Pairing: Eren/Mikasa & Slight Levi/Hanji

Setting: Set after chapter 65 (but not after 66 cause this was written before that was released)

Words: 2410

Rating: K+

Notes: Anon requested Mikasa to get stabbed when she was going to save Eren and to have react to that. I was gonna wait till after chapter 66 came out but I have an itch to write current arc as we wait the last week before the spoilers start coming haha So here's yet another "Isayama please reunite my babus" hope and dream fic. Title is from song of the same name by Death Cab for Cutie.

I'll Follow You Into the Dark

As he sat up on the altar, chained in place watching helplessly as his world crashed around him, Eren sworn there was nothing that could make him hate himself more. Everything was his fault. Everything his father had done, everything Eren did made into. This was his fault. He wanted Historia to end it; he wanted her to be able to bring peace to the world. He was willing to be the sacrifice; it was the least he could do. He could atone for his sins that way, but there was one thing that nothing he could do would atone for.

Eren felt his heart sink the moment Mikasa stepped into the room. Her eyes were frantically looking around, looking for him he knew. He wanted to shout at her to go, to leave, to run while she still could but he knew it wouldn't work. His eyes met hers and Eren could see both the relief and fear in her face as she took off towards him. Despite him wanting her to leave before she got hurt, to leave before she had to watch him die in front of her eyes which God, he'd never want her to see, he couldn't help but feel a relief of his own. She was alive. She was okay. She had been safe the whole time.

"Mikasa!" he cried out, knowing she'd hear. "Don't!"

Historia already transformed and was gonna be a huge threat to them all real fast. They all had to get out; no one else could die for his sake.

"Please!" he tried again when she didn't stop. "You're in…" Eren trailed off when Mikasa actually did stop, just feet away from the steps to the altar.

She looked surprised for a moment, one hand reaching down to tentatively touch her stomach, where blood was seeping into her white shirt. Mikasa looked up wide eyed to Eren before she dropped to her knees.

"No!" he screamed, his arms making the chains rattle all around him. "No! Mikasa!" No, no, this wasn't supposed to happen. She was never supposed to get hurt. Never. He promised her. He promised. A motion by her caught his eye, seeing Rod Reiss holding a gun in his hands, pointed at Mikasa again. Eren hadn't even heard the gun go off; he didn't even know if Historia was going for him yet but he couldn't…he couldn't leave her like that. No, God no. He deserved everything that came to him but Mikasa, she never did anything deserve this.

He felt the familiar coil of tension start in the pit of his stomach.

Eren didn't care if he died, especially if it was for the sake of humanity; he was never needed anyway but Mikasa, she was the best of his life. He'd never let anyone hurt her. He'd never let them live.

His body started to shift, breaking the chains all around him. He wanted to die, and maybe he still did, but not while Mikasa was in pain, not when all she did was come to save him. She didn't deserve the life that she had. He didn't deserve her.

He let out a cry as his other form took ahold of him and all he saw was red.

By the time Eren came to, he was in some kinda wagon. It wasn't moving but it was completely covered; Eren couldn't even see the sky above him but he did know it was sometime at night. He sat up on the makeshift bed he was laying on but almost immediately regretted it; his hand reached up to his spinning head as a wave of nausea washed over his body. There was a bandage wrapped around his forehead where Kenny had cut him…

Eren dove for the fabric that was covering the exit of the wagon and nearly fell out. He was in the cave, and as the fresh air of the night hit him he realized he wasn't anymore. He frantically looked around, trying to find anyone. There wasn't even a fire though, no one in sight. No, he needed to find Mikasa, she was…

He felt like he was gonna throw up again.

"Hey, hey, relax," a very familiar voice whispered and Eren did feel himself relax almost instantaneously

He spun around to see Armin standing behind him, dressed in some casual clothes and very minimal bandages. Eren reached over to pull his old friend into a hug. Eren hadn't even known if he was ever even gonna see Armin again.

"What happened?" Eren asked, pulling away to look in Armin's eyes, searching for the answers. Eren was a little surprised though; he wasn't sure when Armin got as tall as he was. "Where's Mikasa?"

"Just calm down okay," Armin said in that soothing tone of his. "After you transformed you fought with Historia until you practically passed out, at least that's what they told me; I wasn't actually there when it happened. We managed to get you out of there but where Rod, Historia, and Kenny are, we have no idea. We've been moving for at least a day now to keep them off our trails."

So they were still alive, but they weren't important right now. "Where's Mikasa?" he asked again. "I saw her…I saw her get…"

Armin put a reassuring arm on his shoulder. "C'mon, I'll bring you to her."

Eren followed behind his friend, trying to figure out where they were. It was in the woods somewhere with an old path where his wagon had been set on. They cut across another road and Eren could already see another wagon close by.

"We split them up in case someone found us and it would be easier to move," Armin explained. "Sasha and Connie were with me but Levi sent them to hunt while I kept watch."

Eren saw Levi, he was sitting a little bit away against a tree with someone laying out near him, head in his lap. Only closer did he realize it was Hanji; she didn't even move when they approached. Jean was also sitting nearby but he at least looked up when Eren and Armin came to stand in front of them.

"Nice of you to join the living again, Jaeger," Levi said, though Eren noticed his tone wasn't quite as biting as normal.

"Is she okay?" Eren asked, his heart sinking. If anyone else got hurt because of him…

Levi nodded. "She'll be fine. She's just passed out right now."

Eren felt a little embarrassed looking at them, never seeing anyone be that close in Levi's personal space; Eren wasn't quite sure if he even should be looking but the others seemed unaffected.

"She's in there." Levi nodded towards the other covered wagon. "Get outta here before Sasha and Connie get back and we have a much needed meeting."

Eren didn't have to be told twice. His heart was pounding in his chest as he reached up to push aside the fabric and climb up into the dark wagon. She was laying there, laying under a thin blanket in a bed that was similar to what his had been. Her eyes where closed and dark hair fallen all around her head; he would've thought the worst if he hadn't seen the steady rise and fall of her chest. She was still alive.

He carefully sat down next to her, reaching down to the rag that was on her forehead. He looked around for a bucket and saw one filled with water nearby. Eren carefully dipped it in and put it back on her head, his fingers brushing by her skin. She was burning up.

"What were you doing?" he whispered his fingers trailing down her cheek as he moved his hand away. "You didn't need to come this time. I didn't want anyone to save me, I wasn't worth saving. Why couldn't you see that?"

She didn't even stir just the steady rise and fall of her chest, her soft breath coming from her lips.

"Why do you always put yourself in danger for me? Mikasa, please, I'm not worth dying over. You deserve so much better than this." He knew she couldn't hear him but guilt wracked his whole body. "So much better than me."

Eren carefully reached over to pull back some of the blanket to look at her wound. Her button up was undone around her stomach, bandages wrapped tight around her; at least it wasn't bleeding through. He dropped the blanket again before he eyes looked up to her face. He saw the scar that was on her cheek even in the moonlight. His chest clenched.

"All I do is hurt you," he mumbled. "Why, why do you continuously put your faith in me? Why can't you see that I was never worth any of it?" He paused, sharp tears pricking the corners of his eyes. "I should've died when Maria fell. None of this mess would have ever happened if I did."

"Eren." Her voice was soft and breathy and he nearly missed it. The sound of it still made his heart skip.

"Hey," he said, instantly reaching down to her. "I'm right here."

Her eyes slowly opened until they were looking right up at him. Despite all the hatred and guilt he was feeling towards himself, he still felt a smile start to pull at his lips. God, he had missed her voice, her eyes, the warm comfort she always brought; more than he ever knew.

"What're you talking about?" her voice was still soft but there was that bite behind it, the one she got when he was doing something stupid.

"This is just…my fault," he sighed. "It's all my fault."

"I'm pretty sure you didn't shoot me."

He snorted. "No, but it would've never happened if you didn't come after me."

She closed her eyes for a moment but they were back looking up at him again. "What else was I gonna do? I will always bring you back. No matter where you go."

There was a sharp pain in his stomach. "You shouldn't have. I told Historia to do it, I told her to kill me." Eren recognized the look of hurt that crossed her eyes.

"Why would you say that?"

"Because, I bring nothing but pain. How many times have I hurt you? Huh? You wouldn't be laying here right now if it wasn't because of me. The reason Historia lost the only family she loved was because of my father and then my father made me a monster too. No one ever needed me; even the stupid coordinate isn't mine it was stolen from the Reiss' and it can be taken away from me in an instant." He dropped his gaze from hers, unable to look her in the eye. "I'm useless, Mikasa. My goal? I'm not even needed for that. It was never me. All I've been is worthless my whole life."

She was quiet for a moment and Eren thought she might've fallen asleep again but her hand reached out to weakly grab his. "Don't you dare." She was trying to be sharp with him, but she didn't have the energy.

When Eren looked up to her again she had a fire in her eyes.

"Don't you dare say those things. You aren't a monster and you never were." She breathed in sharply. "You saved my life when you didn't even know me. You gave Armin enough hope to see the potential in himself. You've always seen the best in everyone and you'd risk your life for anyone. You've given everything you have for humanity to be free." She paused again her breathing getting heavy.

"Don't wear yourse-" Eren tried but she shot him a look.

"You're not a monster," she said. "You're a hero. You're not worthless. So many people have risked their lives for you because they believe in you."

Eren could see the tears filling up her own eyes.

"And you are very much needed. I need you." She blinked and the tears started to roll down her cheeks. "So don't you dare forget what it's like to fight. I did once, but even then you reminded me of all the things I have to live for. Don't you ever forget how completely loved you are." Mikasa paused, biting at her bottom lip. "And by no one more than me. Don't you dare forget that."

She choked on a sob that got caught on her throat and Eren reached down help her sit up a little bit so she could breathe better. He didn't even know what to say. He did know that he expected people to react that way because it was the right thing to do; to tell someone their life is meaningful but Mikasa, she wasn't just saying it. She believed every word and she'd fight for those words. She'd fight for him, just like she always had. He never deserved her in his life but she was here; she was the best part of him. He meant what he said in those fields. How could he ever forget.

Eren didn't even know the tears were on his cheeks until one dropped down onto Mikasa's shirt.

"Please." Her voice was desperate this time, choked with tears. "Please don't go where I can't follow."

He choked back his own cry as she reached a hand up to grab onto his shirt. "Never," he said softly. "Never without you."

She seemed to relax a little bit laying back against his hands that were supporting her as he carefully laid her back down. Her watery eyes met his again. "I missed you."

Eren couldn't help but feel a smile on his lips, like a small burden was taken of his shoulders. He should've known he never had to shoulder everything; Mikasa was always there to help him. "I missed you too. Who else would keep me in line?"

She tried to laugh but winced in pain instead.

"Okay, I'll let you get some rest," he said, reaching up to rub his eyes.

"Will you stay with me?" she asked, her voice soft as she tried to keep her eyes open.

"Again and again forever," he echoed the words he had said to her what felt like years ago. He reached down to brush some of the hair out of her face. "Mikasa?"

"Yeah?" she breathed.

"I love you too."