Amaranth

Chapter 26: Lotus Flower

After a few hours of watching what Ymir had put on and sipping some expensive wine Jean had brought up from his parents collection, everyone began making their way back to their rooms. Admittedly, Mikasa was feeling a little buzzed, but she was still thinking clearly. If anything, she just felt calm. Annie, on the other hand, was much worse for wear.

"C'mon," Mikasa said encouragingly as she put Annie's arm around her shoulders and lifted the girl.

"You sure you're okay?" Bertholdt asked. He had been watching the two worriedly, keeping an eye on their alcohol intake. Really, he had been doing it with all his friends, but he'd kept a special eye on the two of them since he considered both of them close friends.

"I'll manage," Mikasa assured him with a sweet smile, "I've done this before, remember?"

"Quite well," he said with a soft smile, remembering the last time Annie had needed help back to her room, "You hadn't drank that night, though."

"I also had a broken foot," Mikasa said, "I'm sure I'll be fine, but thanks for the concern."

"Yeah, no problem," he said as he tried to help Reiner up. The tall blonde hadn't drank much, but he was pretty exhausted from their day.

"What's going on there?" Mikasa asked with a smirk as she looked between the two men.

Bertholdt looked slightly panicked as he looked at Annie's spacey form, ensuring that she wouldn't comprehend whatever he said next. "Things are... progressing," Bertholdt said vaguely.

"Good for you!" she congratulated him genuinely, and he seemed surprised by the emotion she showed him.

"Heh, thanks," he accepted appreciatively and sheepishly, "You too."

"But if you hurt her, I won't let you forget it," he said in the most threatening manner he could manner which wasn't much.

"As if," she laughed lightly, "but I wouldn't want to hurt her really. I know we fight like cats and dogs, but we care about each other a lot... I hope."

Bertholdt couldn't help but laugh as he began walking to the stairs, followed by a slightly-wobbling Mikasa. "She cares about you a lot," Bertholdt assured her, "so as long as you feel the same, you have nothing to worry about."

"Good to know," she said with a smile before grunting as Annie suddenly became deadweight. "This bitch," Mikasa huffed as she slipped her hand under the girl's legs, carrying her bridal style. Immediately, Annie's hands clamped around the back of Mikasa's neck, and she sighed deeply.

"Don't blame me this time," Bertholdt commented as he got to the top of the steps and looked back at Mikasa and his blonde best friend, "You should've known better."

"Yeah, yeah," she sighed as she got to the top of the steps, following Bertholdt in the direction of her room.

"Need water?" he asked, obviously referring to the way he had gotten Annie to let go the last time.

"I think I'll manage," Mikasa decided. She didn't mind having Annie hold her now since she knew Annie had done that while sober. Her only worry was that Annie, in her drunken state, would forget about Mikasa's fear of confined spaces, and that she would hold her too tightly like the last time. "On second thought, water might be nice," Mikasa decided. It's better to have it just in case, she decided in her head.

"I'll get you some," he said as he put Reiner in their room.

"Thanks," she said as she entered her own room.

She gently put Annie's back against the bed, dropping the girl's legs from her grasp. As expected, Annie's arms were still firmly wrapped around her neck, but this time, Annie's hands were absent-mindedly playing with Mikasa's baby hairs.