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theotherackerman · 4 months

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NOTES: This chapter was supposed to cover up until New Years but it didn't feel right to just sort of gloss over some of these plot points. So here this chapter is. Enjoy!

TRIGGER WARNING: Mentioned sexual harassment and body shaming (not on the page)

CHAPTER THREE: FRIENDS?

Mikasa had not expected Eren’s apartment to be so clean. Then again, Carla never let him get away with a messy room.

The layout seemed very similar to Mikasa’s, which made sense since the entire top floor was just cut into the two penthouse apartments.

On one wall, there was a poster of the starting line up. Jean, Falco, Connie, Armin, Eren, and Colt all trying to look badass as they pointed their hockey sticks towards the camera.

On the opposite wall, there was the wings of freedom, the symbols of the Scouts.

The front wall had a huge flatscreen tv with three different gaming consoles on it. There was also a pinball machine. Several couches and comfortable chairs took the space in the room.

“Why doesn’t Colt hang out with you?” Mikasa asked as Eren disappeared around the corner.

“He has a girlfriend who hates us. She hates hockey and thinks we’re all playboy assholes,” Eren said as he emerged with a cherry coke, Mikasa’s favorite. He held it out to her.

“Thanks,” she smiled as she took the drink from him and popped the top. Eren disappeared again. “Is she anyone I know?”

“Nah. She’s from Liberio,” Eren answered as he came back into the room with a regular coke. “You can sit. I promise the couches are clean.”

Mikasa raised an eyebrow at him before she sat down. “So…”

“This is weird, right?” Eren laughed after a moment.

It was.

For more than one reason.

Back when they were kids, it would have been easy. Too much time had passed.

“Feel like sharing why you really quit dance?” Eren asked.

Mikasa groaned.

“Okay, fine. We’ll come back to that. What was the deal with Karl?”

“He has noodle arms,” Mikasa muttered before taking a drink of her coke.

“Noodle arms?” Eren raised an eyebrow as he sat down on the couch opposite her.

“He couldn’t lift me. Said I weighed more than a regular ballerina and should lose some weight. I suggested he should start lifting. It didn’t go over well,” Mikasa sighed as she put her cherry coke down on the little table closest to her seat on the couch.

“You don’t need to lose weight.”

Mikasa rolled her eyes. “You’ve seen me mostly naked. You know I’m all muscle. That isn’t…it’s not very appealing.”

“Who told you that? No, I want names. Because it is.”

“There’s no one here, Eren. You don’t have to pretend to be attracted to me. I know how I look.”

“I’m not pretending. You’re hot. I know at least three people who would kill to have their head between your legs to be smashed like a watermelon, including me. I also know for a fact I could lift you. So you’re right. Karl has noodle arms and should start weight lifting. And fuck anyone who has never made you feel bad about how you look.”

Oh.

This was not how Mikasa saw this going.

He was attracted to her?

That may have been the nicest thing he ever said to her.

“Are you going to be nice to me now?” Mikasa asked.

“No,” he scoffed. “That would make things boring. Besides, I’m still bad for you.”

Mikasa shook her head. “So you’re an ass because you care?”

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

Mikasa narrowed her eyes at him, much like how Levi did. Eren must have thought the same because he did a double take.

“You don’t scare me,” Mikasa shrugged. “So since I shared something, what about you?”

“What about me?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m an open book, what do you want to know?”

Mikasa thought for a moment. What she really wanted to know is if he remembered his childhood best friend, if he remembered anything about her. But she also didn’t want to know that those years weren’t important to him. It was silly. They were just kids but still it had meant something to her. He had been her first real friend, her first kiss, her first heartbreak.

So after a moment of consideration of what to ask him, Mikasa finally said: “what did you turn the giant empty space in the back of your apartment into?”

“That’s your question?” Eren frowned, like he’d been expecting something else.

“I’m curious,” she shrugged before she picked her drink up again and took a sip.

“A weight room. I asked Historia and paid extra for there to be a sauna and ice bath back there. What’s yours?”

“A library.”

“A library?”

“Yes, what’s wrong with a library? I also use it to do arts and crafts in.”

“Huh.”

“What did you expect me to have?” Mikasa asked as she sat her drink back down.

“I don’t know. A weight room too. What did you think mine was going to be?” Eren took a drink.

“A sex dungeon,” Mikasa said monotone.

Eren choked on his drink.

Mikasa started laughing.

“A sex dungeon?” He repeated.

“It’s a thing.”

“I’m aware it’s a thing. I’m more interested in why you think I have one and why you even know about them.”

“I read romance novels,” she shrugged. “And you have women over here all the time. I’m trying to understand the appeal.”

“I call you hot. You try to understand my appeal,” Eren shook his head. “No, it’s not a sex dungeon.”

“You’re right, you’re probably rather vanilla,” Mikasa laughed.

Eren shook his head at her before he started laughing.

Normally, Mikasa wasn’t like this. She could be blunt but the teasing, the flirting. She wasn’t always the best at it. Most people didn’t understand she was interested in them. She’d never been good at it. With Eren, everything felt natural. Maybe that’s why his shitty behavior got to her. She knew they could be good friends, best friends in fact. If only he would let her in, maybe then, he would see it too.

Unfortunately, that also involved Mikasa letting him into her life. That wasn’t something she was good at.

“How good are you at video games?” Eren asked, changing the subject.

“I’m alright,” Mikasa shrugged.

“Want to play something?”

“Sure,” she grinned.

Eren stood up and walked over to the entertainment center and began to list off games.

——————-

If someone had told Eren that he would be knocking on Mikasa’s door days after losing to her every single round of Mortal Kombat, he would have called you a liar.

“ACKERMAN! Let’s go!” He called as he knocked again.

Since she was already going to the game, there was no reason for them to drive separately. Besides, if he admitted it, he liked spending time with her. He only hoped she felt the same.

A few moments later, Mikasa came out of the apartment, ready for the game. He noted her Scout hoodie that had ACKERMAN written on the back along with the number nine. It must have been from when Levi had played.

They walked in comfortable silence to his car. Then he cued up his playlist before driving to the arena. As they both went their separate ways, Mikasa gave Eren a small wave with a smile.

It tugged on his heart a little bit.

He was dying to know if she remembered him. But he didn’t look like an idiot. So he settled for this weird little….whatever this was. There was a part of him that knew she was far too good for him. Once this PR relationship ended, they would go their separate ways. It was just the nature of these things. Besides, sooner or later, she’d get a new job, they wouldn’t see each other. She’d marry some other man and forget all about him. It was just a fact. He needed to remember that none of this was real. She didn’t actually want him.

————-

“THAT’S A BULLSHIT CALL!” Hange yelled in the box seats. Tonight, Levi’s box had a lively bunch in it.

Hange, Sasha, Mikasa, and Zeke were all in there. Zeke was in disguise as he had a home game tomorrow and wasn’t supposed to be out.

“Any game my brother has where I’m not playing, I’m going to. I always have. Thankfully, now I can just duck in here and not have to worry about running into our dad,” Zeke had told her when he had walked in. He wore a mask, sunglasses, and his hood up. Levi had made sure they wouldn’t be looking into the box. Mikasa was beginning to think that Zeke and Levi might not be the rivals they tried to claim they were.

Hange was always passionate but watching hockey, they were downright scary.

“He’s not going to be able to skate. Daz is not going to be able to continue to play,” Sasha noted.

“He’s going to have to sub Eren in. Why is Michigan so violent tonight?” Zeke asked.

“I think they want to try and spark Jean into a fight. Will Eren be able to keep his cool?” Sasha turned to Mikasa.

“Why are you asking me?” Mikasa replied.

“Because you’re his girlfriend,” Sasha grinned.

Everyone in this box knew the truth.

Mikasa rolled her eyes. “He should. If he wants to play, he could keep his cool. As well as he can.”

“SUBBING IN: NUMBER THIRTEEN, EREN JAEGER!” Shadis announced. The crowd went wild.

Eren skated onto the ice.

“Don’t fuck this up,” Mikasa muttered under her breath.

The game immediately changed.

It became the team that was completely in sync.

Armin was doing well in the goal. Michigan was doing what most did to the goalie. They underestimated Armin due to his size but Armin was smart. He could anticipate moves, it was his brain that made him such a good goalie. Tonight was no exception. Armin blocked every shot.

Before, it had been a game of defense.

Now with Eren on ice, it was an attack.

“Come on! Break it out of there!” Hange yelled.

Defense of the other team was paying far too much attention to Falco. They were too busy watching the rookie to notice that Eren was right there.

They passed the puck from one teammate to another.

Then Eren snuck in there.

He was fast.

Almost as fast as Levi.

Eren had the puck.

“GO! GO!” Hange screamed.

“DON’T FUCK THIS UP!” Zeke screamed.

Sasha and Mikasa clutched their hands together as they watched Eren head down the ice.

Eren fake left. The goalie followed.

Eren shot to the right back corner.

“GOAL!”

Mikasa and Sasha screamed as they jumped up and down.

“FUCK YEAH!” Zeke screamed.

The Scouts all skated to Eren as he skated around the rink. When Eren got right in front of the box, he stopped for a moment. Mikasa locked eyes with him. Eren winked before he skated off.

Mikasa felt her cheeks warm.

It was all an act.

All an act.

—-------------

NOW TRENDING:

#SCOUTSBACKONTOP

#JAEGERDYNASTY

#ACKERMANJAEGERSUPREMACY

#BESTCOACHACKERMAN

#LEVIACKERMANLEGACY

#GOALJAEGER

—---------------

Niccolo had a bar that was known for good food.

Nights like tonight called for the entire team to celebrate together. Zeke wasn’t supposed to be here so he had slipped out from the game as soon as it ended. His house was not an option for everyone to fit into. So they went to Niccolo’s.

Mikasa had been there several times with Sasha so she was pretty comfortable in the place even though she didn’t know most of the team. It was also not a place anyone dressed fancy for, which she had been thankful for when she had heard they were all going out.

Falco had found her, still in his jersey. “I’m the rookie so Eren said to give you these,” he had said, handing her Eren’s car keys. “We’re going out to dinner.” Mikasa had figured they’d end up going somewhere after the game.

So she had waited for him in the car when she got a text from Sasha saying they were going to Niccolo’s and that Sasha would meet them there.

Eren showed up later than everyone else.

“Interviews,” Eren sighed as he climbed into the car and drove them to Niccolo’s.

Niccolo’s was full.

“Come on,” Eren said, intertwining her hand with his.

Oh right.

They were in public.

Only the starting line up knew that they were a PR relationship, everyone else thought it was real.

“We saved you a seat!” Armin called from the large booth in the back.

Armin, Annie, Sasha, Jean, Connie, and Falco were waiting for them. Eren kept a hold of her hand as they walked through the tables.

“Gabi is on her way,” Falco said just as Mikasa and Eren reached the table.

Mikasa slid in next to Annie.

“Annie, Mikasa. Mikasa, Annie,” Eren introduced them. “I know you technically met at Zeke’s.”

“Right, the kickboxer,” Mikasa nodded.

“Coach. I don’t compete anymore,” Annie added before she took a sip of her drink.

Eren let go of her hand and threw his arm around her shoulder.

Mikasa looked down at his hand for a moment before turning her attention back to Annie.

“I should have you teach me then,” Mikasa mentioned.

“I don’t think you need my help. I saw what you did to that guy on the ice. Good on you making him kiss the ice,” Annie gave her a small smile.

Mikasa’s cheeks reddened.

“What did you do?” Eren asked.

“Wait, are we talking about that asshole in high school?” Sasha asked across the table.

Mikasa nodded.

“That was epic,” Connie answered.

“What happened?” Armin asked.

“Fucking Floch had to run his mouth. We had a no contact boys vs girls game every year. Senior year, he was harassing Anka. She kept telling him to leave her alone. He wouldn’t. He kept trying to body check her. Mikasa had enough, flipped on over so he landed on his stomach. Then she held his head down on the ice until coaches got involved,” Jean explained.

“It’s on youtube,” Annie added.

“Wait, Floch as in Warrior’s Floch?” Eren asked.

“Yeah, unfortunately,” Mikasa confirmed.

“I hate that guy,” Falco muttered.

“I went to college with him. He’s…something,” Eren replied. “You want a drink?” he asked Mikasa.

“Sure,” Mikasa answered.

“Be right back,” Eren slid out of the seat and headed to the bar.

“So that’s interesting,” Annie nodded to Eren.

“It’s….new,” Mikasa looked down.

“For never having a real relationship, he’s doing well right now,” Jean noted.

“Speaking of relationships…where’s your girlfriend?” Sasha asked him.

“She’s not my girlfriend,” Jean muttered.

“As long as you don’t start ditching us like Colt, we’ll all be fine,” Connie teased.

“Yeah, is your brother ditching us?” Armin asked Falco.

“As always,” Falco rolled his eyes.

Strangely, Mikasa felt at ease with everyone at this table. Maybe it was because they knew the truth or because she had known Sasha, Jean, and Connie for such a long time. But she didn’t feel uncomfortable as Eren got their drinks.

A wet haired Gabi showed up at the table before Eren did. She slid into the booth next to Falco.

“Win?” Falco asked her.

Gabi shook her head. “No contact only seems to apply to the Warriors and not the opposing team. Fuck New York.”

“What is New York doing this season?” Falco asked.

“I don’t know. But Reiner, Zeke, Bertolt, and Udo are going to have a time tomorrow,” Gabi sighed.

“Oh. That’s right. You’re Reiner’s cousin,” Mikasa thought out loud.

Gabi stared at her for a moment. “Yeah. Hi. I don’t think we’ve actually talked.”

“Because she’s terrified to speak to you,” Falco blurted out.

“Me? Why?” Mikasa asked.

“Oh. Well. I kind of spent my entire high school years trying to beat your record and didn’t. You were a standard for me. So talking to you…pretty intimidating,” Gabi shrugged.

As much as she wished it was the first time Mikasa had heard that, it wasn’t.

“Well, we’ll be coaching together. So hopefully you’re not intimidated now. I haven’t played since high school so I guarantee you’re better at hockey than me. I’m nervous to return, even for this camp,” Mikasa confessed.

“Really?”

Mikasa nodded. “I asked if you have any spare time if you wanted to reteach me the basic but–”

“I live in Shiganshina. I commute to Liberio. I do have days off so if you do want to skate, we can,” Gabi’s face lit up.

“Really? I don’t want to bother you.”

“Trying to beat your record is what got me scouted right out of high school. I can spend time helping you remember. I doubt you’re that rusty.”

The conversation moved on as Mikasa saw a woman walk up to Eren. She was pretty, had beautiful long, black hair. He smiled at her. They talked happily.

They must have known one another but she was no one who Mikasa knew. Then again, Mikasa didn’t know everyone involved with the Scouts.

The woman ordered something from the bartender before leaning in closer to Eren. He laughed at something she said. Then the woman was running her hand down Eren’s arm.

Eren leaned over, whispered something into the woman’s ear before running his finger down the side of the woman’s face.

So that was Eren’s type.

The woman leaned closer to him, her lips ghosting over his ear.

Something in Mikasa’s stomach made her feel sick. She had no claim on Eren, not really. She knew what he was like when she got into it. Hell, she couldn’t even blame the woman as Mikasa and Eren’s relationship had yet to be more than a few pictures.

And he was smiling with her.

He was happy with her.

Mikasa looked down. She felt a pair of eyes on her. She looked across the table to see Gabi looking at her, studying her. Mikasa looked away. The feeling was still there so Mikasa turned to her side to see Annie and Sasha watching her.

It was as if they all had some sort of sixth sense that she was in trouble.

Eren came over to the booth and sat a drink in front of Mikasa. “I got you an amaretto and Coke since you like Cherry Coke.”

Mikasa smiled at him but it didn’t fully reach his eyes.

“And I got a coke for myself because I’m driving,” he told Jean who was glaring at him.

Jean grabbed Eren’s drink and took a sip from it. He nodded in agreement before he sat it back down.

Eren rolled his eyes.

“Oh fuck,” Connie muttered as he ducked down.

“What?” Sasha asked.

“Mina is here,” Connie groaned.

“Who’s Mina?” Gabi asked.

“She’s obsessed with our team.”

“So she’s a puck bunny?”

“Basically.” Connie slid down further in the chair.

Mina was staring at Eren from across the bar. She waved at him before seductively sucking on her straw.

Mikasa looked away.

“Is that why you were gone for so long?” Jean accused.

“No! What the fuck, Jean?” Eren asked.

“I just know your reputation.”

“Is that what’s this about?”

“It’s about I’ve known Mikasa a lot longer than you have! I’m not going to have you make a fool of her!”

“So this is all about protecting Mikasa?”

“Of course it is!”

Mikasa stood up. “I don’t need protecting”

Jean and Eren both looked at her.

“I’m going home,” she stated.

“I’ll drive you,” Eren offered as he stepped aside to let her out.

“No need,” Mikasa said.

“But you didn’t drive,” Eren pointed out.

“I’ll take her,” Gabi said as she stood. “Come on, Falco.”

“Thank you,” Mikasa muttered as she followed Gabi and Falco out.

—----------------

Getting smacked by a magazine was not how Eren expected to wake up the following morning.

There was a very angry Historia standing over him.

“Ow!” Eren said as he rubbed his head.

“What did you do?” she asked as she stood over him.

“Nothing! I didn’t take anyone home! I didn’t drink! I was perfect!” He replied as he threw his hands up. “Why are you in my apartment?”

“Because you hurt her!”

“How? I haven’t done anything!” Eren defended himself.

“Then why is she backing out of the game next?” Historia crossed her arms across her chest. “Because I seriously doubt it's to help Kuchel get groceries for Thanksgiving.”

“I don’t know! How am I supposed to know? She got all weird at the bar yesterday. I haven’t seen or talked to her since!”

Historia stared at him for a moment, studying him. “You did something. I know you did and when I find out, it won’t be me as PR coming for you. It’ll be me as Mikasa’s best friend.”

“I thought Sasha was her best friend.”

“You can have more than one best friend!” Historia huffed at him. She looked around his room, for what? Eren didn’t know but he had a feeling it was going to lead to violence so he pulled the blankets closer.

“Holy shit,” Historia remarked as she studied one of the pictures on his bedroom wall. “Is that…?” She stepped towards it.

Keeping the blanket wrapped around his waist, Eren stood. “Out,” he ordered.

“That’s Mikasa,” Historia remarked. “Mikasa is on your bedroom wall. Holy shit. Is this why you never have sex with women in here? Always the guest room? Because Mikasa is on your wall?”

“Get out,” Eren ordered again as he pointed to the door.

“I’ll go. On one condition, how old are you in that picture?”

Eren looked over at it. He tried not to look at it. They were nine. It was before he moved. Mikasa had braided him a flower crown and he wore it. Even though he knew his other friends would tease him about it. He didn’t care. His mom had taken a photo of the two of them. Once Eren moved, he cried about leaving Mikasa. So his mom printed the photo out and put it in frame above his bed. That was it always stayed. His mom had helped decorate his apartment once he moved in. She had put the photo in her with all of the others from his childhood. There were pictures of him with Armin, Reiner, Bertolt, Annie, and Zeke from when he had moved to Liberio. It wasn’t like the photo of him and Mikasa was alone or over his bed anymore. It was just here on the wall of his childhood memories.

He hadn’t purposely kept the women he hooked up with out of this room. It was just easier to make sure nothing of value got stolen or embracing pictures ending up on the internet.

“I see,” Historia said after a moment, pulling Eren from his thoughts.

“Don’t tell her,” Eren pleaded, his eyes refusing to meet hers.

“What did you do last night? Is it something I need to worry about?”

Eren sat back down on his bed, keeping the blanket intacted. “I don’t know. I think it’s because Mina was talking to me. She didn’t even give me time to explain.”

“Do you blame her?”

“No. I don’t.”

Eren didn’t blame her at all.

“I didn’t just want her to do this fake relationship just for you, you know,” Historia confessed. “Mikasa has been in a bad place but she loves helping people. She can’t help but help people. I thought maybe it would get her out, socialize. You two would be great friends, I thought. You looked like you were back then.”

“She doesn’t remember,” Eren muttered as he looked down at his hands. “It was so long ago. It doesn’t matter.”

“I think it does. To you. I think it matters to you.”

“I’ll make sure there are no misunderstandings in the future, okay?” Eren finally looked up at Historia, meeting her eyes.

Historia studied him. “I won’t tell her.” Then she nodded before leaving Eren considering where his thoughts and feelings truly were.

———————

Thanksgiving was not what Mikasa was expecting.

Mostly because Kenny announced he and Kuchel were going on a cruise in two days. All expenses were apparently paid by Uri. Kuchel had managed to get some time off, they were leaving and wouldn’t be back until Christmas.

“I feel sorry for whoever gets stuck on that cruise with you three,” Levi had scoffed.

The rest had been pretty standard.

Mikasa did feel a little strange about the whole situation with Eren, embarrassed even. It wasn’t like he had done anything wrong. It was just listening to him and Jean fight. She just didn’t want to be involved, didn’t want someone saying what she should do. Mostly because Mikasa didn’t know what she should do.

The good thing was that Mikasa and Gabi had exchanged numbers. Gabi had some spare time on Friday, the Scouts had practice in the afternoon but once it was over, they planned to get some time on the ice.

Gabi stood in the goal while Mikasa took shots at it.

“See! I told you! You haven’t forgotten a thing!” Gabi cheered as Mikasa got another puck past her.

“That's because you’re a really bad goalie,” Mikasa laughed.

“Okay, fair point. But you are very fast. What is it with Ackermans and being good at hockey?”

Mikasa laughed. “It’s only Levi and me.”

“So your dad or mom didn’t play?”

Mikasa shook her head. “My dad was an architect. He actually designed the arena.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. My mom wanted me to dance in the New York Ballet. Still trying to understand that dream of hers. She hated me playing hockey. She would always tell me how she dreamed of bringing her daughter flowers on every opening night. I wanted to play hockey like Levi. So we compromised. I played hockey and I'd dance. She made me try finger skating, but it didn't stick.”

“But you quit hockey for dance?”

Mikasa sighed. “Yeah. I..uhh…every time I’d step onto the ice, I’d think about how my mom and dad had been coming to see me play. That's how they were killed. If I hadn’t been playing hockey, they wouldn’t have died. I was a good enough dancer to get into a few private universities so that’s what I did. I thought I could at least live her dream for me.”

“I’m guessing that didn’t work out then.”

Mikasa scoffed, “no. It didn’t. I ended up hating it. There was too much hate, body shaming, and sexual harassment. Sorry. I don’t mean to just dump this on you….”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s actually…my life is sort of similar. I ran away from my parents. My aunt Karina took me in. I’m sure you’ll hear the story if you stick around the Scouts. But long story short, my parents only had me because they wanted a child who would make a lot of money and they could live off of that said. I ran away when I was nine. Went to Reiner’s house, didn’t go back home,” Gabi shrugged. “So you’re not the only one who had family baggage. It’s sort of nice that you do. Not like that…it’s just…I don’t know. I always sort of saw you as this record I wanted to beat. It’s nice that you’re actually a person.”

“Do…do you want to go get coffee with me?” Mikasa asked.

“Yeah. We should. Besides, I want to know more about this Eren situation.”

Mikasa groaned as she skated towards the exit to the Guest Team’s locker room.

—----------------------

Thanksgiving for Eren had been extremely awkward.

First, there was his grandparents.

They never liked Carla or Eren. They didn’t think that Grisha should have divorced Dina. In fact, they spent most of the time completely ignoring both Carla and Eren.

“This turkey is dry. Your mother’s turkey was never this dry,” Grisha’s mother told Zeke.

Carla set her jaw, biting her tongue. There was no point fighting with them.

Eren grabbed the wine bottle and filled his mom’s glass.

Carla met his eyes in thanks.

Thankfully, Grisha didn’t make comments about Eren’s games or dating.

After a grueling practice the following Friday, Eren passed Mikasa in the parking lot. He was surprised to see her chatting with Gabi, walking in together.

He felt horrible.

He hadn’t even bothered texting her since she left the bar. She clearly wanted, needed space from him. With Historia knowing that he remembered, he kept Mikasa’s photo and all the confusing feelings there, Eren didn’t want to talk to her either.

So somehow, he found himself at his parent’s house after practice. Grisha was gone. He was doing guest commentary on some college hockey game so it was just Carla there.

As soon as he pulled into the gated community and up to the monster house his parents owned, his mom was waiting at the front door.

“I saw you on the cameras,” she smiled weakly at him. “Come in and tell me what’s wrong.”

Eren nodded, following his mom inside.

While Carla had been hard on Eren, it was in a more loving way. She kept in line, without her, he would have spiraled even more out of control.

“Why do Dad’s parents hate us so much?” Eren asked as he sat down at the kitchen table.

Carla sighed as she put the tea kettle on.

Eren didn’t know anyone else who still used an old tea kettle on the stove but his mom did.

“Dina Fritz was a perfect bride for your dad. She was known in the upper circles of the Liberio High Society. They were a good match. They fell in love, they married, and had a child. It was meant to be perfect. Then…they fell out of love. It was what was best for Zeke. A child seeing his parents fighting all the time, it was not good for him. So they divorce which was bad enough. Then he met me, a lowly waitress and bartender from Shiganshina.”

“Why did that matter?”

“Because your grandparents care about image. Dina was a cousin to Uri and Rod Reiss who are both obscenely wealthy. I was no one but that didn’t matter to your father, it doesn’t matter to me. All that mattered is we loved each other.”

The tea kettle began whistling. Carla filled two cups up with tea.

“So they hate you over something that happened nearly thirty years ago?” Eren raised an eyebrow.

“Yes. Did you know before I started dating your dad seriously I met Zeke and Dina to see if we got along?” Carla put sugar into both cups, then carried them over to the kitchen table.

Eren shook his head.

“We went out to dinner, the four of us. Then we went to a playground with Zeke. I spent the entire time running with Zeke. He’d drag me down the slide, through the monkey bars. I don’t think I ever ran that much in my life. Dina grabbed your dad and told him, “Grisha, if you don’t marry her, I will.” We became best friends after that. There’s not a day that goes by that I don't miss her,” Carla sighed as she lifted the glass up to her mouth. “But that’s not why you came here, is it?”

“I fucked up, Mom,” Eren confessed as he looked down into his cup of tea.

“What did you do to Mikasa?”

Eren looked up. “How did–”

“I know how to use the internet, Eren. You can tell me that relationship is fake but from those pictures, I don’t think it is. At least your feelings for her are not. I may be old but I’m not stupid.”

Eren rolled his eyes, “you’re not even that old, Mom. This woman at the bar was flirting with me. I..I didn’t stop her. Then I ended up arguing in front of Mikasa with Jean about it. I could tell she was hurt when I got back to the table but…I don’t know. It feels nice to be wanted. Not chained to someone who couldn’t care less about me.”

“You know Mikasa cares about you. She always has.”

“She doesn’t even remember me. She doesn’t like me. She doesn’t want me,” Eren laid his head onto the table.

“Oh my sweet boy,” Carla sighed. “For someone so smart, you can be rather dumb. You should really look at those photos of you and her going around the internet.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Eren sat as he raised his head.

“It means you were already wanted. You were just too busy to see it. Now drink your tea,” Carla commanded.

—--------------------------------

The next game for the Scouts, Mikasa went. Historia had told Mikasa she could quit if she wanted to but Mikasa was true to her word. She would see this out for the rest of the season. Then she would move on. Besides, she didn’t have to do much.

Tonight, there would be a good amount of photographers in the parking lot. Once the game was over and post game interviews, Eren and Mikasa would walk out together.

Simple.

Easy.

It was just Mikasa in the box tonight. Sasha had an influencer event and Hange had some sort of lecture they had to attend. Of course Zeke had a game at the same time.

The box felt rather empty as Mikasa lingered there.

Though she didn’t need to dress up, Mikasa had. She wore a black leather skirt with tights, a new Scouts jacket, a cute black tank top, and black leather knee high boots. She felt cute. Historia had sent a squealing gif when Mikasa had sent her a picture of her outfit.

She spent most of the game mindlessly scrolling through her phone. The Scouts had already scored twice, one from Falco and one from Jean.

Before she knew it, the game was over. Final score: 2-0.

She made her way down to the hallway that led to the locker rooms.

“Hey Mikasa!” Falco called to her.

“Hi,” Mikasa waved.

“How’s training with Gabi going?” he grinned.

“Really well,” Mikasa smiled.

“Good. She needs more friends besides her teammates. Let me know if you want to come over. I know you don’t like to drive and we’re only a few blocks over. And if you wanted to go with me to any of her games, I know she’d really appreciate it,” Falco smiled again. “I’m gonna go home and see if I can catch her away game. Have a good night!”

“You too. And great goal!” Mikasa called as he walked away.

She hadn’t expected to find a kindred soul in Gabi but she did. Though neither went into detail about their parents, they both understood each other. Mikasa hadn’t told Gabi about punching Gross yet. It just wasn’t something she was comfortable talking about. Though they did discuss Eren. She didn’t tell Gabi she had known him before. Just that she had felt like an idiot while he was flirting with another girl in front of the entire bar.

“He is an idiot, not you,” Gabi had told her.

While that was true, it didn’t make Mikasa feel any better.

“You coming out tonight?” Jean asked, interrupting her thoughts.

“Oh. I don’t know. I guess it’ll depend on Eren,” Mikasa sighed.

Jean frowned, “you can always just come out with Pieck, Connie, and me, you know. Sasha is going to try and meet up later.”

“I know. I just…I’m dating Eren, I go where he goes.”

Jean set his jaw. “I know. I’m sorry if I embarrassed you last time. I hope that doesn’t stop you from hanging out with us. I’ve missed hanging out with you, you know. I mean you didn’t stop hanging out with me in high school when I confessed my feelings. Even though you did run away minutes after I told you.”

Mikasa laughed, “I forgot about that. We were what? Fifteen?”

“Something like that. I don’t think I’ve ever had a girl run away from me,” Jean laughed.

“I didn’t know what else to do! We were friends and I didn’t want our little group to break up because I didn’t return your feelings,” Mikasa confessed.

“Probably for the best. Sometimes I wonder if I didn’t have feelings for you due to who would come along later. Like something in me recognized the person who would come later. Same long dark black hair.”

“She’s the one, isn’t she?”

Jean nodded, “just don’t say anything around the rest of the team. You know. So do Connie and Sasha. I just don’t want to scare Pieck off. It’s new but when you know, you know.”

Mikasa smiled at him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Your secret is safe with me.”

“Am I interrupting something?” Eren cleared his throat as he walked up.

Mikasa removed her hand.

The nerve of this man.

“And if you were?” Mikasa answered.

Eren shrugged.

Mikasa rolled her eyes. “Let’s go.”

“Yeah, let’s,” Eren said as he grabbed her hand, pulling her along.

Mikasa looked back over her shoulder to see Jean shaking his head.

“If we’re together, maybe you shouldn’t flirt with my teammates,” Eren hissed.

“And you shouldn’t flirt with puck bunnies at the bar,” Mikasa reminded him, squeezing his hand hard. She wanted to ball her hand up into a fist but it was hard to do while holding his hand. She didn’t dare drop it.

But where did Eren get off being mad at her for talking with Jean, her old friend, when he could flirt with someone in front of the entire bar?

She shoved those thoughts away as they came upon the door to the outside.

“You ready for this?” Eren asked her as he paused at the door.

“I guess we’ll both see,” Mikasa retorted.

Eren pushed the door open.

Immediately the flashbulbs went off.

Who the hell did Historia call? Every damn photographer she knew in the state? Because that’s what it seemed like. They all crowded around, yelling questions.

“MIKASA, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DATING?”

“EREN, HOW HAS THIS AFFECTED YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR COACH?”

“IS THIS RELATIONSHIP SERIOUS?”

“WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE HOLIDAYS?”

Mikasa kept her head down, not looking at anyone. Eren kept her hand in a vice grip, leading her through the crowd.

This was absolutely out of control.

Who did these people think they were?

Eren wasn’t that famous and Mikasa sure as hell wasn’t. This was all Historia.

This was overkill.

But then again, Eren’s reputation desperately needed something positive.

Finally, they made it through the reporters and photographers, arriving at the parking lot. Eren walked alongside her until they got to his car. He opened her passenger side door. Mikasa climbed in.

“I’ll text Jean and see where they’re all going,” Mikasa told him.

Eren set his jaw.

She hadn’t planned on going on but now that she found a weakness in Eren.

Game on.

—------------

What was worse than not drinking was not drinking while Mikasa danced with every other player on the team but Eren.

She was doing it on purpose.

He knew it.

He could see it.

He also knew it wasn’t just purely payback for that night at the bar.

No, this was payback for everything he’d done.

But he also knew that there was some part of her that at least liked him as a friend. Eren had listened to his mom, and looked at the photos. There were a couple shot as they had been walking into the bar. She was smiling at him, laughing. She was really laughing.

This was why Eren didn’t want her to get close.

He had known from day one he would mess it up.

He always messed it up.

He tried so hard for a reason.

Years and years of being bullied by both his grandparents and classmates had pushed him to this. The need to be wanted, to be liked, to be the best.

As he watched Mikasa dance with everyone but him, he wondered what it would be like to be wanted and liked by her.

“Are you going to do the creepy stare at her thing all night? You’re reminding me of that shitty vampire movie,” Annie scoffed as she sat next to him in the vip lounge, just sipping on whatever fancy ass drink she had.

“Why are you never supportive of me anymore?” Eren asked her.

“Because you’re a dumbass,” Annie shrugged.

“Where is Armin?”

“Dancing with your girlfriend,” Annie pointed back to the dance floor.

Indeed, Mikasa and Armin were dancing. If you could call jumping up and down while holding hands and screaming the lyrics to a song dancing. Either way, Mikasa was smiling.

“That could be you, if you weren’t an asshole,” Annie reminded him.

“Thank you so much for that,” Eren rolled his eyes.

“That’s my job as your friend.”

Eren rolled his eyes.

Armin was the first friend Eren had made in Liberio. Annie was the second. They didn’t meet Annie until junior high. She was a year older than them but had been held out of school due to her shitty birth parents. Now, she only recognized the man who had raised as her father. Though Annie spent most of her time hanging out with Bertolt and Reiner, she got tired of watching Eren get his ass beat. So Annie taught him how to fight in exchange for an introduction to Armin.

Annie was never afraid to call Eren out on his shit. Tonight was not a rare occurrence.

Eren sighed.

“Have you even apologized?” Annie asked him.

No, he hadn’t apologized. He’d barely talked to her. She didn’t seem like she wanted to talk to him either.

Eren just sighed again and leaned back on the couch in the vip area. He continued to watch Mikasa dance for the rest of the night. She was having fun. Eren wished he could have been having fun with her. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to move.

What was it about her?

She didn’t give a shit that he was Eren Jaeger. She never had. Beautiful and perfect and everything Eren wasn’t. Everything that Eren would ruin. He always ruined everything. It was just his nature. That day she had been in his apartment, that day in the bar, he knew he was starting to like her. He knew as he watched her every move that he was undeniably attracted to her but it was more than simply wanting her under him.

Eren wanted Mikasa.

He wanted her more than just for one night, more than just her body. He wanted her to continue to challenge him, and put him in his place.

Eren’s stomach dropped.

Shit.

Mikasa was important to him.

She had wormed her way in, right back where she had been all those years ago. Was it possible that those feelings he had had as a child were coming back, stronger than ever?

—--

After a night full of dancing, Mikasa was exhausted.

When everyone else started to leave, Mikasa followed suit, getting into Eren’s car. She leaned against the glass of the window.

It was silent for a moment before Eren finally spoke.

“I’m sorry,” he croaked.

“Huh?” Mikasa turned to face him.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for flirting with Mina and I’m sorry for making you feel bad. I wasn’t taking this relationship seriously like I should have. It wasn’t….I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just wanted to feel wanted.”

As much as Mikasa wanted to, she could not fault him for that. It was something she desired as well.

“And I promise I’ll take things more seriously from now on. You’re the one who is doing me the favor and I promise not to forget that again. If you want to date Jean, I’ll cover for you,” Eren promised.

Mikasa laughed. “I don’t want to date Jean. He asked me out once in high school and I told him I wasn’t interested. Then I ran away because it was too awkward.”

Eren stopped at the light and looked over at her. Then he laughed. “So we’re good?”

Mikasa bit her lip, considering. Then she nodded. “Yeah, we’re good.”

Once they arrived at their apartment complex and were in the elevator, Eren turned to Mikasa, holding out his hand.

“Friends?” he asked.

For a moment she looked at his hand, seeing there was ink right under his sleeve. How had she not noticed his tattoos before? She took his hand and looked him in the eyes.

“Friends,” she agreed.

Eren smiled at her as they shook hands. He let go and faced forward again.

“We’re both going to regret that, aren’t we?” he teased.

“Probably,” she shrugged. “But it’s probably better if we are. Besides, I could use all the friends I can get right now.” Mikasa bit her lip again.

“Yeah, I could too,” Eren confessed. “By the way, you look good tonight. Not that you don’t look good every night. I just…you’re dressed differently but a good different.”

Mikasa looked over at him. “What are you trying to say? Because it sounds like you’re trying to flirt with me….very badly,” she laughed.

Eren looked over at her before he started laughing himself. “Okay, fine. You look hot, Ackerman. If you were anyone else, I’d say, you should come back to my place. But you’re not and we just became friends. So I’m not going to fuck our tentative friendship up.”

Mikasa’s blushed. “What do you mean if I’m not anyone else? Because I’m your PR relationship?”

“No and not because you’re Levi’s little sister either.”

Mikasa gulped.

Eren took a step closer to her, brushed one of her bangs out of her eyes.

Was the air in this elevator getting hot?

She swallowed again as she studied him, trying to figure out how things had gotten this way.

Well, this night had taken a turn.

The elevator dinged. They had reached their floor. Both of them walked out, to their respective doors.

“Goodnight, Mikasa,” Eren said before disappearing into his apartment.

Mikasa went into her apartment and took a cold shower.

#totallypucked #mine #my writing

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