Work Text:
The warm sun bathes the serene meadow as Eren, Mikasa, and Armin relax together. Eren lies on the soft grass, staring up at the vast sky, while Mikasa delicately weaves colorful flowers into intricate crown and Armin engrosses himself in a book, absorbed in its fantastical world.
Mikasa's fingers deftly intertwine the blooms, creating a beautiful crown. With a soft smile, she offers one to Eren. "Here, Eren. A flower crown for you," she says, her eyes sparkling with unadulterated joy.
Eren, lost in his thoughts, dismisses the gesture with a casual wave. "Flowers are dumb," he mutters, turning away. His words hang in the air, causing a pang of hurt to strike Mikasa's heart. She retreats into herself, curling up with her hands folded around her knees, feeling the sting of rejection.
Observing Mikasa's sudden shift in demeanor, Armin closes his book, concern etched on his face. He picks a flower nearby and extends it towards Mikasa with a gentle smile. "Here, Mikasa. This one's for you," he says softly, hoping to alleviate her sadness.
Mikasa's eyes shimmer with and surprise and gratitude. She accepts the flower, feeling a warmth spread through her. In a spontaneous moment, she leans in and pecks Armin on the cheek, his face flushing slightly at the unexpected gesture. "Thank you Armin" she beams, "I made one for you too."
Eren startles, breaking the tranquil ambiance. His eyes widen in disbelief, as though someone has just delivered an unexpected blow. "Hey, what the hell was that about?!" Eren exclaims, his voice tinged with a mix of shock and betrayal. The two of them stare at Eren in return.
Without a word, Eren inhales sharply and abruptly rises, his urgency evident as he rushes away from the scene. "Eren, wait!" Mikasa calls out, her voice pleading, but he ignores her plea, his steps determined.
As Eren turned away, his figure gradually dissolved into the horizon, his steps carrying him farther from the meadow. Each stride seemed to accentuate the distance between him and the others. Mikasa watched, a mixture of longing and confusion in her eyes, as Eren's form diminished with each passing second.
Armin glanced at Mikasa, noticing the conflict etched on her face. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, offering silent reassurance amidst the unspoken emotions. Mikasa's gaze lingered on the fading outline of Eren until he became a distant speck, swallowed by the vastness of the horizon. Armin, ever the empathetic soul, squeezes her shoulder gently, silently offering his support. "He'll come around, Mikasa," he said softly. She nods sadly.
Moments pass as Eren finally returns. His cheeks are tinted with a faint blush, his brows furrowed as he approaches in Mikasa's direction, determined. Armin stifles a giggle as he notices a colorful assortment of flowers tightly clutched hidden behind his back, some stems crushed by the death grip of his tiny fist.