Heart Letters [Eren Jaeger x Mikasa Ackerman]

Chapter Four: Heart's Recovery

The time was wasting away, with no sign at all of her return. Sure enough, it hasn’t been that long since he had started rambling through these notes of the past. But he couldn’t feel anything else but worry.

Eren did the same to the paper on his hand; folded it, and placed it to the stack where the letters he had already had read are. The sun’s rays passed through the two windows of the room, noting that at least an hour or two have passed since he walked in here, since the search begun. And every minute, every second that pass, he could feel his heart speeding up.

The boy finally stood up from the corner he sat, dragging himself to the door. He figured he might as well go and check outside, one for speeding things up if he could; two, for distracting him from reading further. At this point, he was blur. She never meant to let him see these letters, yet wrote his name there. What was her real purpose?

He eyed the untouched letters on one side. He wants to know more, he wants to know everything he never did. But he couldn’t decide whether it is the right thing to do or not.

Eren walked up to the door, reaching for the knob. He wanted to leave the room, even if it’s only for a while, to check if there were any signs of them returning from the retrieval mission. He sighed, ready to turn the knob and go out to the sun.

Just then, a knock came.

It made his heart skip a beat; was he back with news? Has Mikasa and some others who weren’t back with the team been found? All those thoughts filled his mind as he struggled to open the door. He was shaking, so he made a simple move hard.

But when he opened the door, it wasn’t his Lance Corporal standing there, it wasn’t his adopted sibling, it wasn’t anybody else but one most familiar face, holding a cup of dark brownish liquid in his hands.

Blonde, golden hair of medium length, paired with two blue eyes of the colour of the sky, noticeably shorter than him - Armin Arlert, rather, his childhood friend. One of the most precious to him, one who shared so much memories with him. One that he’d be ready to die for.

Why is he here?

"H-hey Eren." he stuttered. He took a few steps back, noticing that Eren hadn’t had his usual, determined look on his face. Eren’s eyes widen for a moment there, before he opened the door wider, inviting his childhood friend in. Armin hesitated; he was unsure whether he should disturb Eren at this phase. But even though reluctantly, he had to do so.

Eren kept his quiet, he barely said a word when Armin stepped in. The place was lit with only the sunlight, so it wasn’t as bright. The blonde boy set the cup on the nearest nightstand, before confronting his friend again.

"Are you even supposed to be here?" Eren asked, almost sounded cold. Deep down, Armin knew. He wasn’t himself. Those papers lying on the floor there - they might be the reason. He didn’t want to question his behaviour, so he decides to just play along with it.

"Until the Retrieval Team arrives back, we are free for that period. So I thought… since I hadn’t seen you around since we got back, I might as well find you." the shorter boy answered with a slight smile. Eren stared at him for ever long, before deciding to reclaim his seat at the corner of the room, next to the letters. He took the cup that Armin had placed on the nightstand, taking a sip without caring if it’s even meant for him.

He put the cup back down and sighed. He took the next letter and glanced at the ceiling, then back down at Armin.

"Armin." he started, catching Armin’s attention. The shorter blonde looked at him, startled by his sudden call. Eren paused for a while and opened the letter in his hands. "I’m blind." he closed his eyes, sighing again.