Alrighty, kind of a twist of that scene where Mikasa talks to Eren about not dying in their first time fighting Titans. The title of the story is inspired by a song of the same name from the Tony Award winning Musical Hamilton.
This just something the entered my head this morning so bare with me. Haha, have a good 2024 everyone! Inspiration stuck me and now I can't back down from writing this piece. On with the story!
Rated M for violence and explicit language.
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Part 1
Something There
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It was a rush activity as everyone got ready to fight the Titans. Today was the first time the 104th cadets were going to test their newly aquire skills to bring down the Titans. Mikasa was searching for Eren, she had seen the sweet moment between Hannah and Franz just seconds before and was reminded of him, the impetuous boy whom she had grown to love as more then a brother. He's treated her differently these last few months as well, he would smile more as she nagged him for his recklessness or took care of him when he was injured, there was this shine in his eyes whenever they looked at her.
She saw Eren pinning Jean Kristen to a pillar, she had to smile at this. Though she didn't like the taller boy that way he was a good friend, she knew he had feelings for her as it was way too obvious. She wasn't sure if Eren had feelings for her though, she could always ask Armin but she knew their blond best friend wouldn't betray either of their trust if they asked him to keep a secret. She approached the two boys as Eren let go of Jean.
"Eren." She called grabbing his hand.
He looked at her his eyes softening to a lighter brown, "Mikasa?"
"I want to.." She trailed off unsure if she should voice her thoughts to him.
He seemed to catch her meaning though and sighed but then gave her a small smile, "I know you want to be by my side Mik, but you've got to remember that we need to follow orders. We're in different teams there's nothing we can do about that."
She was about to protest but then she felt him pull her close and lifting her hand to his chest. He gave her a hug his other hand rubbing her back. Her protests were silenced by this action as she placed her head on his chest her arms now rounding his torso, she could feel and hear his heartbeat. Jean saw this and scowled at them as he walked away.
"Ackerman." Says one of the Captains for the mission.
She looked towards the man, "Yes Sir."
"Your with the Rearguard." He instructs her sternly.
She nods letting go of Eren, she knew it was time but she didn't want to leave yet.
"Eren." She says her gray eyes locking with his.
His eyes grew dark and his jaw set he had this determined look about him, "Yeah."
"Please.. just stay alive." She whispers going into his arms once more her breath hitching.
He tightened his grip, "I have too much to live for Mik. I promise you, I'll come back."
Her eyes locked to his once more, she was looking up at him this time. Their lips only half an inch away, Eren took the lead and gave her a chaste kiss then pulls away.
He smiles as he tucks a stray hair into her ear, "It took me years but I've finally figured it out. I love you Mikasa."
"I love you too Eren." She responds a delighted smile gracing her features.
He grins walking to his group, "We'll see each other after this alright. Don't worry too much."
He uses his gear to go up the roof meeting his team for the operation. He was determined to keep his promise to her, to stay alive.
"Eren..." Says Armin who was looking at his brown haired friend.
He smiles, "Let's do this Armin."
"You seem different..." Says the blonde boy studying his best friend.
He shakes his head, "Mikasa and I just spoke earlier. I'll tell you more about it later alright."
"Okay then. Lets go out there and kill some titans." The other boy says.
A huge figure suddenly appears behind Eren, the group froze in fear seeing the hulking titan behind their fearless friend. Eren seeing the faces of the group change turned, only to see the familiar face of the Collosal Titan.
"Eren..." Armin says in alarm freeing his swords.
Suddenly there was a crash, and they knew the gate had been breached. Eren quickly got to action wasting no time and going after the hulking giant.
"OI EREN!" Yelled Thomas startled by his friend's actions.
Jean growled, "What is that suicidal maniac doing?!"
"What we're supposed to be doing Jean! Everyone get ready for a full blown assault, this is what we've been training for the last few years. Lets make it count!" Armin says raising his sword.
Eren just appeared as Armin finished his short speech, slightly burned from the steam that erupted off the Titan's body. Everyone turned to see the brown haired boy looking frustrated.
"Darn I missed!" He cursed kicking the ground.
It was Mina who spoke, "Are you alright Eren?"
"Yeah." He responds smiling at them.
Armin looked worried, "Were you burned? Your skin..."
"Bastard expelled steam before I could cut him up. The heat was nearly unbearable, but I got out of there before any more damage was done." Eren says.
Thomas grins, "You crazy idiot, you had us worried. We really don't want to tell Mikasa that you got killed running at a Titan."
"Ah. Well, I promised her I'd stay alive and that's what I'll do. I've got too much to live for to die here. Let's go!" Eren responds running to the city.
Marco chuckles, "Never stops does he?"
"Let's get going then. We wouldn't want to fail on our first mission as fresh graduates now would we?" Says Connie.
Off they went flying through the air using their ODM gear to propel themselves through the city. Slashing Titans left, right, and center. There were a few close calls: Mina almost getting caught by one getting saved by Marco, Thomas was not so lucky as he got caught by an abnormal titan the group watched as he was eaten by the beast.
"Th-Thomas!" Sasha screamed in anguish.
Eren and Armin shared a look of understanding as they watched their friends agonize over the lose. They couldn't allow this to bring down the morale of their group, they needed to keep going.
Eren cleared his throat, "We need to keep going, let's show these beasts what we can do. We'll avenge Thomas' death and fight."
"Eren's right. We can't just stand here and dwell on his death, we need to fight." Connie says nodding to his friend.
On they went continuing on their path. Each wanting to avenge the friend they had lost, and any other comrades who had been downed by these beasts. It seemed as if the Rearguard had successfully evacuated the city, they breathed a sigh of relief at least the people wouldn't die. They continued to advance, Eren had killed multiple titans by now.
"ARMIN!" Mina screamed catching everyone's attention.
Armin was caught in a Titan's mouth, from the looks of it it had gotten him off of the rooftop. Eren's eyes widened, he quickly maneuvered his gear to that direction, making sure to expell enough gas to increase his speed. He was not going to lose his brother in all but blood, they still had a lot to do and see together! He reached him before the Titan could close its mouth, he reached out his hand and pulled Armin out placing himself inside the Titan's maw.
"Eren!" Armin said in alarm.
Said boy gave his best friend a smile, "I'm not dying here, not when we still have to see the outside world. And I would rather it be me in this situation then you."
"You crazy idiot get out of there!" Yells Sasha as she lands near Armin.
His arm still out stretched he says, "Ah, well this won't be the end of me. I promised her after all, that I'd stay alive."
The Titan closed his mouth and Eren's arm flew out of it. The Titan Leaves.
"NO EREN!" Mina screamed landing beside Sasha.
Armin stands chuckling, "Damn you Yeager. Leaving me with this job. But your too stubborn to die, so see you."
"Shit that suicidal bastard." Jean says cursing under his breath.
"Let's stop somewhere." Says Connie a horrified expression on his face.
They stopped on a random rooftop, soon followed by the ladies and Armin. They saw Mikasa land after Armin.
"Mikasa.." Thomas breaths looking at the Ackerman girl with hooded eyes.
Mikasa turned to Armin, "Where's Eren?"
"He got eaten..." Armin says eyes watering as what happened finally came up to him.
The blonde boy fell to his knees sobbing as he thought of the young Yeager whom he called brother. Mikasa's eyes widened, no it couldn't be!
She looked at the rest of them, she saw tears in the eyes of Sasha and Mina while the boys looked down.
Armin then says, "I'm so sorry Mikasa! He saved me, it should have been me not him. I'm so sorry."
She knew she would have made the same choice as Eren, she would've saved either of them let them live out their lives. But she also felt like Eren wasn't really dead, he had promised her that he would stay alive and she held onto that promise. She offered her hand to Armin who started at it in surprise.
"I would have done the same thing for both of you. He would made the same choice if it had been me. He saved you because he wanted you to live Armin, he doesn't regret his choice and neither would I. Let's make his sacrifice worth it." Mikasa says trying to comfort him a small smile on her face.
Armin takes her hand and squeezes it before getting up, "Your right Mikasa. Let's make his sacrifice worthwhile."
"Somehow I feel like he isn't really dead." She tells them honestly.
Armin chuckles, "His spirit lives on. But I know what you mean Mikasa, I don't think he's really dead either."
"Let's get going then! We can't just sit here and let their sacrifices go to waste." Says Connie raising his sword.
Mikasa then says, "We've got to fight. If we don't fight we won't win. If we don't win we die."
"Where did those words come from?" Jean asked looking at her curiously.
Sasha shakes her head and slaps his shoulder.
Mikasa smiles nostalgically, "Just something a special friend said to me once."
Off they went, Mikasa taking the lead going faster then them. They helped each other, watching out for Titans. Armin studied the black haired girl, his eyes widened she was expelling too much gas going too fast. As they dispersed, Armin followed Mikasa.
"She isn't thinking straight. She's gonna run out of gas quickly!" He said to himself.
Mikasa falls to the ground, she stays there immobile. She thinks to herself, she might as well give up. An abnormal approaches her, she just stays there not moving at all. But as the beast's hand closes in on her she dodges.
"What? But I thought.." Another dodge and she kept dodging, "I thought I had given up" She whispers to her self.
Then a memory fills her mind, the memory of Eren telling her to fight.
"Fight. Fight." His voice fills her with new vigor a new purpose.
She shakes her head and slices the Titan's hand, "I'm sorry Eren. I will never give up again."
Another hand comes at her but just as it grabs her something pushes the Titan away. Mikasa froze in shock as she watched another Titan fight the abnormal.
"MIKASA!" Armin's voice filled the air as he swooped in to get her. They landed on the roof top beside Connie.
The crew cut boy looked at them in shock, "Oi! What's happening down there?!"
"A Titan is fighting another Titan." Armin says in confusion.
Mikasa nods then says, "It saved me."
"No way. Is that Titan an abnormal?" Jean asked as he watches the scene.
"I don't think so. It seems to have a mind of its own." Armin says.
Christa approaches Mikasa placing a hand on her shoulder, "Are you alright Mikasa?"
The raven haired girl nods, "Yeah."
They watch as the Rouge Titan kills the other one...
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Part 2
Fighting Spirit
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After getting the gas they needed they had gone back to the fray, eventually the Rouge Titan had been cornered by several others that began to eat away at his flesh. Just then another one appeared, the same one that ate Thomas Wagner all those hours ago
"That's the same Titan the ate Thomas." Uttered Mina glaring at the monster.
The Rouge Titan stood shaking the others off it's body, he ran at the Titan his fist clenched at his side, he delivered a strong blow knocking the other Titan off its feet then it turned it's head towards them. It looks towards Armin and then her...
Those eyes, she thought as she looked at the glaringly familiar green eyes of the Titan.
"It can't be." Whispered Armin as he studied the Titan.
Then it did some sort of smile.
Her knees nearly buckled, "Eren..."
"He's giving us a chance to kill it!" Armin exclaimed.
Jean gawked at the blonde's words, "A-are you sure?"
"If you think about it, he could've done it himself. But how did he know?" Mina says look curiously at the Titan.
Armin grins, "He's a friend."
With those enigmatic words they all dove in ready to avenge their fallen friend. They quickly made work of it, they went back on the rooftop looking towards the Rouge Titan. The tall figure looked worn out, it had raged against the other Titans effectively ending most of the threat. It fell face first steam coming out of its body.
"Well looks like that it for this one." Says Jean looking at the fallen Rouge.
Mina smiled, "It was strange. For a few moments I actually felt hopeful that humanity could survive."
"Me too." Adds Connie.
Armin and Mikasa were silent as they watched the Titan's body as something - more like someone - was moving from it. A familiar face appeared from the mess of veins, it was Eren! Mikasa rushed in going on top of the hulking corps and hugging him, he had a smile on his face as he hugged her back.
"Hey Mikasa. I told you I'd stay alive." He tells her.
She cries into his chest, "We thought. I thought..."
"Hush now. I thought I was gonna die too, but somehow a miracle happened and here we are. Would you mind bringing me to where the others are?" He tells her lifting her head so their eyes could meet.
She nods, "Yeah sure."
She lifted him onto her back with little effort and used her ODM gear to propel them towards the rooftop their friends were at. Everyone was flabbergasted, Armin broke the ice by running towards his brother and hugging him tears in his eyes.
"H-how?" Asked the emotional blonde boy.
Eren shook his head and shrugged his shoulders,."I don't know. I was that Titan's stomach one moment thinking about life and how I couldn't possibly die at that moment then suddenly I transformed into that thing. Taking control of it was touch and go for awhile but I eventually did."
"You saved me again." Mikasa says smiling at him.
He smiles back, "I'd do it over and over again Mik even knowing that you can handle it yourself. You would do the same for me, with how much you saved my ass back when we were kids. Thank you for believing in me by the way."
Armin chuckled, "How could we not? You never back down from anything, you always keep your promises."
"You gave quiet a scare Yeager!" Shouts Sasha running in to give boy a hard hit on his back.
Connie followed it up, "Yeah! We're thankful for you saving Armin though. Glad to see you're alive."
"What is the meaning of this?!" Asked a stern voice from behind.
They all freeze, but none of them would dare to leave their friends behind. They would stand together until the end. As the superiors saw the scene they pointed their guns at the trio. Eren knew why they were doing this, he thought it was better if he let Mikasa or Armin handle it. He pulls at their hands getting their attention.
"Alright I'll leave it to you two. You're both better at explaining things then I am. I don't think I can even put into words what just happened the last few minutes." He reasoned with them.
Armin smiles nodding, "After what you did for us this is the least we could do to thank you Eren. There is no way we would let them kill you."
"You've got to be kidding me. There's no way we're letting you get locked up after you helped us beat those Titans Yeager." Jean says smiling at him slightly.
Eren chuckles, "Call me Eren, Jean."
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Part Three
His Will
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The plan was to have Eren seal up the broken wall to prove his humanity was still in tact. It had been Armin's suggestion to Commander Pixes, the others were to keep the surrounding Titans away from Eren as he was blocking the wall. While they were placing their gear on Mikasa went to Eren and hugged him from behind.
She whispered into his ear, "You can do this Eren."
"Thanks for having faith in me Mik. With you, Armin, and the others believing in me then I'll be able to do this no problem." He says smiling to himself.
He turns in her arms and returns her gesture, kissing her forehead. He closed his eyes before letting her go. She looked at him before ascending to the wall, Armin had seen the interaction and smiled as Mikasa landed beside him.
"What was that Mika?" He asked giving his friend a teasing smile.
She flushed but smiled at him, "What you thought it was Armin."
"You mean..." The boy says eyes widened.
Mikasa nods smiling. Armin rushes to hug her, he was happy that they finally got together. The others saw this and looked at the two with smiles and a little confusion on their faces.
It was Sasha who's asked, "What's up you two?"
"Yeah. Is there something else we should celebrate about later?" Added Connie.
Armin answered the a large grin on his face, "You bet there is. Cause Erin and Mikasa are finally together!"
Everyone held astonished faces including the three Marleyan Warriors. Though Annie had a small smile on her face, the girl had guessed at the duo's feelings for the other it may have been subtle but it was still there. Ymir laughed openly, she was happy for the both of them but of all the places to admit their feelings it had to be here.
"B-but how did that happen?" Jean said an expression of defeat on his face.
Mikasa smiled, "It was after your argument with him. We talked about being in different groups and I was telling him that I wanted to be with him no matter what, he logically explained that though he wanted to be beside me too we had our orders to follow."
"He's right. He managed to hustle us in before charging the Colossal Titan that appeared behind him so suddenly. He got back up with burn marks on his skin after it disappeared moments later." Says Marco thinking back to that moment.
Mikasa shakes her head with a smile, "Typical Eren. Did he manage to get the Titan?"
"No. It disappeared before he could carve up it's nape." Mina says.
Bertholt sweats a bit knowing how close Eren was to uncovering his identity. The younger boy has obviously figured out that he was no ordinary Titan, looks like most of the 104th Squadron figured that out. Annie and Reiner gave him a covert look, knowing what he was thinking. There was an explosion then they watched as the Rouge Titan stood and walked to the boulder, looking towards them with a glint in it's eyes.
Connie says, "Man, isn't his Titan buff or what?"
"He works out every morning. It shows for sure." Comments Reiner smirking as he folds his arms.
Mikasa smiles then flushes, "He used to do push ups before we enlisted in the military."
"Is there something your not telling us Mikasa.." Teased Sasha poking her usually unflappable friend.
The girl flushed an even deeper red trying to hide it in her scarf, "I used to watch him do those warm ups everyday, he also did them when we were kids though at that he'd usually just jog around the field."
Her eyes glossed over has she reminisced those moments with Eren, his Titan looked towards her as if knowing what she was thinking. She smiled at him giving him a wave, he shook his head and went to pick up the bolder.
"Two fifteen meter Titans headed this way people let's get to work!" Called Marco pointing at the two abnormals headed for Eren.
Connie, Jean, Sasha, and Mina went for the kill working in pairs. Armin and Mikasa went for the smaller titans which were getting at Eren's feet, while the others were busy dealing with the farther ones. Eren lifted the huge rock and walked towards the whole in the wall, almost getting stopped by another Titan on the way. Armin intercepted the intruding twenty meter monster with a few quick slashes, he landed on a rooftop beside Eren.
"Go Eren! You can do it!" He cheers as his best friends continues on his path to block the wall.
He got to the wall and placed the huge rock right on the hole making sure to secure it. Everyone cheered, the superiors and the MPs looked astonished while Commander Pixes smiled impressed at their success. He approached Armin and shook the young man's hand.
"Though it was not a guarantee, you plan was a success Arlert. Yeager, well done you can get out of there now." Pixes says looking a the hulking giant.
Eren nods his head and sits down, steam blows out of his body as he frees himself from the huge figure. Mikasa landed beside and cut his limbs from the veins connecting him to the huge body. He looked towards her and grinned as she smiled at him.
"Alright all of you, we will still need your testimonies for the evens that has happened today so you'll have to stay awhile longer. Thank you for you cooperation all of you." Says the elderly man with a smile.
They did a salute knowing that they had been dismissed. The couple walked off of the hulking body and was greeted by the rest of their friends.
"Awesome job Eren!" Complements Connie patting the brown haired by in the back.
Mina smiles, "I never thought we'd be working with a Titan."
"The world sure is strange, isn't it?" Says Jean in thought.
Armin nods smiling, "Of course. And there more of these occurrences as we go on."
"Are you still set on joining the scouts, Eren?" Asked Reiner looking at the young Yeager.
Eren thinks for a moment, "Of course I am. But it's more then killing Titans now, there's a whole world to see our there and I can't wait to see it."
Armin and Mikasa smiled fondly, they weren't going to let him go alone after all the three of them made a promise to see the outside world together. He shared a look with both of his best friend and girlfriend and knew that no matter what challenges they would they would do it together.
"I'm with you guys. I'm sick of staying behind these walls knowing nothing of the outside." Christa says smiling.
Marco shakes his head but smiles, "I'm going too. Seeing how the MPs reacted to the situation was a let down."
Everyone agreed, though they had yet to choose their paths it seemed like most of them had already decided on the path of adventure and danger that is only offered in the Scout regiment. The only question was...
Were they ready to dedicate their hearts to saving mankind?
And cut. Wow reimagining this scene seemed like a chore at first, but then this is what I came up with. No sappy ending in this one, but we are left with the closing question. Some EreMika sweetness here and there. Not much on the reaction of the three Marley Warriors.
Tell me what you think about this. I really hope I did this scene justice. If you guys have any suggestions comment or DM me. Until next time!
Signing off,
WL_17