Entanglement

Chapter 6

Annie's eyes fluttered open, her head was beating as she wondered where she was. Slightly sitting up she scanned the room- it was hers and Mikasa's bedroom except a loud beeping sound was coming from a machine next to her bed, she had an IV rooted deep into her hand and heart monitor stickers on her chest, her confusion only grew as she had no idea how or why she got here.

'You're awake' Annie could make out Mikasa's figure leaning against the doorframe, she sounded tired and Annie could see the dark circles underneath her eyes as she approached

'Whats uh going on?' Annie asked her voice weak as she tried to sit up further, Mikasa sat down next to her on the bed putting her arms on Annie's shoulder to stop her from sitting up too quick

'Don't strain yourself you're still weak' Mikasa complained 'don't you remember? You passed out badly and hit your head when you fell, you got a bad concussion, the doctors did some blood work and you've got low iron and vitamins, they said this was all caused from you overworking yourself and stress'

'And whose fault is that?'

'I'm sorry, I take responsibility' Mikasa sighed leaning back into the bed 'I was pissed at you and decided to abuse my power- I didn't realise it would end up like this, luckily it can be cured with simple meds and rest'

'Why am I not in the hospital?'

'I pulled some strings through connections and made it so you can stay at home, this bed is way comfier than the one at the hospital, a nurse comes to check on you every hour'

'You didn't need to do that'

'I wanted to, I'm the reason you're ill in the first place I want to make it up to you'

'You make it sound like I'm dying, I'll be out of this bed and back to work in no time, I still have documents from the hotel project to complete'

'The hotel project? Annie you quit right before you passed out'

'I did?'

'Yeah you told me I was shitty, that you quit and that you wanted a d-'

'I wanted what?'

'A drink. You wanted a drink' Annie noticed the look on Mikasa's face, she looked disturbed but she couldn't tell if it was from guilt or something else

'The concussion must have really fucked with my brain' Annie yawned 'but I must have not been thinking straight that night, I want back on the hotel project only if you treat us as equals rather than giving me all the work'

'Deal but lets not talk about work, stress isn't good for you right now'

'Im not that fragile, you don't have to avoid topics, I mean work is the only thing we have in common but I am tired'

'Go back to sleep, you need as much rest as possible'

'Sure but when I wake up I want food, I'm so hungry'

'Fine, its my turn to be your slave'

'Mhm I like the sound of that' Annie rested her head back on the pillow and fell easily back into sleep.

***

Mikasa sat reading her book as she watched Annie sleep out of the corner of her eye, Mikasa liked it when Annie slept, she was so peaceful and quiet unlike when she was awake. Before she had passed out, at night times Annie would always unknowingly cuddle up to Mikasa in her sleep, she had woken up and caught herself a few times, hoping Mikasa wouldn't notice but Mikasa knew better than anyone that it was happening, she just never said anything because she didn't want it to stop, she knew she was using Annie to fill the void of not being in a proper relationship and the nighttimes gave her the physical contact she craved- even if it was with one of the people she hated the most of the world although she would be lying if she said she didn't have a soft spot for sleeping Annie.