Pairing: Eren/Mikasa

Setting: Modern AU; College age

Rating: K

Words: 3241

Notes: Musiclover16 requested a story where Eren had a crush on Mikasa but could only write really crappy songs when he tried to write music for her. Eren is a big dork so I was on board xD Plus I like making him play the piano. The title is of course from "Piano Man" by Billy Joel.

We're All In The Mood for a Melody

Eren let his fingers run over the well-known keys to the piano in his living room. Small melodies rang out as he played, but nothing that particularly struck him, nothing that moved him. Granted, he wasn't sure what could move him when all he wanted to do was hit his head against the keys as opposed to his fingers. What good was playing the piano since he was a kid if he couldn't actually do anything he wanted with it? Sure he could play just about any song put in front of him and a lot of them by memory or ear but that wasn't gonna help him this time.

"Hey! What're you doing? I thought we were going out tonight?"

Eren looked up to see Armin standing in the doorway of the living room; Eren didn't even hear him walk in the house. Eren pressed his hands down on the keys making a whole lotta ugly noise. "Yeah, I was just…playing around."

Armin obviously didn't buy that judging by the curious look on his face while he walked in the room. He sat himself down on the couch that was near the piano where Eren was. "Playing what? None of that sounded familiar."

"I can learn new things," Eren grunted.

"Yeah, but not with that disgruntled look on your face. You're frustrated is what you are. Also, you don't have any sheet music up so I unless you have a song playing only dogs can hear I don't think you're learning anything."

Eren really hated how Armin knew him so well sometimes. "I can learn by memory too."

"Just tell me what's on your mind," he said, leaning forward on his knees. "We still have some time before we'll be late to dinner. The other's might not care but Mikasa probably wouldn't appreciate being left hanging when we told her what time we'd meet her."

Mikasa's name sent a jolt down Eren's spine. Yeah, they were meeting all their friends at the diner since it was one of the few times they were all home from college for the weekend but Mikasa was still gonna be there. Mikasa, the completely gorgeous girl he met last year at school. The one he absolutely loved to be around, and for whatever reason she seemed to like to hang out around him too. He never got enough of her small smile, her laugh, her quiet but strong demeanor. They were a bit opposites, Mikasa being a science major like Armin, which was how Eren met her, where he was in school for music and he had such a ridiculous crush on her it was actually embarrassing.

"She's with Sasha," Eren said, poking his fingers at a few keys again though he didn't miss the way Armin raised an eyebrow.

"Well, yeah, but she only became friends with Sasha a few months ago and she doesn't know anyone else. I'm pretty sure she'd be much more comfortable if you were there on time."

Eren pressed his hands against the keys to play a few chords, the notes ringing in the room.

"Okay, what's wrong? This is getting ridiculous just out with it."

"I just can't write any music," Eren sighed, the notes cutting off as he removed his hands from the keys again.

"Do you have an assignment due or something?"

Eren shook his head. "I just wanna write something but I can't, everything I think of is utter crap. I can't find any words to describe what I want how I want it."

"Well, don't worry about it, I'm sure it will come to you but if it's not school related why're you stressing? You have all the time in the world to write a song."

No, he really didn't. He was surprised that Mikasa hadn't been taken by some guy much handsomer and much smarter than himself by now, but it wasn't gonna last that long Eren knew it. A girl that just wonderful didn't stay single her whole life; he needed to do something to impress her, to win her over. If not he was gonna lose the most amazing girl he had ever met because he missed his chance.

"Oh," Armin said making a knowing sound. "You're not trying to write just a song, you're trying to write a song for someone. Don't look at me like that, it's all over your face."

"I'm just not good at talking, so I thought if I could write her a song maybe I should tell her how I felt that way. I mean I've been playing this thing since I was six, you think I could do something but play other people's songs."

"Okay," Armin leaned back in the couch. "Show me what you have so far."

Eren scoffed. "Oh no, it's so bad I don't even want you to hear it."

"I've known you since we were still in diapers. Nothing is too bad for me, Eren. Besides, I've heard plenty of songs you've written, the good and the bad so just play it, we have to leave soon."

"Oh God, fine, just don't laugh, and never speak of this to anyone." Eren put his hands back on the keys and started to play a light tune; nothing too heavy or too elaborate, Mikasa liked simple things he learned. "Your eyes," he started to sing. "Blacker than midnight, softer than silk. Your eyes, dark but bright like fire shining against the night sky."

Eren almost heard Armin trying not to laugh from the couch; Eren pressed his hands down on the keys in frustration. "Some best friend you are."

"I'm sorry, Eren, it's just…you're lyrics need a little work but the melody is gorgeous. You composed the song very well just maybe find some other words to express just how you feel about Mikasa."

Eren nearly dropped the key cover in surprise. "I never said it was about Mikasa."

"You were just singing about a girl with dark eyes and black hair." Armin arched an eyebrow as he stood to his feet. "It's not that hard to put together. Besides it's not like I don't see how you look at her. I knew before you even started to play the song that's who you liked."

Eren grumbled as he followed Armin outta the room and to the front door of the house. Eren's parents were still at work for the day so he locked the door behind him and headed towards his car, the one he brought himself, Armin, and Mikasa back for the weekend. Mikasa was staying at Sasha's house since Eren wasn't quite sure how his parents would feel about him bringing some girl they never met to stay over the weekend…well, that was a lie, he knew how they'd react and he really wasn't ready for that embarrassment.

Eren backed out of the drive way and started to head down the familiar roads to the diner they were meeting at. Armin had already rolled down the window, letting the warm air blow into the car as Eren drove.

"So, you already knew, huh," Eren said, glancing over to Armin who was smiling.

"Eren, you've spent that past year basically spending all your time with her, never once showing interest in anyone else. Even aside from all the flirting and teasing you two do, it was pretty obvious. I just wanna know why you haven't said anything to her yet. Just ask her out, I'm sure she'd say yes."

"It's not that simple," Eren sighed.

"Of course it is, cause if you hadn't noticed she's also spent the past year spending all her time with you and not anyone else. Besides, she looks at you the same exact why you look at her, trust me. If I didn't love the both of you I'd say it's disgusting how much you two have it for each other."

"I can still kick you outta my car."

Armin laughed. "Is the song the hold up? You want some perfect song to tell her how you feel and you won't until you have it?"

"Okay, it sounds a lot more stupid when you say it like that."

Armin was quiet for a moment, just the sound of the wind whipping by the car. "Why not just play her the melody and not worry about the lyrics."

"How's she supposed to know how I feel without any words to tell her?"

"Your mom would kill you if she heard you say that after all that classical music she made you learn. Shouldn't you know better than anyone how powerful just music can be?"

Eren bit at his lip; well, Armin had a point and Eren's lyrics really sucked. He guessed if maybe she didn't get it she'd still think it was a pretty song and maybe that would buy him some time to compose better words to go with the song. "Why're you always so smart," he mumbled, turning onto the road the diner was on.

"I just know you, buddy, that's all," Armin laughed.

Eren pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant he ate in countless times. It was their favorite place to eat when they were in high school so on weekends when people were home from the various schools they all went to now, they came back. Granted, it was Mikasa's first time ever eating here since she wasn't from around this area and that alone was enough to brighten Eren's spirits as he stepped outta the car and walked the short distance to the front doors.

"There you guys are!" Sasha exclaimed waving her hands from a nearby booth.

That got everyone else's attention. Jean shouted something Eren's way but was quickly elbowed in the gut by some dark haired guy Eren hadn't ever seen before which only made Connie nearly spit water all over their table, something Reiner didn't care too much for but still slapped the choking boy on the back to help. Ymir also said something to them from her spot with her arm draped around a little blonde thing, Annie and Bertholdt too busy looking at menu's to even look up. That didn't matter though, all Eren wanted to pay attention to was the way Mikasa's eyes were on his, the small wave she gave him as they approached the booth.

He slid into the booth next to her, Armin taking a seat across from him and next to Sasha.

"We aren't late," Armin rolled his eyes, picking up a menu and causing Sasha to hit him in the arm. She said something back to Armin who was now laughing but Eren chose to ignore them.

"Hey, hope these guys didn't give you too much of a hard time," he said, ignoring his menu and turning to face Mikasa.

"No." She shook her head. "They've all been very nice, loud but nice."

"That sounds about right, save for the nice part."

Mikasa laughed, her eyes brightening as she did. "Have you known all of them since high school?"

"Not all. The blond girl with Ymir and the guy sitting next to Jean I've never seen."

A smile crossed her lips. "Well, it looks like I know something more about your friends than you do."

"Oh, do you now?"

Mikasa nodded and gestured to the booth in back of them. "The guy with Jean, that's Marco. He was in Jean's philosophy class or something and they got in a debate one day and from that became friends."

"That does sound about how Jean makes his friends."

"Krista is the girl with Ymir. They met because Krista works at campus police station and Ymir was in lock up for the night for public intoxication."

"Again, that sounds about right."

Mikasa laughed again and it was like music to his ears. Maybe he could use something like that for his song.

Eren felt a sharp kick to his shin. "Jesus," he exclaimed looking over to Armin who was looking like he was about to burst into laughter. "What the hell was that for?"

"Are you gonna order or…?"

Eren blinked and looked over to the waitress that was clearly waiting on him, the one he didn't notice because he was staring at Mikasa as she talked. He felt heat rise up to his cheeks. "Just a coke, please."

The waitress nodded and walked off still looking a little amused.

"Did you guys already order?" Armin asked, also looking rather amused; too amused if you asked Eren. He was about ready to kick Armin back in the shins.

"Just drinks, we all waited on the food till you guys got here," Sasha shrugged.

"It's about time," Connie said, his head popping over the booth. "I'm starving."

Eren pushed Connie's head back down into his seat. "What else is new?" That was the nice thing about his friends though, it always seemed like nothing changed despite the fact times had. Mikasa seemed like she was enjoying herself though. She was smiling a lot, and laughing making his breath catch in his throat. He asked her to come back with them for the weekend for fun but he wasn't sure if she would actually say yes, but here she was, like she was always a part of his life.

"That one was always my favorite," Eren said, gesturing to the drink in Mikasa's hands. "Do you like it?"

She nodded as she took a sip. "This place is wonderful, and it smells delicious."

"Sasha, did you starve her?" Armin asked causing the brunette to place her hands up in defense.

"I just told her to save her appetite that's all so she could enjoy the food she was about to get."

"Are you trying to butter us up to get you more food?" The waitress was back, placing Armin and Eren's drinks down in front of them.

"No need to," Armin said. "The food is already wonderful here."

"When did you get to be a smooth talker?" Annie piped up with an arched eyebrow.

Armin waved her off before looking up to the waitress again to place his order. She went all around the table and the other booths until everyone stated what they wanted and the noise of the group picked back up again.

Mikasa was looking around the diner, seemingly taking in the many things hanging on the walls, on shelves that lined the dining room. "Did they put that there for you?" she nudged him with a nod towards the upright piano leaning up against one of the walls.

"No," Eren laughed. "That old thing has been there since before I was born."

"They do let him play it though," Armin said, that knowing smile on his lips. "The owner even keeps it in tune just for him to play when he visits."

"The owner keeps it in tune because he's OCD that's why."

"Will you play it?" Mikasa's voice was a little unsure, like she didn't know if she should be asking him to play or not.

He was pretty sure she could ask him to do anything and he'd do it without another thought. "Yeah, of course."

"Aww, man, Mikasa, he must really like you. He never plays when I-what the hell was that for!?"

Eren made sure to hit Sasha's leg even though she was giving him a pretty hearty glare. He felt heat rising to his cheeks but Mikasa merely smiled at him.

"Will you come with me?" He didn't want to embarrass her, but he recognized the look in Armin's eyes when he suggested it; maybe Eren could play at least the melody to his song for her. The others might tease him but he really didn't care, he wanted to see her smile again.

"Yes," she nodded.

Eren slide out of his seat and waited for Mikasa to stand before he led the way over to the old piano he played countless times before (and a whole lot of Journey when people were drunk here at night).

"Are you really gonna show off, Eren?" Jean's voice called from his booth.

"No," Mikasa answered for Eren. "I asked him to."

"Can't say no to a beautiful lady, can you?" Reiner said, grinning towards them.

"Alright, alright, knock it off. I never asked you guys to listen," Eren grunted, sitting down at the piano with Mikasa sliding in next to him. He still heard some shouts, some cat calls but he tried to ignore them and maybe they'd go away. They didn't but he felt a little better once her pushed up the cover and put his hands down on the keys.

Her warm presence was sitting next to him, her arm brushing against his. He was always really flattered she liked to listen to him play so much; it wasn't the first time she had asked him to play for her and he hoped it wouldn't be the last.

"I'll play you something you haven't heard me play already, okay?"

"Okay," she said with a smile.

He pressed his fingers down making the opening chords ring throughout the dining room. It was a smaller piano and older but it still had some punch left in it; the owner did keep it in good condition. Eren played the song enough by now that he could easily play it by heart, though he did opt out the lyrics. It wasn't too long so he looped it a bit extending it where he could, mainly because he heard the breath hitch in Mikasa's throat next to him and it sent chills down his spine. He finished it was a few lingering chords before taking his hands off the keys. There was some clapping in the background, some cheering from his friends but that didn't matter; what did matter was the way Mikasa was looking at him.

"It's not done," he shrugged.

"You wrote that?" She sounded a little breathless as she watched him.

"Ah, yeah, I'm better at playing music than writing it but I thought I'd try." He tried to shrug it off but his heart had leapt up in his throat.

"No, it was beautiful."

Eren's heart was pounding in his chest. "Well, I wrote it for someone who is very beautiful." Okay, it was a little cheesy, but it was also the truth.

Mikasa's eyes widened a little as she realized his implications. "You…did you…?"

"Yeah, I mean, is that-" He was gonna ask if that was weird but before he could, her lips were pressed up to his, taking his breath away. He easily melted into her, kissing her right back. His heart was pounding hard in his ears to the point where he could barely hear when his friends started shouting things again. Yeah, some friends they were.

"Alright, alright," Armin said as Eren pulled away from Mikasa, her cheeks red as she tried to hide her laugh behind her hands. "Tell me the last time any of you wrote a song for someone and got a girl to kiss you for it, huh?"

Eren snorted as he rolled his eyes but Mikasa was still watching him, her bright eyes never leaving his. He'd have to thank Armin after this and for not keeping those lyrics; he had a feeling the effect would've been lost…very lost.

Reiner let out a defeated noise. "I knew I shoulda learned to play music instead."