the (he)art of a titan || Eremika || ✔️

Part VI

Time continued to tick by, though Eren had no idea how long it had actually been. The only indication he had was by how much darker it was getting, as the only way for him to see the fruit of his labor was by moving the lamppost directly over his lettering and seeing if it was actually legible for once.

He worked and worked, going through the list that Hange had told him of the basic vocabulary that he had to master. He wrote and wrote, but it never looked right. He could never get the right words to appear in his brain for him to apply it in written form.

Simple words. It was simple words.

But it just didn't click.

Just then, the warm weight on his shoulder shifted, snuggling serenely into the crook of his neck as much as she could.

Eren's grip on the branch slackened and suddenly, everything was much clearer. He could see the words. He could see it as clearly as the moon in the sky.

With a newfound revelation, the spark in Eren grew and his grip tightened on his stylus. He moved with precision, his vision connecting his mind to the movement of his hands. He could see the lettering in his mind. Just that word.

Taking his time, he traced the lettering into the forest floor.

So many times he tried to find the right words, but this time, it came naturally to him. The word that was a part of him. The word that would never leave his mind. His mind, his life-force, his soul, his heart. All parts of him connected to it.

How could he ever forget?

With a final drag of the branch, Eren let the makeshift pen fall and admired his work.

He finally got it right.

His eyes widened excitedly and he turned his head to Mikasa, ready to hear what she had to say about his breakthrough, but the sight he was met with caught him off guard.

She was asleep. Her body completely slack against him. It was a rare sight to see Mikasa so serene. He considered himself lucky to be one of the few people Mikasa found herself comfortable enough to sleep next to.

Every breath Mikasa took in and out made Eren feel like she was really breathing life into him.

She stayed awake with him as long as she could, through the dark night, just to keep him company. Why, Mikasa, Eren thought, why do you concern yourself so much with me?

The unwavering loyalty of Mikasa never ceased to amaze him. She was strong. Much stronger than him (though he would never admit that out-loud). Her raw power left him in the dust time and time again, yet she always made her way back to him.

She bewildered him.

A light breeze blew and her worn-down red scarf fluttered against her neck and Mikasa let out a little shudder, her body trying to warm itself.

With gentle Titan hands, he plucked her from his shoulder and cupped her entire body in his hands. Then he leaned back, his head touching the forest floor. Once he was in position, he placed her body, with as much tenderness as he could muster, right at the center of his chest, right where his heart should be.

It was fitting, he supposed, that Mikasa's body fit comfortably in the concave of his Titan chest, curled into his heart like a small stray kitten.

Closing his eyes, he let out a small hum and his chest moved up and down, slowly drifting into his own slumber. Mikasa smiled as she listened to the song of his heartbeat.

She was warm.