Touch Starved

13

5 years later.

I sat behind a counter in a small tea shop located in Stohess. It was a slow day, one of many. Not many people lived here anymore. They were all out exploring. Humans had no need to live within the walls.

The titans were gone. They blinked out of existence. Well, a rather long and arduous blink that took two years. But they were officially registered extinct.

It was great, truly. Although, the route to clearing the infestation had been tumultuous. I knew that even if I hadn't been involved anymore. Erwin at one point was sentenced to death, Historia was crowned the new ruler and I supported her fully. There was a huge battle at Shiganshina, where they even made it to Eren's basement. And the costs had been high. Lots of soldiers perished. Including Armin and Erwin.

I heard no news about Levi, and that was good news.

And hey, I was still here. I hadn't gotten zapped back into my universe, and as far as I was concerned, I doubted I ever would.

After being ditched like an unwanted pet, I had turned to trying to get home. I had no more obligations to them from then on. I had found nothing. No leads. No causes for on how I had even gotten here.

I leaned in a slouched position on the counter. My heart ached at having chosen to work in a tea shop; it never failed to remind me of him. I had worked here for the past three years. I had also taken to selling paintings and other artworks in the area, trying to make sure my name was out there. He had abandoned me, but he promised to return. I was holding him to it.

He was the reason I had yet to go explore the outside world here.

He was the one to tell me he wanted to play house and find a beach with me.

And... I couldn't keep lying to myself. I realized a few months after he had left, I had a painful, painful crush on him. A big old festering wound I've been picking at and making worse throughout the years.

My mind circled like this on the daily, it always revolved around him. Scenarios on how we could be reunited:

He would burst into the tea shop, excited to have caught a glimpse of me in the giant window.

Or, perhaps I would be out, scouting for people to sell paintings too. And I would see him wandering the streets. I could see myself asking him slyly if he wanted a painting, startling him when he would turn around.

Maybe I'd catch a glimpse of him. I'd run over excited, but I would see another woman with her arm linked to his. A scout he had met after me, and he had come to like her. I'd give him a smile and tell him that when he was free, we would catch up then. And I would avoid him for the rest of my life.

I huffed, annoyed with myself.

The door chimed as someone came in. I looked up, offering a professional smile as a couple came in, hand-in-hand. My smile fell off my face. I couldn't believe it.

"Eren. Mikasa." I stated. They turned away from each other and stared back as they caught sight of me. I felt nervous suddenly, glancing down at myself. I was in a pale yellow dress and white apron. My hair was way different compared to how they last saw me. I hadn't even had the same glasses Erwin gave me. My eyesight had gotten worse.

"(Y/N)?" Eren asked hesitantly.

"I- hey, guys. How's it going?" I offered a smile.

I took this moment to notice they looked way different too. But in a great way. They were all grown-up now. They looked good. Healthy. Happy. A stark contrast to myself, no doubt.