Chapter Text
It was dark in the Yeager household at this time of the night. Like most homes within Shiganshina, it only had three rooms. One was used for both cooking and dinning, while the others were used as bedrooms. The larger of the two rooms was occupied by Mr and Mrs Yeager while the smaller room was used by their son and only child, the young Eren Yeager. Yet, for the past month or so the small and tight room has had a second bed moved inside of it. A bed that is now occupied by the wide awake, and terrified, young girl known as Mikasa Ackerman.
Mikasa hasn’t slept well since moving into the Yeager household. It’s to similar to her old home. The number of rooms, the positioning of said rooms, and the use of said rooms all remind her of her old home. The doors scare her the most. Every time one creeks open or whenever she sees the shadow of a person standing behind one of them it makes her feel deeply frightened. Yet getting away from the house during the daytime doesn’t seem to provide much comfort to the young girl either. She’s become terrified and deeply untrusting of strangers in all shapes and forms.
On nights like these, when the weather is clear, Mikasa can hear the stepping of people from outside the house, making their way from place to place. Yet, the darkness prevents her from seeing much of anything outside her window, and so she can’t help but be weary of every whisper and every step that she hears from outside the Yeager home. Mikasa’s eyes can’t help but dart back and forth from one side of the bedroom to the other as she attempts to keep herself safe from all possible threats that may appear during the night.
“You should rest your eyes during the night. Even if you can’t actually get to sleep you should at the very least let your eyes catch a break.” a boyish voice speaks softly.
Mikasa darts her eyes to the right, to find Eren laying on his side staring at her from across the room. Eren… a young boy of the same age as Mikasa and yet someone Mikasa can still hardly relate to. His bravery is something she deeply wants for herself and has been something she’s tried to replicate time and time again since the incident at her old home. Yet, their is also a part of Mikasa that feels as though she need not gain bravery for herself when she has Eren by her side so often.
The red scarf Mikasa wears around her neck at all times, even while in bed, is a symbol of what she feels protects her. Her one line of safety that still remains is, in her own eyes, Eren. The boy, though young and weak, has unintentionally become Mikasa’s safe space. Even Mr and Mrs Yeager have yet to fully earn Mikasa’s trust. They remind her to much of her own parents and so she fears making a real connection with either of them. Mr and Mrs Yeager had initially intended to move Eren into their room and give Eren’s room all to Mikasa, but after Mikasa’s first night in the Yeager household it became painfully obvious that leaving Mikasa alone at night was never gonna work.
“I c… ca… I can’… t.” Mikasa stutteringly whisperers back to Eren.
“No one is gonna break into our home. We live in a good part of town and my dad bought high quality locks from a friend awhile back.” Eren calmly reassures her.
“Bu… but the door… is… is still wood.” Mikasa fearfully retorts.
“Listen… my father is the local doctor. Literally no one, no matter how broke, would be dumb enough to piss off the town by robbing their only doctor. Your in the safest place imaginable.” Eren continues to reassure the frightened Mikasa.
“Bu… but what if they aren’t robbers. What if… they… they’ve come to steal me back.” Mikasa fearfully asks.
Seeing the unwavering fear and trauma in Mikasa’s eyes, Eren resorts to what he has been forced to do many times now, he pats softly on his bed to signal that Mikasa may lay with him tonight. Like a lost puppy, Mikasa hurls herself out of her own bed before racing over to hop into Eren’s. Once inside the safety of Eren’s bed, Mikasa begins to cozy up into Eren’s blanket as she unthinkingly rests her head within Eren’s arms.
“We’re meant to be the same age and yet you still can’t sleep on your own, as if your some kinda toddler.” Eren states as Mikasa snuggles into his chest.
“I…I’m sorry that… I’m so weak.” Mikasa tearfully apologizes.
“No… it’s fine… It actually kinda makes me feel stronger myself. I… appreciate it.” Eren replies blushingly attempting not to sound like he enjoys it to much while also trying not to upset Mikasa any further.
Mikasa can’t help but blush from Eren’s comment and yet she continues to snuggle into Eren’s arms as if there’s nothing awkward about it in the slightest. The bliss she feels as her fear flows away into nothingness is simply something she can’t step away from. Both Eren and Mikasa are becoming painfully aware that with each passing day it’s becoming more and more rare for them to sleep in separate beds. They are very quickly becoming inseparable.
“Listen… Mikasa… look up at me for a second, please.” Eren calmly requests as he slowly and softly pushes up on Mikasa’s chin until her face is directly in-front of his own.
Mikasa simply stays silent as Eren’s blushing stare looks directly towards her own blushing face.
“They’re gone… those men… those parasites… they’re never coming back. I… no… WE got rid of them. Your strong, stronger then me, and definitely stronger then those parasites. Together, you and me, will never be hurt by anyone like that ever again. I’ll protect you… and I know you’ll protect me as well.” Eren states with obvious and unhidden care and affection in his voice.
The increasingly sleepy Mikasa can hardly respond following Eren’s statement, instead simply nodding her head lightly before nestling herself back into Eren’s arms, finally at peace and able to rest her eyes for the night…