Horrifically Wounded, Strikingly Gorgeous & Deadly [ErenXMikasa] [Eremika]

XIV: A Tilted Crown

WARNING: TRIGGERS, SUICIDAL CONTENT. I am very sorry guys. Please be prepared.

Also, English translation of future Japanese conversation is at the BOTTOM of the Authors' Note. :D

[Eren]

It's the second to last visit to Mikasa's house and I sit in my usual spot against the door. The room is silent like it always is, and Mikasa is sprawled out on her bed. She's sleeping like she was last time, and the time before that, and it worries me a little bit. The last few visits she's been like this, and I'm beginning to wonder how her sleeping so much might have to do with her private breakdown in the hallway last Friday. Sometimes she'll sleep for five minutes and other times she'll sleep for two hours.
Other times when I'm here she actually wakes up, sweaty and wide eyed. I try not to notice it but it's hard not to.

Today Mikasa has been asleep for about an hour and hasn't woken up yet. I glance up at her, seeing her body move around the bed quietly. I don't think she's having a nightmare this time. It's easy to tell when she is though; it's almost scary. She always kicks and screams and cries, and sweat gathers on forehead easily regardless of the weather.

I stare at her for a few more seconds before I hear the phone ring through my headphones. I'm about to get up to get it but opt not to when I realise Mikasa has woken up. I quickly avert my gaze and continue with what I was doing.
Out of the corner of my eye I see Mikasa stand up and quickly leave the room.
A few seconds later, the door slams open and I hear voices. Surprised, I pull my headphones out and immediately see Mikasa talking over the phone. Her tone is strained and hoarse, and it sounds almost as if she's crying. I stay quiet.
"But Da-" her voice is cut off. I watch as she sits at the end of her bed, the phone pressed tightly to her ear.
A moment later she speaks. "Yes, okay... W-what about mom?" Her voice shakes as she says it, and I assume she's talking to her parents. Her tone is far different than when she's at school, and she sounds almost afraid. Suddenly, she looks in my direction, and I soon realise it's because she remembered I'm still here. She looks nervous. Soon after, though, she flicks her head back. "C-can I speak to her?" Silence follows until I hear Mikasa speak again. "K-Kon'nichiha, Okaasan," She begins, and it takes me a moment to realise she isn't speaking English anymore. "O-Otōsan wa anata ga ryōhō no ie ni kite iru to iimasu..." I sigh. She's talking in a different language so that I can't understand. "Kare wa shinjitsu o katatte imasu ka?" Mikasa continues. I watch as she nods her head. "Demo... Hai... Gomennasai, Okaasan... Hai....D-Demo, naze?" Her sentences start to come in bits and her voice becomes even more strained. "Okaasan...Shikashi, shigoto ni tsuite nani?" All is silent. "...Watashi wa rikai shite... Hai, watashi wa Rebai o oshiete kuremasu...Hai... Sayounara Okaasan...Hai, oyasuminasai..." With that, Mikasa pulls her ear away from the landline and ends the call. As she does, she turns her head slightly and I notice something.

Her eyes are glittering wet with tears, and it looks like she's on the verge of a break down. To say she looks afraid would be a complete understatement; she looks absolutely terrified. Of what, I don't know, but whatever it is it has something to do with that phone call.

I stand and make my way to where Mikasa is standing in the middle of her room. She has one arm wrapped tightly around her own waist while the other leans against it, her fingers between her teeth in an act of nervousness. She's completely zoned out; it's like she doesn't even know where she is. Once I get to her I reach out for her shoulder, but she immediately shrugs me off. "Don't touch me," she snaps, her voice raspy and dry. Yup, definitely a breakdown. Silence once again engulfs us. After a few minutes, I hear her speak again. "Get out."
"What?"
"It's time for you to leave. Get out," She says coldly, walking toward the door. Swinging it open, she gestures for me to leave. I sigh. There's no use in arguing with Mikasa. Quickly grabbing my backpack, I enter through the open door and head down the stairs. Mikasa then slams the door and leaves me by myself.
Sighing a second time, I show myself out and head home. On the way, though, I can't help but worry about her. It was obvious that whatever the problem was back there was a big one. There was definitely something out of place during that conversation with her parents, regardless of whether I could understand her or not. Body and tone speak more than words.