Awake My Soul - Ereri

Chapter 26 - I Should Go

As soon as Eren woke up Saturday morning, he was immediately aware that something was wrong. He glanced over to the figure standing in his doorway. He jumped up, surprised by the person standing there.

"Sorry I scared you, I just wanted to know if you wanted any breakfast?" It was Mikasa, her voice quiet. Something was wrong. She looked at the ground and even from this distance he could tell that she was shaking.

"Mikasa, are you okay?"

"I'm fine." But her voice cracked. Eren got up suddenly and walked over to her, engulfing her in a hug.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"It's stupid really, I shouldn't be so upset." She wasn't crying, but it was the closest Eren had seen her be to crying. She didn't cry. She was usually the calm one, taking care of everybody else. So to see her like this broke Eren's heart.

"Come, sit," He said, leading the two of them to his untidy bed. She sat down, her shaky hands gripping Eren's fiercely.

"Mikasa, what happened?" Eren asked softly.

"It's my dad. My real dad." Was all she could get out before breaking down in tears. Eren felt like crying just hearing her cry. He gripped her tightly, running his hands down her back softly as she cried on his shoulder, grasping his shirt. When she had gotten to the point that she could speak again, she looked up at Eren with teary eyes.

"He- he died last night. They found him this morning. Drug overdose. I shouldn't be so upset, it's not like I've seen him since he's left. He's only a name on an envelope with a card full of money on my birthday. But he's family. And despite everything I love him." She sobbed towards the end and Eren froze.

"Oh my god Mikasa, I'm so sorry." Her tears dropped onto their intertwined hands and Eren felt terrible because his sister felt terrible.

"Does Mum know?" He asked her. She nodded.

"Yeah, she was the one who told me. I don't think she's sad about it though." Mikasa said quietly.

"But it's different though, he's her ex-husband but he's your dad and he won't stop being your dad, you can't divorce family." She nodded again, squeezing Eren's hand tighter.

"Thank you for being my family." She said to him.

"Thank you for being my family." He replied. She looked into Eren's eyes, dead serious.

"Eren can you promise me something?" She asked.

"Of course, what is it?"

"Please don't ever leave me, don't die on me." Eren hugged her.

"I'm not going anywhere, I promise."

"Thank you." She whispered. When they pulled away Eren tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear.

"I'll call Armin to come over and we can all watch some movies to take your mind off it. If you'd like."

"But don't you have a date today?" Mikasa asked.

"I'll raincheck it. You need me more than he does today and I want to make sure you're okay. There's nothing you can do to make me leave." Mikasa laughed and nodded.

"Okay then." She smiled a bit and walked out of his room so he could call Levi. He called but got nothing but his voicemail.

"Hey Levi, I'm really sorry but do you think we could go out tomorrow, it's Mikasa she's really upset and needs me. I'll explain later. I'm so sorry, call me back when you get this, love you." Eren hung up the phone sighing before calling Armin.