Work Text:
“I love you.”
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“Huh?” Mikasa turned to face him, eyes wide and mouth slightly agape. She was in between rationalizing exactly what she just heard and silently freaking out. She usually hated the cold, but she was grateful for it now that she had an excuse for the redness circulating her nose and cheeks.
It was snowing that night. The sky a dark blue, the lake they were overviewing from the bridge lit up by dim golden light sparkled. Here was a spot they liked to visit often. Perhaps after a (friendly) night out of eating. A walk. Sometimes they met here to comfort one another after a hard day. Other times they just wanted each others company.
Eren’s gaze on her didn’t falter. He admired the way she looked—her pixie cut messy, snowflakes melting into her hair—nose—coat as they continued to fall. Puffs of hot air escaped her through ragged breaths, which was understandable given the “L” bomb he just dropped on her. He stared so deeply, lovingly, his eyes searching hers. For a response that reciprocated his feelings, he wasn’t sure. As calm as his face looked—his insides told a different story. He felt like his heart could burst at any moment, the butterflies in his stomach making him feel almost nauseated.
She stared back at him, unsure of what to do or say. Fingers rubbing against each other in the pockets of her coat out of nervousness. Moments had passed, her hand instinctively reaching for her scarf—the scarf—that was her own sense of comfort.
“Mikasa...”
“Ah...” The sound of her voice so soft, so quiet, almost that of a whisper. He had a theory when they were children, Mikasa was sent down from the heavens. An angel, disguised as an “ordinary” human being. For whatever reason, he didn’t know n’or really care. But every night before sleeping he would thank the Gods for doing so. Sure, it’s an almost ridiculous thought to him now that he’s older, but whenever she speaks or laughs or smiles (or does anything at all, really), he doesn’t believe it’s humanly possible for someone to be this perfect. He almost wonders whether it’s really ridiculous or not.
The tension is through the roof at this point. They both wonder if it could really get any more awkward than it is... It seems as though time stopped around them, so lost and distracted in each others eyes they don’t notice the cold anymore. They don’t notice the faint noises of the wind clashing with the water, the school girls giggling about as they walk past—nothing. Everything is entirely still and quiet.
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“Eren... I, you-“ She stutters, embarrassed, nothing short of a mess right now. Her eyes are focused on the ground now, because she’s sure she’ll just die if she continues looking at him like this. But Eren doesn’t mind, in fact, he thinks it’s the cutest thing ever. Whenever she’s flustered like this, he feels like his heart could ba-dump straight out of his chest at any moment.
He laughs, and she closes her mouth shut. Her face snaps back up to look at him, a look of confusion and embarrassment. She presses her lips together, tight, trying to prevent them from trembling so much. That only pushes Eren to laugh further, if only she knew how murderously cute she can be at times. If cuteness could kill, he’d have been dead a long time ago.
“S-Stop laughing...” She’s shivering at this point, whether it be from the cold or not, she didn’t care.
“I’m sorry, you’re just so cute.” He says in between breathy chuckles.
She pouts at that response, not out of annoyance, but she’s trying her best not to break. This is far too much to handle right now.
He’s still staring at her when he pulls her into a hug, his arm wrapping around her upper back while he brings a hand to the top of her head, rubbing softly. Her hands are on his chest, fingers pulling at his coat and she’s nuzzling her face into his neck. Her nose is cold, and her breath kind of tickles. They stay like this for a moment. And another moment. Then one moment longer and—
“I love you too, Eren.”
His breath hitches, and for a second he stops breathing. I love you too, Eren. Those were the words she just said to him right? He wasn’t dreaming. This was real. He was holding her in his arms right now, and she just confessed. Mikasa Ackerman, the woman of his dreams (literally), the girl he’s loved since childhood, the girl he swore to protect and keep happy. Just confessed to him. Him. ...Yeah, she was definitely an angel.
He pulls her head back to look at her, and he can barely register the look on her face before feeling soft lips planted on his own. She’s so quick, and he thinks the feeling will go away as soon as it started but it doesn’t. Instead, she wraps her arms around his neck and deepens the kiss. He stops thinking, allows his eyes to fall shut and his body to relax. No, it wasn’t an objectively “perfect” kiss, but to them it was as perfect as could be. Regardless of how “messy” it was, they were thankful for it, and that’s all that mattered.
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Years later, they continued revisiting that bridge. The first confession and the first kiss that took place there now turned into the first proposal.