Pairing: Mikasa/Eren

Setting: Post Series; I suppose it could be a sequel to Warmth but it doesn't have to be at all.

Words:2597

Rating: T (Little language)

Notes: I dunno where this idea came from but I really like the way it turned out. Oh its fluffy alright. I feel like I write them always confessing to each other so this time it's a little bit different of a way to go about it, and a cute little way to fit the prompt.

February 8th - Heroes

Mikasa thought she looked for Eren everywhere in the house but as she stood in the hallway she couldn't think of another place he would be. The military set up the Scouting Legion close to the capital due to celebrations and political reasons Mikasa assumed. Armin went out with some of the others to look around the place they had never dreamed of seeing before; they invited her of course, but since Eren wasn't amongst them, she declined the offer with a smile. Levi and Hanji weren't around either, having more important things to do now, so she knew Eren wasn't with them either.

She leaned up against the wall. Eren hadn't been acting himself since they got here. She figured he'd be thrilled the war was over, his goal was final achieved and while they lost comrades and friends, many along the way, both she and Armin survived with him. Not only that, but Eren was one of the sole reasons they won. He should be celebrating, not hiding off on his own.

Mikasa's head snapped up. Of course; there was one place she hadn't looked, mainly because Eren never went there alone. No one would think to find him there. She headed down the long hallway to one of the sets of large wooden doors. She had only been in here a few time with Armin and Eren but the scent of old books hit her the moment she opened the door. She had a feeling Eren wasn't in one of the many rows of bookshelves reading so she headed through the room until she saw the small area tucked off to the side. There was a fireplace, a few comfy chairs and couches for reading and a window overlooking the city, which is where she found Eren leaning up against, his head on the window pane.

Mikasa felt her breath hitch at the sight of him. Still after all these years, he still had that effect on her. He was older now, his hair a little longer, his face more mature, his body broader, stronger, but he still had those eyes that had made her melt every day since she was nine years old.

He must've felt her gaze on him for she found those blue eyes looking right at her. "Hey," he greeted, his expression a little confused. "What are you doing here? I thought everyone was going out."

"They did but I wanted to stay here." Mikasa took a few steps into the room. Eren didn't stop her, he just watched her, so she figured he wasn't gonna ask her to leave him alone. She walked over to the window, gazing down into the city before looking back at him.

"What's wrong, Eren?" she asked in a softer tone.

He only shrugged and looked away from her.

She saw the sadness in his eyes, in his face. It made her stomach drop; all she wanted to do was see that bright smile again, to see his face light up and now, there was an opportunity for that, but he still looked so upset. "You should be out celebrating, not shut up in a room alone," she tried again, careful not to press too hard; something she had to master over the years.

"I don't feel too much like celebrating."

It was Mikasa's turn to look at him in confusion. "We have so much to celebrate. Isn't this what you wanted?"

Eren looked out the window. He didn't seem angry with her just…sad. "What I wanted was for us to live in freedom, to be able to explore to have new lives, which is what we got or rather what we are getting but…" He paused for a moment, his teeth biting down on his lip. "At what cost?"

"All the more reason to celebrate, to honor those who lost their lives in this. Their deaths aren't in vain." Mikasa watched Eren carefully. She knew that wasn't what was bothering him. They had all gone to the memorial service for everyone who had died in the battles, civilians and military alike; they had made their peace and thanked those lives. No, the only thing that could make Eren act like this was himself; he was mad at himself.

He shrugged, looking down at the floor between them. He was making excuses for telling her what was really on his mind. Not that it was uncommon with Eren, but he should know that it wasn't just Armin who could see through him by now.

"Eren, what's really bothering you?"

His eyes finally met hers again. He looked defeated, probably knowing she wasn't gonna leave till he told her what it was. Which was…well, true.

"I don't wanna go to celebrations, okay? I don't wanna have parties, and eat and be praised and whatever." He threw his hands up before letting them fall back to his side.

"But you deserve all that, Eren. You helped save-"

"Don't say it. I don't want to hear it."

Mikasa watched him. His face was a lot more serious now, angry even, or maybe just frustrated, she couldn't exactly tell with Eren all the time.

"I'm not a hero. I don't wanna be treated like one. Every person who fought for our freedom is a hero. I don't wanna go to all this shit and be celebrated as the hero and don't tell me that won't happen because Levi already told me that's the way it's gotta be. The people need someone to hold accountable. Fine. Why not him? Armin? You? Jean? Anyone else. They all did as much as I did."

"Eren," Mikasa took a small step towards him. "You single handedly took down a hoard of titans, you took down the leader once he shifted. You're-"

"No," Eren spoke so firmly Mikasa almost took a step back from him. "That wasn't me. That was because I've been some fucked up kid who managed to control the monster I could be. It had nothing to do with me, and everything to do with what I was forced to be."

Mikasa's eyes didn't leave his. She couldn't believe that Eren actually believed that. What had happened to him didn't define him; he overcame it and controlled it and from that he saved them all. How could he not see that?

"Come sit down with me," she said, walking over to the nearby couch. "I wanna tell you a story."

"Mikasa, I don't want to hear-"

One look from her seemed to shut him up at least. He flopped down on the arm chair with a sigh before looking over to her. She leaned forward, her arms leaning against her thighs. Despite him clearly being distressed, he looked so much healthier, fuller. The stress of war finally off his tired body.

"Once upon a time," Mikasa started only to get yet another look from her uncooperative listener.

"Really, Mikasa?"

"Why don't you listen to me instead of interrupting me?" That seemed to shut him up as he leaned his head against the back of the chair.

"Once upon a time, there was a little girl. She lived with her mom and her dad in a little house far off in the woods. She was very happy there. Her parents loved her very much, and really that was all she needed. They didn't get many visitors, except a nice doctor who used to stop by once a month to make sure everything was okay with the girl."

Eren's interest seemed to peak; he must've had a feeling where this story was going now.

"She never quite understood why, but he used to talk about his son all the time. He was around the age of the girl, but only had one friend. The doctor said it was because his son didn't get along with anyone and didn't care to, but he also had really nice stories to tell her about the boy. How he used to bring home flowers for his mom, and the games he would play outside in the fields instead of doing work, and how his friend told him all about the outside world. The doctor said he might bring his son by sometime to meet the girl and she liked that very much. She wanted to meet the boy with the bright eyes and smile."

Eren snorted, causing Mikasa to send him a glare.

"She finally did get to meet him and though it was in less than ideal situations, she would always be thankful that it was that one day he came along with the doctor. The little girl thought she was gonna die when she woke up all tied up, her parent's killers in front of her. She…" Mikasa paused for a second, realizing her eyes dropped to her hands. She looked back up to Eren who was watching her carefully; his face softer than it was before.

Some things never leave you, and she knew Eren shared that as well. She cleared her throat. "She was terrified but this boy came in, and he attacked those men until they stopped moving. She thought he was gonna come after her next but he dropped down next to her and cute her ropes. He told her his name, but she already knew, those blue eyes of his gave him away. The little girl trusted him instantly and for good reasons, because of him she was taught how to fight, and to live. He gave her a simple scarf to keep her warm, and an open hand offering her a home. That boy, he was her hero from that moment on.

"They were inseparable from then on. She always followed him wherever he went just because she liked to be near him. She figured he put up with her, but he didn't send her away and that was good enough for her; especially when he smiled. She knew she'd follow him anywhere, and when he lost his mom and his home, she knew she'd go even to the depths of hell with him. She never wanted to join the military, but she wanted to be with him, to make sure he was always safe. Not that she didn't think he couldn't take care of himself, but because she couldn't bear to live without him."

Mikasa paused for a moment. She knew her story would tell him just about everything that she felt about him, but after all these years she figured it was about time. His eyes were still on her, but he stopped interrupting as he waited for her to continue.

"He was getting older too, and more bitter about the world. She tried not to take it hard when he took it out on her; she knew he didn't mean it. He was just mad and frustrated, that smile she loved so much gone forever it seemed. A few times she tried to get him to leave, to go home with her; some place warm, some place safe where they could have what they once had but he was determined, something she did admire in him; he'd support him, but she wouldn't lose him. That was until, she did. She had forgotten everything he had told her, everything he lived for and she almost paid the price with her life for it. Even in her darkest moments though, the little boy was always there to give her strength, just like he always had.

"She didn't think she cried as hard she did when she saw his body emerge from the fallen titan. She held him close and listened to his heartbeat; he was still with her. She knew people would think he was a monster now that he was one of the things that ruined their world but it was the farthest thing from the truth. He was still her hero, just like he always was and always would be and she would never be able to deny how much she was in love with him after that moment. She just knew one day everyone would see what she saw in him."

Mikasa looked up at Eren, a small smile pulling at her lips. "And they have."

Eren just watched her, still not saying a word. She was afraid for a moment that she had said too much, but even so, she wanted to tell him that he meant the world to her, he always had.

"You know." Eren leaned forward slightly in his chair. "I think I remember a similar story, but about the boy. " His eyes watching her. "How he hadn't even wanted to go see the little girl but his father made him and how when he knew that she was in danger, nothing else mattered. He never understood why he went after her, risking his life for someone he didn't even know, but he knew he had to do it. He knew she was someone who would be important to him, and he was right."

She listened but it was strange; she had known Eren for so long but he had never told her anything about how he felt that night, and why he did it. It just always was he did what he did.

"He did treasure her; comforted her when she was sad, shared his dreams with her, shared his life with her, well as much as a nine year old could. She was always there for him, and on the day he had to watch his own mom die, just like he was for her. He lost sight of some of the things that where important, and he treated the girl like shit. It wasn't because he didn't care, no, he was terrified of losing her. He was terrified she only wanted to be around him, that she only cared so much because of her feeling indebted to him when he didn't save her so she could pay him back, he did it so she'd be with him. He was terrified that he wasn't strong enough to protect her when he loved her more than he could properly express."

"Eren…" Mikasa knew that he cared for her all these years, he wouldn't still be here talking to her if she didn't, but…

"Hey," he said, knocking her out of her thoughts as he gestured for her to come over to him.

She stood up from her seat following his beckoning but she didn't expect to get pulled down into the chair with him, her body sitting firmly between his legs as his arms wrapped around her, pulling her in closer to his body.

She felt his breath on her neck, his head leaning against hers. "Listen, Mikasa, I'm sorry-"

"Don't be." She placed her hands over his, trying to ignore the way her hear heartbeat was pounding in her ears, the way goose bumps were forming on her skin from his touch. "There's nothing to be sorry for."

She could feel his body shake lightly, from what she knew to be a chuckle. Mikasa tilted her head back to look at him to see that bright smile of his. One of his hands reached up to brush some hair out of her face.

"After all these years, huh?" he mumbled lightly, his eyes still bright.

"Yes, still my hero." She leaned her head into his touch, remembering all the times his warm body had held her over the years.

"Huh, that's funny." His forehead pressed down against her, his lips gently brushing over hers. "You're still mine."