Chapter Text
They say, when you meet someone who changes your life, it was meant to happen. Regardless of, if that person stays or leaves after, the changes they made for you, will have an impact on your future life. And even if it takes them one Hundert years, they will try over and over again, to accomplish these changes. Because it was meant to happen. Because the fate that was set in the stars for you, could never be changed. They will find you in any lifetime.
The crimson liquid in his blood vessels pulsed almost visibly under Eren’s skin, the colour alike the crimson sky that swooped above his being. It felt like his arteries gave out and his veins doubled up their work, pumping his blood away from their dependent muscle in the centre of his torso. It felt like his body was being ripped apart. The burning fire made his insides boil. His skin would rip any moment. He was sure. His hidden masochistic side, brimmed on this feeling that drove him to ecstasy.
A milky steam, however, blurred his vision. Did he even have a vision? He remembered closing his eyes a while ago. Was he already awake again? Yes, he had to be, because it was burning like hell. Lava carpeted the ground he stood on. He was right in the middle with flames all around him. He tried to move. To run. To do anything. But nothing worked. His feet did not move how he wanted. His lounges gave out to a make-believe feeling. He was helpless and restless.
His eyelids broke open with horror.
Eren was tense for a moment. His eyeballs swooped from left to right as he tried to figure out where he was and what just happened.
He relaxed his tense arms, feeling his soaked sheets beneath him. It was dark. So dark.
His breathing was loud as well as restless and he tried to calm himself down by slowly sitting up. He felt utterly sleep-deprived.
It was just a dream, he told himself.
Eren run his fingers through his long brown stands. This was pretty much all the sleep he got that night.
The strange chillness outside, had a weird flavour to it. As if the trees were protesting and the clouds were fleeing. Oddly enough for Eren, to be left alone in an ancient town, he escaped into the next best store on the side of the old street he could find.
It was a miracle, he didn’t trip over the uneven cobblestones that the ground showed off, when he tried to find a way inside. The last fifteen minutes he strolled over the mosaic of grey and brown in the old town, that Armin had dragged him to. Something about Trost, or so. Shops after shops and cafes after cafes extended among the side of the stony road. On top of them were flats where people lived. Every time, Eren tried to look inside, his view was blocked by white curtains or plants on the window frames. Not that he wanted to be a creep and stare into the homes of other people, but there was nothing left for him to do. It was strange, when he noticed the shop owners dragging everything they displayed outside to the inside, and the costumers leaving. Somehow, Armin was descended from earth too, leaving him all alone in a place he has never been to. So much to say about good friends.
So, when the September wind began to blow his long hair from left to right, and the coldness chilled his bones, he had an odd feeling to it. Without another thought, he hid inside the next shop on the street that was the closest to him.
Closing the dark red door, with a glass window to look through, behind him, he heard the ring of a bell and the whistle of the wind outside. There was nothing else to hear except of a repetitive tiny noise.
Click Clock Click Clock Click…
A clock?
But apart from that, he wondered if there even was someone in the shop. It can’t be closed yet, either way the door had been locked. Eren walked inside with his heavy boots on the creaking dark wooden floor. Only now, the shop really caught his attention.
Shelves above shelves covered the dark green wallpaper with floral tendrils, that began to detach itself on some corners. The free spaces that were not covered in shelves, were decorated with odd paintings, a variety of clocks, dried herbs and even with only frames without a painting inside. The shelves carried all kinds of dusty old books and strange objects. On one side, you had sculptures of ancient looking people, ivy plants that grew along the edges of the rack and tiny golden treasure boxes. On the other side you could find, jars filled with all kinds of seeds and roots, skulls and bones of birds, and other animals, and all sorts of rusty old keys. From the ceiling hung a dusty, in spider webs covered chandelier, the jewels jingled from the harsh shut of the door. Eren’s eyes flew across the room as he walked. He stopped in front of a large front desk. The brown colour chipped on the edges, revealing the light wood. On top was also a vintage-looking cash register, next to it tons of items, old vinyl’s, gemstones and bottles, labelled with letters that were too small to be read from such a distance. Eren turned his head around in the deserted room. The glass windows behind him also displayed a variety of vintage items. How odd that he didn’t notice it before.
Although, he was relieved to be inside, he felt like committing a crime. Was he supposed to be here? Why were no workers here? Was the store closed? But why was the door open then? And should he better leave? But that could be dangerous due to the weather outside. He was so in conflict with himself, while also being mesmerised by the inside of the shop. Eren’s eyes dropped back down. He noticed a golden bell next to the cash register on top of the desk.
Should he ring it?
Then his eyes moved over to a tiny container with piled up purple cards with golden curved letters. Eren picked one up and read what was written on it.
Ackerman ‘s Curiosity Shop
The Mystiques and Oddities
Est. 1859
A curiosity shop?
Eren flipped the card around in his hand, wanting to read the backside too, when suddenly a black shadow appeared on the table right in front of his nose.
“Ack!”
Everything inside Eren tensed and turned as he jumped away. The card fell out of his hand, falling sharp like an speer on the ground. He blinked a few times, holding the fabric of his shirt.
A cat. Oh, God. It was just a black cat.
The thick-furred pet kept its green eyes on Eren, ears and tail pointed. The cat was on high alert, tiptoeing on the already overstocked table. Eren questioned how it was even possible for the pet to walk there without kicking something off. He kept a safe distance, trying to avoid stressing the animal. He lightly smiled, trying to appear calm and friendly, although his appearance always seemed rough and troublesome to others. His long dark hair, few ear piercings and tattoos, made everyone on the streets avoid walking into him. Which was, also very nice, since Eren never felt bothered by anyone, but it also made his life a lot difficult. Especially his dating life.
He tried, so often, to talk to girls, making the first move, bringing flowers and all that overly romantic stuff, just to appear friendly and kind. But they most of the time rejected him. They said things like they ‘didn’t want someone who didn’t have his life together’ or ‘my parents don’t think you’re good for me’ or ‘how will you ever get a job, looking like this?’
They made it sound like his looks was an insult. Of course he had some girlfriends here and there, and some wanted him only for his looks. Saying that he looked very hot in tattoos and piercings. That they want him to fuck them rough, spit on them, choke them, and all that stuff. It was so exhausting. All that he wanted was for someone to see more of him then just his looks. This superficiality got on his nerves.
Sadly, also the cat couldn’t see past his appearance. The pet positioned itself, claws out and eyes glowing. Eren watched his life pass him by. The cat was going to attack him, jumping onto him, and scratching his face. He stretched his arms out to protect his face, stumbling backwards. But instead of crashing into the wall or shelves, he stumbled further. A long violet curtain draped around his body as he suddenly tottered backwards into another room.
He stopped in his tracks, standing in front of a door arch with the violet curtain, that still swung from just being moved. How could he not have seen that before? At least he was blocked from the cat. Although, it could easily follow him through the curtain and attack him again at any time. He needed to escape from here. It was crazy enough that he was in a curiosity shop with only a black cat.
Eren turned on his heels taking in the other room he was inside now, seeming nothing different than the one before. Except…
there was someone.
A…girl?
Eren slowly walked around the giant round table in the middle of the room, surrounded by dark wooden chairs with red upholstery on the seat and back piece. He quickly noticed a tarot deck on the table, but he didn’t pay attention to it as all his focus was on the girl that stood on a ladder with her back turned to him. She bobbed her head, reordering books and cleaning them with a dust catcher. Eren found it odd, that she didn’t hear him. But when he got closer to her, he then saw the white in-ear headphones connecting to the phone that was clamped between her hip and the hem of her skirt.
Eren now almost stood right next to her, and he couldn’t take his eyes off the girl with raven black hair. He couldn’t fully see her face yet, but the bit of her cheek that he could see was enough for him to notice that she was pretty. She carried her hair in two high buns. Her neck was covered in a black choker and tons of long silver necklaces. She wore a black off-shoulder sweater with a red and black checkered skirt as well as black boots with red laces, where white socks peeked out.
Eren ‘s eyes moved back up from her feet to her body and God…
Why was she standing so high on the ladder with such a short skirt? He could almost see everything. Her legs were so shiny. The fat on her tights jiggling with every time she moved. Eren felt so bad. He really was a creep, wasn’t he? His ears turned a deep shade of red. He hated himself and he hated his mind in that very moment. Quickly, he bit his tongue, trying to clear his thoughts as he opened his mouth.
“Excuse me-”
It all happened in one quick motion, when the girl swept her head around to him with wide eyes and a feared yelp coming out of her mouth. She missed a step on the ladder and her foot fell onto the lower bar.
Creak!
The wood broke under her foot, making her fall backwards. She let out a cry, reaching for something to hold onto when Eren came forward with stretched arms to catch her halfway.
She heavily fell in his arms. The phone and headphones landed somewhere on the ground with a thud. Her eyes were so wide open that it almost looked like her eyeballs would pop out any moment. She looked at Eren as if she had seen a ghost. Eren was confused, that among all the oddities in this shop, it was him, whom she looked at afraid. Eren on the other hand, stared at her like he has seen paradise on earth. Never in his nineteen years of living, has he ever seen such a strangely beautiful woman. Her face was like it was made from porcelain. It resembles that of an angel. Undefiled and spotless and so very pale, except for a tiny horizontal scar under her right eye. Her paleness made him question if she was sick. Although, her deep black lipstick on her lips probably made her look lighter than she actually is.
“You can let me down now. “Her voice was just as angelic as her looks. Eren let go of her legs, placing her gently down.
“Sorry,” he apologised then also taking his arm around her shoulder back to himself.
“No, it’s fine,” the girl said, folding the fabric of her skirt back in place, “I should be thanking you for catching me. Although, I must say, you’re not supposed to be here. We ‘re closed.”
A rock crashed down onto his skull. So, they were closed. But why is she here then?
“The door was open and the weather outside-” Eren interrupted himself, pointing with his thumb behind himself, “And there was this cat. I- ”
“We have a closed sign at the door, “she said a little smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. She hunched down to grab her phone and the headphones.
“You do?” Eren questioned, not taking his eyes off her once, dropping his hand, “I didn’t notice.”
“What are you doing at this time here anyway?” the girl asked, placing her phone on the table then moving back to the ladder to pick the broken piece up. “It’s over with you.”
“What?” Eren yelped, tightening his shoulders.
“What?” she repeated, looking directly at Eren with wide eyes. Her expression shifted, “Oh, I meant the ladder.” she said with a smile. How come that this woman with this style, had such a opposite personality to her looks. She seemed like she would tackle you down any moment and rip your heart and soul out. But she was far from that. Wasn’t that the same with Eren? How did he himself become so judgemental about others?
“You didn’t answer my question,” the raven-haired girl repeated. Eren looked at her confused. But he was looking at her that way the whole time now. He was so caught in his thoughts and busy with staring at the girl in front of him, that it was hard to concentrate on anything she was saying.
“I asked what you are doing here at this hour.”
Oh, right.
“I got lost,” Eren said, lazily crossing his arms in front of his chest, “and then the weather suddenly changed, and it started to get windy. I entered the next store I could find. I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were closed. But…” Eren hesitated for a second, unsure if he was allowed to ask, “what are you doing here when you’re closed?”
The girl side-eyed him while climbing up the broken ladder again. Eren slightly jumped up. Fear filled his body like a plague.
“What are you doing?!” he raised his voice. His body tensed and he reached his hands out around her, to catch her, if she fell again. This girl must be crazy.
“A shop needs to be taken care of, even when it’s closed. The hard work doesn’t do it itself,” the girl answered, ignoring his worry and grabbing all the cleaning supplies that still laid on the shelf. Then she climbed down. “The weather didn’t suddenly change.”
Eren raised one eyebrow. “It did not?”
“No,” the girl was back on the ground and Eren moved his hands back, “The whole daytime the birds were quiet and flew very close to the ground. And Jade had been a lot aggressive lately-”
“Jade?” Eren asked.
“The cat.” The raven-haired girl said, “I ‘m guessing you’ve met her. You said something about a cat earlier.”
“Yes, the cat. Creeping the shit out of me.”
“Hey!” she warned ironically, “She’s my precious baby.”
Eren ‘s eyes followed her movements. She reordered things, placing one thing there the other here. Eren wondered, how she kept a clear structure in all the seemingly endless mess.
“So, wait-,” The gearwheels in Eren‘s head slowly began to turn again, “You’re telling me you knew that a storm was going to come?”
She glanced over at him. Eren stood there like his parents just told him that Santa was a lie. How cute, she thought.
“Yes, it was pretty obvious. But, you know, you could have also just checked the weather forecast,” the girl couldn’t hide her smile, although she kept her focus on her task.
Eren was losing his mind. Who was this girl?
“Anyways, I think the storm is not that bad yet. Do you live nearby, so you can go back home?”
Eren bit his lip. How was he going to explain to her that he doesn’t even live here. That his friend suddenly disappeared. That he’s not able to contact him. That he is in a town, he’s never been to before and that he stumbled into a shop that is more scary than welcoming. He doesn’t know what to do. That day couldn’t not have been worse.
“What? Are you afraid to tell me?” she asked, lifting a basket, filled with clutter, off the ground.
“No, I… I ‘m not from here, you know, “Eren explained. The girl lifted one eyebrow, securing the basket between her hip and arm.
“That makes it even more strange that you’re here.” Eren didn’t know what to answer. He felt like a child being scolded by his mother for bad behaviour. The girl then walked further away from him, around the table in the middle. Eren, like a magnet, followed her. They walked through the violet curtain, standing in the first room again. She placed the basket down next to the desk and opened her arms for the black cat, which happily curled herself up in her arms.
“Is my little girl scared? Don’t be,” she placed a loving kiss between the ears of the cat, caressing her fur. Jade, the name of the cat, clearly enjoyed being in her arms, rubbing her face in the girls’ palms. Jade then gazed over at Eren, hissing in his direction. Apparently, she seemed to not like him that much. The girl and her cat faced the windows, looking outside. The storm slowly began to expand. Newspapers flew across the stony street and the signs that hung above the different stores swung in the heavy wind. Eren would definitely try to call Armin later again, to make sure he’s safe.
“What am I going to do with you now?” She said into the void. Eren turned his head, facing her profile. This felt like having a judge decide your fate for the next following years. Because it was exactly like that. Her decision would either leave him to die in the storm or stay safe inside (strictly speaking). Either way, he would have to respect her choice. He stumbled into her shop after all.
“I promise, I won’t be trouble,” Eren began after a while of silence and she side-eyed him, “Let me stay here for tonight. I mean, you’re probably not going to your home either, right?”
She studied his features.
“I promise I won’t steal anything or… hurt you in any way. I know my looks scare people away, but I can prove to you that I do not have any bad intentions. I just want a place to stay until the storm is over. Please…,” He just now realized that he didn’t know her name. He remembered the card said something about ‘Ackerman’s curiosity shop’. So, her last name must be that but her first name? “I never got your name.”
“Mikasa.” She spoke.
“Please, Mikasa. Let me stay.” The cat suddenly stretched in Mikasa’s arms, and she placed one last kiss on Jade’s fur before crunching down and allowing her to leave her hands. The cat tip-toed away and Mikasa took a step closer to Eren.
“You know, I would have allowed you to stay even without all the begging. But I appreciate the effort,” she tilted her head with a smile, “You’re far too handsome to walk all alone through the streets at night. Come on I’ll make us tea.”
Eren felt absolutely nothing. He felt nothing and everything all at once. Strange butterflies, that almost felt more like moths, pirouetted inside of him, trying to dig their way out to the light. This girl had just called him handsome, so easily, so effortlessly. And all he wanted was to make her feel the same way.
Mikasa had locked the door by now and covered the windows to the street with more dense curtains. She made camomile tea for them, placing the tea pot in the centre of the table in the second room. She had lit up tons of candles; it almost looked like a séance. Eren had to admit, that the room looked now far scarier than before and he actually had goosebumps all over his skin. The skulls on the shelves almost looked alive right now, staring down at him with seemingly glowing eyes. Eren tried so hard not to glimpse at the oddities, preventing to feed into his fear. He was sitting in one of the upholstery chairs, that were far more comfortable than he thought. Eren had his elbows on the table and stared down at his cup of tea, steam growing out of the liquid while the outside world sounded like it was about to go down. Eren wondered how he even got here. Why did he agree to Armin’s suggestion to take him to this town and why was he gone suddenly? Where did he go? Was he okay or did something happen to him? He slowly started to get a headache. Eren rubbed his right temple with two fingers.
“Are you cold?” Mikasa’s voice startled him as she came back with two blankets in her arms and Jade curling around her ankle. Eren lowered his hand and leaned back in the chair, shaking his head. Mikasa squinted her eyelids. She saw right through him, as if he had transparent skin. She came closer and dropped the blankets on one chair. Then she walked directly over to him. Eren tensed, wanting to stand up and stay seated at the same time. He searched for an answer in her eyes, about what he should do. He wanted to make it up to Mikasa. He wanted whatever she wanted him to do, and it was strange. So totally strange at he found himself at her mercy. She finally stood with her body facing him, leaning with the backside of her thighs against the table. Eren caught himself looking with big eyes at her. Mikasa only took his hand in her palms, pressing her thumb forcefully on the spot between his thumb and index finger and massaged it in slow circles. At first Eren was weirded out, he didn’t move one inch, confused about what this girl was doing. But then, suddenly, he felt relief and relaxed in the seat. The headache slowly disappeared.
“Mikasa…” he whispered, “how do you…”
“I wanted to suggest that we listen to some music, but I guess quietness is better for your head,” Mikasa softly said, slowly stopping the massage on his hand, “Drink some tea, your lips are dry.” She turned around to walk to her seat, when suddenly Eren grabbed onto her arm, making her stop. She turned, lowering her chin to look down at him, waiting for him to speak his mind. She didn’t rush him or pulled away but gave him the time he needed. And God, Eren needed all the time in the world to just look at her. He wanted to ask her how she knew all of this, how she was so aware of everything around her and how on earth she was so divine and beautiful. But he knew he wouldn’t get an answer out of her. Not on those questions. What made him so sure was his intuition. But looking at her felt too good to just let her walk off. Instead, he just said, “Do you… have a hair tie?”
Mikasa raised one eyebrow and a smile came across her lips. She nodded and Eren let go of her. She raised her left wrist, pulling the black sleeve away, revealing a silver bracelet with a cat charm and a purple hair tie. She pulled the hair tie over her hand, holding it out to him. Eren only now noticed the black nail paint on her nails and a bandage around her right wrist. Did…something happen to her? He took the hair tie and if Mikasa wouldn’t have turned away from him, to sit down, he would have stared at her from this angle for the next hours, maybe even forever. Mikasa began to sip her tea carefully. Jade ‘s purr filled the silence. She jumped up on one chair next to Mikasa, then she jumped on the table. She circled the table once then plopped her body down and laid her head on her front paws. Eren grabbed a hold of his hair, brushing it out of his face then tying it into a bun.
All Mikasa could do was stare at him. She hid her nose behind the cup as her grey eyes painted Eren in every way and from every angle in her mind. She wanted to memorise this. She wanted to never forget him. The way his strong fingers gently slid between his long hair. She had never seen a man more handsome in her life. The way he moved and viewed the things around him was so magnetic. She felt a strange pull towards him, which was not only difficult to explain but also something bad that she couldn’t have happening right now.
The view of Eren having his hair tied in a bun made her insides crumble to dust. Mikasa set the cup down with a click.
“So, tell me, what is your name?” Mikasa asked, resting her chin in her palm and studying his face.
“Eren,” he answered her, finally lifting his cup to his lips to take a sip. The old crockery looked small in his big hands. The camomile tea tasted different than he remembered. It had a bitter and sweet taste to it. The herb’s flavour was very strong on his tongue and warmed his throat.
“Eren, give me your right hand,” Mikasa suddenly demanded, laying her arm and the back of her hand on the table, the palm facing the ceiling, waiting for his hand.
“I don’t have a headache anymore,” Eren quickly responded. He didn’t know why he became so defensive. He wanted to touch her. Oh, he wanted to touch her so badly, it drove him mad. Maybe this is exactly the reason he didn’t want to get closer to her, or he won’t be able to stop himself from touching all of her. He could barely stop his mind from all the thoughts and ideas he got when he saw Mikasa.
“I know, give me your hand.” Her words were stronger now and her eyes more demanding. Eren obeyed.
Just the faint brush of their skin casted a spark upon their muscles. It burned so much. And it felt so good. Mikasa ‘s eyes moved down to his arm, and she turned his hand around so that it was laying in hers with his palm facing the ceiling. Eren studied her with focused intensity. Her face was all he ever wanted to see. And he couldn’t even point out why. Mikasa leaned closer and for a moment Eren ‘s breath got stuck in his lounges. Mikasa traced the lines on his palm with her index finger. Her mind finally wrapped around something.
“This line,” Mikasa traced the line in Eren’s palm that started between his index finger and thumb, “represents your lifeline. You have a thick swooping lifeline. That means that you’re very full of life and physically strong. Your life is filled with physical labour and activities. But you see there it breaks,” she points to where the line disconnects, “You will come across an accident or danger in your life. Or maybe you already have,” Mikasa ‘s eyes shoot up to him, questioning, but he didn’t respond. Eren looked at her with an open mouth. He couldn’t find the right words to say what he wanted to say. Mikasa then continued.
“This line is your headline,” Mikasa points at the line on Eren’s hand that was also in between his finger and thumb, but this one was closer to his index finger and went straight to the middle of his hand, “You have a short and straight headline. You act impulsive and careless but you’re also an analytical thinker and put your mind over your heart.”
Mikasa traced her fingertips further to the side of his hand where the heartline lays. Her eyebrows furrowed together and her shoulders sank.
“What? What is it?” Eren asked. The desperate need for him to know what she saw in the depths of his hand, wrecked all his limbs.
“This line is your heartline. You have a short and upwards curved heat line. This shows that…,” she paused, “that you’re ruthless and isolate yourself when it comes to love. You’re bad at expressing your feelings, but you’re also a charmer and know what to say in certain situations. “
Eren sat there like a deer in headlights. His pulse was so quick that he almost thought it would rip and explode, and everything would be covered in red rain.
Even if the world outside, would lose to the battle of storm and hail shower, he would not raise one muscle.
Mikasa.
That name was tattooed in the front of his brain. He would dearly not forget her, regardless of what’s happens after tonight. She mesmerised him. Almost like she put a spell on him.
“How do you know all of that?” Eren said. Their hands were still touching and neither of them seemed to want to break the contact.
“What do you mean?”
Eren raised one eyebrow. His hand felt now heavier in her palm. Mikasa slowly unravelled them. “You know what I mean.”
Mikasa lowered her hands on her lap, turning the ring on her finger around. “Practical knowledge. “
The howl of the wind sounded so distant in their quiet little nook. The raven-haired girl reached for one of the knitted blankets she put on the chair next to her. Mikasa unfolded it and laid it over her lap. “I’m wise, you know.” She smiled.
“I can tell.” Eren took a sip from his tea, the warmth spreading on his tongue. His irises turned to the side as he thought about something. “Do you work all alone here?”
Her eyes snapped up to him.
“No, it’s a family business that was descend from generation to generation. Although, my parents mostly work out of town, so right know I’m taking care of our shop,” Mikasa tugged one strand of her hair behind her ear, “And sometimes, my best friend is coming over to help me out.”
Eren’s eyes drifted over to Jade, who had her eyes closed and was carelessly sleeping on the table. “Sounds like a real big thing.” Eren sighed softly, scratching the back of his neck. Unnoticeably, to him, he flexed the muscle of his biceps under his clothes, dragging Mikasa ‘s attention over there.
“And what do you do, Eren?” Mikasa rolled his name on her tongue.
“Mhm? Me?” He lowered his hand again, raising his eyebrows, creating lines in his forehead, “Oh, nothing much, just college.”
Mikasa ‘s eyes lit up.
“Really? What are you studying?” She straightened her posture and attentively looked at Eren. He found it odd, how interested she was in this topic.
“Business and law, but it’s pretty much tiering.”
“Oh, so you want to work in the high positions?” She smirked. Her eyes glimmered with something that he couldn't quite figure out, “Mr. CEO?”
Eren couldn’t hide the light curve of his mouth. He wetted his lips, leaning forward in his chair again with his fingers curving around the teacup. “You like the idea or what?”
"Maybe." She shrugged.
"Mhm." Eren couldn't stop his eyes from roaming all over her face. His heart felt cradled by clouds at the sight of her thick lashes, that framed her grey eyes like the most extraordinary attraction, he has ever seen in any kind of museum. Her lips were shaped in perfects arcs and curves. He just wanted to devour them forever. He wanted to devour her. He wanted to bury himself deep inside the depths of her heart, and her whole being. He wanted to feel her all around himself, and he didn't know why. He did not understand that feeling he felt towards her. As if he had known her forever. "Is there something you want to study?" He then asked, dropping the flirty tension.
Mikasa hesitated for a moment. "Yes, I kind of do." She swallowed, avoiding his eyes, "But I can't." Her voice was quiet.
"What do you mean you can't?"
"I mean, I technically can but-"
Screech!
Before Mikasa could finish her sentence a soul-levitating croak, startled them both. The flush in Eren's cheeks left him immediately. He froze and his appearance resembled one of a ghost. When his eyes gazed at Mikasa, who fearlessly got up and walked towards the direction the sound came from, he followed her, trying to act nonchalantly and brave. He was the man here after all.
He felt like a fool.
"What was that?" He asked, forcing his voice not to stutter and keeping his cold sweaty palms clenched.
"Imma take a look." Mikasa softly spoke. She walked into the other room, holding the curtain open for him. Eren kept himself close on her heels. He was so scared and he couldn't understand how she wasn't even one bit afraid.
Screech!
There it was again.
Both whipped their heads around towards the covered windows. It was Mikasa, who stepped forward and pulled the curtain to the side, looking outside in the dark.
Eren, glued on the spot, ripped his eyes open.
"That's a... crow..." He whispered to himself. A deep black bird stood behind the glass on the outside windowsill, tilting its head to view Eren and Mikasa with intense eyes. Mikasa bit on her teeth. Well, how was she going to explain that to Eren? He was already suspicious enough of her. She signed softly, walking towards the door. The bird followed her behind the glass. "What are you doing?" Eren gasped.
Mikasa opened the door and closed it quickly again after the crow was inside. The weather outside was awful. With heavy rain and strong wind. The crow shook its feathers, drops of water splashing in the floor. Eren stared at it, while Mikasa closed the curtains again. "That's Charlie. He’s… kind of my pet too.” she shyly admitted, locking the door again and closing every curtain she opened.
Charlie watched Eren closely with his black pearls. Eren was afraid that he might fly up to him and poke his eyeballs out with his sharp and long beak. Mikasa walked behind the desk, pulling a drawer out. She grabbed a glass jar with dry nuts and seeds, opening it and grabbing a handful of them. She spread them on the table then closed the jar and put it back again, closing the drawer.
Charlie spotted the food and spread his wings wide. Flying up, he roughly landed on the table, stuffing his beak, then flying up higher. He found his spot on top of one shelf, creaking the nuts and seeds to eat them there in peace.
“Eren? Are you okay?” Mikasa dragged him out of his stare, “You don’t have to be scared. He doesn’t do anything. I was expecting him to come, because of the weather.”
Eren turned to Mikasa.
"You really are a strange girl." He said and Mikasa ‘s lips parted before she slowly walked over to him.
"I take this as a compliment." She smiled with closed eyes and tilted head. Eren wanted to grab her. He wanted her. He wanted to slam her down and kiss the living shit out of her. Eren couldn't stop his eyes from staring at her lips. "It was meant to be one." He gently admitted.
Mikasa opened her eyes to look at him again and Eren quickly forced his lingering gaze to the side, his body followed. His eyes awkwardly roamed around the room, inspecting the objects and books on the shelves. "What do you actually sell here?"
"Mostly everything."
Eren swayed around on his heels towards her.
"Can I have you then?"
Mikasa pressed her lips together in a tight smile, walking over to him and hitting him playfully on his arm, rolling her eyes. "Shut up." He chuckled at that, side-eyeing her with a lazy, admiring grin on his lips. She walked over to the shelves and he followed.
"We have books of all sorts. Old art pieces, vintage jewellery. Almost everything that is forgotten."
"To what doors do the keys belong?" Eren asked as they stopped in front of a shelf, picking one rusty key up and examining it. He stood so close to her. Their arms were almost brushing. Mikasa glanced at the key in his hand. "I have no idea. But the doors most likely don't exist anymore. Many people who didn't need them anymore, left them here and now we sell them. You can use them as decorations, jewellery or anything really.”
“I like this one. It has a nice shape.” Eren said, his fingers turning the bronze barrel key.
“Wait!” Mikasa yelped, swooping around and walking back to the front desk. Eren followed her with his eyes. She searched through the drawers for something. Then she walked back to him with a black leather thread. “May I?” She held her hand out to him. Eren nodded, still unsure of what she was doing, he handed her the key. Mikasa slid the thread through one hole of the key then took a step closer and made herself taller on her tip toes. She wrapped her arms around Eren ‘s neck with the two ends between her fingers. Eren held his breath. He was shaking all over his body while his eyes lingered on her body that was right in front of his. Mikasa tied the ends together then pulled her arms away and stepped back. She proudly examined her handiwork. Eren followed her gaze. “You can have it.”
Eren ‘s eyes snapped up to her.
“What? No- No it’s fine,” he stammered. He was still nervous from Mikasa being so close to him.
“No, really, I gift it to you.” she spoke, “It suits you.”
Eren didn’t know what to say. The grabbed the key that reached down to his chest to look at it again. When his gaze moved back up to her, he thanked her. “Thank you.”
Mikasa smiled. “Now…,” she stared, walking along the shelves, “what interests you? We have geographic or historical books. Science books or old fairytales. Unfortunately, I don’t have any business or law books here. “Her finger traced the edges of the shelves as she walked. When she finished, she turned around to face him.
“Mhm… is there something you could recommend?” He slowly walked over to her.
“Personally, the fairytales are pretty interesting. “ She searched through the section of fairytale books.
“Okay, I’m down.” he answered, tugging his hands in the pockets of his jeans. He really started to like this girl.
Mikasa picked out tons of different fairytales but also other books she liked and thought that Eren might like them too. They had now gone back to the other room, where Jade was still sleeping. Mikasa laid the two blankets they had on top of each other, like a carpet, on the floor. She placed the pile of books next to the spread-out blankets, and both sat down, cross-legged next to each other. Mikasa opened the books in front of them, reading lines out to him or explaining things. She often leaned forward to point at something or to turn the pages. Eren couldn’t take his eyes from the curve of her back every time she did that. The way her arms moved or the way she shifted her shoulders. That was something where his eyes glazed far too often. He also got nervous, every time their knees were about to touch, when she changed her position. But he did listen to everything she said, as well as how she said it. How her lips curved at certain words or how she pronounced them. At what times her eyes sparkled or on what topics she spoke more shyly and quietly. He wanted to know her.
After some time, they found themselves laying on their stomachs or sides, looking through the endless pages of the old books, that by now, were spread all around them. They talked for hours. Exchanging and sharing most of who they really are to each other. The time went by and at the deepest midnight, when the storm slowed came to an erase, they couldn’t keep their eyelids open anymore and fell peacefully asleep next to each other.
It was quiet and warm when Mikasa woke up.
So quiet.
And warm.
And peaceful.
She slowly fluttered her lids open, laying restful where she was. Her mind was still caught in the haze of her dream. Mikasa observed with only her eyes where she was laying. The decent orangish morning light peaked through the sides of the curtains, giving her a little light. She was laying on the ground. Right. She fell asleep here. Right. She fell asleep here… with Eren.
Eren
Mikasa ‘s mind was now almost fully conscious again. She began to move lightly, wanting to stand up, when…
she unexpectedly felt something heavy on her waist.
She lowered her chin to look down at herself, and her eyes widened while a blush spread across her face.
She only now realised how they were laying.
She held her breath, looking in all directions with only her eyes.
Oh, dear God.
What was she supposed to do? She pressed her eyes close, shakily exhaling. She did not dare to move.
She felt Eren laying behind her. He had his arm lazily draped over Mikasa’s waist. His hand laid softly next to her ribcage on the floor. The boy's inhales were slow and deep. His warm breath tickled the back of her neck. She felt his body so close to hers. His nose brushed against her neck, giving her shivers.
She didn’t want to wake him. And she also didn’t want him to see them laying like that. She felt her heart drum against her lunges. Why was breathing, so hard now?
As much as she did want to leave the ground and leave his grip, she also wanted to stay like this. Stay in his arms. Right here on the uncomfortable hard ground that made her neck hurt. It felt so peaceful to be with him. She wanted to turn around to see his face. She wanted to look into his beautiful emerald eyes, but she couldn’t move without waking him.
It was so warm.
Mikasa slipped her hand over Eren ‘s, gently pressing her fingers between his.
He was so warm.
Her heart fluttered. She caressed the back of his hand with her thumb, while keeping their fingers interlocked. Eren did not twitch or flinch once. His breathing was still the same.
Somehow, she found herself smiling to herself. It felt so good to be with him. So oddly familiar. So much like home.
Then
Mikasa felt poison flood through her body.
Ice cubes burning holes through her skin.
A rock breaking her skull in two pieces.
She wasn’t supposed to do this.
For his own good. She knew better than that, and she hated herself for being so ignorant and selfish.
She just hoped that he didn’t interpret anything into this.
After tonight, they would go back to their old life’s and pretend like nothing happened. It was also the truth—Nothing happened between them.
And still, Mikasa couldn’t deny the pull, the havoc in her head when she looked at him, her limbs giving out every time she touched him, and the peace she felt around him.
It’s going to be okay, she told herself. He will go home and hopefully forget about her.
But her ideas were crushed, completely utterly destroyed, when she suddenly heard the jiggle of keys and a door behind opened.
A voice.
A familiar voice.
Mikasa jumped up, freeing herself from Eren’s arm. Eren woke up from the harsh movement, adjusting his eyes to his surroundings. Mikasa stood wobbly on her feet, trying to think of what to do, but it was already too late.
The curtain, that separated the two rooms, was pulled open.
And her mother stood in the door arch, phone clamped between her shoulder and ear. When she spotted them
she ripped her eyes open.
The phone fell heavy down with a thud.
“What is this? “ Her sharp voice hissed. No greeting. No small talk. The woman with the same black hair as Mikasa stared down at her as if Mikasa just killed a man.
“Who is that?!“
Eren sat up, rubbing his eyes. He looked up at the woman in a black long dress, who stared down at him.
“Mom, hi, I didn’t know you’d be here so early,” Mikasa walked in front of Eren to block him from her view, but her eyes already shot bullets through the boy.
Mom?
Eren was so confused. He had just woken up a minute ago and was already webbed in an argument between two people. His gaze drifted to Mikasa. She made his heart jump. Then he looked back at the woman, who seemed to be her mother. Eren already felt bad for giving such a bad first impression to her mother. He quickly stood up, creating a smile on his sleepy face, and reached a hand out to her mother.
“Hey, I’m Eren. I promise I-”
“You do not say a word.” Mikasa growled in his direction with the same sharpness as her mother, avoiding his gaze. He knew why. Tears had formed in her eyes. She didn’t want him to see that. Eren was struck by her sudden change in behaviour. He lowered his hand that was only being stared on by Mikasa’s mother. There was a bloody and horrific tension between the two women. Eren quickly noticed that there was no sign of sheltered and motherly love from Mikasa’s mother towards her. He kept his mouth shut.
“Mikasa, have you lost your goddamn mind?” She came closer, grabbing her daughter by her ear, “What did you do with him?”
Her voice was ice cold.
Eren felt the urge to jump in between them. He wanted to rip his precious Mikasa away from this woman, who hurt her. But he probably would only make the situation worse than it already was. Although, he couldn’t understand what the issue really was here. Mikasa could just say the truth. They did absolutely nothing sexual.
Mikasa whined. She was so embarrassed, she couldn’t speak. Her throat was a burning knot.
“Have you lost your virginity?”
Eren ‘s eyebrows knitted together.
“No! Mom, stop please…”
Eren could hear it now. The crying. The tiny hiccups leaving Mikasa ‘s mouth.
“Eren, leave,” Mikasa whined, not looking at him, “Please.”
His heart was ripped in million bloody pieces when he forced himself to walk out of the store and leave Mikasa there alone with her mother.
The morning ambiance filled his tense lungs with fresh air. It was very early, since there barely was anyone outside. Eren stared at the door he came out from. He wanted to go back inside. That was a bad idea though. Should he wait for her? No. Also a bad idea. He didn’t know what to do but he wanted to act. His desire to help her made him nauseous.
Just a few minutes ago he laid there with this wonderful girl in his arms. She was so soft and smelled so good. Like black berries and vanilla. God, how much he wanted to hold her again.
He felt her touch him in his sleep. Her hand rubbing his. She fitted so perfectly in his arms.
Eren sighed, running a hand over his face, when suddenly something buzzed inside the pocket of his jacket.
His phone.
He quickly pulled it out, staring at the screen.
Armin
He picked up and held the phone next to his ear.
“Hello?”
“Eren! Thank God! Are you okay? Where are you?”
Eren felt somehow relieved to hear his best friends voice coming out of the phone.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Where the hell where you? You disappeared and then I tried to call you, but you wouldn’t pick up.”
“I know. I saw the missed calls today. We had no reception, cause of the storm,” Armin explained, “and dude I did not just disappeared. Where were you? I looked to my right, and you weren’t there anymore.”
Eren raised one eyebrow, walking circles on the footpath. Really? Was he the one who got lost? Probably. Jesus, he doesn’t remember.
“I genuinely have no idea.”
“Anyways. I hope you found shelter somewhere. The storm was pretty bad. Where are you? I’ll pick you up.” Armin said.
Eren looked around. He could tell the storm was bad. Leaves, litter and even small branches laid all over the street. His gazed moved back to the curiosity shop.
“Curiosity shop?” He answered, not sure of his own answer.
“What?” Armin questioned.
“I don’t know,” Eren took a few steps northward. The sounds of driving cars became audible to his ears, “Wait there’s a main street. I ‘ll walk up there. I think I’m basically where you last saw me. I didn’t walk off too far.”
“Okay, give me fifteen minutes.”
The two friends said goodbye and hung up. Eren turned his head toward the shop for one last time before tugging his hands in his pockets and walking straight towards the main street.
His heart felt like it was disconnected to every artery and veins his body offered.
It hurt so bad.
“Damn, Eren,” Armin gasped, turning the key around in the lock. He had his eyebrows drawn together for a while now.
The two men had by now driven back to their hometown. Eren had told Armin about how confused he was when he suddenly lost him, how he stumbled into the curiosity shop, and how he met Mikasa. Although, some things he kept to himself.
Armin on the other hand, told him about the dated video games he brought. That apparently could only be bought in Trost Town.
Armin pushed the door open to their apartment, revealing a dim and messy living room. A bright light came from the television on the right, shining onto the large grey couch on which a tall man in a white tank top and grey sweatpants laid. His legs were stretched, feet lazily resting on the coffee table, which had bottles and empty Chinese takeout dishes piled up. He had a gaming controller between his hands, resting on his stomach. Eren and Armin stepped inside. The man’s eyes, that were glued on the TV, moved over to them.
“God, we left you for two days alone and this how it looks?” Armin groaned, taking in the mess in the room while putting the bag with the video games he bought aside.
“Yo, you’re back. How was it?” The man with ash-brown hair asked.
Eren kicked his shoes off.
“Well, the day prior we got separated and last night…Eren stayed with a girl,” Armin mischievously revealed with a smirk, laying also his keychains to the side and taking his jacket off. Eren sent him a death glare.
“For real? One day in a new town and you’ve already pulled a girl?” The man on the couch lifted his upper body, the game he was playing, already forgotten, “Did you get lucky?”
Eren pulled his black zipper off without looking at his friend. He dropped the clothing on the couch backrest, ignoring him completely.
“Damn!” The man busted when he realised what Eren’s silence meant. His eyes followed Eren, who walked over to their stickered fridge, opening the door with one hand. “You did not fuck?”
Eren grabbed a cold bottle of water from the fridge, clenching his fingers around it. “No, Jean, I did not.” He slammed the door shut. Armin ‘s eyes turned over to him as he began to pick up all the empty bottles and plates on the table.
“What? It’s been like two years since you last been with anybody. There are girls who literally would pay to fuck you!” Jean said, a little hint of jealousy in his tone.
It was noticeable to anybody that even though Jean and Eren are friends there’s always been a kind of rivalry between them. Jean was flirty, gave any girl attention. Eren was not, and somehow, he still was more popular. It got on Jean ‘s nerves when they asked about him. The worst time was when he was fucking a girl and mid sex, she asked about Eren. His whole day was ruined after.
“What am I getting out of that? Meaningless fucking is not really my thing, you know.” Eren opened the bottle and brought it to his lips. Armin walked past him to throw the trash in his hands away.
“Sorry, Romeo,” Jean mocked, running a hand over his face, “You’re just so fucking boring man.”
“Oh sorry, I’m not a freak like you,” Eren snapped back, leaning against the counter and taking a glub out of the bottle.
“You know the girls like that shit. They like me.” Jean pointed with his thumbs at himself, raising a playful smug on his face. After Armin finished throwing everything away, he opened their kitchen drawers and searched for some ramen noodles, ignoring Eren’s and Jean’s banter as this happened so often and by now, he got used to it.
“Yeah, I bet,” Eren mocked before taking another sip.
“So, then what the fuck did you do then?”
“Talking.”
“Talking? Really?” Wrinkles formed on Jean’s forehead, “I don’t fucking believe you.”
“Why would I be lying?” Eren closed the bottle, “The fuck is wrong with you Jean?”
“Wow, I’m just wondering. No need to be so pissed about it.”
Armin cleared his throat, cutting them both off. “Any of you want ramen?”
Both stared at Armin in silence before turning away. Jean dropped his upper body back on the couch with a sigh, turning his face towards the TV. “Yup.”
Armin’s gaze turned over to Eren.
“Mhm,” Eren nodded, setting the bottle to the side and making his way toward their bathroom, while Armin opened their drawer filled with pans and pots.
“You should invite her to Connie’s party.”
Eren stopped in his tracks.
“What?” He slowly turned around to Jean, who was sitting with his back towards him. “Wha- No. You’re getting the wrong idea. It’s not like that. She’s just some girl I met, okay? Just because I’m a guy doesn’t mean I have to like every girl I meet,” Eren threw his hands up, taking a few steps towards the couch.
“No, not because you’re a guy.” Jean turned around to him, looking directly at him. “Because you’re Eren and you barely only talk with women.”
Eren stopped when his knees touched the upholstery of the couch. He held his breath a little too long now. The brunet slowly leaned forward and rested his palms on the backrest, leaving his head hanging. “Nah, I don’t know Jean. It’s kind of complicated.”
“You could at least ask her,” Jean shot back, reaching for the controller that he left somewhere.
“I don’t know.”
“I know. And I’m telling you to ask her.” He put his game back on and focused his attention there. Eren shook his head as he looked up again.
“I don’t even have her number, and I’ll probably won’t ever see her again.”
“Mhm, yes this indeed seems to be kind of complicated.”
“See I told you-”
“Because of you. You fucking idiot,” Jean hissed under his breath, pressing the buttons a little harsher than before. Eren reached and yanked a pillow off the sofa. He aimed and slammed the pillow at Jean’s head.
“Shut up, dumbass.”