Day 3: Police/Detectives
He got the call at around 2 am. He was asleep for exactly 3 hours, and they called him. Not that it bugged him too much. After all, he chose this life, he chose all the responsibilities and expectations that came with it. But sometimes, he really hated his job.
"Jaeger here," he croaked into the receiver.
"Sorry, Eren, I really hate to wake you at such a dire hour, but I'm afraid you are needed at the station immediately," said the section commander of the Trost Police Force.
"Alright, I'll be there momentarily." He clicked off his phone and ran his hands through his hair.
Just another day in paradise, he thought, before climbing out of bed.
He brewed a quick pot of coffee so he wasn't too cranky and jumped into his car. He wondered what it was about this time. Bar fight? Overdose? A community disruption, perhaps? Whatever it was, it was obviously important enough to call in an officer not even on duty.
He took his time getting out of the car and making his way into the station.
Upon entering he was met with the staring faces of his superiors. Commander Erwin Smith, the boss of the entire police branch. Section Commander Hange, fourth squad, she was second in command. Mike Zachrius, third squad. Nanaba, fifth squad, and finally Levi Ackerman, second squad.
"What's going on?" Eren asked when he entered.
"My apologies Eren, for calling you at such an early hour. But I'm afraid that this matter cannot wait. This was only sprung on us just 2 hours ago. We have a special mission that will take the utmost priority and we have chosen a few of the best and brightest officers to take on this mission. Eren, you are going to lead them."
Eren gaped. "What?"
"This matter is not only important to our station, it has a personal relation to one of our captains. Eren, have you heard of the triple homicide 2 weeks ago in Japan?" Eren's eyes narrowed, confusingly.
"Of course, everyone has, but that's in-"
"Yes, a far away case, but the Japanese have an underground base made for dark purposes. Sex traffickers, drug dealing and using, murders, kidnapping, and many more horrifying activities."
"Right, so, why does this involve us?" Eren asked.
Erwin faced Levi, who sighed. "Listen, Jaeger, that triple homicide has a much bigger picture. Those thugs were from that base, and their mission was to kidnap a woman with a very special bloodline. She was the last one, or so they thought."
"Not only did they kill her, but also her husband, because things didn't go as planned. But the thing is, they had a 18 year old daughter, who was there. And that's how the tables turned. She killed those three thugs before they even knew what hit them," Hange explained. Eren simply stared wide-eyed.
"That daughter, is my cousin," Levi said. "And she's here, because she isn't safe in Japan right now. So, she's staying with me, and I'm assigning your squad to protect her, guard her, until this base is brought down and sent to live behind bars," Levi finished.
"I can't believe it…" Eren murmured. "I'm on a special mission."
Levi rolled his eyes. "This isn't time to get a big head, Jaeger. This is important, and if you screw this up, my boots going up your ass."
"Right, sir! I understand!" Eren saluted.
"I guess it's time for introductions, let's go meet her," Hange said as she led them all down the hall.
Hange knocked on the end door of the hall. "Hey, it's me." She opened the door, and they all piled in.
"Eren, this is Mikasa Ackerman." Eren held out his hand and looked up at her.
"Whoa," was all he said as he drank in her appearance. Ivory skin that looked like moonbeams, silky, midnight black hair that spilled flawlessly over her shoulder. Her lips were velvety and pink, just under her sharp nose. Her eyes looked fierce and grey like the evening mist.
When he simply stared at her, those perfect lips curved.
"Nice to meet you, too," she said. Her voice, as delicate as a whisper, it blew over him like the night air. Soothing, and cool.
Mike cleared his throat and Eren snapped back. "Right, Mikasa, it's nice to meet you. I'm Officer Eren Jaeger, I'm the captain of the squad protecting you."
"Levi," Mikasa sighed and turned to her cousin. "I thought I told you I'll be fine. I don't need protection, I'm already looking for an apartment, I can change my name, dye my hair, anything. They still won't find me."
"How are you so sure?" he asked, crossing his arms.
"Those men believed that my mother and I were the last of the Ackerman Clan, so they won't think to look somewhere so far away, and they don't know about any relatives. Their men are dead, my parents are dead, and I've disappeared, they have no leads," Mikasa explained.
"They may-"
"Levi."
"I'm still not taking any chances, I'm having you under the protection of my squad and that's it, no arguments." Mikasa sighed.
"Fine, but only for a bit."
"Good enough. Eren, since you are here, you might as well take Mikasa home, your squad will be there to meet you at my house in about one hour. I expect you to be ready." Levi walked out with the other 4 following, leaving Mikasa and Eren alone.
Only a couple seconds went by when Mikasa spoke. "So, how long have you been on the force?"
"About 4 months, actually," he said. Mikasa raised her eyebrows.
"So, I'm getting a novice squad captain, does that mean that your squad is also made of noobies?" she asked.
"That doesn't look too good, does it?" Mikasa gave a little laugh.
"I was only kidding. I didn't even want the protection, but I guess it gives me people to talk to while my cousin patrols the streets."
"How did you know about Levi? I mean, he's lived here all his life and I've never heard of any living relatives," Eren said.
"My father's brother was Levi's caretaker, Levi's guardian was his mother's brother, our family is kind of chaos. My mother told me I had living family west of us, but they never talked about them. I always thought maybe they didn't get along," Mikasa explained.
"Are you moving here?"
"That's seems to be the best for me right now. I just…" She sighed and leaned back on the couch she was seated on. "I'm 18 and homeless, not to mention a murderer."
"It was in self defense," Eren reasoned.
"Yes, I had that explained to be a number of times, but, Officer Jaeger-"
"Just Eren."
"Eren, taking someone else's life, even if they have dark intent, still changes someone. I took away a life so I could keep mine, I mean they were only following the path they chose, and thought they wanted."
"That's what you were doing. Mikasa, those men aren't human, they would've killed you without hesitation. They would've taken your life, to richen theirs." Mikasa looked at him for a moment, then turned away with a soft smile.
"I think we are going to be friends. Now, would you mind taking me home?"
"Of course, please follow me."
The two teens piled into the police cruiser and hit the road. The city of Trost was so unfamiliar and new to Mikasa. Japan was such a fast-paced city, where everything seems like she's riding on a fast train and never getting off. She didn't mind the noise of her community, she grew up to it, but maybe a fresh start in a tamer city was just what she needed to mourn and cope over the loss of her parents.
She hasn't cried yet. Surprisingly, and it isn't out of disrespect, more out of honor and dignity. She has always been strong, emotionally and physically. She was angry, upset, and hopeless after she saw her parents being carted away on stretchers, their frozen, horrified faces covered with black plastic.
That's all she was now. A frozen corpse on the inside and a quiet, desperate teenage girl on the outside. She tried not to let their death's get to her. It's been hard, but the best thing she could do for her parents was to live the life they wanted for her. An ordinary life where her bloodline didn't hover over her, didn't change the way people looked at her.
The Ackerman's were considered unique, and gifted. But all her bloodline brought her was sorrow and isolation. Everyone knew about the Ackerman's. Knew what they were capable of and what they did with their abnormalities. Her family was never considered human. Normal. Their lives weren't worth it, to the people. They were the poison in the wine, fangs behind a smile, and the blood on the floor.
She lived her life trying to break the mold of her ancestors, try to be ordinary, human. But all she managed to do, was live up to the world's expectations of the Ackerman's. She was exactly what they called her. A monster, a devil, a mistake.
"Hey." Eren's voice brought Mikasa back to Earth. She turned to him as lights and little houses passed by. "Try not to dread over anything tonight. Now that all the excitement is over, I can see your exhaustion even in the dark. Just try to sleep and focus on the life your about to live."
"Thanks, will your squad be long? I want to meet them before I turn in for the night." Eren nodded.
"I'll give them a call when we get there."
Levi's house was away from the busier parts of the city. His house was tucked into a clearing in the forest along the edges of the town. It was two stories high with a pale cream color adorning it. There was a porch with a set of patio chairs and table, but that was it. There were no ornaments, flowers, anything close to character for the house. It was neat, plain, and it screamed Levi.
"I would advise not to make a mess too much while you're here. Levi has ways and he doesn't expect them to be ignored," Eren explained as he took out Levi's spare house key from under the mat, that said "go away".
"Has he always been this welcome?" Mikasa asked, sarcasm laced in her tone.
"Har-har."
Once in the front door closed behind them, Mikasa started to observe the house that would be her home until she found her own. The stairs that lead up to the second floor were placed in front of the door, carpeted and cloud white. The entire floor, carpet and hardwood, were spotless with not a single stain or speck of dust. The living room was to the left. It had black leather couches and a glass coffee table facing a giant TV. There was a hallway leading to the unknown on the right side of the staircase, and Mikasa headed for it.
"My room is downstairs, the end room." Mikasa carried her duffle and backpack down the hall and opened the door to her new bedroom. It was a decent size with a queen sized bed, a dresser, a closet and a dark wood desk with a lamp and 2 notebooks, as well as a cup of pencils and pens.
Mikasa flicked the light on and wandered the room. Clean to perfection, just as the rest of the house.
"His house has always been nice," Eren said from the doorway. "Do you want to settle and unpack, I'll make some tea if you want."
"Sure, that'd be fine. Yeah, I'll just settle in here. My other possessions should be here tomorrow afternoon," Mikasa said. Eren nodded, and left her to it.
Mikasa set her duffle onto her bed and zipped it open. The first thing she grabbed was a portrait of herself with her two parents. She placed it gently on her bedside table beside the lamp, and stared at it for a while. She missed them, boy, did she miss them. She packed away the few outfits the duffle carried, in case the rest of her things didn't arrive fast enough, and sorted her desk for her work from the online schooling she was doing for the past 2 weeks. She had the option of transferring to a college in the area, but she may finish the first Semester online.
Once she set her room to rights, she made her way down the hall and into the kitchen where Eren stood at a granite counter, stirring tea into 2 cups. He had taken off his uniform so he was only wearing a white dress shirt and his black slacks. She waited for him to notice and when he did, he immediately smiled.
"All settled?" he asked, taking the two cups and handing one to her. "The rest of your squad will be along shortly, what do you say we wait in the main room." Mikasa nodded her agreement and the two moved rooms.
"So, do you know any houses up for rent?" she asked to fill the silence. Eren placed his cup on the coffee table, remembered to use a coaster.
"I'm sure there are a few. I can look around for you. Eager to leave the cousin, huh?"
Mikasa lifted one shoulder. "Not necessarily. I just…I don't know him. Even if he's family, he's a stranger to me. And I much rather cope alone." Eren's eyebrows raised.
"Alone? You should never grieve alone. That makes it…hopeless." Mikasa looked at him from under her lashes.
"No one knew them but me. I was all they had, and the same vice versa. No one else grieves them but me. And maybe those thugs…" Eren shifted.
"I understand if you don't want to talk about it, but I hope you don't mind me asking…I thought the thugs broke in for your mother. They wanted her part of their sex ring. So why is she gone?" he asked. The girl took a sip of her tea and placed it back on the table.
"Because she put up a fight." She stopped, let it sink in. "She was stronger than they thought, she was…fearless, and…" She stopped again, then looked at him, and he saw more emotion within the endless voids she called eyes. It startled him. "I haven't cried. Not one single tear has left my eyes since their death. Not even when I walked in to the kitchen and saw them both dead and laying in a pool of their own blood.
"All I felt was rage and dread and…bloodlust." She shuddered as she relived the memory.
"I'm surprised your so…calm about this. If it was me, I would be causing havoc."
"That's not me. My brain is the only havoc. It's still processing, and it's planning. It was two weeks ago, the funeral was only me and a few friends I came to know. I left about a week after the funeral, and came here. I should be giving myself time to heal and to mourn, but that just isn't how I want to deal with it."
"Everyone copes in different ways."
"I wanted to get away, that was the only thing I thought was good for me, so I did, and I-"
A knock on the front door cut her off, and Eren eased her by standing up.
"That's probably the others. Wait here, I'll bring them in." He went to invite them in, and Mikasa let out a long breath. She was under protection and in hiding. She didn't let out how terrified she really was. What if they did find her? Would they kill her? Or would they put her through worse? She was a child to them, but that wouldn't stop them from giving her the fate that was planned for her mother. Levi said he would discuss the plan for her moving here tomorrow morning. So she could only hope she'll like it here.
Multiple voices echoed from the front door, and Eren and 4 others appeared in front of her.
"All right, squad. This is Mikasa Ackerman, Captain Levi's cousin. She is under our protection and I believe this means every moment of our lives now is spent with her. Levi has said to never leave her unattended or let her leave the house alone."
"He's making it seem like I'm a danger to myself, I'm not, my word on it. He's just protective. I'm all both of us has. I can assure you, I don't plan to use any of you as my slaves." Mikasa stood up to introduce herself with a shake of their hands.
"Mikasa, this is Armin Arlert," Eren said when Mikasa shook a blonde's hand. He smiled at her.
"Nice to meet you, ma'am."
"Jean Kirstein." Eren didn't seem too particularly interested in this one, but she shook the brunette's hand anyway.
"Connie Springer." The bald teen gave her a toothy grin.
"Great to be of service," he said kindly.
"And this is Sasha Braus, don't leave her in the kitchen alone," Eren explained. Instead of taking the hand Mikasa offered her, Sasha wrapped her arms around her instead.
"I can tell we'll be close, anything you need," Sasha said releasing her. She gestured to the boys. "Anything at all, and we'll make it happen."
"Mostly because Levi scares the shit out of us," Connie joked. Mikasa smiled a little.
"I can imagine. It's nice that most of you are close to my age. Doesn't make me feel immature or weak."
"You killed three-" Armin elbowed Sasha before she could go on.
"Sorry about her. Doesn't think before she opens her mouth. Now, I can tell you are tired, so why don't you take that tea to your room. We need to sort out night and day shifts still. Not to mention Levi should be home, and he'll want to brief us on anything he hasn't told Eren yet," Armin explained. Mikasa nodded.
"Well, I guess I might as well, good-night, and good to meet you all," Mikasa said, before taking her cup down the hall to bed.
"She's hot," Jean stated once they heard her door closed.
"Jean!" Sasha glared at him.
"What? I was just stating the obvious."
"Say it again, Levi's being told, and your ass is getting kicked," Eren growled at him, and Jean tsked.
"So, does anyone want a particular shift?" Armin started, and moved to sit in the armchair. The rest followed and put their heads together.
"I wouldn't mind the day," Sasha put in.
"Same here," Jean agreed.
"I can do both," Connie shrugged.
"So, Eren and I on nights then."
"Put me on both," Eren said. The others looked at him. "Well, Levi's making me Captain, so I am going to need to know how she is throughout the day and the night. It's most logical."
"Nothing about this situation is logical. Why choose a bunch of new recruits without any action experience? What if she's found?"
"It's our job to make sure that doesn't happen," Armin said.
"I know that. What I don't understand is why not assign a more elite squad than us?" Jean asked.
"Maybe they all thought having people her own age around would be more tolerant for her, than a room full of adults," Eren explained.
"It makes sense, in the mental way. Mikasa needs to cope, and why not make it easy for her by giving her people her own age to confide in," Armin continued, "but the last thing she needs is a squad that will listen, but also pry. So, don't ask unless asked."
The front door opened and immediately the recruits were on their feet and standing in a line. Levi slid his boots off and walked slowly toward his squad.
"Did you scare her off?" he asked.
"No, sir. She's currently in her bedroom," Armin said. Levi nodded.
"Let her sleep for now. Now, I want to hear the system rotation you came up with."
Eren explained the shifts and he also the reasoning behind it.
"Seems fair enough. Now, down to the nitty gritty," Levi said, and leaned forward.
In her room, Mikasa listened intently to the conversation happening only 10 feet away. She felt bile rise in her throat. Her life, she thought, was those 5 officers' responsibility. She felt an invisible weight on her shoulders and churning in her stomach.
She was supposed to live in their shadows, behind their apparently expendable bodies. How much pressure was that?
Mikasa shook her head. She was conflicted. She was worried that maybe her getting away wasn't the best thing for her, because if the Base really want revenge, or the prize they had paid the men to retrieve, then they wouldn't stop looking for her. All she could do was run and hide, or…disappear.
No, she thought. No more playing it scared, the world is a cruel place, and this was now her place in it. If they found her, she would do what she had to. Whether that would mean running away again, or making them disappear. She laid her head down on the pillow with the lamp shining. She was exhausted, but not tired. She was sore, but not in pain. She was numb, but she wanted to let herself show something.
They were right. Ackerman's weren't human. They were abnormalities, and a race of devils. And for that, her parents were six feet under.
"Mikasa?" a voice called. Mikasa sat up in bed.
"Come on in."
The door opened, and Eren stepped in, and closed the door again.
"Connie and Armin are staying with you tonight, I'll be here in the morning along with Sasha to take you to the real estate office," he explained.
"Real estate?"
"You wanted a house, right?"
"Right, but what about your patrolling or your locking people in cells? I'm sure there is something more important to you than taking me house shopping," she said.
"Our sworn duty, by order of our superiors is to guard and protect you. This is the mission given to us. This is our job now." Mikasa looked to the ceiling.
"Right." A moment of silence lingered.
"It's not meant to intimidate you, just to keep you safe, and keep you feeling safe."
"I understand and thank you. So, I'll see you tomorrow then?" she asked. Eren nodded.
"8 am sharp." She nodded. "Good night, Mikasa."
"Good night."
He exited the room, and she sat up still for a bit. She heard her squad leave, and the sound of lights flicking off throughout the house.
She turned off her lamp and settled in, closed her eyes. And fell asleep to the thought of an attractive green-eyed police officer.
The next morning beamed through her curtains, and the smell of bacon washed over her as she roused from her slumber. For one moment of panic, she forgot where she was.
Stretching and yawning, Mikasa got out of bed and headed to face the day.
She heard laughing voices, and the sound of cooking.
"Good morning!" Armin greeted from the stove when he saw Mikasa enter. Armin was scooping bacon onto a plate. Jean was sipping coffee at the bar counter beside Sasha. And Eren and Connie stood in the kitchen or by a window.
"You're all here?" she asked, scratching her head of bed hair.
"Figured we all eat together before Connie and I head back to the station," Armin said, not facing her. He pulled out a mountain of pancakes from the warm oven and placed them on the kitchen table, set for six people.
"Want some coffee?" Connie asked, as he refilled his own cup. Mikasa nodded and he grabbed her a mug.
"So, Eren says we are house scoping today. Any preferences? On area? Or price?" Sasha asked. Mikasa shrugged.
"I don't know."
"Sasha, the whole point of us helping her is because she doesn't know this city. She moved in about 5 hours ago," Eren said, going into the fridge, grabbing syrup and butter for the table.
"I knew that. I was just asking," Sasha said, pouting.
"Come on, kids, order up." Armin placed the platter of bacon, pancakes and fresh cut fruit onto the kitchen table and nodded in satisfaction.
Sasha immediately started to pile on food, but Jean slapped her hand when she reached for a fourth pancake.
"Three's enough, Potato Girl. Save some for the rest of us," he snapped. Sasha glared.
"Why won't you let that go?" she demanded. Cutting into her golden pancake, Mikasa looked confused.
"Potato Girl?" she wondered.
"Well, in our academy days-"
"Shut it, Connie! She won't want me on the squad if she finds out what I was like as a trainee." Sasha shoved bacon in his mouth to shut him up.
"Quite the opposite, actually," Mikasa spoke up. She placed a strawberry into her mouth, while the others looked at her for her to continue. "If I know more about you, what you were like in your trainee days, for instance, then it tells me more about your character, and I will trust you more."
They sat in silence, until Eren shook his head on a laugh.
"She was eating a potato during roll call, before she knew that our instructor was a very intense man," Eren explained. Sasha stared down at her plate, embarrassed, while Mikasa couldn't help the amusement that slipped onto her face.
"Gutsy, I can see why Levi chose you," Mikasa said. Sasha beamed at her in thanks. Jean crossed his arms, and Sasha stuck her tongue out at him.
After breakfast, Mikasa sat outside on the back patio with her second mug of coffee, and a cigarette. She listened to the wooden silence around her, and observed the free backyard.
"Smoking kills." Mikasa whipped her head and saw Eren. He came out and sat beside her and gave the cigarette a sour look. "You don't seem the type."
"There's a lot of things you don't know about me, Eren. This is only temporary."
"That's what they all say, give it here." He took the smoke and flicked it away.
"Hey, I wasn't finished."
"You are now. You don't want to get addicted, believe me." Mikasa gave him a scowl.
"I'm a big girl." She took out her pack, took a stick, lit it. "I may be able to live with all of you hovering around me, but for you to start acting like you give a damn about what I do to my body, that's where I draw the line of none of your business," Mikasa gave him a look, as if daring for him to disagree. He only sighed.
"Fine, but I'm still going to complain about it." She shook her head, took a drag.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" he asked after a moment. She nodded and blew out smoke.
"Unfamiliar and unknown," she said.
"When do you want to head out? Connie, Armin and Jean just left, and Sasha and I are ready when you are."
"I want to shower first, get ready, then we can go," she said, taking another puff.
"All right then, I'll just let Sasha know." He got up to go back inside and Mikasa watched his back as he did.
"All right Ms. Ackerman," the woman at the bank said as she sat across from Mikasa and her two guards. "I have your debit, credit, and drivers licence here. But there is a more pressing matter at hand." Mikasa leaned forward.
"What is it? Have I been cut off?" she asked, panic rising in her throat. The woman smiled.
"Quite the opposite. Since your parents death, all their possessions and their will was finally filed and since you are the only living descendant, their will goes to you." Mikasa stared, shocked.
"What do you mean when you say 'will'?" the blackette asked.
"Well, they have been saving money on the side since they were expecting you, and even before then. So, their money, properties, and possessions go to you. They have left you with 3.6 million dollars."
Her heart stopped, and even Eren and Sasha looked pale as a ghost.
"She's a millionaire?" Eren asked. The attendant nodded.
"Of course, we are willing to discuss life insurance, a bank plan, anything to help you contain and use this money as you wish. But we will need your current guardians' signature first, since the money is still under their name and you are unable to touch it, unless you were one year older."
Mikasa sat back and ran her fingers through her hair of midnight.
"Sasha," Mikasa said.
"Yes."
"Call Levi, tell him to get down here once he has a minute. ASAP, if possible," she said.
"Right away." Sasha took out her phone and walked outside.
"I'll have my cousin, my guardian, come down and sort this out. Meanwhile, I want to discuss the selling of my Japan home, as well as the vacation home we have in L.A."
"Of course. Now, are you sure you want to sell them? I mean, you could get them up for rent, or you could use one of them-"
"Not necessary. I don't need them. This is where I live now. If the Base knew about my family and where we lived, not to mention both of their names, it is quite possible they had a background check done. They would know about the L.A. home. I'm not taking any chances."
"I understand," the attendant said nodding. "I will need to contact the Japanese real estate company, shouldn't be too difficult. Once I have them notified, I'll have them send me the papers for the selling. I can fax them, or you could pick them up," she started. "But once your cousin signs those papers, you will be a multi-millionaire. How do you want this money distributed?"
"Ah." Mikasa blanked out. She didn't know about this stuff. This was expected farther down the path, once she was ready to move out. Now she had this money and these responsibilities, and the only person she wanted to ask about it, was her mother.
"How about," Eren started, grabbing her attention. "You put most of it on your credit card for now, some in your debit account, and the rest in savings. The houses here aren't too expensive, so you certainly won't need a million let alone three. Does that sound okay?" Eren asked. She smiled gratefully.
"Sounds great to me. Is this possible?" she asked the banker.
"I'll get the forms."
When she walked out, Sasha walked in.
"Levi's on his way, should be here within 5," she said, taking her place on the other side of Mikasa.
"Thank you."
Mikasa left the bank a millionaire, and she didn't know what to feel. For now, she just wanted to focus on getting herself a home. House, she corrected herself. Home is where the heart is, and her heart was back in Japan.
"The agent will meet us at the first property. East of here, about a 7-minute drive." Eren got into the driver's seat, Sasha in the passenger.
She watched the world pass in the back seat. Sun-washed buildings, dusty roads, and mountains rising in the distance. She would like to hike them at some point. There were not as many things to do here, unlike Japan, but these things were new to her. Like walking through forests, along beaches, up mountains. She used to live in a city, which was so wide and chaotic it almost made the rest of the world an illusion.
Eren stopped at a red light, and Mikasa zoned in on a couple walking by with a golden retriever on a black leash. The dog locked eyes with her, its tail wagging.
She smiled at it, and waved, which got the dog even more excited. The woman walking the dog was drawn to it when it barked at Mikasa in a greeting. The woman looked at Mikasa, she waved.
Mikasa waved right back, and that was when Eren started to drive again.
"Do you like dogs, Eren?" she asked.
Eren watched her from the rear-view mirror.
"Never met anyone who doesn't. I love dogs."
"Maybe I'll get a dog, for the protection as well as the company," she explained as the wind from her open window streamed through her hair.
"And six police officers hovering around you 24/7 isn't enough company?" Sasha said in a laughing tone. Mikasa smiled at her when the girl turned in her seat.
"Dogs are different. There is something comforting about them that humans have never been able to harness," Mikasa explained.
"Couldn't agree more. Which breed?" Eren asked, turning into a driveway.
"German Shepard, maybe. Doberman, perhaps. I don't really know. Usually the dog picks you."
The three piled out of the car and looked around the area. The house was snow white, one story. It had a cement driveway, a gravel path leading to the blue front door. The front of the house looked bright and welcoming. A 30-centimeter stone wall surrounded the property. Flowerbeds already blooming with hot, rich reds, purples, yellows, blues. The grass was well tended to, as well as the wood shack, which held piles and piles of wood. A woman stood on the front porch, with a clipboard and a smile.
"Hello, I am Ilse Lagnar, now which one of you is Mikasa?" she asked. Mikasa stepped forward, held out a hand. "Great to meet you, is this your husband?" she asked gesturing to Eren. Both teens flushed red.
"No, he is my…" Mikasa froze. She didn't want to tell her they were her guards, she would assume the worst, and she wasn't planning to make herself the psycho on third street.
"He's my friend, as well as she." Ilse nodded.
"My apologies, why don't we head inside?"
The house was beautiful for a small town such as Trost. It opened completely the minute you stepped in. The living room stood in front with its flooding windows, shining floors, and high ceilings.
The kitchen was charming and cozy. With dark granite counters with swirls of gold and silver. Black cupboards, silver sink and auburn floors. A table that seated 8 stood in corner surrounded by windows. A brass chandelier hanging above it.
Mikasa ran a hand over the counter nearest the stove and smiled.
"And down this hall are 2 bedrooms and a bathroom, if you want to follow me." Ilse led them all down the hall and into the bathroom.
It had grey stone floors, a free-standing shower, a big bathtub, and a giant window looking out to the fenced backyard.
The master bedroom was grand and bright. It had white carpet, maroon walls, and a en suite much like the bathroom down the hall, but smaller in size.
The second bedroom wasn't as grand and bright, but still admirable.
They gathered in the kitchen after the tour was finished.
"So, this goes about 385 a month, if you're renting. Full price, 12,232 if you are looking to buy," Ilse explained.
In a moment of weakness and unsureness, Mikasa glanced at Eren. Reading her face, he put an arm around her. For some reason, her heartbeat quickened.
"You can certainly afford it. What makes it easier?" he asked. Mikasa faced the counter and closed her eyes.
"This one seems almost perfect for me. It isn't too overbearing in size or price. And…" she smiled up at Ilse. "It's the one." Ilse grinned.
"Glad to hear it, I have the forms in my car, only be a second."
"Good choice Mikasa. This is a wonderful property," Eren beamed at her.
"And it also happens to be near your house Eren. Imagine that?" Sasha laughed out.
"It is?" Mikasa asked swivling in her chair to look at him. Eren flushed.
"I didn't want to say anything to compromise your decision," he explained.
"You should've told me, but it's nice that I chose it in the end," Mikasa said.
You have no idea, Eren thought, then immediately mentally slapped himself. Where did that come from?
"All right. Ms. Ackerman I am pleased you chose this house and I know you won't regret it. So, let me just explain…"
One week later, and Mikasa was finally settled in her new house along the east side of Trost.
Mikasa stood in the kitchen with water boiling, meat cooking, and veggies steaming. She had the squad over that night. And she wanted to cook for them all in thanks. Their mission was far from over, but she knew that her getting settled, and running errands for her new house was very tiring. But all five of them stuck with her through it all and she couldn't be more grateful.
"Need any help?" Eren asked looking over her shoulder as she stirred rice in the pot on the stove.
"I got it. This is the least I could do."
"Mikasa, if you think you need to-"
"I know, Eren. You've told me so many times before." She turned to look at him, found their faces intimately close.
"Just want to make sure…" he muttered, and against her mouth she felt his hot breath.
"I…" Mikasa couldn't form a sentence. His intense, burning eyes seemed to look straight through her. His eyes were soulful and so…beautiful. His mouth opened, as if to speak, but both were a loss for words. Why? Why did she feel such a pull toward him? Such feelings? Such desire?
Maybe it was because he was with her almost every minute of every day and night. Not that she minded. She liked his company, and he seemed to know how to talk to her, and she wasn't expecting connecting to anyone this way in Trost.
"You're unbelievable," he said softly.
"What do you mean?"
"Almost a month has passed, and you're already stronger, wiser and settled in. You picked up everything, left everything and moved on." Mikasa's gaze stuttered.
"I must say, Eren. I didn't have much of anything in my past life. No friends, no family, no school, no…" she trailed off. It was sad, to say the least. And for a time, it was normal for Mikasa. But looking back on it now, what she had, who she had and who she was, it seemed like the punchline of some cruel joke.
"Do you believe in fresh starts? Do you think…" she paused, Eren tilted his head a little. She had to restrain herself from running her fingers through that beautiful dark hair. "Do you think I can…change?"
Eren took his time answering. "I think a fresh start is healthy, but change, it usually takes time and effort. Patience." He fingered the strand of hair that usually hung in the center of her face. "And you don't want to completely lose who you are. Because the person who were, helped you move on, and turn into the person you are today. Without that person, you wouldn't have been strong enough to leave and think for yourself."
It made sense. Mikasa liked who she was, even if the life it gave her wasn't the most wanted. She has never been open, emotional, or willing before. She was still talking herself into liking it.
"I have changed, I think," Mikasa whispered. "I'm braver, bolder."
"I don't think that changed too much," he smiled.
"No, it has. Because the old me wouldn't have been strong or bold enough to do this." She leaned in, gently laid her lips on his.
She felt him freeze up at first, but slowly, he melted.
She tasted of honey, smelled of the blossoms from the cherry blossom tree baking in her backyard.
Sighing, she wrapped her arms around his neck as she deepened the kiss. Eren grabbed her waist, pulled her closer.
Liquid jewels, hot gold, sizzling fire all ran through her bloodstream. He smelled of pine, of outdoors and smoke from the cigarette she just finished, as he'd been out there with her.
Their lips moved in sync; their hearts pulsed with want.
He was her protector, her guard. Not her boyfriend. But to hell with it, she thought. She was a changed woman, and that change wouldn't have developed as beautifully without Eren. He was her shoulder to cry on, her diary to confide in. And he was her best friend.
How did this happen? She asked herself. How could she have fallen so easily? She has been feeling this stirring for as long as she's known him. She tried to convince herself that he was only there for duty, for responsibility. Not for a romantic rendezvous with a murderess.
"You're beautiful." Those words and nothing else mattered. He accepted her, something even herself wasn't able to do. To him, she was more than a bloodline. That's what this kiss was proving, something words never said. Could she count on him? Her heart certainly thought so. Could she trust him? No one better. Could she love him?
"Your cousin is going to murder me." Mikasa couldn't stop the laugh from escaping.
"I know."
She thinks the odds are highly in her favor.