Violets (Mikannie)

20 - Respite

Sometimes it's important to have a break from the action.

Longer chapter than usual, but you guys deserve it, especially with what's to come.
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For some time, Annie and Mikasa stayed on Mikasa's bed, holding each other tightly. They didn't know what to do.

They were only interrupted twice, once when Armin came in to tell them he was going home, and once when Mr Ackerman told them that dinner was nearly ready and they should wash their hands.

Reluctantly, they detached from each other and got up.

"Do we have time for one more kiss?" Annie asked, her voice hoarse. Mikasa smiled sadly at her, and pecked her on the lips.

"Come on. We should wash our hands before tea."

Annie followed her out of the room.

In true parent fashion, tea wasn't quite ready by the time they came out of the bathroom. Mr Ackerman was waiting around in the kitchen, waiting for the microwave to finish. A pot of bolognaise sat, ready to serve, on the stove.

"The pasta isn't quite done," he said. "And we're waiting for your mother. She'll be home soon."

Mikasa nodded. She silently went to the cutlery draw and gathered four forks to set the table with. Annie, however, just stood awkwardly in the kitchen.

"Are you alright?" Mr Ackerman asked. Annie shrugged. "Mikasa mentioned that you had issues at home. I guess having our issues on top of your own might be hard."

"I've had worse," Annie replied. She paused. "You know, Mikasa's really lucky to have a father like you."

Mr Ackerman held a hand up as if to dismiss the statement, but never got a chance to continue the conversation. The front door could be heard opening and slamming, and Mrs Ackerman ran into the kitchen in a hurry. She threw her handbag and keys aside and tackled her husband in a hug.

"Joshua, oh god, I would have gotten home sooner but I couldn't-"

Mrs Ackerman detached from her husband and moved to her daughter, pulling her into a hug.

"Does Amelie know?" She asked Mr Ackerman. He nodded. Mrs Ackerman dragged Mikasa back into the kitchen and held both her and Mr Ackerman in a group hug.

"The police will find him," Mr Ackerman said. "He'll be alright."

They could only hope so.

--

Dinner was a quiet affair. Everyone around the table had only one thing on their minds. So, they were grateful when Mrs Ackerman started a conversation that had nothing to do with Eren.

"So," she said. "You must be the friend that Mikasa told us about."

Annie looked up. "Yes."

"So, how did the two of you meet?"

This question took her aback. She looked to Mikasa for a quick answer.

"We've... Known each other since year seven," Mikasa improvised, speaking slowly. "But we only became friends recently."

Annie nodded as if to confirm it.

"What do you do outside of school?" Mr Ackerman asked.

"I'm really into martial arts."

"Oh, that's cool. You know, Mikasa actually has a casual job at a gym not too far from here," he added.

"The owners are on holiday, though," Mikasa said. "They get back next week."