Pairing: Eren/Mikasa

Setting: You know I have to get in my one "This is what I want to happen before the next chapter comes out and crushes my dreams" ficlet

Rating: K+

Words: 1880

Notes: I had this in my head ever since I realized Eren might've heard people refer to Mr. Gunslinger as Ackerman and where his mind would go to because of that. I really don't know if Historia would know the things I made her know, but I also feel like she might now things she hasn't said yet. I tried to write a fuller ending as well, but I liked the line I left it on so I hope it doesn't feel too incomplete ^^' My headcanons for Mikasa in relation to her family are also shoved in here because I think about that too much and how much I want Mikasa to have a central role in this arc Please Isayama pleeease

What's in a Name

They barely made it out of the funeral home. It seemed like the moment Mikasa and Jean left the building with Eren and Historia, still bound over their shoulders, all hell broke loose. Thankfully, Sasha and Connie had been set up just in case anyone went after them but Mikasa had no idea what was going on behind her; she just followed Jean through the streets, holding on to Eren and never once looking behind.

Armin was waiting at the safe house on the other side of town; he worked it out with Levi before this whole mess started. Mikasa didn't even have an idea where Levi was, the last time she saw him he was fighting someone who Mikasa never saw before. Regardless, they still managed to get Historia and Eren out of there but now they had to make it to safety before they got caught. She couldn't hear anyone behind them as they ran but she really didn't even know who they were dealing with, let alone what they were capable of.

All she knew was the plan had gone south. Eren and Historia were not under the protection they had planned, and were missing for three days. Thankfully, Levi found them again, but they really could've lost them this time. As much as she was willing to trust Levi, something that was pretty new to her, and to trust Eren, it had been a very long three days until Levi told them he had sight on them once more. Now all she wanted to do was get them to safety.

Jean skidded to a stop almost causing Mikasa to run into him and Historia. He quickly turned down another alley way and Mikasa followed not wanting to see what made Jean change his path.

It was a strange past three days. Normally when something was wrong, especially if Eren was in danger, Mikasa felt that sinking feeling in her entire body like her whole world was crashing down, that she needed to get him back, keep him safe. This time, though she felt Eren's absence every moment of the day, it was okay. It was like she knew that Levi would lead them back to Eren and Historia, that Eren'd be okay by the time they reached him.

A door swung open causing Jean to run right into it. Instead he quickly turned into the building while Mikasa grabbed the door and shut it behind them. Armin was waiting by another door, though this one was in the floor. He handed Jean a small lantern before passing one to Mikasa and she followed as Jean descended the stone stairs. Armin was still behind them, closing the door above them and cutting off all light except for the lanterns.

"This leads to an old tunnel," Armin spoke in a soft tone. "The others will meet us here when they can."

It seemed like the steps were never ending as they walked farther down, the stone walls and the air becoming damp the further they went. Mikasa had no idea places like this existed below their feet though she supposed she shouldn't be surprised; not in the world they lived in.

"There should be a room right when we hit the tunnel, it will be safe to wait there." Armin said.

"Right here?" Jean asked, gesturing to an old wooden door.

"Yeah. Just take them in there so we can get all their bindings off. I'm sure it's not comfortable being hog tied for so long. Yeah, I know, Eren, don't give me that look."

The creaking of the old door echoed through the tunnel that Mikasa couldn't even see it was so dark beyond the small sources of light they had. She followed Jean in where he already set Historia down on a chair near a small table, his lantern flickering on the table. Mikasa carefully put Eren and her lantern down as well before reaching for the gag in his mouth to pull it off.

She could hear him breathe deeply now that the rag was gone, probably the first time in the three days he was able to breathe better between the gag and being shoved in a coffin. All she really wanted to do was check over his body, make sure they didn't hurt him at all but Armin passed her a small knife to cut through his binding's first.

"Welcome back," Armin said, leaning up against the table near Eren. "How're you two feeling?"

"I've been better," Historia shrugged, her hands rubbing at her wrists that had been bound. "I take it the plan didn't go very well."

The silence in the room was more than enough of an answer.

Mikasa cut through the binding on Eren's legs and reached behind him to cut the ones on his hands too. She was about to ask him if he was okay since he didn't answer Armin but before she could Eren's hands were on either side of her face.

He stood up, the chair scraping across the stone floor as he pulled Mikasa up with him. His eyes looked over her, an expression on his face Mikasa knew to be worry. "Are you okay?"

Mikasa's forehead scrunched together as she tried to understand why in God's name he was asking her if she was okay? "Yeah, I'm fine. It's not like I've never carried you before. You've gotten heavier since the last time but it's not like-"

He shook his head. "I felt so awful, it was my fault."

"It wasn't your fault; it was part of the plan." Mikasa looked up at him, though in the back of her mind she wondered when she did start to have to look up at him. She didn't understand what he was talking about; getting captured was part of the plan, sure it got a little ruined but her point remained the same.

Eren still didn't seem to like her answer. He dropped his hands to her shoulders, his eyes never leaving hers. Despite her complete confusion, she felt her cheeks heating up under his locked gaze on her; it didn't help when she remembered there were other people in the room watching them.

"I didn't know what they were gonna do to you," he said. "And I couldn't do anything."

If she was confused before, now she was just lost. She had been with their comrades the entire time, she was pretty sure they weren't gonna hurt her. "Eren, what're you talking about?"

"They had you too. I didn't know how or why, but I know they had you and I was locked in that damn box and I couldn't get out to help you."

"Eren," Mikasa said slowly, reaching both her hands to place them on his arms. She knew he was upset; he was worried about her this whole time that she was captured as well, but she had no idea why. "I wasn't there until today when we went to get you. I was never taken by them. I was with Levi and everyone the entire three days you and Historia were gone."

Eren shook his head firmly. "Mikasa, I heard them say your name. Multiple times."

"Me? You heard them say my name?" Mikasa didn't even know how that was possible; she had no idea who these people were and she was under the impression they only knew who Histora and Eren were, not the rest of them.

For the first time in their conversation, Eren was the one who looked confused. "They kept saying Ackerman, of course I assumed it was you. Who else would it be?"

"Not Mikasa." Historia's voice nearly made Mikasa jump. She looked over at the girl still sitting in the seat Jean had placed her in. "She's not the only Ackerman."

"My parents died, they had no relatives." Once they died the Jaegers were the only family she had, she had known that for a long time.

"They had relatives, you just didn't know who they were. Probably for good reasons."

Mikasa opened her mouth to respond, to say that wasn't true. In nine years she never saw another member of her family; her parents were all she had, and her all they had. They even lived out in the woods with not even the townspeople coming to visit. Dr. Jaeger was the only one really. They just liked living in the woods her mom said when Mikasa asked why they were so far away but Historia's words rang in her ears and she found she couldn't say a thing. Family members they never told Mikasa about, possibly connected to the people who wanted Eren and Historia, the fact she lived most her life far out in the woods away from everyone…

"Hey, I think that's enough, Historia." Eren said. Mikasa didn't even notice Eren had turned to look at her again; his eyes a little less worried this time.

"Don't you think this is something we should talk about?" Jean asked, leaning up against the stone wall. "If Mikasa is connected, and they find out, she could be in trouble too."

"She's not in danger I would think," Armin said. "Even if she does have long lost family here, they couldn't possibly know who she was. She lived in the Shiganshina District with us and pretty far away from the town even."

Armin's words reassured her, but his face did not; he was thinking of something, putting pieces together and she suddenly didn't want to know what that meant.

"I'm sorry I worried you," Eren said getting her attention again, his hands loosened their grip on her shoulders but he didn't move away.

She didn't want to show it, but the news shook her to her core; it was like everything she ever knew was wrong and if she was related to people like this? People who wanted to take Eren or God knows what. What did that mean she was capable of? She always knew she was strong, but what if something was wrong with her? Something she had no control of. She never questioned her parents as a child, what kid would, but now, she had to wonder, what had they been hiding from and hiding from her?

"Who're you and what have you done with, Eren," she mumbled trying to keep her voice even even though her mind was reeling.

Eren scoffed, but lightly and there was a smile pulling at his lips. He leaned in a little till his warm breath was on her ear, sending chills down her spine that had nothing to do with her newfound fears. "It's just a name, Mikasa, that doesn't make you like them. You don't even know there's a relation." He paused for a moment. "And if there is, you already know who your family is, and I'm pretty sure me, you, and Armin look nothing alike let alone share the same last name."

Mikasa couldn't bite back the small laugh that fell from her lips; Eren was right of course. Her family had nothing to do with blood, it hadn't for a long time.

"Even if these people try to tell you otherwise, they won't take you away. I promised, didn't I?"