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It's warm, Mikasa thought as this boy, Eren, draped his scarf around her shivering frame. He'd saved her from her kidnappers, nearly losing his life in the process. His father, Dr. Jäger, invited her to live with them. She stared in shock, and Eren tugged on her sleeve.
"Let's go to our home," he told her. Mikasa felt her eyes water.
"Y-yeah," she wept as tears flowed freely down her cheeks. "Let's go home." Eren wrapped an arm around Mikasa's shoulders, pulling her close as they walked to the carriage. The ride to their house was uneventful; Mikasa fell asleep leaning on Eren's shoulder and didn't wake up until they arrived.
"I'd like you two to wait outside while I tell my wife about this," Dr. Jäger warned. "I'll come get you in a minute." They stood outside the front door, Eren keeping a protective grip on Mikasa's hand.
"I won't let anything happen to you," he promised as they waited in the dark. Dr. Jäger returned a few moments later and ushered them inside. Dinner was silent, save for Carla telling Mikasa that she'd share a room with Eren and that they'd try to get another bed as soon as possible, but they'd set up a cot on the floor for now. She thanked them quietly.
Soon they’d changed and were ready to sleep. Mikasa was shocked to find Eren nestling into the cot meant for her.
"You take the bed," he told her. She started to protest, but Eren didn't want to hear it. So Mikasa slept on Eren's bed that night. It smelled like his scarf, and it was warm.
Safe.
Unfortunately, the day’s events haunted Mikasa’s dreams, and she woke up gasping for air a few hours later, tears running down her face. Looking around, she remembered where she was, her eyes settling on Eren's sleeping form.
Mikasa knew he would provide her with comfort, but she didn't want to be a burden to him. Not anymore. But Eren stirred.
"Mikasa?" he asked groggily, rubbing his eyes. "Are you okay?" She wanted to say yes, to tell him to go back to sleep, but she couldn't. She just shook her head, not bothering to fight her tears.
Suddenly, two strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her to a solid chest. Eren. His heartbeat echoed in her ear, lulling her into a relaxed state.
"I'm here, Mikasa," he told her. "Always. When you're sad or scared, just find me. I'll protect you. I'll always protect you." Mikasa snuggled into his embrace, finally falling into a peaceful sleep.