The Passion of Lovers//Eremika

14. The Perfect Girl

Around 2:20 AM, Eren was driving Mikasa back to her place. The ride was silent besides radio playing Jason Derulo. "I don't remember the last time I stayed up this late," Mikasa said looking out the window. Eren smirked and said, "I don't remember the last time I went to sleep at night."

"So you just stay up every night?"

"Yeah, either fucking or fucking around," He hesitated when he saw the look on her face. "It's a habit I'm trying to fix."

You could help me, Eren thought to himself. He felt obligated to properly get to know her, due to what happened at his place. In his eyes, she was the most beautiful girl he's ever seen. He messed around with other girls before, but he never felt there was anything there. There was nothing but just pure lust in those moments. But with Mikasa, he actually felt something. There was something other than sexual desire. Maybe it was happiness, maybe it-

"You passed it up."

Eren hit the brakes and then pulled the car back into reverse. "Sorry, sorry" he mumbled as he rerouted. "What were you even thinking about?" Mikasa asked, putting her elbow on the window sill and resting head in her hand. Eren lingered on that question, debating on what to say. Should he tell her straight up or tell her something else?

"I feel like I went too fast, like I should've gotten to know you better before we dove head first, literally." Mikasa held a chuckle but she grinned anyway.

As she looked out the window, she noticed the stars lighting up the night sky. The sky itself was a clash between a dark black-blue and a subtle purple, creating a swirl in the sky. Mikasa stared at the sky in awe when Eren glanced over and noticed the way she reacted. He would admit, the sky was beautiful tonight. Things felt more real and existing when he wasn't on some kind of drug. And everyday, after he wakes in a girl's bed or on the floor of someone's house, he wishes that he could've something different. He wishes that he could go back in time and stop his past self from ever doing that.

"Hey, I know it's late and all but..." He lingered on that last part before glancing over at Mikasa to see if she would respond. "The beach looks really beautiful this time of night. If you want, I could drive you over and, I don't know, just admire it?"

Mikasa thought about the offer for a moment before agreeing. Ever since she was younger, she had a fear of the ocean. She didn't know why either, she just didn't like the water. But now that she was older, maybe she wouldn't be as scared as she was back then.

~*~ ☠︎︎~*~

Eren was right. The beach was beautiful. The sand, usually a shade of snowy white, was now a dreamy indigo with the dark waves crashing onto it. And as expected, Mikasa jumped back when the wave got too close to her. Eren laughed at this and proceeded to remove his shirt. "It can't be that bad," he said jokingly. He threw his shirt down onto the sand and ran out into the sea.

Mikasa stayed back with her arms folded, looking at Eren's foolishness.

He whooped and jumped into the water. Some of the water splashed onto Mikasa to which she shielded her hands from the droplets. He was playing around in the water for a while before making an effort to convince Mikasa to join him. "Come on! What's so scary about the sea?" he shouted happily. Mikasa frowned and turned from him. "I just don't like the sea. There's one too many things that could happen,"

"Like what?"

"Shark attacks, shipwrecks, poisonous fish or plants, hurricanes, murder-"

"Oh for fuck's sakes," Eren rolled his eyes and got out the water and walked over to Mikasa. In one swift motion, he swept her off her feet and started walking back to the sea with her in his arms. "What the hell are you doing?" she shouted, trying to get out of Eren's grasp. "Trying to show you that it's not that bad! If you would just calm down and relax.." Eren said, walking to the ocean.

When he stepped foot into the sea, Mikasa shrieked and held on to Eren for dear life. Eren almost let out a laugh, but quickly stopped himself. "Goddammit Eren, put me down!" Mikasa shouted at him. Eren shrugged his shoulders and started to put her down in the water, to which Mikasa screamed and pulled herself back up using Eren's neck. He burst out laughing and after yelling profanities at him for a while, she found herself laughing too.

Laughing.

Genuinely laughing.

Even though she was near the one thing that scared her shitless, she was laughing along with someone who she never thought she would get to know. Yes, he was problematic and possibly self-destructive, but...

But what?

"Remind me to never take you to the beach," Eren said, drying himself off with his shirt. "Or just never bring me near the water. I can handle the sand, dickwad," Mikasa said in response. Eren chuckled and the two headed back to the car. Eren started up the car and resumed the ride back to Mikasa's apartment. As Eren kept his eyes on the road, he started to mentally drift off again. This time however, it wasn't about romantic feelings for her. Yes, those feelings were still there and still strong, but something else was stronger.

Their short yet memorable time at the beach was lingering in Eren's mind. Maybe he should take her back sometime during the day in the future. There could be snacks, maybe Annie and Armin could come along as well. There could possibly be some light drinks and...

A lustful thought popped up in Eren's mind as he continued to drive. He approached a red light, stopping the car. His finger tapped on the steering wheel as his adrenaline raced from the idea. He glanced over at Mikasa, her eyes looking out at the night sky. God, she was beautiful, Eren thought to himself. If only he could stay with her a little longer, just a little. The thought fled his mind, to Eren's relief. No, he wasn't going to be like that to her. She's so, so much more than that. She's so smart and strong and so many other things, but what about him?

She's like Jessica Rabbit and he's just Roger, if Roger Rabbit were an addicted loser and dirtbag.

Mikasa's the perfect girl to him, no doubt about it. But Eren feels like he would ruin not only her but everything else around her. He loves her, but...

But what?

The light turned green.