worse, he wouldn't want it at all.

"I came with you to make sure you didn't kill yourself." Mikasa couldn't bear to bring herself to be mad at him; he was lashing out because of the pain he was still in, all the hurt inside. She knew that, even if he didn't.

Eren pushed off from the cabin and stared at her with a look she knew from fights before. "I can take care of myself. I don't need you."

Mikasa stopped in her tracks.

Eren said things similar to that many times, and each time they hurt, but this time it hurt in the worst ways. She felt the pit of her stomach sink as his last words settled hit her; her nightmare come true. Her eyes dropped from him, but only for a moment.

"I'd say otherwise," she swallowed hard, hoping he didn't hear. "Considering I've saved your ass quite a few times since we joined."

His eyes narrowed but he glared away, brushing by her forcefully. "Don't you dare follow me."

"I'll always follow you." Her voice sounded empty even to her own ears. "Into hell if I have to." She knew he was long gone, but she couldn't stop the words from falling from her mouth. She walked over to the barracks he had been leaning on, slipping down to the damp ground. She pushed her scarf over her face, but the comfort she normally found in it wasn't there.

Mikasa hadn't even noticed the tears falling from her eyes until she felt a warm arm around her shoulders.

"It's okay," Armin leaned his head against hers. "You know he doesn't mean it. He's just frustrated right now."

"I just want to be by his side but he doesn't even want me near him." She opened her eyes to look at Armin, his warm face making her feel a little better, like he always did.

"I know, but that's not the case. There's never been a time he hasn't wanted you around. Eren's just gotta come to his own realization of just why you do what you do but he will, I promise."

Mikasa nodded before wiping her face on her sleeve.

"Come on, I'll walk you back," he pushed himself up to his feet. He reached his hand out to help her up.

"You're always good to me, Armin," she pulled herself up to her feet, ready for this night to be over.

"Well, one of us has to be when Eren can be a complete moron."

She knew Eren better than anyone, save for Armin and while deep down she knew Armin was right, he was always right, her heart still ached. Eren's words cut so deep, and he didn't even know it.

It was the worst feeling she knew, but she'd fight for him over and over.