From Across the Sea (Attack on Titan/OC) [ON HOLD]

Chapter 6

Mike Zacharias had always been known for his keen sense of smell. When he was young, it often got him into trouble. He could easily sniff out whatever treats his mother had been cooking, or the different spices she kept growing in the garden box outside the kitchen window. As he got older, he began to notice which smells he preferred on women he found attractive. He liked girls who smelt delicate, girls who often smelled of fresh cut flowers, or the sweet scent of ripe summer fruit blossoms.

But Mike didn't need his nose to sniff out the feelings Angharad Jaeger felt for his best friend, Erwin Smith.

Mike knew that Angharad was probably aware that he had figured her out, but it wasn't like she was very good at hiding her longing gazes, or how she always seemed to brighten up just a little bit more when he entered the room. Angharad was often the source of smiles among their table. She was always aware of everyone's mood, when they needed a friend and when they needed to be alone. She made Nile coffee when he was hungover, and she ran alongside Nanaba and Rico every morning. She tried to keep Hanji as organized as Hanji could possibly be. And she let Mike lean his arm on her shoulder, though she mostly grumbled in annoyance when he did so, yet she never moved his arm.

Mike would say that, aside from Nanaba, among the females of their group, he was closest with Ang. They sat next to each other during meals, with her usually seated on the end of the bench, Mike on her right, and across from Erwin, with Hanji across from Mike. Hanji and Mike had switched seating arrangements after the first week of them sitting together, as the two blonde, broad shouldered males were found arguing over 'elbow room' more than actually contributing to the conversation.

However in this moment, Mike could tell Ang needed someone to talk to, someone to listen while she unraveled her thoughts until they made sense to her again. Mike, usually preferring to observe and listen, was the perfect man for the job. She acted like she was listening to Erwin's new deployment tactic, but Mike could tell she was somewhere else as she periodically let out a 'Mhmm...' and 'Yea, that should work great.'. She had done more of pushing her food around her tray than actually eating. Noticing that Erwin was too occupied with explaining his notes as he flipped through different pages, Mike nudged his elbows against hers.

Mike furrowed his brows in a silent message. 'Are you okay?'. She gently shrugged her shoulders before turning her gaze back to her uneaten dinner. Mike nudged her again and as he caught her gaze, he subtly looked towards the door of the mess hall before bringing his gaze back to her. She sighed before standing up and grabbing her tray.

"Guys, I think I'm gonna turn in early." She grabbed her tan jacket and draped it over her elbow.

"Are you sure?' Hanji suddenly looked up, obviously worried. "It's not even that late."

"Yea, I'm sure. I just need some extra sleep, that's all." Ang didn't give them a chance to respond as she dumped her tray and all but ran out of the mess hall, the door clicking shut behind her.

Mike found her 20 minutes later, on the steps of the barracks where he, Erwin, and Nile stayed. Her jacket was folded, and draped over her knees, and she seemed to be in another world entirely. Mike, hands in his pockets, walked over and sat on the steps beside her. They were silent for a few moments, neither blonde knowing what to say to the other.

"He likes Marie." Ang's voice was dejected. "I know I shouldn't care so much. Hell, we're about to join the most dangerous branch of our military." She scoffed.

"Nile likes Marie too." Mike didn't quite know what to say to console her.

"The worst part is...I can't blame him." She scoffed a laugh before burying her face in her hands.

"Ang..." He sighed.

"She's perfect, Mike." Ang brought her face out of hiding to look towards him. "She's beautiful, and shy. And she doesn't have to get sweaty because she trains all the time, 'cus she works at a bar as a waitress!" Ang cried out in frustration, groaning as she stood up and paced in front of him.

"But she's not you." Mike found the words escaped him before he could stop himself.

"What?" she whispered.

"She's not you." He repeated himself. "If you think she's only perfect because she's not you, then you're just as blind as he is." He stared up at her from his spot on the steps. Mike bent his legs as he draped his arms over his knees.

"What are you talking about?" She'd stopped pacing now as she stared at him.

"You honestly think that he doesn't notice you?" Mike shook his head, chuckling to himself. "He watches you, ya know?"

"Mike, we sit across from each other at every meal." She shook her head in disbelief.

"No, when you're not looking, he watches you." She was fidgeting with her hands again. "When we're supposed to pair up for drills, he always looks for you first. He saves you a seat during our classes. He always walks either beside you or behind you, but never in front." Mike shook his head again with a laugh. "You are always in his line of vision. He has to sit across from you so it's not as obvious that he's watching you so intently."

Ang looked down to her hands before moving to sit next to Mike again. She picked at her fingernails in silence. "That's just how he looks out for his friends." He sighed at her response. His arms went around her shoulders and he pulled her into his side. She leaned her head on his shoulder before sitting up straight at the sound of footsteps. Nile and Erwin came walking around the corner before coming to a stop at the sight of them sitting on the steps.

"I thought you were turning in early?" Erwin asked, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. She nodded and stood, draping her jacket over her elbow.

"I am." She looked back as Mike stood to his full height next to her. "Mike needed advice about Nanaba." She smirked lightly before the expression left her face empty again.

"You finally gonna ask that girl out?" Nile smirked as he walked by, patting Mike's shoulder as he went up the steps and into their room. Mike ducked his head down slightly.

"Are you kidding?" Mike laughed. "I'm gonna marry that girl one day." Mike looked down to Ang before they both nodded to each other. As she began to walk away from the boys' cabin, she felt Erwin's hand on her shoulder.

"You need me to walk you back?" His eyes were gentle with concern as he looked down at her.

"Not tonight." She didn't shrug him off, instead choosing to continue walking away until she was out of his reach. He turned with the motion, his hand falling back to his side. "I need the walk to myself tonight."

"Are you sure?"

"Yea." Her voice was soft, and she turned and walked towards her own sleeping quarters. When she was out of sight, Erwin turned to Mike who was still standing on the porch steps.

"What was that all about?" Erwin would find out what was wrong with her eventually, Mike might as well tell him about it now. Instead, Mike rolled his eyes with a small scoff and a smirk before turning around. Erwin could hear him sigh out "I swear, it's like watching dramatic theater with you two." as he turned and walked into their cabin. "What do you mean by that?" Erwin asked, but was met with silence. Mike Zacharias was back to being a man of few words.