Work Text:
I will always wrap your scarf, Mikasa. As much as you want. Now, and forever. As much as you want.
Eren lunged towards the Smiling Titan, a battle cry ripping from his throat. Giant footfalls thundered around them as titans began to swarm. Eren took that moment, crouching back down in front of Mikasa.
“Grab on to me!”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. He wasted no time, hoisting her on to his back and sprinting in the opposite direction of the carnage that was taking place behind them.
Mikasa’s ODM gear clanged on her hips, the sheaths of her blades banging against Erens wrists. He didn’t have a clear plan in mind, other than to take Mikasa and run as far away from the battlefield as possible. He would carry her all the way to the walls if he had to.
A whistling sound came from overhead as a titan sailed through the air. Reiner was on the move, charging towards Eren and tossing any spare titan he could reach.
Eren grit his teeth, glaring at the traitors speeding towards him. He was furious. How dare they challenge him again . Another piece of his childhood had been violently ripped away from him, and he had taken that enemy on with his bare hands. Did they not think he wouldn’t do the same to them?
He gripped Mikasa a little tighter, stopping dead in his tracks. He summoned all the furry and might that Eren Jaeger possessed and issued his one and only warning to the oncoming enemy.
“Get away from us! You rat bastards. I’LL KILL YOU WHERE YOU STAND !”
The frenzied titans charged towards the Armored, their insatiable need to devour flesh now turned to him.
Eren continued to run. Armin came up on his side, a horse in tow.
“Can you ride?”
“Yeah.”
“Then get on!”
Eren carefully maneuvered Mikasa up on to the horse, Armin giving her his arm to steady her. Eren climbed up after her. Erwin gave the order to retreat, and the Survey Corps took off back towards the wall.
They had been riding for hours. The sun had completely set behind them when the walls came in to view. The adrenalin and shock had worn off, and Mikasa finally felt the full brunt of her injuries. She was strong, yes. Being grabbed by a titan didn’t crush her instantly. She was lucky that Jean had intervened when he had, or the situation could have been much worse.
The horse they were riding landed on an uneven slope in the ground and Mikasa gasped as the movement jostled her, tightening her arms around Eren.
Armin took notice. “Are you alright?” he asked. She didn’t answer, burying her face into Eren’s back.
Eren had been lost in his own shock and grief, staring blankly as they made the long journey back to the walls. Mikasa winced again, and he snapped back to the present.
“Hey,” he grabbed her hands where they clutched his shirt. Her skin felt clammy. “Mikasa! We’re almost at the wall, okay? Just hang on. We’re almost there.”
“Eren...” she mumbled into his shoulder.
“Yeah. I’m here.”
“Can you...take me home...?” She sounded delirious. “I just...want to go...back home...”
He could tell by the way she was clutching him that she was immense pain. They were still almost an hour’s ride from the walls. Ignoring protocol and the alarmed shout of his name from Armin, Eren started to pull ahead of the formation, spurring his horse to go faster.
Someone let off a smoke signal, alerting the Garrison soldiers working the patrols know that they had returned with wounded soldiers in need of immediate medical care.
The lifts were already lowered and ready the moment the Survey Corps arrived at the wall. Eren patted Mikasa’s wrist, grabbing her attention.
“We’re here.”
Several soldiers jumped into action, commanders barking orders at their subordinates and collecting the scouts with the most serious injuries.
“Hey!” Eren flagged down some troops. “Over here!” The older officers rushed towards him.
“She was grabbed by a titan,” he informed them. The officers reached for Mikasa, but she only clung to Eren tighter, whimpering. He hadn’t seen her this upset since the day he rescued her from those kidnappers.
“It’s okay,” he reassured her. “I’m gonna stay with you.” She reluctantly loosened her hold on him.
The Garrison troops untangled her from him, lifting her gingerly from the horse and steadying her on her feet. Eren clumsily dismounted his horse, landing on shaky legs. He looked around briefly for someone to hand the reigns off to when he heard Mikasa cry out. He abandoned his horse and rushed to her side
She was on her knees, clutching her sides and panting. The senior Garrison officers called out for a stretcher. Eren collapsed down next to her, supporting her weight against him.
“Mikasa?”
Her face scrunched up in agony, and Eren couldn’t stand to watch anymore. Not bothering to wait for the Garrison soldiers, he braced Mikasa against him, throwing her arm over his shoulders and moving to scoop her up.
“I’m going to lift you now, okay?”
She nodded, and he held her in his arms, lifting her off the ground. She tucked her face against his neck as he jogged the short distance to the nearest lift and signaled to be pulled up.
More Scouts and Garrison troops were poised and ready at the top of the wall. Eren walked over to an available senior officer.
“Can we get some help here?” he called. The older soldier sprang into action.
“Give me your report, Private.”
“She was grabbed by a titan,” Eren recounted the day's events. “We were out in Titan Country on an unplanned expedition, and the situation got out of hand quickly. We were given the order to retreat, and have been riding ever since. There was no time to stop for any kind of medical treatment, and we didn’t have any of the necessary supplies anyway. That was several hours ago.”
The officer led him to an available stretcher, checking over the young woman still cradled in his arms while he spoke. Mikasa groaned as they laid her down. The officer continued his examination, removing her harness and probing her torso.
Eren brushed her sweaty bangs off her forehead. Her skin felt feverish, and she was breathing heavily.
“I’m hot,” she whined. Eren carefully removed her scarf.
The rest of his friends were brought to the top of the wall, getting looked after by other medics and giving their own reports. Armin came over to join them.
“Jean has a concussion, and Krista looks like she might faint,” he informed them. Kneeling next to Eren, he smiled weakly at Mikasa. “Connie and Sasha are a little shaken up, but all in all, our squad came out intact. Looks like the 104th survived another day.”
“Barely,” Eren scoffed. “Sure, a handful of us made it. But Hannes is dead. You guys came charging out there, completely underprepared. And Mikasa-” he couldn’t bring himself to finish.
“You say she was jostled around on a horse after having her ribs crushed by a titan?” the Garrison officer spoke up again, concluding his examination. “She needs to get to a doctor, immediately.” He motioned for some more soldiers to come help move her
Eren’s hands twitched and he looked like he was going to insist on carrying her himself.
“Eren,” Mikasa held up her hand, silencing any protest he was about to make. “It’s alright.”
Armin placed his hand on Eren’s shoulder, and he sagged under his friend’s comforting touch.
He stood back as the superior officers carried Mikasa to one of the waiting wagons, loading her carefully on. He gripped her hand, walking beside the cart as it started to move. Mikasa gave his fingers a tight squeeze in reassurance.
“Everything is going to be okay,” he spoke in low tones. “You’ll get better in no time.”
“Don’t worry about me,” she said, keeping a brave face for him.
They were given the all clear to move the injured party out. “Damnit!” he cursed as they started to pick up speed, trying to keep up the pace.
“See you later, Eren,” she whispered as her hand slipped from his.
Eren had made himself a promise the day the walls fell. He had sworn to slaughter all of the titans, to venture the world beyond the walls, and to protect his friends.
He watched as the wagon carrying Mikasa disappeared into the night, gripping her scarf in his hands.
So far, he was failing at keeping that last promise.
Mikasa was the last to arrive at the safehouse, coming in with a wagon of supplies two days after everyone else had arrived. Eren ignored the crates with food and gear and went straight for her. Moblit clamored down from the driver's seat and moved around to the back of the wagon. Eren had helped Mikasa to her feet, and with the older man's assistance, they were off the wagon and trudging towards the cabin.
Armin met them at the door, a look of relief on his face at seeing his best friend in one piece.
She looked worse for wear; hunched over and pale, huffing as if the simple act of walking was draining all of her energy. But she was alive. It was a small victory.
“Your room is ready,” he began talking, taking Moblit’s place on her other side. “It’s on the main floor, next to the captain's. It’s the second biggest, with a joint washroom. Eren insisted.”
“Shut up,” he mumbled. Armin chuckled at the sight of his friend’s ears turning red in embarrassment.
They brought her into the bedroom and helped her sit on the bed. Eren got to work removing her shoes while Armin received further instructions from Hange’s right-hand.
“The ride out here was rougher than expected. She might be a little sore.” He handed Armin a small glass bottle. “If she is experiencing any extreme discomfort, Hange said to administer two drops of this under the tongue.”
Eren completely tuned them out, focusing only on Mikasa. He had been an anxious mess waiting to hear any news of her recovery, and seeing her now didn’t help. She somehow looked more disheveled than when they first returned from the attack. He patted her tangled hair down and fixed the cardigan loosely thrown over her shoulders.
“I’m thirsty,” she mumbled. Eren quickly filled a cup of water from the pitcher sitting on her side table and handed it to her. She drank deeply, asking for a refill. Eren obliged.
“She might be a little disorientated and lethargic for a while,” Moblit turned to step out of the room. “Make sure she gets plenty of fluids and sleep, and she is not to do any strenuous activity for two weeks.” Armin nodded as his superior left.
“Titans,” she began to speak incoherently. “There were so many titans. Eren!” She gasped, clutching her head. “We have to...to kill...”
“You can relax now,” he rubbed her shoulders. “You’re safe.”
“My scarf?” Mikasa looked around the room, dazed. “Where is my-”
“Right here, I’ve got it.” Eren pulled the garment from where it was folded on her pillow. He started wrapping it around her.
Mikasa touched the beloved piece of fabric with trembling hands. “You said...”
“I know what I said,” he smoothed down the edges of her scarf, his face set in a determined frown. “I promised. Again, and again.”
He continued speaking to her in low tones, tucking her into bed and setting himself up in a chair next to her. Armin placed the medicine on the bedside table and tiptoed out, closing the door on the reversed, yet familiar scene.
The stiffness of his joints told him he had fallen asleep in an awkward position. Eren rolled his neck and yawned, blinking in the darkness of the room. He was still sitting by Mikasa’s side. The stillness of the house told him it was late in the night.
A whimper sounded beside him, and he moved to check on his sleeping friend.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she slept. Eren placed his hand on her head.
“Mikasa?”
The warmth of his touch startled her. Her eyes flew open, landing on his worried gaze.
“Eren?”
“Sorry. Did I scare you?”
“No.”
“You’re crying. Are you in pain?”
Mikasa wiped her fingers under her eyes, removing the evidence of her distress. “I was just having a bad dream. I’m okay now.”
“Are you sure?” he wanted to do something to help, but couldn’t think of anything. He was so out of his element. Usually, she was the one comforting him in this situation. “Is there anything I can do to help.”
She pulled the blanket up to her nose. “Can you stay here? Just for a little while.”
“Yeah, I’ll stay.” Eren scooted closer to her bed. “I’ll stay here all night.”
She reached out her hand, tugging at his sleeve.
"Promise?"
"Mikasa, I've been making a lot of promises lately, and I don't intend on breaking any of them."
"Okay," she nodded.
Eren watched as she fell back into a restless sleep, finally settling down in the early hours of the morning.
She awoke hours later with him still sitting on the chair next to her, chin to his chest and snoring softly.
“Mikasa?” Eren knocked on her door the next day. “I brought you some soup. I had to fight Sasha for an extra slice of bread, but there is also some-”
He nudged her door open, balancing a tray of food in his arms. He stopped short at the sight of her on the floor, instead of resting in bed like she was supposed to be.
“Oi! Mikasa, what are you doing?”
She grunted, arms behind her head as she crunched her upper body. “Training.”
“Are you crazy? You were almost crushed by a titan a few days ago!”
“I’m fine,” she panted. A sheen of sweat covered her arms and forehead, and her usual stoic face was scrunched in exertion. “I have to keep training. We lost 60% of our squad on that mission. Most of the veterans are gone, and our list of enemies keeps growing.” She turned her serious eyes to him. “We were lucky this time, but until you master your titan powers, I have to keep you safe. I’ll be faster next time. Stronger.”
Eren sighed, placing the try on her bedside table. “You know, part of training is knowing when to give yourself a break.”
“I slept for almost a full day. That was more than enough rest.” She winced as she continued her routine.
“Eren,” Armin called him from down the hall. “The captain is looking for you.”
“I’m coming,” he answered, turning back to Mikasa. “I’ll be back soon. At least try to eat something.”
She waved him off impassively. He threw up his hands, grumbling as he left her to her workout.
Eren reentered her room twenty minutes later, finding her sprawled on the floor almost exactly where he had left her.
“Mikasa? Are you-”
“I decided to take your advice,” she said plainly. “I’m resting.”
“Okay, but why are you on the floor?”
“...because I’m comfortable here.”
Eren stood over her, an amused smirk on his face. She was looking everywhere but at him.
“You’re stuck, aren’t you?”
Her cheeks darkened.
“Well, well,” he tsked mockingly. “The mighty Mikasa Akerman has been defeated by gravity. Humanity’s second strongest soldier stuck on the floor. How are you going to save the world from all the way down there, huh?”
Her face flushed with embarrassment, but her eyes screamed murderous intent.
“Just help me up,” she grumbled. Deciding not to push his luck any further, Eren hoisted Mikasa from her spot on the floor and sat with her on the edge of the bed.
“So, now are you going to listen to everyone and give yourself a break?”
“I’ll go easier on myself for the time being.”
“Moblit said that you were put on bedrest for a minimum of two weeks.”
Mikasa rolled her eyes. “I’m fine. I’ll be up and about in less than a week.”
“No,” Eren pointed his finger in her face. “None of that. I know everyone’s been blowing smoke up your ass since our training days, but believe it or not, you are in fact still human, and very much capable of injury.” She opened her mouth to argue, but he stopped her. “Mikasa, you were in too much pain to pull yourself off the floor just now.”
She frowned. “Eren, I’ll be back on my feet in three days, tops.”
His scowl matched hers. “Mikasa, you are staying in this bed and recovering for fourteen full days. End of discussion.”
“Eren...”
“Fourteen days!”
“Three.”
“Fourteen-”
“Three-”
“Ten?”
“No.”
“Seven at least. Come on, that’s half. It’s fair.”
She sat quietly, contemplating. Mikasa could be just as stubborn as Eren, and compromise was never something either of them was particularly good at.
“Five days,” she concluded. “I can be on rest for up to five days. That’s all.”
“You are going to be the death of me.” Eren sighed. “Fine. Five days.” He held out his little finger towards her. She quirked her brow at the gesture.
“You gotta,” Eren insisted. “A pinkie promise is binding.”
Mikasa rolled her eyes again, but gave him a small smile as she wrapped her finger around his.
They held on to each other for a moment too long before breaking apart.
“Hey,” Eren mused, “it’s getting late. Maybe you should take some of the pain medication and get some rest.”
Mikasa eyes the glass vile sitting on the bedside table.
“That stuff gives me weird dreams,” she mumbled.
“Is that what happened last night? Was it a nightmare?”
Mikasa shook her head. “Not a nightmare. Just...a really sad dream.”
She looked contemplative. Eren wasn’t sure if he should press her to continue. He was about to change the subject when she spoke again.
“There was... a cabin,” she started, “way out in the mountains somewhere.”
“Oh,” Eren thought. “Like the one you used to live in before?”
“No, it wasn’t my parents' cabin, but it seemed familiar. It felt like it was my home.”
“That doesn’t seem so sad,” he tried to smile at her, but Mikasa kept her eyes down.
“You were there,” she spoke softly. “We were at that cabin, and you were telling me these things-” she reached for her scarf, her voice trailing off. “You were telling me goodbye.”
“Hey,” Eren nudged her. “None of that. Look at me.” She looked up at him. “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere. Okay?”
“Mm,” she gave him a little nod in agreement.
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, Eren’s thumb tapping an incoherent rhythm against the back of Mikasa’s hand.
“You know,” he started, “all that stuff you were saying in the field, that all sounded like you were telling me goodbye...”
Mikasa reached for her scarf again, the flush in her cheeks darkening. “I didn’t think we...with everything that was happening...I just needed you to know.”
“Well, no more of that!” Eren tugged the end of her scarf. “No more goodbyes! I’m sick of it. I’m tired of watching my comrades dying pointlessly because I can’t get my shit together.” He turned his fierce gaze to her. “I will slaughter all the titans. I will wipe them from this earth and take back the freedom they stole from us. Then we will see the ocean, you me and Armin. I promise. We just have to survive until then. Okay? So don’t go making anymore declarations, especially in the middle of the battlefield.” He grabbed her face with both his hands. “And don’t ever tell me goodbye again, got it? I’m going to make sure that we never have to say goodbye to each other, not even in a dream.” His face softened. “I’m going to protect you, no matter what.”
Her lip trembled, and she reached for where his hands were holding her face, bringing them down to rest between them. “Eren-”
“I can protect you too, Mikasa. You just gotta let me. I know I’m not as strong as you are, but we’re a team. You have to let me pull my weight from time to time.”
“It’s not that I don’t think that you’re strong,” she said.
“Then what do I have to do to prove to you that I’m not some useless kid you have to save all the time, huh?”
She pressed her lips together, as if to hold back the truth.
“Tell me!”
“I don’t have a home, Eren.”
His jaw dropped. What was she talking about? They were all orphans. None of them had a home to return to.
“My parents and our life in the highlands, your family and Shiganshina. Everything I have ever tried to build has been taken away from me. This world is a cruel, merciless place. But I keep going because,” she met his questioning gaze, “you are my home. When I’m with you, Eren, it feels like I’m finally back home. When we thought you died in Trost, I convinced myself that I would be okay; that I could keep moving forward on my own. But I’m done losing my home. I can’t let them keep taking it from me. I won’t.” Her mouth set in grim line, eyes flashing. “I’m protecting what’s mine. That’s why I fight so hard.”
Eren sat, stunned again by her admission. He had never considered how important his presence was in her life. He groaned internally at all the times he had rebuked her, thinking she was only coddling him. Mikasa was making sure he survived not only for his sake, but for hers as well.
She shifted uncomfortably. “Sorry. I know we said no more declarations.”
Now he felt like a real jerk. He thought about Hannes’ death, how everything tying them back to their innocence was truly gone, forever. It was only Eren, Armin, and Mikasa now. He understood how she felt. If he were to lose either of them, he wouldn’t be able to continue on.
Eren shot her a weak smile, trying to lighten the somber mood. “What do you think I’m fighting for?” He knocked his head gently against hers. “You and Armin are all I have left in this world. Don’t you think I want to protect what’s mine too?”
She looked like she wanted to say more, but instead dropped her gaze.
“We’ll take back everything we lost, Mikasa. It’s not going to be like this forever. The three of us are going to go back home. I’ll make sure of it.”
“Yeah,” she muttered, ending the conversation. Absently, she rubbed at her torso. “Can you hand me my medication, please?” she asked. Eren crinkled his brows.
“I thought you said it gave you bad dreams.” He reached for the bottle and handed it to her.
Mikasa shrugged, unscrewing the cap and squeezing the dropper. “The sooner I heal, the sooner I can get back to training, and the sooner we can defeat our enemies.” She dropped some of the clear substance under her tongue and cringed at its bitter flavor.
“You’re relentless,” Eren snickered.
“Wonder where I get it from,” she smirked back.
They continued to talk for a while longer until Mikasa drooped against him, the drugs finally taking effect.
“You should get some rest.” Eren moved to detangle himself from her, arranging her into a more comfortable position. Mikasa grabbed his wrist, her strength still fully intact despite the numbing agent working its way through her system.
“Stay?” she asked him quietly. He nodded, resuming his position in the chair next to her bed. Her hand slide towards his, and he grasped hers firmly, letting her know through touch that he was still beside her, that he would remain beside her.
“Eren...”
“Yeah?”
“I just want us...to be able to go back...” her eyelids grew heavy, and her head lulled to the side.
He squeezed her hand. “I’m going to take you home, Mikasa,” Eren promised her. If he couldn’t bring back the past, he would build her a future. One where she could live freely, without fear. “One day, when all this is behind us, I’ll take you to that cabin, way up in the mountains. You’ll never have to fight again.”
He remembered his list of goals, the one he had made for himself when he was just a child.
“We’ll kill all of the titans. We’ll see the ocean together. And then we’ll build ourselves a home.”