Hey everyone! So I just entered the Attack on Titan universe and wow what a load of events it has been. The first episode of season one alone got me on the edge of my seat. Finding out who the Armored and Collosal Titan were just made my brain combust (didn't include the Female Titan because I knew who she was from the moment she did not eat Armin (the eyes and hair gave it away). The way Eren reacted to the knowledge of Annie, Reiner, Bertlot being Titans and traitors was almost heartbreaking. And yes, he would have beaten Reiner that fist time if the Collosal didn't fall on him.
This one shot features a canon pairing, I can already tell those AOT fans out there know who it is. EreMika! This features the scene where Eren and Mikasa has a second encounter with the Smiling Titan, and the reveal of Eren's coordinate ability. For those who haven't seen the anime yet, sorry for the spoilers and such. Bare with me on this one, this is my first AOT fan fic and I truly hope I can do the show some semblance of justice with this one.
Why? That was the question running through his head. Despite what others may think Eren Yeager was a compassionate person. Right now, he felt so much betrayal towards the people he considered older siblings! After finding out that Reiner and Berthlot were the Armored and Collosal Titans who were responsible for the destruction of the wall at Shiganshina the young man felt fury flow through him. He was sure the others had already found out or else it would header to convince them that it was true. Their whole group was devastated, but most of all they felt angered as they realized that this was reality and that good liers can fool anybody.
Now here he was on the ground watching as his childhood friend and first love (we'll get to that one later) Mikasa Ackerman struggled to sit up as the Smiling Titan comes at them with that same smile she had when she had eaten his mother. He felt helpless watching as the young woman nursed her midsection where her ribs were clearly crushed, but thankfully her superhuman strength let her come out easier then most of their comrades can possibly hope to at their current circumstance. If history were to be believed, the Ackerman family had some mysterious ability to possess Titan like strength and endurance that no other had. Captain Levi has it, and so does his mentor the cold-blooded killer Kenny Ackerman. Eren had to wonder what other families had mysterious hidden secrets they had to keep.
He kneeled down frustration clearly rising within as he blamed himself for this situation, if only had been more vigilant. Now he and Mikasa had seen the Smiling Titan eat their mentor Haness, the man had charged the Titan but unlike that time in Shiganshina he had done it without fear.
"Eren..." Called out Mikasa who looked at him with so much adoration that his heart beat skipped.
Her onyx eyes were filled pain yet there was a hint of determination to see this through, this girl hasn't given up yet. He let a small smile escape at this image. But then that smile soon turns into frown, as he goes back to blaming himself for her current state. He bit his had more then twice but had not transformed into the Titan. Was his determination not good enough?
"If I wasn't so weak we wouldn't be here right now!" He says frustratingly looking to the ground as his thoughts of self loathing came nagging at him, "I'm doing it again, being a weak piece of shit!! I can't do anything right."
She continues to speak, "That's not true."
Wait what? He thought looking at her perplexed at her words. He had thought she thought this of him. Was he wrong?
"Listen to me, Eren. There's something I want to say. Thank you... for being with me. Thank you... for teaching me how to live. Thank you... for wrapping this scarf around me." She says to him taking his hands in hers tenderly running her finger on the roughed up skin.
"Eren protect Mikasa..." His mother's words from that day rang in his mind as he squeezed her hand.
And just like that he was fueled with vigor once more. Her and his mother's words triggering a fire within him to stop the monster that was about eat them. He wasn't going to let their last moment be here in this place Neither of them deserved it, least of of all Mikasa. So looking up at her with a determined glint in his eyes. He held her hand and squeezed it then stood squaring his shoulders, his back to her but his face turned to her .
He spoked softly his words filled with steel and sincerity, "I'll... wrap you up in it again. Again and again, now and forever."
Then he faced the Titan and screamed. As he touched her hand yellow sparks erupted, affecting every titan around them including the Armored and Jaw Titan. Then something strange happened... the other Titans came to the Smiling Titan and began to eat her. And when Eren turned back to Mikasa and away from the sight, he saw her look at him in wonder. And though he didn't know how, he was surprised by this new power. She was sitting up still nursing her midsection, he kneeled down and in a bout of tenderness took her hand in his again.
"Eren..." She says faintly blushing at the promise he made hoping that he'll keep it.
He smiles softly, "You know even when I am down on myself, you are always the one person that can bring me back up. Thank you for that and more Mikasa."
He turned still kneeling, and she knew what that meant. She scrambled onto his back as he secured her legs with his arms and she warped hers around his neck. They smiled at each other, the girl burying her head in his neck taking in his scent. Then they saw Reiner and Bolthrot head towards them. Reiner looking at Eren with fear.
"You traitors! Stay away from us! I'll hunt you down and kill you myself." He tells them anger and bitter resolve coloring his voice. Once again sparks erupted and every Titan came at the two, who's eyes widened in fear as they ran.
Ymir looked at the commotion in shock, she felt the power run through her, but resisted. She was conflicted because for the first time she felt hope that within the walls there would be a scant of freedom. She turned to Historia, she wanted to stay with her, and with the rest of the cadets. Because for the first time in her life she could finally live among those who care for her. And of course she could put her Titan to good use, she knew that she had to make a choice here and now. And she chose to go with her friends, not for fear of being fed on but because she wanted to see this whole thing through. Though she didn't not know what would have happened if she had went with the traitors she knew that it won't be good. She just hoped that she didn't regret this discission in the long run.
Meanwhile the other cadets rounded up. The survivors watching as the other Titans chased Reiner and Berthlot back into the forest. Armin approached his two childhood friends.
He called to them, "Eren! Mikasa!"
Both teens look towards him on his horse while pulling on the reins of another behind him. He looked towards them in worry, he had seen the Titan that crushed Mikasa's ribs. Jean was still passed out behind the blonde boy. While Connie, Sasha, Historia and Ymir followed behind Armin. Ymir still in her Titan form looked towards Eren with an expression of respect, he returned it with a determined one.
"Why did they..." Asked Connie looking at the pile of Titans surrounding the two men.
Eren spoke, "Honestly, I don't know what happened but I'm just thankful we got out of this."
"Do you think they'll survive?" Asked Sasha a little concerned.
Armin studied the situation, "I'm sure they will. But it will be awhile until then. We'll see them again, when we do we'll be ready."
They heard commander Erwin's call for a full retreat and rushed to follow the rest of the group. Ymir got out of her Titan from midway of their track to the hideout, riding Histoia's horse with her behind the blonde haired girl. Eren knew that she knew something about what had happened back in the field but decided to save the questions for later.
Then he heard Levi's voice, "What happened back there?"
It was Armin's who answered, "I don't know Captain."
"It has something to do with why those two wanted Eren, Captain." Ymir answered honestly looking Levi in the eyes.
Levi gave her a calculating glare, "We'll see about your punishment later. Whatever information you can tell us will lessen your penalty for your supposed betrayal."
"Levi she had reasons as to why she did what she did. Don't be hasty in giving out punishment, in the end she came back to us. There will be a pentalty for what you have done but that will be decided by what you do next." Reasoned Commander Erwin now handicapped with one arm.
Hange looked towards Eren, "How is Mikasa, Eren?"
The boy sighed giving the sleeping girl a look, "She isn't well. But thanks to her amazing strength she can still move. She needs medical attention, her ribs..."
"Say no more. Once we reach HQ we will handle the injured and wounded. I am sorry for your loss Mr. Yeager. I knew Haness well, it is a shame to lose a competent soldier like him. He was a mentor to the three of you." Says Erwin bowing his head.
Armin let's out a sniffle, "Yes sir. He was like an uncle to the three of us. We were all so happy to hear about his promotion recently. We will miss him."
Eren bows his head, "He taught us so much despite being a drunk for half of his time in the military corps."
The rest of the ride back was filled with silence, the group mourning for their losses. Once they got to the hideout they tended to the injured and wounded, Eren placing Mikasa on a cot to get checked on. He sat on another and got himself checked on as well, knowing that she would tell him to do so once she was up and about. Of course all of his injuries were healed by his Titan's regenerative powers, but he was told to stay for the evening anyways.He complied, not wanting Captain Levi to punish him if the young man ever found out he left the medical bay without the go ahead from Hange.
It was two days later that Mikasa was able to move about again.
Two Days Later
Another morning of doing odd jobs around the house on Captain Levi's orders. Mikasa, Ymir, and Historia were outside gathering fire wood, while the others were cleaning the house. Eren rolled his eyes as he heard Jean and Sasha enter the house.
"Oi, did you wipe the dust and dirt off your shoes?!" He asked the two Sasha nods while placing down the food supplies.
Jean scoffs glaring at him, "Eh? Of course we didn't, did you see the stuff we were carrying?"
"Do you honestly think that Captain Levi will be satisfied with your lax cleaning?" Eren says sternly.
Jean laughs, "Why should I care?"
"I've heard about his tendency to be very critical with cleanliness from his previous squad. He'll really put you through ropes in training if you don't at least keep it tidy." Says Armin trying to defuse the tension between the two boys.
Connie looks up from sweeping, "I get responsibility and all but all this house work reminds me of being home."
"Who are you my mom!" Asked Jean trying to shake off Eren.
Just then Mikasa entered carrying fire wood, "We're back."
"You were chopping up fire wood? You're supposed to be resting." Says Armin reprimanding the girl softly.
Mikasa shrugs it off, "Got to stay in shape."
"Just give it up Armin. I told her that when I caught her doing sit ups this morning." Eren says rolling his eyes while Mikasa just chuckles at his reaction.
Jean exclaimed, "What?! You pervert!"
Armin in a concerned tone says, "Mikasa you know you aren't a wild animal, right?"
"How does that equate to being a pervert exactly Mr. Peeping Tom?" Asks Sasha giving Jean a look.
The brown haired boy blushed knowing what she was talking about. Connie snickered along with Ymir. Just then Levi entered eyes scanning the room, placing his hand under the table top.
"Tsk. I thought I gave you enough time. We'll talk about your lax cleaning later." Levi says disapproval
Eren face palmed knowing the Captain's reaction was on point. He was used to it. Mikasa went to him and held his hand, he look towards her and smiled.
"You sure you're alright?" He says a little concerned about her wellbeing.
She just laughed shaking her head, "Yes I am. Now the rolls are reversed."
"Not too much though." He tells her.
"Eren." Levi says signaling for Eren to pay attention.
"Yes Sir." He answers.
"It's time for those experiments with Hange." Levi says.
"Roger!" He responds.
The day was hard trying to get the hardening to work, but to no avail. Ymir looked at Eren worriedly, she didn't doubt that he could do it but the strain it was putting on his body was obvious enough and she knew Mikasa would be awfully worried about him. Something changed between the two of them that day, she doesn't know what it was but she was glad for it, it made her happy to see their bond grow.
"Captain I think we should stop for today, he looks rather out of it. Any more transformations and he might break." She tells Levi who's facial expression cracked a bit in worry.
It seems even the Captain can let things go sometimes. She saw the raven haired girl fly towards Eren clear worry on her face, Eren looked really out of it and unable to get up from his steaming Titan Form. Hange being a little over eager left her compassion out the door in order to have Eren drawn as he was. Of course her second hand was quick to reprimand her of her appalling actions. Ymir had to chuckle, for all Section Commander Zoe was, when it came to Titans she tended to lose herself in her enthusiasm.
"Let him rest Hange. He's been using up too much energy today. The rest of you move out!" Ordered Levi who for a moment flashed a look of concern to the young Yeager's less then appealing face.
Armin assisted Mikasa in carrying Eren back to the horses, with a look of worry towards his friend. Though it was Armin who had proposed the idea of Eren using the hardening ability, he knew it would a long shot though. But he also believed that Eren could achieve this feet, if anyone could do it that'd be his best friend and he knew the others believed that as well or else they wouldn't be here.
"Hange went a bit overboard there, didn't she?" Historia says looking rather horrified by Commander Zoe's treatment (or lack thereof) of Eren's wellbeing.
Connie shakes his head looking at the trio, "I know she's excited about this but a little decorum would be appreciated. I mean Eren is still human after all."
"I mean I may not like him all that much but even I feel bad for what she's putting him through. But we all know he can figure this out somehow." Jean says smiling at his comrade.
Sasha laughs placing an arm around Jean's shoulder, "I knew you cared about him, despite the fact the you guys butt heads sometimes we all know that you care for each other. Plus, he was the one who inspired us to go for the scouts."
"What do you mean by that?" Asked Levi who was listening to the conversation.
It was Jean who answered looking rather sheepishly at the hardened veteran scout, "Well, it was on the night before the our graduation. I may have said some untoward things about the Scout regiment and scared a few people. Some of us were set to join the Military Police but then Eren spoke up and told me off about what I was saying. It seems like eight out of ten in our group joined. Annie went to the MPs."
"Interesting..." Pondered the Captain, he had guessed something like this. But he didn't know it was Eren who had changed their minds.
Armin laughed, "Now that I look back it does seem like Eren inspired us to join the Scouts. But I also like to think that for our parts we chose this path of our own will. We all have skills that we could use that are useful for this regiment and we can also learn other skills as well."
"From that first expedition to save Eren you have all shown something that Commander Erwin clearly had a guess about. You are the top ten cadets in your generation, don't sell yourselves short." Says Hange who rode right beside Levi.
All of them felt a shot of warmth go through them at the Section Commander's words, of course Levi's own comment surprised them as well. Mikasa saw the smile on Armin's face, Jean straightened up his posture, Connie and Sasha looked proud of themselves, while Historia and Ymir looked relieved. She'd bet that Eren would have been happy to hear their comments, knowing that it'd ease his self doubt.
"Mikasa.." Sasha says look towards the raven haired girl.
She turned slightly facing the red head, "Mm."
"If you don't mind me asking... what's with that scarf? I've never seen you without it ever since Cadet Training.
She smiled getting a feeling of nostalgia as she remembered that day, "This is the scarf that Eren gave me when we're just kids."
"I remember asking the same question days after I met them." Armin says smiling at Mikasa who smiled back.
Historia giggled, "It's nice that he cared enough about you to give you his scarf. Did he warp it around you?"
Connie spotted Jean scowl at the question and chuckled. He knew the brown haired scout had a crush on Mikasa, but then with how she and Eren were with each other the buzz cut boy also knew that Jean didn't have a chance. He saw the looks Eren would give Mikasa, and after that near death experience by the Smiling Titan weeks ago everyone knew that something changed between them. Even Hange and Levi could see the subtle touches and glances the two would give each other. It was only a matter of time.
"He did. I was feeling cold at the time, so he wrapped is around my neck haphazardly. Then took my hand and pulled me out of my home to go with them." Mikasa continues a little flush appearing on her cheek.
She felt Eren's arms tighten around her waist as if he had heard the entire conversation. She turned and saw a half smile on his still regenerating face. She didn't mind the heat coming off of him as he regenerated, it was somewhat comforting in a way.
"Is he smiling?" Ymir asked glancing the young Yeager.
Armin smiled nodding, "He definitely is. Even when he is tired he somehow manages to hear or feel things around him."
"Why did his family have to take her in though?" Asked Jean off handedly getting a smack on the back of the head from Sasha who gave him a glare.
Connie shook his head, "Oi! Don't be such a jerk Jean. There's a reason why they haven't mentioned that story to us yet."
Mikasa stiffened wondering if she should tell them. Again Eren squeezed her midsection as if he felt her apprehension going through her, but he was also telling her something. She knew instantly that it would be her choice to share this with everyone, he'd be with her either way.
"I'll tell you all when Eren wakes up..." She says trailing off.
Armin also felt worried knowing how touchy the subject was for his two friends so he quietly said, "I'll say this, it wasn't a pleasant story. It took a full month before Eren told me how Mikasa became a part of his family."
Hange and Levi shared a look between them. They had heard the tales of two kids who had stopped some bandits in a small cottage on the mountains. Maybe those weren't just tall tales, with what Armin said and how Mikasa reacted to the question it had to be true. They got to the hideout, Armin and Connie helping Mikasa with Eren, with Jean staring jealously as the raven haired girl looked at Eren longingly.
Historia laughed seeing Jean's stare, "Look somewhere else buddy. From the looks of it she is set on someone else and it's been that way for a long time."
"Yeah Jeany-boy. It doesn't look Eren is letting her go either, so better move on." Adds Sasha who ruffled his hair.
Armin chuckles, "They are right you know. Mikasa is set on Eren and has been since we joined him on this thing."
"What does she see in that suicidal guy anyways?" Jean asks huffing.
Ymir smiles, "She cares for him a great deal, and I guess that's also part of their back story. He cares for her too but struggles to show it, he tries to do so in his own way though. I guess, something changed between them during that last mission, they seem a lot closer now and more affectionate of each other. Eren also complains less when she fusses over him, and it's the same vise versa."
Armin nods at Ymir's assessment, "That's true. I guess seeing him get stronger is making her worry less these days, and ever since that horrid day with the Smiling Titan it seems as if they had become closer. There's something different about how they interact now."
Jean huffed. Ever since he saw the young Ackerman girl back in Cadet Training he had a crush on her, but seeing how close she was with Eren left him jealous. The night when she walked out to follow the other boy from the mess hall and their conversation about her hair, he could remember that exchange well.
"Was Eren the reason she cut her hair back then?" Asked Historia curiously.
Armin let out another chuckle, "Maybe. I don't really know for sure."
Conversation flowed as Mikasa left to go and rest, though her injury was healed there were still some strains to be felt here and there. She smiled as she lied her folded scarf on the side table, and snuggled into her covers. She knew Eren would figure out how to do the hardening ability somehow he just needed a little motivation.
The next day, when she was fully changed and ready to start the day Eren was knocking at her door well rested and fully healed. She beamed at this and hugged him gently.
He smiled hugging her back, "Good morning Mik."
"Good morning! Are you sure you're alright? Yesterday took a lot out of you." She tells slightly worried for his wellbeing.
He nods rubbing her back, "Well if it eases your worry, then I'll be taking it easy today. Nothing too heavy, my body doesn't feel up to straining itself anyway."
"Thank you." She mumbles.
He sees the scarf around her neck still not tied. He smiled, knowing that he had to do it. He took both ends and wrapped it around her, taking extra care to secure the muffler and smoothen down the creases. Mikasa relished in the somewhat intimate act, he was keeping his promise.
She beamed at him again, "Thanks."
"I promised. As much as you want." He replied simply.
They both walked out the room hand in hand, they entered the kitchen seeing Historia and Armin preparing breakfast. The rest setting the table and cleaning the dining area. Armin spotted the two and approached them.
"Good Morning you two! How are you Eren? Are you up for training today?" Asked the blonde worried for his friend.
Eren nods smiling at the other boy's concern, "Yes I am. But nothing too straining I don't think my body could take anything extreme yet."
"There will no transforming today. I told Hange that it would be too dangerous to let you transform again with how much you did it yesterday." Ymir told him and he just nodded thankfully at her.
He then says turning to Mikasa, "Are you sure you want to tell them?"
Everyone was a bit confused by his question, but Mikasa instantly knew what he meant by it. Armin's eyes widened as he soon realized what the Burnett meant.
"So you did hear everything we said yesterday?" Armin asks as they sat around the table.
Eren smiles, "Yeah, I did."
Jean stared, "How?!"
"Like I said, he has always had this sense to hear or feel things despite being out of it. Maybe he had this senses since he was a child." Reminded Armin looking curiously to his best friend.
"It is part of the story we are going to share with you today. Though I suppose that Captain Levi and Squad Leader Hange knows a little about it." Says Mikasa side eyeing the named duo who had been listening to the group.
The rest of the 104th crops quieted at this admission from the normally reserved Ackerman girl who looked rather unsure of herself at this moment. Eren sensed her discomfort and subtly rubbed her her shoulders from behind her, he had grown a few inches taller then her the past few months, her forehead barely reached his chin now. She relaxed against him, he lead her over to the bench and they sat down.
"Take your time." Historia says softly sensing Mikasa's nervousness.
Armin sat on the raven's other side being a steadfast presence for his two friends, he was ready to comfort them both at any given moment. He knew this was a touchy subject for both of them.
Mikasa let out a breath and began the harrowing tale, "I was nine years old at the time. My family lived on the mountains in a small cottage. Back then Eren and father would often visit as Mr. Yeager was close with my father. One day, three kidnappers broke into our house. My father tried to fight them off but he was shot by one of them, the other held my mother in a choke hold then stabbed her..."
Everyone was somber with the story, the girls wanted to comfort their friend but saw her clutching Eren's jacket, while the guys didn't like how this was going. Armin slowly offered his comfort by running Mikasa's back.
Eren continued, "My father and I were on our way to their house when we heard the gun shot, my father looked at me and told me to wait until he got the MPs. But me being my reckless self went off when heard Mikasa's cries. The scene I saw was something I still see in my nightmares. I saw two of the men one held was holding her by the neck, the other sat near a table. I slowly opened the door, the one near the table came towards the door and pretended to be nice but I knew he was faking it. So I took him by surprise and stabbed him then closed the door. Then the other went at the door screaming angrily at me, I ran at him holding a broom with the knife tied to the other end and stabbed him with it. I then freed her form the ropes tied on her hands."
"So the stories are true then?" Asked Hange interrupting Eren who nodded.
Levi explained, "There were rumors going around about killing two people in cottage on the mountains going around Trost that year. Everyone just shrugged it off as rumor then, it sounded too far off to be real at the time."
"The other man then held Eren in a choke hold. I felt so helpless then, I hated the feeling. I saw Eren and wondered how he was still struggling to get free. He told me to keep fighting, because in this world it was either fight or die. He did say something else..." Mikasa says looking at her hero.
He nods and says, "Then suddenly her body stopped shaking and she ran at the man who was tangling me and stabbed him with the knife on the floor. Later on my dad arrived with the MPs and looked at me disappointedly, he scolded me for now waiting for him. But at that time I was just happy that Mikasa was safe."
Everyone was silent as the story ended. Mikasa was sniffling as she remembered that day, it still haunted her every now and again. She was thankful for Eren's rash actions, but that was what triggered her to be so protective of him and his wellbeing. He could have died that day as well. She didn't know if it had began that day but she had fallen for young Yeager, and she was sure he had noticed it by now. She buried her head on his shoulder wanting the visions to go away, he held her closer.
Ymir saw this and smiled, she knew Eren knew of Mikasa's feeling for him. She had a feeling that it was made clear to him during the struggle with the two traitors. She told them about Eren's new power, or at least what she knew of it. Even she had limited knowledge on that front. Commander Hange already notified Erwin with the Intel days ago, the blond haired man was planning something.
Historia then said, "Wow. When Armin said that it wasn't pleasant he was understating the severity of the story. I'm sorry that you both had to go through that at such a young age!"
"No wonder you both have some very hardened views of the world. Despite your ages you both act older then you look, suppose you both possess that knowledge of the world. Even humanity can be vicious in a way." Says Levi bluntly. Ymir had to agree with this.
She knew how sinister humanity can be, after discovering how humans were turned into pure titans she knew that even the outside world had it's imperfections. There was beauty in the outer reaches of the wall but humanity marred that with it's hatred and views. She just felt bad that Eren and Mikasa had experienced such wickedness in their early youths.
Hange nods sighing sadly, "I guess even humanity has its faults. People can hurt others as we have learned recently. Not just from your story but through this entire operation."
With the somber note the group filed out for the day. Eren doing combat training with Levi, while Mikasa was jogging. Thankfully, the Captain was feeling kind that day and let Eren off without any serious scars and injuries - maybe the man didn't want to find out what Mikasa would do to him if he even tried to slice up Eren while he was till recovering. Armin was doing combat training as well, training with Jean and Connie. Historia, Sasha and Ymir were doing some light exercises for the day, joining Mikasa on her run.
"Sooo. When are you going to tell him Mikasa?" Sasha asked giving the raven a smirk.
Mikasa flushed a bit, "He already knows."
This surprises the girls. It was the blond royal who said, "When did that happen?!"
Mikasa smiles and walked ahead, "I might have spilt my feelings to him when we almost died to that Smiling Titan."
"I knew something happened between you two that day! He looked like he going to give up, but then he unlocked the coordinate and was able to change the tides. Did he say something to you?"
The raven's smile widened she felt giddily, "After thanking him for everything he has done for since we were kids, before he faced the Titan he promised to wrap the scarf around forever."
"It as if he proposed to you or something. That's so cute!" Says Sasha dreamily.
Historia smiled nodding in agreement, "Who would've thought Eren could be a sweet guys? I'm still sorry you both had to experience such cruelty at such a young age."
At that they all frowned remembering the story their two friends told that day. How Mikasa became on Orphan and came to live with the Yeagers. The three girl were just happy that Eren and his family had the much compassion to take in young Mikasa after her parents died. Ymir doubted that anyone else would have done the same, after all not everyone in the world was kind and compassionate. While Sasha and Historia had yet to truly experience the extent of the world's cruelty.
"Does he really know how you feel though? We all know boys can be a bit dense at this age." Ymir says looking towards Eren who was sparring with Jean.
Mikasa chuckles seeing Jean struggle against Eren's choke hold, "Eren has always been different from other boys though. He always seems to read me better then most, even Armin. And I'm the same with him. I've admired his strength and will to go on."
Then suddenly Eren's eyes met hers across the field, he gave her a big grin as he pulled down the slightly taller boy using Jean's weight against him. Levi called for them to stop and she could see a smirk of satisfaction on the Captain's face. Jean gave Eren as scowl, while Connie patted him on back laughing as they helped Jean stand. Armin was grinning as he congratulated Eren on his victory. Mikasa couldn't help but beam brightly at the scene, seeing her love get stronger day by day made her heart swell with pride. The fact that he was doing it partially because of her was making her feel like she was riding on a cloud.
"Looks they're coming up here." Points out Sasha seeing the guys approaching them.
Eren went straight for Mikasa, she just smiled softly. Despite a few scrapes and brushes he looked in good shape. Those regenerative abilities were really useful, it is what keeps him alive. He looked fitter now, that thought made her flush a little.
"You should smile more often." Eren says giving her a grin.
She hides half of her face with her hair, "Wh..."
"You look pretty when you smile." He says softly with out hesitation, rubbing the back of his head.
Everyone stared at this, surprised that he'd say something like that. Of course no one would deny that Mikasa was a pretty girl, but hearing it from Eren... something must really be going on between the two. Armin chuckles, he knew that this was just the beginning and that these two were on their way to a confession soon, he thought that the two would admit their feelings to each other at the same time.
It was Connie who broke the ice laughing, "Smooth moves Yeager. I knew you had it in you."
"Just saying the truth is all." He responds bowing his head.
Mikasa walked the short distance towards him, he looked up and saw her beaming face. She hugged him.
She whispered, "Thank you Eren."
"Wanna ride?" He asked patting her head.
She nods into his chest, he turns and kneels down. She climbs onto his back and places her arms around his back while he secures her legs to his waist with his arms. He jogs them back to the hideout.
"What the.." Jean says almost growling at the sight of the two.
Hange smiles , "That's just precious."
Armin nods smiling too, "That's how I found them that day, he was carrying her on his back."
"It's cute. And what he said to her was true, the way he said it though..." Says Historia giggling.
Ymir nods, "Its sort of out of character for him. But haven't we been saying he has been different around her lately?"
"Yeah. But it is still surprising as to the extent though, that compliment came out of nowhere! Maybe he really does know about her feelings for him." Sasha says looking thoughtful.
Levi speaks offering a little bit of wisdom, "Eren isn't as clueless as most people can be. He's been forced to grow up even before he could truly grasp the idea of growing up. He's been a fighter all his life, from the moment that he saved Mikasa. Seeing them like this shows that we can find a little happiness even in there bleak times."
Everyone stared to him, surprised by his insightful words. Then Hange laughed, she always found it refreshing when Levi showed his slightly after side something the is rarer then finding Titan-shifters. The rest of 104 squadron feel out of their surprised and matched catching up to the soon-to-be couple, Armin guiding Mikasa's horse.
Maybe there was hope after all, and there's the light at the end of the tunnel the future might hold brighter pastures then any of them knew of. Youthful Love grows and flourishes best when two souls find light in the bleakest of times.
And that's all! I didn't expect this one shot to take so long to write. But then again a decided to cram to episodes into one story, my first attempt at an AOT fanfic! I honestly can't stop watching Season three, I don't wanna move on to the next season because I know I'll hate Eren for most of it (I blame the spoilers that have been going around since the Anime ended), even if his reasons are some what justified. Some EreMika fluff here everyone, Eren getting some character development in the case of expressing his affections to Mikasa. I honestly hope I did the Anime justice with this one shot.
Tell me what you think.
As for the Pokefics still working on most of them, hoping to finish "Wondering Summers" by the end of December. As for "Breaking Free" I'm hoping to complete that on January. Thank you for the support everyone! Any suggestions for future stories or chapter for those Pokefics are welcome don't be afraid to drop some in the comments or DM them to me.
Sighing off,
WL_17