Violets (Mikannie)

3 - Reawakening

They watched Annie for five months before something happened.

Over those months, Mikasa and Armin gradually made the dungeon feel like home. It had started when Armin decided to bring down some blankets permanently (it got very cold in the winter months), and eventually grew. Now, there was a rug on the floor, a mini portable heater, some magazines in the corner, and a couple of cushions. At first they had taken it in turns watching Annie in the hopes that something would happen, but after a few weeks of nothing happening, Armin set up a video feed and they only had to go down occasionally.

Initially, Armin and Mikasa had chosen not to tell Eren about their discovery - they felt that, given history, it would be safer not to introduce the two again. However, it didn't take long for Eren to notice that his best friends were sneaking off every weekend, and followed, thinking that the two were having an affair. Of course, that was not the case at all, and Eren had some things to say loudly about waiting for Annie. In the end, Eren agreed to stay silent about the discovery as not to alert any secret government organisations or whatever.

One morning, while on spring break, Armin and Mikasa were in the dungeon, as usual. Eren was elsewhere, presumably being scolded by his mother for literally anything. As it was coming into spring, the blankets were less used and the heater was considered being put away. Armin was doing his over-the-break homework, as he had become accustomed to doing. It wasn't like he'd miss anything.

Mikasa, however, was standing close to Annie's crystal.

"I wish I could talk to you again," she whispered under her breath. "Did you leave those flowers for me?"

There was no answer. Mikasa was disappointed, but not surprised. She reached out her hand, slightly, and touched the surface of the crystal.

A tiny crack formed at her touch.

Mikasa recoiled in shock. "Did you see that?" She asked, spinning around.

Armin looked up from his homework. "See what?"

"I touched it, and it cracked!"

Armin discarded his textbook and ran to her side. "My God, you're right," he whispered. The friends watched in horror, scared that this would fail and Annie would die.

Then, it happened. The unmistakable spasm of a hand, causing more cracks to form and grow, getting faster and faster, the sound getting louder, then Armin had the sense to get them both down on the ground to protect themselves from the shattering crystal. Mikasa could feel shards fly against her back, but not hurting.

When the noise had stopped, Mikasa stood up. Annie, still asleep, was lying amongst the quickly evaporating crystal shards. Mikasa ran to her side and got down on one knee to check her vitals, then sighed in relief. Annie was alive, but her breathing was erratic. She hadn't breathed in a while, Mikasa supposed. She stuck her arm under Annie's shoulders and moved her so Mikasa was holding her. Annie seemed to calm slightly at being moved. Mikasa cupped her cheek and recoiled at how hot it was. Armin squatted down next to her.

"You probably shouldn't have moved her," he said. He paused. "We should get her out of this hole for when she wakes up."

Mikasa took her eyes off Annie to respond. "You're right."

She very gently stood up, and carried Annie towards the staircase.

Neither noticed the security camera outside in the warehouse yard.

--

They ended up taking Annie to Armin's house, because it was closer to walk to (they figured that taking an unconscious girl in archaic military uniform on the bus would get them some weird looks). However, due to taking only residential roads as to not attract attention, the trip took twice as long as usual. It was well past lunch time when they got back to Armin's house, and Mikasa's arms were tired. Armin unlocked the front door, which took way longer than it should because he dropped the keys, and Mikasa rushed inside to put Annie down.

Mikasa set her down on the couch. The girl seemed to whimper as she was let go, a detail that Mikasa decided not to think too much about. She stood back and watched Annie's fretful sleep. Armin entered the lounge room, having put his homework away. 

"We'll put her in the spare room," he said. Mikasa nodded and picked Annie up again. She carried her to the spare room, a peaceful beach-themed bedroom. Mikasa put her down on the bed and gently covered her with the sheets.

"Shouldn't we, um, take the gear off?" Armin said. He was right, of course, Mikasa thought. All those straps would be uncomfortable to sleep in. 

Mikasa pulled back the sheets, then turned around. "Some privacy, please."

"Oh. Yeah." Armin nodded, then left the room. 

Mikasa started by taking off the heavy leather straps and buckles. The boots came off next, then the jacket. She paused before the next part. She was going to have to take off her pants. From experience, she knew that they were not fun to sleep in, but there was still the aura of awkwardness involved with taking off somebody else's clothes, especially somebody that one had a crush on. Mikasa sucked in a breath, and took the pants off anyway. It wasn't easy, but soon enough the pants were off and on the floor with the rest of the gear. Mikasa was relieved to find that Annie was wearing shorts underneath.

She put the blankets back over Annie, then, with one last glance at the sleeping girl, stepped out of the room and quietly closed the door. She leaned her head against the wall. How could that girl in there be the same one who tried to kill her and her friends?

Talking from Armin's room attracted Mikasa's attention. She pushed open the door to see Armin, on the phone. He saw Mikasa and waved her over, still talking. She sat next to him on his bed, kicking off her shoes and sitting cross-legged.

"Yeah, yeah, Mikasa's here," Armin said. He took the phone away from his mouth. "It's Eren, he doesn't know about..." he nodded his head in the direction of the spare room. 

"Good. Don't tell him yet."

Armin nodded in understanding, then went back to his conversation. "Look, I'll meet up with you tomorrow. The park? Yeah, that sounds good. Love you, bye!"

"'Love you'?" Mikasa asked in disbelief. Armin hit her arm in mock annoyance. 

Mikasa never got tired of the quietly happy moments. Lord knows she hadn't had enough of them the last time around, so she knew how to savour the moment. And if this life was nothing but quiet happy moments, then she wouldn't complain a bit.