Opening Up

In Your Arms, Pt. 2

I wake up at the same time Jean does. Daylight's streaming through the windows.

"Good morning, Mikasa." He says, staring into my eyes. "Any nightmares?"

"No."I say. "Thank you for letting me do this."

"No problem," he replies. "anything for you."

I get up, and he gets up, too. He gives me a big bear hug and lifts me up. We stare in each others eyes until I snap back to reality.

"I should go get dressed now." I say. "We have an expedition."

He puts me down and I walk out of the dorm. Eren walked out of his dorm at the same time.

"Mikasa!? What the hell are you doing in horseface's dorm?! Did he try anything on you?" He exclaims.

"No, Eren. I'm fine." I assure him.

"I'm not having it." He says.

Eren bashes into his dorm and yells, "What have you been doing with Mikasa?!"

I run behind him, saying: "Eren, it wasn't like that!"

Eren screams, "Then what was it? Huh? Just sleeping next to each other?! You stay away from my sister, Jean!"

"Eren! Nothing serious happened, get out of my room." He says. I nod to assure Eren that we didn't make out... or uh... yeah.

Captain Levi walks down the hall. Eren's swearing at Jean. Levi hits Eren's head and carries him away. Whew. I didn't want to do that myself.

Armin wakes up from the screaming. He comes out to see Jean and I in his room, and Eren being carried away.

"Psst. Mikasa!" He whispers.

I come outside and I talk to him.

"Why are you in Jean's room?" He asked.

"I slept beside him last night, but nothing happened. Please try convincing Eren that." I beg.

"Ooo, Mikasa! I see you. Okay, I'll try." he says.

"Thank you." I walk into my room and Connie and Sasha are cuddled up next to each other. I grab my clothes, trying not to interupt, and walk to the shower and washroom. I'm done and ready to go. I eat breakfast, then wake Sasha up and she screams, making Connie scream.

"M-mikasa!! Why are you watching us?!" She gasps.

I shove a piece of bread in her mouth.

"Sasha! Give me some!" Connie says.

"Get ready. We have a mission." I say, walking out

I sit in front of the dining hall. Eren sits next to me, holding ice on his head.

"Eren, are you okay?" I ask.

"Yeah, I am. Listen, sorry for yelling about you and Jean. If he really makes you happy, you deserve it. But don't let that soften you, Mikasa. You've got to keep fighting." He says. Flashbacks appear in my head.

"You've got to keep fighting!!" the boy tells me. I pick up his knife. I feel a power rising within me. I'm no longer shaking. I run up to the trafficker and stab him. Without him telling me that, I'd have been dead. Trafficked. A slave. Eren saved my life.

Tears well up in my eyes.

"Shh.. Mikasa. Don't cry. This isn't like you." He says as he hugs me. I cry into him. My scarf soaks up my tears. His shirt soaks some. I feel like crying more, but I get another flashback.

"It hurts to see you cry."

I restrain my tears. I don't want to feel pain. How does Levi do this?

"I didn't mean to make you cry. I mean it as motivation to never give up. To not stop fighting for your comrades." he says, stroking my hair.

"I know. Sorry." I say.

"Don't worry about it. I have to go to Captain Levi now. Are you okay now?" he asks.

"Yes." I reply.

He goes off to Levi. I hear a voice behind me.

"It hurts to see you cry." the voice says.

"That's why I stopped." I reply. "Are you gonna keep stalking me, Jean?"

"U-uh no! I was just getting food, but I heard crying, so I checked it out." He sits next to me, frowning. "I wish I had the confidence to comfort you like Eren does."

"I don't like crying around others." I say.  "And you do comfort me. I don't sleep beside Eren, do I?"

He blushes, "But that was just a one time thing..."

"Who said?" I smile back, eyes still wet.

He smiles, "By the way, Mikasa. Why don't you ever take your scarf off? Even when It's burning hot."

Do I tell him the truth? I should.

"I told you that my parents got murdered. Eren saved me, and I said that I was cold. He wrapped this around me." I say, feeling my scarf. "He saved my life."

"I see. So this is why you're suicidal over the suicidal maniac? Like you want to die for him?" He asks.

"Yes." I answer.

"Mikasa, this expedition is gonna be really dangerous. Promise me you won't die." he says.

"I can't guarantee my safety." I say, and it's true. If I lead my group head first. I'm at risk for sudden crawlers or grabs.

"We can protect each other, then." he suggests.

Before I didn't accept his help, but I accept now, because before he was just protecting me— and now I want to protect him. And Eren. Eren first, though. Because he's my brother.

"Of course." I say. "Let's go?"

(I'M GONNA TIMESKIP TO AFTER THE FEMALE TITAN MISSION)