Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The war was over. The Titans felled, the walls around them no longer keeping them locked down to this one place. The world was open and it was theirs to take in.

Huge celebration and fanfare erupted in the streets, soldiers of the Survey Corps, the Military Police and the Garrison sharing in drink and dancing with the citizens. Eren kept to himself on the sidelines, watching his friends and colleagues. Sasha and Connie eating and drinking to their hearts desire, Reiner trying and failing to dance with Krista, who was whisked off by Ymir. Hannes seated with Armin, Bertolt and Marco deep into a story and then not too far from them, he saw Mikasa. She was with Annie and Jean, who was talking to the women, more than likely being his boastful self, trying to impress Mikasa in particular. She had a small bemused smile on her face, potentially a bit tipsy. In these five or so years of being in the Survey Corps, Mikasa had gradually grew to see their colleagues as valued friends and even family to an extent. She always largely kept to herself or Eren in the beginning, but this was no longer the case.

When they met all those years ago, on that horrific night, all he wanted to do from that day on was keep her safe. Protect her from any evil that wanted to hurt her. But as they grew he realized more and more that she didn't need him for that. She didn't need him for help in combat, she was #1 in their training group after all. She was strong enough to protect herself, and she now had a large group of people around her that can make her happy and look out for her if at all.

You don't need me.

Eren quietly slipped away.

It was extremely early the following morning, He sat at the little table in the room he had in the assigned housing he shared with Mikasa, Armin and Marco, who had moved in after an intown exercise damaged his room in his prior lodging. Eren was finishing a note to Mikasa.

Mikasa,

It's time I go beyond these walls. They were confining enough when we couldn't leave. They're even more so now that the Titans are gone.

I have to go. And I want you to stay here. Because I know that the life you want can be better given to you by anyone that isn't me.

You don't need me anymore. I don't think you ever did.

Until we meet again,

Eren

He rose, folding the letter slightly and picking up his pack. He crept silently down the hall, not wanting to wake anyone. He stopped outside Mikasa's door, considering whether to go in and leave the note on her nightstand or not. He decided to just slip it under her door. He lingered a little longer before leaving.

He had been walking for half the day, the walls still looming large behind him, It would probably be a day or two before they were truly gone from sight. He figured that he'd walk for another couple of hours before setting up a camp for the night.

He would take note of all the nature around him. To his right was a virtual sea of trees stretching down far out of view. He panned left, likely to see the same th-

He jumped slightly. Walking right beside him was Mikasa, herself kitted up for a long journey. She stopped when he did, with Eren noting the sort of mixture of different angers in her face.

"How- how long have you been-"

"I caught up to you a few moments ago" she said. There was definite irritation, anger, and above all, hurt in her tone. "Lets keep moving"

Eren nodded, definitely now knotted up with shame. They kept walking in silence for about 10 minutes, though it felt longer. He wasn't sure if saying anything at that moment would would be smart, so he would wait until they set-

"How could you ever think I don't need you?"

He met her gaze. She was fully facing him as they walked.

"How could I possibly be here today if I didn't ever need you?"

He rubbed at the back of his head, stuck for a answer. "I just... I'm not strong like you are-"

"I'm strong because you make me strong. You are my strength. And there will not be a time where I will not need you to be apart of my life. So please, Eren, don't ever leave me behind again"

All he could do was nod. "I won't. I promise"

A very soft smile dawned her face as she faced away. He saw her point ahead. "I see an old outpost up ahead. You see it?"

Eren looked and saw it. "That can be where we set up for the night"

"It is supposed to be a bit cold tonight. We'll collect some branches when we get there, get a good fire going"

"Sounds like a plan"

She pulled a letter out from her pocket, his letter. "We can use your terrible note to start it" she said with a smirk.

Eren just chuckled. "Fair enough"

Chapter Text

The shrill blowing of Mr. Shadis' whistle erupted through the school gym. "Thirty minute exercise begins now!" he called, prompting students to spread out to find something to workout on or with. Mikasa allowed Sasha to drag her over to the ellipticals. They'd always go to them so they could just leisurely bike and chat for that half hour.

"You guys always hog these" Armin teased as he and Jean walked over, having finished up some time using resistance bands.

"Well, you could always beat us here" Sasha replied. "I'd kick you right off but you could try"

Mikasa shook her head in amusement, though it faded when she spotted Eren over at the punching bag. She just always felt sad now when she saw him. His mother died several months ago, and at some point he just cut her and Armin out of his life. He went extremely quiet and would go out of his way to avoid them. They tried really hard to get back through to him, but after some time they both accepted that he wasn't interested. She turned her focus back to the others, readopting the small smile she previously had.

"So the skating rink is offering a free public skate tonight. If we get some of the others interested, would you be down?" Armin asked.

"That sounds fun! Mikasa it's been so long since you've gone skating" Sasha said.

"It has been, hasn't it?" she replied.

"You could show us some of those figure skating moves I've heard about" Jean said, leaning against Mikasa's elliptical.

"Well I don't know about that"

"C'mon, you were apparently Oly-" Jean was saying before the sounds of a commotion became too loud to ignore.

"Yeager, knock it off!" they heard Mr. Shadis call. They looked to see Eren throwing punch after punch in rapid succession. He didn't listen to Shadis, whaling on the bag until it came off the hook. This didn't deter Eren, he just dropped to his knees and continued. Finally, a punch with his left hand landed awkward, and his wrist bent forward in what was certainly a break. This prompted a light gasp from Mikasa.

"Yeager, I said knock it off!" Shadis shouted, now grabbing Eren and pulling him up. Eren whirled round and shoved Shadis.

"Get the fuck off me!" he barked, a near manic look in his eyes.

The room fell deathly silent. It wasn't just because talking back to Shadis at all was like signing your own death warrant, but none of them had ever seen Eren like this before. He could be hot headed, but this was something else.

To everyone's surprise, Shadis did not proceed to scream at him or throw him out of the room himself. He just sternly pointed to the door. "Go and see the nurse about your hand. After that you will meet me in the principal's office"

Eren marched out of the room without another word. Shadis went and closed the door behind him, turning to the stunned class with something of his own stunned expression. It soon faded. "What are you looking at? There's still fifteen minutes of exercise time, get busy!"

Everyone complied, but Mikasa didn't immediately returning to her biking. She was just too shocked and confused.

"I'm about ten minutes from the rink" Mikasa said into her bluetooth, guiding her car through the city streets later that night.

"I'd advise parking on the street, this parking lot, it's PACKED" Armin said.

"Duly noted"

"Given Sasha's tone, I think we're gonna be having hot chocolate first though, so I'll grab you one"

"Thanks Armin, I'll see you soon"

She was going to end the call, however what happened with Eren earlier was something they didn't discuss, and it was just sitting on her mind, refusing to go away.

"Armin?"

"Yeah?"

"Today in gym class..."

"Yeah, I still don't know what to make of that. We've seen an angry Eren before, but not like that. But, guess I can't really call myself an expert on him nowadays, given we aren't friends anymore"

The way Armin said that stung. It was certainly the reality of the situation, but they never actually articulated it as such, always just "he stopped talking to us" or "he's keeping to himself". She with habit grabbed at her scarf, one Eren gave her so many years ago now.

"You...you think he's truly never going to talk to us again?"

The blonde sighed over the phone. "It's hard to say. I'm gonna be honest, I deeply resent him for this. I know he's taking his mom's death super hard, hell I still am too, I fucking miss Mrs. Jaeger so much, it hurts"

Mikasa could feel herself tearing up thinking of that beautiful person. She in a way felt like everyone's mom, she was so friendly and loving and supportive. And now she was just gone. And now with Eren shutting them out, it felt like he died with her in some way.

"Listen, I should get inside"

She wiped away the tears. "Absolutely, Sorry, Armin"

"Don't be. I wish this wasn't how things are with him, but they are. And at a certain point it's just time to close that book. I'll see you soon, we'll have some fun tonight"

"We will. Bye, Armin" and the call ended. He was absolutely right ultimately, the only person who could put an end to this silence was Eren, and he just wasn't doing that. Part of her wanted to spend all her time breaking through to him, she did this for four months. But it was a stone wall each and every time.

She stopped at a red light and sighed. Looking to her right, she saw the town's recreation center. There seemed to be something going on tonight, as there was alot of cars parked up. However, as if summoned by her thoughts, she saw Eren, making his way through the center's parking lot and indoors. She mulled what he could possibly be doing there, and why.

The light turned green. With a spark of incurable curiosity and frankly a sense of the same resentment Armin felt, she turned right.

She navigated the hallway of the rec center, removing her winter hat and her gloves. The faint sound of a pickleball game could be heard. Eren probably wasn't here for that. She soon spotted a standee near a closed door with an advertisement on it.

Depression Anonymous: Navigating and Understanding your emotional state

Depression? Oh Eren, you could've talked to me she thought, quietly opening the door and taking the first seat at the back. It was a medium sized room full of people, with one chair at the front where people would sit to talk if they chose. She spotted Eren near the front, taking in the story the person up front was speaking. She sat for the next twenty minutes, gradually feeling like she was intruding. She was preparing to slip out when she saw Eren rise to take the now empty seat at the front. He kept his gaze slightly lowered, not really making eye contact with the others. He looked deeply uncomfortable and slightly irritable. Mikasa sat, waiting for him to speak. He finally gave a clear of his throat.

“Uh, hi. My name's Eren. Not really sure how to begin, so I'll just...begin. I broke my wrist at school today, because I freaked out and beat the shit out of a punching bag in gym class. To top that off, I shoved the teacher when he came over to make me stop. I’ve been suspended a few times already, more so because I was late or flat out cutting class, so my principal said if I didn’t at least come see someone, be it the school counsellor or to come here, then I would face expulsion. I’m not…one for therapy or talking to someone. I doubt many of us here are, but…here I am. I think I’ve been….I have been angry, at least since I was 10, but I guess it’s been almost a year since I realized I’ve been depressed. My father, he died in a car accident when I was 10. He was on his way home from work to bring me to some basketball game I wanted to go to. It was dark, he hit some black ice, and his car flipped. Cops said it probably rolled about five times before it stopped finally. Doesn’t really matter though, he died almost instantly. And he wouldn’t have died if I hadn't been wanting to go that game. So I live with the fact I pretty much killed him. My mom, whenever she heard me say that, she’d fly into this sort of frenzy telling me it wasn’t true, I should stop blaming myself. Sometimes that would work, but other days, particularly his birthday or on their anniversary, you could just...feel his lack of presence, and I could see how sad my mother would be. She would never blame me so I kept blaming myself on her behalf. And so that’s how it was. I was angry. I’d always be quick to get into a fight, but be it my mother or my two best friends I was able to keep it mostly at bay. And through them, though not totally, it felt easier as time went by to deal with that. Mom or my friend Armin talking sense into me, calming me down. A lot of the time it would just be my friend Mikasa, she’d just take my hand in hers and hold it until whatever was pissing me off so badly just melted away. She’s probably saved me from having a lengthy juvie record. I’d always tease her that she’d make an effective diplomat, you know? Just one look of disappointment, and she’d resolve the conflict right then and there. Her being in my life let me feel happy and at peace and as we grew up, I also started to fall more and more in love with her. But your typical teen awkwardness always scared me off asking her to be my girlfriend. Mom was always for it. We were planning a road trip before senior year, go around the west coast visiting universities, you know? And I decided I was gonna ask her then. It was a week into summer break and a week before we were gonna go…………….then mom died. A fucking brain aneurysm. She’d been down in the basement going through old boxes, and I was upstairs. I didn’t hear her collapse. In fact, I’d fallen asleep and woke up hours later to see she’d still not come back up. And that’s when I found her. Autopsy said she’d been dead for at least six hours. I let her lie there for six fucking hours. They said that it seemed long in the making, some rare genetic cause or something. It doesn’t really matter to me, cause it’s yet again a death that happened as a result of me. She asked me how many times to deal with those boxes and I never- I never fucking did. Been eight months now since her death. Eight months, three weeks, seventeen days. Don’t know the specific hours, but even still, I just feel the time since she’s been gone grow bigger and bigger. And in the days and weeks after, my nightmares went haywire. Remembering my dad, thinking of my mom, then they started showing me losing everyone else I cared about. Dying because of me. And each time I’d wake up in the middle of the night in a panic, and not want to go back to sleep. If I lost them….this is why I decided to keep myself alone going forward. Losing Armin would render me pretty much catatonic, and losing Mikasa….if I lost Mikasa let’s just say I’d wouldn’t be too far behind her. So on paper the logic was if you made everyone not care about you, then there isn’t anything to lose, and you don’t cause anyone you love to die so they stay safe. Armin tried for a month before finally writing me off. Mikasa kept trying for about four months, but even she had her limit. It broke my heart to break hers, but like I said this is keeping her safe, right? This is why on paper it makes flawless sense, but in practice it doesn’t factor in the loneliness or the quiet, the fucking heartache. But that is not their fault, I constructed this situation, so if I’m feeling lonely, then I gotta suck it up. They’d be there if I let them, but I won’t let them. I refuse to. So they leave me alone. People here and there ask me how I’m doing, I just give a quick “I'm fine”. They ask if I’m living with someone and I convinced them I’m with my uncle. Thing is though, my parents never had siblings. I live in the storage unit I keep all my things in. So the loneliness worsens, and the depression deepens, and there’s no one to rein me in anymore so the anger worsens, and so today it finally boiled over. I’d seen Mikasa talking to one of our classmates, a guy that’s always been infatuated with her. And she wasn’t flirting with him I think, but it made me realize she’s going to go off and date other guys since I pushed her away, and it made me hate myself so much more. I broke my wrist, and I was glad. But….I guess it was why I decided to come here tonight. I’ve been realizing how often I’ve been thinking about…the end. Because it’s been hurting too much to keep dreaming all these nightmares, and keeping myself alone though my friends are right there. A month after mom died, I was at the police station finalizing some things on the report, and there were points I found myself just looking down to the cop’s gun. Thinking about grabbing it and just…either offing myself or forcing their hand. I couldn’t have gotten out of there faster to stop the thought. And even before I came here tonight, I was sitting out near Trost Lake, and I would think about finding a way of weighing myself down and jumping in there to never come back up. I've found myself thinking that I won't see 19, let alone 20, the way I'm going. I can't bear to lose anyone else, and I can't bear not having anyone in my life. But at this point, it's just far too late to be anything but alone. Apologies for the trauma dump, I.....thanks for listening"

He got up from the chair and immediately returned to the one he was in previous. Mikasa sat, eyes stinging with tears and almost breathless with the profound heartbreak she was feeling. She saw him sit for only a few moments before making his way to the side exit and leaving. It took her a second to register this fully before hurrying after him. It had begun snowing a little in the time she was inside, and once she spotted him headed towards the small park next to the rec center she ran towards him. She was able to pass him up and stopped right in front of him, her eyes big with concern and devastation. He looked to her at first with indifferent confusion before he recoiled in horror a little when he realized she had heard everything he said in there. He looked away and tried to walk past her but she completely rejected this by latching onto him in a bear hug, her face burying itself in his shoulder.

"Don't you dare" she wept quietly. "Don't you dare"

The initial urge to try and break free faded, and he soon just wrapped his arms around her and broke down sobbing, both of them dropping to their knees in their embrace.

Armin stood outside the ice rink in concern, phone to his ear placing his sixth call to Mikasa after an hour had passed and she still wasn't there. However, he hung up when he finally saw her little black beetle pull into the lot, parking up next to him. Whatever his way of asking what happened went out the window when he saw Eren seated in the passenger seat, looking out at him with reddened eyes. Mikasa got out and went to Armin.

"Mikasa? What's-" Armin began. He noticed her eyes were similarly red. She just took his hands into hers.

"Armin, I'm sorry for keeping you all waiting, but I can't come skating tonight"

"So it would seem" he replied, looking back towards Eren. He rolled the window down. Armin let Mikasa's hands go and he moved closer to the car.

"Hey Armin" Eren said ever so softly.

"H-hey Eren". Part of him had planned on, whenever he and Eren ever talked again, he would confront him about everything. But the look in Eren's eyes just looked so....broken.

"There's really no way I can express how fucking sorry I am for what I did. But I need you to know I still love you guys. I always will"

Armin looked away a little, feeling his eyes stinging. He turned back, just with a small smile as he was just happy to be talking with his best friend again.

"I love you too man"

Mikasa tapped him on his shoulder. "I'm taking Eren to his storage unit, grab his things to move into my place"

"Storage unit? What about his un-"

Mikasa just shook her head, telling him there wasn't an uncle at all. Armin looked back to Eren.

"Eren-" he began, a sense of sorrow to the word, but Eren interrupted.

"I know. I know. I promise I'll be better at being open"

He held out his hand to the blonde, who took it.

"I'm holding you to that"

The tiny little smirk Eren gave was simply the nicest thing he'd seen in awhile. Mikasa returned to the car and got in.

"Listen" Armin said. "I'll get wrapped up here and, if you want to, I can meet back up with you guys to talk?"

Eren nodded. "I'd love that"

They finally parted hands, Armin straightening.

"Alright. See you in a bit"

"Bye Armin" Mikasa said, pulling the car out of the parking lot. The drive was silent for a few minutes, her every so often looking towards Eren, who was looking out the window.

"I missed you" she found herself saying.

He looked over to her, nodding. "I missed you too"

"I'm with Armin about what you said, by the way. Because you are not going to freeze me out again. Ever. I'm serious, Eren"

He nodded again. "I know"

She stopped at a red light, and they went silent again. When she looked towards him, they made eye contact again.

"I promise you, Mikasa" he said, leaning towards her and kissed her on the cheek. She turned red in response.

Chapter Text

They chose to run away. Far from the crowded cities of friend or enemy, far from the war and the carnage to somewhere that only they knew.

It was Mikasa who chose the spot. She ran up ahead of him, observing the surroundings. A forest of trees behind them, snow covered mountains surrounding the valley of green hills that seemed to have gone on forever given the length of time it took to walk through them. Off in the distance, a lake shimmered from the sun. Eren was enchanted with it all himself, but he was too distracted with the beautiful beaming smile Mikasa was holding as she marveled. His heart felt very fast in that moment.

She ran back to him, taking hold of his hands. "This is the place"

He just smiled. "We'd best get to work then"

They had the foresight to gather up some essential materials when they made their escape, tools to cut and build with, clothing and sewing equipment to mend and make more. It was the spur of the moment, but Eren had also found himself stealing some poor fisherman's kit as they sailed away from Marley. He regretted it to a degree, but that fishing rod did help them keep fed as they worked on the cabin. They had a floor by the end of the first week, using it to sleep on at night. They had one wall up a few days later, though it fell a few hours later. The pair just laughed it off, trying and succeeding the second time.

It took them four weeks to be able to stand outside and look at the finished cabin. Their home. Now all that was left to do was...live.

Eren fought with himself to ensure that everyday they were here was enjoyed. The nagging words this is just temporary or taking note of how many years there were left of his life would try to claw themselves into his mind, but for the longest time he was able to reject them. He focused on working with Mikasa on the daily chores, taking her around the land to explore. He would show her how to fish, she would show him how to sew, them both learning how to make delicious food through trial and error.

He was out fishing one day when he found himself thinking on his past, how this kind of life was something the Eren of old would absolutely hate, but here he was now, and would refuse to ever think of giving it up.

3 years left

He sighed, shaking the thought out of his head as he cast the line back out into the water.

They didn't really get too much into the nitty gritty of their moment the night they ran. Perhaps they were both too awkward about confronting those emotions again. Eren for sure was. It was more than quite often he'd be looking her way, and be it her smile or the sun shining down on her sleeping face, he'd think how beautiful she was, and then turn a deep red causing him to scramble to go off and not have her notice. About a year of this went on, them both skirting around the topic. It finally came to a head when he was coming up the path from collecting wood and saw her seated outside, napping. The sight made him stop, smile growing on his face.

Beautiful he thought again. This time the intense nervousness that would normally accompany the thought didn't come, and he found himself instead walking over and crouching down in front of her. She gradually opened her eyes and smiled at him. "Hey, Eren" she said softly.

He cupped her cheek with his hand. "I love you, Mikasa" he said, almost effortlessly. Her eyes widened slightly.

"I...I love you too"

And with that he leaned forward, pressing a kiss to her lips. Her eyes grew a bit misty before they closed as she leaned into the kiss, both her hands positioning themselves on his face.

Despite his best efforts, he began feeling those thoughts invading his mind in the last year. The knowledge that now, time was fleeting and soon to run out. Days of sitting quiet with Mikasa outside in the sun went by too quickly, and he would quietly weep over their loss. He never let Mikasa seem him like this. She was so content he didn't want that to end for her as long as possible.

There was never a specific day on which the curse would take effect, just this foreboding knowledge that at some point, he would no longer be alive. The anxiousness and depression he felt as each season came and went, leading towards Year 13.

It was soon to be spring again, and they were outside. The sun was starting to go down, and he stood looking at it as Mikasa sat peeling potatoes into a bucket.

"I'm....I'm going to be leaving tomorrow" Eren said. She looked up.

"Spending the day fishing again?" she teased, not really registering his implication. He turned towards her, a solemn look on his face.

"It's been 13 years, Mikasa"

She froze, the icy feeling of realization sinking in. She set the peeler and potato she held down. "Oh" she simply said, clasping her hands together in her lap as her mouth found it's way hidden behind her scarf.

He made his way over, taking a seat next to her on the bench. "I was having too much fun too. These four years just seemed to fly by"

She stayed silent.

"It would've been nice, for those days to have lasted much longer"

"Where are you going?"

He put his hand on her shoulder. "This place, it's supposed to be one that is happy and lively. I don't want to die here and mar that. I...I don't want you to see me d-"

She just leaned against him, taking hold of his shirt.

"Please stay"

He sighed softly. "I wish I could"

She snuggled her head against his shoulder. "It's just not fair" she said quietly.

He wrapped his arm around her waist, resting his head against hers. "No, no it isn't"

They sat like this for a few minutes. He then tilted her head up to face him, pressing a kiss to her lips.

"But, we still have tonight. Let's make it count"

And to the best of their abilities they did. They cooked a delicious meal, drank a bit, managed to laugh a little too. In their tipsy stupor they had themselves a little dance outside in the snow under the stars, dancing back into the cabin before tipping over onto the couch and falling asleep right there and then, firmly in each others arms.

He woke the next morning, heart tightening as he remembered what now had to happen. Mikasa was still sleeping. He ever so lightly removed himself from her hold and went into the kitchen. He got together a couple of days work of food and filled his canteen with some water. He stood in the kitchen for a moment longer, looking at the home, remembering every happy moment and resenting having to leave it all behind now. He closed his eyes, forcing himself to go back outside. He looked to the couch, seeing it was now empty. Opening the door to outside, he could see Mikasa, looking off far into the distance. Him closing the door grabbed her attention, and his heart sank more when he saw the saddest frown he’d ever seen on her face. She clasped her hands together, and walked towards him. It was just an unbearably quiet and devastating few minutes for the pair, both just looking at the other, both trying to keep composed. Suddenly, she moved closer, removing her treasured scarf and to his shock wrapping it around him.

”You…might get cold wherever you’re headed” she said quietly.

It’s really over isn’t it he thought. This is really the last time we’ll be together like this.

”Mikas-“ he tried to say, the sob that had been threatening to come out taking over his voice. She rested her head against his chest.

”I wish that this didn't have to end. I have to accept that it does. But the time we’ve had together, all the years we’ve known each other, I’ll always remember it, and I’ll always love it. Thank you, Eren”

He hugged her. “If only time was on our side for once”

They stood for as long as they could in their hug, Eren pulling away first. He gazed once more into her eyes before he pressed his lips to her cheek.

”I love you, Mikasa. Goodbye”

”I love you too, Eren. But no” she replied. He pulled back to look at her. A faint smile existed in her face now. “Not goodbye. I’ll just…see you later, is all”

If he’d stayed any longer, he’d surely break down crying. With the fiercest sense of reluctance he began to walk past her. She reached to his hand, taking it as he passed her by. He stopped, another saddened look exchanged. He was finally able to offer her back his own faint smile.

”I’ll see you later then, Mikasa”

And with that, he turned away and walked, not being able to bare looking back to her. She sat down on the grass, watching as he got farther and farther away from her. Through instinct he reached for her scarf, but remembered it would no longer bring her the comfort it would when her heart hurt like this. The faint outline that was Eren crested over the hill, and out of view. Mikasa was now truly and fully alone.

A week passed him by. As he had figured, there wasn't a specific day, but now that he was out on his own, the days were harder to endure, It just felt like a relentless waiting game. Additional cruelty from this curse. More weeks went by. He wasn't sure how far away he was now. The beautiful green valley he had grown so attached to was long gone. There seemed to be an endless amount of dead or dying trees. A deeply unfriendly looking place. Eventually, he found himself out near a large body of water. Was it possible he wound up back at the ocean?

He took a seat on the beach, watching the tide go out. Perhaps he should just fling himself into the water, beat the curse to the punch. But he decided against it. If the curse wasn't what would take him out, he'd prefer to stay alive. He'd prefer to be back at home with Mikasa. He wanted to be on the sidelines of the lake, watching her fish or holding her in his arms as they fished together with the same pole. He wanted their quiet time together where they didn't need to talk, they would just sit in silence reading whatever books they had in their possession, her frame leaned against his.

He found himself weeping, mimicking Mikasa's habit of pulling that ancient scarf up over his mouth. Why did this have to be the way things were? Haven't they and everyone in general suffered enough? The Titan powers were damaging enough, why it did have to take away his life? Why did it have to take him away from her? 

He looked back out to the ocean, deciding he'd stay here until the curse finally happened. It was a nice view to take in before his eyes closed forever. So he settled in, waiting.

Ten months went by, and the curse still did not take effect.

He was living in a makeshift hut on the shore of the beach. He had grown his beard out, and was almost delirious with anguish. He was beyond fed up, and he found himself looking upward to the sky. He wasn't sure if there was some god or if whatever is dictating all this was up there or anywhere, but he was going to speak his piece.

"What is your plan, exactly? Are you just running behind some schedule or something? You set up a 13 year timeline, and yet here I am! Are you just twisting the knife? On top of taking my life, you make me live without her? You've broken us both already, so stop wasting everyone's time! Take my life, or let me go the fuck home, do you hear me?!"

There was of course no answer. He dropped down to his knees in despair. He was completely and utterly at his wit's end.

Wait. What if I were to transform? He looked down to his left hand, the one he typically would rip apart with his teeth to activate his Titan powers. Would that actually be what he would need to do? One final transformation, and the curse could take hold?

With no other options, he began furiously biting down on his hand. His teeth sank deeper and deeper, skin tearing off with each bite. And yet....no transformation. Yet another taunt he thought. His mission was clear, he had a reason to transform. And yet he stood as he was. Still stuck. The pain becoming insufferable, he angrily stopped and sat down on the sand.

Just why he bitterly thought. Why was he being made to stay in this limbo? Why was Mikasa being made to think he had long since died somewhere when in reality he was sitting on some beach by himself?

He found himself staring outward to the endless waters. He began to think about Armin, and how he was handling his own Titan abilities, how he was dealing with only have a few years left himself. He's probably mastered everything about the Colossal. Hell, he could've even found a way to stop the curse he jokingly thought. At least, at first it was a joking thought. But the more he sat on it, the more he needed to reign in the sudden feelings of hope. What if he stopped it? Surely even Armin has limits to his intelligence. But what if this was within his capabilities? 

Eren looked to his mangled hand. It would explain why I can't transform he thought. But at the same time, I've not transformed in years. He groaned in distress, uncertain on what to feel. He'd been so dead certain that he would be dying, and he very well still could, but it was now the winter of what was supposed to be his final year, and he was still alive. He didn't feel like he was on death's door, he can't seem to use his Titan abilities. What was he to do?

A cold wind breezed past him, making him shiver. He tucked his face into the scarf, and it made him think of Mikasa. He wished like hell he was in front of their fireplace, blanket shared between them as they sat-

He sprung to his feet. He had enough. He looked up to the sky again.

"I'm going home. Either kill me now, or in the time it takes to return there, or leave me the hell alone"

Raiding his hut of anything worth carrying with him, he took one last look out to the ocean as he cleaned his hand and wrapped it up before turning back towards the dead trees that laid ahead.

Death didn't come to him in the first week. Death from the curse, anyway, he realized he had run low on food, and water proved to be scarce at the moment, so he was starting to face down potential starvation or dehydration. Additionally, in the week since he left the beach, he had taken note of the fact his hand did not heal like it would've before. It was coated in scabs and deep bruises.

Don't get your hopes up he would keep in mind. There was still a ways to go to get back to Mikasa. He'd be able to come across a little stream where he could refill his canteen, and spent a few hours grabbing for fish with his hands. He injured his other hand trying to get a fire going, a giant gash through the palm. He'd keep an eye on this cut too as the days went by, and just like with his bite injuries, the gash did not heal instantly, even when focused on. Even tempering his hopes, this knowledge kept him moving forward, ever so gradually. He occurred to him a few weeks later, after he became clear of the dead trees and was now in what he believed was their now snow covered valley, that it had to be the last month of the year. Two months at least at the cabin, at least a month walking, ten months on the beach, and now a month-

He stopped. Was it...was it a new year already? 

He kept recounting over and over. He surely had to be missing something. He was never good at math, but to him, it seemed to line up. It seemed to be Year 14 somehow.

This time those hopes being held back fully broke through. And in a sense of excitement he began to run for large swaths of his journey. It would still be about another week, but soon he could see in the distance a small plume of smoke billowing up into the morning sky.

He felt almost wobbly in the knees walking over the little hill. Once he saw the cabin again, he could feel the ache in his heart return. Home makes the heart grow fonder and all that he thought, but it was when he saw her figure outside that he felt hot tears stinging at his eyes. There she was, chopping logs for the fire.

He stopped just shy of the footpath leading to the door, watching her for a few moments, figuring out what it was he would say.

She didn't notice him there for a few minutes. She set down the axe, eventually feeling as if she was being watched and when she turned, she near enough burst into tears on the spot, the tearful sound of surprise sounding out as she covered her mouth with her hands, and began falling to her knees. Eren ran over to Mikasa and caught her in his arms. She bawled into his shoulder, him into hers.

"I don't understand" was all she was able to get out "I just don't understand"

"I don't either, Mikasa. But I'm home"

She had hurried him inside after their tearful reunion, pushing him down onto the couch in front of the fireplace and wrapping him in a thick blanket before going into the kitchen to prepare some soup. She cleaned at his wounds when she returned, making sure he ate while he would detail to her about his ten months out at the beach, missing her, trying to figure out what was going to happen or not.

"So I just decided that I wouldn't just whither away on that beach anymore. If Ymir needs to take me, then she can come find me"

"But, it has been a year since like you said right?" Mikasa had clearly became very hopeful in believing the curse was well and truly gone. "13 years was the timeline, but its been 14"

"So it seems. But I can't bring myself to fully believe it's totally gone. Maybe the timeline was off, or me not using my powers bought me some more time-"

"Can, can we just have this for one night at least?" she asked. He felt remorseful, making his way back to her and getting her all elated and tearful only to reintroduce that sense of foreboding to her almost instantly.

"I'm sorry. Of course we can. But I should probably get cleaned up first"

He rose from his seat, Mikasa rising as well. He began heading towards the bathroom before stopping.

"Before I forget" he said, turning back as he unraveled the scarf and returned it around her neck. Her hands flew up to it, taking solace in it's warmth again.

"It always looked better on you anyway"

So they returned to their previous routine of just enjoying life together. Every month or so Mikasa would look towards Eren, the look silently stating Still here, and he would smile at her, glad to still be with her but also still on guard. It would take the rest of the fourteenth year to feel that he could believe the curse was no longer in effect, and by the fifteenth's end, he was certain.

One summer day, they were down by the lake, Eren fishing while Mikasa quietly sat next to him, diligently weaving together a basket. Out of the blue, Eren spoke up.

"Let's say you and I start a family"

She was so taken aback by this she jolted slightly, the thread on the basket she was working on becoming undone. She looked at him with her eyes wide, cheeks deep red. He smiled in response.

"What do you say?"

The kiss that landed on his lips was all the answer he needed.

Chapter Text

She always seemed to pick when the weather starts getting colder to take a long walk through the city. Not that the cold was that much of a bother to her, anyway.

Mikasa lived in the heart of the downtown area, near enough to her university and her place of work. It was nice and convenient but also loud and claustrophobic. So she would head towards uptown, where everything was more residential, and there was a large park full of lush nature to enjoy.

She'd led a rather happy 22 years of life, but for some reason, as she grew older, a flicker of melancholy would wash through her from time to time. She could never understand why, there was surely no reason for it. She loved her family and friends, she was excited for her future. So why was there this lingering sense she was missing something?

The park was thankfully very quiet this day, she could just walk and be alone to her thoughts. The chill in the wind forced her to jam her hands deep into her pockets. The cold may not bother her, but she was not regretting not bringing along a pair of gloves.

She took a seat on a bench facing out to a large pond in the middle of the park. She'd rest for a few minutes before making the walk back home. The pond looked calm and peaceful, a pair of ducks gliding across the surface. She followed them as they gradually got farther and farther away. As she took away her focus from them, her eyes landed on a man seated on a bench across the pond from her, looking at his phone and sipping at a coffee. He looked about her age, and she could see had short scruffy hair and a matching burgundy jacket and scarf. He looked up and his deep green eyes made contact with her greys. Feeling slightly embarrassed, as she found him pretty cute, she gave a small wave over. He waved a little back, small smile on his face before looking back to his phone. She looked away, now feeling like-

"Eren? Why are you crying?"

Her brow furrowed in confusion at the thought. An image of her as a girl flashed in her head saying this. But she certainly did not remember ever saying this, let alone knowing anyone named Eren.

She tried to ignore it, but then other flashes of this version of her flooded in as if they were memories. Her with this man across from her when they were young, them arguing, her feeling sad whenever he ran away from her. These flashes were so baffling, but they had begun making her heart ache, and starting to feel emotional.

"It's warm, right?  Come on. Let's hurry up and go home... our home"

"Eren... As long as you're around, I can do anything"

She found herself looking back towards the man, who seemed to have been looking her way again for a moment before looking back down. Why was this man, this Eren, provoking such powerful feelings in her? 

"Thank you... for being with me. Thank you... for teaching me how to live. Thank you... for wrapping this scarf around me"

"I'll... wrap you up in it again and again. Forever"

It was this flash that finally caused her to begin tearing up, feeling at her bare neck. So many flashes of carnage and pain and horror and amidst it all was this moment of her and him kneeling down in some field. Further carnage followed it sadly, loss and suffering and fear.

"What am I... to you?"

"Y-You're family"

A sense of regret panged in her, looking downward to not let anyone around her potentially seeing her cry. The man had gotten up, and walked away. Yet her mind kept playing these images. This Eren unleashing a hellish onslaught onto the world, him brutalizing their friend Armin and icily telling her that he hated her. She could feel her own heart break alongside this version of her. More fighting more suffering, they're now flying overhead.

"It's too much. I just want to go back, I want to go back to our home"

Suddenly a peaceful landscape, a tiny cabin among it all. She was seated outside with him, and they were talking. Seems to be the what if should she have told him the truth that night about her feelings. She standing, and they're hugging.

"Toss away this scarf, forget about me. Please, Mikasa. Forget about me"

"I'm sorry Eren. I can't"

They breach his form, she flies in, and they share a smile with one another as she cuts him down and she is now holding her hand to her mouth, trying to muffle her weeping.

"I... I miss you so much. I really want to see you again"

"Thank you... for wrapping this scarf around me Eren"

She continued weeping, breath shaky as she took a breath in. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see him walking over. She quickly moved to wipe the tears from her eyes and compose herself. When she looked up, her eyes met, and she could see a similar look of heartache and distress in his.

"Y...you looked......are you cold?" he asked.

Her eyes bore into his, making a light sound of confusion. He knelt down and unraveled his scarf.

"You can have this. I feel....like I promised you once I'd always wrap it round you"

Her eyes welled up again, and she just nodded, letting him wrap her in his scarf. Once he finished they just stayed in place gazing at one another, both unsure of what to say or to do.

Watching his own eyes watering, she could see him finally speak up.

"M....Mikasa?"

This was all it took. She sobbed out an "Eren" before they locked each other into a tight and longing embrace. 

Chapter Text

It was obvious to the average onlooker in the corps Mikasa deeply cared about Eren. She was truly capable of every single aspect of training, but everything would go out the window should something pertaining to Eren arose, and while the vast majority of the time it was out of a sense of protectiveness, there would be those times it was from a sense of jealousy. Given the way Eren would express such irritation and confusion over this, it was a generally believed concept that this was just a one-sided situation.

This was most certainly not the case. One specific person would gradually become aware of this. Jean Kirstein.

While it was no secret to the 104th how precious Mikasa was about Eren, it was also no secret that Jean mightily fancied Mikasa. Despite her total lack of acknowledgement towards this, it didn't stop him trying to be impressive for her. And it was through his attempts that he would see glimpses of Eren's own jealousy.

The first time, he admitted to himself even that he might've just been reading into it. It was the first time he truly noticed Mikasa, and became infatuated. He had complimented her beautiful, long hair as she was leaving the mess hall, shortly after his first run-in with Eren. And it seemed almost seconds later Eren would be telling Mikasa she should cut her hair to avoid "getting caught in the equipment". He felt on that day that Eren was not to be trusted, but again he did feel it could've just been a coincidence.

The following occasions however would solidify he was drawing out an envy from Eren. They were practicing equipping their ODM gear, honing their speed to get to a point it would be second nature to them. The day's work was over, and they were now putting the equipment away. Jean noticed Mikasa seeming to struggle with removing her gas cylinders. A smile crossed his face, and he walked over.

"Here Mikasa, let me help you".

He turned around to set his own equipment down, and upon facing back to her he saw Eren knelt down behind her helping with the cylinders himself, a small frown on his face. Jean felt an initial sense of outrage, but before he spoke up he could've swore he noticed an angry stare accompanying Eren's frown. An angry stare that seemed pointed towards him. 

"I appreciate it Jean, but Eren's got it covered" Mikasa said. Jean just nodded and gathered up his equipment and leaving, silently muttering to himself in annoyance but also thinking about Eren's stare.

Other minor things would crop up: Eren snaking the open spot to sit beside her at meal times or on the carriages into town or in class each and every time. In this case since Mikasa, who would already be seated, would often get up and move to him if he was sat elsewhere, it wasn't that big a thing. There was a special dessert served on some holiday that Jean would grab two of to present one to Mikasa, but again he would be beaten to the punch by Eren.

It would be one particularly fateful and serious day Jean would see just how equally protective and precious Eren was of Mikasa.

They were out among the trees for ODM training. This was generally where Jean liked to show off, not just to Mikasa but to everyone. He was paired up with Reiner and Marco as a squad. On this day Jean was wanting to show off how fast he could go. So he was speeding around the course, ignoring warnings from Reiner and Marco to slow down a bit. After getting a few "kills" on the Titan dummies, he spotted Mikasa gliding past a particularly big "Titan". A plan formed where he would dive low, launch himself upward and slice the nape all as Mikasa watched. It sounded perfect, so he moved to execute. He moved a bit too quickly, the launching momentum being so great he did not connect the slice, and to make it even worse, as he was flailing he wound up colliding into Mikasa, sending her crashing down, mercifully not a giant fall.

Jean immediately had his feet on the ground, immensely remorseful. "Shit shit shit! Mikasa, tell me you're al-!"

"JEAN" a furious voice bellowed. Jean looked and saw Eren slamming down onto the ground in front of him, looking positively furious.

"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO?!" he screamed.

"YEAGER IT WAS AN ACCIDENT, I NEED TO SEE IF-" Jean was arguing back, trying to make his way over to Mikasa, however Eren roughly pushed him back.

"NO, YOU STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM HER"

Eren himself ran over and knelt next to her, cradling her head. A deep worry on his face when looking down at her, it switching back to anger when looking to Jean.

"She's out cold! You could've killed her!"

The frustration with Eren that Jean was initially feeling morphed into deep unease. Eren was absolutely right. He was being reckless for no other reason than to look good.

"I-I'm sor-" he began to say. Eren had Mikasa now scooped up in his arms. He looked once more at Jean

"I gotta get her to medical! You get your ass in front of Shadis and tell him what happened! Fucking idiot!"

And with that Eren ran off with Mikasa, leaving a frightened and ashamed Jean behind.

It was later that night. Jean was issued quite the lecture from Shadis, though after his encounter with Eren it wasn't as severe in comparison. As punishment Jean was suspended from physical ODM training for a week, having to instead watch and do in-class reading. He accepted this fully. He was deeply rattled by what happened anyway, so he'd probably need the time to recoup his nerves.

He was walking past the medical bay, deciding not to go in to check on Mikasa, assuming that he would be decidedly unwelcome. However, as he walked by, he heard a voice call out.

"Jean?"

It was Eren, his voice from inside the bay. Jean looked towards it.

"Yeah?"

"Come here a moment"

A bit apprehensive at first, not wanting another dressing down, he approached. He owed it to her, and he supposed to Eren, a deep apology.

He pushed open the door. Eren was seat at the second bed next to a sleeping Mikasa, thankfully not all bundled up in a full body cast or anything.

He stopped a few feet from them. "I, uh.....how is she?" he hurried out, looking at the floor.

Eren looked from Jean towards Mikasa. "Largely okay, just sore from the landing. She had to spend the night here just as a precaution"

"That's excellent news. I would've hated having injured herself severely through my stupidity"

"I would've as well"

There was that urge in him to argue with Eren as they often would, but Jean knew he was firmly in the wrong in this situation.

"The way I screamed at you today, Jean, it was inexcusable"

Jean took a seat at the end of the bed next to them. "Yeager, I would've reacted the same way I'm sure. You don't need to apologize"

Eren sat silent for a moment.

"When I saw her falling to the ground I...I hadn't felt my stomach drop like that in some time. The last time was when....."

Jean didn't need him to finish that sentence to understand what he meant. The day the Titans breached the wall. The day his mother died. Now he felt guilty for sending Eren back to that frame of mind.

"You have close friends or siblings, Jean?"

Jean snapped his gaze up at the question. "Siblings no. I guess Marco would be the closest friend I have"

"Mikasa and Armin are really all I have left at this point. They're very important to me. Mikasa especially"

Jean saw Eren lightly grip her hand.

"You just had to follow me into this, didn't you" he would say quietly. Jean, initially confused, realizing he was talking to Mikasa in that moment. He supposed it was nice to know that Yeager actually cared for Mikasa and appreciated her. Eren and Jean would most certainly still clash in the future, but it was more than clear now that Mikasa's intense protectiveness was no one way street.

Jean stood. "I should go. But I can promise you that none of that bullshit will happen again"

Eren looked at him, nodding. "Thanks, Jean"

He held his hand out to him, and Jean shook it. Jean then turned, walking away.

"You were pretty scary back there, I must admit. If that's you when someone accidentally hurts Mikasa, God knows what anyone who intentionally-"

"They'd fucking cease breathing immediately"

The violent response prompted Jean's eyes to widen. But, he supposed it would make sense.

"Fair enough"

Chapter Text

Eren was seated outside with Levi by the campfire. The captain had requested a more direct recounting of the events that had taken place: Reiner and Bertolt taking off with him, Ymir’s role in everything, the pursuit. He was in the middle of detailing the events after Mikasa grabbed him while falling, and the pair then coming face to face with the Titan that consumed his mother.

“We didn’t know what to do exactly in that moment. I wasn’t able to free my hands, Mikasa had thrown herself over me. Then, suddenly, Hannes was there. He was so deadset on killing it himself. He wanted to right the wrong he felt he did when he couldn’t save my mother. He was quick and determined, but he just couldn’t get the better of it. By this point my hands were freed, and I began biting down on my hand to transform but I just….didn’t. No matter how hard I tried. And so it grabbed him, and it killed him”

Levi looked down solemnly at his cup, taking a small sip. “I’d met him a few times. A few of which when he was all tipsy and slacking off. I don’t say that to disparage him. Because based off what you’re saying, what others have said about that day, he was a hero through and through”

Eren nodded lightly, but still looked downcast. “And yet I couldn’t save him. I couldn’t do anything. Mikasa probably felt similarly, as she spoke to me like she was giving up in that moment. Thanking me for saving her, for being with her, for wrapping that scarf around her. I saw it in her eyes as she leaned in towards me. Wasn’t sure what it was she was doing exactly but I knew I couldn’t just sit there and just let her down, so I stood and-“

Levi had been listening intently and felt a sense of surprise go through him as Eren spoke these last few sentences. “Hang on, Yeager. Repeat that last part?”

Eren looked a bit confused. “I, I couldn’t just sit there-“

“No no. You weren’t sure what she was doing?”

“Y..yeah. Leaning forward, like she was lying down to die or some-“

Levi again interrupted though this time it was through a soft laughter. Eren’s confusion intensified.

“Captain?”

Levi tried to muffle the laughter a bit but couldn’t. “You idiot. You fucking idiot”

“Captain! why..” Eren exclaimed, sort of torn on whether to feel insulted, or to feel a little scared at the sight of this typically stoic and intimidating man next to him laughing himself positively silly.

Levi seemed to subside his laughter, even wiping at his eyes. “The fate of our existence, and it’s in the hands of a boy who doesn’t even recognize when a girl is trying to kiss him”

Eren froze in astonishment. “Kiss? Why would she-“

“Yeager did you not just say you thought she seemed to be giving up in that moment?”

“Yes?”

“Right, so in that sense, she thought you had as well, and was wanting you to know she loved you before you both died. We all knew how important you are to her, guess I know now the extent of that devotion. Leaning in to lie down, that’s…that’s a new one” Levi said, lightly laughing once more. Eren scratched the back of his head in slight embarrassment, mostly at his captain laughing at him but also reflecting back on that moment. Did he really not pick up on it?

“Just tell me what happened next, with that Titan” Levi said. Though still feeling that stinging embarrassment, Eren continued.

He was in his room afterwards, thinking back in his discussion with Levi. Mikasa was immensely important to him, this was never something he doubted. He just hadn’t spent any time thinking about anything other than defeating the Titans, and now defeating Reiner and Bertolt for their betrayal. He barely even thought about anything, let alone romance. So when did…

As if summoned, Eren saw Mikasa outside his window, lantern in hand walking towards the watchtower, still clearly in pain. He launched to his feet and flung open his window, startling her slightly.

“Oi! Just what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

With a slight wince, Mikasa just softly shrugged. “Connie looked so exhausted, so I told him I’d take over for Sasha- Eren, why are you-?“

Eren climbed through his open window outside as she spoke, marching towards her. “Absolutely not. You didn’t catch a cold or anything, you were nearly crushed by a Titan. You’re still in a lot of pain, now come on”

He took the lantern from her and very gently wrapped his arm around hers. She elected not to protest and accompanied him towards the door of the Survey Corps cabin.

“Here’s me thinking you were fast asleep” he muttered.

“I could say the same” she replied. He shook his head.

“Captain asked for me to give him a rundown of what happened the other day. Was out near the firepit for an hour or so”

"He could've read the report"

"Guess he just prefers it directly from the horse's mouth. And since Jean was already asleep-"

"Eren" he heard her softly chastise, but he did not miss the ever so brief grin on her face. The pair entered the cabin, where they encountered a drowsy looking Connie seated at the kitchen table.

"Oh, hey guys, I-"

Eren pointed at him. "Connie, no disrespect, but get your dozy ass to the watch tower. Mikasa's in no state to be doing anything other than resting"

Connie crankily grumbled as he got up, got his shoes on, took the lantern from Eren and drudged outside. Eren and Mikasa traded a look, hers of slight disapproval.

"Anyways, it was just a simple recap of everything. Got a little difficult, talking about Hannes again"

A soft murmur was her response, herself still hurting over his loss.

"But then, to be honest, it got a little weird"

Mikasa looked at him confused. "How so?"

"Well, he kinda start laughing. Not because of Hannes, but was laughing. At me I guess"

He felt her stop and stiffen. He looked and saw that familiar glare she got if she was made aware someone was hurting him. "That runt is certainly leaving me no shortage of reasons to kick his-"

"Mikasa, come on. I guess in fairness I said something particularly dumb"

"That being?"

"Well....I was talking about what you were saying-"

"He laughed at that?!" Mikasa exclaimed, growing more incensed.

"Not that no. Like I said the laughter was towards me. Because I guess I didn't realize, in that moment, you were trying to kiss me"

The fierce anger in her eyes immediately switched to the purest kind of embarrassment, as her cheeks grew red, a wavy "oh" sounding off as she tried to look away.

"You were, weren't you?"

"N-no! I...a fly was buzzing near you and-"

"A fly'

She made eye contact with him. He clearly didn't believe her, but wasn't gazing at her with anger, rather a sense of bemusement.

"You said everything you did, while we were so close to dying, and you then leaned in....to swat away a fly"

Mikasa just wanted to burrow as far as she could into her scarf, perhaps deep enough to be swallowed up entirely.

"I'm not upset or anything, Mikasa. If you were moving in to kiss me I wouldn't have hated it"

She just remained quiet, her blush intensifying.

"When I stood up, it was because I wasn't going to let us die there. It wasn't because...you know"

"I know that Eren. I was just-"

"I know, Mikasa"

They got back to her and Sasha's room. He opened it for her and she let go of his arm, stepping into the doorframe.

"Seriously though, Mikasa, no working until you're 100%. Promise?"

She just nodded. She turned to go into her room when Eren lightly took hold of her hand.

"Mikasa?"

She turned back around, where Eren suddenly pressed a kiss to her lips.

"Thank you for being with me too. Sleep tight"

He walked away, Mikasa standing in place like a statue, her smile growing and her eyes watering.

Chapter Text

It was confusion that settled into Eren the moment he opened his eyes. The sun was beaming down on him, a particularly gorgeous day. The thing that was confusing him however was that he had gone to sleep in the boys barracks of the Training Corps for the night, and he was now waking in the middle of the day, nowhere near said barracks. Instead, all he saw was a vast array of trees surrounding the farthest end of a lake, the other side flat green land stretching towards more trees, with snowy mountains off in the distance.

What is this? Where is this?

He sprung to his feet, he spun around. He hadn't noticed it yet, but there was a sizeable cabin tucked in towards where the green lands met the forest. He began running to it, hoping there would be some answers as to what was going on. How could he train to kill titans if he was AWOL from the Corps? 

The cabin came closer into view. He witnessed the front door opening, a woman stepping outside. To his relief, he recognized her as Mikasa. But, there was something different about her.

Mikasa was turning around, flinching lightly when she spotted Eren running over. "There you are, Eren. You startled me a little". 

He slowed to a walk, catching his breath and taking in Mikasa. She looked older, about 25 perhaps. She was not adorned in her military attire, rather a purple cardigan and white long skirt, her red scarf accompanying it as well as a sunhat.

"Mik- Mikasa" Eren started, still catching his breath. "What's going on here?"

A look of confused amusement on her face. "I'm going to tend to the garden, remember? I was doing that while you were supposedly off collecting wood. Given you have none, you fell asleep by the lake again didn't you?"

"Mikasa this isn't funny, something's happened and for some reason we aren't anywhere near the Training Corps"

The amused smile soon disappeared and the confusion was now more prominent. "Training?"

"We enlisted to fight the Titans, and we-"

"Eren we did do that, but it was over ten years ago"

Her words rattled him. "T-ten years ago? There's no way-"

Mikasa took hold of his hand, her concern growing sharply. "Eren did you hurt yourself? You're acting very strangely and it's scaring me"

He used his free hand to rub his head. "It's impossible it's been ten years. We only joined up in the military two years ago"

Mikasa guided him over to the table outside of the cabin, where they took a seat. She herself ran her hand over his head, checking for an injuries or sign of illness. 

"Eren. Do you really not remember anything about these past ten years?"

He shook his head. "There's nothing to remember anyway, because it just cannot have been that long. Regardless, we need to start working to find a way back"

He watched her go very quiet, bringing her hands together and looking down to the grass. "Nothing to remember" she muttered softly. He realized this remark upset her, and he developed a frown of regret.

"I don't mean to hurt your feelings saying that, Mikasa. But I only remember it being the year 849, we'd finished a long day of training, I went to bed in barracks and when I woke up I was down by that lake. There isn't anything to remember for me, not because it wasn't worth remembering, but because I don't remember ever living those ten years"

She wiped lightly at her eyes, clearly feeling upset by all of this. "I know you don't mean to, Eren. But it does hurt. We built a life out here, one I thought we both loved, and now you don't remember any of it, and you want to go back to the walls"

"If we don't, what about the Titans? What about making them p-"

Mikasa stood up. "Eren. Whether you remember or not, it's been ten years. This is our home, I am never going back to that place. I need to do the gardenwork, perhaps you need to take a longer rest to see if that clears up this fog of yours"

She moved to walk away, Eren standing himself. "Mikasa, I don't need-"

"If you don't need to rest, then check on our daughter. Maybe she'll snap you back"

Mikasa disappeared round to the back of the cabin. The still very confused Eren stood where he was. He was now feeling even more shock, a slight ashen look in his eyes.

Daughter?

He creeped inside of the cabin, itself a relatively nice and spacious building. A kitchen connected to a small common area, with three doors down the hall. The first one he peeked into was a bathroom. The second room was one that revealed the aforementioned daughter, fast asleep in her wooden crib. Eren walked over to the crib and looked down into it. She had Mikasa's raven black hair, that was for sure.

How....How is this possible? I can't possibly be a fa-

The baby opened her eyes, showing off deep green eyes. Certainly ones that matched his own perfectly.

"Carla" he heard Mikasa's voice say. He looked up to see her standing in the doorway. He figured she noticed him still looking lost. "To honor your mother".

He looked back towards the baby, who was working to sit herself up. He smiled down at her, and she smiled back.

"Do you remember now?" Mikasa asked, hoping that whatever game or ailment that Eren was doing or showing was finally coming to it's end. She would feel immense disappointment when he shook his head no.

"I'm sorry Mikasa, but I don't"

She sighed softly, and left the room. Eren moved quickly after her.

"Again Mikasa, I am not doing this to hurt you-"

Mikasa removed her sunhat before she spun round to face him, her hands taking hold of the back of a chair. "Eren, in the year 849 we were in training, yes. However one night, almost completely out of the blue, you came to the window of the women's barracks I slept next to and knocked. We snuck out for a stroll around the training grounds where you told me all about how you'd been thinking alot more about your mother and her hopes for you to have a good life with a family of your own. And that you heard me talking to Mina and Krista about what we hoped the future held for us, and I had said I wanted nothing more than to be with you, and to live quietly. You said how much you now wanted that, and you felt we should take off right then and there. And we did. We ran fast and far, through sheer luck and force of will we dodged all forms of danger and we got out to the ocean. And even though we didn't fully understand what the ocean was we built ourselves a boat and sailed far away. Far until we reached new lands, and to our shock, none of these lands had any Titans. None. We journeyed and soon we found this place, and built our home. And after a few years we got married. And then, barely over a year ago, we brought Carla into our world. These ten years, we somehow managed to rediscover a sense of happiness we seemed to have lost all those years ago. Me when my parents were murdered, and again when Shiganshina fell and the Titans took away your mother. We were able to weather that, endure that and to some measure move on from that. And now, it feels like it's crashing back down again"

Her eyes had begun welling with tears. Eren felt terrible making her so upset. But it was a deeply impossible situation the pair were in at this particular moment. She's lived this happy life he does not have any knowledge of. No emotional attachment to. To her he was her husband and the father of their daughter. To him, she was still one of his best friends and fellow cadet. And to him, his mission of becoming strong enough to defeat the Titans still surged through him.

She looked away. "I...should get a start on dinner. Carla's going to be hungry"

Eren figured it would be for the best to set this situation aside for a little bit. He returned down the hallway to use the bathroom. He ran some water and splashed it on his face. He looked up into the mirror. He too looked ten years older, face boasting some slight stubble on his jaw.

What do I do? This does not seem to be some sort of dream. Do I stay, live without fulfilling my mission? Do I leave? Can I even leave?

The sound of Carla giggling caught his attention. He returned to the kitchen where he saw Mikasa placing Carla down in a high chair, smiling down at the small Yeager. She looked up to Eren, a slight solemnness in her eyes. Eren approached the table, taking a seat and picking up the bowl of peas Mikasa was about to mash up and did it himself.

"I don't know why I can't remember this life, I don't know if the Eren of this life and I switched places somehow. I can't shake the need I have in me to go back and fight the Titans, but I figure that I should see what the next week holds. If the memories return, or I wake back up. Okay?"

She nodded quietly. He handed the bowl back to her but she declined it. "She..likes it when her dad feeds her".

Eren looked to Carla, her eyes fixated on him. 

"Do I do anything specific?"

Mikasa just shook her head, a little smirk pulling at her lips. "She just seems to eat easier when it's you"

He nodded lightly, looking again to Carla and scooping a spoonful of mashed peas up and holding it to the girl. As Mikasa said, she was quickly eating away. Eren again smiled at her.

So Eren spent the week. Each morning waking, looking to see if back in barracks but it always being the cabin. A rampant restlessness was in him the first two days, often unable to focus on the daily tasks needing to be done, annoyance about chopping wood or cleaning the home instead of practicing ODM or combat training. However it was on the third day that he seemed to settle a bit. On this day, Mikasa stated they had planned to spend the day having a picnic down near the lake. The time spent sitting on the shoreline and playing with Carla or just watching her crawl around seemed to make him just feel content and happy. As well as when Carla fell asleep for a bit, and he and Mikasa themselves found themselves nodding off, leaning against one another in their rest, he felt….serene. Something he hadn't felt in such a long time. Throughout the rest of the day, he felt his heart warm when they made eye contact, each sharing with one another a wide smile. And when Mikasa leaned down to kiss him once 

But the dreams he had just would not subside, the memories of his mother's death, the feelings of anger and determination again the Titans flowing through him, even if there was a not so small part of him fighting as hard as it could to acclimate to this quiet life. And to his own sadness, he just couldn't truly pull it off.

The last day of the week was gradually coming to an end. He was sitting and holding Carla in his arms, rocking her gently as she gradually went to sleep. Mikasa quietly entered the room, smiling at the sight. Eren offered back his own smile, but it was insincere, and this did not go unnoticed by Mikasa, as she took stood in front of him.

"You still want to leave. Don't you?"

He was not looking forward to this discussion. "I wish I could say I didn't want to. But..."

"You have to" she finished for him. He rose from his seat, walking to set Carla down in her crib.

"I really wish I did remember the years you do. Because this past week, had it been my life, I know I'd have completely loved it. And after everything we've been through I'm truly happy you have found that sense of peace again. But I just can't pretend that I hadn't also seemed to have jumped forward in time, and pretend that there isn't still something I need to do when it comes to eradicating all the Titans. And if I stay, with that feeling still inside me, I just know I'll wind up ruining the peace here. I'm sorry, Mikasa"

She just looked downward. "What about Carla?"

"I'd feel better knowing her world wouldn't be tormented by the Titans"

"It already isn't"

He sighed. "I've made my choice. I made a commitment when I joined the military. I have to see it through"

He headed for the door, Mikasa slowly following. He grabbed his coat, and slipped on his boots. Mikasa stood in the kitchen, quietly putting together a satchel of food for him. When he rose, he found them face to face. A sad, resigned look in her eyes as she handed him the satchel.

"It was almost two months of traveling to find this place. This'll get you through at least the first week"

He kept his gaze down at the gifted bag, as he was now feeling shame for this decision. But he had to follow through with it.

"Thank you. Mikasa" he said quietly, heading for the door.

"Eren?" she called. He stopped, but still didn't look at her. "Eren, I have to accept that this is what you've decided. And in this regard, I hope you'll also accept the decision I have made: When you walk through that door, and you go beyond where you can see our home, you can never come back"

This caused him to finally meet her gaze. She continued. "I know that, whatever has happened that took away the last ten years of your memory, it's not something you chose to do. It's not something you're doing intentionally to hurt me. But I can't pretend that it doesn't still hurt. And quite frankly...you have thoroughly broken my heart"

"Mika-"

She held her hand up for him to stop. "Again, I know this isn't your intent. But your choice is taking my husband away from me. And is taking Carla's father away from her. I love you, I always will, but doing this, it hurts too much. We made a commitment to one another, a choice we made like you said. And with you breaking that commitment, there has to be a consequence. So when you go, that's it. That door will never open again"

She took his arm in her hand, and placed a kiss to his cheek. He felt his hands moving to hold onto her, but she was already moving away from him.

"Goodbye, Eren" she said, before walking down the hall to the bedroom. He lingered where he stood, heartsick now. The urge to run to her was overwhelming, but his mind insisted that it was too late to change his decision. He turned to the door, and walked out.

He'd never even considered the fact he had no idea where they had been at. No frame of reference for where the ocean was, how long it would take to reach it. He, or at least this version of himself, did not even know how to operate a boat let alone have the knowledge to build one. And yet here he was marching off into the now near pitch black night.

You vowed to destroy all the Titans 

You promised a quiet life to Mikasa

I never lived that life

You're a father

He let out a yell of frustration and flung himself down to sit on a nearby rock, rubbing his temples. He sat reflecting on everything, trying to find something to help make sense of everything. He thought back to his mother.

"Eren, look at you"

The sullen boy did not look at his mother. She made that tsking sound he so hated.

"All you do is get you and Mikasa and Armin into these needless brawls"

"We wouldn't need to fight if those bastards-"

"Eren!"

The boy went quiet again. Carla glared at the boy before softening and crouching down in front of him.

"How is all this fighting going to help you in the future?"

"It'll keep me from growing soft. That's what you seem to want me to be"

"I want you to know when the time to fight is or isn't. I want you to actually live a life, not go sprinting full tilt into an early death"

"That's being soft"

"Eren, do you not want to have a family?"

"Fa-" Eren began, a befuddled look growing on his face.

"Don't you want to have a nice life, meet a lovely girl?"

Eren groaned a little in embarrassment. 

"Maybe you could live that with Mikasa some day"

"Ma!" he exclaimed, now burning red.

"My point is Eren, you can live a short angry life, but it's just that: short. You are my son, and I want you to live-"

Eren just grumbled and stropped off. Carla sighed.

Eren came out of his thoughts. He'd long forgotten about that particular conversation. At the time it was just one of many lectures to him. Lectures he gradually tuned out of or walked away from. But this one clearly came back to him given it's context. Making it clear what it was his late mother wanted for him. And that's when it happened: memories of asking Mikasa to run away with him, sailing the ocean, walking hand in hand as they found the place they'd settle down in. Days of unrelenting happiness, the day they decided to call each other their spouse, the day they realized she was pregnant. The first time he laid eyes on his daughter, the first time he held her in his arms. He remembered it all.

He looked back the way he had came, back towards his home. 

"you can never come back"

He felt his eyes burn. She set an ultimatum, and he went and left regardless. She would refuse him if he went back. But it was the only place he wanted to be.

He rose and began running back.

He was beyond breathless as he sprinted, the night still pitch black. He wasn't going to stop until he got back home, and soon enough the dark outline of a cabin came into view. He stumbled and fell to his knees when more immediately outside of it.

"MIKASA! MIKASA!" he cried out. "MIKASA, I'M HOME"

He knelt outside for the next ten minutes catching his breath, waiting to see if Mikasa would hear him and respond. The silence and the cabin remaining dark spoke for her.

Shit he cursed to himself. "I remember it all now Mikasa. I remember everything. Every day, every hour that we lived this life together. I remember the day we put the last shingle on the roof to finish our home, I remember the day we ate those green berries I'd found and I got so sick but you were somehow perfectly fine and you took such great care of me. I remember when Carla joined us here, and how much I didn't realize how badly I wanted to be a dad until she smiled at me that very first time. I don't know why all those memories went away, or how, but I'm so happy to have them back!"

The cabin remained dark, and he felt himself crying.

"I remembered that my mother once told me what she wanted for me in this life. She never wanted me in the military, she never wanted for me to lead a life of fighting. All that time I believed doing so would avenge her, would make her pleased wherever she is now. But it wouldn't. I can't honor her if I'm digesting in a Titan's stomach, I can't keep remembering her if I'm smashed against a wall. I want to live to remember her. I want to tell our daughter all about her, and most of all, I want to be with you, Mikasa. I want to have a big family with you, I want us to grow old together here. Please tell me I didn't ruin the ability to let that still happen?! If you do hold firm, if that door never reopens, it'll break my heart but I'll respect your choice. But if that's the case I will not return to the military. I'd climb up the highest mountain and sit there until I freeze to death before I'd go back there. I'd go deep into the forest and waste away regretting this stupid choice I made every single second before I’d ever go back to the walls. All I want in this life is you and Carla. All I need is you and Carla. Please Mikasa, please?"

It would seem the decision was final, as minutes had passed, and the cabin remained dark and quiet. Eren wept a little, rising to his feet.

It's too late he thought. He took a longing look at the cabin before turning around. He knelt back down to gather up the contents of the satchel that spilled out, when the sound of the cabin door opening caught his attention. He looked behind him, seeing Mikasa's face lit up in the light of her candle. Her face was tearstained, and this made him tear up more himself.

She walked over to him. "You made a choice" she said softly. "There is a consequence for that"

Shit. She's just going to reiterate her decision being final Eren thought as he looked away, ashamed and heartsick. "I know. But I changed my mind. I want to undo it. I so badly want to undo this stupid choice. I know how pathetic I look, but that's because I am a pathetic man, realizing how close he is to losing the greatest joy one could ever know forever"

"You aren't pathetic, Eren"

He looked back to her. She looked at him a few moments longer before reaching down, taking his hand into hers and helping him to his feet.

"Everything's back?" she asked, blinking to clear the tears that were in her eyes.

He nodded his head determinedly. "Every last memory. Right where they belong"

He pulled her close, Mikasa snuggling her head against his chest and Eren resting his chin atop her head.

"Can I please come home?" he quietly pleaded, hugging her almost desperately. The feeling of joy that surged through him when he felt her head nod against his chest was the best feeling he ever experienced.

"Of course you can" she said.

He kissed the top of her head over and over, her just smiling tearfully against his chest. "You remembered everything, it wouldn't be fair to hold firm I don't think. But you know now the cost, if you ever decide-"

He moved so they were looking into each others eyes again, softly taking her chin into his grasp. The sheer seriousness of his eyes and tone gave immense weight to the words he spoke next.

"That will never happen. Never"

He kissed her on the lips, and she held him tight. The faint cries of Carla caught their attention, and with the biggest smile Eren took Mikasa by the hand and led her back inside.

Author Note: The above is the canon ending of this fic. However, what follows is the alternate route that follows the concept behind The Family Man more, in which Eren doesn't regain his memories but still chooses to return regardless.

Eren had little Carla in his arms as they walked along the lake, Mikasa just up ahead of them waiting. He was pointing towards everything that Carla's eager eyes was gazing at. He rued now not being able to remember her first year of life. He wanted to remember and know about every little thing. But at the least there was still quite alot he was still to see.

Mikasa was smiling at them as they approached. The smile was positively beaming from her. Seeming to grow more and more bright, Eren noticed. He stopped, realizing all of his surroundings were turning a bright white. What was happening? he thought. He felt himself start to panic when Mikasa and Carla were no longer visible and then-

"Eren, for the last time wake up! Shit!"

Eren shot up in his bed, the voice of an irritated Jean next to him. He looked around. It was the boys barracks. He was surrounded by Armin, Jean, Marco, Reiner and Connie.

A dream. it was just a dream.

"Jeez Eren, you must've been exhausted from yesterday" Connie remarked. "We were getting close to having to seek out a medic"

"S-sorry, I didn't realize how deep into my sleep I was" he said, very solemnly. Armin took note of this as the other men soon shuffled off to head to the mess hall.

"You okay, Eren?"

Eren looked at Armin, a little confused. "Why do you ask?"

"I don't know, you just seem....sad"

"Oh" Eren replied. "Guess it's just one of those days"

Armin didn't really buy into it, but he figured they would need to get going if they wanted food before training. "Well, you better get dressed quick. Me and Mikasa will meet you for breakfast"

Mikasa he thought mournfully as Armin left. Eren took a look around the now empty barracks, feeling it's unwelcoming environment, longing for that beautiful place in his mind. He wiped at his eyes, a few tears breaking free as he finally got out of bed.

His heart was not in it as the day of training dragged on. He didn't slack off or anything, but that notable fire the other cadets either admired for or were irritated by wasn't there. No angry tirades against people he felt weren't trying, no lashing out of any kind, just a reserved quietness. Mikasa most certainly took notice, and whenever she could, she'd ask him if he was okay, always get the same and quick "yeah, I'm okay" before he'd walk away. But his insincerity saying it was palpable.

He didn't come to dinner that night. She kept her eyes on the entrance, waiting for him to appear. Armin nudged her.

"Your soup's going to get cold"

"Armin, is Eren not feeling well today?"

He shook his head. "I'm really not sure to be honest. He's been off since we finally got him to wake up"

He looked at him, her brow furrowed. "Finally? What do you mean by that?"

"He just took him a long time to wake up. Almost 15 minutes at least"

This concerned Mikasa greatly. 

"I should go check on him"

"I really don't think there's anything wrong, he's just having an off day. We all do sometimes. We'll touch base with him in a bit, yeah?"

She was initially going to try and seek Eren out regardless, but Armin had her breadroll held out to her. She nodded, and took it.

Eren seemed to have already gone to bed when she and Armin went to go talk to him. So Armin assured her he'd talk to him when they woke up the next morning, and she went to the girls barracks to go to sleep herself. It was a few hours passed lights out, when she heard a soft tapping against her window. She rose quick, seeing Eren standing outside. She quietly opened the window.

"Eren, are you okay? Why are you awake so late?"

He looked a little sheepish, "I'm sorry to wake you"

She reached through the window to feel his forehead. This prompted a tiny smirk from him.

"I'm not sick, don't worry"

"Then, why-" she asked as she pulled her hand back in.

"It's actually what I wanted to talk to you about. Would you be able to come with me for a little bit?"

She nodded quickly. He closed the window for her, and by the time he sealed it she was outside with him, wrapping herself in her cloak. She was a little surprised to see him hold his hand out for her, but took it nonetheless.

"It's a bit of a walk" he said, and was soon leading them off into the night. Walking through the trees, climbing through fenced off sections of the area, they were soon standing on the edge of a cliff, looking over a big lake.

"Reiner and Bertholdt showed me and Armin this place once" he said. Mikasa took the sight in.

"It looks quite beautiful"

"It really does"

He motioned for her to join him in sitting down. They did, with Eren rubbing his hands together nervously.

"Eren. What's on your mind?"

He kept rubbing his hands, trying to piece together how to begin. "It's...a bit hard to really...."

She placed her hand on his knee. He looked to her.

"I had a dream the other night. One I never had before. It was so vivid, and it felt so real. I was waking up beside a lake like this one. And I was confused, having only remembered going to sleep in barracks. And there was a home there.....our home"

She looked confused, but he continued. "You were outside this home, and we were both years older than we are now. 10 years at least. And I was telling you how I only remembered being in training, and you tell told me it was 10 years, and that we decided to leave and go far away, far beyond the walls and even the ocean, to live in peace. We lived together all the way out there. And we were married. And we had a daughter"

Mikasa was now positively stunned. Where was this coming from? Eren's never wanted that kind of life she thought.

"I was so steadfast that I needed to get back to the walls to continue training. And I felt awful hurting your feelings each time I talked about not remembering. But I stayed for a week. And it felt like I was actually living those days. And I grew to love those days. But I still found myself deciding to go back. So...I left. But I couldn't stop thinking while I walked. And I remembered one of my many conversations with my mother about my future, about what kind of life I should live"

He shifted his position to better face her, and took her hands in his. "So I changed my mind. I turned back. Because even if I didn't remember anything, I wanted that life. I fell in love with it. And then I woke up"

She could see how sad he was saying this, squeezing his hands lightly. He squeezed lightly in return.

"I've lived all these years chomping at the bit for a fight. Because I just saw life as one big fight, with no in-between. I didn't ever think about things like marriage or...being a dad. I tried to spend today forgetting about it, just accepting it as some wild dream. And to a degree it was. But all I want is to have that back, or at least have that to begin with"

He looked into Mikasa's eyes now. "Mikasa, I'm resigning from the military tomorrow. I'm going to live that life. It doesn't even have to be far and away outside the walls. And, if you wanted to-"

"I would" she said. "I would".

They were making their way back after a little more time out near the lake.

"Our daughter, what was her name?" Mikasa asked. Eren felt himself smiling when thinking about her.

"Her name was Carla" Eren mentioned softly. Mikasa linked her arm with his, her head resting on his shoulder.

"I can't wait to meet her".

Fin

Chapter Text

The two boys ran through the crowded streets, dodging the stalls and the people shouting at them for nearly knocking into them. But Eren and Armin didn't care. They were having fun making their way through the kingdom gate, out to the grassy fields they loved to play in.

"Hey, Armin, you have the daggers in there?" Eren asked. Armin stopped, removing the rucksack slung over his shoulder to produce their two wooden daggers for playfighting. He tossed one to Eren, and the duel was on.

"Sir Armin Arlert has not, and will never, stand down" the blonde taunted.

"Sir Armin has never clashed with The Lord Yeager" Eren responded.

"Why do you get to be a Lord?" Armin asked, slashing at Eren, who dodged.

"Lords beat Sirs"

"Then consider me Lord Arlert!"

"Armin, that's-"

The loud blaring of horns interrupted them. This sound only occurs in emergencies. Impending approach of enemies, fire, etc. Eren noticed a carriage speeding quickly out of the kingdom and out of sight.

"What do you think is happening?" Armin asked. Eren shook his head, the two boys running back through the gate. It seemed the other citizens were similarly confused, standing out in the street asking one another if they knew. The horns blared louder and louder, and soon people realized the King's guard was approaching. A loud booming voice sounded.

"THE PRINCESS MIKASA HAS BEEN ABDUCTED. TO REPEAT, THE PRINCESS MIKASA HAS BEEN ABDUCTED" a royal looking man proclaimed from the front of the stream of kings guards marching towards them, interrogating everyone in sight.

Eren and Armin were stunned. This was the most serious breach of the kingdom in all the time they had been alive. King Levi boasted the most diligent, fiercest and strongest army any kingdom could hope to have, guided by the strongest minds. The pair being left parentless at a young age, Levi was intensely protective of Mikasa, so no doubt whoever did this would see the gallows instantly. He and Armin had seen her a couple of times before during ceremonies the kingdom would host. She was their age, but was kept largely out of the public eye, so she might've been living a relatively....boring life. Until now, anyway.

"Who could've done this?" Armin asked, looking to Eren. Only, Eren was no longer there. Armin looked around and soon enough caught sight of Eren far beyond the gate running.

Oh no, Eren, please don't get in over your head.

Eren had journeyed for hours, relentlessly looking around for any sight of a camp. The trail left behind by the carriage he had seen soon disappeared, mud trail converting into grass. But he was not deterred. As long as he could remember he wanted to accomplish a noble task. What better way then to punish the bastards who'd abduct an innocent girl?

The sky turned dark, but this still did not stop him. Soon, he spotted a plume of smoke emitting from a nearby forest. He started to run towards it, slowing to a creep as he closed in on where the plume was coming from. Sure enough, it was a campfire: the carriage he had seen parked nearby, the horses guiding it resting. There were four men sleeping around the dying fire, and sitting next to fire, tied to a thin tree was the princess Mikasa.

Though the desire to utterly decimate these men, Eren recognized the opportunity to free her and have them sneak off quietly before they even woke up. He crept ever so carefully towards the sleeping princess, and lightly tapped her on the shoulder. She woke with a jolt, Eren placing his finger to his lips to encourage her to keep quiet.

I'm here to rescue you he mouthed, a look of ecstatic relief in her eyes as she nodded. Eren went behind her and made quick work of untying her. He took her hand and the two ever so quietly crept away. They got to the edge of the forest, and it was here Mikasa gave Eren a hug.

"You saved me!" she exclaimed as quietly as she could. "How can I ever-"

The sounds of angry yelling caught their attention.

"As long as you can run fast, that's all I need!" Eren replied, as the two sprinted away. The group of men came storming out of the forest, scanning as best as they could into the night. They unfortunately could see the two off in the distance under the moonlight.

Eren and Mikasa had hoped that when they saw the torches of the group disappear back into the forest it meant they were scrapping their plans. However, the clomping of charging horses grew louder. They ducked out of the way as the horse sped by them. The rider attempted to snatch Mikasa, but Eren despite not possessing any weapons, punched his hand off of Mikasa's arm. The rider rode a bit further ahead, turning back around to make another attempt. He succeeded, however Eren latched onto his leg, and just began to bite as hard as he could. The rider yelled in pain, trying to shake Eren off, but his grip was too tight. The rider leaned over too far to try and shove Eren off him again, resulting in he and Eren falling off the horse.

"Ride princess, just get out of here!" Eren called, wrestling against the rider. Mikasa did not want to leave him, especially when this man he was fighting was trying to kill him. She guided the horse towards them, and with it's hoof, it knocked the man out. Mikasa jumped down from the horse.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Princess, you should've ran, I'm expendable, you aren't"

"I-" she began, but the second horse had moved closer to them, a sharp blade pointed at them both. The holder of it climbed down, a chuckle emitting from him.

"I'd say this was fun if it wasn't so damn inconvenient"

He walked over, hand outstretched.

"The princess will be coming with me no matter what. If you stand aside, then you can just run along no w-"

"The princess is not going anywhere" Eren stated sternly. "I'm not going anywhere, and if you push it, the only person going anywhere will be you. Six feet under"

The condescending smirk the man held faded, and in it's place was immense anger. "You have alot of hubris, kid. That's going to get you killed very quick"

"If I'm to die you're going first"

The man had enough, and drew his blade back to slash at Eren. He was stopped however by the loud blaring of the horn of the kingsguard. The man screamed out to his remaining comrades and attempted to flee, but the kingsguard ran him down quickly, and going after the others. One of the horses rode towards Eren and Mikasa, with the armor clad person hopping down. They removed their helmet to reveal it was King Levi, moving quickly and taking Mikasa into his arms. Eren just went to his knees in a bow.

"What did I say about trusting anybody you didn't recognize as part of the council" he said, trying to sound stern but failing.

"I'm sorry"

King Levi set her down, the sight of Eren catching his attention. He drew his sword.

"What role did you have in this plot?"

Mikasa immediately ran and stood in front of Eren, her hands up as if to shield him. "He saved me!"

This made Levi sheath his blade. "Him?"

Mikasa nodded. "He was so brave. He wouldn't let them snatch me, and he stared them down even when they had a sword on him and he had nothing"

Eren felt a little awkward. He pointed with his thumb to the unconscious man near them "I wouldn't have been able to fight off this one if the princess hadn't rode over and knocked him out"

Levi approached Eren, crouching down in front of him. "What is your name?"

"Eren Yeager, your highness"

"Eren, how did you know where to find these men?"

"I'd seen their carriage charging out of the kingdom moments before the kingsguard announced the princess's abduction. I just...came looking"

The kingsguard returned to them, the abductors all restrained on various guard's horses, with another moving to collect the unconscious one. "My king, every last one of this scum has been collected"

Levi nodded at them. He then turned back towards Eren. "Well, Eren Yeager. Who knows what would have happened had you not acted. We were only able to know you were over here by the sounds of struggle you were making. You have my eternal thanks"

He took Mikasa back into his arms. "Sir Michael, please allow Mr. Yeager to ride with you back"

The guard nodded. "Of course" he said, holding his hand out for Eren. He took it, and the party made the journey back to the kingdom.

Eren was given a heroes welcome when he returned, and though he appreciated it, he was just glad the princess was back safe. When he finally returned to his and Armin's home, he filled the blonde in on everything as they lay in their bunkbed readying to go to sleep.

"You bit his leg?!"

"I didn't know what else to do! And it worked luckily"

"Definitely. Cause me and you play dueling is one thing, actually going out and fighting people who are going to try and kill you, that's something so much more dangerous"

"The kingsguard were telling me how I'd make for a great soldier one day"

"Well, I know for certain I'm not going to be one"

"I'm well aware, Mr. Future Scholar of the Kingdom"

The boys settled into silence, figuring it was time to go to sleep. Armin had just one more question though.

"So do you think you and the princess are friends now?'

"I don't think that would be the case. I saved her of course, and she was grateful, but I am still a commoner ultimately"

"Ah well. Wouldn't that be something, though?"

"Well it would also be nice to have more than one friend"

"Well then, maybe stop getting other kids to start fighting us"

"Ehhh, I can do without those idiots"

Armin just chuckled softly before they both finally went to sleep.

The boys were back out in the field two days later, this time looking at a book Armin had that was about the land and the sky. They were pointing up at the clouds, seeing if they matched the ones in the book.

"Eren?"

He turned around, seeing Princess Mikasa with a few guards on her horse. She was wearing a long purple cloak and crown, stark difference to the night he saved her. Eren and Armin dropped to their knees.

"Your high-" Eren began. Mikasa waved her hands, looking a little bit upset.

"You don't have to do that!"

Eren and Armin exchanged a quick look before they stood back up.

"This is my friend, Armin, by the way. Armin, this is the princess"

Armin gave her a meek wave. She smiled at him and waved.

"I'm happy to meet you, Armin"

"How have you been?" Eren asked.

She smiled lightly. "I've been doing good. I was finally able to get Levi to let me go out for horse rides again"

Eren rubbed the back of his head. "Well, I can get his hesitation. You were just recently abducted"

She nodded a little. "True. But it won't happen again. And if it somehow does....well, I know who to count on to save me"

Eren couldn't help but blush a tiny bit.

"What are you reading, by the way?"

Eren looked at Armin, who stammered slightly as he walked over to her. 

"It's...well uh, this book, it is about the Earth. And in this part it was talking about the clouds and why they might look the way they do"

Mikasa's gaze went upward to the sky, her interest piqued. "There's different kinds of clouds?"

"That's what this book suggests. Like today, you see how fluffy and big they are. But other days they can be very thin, or almost invisible. So we were just kinda interested to see them in action I guess"

Mikasa looked back over to Eren. "Would...would I be able to join you?"

The boys were surprised at the request. Surely she had better and more important things to be doing.

"It could get boring though, but if you'd like to, you're welcome to"

"I don't mind if it is. I…want to get to know you better anyway. It would be nice to have someone I can call a friend"

Eren smiled at her and gestured with his head for her to come join them. Mikasa turned back to her guards, handing them her crown before hopping down from the horse and running over. She would wind up spending the entire day with them, their cloudgazing switching over to stargazing, Armin talking about the stories behind them as they watched the stars. Eren felt Mikasa rest her head against his shoulder, a warm feeling going through him as he smiled and blushed.

From then on, they were the closest of friends. It became a regular sight to see the normally sequestered away princess out and about with Eren and Armin, and the citizens liked to see it. It made them feel more connected to the royal family in a way. Eren and Armin were happy to have another friend, and Mikasa was happy to have friends. She was also very happy to continue seeing Eren regularly. As they grew up, her feelings for him grew stronger and stronger. And he felt similarly, but he knew he couldn't ever speak about them or act on it in any way.

Ten years had passed, and they were all now in their early 20s. Armin realized his dream of becoming a scholar, with Eren finding work as a carpenter. A brewing conflict was beginning to seem like it would expand to a full-fledged war. Eren was visiting Armin in the castle library where he worked, repairing some of the shelves that had fallen into disrepair. Eren found himself scanning around the entire room.

"How long you'd reckon it would take to clean this place up if all the shelves g-"

"It would be almost a month I estimated once. Some of these books and documents go back centuries, and it's preferred they all remain in chronological order"

An impish smirk grew on Eren's face. "Let's say we test-"

"Let's just say, as a scholar for the kingdom I have a modicum of influence within the council, and with one suggestion I could feasibly have you executed"

"Alright Armin, sheesh"

The blonde grinned at him. "Not really. But I would really not appreciate the mess"

"Then no mess will be made"

"Mikasa would no doubt emphatically veto any Eren related executions anyway so I would just be wasting my efforts"

Eren chuckled as he finished his work, eyeing it to make sure the books placed on it held.

"So what are the odds of some kind of understanding in this conflict with the Marley kingdom being reached at this point?" he then asked. Armin just shook his head.

"I just don't see our army not meeting them in battle at this point. Every de-escalation has been broached. No effect"

"Then it would seem my choice to join the army was right"

Armin stopped his writing. "Y-you joined the King's army?"

Eren shrugged. "Kingdom needs defending, and if I just stood by and watched other men like me go while I stayed, I'd feel ashamed"

"When did you enlist?"

"Earlier today. I'm finishing up my outstanding jobs before reporting to training tomorrow morning"

Armin scratched at his arm. "What does Mikasa think?"

Eren raised an eyebrow. "Mikasa?"

"Yeah"

"Well, I haven't told anyone but you. I'd imagine me being one of her subjects, she would expect me to anyways"

"She doesn't see you that way, Eren"

"Maybe, but I'm no different to any other soldier. I shouldn't be treated as such"

Armin figured he really couldn't argue on that. Eren made his way over to the door.

"I need to head back to the shop. I'll talk to you later, yeah?"

"Sounds good, Eren. I'll see you then"

Armin had a council with Mikasa the next day. These were generally meant for her to be given brief updates on current events, but Mikasa used it largely to spend time with him, playing chess.

"Ah, an attempt at castling I see" Armin said, assessing his next move.

"Attempt implies it's not a so-"

"Checkmate"

Mikasa gasped lightly before a tiny smile grew on her lips. "Are you sure you aren't just straight up the inventor of this game?"

"I can promise you I am not, just very very well versed in it"

"Good game, Armin" she said, rising from her chair to get some water.

"You certainly prove a more challenging opponent than Eren. He always loses to me within ten moves"

Her face lit up a little when Eren's name was mentioned. "Where has he been these past few days anyway? I miss him"

Armin dawned a slight look of awkwardness, resetting the chessboard as he thought of how to articulate the news. "Well...he'd been squaring away some of his pressing duties as a carpenter as...he joined the King's army and was beginning training-"

The sound of a dropped goblet thudding on the ground interrupted him. He looked up and sure enough Mikasa had a look of deep worry and distress on her face.

"Eren joined...wh-when?" she managed to say, retaking her seat across from Armin.

"Sometime before yesterday, that's when I found out"

"B..but it's expected that they'll be heading off within the week. He's not had enough time!"

"He would probably be part of the second flank, one that-"

He could see Mikasa grow increasingly more upset so he elected not to continue with his remarks. He instead patted her hand to comfort her.

"Hey, we know Eren. He's a capable fighter"

She knew this was true, but it didn't do anything to quell her increasing dread. Armin departed shortly after, leaving Mikasa for the rest of the day fretting.

"That's some sad excuse for a parry, Yeager" the instructor scolded, roughly slapping Eren's wooden sword away with his own. "The enemy will cut through you no problem if you're that weak with your defense"

Eren gritted his teeth, tightening his grip on the sword and swinging again. The instructor's blade met his, with him then shoving Eren down to the ground with his forearm.

"We actually plan to win this war, Yeager. It would be helpful if you tried harder"

Eren understood this was intended to toughen him up, and he did his best to bottle in the urge to just go all out on this instructor. He channeled much of this for his next swing. However the instructor dodged this, grabbed Eren by his chest armor and tossed him a few feet into a hay pile. Before either man said or did anything, the sound of horns sounded.

"Introducing her royal highness, the princess Mikasa!" the royal herald proclaimed. Eren looked up towards the newly arrived royal entourage to see Mikasa, a look of utter contempt pointed towards the instructor. She clearly had witnessed their skirmish. The instructor looked around slightly, even tugging a little at his collar, wondering what it was that seemed to incur her irritation. Mikasa eventually moved her gaze to Eren, concern replacing the contempt. The herald approached Eren.

"The princess requests an audience”

Eren got to his feet, dusting away any hay that might've gotten caught in his armor, and followed the herald back over to Mikasa. He gave her a small nod, adhering to customs as they were surrounded by people.

"My lady"

He held his hand out to her to help her down from her horse. She took it, sliding off and climbing down. They stood facing one another, her then gesturing towards a quiet looking hallway. He offered her his arm and she took it.

"You joined the King's army" she said finally, as they walked. Her tone being one that sounded as if just stating the obvious, but more so one asking a question. Why did you join?

"I did. Seemed like no matter what, this issue Marley has with the kingdom wasn't going to be solved with words. And it's every citizen's duty to serve their kingdom"

Mikasa wrung her hands together with anxiety. "But you're the kingdom's best artisan"

"There's plenty of good artisans here besides me"

"Maybe, but..."

She stopped and took hold of his hands, looking downward. "None of them are you"

Eren felt his cheeks warm a little, her touch so gentle on his hands. He wanted to be able to reassure her that he would be okay and make it back alive. But it's not something he can guarantee. And it would be wrong to give her false hope should he fall.

"I can't turn back from this, Mikasa. I have to see it through"

She remained silent, her hands, gripping onto his.

"Please" she eventually quietly asked. "Please don't go"

How can I refuse her he thought to himself, but he knew he would have to. He lifted their hands upward, placing a kiss to hers.

"I'll do my very best for you, Mikasa. For the kingdom"

The herald soon reappeared, informing Mikasa she was due back at the castle. With great reluctance, Mikasa let go of Eren's hands. She walked over to the herald, looking back at Eren, who gave her a soft wave as she left. 

Eren was positioned amongst his fellow soldiers as they stood in the main road of the kingdom facing towards the castle. King Levi stood out on the high balcony alongside his Queen, Petra, and Mikasa. She seemed to have been able to spot him out among the army, as it felt like her eyes were pointed right down towards him. The royal horn blared, and the army turned around to face the gate.

"My soldiers, my brave soldiers. Today, you ride forth in defense of your homes, of your kingdom. You will face down an enemy that is determined to take away our sense of security and our sense of freedom. You, all of you, will be remembered forever for your service to your kingdom. Your names will be honored, should you fall in this noble quest. A grateful kingdom awaits your return, should you weather the enemy's assault, and reward and honors will be waiting for you as well. Thank you all, my brave warriors. Now ride!"

The soldiers loudly cheered, and they proceeded to ride forward. Eren took a deep breath, and guided his own horse forward. King Levi watched the army depart. The soft sound of a sob caught his attention. He turned to see Queen Petra hugging Mikasa, who's face was buried into the other woman's chest. Petra looked at Levi, who was taken off guard by the sight.

The army rode through the day, beyond the grassy hills and reaching the base of mountains they'd need to navigate. Camp was set for the night, with Eren tasked with securing the perimeter.

"How long do you reckon it would take to navigate those mountains?" fellow soldier Thomas asked him.

"Commander says at least the week"

"Yes, but that's on paper. That doesn't take into account weather. And who's to say Marley aren't hidden-"

"Thomas, paranoia like this is not healthy. Especially on the first day of riding to war. So please, calm yourself"

Thomas sighed. "I'm sorry. I just...miss home"

"So do we all. Which is why we should keep our mind clear so we can focus on the job needing done, and be able to return home"

The two men were surprised to hear the sound of the royal horn sound. They ran back towards the camp, where the royal herald was stood near the fire. Their commander looked their way as they approached.

"Yeager?"

Eren's brow furrowed. "Yes, sir?"

The commander looked to the herald. He cleared his throat.

"Your presence has been recalled to the kingdom. The King has issued you the position of personal guard to the princess"

Eren felt a pang of disappointment in his chest, realizing what had been done.

"Yeager, prepare your mount and return with the herald"

Eren nodded, bidding farewell to Thomas and the other men before climbing onto his horse and following the herald away from the camp. They rode through the night, and by mid morning the next day were back at the kingdom gates. The herald led Eren to the castle and presented him in front of King Levi, with Mikasa sat next to him, a look of great relief on her face. Eren kept his focus on the king.

"My lord" he said, kneeling.

"Eren, it's good to see we were able to catch up to you before you crossed through the mountains. The former bodyguard to our princess here has elected to retire after all these years, and it is important whoever serves in that role is one she, and more importantly I, can trust to protect her. Will you fulfill this task?"

"I will, my lord"

Levi rose. He produced his sword, performing the act of accolade as he tapped Eren on the shoulders with the blade.

"You are now Sir Eren of the Ackerman court. Rise"

Eren complied. He spoke with Levi for a moment longer before the king exited alongside the herald. Mikasa rose from her throne and walked over to Eren.

"Welcome back, Eren" she said quietly, hugging him. She pulled away however, feeling the slight tension in him. Her smile slipped slightly and looked a little confused.

"Mikasa...you pulled strings for this. Didn't you?" he didn't sound angry, but his disappointment was evident.

"W...well"

He sighed. "Mikasa...you really shouldn't have done that"

The herald peeked his head back into the room and gestured to Eren to come over. Eren nodded, headed out of the room. Mikasa followed him a few feet.

"I don't understand" she said. Eren stopped, turning back to her.

"Mikasa, something very important to me in the years of knowing you was to never take advantage of you. Because you being the princess, it was incidental to why I care about you. And I never wanted anyone to ever see you as someone who gave preferential treatment to me, or anyone. I just...can't help now but feel I abused our friendship"

He then walked away, Mikasa remaining in the throne room looking now to the ground feeling ashamed.

He undertook his role as her bodyguard the following day, accompanying her on a visit to the nearby Reiss royal family. They mostly kept quiet around each other for the start of the journey, not having fallen out but from a sense of slight distance after their last talk. The travelling party was stopped for a small rest, Eren stood a distance away surveying the land ahead for any potential dangers. Mikasa was sat on the grass having a lunch, but she was not feeling terribly hungry, and would often look over to Eren solemnly. She eventually stood, walking over to him and pulling at his sleeve to get his attention. He nodded at her lightly before looking back towards their destination.

"You weren't the one who abused our friendship, Eren. I did that"

He turned back to her.

"I realize I wasn't being fair to you doing what I did. I trust you'd be a strong fighter, I do. I just...got really scared I'd never get to see you again. I can't let my fears override everything else all the time, and I can't use them as a reason to take away your own agency. I'm really sorry, Eren. I hope that I haven't irreparably damaged our friendship"

Well, that's definitely not the case Eren thought to himself. The sound of a soft rustling caught his attention, turning his head sharply to catch if anything dangerous was coming their way. However, he smiled softly, lightly tapping Mikasa's arm.

"Do you see that?" he asked. She looked to where he was pointing and smiled herself: three deer, which seems to be a mother and her two children, had appeared, grazing the grass. Eren motioned for her to lie flat with him, not wanting to scare them. They watched them quietly for a little bit. 

He rubbed her back. "You didn't damage anything, Mikasa. Don't worry" he said. Their eyes met and they smiled, Mikasa nuzzling against him slightly as they returned to watching the deer.

Two years passed. They were now 23, Eren still serving diligently as her bodyguard. Once again, both of them felt their feelings for the other grow stronger. This time, their having to store them away began to hurt, as Mikasa was now being actively courted by royal suitors, none of whom she had any interests in. Eren always accepted this was to be the case, but he could not ignore the envy and sorrow felt whenever Mikasa sat with these suitors.

It was presently some prince named Floch who's royal family made the pilgrimage to negotiate for Mikasa's hand in marriage. She had always humored Levi by sitting with these men, but she was always able to convince him that the union would not be successful. This Floch's family however offered the Ackermans a more stronger position in their region, being the last of the other families to not be in diplomatic connection with them. It was seen by all that Mikasa marrying Floch would go a long way in guaranteeing ties. With the momentum seeming to swing towards a marriage being decided, Mikasa grew depressed. It was noticeable to anyone looking at her during events. Eren and Armin did their best to try and lift her spirits, but spending time with Eren or just looking his way would make Mikasa's heart sink deeper.

He was escorting her around the royal garden. She had been told that morning that Floch would officially be offering her his proposal the next day so she was not really able to think about anything else except that, and the unhappiness it brought her. Eren was doing his best to take her (and his own) mind off the impending engagement, so he was prattling on about flowers.

"Armin was going on and on about how each flower has their own meaning. He says that about alot of different things though. Like how colors hold meaning, or seasons. He ever tell you anything like that?"

"He did, a little" she said softly.

"Let's say I quiz you then" he said, thinking perhaps a little game would do the trick. He scoured the garden, pointing towards a batch of hollyhocks.

"What do those mean?"

She looked over.

"Armin said ambition, I think"

"And what about those flowers over there?"

He was referring to the Edelweiss. She thought a moment.

"I...think courage, I'm not too sure"

"Hmm" Eren sounded, trying to find something that could prove challenging. "Okay. What about those?"

Mikasa looked, and when she did it felt like her heart shattered.

Red chrysanthemums.

Eren heard her start to cry, deeply alarmed as to what happened.

"Mikasa? What's wrong?"

She didn't answer, wrapping her arms around herself and crying harder. Eren moved quickly to remove her from potentially public eyes and led her back into a secluded part of the castle's rear. He had her sit down on a stool.

"Mikasa, why are you crying?"

"I don't...want to marry him" she wept, wiping at her eyes. "I don't want to marry him"

"Hey..Mikasa you'll be-"

She shook her head. "I won't be happy with him. I know I won't be"

"Mik-"

"Eren. Whoever I marry, I want to know that I love that person. The only person I love like that, the only person I would ever love like that is....you"

His eyes widened. She looked up at him.

"I love you Eren. I've loved you for a very long time. Do you love me?"

Oh god, why did she have to ask this? he thought. Of course I love you.

He looked down, lips firming into a light frown. "I....can't love you like that. Even if..."

She tilted his head up to face her again. Please finish your thought, Eren.

He chose not to finish, lightly clutching her hand in his. "Mikasa. My lady. A woman of your standing is only worthy of a man of equal value-"

"Please don't talk like that. You are much more valuable to me than any prince or king out there"

"Even still. I am not of royal heritage. It just can’t be". It pained him to tell her this, but he had to stand by the reality of their situation. "Mikasa, you'll make a great wife to a great man. Whether that's Prince Floch, or whoever else, they'll be so fortunate to have you"

She didn't reply, remaining in her quiet heartbreak.

He rose to his feet. "Mikasa, given all of this, I don't think it's appropriate for me to remain your bodyguard"

Her head shot up. "Ere-"

"I'll wait until tomorrow to step aside, but I have to Mikasa".

For both of our sakes.

He leaned outside and motioned for some guards. "You take some time to compose yourself, okay? These men will watch over you"

He was gone before she could stop him.

King Levi sat in his throne, lost in thought. The chamber doors opened, and he saw Mikasa walk in, the royal herald hurrying to catch up.

"Your highness, the princ-"

"Yes, I indeed see that the princess is here. Thank you"

The herald nodded slightly with a fumble before turning back and leaving the room, leaving the two royals alone.

"It's a rather late hour for an audience" Levi said. "Is something the matter?"

Mikasa took a breath in.

"Levi, I love you deeply as my king, and more importantly as my brother. I always know that you seek the best for me. And I always strive to do what I can to support and help you and our kingdom. But I have made a decision today, one that could affect things for you in way of the diplomacy of our kingdom. I will not be accepting Prince Floch's proposal"

Levi sat straight. "Mikasa, that's-"

"Please, Levi, I need to say this" she said firmly. "It is not in part of wanting to hamper relations with his house, nor direct disrespect to him. But my heart does not belong to him. Ever since I was a girl, it has belonged to only one person. And you know who that person is"

Yeager Levi thought to himself.

"You know it is against customs for you to love him"

"I do. That custom is something I truly hate with all my heart because it is forcing me to be kept from him. So it is why I have decided, in addition to not accepting Prince Floch's proposal, I will not marry. Ever"

"....what?"

"I will not marry anyone that I do not love. I would rather grow old alone, without a family of my own, then to marry a man who I do not love. I love Eren. I will always love Eren. My heart will only ever be his. And if customs are to refuse me my ability to love him, then so be it. I'll love him from afar, and never take a husband. I hate that this may strain things between us, brother, but I cannot live this life married to anyone else. I'm sorry"

With that, Mikasa took her leave. Levi was left speechless and stunned.

Eren and Armin sat eating dinner later that evening.

"Are you sure that's the best choice, Eren? Retiring your post, is that not a little excessive?"

"Armin, if I kept that role, it would hurt both of us. Constant reminder, you know?"

Armin poured some more coffee into his cup. "Well then, what would you do?"

Eren was about to answer when a hard thump landed on their door. The men exchanged looks before Eren rose to answer. A cloaked figure stood before him, lifting said cloak up to reveal Levi.

"K-King Levi?" Eren asked. Armin gagged slightly on his coffee.

"Would I be able to enter?"

"O-of course, my lord" Eren said, moving quickly out of the way. The king walked inside.

"Quaint setup you have"

"T-thank you, sir" Armin answered.

"Arlert, I need to speak with Yeager in private. Would you-"

"Of course, right away" the blonde hurried up from his seat, making his way to his room. Levi moved to take his place in the chair, Eren sitting across from him.

"What is it, my lord?"

"I've come over after finishing a particularly difficult discussion with the Forster court. Where I had to inform them that their plans for a union with the princess would not be coming to fruition"

“What? Why is th-“

”Yeager, I’ve been informed also you’re planning to resign your post?”

”Y-yes, I think-“

”Your resignation is rejected. I need the safety of Mikasa to be in hands I actually feel comfortable trusting”

Eren sighed. "I really think-"

“Listen, Yeager, the hour is late, so I’m just going to get straight to the heart of this: how long now have you known the princess?”

”Has to be almost 20 years now”

”20 ye- that’s a little alarming to think about”

Eren just nodded a little.

”Anyway. Would you do anything in your power to do right by her?”

”Yes-“

”Everything in your power to protect her?”

”Yes I-“

”You’d die for her?”

”Of course”

Levi looked impressed. The lack of hesitation in his answers, especially the last one, was not exactly surprising, but was nice to hear them firmly affirmed.

”Okay Yeager. My final question: do you love her?”

Eren froze up. “I…I can’t-“

”I’m not going to have you executed for answering if that’s your concern”

”It’s not that, it’s just I ca-“

”Well, let’s put this way, I will have you executed if you don’t answer. And truthfully at that”

Eren’s heart was racing. He truly never thought he would be in the position to have to answer that question from the king. Is this to firmly make clear how impossible it was? Irritation that the Forster pact was forgone?

"My lord, why are you asking this of me?"

Levi took a sniff of the coffee, Armin made, deciding against pouring himself some. “If I am to make the decree that puts aside an age old custom in order to allow my sister to marry whomever she wishes, I demand to know with flawless certainty the person is not just worthy, but also loves her the same way back. This is the one and only time you get to answer this question. You get it wrong, the chance never-“

"I love her with everything I have in me"

Levi stared intently at Eren for another moment. Not one ounce of a lie on his face. The seriousness of his eyes. He was satisfied. He rose from his chair.

"Be as presentable as you can for tomorrow. Be at the castle by mid morning"

"My-"

"A proposal presentation was all arranged for tomorrow. Would be a shame to not have one" and with that he exited the house. Eren fell back a little into his chair. Armin returned from his room, sharing the same look of shock as Eren.

"Armin, what just happened?"

"You just got the greenlight to both marry the woman you love, and to change history forever. I think I get to document all this!"

Eren chuckled. "I'm happy for you, Armin"

"I'm happy for you, Eren! Aren't you ecstatic?"

"I am. Beyond terrified too though"

"Well, first things first, let's get you presentable"

Mikasa woke the next morning, informed she would still need to go through with the proposal ceremony, despite her decision being of rejection. She sat emotionless as she was dressed and made up for the ceremony. A sense of indifference as she was adorned in her jewelry, and her crown placed on her head.

Endure the ceremony, reject the proposal, return to my quarters were the words that circulated through her mind, as she was escorted from chambers to the throne room. Her presence was announced, and she was led in. Levi watched her from his throne as she stood in front of him, lightly curtsying before him. She would take her seat beside him, giving a small, insincere way towards Armin, who was seated with the King's council members. He could see the blankness in her eyes. Levi also noticed this. He looked away, light smirk on his face as he began the ceremony.

"We are present here today, as a worthy suitor for the hand of my sister, our princess Mikasa, has announced their intentions. I have personally spent a great deal of time listening to them, assessing them, and I am of the firmest opinion they would make for an appropriate match. Would the suitor please be brought forth:

Two guards pulled open the doors, and in walked a man clad in a suit of armor. Levi looked over to Mikasa, who wasn't even looking forward, her attention pointing down to her right. The man walked forward, stopping in the middle of the room.

"Kneel" Levi announced. The man complied. "Would you please remove your helm, and state your name"

The man removed his helm, and Levi side-eyed back to his sister in order to witness the disinterest transform into shock, her eyes brimming brightly again. The small crowd present gasped.

"Eren Yeager, my lord"

Mikasa stood up from her throne.

"Eren Yeager, what are your royal claims?" Levi asked.

"I have none, my lord. I'm just the personal bodyguard for the princess"

"Just the bodyguard for the princess would be a shortchange of yourself, no? You have also been her closest friend since childhood, yes? When you saved her from an abduction plot"

"I have been, my lord"

Levi himself stood from his throne. "This to me satisfies any claims of worthiness. It was made clear to me the other day by the princess herself, that she would never consider any other for marriage, aside from this man before us. He has been her closest friend, her savior, and her protector for years. A royal custom that has been in place for years would serve to prevent this union, but I have made the decision that this custom will not be enforced going forward. So now, Eren Yeager, if your intention is to propose marriage, please make your request"

The king looked towards Mikasa. The look of joy on her face warmed his heart. He gestured with his hand for her to go to Eren. She was almost running, standing before Eren within seconds and taking hold of Eren's hands.

"My lady, would-"

"Yes"

He smiled, a tiny laugh coming from his lips.

"I think I need to ask you properly for it to fulfill formalities" he whispered to her.

"Right" she replied, trying her best to not also laugh as well as cry with happiness.

"My lady, would I be able to take your hand-"

"Yes" she said again, a laugh fumbling out.

"in marriage?"

"Yes. I accept, I accept"

Eren rose to his feet, and he wrapped his arms around her as they shared their first kiss. A sound of applause from the crowd erupted, Armin clapping loudest. Levi took his seat in his throne, taking great pleasure in the happy sight. Their marriage a year from that day was one of the biggest events the kingdom had ever seen, and their four children would serve as enduring reminders of the love between the princess, and the boy who saved her.

Chapter Text

The boy first began noticing the woman one summer day. This woman had been his neighbor his whole life, but she led a very secluded life. No one on the street knew her name, merely referring to her as “The Scarfed Woman”. She was rarely ever seen out in public. When she was sighted, she was always either going to or returning from the lone tree seated upon a hill. Her appearance always seemed to stay the same: long greying hair pulled into a ponytail. Pink cardigan accompanied with a burgundy scarf. Her pilgrimage would always follow the same pattern: climb the hill and sit from morning until sundown, before climbing back down the hill and returning to virtual nonexistence.

The citizens of the town would seem to leave the tree be, referring to the spot as sacred and electing to not disturb it. The boy would overhear his mother discussing the woman with another person, and his interest was piqued. The tree was visible from his bedroom window, so he would peek out from time to time, trying to catch sight of the woman. Sure enough, four days later, her distant figure could be seen climbing the hill. And when he checked hours later, the woman was still sat under the tree.

"My theory is that The Scarfed Woman is fulfilling a pact with the devil. She sits under that tree, she protects the town from destruction" one foolish friend suggested.

"Who makes a pact with the devil to just sit under a tree? Don't be dumb. What I think it is, she planted that tree herself, way back when she was a girl, and is simply maintaining it" another more logical but still foolish friend suggested.

"That's so lame. Besides, that tree is definitely much older than she is"

Their female friend shook her head. "She's probably just taking time away from this town given the utter idiots who live here. Why is her just sitting quietly so interesting to you?"

"Because!......it's just super weird"

"You're super weird, I'm going home"

She left, while the other two closed in on the boy.

"Well, she may not care, but we're getting to the bottom of it. Tonight"

The boy squirmed, deeply uncomfortable with this. But caving to their pressure, he agreed to meet them later that night.

They brought one lantern with them to light their path, tasking the boy with carrying it. He was greatly scared in this situation, recalling the way this place was considered "sacred". Would their intrusion here unleash some form of bad luck?

"Bring the light over here, we're getting closer" the foolish boy said.

The boy obliged despite his fear. He handed the lantern off to the boy leading them. The base of the tree came into view, and the light shone onto the tree's secret: a gravestone.

"Here forever rest peacefully, my most beloved, my dear. 854" the fool read.

"Why is there a grave here?" the logical one said, sounding a mixture of confused and disappointed. "The town graveyard has more than enough space"

A snap of fingers. "What reason would there be to bury a body away from public eye?"

"You're not suggesting she killed them?"

"Sitting here on guard to deter people from looking into it. This is a murder scene!"

The boy just looked between them. He wanted to encourage them it was time to leave, but they were too loud to hear him. He looked behind them, and he felt his blood run cold. Another light was quickly making it's way up to them. He was able to make a noise loud enough for the other two to hear, and they panicked.

"RUN!" the fool bellowed, running away with the lantern as the logical one followed. The boy couldn't seem to move, just frozen stiff in fear and forcing him to watch the light move closer and closer to him, until eventually The Scarfed Woman's face was illuminated by her light. There was no specific emotion on her face, no anger or confusion or hurt. Just a blank enough expression that still sent a shiver down his spine.

"It is most disrespectful to disturb the dead at night" she flatly said when she stopped in front of him.

The boy couldn't speak, stammering an attempt to apologize.

"You are my neighbor's son, are you not?"

He swallowed. "Y..y-yes"

Her blank stare continued to bore into his eyes. "You've never seemed to be interested in me or this tree before. Why the change?"

The fear had subsided, replaced with a guilty feeling he'd have as if his grandmother was scolding him over something he had done wrong. He hung his head low.

"I...I just got too curious. I'm sorry"

The woman seemed to accept this. She walked by him to shine her light on the grave, likely to assess if he or the others had damaged it.

"Your friends trampled the flowers I laid here"

"I'll replace them, I promise"

She shook her head. "There is no need. I'll do so"

She walked over to the right of the grave, and sat down on the ground beside it.

"A-are you not returning home?" the boy asked. The woman again shook her head.

"Not right now"

The boy figured this was a silent but firm way of telling him it was time to leave. A question still stuck in his head.

"Can...can I ask? Who is it that’s buried here?"

She looked at the gravestone. "Someone very special to me"

No more prying the boy thought. He began to walk away, but turned back once more. The woman, though not sleeping, had her eyes closed.

"Miss? You've been my neighbor my whole life, and I've never learned your name. Can I ask what it is?"

The Scarfed Woman sat silent for a moment, before reopening her eyes and answering. "Yeager. Mrs. Yeager"

A mystery solved for himself, he nodded. "Okay, Mrs. Yeager. I'll leave you be now" he said, running off. She remained on the hill for what seemed like the rest of the night, And for all warm spring and summer days, she would expand her visits to include sitting up there all night. Likely to shoo away any future prying and nosy kids from disturbing the grave.

A year passed. The boy would continue seeing Mrs. Yeager up on the hill. He never let his friends in on his discussion with her. As he felt he himself knew too much about her, they certainly did not need to know anything more. There was a day where they saw her on the hill as they walked by, and decided they were going to confront her about what was going on. The boy fought to catch up to stop them as they got a bit closer to her, but he didn't need to as suddenly, a bird swooped past their heads, scaring the other boys badly and sending them running away. The boy tried to see where the bird went, but it was already gone. He looked towards her, where she seemed to be looking up towards where the bird had been with a small smile on her face. The boy made his leave.

Many years flew by, the boy now becoming a man. He would continue seeing her, and would now share a wave with her as she came and went. He stopped hanging out with the other boys, growing closer to his female friend. One day, he was walking with her when they came across Mrs. Yeager returning from the hill. Her hair was now fully grey, and was now walking with a cane. The man introduced the two women to each other, and he noticed a look of melancholy growing in her eyes. She warmly greeted the female friend, and suddenly leaned in to whisper into her ear. She pulled back, and with a tiny smile she left. The man's female friend looked taken aback, and was burning a deep red in her face.

"What did she say?" he asked.

"I...it's a secret" she said quickly, and they kept on their way.

Mrs. Yeager passed away two years later. The man had seen her make her last pilgrimage the day before, and when he was passing by the next afternoon, he realized she had not come back down. He went up, and saw her peacefully sat next to that aging gravestone. The man and his female friend, now his wife, took the initiative to handle her funeral. On the first day after her passing, an old man came over to her house. The man noticed this and went over to greet him.

"Hello, sir?"

The old man looked to him. "Hello, young man. You're my friend's neighbor, no?"

The man was surprised. He didn't realize Mrs. Yeager had actually been in touch with anyone at all. "I was, yes"

"She mentioned you here and there. I was told of her passing by the hospital you brought her body to"

"H..how did you know her?"

"Oh, she was one of my very best friends. All the way from when we were children"

"Then...I'd imagine you'd wish to take over the arrangements"

The old man nodded softly. "No intended offense, I just know what she was wishing to have done"

"I understand"

The old man stuck his hand out. "My name is Armin Arlert by the way. It's a pleasure to meet you"

The man shook it. "I'm Aris"

Armin's expression turned into slight confusion. "What was it, sorry?"

"Aris, sir"

"Ah" Armin replied. "Right, sorry. I'd thought...thought I heard you say something else. Hard of hearing a bit these days"

Aris would help Armin as much as he could. A quiet burial on the hill was all she had wanted done. The man, his wife and Armin would be the only attendants aside from the undertaker, who was waiting atop the hill for the three to climb it. Aris was helping Armin up, supporting him by the arm.

"Mr. Arlert, might I ask why you chose to have the ceremony before sundown?"

Armin smiled. "Ah. I heard an old myth once, where when a body is buried at twilight, you see the spirit of the person appear one last time, as they leave this earth with the sun. Guess I was curious to see if it truly happened"

The three arrived at the top. A lone chair was next to the coffin, which Aris helped Armin sit down on. He looked into the coffin. Aris took note of her still wearing that red scarf of hers, and the white lilies covering her.

He turned to Armin, a sad smile on the old man's face as he looked at his departed friend. "Well, Mikasa. It seems the day you would get to follow him again has come. I've struggled on some days, wishing your remaining time here wasn't in essence a long waiting game. But it was the life you chose, and the life you were content with. I miss those days we were all of us together. I wish that was the life we could all enjoy. I wish it was the life that you could've found your truest peace in. But our world was just not willing to allow this. I do not know where you have gone to now. I pray it's where he is too. And I pray if you are both there, then you can have that true peace you couldn't have here. I love you. I miss you. Farewell for now"

The group remained silent for half of an hour, before the undertaker closed the casket, and began lowering it into the ground. Armin had seemed to have fallen asleep as the undertaker shoveled dirt in to fill the grave. The sun began plunging down, the warm colors of orange mixing with the disappearing yellow. Aris looked to the right of the undertaker, and his eyes widened. There was Mrs. Yeager, her as a young woman with raven black hair to her chin, still clad in her pink cardigan and red scarf, watching as her grave was filled. She looked up to Aris, soft smile towards him. He looked to his wife, who was similarly looking surprised. He looked back, a small wave towards the woman. She waved back.

The undertaker finished their work, and made their leave down the hill. The apparition of Mrs. Yeager looked to her right, towards the tree. It seemed she saw something, her eyes shooting wide, causing her to run and disappear past the tree. Aris and his wife ran over to see what it was, carefully avoiding stepping on her fresh grave and rounding the tree. Just a ways away heading down the other slope of the hill, he saw Mrs. Yeager hugging tightly onto a young man, him hugging her tightly back, both exchanging passionate, tearful kisses. The young man placed his hands on her cheeks, her doing the same with him, and they just gazed at one another with joy-filled eyes. Aris saw the young man then look towards him, a set of deep green eyes staring towards him. Aris felt a little scared for a second, thinking the man was not appreciating his spectating of this moment. The man would however wave over to Aris. Mrs. Yeager, hugging onto the man, smiled back to Aris as well. All Aris felt now was happiness at the sight, waving and smiling back at them. He felt his wife take hold of his hand. They shared a look before turning back to the two spirits.

"You see them?" they heard Armin ask. Aris nodded. A surge of confusion went through him, prompting him to look back to the older man.

"How'd you know there was another?"

He gestured towards the aging gravestone. "I'd figured he would be waiting for her the same way she was waiting to join him"

"Don't you want to see them?"

Armin thought a moment before shaking his head with a smile. "I'll see them again soon enough"

Aris turned back towards the tree, seeing the two walking away hand in hand. They were halfway through the field ahead when the sun finally set, and they faded away.

Armin rose and departed, assuring Aris and his wife he would be fine to leave on his own. They weren't too far behind him anyway.

"I wanted to ask you" Aris said, tapping his wife on the shoulder. "That time Mrs. Yeager met you, what was it she whispered to you?"

His wife smiled. "She told me not to wait"

"...wait for what?"

She leaned in and kissed his cheek. "To tell you I loved you"

Chapter Text

The sound beating mercifully seemed to be coming to an end. An ashen, devastated looking Mikasa observing one dear friend brutalize the other. Moments after having unleashed a cruel and vile verbal attack towards her as well.

I've always hated you. The words still ring in her ears alongside the angry sounds of his thrashing of Armin. They still shatter every piece of her heart, still poison all the memories she cherishes of being with Eren. He's hated her all that time? The day he gave her life again? The day in the field?

The thought hurt, and she tearfully clutched at her scarf, a marker of what she thought was her and Eren’s deep bond.

"Please. Please stop"

Eren did, leaving his beaten friend kneeling on the floor, his eyes wide. He pointed to Gabi.

"Get her out of here"

The two Yeagerists with him complied, escorting the girl from the room. He looked back towards Armin and Mikasa, cold contempt in his eyes.

"We don’t need to fight. Just say where Zeke-"

The soft chuckle coming from Armin cut him off. He looked down.

"Can’t really see what’s so amusing for you. If you-"

"We're the cattle. We're the cattle"

Armin spoke with a mocking taunt, his chuckling transformed into full fledged laughter at a manic rate. Armin was positively howling. Eren rolled his eyes, the empty and cold gaze pointing away from them as he headed for the door.

"Enjoy your laughter for now, you'll be coming with us-"

"Aww, am I hurting your ego, Yeager? Making your little song and dance look embarrassing?"

Eren looked back to Armin, indifferent still.

"I'm assuming this is an attempt to provoke me? A bit desperate, no?"

Armin's laughter simmered a bit. "You tell me. Haven't you seen what I say and do before?"

This caused Eren's eyebrow to raise. "What-"

"You want provocation Eren? Okay. When was it exactly you forgot all about mommy? Wasn't all of this, joining the Survey Corps, killing the Titans, because you miss your mommy?”

Mikasa saw this seemed to get to Eren, his body turning back towards them. "Shut. Up" he growled through gritted teeth, pointing at the blonde. Armin wasn't through though, acting almost incredulous.

"Seriously, you're still committing to the act? I didn't see this part at all! You're so far off script at this point"

Eren glared. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

Armin mock gasped. "Oh no! Are you- Don't tell me you didn’t intend to do what you did just now!"

“You goaded that beat-“

“Not that, you fucking idiot! That’s what you’ve always been, right? That stupid suicidal bastard who wanted to avenge mommy, but he was just..never..strong enough to do anything to achieve that. You know what I think that bitch is thinking-"

Mikasa near enough interjected at this point, shocked at Armin for calling Mrs. Jaeger that. However, it was Eren that marched over to him, grabbing him by his collar, glare deepening as he leaned in. “This is your last chance to explain yourself before I take you out back and inherit the Colossal Titan from you”

Armin just shook his head. "These past four years, you could've spent them finding the alternatives to what you've been seeing, you'd have had more time than you do now. More time to end Ymir's curse, more time to find a peaceful way. You could've even had that life with Mikasa. Instead, you've wasted it just going through the motions. Never once thinking to walk another way when you found yourself stuck on the path to oblivion. Instead, you sit there, call me weak, compare Mikasa to obedient cattle, rip her heart out, dare to call her a slave, and here you are, performing like the little obedient cattle yourself, acting out your part in the future you seem steadfast to endure despite not wanting it, steadfast in trying to force us to hate you to make it easier. For who exactly? You? This sounding right?”

Eren’s eyes shot wide. Armin aggressively rested his head against Eren's.

"I saw it all Eren, every square inch of your plan. I advise you don't start playing poker. You seem to show your hand long before you mean to"

Eren threw him back against the shelf and turned away. Mikasa ran over to Armin. He wiped his mouth.

"You see, Mikasa, whether he meant to or not, Eren just shared with me those memories of his. I don't know if that's some hidden facet of the Founder, to share knowledge with other Shifters, but I saw what was in his head. He's going to activate the Titans in the walls. He's going to destroy 80% of humanity. All to have us kill him so that the people of Paradis look like heroes"

Mikasa gasped, looking over to Eren. 

"That's not all. He's bullshitting about the Ackerman bond. He's doing this, what he's saying to us right now, to get us to sever our ties to him. So that when the time comes, we won't hesitate. Well, to hell with you, Eren. I'm not playing along with this. I can guarantee you Mikasa won't either"

She wasn't sure what to say or to think. Is Eren really just pretending?

Eren stood silently. Suddenly, he punched the wall near him.

"DAMNIT. FUCKING DAMNIT"

His last word lost the rage he had, sounding almost akin to a whimper. He looked over to them, that cold, indifferent expression no longer there. Desperation and sadness taking their place. The slice to his hand began to steam, indicating he was healing it.

"You don't think I haven't thought of trying to find another way?!" he shouted. "No matter what I do, or think, nothing, NOTHING ever seems to lead away from this!"

Armin got to his feet. "There's plenty of better ways! You might not be able to see them, but I could be able to, if you talk to me, talk to Mikasa, talk to Hange, or Levi, any of us! We are all in this together, you and me especially given what we are holding within us. Destroying everything outside of Paradis, radicalizing most of Paradis and creating a civil war in a sense, it's not going to change anything. No one will be totally free doing this"

Eren dropped to his knees. "Why does it just seem like at this point I can't have both life and freedom?"

"You can live, if you really try to. And you can be free, it just depends how realistic it can be"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, is freedom to you having no enemies? Is freedom having free reign on yourself? I feel as if we do, at least in the context of not having the curse of Ymir over us. I've grown to believe that, frankly, there's no real true full fledged freedom, you know? We're always going to be shackled to some kind of holdback, like time, or sickness. So freedom is to me having my own free reign. And right now, Ymir's curse is stopping this. So that's what my mission will be. I want to end it. I want to live more than the 9 years I have left. I want to go out to this world, and leave behind all this bullshit about devils and political rifts and whatever. I want to see the world I read about, and we can do that together still, you me and Mikasa. And I am sorry for disrespecting your mother. I am. But really think about who she was, and what she wanted for you and from you. Just work with us, we can figure this out without all this bloodshed. You've been seeing what you think is the path needing to be taken. I say let's take the other path. Please, Eren"

Armin felt himself stick out his hand, and his heart stop in anticipation. Mikasa also watched this with bated breath. Would that actually have worked? Could that actually have? Is Eren just too far gone?

Armin believed initially Eren was smacking his hand away, but soon felt his friend hold it. Eren stood, still looking to the floor.

"I...have to find a way to settle down the Yeagerists-"

"We, damnit. We, Eren"

Eren nodded. "I'm sorry"

Mikasa just stood silent, relieved that it seemed Eren was no longer so...clinical. But she couldn't help but notice he would not look her in the eye.

Eren's about-face sent a massive ripple effect. Floch and the more hardcore of the Yeagerists were apoplectic. And Zeke was certain at first that Eren was not acting sound of mind, or manipulated, but when the two brothers talked at length, the eldest drew back from the plot as well, assured the punishment towards Marley would be dealt in a better way. Gabi and Falco were placed in a protected location, to wait for an opportunity to be sent home or to help negotiate with Marley on Paradis' behalf. It also took alot of doing to reassure the Survey Corps that Eren had stepped back from the edge. Eren sat with Zeke in a cell for over a week. In this time, the Yeagerists were either rounded up for jailing, with some managing to be deradicalized. Mikasa, Armin, Levi and Hange entered the dungeon, escorting Floch amongst other unsalvageable members. Floch stopped in front of Eren's cell.

"I thought....I thought you understood what needed to be done. I thought you were the one to save us"

Eren didn't look at him. "I'm sorry you feel I have betrayed you"

Floch looked forward with a scoff. "You didn't betray me. You betrayed yourself"

Levi pushed Floch forward, and they disappeared from view. Hange, with Mikasa and Armin, looked in at Eren and Zeke. It was a bit reassuring to Hange to see Eren no longer looking so villainous, his hair back short and that angry presence in his eyes from when they last met like this not there anymore, a peaceful regret in it's place.

"What is there to be done about your spinal fluid? Several members of the military, as well as the boy Falco, are endangered from it"

Zeke nodded a bit. "It would need to be activated to work. And be in hearing distance of the scream. So long as I do not activate it, they'll be safe. And whether it means anything or not, I give my word I will not activate it. With any luck, their bodies will at some point flush it out naturally"

"I'll need to see it to believe it" the returning Levi said. Hange cleared her throat.

"Eren, you realize how difficult it's going to be to truly trust you again, right?"

Eren nodded. "I understand. I thrust all of you into a dangerously difficult position. I will put in all the necessary work to regain your confidence"

Hange looked at him intently. "All of what happened, was what you saw what you believed needed to happen?"

"It....just seemed like the only choice. That there wasn't another way. Thanks to Armin....I saw it was because I was only seeing the paths I could see. Not the ones he or you or anyone could"

"Did you have any role in the assassination of Darius Zackley?"

"I was told it was done, I did not give the order for it to occur"

Hange looked to Levi, who just gave a slight shrug.

"Yeager, we do this, we restore trust in you, and you pull this shit again, there will be no period of consideration, no jailing. It'll be over. Clear?"

Eren nodded. "I want to live, Captain. I can't really put that any other way. I do not want to be the thing I swore to destroy"

Levi stared at him, satisfied, before handing the jail key to Mikasa, who unlocked it. Eren rose, Zeke following. Levi pointed in his direction.

"I have some words I wish to share with you. Come with me"

Zeke complied, following Levi out and down the hall to the right. Eren joined Hange, Mikasa and Armin, and exited to the left. Once outside of the dungeons, Hange held her hand out to Eren.

"It's good to have you back, Eren"

Eren shook her hand. "Thank you"

"Arlert, with me"

Armin gave Eren a small nod before following Hange. Eren began to walk away when he felt his wrist grasped onto.

"Eren"

He stopped, her voice almost seemingly freezing him in place. He still wouldn't look at her though.

"We...haven't spoken since that day. And you don't seem to want to look my way. I think...maybe this means what you said then-"

"Absolutely not" he answered.

"Then, why won't you look at me?"

Eren stared forward. "I....really don't think I can anymore. After what I said to you, I don't think I have the right"

Mikasa walked to stand in front of him. He cast his gaze down, but she tilted his head up. He finally looked into her eyes, and he felt his own started to sting from shame.

"How could you want to ever want to-"

She placed her hand against his chest. "Because it's you, Eren"

"You heard what Armin said, I ripped your heart out"

"You tried to"

"Even trying to is unforgivable"

"I forgive you"

"Please don't"

She shook her head. "That's too bad. I am deciding for myself, not because of some Ackerman bond, to forgive you. You can't change that"

Eren closed his eyes, tears streaming down his cheeks. "You don't deserve all of my bullshit. You really don't. I don't think there's anything I can do to ever atone for it all"

Mikasa cupped his hand in-between both of hers. "You want to atone? Then never do anything stupid like trying to make me hate you ever again. Okay?"

He didn't say anything. He just silently patted her on the hand with the faintest of smiles. He looked down the hallway.

"Jean...Connie, I should go apologize to them. About Sash-"

She took hold of his face again, pointing it back to her. "Apologize for what you did, not what you didn't. You didn't kill Sasha"

"Mikasa, if it hadn't been for me, she wouldn't have needed to be in Marley. I need to accept my role in that"

She thought about disputing this further, but she knew she really couldn't. A simple nod of acceptance.

"Will...you come with me?" he asked.

"Of course"

Eren led them down the hall. Mikasa was again feeling relieved to know where they both stood now. Some questions still remained for her however.

It was a few weeks later, and she was paying another visit to Sasha's grave. Sitting next to the stone marking her fallen friend's name, it was a mixture of deep melancholy but also solace. A fleeting few moments she can take to think and remember.

"Mikasa? I hope I'm not disturbing you"

She opened her eyes to see Eren in front of her. She stood from her crouched position.

"Not at all, I was just- Eren, is that..?"

She saw in his hand a cone, similar to the one she had in Marley that day. He nodded.

"I was talking to Niccolo. Surprised he could stomach my presence at all"

"Eren-"

He raised his other hand. "It's okay. We talked about alot, namely Sasha. I just happened to mention the ice cream and that I wished I gave it a try. I figured remembering someone else experiencing it isn't really the same thing. Anyway, he happened to have some"

"Do you like it?"

He smiled, rubbing his temple. "I do. Hurts the head a little bit though"

Mikasa smirked. "Like if your brain was freezing?"

"Exactly. You felt it as well?"

She shook her head. "Sasha and Connie dealt with it pretty bad. They ate so much so fast"

He held the cone to her. "Want to share?"

She took the cone, and they both sat down next to Sasha's grave.

"Mmm. This one's a different flavor" she said.

"Strawberry. Reminds me of the ones mom would always bring home from the market"

Mikasa felt herself smiling at a memory of hers coming to her mind. "I used to pick strawberries with my mom. She'd let me eat as many as I wanted. Just so long as we had enough to bring home"

They shared a smile. Eren looked between them at Sasha's grave, resting his hand against it. They sat in silence for a few minutes, passing the cone back and forth.

"Eren?"

"Hmm?"

He saw her looking uncertain, wanting to ask something as she looked down at the cone.

"When Armin was breaking through to you, telling you about what you could've been doing? He mentioned something about "that life". What did he mean?"

His slight discomfort was evident. He let out another hmm as he looked up, picturing in his head what she meant.

"When it felt like the path I was going down was the only option, there was a moment where It seemed like there was one lone point that could diverge from it. The trip to Marley, that night when I asked "what am I to you?", that was that point"

Mikasa felt her cheeks warm a bit, remembering the moment well. "You mean, had I answered differently-"

"Yeah"

"I-I'm sorry Eren. It's my fau-"

"Stop that"

She looked at him, a slight sternness in his eyes.

"You are absolutely not to blame for my actions"

"What would've happened, if I did answer different?"

He slid his jaw a bit, mulling what he would say.

"I don't think I'm going to say. At least, not right now anyway. I'm going to follow Armin's lead down the other path to figure a way to end the curse, but if we don't, I don't want to get your hopes up. Because that life is the life I want you to have. The life....I want to have. So if we crack this thing, whatever day that may be, I'll tell you about it then. Okay?"

She nodded. "Okay"

She took another lick from the cone.

"Ah" she winced, putting her hand to her head. Eren laughed a little.

"There it is"

She looked to him with amusement. "Don't laugh"

He moved his hand to rub her head. "It goes away quick, don't worry"

She moved her hand to rest atop his, and they smiled at one another. It may be they can't stop Ymir's curse. But she took comfort in knowing they'll do all they can to do so together.

Chapter Text

Jean glowered over towards where Eren, Mikasa and Armin were seated at dinner that night. It never stops gnawing at his brain how a truly idiotic and undeserving person like Eren could have the full, undivided devotion a girl like Mikasa was giving to him. The utter concern and care she showered him with, that he'd then demonstrate irritation towards, drove him up the wall.

"This is bullshit" Jean muttered to himself. "Total bullshit"

These mutterings caught the attention of Connie, who flashed him a confused look. "What are you mumbling about there, Jean?"

Jean looked at him confused for a moment, before realizing he had been speaking out loud. He sighed out of annoyance. "Nothing. Just Jaeger"

"Still? You've been butting heads since we started training"

Jean jabbed at his soup with his spoon. "He just gets on my nerves. Look at him over there, look at how Mikasa fusses over him, and he couldn't care less. That's not fair"

Sasha, while sucking down her meal, had been eavesdropping in. "Jean, why are you so fixated on them?"

"Because she deserves someone who actually cares about her affection?"

"She got engaged to him, so he must pay it back to her in some way for her to agree to marry him"

"Huh?!" Jean and Connie both said, Jean with surprised outrage, Connie with confusion.

Sasha gestured a little with her spoon. "Her scarf"

"That's...fabric, that's not an indication of engagement. You need a ring for that" Jean said, huffing at having listened to this. Sasha shook her head.

"People in my village don't do that. They just use special mementos. My father asked my mother to marry him by offering her his jacket"

"Yeager and Mikasa are not from your village though"

Sasha shrugged. "True. But all I know is Mikasa deeply cares for Eren, and her most precious possession is that scarf, which he gave her. so...:"

Jean looked over again to Eren and Mikasa. Eren tore half of his breadroll off and offered it to Mikasa. She declined, seeming to insist he eat his full meal. Jean loudly sighed in irritation, and this caught Eren's attention.

"What's your issue, Jean? Soup not hot enough for you?"

"Oh shut up, Yeager"

"Huh? The hell did I do?"

"Why are you going and getting engaged when you want to get yourself killed fighting the Titans?"

Eren looked to his two friends with intense befuddlement. "What in the hell are you talking about Jean?"

Jean leapt to his feet. "YOU! Asking Mikasa to marry you with that scarf!"

Mikasa turned deep red, holding her scarf and looking at it. Eren also stood, ready for another confrontation with Jean.

"Marry?! Is your brain so scrambled?!"

"Guys, please calm down, you'll get Shadis coming over!" Armin said, working to diffuse the situation.

"Jean, if your brain isn't too screwed up, get this through it: I'm not marrying Mikasa! Where the hell did that even come from?!"

Jean shot his stare to Sasha. "I can't believe I bought into your shenanigans, potato girl!"

Eren also looked to Sasha. "Why are you telling people this?!"

She threw her hands up. "Well sorry! I just assumed-"

Jean threw his own hands up in exacerbation. "Well there's the issue!"

"Alright alright! You don't feel that way about her, sorry I caused such a mess!"

Eren pointed towards Sasha. "Hold on, who said I don't feel!-"

Eren stopped, eyes shooting wide and turning deep red similarly to Mikasa as he sat back down, the both of them sitting with embarrassed silence. The entire mess hall was silent in fact. He eventually leaned towards Mikasa.

"Can we please go somewhere to talk?" he whispered.

Mikasa just nodded slightly. "O-okay"

The pair rose and made their quick exit, Eren giving a look to Jean and Sasha on his way out, and leaving the mess hall still locked in this awkward silence. Some murmuring soon picked up as Jean sat.

"Idiots" Connie said, resuming eating. The doors to the mess hall opened, and Shadis stood looking around.

"What the hell was all that noise?"

He looked until his eyes fell on Sasha. She turned ashen.

"No no no, I didn't-"

"You gassy fool" Shadis said with a tsk as he left.

Chapter Text

It had been a very long and grueling day training. A two day wilderness scouting mission was on their docket, and the group stopped to make camp for the night.

"Get these damn boots away from me!" Connie exclaimed, untying his pair and tossing them a few feet away from him. He flung himself onto the ground and massaged his feet.

"We don't want to see your gross feet Connie" Ymir chided. Eren set his gear down on the ground, stretching.

"Still another day of this. Damn" he said. he took a seat on a log next to the roaring fire Reiner and Bertholdt got going.

"At least we don't have to push through the night" a cadet, Samuel Linke-Jackson, said, taking a seat next to Eren. "They used to do that"

"Perhaps doing that made soldiers a bit stronger"

Samuel shrugged. "Maybe. Most of them are definitely dead now, so I'm not complaining about being able to set up camp"

He reached into his pocket, producing a pack of some sort. Eren watched him produce something stick shaped.

"What's that?"

"Tobacco. Good way to unwind after a tough day" he reached forward, holding it close enough to the fire to light it and taking a puff.

"Yeah?"

Samuel nodded, offering the cigarette to him. "Have it, I have plenty"

Eren looked at it a moment before accepting. Samuel produced a new one and lit that one up as Eren still kept looking at it.

"You stick it in your mouth, suck and inhale the smoke" Samuel said, showing Eren how to do it. Eren nodded. He followed the instructions, a tiny cough coming out.

"I may as well inhale campfire smoke" Eren said.

"Feels good though, right?"

Eren thought, then shrugged a little in agreement as he took another puff. On the other side of the campfire, Mikasa was setting her sleeping bag up, Armin and Sasha talking near her.

"It's important to value the concept of rations is all I'm saying, Sasha. You could've had enough scouting mix for tomorrow. Now it'll run out on your before midday. And I can't see anyone else sharing theirs"

"Lets make a trade then!"

"Nope"

The girl grumbled as Mikasa finished setting up. She looked around. "Armin, did Eren get set up for the night?"

"I think he's taking a sitdown first over there with Samuel"

Mikasa watched Eren and Samuel. "What are they doing?"

Sasha looked over. "They're smoking?! Where'd they get cigarettes?"

Mikasa looked to her. "What do you do with cigarettes?"

Sasha shrugged. "I dunno what the appeal is, but I've always avoided them. People call them deathsticks because they're super horrible for-"

She felt a whoosh of wind breeze past her, and watched Mikasa virtually sprinting to Eren and smacking the cigarette out of his hand.

"Mikasa, what the heck-"

She began dragging him away from Samuel, a dirty look cast towards him. Samuel looked immensely unnerved. She looked to Eren.

"No more of that" she said firmly.

"Mikasa, you're not-"

"No more of that" she repeated.

"Mika-"

She bore into him a very stern look, pulling him up to look him square in the eyes. "No more of that"

Eren swallowed ever so slightly in concern, nodding his head. 

"Okay, Mikasa. No more"

Chapter Text

The bloody water they sat in stretched on forever, no end in sight. 80%. That's what Eren said to him. 80% of humanity. All in service of some manic plan to make him and the others heroes. It was certainly the kind of idea Eren would think would work. And he was sitting there, ruing the choice. Only moments ago weeping about how he didn't want to die. And Armin didn't want him to either.

"Eren....please don't give up like this"

Eren looked at him. "Armin. I'm sorry I've put you all through this. I'm sorry I've forced your hand like this. But it can't be stopped now. From my perspective, Levi and Mikasa will soon enter my Titan's mouth to stop me. 80% is already dead, and I will be too shortly. We're too far gone. My bullheaded nature, my selfish dreams. I'm sorry. It's too-"

Armin splashed the water with his hand in anger before leaping to his feet. "No! No, it's not. I'm not letting it be. I'm sorry, Eren but this time, no. Most of this life we've lived I've been paying costs to even exist in this world. At the expense of my grandfather, my morality, my ability to look at my hands and not see them stained with the blood of those we had to kill to live, I've paid. This fucking curse, I'm paying with a short life. Well, it's time I start getting something back from this. You've been charging through life, dragging most of us along to fill your selfishness, everyone in this world operates with their own selfish wants, well damnit, I get to be selfish now! I'm not losing my best friend! You're not giving up, you are not dying here Eren!"

Eren sat silently, a light shake of his head. "Armin. If Mikasa doesn't kill me, the curse doesn't end"

"Show me how it happens!"

"Arm-"

"Do it!"

Eren solemnly closed his eyes. The blood red ocean disappeared. The bright blue sky faded, and they now were stood with Levi, Mikasa and Pieck on the back of Falco's Titan. Armin watched over to where he and Eren's Titans stood grappling each other as Falco drew near. Mikasa tied her scarf tightly onto herself.

"I'm sorry. I can't"

Falco brought them close, and the Ackermans leapt into action, Levi charging his way to launch his thunder spear into Eren's face, obliterating his teeth. Mikasa rushed in, blade drawn, and with a broken heart and a last parting glance with Eren, cut off his head. Armin watched her walk softly towards the head, gently picking it up, placing a kiss to it's lips. Armin could see the shape of Ymir standing near Mikasa, watching.

"That is how it happens, Armin" Eren said, returning them back to the ocean, though without the bloody carnage that flooded it before. "There's nothing that can stop it"

"You let me think, Eren! You've made all the decisions up to now. It's my turn now, like I said. I think of a way out, you'll take it. Got it?"

Eren looked at him. A defeated, tired sigh, he stood up. "You don't have much time"

Armin had already been racking his brain of every detail of their history, every battle, every nugget of information about Titans and the serum, Ymir's curse, everything that led to the moment closing in on them. He found himself thinking back to when they'd taken back Shiganshina against Reiner, Bertholdt and Zeke. Reiner had demonstrated some ability to wiggle his way out of when they unloaded onto him a torrent of thunder spears.

"We destroyed his head. His brain" Armin muttered. "Yet he lived"

Could he have transferred it elsewhere?

"He did" Armin again muttered. "He transferred his consciousness throughout his Titan form"

"What are you saying, Armin"

Armin looked at him. "Reiner survived Shiganshina by sending his mind essentially into his Titan form. If you did that before Mikasa cuts you down....I could cover over you long enough for you to grow a new body before our powers fade, and you get out and you run far"

Eren sighed again. "What's to stop Ymir from reversing course on ending the curse?"

Armin wasn't exactly sure how to answer this, the sinking feeling that once again Eren was cementing himself into dying. He could see a new figure standing near them in the corner of his eye. Ymir. He turned towards her.

"Would you stand in our way?" he simply said. "All this carnage, what Mikasa will have to do....will that be enough? Can we be free from this after? Will you damn us again, should we go through with this?"

Ymir stood silent, not responding. Then...she shook her head. Armin felt elated.

"Eren, you-"

"Armin, why are you making this so hard!" Eren suddenly exclaimed. "How can I possibly still live in this world? How can I live an unforgivable existence in the world where I exterminated so many lives?! How can I live with-"

"How can I live with it?!"

Eren stood silent, looking at him confused. Armin was again looking anguished, tears stinging at his eyes.

"You really think it's just you who has to live with that body count? Cause I'm to blame just as much!"

He was looking down towards the water, a familiar sight catching his eye. He reached into the water, holding up a seashell. "All that thinking about the free, open world? That was me, showing you that damn book! I gave you the inspiration, intended or not. We stand here as the masterminds of this bloodshed, and here you are talking about being unable to live with it. Well, I will have to live with it, and so will you. Because I am not satisfied with seeing all those amazing sights in this place. It's just a dream. I want to experience them for real still. I want to be there, and I want my friend to be there with me like we promised ourselves when we were just little! I want you to exist Eren! I still want you around! And maybe the world can't forgive you, they probably shouldn't, but as depraved as it is, I forgive you! For the misery you set onto us, all the bullshit you put us through, I can forgive you, Eren. And you know Mikasa would as well. Maybe the others, but I can speak for certain for us! I want you to live, and I want you to give her the life you want her to have! Be with the girl who's loved you all this time, and with the girl you've loved just as much. Don't give it up, Eren. Let us have this one win"

Eren was tearing up, taking hold of the seashell. "...What would I do? Where would I go?"

"Anywhere that isn't buried in all this bullshit. This world is big enough, there'll be somewhere out there. No devils, no Titans. No one to know you. You find that. And when you do, when you're all settled, you reach out to us. And we'll come find you again"

Eren wiped his eyes. "I have to erase your memories though. At least until-"

"Then return them to me before the blade takes you down. I'll take it from there"

They stood looking at one another.

"And Eren? Get rid of that long hair of yours. I've been meaning to tell you for awhile, but you kinda look like an asshole"

Eren looked at his friend, and after a moment he tearfully grabbed onto him tightly in a hug.

"You're saving me, Armin. Thank you"

Armin patted his back. "Thank me when we reunite again"

They parted, and with a soft smile exchanged between them, Armin found himself standing back on the ship with Annie, unsure of what just happened.

Falco brought them close, and the Ackermans leapt into action, Levi charging his way to launch his thunder spear into Eren's face, obliterating his teeth. Armin, in his Titan form, stood silently, waiting for the result of this.

"Thank me when we reunite again"

His eyes widened. Inside Eren's Titan, Mikasa rushed to his head, blade drawn, and with a broken heart and a last parting glance with Eren, cut it off. Armin moved quick. He began emitting immense steam from his Titan. Levi was confused. He breached the hole in Eren's teeth.

"MIkasa! It's-"

He stopped a moment, his heart feeling a pang of pain at the sight of Eren's head. He snapped back into the moment. "Mikasa, Armin is emitting alot of steam, we have to go!"

He rushed to her and tightly wrapped his arm around her waist. This caused her to drop Eren's head.

"No No NOOO!" she wailed as Levi hurried them away. When Armin saw the Ackermans connecting onto Falco's Titan, he moved closer towards Eren's Titan. He began shoving against it as hard as he could and their two forms began toppling over. As they fell, Armin guided his Titan to push down on Eren's Titan's head, and he smiled when he saw a human Eren emerge from it's nape. They landed, and Eren hopped down, looking up to Armin. Armin gave him a tiny nod, and with that Eren began running through the smoke and dust. When Armin felt he was far enough away, Armin emitted one last big blast, and an explosion occurred that destroyed Eren's Titan form. Armin made his exit for the last time from his Titan form, and hopped down. He looked towards where Eren disappeared to.

"See you soon, Eren" he said.

"ARMIN! ARMIN!" he could hear the others calling out. He ran over to where he could see Levi, Jean, Connie, Reiner, Annie, Falco and Pieck.

"Guys! Is everyone okay?" he asked. Levi grabbed him by the shoulder.

"Armin, what was that? We'd killed Eren, why the additional destruction?"

"He....He gave me back a memory of us talking for the last time. He wanted that. Some sort of finality to it I guess"

Levi looked saddened. "Ah...he did the same for us. His parting words"

Connie looked to the ground. "My mom....she'll be okay again. And Sasha....he apologized for his laughter"

"Why" Reiner said. "Eren...damnit"

"Why did he have to be so determined to go out like this?" Jean said mournfully. "I...I miss him"

"Armin"

The utter sorrow her voice said his name near enough chilled his bones. Armin turned to see Mikasa, walking over to him, trembling hands outstretched towards him. She just looked beyond devastated, but too drained to cry or scream. Her eyes, hollow, reminding him all the way back when Trost was under siege, and they first had to confront a reality where Eren had left them. Those eyes were back, and he couldn't bare to look.

"Armin...you destroyed all that was left of him. I have nothing....nothing to bury him with. I have....nothing left"

"I-I'm sorry, Mikasa. He wanted me to-"

It shattered his heart to see her nod lightly before turning and walking away into the smoke and dust.

One day, she'll have life back in those eyes again he thought. Though he wished deeply he could tell her right now, Eren needed the headstart. One day.

Two years passed by. The world still reeled from the absolute barbarity of the Rumbling, but even if a small amount the world began to heal. Though still divided, it seemed both Eldians and Marleyans were interested in finding peace, and so as a sort of bridge Armin, alongside the others, were appointed as ambassadors. They were sent between both sides, and were able to buy chunks of time to stave off any future war or attack. An unstable peace, of course, but peace nonetheless.

He very rarely heard from Mikasa, and he had not seen her physically since she left Fort Salta. From what he'd gathered, she had become virtually reclusive somewhere near Shiganshina. She always responded to whenever he did reach out to her, but he had a strong sense she resented him for not leaving Eren's head for her to bury. If only he could tell her. But he needed to know Eren got away somewhere first before he got her worked up.

The ambassadors returned to Paradis. For the foreseeable future, their services would not be needed. So Armin was going to first meet with Historia to give a rundown of their latest meetings, then take a journey over to see Mikasa. It was time to see her again.

"Armin, you've always been honest with me. All these meetings, these talks. Does it even matter?" Historia asked. Armin sat contemplating.

"It....it has to matter. It's always worth it to keep trying. We've seen what the worst case scenario is. No one wants that. May be one step forward two steps back at times, but I take encouragement in that one step each time"

She seemed to accept this. Then again, in all honesty it was the only hopeful choice. They adjourned their meeting.

"Armin? Jean mentioned you were going to go visit Mikasa. I'm happy to hear that. I've not seen her in so long. It hurts to know how much she's hurting. Eren meant everything to her"

Armin nodded, lips tight together. I need to know Eren got away somewhere he reiterated to himself.

Historia went to her desk and produced a letter. "Would you give this to her for me? Just some words, that I'm thinking of her"

He took it. "Of course"

He left the queen after, heading over first to the apartment he had near the castle. A slew of letters and parcels waited for him outside his door. He gathered them, looking over them. A scruffy looking envelope caught his eye so he opened that first. He near enough dropped all the mail when he saw inside was a sketch of an ocean.

Eren

He yanked the contents of the envelope out and took a seat. In addition to the sketch of the ocean, there was one of a mountainous valley. Eren's drawing skills were limited but it seemed like these mountains went on for miles and miles. Another sketch was of a well detailed cabin, more than likely the house he built. Finally, there was one last piece of paper, filled with writing.

Armin

I hope this letter reaches you. I can't believe it's been two years. I've traveled far, and I've found the closest thing to the place in that life I led in my head. There's pockets of people near, a couple of villages, but for the most part this land is so quiet. So beautiful. And it's time you come see it for yourself. You and Mikasa.

I've never been a sap, you know this Armin. It took me trying to destroy the world to finally say out loud how much I love her. But these two years not seeing her, not hearing her voice have offset the peace I've felt. Like part of me is far away, and I really would love to feel whole again. There is fear with it though. All the pain I put her through. She'd be more than in her right to have forgotten me. So if she's not, and she's willing, I'd like for her to come home. 

It's a journey, Armin, I have to say. I had to cross the ocean. And with my mind unburdened with all those memories, I could marvel at it for the first time. I remember going back to that memory. Seeing how happy everyone looked. That smile on Mikasa's face....if I had seen it then, I could very well have seen myself not going through with everything. I've drawn directions on the back of this letter. I'm not sure when you'll get this, but regardless I'll always be looking outward for your arrival.

I can never thank you enough Armin. I know you said to wait until we reunite. But I need to say it.

See you soon.

P.S. I wouldn't tell Mikasa until you get here. I feel she'd think you were pulling a cruel prank on her if you tried telling her.

The biggest smile grew on his face. See you soon, Eren.

He was told Mikasa lived in a small cabin on the edge of the city. He found it tucked away in a cluster of trees. And she had happened to be outside when he approached. She looked to him, and he took in her appearance. She'd grown her hair long again, down to her chin as it had been in the Survey Corps. Her precious scarf around her neck. But it distressed him a bit to still see that hollowness in her eyes. Even though she gave him a warm smile as he approached, that smile did not reach her eyes.

"Armin" she said, hugging him. "I'm sorry it's been so long"

"I'm sorry, Mikasa. I could've made more effort"

"Why not let's both of us be sorry so we don't keep bickering about it" she said. She offered another smile, but as before it didn't reach her eyes. This caused him to think on Eren's letter.

Like part of me is far away, and I really would love to feel whole again

If that's how Eren felt, then Mikasa must live like a part of her died with Eren. I need to get her to him.

She invited him inside. They shared some tea while he told her about the diplomatic efforts of the past few years. He reached into his pocket.

"Historia sent this along for you by the way. She was worried"

Mikasa nodded, accepting it and setting it on the table. "I've been okay. Nothing to worry over"

"I can understand though. Have you left here since you moved here? At all?"

"I go into town-"

"I mean like travel"

To this, she shook her head. "No, there's...nothing out there I need to see"

"Surely there's something you want to do"

She just shook no again.

"The world....it's just too cruel for me. Apart from you, I feel I have nothing left. All that is left is to wait until-"

"Mikasa" he said, distraught. "Surely you can't just be waiting around for that!"

No response of any kind. The silence spoke and motioned for her.

I need to get her to him

He stood. "I'm going to be travelling far north. I want you to come"

She sat down, tugging lightly at her scarf. "No. I'm okay, Armin"

"Mikasa, I think at some point I'm going to be too deep into these diplomatic efforts to be able to visit. I know you resent me in some-"

Her brow furrowed. "Resent you? Why would I resent you?"

"I know I took away your ability to mourn Eren-"

She rose from her seat, and took his hands in hers. "Armin, it hurt alot that I couldn't bury anything of him, but I do not resent you. I'm so sorry I made you think I did"

"It's alright, Mikasa. But if you really want to make up for it, please come with me"

She frowned lightly. "Armin-"

"Please, Mikasa? I'd really like to explore with at least one friend just once"

She looked at him, finally giving a soft nod.

"When?"

They were onboard a ship a few days later. She was still relatively quiet, not coming out on deck often to take in the sea. He accepted that she would probably be this way until she laid eyes on where they were headed. And he had to admit he was looking forward to the life returning to her eyes. He still felt as though it was a bit cruel still keeping her in the dark, but he did see Eren's point about telling someone the person they care deeply for was actually alive and out in the world somewhere.

Armin painstakingly studied Eren's map as the day their ship would dock approached. He wanted to know completely they would find him. When they docked, they located a place where they were able to rent a carriage to use for their journey.

"What exactly are you looking for here, anyway?" she suddenly asked, ending her relatively quietness after a half day of their carriage ride.

"There's some beautiful mountains out here" he quickly bullshitted. "They have the best view of those colorful night skies in my book"

"Ah"

They fell quiet again for a few minutes.

"Those night skies...they were always my favorite thing you'd mention" she soon said. Armin looked to her.

"Yeah?"

She nodded. "I remember some nights Eren would wake me up and we'd go onto the roof to try and see if the night in Shiganshina would do the same. It never did. But I do have fond memories of those nights"

Armin realized he'd begun slightly recognizing some of the scenery from Eren's sketch. He could make out some cabins.

"I'm just going to park for a few minutes, get feeling back in my legs" he said. Mikasa nodded, pulling her cardigan a little tighter and closing her eyes. Armin hopped down, examining Eren's cabin sketch and looking around. After a few minutes of matching, he honed in on the cabin slightly halfway up a high mountain. It matched perfectly. He thought he could make out a distant figure outside. Armin quickly hopped back up on the carriage.

Mikasa opened her eyes again. "We should think about setting up a camp for the night"

Armin hummed in agreement, though a camp was not going to be necessary. He looked around the landscape as Mikasa closed her eyes again. As they got closer, the distant figure seemed a bit more noticeable. Discreetly, Armin produced a spyglass from his pack. Sure enough, it was Eren. He was waving over at him, and Armin waved back. Excitement and anticipation flooded through him. It was time to slightly ease Mikasa in.

"It's sort of hard to think how long it was now we were just looking at places like this in books"

"Hmm. It is" she said.

"Time feels like it's snapped by so fast. We joined the military over ten years ago. I just...find it hard to comprehend"

She just hummed again.

"Mikasa? I know those days are hard to think about, but I found myself remembering the day we won back Shiganshina"

She opened her eyes, looking towards him. "What brought that about?"

He shrugged. "I guess just always been reviewing the past over and over, seeing how certain steps led to certain destinations. I found myself thinking about when we blew Reiner up with the thunder spears"

"You think had we approached that differently, it could've changed the outcome?"

"Not necessarily no. I just became fascinated with how he got himself out of that. We blew his head off"

"We did..." she clearly sounded a little confused. Her looking towards him prevented her from seeing Eren gradually getting closer to them.

"Sorry to ramble. Guess it just still amazes me the kind of powers me and Eren had with those Titans"

He suddenly stopped the cart and stood. "WOULD YOU NOT AGREE EREN?!" He called out, Mikasa turning to where he was looking, and when she did her world stopped. It felt like the wind was no longer lightly breezing by, the lake nearby no longer shimmering. All she could see was Eren, now stood watching her, tearful smile on his face. His hair short, a thin beard on his face.

Armin hopped down. He walked over, keeping his eyes on Mikasa, and sure enough he could see an intense brightness back in her grey orbs. She rose, her legs shaking furiously. Armin helped her down. She tried walking forward, but her legs were too shaky and she fell to the ground. Eren moved to her, and as he crouched down in front of her she just grabbed onto him, weeping uncontrollably against his neck. The two men looked at one another.

Thank you Eren mouthed to him, hugging Mikasa tightly.

Chapter Text

Mikasa walked down the ER hallway, rubbing at her eyes. Her shift was well into it's 7th hour, it was nonstop for the first four, and now it seemed a lull had developed. She appreciated these lulls greatly, however she was due to be on for at least another 5 hours, and the tiredness was really starting to sink in.

"You're clearly in need of a pick me up"

She flinched slightly at the sudden voice behind her, but smiled when she saw it was Eren, holding to her a cup of coffee, which she graciously took. Her fiancee had a goofy smirk on his face, though looked a bit overtired.

"I thought you had pickup hockey tonight against the Marley firehouse"

"I did, left a little early. Just wasn't feeling it for some reason. Figured I'm come by, bug ya a little"

"How thoughtful" she said with a smirk, taking a sip of coffee. "Seriously though, I needed this. Thank you"

Eren nodded, looking around. "Who's on tonight with you, anyway?"

"Krista, Nifa. Sasha was but went home early. Krista has to cover for her so she's a bit....less than happy"

"Ouch"

A doctor rounded the corner. "Mikasa, could you get the guy at Curtain 2 stitched up? Nothing major, he angrily slammed his head against a wall for some reason"

"Sure thing, Dr. Jarnach"

The doctor walked by them. Mikasa took another sip before she handed the cup back to Eren. "Duty calls. See you at home?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Ehh, I think maybe I'll hang out here. Wait for you"

She raised an eyebrow. "What could you possibly find to do around here for five hours?"

"Surely someone here needs a surgery done-"

She whapped him lightly on the arm. "Just don't get into trouble"

"Yes ma'am"

She worked away for the next two hours, noticing Eren puttering about here and there. She was coming out of the supply room when Eren and a janitor, both with mops, briskly moved by her as they mopped.

"What is this? Mop curling?" she asked as they reached the end of the hall. Eren pointed back to her with a grin.

"Exactly! Floor got done in like 45 seconds"

Mikasa just shook her head with a chuckle. Eren waved the janitor off and walked back over to her, slightly yawning. "Getting through the shift alright?"

She reached out, rubbing his arm. "I am, but you should really head home, you look exhausted"

"I'm fine, really. I'd just be sitting around waiting till you got home anyway" he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.

"Aw" she said, just as Krista rounded the corner.

"Mikasa, huge collision on the freeway, there's many more on the way! We need you!"

Mikasa looked to Eren. "This might take awhile, Eren, so you really should head home"

He nodded. "Fair enough"

He placed a kiss to her forehead before heading to the general exit, Mikasa turning to run towards the now full ER, the doors to it flinging open and a slew of paramedics pouring through.

It was nonstop for hours. They were fortunate that every incoming patient was in stable condition or restored to it. She had come to accept that as hard as they try, they can't save everyone. But it was also a nice feeling to have everyone who came in during these major influxes alive at the end. She was leaning against the wall filling out a chart when Dr. Janarch and Krista hurried by with another gurney and a few paramedics.

"Need any help?" Mikasa asked, not looking up.

"Mikasa, it's Eren!" Krista replied.

The chart clattered to the floor as she looked to them. It felt like the blood in her veins completely froze and her eyes were wide. She ran over, and sure enough, Eren was laying unresponsive on the gurney.

"w-wh-w-"

The paramedic atop Eren performing compressions spoke up. "We'd been driving off, this guy was crossing the road and just collapsed. Pretty serious cardiac arrest we're dealing with"

Cardiac arrest? Mikasa couldn't think, couldn't speak, couldn't feel. Krista saw her just standing there, stood almost as if petrified, and went to pull her away. Chest paddles were soon brought out, and Eren's body jolted with electricity.

"Hey, they were working on him instantly. He's got good odds, let's just wait and see" Krista said, seeking to calm Mikasa as much as possible, but the girl just kept staring at the paramedics working away, the time feeling like it was now stretching seconds into agonizing minutes. The horror of losing-

"We got a heartbeat!" Dr. Janarch announced. The relief that rushed through her made her legs wobble, and with Krista guiding her she took a seat on the floor.

"What did I say? He's stable now, he's okay, Mikasa. He's going to be okay"

Sensation started returning to Mikasa, and the tears began falling uncontrollably, both from the relief and the fear of what she just witnessed.

Eren began to wake up, wondering where he was at. The blurriness faded and the room began to take form, and he realized he was in a hospital room. Looking at his hand, an IV was connected to his hand, and he began to sit up. To his right, he saw Mikasa sitting, holding his other hand and watching him. She looked exhausted and her eyes looked red from both sleepiness and crying.

"Mikasa?"

"Hey Eren"

"What...why am I in the hospital?"

She looked down. "You collapsed on your way home"

"I did? I don't really remem-"

"Eren, how long have you been feeling unwell?"

"What do you mean?"

"I called Armin. He said you've been complaining about being tired for a few days. Reiner and the others at the firehouse said you left last night's game because of that and a leg cramp"

"I honestly didn't really think I was sick. It's just been really long hours at work, I figured that's why I was so tired"

Mikasa got up and walked over to the end of his bed, picking up his chart. "We have your blood tests here. You were severely hypokalemic"

Eren looked at her with confusion.

"Your potassium levels were dangerously low"

"Potassium? Jeez. Guess I'd better up my banana intake the-"

"Eren!" she exclaimed, near enough slamming his chart down. "Do not joke around about this! You.....you could've died last night. I saw you laying....you could've died"

Eren saw her mask her mouth with her hand, clearly about to start crying again. 

"I'm sorry Mikasa" he said, feeling remorseful. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

"You....you need to take better care of yourself. They weren't at dangerous levels, but your vitamin D and calcium were low as well. I love you, Eren. I do not want to lose you like that. I cannot ever see you like that again. Please"

"I promise, Mikasa"

She wiped at her eyes again. She felt assured but was still very upset.

"Hey" he said gently, holding his hand out. "Come over here"

She did, walking to his side, where he gently pulled her onto the bed with him. She hugged onto him.

"I'm not planning on going anywhere for a very very long time. You're gonna have to get used to that"

He attempted again to alleviate the situation with some humor, and it seemed this time it worked. He felt her ease more against him, snuggling her head against his shoulder.

"I suppose I can live with that" she said against his side.

He smiled, kissing her on the top of her head.

Chapter Text

It was a quiet night at the cabin the Survey Corps took up residence in. Hidden away as much as possible in order to better test Eren's abilities. His routine was stringent: test, sleep, repeat. It was monotonous, but to him it was necessary if they wished to have a better chance at understanding and using it to win this war. Though this day was no different, for some reason when night fell, and most all in the cabin were asleep, Eren was not. He sat on his bed, tired yet unable to drift off.

He crept up to his door, walking out into the hallway. Not a peep of sound from anyone. Not a candle lit under any door, but one emulating from out in the common room. Making his way over, he saw a sleeping Mikasa sitting on a sofa. She must be next up for night watch, and is waiting out here. He made sure to walk carefully and quietly to not wake her, and sat gently next to her. The schedule they all kept hadn't extended to them the ability to just sit and talk amongst themselves. Alot had been left unsaid since the day she and the others got him back from Reiner and Bertholdt. The major thing being those words she said. Still ringing in his head whenever he would see her.

Thank you for being with me. Thank you for showing me how to live. Thank you for wrapping this scarf around me

He looked at the sleeping Mikasa. It was growing more and more apparent to him the callous way he'd treat her throughout the past few years, the dismissive irritation he'd throw at her when she'd fuss over him or express worry. He'd become insensitive to her feelings. Insensitive to how much this wasn't the life she wanted to endure. She just wanted a sense of safety and peace, something that seems to have constantly be out of her reach. And she wanted that for him too. Even if at this time he just could not give that to her or himself, he shouldn't have become so insensitive. This made him feel a deep sense of shame as he kept looking at her. She keeps caring for him, and he keeps seeming to hurt her. That scar on her cheek began standing out to him more and more, deepening the shame racking him. He didn't care he wasn't in control of his Titan, he's left a permanent injury to her. Something that will never stop reminding him of his poor care.

Eren found himself reaching out, lightly running his finger against the wound. The thin indent splitting her skin feeling coarse against his touch. This prompted Mikasa to slowly wake, feeling the touch on her face and looking to Eren, a deep frown on his face as his eyes remained focused towards the scar. Her initial inclination to ask him what was wrong disappearing when she saw his face. She knew then what he was thinking and what he was feeling. Their eyes met, the guilt in his heart apparent in his eyes. His hand dropped from her face, and he was about to rise to leave. She took hold of his hand before he could, regaining the eye contact they'd shared. She lightly shook her head, and guided his hand up to place it against the scarf around her neck and held it there. She looked at him determinedly, making sure he understood her message.

Eren nodded softly, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her closer to him. Upon his shoulder she laid her head, his cheek resting against the top of it, and after some time, they both closed their eyes to sleep.

Chapter Text

The words this evil man was saying sickened her. It definitely sickened all of them. Egging the participants of the meeting to hate the people of Paradis, uninterested in being fair. It felt instinctual to look over to Eren, to make sure he wouldn't lose his temper and lash out. But it shocked her to see him simply not in the seat next to her. She looked over to the door, his back to her as he left through it. Was he simply stepping outside to wait for them? Just removing himself so that he wouldn't lash out? Something seemed to unsettle her now about his exit. While the others sat quiet as those around them still cheered on this hatred, she too got up and left, hurrying to see where Eren went.

He was not in the hall. She walked quickly to reach the exit and stepped outside. She couldn't seem to see him at first, the streets crowded with men similarly dressed to him. But soon she could spot him, walking away towards the trains. She moved quickly, soon getting right behind him, and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned to her, and she saw a very stern stare in his eyes. 

"Eren? Where are you going?"

He hummed lightly. "It's pretty painfully clear that there's really no value to staying there. We're just devils to them. Devils to be destroyed. Nothing more. It's not worth sitting there any longer"

He turned to continue walking away. She walked alongside him.

"But where are you off to? The Azumabito estate is-"

"I'm not going there. It's okay Mikasa, you need to go back to the others"

"But I-"

"Mikasa. It's okay. Go back to the others"

He turned away again. Why was he being like this? Surely that meeting wasn't that dejecting? They were all under the assumption the Marleyans would continue feeling this way.

Eren stopped to wait for the next tram. He saw Mikasa was still standing looking over at him. She was starting to feel like, for better or worse, this was going to be the last time she would see Eren for awhile. She walked over, and stood next to him. He stood quiet, seemingly annoyed she was still there.

"Eren. I'm not sure what it is, but if you're leaving us here, if this is what I'm fearing is the last we'll see you for awhile, I can't imagine you're going to let me follow you. So I'd like to apologize"

He didn't look at her, but his brow furrowed lightly. "Apologize? For what?"

"I think...I think I might've lied to you last night. At least....I didn't fully say what I meant. When you saved me, all those years ago now, what you gave back to me was the feeling of having people around me to care for me. And you gave me you. I wasn't sure how you'd answer if I told you that the love I have for you goes beyond anything I could describe, and how I'd want nothing more than to just be with you, just you, for the rest of my life, so I cowardly..."

Her words rocked him. Because this was not a memory he had. She never followed him out. She gave him the one and only answer last night. And so he would move forward with his plan. No other means of turning back. But she's here. Telling him she lied. How is this possible? But part of him didn't really care. He had the chance to turn back again.

Mikasa suddenly felt her hands be grabbed by his. She looked into his eyes and was mildly startled by the almost manic desperation now in them.

"Run away with me"

"W-what?"

"Last night, I thought that was the very last time I could do this. But if you are being truthful right now, if that's how you feel, then run away with me. Let's get our things from Kiyomi's and go. Let's just live these last years of mine out, peacefully, just you and me. No one else, far far away"

She was stunned. "Y...you'd want that?"

"I need it. I really do. So let's go. It's the last chance we-"

"Then we'd better start running"

A shared grin, and with her hand firmly in his, he turned back, and they sprinted away.

Chapter Text

It was a genuinely fearful experience, feeling the Earth shaking beneath her feet. She could see what was causing it of course, but was still coming to terms that it was actually happening: Every Titan within the walls were marching forward, on a mission to destroy everything. Eren said as much when he spoke to them all. He was really going to go through with it.

"This is the end. It's surely the end isn't it?" she heard Armin quietly say, likely to himself as his gaze was still pointed up to the marching Titans and the huge mass of bone that Eren was now. "The rest of the world, or Eren. There's no longer a situation where both can remain"

Mikasa's head throbbed with stress and fear and devastation, all wrestling to be what she would feel. This can't be it. This can't be it.

She shook her head, stare firmly towards the Titans. "I won't let it" she said, and she was launching away, connecting onto one of the Colossals.

"MIKASA!" Armin called, but she would not take heed of him. She moved fast, toggling from Titan to Titan. She deemed it unfeasible to cut any of them down. Her present movements weren't even certain to even succeed. So far, they paid her no mind as they kept walking. Her sole mission was to get to Eren's head, look him, or it, dead in the eyes.

She launched up, hurrying over the heads of the remaining Colossals stood between her and the beginnings of Eren's form. It was a massive skeletal system, so she should be able to just traverse his spine to get to the head. She felt her heart seize for a moment, noticing a wide variety of....Titans? They certainly appeared to be, old variations of Titan shifters, appearing along the ribs of this being. But....they just stood watching her. They weren't rushing over, making no effort to come stop her. She made eye contact with a particularly large one, one she recognized. The one that poked it's head over the wall all those years ago. Bertholdt. Just watching her pass by.

She stopped at the crook of the neck, looking upward and latching her hooks into the back of it's head, she launched high, soaring over the head, and grabbed hold tightly of one of it's long strands of hair. When she steadied, and was hanging tight, she found herself right where she was headed for. Eren's evil, piercing Titan eyes glared forward, not specifically at her.

I won't let it

"If you're eliminating all beyond the walls, if your plan is to destroy the entire world, then make me your first kill. Start this bloodshed off with me!"

Eren kept moving forward, seeming to not pay her any mind.

"It should be easy right? You're going to kill what you hate! What's holding you back?! Because I am not living in the ruins of this world! I will not live in a world forged by someone refusing me my freedom!"

She felt the Titan stop, the sound of the following Colossals growing faint as they too paused their march. She watched then as those eyes of the Titan narrow to focus specifically on her. She closed her eyes, feeling she was bracing to be decimated, but when she opened them again, she was back in that space Eren brought them to when announcing his mission. Sand surrounding her, the sound of it being kicked around. She looked, and there was Eren, intense anger in his eyes as he charged towards her.

"TURN. BACK. NOW" he bellowed. This tone slightly unsettled her. She was accustomed to him snapping at her before, raising his voice, but there was an added ferocity in it, accompanying the rage his eyes conveyed. She stood firm.

"I will not" she stated.

"YOU WILL DO AS YOU'RE TOLD. YOU SLAVE!" he barked, his words bringing her back into the feeling of unbridled heartbreak when he was coldly telling her of his hatred. Calling her a slave, and smashing her belief of what connection they had held all those years. He was able to slightly knock her back a little with this latest statement of his cruelty, but she still stood firm.

"I will not. I am not your slave. I never have been"

He seemed positively seething. "You have done nothing in this life that wasn't simply an extension of my bidding. Now obey-"

"And yet I will not obey you. I never obeyed you to begin with. Everything I've ever done, it was in service to what I chose to do. I chose to stand by you...because it's all I ever wanted. To be by your side. Because you were precious to me. You were my hero. You were my world, and I wanted nothing more than to be right beside you, forever. You were everything to me. I loved you. I can assure you though, I don't think I see or feel any of those things for you anymore"

He didn't answer her. He still held a gaze of anger, but she felt that maybe it seemed to have scaled back with her words. She sat herself down on the sand.

"There is no freedom, if all who live outside the walls live. Because they will never not be hunting us. They will never let us live" Eren stated, then pointing to their left, where Ymir Fritz was stood. "There is no alternative for this! They never get to dictate our fate again!"

Mikasa just looked at the girl stood away from them. No discernable look on her face. More so a shadow than an actual physical person.

Eren sighed in immense frustration. "Damnit Mikasa! Just turn-"

"Is that really what freedom would be for you, Eren? What would you do once you achieve it? Would it be enough for you?"

This made him grow a look of annoyed confusion. "Wh-What?!"

She looked towards the sand. "I suppose it's an abnormal question to ask. You always seemed to know exactly what freedom was to you. I've never really thought I knew what it was for me. With my parents...we seemed free back then. It was peaceful, it was happy. I loved it, and I miss it. So I wondered "Would freedom feel like living a quiet life, somewhere safe?" Then I would think of you, or Armin, those things you'd always talk about. Those amazing places out there somewhere, far beyond the walls. Would freedom be being able to journey and be totally in control of what we do and where we go?"

Eren found himself sitting down as well, his gaze still intense but also not really holding anger. He seemed curious, and even a little worried.

"It seemed to fall in line with what you had hoped to achieve. I guess it was naïve of me though, to believe that seeing the ocean would be enough. The way I had looked at it, that ocean was the way to everything. You saw it as another obstacle between you and an enemy. And I suppose that's in part from all the memories in your head of your dad or anyone else, it couldn't be helped. But to me, looking out to it...there was more to this world than Paradis and Marley. More to it then just people and war and conflict. And we could just go and run and explore and no one would stop us, because we were the ones dictating our fates"

She moved to hug against her legs. "I liked the idea of seeing all of that, but as I got older, I just longed more and more for the life I used to know. I wanted to have that, where no one could ever hurt me, no one could ever come into it and turn it upside down on me. All these labels: Marleyan, Eldian, Azumabito, Ackerman. What faction or name I belonged to wasn't important to me, I just wanted to live safe, and quiet, and peaceful. That's what my freedom would be. If I could just have that again.....I would've loved to have had it with you. Just living, maybe growing flowers together, running and falling and laughing together, maybe having a family, maybe even venturing out to see all those spectacular places. If it was all so that we could be together, then I could feel truly free. And I think...that's why I wasn't able to be honest with you that night"

His eyebrow arched upward. "That night?"

"In Marley. "What am I to you?" you asked. I answered with "family". It wasn't a lie per say, but it wasn't really what I meant. I was embarrassed, I never expected you to ask a question like that. I felt to an extent that you maybe already knew how I felt after all this time but that wasn't true. You thought of me as a slave after all. Even still, it was weak of me to assume that you knew. You needed to hear it. But I took the easy way out. Because I knew what I wanted from this life, that peaceful quiet life with just me and you? I knew it just wouldn't be enough for you. You and me, growing old together. It's just...not in your design. So it was the easy way out I picked. I just couldn't bear hearing it said definitively. I couldn't bear being told it just wasn’t possible"

She'd not really been making much attention to Eren's expressions, just looking towards the sand. He was too, but he was looking alot more hurt and saddened.

"I guess it helps us both to know where we stand, does it not? Me having always loved you, you having always hated me. That's our truths. I'm having to make peace with that. I accept it. It's a difficult thing to do, and it breaks my heart, but in order to make peace with our reality, the life we do live in, we need to know when to let go of what is important to us when it isn't possible. So I'm letting go of that life I wanted so much to have with you. I'm letting go of my love for you, my driving force to keep moving forward. I'm letting go of you"

Her eyes stung as she spoke. Eren didn't answer. He wouldn't look at her.

She stood up. "I am not turning back. Just like you won't turn back. You will slaughter everyone in your way, and I won't live in that aftermath. So start it with me. You want to see the world destroyed. Mine already has been, so there's nothing being lost. Commit to destroying everything and everyone you hate, fulfill your vision of freedom, if this is truly the only way to you can have it"

She stood waiting. He remained seated, shaking his head.

"I'm will not kill you, Mikasa" he said quietly. "I will not"

"Then-" she asked, before she returned to reality, gripping back on the hair of the Titan. She waited for the Titans to beginning moving again, but they never did. A thundering thudding began sounding out, steam billowing out all over. Mikasa let go of the hair and hooked away towards a nearby tree. She watched as the skeletal system of Eren's Titan collapsed, the ghostly looking versions disappearing. Several Colossals crumbling to the ground.

"MIKASA!"

She looked, seeing Armin along with Jean and Connie flying around looking for her.

"ARMIN!" she called out. He spotted her and led the others over to her.

"Mikasa! What is happening?!"

Mikasa looked over the scene before them. "I....think he stopped"

"What?!"

"I-I don't know, we talked. We talked and...I told him to kill me first. But then...."

She gestured over. She gasped lightly.

"His body, where's the nape?!"

Before Armin or the others could respond she was soaring back over. Armin just looked to Jean and Connie before they joined her. They would comb through the flood of decomposing Titans, but no traces of Eren were to be found.

No one knows what to make of what has just happened as Mikasa, Armin, Jean and Connie returned to Shiganshina. The utter destruction, the lack of walls. It was a jarring sight. They could see members of their military pointing guns towards the Marleyans who had arrived. Both factions bickering over who had Eren or not. Zeke had been captured, bound and his head held down by the foot of the lead Marleyan. Levi and Hange arrived moments later, taking in a quick rundown of the situation from a Survey Corps member.

"Oi! We just came from where Eren had been! He was nowhere to be found!" Connie announced. The guns of the Marleyans pointed their way.

"THEO!" they heard a voice called. Armin looked, seeing Reiner and Gabi approach. A sense of anger filling them as they saw their former friend, Their betrayer.

"Reiner, do you have an idea what is happening?"

"Eren started the wall Titans. That's all I saw. And then....he just changed his mind? I don't know"

"Bastard" Jean snarled.

"Jean, now isn't the ti-" Armin began. Reiner waved him off.

"Armin. I can't....transform. Can you?"

Armin was initially agitated this traitor talked to him, however he was struck by the question. "What?"

"I had been in my Titan form when this began. When it stopped, my Titan....it just degraded, and I fell out of it"

"I did as well" a woman said. "Pieck....I had the Cart Titan"

"Why are you talking to us like this?!" Connie snapped. "How do we know this wasn't some elaborate backstabbing between you and Eren?! He's betrayed us once already!"

"EVERYBODY!" Armin yelled, holding his hands up. "This needs to stop. Drop the anger, and please put your weapons down! We are unarmed, and those who possessed Titan abilities, as it sounds we do not have them now, so please! We've all collectively dodged a cataclysmic bullet it would seem, no one wants anything further. Not today at least!"

Both factions glared at one another. Theo spoke up. "The Yeager brothers...."

"You can have Zeke" Levi stated. "As for Eren, he's apparently nowhere to be found"

"Surely this is some ruse" Theo stated. "Eren is laying in wait-"

"What sense is there to start the end of the world, then stopping it moments later to fake out the enemy?" Levi replied. "He was operating on his own volition, unsanctioned by this island. If he was to ever be found, should you not kill him, I would"

Despite everything said and done, Mikasa still felt a pang of anxiety about the idea of Eren being killed. She didn't express it out loud this time though.

"You take Zeke, you take your two young ones. We'll even release to you Annie Leonhardt. All we ask for is a pause in this bullshit, figure out what's going on"

All parties expressed surprise at the reference to the long forgotten Titan shifter at this point. Theo walked over to Levi, a firm look on his face, and held out his hand.

"Okay"

The Marleyans, along with Zeke and Annie, departed in the following days. An agreement to a month long halt in hostilities in addition to their heads of government corresponding with each other upon the months conclusion. Thorough discussions with Mikasa gave the Survey Corps an idea of what happened that spared the world the horror and carnage Eren was so close to bringing upon them.

"Where would you think Eren would go?" Hange asked her.

"I really haven't a clue at this point. He hates the other faction, and he turned his back on us" Levi answered. He looked to Mikasa. "You've told us everything? Every word said, every action he made?"

She nodded. "At no point did he even indicate he was going to stop. So I wouldn't know where he'd go"

Levi looked at her, and felt she was telling the truth. "Okay then. You can leave"

She got up, heading for the door.

"Captain? Just for the purposes of curiosity, would Eren really be killed on sight? Is he...is he truly irredeemable?"

Levi looked to Hange, then back to Mikasa. He still read she wasn't hiding anything from him, so he didn't feel as if she was fishing for a specific answer.

"I suppose, given our history, one singular discussion with him is feasible. See if there's any way back" Hange answered. "He has....so much to answer for though"

"I understand" Mikasa said. She turned again, and walked out of the room, where Armin was waiting.

"I'd imagine that's the last meeting you'll need to do. Only so many ways to reiterate the situation"

"Mmm" she hummed. She picked up her trenchcoat off the hook and slid it on. Her eye caught sight of something in Armin's hand.

"That's my scarf. Where did you-"

"Ah. Somebody from the infirmary came by. Louise, that girl, she...she passed away. Guess she took it for some reason. They recognized it a mile away and figured-"

"Yeah. I don't....think I need it anymore"

"Really?" He held the fabric up and looked at it. "You think it's truly unfixable, between you and Eren?"

She thought on the question, just offering a shrug. "I really don't know, to be honest. He's gone, he hurt us. I just don't know"

"Well...I can throw it out for you then if you wish, or give-"

She shook her head, a bit quickly Armin noted. "N-no! I....I'll hold onto it. For now"

Armin nodded, holding the scarf to her as she took it.

"Listen, Niccolo's here, and he offered to make some food. Would you-"

"I'm good, Armin. I just need to walk around for awhile. Clear my head, if possible"

"Right"

She was about to walk away before she stopped. "Your Titan powers. You think they're truly gone?"

"I really think they are" Armin said. "I've tried transforming. And this cut.."

He held up his hand to reveal a deep gash on his palm.

"It's not healed at all, let alone if I focus on it"

"Armin! Who did that?"

"I did. I needed to see. If the power of the Titan is truly gone, then for the time being, no nation has itself a trump card. Which...I think is a good thing? Maybe this lull in tensions can allow for some meaningful discussion"

She hummed again. She took Armin into a hug before she made her exit from the building. She walked the streets of Mitras, the citizens, though rattled, doing their best to return to a level of normalcy. She was walking down a quiet alley, when a voice sounded that sent a chill down her spine.

"I never hated you"

She spun round, and there stood Eren, disheveled, distraught. Cuts to his hands and over his eyes apparent, potentially from his exit of that....thing.

"I need you to know that. Before anything else, I need you to know" he continued. She grabbed him by the arm and pulled them into a quiet closed off corridor.

"Eren!" she half whispered. He leaned against the wall and slid down to sit. "Where have you been?!"

He sounded slightly incoherent, rambling even. "I don't know I don't know. I don't..I didn't know what to do. I hadn't pictured anything past my mission"

"Why did you stop?" she asked, looking away slightly. "I thought there was no alternative"

He fidgeted with his hands. "We both chose to stop. Me and Ymir. I'd told her she was free to make her own decisions when we started this, so when she was watching us, when she heard what you said, what you were willing to give up....it inspired her"

His tone was disarmingly quiet, but clearer then he had been before. She chanced a peek at him. He met her line of sight, and suddenly he was just...crying. The sight was upsetting, and Mikasa slowly moved closer towards him.

"Why, Eren. Why would you feel killing everyone else was what needed to happen? Why would you say those horrible things to me? To Armin?"

He wiped at his eyes. "The memories were so clear. Fixed in, no deviations, no alternatives. Except that one, that night. When I asked you the question. If that differed, there was one way out. But it didn't differ. So the path was locked. I activate the powers of the Founding Titan, and execute the eradication of all life outside of Paradis. Only, if I were to be stopped before the mission was complete. then those outside Paradis couldn't regroup. If those who were close to the monster Eren Yeager led the charge to kill him, cut him down before he could succeed, the outside world sees them as heroes, and it ends the conflict. And they should not hesitate, so why not make it easier for them? Hurt them, beat them….break their heart, and they would kill Eren Yeager without a second thought"

Mikasa was stunned. He continued wiping at his eyes.

"Everything was locked in to move forward. Except, a new deviation developed. You, coming over, talking to me. That wasn't a memory I had. It wasn't meant to have happened. And yet it did. And so you said all those things. Ymir let go, and the powers of the Titans faded from the world"

"You...you said both of you chose to stop. If that was her reason, what was yours?"

He didn't reply at first, looking at her a moment before looking down, about to weep again.

"Eren?"

"I didn't want to die!" he blurted out, sobbing. "I didn't want to go away, I didn't want to go away from you!" he sputtered out. "If I saw it through, I wouldn't get to see you again!"

Her jaw dropped.

"I stopped my mission because what you said stuck with me. Not just what you said in regards to us, but about freedom in general. How my longing for it became entangled with brawling against something well beyond myself. Fighting something that really likely can't ever be changed. I wanted to be free of Titans, and walls, and people holding me back. And...that's what I am now. I stopped, because I didn't want to die, and because I love you"

He looked at the scarf in her hand, ever so lightly taking it from her.

”How could I even pretend to hate you? It ripped me up inside saying that lie to you. It sickened me I would go ahead with doing that. Seeing that pain in your eyes. How dare I do that to you. I can never be more sorry for doing that to you, and I deserve losing your love, but fuck, I’m so terrified that I really truly have”

He began unravelling the fabric, and started the familiar act of wrapping it around her neck. "I still want to wrap this around you forever and always. I still want to be your hero. I want to take you far away and have that quiet life, because that's the one thing you were wrong about. It is in my design, it was what we'd have gone and had if that path had differed. I still see it in my head, and that time with you...I can't describe how beautiful it was. I've been chasing after freedom, seeing it something that I needed to seize, and not something I could just create for myself. I want to be free, but I don’t want it….it's not worth having if I didn't have you with me. But if I asked you…begged you not to let me go I’d just be continuing to fuel this selfish cycle I’ve made that just benefits me. B-"

She was crouched more directly in front of him now, taking his hand in hers. He looked to her, a ghost of a smile hidden on her tear stained face.

"Eren. Please stop trying to answer for me"

She took hold of his other hand now as well.

”You hurt me. You hurt me badly. Beyond anything I ever felt before. And it being a lie as well makes it hurt all the more. But Eren, I see it in your eyes and hear it in your voice when you tell me you regret it. So I can forgive you for that. I think in that moment I really was ready to let you go. I didn’t want to, but it was becoming more and more obvious there wasn’t an option at that time. But we were both given new choices. You chose to not see your madness through"

She clutched onto the restored scarf around her neck. "So I've chosen to not let you go”

He squeezed lightly on her hands, stuttered sobs of relief as he leaned forward, pressing his head against hers. They remained like this for a few moments, Mikasa herself weeping softly.

"We should go see Armin-"

"No!" Eren exclaimed. "I can't. Not right now, maybe not ever"

"Then-"

He stood, still holding her hands. "I operated with the belief I either had the day, or the next four years to live. I've got a new lease on life now, no limits as to when it stops. So why waste anymore time? You and me. Would you run away with me?"

She looked at him, heart racing but it soon stilled, her hold on his hands tightening.

"I'll follow you. No matter where you are, no matter where you go, I'll always follow you"

10 years later

She woke from her rest, sitting against their home. A warm breeze brushed by her, a tiny yawn sounding as she stretched. She heard the sound of laughter nearby, and rose from her seat. The right side of their home pointed towards an open field, it was here she saw their son, their daughter. She saw him. He reached down, their son entering his hands, and raising him high into the air, their son laughing, their daughter laughing as she held onto his back. She watched the sight, walking slowly over to them. He saw her grow closer. He smiled widely at her. She smiled back.

Chapter Text

"I was sure Levi's instructions said this was the road, but I don't see any cabins that look like his" Mikasa said, guiding her car down the beach road. She and Eren were on spring break from the second year in university. Through some coaxing, she was given permission for her and Eren to spend the week at the beach house. He was still very unsure of Eren being her boyfriend. He'd watched them as they grew, and his impression of Eren was generally as a hotheaded buffoon. But if Mikasa was sure, then he held his tongue for the most part. He'd refused them the beach house the prior two spring breaks. Mikasa finally succeeded at wearing him down.

"Well, surely it's not much further" Eren said, looking outside with light boredom as the car drove forward. As he took in their surroundings, an insatiable desire took form. He saw a long empty road ahead of them. He loved going fast, a dangerous rush for sure, but surely there's no harm in indulging.

"Let's say we hit the gas, see how fast this ol' car goes"

Mikasa moved her sunglasses off her face to the top of her head. "Well, I don't know Eren..."

"Come on, empty road, the feeling of moving faster than others. It's like that movie. "I got the need. The need for speed". Come on, Mika"

Mikasa grinned a little, always struggling to deny that goofy smile of his. "Well...alright"

She straightened in the driver seat, and floored the gas. They whipped ahead so fast, and they enjoyed the thrill. Up until they immediately saw flashing blue and red lights behind them, a siren wailing.

Eren looked deeply confused. "Where in the world?"

Mikasa just looked nervous, slowing the car down and pulling it to the side of the road. They sat quietly, waiting for the grey haired officer march over to them. From her movements, she was deeply unimpressed. She arrived at Mikasa's window, and stared them down.

"Officer Brzenska. 95. In a 35 zone. Explain this to me"

"I...we just-"

"Like going fast, I take it? So that makes it alright? Another car could've easily be coming down the road, they see you hurtling towards them, what happens? Someone comes out from the grass, walking back to their beach house, what happens? License and registration, and hand over your keys"

Mikasa complied, face red in sheer mortification. Eren spoke up.

"Officer, this was my stupid idea. She doesn't do anything like this unless idiots like me-"

"Sir, you aren't behind the wheel, she is. She's the one in trouble, and she's the one getting arrested"

Eren was floored, protesting. "Arrested?! She's never even had a speeding ticket before! Does she really-"

"Yes really. This is dangerously fast driving. There is no situation where she would not be under arrest for this"

She read over Mikasa's license, handing it back. "Alright, both of you out of the car and stand at the back"

Brzenska virtually stormed away. Mikasa, looking to Eren, motioned for him to pass over her leather jacket. He complied, and the pair exited the car. Mikasa slid her jacket on as she and Eren went to the back of the car, leaning against her car’s trunk. They stood quietly, both looking ashen.

"I...I guess I'm going to jail..." Mikasa said softly. Eren was scowling now.

You fucking IDIOT, Yeager Eren thought to himself. You FUCKING idiot.

”Eren, it-“ Mikasa started to say, noticing the look on his face. However, Officer Brzenska returned. At the least it seemed to the both of them she wasn't as pissed off looking anymore.

"Alright, Mikasa, turn around"

Mikasa complied. Brzenska moved and pulled her hands behind her back, holding them in place behind her.

”So what exactly were you doing? Just some college sophomores enjoying spring break?”

"We were up here looking for my brother's beach house" Mikasa replied.

Brzenska nodded, looking then towards Eren. "And it's you who fancies themselves the speed demon?"

”It is” Eren replied. “I'm that, and a deeply stupid boyfriend egging his girlfriend on-”

Mikasa piped up. ”Please ma'am, I am deeply embarrassed about all of this. I fully accept the punishment”

Brzenka nodded. “I can’t fully act like I didn’t cut loose. I believe you two are sorry. I still have to arrest you though, the call was already made, and its guideline to detain the driver. But, I will say, I'm not going to press charges, and it won’t go on your record. It’s just to fulfill formalities. You’ll be able to sign out immediately on your own accord. Your vehicle will be impounded though”

”I understand” Mikasa said.

Officer Brzenska then turned to Eren. “What was your name, sir?”

”Eren Yeager, ma’am”

”I’ll give you a ride with us. There’s no taxis for miles”

”That would be appreciated, thank you”

Brzenska then pulled Mikasa backward slightly.

"Alright Mikasa, I'm going to do a quick search of you"

Mikasa sighed softly. "Okay"

Eren watched with guilt as Brzenska began her frisk.

"Any weapons in your waistband, or anything in your bra?” Brzenska asked, seeming to dig deeply into the pockets of her jacket.

"Nothing like that, no” Mikasa replied, eyes widening and cheeks burning slightly when feeling a light jiggle of her breasts.

"I’ll take your word. I will say though if the intake officer at the station finds anything, then you will not be leaving the station for the rest of the day”

"I promise, I have nothing” Mikasa said, shuttering lightly as she felt Brzenska lightly rubbing her stomach.

“Are the sunglasses and necklace all you have in the way of accessories?” Brzenska asked, running her hands now against Mikasa’s waist.

”I have some earrings on” Mikasa replied, lightly flinching when Brzenska moved her hands against her sides to feel her pockets. She felt so damn uncomfortable in this moment, this police officer essentially hugging on her, strange hands running amuck across her body.

Brzenska moved her hands up to run through Mikasa’s hair, exposing the earrings, the hooped ones Eren just got for her just the week before as a present. Brzenska then took hold of Mikasa’s hands again with one hand while she searched Mikasa’s legs with the other. Eren watched intently, relieved to see Brzenska finally finish the frisk. He looked with curiosity as she reach her hand to her toolbelt.

"Wh…oh right” he heard her mutter to herself. The woman’s glasses shimmered in the sunlight as she now looked his way, producing a key and clicking on it, her squad car making a sound.

"Please keep your hands behind your back, do not move them until I return”

"Yes officer” Mikasa said quietly, clasping them together as Brzenska walked over towards the squad car. Mikasa peeked over to Eren now, both waiting anxiously for Brzenska to finish what she was doing.

Hearing the trunk of the squad car shut, Eren looked over and felt his stomach drop as he it dawned on him what she was getting. Brzenska was walking back over, in her hands she was unfolding a pair of handcuffs.

Handcuffs?! Surely those wouldn’t be needed, Mikasa isn’t a criminal!

Brzenska went over to Mikasa. "Alright. Mikasa Ackerman, you are under arrest for reckless driving. I’m going to be placing you in handcuffs now, it’s mandatory when being transported under custody” she said, taking firm hold of Mikasa’s wrists and placing the cuffs against them.

Mikasa, though not looking forward to this, nodded, her hands trembling lightly. "I understand"

A regretful sigh left Eren's lips as he heard each cuff click and lock against Mikasa's wrists, Mikasa keeping her gaze pointed to the ground. She felt a slight cold shiver run through her when she felt the first cuff click into place. I'm being arrested, I'm really being arrested right now she thought to herself in disbelief. Her arms lightly jostled as Brzenska swiftly finished clicking the right cuff on. Mikasa tested to see how much she could move her hands, but both didn’t move an inch. It was a discomforting feeling, her hands now being unable to move from behind her.

Brzenska produced a small key to lock the handcuffs in place. Once done, she lightly poked Mikasa in the back. “Too tight?”

”No miss” Mikasa said quietly, wiggling her fingers a little. "Just...awkward feeling is all"

”Can't be helped I'm afraid. So long as they aren't too tight, they're serving their function. Just wait here a moment as I get the tow squared away and then we’ll be off” she said, walking over to their impounded vehicle. Eren peeked to look behind Mikasa, and saw the metal circles now sat on her wrists, her long sleeved shirt luckily covering her wrist enough so the metal didn't clamp right down on her skin. Her left hand moved to loosely grip onto her right wrist, almost like trying to shield his view of them. He shook his head with anger towards himself.

Mikasa saw this, and lightly nudged him with her elbow. “Let’s be honest. This was bound to happen one day” she said with a small smirk.

She was trying to lighten the mood but it was not at all effective. “Mikasa, I doubt many boyfriends cause their girlfriend to go to jail. Or at least find it funny. But since I'm a dumbass-“

”Eren. Don’t talk like that”

He poked her on her arm. "Mikasa. You're in handcuffs right now. Minutes away from being taken to jail cause you're under arrest. You've never even gotten detention before, never suspended, never told off by anyone for anything. But yet here you are, under arrest. And why? Because of my big fat mouth"

Mikasa frowned a little, her hands clasping together, a finger lightly tracing the metal of her left cuff. Sure, part of her was kind of mad at him. He likes to tread reckless at times when she would be uncomfortable with it. She was very astute at being on her best behavior and following the rules. So to be stood here in her current predicament because of Eren and his wild side, it was frustrating. But she indulged him. She too decided to hit the gas and speed. And given the officer had stated this was just formality and she wasn’t being charged or processed, it really wasn’t a full fledged arrest. No real damage was being done. Just some money out of pocket for getting the car back and an hour or so in these uncomfortable bracelets she was wearing. She was about to argue to to him when Brzenska returned to them.

"I forgot that I need you to sign this waiver in regards to the tow" she stated, placing a slip of paper down onto the trunk. She lightly spun Mikasa around and held her by her cuffs. “I'm going to uncuff your writing hand. Is that left handed or right handed for you?"

"Oh, um, right handed" Mikasa replied. With a swiftness, Brzenska produced the handcuffs key again and removed Mikasa out of the right cuff. The left hand remained restrained, both by the cuff and Brzenska pinning her hand in place behind Mikasa's back as she signed the document, Brzenska holding gently on her wrist as she wrote.

"There" Mikasa said, dropping the pen down on top of the waiver. Almost as quickly as she was freed, her right hand was seized and pulled behind her again.

"Does…does she really need to be in handcuffs?" Eren asked. Brzenska shook her head, continuing to reposition Mikasa's hand behind her back and pulling her cuffed hand back towards it.

"Afraid so. Though I highly doubt Mikasa here is violent or liable to flee, it’s mandatory policy. So she has to be in cuffs"

"Okay" Eren said.

She rested Mikasa’s hand within the cuff before tapping her on the shoulder. "Need to do anything before I recuff you? Once these go back on they stay on until we get to the station"

"N-no, I’m good" Mikasa said, shaking her hand gently before Brzenska latched the cuff back into place.

Eren quietly seethed having to hear that clicking sound once again, looking to see Mikasa's hand jostle as the metallic bond closed around her wrist. Her hands then clasped together, and he swore he could see her trying to stifle a look of embarrassment.

With a quick huff as she finished the handcuffing, Brzenska pulled Mikasa back slightly before clasping hold of the arrested woman’s shoulder and walking her over to the squad car. She motioned for Eren to follow. He complied, hating the view of the back of Mikasa, her hands softly bouncing lightly behind her. He deeply hated those handcuffs latched on her wrists, sticking out like the biggest sore thumbs. Taunting him almost about his stupid decisions. Brzenska pressed Mikasa against the back of the squad car, with Eren watching as Mikasa was then loaded into the backseat. Another sense of anger went through him, as when Brzenska was putting Mikasa into the backseat her hand placed itself on-top of Mikasa's head to push her downward. Almost like she was squishing her into the car. And at that moment he found a flicker of amusement in that image. And it pissed him off. You get her arrested and you think you can laugh about it you fuckhead? He walked by the open door, seeing Mikasa look at him with light embarrassment while Brzenska was reached over her, buckling her in. The seatbelt now fastened across her chest and clicked into its holder, Brzenska stood back straight outside of the car, answering a call over her radio. Eren frowned deeper. Mikasa looked so....small in that position. Hands locked behind her, looking around with anxiousness and shame unable to move.

"You need anything from the car? Your phone, wallet?" he asked, voice dripping with guilt.

"They should be fine in there until we get the car back” Mikasa said as she shook her head, her earrings dangling around as she did.

"Are you comfortable enough?" he asked quietly.

Mikasa wiggled lightly, the seatbelt restricting her movement a lot. He could just make out for a moment her cuffed hands clasped together behind her, before her back pressed against the seat once more.

"Not really, but it will have to do" she said, gently shrugging.

Eren sighed and frowned as Brzenska tapped him on the shoulder. "I need to close the door. She will be fine for the few minutes it takes to get to the station"

Eren nodded and moved back, letting Brzenska close the door. He stared back in, looking at his girlfriend look down and away from his eyeline. Mikasa in the back of a police cruiser. This is all my-

”Other side should be unlocked” Brzenska interrupted, looking his way from the driver side.

Eren nodded and went over to the driver side passenger seat and climbed in. He buckled himself in, and looked towards Mikasa again, who was just lightly smirking at him, hoping he would stop being so hard on himself. Her sunglasses slipped down onto her face. Eren moved them back atop her head for her, quickly moving to look away once he did.

The squad car took off once the tow truck arrived. It was a rather long, awkward drive. Eren get his gaze out his window, but wasn't really fixating on anything. Just preferring to mitigate seeing the sight next to him. 

“Ah, there’s Levi’s cottage” Mikasa said. Eren looked her way

”Which one?”

”See that one?” She said, moving her arm to point but the metallic cuff pressing into her wrist as she moved it reminded her she had no ability to do so. She chuckled a little. “I seem to have forgot I am a bit tied up at the moment”

This was another attempt at alleviation but this just made Eren feel worse, and he sunk down in his seat, ashamed. Mikasa frowned lightly, shifting forward in her seat.

Eren peeked her way again after a few moments. She was quietly looking out the window, no doubt disappointed they were missing out on the sunny day. The light breeze coming through the cracked window blowing her hair around lightly. She was surely no doubt mentally cursing him out about this because how could she not? Once again indulging his reckless shenanigans and now it has finally came back to bite.

She leaned her head back slightly against her headrest, seatbelt now a smidge loose against her. He could see the look of discomfort on her face, one she was trying to conceal. He hoped the handcuffs were not injuring her in any way. Handcuffed behind her back, buckled in with the most restricting seatbelt he had ever felt. No wonder she was uncomfortable, she had been effectively locked in place. And all because he wanted to go fast.

He could see her face lightly twitch. She then looked at him, light embarrassment on her face.

"Eren my cheek is itchy, could…could you-?"

He nodded, gently scratching her on the cheek. She sighed softly in relief.

”Thank you” she said quietly.

He nodded, though his hand remained on her cheek, caressing it now. The two looked at one another, a small exchange of loving smiles for-

"I understand she's your girlfriend, but at the moment she’s my detainee. Please no touching" Brzenska said suddenly.

The couple turned red and quiet again, Eren’s hand dropping from her face. Brzenska had heard the softer word detainee, but he knew what that word actually meant. Prisoner, Mikasa was just pretty much called a prisoner.

A more angry sigh escaped his lips this time. What the fuck was his problem? Why did he seem to not care about real world consequences? Especially ones he would not be directly experiencing? An old memory came to mind, from when he and Armin were in the third grade. Their science teacher Mr. Mitabi was a particular hardass, so Eren decided they would be egging his house. They pelted it until a light flicked on. Eren ran off, but Armin was frozen in place. So he got caught. And served two weeks of detention and had to clean the mess up. Eren meanwhile got no punishment. Another instance of a friend coddling him instead of giving him a rightful earful.

He could feeling Mikasa looking at him, and this pulled his attention back to her. This time she looked particularly irritated, glaring at him. Stop she mouthed. Her left elbow moved lightly as if trying to use her hands. Had she been able to, she would no doubt have a finger pointed at him. He wanted to stop, he did because part of him knew that this situation was definitely worse for her than himself. But he always had a sense of being harder on himself. And he always hated the idea of anyone, Mikasa especially, paying the price for him.

"Mikasa's a Japanese name, no?" they suddenly heard Brzenska ask. Seems she was offering up some small talk.

Mikasa straightened up a little. "Y-yes ma'am. My mother was from Sapporo"

"That's nice. I went to Tokyo for my honeymoon. It's a gorgeous city"

"It is"

"I am sorry again for cutting into your spring break. You just can't be driving around that fast. I lost a colleague of mine to a reckless driver"

Mikasa and Eren felt alot more guilty than before. "I'm so sorry to hear" Mikasa said quietly.

"At the least, you guys were alone out there, and I caught you immediately. Learning lesson is all"

"Absolutely"

"Anything else, I would be pushing for the book to be thrown"

The two women kept chatting however Eren remained in his self-hating silence. They arrived at the station ten minutes later.

"Alright, Yeager, wait here a moment while I remove Mikasa"

He did as told. Brzenska exited the vehicle and opened Mikasa's door.

"Could you unbuckle her for me?"

Eren nodded and did as asked. Mikasa then stepped out, Brzenska taking hold of her arm and walking her to the back of the vehicle. Eren saw his door be opened up.

"Come on out".

Eren unbuckled and climbed out. Mikasa was looking at him, pressed lightly against the car while Brzenska gripped hold of her handcuffs and clasped her shoulder.

"Head inside" Brzenska instructed. Eren, with a lingering look at Mikasa, walked towards the front door, while Brzenska escorted Mikasa towards "Intake". Fancy word for prisoners he thought.

Taking a seat in the waiting area, he looked over to see Mikasa being led in, being braced up against a back wall. Please just take her out of those handcuffs. He could see other people around, similarly handcuffed or locked inside a cell door, and Mikasa did not deserve to be in their company. Brzenska then handed her off to another female officer, who performed another, more thorough search of her body. Mikasa was then placed inside one of the three jail cells in the room while Brzenska went to go prepare the documentation for Mikasa to sign. Eren just sat, not wanting to make eye contact with Mikasa. He just couldn't stop dwelling over how stupid he thought of himself in that moment. She was sitting in that cell because of him. His awkward looking around eventually caused him to meet Mikasa's gaze. She was stood facing out of the bars. Turning slightly, she offered him a meek little wave as best as she could before with her limited hand usage before Eren darted his eyeline away again.

Eren kept ruminating on how much of a disaster this whole situation was when Brzenska finally returned and let Mikasa out. She again unlocked Mikasa's right hand, but this time to handcuff her in front of her in order to fulfill the necessary paperwork. A grueling 15 minutes went by. He cringed when he saw her start talking on the phone, and realized it was to ask Levi for help with the impound fee. He's gonna murder me for sure Eren thought to himself, but his attention was back onto Mikasa as he could see her and Brzenska stand up, Brzenska taking hold of those bastard handcuffs and finally removing them from Mikasa's wrists. He walked over to them, not failing to notice Mikasa discreetly rubbing her wrists. With a final goodbye, the couple were out the door free and clear. Eren had his hands stuffed in his jeans pockets, looking down at the ground as he walked. Mikasa poked him on the shoulder.

"Well, that was quite the detour" she said.

He shook his head. "Mikasa I really wish you'd stop trying to make me feel better about this. That was the stupidest thing I think I've ever done in all the years I've known you"

"Eren. Honestly? I can't say it makes my top ten"

He rubbed his head in light embarrassment as she hugged onto his arm.

"People have these little…mishaps I guess the word would be in relationships-"

"Mishap” Eren said in bemusement. "Did Levi ever get Petra into trouble like this? Did Armin do that to Krista?"

"Eren-"

“When was the last time you can remember Connie ever getting Sasha arrested?" Eren asked, attempting to articulate his point.

"Freshman year actually"

He looked at her. "Wait, real- regardless"

"Eren, not to say you can’t hold angst about this, but you weren’t the one arrested here. Can you please accept I'm not going to hold this against you? I think alot more than wearing some handcuffs and sitting five minutes in a jail cell would need to be done for me to never forgive you for something. Let's go get the car, get to the cabin, and enjoy the break. Please?"

With a sigh, he finally relented. He took her hand in his and they continued walking towards the impound lot.

"Besides, it's more Levi you'd need to grovel to" she said. "He mentioned he'd be calling you soon"

Eren's blood ran cold, as he felt his cellphone buzz in his pocket.

Chapter Text

1

The 104th stood at attention, waiting on if their instructor, Keith Shadis, would hone in on them this particular day. It was the end of their first week in the military. Just about everyone had been put through the ringer. Those who experienced the rite of passage were not subjected to it again. This was more so to psych trainees out and ensure they were following up to the standards set in place.

"SPRINGER! Why is it your boots are untied?!"

Connie looked down, leaning down in a panic to tie them.

"NO!" Shadis yelled, pulling him back up. "You decided to grace my presence with untied boots! You will now run around base, boots untied, until I say stop. Is that clear?!"

"Aye, Sir!"

"Fall out!"

Connie left formation and began running. Shadis moved on, scanning other cadets. He stopped in front of Sasha.

"Any foodstuffs on your person today, Blouse?!"

"Sir no sir!"

"That is interesting. I was told by the mess hall attendant that two bread loafs had disappeared from the tray they were on last night. So you assert this was not you?"

"Sir, it was not, sir!"

Shadis reached towards her, flicking away a breadcrumb still on her face.

"Sir, that was breakfast, sir!"

"Ah, so you didn't clean your face properly afterwards then?! FALL OUT"

Sasha whimpered lightly before running off to join Connie in their punishment. Shadis worked his way down the line, and then stopped in front of Mikasa.

"Ackerman"

"Sir yes sir" Mikasa answered.

"The members of the trainee governing board informed me your scarf was in violation of trainee dress code. You are to remove it"

Mikasa didn't answer, not moving. Eren and the other cadets glanced around in surprise. Shadis' brow furrowed in confusion.

"Ackerman"

"Sir yes sir"

"Was I not clear in what I just said?"

"Sir yes sir"

"Well?"

No answer again, no action towards taking the scarf off.

"ACKERMAN!"

"Sir yes sir" Mikasa answered, unfazed.

"Remove your scarf this instant!"

No answer. No movement. Shadis was astonished. She was the finest trainee to have potentially ever entered the corps. She had yet to express this sort of insubordination.

"Ackerman, if you do not-"

"Sir, I respectfully choose not to remove it, sir"

Everyone, Connie and Sasha included, were stood silent in surprise and confusion.

"F....fall out" Shadis stated. Mikasa nodded and ran over to Connie and Sasha.

"SPRINGER, BLOUSE, WHO THE HELL TOLD YOU TO STOP?!"

The two fearfully resumed running, having been completely overtaken by Mikasa almost instantly. Shadis would press Mikasa on this once more the next day, but eventually dropped the subject, allowing the girl to remain wearing her scarf.

2

The cadets were assigned the task of scrubbing down the classroom building on Sundays. The cadets were presently working through the hallway. Eren and Mikasa were on ladders scrubbing the ceiling, Armin and Marco holding their ladders in place. Reiner and Bertholdt were on their hands and knees scrubbing the floor. The remaining cadets were at various walls.

"How is it possible for this building to get so disgusting in the span of a week?" Krista exclaimed, grimacing at the dust seemingly falling as she scrubbed.

"And why is it our job to do it?!" Connie complained. "I'm here to learn how to be a soldier, not a maid!"

"Connie, it's to enforce discipline" Reiner replied. "As well as to engrain this into memory. At some point, we can do this without thinking"

"I'd like to do it without doing it" Connie sassed. Jean was walking from the wall he was stood at.

"Where's the soapy water that was here?"

"I hung it here while I'm up high on the wall" Sasha called down from a ladder against her wall. She reached over to pick up the bucket to hand down, but it fell. Whatever didn't dump out over Jean splashed onto the floor.

"Oh you moron!" Jean snapped harshly. "Now I'm drenched!"

"Stop whining, Jean" Connie said. He looked, seeing the red fabric hanging off Mikasa's ladder. He grabbed it.

"Here, dry yourself-" he began saying, before he felt the cloth being snatched out of his hand. He turned to see Mikasa glaring at him as she wrapped it around her neck.

"This isn't a towel" she said flatly.

"S-sorry Mikasa" Connie stammered, unnerved that he hadn't even heard her come down from the ladder so quickly.

3

The cadets looked over at Mikasa, sat alone during dinner. She had been for the better part of the day deeply upset, as during that day's ODM training, her scarf loosened while she was whipping through the trees. Before she realized it, it had fallen off during a maneuver. She poured over that forest for hours feverishly looking for it but to no avail. She walked to go sit by herself for dinner instead of joining Eren and Armin as always. It felt as a choice made feeling she upset Eren over losing the fabric.

"She's always been quiet, but this is....kinda depressing" Krista remarked. "She looks almost lost"

"It's a damn scarf" Ymir said. "She can easily buy a new one"

Krista looked at her. "Ymir, it clearly means alot to her. I think you'd feel similarly if you lost something special to you"

Ymir just softly huffed in response. Armin tapped Eren on the shoulder.

"Eren, you should go out and find it. It would be extra special if you went and found it for her"

Eren furrowed his brow in confusion. "Armin, it's not to be callous, but Ymir isn't really wrong. It's just-"

"But Eren, you gave it to her"

The others just shared a look among themselves that effectively said That explains things.

"I don't know Armin, It's dark out now. Who knows where it is"

"I'm just saying you should consider it. It means so much to Mikasa, given how she came to be in possession of it"

Eren looked over to Mikasa. The sad look in her eyes brought him back to the day they had met. He didn't like seeing those eyes.

Later that night

The girls were gathered around the woodstove in their barracks, having some light discussion before lights out. All but Mikasa, who was just sat on her bed hugging onto her legs and looking outside.

"Mikasa, please come over for a little bit" Sasha called over. Mikasa just shook her head.

"I'm okay. Thanks though"

The other girls tried to keep their socializing going but, though understandable, Mikasa's sadness made the atmosphere too awkward.

A knock against the door to the barracks sounded. "Hello?"

"Eren? Is that you?" Krista asked.

"It is. Would it be okay if I entered for a minute?"

Krista got up, going and opening the door for him. He stepped in.

"Sorry for the intrusion. I just needed to see Mikasa for a sec"

Mikasa looked to him, and her eyes widened when she'd see her scarf in his hands. She got up from her bed.

"Where was it?" she asked as she moved quickly over to him. He loosely hung the scarf around her neck, letting her adjust it.

"It was up in a tree. I'm shocked I even noticed it. But it was up there. Sorry if there's any tree bark or anything in it"

She shook her head as she finished wrapping it, a small but happy smile on her lips as she looked up at him. Her eyes were bright. "No, it's more than alright. Thank you so much for finding it, Eren. Thank you"

"It was no problem, Mik-"

She'd gave him a hug before he finished, face burying itself against his chest. He blushed deeply as he looked around at the girls either smiling or awwing at the sight. He would lightly pat Mikasa on her back, inwardly very much enjoying hugging her.

Chapter Text

It feels so warm she thought to herself as she opened her eyes. The sky above her caused her to become confused. I was indoors. I was in hospital. I.....I died, didn't I?

She sat up now, seeing herself surrounded by endless yellow flower fields and trees. The tiniest creek next to her. She looked down to it and saw her reflection. No longer white haired, no longer weathered and tired and old. She was young once again. Young and....somewhere.

She stood from her spot, looking around. Is there anybody else here?

A bird flew down from the sky, perching on the ground in front of her. She smiled at it lightly, noticing what seemed to be a note and pen in it's talon. Gently, she reached down, the bird allowing her to take the note.

Were you happy in the end? it read. She froze. That's Eren's handwriting. She whirled around again, eyes wide and hopeful. Where had the bird come from? Was Eren close?

She remembered the pen. As much as it was possible to be she wrote under his words. She re-rolled the note, and the bird latched onto it and flew away. She watched it's path intently, following it along. The bird disappeared from view, so she paused near a patch of trees. She took a seat after a few minutes, the bird not having returned so far. She didn't take her eyes away from the sky until finally, the bird came back.

How do you mean?

She looked at it a moment. She finally wrote You weren't there with me, placing the note with the bird. It led her through the patch of trees, disappearing amongst their green leaves. So she sat against a tree facing out to the other side, towards another wide field that led to an even bigger forest of trees. The bird crested over this forest as it flew back to her.

You should have forgot about me

He wasn't even around to see her, but she shook her head regardless. You shouldn't have even thought to ask that of me

She followed the bird until she got to the center of the field. It seemed to return quicker this time, so Eren had to be close now.

I died a long time ago. You should've found a husband to make you happy

She shook her head again at this, a slight frown on her face at reading those words. I didn't want that. No one mattered to me like that. Except you

Eren must be hidden somewhere at the front of the forest. She sat down in the field, watching the bird return once more.

I'm a despicable piece of shit. You did not deserve to have-

She decided to not even bother finish reading his words before composing her response. I ran after you in life, and waited for so long to catch up to you again. Please don't make me have to do that here too

The bird took back off, disappearing into the trees. Mikasa remained sat, lightly wringing her hands together. She was hoping this last message would get Eren to show himself. To stop this note passing. Her heart soared when she saw a figure emerge from the trees. She leapt up to her feet, her eyes watering ever so slightly as Eren got closer. He walked very sheepishly, alternating between looking to her and then towards the ground. She had hold of his hands the moment he stopped in front of her.

”I…I feel like I shouldn’t be here” he said. “After all I did….it feels wrong for me to have anything like this”

He looked at her, feeling his eyes sting. "And how you can look at me like that, with that smile and that loving look in your eyes, I never earned any of it"

She moved a hand up to his cheek. ”I don't agree"

Tears were streaming down his face. "But why-"

"Because I choose who I love. And I love you"

With her other hand, she took hold of her scarf. "I've loved you since the first time you wrapped this round me"

He was more openly weeping now. Both her hands were now on his cheeks as he pulled her in close with a hug.

"We weren't able to have this in life. Please don't keep us from having it here" she whispered. With this, he kissed her.

"I've been so lonely without you" he said.

"I've missed you so much" she replied, kissing him longingly.

They parted after their lengthy embrace, though they still held onto one another. Eren looked around them.

"So....where do you think we go next?"

Mikasa too looked around. She had a smile on her face as she looked back at Eren.

"We should go look for it. Mind if I lead the way this time?"

Eren smiled back, allowing her to take hold of his hand and lead them running off to nowhere in particular. The where and the time didn't matter, because they now had an infinite amount of both.

Chapter Text

"So the latest hardening experiments have proven successful. This is encouraging news" Erwin said. He was presently hosting a meeting between himself, Hange, Levi, Eren, Mikasa and Armin. They were on the heels of executing the mission to reclaim Shiganshina. With Historia placed on the throne, and Eren now possessing the ability to crystalize, there was a sense of renewed hopefulness amongst the Survey Corps.

"All 5 tasks I had assigned were accomplished" Hange said. "Eren has a firm grasp on how to control his abilities. Sans his ability to control Titans. Not sure how practical it would be to test that ability without it putting others in immense danger. Though we could wrangle-"

"What's important is, we can now seal holes in the walls" Levi interrupted.

"So then, would it be feasible to begin journeying for Shiganshina within the week?" Erwin asked.

"I'd be ready to go by tomorrow if need be" Eren stated.

Levi shook his head a little. "Your eagerness is commendable, Yeager, but we still need to actually organize an operation. Can't just go out and hope for the best"

"Apologies, Captain. It's just...something I've been waiting to do for years"

"Is there any other topics needing to be addressed?" Erwin asked. The table sat quiet for a moment before Armin cleared his throat.

"Well...this has been something I've broached with Eren before, and it's a certainly uncomfortable topic. But given the magnitude of this operation, we should consider....contingencies"

"Like, if we fail to regain Shiganshina?" Hange asked.

"I mean....if we have to....and this is on the off chance of course....who inherits Eren's Titan if he was to fall"

The words restored a silence amongst the attendees. Armin could feel the frosty stare Mikasa was casting his way.

"You have a point, Arlert. We cannot afford having our one advantage falling into the hands of Reiner or Bertholdt. Apologies, Eren, I wouldn't-"

"Sir, it's more than okay. If I die, or I have to be eaten-"

A sudden slam of the table sounded, and everyone watched Mikasa stand and storm out of the room, the door loudly banging behind her.

"Sir, I apologize for that" Eren said. Erwin waved it off.

"Like Armin said, it's an uncomfortable topic. We should table this discussion at least until tomorrow. It's only becoming apparent to me the lateness of the hour"

Levi nodded. "Agreed. Besides, Yeager, you shouldn't be apologizing for her reaction. It's understandable for wives to get upset at the idea of their husbands dying"

"Cap!- she's not....my wife" Eren said, face plastered red as he headed for the door.

He found her in her room, arms folded and leaning against the window looking outside.

"That wasn't really appropriate, Mikasa" he said, quietly closing her door. She sighed in response.

"I had nothing to say there anyway. Not sure why I attended"

"Even still. You were slamming the table, slamming the door-"

She looked over to him, just shrugging lightly before looking back outside. He walked over to the window himself, seeing if there was anything in particular she was looking at. There wasn't, she was clearly just quietly calming down.

He sighed. "I don't like talking about that kind of thing too, but it has to be talked about. We need to be at the very least in step with whatever Reiner and whoever else is out to get us. I may possess our biggest advantage, but it's not something only I can wield. I'm disposa-"

"Eren!" she exclaimed. His head shot towards her as he felt her take hold of his hand tightly. She no longer had that look of indifference, her eyes were wide, and they were upset as they looked down towards their united hands.

"I'm...not obtuse to the fact anyone can possess that power. I'm not unaware you could die at any time. You just....don't have to be so flippant about it" she said quietly.

He certainly felt guilty now. Mikasa dealt too often with losing loved ones. Somehow he forgot to be mindful of that. He motioned for her to come closer and hugged her when she did, her wrapping her arms around him as he did the same with her.

"Sorry, Mikasa" he whispered. 

Chapter Text

Armin watched as Eren stropped about their cramped apartment. It was about 4 hours out from Eren and Mikasa breaking up. A big argument about, no doubt, a misunderstanding they were both stubbornly not acknowledging. It was, however, the first time he'd ever heard them say they were breaking up, so though he felt this whole thing was fixable, them actually breaking up was still rather upsetting to hear.

"Eren, you know Mikasa w-"

"I do know Mikasa, but it's becoming more and more clear she really doesn't know me! She doesn't trust me"

"I think that's a massive stretch to make"

"Yeah, well, it's done now. I don't wanna talk about it anymore"

The two men resumed their separate tasks in silence for the next hour. Armin then heard the very soft knocking at the door that he recognized as being Mikasa's.

"Heads up, Eren" he said. Eren was confused a moment before realizing. A very firm scowl developing on his face. Armin opened the door, seeing a very sad looking Mikasa. She was wiping at her eyes.

"Hey Armin" she said. "Is-"

He nodded. "He is". He opened the door to let her in. Eren made a light motion as if to say I don't want to see her right now!, but Armin shrugged lightly, suggesting I don't care, talk to her.

Mikasa was inside regardless, rubbing her arm in discomfort. "Hi Eren"

He didn't answer, just looking at her as he sat down.

She wiped at her eyes again. "I...I really wanted to come over, because I wanted to tell you how sorry I was. You were right. I wasn't being fair, I let myself run with a wrong conclusion, and didn't let you explain. I'm really sorry. And...I was thinking that we were both way too quick to pull the trigger on breaking up. Because I really really don't want that"

Eren sighed. "I don't know Mikasa. I just...don't know right now. I'm hurt, I'm mad. I just...I don't know. I think we made the right decision"

Mikasa looked completely devastated, pupils dilating in fear. "You....you want to stay broken up?"

He didn't answer at first, just looking at her while he thought over. Eventually, to Mikasa's heartbreak and Armin's utter bewilderment, Eren nodded. "I think I do, yeah"

Mikasa just looked down to the floor, hand clutching at her scarf, the one Eren gave her, as she nodded defeatedly. "Okay" she said quietly. Armin watched her turn away to leave, his heart hurting seeing her lower lip trembling and her eyes close tight as she silently wept. Armin walked over to the door, watching her walk down their hallway to the elevator. He whirled round to Eren, looking particularly mad.

"Eren! For fuck sakes, go after her!"

"I can't Armin. I just...I really think we're do-"

Armin shook his head. "No you don't. Or at least you do think you are done. For the next hour maybe, before you realize how fucking stupid you're being. By then it'll be too late"

"It's done, Armin. There's nothing more to say"

Armin looked at his watch for a few seconds. "5...4...3...2...1. Alright"

He turned and closed the door, locking both the main lock and the deadbolt before leaning against the door to face back to Eren, who was looking at him with light confusion. "What are you doing?"

"I am now banning you from going after her. You had the opportunity, it's gone now"

Eren scoffed. "I wasn't going after her anyway"

"I know. I'm just saying that you now don't have the option anymore. You can't run after her, you can't call her later to apologize, you can't rekindle with her at all. You're making a choice, and I am holding you to it. You and Mikasa are done? That's a damn, damn shame, but it's the choice you have made, and I'm going to make sure you stick to it"

Eren shook his head at Armin, looking away. Armin remained leaning against the door. A slight grin dawned his face when he saw Eren's face switch to more of a What have I done expression.

"Armin, unlock the door" he said, getting up.

Armin shook his head. "No"

"Armin, open the fucking door!" Eren exclaimed, seeming to panic as he shoved his way to the locks and flung them open. Armin stood back, watching Eren as he sprinted out. He was amused a little that Eren seemed to actually think his "ban" was in any way binding, but at the least it had the intended effect. He went over and leaned out of the window. Mikasa was walking dejectedly down the pathway to the street. She had only just turned left onto it when Eren ran out shouting her name. He moved so fast he stumbled and hit his knee on the pathway. Mikasa had already been hurrying back, and was now hurrying towards Eren to see if he was alright. She helped him up as he assured her he was fine, and then hugged onto her, pleading with her to take him back. She hugged him back and, of course, said she would. Armin just smiled.

"Now kiss!" he called down. The two looked up to him, Mikasa with a slightly embarrassed but happy smile, Eren initially glaring but then smiling up at him as well as Mikasa pressed a kiss to his cheek.

Chapter Text

Eren being a firefighter was always something that brought danger to him on a regular basis. She knew this. Accepted it. She trusted him to be safe, but it did not mean that it was still an emotional roller coaster whenever she was working the ER and the news would be playing footage of a big fire Eren was no doubt present at to put out. Even more stressful when they'd be fed reports from incoming paramedics about wounded firefighters and watching the doors open with anxiety hoping Eren was not one of the injured. Eren so far was always on his own two feet when he'd come through the doors with the wounded, and would wrap his arm around her waist to tell her he was fine in addition to fill her in on the situation more clearly.

Today, a massive building fire was blazing downtown. Mikasa was concerned about it, however she took comfort in knowing today was one of Eren's days off. So she kept her eye on the news, but was able to focus on her work. That was until she took a moment to look at her phone, and froze.

I went in today. I had to help. Love you, ttyl

She was worried now. Angry too. He did this to her too often. Way too fucking often she quietly seethed as she looked to the news for updates.

"Mikasa, isn't Eren with Engine 17?" Krista asked her as Mikasa approached.

"Yes....why?"

"They just reported they lost contact with 17"

Mikasa looked at her, internalizing this news before nodding and quietly looking back up to the television. Her arms were folded tight. She was quarreling with her deep fear for his safety, and the anger of his going in when he didn't have to. Fending off the urge to, should he come through those doors, smack him silly for this.

"Sina County, do you copy?" a voice over their radio sounded. Mikasa and Krista watched Nifa go over to answer. "Sina County, we copy"

"Bringing in multiple victims of the building fire. 15 critical, 40 stable. Also, we located Engine 17. Bringing in 3 critical, one stable....6 deceased"

Mikasa stopped hearing what was being said after this. She was utterly stricken with fear now. 6 deceased was all she could think about.

Nifa and Krista were both trying to get her attention. "...kasa, they're minutes away, come on!"

Mikasa was able to focus again and followed them over to the doors. Before she could really take a moment to breath in, the doors flung open, and a flurry of paramedics and gurneys came in. Mikasa followed Doctors Jarnach and Magath, taking down the vitals of a few non-firefighter victims. Krista came over to her, tapping her on the shoulder.

"I can take care of this if you wanted to work up the non-critical firefighter" she said, pointing over to Curtain 4, where to Mikasa's immense relief sat Eren, covered in soot but sitting up and looking to the floor.

"Thanks, Krista" she said, handing her the clipboard. She fixed her sight on Eren, her anger taking control now. Eren looked up to see her for a second, looking back down. Mikasa stopped, reaching behind her to pull the curtain around them. He could feel the daggers she was casting his way, the slight roughness as she started working him up.

"How was your day off" she asked icily.

He didn't answer. She practically yanked his jacket off, strapping the blood pressure monitor on his arm.

"Seems like you were pretty busy" she continued, still icy in tone. She stopped now to stare at him, demanding with her eyes he explain himself. He still wouldn't answer.

"I'm-"

"Thomas" was what he finally said quietly, coughing slightly from the smoke. "Thomas...I didn't save him. I had his hand.....I had-"

Her anger evaporated immediately, a small sense of guilt coming through her now. Six men had died. The moment she saw Eren hadn't been one of them, she immediately thought of nothing else.

"He was gone so quick, I couldn't-" he said, before leaning forward and weeping. She hugged onto him, her heart positively aching seeing him like this.

Eren always felt a sense of security knowing that Mikasa worked at the hospital. Sure, she was exposed to illness on the regular and there was always the odd belligerent drunk, but her being right there to be treated on the spot, and there being multiple security guards to intervene was reassuring.

There was a bank heist that happened in the city. The robbers took several hostages and holed up in a library, setting fire to their getaway bus. Eren's engine was dispatched to the scene. He hopped off the firetruck and assisted with getting the hoses attached to put out the fire. He spotted one of his cop buddies Marlowe standing alongside other cops and a negotiator shouting up to them.

"Marlowe, what's the situation?"

"One of the idiots shot himself in the foot. So in exchange for verification of the hostages safety, a paramedic's on the way"

One of the robbers emerged from the library, one hostage in his grip with a gun pointed to their head. "HEY! WHERE THE HELL'S THE DOC?!"

"Seconds away!" the negotiator responded. He turned at the sound of an approaching ambulance. "Here!"

The ambulance screeched to a halt, and Eren watched with sudden shock as Mikasa emerged.

"You the doc?" one of the cops asked. She nodded.

"I...I didn't realize they sent nurses" Eren remarked, not breaking eye contact with Mikasa.

"There was a collision on the highway, it's tied up all available doctors. So...I'm here"

"Come with me" the cop said. Mikasa followed, Eren lightly tapping her hand. They looked at one another again.

I'll be okay she was saying to him with her eyes. With reluctance, he nodded, and she hurried away. Adhering to the robber's demands, she walked up slowly. He snatched the medkit from her hands and pushed her inside. Eren held himself back with everything in him to not go charging up to beat the crap out of the robber. A fellow firefighter had to clap him on the shoulder to get his attention to help finish putting the busfire out.

A tense hour passed. Eren had the sinking feeling Mikasa had been unwillingly added to the robbers' hostages. The negotiator seemed to be getting through to the robbers though, there was no longer any threatening or menacing. They were starting to grasp the gravity of the situation and were looking for the offramp. The busfire had long been put out, and the firetruck had long left, but Eren would not budge. He was pacing irritably behind the barricades.

Just give up you assholes Eren thought. Give up and let her go. And you better pray you didn't touch her

Marlowe waved at him to get his attention. "Towel's been tossed in. They're coming out"

Eren moved fast to the front of the barricades, watching as the doors open, and a steady stream of hostages exited. The relief he felt when Mikasa appeared was indescribable. She was followed close behind by the surrendering robbers, but Eren no longer gave two shits about them. He walked past the barricades, up to Mikasa, and picked her up in his arms in a tight hug, walking her back into the safe zone.

"Is this what I do to you?" he asked her. "Is this how you feel each time there's a fire?"

He felt her nod against his chest. He set her down in front of him, his hands going to her cheeks as he peppered her with kisses to the forehead.

"Then fuck it, let's find quieter jobs"

"What?"

"I'm not going to keep stressing you out. And I know I can't go through that again myself. Let's open a store or something, or become teachers. I don't know, just something I know you're 100% safe"

She smiled lightly. "Eren, you don't-"

"I know I don't, I want to. Shit, Mikasa, we're getting married in three months. I want to grow old with ya and have a family and see them grow up. I'm quitting tomorrow. What do you say?"

Her smile widened as she kissed him. "Eren the storeowner? This is something I have to see"

Chapter Text

Fishing

He wasn't particularly impressed with the size of fish he was catching this day. He had promised Mikasa a big catch, and though she insisted she didn't mind either way, the part of him that would set itself firmly on a goal was fully gripping him.

He stood stoic against the edge of the lake as Mikasa sat quietly nearby, whittling a long stick down to make her own fishing rod.

She looked up when she started hearing frequent sounds of frustration coming from his way.

"Eren, I thought this was meant to be relaxing for you"

"It is, it is. I'm just...really wanting a nice big catch you know?"

She looked back to her work. Eren stood quietly again, until one big yank on his fishing rod lightly startled him.

"Hang on, might've willed one into-"

Another mighty yank nearly pulled him forward. Mikasa saw this and rose to her feet.

"Mika, might need some help with this one"

She went over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, holding him in place while he slowly reeled the catch in.

"Almost....almost...."

With another mighty yank, the couple soon found themselves falling forward, soaking the pair. Eren, in a sitting position, looked towards Mikasa, who was on her hands and knees. Big grins soon turned into loud laughter as they helped each other up.

Affection

His kissing her and saying he loved her that one day ushered in the both of them being alot more openly affectionate. Each morning, he'd place a kiss to her temple, which always woke her without fail. A smile on her lips as she opens her eyes. Eren lived for that smile.

It felt almost like making up for lost time, all those years of tucking away the extent of their love for one another, be it from shyness or focusing on survival. And, given he was on borrowed time initially, getting as much in before he went.

She would be walking between rooms or outside when she would feel herself taken into his arms in a hug, his head rested on her shoulder. The voice in her head saying she needed to press on with whatever task she needed to do always took the backseat to enjoying the embrace, a hand reaching back to rest against his cheek. She was also guilty of this kind of thing, snuggling into his arms whenever he was sat outside anywhere, be it near the lake fishing, or enjoying the beautiful sunny day.

This affection was something both dearly missed when Eren went away for the year he believed he was to die. His side of their bed being empty never let Mikasa go to sleep without a sense of profound sadness, and ultimately not even get a restful night sleep anyway. When he made his return, it was virtually impossible for her to stop hugging onto him, and when they turned in for the night her arms remained around him the entire time. Eren woke first the next morning, and kissed her temple.

"We should get a start on the day, Mika. It's almost midday"

She just gave him that small smile in response, her eyes remaining closed and a soft shake of her head. "Not yet"

Eren kissed her cheek. As several more hours passed, he just threw the towel in on the day and they spent the rest of it sleeping in their embrace.

Missing

Eren had taken a mosey about the forest while Mikasa was working to get supper ready. Eren was pretty good with preparing for them anything fish related, however this night they were having venison. Given the disaster that was the last time he tried making it, they both decided she'd handle prepping it. So here he was, out in the woods.

He often found himself still in awe of the spot they picked out. Every nook and cranny of the land: the forest, the lake, the mountains. It was all so breathtaking each and every time he stepped foot outside. He would have to focus up most of the time in order to not get lost in it....

He stopped, looking around. I don't recognize any of these trees he suddenly realized. He was rather deep in the forest at this point, so all he could see was trees. If he was wanting to get a barring on his location, he was going to have to climb up one of these bigger trees. Scanning upward, he settled on one particularly large one, and with great care climbed up.

The old ODM gear would certainly come in handy right now he thought, reaching the top and carefully sat on what he felt was a thick branch. There was quite a large swath of trees between him and it, but he soon saw their home off in the distance.

"Pay better attention, Yeag-" he muttered to himself, before suddenly the branch snapped and he was plummeting to the ground. The impact knocked him out.

Mikasa had the venison ready, sitting Eren's plate on the table. It was a bit strange he had yet to return though. When it came to mealtime, he generally was right at the table before she was done plating.

She stepped outside, looking around to see if he was on his way, but she saw nothing. If only he said where he was going she thought.

Eren woke, groaning and rubbing his pounding head. The branch he was sat on was laid atop him, and he could see the scrapes and cuts its impact left. He moved his arm to lift it off but he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder.

That's gonna sting for a bit

Once he gritted through the pain and removed the branch, his movement to begin standing sent a howl of pain out of his mouth. Looking to his legs, he could see his left foot was...not pointing the way it should be.

Well. That's going to prove a problem

Again gritting through as best he could, he was able to get himself sat up, and began trying to snap this branch down short enough to utilize as a cane to walk with. Once he was satisfied it was firm enough, he stood. The pain near enough knocked him back down, but he persevered, and began his trek home.

It was fully dark out now, and there was still no sign of Eren. She was sat on the step, where she had been for the past several hours, and the more time passed, the more her heart sank further. He had told her all those months ago when he returned that perhaps the curse was in a delay. But she took more and more comfort when the months went by and he was still with her. But now, he was nowhere in sight. No explanation. Except that one terrible reason.

He did tell you not to get too excited she thought to herself as she looked sadly out to the darkness. Her hands were tucked under her legs, her face buried into her scarf. The candle next to her was burning low, soon to extinguish.

Why do you need to take him away from me. Why do I have to live without him?

She stood, keeping her gaze out for another moment. With a heavy heart, she finally went back inside.

"Fuck. Fuck" Eren seethed to himself whenever he set his broken foot down on the ground. He was still deep in the forest, but was hopeful he was just about close to the edge of it. Mikasa was surely asleep at this point, so no smoke plume from the fire would be able to guide his way.

Shit. She's probably worried sick he thought sadly. I can't keep doing this to her

He was absolutely exhausted, but he both did not want to go to sleep in the woods, or be away from Mikasa any longer than he should. So through his pain and exhaustion, he kept going.

Mikasa woke the next morning. She looked to her side. No Eren in her arms. She sat up, though there was no semblance of motivation in her. She sat for a few minutes before she was able to muster the ability to stand and move. She washed up, got dressed, wrapped her scarf around her neck, and walked into the kitchen. She was preparing some tea, filling up the kettle.

"fuck!" she heard a distant voice sound. Her head shot up to look out the window. The kettle in her hand fell into the sink as she saw a figure approaching. She raced outside.

"Eren!" she called, having him in her arms within seconds.

"I'm so sorry Mikasa. I fell out of a damn tree"

She blinked the tears from out of her eyes. "What? Why were you in a tree?"

"I'll fill you in once I get off my feet"

Letting him lean against her, the pair walked back to the cabin. Eren flaked out onto the couch, while Mikasa got to work looking over his injuries.

"I really don't know when I started spacing out. I just realized that I wasn't in a section of the forest we knew about. Went up to see how far away I got, and boy was I ever far"

Mikasa just focused on his foot. She got it wrapped up and set back into place, Eren making a rather pure sound of whimpering pain. She was now cleaning up his other cuts.

"I...couldn't help but think that maybe....maybe what you said about the curse-"

Eren's heart hurt hearing her say this, so he leaned up to kiss her on the cheek. "I'm really really sorry, Mika"

She smiled at him, gripping onto his hand. "Just let me know where you go off to next time"

"Absolutely"

He began rising to stand. "There wouldn't happen to be any of that venison left?"

She lightly pushed him back down. "There is. You sit, I'll get it"

They would sit together while he ate and talked about his evening, and when he yawned, she helped him walk to the bedroom, where he fell asleep almost immediately upon laying down. The urge to join him was too overwhelming, so she slid back into bed, and fell asleep hugging tightly onto him.

Chapter Text

"Look, there goes one!"

Eren looked to where Mikasa's hand was pointing. Sure enough, a shooting star crested across the night sky. They were laying on their backs, in the crook of a big oak tree on top of a hill in the middle of the city's biggest park.

"And there's another!"

"I wonder what it would be like to ride a shooting star" he said. "it would be like next level flying"

"You'd have to go pretty far out into space"

He noticed the faint sound of melancholy in her voice. He patted her on the arm.

"Hey, you'd be there with me. Don't worry"

Side-eyeing her, he saw the smile he was angling for.

"We'll always be together, won't we?" she asked.

"Forever" he said firmly. They smiled at each other before another star caught their eye.

He'd been thinking about that night all those years ago, when they were just small and best friends. Now, they were older, and sat together in a room, facing opposite each other, finalizing the end of their almost ten year marriage, their twenty-plus year relationship. She just looked solemn as she sat, listening as the mediator conferred with all parties that the settlement being agreed on was up to snuff.

There wasn't a specific thing that set them seeking divorce. No bitter fights, no resentments. There was just a gradual distance that developed, one that after awhile hurt Mikasa too much to keep bearing. He wouldn't talk to her. He always used to talk to her. But something happened, and so began their rift.

Eren was just quietly looking down at the table, he wasn't paying the fullest attention, but was at the least aware of what was being said. He just found himself thinking of memories like the night of the shooting stars. He had truly meant it when he told her with absolute certainty they would always be together. Even before they grew up and started actually dating one another, he knew he wanted her there with him always. But yet here they were. Putting it to an end.

"Mr. Yeager?"

He looked up, realizing everyone was looking at him. The mediator cleared his throat.

"Mr. Yeager, if everything is amenable, then we can proceed with officially signing the papers"

A stapled set of papers were handed down to him. DIVORCE AGREEMENT the top of the page practically screamed at him.

"Y..yeah, just gonna give it a quick look" he half muttered, taking the papers into his hands. All the verbiage and legal jargon melded together eventually, the one thing that he couldn't stop looking back to was that one final sounding sentence.

The petitioners, Eren Jaeger and Mikasa Ackerman-Jaeger, agree to the terms established, and the petitioners, Eren Jaeger and Mikasa Ackerman-Jaeger, agree to divorce as of December 20, 2023.

Two spaces for their signatures followed. So this is it? he thought to himself. One scratch of the pen, and it's over?

He peered up to Mikasa, her not looking his way. She used to always meet his eyeline, a deep loving look in her eyes each time. Now she couldn't feel as if she could look at him. That thought made everything just hit him all at once, the gravity of what was happening. His eyes began to sting.

"Mr. Yeager, wo-"

"Did I really let it get this bad?" Eren said suddenly. Mikasa looked up with confusion initially before her gaze softened at the sight of his face.

"Did I really push us here? I'm....I'm so sorry, Mikasa. I promised you we'd always be together. I didn't keep that promise"

Doing his best not to cry in front of everyone, Eren set the paper down and scratched his signature onto it.

"Can you promise me, Mikasa, that when you find someone better, make sure....make sure he's not an idiot like me"

Eren got up and walked out of the room, not seeing Mikasa's stunned look watching after him.

He drove around the city for a bit before he stopped at the park, the one they'd always played around in. The one with the big oak tree. He climbed up the hill and took a seat under it. He really wasn't sure what life was going to look like now. He certainly didn't want anyone else in his life like that, if it wasn't to be Mikasa then he just didn't want it.

Ten minutes went by. He saw her from the corner of his eyes. His now ex-wife, arms folded and walking over to him. Ex-wife, the thought positively depressed him.

She stood in front of him looking down.

"Hi" he said quietly.

"I wish....you said what you did back there before now" she said.

"I wish I did too"

She crouched down, taking his hand in hers. "Why'd you stop talking to me?"

He shook his head. "I wish I knew. I'm just...stupid. It's lazy, but I just don't know why I couldn't talk to you. Why I couldn't share what was bugging me up here" he said, tapping his head. "I've been feeling so...low for so long. And it was never because of you. But maybe I felt if I talked about it, I'd make you feel like it was you doing something wrong, which is just far from being true. You were my shining light through everything"

"Eren...please tell me what's wrong"

"I just......" he trailed off, blinking away tears. "I just feel as if I'm spinning my wheels career-wise. I never really seem to do anything impressive. I feel like I let you down often. I.....couldn't seem to get us going on starting a family-"

"You- you think I would ever hold that against you?"

She sounded truly hurt. He shook his head. "No. But I know how much you want a family-"

She took firm hold of his other hand now. "When it happens, it happens. If for whatever reason it didn't, that would never have diminished my love for you, Eren. We'd take life as it came our way"

He looked away, blinking rapidly. "If only I'd opened my damn mouth"

She let go of his hands to take a seat next to him. Reaching into her jacket pocket, she produced a folded piece of paper. It was the divorce agreement. Pointing down near the signatures, he could see that she never signed. Mikasa then tore the paper up and placed the pieces in his hand. He just looked at it, near enough about to full on cry. They were still married. She was still his wife.

"I took you at your word when you said forever" she said, resting her head on his shoulder. "So when we leave here, we're going to go get your things from Armin's, and you're going to come home. And from now on, you tell me everything you’re feeling"

He just took hold of her hand, bringing it upward to place a kiss to it. They looked upward to the night sky.

"You know of any upcoming meteor showers?" Mikasa asked.

"Think Armin mentioned one happening in a few weeks"

He felt her nod. "We should make sure to come back here for it"

"Absolutely"

They sat quietly again for a few minutes. He felt her nudge against him, prompting him to look towards her.

"Eren?"

"Yeah?"

"We'll still always be together, won't we?"

With a smile, and a kiss to her lips, he nodded.

"Forever. Forever and always"

Chapter Text

A year and a half had passed. A year and a half since the Rumbling. Since Fort Salta. Since he put her in a position where she had to kill him. He asked her to forget about him, to move on with her life, but he should have figured she would absolutely refuse this. So she buried him under the old tree they so loved playing around as kids. And she would visit almost daily. Wherever he was now, he was able to see it all each time. He used to sit on the other side of the tree while she sat next to his grave and talked to him. Soon, the need to be next to her again would have him sitting in the space over his grave, ruing the inability to hold her hand, or hug her when she would be overcome with sadness.

She seemed to be doing well this particular day. Little by little she was picking herself up, having more stories about things she'd get up to, as opposed to just remembering the better times. He listened intently as she talked about a little garden she started cultivating on her land.

"The soil didn't really suit growing anything like lettuce, so I've stuck with potatoes and turnips for now. I've been thinking about also planting some apple seeds. I always wanted to have an apple tree to myself"

She could be discussing the most objectively boring topic, he'd still be sitting here, fully engrossed in her words. Because he missed her terribly.

"You have to be at least slightly masochistic or something" he heard a voice say. He looked to where his brother Zeke now stood. "I mean, to sit here at all times, just waiting for her to come here to mourn you. Why do that to yourself?"

Eren looked back to Mikasa. "If this is the only way I can be with her anymore, then I'll bear it"

Zeke nodded, puttering about slightly as he took in the scenery. "This is certainly a nice little spot"

"It was our spot. Me, Mikasa, Armin. May've just been a little ways away from the walls, but it still felt like our little breakaway from them. The first place I felt free in"

"And you sure did love being free. Now here we are. Free from the curse. Free from life"

Eren looked down. "I'm sorry. For dragging you into doing the Rumbling"

Zeke shrugged. "I can't act like I didn't feed into that for you, Eren. I suppose your intentions were....I don't know. But I won't hold it against you. We were on the road to death anyway"

Eren began focusing again on what Mikasa was talking about.

"Armin hopes he can pay a visit soon. These efforts in diplomacy, he says they're trying to say the least. He invites me to go visit them, but I just don't feel as if I'd ever leave here again. There's nothing for me out in the world anymore"

"Sheesh" Zeke remarked. "You really left a lasting impression on her, huh?"

Eren cast towards him a light glare. "Don't poke fun at her"

Zeke raised his hands. "I'm not. I did tell you once what she felt for you was incredibly pure, probably the most genuine love I've ever heard about"

Eren looked downward. "I wish she would have forgotten about me though. It would've been easier if she had. She could be out living and enjoying life"

"Well....safe to say she wasn't ever going to do that, and won't be at anytime in the future either"

Her hand rested against his headstone. "I do wish I could talk to you again. To hear your voice. I'd even take one of your scoldings, if it meant....hearing you again"

She wiped at her eyes. Even though he knew he wouldn't ever make contact with her, he reached out towards her face, wanting to cup it.

"You ever regret not having those peaceful four years instead?"

Eren looked at him. "How do you know about that?"

Zeke looked confused. "What? You've mentioned it before. In pretty grand detail, I do say. One of the early days of us being dead. Just went on and on about wanting those years instead"

"...ah"

"So then you do regret it?"

Eren sighed. "If we didn't go through with-"

"I know all that. I'm just saying, you clearly would've preferred to still be with her. To have run away with her back then. And I get why. Just look at you right now. Where's that long hair of yours? You look more like a quiet farmer then the head figure of those moving to destroy the world. Removing yourself from how you looked when you broke her heart and then...died"

Eren ran his finger through his short hair, scratching the back of his head. Slight embarrassment mixed with his growing melancholy over Zeke basically reading him like a book in this instance.

"Shit, I ain't saying you're wrong to want it. I would've done it personally. Dying the destroyer of the world or dying in solitude with the girl I love? I'd take the latter. So, why didn't you?"

Eren didn't answer.

"Oh well. Nothing to be done about that anymore. That ship has pretty firmly sailed"

A soft weeping caught Zeke's ear. He figured it was likely the mourning Mikasa, however he could now see it was Eren, his hands covering his face.

"A very clear yes if I do say so"

He walked over to the still crying Eren. sliding against the tree to sit next to his brother.

"You do know you could've also told her yourself that you saw her more than just family, right? You tell her that, she definitely would've unspooled everything she'd probably wanted to say to you all the time she's known you"

Eren took a few breaths in, wiping his eyes. "I know. I know that. I was just...too stupid and chickenshit to say it"

"And now, you'll never get to tell her. And you'll probably be sitting here one day listening to her tell you about some other guy telling her-"

"Zeke!" Eren bawled, resuming crying.

Zeke scratched at his beard. "It's just a little jarring seeing the same Eren Yeager who was so cold and stoic and angry before, blubbering like a baby the way you are now"

Eren did his best to compose himself. "I just miss her so much. I want to be able to talk to her again, tell her how fucking sorry I am for everything. Tell her how much I've always loved her and how I want to grow old with her"

"So it's safe to assume you'd want the ability to be alive again?"

"More than anything"

Zeke jerked his head lightly. "Well, what if you asked Ymir real nice to let you live again?"

Eren glared at him. "I really don't get why you're here mocking me. I do not appreciate it"

"I really am not trying to mock. Seriously, why not? You got nothing else to lose, yeah? Her powers and all that are gone but she's no doubt still out there somewhere. Think of it as asking a favor, given you died for all this'

Mikasa was standing up to finish her visit. "I'll see you in a few days, Eren. Rest well....miss you always" she said, before walking away.

Eren shook his head. "Seriously Zeke-"

Zeke rose to his feet and walked in front of Eren. "Come on, humor me. Tell you what, try it the once, I'll stop annoying you"

Eren sighed as he wiped his eyes. He then looked up at the sky.

"Ymir, I know there's no possible way you're actually hearing this. But with the powers of the Titan now gone, I'd like to ask if I could please be allowed to live again?"

He was just doing as Zeke asked and humoring the elder Yeager. However when he found himself looking towards Mikasa, still slowly walking away, a sense of determination surged through him. No part of him thought this plea would work, but he wanted to at least vocalize what all of this had cost Mikasa.

He looked back up. "I....I really don't ask for it to benefit me. Mikasa, she had to let go of some many of her dreams in order to play her part in all this. I hate I've left her with having had to kill me. I hate....I hate having left her. She didn't deserve all the pain and all the suffering. She lost so much. I really think it's right she be rewarded. That may sound arrogant in regards to me, but if you saw how she is living her life, you'd agree it's not a fair life she has to live. If at least someone entangled in this whole calamity deserves a win, it's her. Please"

He looked up, and as he suspected, nothing happened. Shaking his head, he looked back towards Zeke.

"Would you look at that, nothing hap-"

He noticed Zeke wasn't in front of him anymore. He could see however Mikasa a little ways ahead of him stop in her tracks, slowly turning back towards the grave and looking as if she'd seen a ghost. Eren's brow furrowed. He looked down at his hands. With his left, he reached towards his headstone, and was stunned to feel it against his skin. He shot to his feet, eyes back towards Mikasa, who was very slowly walking back towards him.

"M.....Mikasa?"

She gasped, hands flying over her mouth, her eyes huge as they began filling with tears. He also slowly walked over to bridge the gap between them.

She seemed like she kept trying to say something but was rendered speechless. One shaky hand outstretched to him as he approached. He reached his out too, meeting hers, and when he felt them indeed connect he pulled her into his arms. She would tightly hug onto him too, and the pair just cried together.

He felt her pull away, her hands taking hold of his face. Grey eyes boring into his, trying to understand what was happening.

"How?" she finally managed to asked.

He shook his head, blinking away tears. "I don't know. I don't really care to be honest. I'm just.....I love you Mikasa, and I have missed you so much"

Her eyes flooded again as she leaned in and kissed him.

Chapter Text

"Mikasa. Mikasa"

Eren's soft whispering woke the girl up. "Eren? It's the middle of the night, your parents-"

"Ssh. Come with me"

She nodded, hopping out of her bed and following him from their room. She saw he had a fire going, and two mugs were sat in front of it.

"I made some hot cocoa. Just felt very cold tonight"

He saw a tiny little smile on her face. He motioned for her to join him in sitting.

"Careful, it's still a little hot"

She held her mug in her hands, smelling it. "It smells so good"

"Ma has a great recipe"

She took a small sip. "Ah"

"I did warn ya"

She sheepishly set it down to cool a little more.

"Can I ask? What was winter like? Up in the mountains?" Eren asked.

The memories she had of past winters made her nostalgic and somber.

"They were alot of fun. Dad would take me up higher in the mountains to go sledding. And we'd always sit together like this in front of the fireplace to have dinner"

Eren could see her beginning to look downcast. She'd only lost her parents four months ago, She still experienced nightmares sometimes, or would have periods of longing to hug them goodnight but they never came in so she'd cry to herself. This happened once the night prior, prompting Eren to set up this little late night cocoa.

"I wish you could still have that" he said. "I hate that we had to meet the way we did"

Mikasa scooched closer to Eren. "If we hadn't...I don't think I'd still be alive"

She took hold of his arm, hugging it. "If I am to live my life this way now, I am happy that it's here, with you"

He smiled at her as they continued drinking their cocoa. He decided that tomorrow, even if the hill wasn't especially big, he'd take her sledding.

Chapter Text

Armin sat quietly at the table. Hange was to his left, preparing a notepad. Sasha and Connie were next to him, both of them looking somber.

The door opened, and the group looked to see Jean and Levi enter.

"The area is secure" he announced.

"Right. Let her come in" Hange said. Jean nodded, stepping back outside for a moment. He returned, holding the door open for a hooded figure. Once the figure was inside, they lifted the hood to reveal Queen Historia.

"It was a massive risk coming along for this, Historia" Armin said. She nodded.

"It was. But I need to understand this. See it. Given what has happened"

Jean pulled the chair out at the head of the table for her, before moving to sit next to Hange. A sigh left his lips.

"This is all so surreal" he remarked. "After all this time, I just never really pictured this day"

Levi took the seat to the right of Armin. "They certainly picked a nice place" He then looked directly at Armin. "Now that we're all assembled, please start detailing everything"

Armin nodded. "Eren had 8 years of life left when we learned about the curse of Ymir. The...leash I suppose that was put upon the holders of the powers of the Titans. It put things on a faster timetable for him. To try and win this, or to figure out what to spend those 8 years on. 4 wound up being used trying to do both. So it seemed, when we made our visit to Marley, he chose to spend them quietly. Him and Mikasa. So they came here. Had what they had. I never heard from them for that time. Until about three months ago, when I got this letter"

Reaching into his pocket, he produced the mentioned letter. "Armin. I'm afraid to say, but we have arrived at my final year. I don't know when it happens exactly, but I fear it is soon. We want to see you again. One final time. Come as soon as you can - Eren and Mikasa"

Armin flipped the letter around. "With that note, he left directions, as best as he could remember, on how to reach them. A full day's train ride to the very south of the Marley Empire. This is why I worry about your being here, Historia"

The queen shook her head. "We coordinated this expedition with Hizuru, if necessary they'll escort us around to Hizuru itself to get back home. I chose to be here, now please continue"

"Right. Now, I'm not sure if they really knew they were going beyond Marley, but they were fortunate to have found themselves out here, where the land is unclaimed. I was preparing my venture when you learned of it"

Hange scratched into her notepad. "Could you detail what happened when you arrived?"

"I can"

Armin guided his horse forward, the distance between him and the cabin growing smaller. The door to it opened, and he was elated to see Mikasa standing there, waving to him.

"Mikasa!" he called, hopping from his horse and running over. The girl smiled at him, and they were soon hugging tightly onto each other.

"Armin, it's so lovely to see you" she said.

They parted. "How...how is he?"

She looked towards the door. "He's been slowing down more and more. Come in, he's been waiting to see you"

A sense of trepidation suddenly hit Armin. The idea of Eren being on his deathbed was a painful one to consider. Not just for the primary hurt of seeing one of his best friends dying, but of what it may look like for himself when his own 13th year arrived. Would he be gaunt and pale? Sickly, unable to really speak?

Eren, aside from looking incredibly tired, looked like himself still at least when the two men finally saw one another again. He weakly smiled at the blonde from his place on the sofa, doing his best to sit up straight.

"Where have you been all these years?" Eren teased. “We're out here, and you were out in the world, god knows where. Explain yourself"

Armin smiled tearfully as he walked over. Eren stood, Mikasa hurrying over to steady him. The men just stood facing one another before they finally hugged.

"Sorry we left you” Eren said. “I'd understand if you held it against us"

They parted to sit down.

"I can't act like I didn’t initially" Armin said, seeing both Eren and Mikasa develop looks of shame. "My two best friends, disappearing without a trace, without explanation. It hurt. But I thought frequently about all the reasons why you'd run, and I grew to understand. That if you didn't run then, perhaps a more brutal reality would've unfolded"

"You really don't wanna know what that looked like, I promise you that" Eren said.

"What did everyone else say?" Mikasa asked.

"There was a rather eclectic array of responses, all of which included confusion. Levi was talking often of beating you an inch of your life if he found you-"

Mikasa scoffed at this.

"Historia on the record condemned the act of "cowardice", but out of public eye is hopeful you two were safe and happy. Mikasa, Kiyomi was particularly upset at your disappearance"

Mikasa rubbed her arm slightly. "I understand. I didn't do this to upset her, or anyone"

Eren took hold of her hand. "When you think about, I was the one who ran away. I just kinda...stole you"

She smiled softly at him. Armin wrung his hands.

"Well, either way, you might get to hear their opinions in person. There was a security issue a few months back, where it seemed there was a spy for Marley embedded somewhere. So any off-island mail was examined. They...saw your note"

The pair looked a little surprised. "So, they're coming here?"

Armin nodded. "I was able to convince them to follow after me in a week"

"I'm assuming they'd like to feed me off to you?"

Armin nodded.

"Sorry Armin. I'm planning on passing away naturally"

"I'm not gonna stand in your way doing that"

"Besides, if I'm being honest....I don't see myself lasting the week"

The room went quiet. Mikasa looked away.

"Hey Armin, have you eaten?"

"I haven't, no"

"Well then. Let's you and me go fishing for some-"

"Eren. I'll do the fishing" Mikasa said, rising from her chair.

"Mika, I'm not that tired to-"

"Eren"

The two looked at each other for a moment. Armin leaned towards Eren.

"I've not heard it in years, but I know that tone. You aren't winning this, Eren"

Eren softly smirked. "Fine"

Mikasa went to the door, grabbing the fishing rod leaning against the wall. She was out the door a second later.

Eren had fallen asleep shortly after, so Armin wandered outside to talk with Mikasa. She was seated alongside the lake, a basket already full of fish. The sound of crying became more evident as he walked closer.

"Mikasa?" he called.

A light sniffle as she looked towards him.

"Eren sleeping?"

"He is. What's wrong?"

Armin took a seat next to her.

"I've had 8 years to accept this. Yet here I am, still not ready to let go" she said. Armin clasped his hand on her shoulder.

"Anyone would be feeling the same way if someone they care about is dying. I'm trying hard not to right now. It was so weird seeing Eren so tired"

"Why does this have to be how things are? No matter what I do, I can't seem to be able to keep him. I don't want him to go"

"It's deeply unfair. No other way to put it. None of us have really gotten to actually live life, experience it. And yet, Eren is dying at 23. And I will be in the next few years. Just...unfair. I wish I could say anything to make this feel less painful"

"It's okay. I don't think anything would really make it feel better anyway"

Armin nodded. "Have...have you thought about what you'll do? When it happens?"

She shook her head. "I didn't want to think about a future. I just wanted this"

"If you'd like, you could come back-"

She shook her head again. "Sorry Armin. I don't want to leave here"

"I get it"

She wiped her eyes. "Think we have enough fish for dinner. Let's get back"

They had a good meal, though it was becoming more apparent Eren was worsening, as he wasn't able to finish. He asked them to help him outside, as he wished to watch the sun go down. He was laid down, head resting in Mikasa's lap while she stroked his cheek with her hand. Armin sat next to him. A sense of foreboding racking his heart.

"You remember those nights we'd sneak out to watch the stars?" he asked.

Armin smiled softly. "I remember you kept mixing up which stars were named what"

"Hey, you were the book guy. I blame the teacher"

"You guys have many starry nights out here?"

Mikasa nodded. "If it wasn't raining we'd be out here"

"Those nights, here or way back then. They've been some of the best memories I've had. Where nothing mattered, just being with the people I cared about most"

"This isn't you saying goodbye now, is it Eren?"

No answer.

"I guess we don't have much of a choice. I just really wouldn't like to"

Eren hummed. "I would love to stay. Staying means exploring with you"

He looked upward to Mikasa. "Staying means still being with you"

Mikasa sat him up better, hugging firmly onto him.

"I love you, Mikasa. I wish I got to tell you that more"

"I love you too, Eren. I love you always"

"Promise me you'll pick yourself up after? Live life as long as possible?"

".......I'll do what I can"

He pressed a kiss to her cheek.

"Armin, you see that patch over there?"

He was pointing towards a deep green patch of grass, where it connected a wide green field to a deep forest.

"I'd like to be buried there. I liked sitting there, because the view of the lake and the mountains was gorgeous"

Blinking the tears at his eyes, Armin nodded, taking hold of Eren's hand. "No problem, Eren"

"Alright. Let's enjoy the sunset"

That would be difficult, Armin felt, but he did find himself looking towards the sun as it cascaded down towards the trees, pink sky gradually turning darker and darker. It was a beautiful sight. A beautiful end.

"He's gone" he heard Mikasa whisper. Armin's eyes closed.

Mikasa carried his body back to the cabin after they sat a few moments mourning.

"I'll set him on our bed"

Her tone held a lifelessness in it, her eyes dimmed tremendously.

"It will be difficult, but it's probably best to bury him once the sun rises"

"Yeah. That's what we'll do"

Armin rubbed his eyes. "It's hard to believe he's gone"

Mikasa was still looking down at the no longer there Eren.

"Need help carrying-"

"I'm okay. Will you be okay on the couch?"

"I will, yeah. And you?"

"I'll be okay in our bed"

"But Mikasa-"

"It's....my last night with him by my side"

Armin quietly nodded. Mikasa turned and went to her room.

"Mikasa?"

She looked back.

"Goodnight"

She managed a small smile. "Goodnight, Armin"

She opened her bedroom door, and she disappeared behind it.

Armin woke when he felt the sun shining down on him. He murmured lightly.

"Shit. It must be the afternoon"

He looked around, not seeing Mikasa anywhere inside, or outside after peaking his head out the door. Walking over to her bedroom door, he knocked softly.

"Mikasa? Mikasa, you awake?"

He opened the door, somberly looking at the bed. On the left was Eren's body, hands folded in front. Mikasa slept next to it, side facing him.

"Mikasa, it's the afternoon" he said, walking over. He shook her arm. No response.

"Mikasa?"

He rolled her onto her back. Her eyes were closed. Slowly, he hovered a hand over her mouth. A soft sigh leaving his lips.

She was gone too.

He took a seat on the side of the bed, taking her hand into his, and kissed it.

"Keep him in line Mikasa. Wherever you are now"

Armin finished his story. The group around him were largely collecting themselves, saddened over these losses. Levi, though having not cried himself, looked downward.

Connie cleared his throat. "You don't think....Mikasa-"

Armin shook his head. "No. She didn't end her life"

"Then what happened?" Sasha asked. "How did she die?"

"Broken heart, perhaps. She's lost him a few times over these past few years, dealing with the up and down of whether or not she's gonna lose him again. Guess her heart just...couldn't handle it finally happening. I'm devastated she won't get to live a long life like Eren had wanted. But...part of me is glad she doesn't have to wait to see him again. Be together again somewhere away from all this heartache"

Jean looked out the window, towards the treeline. "So their graves. They're over there?"

"They are"

"I want to pay my respects"

The group rose, walking outside. The graves were unmarked. Simple and off to the side. Sasha gathered a bushel of flowers from nearby and laid them over the graves. Historia did similarly, kneeling down between the two mounds.

"No headstones?" she asked, looking to Armin.

"I didn't know whether to put markers up. This place, it'll likely fall into ruin now that no one's going to live here"

"That's deeply tragic" Hange remarked. "They really made a home here"

Levi was looking around the land again. "I'll make them some markers"

"Would you have time to?" Hange asked. "We should be-"

"I'm going to stay"

The group was astonished. "You're what?" Hange asked.

"I'm going to stay here"

"Where the hell is this coming from?"

"I'm just...tired. And I think it's time this old man finds a quiet corner"

"But-"

"If needbe, think of this as a Paradis outpost, hidden away from Marley. Report it to Hizuru. They can expand outward toward here if they wish"

He then looked back to the graves. "Besides, would you not agree it would be a shame to leave these two out here in the ground by themselves?"

Hange wasn't sure what to say. "Historia? Are you okay with this?"

The queen rose from her kneeling position. "If this is what you've decided, I don't see why I should stand in your way. I'm grateful for everything you've done for the island"

Jean, Connie and Sasha saluted him. He nodded at them before they escorted Historia back over to the wagons they arrived in. Hange nodded at Levi.

"Take care of yourself, Levi"

"I should be telling you that"

Hange smirked, before turning away and leaving. Levi looked over to Armin, who was still stood at the graves.

"Arlert"

He looked up.

"I'll look after them. Don't worry"

With one last look down, Armin gave Levi a salute, and walked over to the wagons. Jean saw him approach, and held out his hand to him to help him up. He was sitting somberly in the passenger seat, Connie and Sasha doing the same in the back.

"I'm sorry Armin. Losing Eren was hard enough. To lose them both....it's unconscionable"

He was right. He was only expecting to come out here to say goodbye to Eren. He stood by what he said, that there was solace taken in that they were together, but knowing now they were both no longer around, it was a pain he didn't think would ever truly go away.

Two birds landed atop the roof of the cabin. Armin looked up to them. They stood watching down at him for a few minutes. He found himself waving up to them. The birds then flew overhead his wagon, him watching them fly off into the distance.

"I don't think we lost them. They'll always be with us in some way. Until the day we can meet again properly" he said. He smiled at his three friends, who were smiling back. With a snap of the reins, Armin guided the wagon away.

Chapter Text

The smell of the sea, these two years later, was still one Mikasa was not used to. As they stood waiting for the designation from Hizuru to arrive, the saltiness from the vast waters wafted strongly. They worked fast, and worked hard constructing this harbor. And when this Yelena woman, whom Mikasa still had slight reservations over trusting, announced that the Hizuru designation was coming, the island was buzzing. Frustration and slight hopelessness had begun brewing as it seemed nothing would end Marley's desire to destroy them. Eren was certainly beginning to feel this frustration, but he was always the first to fling himself into any diplomatic means. This meeting with Hizuru was something he was anticipating for weeks, and he stood beside Mikasa waiting for the approaching ship. He looked towards her.

"What's with the face" Eren asked. 

She looked to him. "What?"

"You're pulling faces"

"Oh....ocean's just really salty today"

"Sure it's not nerves? Yelena did say that your ancestry might stem from Hizuru"

"I'm not nervous"

Eren gave her a look of slight doubt. She was being a smidge dishonest, the notion that after all this time, the cracks of her past, her mother's past specifically, were possibly going to be filled in had made her feel anxious. The approaching ship amplified the anticipation, and she soon found herself taking hold of Eren's hand. He looked over again, his soft smile easing her a bit.

Mikasa needed to take a moment away to take everything she just heard in. Eren led her to a quiet meeting room, where Mikasa took a seat.

"Hizuru's hope, eh?" Eren said, closing the door behind them.

"Stop" she said, sitting back and breathing in.

"Is that not what anyone would wanna hear though? A descendant of a royal family, that's-"

"Overwhelming"

"Understandable. But surely still exciting, yeah? You have family again"

Mikasa shot him an offended look. "Take that back"

"M-"

"Eren, take that back"

"I didn't mean to upset you, Mikasa, I'm sorry"

She took hold of his hand.

"I don't like it when you undersell how important you are to my life, Eren. If I never learned anything of my ancestry, so long as I still had you in my life I'd be totally okay"

"Yeah, but Mikasa, this is-"

He couldn't finish as Mikasa had leaned forward, pressing a kiss to his lips. He froze, she sat back, deep red.

Oh he thought.

He rose to his feet, walking over to Mikasa's chair. He crouched down. She was initially trying to avoid his eyeline, but she relented after he kept tapping her on the arm. When she faced him, he kissed her.

It would be a few hours before they emerged from the meeting room. Armin, having come to locate them. couldn't help but notice the laughing they were stifling, the deep red of their faces when he asked them where they were.

The deep frustration and bitterness further festered as another two years passed. And with it, Eren's optimism and eagerness to find any peaceful means waned. He began speaking more harshly, being frequently critical of every military decision not involving striking at Marley. Distance grew between him and his friends. Mikasa was torn. Over the course of six months, she kept doing what she could to temper his growing radicalism. And on most occasions it seemed and felt he was pulled back. But news from Marley would seep through, and his anger grew. More and more, members of the military began believing his rhetoric. A unprompted, fiery speech from Eren during a meeting proved to be the beginnings of a true insurrection. And after this...Mikasa disappeared. This initially upset Eren greatly, but he soon began viewing anyone not with him as cowards, and so he assessed her as such. Same with Armin. And from that point, he was not listening to anyone, with the year following wrought with deepening tensions.

Armin sat with Hange, Levi and Queen Historia.

"It's fast approaching a boiling point" Hange said. "We have been seeing regular demonstrations of insubordination from those in agreement with Eren. Open screaming matches between soldiers and their superiors"

"The brat's impatience is going to push us back into a hot war with Marley" Levi added. "That, coupled with the inevitable civil war he's fomenting...he's leaving us very little options"

Historia tapped Armin lightly on his arm. "Armin, does he still talk to you at all?"

Armin shook his head. "Barely. I told him where I stood, so he won't listen to me. Last time we talked properly was before Mikasa left"

"Wish she was still here, surely she'd be able to speak to him"

Hange sighed. "Unfortunately, she isn't. And even if she was, I'm not sure how effective she'd be diffusing this. Because, according to my sources, it sounds like whatever plan Eren is formulating, it's going to commence within the week"

Levi cracked his knuckles. "So...we really only have the one option"

He looked to Armin. "Arlert. Would-"

"If we have absolutely no more options, I would inherit Eren's abilities. But if you give me the night, let me try one last attempt to talk with him"

"You said he-"

"I was going to him as an officer. If he looks at me as a friend and refuses to back down, then I'll take him then and there"

Levi and Hange looked to Historia. She nodded.

"Good luck, Armin"

The meeting adjourned, Armin making his way to his room to think on what to do. Eren was always stronger than him, so going at him aggressive, he'd probably lose. Go at him too kowtow, he'll walk over you.

He sighed, sitting at his desk and deciding to sift through the stack of letters virtually wobbling on the corner, some small semblance of busywork to let him focus his mind. His heart felt like it stopped when he saw a letter with the Azumabito crest on the seal.

He opened the letter, eyes widening as he read.

Armin stood outside the old Survey Corps offices now inhabited by Eren and those who supported him. Heavy glares from supporters stood guard outside.

"I'm here to talk with Eren"

One of the guards spat at Armin's feet.

"Why?"

"That's for Eren to hear"

The guard pulled a face. "I think I need to hear it too"

Armin stood back, looking up to a window. He could see Eren looking down at him. They stared at one another for a minute. Eren leaned back slightly to whisper to someone. Moments later, the door opened, someone whispering to the guard Armin spoke to. The guard glared back to Armin and motioned for him to go in.

The atmosphere of the building was tense. All eyes towards Armin as he walked through. He climbed the stairs, where a supporter pointed down the hall as they glared at him. Armin walked down the hall, the door at the end open. Eren was still at the window when Armin fully entered the room, and closed the door behind him. It was soon reopened by a supporter.

"If we're talking, Eren, we're talking amongst ourselves. None of your sycophants"

Eren remained stood facing away from him, but spoke up.

"Close the door" he announced. Armin heard it shut behind him.

"Can't imagine you've finally come round to reality" Eren said.

"I already am"

"Then what exactly do we have to talk about?"

"Guess just wanting to know what the plan is"

A scoff sounded. "You want me to tell you what my plan is?"

"Maybe not the plan, just the thought process. Like how you think any of this solves the Marley problem. How this benefits us"

Eren turned to him, slight bewildered look on his. "We would be free, Armin. Are you serious? What we're doing right now is just stalling"

"And what you're planning is guaranteeing we all die"

Another scoff. "Right. The most extreme outcome to argue for doing nothing. You used to be the intelligent one"

"You're not suggesting you fit that role now, are you?"

"When it comes to actually doing something, I guess I am. Continuing the way we are is letting Marley win. Letting them keep us locked down. They've made it clear should we choose to keep this going, we are effectively cowards unwilling to defend ourselves"

"Unwilling to become the destroyers. Eren, whatever attack on Marley, it's a death sentence. That isn't the extreme outcome, it's not an alarmist statement, it's the one and only outcome. Marley may be our primary aggressor, but they have the support of the majority of the world. We attack Marley, we attack them. Giving them reason to let us exist is not weakness-"

"And I disagree. It's a disservice to everyone who's died should we continue kowtowing and not fighting back"

"So that's it then. Nothing's changing your mind"

Eren shook his head. "Stand up and fight, or stand back. Stand back with the cowards while those willing to fight-"

"What about Mikasa, Eren?"

Eren looked back to the window. "What about her? She's not here, is she?"

"She left because you stopped listening to reason, because-"

"Because she cowardly couldn't accept reality. She ran away because-"

"She was pregnant"

Eren stood silent.

Armin produced the letter from his jacket pocket. "She wanted to tell you. Just a shame the day she found out was the day of your big speech. Remember that one? The one that divided the island down the middle? She thought maybe her news would've geared you back, but once you made it clear you weren't stepping back, she couldn't stay. She didn't want your son growing up in that world, with that kind of father. You might feel that harsh-"

"Son?" Eren asked quietly.

"Little Eren Jr., yes. Doubt that's the actual name, but I don't see us ever learning what it is, given where we're headed. At the time of this letter, she gave birth about two months ago. She just wanted everyone to know-"

"Where is she?" Eren asked.

"I don't really think you should-"

"Armin, where is she?!" Eren yelled, running over to him and taking the letter. "Hizuru, of course. Come on"

He headed for the door, Armin standing a little confused. He hurried after Eren, passing him up and walking in front of him.

"Eren, what are you doing?"

"Heading for the harbor. I'm going to see Mikasa. I'm going to see my son"

"What about all of this?" Armin asked, gesturing to the building and the onlooking supporters. They exited the building. Eren grabbed the rifle one of the guards held and fired it into the air a few times.

"Sir! What the hell-" the guard asked. Members of the Military Police came charging from all directions.

"We were planning to overthrow the government in there" Eren announced to them. The supporters stared at him in disbelief.

An MP raced over to him. "Then you are-"

"On my way to the queen herself in custody of Officer Arlert" Eren stated, looking at Armin. The MP looked at the blonde.

"Is this true?"

"Y-yes. I came here to diffuse the situation. He agreed to stand down. Please dismantle this operation as quietly as possible"

The MP nodded, joining his comrades in charging the building. Eren continued his march away. 

"Eren-"

"What's to comprehend, Armin? Priorities change all the time, no? I now have a son. I don't want to not know him, and I want him to grow up in a safe world. So if pushing harder for diplomacy gets him that safe world, I'm going to go for that. Same for Mikasa. I've let her down way too much"

Armin smiled.

"Eren"

Eren looked at him.

"You go see her. I should stay here, talk to Levi and them about what's going on"

Eren nodded.

"When will you be back?"

Eren didn't answer as he walked away.

She was given a secluded lot of land in Hizuru, nothing massive. Just big enough for them. It was perfect for the baby. He always seemed calm and happy.

It was jarring for her, adjusting to Hizuru culture. The reverence people would pay to her. It was such a different world to the one she grew up in within the walls. Kiyomi, fortunately, didn't pressure her into participating in the high society of the country. She accepted Mikasa just wanted to be in peace to raise her son.

She was outside today, son situated in his carrier in front of her. He was looking up at her, her down at him. An approaching person caught her attention. Outside of Kiyomi, she didn't receive any visitors. She squinted to make them out better and gasped.

It was Eren.

She stood where she was, watching as they got closer. Eren's eyes were fixed on her, his greens wide. He stopped a few feet away from her.

"Are you mad with me?" she asked.

"What?" he replied. "I should be the one asking you that"

"And...what about Mar-"

"All that I care about is you and him"

Her eyes brimmed with tears. He looked towards the baby in front of her.

"Can I?" he mouthed. She nodded, pivoting to give Eren a better look as he came over. The baby looked at him. Her hair, my eyes Eren noted.

"What's his name?" he whispered.

"I thought awhile on it. Is Hannes okay?"

Eren looked at her. A wavering smile spreading across his lips.

"It's perfect"

Hannes smiled up at him. Eren saw this.

"Hey there little guy" Eren whispered. "I'm your dad"

Chapter Text

Onward

The excitement among the huge crowd was palpable. The anticipation fueling the members of the military part of the expedition equally so.

They won. The Titans were toppled. All Titans swarming their immediate vicinity were cut down. Whether or not there were any other Titans out in the world didn't matter too much. They would be dealt with. Humanity was finally leaving the walls.

All members of the Survey Corps, 35% of the Garrison, and 2 assigned Military Police made up the operation. In addition to 500 volunteer citizens, as an aside goal for the operation was to establish outposts to begin populating the outside world again.

Annie sat atop her horse. Hitch, the other selected Military Police, next to her, almost weeping over having to participate.

"Hitch, compose yourself"

"This is....so unfair. Boris and Marlowe were right there, and they point at me"

"Well, it's been decided. So suck it up"

Close by, the senior officers of the Survey Corps and Garrison sat. Erwin Smith, Dot Pixis, Hange Zoe, Mike Zacharias, Rico Brzenska, Moblit Berner and Captain Levi.

"How are you always so close to burst at the seams with excitement" Levi dryly asked the near hyperventilating Hange.

"Levi, don't you see that now we can go out there and see other creatures to understand beyond Titans! The question is why aren't you excited?"

"I'd need to actually see something exciting to feel excited"

"You just wait, Levi. You just wait"

A Garrison soldier rode up between them, heading to where Erwin and Pixis were stopped.

"Sir, all soldiers are accounted for and ready at the rear, and the civilian wagons are fully loaded"

Pixis nodded to his officer. "Thank you, Nifa. Get yourself into position"

"Yes, sir"

Nifa returned towards the formation. Pixis took a sip from his flask, holding it towards Erwin.

"Nervous?"

Erwin took the flask, grunting a sound of disagreement. "No. This has been the goal all these years. To be nervous would be to think it was never going to happen"

"You were that confident?"

"That determined"

Pixis turned to his right, where the former Survey Corps commander Keith Shadis was, having signed up for this expedition.

"The training grounds are losing a talented trainer"

Shadis lightly chuckled. "As it seems this world is Titanless, not much use for me in that capacity anymore. Just regard me as a civilian participant in this"

A slight commotion from the middle caught his attention. It was the members that made up the 104th who went to the Survey Corps: Mikasa Ackerman, Reiner Braun, Bertholdt Hoover, Eren Yeager, Jean Kirstein, Marco Bodt, Connie Springer, Sasha Blouse, Krista Lenz, Armin Arlert, Ymir-

The commotion, having continued, was just what Shadis expected: Yeager and Kirstein bickering. They noticed Shadis looking at them, and the two hot-heads looked fearful and quieted down. Eren stared forward, while Jean kept side-eying him, which Eren could just feel.

"I don't know what's so captivating for you Jean, but if it's a fight you're gunning for-"

"Sure, Yeager, if you're wanting to get knocked out and miss out on the expedition"

Eren was about to go after him, but the feeling of Mikasa's hand seizing hold of his stopped him. He looked to his left to see her just giving a disapproving look towards him.

"Eren. This was the day you've been waiting for all your life. Why are you spending it squabbling?"

She was absolutely right. Just ahead of them was the way to the outside world. Once the call is made, they'll be riding away from these walls. For him, ideally forever.

"How long do you imagine it'll take to find the ocean?" Eren asked, looking towards Armin to his side.

"I hope not long. But part of me also doesn't want to rush to it either. There's so much out there. I'm excited for it all"

Eren smiled at him. He looked back to Mikasa, who did the same.

Another Garrison soldier rode up between them. "Look sharp you three"

"Hannes!"

The man grinned. "Who would've thought, eh?"

"Who would've thought indeed"

"Well, I sure did. You kids, I figured nothing was gonna stand in your way"

He set his hand on Eren's shoulder. "I know your parents would be so proud"

Eren's eyes stung lightly. "Thank you Hannes"

"ATTENTION" the booming voice of Erwin Smith sounded. Hannes pivoted his horse around.

"It's time. See you out there" he said before returning to his position. Eren and the others looked towards their commander, now stood in front of the formation.

"Today is the day that for the longest time seemed impossible, ridiculous, too far from our reach to ever seize hold of. But we did. Through sheer determination, through great sacrifice, we have arrived at this day. Today, we set out to take back our world. The world we had to flee so many years ago. We know not what lies in store out there. But with you dedicated soldiers, you determined adventurers, we will weather it. We will win"

He turned away, facing towards the gate. It was slowly raising, and upon it fully opening, he pointed a flare gun upward and fired.

"DEDICATE YOUR HEARTS"

And with this, a flood of hoofs charging through the gate sounded. Humanity had left the walls.

Beyond the Walls (Visual Reference)

"Erwin. Are you listening?"

A frustrated Levi had been trying to get his commander's attention for a good minute now, the commander just staring out to the distance. He finally stuck his fingers into his mouth and whistled, finally garnering his commander's attention.

"Levi. Sorry"

"We'd like to get going here. What's so fascinating back that way?"

Erwin turned back that way. "It's just...jarring a little. This is the first time we've gone so far, the walls weren't visible behind us"

Levi looked for himself, and now shared the realization. Those mammoth concrete barriers, always looming over himself and everyone their whole lives, were no longer in view.

"Damn. I knew we'd gone beyond them. Guess I'm only now seeing the significance"

Uncharted territory he thought to himself. Unknown lands for the very first time

He looked towards where they were headed. Who knows how far those mountains go? Who knows what lived amongst them?

Shit. Is Hange right about those beasts she was prattling on about? What would they be? Worse than Titans?

He placed a hand on his stored blades. A smirk growing on his face.

Whatever it may be. Bring it.

A whistling sound snapped him out of his own head. He looked to Erwin.

"I can see why you were annoyed now" Erwin quipped.

Daunting (Visual Reference)

"Why the hell did I even accept to be part of the Military Police faction of this stupid operation" Hitch moaned, staring down the mountain that laid ahead. "I should've refused and accepted the imprisonment it would've brought"

Jean scoffed lightly. "Hitch, think of it this way. You wouldn't have been jailed. You'd have been shot. Now shut up and let's keep moving. We kind of want to get out of these mountains and linked back up with the rest of the expedition before we can't see anything"

Hitch just glowered at him as he shimmied against the rockface to get to the other side. She finally followed him, timidly making her own way across the gap.

Jean heard her gasp. He turned towards her and saw her stood in place, eyes closed tight.

"What is it now?"

"I.....I looked down"

He shouldn't have done so himself, but he did. The sheer height they were at was daunting to say the least. He took a breath in, and turned back to Hitch.

"Listen, just reach to your left, and take my hand. Just keep moving and don't look down"

She inched ever so carefully across, hand almost crushing Jean's as she gripped onto it.

"Just 7 more steps, okay?"

Hitch continued shimmying across, but stop when the sound of a few rocks tumbling startled her.

"Hitch, keep-"

"Please...please don't let me fall"

He knew she was panicking at the moment, but was surprised at the plea. How...quiet she sounded.

"I will not let you fall. Trust me"

She believed him, and with a quickness finished the rest of the path across, Jean holding her tight once she was across.

"You okay?"

She nodded against him. Looking up at him, they shared this look for a moment before quickly parting, both hiding blushes from the other.

"L-let's go" Jean said, leading them away.

Flower Crown (Visual Reference)

Eren was very captivated with this particular lot of land. The Survey Corps set up here for the week, assessing it for whether it was ideal for the first major outpost to establish. It had merit, however they were hoping for a bit of a bigger space for the first outpost. For now, the party were enjoying the scenery. Armin had joined Erwin and Levi in scaling the mountain near the lake. This lake was presently hosting numerous swimmers enjoying the break. Eren watched with amusement as Connie sneakily swam up to Jean and pulled him under, generating a rather embarrassing scream from Jean. As he looked to his right as he laughed, he found himself stopping. There was a lovely little patch of flowers here, and in the center of it sat Mikasa. She seemed to be napping peacefully, and Eren felt himself thinking how....beautiful she looked. It was a thought he found had been creeping into his mind often in the last few years. He admitted to himself that even when they were young he had found her pretty, but his mind was always more fixated on achieving this: being far beyond the walls, exploring the outside world that humanity had been forced to hide away from for so long. But now, without the pounding desire to train hard and kill as many Titans as possible, his mind was starting to let him have these feelings of affection.

He smiled at the sight. The flowers surrounding her had him also thinking back to those days where she'd feel a bit more open and show flashes of what he imagined she was like before....before that awful tragedy she had to endure. They were out playing with Armin one day, and while they were sat by their tree reading Armin's book, she had been making them little flower crowns. He felt suddenly her placing one of the crowns on his head.

"What are you doing?" he asked her. The question had her look red a little with embarrassment, hiding her face a little behind her scarf.

"Sorry. I just...you kind of looked like a King on his throne how you're sat right now"

Eren looked behind him at the tree. He did happen to be sat right square in the middle of it.

"Huh. I guess I see it. And what is a king without a crown? Thanks, Mikasa"

Her mouth was still slightly hidden but he could tell she'd started smiling.

"You have one for yourself?"

"Eh?"

"Well, a king always has a queen sat by them, no?"

She blushed deeply.

It had been some time since then. And even when she showed him and Armin how to make one for themselves, he just was never able to remember. But the urge to make one for her felt rather hard to ignore at this moment.

A soft sensation atop her head prompted Mikasa to slowly open her eyes.

"Damnit" she heard Eren mutter to himself. She looked at him, him smiling sheepishly at her as he rubbed the back of his head. She reached up and picked up two flowers that were on her head.

"Eren? What are you doing?"

"I...tried making you a flower crown. It fell apart though"

She blushed. "A flower crown?'

He turned rather red. "Y-yeah, it was just....you kinda looked like a princess sitting there and-"

Her blush intensified as his also did.

Cold feet finally got to him. "Sorry I bugged you, I gotta go" he said, turning away. He didn't see the smile that grew on her face as she got up.

"Eren, wait up!" she called. He stopped, though he didn't look at her. At least until she kissed him on the cheek. His eyes widened as he looked at her smiling face.

"Thank you, Eren. Want me to show you how to make them again?"

He finally smiled back. "I would"

Chapter Text

Lake

They were happy in those initial four years, when they were in the mindset that this was all the time they had. But owing to that knowledge, there were days he'd see her looking melancholy, or if it was a particularly bad day for Mikasa, hear her softly weeping from the garden. It would always make him feel awful, and was never really sure how to make her feel better. Her sadness would temper down as they got busy with other things, thankfully, but never not there.

Today, he saw her looking out at the lake, stood on the little highspot they would use to jump off of when going for a swim. Evidently, she was not dressed for swimming at the moment. Just stood looking. 

"Deciding whether to dive in or do a cannonball?" he asked  as he approached. A soft feeling of his heart sinking when he spotted her wiping at her eyes before looking at him.

"Oh...no, I'm not going swimming, the lake just looked particularly lovely today"

"It sure does. But I feel something else is-"

"I'm okay, Eren, please don't worry"

I don't want you to worry either

Moving to change the subject, he tapped her lightly on the shoulder. "I was thinking I'd make dinner tonight. I've not made fishcakes in a couple weeks"

He was glad to see this slightly made her smile. "I love your fishcakes"

"I know you do. You going to be much longer over here?"

She shook her head. He pressed a kiss to her cheek before heading back to the cabin.

She was still over at the lake by the time he had dinner made. She must've had a bad nightmare about this if she was still this melancholy. There was still at least two years left before he went, there was still time.

Must still really hurt knowing how much time there won't be afterwards he acknowledged. He really wanted her to enjoy herself as much as possible.

A devilish thought entered his mind, and a grin soon spread across his face. He snuck out of the cabin, walking around it so that he wouldn't be immediately in Mikasa's line of sight. He crept slowly up to her until-

"Mikasa!" he called, and with a light push sent her into the lake. Her head shot up from the water, looking up at him with immense confusion as she pushed her soaking wet hair out of her face.

"Eren?"

He was chuckling lightly. "Seemed you still couldn't decide"

"Wh- how could you?"

Her indignation was betrayed by the wavering smile and laughter she was clearly struggling at stifling. He just cast to her a light shrug.

"Well then, I know for sure how you'll be coming in" she said. With one swift movement, Mikasa reached up and grabbed his leg, yanking him into the lake with her. One he resurfaced, the pair engaged in a splash battle, Eren swimming towards the middle of the lake as Mikasa chased after. She caught up and seized hold of him, her arms wrapping around him. Eren did the same, hugging her.

"I surrender" he laughed. They pulled lightly apart, Eren looking into her face as her laughter continued. It was such a pure and beautiful sound. Her eyes were positively shining when they opened to him.

"Thank you, Eren. I really needed this"

He leaned in, placing a kiss to her eye. "Anytime"

Wagon

"Eren, this better not be some elaborate trick to push me into the lake again" Mikasa said. Presently, Eren was holding her hand and leading her somewhere she wasn't sure of, as he had her keep her eyes closed.

"I would never" he replied teasingly. "We're almost there, just be patient"

At the very least she felt they were not near the lake. Their time in this place, she got a general feeling of the area, and could just about know where she was at even if not looking. It felt they were out in a wide field to the left of the cabin.

"We're here. Ready?"

"Okay, I'm ready"

She opened her eyes. Before her was a herd of horses. A smile grew on her face.

"Oh my! Where did they come from?"

"Has to have been somewhere east or the south. We know where the north leads, and the west isn't really hospitable for horses"

They crouched down lightly.

"If we can wrangle two of them, I could build us a wagon"

"A wagon? What for?"

"Just if we need it, or better yet, if we go out exploring a little further away, we can bring supplies easier. So hang tight here a moment, I'll-"

"What? Absolutely not, we'll do it together"

"Mikasa-"

"Eren"

The firm look in her eyes told him he would not be winning this discussion. He nodded and the two quietly made their way to the herd. Mikasa approached a chestnut colored horse, her hand gently outstretched towards it. She let the horse brush against her hand.

"Remember what they said in training. Let the horse get to know you" she said to Eren quietly. He knew she had been making allusions towards his more aggressive attempts way back then, resulting in the horse near enough knocking him out.

"Hey there" he whispered towards the sabino horse he had approached, hand outstretched to it. It's face rested against it, Eren lightly rubbing it around the side of it's face.

"Give it another minute before hopping on" Mikasa said.

"I kn-" he was saying, looking towards her and seeing she not only mounted hers but was guiding it around with ease. He turned back to his horse, letting it continue smelling his hand, rubbing against it. Once he felt a minute passed, he carefully climbed atop. To ensure it kept friendly, his patting of the horse didn't stop.

"Look at that. Almost seamless" he remarked.

He would find the hardest work would come from actually constructing the wagon. Making the wheels proved tedious, as he never managed to make the spokes thin enough at first, then thick enough. On top of that, he was constantly underestimating the weight of the main wagon, so it would give way pretty easily when anything was placed in it to test. Mikasa had initially sat in it to test, but when she nearly hurt herself when it gave way the second time, he did the weight tests himself, upset that he nearly injured her.

"Was there not a time in training you said we could've left and done things like this instead?" he asked her, putting the finishing touches on attempt seven. "Well, if this was the work I put forth, I'd have gotten fired so fast"

Sat from her place on the grass, she shook her head. "You'd have gotten the hang of it, Eren"

He crawled out from underneath the wagon. He circled it, assessing the hopefully final product, and pushing against it to see if it wobbled. Lightly kicking the wheels. Making sure the horses were securely in place. Finally, he climbed up and sat down.

"Does it feel sturdy?" Mikasa asked as she stood.

"It does, but I'm going to do a solo ride for a moment to make sure before I have you come up"

"Eren, I really wasn't that hurt"

"I know. I just...don't wanna ever hurt you again"

A soft smile was on her face. With a snap of the reins, the wagon began moving, with Eren taking it around the cabin.

"Please watch out for the garden!" she called out as the wagon disappeared around the side. She waited for it to re-emerge on the other end. Eren was widely smiling as the wagon rounded back towards her. He stopped next to her, and held his hand out.

"Would the lady care for a ride?"

She took it and climbed up.

Spouse

He had been back for six months. Still very cautious about the curse still potentially lingering, but starting to feel more comfortable about returning to the life they were living. Even letting himself consider what a long-term future could look like.

They were laying in bed one morning, her still soundly sleeping. He had been awake a few minutes, just looking down at her, thinking about living a long life with her. He felt....giddy about it. To start a family with her, to even go out a bit to explore the world together. He would still want to hold off a little bit on those things for now, but he wanted to do something to signal to her this was something he wanted long-term. Him and her.

She looked so serene when she slept, him almost always feeling guilty whenever he woke her. Gently caressing her cheek, she moved a little, though her eyes remained closed.

"Eren. Is it morning already?" she asked sleepily.

"It is"

She hummed a little. "Okay, just...give me a few more minutes"

"Okay"

She went quiet again. Eren leaned in close to her face, caressing her cheek again.

"What do you think about us getting married?" he whispered.

Her eyes opened, glossy as could be. "You...want to marry me?"

He smirked lightly. "Of course I do, Mikasa"

He saw her begin to cry softly.

"You okay?" he asked. She nodded.

"You want to marry me"

"I do. And I know it's just us out here, and I wish I had a ring to give you, but I still want to make us....official. I'd love to be able to call you my wife"

Her teary eyes locked onto him. "I would love to call you my husband"

She sat up, using her nightgown's sleeve to dry her eyes. "What...what even goes into a wedding anyway?"

Eren thought to himself. "I don't actually know, now that you mention it. Mom and dad never really talked about theirs, and Historia's was not public"

"So then...maybe we can just start calling each other husband and wife?"

He looked at her, thinking about this. A smile formed.

"Okay. Mrs. Yeager" he said, kissing her cheek. The blush on her face was the deepest red he'd ever seen as she leaned in to snuggle against him.

Chapter Text

Eren looked at her through the kitchen window. She stood facing away from the cabin, arms tightly folded and not moving a single muscle. They had argued. A pretty big one at that. They were no strangers to bickering from the days he was frustrated at his lack of strength, but they never resulted in her being….this angry. Then again, those past arguments didn’t entail asking her to forget about him when he died.

This was a topic he was aware he would broach at some point as the four years wound down. He started gradually alluding to it when it became the third year. And at first she would just quietly listen, not remark about it until an opportune moment to change the subject arose. As the subject became more of a recurring question, as Eren was wanting her to do this, she grew more and more angry. Finally, she just stood and ripped into him. When he began to speak, she then stormed out. That was about 10 minutes ago.

Why does she make this so difficult? he thought to himself, slipping on his shoes. It would let her live her life so much better when I’m gone.

He quietly opened the cabin door and approached her. He couldn’t see her face yet, but the utter anger she was feeling radiated off her body language.

”M-“

”Eren Yeager, if you’re about to say what you’re going to say again, I will smack you”

”Mikasa, we have to at least talk-“

All he saw was her intense scowl, angry eyes shooting a chilling glare at him before-

SMACK

He winced, rubbing the now stinging cheek. She did warn me.

”We have talked about it, Eren. And yet you keep bringing it back up. My answer hasn’t changed. It will never change. Forget about you? I refuse. I refuse. I refuse. How much clearer do I need to be? Each time you ask me, you insult me. Because that is the most offensive, most abhorrent thing you've ever said to me. So leave me alone if you're going to keep asking”

She began attempting to walk away. He caught up and lightly took her by the arm.

"Mikasa, I don’t want to go. I don’t. But I don’t get a say in this. And I just can’t bear thinking of you having a long life just spending it mourning me. I want you to be happy. I don't think you can be if you don't forget-"

"I don’t WANT to forget you Eren! I want to remember you! Even if it’s painful, even if it makes me feel sad, or even cheated, I want to always remember you"

She looked around. "This was all I ever wanted. You were all I ever wanted. But for whatever reason this life keeps pulling you away from me. So if I have to go through life without you, I am NOT going to forget. So please…please stop asking me to"

Her voice grew quieter with those final words. Her eyes were positively burning, the anger morphing into a pure heartbreak that punched Eren in his gut. He pulled her into him, hand resting on the back of her head.

"I’m sorry, Mikasa. I'll stop"

His shirt was gripped tightly onto with her trembling hands.

"I...really can't bring myself to think about life without you. I just....I never thought I'd ever have to"

He just rubbed her back, unable to look at her. If only because he didn't want her to see the devastation on his face.

Chapter Text

He paid the taxi driver his fare and exited the cab, taking his first proper step into this new country. Eren was in Japan, and had been absolutely overwhelmed with the sheer magnitude of the city of Tokyo. Stepping out into Shibuya Crossing, it was nonstop movement, nonstop noise. He sort of loved it in a way, though he would imagine at some point that would wear off.

Putting to work the bare bones Japanese he knew, he was able to be directed around to the hostel he was staying at. A slightly embarrassing exchange with the clerk by attempting to check in using his Japanese to discover the clerk spoke perfect English followed by an awkward few minutes cleaning up the mess his bag made when it's strap randomly snapped while heading to the elevator and he was finally in his room. The bed called to him, and he answered.

"Eren! There you are" Armin said once Eren called him the next morning. "Flight go alright?"

"It did. Long as hell though"

"Well yeah, Eren, Japan is not just a couple hours away"

"But yeah, it was smooth sailing other than that"

"Hotel nice?"

"Hostel, and it'll do. I-"

"When are you going to see her?"

There it is

"What?" Eren asked.

"What do you mean what? You book your first vacation in awhile, and you happen to choose the place your ex-girlfriend now lives?"

"Armin, I didn't come here to try and win her back. Japan was always on my bucket list to visit"

"So it's just happenstance that it's been a year since you and her split?"

"Yes"

He heard his friend scoffing over the phone.

"Armin, even if this was my goal coming here, why on Earth wouldn't she have moved on by this point?"

"Well you wouldn't know if you don't try"

"Why do you want this so bad?"

"Because I love you guys? And you both were happiest together? And I miss you guys, and I miss her too. It wasn't just you who lost her when she left"

Damn he's laying it on thick Eren thought. He was right though.

"Armin, I'm sorry. But I didn't come here for that. Even if I did, I have zero idea where she is. Sorry if I got your hopes up or anything"

"...okay"

"I'll let you go. Call you tomorrow?"

"Sounds good. Eren?"

"Yeah?"

"Bring me back some Yu-Gi-Oh! cards?"

Eren chuckled. "Still after all these years?"

"It's still awesome after all these years"

"I'll take a look. Bye, Armin"

He centered his first day around exploring Shinjuku Gyo-en. It probably would've only been a half day had he not both fallen asleep for a bit under a tree, and then managed to get himself lost. The confused looks from the locals made him feel even more out of place then he had been. He got dinner at a nice little sandwich store before heading back to his room. The second day was catered around geeking out. He went to the Ghibli Museum, wasted most of the day in a Sega arcade, got Armin his Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, and by the time he was back at the hostel, he felt okay with taking a break from all of that stuff for a little while.

He was at the Tokyo Skytree on the third day when his mother called him.

"Hey ma"

"Hi, dear! Having fun?"

"I am. Currently looking down on Tokyo in it's highest point. I've snapped a few pictures, it's crazy"

"I would imagine. What's next on your agenda?"

"I certainly have a few things I wanna do, but since there's only two days left I gotta make some decisions"

"....Would going to see Mikasa be one of them?"

He sighed. Of course, she would ask too.

"Why would it be?"

"Eren"

"I know the saying mom. "We were together for all our 25 years. Knew each other since day one basically. Dated for like 10 of them", but mom, we split over a year ago now, last talked a year ago. I've been over this with Armin"

"I am aware"

"So is he having you try and needle me about it now?"

"I'm doing it on my own accord, thank you. Because...I miss her Eren. And you do too"

He stood up to look out to the city again. She had him dead to rights there. Not a day went by where there wasn't a moment when even just a fleeting second of a memory with her didn't enter his mind. Their hometown was coated in landmarks of nostalgic times, of first moments together. Even though she was out here now, she still lingered everywhere he went. He knew fine well in his own mind he'd come out here to try and force himself to go to her. All this...sightseeing just wound up being convenient distractions.

"You realize there is over tens of millions of people who live here right? Hundreds of millions in Japan in total, finding Mikasa would be-"

"Nagoya, Higashi-ku ward" his mother interrupted.

"Wh...how the hell do you know where she is?"

"I still see her mother time to time. It's up to you obviously, Eren. But we both know you miss her terribly. And I have no idea why else you would be out there"

"It's a nice country"

"You think that about alot of other countries. But none of them currently host the girl you love m-"

He was blushing fiercely now. "Holy shit, mom! I'll talk to you later"

"Eren. Language"

He hung up, shaking his head. So I have a location. Doesn't matter, no way I'm going.

Turn back Yeager, turn back he thought to himself, arriving the next morning at the train station, ticket for Nagoya in hand. It's a bad idea, it's a BAD idea.

His legs seemed to disagree, as they continued walking through the station, and then onto the train and sitting down. There is still alot of people in her ward. Even if he found her, what the hell does he even say? "Hey Mikasa, I know I've not tried talking to you all this time, but here I am now. Wanna hear me apologize way too late for it to matter?"

The train was well on it's way, so there wasn't any turning back now. He shut his eyes to kill the time until they arrived.

"So....you're moving to Japan?"

"Yep. Opportunity arose that was just too tempting to pass up"

"Hey, congrats. You excited?"

"I'm pretty excited yeah. It'll be weird though. All I've ever known is here"

"It'll pass, you'll do great"

"So then...you're okay if I leave?"

"Why wouldn't I be? You've always wanted to live there, no?"

"I did yeah. It's just....me and you, we agreed to take this break because we were getting too swamped with work. This move...it would really sort of....end things"

".....yyyeah"

"So, you're okay with this?"

"I....am. I don't want to stand in your way"

".....okay"

"When are you going?"

"Tomorrow. I should head home actually, square away last minute packing"

"Woah, that soon?"

"Had to make a choice quickly"

"...yeah. Well-"

"I should go. I'll call you then, or something"

"Right. Right, of course. Bye, Mikasa"

She was gone before he mulled whether to hug her goodbye.

He woke up when they arrived, heart feeling a bit heavy now after reflecting on their last conversation. She was clearly looking for a reason to stay. Eren, you moron.

He made his way into the city, navigating his way to the ward his mother had mentioned. He saw the density of it, thinking once again how absurd this all was.

He took a seat on a bench.

You could always just....call her

Pulling out his phone, he went to his social media, seeing her account. The picture she used boasted her beautiful smile that he missed seeing. He scrolled down, clicking the option to call. He sat with anxiety absolutely wracking every fiber of his being as the phone rang and rang. A click made his heart stop.

"......hello?"

Holy shit, I missed that voice.

"Hey...Mikasa"

"Eren? What...what's up?"

"Not that much"

"Um...okay. Wh-"

"I'm in Japan"

"Wait, what?"

He was anxiously rubbing his forehead. "Finally took a vacation. Hopped on the wrong train, found myself out here in Nagoya. Ma mentioned you lived here so I thought maybe you could help me out a little"

That lie is so fucking garbage, Yeager, good fucking grief.

"Y...you're in the city?"

"I am, yeah"

"That's....um, yeah, I can help you I guess. Where exactly are you?"

"Uhh....I can snap a picture and send it"

"Okay"

He took a quick picture and sent it to her.

"You're...surprisingly close. I'll be there in a few minutes"

"Okay. Thanks, Mikasa"

They disconnected, and it hit him this would be the first time they saw one another since. He still didn't know what to say, and he certainly didn't know how to react upon seeing her.

A figure came round the corner, and he recognized it to be Mikasa. His heart was racing. She was still just as beautiful as the last time he saw her. Her hair was slightly longer, running against her shoulders. What surprised him the most was, despite everything, that old red scarf he gave her was still part of her wardrobe. Surely it would've been left behind, or buried deep in her closet.

She walked over. "Nice beard" she remarked with a light smirk. She was never a fan of him having facial hair. He wasn't typically one for it himself. He just hadn't really cared to shave it in some time.

"How are you?"

"Mostly surprised at the moment. It's been awhile" she said, taking a seat next to him.

"A whole year, yeah"

"What brought on the Japanese vacation?"

He shrugged. "Armin wanted some Yu-Gi-Oh! cards"

She chuckled lightly. "He sent you halfway round the world for something he's been able to get at Pixis' Comic Shop for the past twenty years?"

"Pixis retired a few months ago actually"

"Really? Wow"

"In all seriousness, I always wanted to visit here. Nothing that deep"

Mikasa pulled a face. "Ah"

"Don't believe me?"

"It's just...of all the places to wind up on the wrong train to, you wind up in the place I'm at"

Garbage lie, Yeager

"Talk about small world"

She gave him a look as if to ask Seriously?

"I...I hope I didn't derail anything you had going"

She shook her head. "Actually on my own little break. Just been catching up on some housekeeping"

"Right on"

They fell silent. Just pipe up, Yeager. Rip the bandaid off, this is agony.

"So what help were you needing? Directions, or-"

"Nah. We both know how crap that excuse was"

"So...you did come to see me"

"....yes"

You a mouse now? Why are you being so damn bashful?

"Ummm, what about, exactly?"

He shrugged. "I guess closure? I felt like, how we left things, it wasn't anything actually fulfilling for either of us"

"We could've talked online. In the year we last spoke, or even the night before I left"

The way she said this was rightfully very pointed.

"I know. Just always been very crap with knowing when to speak up"

"True. It's just...I don't really know what there is to discuss at this point. I'm...pretty moved on now. We're good, I don't hate you or anything, if that's what you were wondering"

He wanted to call her out on that, to insinuate it wasn't true, but it was surely the truth. There was almost no way she wasn't seeing someone by now. And given her demeanor, wasn't that ecstatic to see him. She'd moved on. He waited way too long.

"Nah, I wasn't wondering that. I guess....I guess I just felt that, even though it means almost nothing anymore, I just wanted to say what I should've said then. What I wanted to say"

She arched an eyebrow. "Which is?"

He willed himself to speak. "...don't go?"

She kept looking at him, brow furrowed.

"I wanted to apologize for not trying to fix the distance that had already been there between us. When you said you were moving away, I guess....I guess I just figured "well that's settled then". Even if I did apologize, it didn't matter anymore. But that was weak of me. Cowardly"

She nodded along lightly as he spoke, brow still furrowed.

"Well...it would've been nice to have heard you say this back then"

"I know. I've just been a mess since we stopped being together. Shit...I haven't really had an idea of what I'm doing anymore in general. This isn't even a vacation, you know? I quit my job"

"What? Why did you do that?"

"I already resented it. I grew to resent it more as time went on knowing it played a large part in losing what we had"

He gritted his teeth. He was feeling himself grow more and more saddened.

"I didn't want you to go. I loved you so much, I wanted us to be us again. Because I knew who I was, and what I was doing when you were in my life. Not having you in my life in any way, I've just felt like I've been walking around in this thick fog, lost and alone"

He was sucking on his lips, wanting to avoid any means of his fighting against crying to not be noticeable. He glanced her way for a moment. She looked upset a little, though likely from irritation he was telling her all this now.

"I'm sorry Mikasa. For that, and just rocking up a year later to dump all this on you"

"It's...it's alright" she said quietly.

He rose to his feet. "Had...had I said all this last year, if I asked you to stay....would you have?"

He didn't look at her. The moment of silence that lingered before she answered felt much longer than it was.

"Yes. Yes, I would have"

Fuck. Fuck.

He nodded, swallowing the lump resting in his throat, before he looked back at her. "I should head back"

She nodded, rising to her feet as well. "Okay"

They stood looking at one another. Eren mulled again whether to hug her. He instead just hung his head a little, a light smile on his face.

"I'll tell mom you said hi, yeah?"

She just nodded, still looking upset. The urge to cry was becoming too hard to ignore so he turned around and began to walk away.

He felt a hold wrap around him, head pressing against his back. Mikasa.

"Ask me" she said.

"What?" he replied.

"Ask me to stay"

He sighed solemnly, shaking his head lightly. "I don't get to have a do-over, Mikasa. Im too l-"

"Eren. Ask me to stay"

Tears fell from his eyes. "Will you-"

"I will"

He turned around in her arms. Her eyes were also tear-filled, looking up at him with a loving smile. He wrapped his arms around her, and leaned in to kiss.

"Kiss me, when you shave that rug off"

He let out a laugh, instead pressing kisses to the top of her head.

Armin stood watching as the passengers for the flight from Tokyo disembarked. Eren was able to rope him into doing the dreaded airport pickup. To take the mickey a smidge, he wrote Eren's name on the biggest piece of cardboard he could find, but misspelled as Aaron Jagger. He raised the sign up when he caught sight of Eren.

"Aaron Ja-" he began, but not able to finish his joke. He was too shocked at seeing his clean shaven friend, arm wrapped around Mikasa's waist as they both smiled his way.

He dropped the sign and hugged them tightly once they were close enough.

Chapter Text

Hello everyone,

I do have a few stories in the works but I figured I gauge readers input as to if there's a specific story you'd like to see. Please feel free to leave suggestions at any point. In regards to crossover type one-shots I would have to discourage, as there may be a franchise I'm not well versed in and wouldn't want to generate dejection by saying no to it, so I'll just say it here. Additionally, in regards to smut, it's not to assert myself a prude, I just much prefer a nice fluff or angst story, and I don't feel as if I'd be able to deliver anything well written or plotted in the way of smut.

Additionally, I have been making tweaks to older one-shots here and there, and there could be a point where I may rewrite a few should I find they could've been told in a different, better context.

Thank you all so much for your kind comments and your continued reading of these one-shots, I love putting them together, and will hopefully have plenty more for you in the future.

Chapter Text

"So there's no chance of getting you to slow down I take it?"

The remark made Mikasa smirk. From her kneeling position in their garden, she looked towards Eren, who stood next to her.

"You've taken over doing all the chores and doing all the cooking, the least I can still do is some recreational gardening now and then so I'm not just sitting around. I'm pregnant, Eren. I'm not feeble"

He crouched down, watching her patting the soil with her spade. "You seem like a real big fan of these purple flowers"

"They're bellflowers, and they're pretty, no?"

He nodded, looking at her. "They are. You're prettier"

She giggled. "Never figured you to be so corny"

He teasingly flicked her sun hat. She laughingly shook her head as she looked back towards the flowers. However, something off in the distance caught her attention, and the grin gradually became a look of confusion.

"Eren...is that someone riding towards us?"

Eren looked over for himself. A horse was growing closer, someone riding on it becoming more visible. In the two years they had been out here, they had yet to see anyone else. No one from the area, no one from their past. As the horse grew closer, he was shocked to see who it was.

"Eren, is that-"

"It is. Please stay put" he said quietly, staring forward as his brother, Zeke Yeager, slowed his approach and stopped a few feet away. The brothers stared at one another, each trying to read the other, what their prevailing feeling was at this moment.

"So....this is where you disappeared off to" Zeke stated. "Nice spot"

Eren didn't answer. The elder Yeager hopped down, looking around. "Were you aware of where you were headed? You managed to pick a place well out of the Marley empire. No concerns about them coming to mess you about"

"Until now?" Eren asked.

"I'm not here for Marley. I'm here because of our plan. The one that you disappeared in the midst of plotting it out?"

"Should my disappearance not have been a means of saying I wasn't doing it anymore?"

Zeke pulled a face. "We were well beyond the point either of us could turn back"

"Well...our present reality says otherwise"

Zeke's gaze looked towards Mikasa, watching the current exchange with deep concern. Her hold of her gardening tools tightening.

"Ah. Out here playing house then. You gonna be a daddy, Eren? If all the world's issues could be mended with the loving affection of someone, we'd be better off, but that is not how things work. You left a boiling pot on the stove back there. You need to come back"

Eren stepped sideways to stand in front of Zeke's staring at Mikasa. "I'm not going to do that"

"Eren, there's no choice"

"There is. I've already made it"

Zeke sighed, going to his horse. "Those Ackermans are still terrifying to me in a way. Their skill, their precision, their ferocity. But if this one is holding you back from what we need to do, I guess I'm going to have to do what I need to do"

He pulled a blade out from the satchel. Eren moved immediately and grabbed tightly onto Zeke's wrist.

"Don't you fucking dare"

"You've lost objectivity. What happened to making them pay?"

"Whatever path I had to walk, it leads to death. Do I destroy Marley, destroy the world, bring down a relentless amount of bloodshed and die? Or do I choose not to play anymore, and use the little time I have left being in peace, being with the person I want to be with? I have two years left, I will be spending those years with her, those years with our child. And she could easily tear you to shreds right now, despite her pregnancy. But she won't have to, because I will. If you try to move towards her, you threaten her again, if you even look her way again, I will kill you Zeke. Walk away, go back to Marley, go anywhere you see fit. I will not be leaving this place. Ever. So go, and leave my brother, or stay, and die my enemy. You decide"

The firmness of his tone spoke to Zeke. There was no shaking anger, no desperation, no fear in Eren's words. He spoke as if stating an objective fact. He meant what he was saying completely.

"Just like that...the quest for total freedom, it just stops?"

Eren looked around. "I haven't felt this free in all my life. Total freedom? I already have it"

Zeke really looked hard into Eren's eyes. His younger brother's determination really began to sit with him, finding it inspiring in a way. He may be angry in this moment, but the otherwise more mellowed eyes and demeanor told him this was the truth for Eren. With a deep exhale, he deescalated. The blade dropped to the ground, scooped up by Eren just in case as he released his hold of Zeke's wrist. They returned to silently staring at one another.

"Boy or girl?" Zeke asked.

Eren's brow furrowed.

"Can't an uncle ask?"

"You were wanting to kill the mother not two minutes ago"

"We live in a different world now then we were two minutes ago"

Eren seemed to be considering still whether to answer, but decided to just to say something. "She thinks it's likely a boy"

Zeke once again went over to his satchel and rooted through.

"Catch"

Eren saw an object soaring towards him. He caught it with both hands. A baseball.

"For when he's old enough" Zeke said, mounting the horse.

"I'll be gone before then"

Zeke looked back to him.

"You know, the thing I always despised about Marley above all was how....stupid those in power could be. Those in power have been. How they've always bought in heartily to the bullshit about Eldia, how they bought in how the people of Paradis Island were devils....how holders of the Titan abilities would die in 13 years. Guess with that one it made them feel they held all the power. Make it easier to hand it off to new wielders who don't grow so tainted and knowledgeable to their bullshit"

Eren's confusion intensified. "Zeke, what exactly are you saying?"

Zeke chuckled lightly. "I'm saying, live a nice, long life. Give me lots of nieces and nephews. Do all that with the knowledge no one else will be riding out here seeking you out. Well, unless one day comes when all this...grief finally stops, and I could maybe find my way back out here to visit all those nieces and nephews. Pending if you'd have forgiven me by then. Live well, Eren"

With that, Zeke snapped the reins of his horse and galloped away. Eren watched him grow more and more distant.

"Eren?"

He looked back to Mikasa, still where she had been, looking alarmed and confused. He walked over and helped her to her feet.

"You okay?" he asked. His hand rested softly against her belly. Mikasa placed her own atop his and nodded.

"I think I am. Just very taken off guard"

"How long has he been looking is what I'm wondering. Maybe we should-"

Her hand moved up to his arm. "Eren, did he say what I think he did? About...the curse?"

He had still been reflecting back over the encounter as a whole that he had momentarily forgot what was last mentioned. "I...I think he did"

They both looked out towards where Zeke had rode, him barely even a spec in the distance at this point.

"Do you think he's lying?"

"I...I really don't know. I don't know why'd he would toss in that kind of a lie after all that. That said, please don't get your hopes up too high just yet"

He could tell in her eyes she was very much getting them up high, but she nodded regardless.

"Come on, let's get you inside" he said, ushering her towards the cabin.

"Do you think he'll come back?"

With one more look towards the now vacant distance, Eren shook his head.

"I don't think so. He knows what will happen if he tries that again"

"I suppose then we can cross Zeke off the list for potential names" she quipped suddenly. He laughed lightly as they went inside.

Chapter Text

"Eren, would you care to explain why you kicked that Delilah girl in the shin today?"

Her son glowered up from his kneeling position as he slipped on his shoes. "Do I need a reason?"

Carla folded her arms. "I would like to have one. Outside of the obvious nastiness of the act, her rather angry mother collared me about it this morning. So if there's a good enough reason, maybe I have reason to tear a strip off her tomorrow. I highly doubt this though"

Eren huffed as he stood straight. "She was annoying and I hate annoying people so I kicked her to get her to leave me alone"

"You've done this to most girls you meet"

"I guess all girls are annoying. Can I go outside now?"

Carla blocked the door. "Nope"

Her husband Grisha entered the room, putting on his hat. An idea entered Carla's head.

"Grisha, you're heading off to the mountains today, no?"

"Indeed I am. Mr. Potter's stomach pains are back, and then the Ackermans for a checkup on her pregnancy"

"They have a daughter Eren's age, don't they?"

"Yes they do"

She looked down to Eren. "You'll be going along with your father today"

Eren looked incredulous. "What?! No I am not, I'm going to go find Armin and-"

"Nope. You'll be going with your father. Perhaps some time with this Ackerman girl will change your perspective"

Eren shook his head as he turned to his father. "Dad-"

"Eren, no arguing, we must go if we're to get there in time"

"Dad, I wasn't supposed-"

"Well now you are"

The heaviest sigh left the boy's lips as he stropped off outside to wait for his father.

"He's going to be complaining the whole time. Is this punishment for him, or have I done something?"

Carla chuckled as she kissed Grisha's cheek. "Don't be too late tonight"

"We'll do our best"

Carla was positively stunned when her husband and son returned late that night, a girl holding tightly onto Eren's hand in tow, his scarf wrapped around her tear-stained face. The news of what happened sickened, terrified and deeply broke her heart. Her son took the lives of two men. Her son saved this girl's life. Any feelings of horror and outrage went out the window when she watched him talk softly to Mikasa, pointing around their house all the different parts of it. There was no question to whether she could stay or not. This girl needed a home. Carla was going to give to her even a slight semblance of what was stolen away from her so very cruelly.

Grisha stepped out for a bit, visiting some nearby neighbors to see if they'd be able to donate some clothing for Mikasa. Eren led Mikasa over to Carla. "Mom? This is Mikasa"

Carla crouched down. Mikasa wasn't looking her way, more looking off to the side tearfully.

"Hello dear. I'm so sorry we had to meet this way"

She noticed the little bloodstain on the side of her mouth. "Here, let me-"

Mikasa flinched, hugging tightly to Eren's arm.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to scare you" Carla said, holding her hand out to her.

Eren rubbed Mikasa on the arm. "It's okay Mikasa, my mom won't hurt you"

Mikasa looked to him. With this assurance, she reached out and took Carla's hand. Carla led her gently towards the kitchen sink, dabbing a cloth with some warm water. She wiped at her face until the stain faded. Grisha returned with some sets of clothing.

"You go ahead to the bathroom now, dear. I'll collect the dirty clothing when you're done. I'll clean this scarf-"

She was saying this while reaching for the red fabric. Mikasa let out a small whimper, clutching onto it as she stepped backward and looked ready to cry. Carla instantly stood down.

"It's okay dear, I won't take it from you if you don't want to take it off"

Eren stepped forward. "It's okay, ma. I can take it from here"

Carla figured it would be easier for Mikasa if this was the case. She watched the two disappear down the hall, sighing slightly. All she could keeping thinking was this poor girl. Her entire world was thoroughly ended within a few hours. And Carla couldn't help but feel she wasn't helping with making Mikasa feel less uncomfortable. She waited an hour or so, peeking in to Eren's room. He was sitting on his bed, hugging a sobbing Mikasa. He looked up at his mother, a sad look in his eyes. Carla blew him a small kiss before closing the door.

Mikasa slept for the entirety of the next day. Eren spent most of the morning sat next to her, before Carla had him step out to do his chores in order to leave her be. When night fell and she was still sleeping, Carla had Eren sleep out on the couch. It was here Eren woke to the sound of the window being tapped on the next morning. Through slightly bleary eyes, he could make out Armin peering in and waving.

"Armin? You're up early" Eren said when he opened the door.

"Sorry, Eren. I hadn't heard from you all of yesterday. I knew it was because of...what happened"

"Yeah"

"What exactly happened? Grandpa was vague"

"Well, let me get my shoes on and we'll go talk about it"

He poked back inside to grab his shoes. His father came walking in.

"Eren? What are you doing?"

"Going outside with Armin"

"Eren, you should-"

Eren was already gone before he could finish. With a sigh, he simply began preparing the kettle, just as Carla emerged from their bedroom.

"Morning" she said.

"Eren's taken off"

"Did he say where?"

"He did not"

Carla began preparing a pot of oatmeal. Grisha took a seat at the table.

"He shouldn't have taken off like that" he remarked.

"Certainly not without any breakfast" 

"Not because of that"

Carla looked to him, seeing him gesture to his right with his head. A now awake and frightened looking Mikasa stood there, clutching to the scarf still around her neck. Carla crouched down.

"Good morning Mikasa. How are you feeling?"

There was nothing to worry about with her and Grisha, but Carla couldn't fault the girl for still being shy around them. Mikasa just looked back towards the bedrooms and back to Carla, who realized what was being communicated.

Carla shook her head at this. She opened the pot of oatmeal and prepared a bowl. "I'm sorry for Eren, he went out. Once you have something to eat, I'll bring you with me into town so we can look for him. Does that sound okay?"

She held the bowl out to her. Mikasa's sad eyes looked between it and her.

"I know you're very scared and hurting right now, Mikasa. Rightfully so. I hope that you know you are completely safe with us. You have nothing to worry about. I promise"

The girl nodded lightly, finally taking the bowl.

She felt terrible for subjecting Mikasa to the busy marketplace. The culture shock alone, in addition to her trauma from the night prior and fear over Eren not being around, stressed her out. Her small hand was gripped tightly onto the elder woman's hand, face slightly burying itself against her leg as they walked.

I can't believe Eren just took off. Carla quietly fumed. Especially when Mikasa needs him right now.

"Ahh, Mrs. Yeager!" a slurred voice called over. She sighed a little. Typically, she enjoyed Hannes' presence, but he sounded already slightly tipsy, and his loud voice clearly started Mikasa greatly.

"Hannes, now-"

"Ahh, who is this now?" he said, bending down to look at Mikasa "Hello little one!"

Mikasa's eyes bugged wide and she disappeared behind Carla, who took Hannes' collar in hand and raised him back up to her eye level.

"Hannes, stop"

She leaned in to whisper to him who Mikasa was and what happened, and why he was being inappropriate. To his credit, he greatly dialed back his volume and demeanor.

"That's horrifying. No one should ever have to go through that. Especially so young"

"She's going to need some time. I doubt she'll ever fully recover from it, but in time she won't be so...shy"

"I'll leave her be. See you around, Carla"

Hannes departed. Carla crouched down, lightly tapping Mikasa's hand to get her to re-emerge. She did, though her eyes were now teary, and she had her mouth buried deep behind the scarf. Carla softly pulled it down.

"It's okay, dear, it's okay. Hannes is a good friend of mine. You don't have anything to worry about, he'll keep you safe too if need be"

The girl nodded. They began moving again. Eren was more than likely near the little canal in the town. This proved to be true. Him and his friend Armin were crouched over that book they obsessively read.

"Eren Yeager!" she called out. Mikasa's head turned towards where Carla was shouting towards, watched Eren stand up and look over slightly embarrassed.

"Mom?"

Mikasa had let go of Carla's hand and raced over to Eren, taking hold of his hand. Carla stopped in front of them, glaring down at him.

"Eren! What were you thinking by disappearing the way you did this morning?"

"I didn't! I always come down here bright and early!"

"Eren, poor Mikasa woke up this morning in what is still a strangers house to her without the person she's the most comfortable being around right now anywhere to be seen. She was very upset and very afraid. Me and your father will certainly take care of her too but she really needs you the most during this time. You have a duty of care to her now"

Her son looked towards Mikasa. She was looking downward, pressed close against him.

"I'm sorry Mikasa" he whispered, tugging lightly at her sleeve. "I thought you were still sleeping"

She looked up and nodded softly, hugging onto him.

Carla saw Armin stood from where he was, looking over with confusion. She motioned him over.

"Hi, Mrs. Yeager. Eren talked about what happened"

"She's likely going to be very very shy and quiet for some time. I hope you know it wouldn't be personal if she didn't really talk much"

"I understand"

"You're a very kind young man, Armin so I don't imagine it'll take long for her to warm up to you"

The blonde lightly blushed. "Thanks, Mrs. Yeager"

She looked back over to Eren, handing to him a basket. "Since you took off without eating, that's some lunch for you guys. But I want you home for dinner, Eren. And do not get Mikasa into any trouble"

"I won't Ma"

"I do not want to see you coming home from fighting those other boys. Or escorted by the Garrison for causing a commotion in town"

"Ma. I won't"

Her gaze softened when she looked at Mikasa. The girl peeked slightly over.

"Thank you, Mrs. Yeager" she said quietly.

With a smile, Carla left them to it, climbing up the stone steps back towards the marketplace. She glanced back down from the top, watching as Eren encouraged Mikasa to say hello to Armin. The girl reached out and shook his hand.

Mikasa never really shook her need for Eren to be close by, but she had acclimated to her new life over the next year and was alot more communicative with those around her. In a way, Carla grew to see her as her little enforcer, as she would be consistently dragging Eren out of his squabbles with the locals. At a certain point, Mikasa's mere presence was what became the way to end his fights, be it her just looking at him disapprovingly and getting him to calm down, or the other boy, knowing Mikasa and how shockingly strong she was, being scared off. They were out to market one day while Grisha was off on a out of town doctors appointment, and while Carla and Mikasa were at a stall procuring vegetables, the sounds of two boys fighting began sounding. Carla sighed, turning to indeed see her son head to head with some new boy, both daring the other to swing.

"Eren Yeager, you stop this nonsense right now!" Carla called.

"Ma, not now!"

"Eren Yeager! Do not make me drag you home!"

"Ma, stay out of-"

"Eren"

Mikasa had walked over to the two, taking hold of his sleeve. She shook her head.

"Listen to your girlfriend, Eren" the boy taunted. Mikasa glared at this boy, causing him to look unnerved and walk away. Eren yanked his sleeve away.

"I don't need you constantly interfering, Mikasa!"

"I beg to differ, Eren" Carla said as she walked over. "Think of all the beatings you've avoided because Mikasa bailed you out"

"You're acting like I wouldn't stand a chance. But I can't ever know if you don't let me settle my own problems!"

"I'm not going to let you get yourself hurt" Mikasa said.

"Well, I'm not a baby, so cut it out!" he spat before storming off. Carla could see how hurt that made Mikasa, watching as the sad frown be masked by her scarf.  Eren would persist on shunning her throughout the night, and didn't say bye to her or his mother when he went with Grisha again for a doctors visit out of town. Carla and Mikasa went into the market, the girl being largely quiet this day.

"Mikasa"

The girl looked Carla's way.

"I wouldn't take his little tantrums so personally. He'll get over it"

Mikasa looked down to the ground. "I don't think he likes me very much anymore"

Carla shook her head, cupping Mikasa's shoulder. "Now now. That is just his pride speaking for him. Don't listen to him when he speaks like that. If you feel you need to step in, always do"

Mikasa nodded. A soft booming sound caught their attention and those around them.

"What on Earth was that?" Carla said. People around them began hurrying down towards the canal. Taking hold of Mikasa's hand, Carla followed. The crowd grew denser and louder as they got closer and closer, the chatter being about a ship being on fire. This made Carla's blood run cold.

Grisha and Eren were due back around this time rang through her mind. 

"Hold tight, Mikasa" she said, feeling as the girl obliged. She pushed through the crowd and now had a fuller view of what was going on. There was indeed a ship on fire, gradually starting to dip beneath the water. Multiple members of the Military Police and Garrison were controlling the crowd and coming in and out of the water. With bodies.

"no no no" Carla muttered softly. She got sight of Hannes and ran to him.

"Hannes! Hannes, was-"

He turned towards her, a light dazed look in his eyes. "Carla...I'm sorry, but Grisha...he-"

"No, please no"

"He got Eren to shore and went back. He...didn't come back up alive"

Carla sobbed. Mikasa stood petrified in shock.

"You said Eren was brought to shore?" Carla managed to get out.

"Yes. He tried to follow his father. I held him back. He saw Grisha.....he yelled at me and ran off"

"Where?"

She felt Mikasa tug on her shirt. "I think I know where"

She led Carla out towards a tree she and Eren would come and play at or collect wood from. Sure enough, he was sat there, sopping wet and weeping. Mikasa ran ahead and knelt down next to him, resting her hand on his shoulder. Carla, doing her best to appear strong for him, stopped and crouched in front of him.

"Eren"

The boy looked up, eyes teary. "I'm sorry mom. I'm sorry I...I didn't save him"

"That wasn't your responsibility, Eren"

"If Hannes just let me....."

"Eren. It was not your responsibility. Your father made a decision. He wanted to do what he could to help. He died acting out that decision. You not going in, Hannes not letting you, that did not cause him to die"

“I just wish...I wasn't so damn useless"

"You aren't, Eren"

"When have I ever been of use?"

Mikasa shook his arm. He looked to her. She rested her head against his, and pulled him close for a hug. He held her tight and cried.

It took a few months, but gradually the three of them began to adapt. Eren had fallen back into his headstrong, reckless activities, and bemoaning the scoldings Carla or Mikasa would give him. One day, there seemed to be a change in his reaction to these.

"Mom? Mom!" she heard her son holler from up the street. He was running over, upset evident all over his face.

"Eren? What's wrong?"

"Did Mikasa come home yet?"

"No?"

"I need to find her, I gotta apologize!"

"Apolo- Eren what did you do?"

"I yelled at her"

Carla grew cross. "Why did you do that? I can only assume she was intervening with you doing something stupid"

The quick way he nodded was surprising, he'd typically be passionately advocating why his fighting with the other boys, or doing some kind of dangerous activity was justified.

"I found some suction cups and wanted to use them to climb the wall-"

"Eren, that is so-"

"Ma I know! Mikasa said the same, I just got so frustrated I shouted at her. But instead of arguing back like she does she started crying and ran off. I tried to keep up with her but she got away from me, and now I can't find her ma!"

"Well, Eren, can you blame her? There's only so many times someone can stand being shouted at for being worried about you"

"I know, I'm really sorry" he wiped at his eyes. "I don't like it when she cries, and I hate that I was the reason why. Can you please help me find her?"

Eren genuinely regretting something he did wrong. This is new Carla thought as she took her son's hand. Eren almost always exclusively never apologized, even when he was almost always in the wrong. Mikasa seemed to be really good in getting him to simmer down quicker when getting really mad, or to help him see the error of his ways.

They went to Hannes' Garrison squad would typically sit, and sure enough Mikasa was sat on the ground next to him, looking deeply sad and hugging against her legs. Eren let go of his mother's hand and ran over.

"Mikasa!"

She looked up. Eren slipped on his knees and hugged onto her.

"I'm really really sorry Mikasa, I hate I made you cry. Can you ever forgive me?"

Mikasa looked a little towards Carla. Though still a little teary eyed, Carla could make out a little bit of confusion in her eyes. She too was surprised at this display from Eren.

"I forgive you, Eren" she said, rubbing his hand.

Eren had always boasted about joining the military and the Survey Corps for perhaps as long as he could talk. Upon the passing of Grisha, that talk amplified as he approached the age to enlist. Carla always relentlessly refused him permission. There was absolutely no way he was going out to to be eaten by Titans. He would always scream back at her about exploring the outside world and being free of the walls, she would argue back that there was no way his father would want him throwing his life away.

The day after his birthday, Carla woke to see him packing his things.

"There's no talking you out of this then?"

"Nope. You can refuse to your heart's content, I'm still going. I'm not going to keep withering away being useless. I'm going to kill the Titans beyond the walls, and I'm going to see the outside world"

"There are plenty of talented and strong soldiers doing that already"

"That means no one else should?"

"I mean you shouldn't. You don't have to"

"I do. Nothing is going to change my mind on this"

As Carla braced herself to press Eren further, Mikasa appeared from down the hall. Kitted up, pack slung over shoulder. Eren looked confused.

"Mikasa, what are you doing?"

"I'm coming with you"

"What?" Eren and Carla both said.

"I'm coming with you. I'm not going to see you die. I can make sure that doesn't happen"

"Wh- Mikasa, no. I don't want you to do that!" Eren protested.

"If you go, I will go. You stay, I will stay. No matter where you are Eren, I'll be by your side"

Eren shook his head. "Mikasa, I don't want you joining the military, I want you to be stay here! You'll be safe here"

"Eren"

She looked at him firmly. Carla watched her son, seeing the frustration and concern on his face. With an angry sigh, he threw his pack on the ground and stropped off to his room.

His talking about joining the Survey Corps gradually waned over the next few weeks.

Before Carla knew it, Eren and Mikasa were in their teen years. Both taller, more mature. At least, Eren was more mature on paper. He unfortunately still had a quick to anger way to him, especially when butting heads with men in town.

Carla was sweeping the floor when Mikasa stormed in, slamming the door behind her. Carla watched with confusion as Mikasa disappeared down the hall. A few moments later, the front door opened again, and a black eye wearing Eren entered.

"Oh for- Eren, what happened?"

"Some idiot in town. One of the ones we grew up with"

"It's always an idiot in town. Eren, you're not a boy anymore, why on Earth are you still acting like one?"

"He deserved it"

Carla could only tsk.

The next day

"Ma? Why won't Mikasa talk to me?"

The woman looked to her son. "You're kidding me, no?"

He genuinely looked confused. 

"Well, when I talked to her last night, she gave me a fuller context of what happened in that little fight of yours. You managed to forget her explicitly telling you that if you fought that guy she wouldn't speak to you again?"

"But it's been a day, surely she can't still be mad?"

"Eren, me and her have been pleading with you for years to stop getting into fights. Mikasa used to intervene when you were younger, but you both are older now and should ideally know better. At this point, when you ignore someone's specific request, it's considered disrespect"

"Ma, that's a bit much. She knows that guy was a moron. She'll relent eventually"

He sounded confident in this initially, but the following two days caused him to begin wavering. She would immediately make her leave when he'd enter the room, or ignore him when found her in town. Carla was talking with Armin, who took on apprentice work at the cobblers. They witnessed Mikasa walking by Eren, his initial irritation at all this now becoming worry.

"He's still not understood why she's mad I take it?" Armin remarked.

"No. Were you there, Armin? What exactly caused Eren to start fighting?"

The blonde smirked slightly. "Eren heard the guy fantasizing about making Mikasa his wife"

Carla shared in with her own smirk. "Ahhh. I see"

The cold shoulder Mikasa was giving to Eren was now really starting to prove effective. He and his mother were seated at the table later that night, Mikasa sat alone reading in the living room. Eren glanced over to her every so often.

"She's really gonna-" he was about to mutter.

"Eren for crying out loud just apologize to her. How haven't you by now, honestly" Carla quietly hissed at him. 

Bashfully, Eren stood up and went over to join Mikasa on the sofa. Carla saw Mikasa side eye him for a moment before resuming reading. Eren tugged lightly at her sleeve.

"I'm sorry" he said quietly. She continued looking at her book, not responding. Carla couldn't help but admire how Mikasa was so effective in making him squirm. He looked down to the floor.

"I miss you" he said.

Mikasa kept reading for a moment, but eventually she looked his way. She smiled.

"I miss you too"

Eren pulled her close, slightly sidehugging her. "I won't fight anymore. I promise"

To his credit, he did. Carla couldn't truly feel those feelings of annoyance with other people still didn't live in him, but just like how his worry about Mikasa joining him in the military made him not join, his fear about Mikasa not talking to him anymore outweighed his anger.

20. That's how old they were now. Carla still struggled with this knowledge at times. There were days she still thought a restless Eren would run through the house, Mikasa either in tow or hand in his as he led her out the door. Days where it still felt recent when Mikasa came to live with them. But it's been over ten years now. Eren was now taller than herself. Looking upward at him to chide him on things was still not something she was used to. Nor was the fact he had begun to take up his father's mantle as a doctor, spending a fair amount of time going through his old books and picking up small jobs observing colds or broken bones. Armin, working at a little book shop, got Mikasa a job there too. Her presence seemed to generate an increase in purchases from young men.

"Another busy day I take it?" Carla asked her while they were sat outside the store. Mikasa nodded.

"I...I got asked on a date"

Carla's eyes widened a bit. "Oh, by who?"

"His name is Jean. I'd been seeing him around town the past few weeks. He seems nice enough"

"So...did you say yes?"

"I...asked him to let me think about it over lunch"

"Why the hesitation?"

Mikasa blushed lightly, tugging lightly at her scarf. Carla grew a knowing look.

Eren. She always knew the pair held great affection for the other. But with Eren being Eren, it was like pulling teeth for him to outwardly say it.

"You shouldn't base how you make your own choices around how Eren will feel. If he wants to ask you on a date, he should say so"

"Maybe...maybe I should ask him?"

Carla shook her head. "Eren needs to speak up about what he's thinking and feeling in general. He hasn't so far. So go on the date"

Mikasa nodded. "Okay"

Carla returned home afterwards, with Mikasa finishing her work before coming home to get ready, She would be meeting Jean at the tavern for some drinks. Carla was stood at the sink when the front door shot open. She looked over to see a distressed looking Eren stood there.

"Hello dear. What's wrong?"

"I uh...Armin mentioned Mikasa was going on a date tonight?"

"Mmm hmm. A guy she'd met at the bookstore asked her out for dinner"

He anxiously scratched his arm. "Did, did she already go?"

She was going to say she was still home, but decided to see what he would say.

"She did, yeah"

Eren looked crestfallen, closing the door behind him. "Wh....aw. Aw....damnit"

He slid down against the door, head going into his hands. Carla stood in front of him. From the corner of her eye, she saw Mikasa walking down the hallway brushing her hair. Carla looked to her, putting a finger to her lips. This confused Mikasa a little, but complied.

"Don't you want Mikasa to find someone-"

"no" he said ever so quietly, almost ashamed to say something so self centered.

"What? Why not?"

"Finding someone means someone else gets to see her smile and laugh because of them. Finding someone means she moves away and I don't get to see her everyday anymore. Finding someone means....I don't get to tell that I love her"

"Well...that's wouldn't be her fault, Eren. You haven't said anything"

"I know"

"Why did you never tell her?"

He shrugged. "I was scared"

Carla scoffed. "What possibly of? Her saying no and laughing at you? She thinks the world of you, Eren"

"Not that. I was scared about screwing up. Like, if I screw up, and she wants nothing to do with me after, I just....I couldn't live with that"

Carla motioned for Mikasa to back away a little bit. "Why do you feel you'd screw up?"

He looked up at her. His eyes were now rather red. "It's me. I'd manage to screw up somehow"

"Alright, so you want to be with her, but you're scared of being with her. Eren, she can't her life based around whether you're going to ask her. Do you want to be together with her? Or no? You have to make a choice"

"I want to be with her. I want to. But clearly, I missed my chance"

Carla looked over to Mikasa. The teary eyed girl emerged.

"No you haven't, Eren"

His eyes widened a bit. He looked at his mother, who grinned slightly.

"Well then, Eren, you have something to ask her?"

Eren stood up, walking over to Mikasa and taking her hand in his.

"Mikasa.....would you want to-?"

She didn't speak, rather she just rubbed his cheek and pecked him on the lips, conveying her answer. He smiled and kissed her back.

She'd never seen her son so peaceful before. There was always a restlessness in him, a need to go full sprint wherever he went or for whatever he was wanting to do. Now he was slower, patient. As kids, Mikasa would always be right behind him trying to keep up. Eren now never went far without her being right beside him. He had well and truly grown up into a responsible, well tempered young man.

There was a point, about a year after they became a couple, that Carla was a little concerned Eren had dipped back into his callous ways. She was returning home from the market, but was surprised to see them both seated on the doorstep, Eren's arm resting across her shoulders, Mikasa weeping softly.

"What's the matter? Eren...did you say something?"

Mikasa wiped her eyes, looking towards Carla with a smile. "Your son asked me to marry him. I said yes"

The pure happiness Carla Yeager was feeling could not be quantified. The phrase "A mother knows" is one she always felt was played out. But looking back on all the years they'd been in each others lives, all the growing pains Eren went through, all the quiet unsaid moments the pair would signal to the other how they felt, Carla truly felt for sure she could say she always knew.

Chapter Text

"The person to impregnate the queen makes sense to be someone she knows, yeah? So who better than him?"

"They always did have....something between them, no?"

"How is it not him? Who could it possibly be other than him?"

Her eyes opened slowly, the pitch black of the night that blanketed the room almost making it seem she hadn't even done so. These kind of dreams tended to invade her thoughts at random, causing old pangs of melancholy and....envy to wake her up. She found it pathetic, that feeling of envy being there. Historia made the decision to become a mother for the security of Paradis, it made total sense that someone like Eren should be the father. Why have it be anyone other than someone she trusted?

She slipped quietly out of their bed, making her way into the kitchen. Why have it be someone else? 

Cause then I could have been the first-

She shook her head. Pathetic she thought again. Jealousy was always an ugly look in her mind, one she hated feeling. And there was no reason to feel it now. It was just them out here. All the time in the world in their hands now that he wasn't on a time limit. She knew for certain he loved her. And should the day come, should Eren want that, they would have babies of their own.

If only I could've been-

She let out a sigh of annoyed exasperation, lighting a candle and making her way outside to the little picnic table they had. The cool night air helped her to unwind, to push back these kind of sleep depriving thoughts. Why tonight, anyway? Why is it tonight that these particular dreams were bothering her? The idea of family had been on her mind lately. They'd celebrated her 24th birthday some weeks ago, and in a few short weeks, Eren's 25th would be upon them. So with them growing older, the desire to grow their family became more and more of a want for her. And she loved the image of them having a family. It was a dream she deeply enjoyed experiencing at night. Which is when those thoughts about Historia would cross her mind. And those jealous feelings swirl through her mind, and upset her heart.

It bothered her equally how she even felt jealous to begin with. She valued Historia deeply as a friend. She even felt as though Historia was fully aware of just how much Eren always meant to her. Maybe that's what makes him being the father all the more hurtful in her mind. To an extent it felt akin to a betrayal-

Betrayal? That is such a ridiculous, just a really ridiculous thought, Ackerman she scolded to herself, wiping away at tears she saw were starting to run down her cheek. The soft click of the front door caught her attention, looking over to see Eren emerge, the candle in his hand illuminating his concerned face. She quickly wiped the remaining tears away before he sat next to her, hand moving to rest atop hers.

"You okay?" he asked. "Why are you out here, it's chilly"

"Just a little trouble sleeping"

He set his candle down next to hers. "Anything you want to talk about?"

"It's nothing rea-"

He gave her a look. She was not tricking him.

"Mikasa. Talk to me. Please?"

"It's really pathetic and embarrassing, Eren, you don't want to hear about it"

She felt his warmth against her as he leaned in. "I do. You're upset, and I wanna help make you feel better"

He had such a sweet nature to him now. Unburdened of his Titan abilities, the horde of memories crowding his mind, the need to fight against everything and everyone. He was so very peaceful, so very happy. She felt herself growing red. From embarrassment, from shame, from sadness.

"...I was remembering...back when Historia became a mother"

He looked confused. "You were upset about her becoming a mother? Well...I suppose her doing so to adhere to Zeke's plan was-"

"No no, I just....ah, this is so pathetic just-"

His hand moved to her cheek, thumb lightly stroking it. "Mikasa. What's wrong?"

Her eyes moved away from his, blinking a bit to combat the tears stinging again at her eyes. "I understand why you being the father was necessary. I just-"

"I'm not the father"

She looked back to him. He looked confused, but also ever so slightly amused. "Mikasa, I wasn't the one who fathered her baby"

"But...there was so many-"

"Rumors, I know. I heard 'em, No, she found herself someone she liked that way, and that person is the father"

Now she was fully embarrassed. "Oh...I'm such a fool"

"Nah, you're not a fool. I mean, I guess no one ever really put in any effort to clear anything up. So much was happening at that point, so it sort of fell to the wayside. I'd feel the same way if I heard you were going to be a mother for someone else's baby"

She went quiet a little, this admission making her heart flutter. "You would?"

"Mikasa, if I ever get to be a dad, and if that's something you'd want to do, I'd only ever want you to be the one I started a family with. It was only ever you"

Her lower lip trembled softly, her tears finally spilling down. He chuckled softly as he pulled her close and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"So whenever you wish to-"

"I'd like to now"

He smirked. "Like right this second, or-"

She whapped him gently on the arm. He grasped hold of her hand.

"Come on. Let's go inside. I can see you trying not to shiver"

She allowed him to lead them back indoors, a happy, sheepish smile on her face. He rubbed her arms a little upon closing the door behind them.

"I still feel a bit silly...getting all jealous and worked up like that" she said.

"I certainly was no saint when it came to jealousy. Particularly back during training. There'd be times I'd hear Jean talking about wanting to take you out, talking about how pretty you were. There were points where I was about to go over to him and lay into him, tell him "don't you even think about it". Jealousy can be ugly. It can also be helpful to let yourself know when something, or someone, really is special and important to you"

He rested his head against hers.

"Look at us" she said. "Two jealous fools"

"Good thing we both got ourselves figured out. So late in the evening"

He tilted his head, leaning in to whisper into her ear.

"So since we're awake, wanna try to-"

He didn't get to finish as Mikasa began pulling him towards the bedroom.

Chapter Text

Boat

Building that wagon awoke the craftsman that laid dormant within Eren. He began to constantly look for things to make, or reasons to fix something. A slight wobble of the table resulting in a brand new one. One remark from him about wishing for a way to keep the logs from getting wet in the rain or snow and the next minute he's on the roof fitting an awning over the pile. Mikasa had to dissuade his desire to begin building a second story to their cabin, a job that would no doubt need a very long time, and leave them without a roof over their heads.

She hadn't really seen him working on anything in the house the past few weeks. Then again, it was possible he had fixed or built everything they possibly needed. She made lunch for them one day while he was off fishing down at the lake. She made her way over to tell him about lunch, but was surprised to see he wasn't anywhere in sight. Was he already back at the cabin? Surely she'd have seen or heard if he had. So where could he be?

She could see his fish basket and some tools were on the grass. She looked outward and saw a faint figure sat in a....rowboat? 

"Eren?" she called out. The figure seemed to acknowledge her, and began rowing over. She could eventually see it was indeed Eren.

"Hey Mikasa! Hopefully I've not kept you waiting long" he said, hopping out when closer to shore and pulling the boat in.

"When did you build the boat?" she asked.

"Oh, I thought I mentioned it before" he replied, a look of realization on his face. "Made it about a week ago. Pretty cool, no?"

"It is. No girls allowed I take it?"

She was teasing him, a grin on her face. But she could see him look genuinely ashamed.

"Oh. Shoot Mikasa, I didn't mean to leave you out. C'mon, let's-"

"Eren I was only kidding, it's alr-"

He'd walked over to her, taking hold of her hand.

"Nah, it isn't. C'mon, being out there is an amazing experience. I wanna share it with you"

She smiled and let him guide her over to the boat.

"Hop in" he said softly, taking hold of the stern. She did so, taking a seat. He pushed the boat out and hopped in himself. He picked up the oar and paddled them out towards the middle of the lake. He was absolutely correct. It was an amazing sight, seeing their little lot of land from here.

"I was getting a bit irritated with all the big fish going out farther from the shore. So that's mainly why I decided to make a boat. But with it as well, it can let us cross over to the other side of the lake alot faster than walking over. And look what I noticed the other day"

He pointed towards a little cluster of trees towards the far end of the lake. Squinting her eyes, she could make out a little creek.

"Where do you think it leads?" she asked.

"I dunno. But we should go find out one of these days"

"Absolutely"

They fell quiet as Eren stopped paddling, them having reached the middle of the lake. She was truly enamored with it all.

"Make sure to bring me each time you come out here"

Eren nodded. "I also wanted to make sure that..."

She looked to him, able to assess he was about to begin talking about something serious. Something in regards to him...

"I wanted to make sure you have all the things necessary to take care of yourself when-"

"You're gonna push me into the lake again aren't you?"

Eren was taken off guard. "W-what?"

She looked down to the water. She was purposefully changing the subject. Because she just did not want to think about what was soon to come up. "Eren, if you're gonna push me in-"

He knew what she was doing, but smiled regardless. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna. Not now, anyway"

She rolled her eyes in jest at him as the sound of his stomach growling sounded.

"Oh that's right, I almost forgot I came to tell you lunch was ready"

"Well then what the heck are we still doing out here?" he remarked, paddling them back to shore.

Rings

Wife. Mikasa was now his wife. Maybe not on a piece of paper, but that's what they wanted. Him to be her husband. Her to be his wife. They made this decision about a month ago now, however it was still such a thrill the way the words Mrs. Yeager sounded coming out of his mouth. Still such a genuine delight seeing the soft blush Mikasa would develop when he said it.

It was a shame they couldn't host a grand celebration like a wedding so they could celebrate this not just with themselves, but with everyone else. And he still wished to give her a ring. She'd always assert she didn't really need one, that old scarf of hers feeling like one to her. Despite this, he wanted to have a physical sign of his commitment to her for himself.

He'd found himself going through some of their old things, all packed away into a chest tucked against their bedroom wall. Untouched since the first year they came out here. They both found it held too many hard memories. But Eren thought he remembered something in there that might come in handy. He pulled the chest open, and spotted what he was looking for. The small bag of the personal belongings they scrounged from their old home in Shiganshina. Personal mementos, heirlooms of his parents. In particular, a few pairs of rings. His mother enjoyed jewelry, and though her actual wedding ring was on her the day she....he shook his head. He did however have his fathers, amongst some of the things left behind once Grisha had....he shook his head again.

He could see Mikasa outside from the window, sun hat on and basket in hand. He had been considering doing this for her birthday, but the desire to present her with a ring was too powerful. Closing the chest, he got up and hurried outside.

"Mikasa!" he called. She turned to face him.

"Hey Eren, I spotted a blackberry bush near the edge of the forest. I was going to see if they were okay to-"

She stopped when he went down on one knee, holding a ring out to her. Her hand went up to her mouth.

"I love you Mikasa. I hope this'll be-"

She just nodded as she happily accepted the ring, watching Eren slide it onto her finger. He rose to his feet, producing his ring and began to slide it on his ring. She stopped him.

"Hey. Let me"

He smiled, letting her take the ring. She slid it onto his finger, giggling as she did.

"Thank you, Eren"

He smiled, pulling her, his wife, in for a hug,

"By the way, do not try those berries. I found the bush you mean, they are not edible"

"Duly noted"

Hello

"Heeee" Mikasa breathed out heavily, trying to hold in all the pain she was feeling at this moment. This was it, the day had arrived. She and Eren were officially becoming parents. It was exhilarating, joyous, terrifying, so many different things being felt at once. They had never truly understood the fundamentals of pregnancy. Just being them out here, there was no doctor to confer with. They'd begun the day having no idea that today would be the day. It was her heading outside one minute to sit with Eren while he did the chores, and the next minute she was sat on their bed, in the worst pain she'd ever felt in her life as Eren frantically worked to deliver their baby.

"You're doing so great, Mikasa, just keep breathing"

"Heeeeeee" she almost whimpered. She could see Eren looking constantly between her and what he was doing, trying to juggle delivering and keeping her calm.

"I....I'm okay Eren I......hee-"

"Mikasa, we are so very close. I need you to give me another push"

"I don't....AH, Eren I don't know if....I'm strong enough-"

"Now that's a bold faced lie, Mikasa. You're the strongest person I've ever met. I can't imagine the pain you're experiencing right now, but I do know that you can weather it. You can do this"

The sweat soaked woman looked at him, and nodded. "Okay Eren"

With every ounce of strength she had she pushed, her howl of pain soon being drowned out by the sounds of a crying baby. She froze, the sound rendering her speechless. After a moment to take in some breaths, she looked up to the sound. Eren no longer looked frantic or scared. The happiest smile was on his lips as she stared down at what was in his arms.

"E...Eren?"

He looked towards her, his eyes shining bright. "Mikasa. We have a son"

He stood and went over to her side, where she got a fuller glimpse. The boy was still crying, all swaddled up in the blanket Eren placed him in after he was born.

"Let me know when you're ready to hold him" Eren whispered. Mikasa, blinking away the tears in her eyes, gently held out her hands. He passed her the boy, and stared down at his crying face.

"He's....so perfect" she said. 

"He is. He so very much is" Eren agreed. "How are you doing?"

She looked to him for a moment, immediately looking back to the baby in her arms. "So much better now"

The boy opened his eyes slightly, showing off the same piercing greens his father possessed. 

"Look what we made, Eren" she said, letting her tears flow. Eren took a seat next to her on the bed, reaching forward to run his thumb across the boy's forehead while nuzzling his head gently against her.

"You ever think of any names?"

She thought to herself a moment. "One downside to our lives out here is that we haven't had an Armin around for so very long"

Eren looked at her, his eyes stinging as the already present smile widened. "That would be perfect"

She looked down again. "Hello Armin. Welcome to the world"

Chapter Text

She could see him from the corner of her eye. Chatting away with Connie and Sasha, laughing at something he said. She very much missed that laugh. Five months prior to today, the two of them got into an intense shouting match. She couldn't even really remember what started it, she just remembered the way it ended. She told him he was a prick and that she didn't know why she ever started dating him. She spat that at him with such venom. The look of hurt in his eyes was indescribable. So when he asked her if she wanted to break up, she said yes instantly. He just angrily nodded and left. So that was that. No more late night webchats or phone calls. No more quiet sits under the stars. No more him. 17 years of friendship, 5 of them dating, over so quickly and so ugly. She regretted everything about it. She absolutely didn't want to break up, she just couldn't see past her own blind anger. And it's cost her dearly.

A tray clattering down snapped Mikasa out of her trance.

"Please talk to him" Armin said as he sat down across from her. "You so clearly want to"

The girl just shook her head, gaze pointed towards her untouched food. "I can't. He hates me"

"He most certainly does not"

"You weren't there when we broke up Armin. Have you ever been able to see in real time the love someone had for you leave their eyes? I did. He's not said a word to me in five months. And when he happens to look at me, there's just....nothing there. Nothing like there used to be. Just indifference and annoyance"

"Mikasa, if he's not going to say anything, that doesn't mean you shouldn't. You want to see where things stand with you guys, you don't want things to be how they are right now? Take the initiative. Please Mikasa"

Looking back over to Eren, she took a breath in before getting up and walking over. The sort of laughing grin on his face slipped away quickly when he saw her stop at the table.

"Hi Eren" she said quietly. He just looked at her.

"I...I don't know how to really...quantify how sorry I am about what I said to you. About that whole stupid fight. Knowing that I threw us away over something so....fundamentally unimportant I can't even remember what it was now haunts me. I know fine well why I started dating you. Because you really are my best friend in the whole world, and you not being in my life these last few months, not being able to tell you how much I love you, it's sucked and I miss you terribly. I'm sorry Eren. I hope you can forgive me"

He just kept looking at her, taking in her words. Finally, he just shrugged. "Kay" he said, before turning away.

Mikasa bit lightly on her lower lip. Did you really expect him to jump for joy and take you back? Really Ackerman?

"I'll leave you be now. If you ever wanted to talk again, if....if maybe you'd want to......I'll be around" She said, before turning around to head back to her spot. Not being able to make eye contact with Armin, she reached to collect her backpack and hurried out of the cafeteria.

Skating always helped her clear her mind. Even if it took hours of skating fast and hard sometimes. Today was one of those times. She headed straight for the big pond at the park. What she really liked about this spot was there was a biggish sort of island in the middle of it, allowing for the water surrounding it to become a natural loop for skating when it froze. If it got too crowded, she enjoyed knowing that one section of it would be relatively barren, as people preferred to stick close to the canteen side.

It was quiet enough today. Didn't have to concern herself with bumping into too many people while she skated deep in thought, thinking about the utter lack of interest from Eren in her apology. Maybe had she not waited around and being too meek to apologize earlier, it could've meant something. Even then, would just saying words undo the hurt? She told him to his face she essentially regretted dating him. It didn't matter she didn't mean it, what mattered was she said it. And it clearly deeply broke his heart.

She glanced towards the canteen, and to her dismay saw Eren. He was there with a group, Armin included. She looked away quickly and skated away to the barren side of the pond. Of all the places she thought. I'll skate here for a few minutes, then skate back and slip away.

Her thinking the word seemed to trigger her to actually slip, falling forward and landing hard on her knee. She winced in pain. Could this get possibly get any worse?

She got back onto her skates. As she was bracing to skate away, the sound of cracking became evident. Before she knew it, the ice beneath her gave way, and she was now flailing in the freezing cold water. Her knee being in pain didn't help her try to kick and keep herself afloat. The cold water chilled her, and water splashing over or into her mouth made it harder for her to call out for help.

"HELP" she finally was able to scream as loud as she could, before she disappeared under the water. She looked up as the hole she fell through grew smaller and smaller. Is this it? I've barely gotten to live. This can't be it. I can't die like this. I don't want to leave Eren.

Her vision began to darken, it seemed like this was indeed going to be her end. Though she thought she saw someone jump into the water, she just felt herself slipping away. Her eyes closed.

Goodbye, Eren.

"Don't go! Don't go! Mikasa please, please, please don't go! Come on, please!"

This voice was gradually growing louder. It felt like something was pushing down constantly on her chest, as the voice kept speaking, sounding close to tears. Soon, she felt herself begin to cough, water spilling out of her mouth. A hand slid behind her head.

"Mikasa?! Mikasa, talk to me!"

She kept coughing, opening her eyes. An equally drenched Eren was looking down at her, sheer terror and panic painted all over his face.

"Eren?"

He began to sob, his hands cupping both sides of her face and resting his head against hers. "I thought you went away. I thought that-"

"Eren! The paramedics are here!" she could hear Armin yell. A flurry of running footsteps sounded around her. She didn't really look around, just began feeling what was likely the paramedics begin checking her over. Eren had to be pried away to allow them fuller access. Her attention kept dipping in and out, doing her best to understand and answer the questions being asked by the paramedics.

"Okay, Mikasa, we're going to get you to the hospital now. We couldn't get the gurney down here, so I'll carry you back-"

"I'll carry her" she heard Eren state.

"Sir I don't think-" the paramedic began. Looking lightly towards Eren, she could see him seated, virtually ripping his skates off.

"I will carry her" he stated more firmly this time. He looked back down at her, his eyes still red.

"You okay to be picked up?" he asked.

"E-Eren, you aren't wearing s-s-shoes"

He ignored her comment and repeated his question. She just nodded, with Eren immediately gathering her up into his arms.

"Where you guys parked?" he asked.

"Follow us"

Eren moved quickly. Mikasa felt a hand on her shoulder. She peeked over to see a scared looking Armin there.

"How are you feeling, Mikasa?"

"C...c-cold" she stammered. "G...guess that g-goes without s-s-saying"

She felt herself be shifted a bit in Eren's arms, her head now resting against his shoulder. He was staring straight ahead, still looking incredibly upset. She felt herself closing her eyes to rest.

She woke up later on in a hospital room, sky pitch black outside the window. A cramped feeling went through her when she moved, and she saw herself bundled up in a thick layer of blankets. After a moment, she wiggled her shoulder out a little.

"Mikasa, don't. You need to keep warm"

She looked over. Eren was right next to her, reapplying the blankets and tucking her in. He then pulled up his chair closer and sat down.

"Eren? What time is it?"

"Just gone three in the morning"

"How are you feeling?"

He cast towards her an incredulous look. "Seriously? You're hospitalized for hypothermia and almost drowning, and you're asking me how I am?"

"You were in the water too. And you walked through the snow in bare-"

His hand rested against her shoulder. "I'm fine on that end, Mikasa"

She felt he was glossing over his own wellbeing, as he did have a medical wristband on as well. But she decided to drop it. "You look absolutely exhausted, you should head-"

"Nope" he said, firmly shaking his head. "Nope. I'm leaving here when you leave here"

"Ere-"

"I haven't been able to get the thought out of my head. Losing you like that, losing you after the way I shunned you"

Mikasa frowned a little, feeling Eren shouldn't have to apologize for his snub. "You were in your right to ignore me though. I was so deeply unfair to you when we fought"

"And the fact is you were apologizing for that, and I was choosing to stay caught up in my feelings. Dragging it out or something just so I could be petty and pointed for no reason. What if you drowned, Mikasa? What if I didn't hear your scream for help? If that was our last ever conversation....if you died after that....I would never be able to live with myself"

Her eyes began to well up a little. She began shifting the blankets again, hand reaching out. Eren quickly moved and returned it beneath the sheets.

"Mika, please stay under the blankets"

"I'm feeling alot warmer, Eren"

"Regardless, I need to know for sure you're as warm as can be. You were so....blue when I got you out of the water"

She could see him start to cry again.

"Come lay down next to me" she said. He looked at her a moment before nodding. He carefully sat on her bed, laying down atop the sheets. She rested her head against his.

"I'm going to be okay, Eren. I'm not going anywhere"

"Promise? Cause I need you in my life. It's nothing without you"

"Eren"

His hand moved towards her face, stroking some strands of her hair.

"In the cafeteria, were you asking if I was wanting us to get back together again?" he asked.

She nodded. "I was"

"Would that still be a valid offer?"

She smiled, a misty nature forming in her eyes again. "Of course it is"

He nuzzled against her head, placing a kiss against her eye. "I've missed you"

"I've missed you too"

Chapter Text

There would be some days, in the four years since The Rumbling, Mikasa would sit by Eren's grave and not even need to say a word. She just valued the feeling of being close to Eren in some way and can just sit, reflecting on the time they had together, rue the missed opportunities, resent the hard times, but ultimately fondly remember the person who had saved her when they were only little, the person she wanted to protect at all costs, the person she had been in love with.

A woman off in the distance began growing closer, and she could soon see it was Lady Kiyomi. She hadn't seen the woman since that day. Outside of Armin and on the rare occasion Jean and Connie, only she came to this spot, and she rarely ever ventured away from Shiganshina. Kiyomi had probably been trying to locate her for awhile, and was eventually able to convince someone to let her know where to look.

The woman stopped in front of her and lightly bowed. "It's good to see you are well, Lady Mikasa"

Mikasa nodded to the woman. "The same with you, Lady Kiyomi"

"I'd been deeply concerned about you, you just vanished after The Rumbling. No one seemed to know where you went"

Mikasa looked down to the ground. "I just....came home"

Kiyomi moved up a little more, gesturing as if to ask if she could take a seat. Mikasa gestured in agreement, so Kiyomi sat to the left of Eren's headstone.

"I'm figuring this is his grave? Yeager?"

Mikasa nodded.

"Is that why you disappeared?"

"They wouldn't have let me bury him"

Kiyomi looked down at the stone, reading it's epitaph. "My beloved, my dear" she read, looking back up to Mikasa, seeing the girl looking slightly solemn but also blushing a little.

"I had remembered you two were very close. You were hoping to grow old together, weren't you?"

The way Kiyomi worded this hit Mikasa hard, and the still present, probably permanent heartbreak took hold and she began to weep, hands covering her face. Kiyomi looked alarmed.

"Lady Mikasa, forgive me! I didn't intend to make you cry!" she said, producing a tissue and offering it to Mikasa. She accepted it, dapping at her eyes.

"I'm sorry"

Kiyomi shook her head. "Do not be sorry for missing someone you cared about. Especially when it's the one you loved"

"I did wish to grow old with him. I wanted to live a quiet life with him. It's all I wanted in this life. For whatever reason, I was just not meant to have any of that. I was always meant to lose him....and now I have to live without him"

She moved her legs up to her chest hugging onto them. Kiyomi watched her intently, the sorrow in the girl's eyes wrenching at her heart. Her hand reached to her neck.

"It's certainly a pain that never goes away, I'm sorry to say. It's a pain that forces us to adapt, forces us to find ways to make it sting less"

Mikasa looked towards her, watching as she made visible a necklace around her neck. It held a small silver ring on it's chain. Kiyomi rubbed it between her fingers looking at it.

"Satoru. I knew him since we were very young. I'd loved him since then. He never failed at making me smile, or laugh. He would always find the exact thing I needed to feel better when I was sad. It's truly rare for many people to be able to find that one true love the books or fables would be about, it's even more rare to find it so early, and know for certain that this person is the one and only for you. I wanted to marry Satoru, and have a family with him. And when he asked me for my hand, it truly felt that I could live my happy life. The thing was, the same care he showed to me, he showed to everyone. He was a good man through and through. Perhaps to a fault. Someone needed his help he would run. Someone needed anybody to defend them, he'd stand up for them. He worried me constantly when he would go running out our door, but I knew he was capable, and I could always rely on him walking back through that door. But, inevitably I suppose, the day came I would have to be the one to carry him back through. I had three more days with him before he succumbed to his wounds. I struggled so much with whether I could forgive him or not. We had a life I loved, and it was now ending before it could begin. It wasn't fair. But in that last day, as heartbroken and angry and....cheated as I felt, I couldn't have him leave without knowing how much I loved him. How much I always would. He asked me to live long and as happy as I could for him. So it's what I will strive to do"

Mikasa looked away again. "Eren asked me to do the same. I find it difficult though. He was...so very important to me. I just want to see him again. I wish I could see him again"

Kiyomi's hand rested onto her shoulder. "Oh, my lady, you will. We will see our loves again"

Mikasa looked at her. Kiyomi smiled at her before looking skyward.

"One day, our time in these lands will end. And on that day, we will move onto the next life. Heaven, afterlife, another world, it matters not. We move on to there, and there is no pain, no misery, no suffering. Just time. Endless time in a endless place where it'll always be warm and we can exist as the versions of ourselves when we were most happiest, and in this place, the people we loved most dear will be there, the ones who moved on before us. They'll be there waiting to greet us. And in the case of your Eren, and my Satoru, waiting to apologize for leaving us behind too early. Worry no longer about never seeing him again, Lady Mikasa. You will"

"You...you really think so?"

"I know so. Just like I know I will see Satoru again"

She said this while leaning in closer to Mikasa. "They owe us that"

Mikasa smiled softly, looking down towards Eren's headstone and resting a hand against it. Kiyomi stood.

"I must make my return to Hizuru. You've said you were home, so I won't press you about coming over to join me there. Just know you will always be welcome there"

Mikasa nodded. "Thank you, Lady Kiyomi"

The elder woman bowed lightly before making her leave. Mikasa watched as she disappeared from sight before standing herself.

"I must be going now Eren. I'll be back again tomorrow"

She began to head down the hill before stopping and looking back.

"I will live a long life like you want me to. I hope you can be patient for me. I hope wherever you may be now, you are free and comfortable. And I will join you there one day. Until then, Eren, I love you. I'll see you later"

She turned again and walked down the hill. It would still be melancholy when thinking about Eren, but with the new belief in reuniting with him one day again, she found herself able to feel okay with living life going forward.

A bird flew by as she walked. It lapped around the tree before perching itself atop Eren's gravestone, looking on as Mikasa disappeared from view.

Chapter Text

Her fever would just not let up. For three solid days Mikasa was not able to leave their bed, dipping in and out of sleep, groaning in fever driven pain, not really being able to articulate herself when he tried talking to her without needing to pause every few words. This terrified him. She had never been sick like this before. The only comparable situation she'd ever been incapacitated was when she was injured by that Titan when she and the others came to rescue him back from Reiner and Bertholdt. Even then, she wasn't down for long. Here...it scared him. It was just them out here, this past year since they ran away. There weren't doctors. There wasn't medicine they can easily access. If this was something that medicine could've fixed easily, he would hate himself. Because then it would make him feel dragging her out here was a truly bad idea. That she'd have been better off in the safe hands of people who knew what they were doing.

Maybe he should bring them back to the walls. They'd for sure detain him, and more than likely feed him off to a new wielder, but then Mikasa could be taken care of. Armin would know what this was, get her sorted with everything she needed. But out here, he could only keep her cool as best he could and make sure she was fed and drank plenty of water. And with each day passing where this didn't seem to make a lick of difference, Eren felt more and more helpless.

It was the afternoon of the fourth day. Mikasa was still bedridden. A cool rag was rested against her forehead, pressed down by a now more fearful Eren. She was very quiet today. And it was deeply unsettling. At the least with the groaning it was with her normal toned voice, and for some reason that felt reassuring to him.

"Eren" he could just barely hear. He looked over to her.

"Mikasa? What is it?"

"Eren...maybe....maybe it's time we start thinking about..."

Please don't.

"Think about....my death-"

Eren shot to his feet. "No! No!"

"Eren-"

"I will not think about it because it is not happening! So stop!"

"We…we have no idea if this is going to-"

"It is going to get better!"

"Please Eren. We have….have to be realistic about this"

He walked away a little, just mainly so he could look away.

"I would like it….if you would bury me near-"

"Stop. The only one of us that is going to die is me"

"I have asked you not to talk about that" she said sternly.

"You stop, I stop. I will not be discussing your burial plans, or you dying at any point in my life. I refuse"

He walked back over to her bedside, removing the rag from her head and replacing it with a new one from the bucket of water on the floor.

"Eren...I don't want to go. And perhaps....I may be okay at some point-"

"Then stop talking about-"

"Eren" she said, tone strongly telling him to let her talk. He instead shook his head.

"Mikasa. You are...so strong. I don't want to talk about this because I know you can fight it. I need you to fight it as much as you can. Please. We were supposed to come out here so I can give you a quiet life. This isn't supposed to happen....you passing away. Especially before me. I'm supposed to go first. So please....please fight as much as you can"

He refilled her water glass before standing up. "I'll get some soup going for you"

"Er-"

"I'll be back shortly" he said, hurrying out of the room so that he could get outside and let out the sobs he'd been fighting to keep in.

They didn't talk again that night. He figured, in addition to just being tired, she was upset with him. Feeding her had a tense atmosphere to it, though when he was clearing away the bowl, she tapped his hand to thank him. After that, he left her be in the bedroom, sleeping on the couch as he had been doing during this time. To describe it as sleeping was a lie, as it was largely restless and full of nightmares. Of him standing over her grave. Walking around their home all alone, her now long gone. Then the one of him opening the door to their room, and finding her laying there motionless, eyes vacant of life staring up to the ceiling. He shot up on the couch and spent a good deal of time crying. Mikasa dying was unbearable to think about. She was supposed to live a long long life after he was gone. This is the one goal he was prioritizing out here: giving her as much happiness he could, and leave her well equipped to take care of herself when he was gone. He could imagine this heartache and depression was something she thought about in regards to his own impending death. But there was an unfortunate reason behind it. This sickness gripping her right now, it just happened out of the blue. To have to think of the unthinkable in such a short time was something he would fight with until the last minute.

He found himself getting up, creeping over to the bedroom door. A slight sense of relief when her soft breathing could be heard through the door. He returned to the couch, looking out through the window to the starry night.

I don't know who controls how life unfolds, or who gets to determine who goes when, but please let her stay. All this bullshit all these years, all the trauma she's gone through, she's one of the few who deserve to make it out. To live a long life. Please don't take her away. Please.

Despite the depression and anxiety wracking through him, he was able to gradually go to sleep as the sun began to rise.

The blinding brightness of the afternoon woke him up. Dread filled him as he sat up, as Mikasa had not called out for him at all. He rose, creeping again over to the bedroom door. Profound sadness wafted through him when there wasn't a sound. He opened the door and....empty? No one laid in that bed, it was even made.

Hurrying down the hall, he peeked outside, and there she was. Chopping wood, no sign of illness in sight. He practically ran out the front door, his hands cradling her face and looking her over when he got to her.

"Please tell me you aren't just putting on a front" he said.

"Eren, I'm feeling much better now"

He laid a hand against her forehead and sure enough, it was no longer burning up. He happily hugged her, she reciprocating the embrace.

"What did I say? You fought it off"

"I did....this time at least"

They pulled apart.

"Eren, I was very fortunate this time. We have to accept that anything can happen at anytime, and it may be difficult, but when times like that come about, we have to talk about those hard topics. Can you promise me that?"

He thought for a moment, but nodded eventually. "Sorry I was being so irrational. I just....never thought that was a possibility you know?"

She smiled a little. "I know"

He hugged her again.

"That being said...I've asked you not to bring up the curse when we came out here. Please....please respect that. At least until the time comes"

He nodded. "I will, Mika. I promise"

Chapter Text

Turbulence

He watched the sky darken from his window on the plane. Things like the sunrise and the sunset used to really enchant him. He would love waking early or sitting outside in the evening to watch. But nowadays he really didn't take much joy out of anything. It may have been two months now, but his breakup from Mikasa still deeply hurt. Being best friends for their entire lives and being a couple for their entire high school and university runs would certainly make a breakup all the harder to move on from.

He was slowly beginning to drift off when a sudden jolt of the plane shook him back awake. It was a bit windy, but he was no stranger to a little turbulence here and there. It will pass he thought, drifting off again. Another more violent jolt woke him fully this time. The other passengers around him seemed equally as concerned, as did the flight attendant, who up till now had a smile plastered on her face. Now, a tight frown as she hurried by. He did his best to just sit quietly, but the jolts, paired with the plane softly shaking from the wind, deeply unsettled him.

Suddenly, the plane seemed to begin plunging downward. Holy shit echoed through his head. Panicked passengers grabbing for their oxygen masks, or making sure they were as secured in their seats as possible. This can't be it, can it? This can't be Eren thought. He began seeing and hearing people around him placing phone calls to loved ones. Makes sense, if this was the final time they could. He reached into his pocket, quickly turning his phone back on and pulling up Mikasa's number. It went straight to voicemail, but that was okay, so long as he could extend his final words somehow.

"Mika, I'm currently on a plane and it's going down, so if this is my final chance to say this, I'm gonna say it. I still love you, I always will, and I can't stand that I caused you to fall out of love with me. I regret everything I did to cause us to drift apart, and I so wish I could've gotten my head out of my ass before now, before the very last minute. You were everything special in my life. Goodbye, Mika"

He hung up, pocketing the phone. He pressed down on his feet to brace for impact, whenever it may happen. Another massive jolt flung him lightly forward, and he struck his head off the seat in front of him, knocking him unconscious.

"Sir, sir are you alright?" a voice gradually became more audible as he woke. It was a flight attendant, holding a cup of ice.

"What happened?" Eren asked, rubbing his head. He winced a little when his palm grazed against the top of his eye. The attendant handed him the ice cup.

"Sir we experienced severe turbulence. The descent caused some minor damage to the plane, but fortunately the pilots were able to stabilize the plane. We'll be landing shortly. It would seem you were injured during this time, you have quite the black eye I'm afraid"

He looked at his reflection in the little tv screen in front of him and sure enough a deep bruise surrounded it. He raised the cup up to it.

"There'll be emergency services available when we land, including paramedics if you-"

"Thank you, but I think I'm okay. Thank you for the ice"

The attendant nodded and went to check on other passengers. He found himself feeling a weird numbness on what to feel. The anxiety and fear he felt not even an hour ago, surrounding the notion he was about to die. Yet here he was, here they all were. They were gonna live. He took a deep breath in.

The plane landed 15 minutes later. They were made to wait an additional half hour while inspectors and medical crew boarded. Eren was given a brief look over, but it was soon assessed he only got the black eye and was fine otherwise. He collected his bag and got off the plane. The terminal was jam packed with people, no doubt family of passengers and people who'd heard about the incident. He was observing the looks of anxiousness and relief on them as they reunited with loved ones, waited for loved ones, and he stopped when he saw her there. Mikasa, worried as could be. She spotted him and ran over, teary gaze cast towards the black eye. Her gentle hands placed themselves on his face.

"How did this-"

"The turbulence shot me forward a bit. Knocked me out for awhile. I'm okay th-"

She'd tightly hugged onto him. "When I heard your voicemail....I thought I'd...I'd thought-"

"I did too Mika. I did too"

"I kept trying to call"

When she pulled back slightly, he fished his phone from his pocket. Almost 50 missed calls and a flurry of panicked text messages.

"I'm so sorry Mika. I didn't mean to scare you. I didn't....didn't mean to upset you again"

She didn't reply, lightly gripping onto his sweater.

"Everything I said in that message, I meant every word"

Looking up to him, she nodded, slight twinkle in her eyes now. "I know"

"So then, if I'm able, can...can we go back home?"

She nodded again. "Yes, we can"

She pulled him down a little to place a small peck to his lips before taking his hand and walking with him out of the terminal.

Bad Choice

She could see him from the corner of her eye. Chatting away with Historia, both laughing at something said. She very much missed that laugh. Five months prior to today, the two of them got into an intense shouting match. She got the impression that Eren, despite always being loyal and truthful to her, was seeing someone behind her back. In hindsight she could see how fundamentally absurd even considering thinking it was true. But in the moment that fear and hurt dictated her decision making. She told him he was a liar. She told him he was an asshole. The look of hurt in his eyes was indescribable. So when he asked her if she wanted to break up, she said yes instantly. And that was that. No more late night webchats or phone calls. No more quiet sits under the stars. No more him. 17 years of friendship, 5 of them dating, over so quickly and so ugly.

A tray clattering down snapped Mikasa out of her trance.

"Please talk to him" Armin said as he sat down across from her. "You so clearly want to"

The girl just shook her head, gaze pointed towards her untouched food. "I can't. He hates me"

"He most certainly does not"

"Did he tell you that?"

"He doesn't have t-"

She pulled a face. "Well, sorry, but I can't believe that then. You weren't there when we broke up Armin. Have you ever been able to see in real time the love someone had for you leave their eyes? I did. He's not said a word to me in the five months since. And when he happens to look at me, there's just....nothing there. Nothing like there used to be"

"He's hurting. Rightfully so of course, but there's no hatred. Mikasa, I can definitely say he would never be able to hate you"

She shook her head. "Armin, I was unfair and I was cruel. Telling him he was cheating on me and lying about it may as well have been a slap in the face"

"Then say that! You're deciding he hates you, deciding he's done with you"

She sighed. "I just can't Armin. I just can't bring myself to face him"

"I don't get why you're choosing to be miserable. But I can't force you. I just...miss hanging out with you guys, together. And it's utterly painful seeing you so sad"

She rose. "I'll talk to you later, Armin. I'm just not hungry today"

"Okay Mikasa. See you later"

She made her way to the cafeteria doors. The sound of Eren's laugh caught her attention, but she exited so as to not look towards him again.

She seemed to be enduring the absolute worst luck the following day. She woke up late for school, got pulled over for speeding on her way, her car would wind up being towed for an expired license she meant to get the day before, missed all of first class so she would have to make up the science test during lunch, and then realized she left her wallet in her car so no money to buy anything to eat. She was stressed, hungry and ready to just break down and cry by the time school ended for the day.

And just her luck, it began to pour with rain on her very long walk home. Just what else is in store for me today? she thought, starting to run in a vein hope she wouldn't get as drenched. Well, life decided to take her up on her challenge. One step onto an uneven sidewalk, and she felt her ankle roll, sending her down to the sidewalk in alot of pain. She sat for a moment, her hand on her ankle, watching her bag and no doubt her books and paper get more and more soaked. This finally did it. She began to bawl her eyes out. Why today? The last several months were miserable enough, she did not need to have a whole slew of misfortunes thrown her way in one single day.

The sound of a car screeching to a halt made her look to the road. She recognized the car. A woman came hurrying out from it, umbrella in hand. Carla Yeager,

"Mikasa?! Mikasa dear, what on earth happened?!"

"Everything happened, Mam- Mrs. Yeager"

She nearly called her by her old pet name Mama. This woman was like a second mother to her. But given the fallout with her and Eren, she felt she couldn't call her it anymore. Carla came over to her and helped her to her feet.

"Ah!" Mikasa winced when she placed her foot on the ground.

"Come on dear, let's get you indoors"

"You can just drop me off at the bus-"

"I won't hear of it. The house is closer anyway"

"I...didn't think I was welco-"

"You'll always be welcome in my house"

"Even after everything?"

"Even after everything. You'll always be like a daughter to me"

Mikasa just cried harder as the woman helped her into the car. She went back to the sidewalk to grab Mikasa's bag before getting back in and driving off.

"Ma, I'm home!" Eren called as he walked into the house and threw his keys into the key bowl. "Sorry I was late, I-"

He was speaking as he walked into the living room, stopping at the sight of Mikasa, bundled up in a blanket as his mother wrapped her ankle in gauze.

"What- Why is-"

"Poor girl got caught in the rain. On top of that she twisted her ankle. I happened to be driving by"

"Oh" he said, indifferently. "I'll be upstairs"

He soon disappeared. Carla shook her head as she gently finished wrapping.

"Don't mind him"

"It's alright. He's every right to feel that way"

"It's all show, I know it. He misses you like crazy"

"I miss him too"

"Then why not talk to him? I can understand being ashamed of what went on, but dear, at a certain point you need to go for it. He misses you, you miss him, regret on both sides, the puzzle pieces are all there. Just...piece them together"

Mikasa felt her eyes sting. Carla gave her a little smile and patted her hand.

"Whenever you feel ready. I'm gonna get dinner started"

Mikasa nodded. "I should really-"

"Stay where you are and rest while I make you some food? I agree"

Mikasa smiled towards her softly. "Thank you, mama"

The woman disappeared into the kitchen. Mikasa quietly sneezed a little, likely beginning to develop a cold from the rain. She heard footsteps coming down the stairs and Eren appeared. He cast her an uncaring look before sitting down on the opposite couch, looking down at his phone. A stony silence lingered between them. She continued sneezing softly. The continued silence began to ebb at Mikasa. Eren was always the talkative kind of person, she loved listening to him talk about something that had excited him that day, or him trying to crack one of his goofy jokes to make her laugh. The fact now he wouldn't say a thing to her, it just truly broke her heart she'd created this situation.

She found herself crying again, wiping at her eyes. She happened to catch a glimpse of Eren, who had begun looking her way with a confused, maybe slightly concerned look.

"Sorry" she said softly. "Just...thinking on how truly stupid I am"

He didn't say anything, just kept looking at her. She sniffled slightly as she wiped at her eyes again.

"I can't believe I ever thought so little of you, to think you'd ever....and I've wanted so badly to tell you since the moment I dared to even say what I did, but I can still barely even look you in the eyes because I'm just so horrible. I'm so sorry, Eren. I hope that maybe one day you can forgi-"

She sneezed again. She was going to keep talking, but could feel the blanket she was in lift up, She looked to see Eren stood up.

"Scooch down a little" he said. She was a bit confused but complied. He gently shifted her elevated foot down the table and sat next to her, tucking her side of the blanket in more around her and pulled her closer to him, rubbing her back a little. "You always said me doing this helped you feel better"

She wept more, slowly wrapping her arms around him.

"How can you forgive me?"

"Because you are a very forgivable person"

"But-"

"Mika. It hurt me when you said I was lying to you. Because you're the only one I am ever going to feel this way about. I guess maybe I didn't-"

"Eren, you didn't do anything wrong. I never gave you the chance to clear things up. I never felt that sort of fear before and I didn't know how to deal with it and I chose the worst possible way"

"Regardless, Mika. I forgive you. Because I'm always going to love you"

"And I'm always going to love you as well. Can we start-"

"We never stopped. Just...hit pause for a bit"

She looked at him lovingly, leaning in to kiss him. However another sneeze prevented her.

"I've missed your little sneezes" he said, reaching for the table to pick up a box of tissues. She leaned her head against his shoulder as Carla returned into the room to ask what they wanted to drink. A huge smile grew on her lips.

Prom

Armin shook his head at the sight. On one side of the schoolyard was Mikasa, seated underneath a tree reading a book. Every so often, when he wasn't looking, she'd look over at the lockers where Eren was, a sad look on her face. She would look back to her book, and moments later Armin would seeing Eren doing the same thing. Sadly looking her way.

The pair had a messy breakup a couple weeks ago. Some dumb thing they both independently told Armin was nothing they actually cared about. But because they both managed to have this timid, awkwardness about them when needing to tell the other something they want to say. They both clearly wanted the other back. But they just wouldn't speak up. Not just out of fear, but out of....plain stupidity.

"They're...sooo...frustrating" Sasha whined, sitting next to Armin. "It's senior year, week away from prom, couple weeks from graduation. They're really going to miss celebrating those things together?"

"I am so close to just telling Eren to fuck himself and I'll take Mikasa to prom" Jean stated.

"Jean, don't do that" Armin said. "Setting aside Mikasa wouldn't go for it anyway and none of us want the big stink Eren would no doubt make that would inevitably wind up with you two fighting, you shouldn't insert yourself into it"

"I know I know. But like....why are they so stupid? Mikasa's like one of the smartest people I know"

"Love tends to affect one's common sense" Armin replied.

"How does that make any sense?" Connie said. "If it's love affecting it, why are they then refusing to get back together?"

"It's hard to explain. But they managed to love one another so much they're scared the other won't want to rekindle, so they'd rather just skulk sadly around each other"

"Well, I can't hang out with them anymore if they're gonna keep being like this"

"They won't be. I think I have an idea"

"Yeah, what would that be?"

"Eren won't make the first move, Mikasa won't make the first move. So we will"

"Wh...what are you talking about?" Sasha asked.

"We're gonna put them on the spot. I'll explain more at prom, but right now what we need to do is get them to go to prom. Sasha, talk to Mikasa. I'll talk to Eren"

"Sasha, no"

"Mikasa, pretty please?"

"I can't. You know why I can't"

"But we can still have fun!"

"Proms don't make much sense if you don't have a date"

"But you wanted to go to prom before"

"Yes. When....." she stopped, looking sad.

"Mikasa, this is the last big school thing we get to do before we go out into the world by ourselves....I really want to have some prom fun with my best friend. Please?"

Mikasa looked at her. She relented and nodded. "Okay. I'll go"

"No"

"Eren-"

"No"

"E-"

"No"

The blonde was doing his best to keep up with Eren, who was making his way through the parking lot on his way home.

"Why not?"

"Prom is stupid? Just a night where people awkwardly dance or stand around and wait until they can fuck off to the parties elsewhere"

"You weren't saying that before"

"You'll recall I had a girlfriend to go with. I no longer have said girlfriend, so what the hell would I go to prom for?"

"Be my wingman?"

"Jean can do that"

"But I want you to"

"Armin, no"

Eren kept walking. Armin went with his last option.

"You owe me"

Eren stopped.

"Grade 5. You spilled a massive bottle of soda all over Mrs. Rheinberger's desk, ruining not just the tests we did that day that you absolutely bombed on, but a personal note from her husband. You were already on strike two so I took the fall for it. In exchange you gave me three unconditional favors. I've cashed in two, this is my last one. You'll come to prom and have one last bit of school fun"

Eren turned back to Armin. "Seriously? This is what you want to use that last favor on? You could have-"

"I've decided"

Eren sighed. "Alright fine. I'll come for an hour, nothing mo-"

"Ah ah. Unconditional favor. You're gonna stay the whole time"

Another sigh. "You suck sometimes Armin"

The prom was positively packed. Armin and Eren arrived, Eren immediately shuffling off to get a drink. Armin spotted Sasha and went over to her.

"Hey. Where's Mikasa?"

Sasha pointed towards the designated sitting area, where Mikasa was. She looked positively beautiful in her blue dress, dangling earrings peeking out from her chin-length hair.

"Wow" Armin remarked. "Eren would be speechless right now"

"Alright, so they're here. Is the plan just have them sit or stand around and sulk?"

"Let's go speak with some people"

The night passed by, with Armin, Sasha, Jean and Connie speaking to their other friends to discuss this plan of Armin's. Meanwhile, Eren and Mikasa milled about the gymnasium, glumly observing others having fun and dancing with their dates. Eren caught sight of Mikasa and felt his jaw slightly drop. He closed it quickly, sad frown dawning his face and looking away quickly. If Armin wasn't holding him to his favor, he would've headed straight for the door. Mikasa was similarly beginning to want to leave. The sight of all the couples having the fun she had been hoping to have when she and Eren were going to go together was beginning to make her feel incredibly sad. But, she didn't wish to hurt Sasha's feelings by leaving.

The principal soon announced it was time for the designation of prom king and queen. Both Eren and Mikasa reluctantly joined their fellow classmates in assembling before the stage.

"The votes have been counted, a firm consensus established. I have to say, in the 15 years of me being principal, I have never seen such an overwhelming consensus made"

Eren rolled his eyes, just wanting this whole thing to wrap up so he could get going earlier. Mikasa looked slightly towards the floor. It was a rather old and silly dream of hers to be queen of the prom alongside Eren as her king. Some old flights of fancy have to die hard at some-

"Without further ado, your prom king and queen are....Eren Yeager and Mikasa Ackerman!"

The pair were equally petrified, the overhead spotlight finding them in their individual locations and shining down on them. Mikasa looked Eren's way, him to her. The crown soon began nudging them up to the stage. Mikasa looked around with profound confusion as she was bestowed her crown and scepter. Eren took his scepter, looking out at the crowd. He could see Armin with a slightly satisifed look on his face. He set this whole thing up didn't he. To force us into talking again. Well, he's very naïve in thinking that-

His train of thought screeched to a halt when he looked at her and they made eye contact for the first time in weeks. In this better lighting she was now ten times as beautiful. She looked slightly worried. He kept looking at her, and all the happy and beloved memories of him and her filtered into his mind, and he found himself smiling. Watching this, she reciprocated.

"Would it be possible....for this king to be forgiven for his idiocy by his beautiful queen?" he asked.

"Only if this queen can be forgiven for her own idiocy"

He pulled her close and pressed a kiss to her lips. A loud whistle was heard and they tearfully laughed, waving at their cheering classmates. Eren pointed his scepter towards Armin, giving him a little nod. The blonde nodded back.

Chapter Text

Mountaintop

"EREN!"

He froze in place. He had been making his way up the path towards the winding mountain that was in the distance from their cabin. Thing was he hadn't said anything to Mikasa. So this was definitely a very angry her calling his name. He turned. She was there, big pack on her back and an additional jacket tucked under her arm.

"Good morn-"

She shook her head, poking his chest when she caught up. "I asked you not to go off alone. We're still getting familiar with this place"

"Sorry, but you were still sleep-"

"Poor excuse, Eren"

The old impulse to argue back flickered for a moment. She was correct though. They'd only found the spot about two months ago. They agreed to gradually make their way around the land, but the mountain always seemed so incredibly enticing to Eren. It surely had a great view of everything, perhaps they could even catch a glimpse of the lands they left if they looked hard enough. He'd kept alluding to climbing the mountain but Mikasa always asserted they should hold off. Her little disappointed frown was getting to him, and he nodded.

"You're right, Mika. I just...I couldn't resist. I'm sorry"

She kept looking at him a moment, lightly shoving him on the shoulder.

"You didn't even bring much equipment with you"

She handed him the other jacket. "I brought tools, and some lunch. If we're doing this, it's going to be done properly"

"Yes, ma'am"

The ventured forth, the incline growing a bit steeper. It wasn't so much of a snowy mountain as they initially assumed. There were snowy patches for long stretches but it was surprisingly green the more they climbed.

"Look at that" Eren whispered to her, pointing to the edge of the cliff. She could see a white bird perched on a branch overlooking the edge.

"I recognize that bird from somewhere" she said.

"It was in Armin's book. It's an owl I think"

"They're very beautiful"

He nodded in agreement. "They are indeed"

They lingered a moment longer before resuming. They soon reached the base of the final stretch. This was the farthest they were going to go, the rest of the way would entail alot of scaling. It didn't really matter anyway, because the view here was....indescribable.

"Eren, I think I see the ocean" she said, pointing towards the west. It was hard to really say, but it certainly seemed like it.

He looked eastward, a series of mountains stretching endlessly. They really picked quite the beautiful spot.

"The cabin looks so tiny"

He looked back to her. "Yeah? You can see it?"

She nodded. "Squint down there"

He did and sure enough it was there. He reached his hand out, surrounding his view of the cabin with his fingers.

"Looks no bigger than a pebble"

They started a tiny fire and set down a blanket to sit on while they ate lunch. 

"Sasha would be all over these mountains" Mikasa remarked.

"Well, she'd be all over this food first, then she'd probably disappear up here, yeah"

She smirked lightly, taking the percolator of coffee off the fire. Eren smiled at some of the memories of their rather excitable, chronically hungry friend. He wondered what she was doing back on Paradis.

Mikasa handed him a cup. He took it.

"Mikasa?"

"Yeah?"

"Do...do you ever regret....coming out here?"

Confusion dawned her face. "Why do you ask?"

He shrugged. "Just wanted to know. I don't wanna feel like I kinda stole you away out here. We left alot behind"

She nodded. "I think I only really regret how we left. Not saying anything to Armin especially"

"Definitely. I would've loved to have brought him too. Just...felt we couldn't leave everyone totally defenseless"

Mikasa murmured quietly in agreement. "You think they resent us?"

"Maybe? They wouldn't be wrong to"

"They wouldn't, no. Hopefully, they understand though. Or grow to understand"

A rabbit emerged, hopping onto the blanket. Mikasa smiled at it, offering a piece of apple.

"That's an idea to try for dinner. Rabbit stew" Eren remarked. Mikasa looked up to him with a shocked expression, lightly hovering a hand to block Eren's view of the rabbit.

"Eren! We're not going to kill the bunny!"

"You lived in the mountains before, did you never hunt rabbit?"

She shook her head, lightly scowling. "Never bunnies" she said with a soft sternness. This and her calling it a bunny made clear that rabbit would be very firmly off the menu while they were out here.

"Okay okay"

She looked back to the rabbit, feeding it more apple and lightly petting it.

"Remember the rabbit Connie found?"

She grew a smile. "The one that insisted on biting his finger?"

"Shocked he even still had it after" Eren said with a chuckle. "And remember when Jean was trying to be all brave and cool by looking for the rat in the girls barracks in training?"

Mikasa giggled at this. "I remember the scream"

They laughed. "Oh man. Those guys"

She saw him turn solemn again. He was surely remembering he would likely not see them ever again. There was three years left before....

She looked out towards the distance. "Eren. Look"

He turned, seeing what she was indicating. A flying V of birds crested the sky.

"I miss them greatly. But I don't regret this decision. I won't either. All I wish, is to enjoy these remaining years we have"

Eren looked to her, smile on his lips.

Disrupted Paradise

The passage of the curse behind them, it was their hope from here on out there was just pure solitude and peace for them. Sometimes, the world decides to throw something to shatter that.

It was a cool summer day, roughly a year after he returned. Husband and wife were seated outside, working together to stitch new clothing. The sound of what sounded like an approaching wagon caught their attention, a sense of confusion as they had not encountered anyone else out here all this time. Eren rose, motioning for Mikasa to stay seated. She shook her head, joining him in looking and indeed seeing a wagon. Two men were seated on it, one holding a rifle up at them.

"Well, this is a rare sight. What are you two doing out here in such uncharted territory?" the rifle wielder asked, gesturing the weapon up. Eren and Mikasa saw this for what it was, and they put their hands up.

"We're just living our lives. Staying out people's way" Eren replied.

"I mean...you're in OUR way right now"

The two men hopped down.

"What's your affiliation? Marley?" the rifle wielder asked.

"Well she's clearly Hizuru" the other said. "Rare to see any citizens of Hizuru outside of diplomats. They make beautiful women over there"

Eren matted down the urge to rip the man's throat out. The rifle was pointed squarely towards Mikasa, so he was not going to create a situation where she would get shot.

"Looks like you missed out here. Ring on her finger"

"Aw. Oh well, we'll just take her with us anyway"

"You will n-" Eren began. Rifle was now pointed in his face.

"Simmer down friend. You two have rather inconvenienced our journey. We're gonna need to take some sort of compensation"

""You came over here"

"Yes. And that mightily detoured us"

"You're not touching her"

Her hand touched his shoulder, communicating for him to simmer down.

"If...if I go with you, will you leave him be? Please?"

Eren's eyes widened at her. She bore a look towards him, so he remained silent.

"Well...since you asked nicely, I suppose we can"

"Then I'll go with you"

"Well that's lovely. Always nice to avoid needless messiness"

The rifle wielder kept his gun on Eren while his partner walked over to Mikasa. He produced rope from his belt before gruffly snatching Mikasa's hands and binding them behind her.

I'll be okay Mikasa mouthed, jerking lightly as her captor finished the tying. Eren nodded. The man pushed Mikasa forward and she walked to the wagon. Eren glared as her captor took hold of her waist and lifted her up into the wagon. Once she and the man were seated in it, the rifle wielder gestured with the gun.

"Take a seat"

Eren sat on the grass. The rifle wielder walked backwards, lowering the gun once he began hopping up on the wagon.

"Pleasure doing business" he said, lowering the rifle and climbing up. Eren sat and watched as the wagon pivoted and began driving off. He looked on, a sad frown on his face. The wagon got about 40 feet away before he saw it stop, faint male yell sounding out. Mikasa emerged a moment later from the back, dropping her rope to the ground. Eren rose from his spot to meet her halfway. A neutral, but sad look on her face as she walked into his arms, clutching at his shirt.

"Feels...maybe I was foolish to think I could escape from the cruelty of the world out here"

"I wish you didn't have to go through that. But you aren't foolish in the slightest. Nothing like this will happen again. I won't let it"

He felt her nod against his chest, but he knew it would take some time for her to truly believe it again. He kissed the top of her head and patted her back.

"Head home. I'll....clean this up"

He let her go, her walking back towards the cabin. Eren looked over towards the wagon.

He retained the rifle they had, and guided their wagon down towards a pad of mud some ways away. He lit the wagon, bodies inside, on fire before using one of the horses to ride home, the other being shooed away. They didn't seem aligned with any specific nation, so with any luck no one will venture out this way looking.

She was generally reserved for the next few weeks. Understandably so, but he missed the freer Mikasa who he'd come to know out here, who was able to feel like she could be genuinely happy and laugh and be silly even. The Mikasa who, had life had let her, would have been the version of her that always existed. Why did she have to endure that bullshit? Why did she have to endure it again? Bastard devils coming out from nowhere to disrupt her peace of mind, cast her back into the depths of depression she was forced to experience throughout her life. Leave her be.

A massive rainstorm had poured down during the night, so the grass was positively drenched come morning. She had already woke, him finding her outside already hanging up the laundry. The blank expression on her face depressed him, wishing like hell he knew of a way to get her back to the happiness she had.

The cabin door opened, and she watched him step out. A halfhearted smile flickering to him as he walked over, placing a kiss to her cheek.

"Morning" he murmured. "You doing good?"

She gave a light nod. He gave her another cheek kiss before making his way to the wood stump. He was sighing lightly to himself  when he felt his feet fly out from under him, sending him face first into the mud. Mikasa let out a gasp.

"Eren! You okay?"

He raised his head and looked to her. The look of worry she had melted away when she saw his mud-caked face, and she tried to be stifle a laugh.

"What?" he asked. This made her burst out into laughter as she picked up a towel and made her way over to help him clean up. Any other time he'd feel mightily embarrassed but he was just too overjoyed to hear that sound again, and he was soon laughing with her.

Shunned

Mikasa seemed to be mad with him. She ignored him almost the entirety of the day, and then pointed towards the couch when it was time for bed. They'd had their squabbles before, but this seemed different. And he was trying to piece together why.

The day was like any other, they did their chores, he'd been doing some repairs to the wagon, she called him in for lunch. They ate together, and it was around this time the shunning began. Was it something he said at that point?

"All done?" she asked, standing to clear his plate. He nodded. As she pivoted around, his brow furrowed a little.

"Huh" he said.

"What is it?"

"You seem to be gaining some weig-"

The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. Oh Yeager. Oh you dumbass.

She frostily walked by him on her way from the bedroom. He took her hand.

"I insulted you yesterday when I made that remark. I am very sorry, Mikasa. For that, and taking this long to realize it"

She looked to him, the frostiness of her demeanor fading. "I forgive you"

"Guess I never grew out of that part of me where I just spout my mouth off"

She shrugged lightly. "It's endearing when it isn't insulting"

"Sorry again"

She seemed to become a little bashful, wringing her hands lightly. "Well...when you said that, I was meaning to talk to you about it actually"

"My big mouth?"

She shook her head. "No" She placed her hands on her stomach. "This"

"Mikasa, I wasn't meaning to sugg-"

She raised her hand. "Eren. I was meaning to talk to you about it because I'd been noticing it myself. And I realized yesterday what it was"

He looked to her, curious. Then, it seemed to hit him, as his jaw dropped.

"You...you're pregnant?"

She gave him a little smile. He pulled her into his arms, hugging her.

"Well now I feel much worse, I put you off telling me this fantastic news"

"If you didn't apologize, I was sort of curious to see how long the baby would grow before you caught on. I was figuring five months"

"Oh come on Mika. We both know it would be right before you went into labor"

She laughed loudly, placing a kiss to his lips.

Chapter Text

Taking the step off of the train was rather daunting to Mikasa. She had arrived in this massive city to start anew. All her life, there had been this loneliness. As if fate was wanting to keep her beholden to a certain path, she grew up having lost her parents. This time, they were killed in a car wreck when she was three. So she didn't even get to know them.

She looked around, her anxiety through the roof. So many faces rushing by, a sea of strangers. Nothing she wasn't accustomed to. She wasn't sure how, or why, but she remembered everything of her old life. The Titans, the walls, the pain, the sorrow. She remembered her parents, she remembered her friends, she remembered him. But none of them seemed to exist here. She grew up an orphan. No Eren to take her in with him. Just an orphanage full of people just like her. Never really grew close to any of them. The knowledge of the previous life made it difficult not to long for those people she knew, for Eren. But as the years went by, and she went through this new life with no one to share this experience with, she grew resigned in existing entirely to herself. She stayed at the orphanage for two years after turning 18 to help out, but the moment she turned 20, she departed, and made her way to this new city. No known friends here, no real plan, just the need to escape somewhere.

She crammed her left hand in her pocket, right hand clutching her bag as she walked through the crowds. Looks of indifference cast to her, creepy smiles from strange men. They were certainly not helping make her feel comfortable here. And it would be hard to assume this was a big mistake. That would imply she had something she left behind.

She was headed for a marketplace the orphanage director told her about. They had an associate who may have a room she could rent out. The marketplace also generally had jobs always on the go. When she found her way to it, she would be informed by the associate the room had been filled, but offered her the couch in her store's backroom. Mikasa accepted it, otherwise it would be seeking out a close-by shelter. Additionally, the woman gave her a job unloading deliveries to the store. It was something. Nothing to live off of, but a starting point.

She dreamed about that little cabin they had. The one they built together. A life she remembered but was one she didn't actually live. Some times, it would be a comfort. Others, a horrendously cruel taunt. Showing her a life with the peace of mind she desired, and him. Not the him who was so frustrated and angry and ultimately destructive, but the him with no weight on his shoulders. A light, happy and peaceful Eren. And all of it not exactly real. Not something she was anywhere close to having. Instead, it was an uncomfortable couch and a room full of produce. Was this the destiny she was to lead? Waking up in new lifetimes after passing on from the previous, alone? It was a depressing thought, one that made her cry before but she was just too used to never being afforded what she wanted in life. A quiet and peaceful life with Eren was what she longed for when they existed in a time of Titans. She instead lived one of loud carnage with Eren ultimately dying young, and her never being able to truly tell him what she felt for him.

She was unloading the small truck the second day. A man approached her.

"Hey, you work here? I need to fill an order"

Mikasa shook her head. "Unfortunately I can't, sir, I only do the deliveries. The store owner had stepped out for a few minutes, if you could come back in a little bit, the owner-"

"What? No, I need my order now. You work here so I'd like to be serviced"

"I...I'm afraid I can't sir" she replied. She walked inside the store to move a box, coming back out to pick up another.

"What do you mean you can't? What the hell is so hard about filling a damn order?"

"Please sir, I-" she pleaded quietly.

His voice raised to a loud shout. "Are you stupid or something? Can you not write, or hear words good? That's all one needs to do to fill a fucking order!"

She wanted to cry. "Sir, I just can't-"

He grabbed her wrist. "Listen here you- AGH" she heard him yelp, his hold letting go. She turned around, the sound of a firm, angry woman's voice sounding.

"Leave that girl alone!"

Mikasa was watching the man be chastised and smacked by the woman, but the situation was second now to what was racing through her mind, eyes widening more than they had been. The woman who came to her rescue, it was Carla Yeager.

"Lady, lay off!" the man pleaded, Carla's hand continuing to smack down on the back of his head. He shook loose and fled.

"Get gone, you rude bastard!" she hollered, looking back to face Mikasa, who could only stand looking at her, eyes now stinging.

"Are you okay, miss?" she asked.

"I....I...."

"What an absolute asshole that man was. Unbelievable"

Mikasa blinked at the tears. "Is...is it really you Carla?"

The woman now dawned a deeply confused look. "How do you know my name?"

Mikasa's heart thumped in sadness. She didn't recognize her.

The tears streamed down her cheeks, and she looked down lightly. "Sorry. I thought....thought you were-"

Carla had been looking intently at her while she spoke, and soon her own eyes widened. Her hands flew to Mikasa's cheeks, and she gazed into the crying girl's eyes.

"Oh my god. Mikasa?! Mikasa my dear girl, it's really you!"

Mikasa sobbed hard, and they hugged tightly to one another.

"I'm so sorry I didn't recognize you at first. You were just a girl last time we met, but those eyes can only belong to one person"

"I....I've been so lonely, auntie"

"Not anymore, dear"

They parted, the woman smiling at Mikasa.

They talked for so very long. Carla made quick work of assuring her Eren was okay. She knew everything about the events of what happened after her death.

"There was a period, when he was about 13, he stopped talking to me. He'd been thinking alot about...his part in my death"

Mikasa turned solemn. "That serum, it really broke him after some time"

Carla nodded. "It was so very hard to get him to accept that I wouldn't hold it against him. The madness he caused in that time, it was unconscionable. I can't imagine though just how...trapped he felt. Thinking that life couldn't play out any other way. Feeling as if things needed to go a specific way and having to have them proceed, even if they destroyed him inside. I finally got through to him, that this is a different world, a different life. The mistakes we made, the chances missed, we get a new go"

Carla pulled out her cellphone.

"The past few years he'd been losing alot of hope in finding you. You ready to speak to him again?"

Mikasa's eyes widened, heart beginning to race. "I...I'm-

"He's missed you terribly. He's spent so much time trying to find you"

Mikasa looked to Carla. The woman couldn't help but chuckle a little.

"Was there any doubt, Mikasa?"

She felt herself blush a little. "I just..."

"I'll repeat something he told me once when I asked him if a girl he'd been speaking to was his crush. I was teasing him but he looked me in the eyes with the most dead serious look and said "If Mikasa doesn't exist in this world, then neither does a version of me that'll ever be in love with anyone else". He's hooked on you, my dear"

Mikasa's blush intensified, her heart was positively pounding. Not even 24 hours ago she never thought this day would come. Now almost so quickly it was here, and seconds away from hearing his voice once again.

Furiously blinking away tears, she nodded. Carla dialed Eren's number and put him on speakerphone. He answered, soundly slightly inconvenienced.

"Hey Ma, driving right now so kind of a bad time to call, would-"

"I understand Eren. There's just someone here who'd like to say hello"

Carla looked to Mikasa, who swallowed. "Hi Eren" she said quietly. The sound of a car screeching to a halt was heard over the phone then silence for a moment.

"Eren?" Carla asked.

All they heard was soft sobbing.

"Is that her, ma? Is that really her?" he choked out.

"It is, sweetheart"

"Where are you?"

"At the market-"

"I'll be over in a few minutes. But...Ma, could you take me off speaker a second?"

"Okay, dear" she said, but didn't actually. "What is it?" she said after a moment.

"There's....there's no way she forgives me, is there? How could she possibly ever forgive me for all that I did?"

"Eren" Mikasa said again. "I already have"

He remained silent a moment, still sniffling a little from crying. "Ma...."

"Eren. You've waited all this time to see her. Why are you looking for reasons to not do so?"

The phone clicked off as she saw his truck pull up. Mikasa rose from her chair. He climbed out of the truck and was just staring at her, eyes reddened. He looked like the him from their cabin, a red scarf akin to the precious fabric from back then around his neck. He hurried over and took her into his arms.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry" he whispered over and over, holding onto her as if his life depended on it.

"Were...were you close by all this time?" he asked.

She squeezed him tight in her hug. "I was in an orphanage in Charlesbrough"

Eren pulled away to look at her, deep upset in his eyes. "That's an hour and a half away. Ma, I told you I wasn't looking hard enough-"

"Eren, it's-"

"You were sitting in an orphanage an hour and a half away. I let you down, Mik-"

"Eren" Mikasa said, rubbing his back. "We're here together now. That's all that matters to me, that we did find our way back to each other"

He gave a wavering smile before nuzzling his head against hers.

"I love you" he said quietly.

"I love you too"

"Where are you living now?"

Carla tapped his shoulder. "She's sleeping on a couch in that store"

Eren frowned and shook his head. "That's unaccep...Mikasa, come live with me. Just like we had been"

Part of her for some reason felt the need to decline. "Eren-"

The warm fabric found it's way around her neck and the tears flowed again. He sloppily tossed the ends of the scarf around her.

"I…got one just like it, hoping that…maybe you could spot me better if I ever ran into you"

He hugged her again, pulling her in close and resting his hand on the back of her head, his cheek resting atop it. "Everyone is there, Mikasa. Connie, Jean, Sasha, even Levi. And Armin. He's just as eager to meet you again. I hate how alone you've been all this time, so please. Please come home"

She could only nod.

Chapter Text

Ocean (Visual Reference)

No one really said a word the moment they saw it. The vast body of water shifting in, then back out again. No real indicator of just how far it went. No way of knowing how deep it was. Armin for a small time started to feel maybe it was just a fantasy. Some cool picture in his book. But here it was for him to see.

Commander Erwin dismounted his horse. "LevI' he said softly, not taking his eyes off the water.

"Yes Erwin?" Levi replied, similarly transfixed with the sight before him.

"Send word, we set up camp on this beach for an indefinite period of time"

From the corner of his eye he saw a soldier start running towards the ocean. He recognized them to be Eren Yeager. Though it was their lifelong dream, Armin came running after him and had to hold Eren back.

"Eren, we ought to assess it first!"

"But Armin-!"

"Eren trust me, all I want to do is fling myself in there and go for a swim myself, but I don't think it's our call just yet"

Eren sighed, straightening up and following Armin back to their spot. Erwin dismounted his horse.

"Yeager, Arlert!"

The two looked over to their Commander. "Yes sir?"

"I gather this has been something you were looking forward to seeing?"

Armin nodded. "We...we've been dreaming of it since we were kids. When we saw it in this book of mine. It looked so....infinite"

Erwin looked out to the ocean, agreeing with Armin's assessment. Waves splashing in towards them, pulling back out. Where does it go? Where does it end? It was incredibly daunting to consider at the moment, so he found himself looking back to the two men.

"Would you two serve as the first people here to wade into the water to assess?"

Eren and Armin's eyes widened. "Sir!" Eren exclaimed. "Us?"

"Unless you don't-"

"No, we'll do it sir!" Eren interjected. He looked back towards the squad, seeing Mikasa looking over eagerly.

"Would...would we be able to bring in a third person?"

Erwin quirked an eyebrow up "Who would that be?"

Eren pointed towards Mikasa. "My g- our friend Mikasa. She's been looking forward to this too, and it would feel...right she went in with us"

Erwin looked to her. "Alright"

Eren excitedly motioned for her to join them, and she ran over. She took hold of his hand before they looked out towards the water.

"We're actually doing this?" she asked quietly.

Armin nodded. "We're actually doing this"

With another look back to Erwin, who gave them a soft nod, he began to walk, Eren and Mikasa by his side. The three stopped at the edge of where the water met the sand. Armin knelt down, undoing his shoelaces and prying the shoes off his feet. Yanking his socks off leaving his feet bare. He felt something soft hit him on the back of his head. The soft snickering told him it was Eren tossing one of his socks at him.

Mikasa rolled her pantlegs up a bit. "Are...are we ready?"

The other two looked from her out to the water. 

This is it, Arlert. Time to fulfill the dream.

He held his hand out to his side, offering it to Eren. He took it, himself holding his out to Mikasa, She took hold, the pair exchanging a smile.

"Ready" Eren said.

Armin led the way in, water splashing over his feet.

"Ah!" Mikasa softly exclaimed. Eren chuckled.

"It's...water grass?" Mikasa said, sounding a little embarrassed but confused with what she was seeing.

"There seems to be a bit of it floating around" Armin said. "Makes sense there'd be plant life under water I suppose"

They walked further out, water at knee length. Eren reached down and scooped up some water in his hands and sipping at it. It would quickly be spat out.

"What is it?" Mikasa asked, looking a little concerned.

"It's....salty" Eren stated. "Like really salty"

"Yeager!" they heard Commander Erwin call out. "What happened?!"

"Sir! Water is salty, sir!" Eren called back.

Erwin quirked an eyebrow up. "Salt?" he muttered to himself. He cupped his hands to his mouth again. "Are you able to wander a little further?!"

"Sir, we can, sir!" Eren called back.

Armin placed his hand against his stomach. "Only go until the water is this high"

Eren nodded as Mikasa and Armin walked more out with him. They were now lightly floating in the water.

"I'm going to dip my head under" Armin stated.

"Armin, be careful" Mikasa said.

With a deep breath, Armin disappeared under the water. They could still see him as he observed what he could under the waves. A few minutes passed before he suddenly began splashing frantically slightly and reemerged.

"Armin! What is it?!" Eren asked.

"Sorry, sorry!" he gasped. "I got a bit transfixed...kinda lost track of time" he said sheepishly.

"Armin!" Mikasa exclaimed, her hand hitting the water hard enough to splash water onto him.

"Woah, watch it!" he said. He flicked a little at her in return.

"We having a water fight?" Eren asked, before showering the pair with a massive splash. Both Mikasa and Armin's hair was now dripping wet.

"Oh. It's on" Armin stated, and soon the three were splashing each other. Levi observed this as he returned towards Erwin.

"They goofing around?"

Erwin shrugged lightly. "A little"

"Would it be safe to say then the ocean is safe to enter?"

"Wait, what was that?!" they heard Mikasa exclaim.

"What do you see?!" Erwin called.

"Like...it's pink! It has tentacles!" Armin called back.

"Sounds like there's some fascinating life under those waves" Erwin said.

"You should warn them about that wave" Levi said.

"What?"

Levi pointed. Erwin saw the three begin hurrying back to shore but the wave caught them, washing them onto shore for them. The trio were excitedly chatting and laughing about it.

"Give them a moment. Then get them to record their experience before we send more people out" Erwin stated.

Levi nodded. He watched the three. Armin sat by himself, Eren laying gently atop Mikasa. He watched them laugh some more, then noticed Eren and Mikasa grow a little quiet, just looking at one another.

"Alright, enough of that" Levi stated, walking over. "Plenty of time for that later"

Moustache (Visual Reference)

"The scouting group is almost here" Armin said, putting down his spyglass. When they reached this new location, one group went out for two weeks to note the terrain. Mikasa had been in this group, so Eren and Armin had been eagerly awaiting her return. The aggressive sound of splashing caught his attention.

"Clean enough, Eren?"

"Pipe down, Armin" Eren replied, finishing washing his face.

"Hey I understand. Not seeing her in a few weeks. I'd be-"

A shirt tossed into his face shut him up. Eren finished dressing and stood looking out towards the returning group.

"I can guarantee you it's not your cleanliness she's going to be taking note of when she gets here" Armin stated. Eren ran a finger across his thin, but gradually growing moustache he had been growing in her absence.

"You don't think-"

"I don't"

"Well, I think it looks cool. So I'm gonna keep it for awhile"

Armin rolled his eyes as he turned his attention back to the scouting group. They were back in the base camp. One horse broke off from them to head in Eren and Armin's direction. It was sue enough Mikasa, a happy smile on her face was present as she got closer.

The boys waved to her. "Welcome back!" Armin called.

"Armin! Er-"

The smile turned to a profound look of confusion as she stared at Eren. No doubt having noticed Eren's new facial feature. She didn't break eye contact as she dismounted the horse, still gazing at it. She got closer to Eren. After a few more moments of confusion, it eventually became a grimace, and she shook her head.

"Uh-uh" she said, taking hold of Eren's hand and guiding him towards his tent.

"I have spare razors if you need one!" Armin taunted after them.

Something in the Air (Visual Reference)

Levi couldn't help but notice that the soldiers around him seem to all be...flirty, almost rampant sights of couples kissing or flirting or looking uncomfortable when seen in a romantic situation. He had been walking through camp trying to locate the tent Mikasa was in, as he was wanting her in the scouting mission through the nearby forest. He flung open a tent, finding Jean and Hitch in a compromising situation as they both moved fast. Jean laid atop Hitch to cover her as they both burned deep red.

"Captain! Why- what can I do for you?"

"Apologies. And for fuck sakes, what the hell is going on around here?" Levi stated in uncomfortable annoyance. He scanned the land when he exited the tent. Is this place really such an aphrodisiac? It was certainly a lovely location, that he had no issues stating.

Petra came up to him. "Captain, Erwin said he was looking for you"

"Alright. I'll see him when I locate Ackerman"

"I think I saw her over near that berry bush" Petra said, pointing a ways across the camp.

"Can I ask you something?

"Of course"

He motioned around. "What do you make of this?"

"You mean this spot? It's-"

"No no. I mean...the fraternization. Look at it"

Petra noticed what he was meaning. She saw Bertholdt and Annie sitting together nearby, hands intertwined. Marco had Ilse on his shoulders, the pair laughing affectionately as she studied the trees. Jean and Hitch came hustling out of their tent, flustered looking as they straightened their uniforms. she saw Hitch still give a peck to his cheek as she walked away, embarrassed look cast towards herself and Levi.

"I think it helps the switch from the cold to warm weather. And with the mission ahead not having to do with surviving Titans, there's been more room for soldiers to consider things like romance. Relationships....marriage"

She couldn't help but put emphasis on the last word, looking at Levi. Part of her still hoped, after all these years, her captain would maybe look her way. Alas, it still seemed out of reach.

"Hmm" was all Levi said. "Track down Oluo if he isn't also presently indisposed. I'll meet you back here within the hour"

He walked away, leaving Petra to sigh a little in resignment. Levi walked over to the aforementioned berry patch.

"Ackerman. Ackerman, are you over here?"

He heard a slight commotion, some mutterings of surprise and annoyance. He watched as Eren appeared.

"H-hi, captain" he stammered.

"Yeager. I could've sworn I called for Ackerman-"

Mikasa appeared a moment later, matting her hair.

"Oh for crying out loud" Levi muttered.

"What is it captain?" she asked.

"Scouting mission, one hour"

"Yes sir"

Levi looked to Eren. "Guess I should applaud you a little, you aren't as dense as I assumed"

"Sir?"

Levi just shook his head. "Nothing. You can join the scouting mission if you'd like. Be in center of camp within the hour"

"Yes sir"

Levi walked away, heading towards the big tent set up for logistics.

"What is it, Erwin?" Levi asked as he pushed open the tent. He saw Erwin and a female soldier very quickly part ways, the soldier standing quickly. Erwin cleared his throat. "Levi, there you are"

Levi just rolled his eyes.

Chapter Text

His vision faded, blade severing his head from whatever you could even call this form. Her bittersweet smile the last thing he got to see before the world went dark. Dark forever......until a light began piercing through, and he felt his eyes begin to open. No longer in the mouth of his Titan, no longer near Fort Salta. No longer facing Mikasa. He was in a field, bright sunny day shining down on him. Confusion was the predominant feeling he was experiencing. What in the hell is all this?

He stood. This place seemed familiar. Nowhere from within the walls, that was for sure. He could see a large lake in the distance and it hit him. With a turn of his head, he could see he was there. That cozy cabin he and Mikasa had in that dream. But...how? He'd only created it to give her a memory (even if it wasn't completely real) of them living this kind of life. This cabin shouldn't exist. He shouldn't exist.

Was....was this death? Surely he wouldn't merit receiving this place as somewhere to spend eternity. Hell, hell was what waited for him. And it would not look like a picturesque mountain cabin. 

He made his way to it, lightly pushing open the door. Cozy and lived in, it looked. The little kitchen they had, all the furniture they made together. It was all there. Except for her of course.

He sighed, thinking back to their final interactions. The words he said to her. The things he forced her to have to do. Why couldn't he have taken initiative that night? Why did he decide to wait for a specific response? But he didn't. And now they were forever separated.

He entered the bedroom and took a seat on the end of the empty bed, looking around quietly. May as well settle in.

Days never seemed to end here, so Eren wasn't sure how much time had gone by. Could have been weeks or months, they all just mushed together eventually. It was quiet and warm and peaceful. But so very lonely. And spent so often dwelling on and ruing all the things he did wrong.

He walked around the land often, constantly thinking about where he was, why he was there. He still didn't understand why he would wind up here. His notion was that, given all he did, he would be somewhere horrible. Somewhere to be punished for eternity for his slaughter. The monotony of these passing days, while growing dull, can't really be considered hell given the solitude of it all. Hardly an apt punishment for a slaughterer.

He thought back on his final talk with Armin. Their assertion about meeting one another again in hell. It was a nice sentiment from him, but Eren knew Armin wouldn't wind up somewhere like that. Armin had nothing to do with his ultimate plan. Armin never cosigned on all those people being killed. So no, Armin would not be going to hell.

He stopped to look out across the lake. He thought of days in that dream, where he and Mikasa would just spend entire days by this lake, fishing together. Her tranquil presence allowing any potential frustrations about not catching anything just fade away. Her head resting against his shoulder as she would eventually grow sleepy. He felt himself smile fondly, wishing he could be able to have moments like that again. Or at all.

He began to walk again. So what even is hell? he thought. When did he even begin thinking about it? It was likely a time Armin was talking about something he'd read about and relayed it back to them.

"What are you going on about, Armin? When we die, we just die"

Armin set the book down in front of him and Mikasa, rather excitedly. "Read this! It's a cobbling together of different remarks from ten people. Ten people that had near death experiences and found themselves in a new life after they die here. However, everyone had different versions of that new life. Some found themselves in a place they felt truly happy and at peace in, so they called this experience heaven. But two of them, both prisoners, stated they experienced sheer terror and fear, relentless torment. They called this hell"

Eren gleamed through the pages. "So...why did those two experience that?"

"They committed evil. Both of the men were imprisoned for murder"

"Oh...so then bad people go to hell then"

"Sounds about right"

"Then....we'd be going to hell then" they heard Mikasa say softly. Eren looked at her. The girl was looking to the ground.

"We've killed. If that's an act of evil-"

"Hey woah. You're not evil! Those men- THEY killed!"

"But we did too"

"Well- yes but- Armin?"

He looked towards the blonde.

"I know you two aren't evil"

He looked over the pages again. "See, these men killed for the fun of it. There was no reason outside of that. They killed because they were rotten inside. You guys killed because those men were rotten"

Eren looked back to Mikasa, hand clasped on her shoulder. "See Mikasa? You at the very least killed because your hand was forced. You killed to save my life"

This seemed to assuage her. "And you did the same for me"

"And I would again"

"This is a very complicated sounding topic" she remarked. He nodded in agreement.

"Yeah let's talk something else. Though....one thing does interest me"

"What's that?" Armin asked.

"What would be so terrifying to those two prisoners?"

Armin hummed in intrigue, flipping through the pages. "All then referred to what they saw in different ways. Of what it looked like"

"So "heaven" or "hell", it's not one singular place?" Mikasa asked.

"Maybe? It's hard to really say for sure, one would have to be dead to know for sure"

"Well I'm not volunteering" Eren said.

"Ha ha" Armin mockingly laughed. "To me...it sounds like if you're good and you die, you're sent somewhere that's special to you. Somewhere you love, so you can spend all eternity there"

"And if you're not good?" Mikasa asked.

"You wind up somewhere that represents your worst nightmare I suppose. A place designed to make you feel awful"

Eren stopped walking, snapping out of his thoughts. A place designed to make you feel awful.

The loneliness, the relentless guilt and agony. Being here. It felt like it made sense now. He had something in another context would be paradise, but without her, it's just an incomplete dream. Living for all eternity without Mikasa in the life he wanted to have with her.

This was his hell.

Being aware now of what this all was, it made this reality much much worse. Never-ending days by himself, struggling to find reasons to do anything. And what was worse, he found himself beginning to hallucinate her at times. Each time his heart would flutter with hope, and then the façade would fade, and his heart would sink lower than it had been the last time. He felt himself certain he'd hear her voice sometimes as well. Gently calling his name from the kitchen, or singing softly to herself while roaming around outside. It wouldn't be uncommon for his every thought to be occupied by memories of her, rendering him a weeping mess.

He was again just stropping around the land while stewing about his fate. Why was he so hungry for revenge? So focused in on attaining his idea of freedom? In his heart all he wanted was to be with her. Yet he just never could bring himself to say it. Even when he knew what those feelings he had for her were. To think about the life they could've lived, the family they could've had.

He could've easily just ran away with her. Or working hard with Armin to bring an end to the stupid curse that hung over them. If he tried. But he just resigned himself to the future he saw. Chose to see it through. And so he died. Leaving her behind, leaving Armin behind, everything. And they would move on with their lives. Armin would likely finally take the chance to be with Annie, maybe use that union to show citizens of Marley and Paradis could exist together. And Mikasa...she'd for sure find a good man. Someone to have a family with.....someone to call-

He screamed out loud in sorrow.

Surely it had been years now. How many he wasn't sure. But he could just feel as if years went by. The days might not change, he might not age, but the length weighed heavy. He'd given up trying to make do. He couldn't bring himself to be inside that cabin anymore so he just sat outside, staring up at the sky.

"What am I to you?"

"Y...you're family"

It wasn't fair of him to put her on the spot like that. He knew what her true feelings were, but he couldn't imagine the anxiety she was feeling about whether, should she answer the way he was hoping, he would reject her. She didn't know the weight of what her answer would hold. He would probably say the same thing in her position. But he knew for sure what he would want to say.

"What am I to you, Eren?"

"You're everything, Mikasa"

He closed his eyes, sitting like this for what felt like a very long time.

"Eren"

Another ghost of her taunting him, he thought, not acknowledging the sound.

"Eren"

He slowly opened his eyes. It was Mikasa in front of him. Knelt down, teary eyed and the happiest smile spread wide on her face. He sighed.

"Mikasa. If only it was really you" he said, closing his eyes again.

The sensation of her gentle hands placing themselves against his cheeks sent a jolt through him, shooting his eyes back open.

"It's me, Eren" she said softly. "I've waited so very long to see you again"

He blinked a few times. When she didn't disappear, he could only sob as he hugged tightly onto her.

"Ssh" she whispered, kissing his cheek as the pair embraced each other longingly.

Chapter Text

Eren pulled the truck over to the side of the road for a moment. He tapped Mikasa on the shoulder, pointing outside.

"This is the park I reunited with Armin. We were 7, and he somehow got himself stuck in the tube slide that used to be here. I didn't realize he was in there before I slid down, so we were both stuck in there for about a half hour. I was yelling at him for a moment and then when he said my name...I was stunned. They took the slide out because of us, so the other kids around here were really mad with us for awhile"

Mikasa giggled. This made him smile wide. They reunited a week ago now, and it still made him so very happy. She was here with him again. She was really sitting in his passenger seat right now. He leaned over and kissed her cheek before starting the car back up. 

Down the road, he stopped at a stop light and gestured outside the windshield. "That's where we went to high school. We met virtually everyone else here outside of Levi and....you" he said, the still existing sadness about not getting to grow up with her there. He shook his head lightly before talking more.

"I kept to myself a bit after the initial interactions. I just...couldn't imagine they wanted anything to do with me"

"Eren...they knew in the end why you did what you did. Not to condone, just...."

He patted her hand. "I know. They made it clear they didn't resent me. And that this was a new go to try things different"

"I loved being able to see them all again. To hug Sasha again was so special to me. Same with Connie"

"And Jean was pretty ecstatic too"

Mikasa smirked lightly. "The look on your face when he alluded to maybe me and him-"

Eren dawned a slight look of horror and she laughed. "That's the look right there" she said.

He couldn't help but chuckle softly himself. She reached over and stroked his cheek.

"It'll always be you and me. Don't worry"

He again gave a pat to her hand, choosing not to admit to the tinge of relief within him. Once the light turned green, he began driving again. They would be driving for another ten minutes before Eren pulled the truck into a parking lot for another, more sizeable park.

"I won my little league team the county championship at that baseball field" he said, pointing over to it. A game was presently in progress. Pivoting slightly to his right, he pointed down towards an empty field. "In the summers they convert that field into a soccer pitch. One year, I accidentally kicked the ball towards our end. It managed to bounce off a player from another team's face and back to their end, where Armin was able to kick in the winning goal. Coolest thing I had ever seen"

She smiled with amusement as he began crouching down in front of her.

"Eren? What are you-"

"Next stop is the top of that hill"

She looked over. It went high, and certainly began looking steep in the middle.

"Eren I can-"

He cast up a look at her. She smiled again before climbing onto his back, hanging on as he began running them towards the hill.

"If it gets too difficult, you can-"

"I've had plenty of practice helping Armin up here, Mika. I'll be okay. I'll always be careful with you"

She accepted this, resting her head against the back of his. A surge of happiness went through him as he guided their way up.

"This was the perfect spot to just get away from things" he said, approaching the top. "Plus it has such a nice view"

She looked behind them. She could see the skyline of the city sprawling far out into the distance and was in awe. Eren was not lying, perhaps even underselling it. She was going to enjoy spending time up here.

Eren finally stopped, crouching down to let her hop off his back.

"There's so many memories I have throughout this city" he said. That building over there is the tallest in the city. I broke onto the roof when I was about sixteen and stood on the railing. I called myself king of the city"

"How long was it until security caught you?"

"Oh almost immediately"

They shared a laugh. He looked down to the field they had walked from. "In eighth grade, this field was host to the greatest snowball fight any of us were ever in. We made the papers and everything. And this hill, me and Armin took a sled-"

"Oh jeez. Something tells me I know where this is going"

"Yup. We had to have got up 10 feet in the air before we landed. Guess how many broken bones we had between us"

"....10?"

"None"

"No way. I call lies"

He shook his head. "Armin will corroborate. We landed and walked away unscathed. Physically anyway. Ma banned us from sledding down this hill in her hour long scream-rant"

"I would've gone for two hours"

""Oh I know"

He nudged her arm and pointed towards a cluster of trees. "There's some planks of wood still in that tree when we built a treehouse there. We were having some dumb physical squabble over something when the floor gave out. It was a shorter fall than the sledding, and yet it was in this that I broke three fingers"

He just sort of looked around, happy smile on his face. "So many of these used to be my absolute favorite memories"

Mikasa quirked an eyebrow. "Used to? Why aren't they now?"

He stopped for a moment, before looking back to her. "Well....you weren't there"

She felt herself blush slightly. He walked over to her, his hands resting on her arms.

"They can't be my favorite anymore because everything I do now will be ten times better. Because I'll get to do them with you"

His hands moved up to cradle her face, a big smile growing on his face. "I still can't believe you're really here with me. Everyday when I wake up and see you there next to me, it makes me so happy"

She smiled back. "I feel the exact same way"

She leaned forward and kissed him. His hands dropped to around her waist and pulled her closer.

No titans, no serums, no curses or walls here to stop us from having a life together he thought. I love you, Mikasa. I can't wait to share it with you

Chapter Text

It was impossible for anyone to disagree Mikasa Ackerman wore her heart on her sleeve when it came to Eren Yeager. To some, it was profoundly baffling. She was a very likeable, friendly person, Eren while not a gloomy dark cloud by any means, was alot more prickly if something got under his skin. In any other case these two would be nowhere near one another. But Mikasa thought the world of Eren. Ever since they were little.

If only Eren picked up on this.

She wasn't overt with her affection, but it sure wasn't subtle either. Armin noticed from the go. He didn't really make it known to her, not wanting to make her feel awkward or anything. But it sort of frustrated him after a point. Her meekness about telling Eren directly, and his....utter denseness when it came to picking up on it.

How many Valentines Day cards from her that he chalked up to a secret admirer he never bothered to go seek out? How many times would she embrace the guy with a hug whenever he did anything nice for her that really signified how deep her affection for him was that he just kind of brushed off as friendly? Armin would call it deliberate on Eren's part if he didn't know for a fact his friend was just truly that unobservant.

Things finally came to a head during the eleventh grade. The spring formal was coming up, and Mikasa clearly hoped for Eren to ask her to it. Armin of course wondered why she wouldn't just ask him herself, but then again he hadn't mentally nicknamed her Meekasa for nothing.

She was looking towards one of the many posters plastered around the school advertising the dance. "Spring formal really crept up on us, huh?"

Eren shrugged. "I sort of lose track of all these meaningless dances after awhile"

"Well..some can be I guess. But I don't know, it would be really fun to go to one at least. Especially with-"

"I wouldn't be caught dead at one of those, but have fun if you wanna go. Take some pictures for me and Armin" he said teasingly.

Armin could tell this answer really upset Mikasa. She went really quiet after, and remained largely quiet for the rest of the day.

Mikasa largely ignored Eren for the rest of the week, and Armin could see it gradually grow to bother Eren. He shared the same meekness Mikasa had when it came to speaking up, so the thought never crossed Eren's mind to just ask her what was wrong. So he just moped around, stewing.

It was lunchtime when Armin overheard a heated commotion. He sighed as he could immediately hear Eren was one of the involved parties. He looked up, seeing Eren staring down at Jean. Across from him, Mikasa sat looking irritated and confused.

That's it Armin thought to himself. He had enough. Raising his hand, he got Mikasa's attention, and after a moment also got Eren's. Casting his irritated look to them, he pointed to the door and got up. Looking back to see they were indeed following him, he led them out of the cafeteria and headed towards the empty student office, unlocking it and ushering them in. Mikasa stood with her arms folded, scowling towards the floor. Eren, hands stuffed in pockets, looked off to the side.

"Alright, I've had my fill with this passive aggressive crap. Talk"

Eren shrugged. "Tell her to. She's the one who's been blanking me"

Mikasa rolled her eyes. "You don't think coming at me and Jean for simply sitting and-"

"Oh to hell with that, you've been giving me the cold shoulder even before that"

Armin shook his head. "Just about when Mikasa was talking about the spring formal?"

Mikasa stayed quiet. Eren's brow furrowed a little more, piecing things together.

"What the hell? You're ignoring me over some dance?"

Armin sighed. "She was hoping you would ask her to it, but was pussyfooting around it"

"She knows I'm not one for school dances! If she wanted to go, she and Jean could-"

"Oh Eren for fuck sakes she likes you, not Jean"

A blush adorned Mikasa's frowning face while Eren looked taken aback. "Wait....what?"

"At best she's been too timid to say she was. At worst she's just being a giant chickenshit"

Mikasa glared lightly at Armin. "Armin-"

"It's true though"

Mikasa looked away knowing she couldn't deny it while Eren looked befuddled. "So...wh-for how long?"

Armin shrugged. "Safe to assume from the day you guys met. That sound accurate, Mikasa?"

Trying to maintain her stern demeanor, she just shrugged.

Eren scratched his head. "So you were in love with me for all these years?"

"Eren, does it really need spelling out?" Armin asked.

"No. I'm just....but why?"

This caused both Mikasa and Armin to dawn confused looks. The blonde scratched at his chin.

"I mean, I'm not sure it needs to be said how the heart operates-"

"No, Armin, I mean why me?"

"Wh- what do you mean?"

"Guys. I'm a fucking bum, what is there possibly to be in love with?"

Armin's eyes widened. "Woah woah woah, where the hells this coming from?"

Mikasa's demeanor changed as well, her arms unfolding. "Eren, that's not-"

"Mikasa, you're one of the smartest people in the school, and with your looks, you have have your pick of anyone, there's no way you should saddle yourself with someone so below your standards"

She whapped him a little on his shoulder. "Stop that. Right now"

"Why? It's true. I'm an earmarked burnout loser, don't waste time on liking me when-"

She slapped him. "Shut up, Eren! Stop talking like that! Why do you have such a horrible and low opinion on yourself?"

He rubbed his cheek, tears starting to form in his eyes. Armin doubted it was because of the slap.

"I'm...worthless. I'm not skilled, I'm not talented, not affectionate or funny. There's nothing of value with me"

"Eren...that's so incredibly untrue" Armin said.

"Ridiculously untrue" Mikasa added, her arms wrapping around him. "I could be here for days talking about all the things you're amazing at. All the reasons I like you. You aren't a loser, or a burnout, or any other horrible word you want to call yourself. You're great, Eren. And I love you"

He was looking down to the floor. "I....I love you too. I just...never felt worthy enough-"

"Well you are" Mikasa interrupted, pressing her forehead against his. "You really really are"

Looking up to her, he smiled. "I'm sorry"

"It's okay"

He rubbed her arm a little. "So...would you like to go to the spring formal with me then?"

She nodded. "I'd love to"

Armin folded his arms, a smirk on his face as his friends embraced.

"Finally" he muttered softly.

Chapter Text

He unlocked the door, stepping forward and holding his hand out to her. She took it, looking around as she walked inside. His apartment was quaint, a small living room that connected into an equally small kitchen. A hallway leading to two doors, no doubt a bedroom and bathroom.

"It's a far cry from the cabin, but....now that you're in here it feels like a home"

She was still very overwhelmed with the joy she had, so words like that instantly made her eyes water. He smiled at her, reaching down and taking her bag to set down against the wall. He then brought her over to his couch before heading into the kitchen to make some food. They made relatively light discussion while eating, but both knew at some point the other would want to start talking more about the heavier topics. And it would be Eren to initiate this when they finished.

He wiped his mouth. "I....I need to know.....in the old life, were you-"

She shrugged lightly.

"I hope you weren't lonely there either"

She was quiet for a moment. He noticed this and felt a little worried.

"Mik-"

"Eren....why- why didn't you ever-"

She was struggling to find a way to articulate herself. Pulling his chair closer, he took hold of her hand.

"Please Mika, if you want to lay into me, do it. And do not hold back. A sound dressing down is at bare minimum what I'm deserving of"

She mulled for a moment longer. With him looking at her, she nodded.

"I lived life then as best as I could. I kept close to Armin, to Jean and Connie. Whenever they could come by. Saw Levi whenever he came by. But....no Eren, I....I wasn't happy ultimately. And I was very lonely for the most part"

Eren looked crushed. 

"I know that's what you weren't wanting for me....but, then again....we both couldn't seem to fulfill each others hopes for the other. Because I didn't want to lose you. I didn't want you to go away..."

She felt herself tearing up.

"But you did. And I had to be..."

She was crying now. Eren had to look away, utterly heartbroken at what he was making her feel.

"Why...why did it have to be me? To tell you?"

He looked back. "You mean, when-"

She nodded. "When you asked me "what am I to you?". Had I said differently, we'd have run off together. But I just don't- I don't get why I had to be the one to say. I know that, even though I never really hid my affection for you, I too could've spoke up even before then. But...in that moment when I answered how I did, why didn't you....sorry"

Part of him wanted to say it was because it was what he saw. But he figured at this point it wouldn't work. She's had years to think about it all. As did he.

"No, I'm sorry Mikasa. I guess...at that point I was just so resigned to my fate I just....let it play out instead of trying. I hate I left you behind. I hate I made you have to kill me. And I suppose in addition to that I was just...scared you'd reject me"

This sounded stupid even to him. He pictured often what would've happened had he stated to her he in fact loved her more than just family. The nightmare version was her storming off and rejecting him. The fantasy version was her running into his arms. But ultimately, he hadn't given her the chance to express herself. He just went with the one answer and moved forward.

"I wouldn't have rejected you"

And there was the confirmation. He just closed his eyes, the sorrow of it all overwhelming him.

"This just...makes it all the more clear you should've put me behind you and found someone-"

"No" she said firmly. "Eren, I did not want that. I never wanted that. Even if I did go and move on, it would not unbreak my heart"

"How...how could you ever forgive me for that then? You said over the phone you forgave me, but....why?"

She rubbed against his hands. "For points in time it seemed I was able to do it immediately. Because I've always struggled with the idea of being mad at you. But then there'd be days where...well, I frankly resented you deeply. I would remember that day when you had us around the table, what you did to Armin...what you said to me-"

"I fucking hate that I did that. I fucking hate it" he seethed, looking down to the floor in shame.

"I would always tell myself you were just trying to get us to hate you. And then I'd be able to put it past me. Until the time would stand out to me. How many years would go by when I last saw you. And it would hurt so much. It would depress me, and then I'd feel angry. Thinking about how you could've told me that night. Thinking about what Armin told me about your guy's-

His head shot up. "A-Armin told you?"

She nodded. "It's partly why I refused to find someone else"

He looked back down to the floor.

"And just knowing that you felt how I felt about you, it just really really hurt. You left me behind Eren. You left me behind, and I had to live all those years without you. All those years watching everyone else slip away too. Until eventually it was just me for the longest time"

He kept his head low until he heard that last part. The sinking feeling in him sent chills down his spine.

"You...you mean everyone else died before you?"

She sighed softly. "Jean was the last person to go"

".....how long after him did you...go?"

She remained silent, looking away.

"Mikasa.....how long?"

She looked his way. "Jean was 71 when he passed. And I....lived to 102"

His heart positively broke. "31 years?"

She nodded. He began to weep, head going into his hands. She stood and hugged onto him.

"Eren-"

"I'm so so sorry Mikasa. I ruined your life, I-"

"Absolutely not, Eren"

"Mikasa, you had to watch all our friends die. Had to live like 80 years after me. And then be born into this life and be alone another 20-"

"And now we're together again, Eren. Like I told you, that's all that matters to me"

"But-"

She put a finger to his lips. He looked up.

"I've missed you. I've resented you. I've forgave you. And now, I've found you. Just...promise me we can always be together here"

"Always" he said, pulling her closer and pressing kisses to her cheek. "Or at least as long as you'll have me"

Her hands landed against his cheeks and pivoted his head to face her directly.

"Eren. Always" she said.

The truck came to a stop outside of a small house. Mikasa looked out to it, waves of anticipation and nervousness wafted through her. Two days had passed, and as it happened, she reunited with Eren a few days before Sasha's birthday. Everyone was going to be here, so not only was she getting to meet Sasha again, meet Connie, Jean, Levi and the others again, this was when she was going to get to see Armin again.

She felt his hand on her back. "You okay?" he asked.

Looking back, she nodded. "Just...still can't believe I can finally do this"

Climbing out of the truck, Eren walked over towards her door, opening it for her. "I'd brace myself for Sasha charging over if I were you"

A happy smile grew on her face and she climbed out. They linked arms and made their way to the door. However, Eren's prediction was proven correct, and the door flung open.

"MIKASA!" Sasha yelled, running towards them. Eren unlinked from Mikasa and stood to the side, watching Mikasa grab onto Sasha, hugging her tightly as she nearly collided into Mikasa.

"Where have you been?!" Sasha exclaimed tearfully. "It's been way too long!"

"It has, it really really has" Mikasa answered. "I've missed you"

Eren looked over to the deck, Connie and Jean eagerly watching from it. Jean looked over at Eren. Armin's not here yet he mouthed. A little disappointed, Eren nodded.

"Oi! Sasha, let her come over!" Connie called out. Sasha parted from Mikasa, but snatched hold of her hand and ran her over to the deck. Eren smiled as he watched the group hugging.

"It's good to hear you've been settling in well" Jean remarked, handing Mikasa a drink as the party went on, and they were all still awaiting for Armin's arrival. "Then again I'd imagine it's ten times easier when you knew most of the people around you from a different life"

They shared a laugh. Jean looked over towards Eren, who was talking with Connie and Marco. "You can really see the pep in his step now"

Mikasa looked over as well, smiling. "Did I ever thank you, Jean? For looking out for me after-"

He raised his hand up. "You most certainly did. I just...when I....went, I wish it didn't leave you all alone back there, you know?"

Mikasa rubbed his arm. "We were old. You couldn't control that"

"I know. How...how much longer did you-"

"Jean..." she said, her tone carrying the unspoken words to not beat himself up. 

"Sorry" he said. "Just always gonna have that part of me wishing things were different back then"

"Me too"

"I'd have held it against Eren if I didn't know how much he held it all against himself as it is. Hopefully he can try and start forgiving himself more fully now"

"I'll make sure he does"

The pair smirked at one another. Jean took a sip from his drink.

"You know, outside of the more evident fact you never wanted anyone else but him, Eren when thinking you'd find someone else didn't really think much about things like chemistry, did he?"

"Oh?"

"I mean, imagine you and me getting together-"

Eren's head pivoted towards them, a look of deep worry and anxiety on his face. This prompted a laugh from Jean.

"Yeager, I'm not taking her away from you. Don't worry"

Eren looked down towards the floor, now deep red with embarrassment. Mikasa reached over and took hold of his hands, which he had been unconsciously wringing. She was smiling at him when he looked back up at her. He turned slightly more red before closing the distance between them and softly rested his head against hers.

Sasha came hurrying over towards them. "Mikasa! Armin's here!"

Her eyes widened, looking to Eren. He smiled at her before leading her after Sasha. Seeing Armin again, with his big happy smile on his face as she entered the room made her weep instantly.

He had the same reaction Eren did when he learned she was only an hour away. Deeply upset with himself as he had been meticulously looking for the past few years.

"Here's me thinking I combed through Charlesborough thoroughly. Sorry-"

"Armin, please please don't blame yourself. No one is at fault, so both of you stop issuing apologies"

"Alright, Mikasa" Eren and Armin said in unison. Armin then pulled the two in for another hug.

"I've been waiting so long for this again" he said. "I'll say this the once. Eren, don't-"

"Not planning on it" Eren replied. "Got everything I want right here. No need to be going running off elsewhere. Want a drink?"

"Please"

Eren nodded, making his way towards the kitchen. Armin and Mikasa exchanged another smile, with Mikasa hugging him once more.

"I've missed you"

"I've missed you too, Mikasa. To say Eren missed you more though would certainly be an understatement"

Mikasa quirked a little smile, looking over to see Eren having stopped to chat with Connie.

"He still feels I should abandon him though"

Armin murmured. "He's certainly placed himself in a precarious mindset. He very thoroughly believes he doesn't deserve happiness of any kind. Doesn't deserve my friendship, everyone else's friendships. Doesn't deserve your love. But he's also very much terrified of losing you. It's silly, but-"

"It would be very hard to shake that thought I suppose. But I'm never leaving him"

"You guys talk much about your life before?"

She shrugged. "Not really"

"So then he-"

"Here you go" the returning Eren said, handing Armin his drink. The conversation dropped, though Armin gave Mikasa a slight look as he sipped.

Eren piggybacked Mikasa back down the hill after their day out sightseeing moments of his past. He set her down near the passenger door and they got in to set off. They sat silent for a few moments before they stopped at a stoplight.

"I...I took your last name you know. For the rest of my life I lived it as Mikasa Yeager" she said suddenly. She kept her gaze down to her lap.

Eren looked over to her. He was speechless, blinking lightly as he felt his eyes sting. He felt deeply touched and his heart felt like it was about to flutter out of his chest.

His hand reached over, delicately taking hers into its hold. "You wouldn't...you wouldn't wanna take it here too, would you?" he asked.

She looked up, a smile growing on her lips as her head nodded.

Chapter Text

The delicious chocolatey smell drew Armin into the kitchen, more than ready to indulge in whatever it's source was. His curiosity turned to amusement, seeing it was Eren working away.

"What did you do now?" he asked, peaking over the cooking Eren's shoulder.

"Can a guy not do some baking for the hell of it?" Eren asked.

"Of course, unless the guy is known to only bake when he's upset his girlfriend"

Eren seemed to want to keep up the charade, but with a sigh he relented.

"I forgot I was taking her out for dinner last night and worked overtime instead"

"Oof" Armin said, leaning against the counter. "When did you clue in?"

"When I got home and saw the couch having a pillow and blanket situated on it. Bedroom door was also locked"

"Haven't spoken to her since?"

"Nope. She got home earlier and just glared at me"

"Thus grovel mode was initiated"

"Shut up"

Armin snickered lightly, moving to let Eren pull the tray out of the oven.

"How many batches of brownies you make this year alone?"

Eren thought to himself. "A...few more than I would like to admit"

"You know eventually that's gonna stop working, right?"

"It's not like I just do the brownies, I apologize obviously"

"I get that. I just mean in the grand scheme of things. You and Mikasa have been like attached to the hip for all these years. And she's stomached alot of your....shenanigans. But everyone's got a limit"

"Jeez, Armin. Getting me worried now" Eren said, finishing plating the brownies. "Pour me some milk?"

Armin complied. He attempted at snagging a brownie once he placed the glass down next to the plate, but Eren slapped it.

"Mikasa gets brownies. You get a beer when I need to make amends" he said, picking up the plate and glass.

"Alright alright. Best of luck"

Eren nodded, making his way upstairs. Their bedroom door was luckily slightly open so he lightly pushed it open. Mikasa was working away on a study paper. She noticed him, giving him a light glare before turning focus back to her paper.

"Not in the mood, Eren. Armin was right, you know. Those aren't going to work anymore"

He nodded. "Maybe. I'm really sorry nonetheless"

"I know. Just like you were sorry last time. And the last time. And the last. Can't help but start taking it personally after awhile"

"It's definitely not-"

"Eren. I...need to focus"

He went quiet. He slid carefully down against the door to sit while Mikasa returned to her paper.

"I definitely don't mean to do it on purpose. Honestly. I'm going to be better at this. I promise. I know I've made promises before that I didn't keep, but those were things that ultimately weren't important. You are though. The most important. And I'm really sorry I've not been treating you as such for some reason"

She cast him a look. Whether intentional or not, Eren had perfected the wounded puppy vibe. But she knew it wasn't some front or an act. He was sincere.

Using her feet, she wheeled her computer chair over to him. She picked up one of the brownies and took a bite.

"Maybe Armin was wrong. I think these'll always work for me" she remarked.

Eren smiled lightly. He reached to the plate to take one for himself, but she slapped his hand, taking hold of the plate and wheeling back over. He chuckled. He was about to take a sip of the milk when she wheeled back over again, hand extended for him to pass it over. He chuckled once more as he did.

Chapter Text

It was a profoundly weird experience for them, growing up together in this new world with all these memories from their past lives weighed heavy at such a young age. Eren in particular. It was something they all thoroughly discussed as the years went by. By the time they'd finally came to terms with it all, they were grown and just finishing up university. Eren was able to come to peace with all he'd done. He had made peace with everyone, and when it came to Mikasa, they had confronted their feelings for each other, but decided that it would be for the best to not explore them. To one another it seemed like a cordial and good decision. However, Mikasa privately would wish they hadn't. But time went on. She, Eren and Armin were still very close and enjoying their 20s together. It was a lovely early August day, and they'd planned to have a picnic before heading off for a lengthy afternoon hike. Eren, as usual, was running late, bashfully scurrying out of his car and scrambling over, a pitcher of iced tea in his hands.

"About time he got here" Armin murmured. He and Mikasa, sat on their blanket in the field, could see their friend Eren hurrying over. Eren grew closer and breathlessly sat down.

"Sorry guys" he remarked, setting down the pitcher.

"You said you were on your way when I called" Mikasa said.

"I honestly was. I got a phone call on my way out"

"Hopefully it was worth turning my hot empanadas into cold-"

"I'm...I'm moving away"

Armin and Mikasa stopped dead. A sad, sinking feeling wafting through Mikasa.

"Woah" Armin remarked. "Where?"

"Heading to the mountains. You know what I've always been saying about preferring the countryside to the city. Kinda had a particularly frustrating day a few months back so on a lark I applied for a job out in the country. Forgot all about it until they called today. After an interview they just...offered me the position. It's great pay and I get to get out of the city, so I said yes"

"Wow" Armin said. "Congrats, man"

Mikasa let out a murmur of congratulations herself, struggling to bury the sadness inside her.

"So when do you leave?"

"I start next week, but I decided to drive instead of fly, so....in the next three days"

Mikasa was shattered. "That soon?" she asked.

"Yeah, it's all moving so fast"

"Guess it's good I'm the name on the apartment's lease" Armin joked.

"I didn't even think about that actually" Eren replied.

"Aw" Armin remarked. "If you leaving in three days I won't get to see you off. I'm travelling out of town that day for that damn convention. I could-"

"Hey man, I don't want you scuppering things on my behalf. You've been talking about how big a thing that is for you. We'll just do a big thing before you go if you want"

"Sounds good man"

Mikasa just silently nodded. They went through with their day of hiking, but her mind really wasn't in it anymore. Everything was just so thoroughly upended on her. Even if they weren't seeing one another, it comforted her to know they kept very close. Now....

Armin got a little going away party going pretty quickly, with everyone coming round to bid Eren adieu. Mikasa, while engaging with it, was pretty muted. And this didn't pass by Armin unnoticed.

She had stepped outside onto the balcony to be to herself for a few minutes. Armin quietly slipped out to join her.

"You're running out of time to tell him"

She was lightly startled, but when seeing Armin she calmed, taking in his words. "Tell him what?"

"Mikasa, I'm insulted" Armin remarked. He was able to read her like a book at all times.

"Sorry"

"Don't be sorry, just...I don't know"

"I can't ask him to stay. This is his dream job"

"Well then....ask to go with him maybe?"

She looked at him. "Armin, then you'd alone"

He shrugged. "I wouldn't be alone. I'd be free"

Mikasa chuckled. "Meanie. Still though, we'd agreed to-"

"I know. I still don't understand why you guys did that, though"

"There was..."

"You don't have to explain yourself. Just saying if you don't want to stand by it, the window to change your mind is closing. And please don't feel you need to factor me in. Once this lease is up I'm likely scrambling over there myself. Just don't let yourself miss you window, okay?"

Mikasa nodded. "I know. But...well, he agreed with our decision too. That tells me he doesn't have those feelings anymore"

Oh brother not this again Armin thought. He just cupped her on the shoulder before heading back inside.

With Armin off to his convention, Eren and Mikasa spent his last day packing up his things. Each emptied drawer and taped up box made her feel more and more sad. He took her out for dinner at the nearby diner they always frequented once last time before they returned to the apartment and spent the night watching movies.

Soon, the moment came. Where she was standing in the driveway watching him load up his car. She had her hands in her pockets, part of her thinking she'd reach out to snatch hold of him to prevent him from going.

"Well. That's everything" he said.

"That's everything" she repeated, so quietly it was almost like she said nothing.

"This is so...surreal" he remarked.

"And here's me thinking we'd always be living in Armin's apartment together"

He smirked. "Same. I'm going to miss you guys"

She mashed down the urge to start crying. "We're going to miss you too"

He walked over to her, and they hugged.

Take me with you her mind was screaming within her to say. But she kept quiet the remainder of their hug.

"I'll call you guys once I get all settled in, yeah?" he asked.

She nodded lightly. "I'll be waiting for it"

He remained where he stood, her thinking to herself it seemed he was hesitating.

"Bye, Mikasa"

She swallowed lightly. "Bye, Eren"

He turned and began walking to the car. Her eyes were no longer able to hold back the tears forming. Her heart was pounding.

"Eren! Can I-"

He whirled round.  "Mikasa would you-"

Both stopped when they heard the other speaking, both seeing the clear emotion in their eyes and voice. A smile growing on his face, he walked back over to her. He pulled her close, cupping her cheek with his hand before pecking a kiss to her eye.

"Oh, who were were kidding, huh" Mikasa remarked. He murmured in agreement.

"Sorry I didn't say something sooner" she said quietly.

"Don't be" he said, kissing her again. "I just wish I didn't wait until now to ask you myself. Guess....I was worried you wanted to maintain what we agreed on"

She giggled. "I thought the same thing"

Their noses touched. "I love you everywhere, Mika. Me trying to suppress that is....foolish. I can wait until tonight or tomorrow to go. Will you come away with me?"

She nodded against his head. "I will" she answered.

Chapter Text

"So...what's your take?" Eren asked her.

She drummed the table a little with her fingers. "It's such a big choice to make"

Eren nodded. "I'll go with whatever you're thinking. You wanna go, we go. Wanna stay, we stay"

Mikasa really thought hard. "Maybe...we jot up a pros and cons list?'

He snapped his fingers. "Good idea. Okay, Returning to visit Paradis. Start with the cons? Major one being little Armie and whether he should go on such a big journey"

"Con 2: would we be able to find our way back?"

"Good thought. Con 3...Marley and Paradis being still in active conflict"

"Con 4....Whether they want us to come back"

Eren's brow furrowed. "You think they wouldn't?"

She shrugged. "We did take off so abruptly. They could resent us deeply over it, or in terms of the military we could be sought after for desertion"

Eren nodded. "That is certainly true"

They sat quietly thinking of any other negatives.

"I think that's all the major ones" he finally said.

"Okay...so then the first pro would be seeing everyone again"

"It's likely the only real positive to be honest"

"That leaves us with a lengthy con list and just one reason to go"

Eren scratched his chin. "Are they counters to our cons?"

They thought quietly again.

"Armie would be able to see more of the world. I would like to see his reaction to the ocean" Mikasa said.

Eren smiled. "I'd like to see that too"

Mikasa rested her arms on the table. "As for finding our way back...we could map the path carefully. Note the surroundings and way we came. That way we can also make it easier for the others to find should they wish to visit one day"

"And on that note I don't personally feel there'd be long lasting resentment, so that one I'm not overly concerned about"

"What about the war? Whether or not it's still raging?"

This was really the one major con for Eren. If there was still conflict, then them returning to Paradis or Marley exposes them. 

"I guess....we can see if there's still conflict or propaganda against Paradis, and if so we just turn right back around?"

Mikasa seemed to nod in agreement.

"So...you think it's worth the try?"

"I think I do. Because this is possibly the only time we could feasibly try. I need to see how Armin is"

"Me too"

They looked at one another.

"So then...we're going?" Eren asked.

Mikasa smiled. "I believe we are"

They packed essentials for the trip. Eren made the decision to board up the windows and door for the time they were away, on the off chance someone found their way out here. Armie was situated in a carrier in front of his mother, with her seated pen and paper in hand.

Eren climbed into the wagon.

"Everything we need accounted for?"

Mikasa nodded. She looked over at the cabin. Eren noticed.

"What is it?"

"Just...been so long now since I left here. It's going to be strange"

"No matter what, we'll be coming back. Don't worry"

He clasped her shoulder before snapping the reins, the horses moving to guide the horse on their journey.

It was a four day journey north before reaching the known border of Marley. After another two days, they could see the city. Both Eren and Mikasa had a pang of anxiety the moment they saw Marley again. It had developed slightly in the years they last saw it. More buildings throughout, some rather tall that caused them to have to look up. With some of the money they held on to when they left, they paid to have their horses and wagon stored at a stable on the edge of the city.

"Do you think they stopped handing out those Eldian armbands?" Mikasa whispered as they walked the streets, her hand tightly fitted into his. "I've not seen one at all yet"

Eren had almost forgot about those things. Once he started looking around he agreed with her assessment. The fashion in general had slightly changed, but as she said, no one was baring an armband.

They walked down towards the pier. Eren stopped.

"Mikasa, read that sign"

She looked. It was a sign highlighting the different times of ship departure and arrival. Specifically, it was a schedule for ships going to and coming from Paradis Island.

"That's...pretty big, isn't it?" she asked.

"I can't see them having travel arrangements without some semblance of diplomacy" he replied. "This is pretty huge considering where things were when we left"

She pointed. "The next ship departs in 30 minutes, pier 4"

"Then let's get there"

He led them quickly across the boardwalk, Mikasa keeping her free hand on Armie's head to keep his sleeping form steady. They arrived at the pier 4 ticket booth.

"3 tickets please"

The ticketminder held his hand up. Eren and Mikasa froze lightly, worried they were going to be asked for papers or something of that nature.

They watched as the man ripped two tickets and handed them to Eren. "Children under 5 travel free"

Eren breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you kindly, sir"

The man nodded and the family made their way aboard the ship. Mikasa looked down at Armie, who was stirring slightly.

"That was surprisingly simple" she remarked.

Eren was still a little taken aback himself. "It's making me more curious as to what prompted tensions to settle. Nobody having Titan powers surely helped no doubt"

He looked over seeing Armie smiling at him. He smiled back, poking his son lightly on the nose.

"Having fun, pal?" he asked softly. The boy reached out to him.

"Pretty soon, you're going to be setting your eyes on something really cool. I can't wait for you to see it"

He looked back up towards Mikasa. The nervousness she was feeling was clear on her face.

"What's up?" Eren asked.

Figuring he'd see through her, she didn't make an excuse. "It's....jarring still. I don't even know what to say to anyone when we see them again"

She wasn't lying, because Eren felt the same way. What could they even possibly say? Do they apologize? They most definitely should, It's not like the life he and Mikasa lived was something he regretted, far from it. It's of course just down to how they left. Disappearing into the night while they were scoping out Marley. No explanation, no farewell, nothing. He'd resent him too.

"We just be straightforward, make it crystal clear there was no malice meant from it"

"No malice, eh?" they heard a voice say from behind them. Slightly alarmed, Eren whirled round.

"J..Jean?"

The man stepped closer, and it was definitely him. Bit more of a fuller beard on his face now.

"You could've at least said bye" he remarked, tiny grin on his face. Eren smiled back and shook his hand, Mikasa moving to hug him slightly.

"We're sorry Jean. It was just....it felt like now or never in that moment, you know?" Eren said. Jean just nodded.

"I think at a certain point we collectively agreed that was the case. Just...still sucked not hearing from any of you"

There wasn't much dwelling on this as Jean immediately smiled down at Armie. "So who's this little guy?"

Mikasa pivoted to allow Armie to face Jean better. "This...is Armin"

A small chuckle left Jean's lips as his smile grew. "That's a great name"

Eren, while looking at his son as well, dawned a slight anxious look. "How...how is he anyway? Armin?"

Jean straightened up. "He....hurt alot. We don't really talk about it because it makes him feel sad"

Eren and Mikasa exchanged a look of shame. Not that they never assumed or knew in their hearts they'd hurt Armin's feelings, but hearing it said out loud that it was the case was painful to hear.

"Has...has he been living well?"

Jean nodded. "Oh yeah, he's part of Historia's political cabinet so he keeps busy. He and Annie just-"

"ANNIE?!" Eren and Mikasa both exclaimed.

"Well...yeah. This relative peace didn't come through nothing. It was hard, and difficult, and painful, but there was alot of headway made in forging relations"

"Wasn't Annie sealed in crystal though?" Mikasa asked. Both her and Eren were deeply confused and frankly a bit upset at this revelation.

"She was. One of the first bargaining chips we had. So when we agreed to terms, Reiner-"

Mikasa could see Eren's eyes darken with the mention of his name.

"So...you guys are on good terms-"

"Yeager. You guys left us behind years ago. Alot of shit has changed now"

The way Jean phrased this changed Eren's expression to guilt. He was absolutely right, it had been years.

"Listen guys, I don't wanna butt heads or anything. I'm really happy to see you again"

Eren nodded. "And we are to see you"

They hugged again.

"How's about you guys stick with me, and I'll bring you to see the others?"

"Absolutely"

The days long boat journey was coming to an end, and Eren and Mikasa found themselves virtually glued to the railing facing towards the island they had long ago left. The area they had constructed the port had vastly developed, a rather large town behind it now.

"Three guesses as to who they made the mayor of this place" Jean said, joining them.

"Wh- it's someone we know?" Eren asked.

"It is, and that's guess one"

"Levi maybe?" Mikasa asked.

"Nope"

"Is it you?"

Jean shook his head. "The one guiding this quaint little town is none other than our dear Connie"

Eren and Mikasa made exclamations of surprise.

"So then it's financially ruined I take it?" Eren teased.

"It's.....recovering"

They laughed.

"He's doing a pretty solid job really. Not like Historia rules with an iron fist or anything, but she entrusted him so she expects alot. And he's really delivered"

Jean turned to fully face them.

"I...let him know yesterday you guys are coming"

"Wh-how?" Eren asked.

"You guys must not have a telegraph. Marley tech, allows us to send messages almost virtually to anyone in the world"

"That's...wow" Eren said, pretty impressed.

"Hopefully I didn't take away you guys surprising him"

Mikasa shook her head. "I'm more concerned on if he's even wanting to see us"

Jean, having looked back out towards the ever approaching town, smirked. "He seems pretty excited"

Eren and Mikasa looked out for themselves. On the farthest end of the dock stood a figure watching the ship approach. It was Connie.

"Oi!" they could faintly hear.

"Connie Springer!" Eren yelled back. Mikasa, though just as excited and eager as Eren, had to settle Armie down as the commotion had most certainly upset him. The ship, after what felt like a very long several minutes, docked, and Eren was hurrying off to greet his old friend. Jean, looking to Mikasa, extended his arms to allow her to hand Armie to him so she could join Eren. She thanked him and hurried off herself, latching onto the hugging men.

"That non bald head of yours surely violates dress code" he teased, noting Connie's longer hair. The three parted and Connie patted the top of his head.

"Just trying it out. Whatever happened to that beard you were always wanting to give a try?"

Eren chuckled at the memory of the night he mentioned this. "Ah. That'll be an unrealized idea. Mikasa wasn't a fan"

Connie noticed the small scowl and shake of the head from Mikasa and laughed. "You look amazing Mikasa"

She blushed. "Thank you Connie"

"So mayor huh?"

"Not too bad, eh? Especially since we're still Paradis's only port town"

"What did you call it?"

"Porttown"

Mikasa laughed.

There was a high level of anticipation in Eren and Mikasa now, as they were aboard a train on it's way to Shiganshina. Mikasa didn't realize she'd been breathing in rather rapidly, with Eren gently patting her hand.

"I'm scared" she said softly.

"I'd ask why if I wasn't a bit myself" he replied.

"We really hurt him. We might not even be friends in his mind anymore"

"And....I suppose we can't fault him for that" Eren said. "Hopefully though, he still does"

Jean arranged for Historia to travel to the Shiganshina town council building, and had sent a transmission to her to inform her of their arrival. He asked her to make sure Armin was present, though to not tip him off about Eren and Mikasa. She agreed, though had Jean pass along a lengthy admonishment to the two returning friends for disappearing on them all. The two sat, mixtures of shame and remorse with each word spoken.

"While none of us can say we do not understand, it was profoundly hurtful an action on a personal level, and a deeply worrying action on a Paradis level, as you had left us without one of our Titan superpowers" Jean read. "Just be fortunate that Levi will not be present, as he is on a visit to Hizuru. No doubt would he insist on punishment. I'll FOR NOW settle for this letter"

He looked up, a smidge amused at the rather ashen and embarrassed looks on their faces.

"Look at it this way. If she didn't care she wouldn't have said anything, so...me personally I'd rather not have her mad at me at all"

"There's many a thing I missed about you Kirstein. Your sass wasn't one of them.

The train slowed to a crawl. Connie leapt up.

"So you're good to tell him, Jean? Good, great" he said, hurrying away. Eren and Mikasa looked confused.

"What was that all about?" Mikasa asked.

Jean scratched at the back of his head. "W- the........Reiner will be driving us over"

Eren's eyes darkened.

The group were rather impressed Eren hadn't immediately attempted to tear their friend turned enemy turned ally apart once they saw one another again. He seemed content to just stare daggers into the back of his head. Mikasa, while not going out of her way to mimic Eren, held an icy demeanor whenever side-eyeing Reiner. Jean and Connie sat in uncomfortable silence, wishing different arrangements had been made.

"It's beautiful out there. isn't it?" Reiner asked suddenly.

"What?" Eren asked.

"Where you guys went. It was always largely uncharted territory"

"Marley had no interests in destroying it?" Eren asked snidely.

"Even if we did, it's technically Hizuru land but- sorry, just..."

"Trying for small talk?"

"I guess"

"You really think we'd ever be having small talk?"

The discussion went quiet. Mikasa could feel the sleeping Armie starting to wake. She attended to him, shushing him as he started crying softly. Reiner looked over lightly, faint smile on his face.

"My son's the same way when he wakes up"

Eren again glared over. "You? A father?"

"Yeah, my wife....sorry. Small talk"

Another silence fell over them but Reiner decided to pipe up again.

"I know fine well that everything that happened between us back then, it'll never be forgotten, nor will it be forgiven. It's why I haven't wasted your time trying to apologize. All the pain and carnage and destruction I took part in will always haunt me, and I can't change that. I can only dictate what I do now and in the future. And I made it my priority to find something, find someone somewhere to help me and allow me to live a better life. To move forward a better man. And...I think I have. I hope through all these years, wherever you guys went, you found that too"

Eren sat with Reiner's words, a bit taken off guard with how resonant they were. It really dawned on him now how thoroughly buried all that old hatred or all those old traumas were to him now. He looked over to Mikasa, hugging onto their son. She looked over. He nodded.

"I did. I really did"

They arrived at the council building. When Eren hopped off the carriage, he went over to the front and tapped Reiner on the shoulder.

"You're right. I can't forget. I can't forgive. But I do have that one thing in life. And it's allowed me to have a peaceful, happy and content life. And I'm glad you have that too"

He extended his hand. "To moving forward"

Reiner nodded, shaking it. "To moving forward"

Connie leaned in slightly to them. "Would that moving forward being towards the rather unhappy looking queen waiting for us over there?"

Both Eren and Reiner looked slightly alarmed, looking to indeed see Historia waiting patiently for them. Mikasa, carefully handing Armie over to Jean, took hold of Eren's hand and they walked over. Historia remained stood, looking....expectant.

"I'm guessing we need to bow" Eren whispered. They did.

Reiner moved up the stairs, addressing the guards around Historia that he and his team could take it from there. They nodded and began to leave.

"You realize how betrayed the people of Paradis feel, no?" Historia spoke. "When you left, it was done selfishly, it was done without regard..."

She was keeping watch out of the corner of her eye to see her guards disappear from sight.

"Okay, I can hug you guys now" she said, wrapping tightly around a surprised Mikasa.

"I am trying to be really mad, but I'm took happy to see you again" she said, reaching over and pulling Eren in. "Like, you guys still suck for leaving like that, don't get me wrong"

"Sorry" the two murmured.

The queen let them go, smiling over at Jean.

"Mom and dad, huh?" she said, looking back to them but her eyes shooting wide, grabbing both of their hands. "More importantly, husband and wife! How long?"

"It was about two years ago now"

Historia smiled, letting go of their hands before gesturing for everyone to follow inside. "Still crazy to picture all us 104th getting married now. Connie and Sasha were-"

"OH CRAP! SASHA" Connie suddenly bellowed. "I DIDN'T TELL HER YOU GUYS WERE BACK!"

"Are you serious?" Jean scolded. "Go call your wife, you dumbass"

Connie sprinted away.

"Are you sure he's a good mayor?" Mikasa asked.

"So....did Armin-" Eren began to ask. Historia nodded, speaking up before he could finish.

"He's waiting in the library"

The walk down the hall, the climb up the stairs, all of it felt much longer then it was. He was anxious. Uncertain. Mikasa's face matched his in that regard. They were either walking into a definitive end to their friendship with Armin via a fierce dressing down, or a hard, difficult and tense reconciliation. He was desperately hoping for the latter.

Historia stopped in front of a big door. "Jean, Reiner, if it's not trouble would you wait out here?"

The men seemed disappointed but agreed. Jean gently handed Armie back over, Eren cradling his son in his arms.

"Good luck" Reiner said softly, before he and Jean walked away down the hall.

"Ready?" Historia asked.

Mikasa, wringing her hands, looked at Eren. With a soft nod of his head, she breathed out.

"Okay"

Historia pushed open the doors. Inside was a well stocked library, a desk in the middle coated with notes and books. It was a fitting place for Armin to make his office. Sitting quietly as he scribbled whatever was needing to be written. Part of Eren was hurt that Armin didn't even look up when the door opened, him of course knowing they were about to arrive, but it would be incredibly arrogant to assume Armin would forgo all those hurt feelings just because they were back.

"I can wait on that report, Armin. They're here" Historia announced, standing off to the side. After a moment, Eren and Mikasa watched as their old friend raised his head. About medium length yellow hair and even a light beard adorning his chin now. Mikasa was so very happy to see his face again.

"Hi Armin" she said, the emotions in her seeping into her voice as she spoke. The happiness of seeing him, the regret of leaving him behind. In exchange he just held a neutral expression.

"Hi guys" he said softly. "It's been awhile"

"Way way too long" Eren said. "We're...we're so fucking sorry man"

Armin's brow furrowed. "What for?"

"Well....running away-"

"You're saying sorry for having a life with Mikasa and having a child with her?"

"Wh- no not that-"

"Well then why are you apologizing?"

"Because we just took off, we didn't come talk to you, we didn't even invite you along, we just left"

Armin nodded along lightly. "I mean...you could've said bye at least, yeah"

"I...I really felt like in that moment if I- if we didn't go right then then I wouldn't ever be able to" Eren said, his gaze now cast downward. "Because for all I knew I was on a ticking clock. I didn't wanna keep feeding into a relentless cycle of violence. I didn't wanna keep draining every in me transforming into a Titan. I just wanted solitude. I just wanted to give Mikasa some semblance of peace before I went. But for some reason....I kept living. My four years became five, then six. Armin, did yo-"

"The serum has a shelf life" he said, closing one of the books near him.

"W-what?"

"The serum is like any other chemical in one's body. Like how a drunk inevitably sobers up after drinking alot. It cycles through and then is drained out. All the variations of the Titans are the original version of that serum, and cannot be allowed to expire. Marley had figured out a way to make humans into mindless Titans but without the originals, it's meaningless. Hence why they hand it off to new Shifters. Of course, it's rather difficult to convince any young man or woman to willingly end their life by being eaten. So why not tell them they'll die anyway. Make them believe that they really don't have much of a choice anyway"

"So....it was a lie"

"Yup. When we started really getting serious about forging peace, this was told to us. So from that we pressed about ending the whole thing once and for all. And it also became a matter of convincing the other that we weren't going to covertly hide a Shifter somewhere. So when each of our respective "final years" approached myself, Reiner, Annie and the other Marleyan shifters were locked in a public cage to be monitored by all during the week it was expected our serum would go dormant"

"How...how was I accounted for?"

"We were honest, said you had run off. We were fortunate that some folk happened to notice you making your leave that night, so there was believability to it in the eyes of Marley"

Mikasa stepped forward. "So then....there's no more Titan powers, at all?"

"No original Titan serum exists anymore, no. We are quite thoroughly rid of the Titans"

All this time out in the mountains, wondering what it was that caused the curse not to occur, all of it was now answered. Squared away definitively. Eren took a breath in, the weight of that chapter in his life feeling so fully lifted now. His mind now returned to having left Armin behind. It saddened him that it seemed Armin was remaining distant as a result. He again reminded himself Armin was fully in his right to be. But he so wished for his friend to finally stand from his desk, come over and hug to celebrate both their freedoms from the Titan serum. He was going to need to earn that though.

"Armin...like I said before, I am sorry. I don't regret my life with Mikasa, I don't regret our son, but I regret so swiftly walking away from you. Because you really weren't my best friend, were you? You were...you ARE my brother. And I would very much like to have you back involved in our lives"

This seemed to finally get the blonde to dawn a small smile, a tiny chuckle accompanying it. "I can't keep being mad at my brother after that, can I?"

There it is

Historia stepped forward. "Armin, do you....?"

He looked over at her, the smile fading lightly as he nodded. Eren and Mikasa felt a little bit of concern as Historia walked over to Armin. The concern turned to shock. Historia took hold of the back of his chair, the chair having handles they never noticed, and she was wheeling him over in a wheelchair.

"A...wh...." Eren sounded, walking over to meet him. Mikasa crouched down.

"Armin, what happened?"

"Was this...was this Titan-"

Armin raised his hand. "Guys. Please don't take this demeanor as one of somberness. Because this isn't a permanent injury thankfully, it's just a bruised lower spinal cord. It's actually....kinda embarrassing"

"I can't imagine something resulting in your paralysis being em-" Mikasa began.

"Jean walked in on him and Annie and startled him out the window" Historia answered.

A silence hung before Eren stifled a laugh. Mikasa glared at him, but with Armin laughing with him, Eren could not be contained anymore. After a moment of looking between the two, Mikasa relented and found herself laughing as well, just so very happy to be having a moment like this again with Armin. She finally wrapped her arms around him, and he reached over with his arm to hug her back.

"So...am I alright to assume I am godfather to that little guy?" Armin asked, pointing at the baby in Eren's arms. Eren smiled wide.

"Without a shadow of a doubt" he answered, walking over to the other side of Armin to show him his son.

"Hey there, baby Yeager" he said softly. "Who might you be?"

"Armin, I would like for you to meet....your namesake, Armin"

The elder Armin's eyes widened, looking between Eren and Mikasa as his eyes filled with tears. "Y.....you named him...."

"After the best man we know" Mikasa said. Eren crouched further down and began passing Armie over to Armin, who ever so carefully took him in his arms. The doors to the library opened, with Jean and Reiner about to say something when a very loud, distinct yell sounded through the building, causing all to widen their eyes.

"MIKASAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

Reiner, clearing his throat, looked over. "Sasha's here"

Chapter Text

"Man, they sure do love their cuddling huh" Connie remarked. Their friend group were presently holding a party, Eren and Mikasa included. They'd been pretty much a couple from day one, and even after all these years they were incredibly and unabashedly affectionate. Presently Mikasa was sat in Eren's lap, content smile on both their faces as her head rested against his shoulder.

A small chuckle, Jean shook his head. "If you guys don't watch it you might fuse together"

Eren looked over. "What's the issue?"

"No issue, just starting to forget when the last time we saw you guys by yourselves"

"If the allegation is we're codependent or something, we aren't" Eren replied.

"We can be apart from one another" Mikasa added.

Sasha stood. "Alright. Eren, come over here and sit. Mikasa, stay"

The couple exchanged a look, one of bemusement. Sliding her gently to the free spot of the couch, Eren stood and went over to Sasha's seat, pointedly lowering himself down while Mikasa remained seated on the couch.

"Alright, I stand corrected" Jean said. The group gradually began their various different activities again.

"I give this five min-" Connie was beginning to see, before they noticed Mikasa sheepishly walking over to Eren and returning to sitting on his lap.

"Not even one minute" Jean replied.

Looking a little embarrassed, Mikasa snuggled against Eren. "We can be apart from one another" she said again. "I just...prefer being close"

"No problems with that" Jean said. "Just...we'll keep an eye to make sure you don't start merging"

A light laughter around the room.

"I'm feeling bullied" Mikasa said teasingly. 

"Oh?" Eren said. "Would it be okay if we part ways for a moment so I can teach them a lesson?"

Jean and Connie looked lightly uneased. "That's okay. We're sorry"

A satisfied smile grew on Mikasa's face as she and Eren resumed their cuddle.

Chapter Text

Ice

This is another alternate take on Breakthrough, with the events of this snippet picking up after Eren's rejection of Mikasa in the cafeteria.

"Okay"

That was his dismissive answer to her. He had acknowledged her words, but they didn't really change anything for him. She'd deeply hurt him months ago, her assertion he'd ever betray her a wound he decided was one she would not be able to heal. So that was that. They were done.

"Are you sure about that?" Armin asked him, the two seated on the steps in front of the school killing time until classes began. The night before brought alot of freezing rain, so the sidewalks and parking lot were positively icy. They were recapping the day before. Armin of course deeply invested in them repairing things.

"I do, yeah"

"You sure?"

Eren sighed. "Yes Armin. I'm sure"

"100% pos-"

"Armin!"

It was the blonde's turn to sigh. "Look, I just want to be sure you well and truly feel that"

He happened to notice Mikasa come into view, very carefully navigating across the icy parking lot. He nodded towards her.

"Take one good long look at her. Think about everything, and really think on it. Because if you're sticking to it it's not just letting go of a girlfriend, it's letting go of your best friend"

"You're my-"

Armin chuckled. "Eren. She's your best friend. Just...think about it. Are you okay with you guys being over? Are you really fine with not being together with her anymore?"

Lightly shaking his head, he found himself looking out towards her, stood in spot desperately trying not to slip. He thought about the day they split, the bitter hurt he had felt from it. The stab to the heart her accusation made. He thought about how, he supposed, she would find her way to be worried about that. Memories of their happy childhood then trickled through his mind. The springs, summers, falls and winters together and how they comprised of all of his favorite moments in his life. The day she agreed to go out with him bringing back that same surge of joy he felt all those years ago. And there it was: the change of mind.

"Fuck no" he said quietly.

"What?" Armin asked

Eren rose to his feet, running gingerly on the icy lot at first before switching to a slide as he approached Mikasa. She saw him approach, the surprise at seeing him come over turning into concern.

"Eren, be careful!" she called. He was able to stop next to her, bracing lightly against her.

"Here. Take my hand" he said, reaching down to link his fingers with hers. Her hand closed softly around it.

"Hold tight, okay?"

She looked back up to him, a slight bit confused. He smiled softly.

"Don't worry, I'm not letting go"

Her confusion faded, and a slightly tearful smile took it's place.

"I trust you" she said.

I Can't

This is based on an initial approach I had with New World, where Mikasa rejects Eren when they reunite in this new life. I'm going to drop this one in after the initial reunion, where whether they would reunite as a couple. In this situation, Mikasa had gradually grown more and more hurt with what Eren had done and him leaving her behind in the previous life.

Mikasa looked at him. The eager hope in his eyes was palpable. They'd finally found one another, and he was now asking her to come and be with him. She couldn't deny the rush of similar eagerness going through her in this moment too, the prospect of her one true hope finally being achieved right there. But at the same time, she was really thinking about all those years she lived. All those years of mourning and longing and sorrow. That loneliness she felt without him being there, providing her that simple and unstated comfort of him being alive, her being able to be by his side. She never stopped visiting him and remembering him, but at a certain point, a profound....resentment took hold. Resentment and a deep hurt. She had to live with that for so long. All the way until she moved on from that life too, and was now here. Looking at him face to face, for the first actual time in so long, that pain was not able to be ignored.

She let go of his hands, that eager hope in his eyes lightly dimming. Disappearing completely when, with the deepest, saddest frown on her face she shook her head.

"No" she said quietly. "I'm sorry. No"

She could see how crestfallen he now looked. "B...but-"

"Eren. This was all I had wanted back then. I loved you so much. I never had the courage to tell you then. To tell you I loved you and just wanted to go live quietly. Out of the way of anyone else. Just me and you"

"But...we did, didn't we?"

"That....that wasn't real though, was it? A comforting dream was really all it was. And it really was comforting at first. But Eren....the last time we talked.....you ripped my heart out"

"I-"

She raised her hand. "I know what that was in the end. Some hurtful means of making it easier for us to k- put an end to the Rumbling. But you took everything that ever meant something to me, you took it and poisoned it. I was so...lost when you did that. Because out of everything I could always know what I felt for you, those moments you became my hero or...my love, it was never in doubt. It was real. Until that day. You sent me into a long period of time where I was questioning everything I thought I knew"

"I'm so so sorry I did-"

"I know. I know you are. And I know...I know you didn't mean it. But it was still so very painful. And then.....you died, Eren. You died. Because you put me in a position where I had to kill you"

She was starting to weep, wiping away at her eyes.

"And I didn't want to. I didn't want to lose you. I didn't want you to go away. But you did. And I had to live without you, and it was so difficult, Eren"

"So....why can't we-"

"At some point....I grew bitter. Because it felt to me that....maybe what you said-"

"Never, Mikasa. All that bile I spewed was never true"

"Maybe. But Eren, it just seemed like....you wanted to be anywhere else. I wanted to stand next to you, be in step with you. But you were always running far out of reach. And then finally completely out of reach. I was so heartbroken and lonely and hurt because you left me behind. And that was the one thing I did not want to have happen. I'm sorry Eren....I just can't love you anymore"

She could see how devastated he was, but he nodded nonetheless, himself wiping at his own tears.

"I understand. Guess....guess it was arrogant of me to assume.....I am so sorry, Mikasa"

She nodded herself.

"C-can we still be friends at least?"

She offered a small, maybe slightly insincere smile. "I think we still can, yeah"

Four months went by, and though they were definitely friendly, it wasn't the same as before. A distance was there, everyone could see it.

They worked together in the same store, alongside their other friends. She at the cash register, he stocking shelves. They were both working this particularly dull spring day, with Armin coming by to hang out a little.

"Days like this I'd kill to just be outside" Mikasa bemoaned, leaning against her lane while Armin sat on the checkout.

"You're telling me"

"Well you're off today. Why aren't you?"

"You got me there. Guess I woulda felt guilty. My two best friends being stuck in here"

They looked over to Eren, who was helping someone out reaching for a high product. It was a girl they knew from school. Eren climbed down and handed her the can. She looked very happy and pressed a kiss to his cheek in gratitude. 

Seeing this, Mikasa felt....crushed. She had decided that she couldn't have these feelings for Eren anymore, and yet here she was...jealous and sad.

She quickly looked away. 

"Don't think I didn't notice that" Armin said.

It was still nice and sunny out when Eren finished his shift. He always took the long way walking home when the days were like this. It allowed him to go through the park and soak in the cool air and the bright sun after hours of being stuck largely in a dreary storage room. He was walking the trail, lined with a brilliant row of birch trees, when he thought he heard someone....singing.

"Anata wa nido to kaette konai, Saigo no kuchizuke wo akaku someta no wa watashi, Hoka no dare demo nai"

He could tell it was Mikasa. He scanned the area and soon saw a tree overlooking the lake, one he enjoyed sitting under himself. He walked up the small hill, and sure enough on the other side sat Mikasa. Heelsat looking outward to the lake. His arrival seemed to startle her slightly.

"O-oh, hey" she said.

"Hey"

"How did you know I was up here?"

"Heard you singing"

She looked lightly embarrassed.

"Don't be ashamed, Mikasa. We always used to say how lovely a singing voice you had. Wish back then that....you had more to sing about"

She was still red from embarrassment, but a light flattered smile grew. "Thank you"

Eren crouched down. "This tree is a nice one. Really reminds me of the old one"

"It's why I like it too" Mikasa said, changing her sitting to hug onto her knees. They quietly looked out at the lake for a moment. Eren's phone buzzed. She noted his light exacerbation.

"What's up?"

"Ah, just these apps Jean strongarmed me onto. For dating and such"

She didn't speak but this made her feel crushed once more.

"Really wasn't too interested at all but he just would not shut up so I humored him, and now this stupid phone keeps buzzing-"

His phone was suddenly lightly slapped from his hands, falling to the grass. He looked at it for a moment, confused. Looking over to Mikasa, he could see her face was deep red. She looked downward.

"Sorry" she said, looking desperate to be able to just burrow herself away from this.

"It-it's alright" he said, picking his phone back up. As he did, she began hugging against his left arm, head resting on his shoulder.

"I....I told myself I couldn't feel this way for you anymore. And yet...."

He began feeling hopeful. Leaning down, he kissed her on the hand.

"I'll never not be sorry for leaving you. For breaking your heart. I don't deserve to have a chance again, but I can't stop desperately hoping for it"

He kept kissing her hand, her snuggling more against him.

""And if I don't, I'll have to live with that. Just know......no other girl out there, no other person in this life or the next will ever have me feeling the way that I feel for you. Only ever you, Mikasa"

Their eyeline met, and before she felt herself succumb to the tears about to fall she kissed him.

Chapter Text

It was a few days out now from when Eren decided to leave. Part of her wanted to not hold it against him. After all, he claimed he didn't remember anything of their time together out here. Could she really fairly be mad at him because of it?

That said, they did live a life out here. Together, for 10 years. They had a daughter. It wasn't just herself he had left. He left Carla behind too. Someone he should've been adamant about staying for. To raise and watch her experience life as she learned it. But he instead chose a life they long abandoned. Since he was gone, she now had to do the scavenges through the forest for firelogs by herself. She and Carla left early in the morning, Carla carefully attached in a carrier. With any luck, Mikasa hoped to make it home by dusk.

It was about midday now, and Carla was growing cranky. Mikasa was shushing the girl when she noticed what felt like an alien sight now: a smoke plume off in the distance. A fire?

Curiosity is what drew her over to it's source. A partial feeling of concern was in her. The idea of others all the way out here, after all this time, it worried her. Her personal history had unfortunately taught her to instantly distrust strangers. And she would be damned if they'd do to Carla what happened to her.

The soft murmuring of annoyance she could hear upon closing in on the location made the concern fade. She rounded the corner and saw the fire, started next to a small creek where a frustrated Eren was standing in, cleaning his mud-stained body.

"Eren?" she called, causing him to jump lightly.

"Mi- Mikasa!"

She stood next to the creek, profound confusion on her face. He could read the question she was planning to ask in that look.

What the hell are you doing?

"I got lost. Turned out journeying out when I had zero memories of our path out here was a deeply stupid idea"

She didn't speak but he could also sense the words no shit were in her mind.

His gaze dropped towards the ground. "But....I remembered everything. I remembered our life. And all I wanted to do was turn around. But you said that I couldn't come back. So I didn't want to go back to the walls, and I-"

"Eren"

His head snapped back to look at her. Mikasa simply pointed in the direction she had come from. This was her telling him to get moving. He just nodded quietly, scooping up his things. Mikasa followed behind him as they walked. She lightly shoved him on the shoulder.

"You could've come home if you remembered everything, dummy" she murmured.

He sighed, embarrassed with himself. "I just...I knew how much I've hurt you this past week. Felt like such an ass playing with your emotions like-"

He felt his shirt be tugged on. A smile grew on his face as he looked over his shoulder and saw his daughter smiling at him.

"Hey pal"

Mikasa walked to where she was side by side with Eren, linking her arm with his as they walked.

"Sorry for all this" he said. "I promise you I'll never leave again. I have zero interest in being anywhere else. I swear"

She rested her head against his arm. "I could maybe see my way to believing you, if you make dinner tonight"

They exchanged grins.

"I think I can swing that"

Chapter Text

He looked over at their little home. A place he grew to love so much. This cozy, peaceful lot of land, somewhere that was supposed to be far far away from everything. From everyone he wished not to see again. He saw her outside, happily attending to the garden and watching the two rabbits they had hop gently around her. She took note of him, waving over to him.

He wished this filled him with happiness as it normally would. But today it just made his heart sink. Because after today he would never see that smile from her again. His eyes dropped down, looking again to the note in his hands. One that arrived via raven just moments ago and sent his world upside down.

Found you. Sever your ties with her. You won't be coming back to her. The cost of defying your pledge. Be at Downwind Trail by nightfall, or I sever her ties to this life. Z.

The ruinous appearance of his past. Zeke. His older half brother who, through sheer force, took over a kingdom and ruled through sheer tyranny. And for the longest time Eren stood as one of his enforcers, obligated by a pact they made when they were young. But meeting Mikasa, who didn't know about him or his relation to Zeke, made him realize how truly evil this person was, and made him want to escape and live peacefully. So that's what he did. slipping away in the night and going as far as he thought would be out of Zeke's sight. But, this was not the case. Zeke had found him. And was going to strongarm him to fulfill his promise. A years old promise he no longer wanted to keep forcing him to have to leave this happy life. It's the one thing he wanted in life. Being with her was the only joy he had. And now he had to destroy it. Doubtless that Zeke was or had people nearby to ensure he complied.

Squeezing tightly with his hand that held the note, he marched towards the cabin. Utter anguish gnawed within him when she lightly hurried over.

"Eren, I had an idea for-" she was saying, but he walked right past her. That sort of giddiness in her ebbed away a bit with the confusion over Eren's ignoring her. She followed after him.

"Eren, are you alright?" she asked, following him to their room. She watched him pull open their dresser, pulling out his things.

"Eren?" she said, her voice quieting.

"I'm leaving" he simply stated.

"....but we weren't going to the village until next week-"

"I'm leaving. For good"

He couldn't bear to look, but he knew this statement shattered her.

"What? B...but why?"

He ignored her, continuing to gather his things. Once he had enough, he closed his pack, making his way to the door.

"I don't understand" she said, standing in front of him. "What happened? Did.....did I do something?"

Her upset eyes were making him want to go out there and lay waste to Zeke or his goons. But he knew they wouldn't stop. And he'd be damned if Mikasa would ever live through any of that.

"Step aside"

He moved forward before she could answer, so she quickly did. But was still following behind, pleading with him.

"Eren, please"

"You can't convince me. Now stop"

"I thought we were happy!. I thought...I thought I made you happy"

She was close to crying now. They were approaching Eren's horse. She finally moved up closer, taking hold of his hand.

"Eren!-"

"Mikasa, I said stop!" he yelled, whirling around. This caused her to fall backwards, landing in a sitting position. Eren was mortified. He just knocked her to the ground. But knowing he still had to leave, he kept up this hardened façade he was forcing himself to project. She was sat looking up at him, face full of differing emotions. The shock, hurt, upset, betrayal even. All these emotions he could see. And effectively a question not being verbally articulated, but he could see it fine well in her eyes. Why? Why are you doing this?

The shock seemed to finally wear off her. Blinking furiously, she slowly rose to her feet. The glimmer that was always in her eyes dimming to nothingness. Almost like the love she had for him was now gone forever.

"Leave" she said quietly. "Leave, and don't dare come back"

He was devastated, but he was creating this situation. She turned her back, walking slowly back up to their home.....her home. She never looked back at him, disappearing behind the front door. Eren forced himself to mount his horse and ride away, struggling not to weep over what he just threw away.

He finally woke, putting an end to this dream that had been haunting him for the year and a half since that horrid day. He almost felt like he forced himself to relive it over and over again. To always burn into his head how he trampled over the heart of one of the most beautiful souls this world had to offer.

He looked around the chamber. A cold, windowless room. Not a home. More akin to a prison. No use dwelling in here any longer, so he got up and exited to fulfill his duties for the day. Not like he had a choice anyways. Monotonously standing by, witnessing as Zeke menaced the people of his kingdom. People being dealt severe punishment for even the tiniest of offences. Eren ruing having to participate should things escalate. This was something any other goon could do. But he knew fine well why Zeke made him do it. He laid it out plainly when he made his return.

"I could have anyone. That's true. But it's going to be you. You spat in my face when you ran away. This is your punishment. The lowly gruntwork any one man could easily do. It makes me happy knowing I snatched you away from that little cottage quite frankly"

Eren's brow furrowed in near fury. Zeke chuckled softly, shaking his head.

"You know here's me thinking we were family. Here's me thinking that no matter what, my blood would be there to stand with me. But no. You flee with some...."

Zeke had called her something at that point. The genuine rage he felt inside made him forget what exactly. Part of Eren had been feeling the tiniest of remorse for Zeke until that point. Now it was gone. Replaced again with the bitter resentment he had for being forced back here.

He stood watching as Zeke addressed a group of the citizens, the group performing as if in awe. Unable to demonstrate the genuine dislike or fear that they actually felt for Zeke. But there were some brave people among them at some points. Protesting loudly or moving to try and take Zeke down. It always ended the same, being dragged away and executed, but there was a comfort in-

Eren's train of thought derailed when he witnessed before him what he was admiring about the citizens. A boy of all people walked close to Zeke, and spat on him. His arms were seized instantly as gasps of shock sounded. Eren couldn't help but take enjoyment in this moment of humiliation for Zeke. He wouldn't be able to punish this boy the way he punishes other men.

Zeke chuckled softly. "Young man. Surely your parents taught you better manners than this. What brought this on?"

The boy didn't answer. He instead once again spat. This time Zeke was not amused. He was angered. From the corner of his eye, he spotted Eren smirking.

"Insubordinate little wretch" he seethed. He then looked fully at Eren.

"Execute him" he ordered Eren. The smirk died fast.

".....he's a b-"

"He twice assaulted his-"

"Zeke. I will not-"

"You will do as you are ordered"

A terse silence hung. Glaring, Eren began to produce his sword. The boy was shoved to his knees. He looked at Eren with fear as he approached. Eren stopped walking, taking in the sight before him. Thinking about what was asked of him. Thinking about how....finished he was with all this.

Gripping his sword, he swung it at Zeke. Zeke stepped backward, producing his own sword. Witnessing his other soldiers draw theirs, he waved them off.

"I'm fully capable of putting down rabid dogs myself"

The brothers stared each other down. The soldiers and crowd frozen in a tense silence.

"You think this through?" Zeke asked.

"Either outcome, I get free of you" Eren replied.

Zeke grinned. "Fair enough"

He shot forward, blade slashing towards Eren. He parried it, putting full weight to hold himself in place as Zeke clashed down hard again, snarling almost directly in his face. Eren thought fast, spitting in Zeke's face to get him to move back. The elder man exclaimed in disgust as Eren took advantage of this distraction. He swung his blade. Zeke moved and blocked. In a rage, he slashed wildly. Eren did his best to dodge, but Zeke was able to cut him on the neck. It wasn't too deep, but enough to start bleeding. As Eren was registering this injury, Zeke shoved into him, knocking him off-balance. Before he could sturdy himself, Eren stopped. He could feel Zeke's blade in it's pierced position in his right side. He couldn't be sure, but it did feel like it at the least sliced against his kidney.

Zeke pulled out his blade, before grabbing Eren by the back of the neck and throwing him to the ground, delivering a fierce kick right to where he was stabbed. Zeke then looked out to the crowd.

"I suppose I have to begin showing my iron fist more, because apparently, people are getting the idea they can be insubordinate. They can be disrespectful"

He was glaring off towards the boy who spat at him. "I like to think I've done my very best to treat you all like a gentle ruler. But this is being taken for granted. So look at this boy. Look at this-"

Another kick to Eren's wound. "Traitorous bastard. They will be your final examples"

Eren was clutching against his wound, fighting with himself to get up. Zeke continued his tirade.

"They will be the reasons why going forward, there-"

Zeke stopped, realizing that he was falling. A glance downward, he could see that his feet had been severed from his legs. He could barely look back up to see Eren looking down at him before Eren's blade swung down on his throat, decapitating him.

Everyone was silent, aside from Eren's panting. No one was sure what to do, if anything. What to say, if anything.

Eren spotted a soldier walk towards him. He quickly pointed the blade at the man, who he recognized as a soldier named Reiner. Reiner held his hands up.

Eren, still catching his breath, kept the blade held up. "I am leaving this place"

Reiner just nodded. "No soldier will follow. Our banner won't cloud you after today"

Though he believed him, Eren remained holding his sword in defense, walking backwards away.

"What of your injuries?" Reiner asked.

"I'll take care of them"

"...and where would you go?"

Eren didn't answer this. He finally turned away, hurrying as fast as he could towards a nearby horse. He knew he was not welcome there, but there was one place he needed to go. One person he needed to see.

He rode for a week and a half, sloppily mending his wounds whenever he stopped. He was able to stitch his wound closed but it would split virtually everyday, resulting in needing to be re-stitched. He was haggard and weak by the time he could finally see it in the distance. That little cottage that he never stopped dreaming about. Home.

A worry in him was that at some point, Zeke had his men come back to harm or even kill Mikasa. The state of the cottage seemed to suggest someone still lived in it. The rabbits that were hopping around suggested that, thankfully, it was still Mikasa here.

Sure enough, when he saw the door open, she came into view. She looked shocked at first when seeing him. This lasted for a second before this frosty, angry stare dawned her face. It was a very painful sight to see, because she was always so happy. But no one was to blame but himself for this.

"Hi" he rasped softly.

"How dare you come back here" she replied. "Leave"

"I just....needed to see that you were okay"

"I am. Now leave"

He could only nod gently, pivoting his horse around.

"I....I am sorry for-"

"Eren. Leave right now"

He wanted to try and get his apology out. But by this point, his reopened wound had bled to a point he began feeling faint. He was about to speak again when he plummeted from the horse and to the ground unconscious.

There was a period of time where he believed he had died. He was in this black void in his mind, and it just seemed endless. Soon though, he began to feel himself coming to. The black void slowly being pierced by a golden light as his eyes opened. He was indoors. In the bedroom they used to share. He moved his hand, feeling it being held. But since he was moving it, the other hand seemed to quickly move out of his.

"How are you feeling" he heard Mikasa ask. It sounded like she was trying to sound flatly as possible, but a slight tremble in her voice betrayed it. He sat up, looking towards his wound. It was thoroughly bandaged and cleaned. No longer any pain stemming from it either.

"Much better than I was. Thank you"

"You'd....you'd been out of it for three days"

He looked a little ashamed, given he was meant to have been out of sight and out of mind for her by now.

"Eren?"

He looked at her. Her hands were clasped in her lap.

"Can I ask.....why did-"

"I leave?" he finished. She nodded lightly.

"When we met, I didn't elaborate on my life any because it was one that brought me shame. Because I was the half brother of Zeke-"

Mikasa looked surprised. "T-the ruler?"

Eren nodded. "My mother was his father's second wife. When they died, we became orphans, out on our own and largely out in the streets. We'd promised one another no matter what we'd stick by each other. But as the years went by, Zeke got more cynical. More cruel, and angry. Any interactions we'd have with anybody he'd make it into a tense situation and thus treat it as a slight. So soon, he wanted to be in control of everyone. Lord over them I suppose. Thus, his uprising. And due to our promise, I stood by him. But only because he was the only person I could call family. He was my only family, and I no longer recognized him. I felt trapped....and then I met you. And after that, after spending so much time with you I wanted nothing more than to get as much away as possible. To be rid of him, to live quiet with you. And we were able to. I loved it. But that day....the day I left....it was because he found us. He said if I didn't go back, then...."

"He'd hurt me" Mikasa finished. Eren nodded.

"There is a million ways that I could have handled leaving. The way I did was easily one of the worst. That look in your eyes, when I knocked you down, it's haunted me every single day since"

She didn't speak, just sitting quietly. Eren looked out the window, seeing the weather was extremely sunny out.

"I should take advantage of the good weather"

She sounded a soft "eh?" in response.

"It was important to me to make sure you were doing okay. Afterwards, I figured I'd ride far north. Join up in the army of the mountains or something. Even if I had been able to return here, I don't feel I could stay. This place was supposed to be a happy one, and I ruined that"

He looked back to her. "I'll always be sorry for that, Mikasa"

She still remained silent, just softly nodding.

He was finishing getting his horse prepared for the journey. Saddle bags placed on it, an apple fed to it for some fuel until they stop next. He sheathed his sword into the side scabbard before turning back towards Mikasa, who was watching him.

"Thank you again for patching me up"

She offered a simple wave. Part of him wished to hug her but he decided against it. He instead waved back before turning and mounting his horse. He gave a look back to offer a small smile. He was turning back around to snap the reins when he felt something brushing lightly behind him. Looking back once again, he could see Mikasa was now holding his saddle bags. Confused, he hopped down.

"I...I thought I wanted to never see you again. I think I did think that when you came back. But when you fell, and you didn't get right back up I felt so....scared. I still love you Eren. Do you still love me?"

"Of course I do"

"Then please. Please don't leave"

She walked closer to him, her hopeful eyes bore into his.

"I....I hurt yo-"

"You did. But you can make up for it by staying"

She pressed closely into him, hand clenching to his shirt.

"Please" he could hear her whisper desperately.

He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly.

One month later

He was making his way back home. Looking up, he saw her out in the garden. A sense of deja vu going through his mind as he saw her smile his way. This time though there was no sense of sadness at the sight. No thinking that this would be the last time he would see it. He smiled back, walking a little faster to get over to her.

Chapter Text

Hello. I apologize for the lack of new one-shots, I've just been very stuck in writers block on the two I presently have on the go. It's been rather frustrating because I like the concepts it's just a case of connecting point A to point B.

In the meantime while I sit and think on those stories, I thought I would again turn to the readers and see if there's any concepts any of you would like to see. Perhaps some time on a new story will break down the block I'm dealing with. So feel free to pitch your ideas in the comments and I'll see what I can do with them.

Chapter Text

"Okay. Connie, has Sasha given you an idea of where they are?" Jean asked, looking over to Connie.

"She has picked Armin and Annie up, and they're currently in traffic. She's told him she needed him to unlock the student office"

"Nice, good cover"

It was Armin's birthday. Well, the day before his birthday. However, he would be headed out of town the actual day for a school trip, so they wouldn't be able to celebrate. So, a surprise party was put together. Jean took point on planning. Reiner surprised everyone by volunteering to make the cake. Mikasa, Krista, Connie, Marco and Bertholdt took on gathering up snacks and decorating the room while Sasha would get Armin to the party.

"Okay. Is Marco on his way back with the candle?"

"He is, he's pulled into the parking lot" Bertholdt said.

"And has Eren even replied back yet? This would be so much easier if Mikasa's phone didn't break"

"Want me to message him again?" Connie asked.

Jean nodded. "Yes, just say anything to get his ass moving"

Mikasa looked over. "He'd have been here earlier if we looped him in on the party"

Jean waved her off. "He'd have blown it"

The door opened, with Marco entering the room. "Candle is accounted for"

He handed the candle to Jean.

"Excellent, excellent"

He went over to Reiner.

"Promise us this cake isn't a lethal weapon?" Jean asked.

"Jean, when I do something, I do it to perfection. I can guarantee the best damn birthday cake any of you ever had" Reiner stated.

"I don't know about that, I had a strawberry vanilla ice cream cake once, and I've never had anything that ever bested it" Krista said, hanging a Happy Birthday banner up along the ceiling.

"Better than my chocolate explosion cake for my 10th birthday?" Bertholdt asked.

Reiner thought a moment. "That was a really damn good cake. Maybe it may be the second best then"

The door flung open and a worried looking Eren appeared.

"There you are, Eren" Connie said.

"Yeah, I got your message" he said, looking up at Mikasa. "Is it true, Mika? You're thinking about breaking up?"

"What?!" a bewildered Mikasa sounded from her ladder, the balloons she was taping to the wall floating out of her hand. She hastily slid down and hurried over, taking hold of Eren's hands. "Eren, no! No no, I don't want to break up!"

She looked over to Connie, mixture of upset and anger on her face while Eren looked extremely relieved. "Why did you say that?"

Connie shrugged. "Jean said to say something to get him here!"

Jean rubbed his head. "I didn't mean that!"

Eren looked around as Mikasa pressed closely against him. "What's the occasion?"

"Surprise party for Armin"

"Wh-why didn't you guys tell me until now?"

Jean folded his arms. "I didn't trust you to keep the secret"

Eren frowned. "I coulda kept it a secret" 

"Well, you're here now and part of it. Mind helping us finish up?"

"Yeah, sure"

Mikasa tugged a little on his shirt. He looked at her.

"I don't ever want to break up" she said quietly.

He smiled. "Mika, don't worry, I believe you"

"I'm just worried now that you think I do, and I absolutely do not, I-"

Eren chuckled lightly, pecking her on the head. "Mika. I believe you"

She blushed lightly as she rested her head against his chest.

"What do you need me to do?" he said.

"You can help me finish taping balloons around"

"I think I can pull that off"

She chuckled as she led him back towards the ladder. Jean, feeling he had a text, looked at his phone. His eyes widened.

"They're in the parking lot!" he exclaimed. "Square everything away guys, we are very quickly running out of time"

The group began moving quickly. Eren, still holding the balloons Mikasa just handed him, elected to just let them go and allow them to float to the ceiling. Mikasa motioned for him to join her behind the section of wall she chose to hide behind. They shared a happy giggle as the door to the office opened.

"You sure you left it in here, Sasha?" they heard Annie ask.

"I am confident it's not-" they could hear Armin saying. They were all fully in view now so the group hiding sprung up.

"SURPRISE"

Armin, though clearly startled, was amusedly muttering "I knew it" as he looked from Annie and Sasha to the others.

"Didn't think you could head out of town before we did something for your birthday, did ya buddy?" Jean asked.

"I was sorta hoping" Armin joked, walking over. "Thanks guys, this looks great!"

Mikasa kissed him on the cheek. "Happy birthday Armin"

"Thanks Mikasa"

Eren clasped the birthday boy on the shoulder. "Could you believe they kept me in the dark on this and not Sasha?"

"Sort of" Armin teased again. Eren chuckled.

"For your birthday present, I won't address that"

Armin made his way further into the party. Eren held a little poke on his shoulder. He turned to face Mikasa.

"I like participating in a good surprise party, but...just do something quiet when it's my birthday. Please?"

Eren smirked lightly, wrapping his arm around her. "Only if you promise the same for mine"

"Deal"

They kissed before looking back towards the party.

"You gonna do one anyway aren't you" Mikasa asked. Eren simply shrugged.

"It can't be completely ruled out"

"Eren...."

Chapter Text

Eren smiled when he saw the door open. A beautiful woman with shoulder-length raven hair wearing a red cardigan adorned with a black leather jacket and skirt entered.

"Mikasa is here, isn't she?"

Eren looked over to his friend Armin. "Yeah. How'd you know?"

Armin smugly finished his sip of beer. "You just perked right the hell up just now. Unless you noticed the bar offers cheeseburgers now, it's gotta be Mikasa coming through the door"

Eren couldn't hide the blush. They were at the nearby college pub. It was here Eren first met Mikasa Ackerman around half a year ago now. And she was awesome. In bigger crowds of their friends she would get really meek and quiet, but when it was just him and her she was so much fun to talk to, and was incredibly funny. A couple months back, after a particularly boozy night, they found themselves waking up in the same bed together. The initial looks of surprise they exchanged upon realizing turned into an exchange of happy smiles, and another go around. And though nothing romantic sprung up right away from it, it didn't damage their closeness. He honestly didn't care about Armin's teasing, he really liked Mikasa and wasn't embarrassed to show it.

He looked back over to her in order to wave her over. They met eyelines, with Mikasa gesturing him over. He could see though that she looked....anxious.

"I'll be right back" Eren said to Armin, rising from his chair and making his way to where Mikasa was stood at the door.

"Hey" he greeted. "What's up?"

"I...can we talk outside?" she asked.

"Sure" he replied. Mikasa hurriedly turned and left, Eren following right behind. She led them down the steps and a few feet away to a bench. They took a seat on it, with Eren looking intently at her as she seemed more and more anxious.

"Mikasa?"

"....I'm pregnant" she finally said.

Eren couldn't quite articulate the feeling going through him right now. Was it his blood running cold? A shock shooting through him? Either way his eyes were widened, and he was just looking at Mikasa, no doubt making her feel deeply uncomfortable with his silence.

"I'm sorry" she whispered.

He shook his head, words spilling out in a stammering mess. "Don't- no, just- holy"

"That was the word I used as well" she replied, trying to alleviate the moment. She put her hand on his arm.

"It was important to me that you knew, because.....Eren...I've decided I'd like to keep it. And I needed you to know that you have absolutely no obligations to me. I have no interest in strong-arming you into anything you aren't ready for. I'll be okay"

Eren just sat quietly, still processing what had just been said. He was going to be a father? They were only just hanging out together for Mikasa's 22nd birthday a few weeks ago, and now here she was, telling him she's going to be a mom.

Mikasa looked to the ground, awkwardly rubbing her hands together. "Listen, I ought to get going. But-"

Gently, he took hold of her hands. "Wait"

She looked at him. 

"W.....would you want to get married?"

"What?" she exclaimed with surprise.

"Or, well maybe not that just yet, but Mikasa....I wanna be there for you. For the baby"

"Y...you would?"

Eren nodded. "You're pretty awesome, Mikasa. And we might be sort of speed-running things a little, but....I really like the idea of us. So, if you'll have me....I'll be there"

Mikasa blinked away the tears developing in her eyes. She moved closer towards Eren, and with a smile she kissed him.

Chapter Text

"Busy here tonight" Mikasa said quietly as she, Armin and Krista arrived at their favorite tavern.

"They'd better have some lagers on tap this time" Krista said. "I can't believe any bar could not have any"

"To be fair" Armin was saying, before he stopped as Mikasa had stopped in her tracks in front of them.

"What's up Mikasa?" Krista asked. Pointing to her left, Mikasa replied.

"He's here"

Armin sighed slightly, side-eyeing the green truck belonging to his best friend, Eren. About six months prior, the long-term relationship between him and Mikasa came to a rather bitter end. All three of them grew up together, thick as thieves. Now Eren does all he can to completely avoid being in their presence longer than necessary.

"Maybe-"

"Mikasa. He'll more than likely leave himself. Let's not abandon the night over it" Krista said.

She didn't look convinced, but Mikasa nodded and continued into the bar regardless. Armin and Krista exchanged a look before they followed her in.

The bar gradually grew louder and more packed. Mikasa seemed to be able to start having herself some fun, to which Armin took pleasure seeing. Whenever he was hanging out with either person, they managed to force themselves into a depression about the other.

The three were eventually able to start getting into a vibe, each having a beer and chatting about fun things. Mikasa was presently chatting away with the bartender, a handsome enough guy. Armin felt a little nudge to him.

"He's looking over" Krista murmured quietly enough for Mikasa not to hear. Armin looked to where she was referencing. In a booth in the corner sat Eren. A most sour look on his face as he watched the bartender talk to Mikasa.

"At the least, his glare isn't as intense as when Ymir saw us getting coffee last week"

Armin shuddered lightly, the image of Krista's girlfriend's glare haunting him still.

"So, why doesn't he-" Krista began.

"Chickenshit" Armin answered.

Eren's gaze drifted away from their direction, though the frown remained. Mikasa found herself looking behind her and seeing him, a frown of her own developing. She excused herself to the bathroom.

"And of course she still loves him. So why not-"

"Equally chickenshit" Armin interrupted again. "They both wish for the same thing, and both fear the worst outcome. Thus...skulking sulking as I like to put it"

Krista smirked in amusement. Mikasa was making her way back from the bathroom when Krista jumped up to her feet.

"Mikasa, let's go to the dance floor, find you a guy"

"What?" Mikasa was barely able to ask before being led away by Krista. Armin watched them integrate with the crowd. Feeling eyes on him, he looked back to Eren, now glaring daggers at him. Normally this look made him a bit nervous. But he was growing a bit too sick of both of their crap. His own glare developed on his face, offering a slight shrug. Nonverbally communicating What am I supposed to do?

The glare from Eren softened, looking sad now as he looked back to his drink.

Krista was able to get Mikasa to start having some fun on the dance floor, even goading her enough to dance with some guys. Though it was evident she was not totally comfortable doing so. And whenever Armin flicked his glance back over to Eren, different looks of jealousy, anger or sadness on his face each time. The guy that Mikasa was vibing with eventually made his way to the restroom, while Mikasa and Krista remained on the dancefloor. A thought entered Armin's mind. One that, upon turning back around, was verified to be correct. Eren was now stood in front of the guy, positively glowering at him. The glaring was taking it's intended effect, as the guy looked shaken and was soon making his way to the exit. Eren glared at him as he went, and once the guy left he pivoted his focus over to Armin. The blonde just shook his head, looking back to his drink.

"Seems you disapprove of that" Armin heard him say. Eren was now taking a seat next to him at the bar.

"I do. To be fair I've disapproved of most things since your guy's breakup"

"Why is-"

"Because it was stupid. You were stupid and so was she"

"Then she should apologize"

"You or her. Just one of you make a move for fucks sake"

Eren stared at him. "Why are you so pissed off"

"I don't like having to figure out which of my two best friends I'll be hanging out with in a given day. I don't like having to virtually ignore one while I'm with the other. I don't like having this same conversation with you guys each and everytime. Telling you or her to apologize or make amends and you kinda skirt around it and then we're back to square one where you refuse to, and then feel hurt when you see one another with someone else so you stare them down to get them to leave or she kinda sorta menaces the girl you're talking to and then I have to spend the rest of the evening listening to you guys venting like mad about it and then we just keep repeating"

Eren's glare softened. Armin drank the rest of his beer.

"You both clearly want to be back together. Just make a decision. Reunite, don't reunite. Just make one. Otherwise I'm gonna have to make Krista my new best friend so I don't go crazy"

Eren was taking Armin's words in when Krista and Mikasa came back over.

"Armin would you like to-" Mikasa was in the middle of asking before Eren looked her way. This was the first time they made eye contact since they split. The silence amongst them was palpable. Krista walked over to Armin.

"What do you think will happen?" she whispered.

"I just hope something, this staredown is unbearable" he replied.

The ex-couple kept looking at one another. Eventually, Mikasa looked about ready to cry, and she walked closer towards Eren and rested her head against his chest. Eren looked down at her initially in confusion before his own eyes began to water, and he gently wrapped his arms around her.

"Finally" Armin muttered. They could overhear Eren and Mikasa whispering apologies to one another over and over. Armin tapped Krista on the shoulder.

"Let's give them a moment" he said. Krista nodded, linking her arm with his as they walked outside.

"I'm so happy for them" she said.

"As much as I am too, I'm just more happy they finally ripped the band-aid off"

Krista hummed in agreement. The two blondes stopped when a brunette woman walked over.

"Hey guys" the woman said slightly icily.

"Ymir" Armin said, quickly unlinking his arm from Krista's. "How's it going?

Chapter Text

"You're staring at me" Eren remarked to his friend. The blue eyes of his friend Armin were at present just boring into him as they sat at their booth. The blonde let out a noise of exacerbation.

"I mean...you just told me that you got married via a matchup program. Forgive the surprise"

"I for-"

"I was being sarcastic. What the fuck kind of program is this?!"

Eren reached into his pocket, producing a pamphlet.

"I'd been stewing in loneliness for awhile. You know that. I was at my therapist's office and someone left that in the waiting room. Curiosity and that loneliness got to me the other night, and....I called"

Armin, still in disbelief, shook his head. "So you just...picked up the phone, and they assigned you not just a girlfriend, mind you, but a wife?!"

"It factors in that the dating aspect is a pretty daunting part of it"

"So it just cuts it off entirely"

"Pretty much"

"How do you get to know the person then? Eren, you're married to a total stranger"

"I'll get to know her when I meet her"

Armin's eyes widened as he sat back. "You haven't even met her?!"

"How is this different than online dating?"

"THE WORD DATING-" Armin suddenly exclaimed. He and Eren looked embarrassed as other patrons in the restaurant looked towards them.

"The word dating is in there. Not marriage" he said much quieter.

"Armin, I get the risks. I'm more than sure she does too. If worse comes to worse, there's a no strings opt out option after a week. And in absolute fairness there's a high chance one of us choose to do that. I just...I really would like to give this a shot. I would really like someone to be there with me at the end of the day"

Armin sighed a little, seeing Eren's side of things. 

"Does your wife have a name at least?"

Eren smiled a little. "Mikasa"

Armin raised his glass. "To Mikasa Jaeger. May she not be a catfish"

Eren chuckled. "Shut it"

They drank.

"So when do you meet her?" Armin asked.

"Today actually. Gonna go to the headquarters. They got apartments there they lease out for the week. If we don't opt out, we moved in together at whichever place of ours"

"Ahh. Which means-"

Eren held out his house key to Armin. "Feed my fish?"

Armin sighed, taking the key.

Eren looked upward at the building. The Lonely Hearts Arrangement Program was plastered on the side. Inside was his new wife. Which still, to agree with Armin, sounded so wild to say. Some of the anxieties he was feeling were swirling through his head at this moment. What if this was a catfish? What if this is some elaborate organ harvesting racket? What if Mikasa takes one look at him and opts out immediately?

He looked back towards where he came from, mulling whether he should just turn around and walk away. But with a breath, he pulled open the door. The receptionist looked up to him.

"Eren Jaeger?"

"That's me" he replied. The receptionist rose from her seat.

"Lovely to meet you. Just need you to sign some things right quick, and from there'll I'll take you to your wife"

Eren nodded, moving towards the desk and putting pen to paper on several pieces of paper.

"Alrighty. Let's head up" Ilse said, leading Eren to the elevator. Eren's anxiousness began to grow, as they rode in initial silence for a moment.

"I can see you're quite nervous" Ilse remarked. Eren chuckled lightly.

"I suppose it would be weird if one wasn't"

"Definitely. I'm proud of our program but it would be insane to deny this isn't a very nerve-wracking experience"

The elevator opened, and they walked down the hall.

"If it assuages anything, I found Mikasa to be a very sweet girl. Deeply shy, but very sweet"

Not a catfish at least he thought. They came to a stop at apartment 854.

"Here we are" she said, handing to him a key. "The number for reception is on the table if you two need anything. Good luck"

With that, Ilse walked away. Eren looked at the key for a moment, then to the apartment door itself. Right behind it was Mikasa. Right behind it, his new wife.

He breathed in and out a few time. "Okay, Eren. Here we go" he said to himself.

The key slid into the hole, his shaking hand turning it to the left. With a push, the door opened.

There was no one in the living room upon immediate view. Oh no it is a sc-

"Hello?" he heard a soft voice call from a bedroom. He looked towards the hallway where there were three closed doors. The one at the end opened, and there she stood. And Eren was smitten.

She had shoulder length black hair and deep grey eyes. A button up shirt and long skirt that slid against the floor as she walked. She was nervously rubbing her hands as she approached him, a small, lovely smile twitching on her lips.

"Hi" Eren said.

"I..I'm Mikasa" she said, holding her hand out. He shook it.

"Eren. I've been informed I'm your husband"

She chuckled. "Well Eren....where do we go from here?"

"How's about I make us some coffee, and we talk for a bit?"

She smiled lightly again, prompting him to smile back. "I'd like that"

To Be Continued

Chapter Text

"It's been seeming more and more likely she is going to propose to him"

Eren did his best job pretending he wasn't phased or interested in what Armin had just mentioned. Armin noted this, electing to talk more about it after finishing a sip of his tea.

"Chances are by day's end it'll occur"

Eren could feel his friend staring at him, seeking some sort of acknowledgment. A low hum was all he produced, resulting in Armin's frustration to boil over.

"You'll just let it happen then?"

"Why wouldn't it? I can't dictate who she wishes to marry"

"She wanted you, you fool"

"That was over a year ago"

"What could possibly have been going through your head to say no? You've known her and her family your whole life. You know how meaningful it is when the women of their family are confident enough in themselves to admit their feelings and make the ask of marriage. And you refused her so thoroughly. I will never understand that, never" Armin said, sitting back as he shook his head.

"Would you please, just shut up" Eren said. "It's none of my business, and what was done, was done. I have no interest in relitigating what's already occurred"

"And in doing so entrap yourself in a miserable fut-"

"Armin"

The blonde conceded, still shaking his head however as he rose to his feet.

"I have some business to attend to, we can meet for dinner later on if you wish"

Eren didn't say anything back, just casting a look up to him and giving a light nod.

"No"

His answer left her quiet and with a profound confusion on her face.

"W....what?"

Eren himself had an equally confused look on his face. Confusion to himself for saying no? Confusion for him being asked this? He couldn't fully say for some reason.

"I...I said no"

Her confused look was now joined by a palpably sad frown.

"....but why?"

They made eye contact. Both really looking deep into each other.

"I thought....." she began to say.

"I'm sorry. I just- I just don't think-"

"We've known each other all our lives. My best memories are of you and me, happy. And I would see you look at me with these loving eyes-"

"You misinterpreted things then, I'm afraid"

This clearly hurt her more than the rejection. "But-"

"Mikasa. I'm sorry. If I've led you astray, or if I'm being cruel in your view, I'm sorry. But...it's just....not sensical. We, are not sensical"

Silence. Just her looking at him. Shattered, distraught. Embarrassed even. But still profoundly hurt and sad. Eventually, she pursed her lips, nodding curtly.

"Okay. Okay" she said, before turning and walking away. Eren watched as she went, letting out a heavy sigh.

That was the last time they spoke. They would encounter one another in the town, but never speak. Mikasa would not meet his eyeline either. Not that he was expecting her to want to. He just never really realized how much he loved her eyes. How much-

He jumped to his feet, moving to catch up to Armin.

"Would you think I'm too late?" he asked, once he ran in front of Armin. His friend looked at him confused.

"Yes. Very much yes you're too late"

"Please humor me"

"In what way, you just got finished telling me-"

"I know what I said"

Armin sighed. "I can't keep up with you these days"

"Armin....do you think there's any part of her that might still love me?"

"Eren....she's planning to ask-"

"Armin"

The blonde could see the desperation and unstable hope in Eren's eyes.

"....she does still love you, yes"

A flickering smile dawned on Eren's face before he took off running.

"I need to borrow your horse!" he called back, hopping onto Armin's horse.

"Eren! I need to go to town!" he yelled, watching as his friend disappeared down the road. He wanted to be annoyed that he was effectively stranded, but he was just too happy ultimately. Not that he would admit it to Eren.

The Ackerman house came into view. Eren began to gradually bring the horse to a lighter trot as he approached the door.

"Mr. Jaeger?" a man greeted from the steps. "It's been some time"

"Ms. Ackerman wouldn't still be here would she?"

The man nodded, perplexed. "She is in her quarters. For now at least, she's due to depart within the hour"

"I must speak to her"

"She-"

"Please. It's deeply important"

The man relented, allowing him inside. Eren climbed the staircase, seeing the familiar set of doors that would lead to her room. He could feel himself start to lightly tremble, stopping a moment to observe his hand shaking against the bannister.

Should he really go through with this? Waiting an entire year to even speak to her again....it would be a massively big assumption on his part to figure she was even willing to engage with him again period.

He looked past his anxiety and his trembling, completing the climb and standing in front of her doors. His trembling hand finally landed against them, knocking four times.

"One moment!" he could hear her call, sending a slight chill through him. A soft pitter patter approached, and soon those doors were being opened. Her surprised face becoming visible as she got a better look at who it was. She was in one of her many beautiful flowing dresses, a hairbrush in hand. The look of confused hurt she had when they last spoke quickly dawned on her face.

"Eren. Why are you here?"

The frustration in her voice was undeniable.

"I...I needed to speak with you"

"I am incredibly busy today. I can't delay my plans for the day because you dropped by unannounced"

"I know. And I'm sorry about the abruptness of my arrival. It just...it became very clear to me that I needed to talk with you. A talk that I have waited far too late to have. If you would please humor me..."

She was somewhat glaring at him, but seemed to soften a little looking in his eyes. With a sigh, she ushered him inside. He walked to the middle of the room, her closing the doors and approaching him, lightly folding her arms.

"It's important me to first apologize for my seeming refusal to talk to you this past year. The years of you being my dearest friend did not warrant this behavior. It was childish, obnoxious, and objectively despicable. I can never not be sorry for doing that"

She shrugged lightly. "I don't see the need to apologize. It was not something that was an especially important slight to fret about. I...don't really have any opinions about you anymore"

He quirked an eyebrow lightly, not sure if she was downplaying things or genuinely having not caring anymore.

"The last time we spoke....it was when-"

"I asked to marry you and you declined"

"Declined is to suggest I wasn't boorish in how I turned you down. I was needlessly curt and harsh"

She was looking increasingly frustrated. "This was the important matter that needed discussing? A rehashing of the past?"

"We had been close all our lives, for me to not apologize in any way in over a year is disgraceful"

"Why now though?"

"Because I really thought back over it and hated how we parted ways. Hated how I treat you that day. You are perhaps the most special person in my life, and to live life without you apart of it would be a miserable experience. Which is why....through a thick layer of gall and nerve.....I came here hoping that.....perhaps you would ask of me-"

"No"

He was fully expecting refusal. It didn't not sting however upon hearing it.

"I will not ask you again. You gave me your answer a year ago"

He shifted lightly in his sport, shame running through him. 

"I'd like to be able to change my answer"

"That's....absolutely not. You were not kidding when you said your gall was thick. You can't refuse me, shun me for a year, then come back here out of the blue to ask for a second chance. No"

He was feeling more and more the way he would when his mother would scold him when he was young. Only this was much worse.

"....but...why not?" he asked.

This incensed her. "Because that's not fair!" she exclaimed. ""Why not", because that is not fair, Eren. When I asked you I was beyond anxious and worried that what you responded with would happen. But I kidded myself. Because you were my best friend. And we lived such a happy life with one another, with days where I thought we both felt the same way. Felt that same love. But you said no and proved that wrong. You broke my heart, and it left me hurt and confused and lost for a long time. And then all those years seemed to have been made redundant because we became essentially strangers to one another. This year was the worst one I ever lived, and now that I am starting to recover and move on and feel some level of joy again, here you stand. Having the audacity to ask to reverse things. If you had actually wanted to change your mind, you would have done so that day, or the day after. You don't get to have another chance a year later"

His trembling in his legs became too overwhelming so he lower himself down on the side of her bed. He was crushed. He couldn't be confused about this, he couldn't be caught off guard. This was the only possible answer he was going to get. Because really....how dare he?

She had looked away, wanting to stifle her growing indignation. "Why? If I was to believe you, why did you even refuse me to begin with?"

"Because I love you, but I don't love me"

She stared at him, confused.

"What...what does that even mean?"

He sighed lightly.

"When I see you, when I think of you, it's thoughts of joy and happiness and kindness. I think of all the things that are good in this life. You are pure, and warm, and beautiful, and quite frankly in my opinion you're the best of all of us. And there was this thought in my head when you asked me that upset me because why should you wish to be with someone who is nowhere near any of those things? I'm moody, and aggressive, and a poor excuse of an option for you. So I said no. And I regretted it immensely. My brain would try to convince me I didn't. My heart would always make sure to make it known to myself that yes, I do regret it. I was being selfish in that moment, maybe more selfish than I am being right now. I was deciding for you how you saw me. I was hearing murmurs that you had entered a new courtship, and I either pretended to not acknowledge it or pretend I didn't believe it. But I was just wading through denial"

Mikasa was listening intently. He couldn't bare look up.

"The thing that's important to me, is that you are being given the things that will make you happy. Because you deserve that. And if that entails me never again darkening your view I will fulfill that. I waited far too late to bury my self loathing to give this thick skull of mine a shake and realize that my choice was beyond ridiculous. Just a deeply pathetic action on my head coming here. Guess I needed a cold splash of reality to know that definitively"

He wept to himself for a moment. With a sniffle, he wiped at his eyes.

"Just give me a moment to compose myself, and I'll be away"

A silence hung over them. He kept his gaze fixated to the floor, taking breaths in and out. Mikasa, having begun to finally begin to move again, softly crouched down near him. He felt her hands gently place themselves on his face. He looked her way, a much softer, teary eyed look on her face now.

"I'm pathetic" he said quietly. Guilt and shame filling his mind

"No" she said. "A fool. But not a pathetic fool"

She gently caressing his cheek. His tears streamed down his face.

"You'll be late"

"What for?"

"Your proposal"

"Eren, those murmurs were just that. Who even informed you I was planning to propose to anybody?"

A flicker of realization hit him. Armin he thought, almost chiding him gratefully in his head.

Her hands moved off of his face, as Mikasa sat next to him and wrapped her arms around him, pressing close to him.

"Eren. I would like to ask you something"

He shifted lightly, his head resting against hers.

"After everything...you'd still have me?"

"I would. I think someone has to"

The pair chuckled together.

"You've been my dearest friend. The one person I would ever wish to walk through life together with. You shattered me last year, but pieced me back together today. Just like you would when there were days in our youth that I'd be similarly distraught"

"I....I only ever want you to be happy"

"Then please...."

Armin had arrived to the edge of the town, tiredness now coupled with his frustration for making the arduous walk over.

"I'd offer you a ride" he heard a voice from behind him. With a light chuckle, he turned.

"An offer for a ride on my own horse. That's a new one" he remarked. Eren was gently trotting the horse behind him. Armin couldn't stifle the smile growing on his face when he saw Mikasa's head rested atop his shoulder, looking over at him too with a happy smile.

"You tell grand fibs Armin Arlert" Eren said. "But I am grateful for it"

Chapter Text

They worked together in the kitchen, Mikasa preparing two mugs while Eren figured out how this particular coffeemaker worked. They shared a glance, both sharing a slight embarrassed chuckle and blush. Both were still really finding what precisely to say.

"Program really doesn't prepare people on how to break the ice, eh?" Eren finally remarked.

"Trial by fire I suppose. "Wait here, husband will be here shortly" is all they give"

Eren laughed. He removed the coffeepot, Mikasa handing him one of the mugs.

"C-can you promise me you aren't trying to just harvest my organs?"

Eren laughed again. "That was what I was worried about too. I promise, I am not here for your organs"

"I promise too"

He handed her the filled mug. He filled his and followed her into the living room, where they sat down next to each other on the couch.

"So...which of us should introduce ourselves first?" she asked, scratching the back of her neck.

Finishing a sip of his coffee, he set the mug down. "I can if you'd like"

She nodded a little, seeming to lose a little confidence in keeping eye contact. "Sort of...still sorting out what I'm gonna say"

"Fair enough" Eren said. "Well, I was born while my parents were living abroad. So I was born in Switzerland"

"Ooh" Mikasa remarked. "That's a nice place to come into the world"

"Given pictures I've seen, I would agree. Wish like hell I could remember anything about it but we only stuck around for about a year before coming back home here, and it's where I've been since. Ain't Switzerland, but...it's home"

Mikasa hummed in agreement.

"So I went through school, graduated, got my degree. Now I got a job in the medical field"

"Oh? Dr. Jaeger?" Mikasa asked.

"Not really. More in the medical imaging area. Not so much the hero like you'd see in ER or something"

"You still help participate in trying to fix people and make them feel better. That's still very honorable"

He smiled at her. "Thank you"

"When...when my father died..his doctors worked around the clock to help him, make him comfortable and everything"

"I'm sorry to hear that" Eren said.

"He had a heart attack, and though he didn't pull through in the end, the work of the doctors gave him a week longer than he'd have had if they didn't intervene. So I'm always deeply grateful for people in the medical field"

Eren nodded, feeling that with this opening up he can be more open himself.

"My father was a doctor, so I grew up with him feeding me all these stories about his work and then one day he brought me to the hospital, and just seeing everything in motion just really made me determined to be part of it"

He saw her look down lightly.

"How about you? What's your field of profession?"

"Oh. I work from home. I do text based freelancer stuff. You know like proofreading, researching, things of that ilk"

"Right on. So text based, that means just conversing that way?"

She nodded, gaze still pointed down.

"That's the dream job right there" he said. She offered him a little smile but he couldn't help but see it drop away fast.

"i....I generally.....people scare me" she said.

"Oh" Eren said softly. "I hope-"

She looked apologetic. "Sorry, I wasn't meaning to assert anything against you. I knew I was coming to meet you today, so it wasn't something scaring me too bad. Outside of..well, the general nerves"

"General nerves meeting your spouse for the first time, I get it"

She giggled a little. He noted how much he really liked it's sound.

"Yeah, people can be really stressful to deal with" he said. Mikasa shifted a little to hug onto her arms. It was his turn to feel apologetic.

"I feel like I'm prodding way too much, I'm sorry"

She shook her head. "No no, you aren't, I promise. Just...hard to really talk about this"

She straightened up, gripping onto her skirt anxiously.

"Three years ago, when I was in my second year at college....somebody tried to abduct me"

Eren's eyes widened, shocked. "Shit" he said softly.

Mikasa willed herself to continue. "It was midterms time. Me and my friends, we went out after a lengthy study crunch, celebrate our hard work and all that. It was a fun night, but around one in the morning I was drained and just wanted to go home. The others were still wishing to hang around, so we parted ways. I always loved a good late night walk anyway. I..."

She was looking more and more uncomfortable.

"Please Mikasa. If this is too difficult for you-"

"I'm okay. It's very very hard to talk about, but you should really know this"

Eren nodded. Mikasa took a sip of her coffee before continuing.

"I'd walked a couple blocks. I could see my dorm a little ways away. The street was pretty bare and quiet. I was about to cross the road when.....one arm wrapped around me while a hand also covered my mouth, and dragged me backwards to the alley nearby. The hand had slapped tape over my lips so even when it moved away I couldn't scream out. I wonder if I'd even have been able to, I was just so petrified and confused. I got pinned down to the ground. I struggled against them as they tried to flip me over onto my stomach. They won eventually, and I felt my hands get ziptied together. Here I was now, tied up, mouth covered and this person just pinning me down to the ground with his hand"

Eren was feeling sick and shocked.

Mikasa was blinking a few tears away, the memory quite clearly still so raw to recount. "He...he was whispering these threats to me. That he we were going to his van and if I tried to run away he was going to kill me. Before I knew it I was now being picked up and escorted to the other end of the alley. I shudder to think what waited for me in that van. Where I was going. What he was...."

Eren wanted to comfort her, but he did not deem it wise to hug her or touch her shoulder. They were still only just getting to know one another. On top of that, no words could really assuage what she was feeling right now.

"How...how did you get away?" he asked softly.

"As luck had it, the kidnapper parked his van too far into the road. We came out of the alley, and I saw the cop. And he saw us. I got shoved to the floor and the kidnapper ran, cop chasing after him. He came back a few minutes later. He managed to get away"

Eren quietly seethed over that.

"I can see that angers you. Luckily, a week later, they arrested somebody in that area for the same crime. He confessed to other attempts, including mine. There was solace in that...but my piece of mind was just....shattered. I can't deal with being out in public anymore. There's this gnawing fear in me just going to the store. I can't go out for walks anymore, I've not gone out with friends. So, I've become a recluse. My mother, she's passed on now too, and my college friends, they understood but at a certain point moved on with their lives and I heard from them less and less until not at all. So it was just me. And with that fear of people, a depression about feeling lonely handily reared it's head. After three years of largely avoiding the world, I just had enough. I felt too guilty to reconnect to my old friends, my family even. One night I see this advert for this program-"

"And curiosity and that loneliness got to you?" Eren said. Her head shot up, nodding.

"Exactly"

"It's...it's how I felt as well. It was just way too quiet in my life at the end of the day"

She smiled softly. "And our solutions wind up being marrying a total stranger"

"Is it possible we're out of our minds?"

She giggled again. "It can't be ruled out I suppose"

"For what it's worth....I'm not thinking I made a bad choice"

"...me too"

Eren made the choice to be the first to make a meal. He never fancied himself a culinary expert, and generally he got by with copious amounts of cereal and bagels. However, it seemed Mikasa was enjoying the spaghetti and meatballs he whipped up. Or at the least wasn't making it known whether it sucked or not.

The apartment had two bedrooms, so it was decided they sleep separately for now. Mikasa had gone to her bedroom, so Eren went to the bathroom. He removed his shirt and threw it into the laundry bin before turning to brush his teeth.

"Oh!" he heard softly, turning to see an embarrassed and blushing Mikasa for a split moment before she quickly closed the door. "I'm sorry, force of-"

"It's alright, don't worry" he assured. "Better you walk in on me than me on you, the way I see it"

He finished brushing. Mikasa was still stood outside the door when he exited, her gaze looking downward as she still felt embarrassed.

"Sorry again" she said quietly.

"Like I said, don't worry about it" he said, patting her lightly on the shoulder. "I'll see you tomorrow, yeah"

She nodded. "See you tomorrow"

The second day was another one of getting to know each other. With the bulk of their backgrounds and their baggage put out there already, it was more learning about one another's interests, quirks, and favorite things.

"Favorite food?" Mikasa asked.

"Can't ever go wrong with a cheeseburger" Eren said. "Well, unless there's onion on it. Hate onions"

"Me too. They'd pop up in soups I'd be eating alot, and just always killed my appetite"

"I'm liking the growing number of similarities" Eren said.

"Same"

"What about your favorite food?"

"I love a good stir fry. Any kind is good, but I especially love beef and broccoli, or a black pepper chicken one"

"Duly noted"

Mikasa thought about her next question. "You have a dream vacation?"

Eren nodded. "I'd love to one day take a boat out to the Pacific, sail around to Australia and New Zealand, explore every nook and cranny of there because I loved Lord of the Rings. And then after sail up to Japan"

"It's a lovely country. My mother, she was born there, she'd take me over every other summer. Hope to go back again one day, if I can someday muster the courage to be out and about again"

Eren felt sad as he watched her look almost longingly out the window. He had flickers of desire to invite her to go outside with him for a walk or to go out for dinner, but he had decided that she would be the one to make that kind of choice. They were still in the getting to know you phase, he was certainly not going to force her out of her comfort zone or to confront this clearly still paralyzing fear.

Shaking her head, she looked back to him with a smile. "How about movies? Any favorite genres?"

Eren thought to himself. "I like science fiction, westerns.....and costume dramas"

Mikasa looked amused. He shrugged.

"I like me a good Jane Austen film"

"No judging, I promise. I like them too. But I also like westerns. Wanna see if there's one on TV right now?"

Eren nodded. He went over to join Mikasa on the couch. They managed to find one and settled in for it's lengthy runtime. He noticed, and found himself really liking her snuggling next to him.

"Eren?"

He looked up to her from his cereal. It was their third day together now.

"Yeah, Mikasa?"

"....I think...I think I'd like to go for a walk somewhere today"

He was surprised. "Yeah?"

She nodded. "I'd...I'd like to do something fun with you. And there's only so much to do in here"

He nodded. "As long as you're sure"

"You know of anywhere good?"

"Trost Park did a recent overhaul. Got a nice trail leading to an area with some good food stalls. There's a dude there who serves his homemade ice cream"

This seemed to perk her up. "I'd love some ice cream"

"Alright. Lemme know when you wanna go"

They finished their breakfast, Eren taking care of the dishes while Mikasa went to get ready. He was feeling pretty excited. As happy as he was Mikasa was looking to break out of her fears, he was also excited as this was to be their first proper date. Once he was finished the dishes he went to his room. He put on a cleaner shirt, and with a grin to himself he pulled out his favorite leather jacket from the closet. Most of his dates would wind up unsuccessful, but there was always one constant: that he looked good in this jacket.

He slid it on and returned to the living room. Mikasa had also finished getting ready by then, and just like when he first saw her, he was smitten. She wore a thin black turtleneck, adorned by her own leather jacket, and another of her long skirts, black to match the set. A pair of hoop earrings peeked out through her hair.

She blushed lightly. "I'm too dressed up, aren't I"

He waved his hand in disagreement. "No no, you look amazing"

She smiled. "Thank you"

"If anything, I'm underdressed"

Mikasa shook her head. "Nah, you're good. We managed to find ourselves matching"

She took hold of his jacket lapels to straighten it out a bit.

"Good to go?" he asked.

Though she cast a lightly nervous look to the door, she nodded. Eren moved towards the door and pulled it open. Mikasa took a breath in before walking out to the hall. She would seem to be a bit more anxious as they entered the elevator. He could feel her lightly take hold of his arm as they descended.

"Sorry" she said, letting go.

"If you need to, you can go ahead and hold onto my arm as much as you need to. And as I've said, anytime you're feeling overwhelmed, we can head back"

She smiled at him.

"Thank you" she said, once again wrapping her arm around his.

She kept a loose hold of his arm the entire time, but she was alot less anxious when they got to the park. She became very enamored with the way the park looked and talked alot about the tree and flowers they took in. She was very clearly passionate about nature, and hadn't had a means of sharing it with anybody for some time.

After a bit more nature talk, they began just talking about anything, and through that Eren discovered she was pretty funny. She'd rattle off a good zinger or story, and she would laugh at what he would share. She thinks I'm funny he thought, almost proudly.

They arrived at the area Eren had mentioned, with the ice cream cart particularly busy this nice day.

"What flavor you wanting?" Eren asked.

"I've got that problem where I love just about any flavor"

"Even salted peppermint?"

She gave him a confused grimace. "Who-"

"It was one of the flavors at the store near our school. No one ever got it. We learned eventually it was the owner's favorite"

"I suppose I can't say I love any flavor now"

"I think I'm getting brownie explosion" Eren said. Mikasa gasped a little.

"They have strawberry chocolate chip! That's the one I'm getting"

Eren bought their respective cones. For a one scoop, it was a particularly massive scoop. He handed Mikasa's to her, and they walked towards an empty bench to eat.

"This'll probably be my sugar quota for the week" Eren remarked, looking over the size of the cone.

"It's been so long since I've had this" Mikasa remarked after taking a lick. "Was worried it was completely discontinued"

"I've never tried it before"

She held it out to him. "Trade licks?"

He nodded, offering her his brownie cone in exchange. He could see why she enjoyed this flavor. He was half tempted to take another lick but didn't take the liberty.

"I like yours, though it's a bit sweet for me" she remarked as they traded back.

"Can't argue with that. I can only blame my mother for buying that one tub that one time. Been addicted to it ever since"

They fell into a cozy silence, eating and sharing each others cones. Every so often he'd look to her, seeing her pressed close against him. He felt simultaneous comfort and flushing, this being the first time in some time a girl was cozying up to him. He mulled if this was a time to see how a more direct cuddle would land. They'd-

"O-oh. It's getting dark" he heard her say nervously. He looked up, the sky sure enough beginning to become less and less bright. Looking back to her, that look of nervousness was back.

"Here. Let's head back"

He rose, her standing with him and latching to his arm. They made their way down the path, the lights lining the way lighting up as they went.

"Hey. Today was a good day, huh?"

"I..it was, wasn't it?"

"You'd probably be well and good to be out and about in the daytime, that's for-"

Abruptly, a man with a camera loudly jumped out in front of them.

"HEY, WHAT'S UP" he exclaimed. Some douchebag vlogger Eren was thinking. However, the annoyance he was feeling turned to anger upon hearing the soft startled cry Mikasa sounded as she pressed her face into his arm. This utter asshat more than likely set her back some with this shit. And all Eren wanted to do was beat the crap out of him. But he knew it would do absolutely nothing to better the situation.

Glaring, Eren spoke. "Turn the camera off"

"What?" the person asked. Eren couldn't tell if this was him being obtuse or not.

"Turn the fucking camera off. Stop filming"

"Why? This is my content"

"Do you not see how badly you scared my wife with your bullshit?" Eren said, gesturing to Mikasa. He was fully prepared for the idiot to double down, given how most of these kind of vloggers being in their own little worlds and refusing to admit fault for anything, but to his surprise, the vlogger looked ashamed, closing his phone and pocketing it.

"S-sorry ma'am" he said quickly before leaving. Eren glared after him until he was out of sight. His attention then turned squarely to Mikasa, lightly shaking her shoulder.

"Hey. Mikasa. Mikasa he's gone"

She still didn't look back up. He leaned down a little.

"Mika. He's gone"

She finally looked to him, and the teary, sad frown on her face really hurt his heart. The vlogger might not have been malicious, but the fucking idiot more than likely set her back alot.

"Let's get you back" he said.

They'd returned a few hours ago, with Mikasa making a beeline for her room. He left her be, still feeling he shouldn't force himself too much into it. But he was just so sad for her. Today she showed a funny, intelligent and deeply engaging part of her, a part of her he really wished to see more of. But this trauma she never deserved to have put onto her robbed her of her confidence and her sense of security. And the moment there's some kind of moving beyond it...

It was getting around 9:30 now. He got up to prepare something quick to eat for dinner. Before he turned into the kitchen, he looked over to her door. Still wishing to give her space, he felt still to ask if she was hungry.

"Mikasa?" he asked, softly knocking on the door. "I'm gonna make something for supper here. I'll leave you some on the stove-"

"Eren?" he heard.

"Yeah, Mikasa?"

"C...could you come in for a minute?"

He thought a moment before pushing the door open. She was sat on her bed, now dressed in her sleep clothes.

"Hey" he said softly.

"I wanted to thank you for today. And, to apologize-"

"Apologize? What possibly for?"

"I just....I feel as if I'm trying to force myself to feel okay again. I really want to feel myself again. But each time the thought enters my head I scared myself out of it. And then, today, when I try to actually do it....it feels like my mind and the world are working to keep me boxed into being reclusive, and I hate that it seems to be working, because all I can feel I can do about it is to just...let it be this way"

Eren sat on the edge of her bed. When he did, she reached forward.

"But...I don't want to do that. You....you make me want to keep pushing through. I really thought, when I first arrived here I would come away thinking it was a waste of time, but I met you, I got to know you, and after all these years of fretting and being uncertain I'm dead certain of one thing.....getting randomly paired up with you to marry was not a mistake"

He blushed lightly. "Getting randomly paired up with you to marry was not a mistake for me either. Quite honestly, you're the best thing to happen to me in some time"

They looked at one another for a moment. Mikasa scooted closer to him.

"You called me your wife back there"

"I did?"

She nodded. "Think it was the first time you called me that"

"Huh. Guess I figured, we weren't gonna use those terms unless we knew we'd be sticking around for each other. So-"

"I'm not mad. My husband called me his wife. It's flattering"

He blushed more, hearing her call him husband for the first time. She then leaned in and nuzzled her cheek against his.

"May only be three days in, but I'm going to stick around"

"Me too"

Once again, their eyes locked onto the other.

"May...may I kiss you?" he asked. She nodded.

They locked lips. Mikasa's hands gingerly placed themselves onto his face while he wrapped his arms around her. They kissed for a minute before they finally parted.

"Thanks again for today" she said.

"You're more than welcome"

They let each other go, Eren standing up and moving towards the door.

"Like I said, I can leave you some-"

"Actually, I think it's my turn to cook" she said, standing from the bed herself. "You have any issues with chili?"

"I guess we can find out" he said teasingly.

Chapter Text

"Alrighty" Eren announced, heading towards the front door from the hall. "Running to the store, need-"

He looked to his fiancé in the living room. She was curled up on the couch working away on something. She had her thin framed glasses on, using them largely for reading. Looking up his way with a quizzical look prompted him to snicker.

"What?" she asked confused.

"Nothing, honestly" he said, still giggling to himself slightly.

She frowned. "Eren you'd better not be laughing at my glasses again"

"I'm not, honest! It's just...not often you wear them"

"Because it's only for reading. And even then I try not to wear them cause you turn into the giggling idiot you are right now. Hell, you laugh, you're gonna need a pair yourself soon, the amount of time you're looking at the computer or your phone"

Eren didn't respond, as he was trying to stop giggling. He didn't mean to be bullying, it just was a sight that never not seemed to send him into a bit of laughter.

Having enough, Mikasa hopped up to her feet, removing her glasses.

"Alright, let's see how you look in glasses. Let me have a chuckle"

"Oh Mikasa, I'm just teasing!"

She ignored him, shooing his hand away and placing her glasses on his face. Eren stood in place, adjusting to them.

"There always this ticklish feeling on your nose?" he asked. "How-"

He looked over to Mikasa, who was silent.

"Mikasa? What's up?"

She...seemed to be fighting against a deepening blush.

"I really look good in glasses, don't I?" he asked.

"Sh-shut up. Go to the store" she said, sounding very embarrassed.

"I may just keep these on"

She groaned. "Eren-"

"If I get that reaction from you, I'm curious what the reaction would be from-"

The speed she moved back to him to snatch her glasses back was something that stood out to him. He grinned.

"Eren, if you don't go-"

"I'm going I'm going"

Chapter Text

"Still keeping his distance, is he?"

Mikasa had been deep in thought, looking out to the distance. The voice of Reiner snapped her attention back, and she looked up at him, a soft nod.

"Can't say I blame him, given Bert and I doing similar. Only...that was months ago now"

She looked back to where she had been. In the distance they saw him near the lake, chopping wood. They, all of them, had passed on from the old life. The world of titans, one of pain and death and chaos moved on from. Now, Mikasa found herself here. This beautiful lake surrounded by breathtaking mountains, soft green glass and bright blue skies all the time. And with her, all her old friends from the Survey Corps: Connie, Jean, Sasha, Historia, Ymir, Marco and a slew of others lost over the years. More senior members of the Corps: Hange, Erwin....Levi. Parts of her still held those hold stoney grudges, but she was still happy ultimately he was here. Reiner, Bertolt, Annie, the three who'd betrayed them, but over the years the ability to let that go, work together to put an end to the Rumbling, understanding their own individual plights and now here together, relations restored to the friendly nature of their training days. Armin too of course, her dear friend to the end. And Eren.....

She longed to have seen him again. And her heart soared when she did spot him, watching them from afar. But, he never came over to them. He wouldn't speak to them. And it make her heart sink. She could tell why. He felt irredeemable. That no one down at the lake wished to ever have anything to do with him. That he forever destroyed their bonds.

Reiner crouched down. "I'd surely be the one fretting over if he forgave me. And....forgive me if I'm making assumptions....you'd forgive him in a heartbeat"

Mikasa thought about that to herself. She'd dedicated the remainder of her days in the old life remembering him, wishing for this opportunity. And now it was here. And even with him dodging her....part of her was still hurt. Still angry even.

"I...I don't know, if I'm being honest" she finally said. "He...he's still doing the one thing I wanted him to not do"

"...go away from you?"

She nodded softly, a smidge of embarrassment at her open book nature.

"Do...do all of you forgive..."

"I can't speak for everyone. But when he comes up, they talk of missing him"

"We do"

Jean, Connie and Sasha had come over to join them.

"We'd spent the time we had left in the old life coming to terms fully with everything. Hated him. Understood him. Was torn, and after some time found I could forgive him" Connie said.

"He really not going to come over?" Sasha asked, sounding pretty sad.

"I couldn't imagine the guilt going through him" Jean said. "What he'd done, what he'd said..."

Mikasa gingerly moved her precious scarf over her mouth, feeling sick remembering that horrible day at the restaurant.

"I guess...it's better knowing it's guilt motivating this than an actual hatred for anyone of us. Some of us in particular" Jean continued. "Besides, it can only go for so long before he makes contact"

She supposed he had a point there.

"Mikasa, it's such a nice day, please come swimming with me" Sasha pleaded, tugging at her sleeve.

Though her mind was still preoccupied with Eren, Mikasa agreed.

There was great progress being made over the course of several days in constructing a village of sorts for their little commune. Working together to build cabins. Mikasa could see that Eren seemed to be doing similar on the other side of the lake. Much to her disappointment, he was still keeping his distance.

"You're staring again" Armin remarked to her.

She looked up to him, his hand stretched out towards her to hand him the mallet he had her hold, while also holding him steady on the ladder.

"Sorry" she said quietly, handing him the mallet, looking away a little in embarrassment.

"It's okay. I miss him too"

She glanced again over to Eren's side of the lake, Armin now hammering down on the tile he was setting in place.

"We....we forgave him back then....didn't we?" she asked.

Armin stopped, thinking to himself. "I....think? We had final moments with him, in paths. We were able to see there what he was truly feeling. But...I don't think we necessarily forgave him, no. At the least, I didn't verbatim say it"

"...do you forgive him then?"

Armin stayed silent for a moment. "I think I do ultimately. Though I do hate what he did, I know that he didn't truly wish to do it. Although, I do resent how cowardly he's being right now, hiding away all day, showing up at night-"

Her gaze shot up to him. "What?"

"You think it's Connie catching all that fish? Eren sneaks over when it's dark and leaves us some stuff. Fish, firewood..."

He spun the mallet around a little. "Tools. He's been quietly helping us with supplies and hoping we won't notice. But I spotted him a few nights ago. He didn't see me"

Armin resumed his work.

"Switch?" Mikasa asked.

"Please"

He slid down the ladder, stepping aside to allow Mikasa to take his place atop it. He then handed her the mallet.

"You don't have to forgive him. If that's what you feel"

His words surprised her. "W...what?"

"You've been asking everyone about this recently. I think you've been torn"

"I-"

"Mikasa, he's not exactly giving you a reason to hold onto him, is he?"

"I could go-"

"Mikasa"

She saw this particular glimmer in his eye. It's up to him he was communicating.

She didn't respond, returning focus back to her work.

He wasn't visible today. Even then, Mikasa was seated on the grass, hugging onto her knees and looking over there.

I do forgive you she thought to herself. I do forgive you. I just want to talk to you again. Please talk to me again.

She'd been seated for a few hours now, something that hadn't gone unnoticed by Levi. Her being so distracted frustrated him, as with her the work needing doing was done much quicker.

"Oi" he said softly, approaching her. "Even with Reiner, Connie is over his head putting that dock together. Go help them"

She didn't immediately respond.

"Please" he said.

Looking his way, as this might've been the first time he'd ever said please to her, she nodded. She got up to her feet and headed over to the mentioned fishing dock. Levi saw her off before turning his focus over to Eren's side of the lake himself.

"Connie please hold the pole in place" Mikasa asked.

"I promise I'm trying" he said. "These poles are like logs"

"Only if you lack the arm strength" Reiner teased.

A commotion could be heard, and the three looked over. Levi was approaching, with...Eren tucked under his arm. Mikasa was shocked, making her way over to meet Levi. They stopped in front of one another, and Levi lightly dropped Eren onto the ground. Armin, Jean and Sasha hurried over to witness.

"Cut the shit, Yeager. We aren't gunning to kill you or anything. You wouldn't die anyway. Now stop hiding and reconnect. Then you can starting helping out more around here"

He turned and walked away. Mikasa's eyes were pointed down to Eren, who was on his hands and knees, still not looking up.

"H-hey Eren" Connie said. "It's good to see you"

Eren remained in place.

"He's not lying. We've been really hoping to see you man" Jean said. "All of what happened, all that aggro and all that madness...despite it all we still want you around man"

"Yeah Eren! I'm so glad to see you!" Sasha exclaimed.

Not looking up, Eren spoke. "I....I got you killed. You died because of me"

"Well...that was then though. I'm here, we're both here. Let's have some good times again!"

Reiner stepped forward. "I'm in no place to say anything like "I forgive you" because I still wonder if I deserve forgiveness myself. I just know that the world of Marley and Eldia and Paradis, all these different names, these means of demonizing people, that world is gone. Whatever this place is, it's a new world. One I can only hope we can move forward being the friends I wish I had kept with, instead of what we became"

Armin crouched down next to Eren. "You hear that, Eren? We don't want you hiding away over there. We want you here. What happened then was then"

"I...I don't-" Eren tried to say, his gaze glued to the grass.

"Eren" Mikasa said softly. A soft, shaky inhale was heard from him. She crouched down, her hand gently cradling his chin, pointing his head up to face her.

"Eren" she said again, a tiny happy smile on her face. This prompted him to sob, and she quickly moved to hug tightly onto him, his arms gripping around her.

By the time the nighttime fell, all burdens were unspooled and Eren was sitting with everyone around the fire, happily listening to the banter and jokes, Mikasa tucked into his lap and his arms hugging onto her, cradling her preciously and not wanting to let her go. She wasn't really focusing on the discussion, she was just looking up at Eren, seeing the smile on his face she had longed to see again. A level of contentment she had never experienced before flowed through her.

"Say Eren. What exactly are you building over there anyway?" Jean asked.

Eren looked a little embarrassed. "Ah...well, it's supposed to be a cabin. There's a specific vision I have for it that I just keeping not achieving. It always looks wrong"

"Well, you always were the sloppiest camp builder" Connie teased. The group laughed, Eren slightly did too, though he still looked embarrassed.

"Hey" Mikasa said quietly.

His attention diverted straight towards her. His hand sliding onto her cheek. "Hey"

"You know why you're having trouble with the cabin?"

"Why's that?"

Nuzzling against his chest, she smiled at him. "We built it together"

His eyes watered, and he leaned down to kiss her.

"I want to say this. For not saying it back then, and will be said everyday going forward. I love you Mikasa"

"I love you too Eren"

Alternate Ending

This is an alternate means of Eren being reconnected to the others.

"So, do you think this place also has oceans and such?" Jean asked, as he and Armin were exploring the surrounding forest for firewood.

"Well, it's a decent notion. Obviously at some point we'd need to decide whether to go out exploring. Right now that's a ways away, we're still-"

A soft weeping interrupted their conversation, the two men exchanging confused looks as they went to go find the source. Armin felt he could recognize the sound. And upon peering around a bush, his instinct is proven correct. Eren sat crying.

"Eren?" he asked, startling him to his feet. The three stood at one another, with Armin combating the sense of emotion in him. This was the first time they'd talked again after all.

"Eren, you...you okay?" Jean asked.

Eren tried to compose himself, wiping at his eyes. "H...hey"

"Eren...why are you out here?" Armin asked.

Eren swallowed, his efforts to compose himself ultimately failing and starting to cry again. "I don't know Armin. I really don't know why I'm here. I don't deserve it-"

Armin held up his hands. "Eren I'm meaning here, in the woods"

".....oh"

He took a seat back on the ground. Armin and Jean exchanged looks before crouching next to him.

"You don't feel you belong here?" Jean asked.

Eren shook his head.

"Why though?"

"Because! What I did to all of you, what I did to so many people....this is peace, and paradise, and something those who don't execute a genocide get. I don't. I shouldn't"

"So as a a result you stay away?" Armin asked.

"I betrayed you guys"

"We all saw why what happened happened" Jean said. "I'm by no means the authority on morals, but whoever, whatever is looked at you and didn't think you merited burning in some fiery hell for eternity. You got put here"

Eren didn't look back up.

"You don't agree?" Armin asked.

"I....I don't think it changes anything. Because I am struggling to even look at you guys in the eye. I put you all through such hell. Armin, I assaulted you-"

"Er-"

"And Mikasa....Mik...."

At this he started crying harder. Armin, despite feeling for his friend, smiled softly.

"So you wanting to be with her wasn't some emotional outburst"

Eren shook his head. "I miss her so much. I wanna hug her and tell her how sorry I am and how much I missed her. But I just can't face her.."

He was still talking but Armin and Jean looked to one another. Armin nudged his head and Jean nodded, understanding what he was meaning. Jean quietly slipped away while Armin continued talking to Eren.

"Sasha...are you overtasting the soup again?" Marco asked. The girl in question didn't acknowledge him, stirring away hoping he'd leave. Mikasa was helping Levi stoke the firepit when they saw Jean coming over.

"Hi Jean. Tell Armin it's still-" Mikasa began to say when Jean softly tapped her on the arm.

"Mikasa, we ran into Eren out there"

She looked surprised. "Wh..what-"

"Come with me"

Jean was leading Mikasa to the forest.

"We just found him out there. Not sure what he had been doing, but we heard him crying-"

Mikasa filled with concern. "Crying? Is he alright?"

Jean smiled, feeling nostalgia for Mikasa's trademark worry rearing it's head. "He's just very lonely. He doesn't believe he deserves to be here, but he desperately wants to see us again, and he especially wants to be with you again, but he's very certain we can't forgive him"

Mikasa began tearing up. Jean gently hugged against her as they walked.

"I've missed him so much" she said.

"He's said as much himself"

"I wish he'd have just.."

"Hey, tell him yourself" he said, gesturing towards them. He parted the bush. Eren and Armin looked their way. Eren cried again seeing her and the others.

With a gentle push from Jean, Mikasa went over to him. She knelt in front of him and took hold of his hands.

"Oh Eren. I've been hoping for this moment for so very long"

"I'm....so fucking sorry Mika...I didn't want to go away from you. But it seemed..."

He was crying again and Mikasa maneuvered herself to hug onto him. Armin motioned for Jean and himself to leave them alone for a moment. They made their way back to camp. Mikasa continued her hug, Eren clutching similarly to her.

"I really wanted to live that quiet life with you Mikasa" he said mournfully. "All that time I would get frustrated about the thought, I finally realized how badly I wanted it. When it was way too late"

"Eren. We may not have had it back then, but let us have it here now. I really really miss you Eren. And it makes me so sad you would not come over to see us"

"Sorry-"

Mikasa nuzzled her head against his, wanting him to look at her. He finally did, the pair looking deep into each others eyes.

"No more apologies, Eren. Please…please come be with me"

Eren nodded, and Mikasa leaned in to kiss him.

"Think he will finally come over?" Sasha asked, having joined the others looking towards the forest, waiting to see the result.

"I'm hoping so" Marco replied. "It was such a thrill getting to see you all again. It would be great to complete the set"

"Eren just always saw himself the martyr" Jean said. "He really needs to let that go. For his sake and for the sake of Mikasa"

Armin nodded quietly, looking intently to the woods. He smiled widely when finally, he saw Eren walking towards them, a positively beaming Mikasa piggybacking on him and waving over.

Chapter Text

His heart sunk when he pulled up to the concert hall, and the last of the patrons were filing out, the front lights being turned off.

Should I even fucking bother trying to apologize he thought to himself. Tonight was Mikasa's big showcase. A featured singer in a pretty major performance. She invited everyone she cared for. Their friends, Armin, their best friend. And him, supposedly her loving and supporting boyfriend. But he'd not been supporting recently, frequently missing dates and being late from work. Now, a huge deal for her, something she was excited to show him. He fucking missed it.

He turned his car off. Better to go speak to her now then to cowardly go home and wait for her to storm in heartbroken. 

"Oh, sir, the concert is over" an usher said to him, initially blocking his path.

"It's okay. I'm here to pick up one of the performers" he said dully and dejectedly. The usher nodded and stepped away. He could see a small pool of journalist and photographers scratching away at their reviews, calling their editors and such. He bumped into one of them.

"Oh. Sorry" Eren said.

"No worries"

"What'd- what's you think of the show?" Eren asked.

The reviewer looked impressed. "Honestly? Was one of the best concerts from this choir I've seen in some time"

This thoroughly rubbed salt into his wound. "That's...good to hear. And uh...there was a showcase performer-"

"Oh, Miss Ackerman? She was phenomenal. That voice...it's so beautiful. Truly a once in a lifetime experience"

And I didn't get to hear it

"Well...I look forward to the full review" Eren said before heading to the main hall. Outside hung a poster, a big SOLD OUT sticker slapped onto it. Scanning, he could see her on it, a small floating head but beautiful as ever. Looking to the stage doors, he took a breath and opened them.

The hall was of course empty. A stagehand off in the background gathering up some of the chairs. Fishing through his pocket as he walked down the aisle, he produced the uncut ticket given just for him, and read his seat assignment 2A.

He walked all the way down to the second row and took the seat. Just looking around the hall, he could visualize how thoroughly packed this place must've been. And how, with his seat's position was, his absence sticking out like a sore thumb.

Asshole he scolded to himself. A clacking of heels drew his attention, the clacking quieting down as he looked up. There she was. A cold indifferent tone was painfully evident, undertones of profound hurt as well.

"Hi" was all he could muster.

"Doors opened at 7" she said flatly. She'd come onto the stage to collect her songbook from the stand. He couldn't help but note the snatching of it as opposed to a normal picking up. She was holding back her anger like crazy.

"I-"

"Doors opened at 7. Show started at 730 and finished at 10. It is now...." she looked at her phone. "10:52. So you must've been more interested in the post-concert clean up"

"I wanted to be here"

She looked over at him, a soft shrug. "Yet you weren't"

He hung his head in shame.

"You realize how hurtful it was to see your empty seat?"

"I can't begin to imagine" he said somberly.

"I looked over the entire row. I saw Levi, I saw Jean and Sasha and Annie. Connie and Armin. I could see your mother, trying hard to contain herself. And then, I look to where I thought you'd be....and you aren't there. I just...couldn't believe it"

"Is...is there anything I can do to make up-"

Mikasa shook her head. "Eren. Really?"

Why did you even consider saying that? he angrily thought to himself.

"Eren, tonight was important to me. Tonight was a special night. One I was excited to share with you. Tonight was even supposed to be one you were to make up for another missed engagement, another broken promise"

"Mika-"

She held her hand up to stop him. "Eren...I'm sorry. But tonight...tonight was your last chance"

His heart sunk deeper.

Her eyes were starting to sting. "You just keep breaking my heart. And I know there's no malice to it, but that just...makes it hurt more. I can't keep feeling this hurt Eren. So I'm sorry, but there's nothing to be done to make up for it. It's just too late"

The two were quiet for a moment. Mikasa, blinking away tears, began to walk away.

"I really tried to be here" Eren said. Mikasa sighed, stopping and looking back to him before looking forward again and leaving the stage. Eren sunk down in his seat.

It's only fair, Yeager. You keep-

His cellphone buzzing interrupted his train of thought. Dread trickled through him as he figured who it likely was. Sure enough, reading Work on his phone added to his misery. With a sigh, he answered.

"Hey"

"Yeager, you'd better have gotten those program documents restored and rewritten before you left"

"I got the bulk of them"

"The "bulk"? Yeager I fucking said all of them"

"I was going to head in early tomorrow-"

"Yeager, that doesn't help me right now. I said all documents. ALL. Not "the bulk". Are you stupid?"

"I'm-"

"These fucking documents are due end of tomorrow, why the hell are you putting it off to tomorrow morning?! Are you slow in the head? Are you really just fucking stupid or something?!"

"Sir I already stayed as late as I could to get them done, if you let me ex-"

"Don't even try. You know what, I'd like you to say it"

"Sir?-"

"Yeager I wanna hear the words I'm fucking stupid and I'm sorry come from your mouth right now"

Eren sighed. "Sir, I'm fucking stupid, and I'm sorry"

"Say I'm REALLY fucking stupid"

Another sigh. "I'm really fucking stupid. What can I say"

"Well it's good we agree then. Those documents better be done by 12 tomorrow. Is that possible with your limited capabilities, or should we look into getting you a helper?"

Eren was blinking furiously. "It'll be done sir. I promise"

A little scoff sounded. "I always get saddled with the idiots"

The phone clicked off. He wanted to throw the thing but he opted not to.

"Eren?"

He froze. Looking up, Mikasa was standing back onstage, a deep concern on her face.

"Eren who on Earth was talking to you like that?"

Eren looked around. "Acoustics really that-"

"You answered through speakerphone"

Immense embarrassment now filtered through him, making out a stagehand pulling a slight face before he exited the room. Mikasa walked closer.

"Eren was that your boss? Is he always this verbally abusive to you?"

"It's...nothing worth-"

She glared at him. "I strongly beg to differ, Eren. He does not get to talk like that to you. Nobody should talk to anyone like that. Ever"

Eren offered a half-hearted nod, looking down to the floor.

"So...I guess that explains tonight" she said. He however shook his head.

"It's no excuse though. Me being shit at my job doesn't mean I can keep letting you down. I just can't seem to keep fucking things up, I keep disappointing you, I keep bungling something at work or it's never good enough, and even then it doesn't prevent someone at work screaming at me, or doesn't prevent losing you, it's just..." he stopped, his lip quivering. "I just....I just really wanted to be here tonight. I needed to be here tonight"

He sunk down further in his seat. Mikasa's heart broke at how beaten down he looked. He looked too defeated to even cry. She crouched down slightly to meet his eyeline.

"Eren. I'd like you to quit tomorrow"

His eyes met hers.

"I will not tolerate you working for that miserable man. We'll be okay for awhile, so please Eren"

Eren nodded. "I will"

"And you're never going to lose me"

He looked hopeful. "I'm...not too late?"

She offered him a soft smile. "No"

He gave her a smile back. "I'll work damn hard to never get to that point again"

The pair were silent a moment, both happy with the rift being mended.

"A critic in the lobby said you were phenomenal" Eren said.

Mikasa blushed. "Yeah?"

Eren nodded. "He described it as a once in a lifetime experience"

She could hear the disappointment in his voice despite wanting it to praise her.

"Well...it doesn't have to be. I can sing it for you now if you want"

This seemed to perk him right up, a little smile grew on his face and his eyes glossed lightly as he sat up straighter. "Oh, I'd love that"

She smiled before standing up straight. With a clearing of her throat, she started to sing, and from the first note, Eren vowed to himself he'd never miss another performance.

Chapter Text

"She's getting married tomorrow. She's incorporating elements of Shinto wedding traditions. Look" Armin said, showing Eren the photo he received from her. She was dressed in a beautiful wedding kimono, a traditional tsunokakushi adorning her head.

Eren just gave a slight side-eye to Armin. He and Armin reunited in this new life in their youth, whereas Mikasa was born a city over. They'd learn this through happenstance, as Armin and Mikasa ran into each other during university, but Eren, still ashamed of what he did in the previous life, elected to not reunite with Mikasa, and instructed Armin to not tell her about him being there. This was a decision Armin did not at all support, as he saw how lost Eren was without Mikasa, and vice versa. So, Mikasa went on with her life.

"I'm happy for her" Eren simply said, turning to begin washing dishes.

"That an air of disingenuousness I detect?" Armin remarked.

"Why would I not be happy she's happy?"

"That's not the part I was getting at. You're happy she's happy, but you're not happy you're not living life with her. And don't think I forgot about that night, when you detailed to me this vivid dream about your wedding to her. How it made you so happy, and devastated you when you woke up. You aren't fooling me"

Eren chose not to respond, focusing on his chore. Armin continued to prod.

"Does she not look beautiful in that picture?"

"Of course she does, that's not in dispute"

"Do you not still love her?"

The plate in his hand clattered back to the sink. "Armin!....of course I am. But I just...I can't ever face her again after what I did. She deserved to have this new life without the complicated difficult shambles of a person that I am holding her back"

"You know fine well she does not agree with that assessment"

"Well...it's the truth. I hurt her. I hurt all of you"

"I forgave you"

"Yeah, but we were kids then. Can't really fully balance the weight of reuniting in a new life after the old one ended in such horror and heartbreak when you're also learning how to ride a bike"

"Eren-"

"Armin. I'm still confused honestly how you stuck around after we grew up. But, I am glad you did. But with Mikasa...I took a hammer to her heart with what I did. Wiped my ass effectively with that love she had for me, just to get her to cut ties in order to kill me. That's not something I deserve forgiveness for"

"Well, deciding that for her won't-"

"Armin, it's done. She's literally getting married tomorrow. She's found a new happiness and that's fantastic. It's what's best. So just...cut it out"

He silently steamed, but Armin begrudgingly nodded. "Fine. But I'm going to be attending her wedding tomorrow. And so will you"

Eren shot his gaze back over. "What?! Armin, how the hell-"

"Hide among the people in the back, I'll sneak you in, but Eren if we're closing the Mikasa chapter of your book, you will be witnessing this. Unless you want me to keep mentioning her going forward"

Eren scowled. "Armin, you can be a right shit sometimes"

Armin just gave a firm look, not budging.

Shaking his head, Eren walked away. "Fine" he snarled.

They were on the road the next morning, the two having not said anything to one another. Eren simply woke up and went to go meet Armin in the car.

"I cannot believe you're forcing me to see this"

"You're saying you're okay with her marrying someone else. You can sit through this ceremony and come away with that same thought, I'll forever let this go. If not, you gotta at least let her know you exist"

"How does that benefit her?"

"Cause you're precious to her, Er- I feel like I'm repeating myself, you know the answer like the back of your hand"

"I feel I'm repeating myself too here. Because I'm not obtuse to what she felt, FELT, for me then. Past tense, yeah? We've lived 25 years not interacting, and in that time she has what I can imagine is a perfectly happy and lovely life. Why should I enter the picture and fuck it up?"

Armin just again sighed. "There's the venue"

Eren looked for himself and started feeling immense anxiety. She selected an outdoor venue, a vast forest in the background. He could see scores of guests entering.

"Armin this was a bad id-"

"Eren, I'll go in first, and when everyone is largely seated I'll text you to slip in. Your suit's in the trunk"

Eren looked downward confused. "I'm wearing one right now"

"Specialty suit. I need to go in first anyway as I had Mikasa order mine"

"Why do I need-"

"Eren" Armin said resigned as he parked. "Just put the suit on. Otherwise you'd likely stick out and she'll see you"

That can't happen Eren thought to himself. "Alright"

"And if you go trying to run, I'm not a fast guy but I'm resourceful"

"Stand down the hit squad, Armin, where am I gonna run off to?"

With a little chuckle, Armin exited and hurried to the venue. Eren sat for a moment, just processing that he was really about to lay eyes on Mikasa again, lay eyes on her....marrying....

He sighed, pushing himself to exit the car and go to the trunk. The suit was in reality a particularly nice looking black kimono. A bit fancy for a wedding guest. An uninvited one at that Eren thought, but given what Armin said, this was the attire, and he really did not wish for Mikasa to see him.

Adjusting the kimono until it was perfectly fitted, Eren closed the trunk and stood staring towards the venue. Oh fuck. Oh fuck he thought with a sense of panic, his legs seeming to struggle with every step, wanting to give out to make him stop. The weight of the moment was really hitting him. It hadn't fully gotten through to him, but this moment was inherently one where he was going to let go of Mikasa forever. The girl he'd saved from those savage traffickers, the girl he'd wanted so badly to shield from the world's sinister nature. The girl who didn't need him for that but wanted to shield him herself. He'd gone through moments of resentment and jealousy over this. Growing out of it finally and being left with the desire to someday somehow give her a quiet life, to live that with her. But the Titan curse wouldn't let that. The memories he'd seen showing him what he was meant to do. Meant to become. It broke him. Jaded him. Resigned him to have it play out. And through this, he had to try to rip away her love and devotion to him. But he was never able to do that. He was relieved he failed there, but it left him knowing that once he was gone, she would be missing him, and he hated having left her. He'd hoped those memories of their cabin that he gave to her would be enough. And now that they were here in this new world, he hoped that her new life outside of him would be fulfilling and happy. It would make letting go easier.

With a heavy sigh, a quick wiping of his eyes, he rounded the corner into the venue. The aisle leading to the alter was decently long. Everyone attending as a guest was seated. He could see her at the end, standing in that gorgeous kimono of hers. But something about the whole thing struck him. It shot potent levels of confusion and anxiety through him.

Everybody was looking at him.

He couldn't make out her face, but he knew Mikasa was looking. And the faces in the crowd, virtually all he recognized. There was Captain Levi, and Erwin and Hange. Jean, Connie, Sasha, Marco, Historia, all the friends from their training days. Reiner, Bertolt and Annie, once friends turned enemies but now people he held no anger to, off to the side but smiling at him nonetheless. A myriad of other leaders from Pixis to Shadis. He could see Hannes, and...his mother? She knew about Mikasa existing here? She knew about everyone else being here?

And of course, there was Armin. Stood near the entrance, that cheeky grin on his face as he approached.

"Took you long enough" Armin remarked.

"What...what the hell?"

"Well...it's your wedding man. Felt self explanatory"

Eren looked at him wide-eyed.

"H...how did she know- When did you tell her?"

Armin faux-thought to himself. "I believe I told her the day I ran into her"

"....Three years?"

"Sounds about right"

Eren was speechless.

"S...."

"Eren. Before you even ask about her hating you...think about it. Do you really think she would be here right now?"

Eren turned his gaze in her direction. Encouraged by a gentle push from Armin, he proceeded down the aisle. He felt almost breathless as he got closer and closer to her, her face becoming a more clear sight. She looked so beautiful. Her hair short. Those deep onyx hues he'd missed so much shimmering with joy, a tiny cute smile on her face, her happiness at his presence clear as day. He stopped when they were face to face, her hands instinctively taking hold of his, just gazing at him.

"I......I can't even begin.....how sorry-"

A soft squeeze on his hands. He looked, that smile still there.

He was struggling to not cry. He looked down. "A...all I did. Then. Now. You'd still want-"

He stopped when he felt her hand gingerly rest on his cheek. He looked to her, as she leaned in to kiss his eye. A profound joy shot through him, something he truly never felt before. Despite his hands shaking slightly, they found their place on her waist.

"Eren"

The sound of her voice made him freeze. After all this time. That soft, kind voice he missed so much. The tears were now no longer able to be held back.

She pulled back so they were facing one another again now. Her loving smile still on her face, she continued.

"Eren. I wish to be with you always. Please Eren...please let me"

Through his watershed he finally returned her smile, her again placing a soft kiss to him. They both then looked over to where Armin was standing, and he made quick work walking over to them.

"Shall we begin then?"

Chapter Text

He'd seen her arrive in this afterlife about a day ago now, not daring to let himself be seen. He couldn't. He shouldn't, he believed. Not after what happened. Not after what he said and did to her. Him even being in this place, this bright, sunny, beautiful land was just confusing to him. This was not a place for the evil. And Mikasa was objectively not evil, so it was him who was out of place.

He watched after her as she looked around and explored the land. At points he'd hurry ahead and make sure that there would be areas some food and a place to rest could be found by her.

This went on for days. He'd hated seeing her sleep without any kind of shelter or bed, so he started venturing around to seek out supplies to build her somewhere to sleep. He found a forest a little ways away from her spot near this little river, and gathered up some sticks and branches. Stumbling out from the other side, he stopped in his tracks, shocked at the sight before him.

It was a cabin. Their cabin. He ran up the little path, passed the fence he had fond memories of building with her, and up to the front window, peeking inside. Their kitchen, their sitting area, the hallway surely leading to their bedroom, it was all intact.

How long was this here for? he though to himself. He had no means of knowing how long exactly he himself was here for, but it felt very long. Very lonely. A burning longing to just be able to see her again.

Shaking the thought from his mind, he looked back towards where he'd come from. She needs to find this.

He used the time he spotted her resting to place little markers of interest to draw her over through the forest. Nothing to give away a feel that someone had laid them. He sort of hated this, thinking this no different than leading an animal around. But he wanted her sheltered, even if this place was one of endless peace. It still had weather, and seeing her huddle in a bush to avoid the rain was what solidified his resolve.

The plan worked, and he watched her have a similar reaction to seeing the cabin. Confused shock, running around to look it over.

Now she can be comfortable. No more rain-

"EREN!" suddenly sounded from her. He froze. He'd not been spotted, but as expected the cabin being here made her think that surely he was here too somewhere. He laid down lower in his spot in the forest. She was just looking around from the front door. She shouted out again.

Don't move, Yeager.

But....I so badly-

Too bad. You don't get happily ever after.

She stood looking for awhile longer, but eventually, she disappeared inside. Eren, with a sigh, slipped away.

She was settled in after a week, a garden established and she was growing lots of vegetables. Eren would go around the woods, ensuring there was always plenty of twigs and branches for firewood she could collect. He had considered doing some fishing during the night and leave her a basket of them every morning, but he figured that would be too revealing, and she'd from that point relentlessly look for him.

She was making her way back to the cabin, having caught herself a pretty big haul. He smiled to himself lightly, content that she was doing well. The warmth of the morning was very comforting and soon, he felt himself drifting off.

"Is all you ever think about is Titans, Yeager?" a taunting Jean said to him. They were all seated around a campfire, the training cadets out on a test expedition. Eren, Mikasa, Jean, Connie, Jean, Reiner and Sasha were part of the first group, Armin off with the other group.

"How is it not what you think about? If we can't eradicate them, then what's this life for?"

"...what comes after? Obviously"

"But we can't have what's after if-"

"Yeager just humor me. If you somehow manage to NOT get yourself gobbled up the moment you go through the gates with the Survey Corps and eradicate all the Titans, what's your goal then?"

"Me Mikasa and Armin, we're gonna go see the ocean"

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot about all your prattling about this ocean"

"And what of you? All that prattling on about just living in those walls"

"Yup. But once the Titans are done...I don't know, maybe I open myself a tavern or something"

He looked towards Mikasa. "Probably get married and have a family"

Eren chuckled. "Jean Kirstein, tavern owner? Come for the ale, leave because of the ale"

"Yeager-"

"Gentlemen. Please" Reiner sounded, just not interested in hearing another of their quarrels.

"Sorry, Reiner" Eren said. The bigger cadet crouched down.

"Life after Titans. What a thought"

"You and Bertolt are chomping at the bit to get back home, huh"

A look on his face, solemn and serious. He nodded. "Very much"

Connie and Sasha sat up in their spots.

"I wanna find a new forest somewhere, see all the different animals out there" Sasha said. "Different animals mean new meats to try"

"Of course it would be meat" Jean said, shaking his head. "Connie, what about you?"

"I dunno really. What Armin speaks about sounds interesting. I'm just curious to see just how far these trees run to. Like, this world of ours. Does it keep going? Or if we keep walking long enough do we wind back up where we started?"

This question fired up a new separate conversation Eren quite frankly wasn't interested in. He looked to his right, the ever present and quiet Mikasa seated, looking with light amusement at the others.

"You still onboard with me and Armin on the ocean?" Eren asked. Her attention moved squarely to him, nodding.

"Oh, absolutely"

"What about after that?"

"After?"

"Yeah, I mean, anything you think you'd also wanna do once we saw the world?"

She shrugged lightly, her mouth hidden a little by her scarf. Eren felt a little confused.

"Surely you have something in mind"

"Well, really Eren, I hope one day to be somewhere far away and quiet, and I'd hope to live there with you"

Eren scratched the back of his head. "Me? Nah, you'd want like a husband with you there"

"Mm-mm" she sounded firmly, shaking her head, though Eren only caught a slight glimpse of this. Jean and Sasha were about to go at it yet again and Eren went over to aid Reiner in breaking it up.

Eren woke, the sun still high in the sky. You were a real thick as a brick kind of guy weren't you Yeager he thought to himself, only now seeing what Mikasa was getting at, and wishing like hell he could've been able to realize it then and go have that life with her.

He sighed softly, getting to his feet and turning to walk away. He stopped in his tracks, as he was now face to face with Mikasa. Her eyes were teary, but her face looked more one of hurt. Hurt from him keeping his distance. He was speechless, just staring at her.

After a moment, Mikasa moved closer to him, simply taking him by the hands and turning to walk away, to lead him to the cabin. But he didn't move. Their hold slipped, and Mikasa looked back to him, the hurt in her eyes more potent.

"Mik....you can't possibly still want me around. After what I've done back then. To you. The people I....I don't get to have this. I don't get to be with you. That's just-"

She walked back over to him, wrapping her arms around him, and nuzzling her head against his chest. He was struggling immensely to keep from crying, shaky arms loosely hugging around her.

"My love" she whispered.

His cheeks were tearstained when they finally parted, looking at one another with loving smiles. She once again took hold of his hands to lead him to the cabin. This time, he followed.

Chapter Text

1

He sped into the free parking spot outside their building, moving quickly to turn the car off and dart out. Mikasa happened to be coming out of their building at that moment, bag slung over her shoulder and quickly wiping at her eyes.

"Mikasa, wait!" he called, running over.

"Eren, I really just need space for a few days. Please-"

"Mika, you don't understand-"

"Eren, I think I do. We go to our favorite spot in the park, I ask you to marry me, and instead of yes or even no you just sat in silence"

She moved ahead faster, though Eren kept pace.

"I was caught off guard-"

"Eren, it's okay if you aren't ready or don't want to, I think i can handle that. I just...I thought you did, and you being so shocked I'd asked...please Eren I just need some time alone"

She kept moving ahead.

"Mikasa, I wasn't shocked you wanna marry me-"

"What other reason would you be shocked in that moment for?" Mikasa replied, feeling a increasing anger in her.

"Because I was gonna ask you today"

She stopped in her tracks. "W..what?" she asked, looking back.

Eren closed the distance between them again, pulling out a ringbox and holding it out. "I swear on my mother I'm not lying. I had it all mapped out in my head, we'd get to our spot, and I'd ask but the moment I was gonna, there you were. I was just...stunlocked we both happened to have the same idea right down to the time and place"

Mikasa's hands flew to her face. "Oh-oh my god, Eren! I'm so sorry I ruined it!"

He grinned lightly. "Ruined it? I didn't even ask ya. I should apologize for ruining your actual proposal. And for making you think I wouldn't want to marry you. I absolutely would love to marry you"

He dropped down to his knee. "So...would you still-"

She virtually smashed into him kissing him.

2

Eren and Mikasa went over for lunch at her brother Levi's house. They were seated in the living room eating Thai food, Eren and Mikasa seated on the couch while Levi and his girlfriend Rico were seat in opposite lounge chairs.

"So how was Japan?" Eren asked. Levi shrugged lightly.

"It was unfortunately raining most days. Wasn't able to do much sightseeing, which was disappointing"

"I'm sorry you didn't get to enjoy it too much, Rico" Mikasa said. "That was your first time over there, no?"

"It was, but it is what it is" she replied.

Mikasa motioned with her fork towards Rico's hand. "And it wasn't all bad, given the engagement. How did he ask?"

"We had been discussing the wedding of a friend, I mentioned it would be nice to marry one day. He agreed and asked. I said yes"

Mikasa nodded lightly, looking over to Eren and both silently agreeing on the thought that her brother and his girlfriend were pretty unemotional and clinical about this.

"Well, congratulations nonetheless"

Levi reached for his water. "You going to marry my sister one day, Yeager?"

Mikasa was turning red with light embarrassment, casting a light glare to Levi. Eren was similarly red in the face, but let out a little laugh.

"Well, I think we're okay waiting for the moment. It's funny though, I had actually was gonna ask the other week"

Mikasa looked at him, confused. "W..what?"

Eren shrugged lightly. "When we went out to dinner at that Italian place? I'd decided I was gonna ask then. I wrote on one of the napkins "Will you marry me?" and handed it to you, but you used the other side and wiped your mouth. I sorta lost my nerve after that"

He took another mouthful of food, not really realizing the weight of what he just said. He could see Levi and Rico shake their heads in unison, and when he looked back to Mikasa, he could see she was quietly weeping, her mouth covered with her hand.

"Mikasa?"

"I...I didn't realize...."

"Mika, it's okay-"

"Leave it to you Yeager to pick a dumb way of proposing" Levi said.

"I...I figured the ring in the drink thing would be overdone-"

"She'd have at least seen it" Levi said, now taking slight amusement.

Eren was feeling a bit panicked now, not sure how to make the still crying Mikasa feel better. Do I ask her now? Would it just look pathetic and lame? Aw man I shoulda planned the proposal better. Yeager, you fu-

"Yes" Mikasa finally said.

Eren looked at her. "Mik-"

"Yes Eren. I will marry you"

His eyes lit up with joy. "You will? Don't you want-"

"Eren, you can do a makeup proposal if you want later on, but Eren, my answer is absolutely yes"

He smiled widely as she nuzzled against his cheek. Fishing into his pocket, he pulled out the ring. Mikasa eagerly held her hand out to let Eren slide the ring on her finger.

"Congratulations" Levi said. "At risk of sounding overdone, you understand the ramifications now? Should you ever hurt her?"

A twinge of fear entered Eren now, nodding.

3

(This prompt's set in a Shifterless canon divergence)

"You ever think we should've joined Annie and Jean in the Military Police?" Connie remarked, stirring the pot of stew boiling over the fire. Their friends Reiner and Bertolt were seated with them. Mikasa and Armin were at her tent, fixing her ODM gear.

Eren frowned a bit. "Answer is the same as it's been since training, and since we graduated into the Survey Corps. I will not just live for nothing behind the walls while these Titans out here block us out from seeing this world"

"And I still agree with you, I guess I'm just complaining a bit. They get to have like proper meals, and here we are cobbling together rations to make enough stew for all of us. Been that way for these past five years"

Eren couldn't really argue that he'd like to have a nice warm meat pie as opposed to the sixth straight day of stew awaiting him.

"Yeah, good food, regular showers. That would be great" Bertolt said. "Plus having the room to look for someone to settle down with"

"That someone being Annie?" Reiner teased, prompting his friend to plush furiously.

"That too" Connie agreed.

"Ah, so you wanna make an honest woman out of Sasha then?" Reiner said, turning his teasing to Connie, who was now similarly red.

"Shut up, it's not like that with us. I wanna give her a house, you know just a place we can live. We could do a store, sell meats of animals she hunts"

The three men around him looked confused.

"That's...that just sounds exactly like being married, Connie" Bertolt said.

"Oh?" Connie said. "Well...maybe that would be nice to do then actually"

"Jean's certainly gotten himself thinking about that. Think he'd still very much like to ask Mikasa to marry him"

Eren scoffed. "Mikasa doesn't want marriage"

Reiner quirked an eyebrow. "I mean...we know you don't want it. She does"

Eren looked at him confused. "What are you getting at, Reiner?"

It was Reiner's turn to look confused. "You...you kinda refused her proposal a few months ago"

"Mikasa's never asked me to marry her"

Bertolt, Connie and Reiner exchanged their shared looks of befuddlement.

"Y..you're not serious, are you Eren?"

"Guys, I can confidently say at no point-"

"Four months ago, we were in that little forest alcove. The one we got pinned down in, remember?" Reiner interrupted.

"Yyyeah" Eren said.

"We were all of us sure we weren't gonna get out of there alive. Sadly, that was the case for some of us" Reiner said, remembering their friend Thomas. "We'd all been trying to give ourselves some flicker of hope, so we had a similar talk as to the one we're having tonight. And Mikasa said she would love nothing more than to live quiet somewhere with you for the rest of your lives, and she asked you if you would live that life with her. You said you'd prefer to go see the world"

Eren felt confused and shocked. "That...no, that was no proposal. No point did she say "will you marry me?" Not-"

Bertolt shook his head. "Eren, you know Mikasa better than all of us, she expresses herself in her own way. That was her way of proposing"

"N...no..." Eren said, starting to trail off as he got up to seek out Mikasa's tent. She was seated on her sleeping bag, talking with Armin as he tinkered with her gas tanks. Eren pulled the tent open.

"Oh, hey Eren" Armin said. "Stew-"

"Mikasa, you weren't proposing to me a few months back, were you? That's what Reiner's trying to say"

Mikasa looked a little embarrassed. "Oh..."

"Reiner's just trying to be a shit, isn't-"

"I was"

Eren fell silent. Mikasa sat up, lightly waving him off.

"Eren, it's fine, honestly. Maybe I could've been more clear, but ultimately it did make me realize that overall, you really aren't looking for quiet or anything. It's okay. I've had time to move on from those feelings"

"S...so you don't want to anymore?"

She shook her head. "No"

Armin, having largely sat silent, looked between the two. He was surprised there was a look of....sorrow in Eren's face.

"Eren....do you want to?" Armin asked.

A silence, Eren sheepishly and sadly looking to the ground. "I...I never really thought about it" he said. "I've...sort of always saw Mikasa as my wife in a way"

Mikasa's eyes widened. Eren lowered himself down to sit next to her.

"I just....given where we are, what we still need to do....I'm sorry I misunderstood what you'd been asking Mikasa. I hate I blew it. Because....you're really the only person I would ever wanna be with in that way. And when it's all over with, maybe even when our service term comes up next year, I'd absolutely love to live quietly with you"

Mikasa felt her eyes begin to water. She looked to Armin, who gave her an encouraging smirk. She looked back to Eren, moving to a sitting kneel and lightly tugging at his sleeve.

"Eren, would you marry me?"

He nodded. "Yeah. I'd really like that"

She smiled wide and the two hugged tightly to one another.

"Happy news" Reiner's voice sounded from behind them. "Congrats you two"

Eren and Mikasa smiled over to him before nuzzling with one another again. Armin got up and joined Reiner at the tent's opening.

"So who's telling Jean?" Reiner said jokingly.

Chapter Text

His eyes opened slowly from his sleep, almost reluctantly. Eyes opening to the surroundings of his best friend's guest room.

A soft knock at the door. "Eren?"

Armin. Eren sat up. "Hey" he called softly.

The door opened, Armin poking his head in.

"It's almost 1230"

"Oh...right. I'm up, I'm up"

He pulled off the quilt and sat up. He looked at his friend, noting the slight unease in his eyes.

"I'm figuring Krista wants me to go"

"She....she does yeah"

"I understand"

He stood up and went into the bathroom. He started to get his bag ready.

"It's nothing personal" Armin said.

"Armin, it is personal. And rightfully so" Eren replied.

Armin stood silently as Eren packed.

"Eren...can I ask...what happened-"

"You mean me sleeping with Annie?"

Armin looked uncomfortable when the blunt reply was said. "Yeah. When you slept with Annie....how the hell did it happen?"

"Pure drunken idiocy and carelessness. I just...I can't believe I did that. And Krista is right to be pissed. As are you. And certainly Reiner and Mikasa...."

Eren stopped when he said his wife's name, still haunted by the not angry, not crying, but shocked and stunned look on her face when he and Annie came forward with their actions. Reiner raged, and he understood that, but Mikasa was just so stunned. Speechless. Betrayed.

The head of Krista poked in, the frostiest stare sent his way.

"Eren" she said.

"Hi Krista" he said weakly. "I'll be out of here shortly, don't worry"

She didn't react, just stood for a moment before disappearing again. Armin was about to speak when she suddenly reappeared.

"I just- how could you? How the hell could you do this, Eren?" she exclaimed.

"I wish I could explain how. All I have is the piddly excuse of being drunk"

She just shook her head in disbelief. "You don't see me cheating on Armin when I'm hammered"

Eren dropped his bag. "Exactly! I can't explain how could I because there's no fucking reason! We got drunk, and we did what we did, and I fucking ruined everything. Not just for myself, but for Annie and Reiner. I screwed up their relationship. And I destroyed my marriage. Because I'm a fucking idiot"

He sank down onto the bed again, sighing heavily. "She couldn't even say anything. I hurt her so badly she couldn't say or do anything. Even worse, how does she explain any of this to Carla?"

He rubbed his face. Against her instincts, Krista felt herself soften lightly, though her glare remained.

"I wanna say this is just self debasement on your part"

"Please do. I really don't deserve any good faith or good graces"

The group fell silent for a moment.

"Would it be slimy to ask how she's doing?" Eren asked.

With a sigh, Krista sat next to him. "She's still processing"

Eren nodded lightly. Armin walked over to them.

"Eren, I really don't know....I don't want to damage your hopes or anything, I just...make sure you do right by whatever she wants to do going forward, okay? See if there's a future, but if not..."

"I know. She should just divorce me re-"

"Cut the debasement crap, Eren" Krista said. "Fix this if you can. Leave her be if you can't. That's all you can do"

Eren simply nodded again.

He stuck to sleeping at the auto shop he worked at for the time being, making this set-up work for the next few weeks. He had to fight with himself to stop himself calling home. As much as he wanted to hear her voice again, to quite literally throw himself at her feet, he was going to afford her the deserved space to process.

"Yo, Eren. Customer" an employee called to him while he was underneath a car.

"Give me a moment" Eren said. Tightening the tire and being satisfied it was perfect, he slid out from underneath the truck, and soon felt his blood run cold when he saw Reiner stood near him, angry eyes pointed his way.

Eren swallowed lightly. "Reiner" he offered meekly.

"Jaeger"

Frosty silence. Eren looked towards the door, mulling whether he should run. Mulling if he'd even make it to his feet. But ultimately, part of him actually wanted this interaction. Reiner deserved to tear him apart if he wanted to.

He got to his feet. "I-"

"Annie and I are done. Officially that is"

Eren looked downward. He'd hoped one couple could salvage themselves from this. It was overly optimistic of course.

"I figured you should know"

"I....I'm sorry you guys-"

"You're sorry, huh?" Reiner said, eyes growing angrier and his breathing more pronounced.

"I'm sorry this broke you guys up, yes. I regret this whole fucking thing, but I don't want to waste your time trying to apologize because I don't deserve forgiveness. I hate I ruined what you guys had, I hate I ruined what I had. I just fucking hate it. And I hate not being able to undo or fix any part of it. So if you wanna scream at me, you wanna toss me around this room please go right ahead. It's the bare minimum of what I can do"

He braced himself, as Reiner closed the distance between them. Reiner stood glaring at him, fuming at him. It felt like forever before he turned back, kicking a nearby toolbox and sighing.

"This would be easier if you weren't so aware how much you suck right now"

He leaned against a workbench. Eren stood in place, wondering whether to go over.

"Jaeger, I'm not here to kill you. Relax"

Still a little uneasy, Eren approached. "No one would blame you if you were"

Reiner shook his head. "Nah. Wouldn't fix anything"

"If....if it helps any, Annie basically beat me up when he both woke up"

He braced himself, not sure if even a small allusion to what happened would reaggravate Reiner. However, Reiner ever so lightly smirked.

"Sounds about right"

He let out another sigh, standing up straighter.

"Jaeger, I know that this whole shitshow was solely the result of drunken stupidity. Me and Annie....we'd been drifting apart for awhile before this. She was horrified what went on, and felt ultimately, even if drunk, that if it was that easy for her to fall into bed with someone else, that...that what we had was easy to turn on. So...she left"

Eren nodded along, silently listening. "That's the fear I have right now. How I could do that to Mikasa"

"You two not talk at all?"

Eren shook his head. "I'm keeping distance. Carla calls up every night though. Still trying to keep appearances until Mika decides what to do"

"You hoping she forgives you?"

Eren nodded gently. "She shouldn't though"

"Nah. Probably not"

"That look of betrayal is never gonna leave my mind. She....she just couldn't believe it"

Reiner hummed lightly. "I should go" he said.

"R...right"

Reiner went for the door.

"Reiner?"

He turned back to the sheepish looking Eren.

"Like I said, I feel like I would be wasting your time with an apology. But I am truly sorry. I can only hope one day, I can earn back your friendship if possible"

Reiner simply gave a curt, emotionless nod before leaving. Eren let out a sigh, silently relieved this interaction didn't go south. He felt his pocket buzzing, which meant he was getting a phone call. He pulled it out and answered.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Mr. Jaeger?"

"Yes?"

"This is Mrs. Rheinberger, I'm your daughter's teacher"

"Oh, right. Is Carla okay?" he asked, a flicker of concern going through him.

"Oh she is, it's just we need one of you to come pick her up. The school's lighting system is broken, so all the students are being sent home. Your wife didn't answer so we're calling you"

"R-right, I'll be right over"

He pulled open his car's back door and sat Carla down.

"Bet you can't buckle yourself up before I get back to my seat" he said, closing the door quickly. He moved to the driver's side door, feigning disappointment when he heard the click of the seatbelt as he opened the door.

"Beat you!" Carla proclaimed proudly.

"That you did. Ol' dad's slowing down in his age" he said.

The drive was largely them talking, him asking her about her day. They were interrupted when the car informed him of an incoming call

Mika

He froze slightly, thankful they were at a red light. This was gonna be the first time they spoke.

He hit answer. "Hello?"

"....hi" she answered. Her tone was of awkwardness as opposed to irritation so he took slight solace in that. "I...i got a voicemail from Carla's school?"

"Yeah, I guess the building's lights shorted or something. They needed someone to come get her"

"Ah. I was just at work"

"No worries. You....you home?"

"Just got back, yeah"

"Right. I'll, uh...be there in a few minutes to drop her off"

"....o-okay"

"Hi momma!" Carla called from the back.

"Hi sweetheart"

His heart panged when hearing the warmth her voice normally held. The warmth absent when they spoke.

"Sweetheart, I'm gonna let daddy hang up. I'll see your shortly"

"Bye momma!"

"Bye Carla"

The call ended. 

"Daddy?"

Eren, a little lost in thought, looked at her in the rearview mirror. "Yeah, pal?"

"When will you be done at work?"

"What's that?"

"Momma said you got so much work stuff you have to sleep there. You almost finished?"

Eren was saddened. "I, uh...I'm working to get it all squared away, pal. Don't you worry"

"Okay. I miss you"

Eren looked away slightly, biting at his lip as he felt the urge to cry. "Miss you too pal" he said, almost whispering.

He planned to simply park up in the driveway and let Carla run inside. However, when the house came into view, he could see her sitting outside on the step.

Oh shit. Oh shit.

Carla was looking excitedly out the window, virtually ripping her seatbelt off. He was glad she at least waited for him to park before flinging the door open.

"Momma!" she called. Mikasa rose from her spot, and went to hug her daughter. He smiled a little at the sight, Carla telling her all about her half day and wanting to go to the backyoard and play. Mikasa kissed her forehead and told her to head inside. Carla eagerly complied, running inside. He froze again when he saw her look towards him.

Should I wave?

She would make the first move, walking over to his car. With a light shake in his hand, he rolled down the window.

"Hi" she said softly. This tone seemed to unnerve him more than if she'd been angry sounding or indifferent.

"Hi"

"I...I hope you weren't pulled away from work-"

"Nah, it was no worries, honestly"

"I told Carla that you were needed at work, that's why you aren't home right now"

Eren nodded. "She was asking when I'd be done. I didn't really give her a straight answer"

Mikasa hummed softly. Eren just felt so beyond ashamed of himself in this moment. Here was the love of his life, in a position now where she just could not figure out how exactly to feel about him anymore.

"....can I ask?"

Eren looked at her. "Ask what?"

".....why" she asked, almost a whisper. "I....I thought you loved me"

This made him tear up. He swallowed. "I do. That's what makes this whole thing so fucking bad in my mind. It hurts almost, the amount I love you. And it would be so easy to just say "I was drunk", but so what? You've been drunk, you never did that to me. I will never be able to atone for this. I can't undo that hurt in your eyes. The betrayal"

She stood silent, but her eyes were similarly watery.

"Reiner....he dropped by the shop today. He and Annie are done. So not only did I fuck up us, I fucked up them. And that's.....that's just something I'm going to have to live with"

He looked towards the steering wheel, the silence between them thick enough to cut through.

"I....I should go make sure Carla's alright" Mikasa said.

Eren nodded. "Right. I should get going too"

She reached over and closed Carla's door for him.

"Mikasa? No matter how worthless it is....I'm sorry. For everything"

She nodded lightly.

"Beard" he heard her remark.

"What?"

She pointed at him. He reached to his face, feeling the facial hair adorning his jaw.

"Ah, yeah. Don't got any razors on me"

She hummed again, the pair falling silent.

"Bye, Eren" she said, turning and heading indoors. He watched as she disappeared from view.

"Bye, Mikasa"

A few days went by. Eren was inside a coffee shop to grab a quick breakfast.

"Medium, black with one sugar, and I'll have a blueberry muffin" he ordered from the cashier. She gave him a table card for when his order was ready, and he went to sit down.

"Eren?"

Looking up, he froze. It was Annie.

"A....Annie" he said.

"Hi" she said, looking away a little.

"I....hi"

She dug her hands into her pockets. "Can I sit for a second?"

"S-sure" he stammered, gesturing towards the empty seat across from him.

"I was sorry to hear about you and Reiner"

"Yeah...I hate what I did to him. We may've been having problems, but he didn't deserve this. Mikasa either"

"How've you been doing? Relatively speaking, I mean"

She shrugged. "As best as I can be, with the mountain of shame I feel"

Eren nodded. "I know that feeling"

"You and Mikasa, you guys talk at all?"

"A few days ago. Nothing since" he replied.

"Ah"

They went quiet when a waiter brought Eren's order over.

"So...now it's just about figuring out what's next" Annie remarked.

"What would that be for you?"

"Fresh start, I guess. I'm moving home. Dad could use some help these days as well"

"Sorry to hear"

"I....I do hope for the best for you and Mikasa"

He looked to the table. "I do too....I shouldn't make any expectations though"

Annie just nodded. She eventually stood up.

"I ought to get going. Take care, Eren"

"You too, Annie" he said.

Putting her hands in her pockets, she made her exit.

Eren was driving aimlessly later that day. It tended to help clear his head even for a moment. He was at a stop sign when he was informed of a call.

Mikasa

The anxiety he felt the last time she called returned. He pressed the button to answer.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Eren. I was thinking you make us your chicken burgers tonight for dinner. Can you grab some buns on the way home?"

He felt a surge of happiness go through him, almost speechless. "I can certainly do that. A..anything else we need?"

"Some peanut butter if it's on sale. Carla ate the rest of it with a spoon the other day. Nearly half a container"

He let out a chuckle. "Jeez. I'll keep an eye out"

"Alright, I'll see you soon"

"See you soon"

"Eren?"

"Yeah?" he asked.

"Please shave that beard first thing when you get home"

He blinked the tears in his eyes with a smile. "Sure thing"