Since stopping Reiner a few days ago from a horrible, horrible decision, Mikasa had been keeping a very low profile around the town. She's been cooking, sleeping and getting dressed in her small bungalow with the windows sealed and heavy objects in front of the door.
Before blowing her cover to Reiner, Mikasa had never encountered any trouble in the city. Now? She awaited every succeeding day with bated breath.
But life still went on—which meant having to make money. Her fresh catches were gutted and drained, and selling them kept her somewhat financially afloat in this impoverished city.
As she prepared to leave for the day, she sent an urgent letter to Jean expressing the situation she was in as vaguely as possible.
No word has gotten back to her yet.
She slipped on a tattered long-sleeve nude dress with her Eldian armband. She made sure to blend in even more by looking even more destitute; that meant cutting her wig and tearing/staining her attire.
Right before she left, Mikasa wondered over to the bedroom and moved the mattress to check under the false floorboards. Letting out a sigh of relief, she was just glad that she still had a piece of home with her. Running a cool thumb across the coveted material, she closed her eyes and reminisced.
It's been months since she's used it.
That might change soon though.
Reiner walked the streets with fellow warriors Porco and Pieck. Pieck somehow managed to drag him out of his room and into town... something about getting out and making the most of his time left, blah blah.
When he couldn't come up with a reason for his door being obliterated after the third time asked, he decided to just go with them in an attempt to avoid the headache of coming up with a story.
When Porco chastised him about the loaded gun on the floor, all he could do was come up with some piss poor hunting tale. "It got too dark, so I just left it under my bed for a few days." or something along those lines.
When in actuality, the reality of it was much darker.
He understands that after she left he could've picked up the gun and finished the job—he understands that there was nothing and no one stopping him.
But she flooded his mind. He memorized her silhouette and for god's sake, he couldn't think of anything else.
"Reiner, what's on your mind?" The Cart Titan user interrupted his thoughts. "You've been acting so differently since coming back." She glanced back, eyeing his sluggish steps.
"I swear if one more person says that to me..." he mumbled under his breath. Damn right he was different. Everything was taken from him, he was a coward with nothing to show for it.
"He's a weakling, Pieck." Porco spat out, arms crossed. "He wasn't a man before he left, and he's not a man now." The insults flowed so effortlessly from his mouth.
And Reiner knew he meant every word.
Pieck glared at him. "He went through a lot, Pock. Leave him alone."
He snarled at her and gave her a warning stop-calling-me-that glare. Reiner rolled his eyes and blocked out the rest of their conversation.
Tilting his head up towards the clear sky, he'd be lying if he said he didn't want to see her again. She occupied his mind. Even though he secretly wanted to create a different narrative in his head, he knew that the reason she didn't let him die was because of his Armored.
Still, he couldn't help but want an explanation from her. It's possible that maybe she was in shock and forgot to take him as a hostage... though, it's been days without any trouble in or around Marley. It felt like they were both waiting for the other to bite; but playing this game of cat and mouse couldn't last forever.
Regardless of the reason, her plan worked because seeing Mikasa stand in front of him in the dimly lit room with the slap that awoke his paralyzed senses was... somewhat pleasant to say the least. It brought a little life back to his otherwise lifeless body.
So he decided to leave the ball in her court and see what she did with it.
For now, staying alive for a few extra days won't kill him...
Until her goal is revealed, he'll let the memories of the past satiate him. His mind wondered over to old conversations he shared with her; her teasing, her laughter... the playful and sarcastic interactions they shared were always too short. But the gazes and smiles shared between them were even shorter.
He shook his head and sighed. Maybe those dumb memories of the past was why he couldn't bring himself to tell anyone of the oncoming invasion. Or maybe he just wanted someone to kill him already.
Or maybe, he wanted his death to mean something. Maybe by getting eaten by one of the islanders.
It could be useful for them.
Reiner stopped walking abruptly, spiking Pieck and Porco's interest.
Gabi would be saved. Falco too. The islanders would get their revenge, and his titan wouldn't be used for slavery anymore.
He stared into space, contemplating the decision as the other two kept trying to get his attention.
Mikasa set up shop. Different people walked by each day, but her fish was always sold out by high noon. With one day's profit, she was able to live comfortably for about a week—this combined with the fact that Mikasa managed to map out the days he'd come into town helped with any accidental run-ins.
It worked pretty well.
Meanwhile her thoughts drifted more towards the M.I.A problem she was experiencing with Jean and the others. What could be the cause? If they were caught, surely she would have been as well. She bit her lip thinking about all of the possible scenarios. It wasn't something to get worked up about since there was no news—but she still hoped everything was going smoothly.
Atleast for everyone else.
In her case, she went ahead and complicated her already complicated mission. Being seized would have been the next step, so why was it taking so long? Maybe Reiner was working closely within his chain of command in an attempt to catch all of the islanders as opposed to just her?
As much as she thought about the logistics of it, she still couldn't really wrap her head around the why. Why was all of this happening? Why did she rush in? Why did it feel like she couldn't control herself? Why did she blow her cover? Why did she save his life? Why hasn't he come after her yet?
"Excuse me?"
She snapped out of it and stared at some impatiently waiting patrons.
"What kind of fish is this?" An old lady with a shawl over her head asked in an irritated tone.
"Um, it's herring."
Mikasa made transaction after transaction until only one fish remained. When the long line dissipated, she slumped over in her chair, relaxing her legs and letting the rustling leaves comfort her exhausted psyche.
"Mr. Braun!"
Mikasa's ears stood at attention immediately.
"Gabi, Udo, Zofia, and Falco." A little gleam sparkled in Reiner's eyes as he addressed each child individually. Reiner got down to their level "What brings you guys to town in the middle of the day?"
Well Shit. Mikasa cursed under her breath—why today of all days? She knew better than to move from her position or to make a scene. All she could do was keep her head down and hope that they didn't walk towards her.
"We were trying to find you!" A little girl with a ponytail exclaimed. "I want you to come back to my house and have dinner with my family!" A huge smile graced the child's face.
"Gabi, your family is my family remember?" He said in an amused tone, "And what does your dad want to discuss now?"
Mikasa moved a piece of her wig out of her face to get a better view of the trepidatious situation. He was just talking to the same kids he was spotted with a few weeks prior, and with the same two warriors that frequented the town.
"Just the same old stuff!" Gabi exclaimed. She pulled on his hand and tugged him in the opposite direction.
Looks like she's leading him away.
Mikasa gulped and turned her attention to the lone fish chilling on ice in front of her. There was no one around that seemed interested in buying it and she needed to get out of there. She stretched a hand out towards the last herring...
"Gabi!" Reiner exclaimed, "Wait–"
If she could just reach for it--
"How much for this fish?" A woman with eye bags, black hair, and crutches asked excitedly. She held her hands together, staring at Mikasa's hidden face.
Shit.
"Free. Take it." she said quietly, before turning her back on the customer and packing up her stuff.
Just because Reiner didn't turn her in a few days ago (she thought) doesn't mean he wouldn't do it right this second if he saw another glimpse of her.
In fact, there'd be no good reason to ignore her presence in the middle of the damn town. She's done for if her cover is blown right here.
"Free, really?" Pieck gasped excitedly.
"Yes. Only if you take it now." She said as she packed up her last few items. "I just have a... meeting I need to get to. Right now."
Porco raised an eyebrow. Pieck shrugged and took the fish in her bag. "Hey," the Cart Titan shifter started, "do I know you from somewhere? Your voice sounds kind of familiar!"
Mikasa felt a thick lump growing in her throat. This was getting worse by the second.
Porco dropped some cash in front of the vendor and whisked her away. "Stop being weird, Pieck."
"What's going on over here?" A familiar voice asked. Mikasa shuddered and closed her eyes. She's gonna have to get into this. Here and now.
She covertly pulled a knife from her bag.
"Nothing. The merchant is packing up shop. We got lucky with the last fish!" Pieck said, pulling the herring out of her bag to show Reiner and the kids.
"Herring huh? That brings back memories."
He knew he shouldn't have said that. Porco grimaced at him, knowing exactly what he meant. Reiner avoided his gaze and cleared his throat.
"Anyway, I'm going to go back to my place." Reiner turned his attention to Gabi and the other children, "I'll have dinner with everyone another time, okay?"
Gabi nodded while Falco pulled her away.
Reiner walked away from the stand in the opposite direction.
Mikasa sighed a breath of relief. She put the knife away, picked up her bag, and hurried back to her residence. She made sure to cover her head with a shawl.
I can't stay here. I have to—
And as if some kind of higher power heard her, she walked into a hard chest as she quickly turned a corner.
"Mikasa."
