...Clarifying...
You were with your friends in the kitchen, making a meal for everyone.
Connie had just finished filling you in on the situation with his mom, who supposedly turned into a titan. Then there's his hometown, Ragako Village, and this Beast Titan that came out of nowhere.
"That sucks. Sorry that it's happening."
"It's alright. Not like it's your fault," he said as he peeled potatoes next to you. "And Y/n, no one eats carrot slices as thin as those."
"What? I might."
"You don't eat carrots," said Mikasa, who was helping out Historia with the stew at the stove.
"No one was talking to you, Mikasa."
Historia peered over your shoulder and let out a small chuckle. "Y/n, I know you have probably the best skills with knives out of all of us, but don't you think those slices are a bit too thin?"
"No? Look." You balanced a slice upright, but it folded over like paper. "Oh."
Mikasa sighed and nudged you over. "Move aside, I'll cut these up. Go throw out the trash or something."
"Don't boss me around," you muttered. "That used to be my job."
"Y/n, you can help me with the stew-"
"No, she should not be trusted with fire," said Mikasa, a bit too quickly. "She'll burn the whole house down. She's skilled and precise, but she's careless."
"Tch. Talking as if I'm not right here." You picked up the basket littered with peeled skins of the vegetables.
Eren headed down the stairs, cracking his neck after some long hours of sleep. As he stepped into the kitchen, he made eye contact with you. You looked away immediately. So he looked away, too.
"Finally got out of bed?" asked Mikasa. "Good, make your lazy ass useful. Imagine what Carla would say right now if she saw you lounging in bed, leaving the kitchen work to the girls."
"Alright, I get it. I'll help," he said, a bit more snappy than he meant to. "Who the hell cuts carrots like this?"
"Y/n," the rest of them said.
"It's irritating to look at."
You scoffed. "Let's see you do better, then."
"Fine, I will. Mikasa, knife?" She handed it to him, and he got to work. But he was far from precise. He cut them in thicker chunks, but he did it so aggressively that there were already marks on the wooden board.
"Now, that's what I call irritating."
"You're irritating."
You raised your eyebrows. "You want to speak up? Say that to my face?" But he continued cutting the carrots and didn't meet your eyes. "Yeah, got nothing much to say now, huh?"
"Neither do you."
The others glanced back and forth between the two of you, putting meal-making as a second priority.
"Something up your ass today?"
"Something up yours?"
"The fuck is wrong with you?"
"The fuck is wrong with you?"
You grabbed the basket and marched to the door. "The failed experiment's all your fault, by the way," you snapped and slammed the door shut behind you.
Of course, you didn't actually mean it. It was on the tip of your tongue at the moment, so you just spat it out, knowing that it might hurt him a little. Since he said something out of the ordinary, you said something out of the ordinary. But internally, your frustration was misdirectedâit was more to yourself and your impulsive actions.
"Like I don't know that already," he muttered.
"She's upset," said Mikasa. "Eren, go after her."
"Why should I?"
"Because she's upset," said Connie, stating the obvious.
"Eren, this could be your chance to make things right," said Historia. "Don't let it slip from your hands. You've got this."
"But why should I go after her? Why can't she come after me? I'm upset, too! And she started this shit!"
Connie's jaw dropped. "What the fuck is wrong with you, dude?"
"Eren." Mikasa clutched his shoulder so hard he yelped. "How many times have you seen Y/n actually upset?"
He thought about it, unable to recall anything specific.
"And how many times has she seen you upset?"
"...A lot."
"More like every day," added Historia.
"And has she once left you by yourself without comforting and calming you? Even if she wasn't ever the cause?"
Oh, fuck. He set down the knife. "So I'm screwing this up already."
"Yeah," they all said.
He rolled his head back and groaned. "Goddamn it. Why do I alwaysâ" He sighed. "I have to find her. I do. I will," he said and hurried out the door.
Once he left, Mikasa, Historia, and Connie shared a look. Then they scattered in different directions.
"I'll get the others."
"I'll open the window."
"I'll hide the food from Sasha."
Eren turned the corner. You were sweeping the trash with a broom into a ditch that Jean had dug.
"Hi," he said.
Your eyes flickered to him. "What."
Behind the second-floor window, everyone else was crammed into the small space to spy on the two of you, listening in from the slightly opened crack.
"I'm-"
"Here to apologize for that pathetic attitude back there? Go ahead. I'm all ears."
And just like that, his temper struck back up. "You know what? Why don't you apologize first?"
Mikasa balled up her fist. "I'm going to beat him up."
"Shh." Armin put a finger to his mouth. "Let them figure it out themselves."
"Apologize for fucking what?" You weren't stupid. You could guess what he was pissed about, but you were hoping you would be wrong. Because if it is, then...then maybe I've just ruined our friendship.
"You know what."
"Did I kill your dad or some shit? No. You ate him, remember?"
"I'm talking about what you did two days ago. You think you can just do that and pretend it never happened? Just gloss over it as it's something to not care about? Well, guess what? I care! But you don't!"
He was all riled up now, and you weren't a stranger to that. You knew how to deal with and pull on the right strings to make it worse. Because, after all, you were petty to your core.
You put a hand on your hip and the other behind your ear, leaning forward. "What was that? I can't understand someone bitching around like a miserable little kid who doesn't know how to blabber to the point."
Jean quietly whistled. "Damn, I'd feel so hurt if I were him right now."
"Shut up Jean."
"Sorry, Mikasa."
"You know exactly what it is! What you did right before I got all the titans to kill the titan who killed my mom! Right when you convinced me not to give up!"
Your scowl smoothened out to a frown. Fuck this shit. "You're pissed about the kiss," you finally stated. What you were avoiding. What you had been fearing.
"Yes!"
"Shit, he shouldn't have said that," said Mikasa, knowing precisely what would happen next. She'd seen your fights with Eren before. Although there wasn't much anymore, there sure was a lot back in Shiganshina. Eren never knew what were the right things to say. And you were dense only because he was even denser.
You picked up the broom and continued sweeping. "Fine. I'm sorry I did that. Happy now?"
He felt a sudden strike of pain in his chest. "You are?" Does she regret it?
"Isn't that what you wanted to hear? My apology? You should've just told me sooner that you didn't want it. Then we wouldn't be fighting like the two kids we used to be."
Eren's jaw slackened. No! What have I done now?! "That is not what I had meant-"
Someone's stomach grumbled. You glanced at him.
"That wasn't me."
"Neither was it me." You glanced up, and the rest ducked from the window. "What the hell are you guys doing up there?! Spying on us?! Get back to cooking!"
You took your broom with you and stomped past Eren, purposely shoving your shoulder into his, and headed back into the cottage.
Eren held his head in his hands. What the fuck did I just do? Why do I mess everything up? Why am I so stupid?
"Sorry, guys," mumbled Sasha, her hands on her stomach.
"Nah, they needed that," said Jean. "Or else shit would've gotten worse."
"Yeah, that was really rough to watch," added Connie.
Armin let out an exhausted sigh. "Okay, guess we can't trust them after all. Time for Plan B. Sasha, get the cards. Mikasa and Historia, distract Y/n. Jean, keep Eren away from her for the time being. Connie and I will set up dinner."
"What's Plan B?" asked Mikasa. "And why don't I know about it?"
"While you were in the kitchen, I got to plan with Jean and Sasha. There's this card game back from the Training Corps that the two of them used to play all the time with Marco and Connie. Trust me, it'll work."
"And what if it doesn't?"
"Then it's Plan C," said Armin, distastefully.
"What's Plan C?"
"...Spin the bottle."
"Got it. Plan B it is."
Soon, dinner came around. Eren sat right across from you, but neither of you spared each other a glance.
Because you were starting to feel the embarrassment now, especially after finding out that he didn't even want it. Fuck you, Mikasa and Armin, for getting my hopes up.
And Eren was finally understanding the consequences of speaking without thinking first.
"Hey, Armin had an idea! Let's all play a game!" Sasha dumped a stack of cards on the table. "It's really easy. We used to play it back in the Training Corps. We've written the names of people we all know. When it's someone's turn, they'll put the card on their forehead so they can't see it, and the others will give them hints about who it is so they can guess it as quickly as possible. The cards are already shuffled. Everyone up for it?"
They all raised their hands. So, the two of you felt obligated to raise yours, too.
The first one to go was Jean. He raised his card to his forehead.
"The man we all hate."
"The loudest yeller there is."
"Sunken eyes like he's dead." That one came from you.
"Keith Shadis!" Jean lowered the card and smiled once he saw he was right.
Historia was next, holding the card to her forehead.
"Biggest traitor there is!"
"Antisocial two-faced bitch." Obviously, from you.
"Third-best fighter!"
"Annie?" She lowered the card and glanced down. "Oh, it was!"
Armin was next. His card was Hange. Then Sasha was next. Her card was Captain Levi.
Next up, it was you. "This better be good." You stuck it to your forehead. Eren stiffened, but you didn't see it.
"The boy who pisses you off!"
"The guy who can't talk for shit!"
"The one you have a hopeless crush on."
"You save him every week or so!"
"Eren, duh." You looked at your card. "This couldn't have been more obvious. Sasha, you sure you shuffled it?" When you glanced up, everyone was staring at you. "God, what is it now?"
"Did you hear what Mikasa said?" asked Sasha, a sly brow raised.
"That I save his ass every week? Yes, I did. And it's true."
"No, that was Historia," said Mikasa. "What did I say?"
You rolled your eyes. "That I have a hopeless crush on him." The moment those words left your tongue, you slapped your hands over your mouth.
"FINAFUCKINGLY!!" Connie and Sasha sprung up into the air first. And the rest cheered with them at the top of their lungs. Mikasa buried her face in her hands. "Fucking god, I was going to lose my mind."
"This was fucking planned?! Are you kidding me?! Sasha, I knew you didn't shuffle that shit properly!"
"Sorry, not sorry! It still worked!"
"Listen, it was either this or spin the bottle," said Jean. "And we can't rig that shit. You might've ended up kissing Connie or something. So be glad this worked."
"Spin theâare you guys fucking kidding me?! Rigging?! Kissing?!"
"What? It's not like you two haven't kissed before," said Connie.
"Who the hell told you that?!"
"Eren," said Historia.
You shot him a stabbing glare. He averted his eyes quickly and slumped back into his chair.
"Come on, don't be pissed. This was inevitable, and a little push was just what you two needed," said Armin, smiling proudly because his master plan was successful. "Anyway, we did our part. Now it's your turn. Come on, guys."
They all followed him into the hall, saying, "You've got this." "Don't fuck up now." "Give him a chance." Then the door closed.
You and Eren sat in silence. Neither of you touched your plates, even though the food smelled pretty good. Then, you were the first to break it. "Did you have to fucking tell them about that?"
"Not my faultâyou try being grilled by six other people at the same time. Especially Mikasa."
You scoffed. Followed by another beat of silence.
"So...so you, uh, do you actually have a hopeless crush on-"
"I didn't mean to like you this way," you blurted. "It sort of just happened. So just give me some time to beat the feelings awa-"
"I like you too, Y/n."
You glanced up at him, mouth parted. A faint blush was dusted across his cheeks already.
"I do. And I have for a while. I don't know how it happened, either. Or if it had always just been there... But I don't want not to feel what I feel. And I for sure don't want you to beat your feelings away."
You blinked. "Then what were you so pissed about if not for that kiss?"
"Because you weren't bringing it up. Every time I tried talking to you about it, you acted like it didn't even happen."
You scoffed and crossed your arms. "Because...because I'm not even sure how the hell it happened."
He furrowed his eyebrows. "What do you mean you're not sureâyou kissed me-"
"I know that! I just don't know why I did that because one: I've never kissed anyone before. And two: it was in the middle of battle. Who the hell even does that? But it just felt...right in the moment. So I was hoping until I could figure out what was wrong with me, you'd forget about it in the meantime."
"How in the hell do you expect me to easily forget that easily."
"Hold back your attitude, bitch," you muttered. "I thought that if I avoided it, avoided you, then we could stay the same like we always were...and I guess that choice is biting me in the ass now."
"Well...do you want to stay the same as we were?" he asked. "Or do you maybe...want to become something more?" You could tell from the look in his eyes that he wanted you to say the same answer he had on his mind.
Just as you opened your mouth, the cottage door busted open. In came Levi and Hange and the other Scouts.
He narrowed his eyes at the near-empty table. "Where are the rest of you brats?"
"Holy shit, this smells nice!" Hange grabbed an empty bowl and helped herself to the stew.
The door to the hall slammed open, and all of your friends poured out like pebbles rolling out of a tipped-over jar. "Captain!" "Section Commander!" "Why?!" "They were just sorting out their feelings!" "Why did you interrupt them?!" "Fucking cock-blockers!"
Hange shrieked with joy. "Really?! Is that true?! Is it finally happening?!"
"Yeah," you muttered. "We weren't...really done yet."
Levi scowled at Eren, who flinched. "Tch. Sort your feelings out later. We have business to discuss. Sit back down, you brats."
Once you all were seated, Hange started the discussion. "Paster Nick has been murdered." She explained that she had visited Trost to see him, but it was already a crime scene when she got there. His body was tortured even though the MPs wrote it off as a suicide. So, something was not adding up there. "I figured the Church would want to get their hands on Nick when they learned he was cooperating with the Scouts. That's why I had him secretly stay in the barracks. I never imagined the soldiers would kill him."
"So he was tortured for the information of what he passed onto us?" asked Armin.
"Most likely," said Levi. "But these are the Interior MPs. There's definitely some deeper aspect in this. Hange, how many nails was the Pastor missing?"
"All of them."
Levi hummed. "People who talk, talk after one. Any more ripped-off doesn't make a difference. He may be ignorant in his beliefs, but he sure was loyal. This means," his eyes darted to you then to Historia, "that they have no idea we know about the Reiss Family. But the government is definitely on something. And you two definitely have targets on your backs."
The door creaked open, and another Scout named Nifa entered. "Captain Levi, sir, I have a message from Commander Erwin." She handed him a note. "I went to him to pass the message about Pastor Nick, but he gave me this and sent me off."
Levi abruptly stood up. "Suit up, everyone. We've got no time to waste. Make sure there isn't a single trace of us."
Everyone scattered in different directions to get everything in order. Sasha quickly gulped down all the stew and threw away the pot to help out with the others.
"Y/n, Eren, and Historia, the three of you stay with me," said Levi. "The MPs have issued an arrest for the three of you." Historia covered her mouth with her hands. "No time to bullshit around. Suit up into your ODM Gear. Now!"
. * . *
By sunset, the MPs surrounded the cottage, but all of you were already in the woods. Everyone had been handed rifles to protect themselves with.
"That was close," said Connie. "What if they had caught us? Would our nails have been ripped off?"
"No," you told him. "Because we'd rip theirs off first."
"Right..."
"How did Commander Erwin even know they were headed here?" asked Armin.
"Because he's a genius," you simply replied, pointing your rifle at a bird in the sky, trailing after its course of flight. But you didn't pull the trigger.
"The government's passed down new orders," said Levi. "All Scout activity outside the walls is frozen. We are to hand over Eren, Historia, and Y/n."
Mikasa protectively looped her arms around you and Eren. "Not on my watch."
"Captain, I didn't have time to tell you, but some MPs came for the Commander right after I left," said Nifa.
Hange scoffed. "What, like he's some kind of criminal?"
"They're bringing this fight out into the open," said Levi. "No more shadow work."
"Seems like they're going to protect the Walls' secrets at any cost," said Hange. "But for what? Why are they after the three of them? Clearly, they don't want them dead. So what are they planning?"
"Whatever they're planning, they're not being subtle about it, which makes lingering here the more dangerous. We'll move the three of them to Trost."
"We're taking them to the same district where Paster Nick was just murdered?" asked Moblit.
"Is the Interior any better? Trost's in a panic right now. It should be easy to slip in. And if things do go down to hell, we can use our ODM Gear in the city. We don't know who our enemies are yet. But I do have an idea of how we can change that."
Hange and Moblit left for Erwin, and the rest of you all followed Levi.
* . * .
Two people trotted up the hill, overlooking the site of the empty cottage.
"Rather quick on the move, aren't they?" pointed out the woman.
The man chuckled. "The kid may be small, but he's disciplined. I'll give him that."
"An acquaintance of yours?"
"An old one."
"And the girl? They say one of 'em's yours."
"Eh, I didn't raise her. So she's hardly mine."
The woman hummed. "They want the titan and the Reiss girl alive. But they want the mixed-blood dead on the spot. You sure you won't hesitate when you come across her?"
He reloaded his guns. "I never hesitate. Even if she's mine, as they say. Little brat's dead once I see her."
*
guess who ur daddy is
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