#500milestone

YELENA

-----

OKAY I'M SERIOUS HEAR ME OUT

At first impressions, things would probably be a bit rocky between you two

She found you frankly kind of annoying, and you found her too mysterious and stoic

BUT as time passed between the two of you, she found herself slowly enjoying your presence more and more

Because, although your cheerfulness and optimism seemed annoying to her at first, it ended up becoming a source of comfort for her

Whenever everything seemed to be going South, she'd always turn to you, and your unbothered smile

It lifted her up every time she saw it

But she wouldn't tell you this outright

She had a job to do, and a relationship would only interfere

So, surprisingly, it was you that had to confess to her

You weren't exactly sure what drew you to Yelena, but maybe it was the way her demeanor started to look less cold and apathetic, and more so confident and relaxed

So, with Onyankopon's reluctant help, you managed to get some alone time with her, and confessed your feelings to her over some warm tea and pastries you bought from a local bakery

She admitted, very casually, that the feelings were mutual

Somehow, throughout the whole thing, the most reaction you got out of her was a light pink tint on her cheeks

But, considering Yelena, that was a big step

Following the start of your relationship, your dynamic didn't change all that much at first

Things were kept mostly private while she eased into things a little bit

Not only did she have a steel reputation to maintain, but she had also never been in a relationship before. It was a new level of vulnerability for her

During this time, though, she'd worry about her abilities as your girlfriend

She wasn't exactly extremely affectionate, and scarcely had free time to spend with you

So you'd always reassure her, during your rare times alone, that you loved her, and she had nothing to worry about whenever she'd forego your time together in favor of working late hours into the night

And once her confidence in your relationship began to flourish, she was a lot more open about it to other people

It wasn't uncommon to see Yelena walking around holding your hand as she went to and from meetings, or to have her brush her hand soothingly across your thigh whenever said meetings got tense

She was still a bit more affectionate behind doors, but that was to be expected

She especially enjoyed the height difference between you two, bending down to wrap her arms around your waist and stand up straight, pulling you into a hug

And trust me, she'll melt if you wrap your legs around her and lean on her shoulder

It's one of those rare times you can see her blush

But, throughout your relationship, you notice just how quickly Yelena is at your hand and foot

Getting Yelena to do anything for others is a bit of a... challenge... but when it comes to you, she does it all without another word

She treats you like a queen, always preparing food/drinks when you need it, giving you massages when you feel tense, helping you with your paperwork to lift stress off of your shoulders, even when she has her own work to finish long after you've gone to sleep

She also gets very protective over you after a few months of dating. Honestly, sometimes, it borders on possessiveness

Her work is dangerous, and she hates to drag you into it, but it seems mostly unavoidable

So, she often tries to stick by you in tense situations, steering you away from danger

Whether that be encouraging you not to get involved with people she knows will backstab you, to physically getting in between you and harms way

She just needs to make sure that you stay safe, she wouldn't be able to live knowing she let something awful happen to you

She does respect your space, though, and leaves you to your devices often

And it makes her so proud to see just how amazing you are, both on the battlefield, and in meetings, pretty much anywhere

She admires how strong and capable you are in so many ways, she loves to see you flourish like that

Plus, I can totally see Yelena being a huge family person

Once the war ends, she'll start with something simple, like a dog

And so, you lead her to a dog shelter, expecting to walk out with a doberman or an English mastiff

Nope.

Instead, she ends up getting a tiny little chihuahua puppy, small enough to fit in her palm

The image almost makes you laugh, but the death glare she shoots you following her choice shuts you up right away

She'd name it Teacup or something

And god, she'd love that little dog to death

But even so, after years of living with you and the dog, she still felt a little lonely

So, she'd probably bring up the idea of adoption (since, of course, you're both women and can't just have a child)

Bonus points if Yelena has to dress up as a man to go to the adoption center because the employees were hesitant to let two women adopt

And that would lead you two to where you are now: a small little house in a big city, living within mere blocks of all your best friends, and your three adopted sons. And Teacup, of course

Yelena has no idea what she did in her life to deserve it all, but god, is she glad things worked out the way they did

-----

"Y/n?" A voice, unassuming to the unknowing ear, but easily recognizable to you, piped through the commotion. Soldiers and officers milled about left and right, chattering and laughing, filling the long hallway with loud echoes of banter.

You squeezed your way in between men in uniforms left and right, searching for the source of your voice. You didn't have to look far, though, since her impressive stature already stood her above almost everyone in sight.

Once you were in arms reach, Yelena reached out to intertwine your fingers in hers, filing through the crowd with much more ease than you had been granted, given her intimidating presence.

She pulled you down the hallway, further from where the soldiers had all gathered, and led you down to the hotel room you had shared for the time being. She whipped the keys out of her pocket, sliding them in and unlocking the door with a click.

You brought your hands to your head, rubbing small circles into your temple in an attempt to quell the dull ache already materializing.

"Geez, those guys are so noisy." You sighed, resigning to your headache as you collapsed on the sheets of the bed, tension leaving your body as the plush mattress engulfed you.

"It's unavoidable." She sighed, locking the door and stuffing her keys back into her front pocket.

A comfortable silence filled the space, Yelena shedding her suit jacket at the door and hanging it up on a nearby rack. You basked in the silence, the lack of chaos finally bringing you a moment of relief after nearly five days of non-stop obligations. A small smile formed on your lips as you felt your girlfriend gently drape a blanket over your still form, the warmth engulfing you immediately as she knelt down to remove your uncomfortably tight shoes from your feet.

The relaxed smile dissolved from your face almost immediately as a shrill ringing piped up in your ears, disturbing the silence. You were practically scowling by the time you opened your eyes, but they softened at the sight. It wasn't you, turns out, but a kettle of boiling water from the other side of the room. Yelena already had two cups laid out on the counter, and was digging through the cabinet containing all the teabags.

Your eyes fluttered shut once again, vision going black as you took in solely the sounds of the room. The piping quieted suddenly, replaced by the hollow sound of pouring water, then the clanging on the metal pot as Yelena sat it perhaps a little too carelessly back on the metal stove. If there had been any other noise, perhaps a thud of footsteps outside the door or a running air conditioner, you wouldn't have been able to pick up the quiet plop of Yelena dropping the teabags in, but it was surprisingly discernable through the quiet.

For the next few minutes, there wasn't much at all, save for the rhythmic taping of Yelena's foot, spurred by her rare moment of impatience. You could already feel sleep taking a hold of you, weeding the tenderness out of your muscles and numbing the pain in your head. Your breaths evened, preparing to drift into a short, sweet unconscious.

But, before sweet sweet sleep could engulf you, the old metal trashcan opened harshly, hitting the wall and startling you out of your tranquility. Yelena yawned, throwing out the teabags and bringing both steaming cups towards the bed.

She placed one on the nightstand, holding the other in her hand, steadying herself as to not spill the boiling water onto the sheets. Her large and slender hand found your back, rubbing up and down soothingly.

"How was the meeting?" She asked, taking a long sip from the cup.

"Tired..." You sigh into the sheets peeking your eyes open to gaze at your lover. She had her eyes transfixed on the steaming beverage in her hands.

"I figured it would be." She sighed, placing the cup onto the nightstand on the opposite side of the bed. "They've been working you to the bone recently. I know you still have more work to do before the day is over, but I prepared you some chamomile tea with honey."

You resigned from your comfortable position on your stomach, sitting up the lean against the head of the bed as you took the cup to your side. You took a long sip, enjoying the taste of the tea, warm and soothing, and not too bitter due to the honey mixed in.

"I can't wait 'til tomorrow." You sigh. "It's my day off, for once. There was this new restaurant in town that I wanted to try. I heard it's good."

Yelena hummed in response, making a mental note to set up a reservation.

"Are you sure you're okay with this?"

"What do you mean?"

"You don't need to take so many hours." She responded dully.

"But I want to." You sigh, setting the cup down to your side. It was still too hot. "Stuff needs to be done, someone has to do it."

Yelena frowned, bringing the cup back up to her lips to distract yourself. "You overwork yourself too much. Seriously."

"Maybe."

A silence filled the room once again. Not awkward, like you expect, just content. You knew you had very little time before there was more work to be done.

After an amount of minutes, maybe five, maybe twenty, a knock sounded on the door.

"L/n?" The voice traveled through the door. "Your meeting is in five minutes, are you ready."

You sighed, kicking the blankets off your legs. "Yeah, I'll be there." You pick up your suit jacket off the floor, pulling it over your shoulders. Just as you are about to leave, a hand grasps around your risk, tightening quickly and forbidding you from leaving.

You turn around and soften at Yelena as she sits at the edge of the bed. She tugs you closer, and you put your hands on her thighs to stabilize yourself as you lean in to plant a kiss to her lips.

"Good luck at your meeting." She says, running a thumb over your wrist. "I'll be right here waiting for you when it's over. I'll have something nice prepared for dinner." You smile and thank her, pulling away to kick your shoes back on.

You reach the door, grabbing the knob and twisting it.

"I love you..." She calls from behind you. Her voice is muffled slightly, and if you turned around now, you were sure that her back would be turned to you, probably already busying herself with paperwork.

"Love you too." You echo back, opening the door and slipping out, hurrying to the meeting room while you try to smoothen out your tussled hair and rub the tiredness from your eyes.

Yelena hears the door click, turning around to stare longingly at the cup of tea you left at your nightstand. She saunters over to pick it up, now cold, and bring it to the sink. You hadn't taken more than a few sips, it seems.

She sighs, placing the dish into the counter. "Seriously," She exhales, “what am I gonna do with you..."

-----

ANNIE LEONHART

-----

Okay first and foremost I wholeheartedly believe Annie has a thing for tall girls (5'9 isn't like crazy tall, but still 9 inches taller than Annie lmao)

Honestly the main reason she approached you at first was because she thought you were hot lol

But, after a few awkward days of her hanging around and neither of you saying anything, you started to warm up a bit and strike a conversation

But she actually began to really like you

Pretty quickly honestly

She doesn't really talk all that much, and is pretty cold on the exterior, so she had no clue why you were being so friendly to her and treating her like a friend when all she did was be pessimistic

But before long, your friendship with her became a huge comfort to her

Like, she'll be having a bad day, and she'll go somewhere in your general area and go from :| -> :]

Especially if you're physically affectionate, and pull her into a side hug or something, she'll be a blushing mess and pull up her hoodie to try to hide it from you

Reiner and Bertholdt notice pretty quickly though

Poor Bertholdt is heartbroken, but Reiner's a huge tease about it

Tries to subtly get the two of you together, even though Annie tells him to "cut it out, asshole"

But, despite that, she's really good at hiding her crush

So long as you don't get too "friendly," then her shell may crack a bit

She'll show her affection for you in a pretty nonchalant way, though

Like giving you a chunk of her food when you've already finished yours, or knocking you to the ground during training and chastising you, but teaching you the move she used regardless

She gets so proud watching you kick other people's asses with her technique, too

Speaking of which, she'll be a bit possessive over you

She tones it down because you're just her friend, but she still doesn't stop

If someone is trying to be friendly with you, or heaven forbid, flirt with you, she's gonna stand closer than she usually does, pressing her shoulder into your side and giving the person the sternest glance she can muster

She's lucky you don't ever realize

But, eventually, she decides enough hiding is enough. She only has five or so years left until the Curse of Ymir kicks in, so if she's gonna make a move, she should probably do it, she certainly doesn't have a lifetime

She confesses to you with a letter (poor thing is too shy to face you face to face)

Despite her awkwardness, she has beautiful handwriting, and the letter was very well written

And, of course, you returned her feelings, so you asked her to meet you behind the barracks just before sunrise

She was so scared, she thought she was gonna get rejected

But when you told her the feelings were mutual, her face just lights up

It's hard for her to show that much of a reaction, but she's never been happier in her life

Which sounds like an exaggeration, but keep in mind she's had a pretty shitty life

You were one of the few good things her life had given her, and to find out that you cared for her as much as she cared for you

She practically jumped on you, wrapping her arms around your neck and her legs around your torso, clinging onto you like a baby koala

Getting into a relationship, she's the most loving and loyal girlfriend you could imagine

She's not great at expressing her affection, but when she looks at you with her usually stern eyes softened a bit, and her face relaxed and lightened, it isn't hard to tell just how much she loves you

She even starts sleeping in your bed in the barracks after a few weeks

Insists on being the big spoon

She just loves to wrap you up in her arms, she feels like your protector

And she is, always

She knows that, due to her titan powers, her body can take a good hit, but yours can't, so you'll find her putting herself in the way of danger often

And god, does she defend you so fiercely

Any threat, whatever it is, she'll save you from it

Even if it means she has to expose herself as a titan and screw over Reiner and Bertholdt, she'll do it

She'll carry your broken body all the way back to Marley on foot if she has to

Anything to preserve this tiny bit of good this life had given her

Anyway, on a lighter note, I can see Annie definitely taking an interest in your hobbies

To be honest, I can't see her into video games or being an equestrian, but she does like to read

You guys even have your own little mini book club, you'll both read the same book and discuss it as you go along, or give each other your favorite books and talk about them

You cannot tell me that she wouldn't read stories to you to help you fall asleep whenever you have a nightmare

When you fall asleep, she'll probably put the book down and stare at your sleeping face for 'just a moment' before she puts out the candle and cuddles closer to you

Like I said, I can't see her being into your other hobbies, but she's still very supportive

She shows up to every one of your races as an equestrian

Always tells you how proud of you she is whenever you're done, no matter how you placed

And when you're playing video games, she'll probably sit on the couch with a book or a bowl of popcorn and watch you play

She'll tell you you're trash at the game every time you die, but she could not do it nearly as well as you do

Overall, she just loves you so much, even if she isn't great at showing it

You're the biggest blessing life could've given her, and she could never be more thankful to have you by her side

-----

The crowd slowly started to disperse from the stands, meeting up with their loved ones or going back to their vehicles to leave. The event had ended, and, somehow, you had gotten first place. You wore a large grin as you walked, immensely proud of yourself, but it faltered the longer you searched for Annie, and the longer you could not find her.

Sighing, you tugged on the reins and slowly led the horse back to the stables. By the time you had finished putting things away, Annie surely would've made her way out of the stands.

The gate shut with a click, and you pet the nose of the horse, smiling with the way it huffed and leaned a little closer into your hand.

"Y/n!" A voice called. You turned to the sound, as did the horse, to find your girlfriend running over to you. She was running, that is. Now, she had slowed to a walk, curiously observing the horses as she passed by them, perhaps careful not to startle them.

Once within a close distance, you opened your arms wide for her, relishing in the feeling of her pressing up against you, wrapping her arms around you in a hug, and you did the same. She nuzzled closer into you, both for the comfort, and the warmth it provided to her as the cold breeze blew through the air.

After a comfortable moment, the two of you separated, and you gave the horse one last pet on the nose before you started walking back to the parking lot.

"Congrats on getting first place," She smiled, leaning her head on your shoulder as she walked. "I'm proud of you."

You grinned shamelessly, reveling in the praise she gave you. "Thanks."

"Do you wanna go somewhere after this?" She offered, leaning off your shoulder to pull the car keys out of her pocket and unlock the doors.

"What do you mean by that?" You questioned, tilting your head to the side in curiosity. You opened the door, sliding into the passenger seat and taking off your gloves with a sigh.

"I don't know, like, ice cream or something." She suggested, cheeks tinting a bit pink. You knew if you brought it up, she would blame the cold, but you understood enough to not pester her about it. She was clearly flustered, and embarrassing her was the last thing on your mind.

"That sounds fine to me, if you want to. I didn't bring any money though." You lean back in your seat, hand reaching out to absently flip through the channels before settling on one you liked.

"That's fine, I'll pay." She states, turning her head to the side. At first glance, you would assume she was just checking the lot before she backed out, but the even more noticeable blush on her face when she turned back around disproved that thought.

You rode in comfortable silence almost the whole trip to the ice cream parlor. You were a bit exhausted from the show, so you took the moment to lie back and relax. Annie was focused on driving, but it was clear she was a bit distracted either way.

You wouldn't have noticed that you reached your destination if not for Annie. Your eyes had slipped shut a while ago, and now sleep threatened to take you for the duration of the ride. But, Annie had slammed on the brakes when approaching her parking spot, stopping the car suddenly and causing you to jolt forward, startling you out of your exhaustion.

"We're here." She smirked, pulling the keys out and opening her door.

"Yeah, figured..." You grumbled, stirring a bit before stepping out to jog after Annie.

A small bell sounded when you opened the door, and an employee dressed in red and white emerged from the kitchen with a smile, standing behind the counter in wait. You and Annie pondered for a minute, having a short telepathic conversation over ice cream flavors, before deciding with a quick nod to each other.

"What can I get for you two?" The server smiled, leaning on the counter.

"I'll have two scoops of the chocolate, with chocolate chips, chocolate sprinkles, and brownie bits mixed in." You listed off, smiling at the server. They immediately started to scoop it up without question, pulling out toppings and mixing them in effortlessly.

You turned to Annie and she looked back with a quirked eyebrow. "Triple chocolate? You're a menace." She joked.

"Says Mrs. 'Orders vanilla ice cream with no toppings every time we come here."

The server turned back to Annie shortly. "Anything for you miss?"

"Yeah, just a scoop of the vanilla, with rainbow sprinkles."

She turned to face you smugly almost immediately. "See? Toppings this time."

"Not much better." You rolled your eyes.

"And will that be for here or two go?" The server questioned once again.

"For he-"

"To go." You butt in, and Annie shot you a confused look. You looked back at her, and she conceded pretty quickly looking away.

"Sorry, could you repeat that?" The server leaned in.

"To go." Annie clarified. Now satisfied, the server turned back, putting the scoops of ice cream into their respective containers.

"I thought we were gonna eat here?" Annie questioned, turning to face you once the server was out of earshot.

"I wanna watch a movie when we get home." You stated, shrugging your shoulders. Annie gave you a quick, judging look, before turning back to the server, two cups in hand.

"Here's your ice cream, have a nice day you two!" She smiled, handing off the cups.

You shot back a quick thank you before turning to Annie. "Can I have a bite of yours?"

"It's just vanilla." She laughed, but scooped up a small bit with her spoon and brought it towards your mouth anyway. You bit down on the spoon tasting the cold desert on your tongue.

"How is it?" She asked.

"Tastes like... vanilla ice cream."

Annie rolled her eyes, burying her spoon back into the cup. "I don't know what you expected. Can I have a bite of yours?"

You nodded, scooping up a sizeable amount and bringing the spoon close to her mouth. She bit it, and her face scrunched up a bit as she tasted it.

"That's a lot of chocolate, Y/n. How can you stand this stuff?"

You shrugged, reaching your car and pulling on the door handle impatiently.

"Slow down." She chuckled, fiddling her keys out of her pocket and unlocking the car. You slid into the seat, taking a huge bite of your ice cream.

"Hey, Annie, look at me." You spoke, and she turned to face you without hesitation. You slowly leaned in, and she got the idea pretty quickly, meeting you halfway in a kiss.

She pulled away quickly, albeit not without a blush, settling back into her seat with a huff.

"You taste like chocolate." She muttered, wiping her lips and pulling out of the parking spot.

"And you taste like lesbian." You joked. Her face flared up into pink as she moved to punch you in the shoulder.

"Oww... rude. How dare you do that, I thought you loved me." You mutter, feigning sadness to pull a reaction out of Annie.

"Now you know that isn't true, I do love you." She moved her hand to your side, finding yours and intertwining your fingers. "I love you a lot..."

You smiled and brought her hand to your lips, kissing it gently. "See? Lesbian."

She scoffed again, but nothing could hide the smile and blush she had on her face.

ANNIE LEONHART

-----

Okay, reading this ask, it was basically screaming Annie at me

It feels like it would be a really stable and mutually beneficial relationship

At first, she was drawn to you just because of how quiet you were

Because, thank god, there was someone in the cadets who knew how to keep their mouth shut

Plus, she couldn't deny at all that she was physically attracted to you, too

So, for a while, she stuck by your side, watching over you like a hawk would to her territory

But, over time, you seemed to start talking to her much more

It surprised her at first, but she quickly decided she liked the talkative you much better

You seemed so genuinely happy to be near her, always smiling and spending time with her, no matter how stoic and unresponsive she stayed

And, she couldn't deny that occasionally getting roped into your little schemes and jokes was a little amusing sometimes

The more time she spent around you, the more she felt her affection grow towards you

It started with just an innocent curiosity, but was quickly growing into a genuine crush

She resisted pretty fiercely at first, refusing to admit her feelings or, heaven forbid, confess

But time passed, and it grew harder and harder for her to hide it

The way you would so casually put your hand on her shoulder, acting like it was such a platonic gesture. It was, to you, but to her, it made her heart flutter and her face redden

But she'd persist on keeping it hidden

That is, until she can't take it anymore

Having you around her so often, being so friendly to such an aloof person like her... it was driving her wild

So, one day, she quietly led you by your hand to a small open area in the forest near the barracks, having brought a soft blanket and a handful of stolen food for the two of you to share

She listens intently as you talk to her about whatever currently interested you, eating her portion of the food and making sure there was plenty left for you

Eventually, the sun was starting to set, and the two of you had ran out of food. You had to head back in soon, and Annie suddenly had no more time to stall

She quietly confessed her feelings to you, spilling the words from her heart in a moment of vulnerability that seldom surfaced

She raised her head to meet your glance, and you could her the slightest shake of nervousness in her voice as she asked if you liked her back

Which, you did, and you made it clear that you did very quickly

And boy, she was elated

Not that it showed on her face, but her heart was practically doing cartwheels as you moved over to hug her, and she immediately hugged back, practically involuntarily

Following the start of your relationship, Annie still stayed closely by your side, almost like a protector (a knight in shining armor, if you will)

If anyone, anyone, tries to start shit with you, she's immediately there to tell them that "she doesn't want anything to do with you, back off"

But, when the two of you are alone, she gets very soft

Insists on touching you in some way

Not sexually, but just laying your head in her lap, or leaning against her chest

She'll just melt having someone who she cares about deeply, someone like you, so close to her

She truly feels like she has the whole world in her arms whenever you cuddle with her

Refuses to let you go whenever there's "still extra time to cuddle"

ESPECIALLY at night

She will spoon you the entire night, and dare you even try to wiggle away, she's pulling you right back

Even when she's asleep, she'll always make sure that you're firmly against her front, like a giant teddy bear she refuses to let go of

Whenever you're anxious or upset, she makes sure that she's the first one you go to

She's not the best with words, but she can sure as hell listen

She'll always make sure you've vented out all your feelings, be it frustration, anger, sadness, grief, anything

She'll cradle you in her arms and pull you against your chest if you start crying, coddling you in the most comforting way she can manage

And if she's upset about something, she'll be a bit hesitant, but she'll ask if she can talk about something with you

And she sounds alarmingly small whenever she vents like this

Sometimes she might want to cuddle, other times she wants your words to reassure her that she's worth it, and sometimes she just wants someone to listen patiently

Sometimes, when it's really bad for her, she'll ask you to sing for her, and by the time the song is finished, you'll find her already asleep against your chest

She even started calling you her little songbird on occasion after that

But don't be fooled by her nonchalant behavior, this woman would do anything for you

-----

"Alright cadets, sparring is up! You'll be on free time until the sun begins to set, then file into the cafeteria for dinner!" Commander Shadis shouts over the commotion of the sparring ground. You finally stilled your movements, dropping your fists from their defensive stance and letting them fall to your sides, taking in a large sigh of air. Immediately, almost all of the cadets, including your training partner, dissipate to seek out their own little friend groups, using the rare free time as a chance to unwind and relax with your friends.

A warm hand on your shoulder startles you out of your breathless and oblivious state, and you turn to find the owner of the hand; none other than Annie.

"Hey, I was watching you from where I was sparring." She started, moving her hand in slow circles to lazily massage your shoulder in a calming manner. "You're technique is improving. Well done, you're catching on fast."

You sigh, tilting your head back to stare up at the sky. "Yeah, I guess..." You mutter. It didn't escape you how your voice sounded fragile and weak, but you weren't surprised. You had been feeling pretty awful for the past few days now, and as time passed seemingly without any time to breathe, you could only feel as the soreness seeped through your muscles, headache already starting to pound away at your temple, throbbing painfully.

Annie tilted her head to the side slightly, eyebrows furrowing in concern as her hand stilled. "You okay? You don't sound good."

"I'm fine, just didn't get enough sleep."

"Liar." She spoke bluntly. You knew she was only trying to pry out what was wrong, but it didn't stop the sting of the word. "What's really going on? You can tell me." Her voice softened drastically from her previous tone, practically coaxing you to spill all of your worries onto her.

“Really, don't worry about it-"

"HEY Y/N! ANNIE!" An obnoxious voice called over the buzzing of voices left and right. The short-tempered brunette, Eren, jogged over to where you two were, trailed closely by Armin, Mikasa, Jean, and Reiner.

"We're going out to the forest to see who can collect the most berries, wanna come?" He chirped, inviting you into his little competition. If your body didn't feel like pure shit right now, you would consider joining him.

"It's fine." Annie interjects, taking a few subtle steps forward, standing in front of you to avoid bringing you into the purposefully short conversation. "She isn't feeling well, we're going to head to the barracks."

Eren's eyes traveled from Annie towards you, then back at Annie. Finally, he shrugged, turning around and walking away. "If you say so. But I'm not sharing any just so you know."

Once the small group had all started in the direction opposite of you and Annie, she took your hand firmly. "C'mon." She mumbled, tugging at your wrist to get you to follow.

She led you exactly where she said she would: the barracks. There, she found your bed, the one you had agreed to share with her, pulling the blankets up and climbing underneath them. Silently, she stared at you, patting the space next to her as an invitation. You obeyed silently, lying down next to her, and feeling a small fraction of the tension in your body melt away the second Annie's arms wrapped around you.

"Are you sure you're okay? Seriously, I don't like seeing you look so miserable." She muttered into the crook of your neck, hand searching under the blanket for your own, soon finding your it and rubbing comforting circles over the back.

"Mhm..." You groaned, already fighting off the urge to close your eyes and fall asleep right then and there. "Just... tired. I feel like Shadis hasn't given us a break in weeks. I'm so sore... and tired..." A quiet grumble breaks through the silence, from what you presume to be your own stomach. "...and hungry." You finish.

Annie laughs softly at your last statement, heat rising to her cheeks as she moves her body to kiss you on the forehead. "I'll make sure to split some of my rations with you darling, I don't mind."

Her soothing voice had an unfortunate (or fortunate, it all depends on the situation) effect on you, sleep already trying to grasp you and pull you into its realm.

"You don't... have to..." You mumbled, lolling your head to the side as your eyes slipped shut, all attempts at protest dying in your throat as you plunged into unconsciousness.

Annie smiled softly at your sleeping form, pulling you closer and planting another kiss to your forehead. "Sleep well."

-----

(I couldn’t make the images smaller help 😥)

MIKASA ACKERMAN

-----

Initially, she thought you were a bit too careless

You didn't really seem to know, nor care about what was going on around you

And that kind of put her off a bit

She perceived you as unmotivated, and a bit lazy

But, following a mission outside of the walls, she could see firsthand how scary, yet skilled you were when you really put effort into something

She knew you were top of your class in the Cadet Corps (because, unfortunately, you were in a different batch of trainees, so she didn't really meet you until the Scouts), but she never expected you to be so focused, strong, and cute

Seriously, when she got up closer to you, a determined yet calm smile on your face with a bit of titan blood on your cheek, her Pretty Girl Alarm (TM) went off immediately

She tried, albeit a bit shyly, to introduce herself

And you were actually a lot nicer than she expected you to be, you introduced yourself and shook her hand with a smile on your face

How you always acted so calm and unaffected by everything around you, she didn't know.

But, after your encounter, she came back to you, surprisingly

Just out of honest curiosity

It's like she could tell you were lying to her, and more importantly, lying to yourself about who you were

She wanted to know the real you, not the persona she could tell you were putting on

But surprisingly, you were very stubborn in the nicest way possible, keeping the walls that surrounded you perfectly intact no matter how many times she tried to break them down

It wasn't until one time, during a mission, when you had to watch one of your closest friends get eaten alive right in front of you, and yet you still tried to convince an empathetic Mikasa that it didn't affect you

It did though. It definitely did.

And when she tried to check on you once more before she went to sleep and saw you crying, huddled up with the sheets to your chest, all her suspicions were confirmed

But that was beside the point, she quickly decided as she rushed over to your side to comfort you

The vulnerability was new to you, but you felt so warm and loved in Mikasa's embrace that you did nothing but silently cry into her warm chest for the better part of half an hour

And once you had calmed down a bit, she offered to sleep alongside you that night, just for any comfort you might need

Probably spurred on by your emotional instability at that moment, you agreed, and curled up close to her as sleep hit you like a freight train

And from then on, that was an unwritten habit between the two of you; that she would sleep in your bed every night. Perhaps to will the nightmares away, or to keep you warm in the winter, or to provide something to hold onto when you felt lonely, it didn't matter. She was there

But, since that night, a wall had finally been broken, and she became the first person in the whole Survey Corps that you felt being vulnerable around

Every time after another mission, she would always search for you, embracing you in a warm hug while she mutters how thankful she is that you're alright

She never likes admitting how worried she gets for your safety, but it happens. Too often, honestly

She's just terrified of losing you, or anyone else she cares about

You, Eren, Armin, Sasha, and all the others were so important to her, she couldn't afford to lose any of you

So she holds you close to her, physically and metaphorically

She needs to make sure that this little ball of joy that she's grown close to never leaves her

But, she discovers to her horror that she's started to develop feelings for you

She feels extremely guilty about it too, even though she can't control it at all

She was your emotional support, the one person you could turn to and lean against, and she reciprocated it by developing feelings

No doubt she'll run away if she finds out, she decides. So, she keeps it secret

It ends up being you that confesses first

And although it's only a small smile and blush on her face, her heart is doing cartwheels

She's never been more happy in her life, and it has Eren doing a double take and asking her 'what the hell's got you so cheery?'

But she's a private person, so Eren, Armin, and Sasha are probably the only ones that know about your relationship

That's besides the fact that it's obvious to pretty much everyone that you're dating, but Mikasa refuses to disclose anything

Mikasa finds great comfort in you, just like you do in her

She's often plagued by nightmares of what happened to her family, and all of the horrible things she's witnessed in the Scouts

So it's not an uncommon occurrence for her to wake up in the early hours of the morning, sweaty and struggling for breath as she tries to calm down

Sometimes you'll wake up on your own, but other times, she has to wake you up herself

She feels bad about it, but she desperately needs you to anchor her to the present

So just hold her and shush her, and she'll calm down within due time, falling asleep like a baby in your arms

She even finds that ever since she's been sleeping with you, her nightmares have been much less frequent, as if you're presence alone fought them off

It gives her a bit of time to catch her breath after all those years of night terrors

And she is more than thankful for you being there for her, and in return, she is there for you

The relationship makes her happier than she ever even thought would be possible, it's one of the few things that she'll hold to her heart and protect with her life

-----

"Y/n?"

"Mikasa!" Once your eyes finally landed on the black-haired girl, you bolted over, throwing yourself at her and letting her strong arms catch onto your and spin you around before setting you down on the ground. She held the hug for only a few more seconds, before releasing you, letting her arms slide down, one to her side and the other searching for your hand. She took her hand in yours and smiled.

"I'm really glad you're okay." She breathed out, closing her eyes with relief.

"Of course I'm alright," you smiled, steering her away from the stables where you had dropped off your horses post mission and towards the barracks. It was well into the night at this point, and both of you needed the rest. "I'd never die on you, I already promised you."

Mikasa smiled, recalling the promise the two of you had made a while back, late at night. Following a terrible nightmare of losing you, Mikasa made you promise to never die on her until the day she finally got to marry you.

That day had yet to come, of course. You were still stuck in the Scouts, fighting desperately to get out of the walls that caged you. It would be a long time before the two of you could ever think about marriage.

"Now let's go back, I'm tired." You yawn, and a small smile graces Mikasa's lips.

"Yeah, alright."

Hand in hand, you two walked silently to the barracks. Once you made it inside, you were confronted by complete and total darkness. Everyone else had already gone to sleep, it seems.

One of the luxuries of being a veteran in the Survey Corps was not having to sleep in common areas with 10+ other girls. Instead, veterans slept in rooms of two, and it just so happens that you and Mikasa got paired up together. The very first night the two of you had been upgraded to that room, Mikasa stayed inside all day, making sure everything was just perfect. Making the bed, moving furniture around, she even gathered some of your favorite flowers to put in a small pot at your nightstand. She had pushed both twin beds together as well, making a makeshift queen bed that you slept in. Despite the suddenness of it all, the gesture felt oddly romantic.

You yawned once more, not even bothering to take of your ODM gear straps as you collapsed on the bed. You'd been so kept up in anticipation of seeing your girlfriend that you had completely forgotten how tired you were.

"Y/n, get up, you can't sleep with your ODM gear on." Mikasa lulled, having already removed hers in record time, a skill that you could never really nail down yourself.

"What's wrong with sleeping in this?" You groan, rolling over onto your stomach and pressing your face to the pillow.

"It's gonna make you really sore in the morning. I'll help you, but you have to at least sit up first." She mutters, walking over to your side of the bed and pulling you up by the arm. You didn't protest, staying still in the seated position she put you in as she undid the harnesses, starting with the ones on your waist.

"Aren't you tired Mikasa?" You mused, rolling your head to the side.

"Of course I am, but it's really gonna hurt in the morning if you don't take it off," She yanks at one of the loops, and it comes undone easily, being thrown to the side as soon as it had detached from your body. "Trust me, I know."

You closed your eyes and nodded sleepily, letting Mikasa take over for you while her skilled hands undid more and more of the leather loops around your body.

At some point, you must've had your eyes closed for two long, because sleep took hold of you, and you started to fall onto your side without any conscious to keep you upright, but the sensation of falling shot you right awake immediately after, and your eyes widened in shock.

"Woah, careful there." Mikasa giggled. "I know you're sleepy, I'm just getting this last one on your ankle so hold on."

After a few seconds of rustling, the strap fell to the ground with a small plop. Finally free from the confines of your ODM gear, you laid back down, settling under the covers. Mikasa followed right after you, walking to her side of the bed and getting under the covers as well.

Within seconds of being in the warmth of the blanket, you were out cold. Mikasa chuckled and scooted closer, her hands making their way to the back of your head so she could pull your head into the crook of her neck. She gently caressed the back of your head, beading her fingers through your hair in a way that couldn't have been anything other than therapeutic.

"Goodnight darling."

There was no response, of course, but there didn't need to be. There was no real use to it, because as long as you were there in the bed with her, she was going to have a good night no matter what.

SASHA BRAUS

-----

Yeah, I said it just a minute ago, I think she's honestly a perfect fit

So what if it has to do with the introvert x extrovert trope, it's cute

Not only do I think Sasha fits you quite well, I imagine you'd also be just her type

She's very energetic and friendly, so someone who's a bit tamer/calmer would probably work out great

And that's exactly why she was drawn to you at first

She loves quiet girls, especially when they open up and tell her all about their hobbies, aspirations, etc.

She just finds it so adorable when your eyes light up as you talk about something that makes you excited

She'd probably get hype along with you, honestly

All of the sudden, your hobbies are her hobbies

There's the obvious one that she'd enjoy: baking

To be honest, for how much she loves food, I imagine her to be a pretty crappy cook, since all she had to do in her hunting village was cook meat over a fire and eat it completely unseasoned haha

So when you first let her try something you made, she asked (begged) you to teach her how to cook like you do

And since then it was a little tradition between the two of you! Every week you two tackle a new desert together, and eat it while watching TV or playing board games

Once, she invited Jean, Mikasa, and Connie over, and the five of you tried to bake the grandest and most intricate cake of your life

It turned out... edible

But that's about where the praise stops.

But it was a great night, you all had fun, and honestly, you'd never seen Sasha happier than when she was surrounded by her three best friends and girlfriend

She wore the happiest smile the whole day, having had the best day in a long time

Practically collapsed on you and slept like a log as soon as everyone left

But she's still into your other hobbies too, don't get me wrong!

Modern AU, she's definitely a gamer!

She plays a lot of FPS games, but is also into tamer, open world games, like Minecraft for instance

The two of you spend an... unhealthy amount of time gaming, too

But Sasha adores it for all the time she gets to spend with you! There's no place she'd rather be

She probably doesn't use the couch when she plays. Maybe a bean bag chair, but usually she just sits on the floor

She will ABSOLUTELY situate you between her legs, leaning your back against her chest so she can rest her head on top of yours

Or vice-versa, if you want to. She loves it either way

And, when it comes to reading, I honestly can't imagine Sasha liking books all that much, but she loves it when you explain the plot to one of your books or read out loud to her

It's a great distraction for her, too. Whenever she has another one of her nightmares about all the shit she's seen as a soldier, she'll wake up in a cold sweat and immediately search for you

She'll cuddle into your side and purposefully wiggle a bit too much so she "accidentally" wakes you up

And if you ask what's wrong (because why wouldn't you, you can see the fear in her eyes), she'll explain that she had a nightmare, and follows it up immediately by asking you to read something out loud to her

It doesn't matter what book it is. She just thinks your voice is the most calming thing she could possibly hear, and that's all she needs to drift back to sleep

Which is exactly what she does, by the way

It doesn't even take long, two or three pages in and she's already snoring again

Looking at how calm she is now, you could never have guessed the atrocities her dream was showing her mere moments ago

Moving on, I imagine Sasha to be a very affectionate person, especially to her girlfriend

Cuddles are a must

But also: PDA

If you don't like it, she won't, but she just loves hugging you when she first sees you, or holding your hand and swinging it back and forth as you walk somewhere

Connie probably yells at you to get a room or something lol

She can also be surprisingly protective over you

Not to a bad extent at all, but you don't fail to notice that whenever things start going South, she'll put a hand on your shoulder and try to gently pull you to stand behind her so she can stand in the way of you and whatever the threat is

Or, if the threat isn't actually a threat, like, say, a guy hitting on you, she'll be quick to pull you into her side and tell him, sternly "she's taken."

But overall, she's an all around amazing girlfriend

You're more important to her than just about anything in the world, she'll always be right by your side to support you and protect you <3

-----

"Fuck!"

"Sasha, quiet, we're gonna get a noise complaint."

"Yeah, but I just died again." She groaned dramatically, throwing her head back and dropping the controller as the screen flashed red. The taunting words 'YOU DIED' lingered on the screen.

"Maybe that's enough games for now." You chuckle lightly, standing up from your spot next to her on the floor.

"What??" She asks, turning around to look at you with a mix of confusion and disappointment on her face. "We haven't been playing for very long, what's the deal?"

"It's getting around dinner time, I'm gonna prepare something." You state, fiddling with the settings to leave the game and let Sasha play singleplayer.

"Ohhhh." She gasps, her disappointed look immediately replaced with an excited, toothy grin. "Okay! Do you want any help? I know I'm not a great cook, but I could at least help with something, I'm sure."

She begins to get up, but you put a hand on her shoulder and beckon her to sit down. "It's fine, I have it covered, you can keep playing your game." You say, walking towards the kitchen. She seemed content with your answer, but a tiny thought crept into your mind. "Tell you what, if you beat that level before I'm done cooking, I'll give you $20."

She turns around to you with a bewildered expression. "We share a bank account?"

You turn back around, laughing. Money or not, you didn't doubt she'd take the challenge.

Reaching the kitchen, you pulled out a large plastic pack stored in the freezer, opening it to reveal Sasha's favorite food: steak. Three whole, raw steaks, to be exact. You were nearly certain Sasha could've smelled the meat from in the living room, but if she did, she didn't show it.

You ripped open the package, setting the steak down onto the pan. The sizzle that came out of it was clear and audible, but again, Sasha showed little reaction.

Curious, you peaked your head around the corner of the hallway and into the living room, and there Sasha was, intently focused on the game. Glancing at the TV, you saw she had already passed three levels, far past the bar for your bet. You half sighed, half chuckled in amusement as you turned back around. She really could do anything when she was motivated.

Thirty minutes later, you had finished. All three steaks cooked medium rare, just how the both of you preferred, seasoned well and plated with a small side of potatoes, another food she was fond of.

"Sasha! Food is rea—OOF" Before you could even finish your sentence, her body crashed into yours, knocking you off your feet and onto the wooden kitchen floors. Sasha had fallen with you, probably not realizing how close you were to the living room, plus how fast she was running.

"Sorry Y/n!" She apologized with a smile, leaning down to plant a chaste kiss to your nose before standing up, rushing over to grab a plate.

"Please be careful Sasha..." You groaned, standing up and rubbing your now sore back. She chuckled nervously and apologized once again, placing her plate on the table and patting the seat next to her. You grabbed a plate of your own, taking a seat next to her.

You cut a piece out of the steak and brought it towards your mouth, about to take a bite of the mouthwatering food when Sasha called out to you.

"Y/n, hey, Y/n," She tapped your shoulder lightly. "Look at me."

You turned to her, and the second you did, her hands were on the sides of your face, pulling your face into hers, kissing you on the lips. You closed your eyes, accepting the kiss as you felt her smile against you.

She pulled away with a pop of her lips before she turned back to her steak, cutting out a piece.

"Sorry, I just wanted a quick taste of you before I started eating." She grinned, shoving a bite of the steak in her mouth.

You giggled, turning back to your plate with a blush. "Was that really necessary?"

"Nah." She smiled.

The two of you continued to eat in silence, basking in the quiet moment, ever rare when living with someone like Sasha.

"This is a really good steak." She complimented, hungrily cutting a big chunk out of the meat.

"Thank you," You smiled, heat rushing to your cheeks at the compliment. "How did you do on the video game?"

"I completed the next five levels!" She smiled proudly.

"Five? Really?" You smiled back, finding her pride honestly quite adorable. "You seem to hold your own pretty well in that game, huh."

"Don't say that!" She instantly replied, turning to you and throwing her arms around your shoulders. "You're amazing at it too! I got really lonely playing single player anyway..."

You returned the affection immediately, wrapping your arms around her in return. You couldn't see it well, but you could feel the smile grow on her face.

Finally, she pulled away, turning back to her nearly empty plate. "We should keep playing!"

You cocked an eyebrow and pointed to her plate. "You aren't done yet, though."

She shrugged and picked up her plate. "I'll just watch as you play. I'm nearly done anyway."

You were about to tell her it would just be easier to eat it now, but her back was already turned as she headed down the hallway, plate in hand. You sighed, putting your plate in the sink and following after her.

When you made your way to the living room, Sasha was there waiting for you, plate in one hand, fork in another, and curled up on the couch. You picked up your controller and sat down right next to her, nuzzling into her side as you unpaused the game.

"Aww, you're so cute!" She smiled, setting her fork down and wrapping her arm around you to pull you closer. "Do I ever tell you that?"

"All the time." You reply, already clicking away at the buttons in the game. You had no idea how Sasha progressed so far in thirty minutes. This game was hard.

"Doesn't make it any less true." She retorted quietly, turning back to her steak and finishing the last bite. "Done!" She set her plate on the coffee table, reaching for the second controller. She joined in, and immediately you noticed a decrease in the difficulty.

"You really are good at this." You complimented, leaning your head further into her side.

"So are you."

The two of you managed to clear the last few levels, and then the final boss fight. It was a hard battle, but you and Sasha had won by the skin of your teeth.

"Man, you're a god at this game." You sigh, setting down your controller. "I love your nerdy ass so much."

"I'm not a nerd!" She defended fiercely, putting her hand on her chest in faux offense. You only laughed in response.

"Say it back."

"You're a nerd."

"No, not that part." You sighed in frustration, furrowing your eyebrows together.

"Oh. Which part?" She faked misunderstanding, tilting her head to the side like a puppy.

"You know which part."

"Right, right. I love you."

-----

MIKASA ACKERMAN

-----

Alright, I promise this isn't just because you said she's your favorite character, I just think she fits

First of, I feel like Mikasa would really admire your strength

I can totally see it as "workout buddies to lovers" lol

But seriously, that's how it started between the two of you

She was happy to finally have some who rivaled her in strength

She was never particularly competitive with her strength, but she found solidarity in training with you

Whether that be by your side or against you in a sparring match, she felt safe in your presence

She doesn't necessarily need to be protected, it's a different type of safe

A really warm and fuzzy feeling, like being draped in a blanket of comfort and safety

But she's a little oblivious to her feelings, so it'll be a long while before she notices her feelings changing

But she was always there for you, noticing even the most subtle changes in your behavior

Once, after a particularly bad fight with your family, you were honestly feeling really depressed and out of it

But, when Mikasa asked if you were going to meet with her to workout later, you couldn't say no. You couldn't disappoint such a person like her, you knew how much your time together meant to her

But it didn't take long at all for her to notice something was up

Like, less than 15 minutes in, she brought it up

"Is something on your mind? You seem really distracted today."

You tried to tell her that everything was fine, but she didn't let it slip past

You eventually opened up about the fight with your family, and she was livid

You're such a great person! How could they have the audacity to speak to you like that?!

She cut the workout short that day, driving you out to pick up some ice cream in hopes of cheering you up

And you found yourself enjoying yourself a bit more than expected, so the two of you ended up going back to her house to unwind a bit

The two of you ended up seated together on the couch, versing each other in Super Smash Bros

It wasn't really until then that she noticed how closely you were sitting to her, and the blush that appeared on her face because of it

And when you finally beat her, the soft smile of triumph on your face solidified it

She knew she really loved you

"Good job Mikasa, you played well."

"I love you so much."

"What?"

"What?"

Yeah, it was awkward, sudden, and not really planned out, but she got it out eventually

Despite the initial awkwardness on both your parts, you assured a mortified Mikasa not to worry, and that you loved her too

You could practically see the worry lift from her face

She just sighed in relief and collapsed onto your arm with a shy little blush

But she had the cutest smile on her face that couldn't possibly be erased for a long while

You were a bit awkward heading into your relationship, this sort of thing was very new to you

You had a lot of anxiety too, not really sure what to do, and not wanting to mess it up for someone like her

But she always looked so content just being in your presence

No matter what you were doing with her, she seemed so pleased

And that made a bit of your anxieties subside

Because, although it took a few weeks of dating for it to happen, you grew confidence in your relationship

She's a very supportive girlfriend, especially when it comes to your hobbies

She LOVES to hear you rant about marine life

Sometimes, she'll go over to your house and ask you random questions about the ocean, and while you're talking, she'll scoot closer to you and lean against your arm

And eventually, she'll fall asleep right there

After all, nothing makes her calmer than hearing the sound of your voice whenever your passionate about something

She understands that you don't necessarily like talking a whole lot, but she'll do anything to see one of those rare smiles whenever you talk about something you enjoy

She's also a huge voice of comfort whenever it comes to your anxiety

Whether it be insecurities or family issues, she's at your side in an instant

She'll hold your hand and rub circles over it as she asks what she can do to help

And she'll let you rant to her about whatever it is that's bothering you, and listen intently the whole time, even if it takes hours

And that applies to pretty much any time of the day, so even if it's well past midnight and you just woke up from a terrible nightmare, she'll try (in her best, sleep way) to comfort you and assure you it's okay and none of it is real

Mikasa doesn't really know what family feels like, since her parents died when she was young, but she understands that the way your family treats you is just wrong

She holds a silent resentment towards them, for daring to harm someone she cares about so much

She understands that you might long for a good relationship with your family, but she encourages you to not bother with a situation so clearly toxic

She isn't meaning to sound controlling or overly-protective, but she hates to see you so hurt

She's such a loving girlfriend who'll do anything under the moon to make you happy

All she needs to be happy is to see that soft little smile on your face

-----

"Pass me that dumbbell darling?"

"Yeah, sure thing."

You passed over the large weight, and she immediately started curling it. You watched for a moment as her biceps flexed with the movement of her arm, a few droplets of sweat sliding off her porcelain skin. You looked away after a moment, though, choosing to quit being creepy and get some water instead.

You let out a sigh of relief as you leaned up from the water fountain, wiping the excess water off with the back of your hand. You turned around and were greeted with Mikasa, wiping the sweat off her forehead with a white towel and slinging it over her shoulder when she was satisfied.

"That was my last set, are you ready to go?" She asked, signaling towards the parking lot with her thumb.

"Yeah, I was about done too, let's go."

You were silent through the whole walk back to the car, electing to stare at the pavement below your feet. Mikasa noticed.

She kept silent as she slid into the driver's seat, starting the dingy car with a thrum and pulling out of the parking lot. You sighed, plugging the aux cord into your phone and starting up the playlist you and Mikasa had made together. It was still a good 20 minutes back to your house from the gym, and you wanted nothing more than to go home and collapse in bed and not wake up for the next day or two. Still, hearing the cheesy love song that Mikasa had shyly suggested playing over the car speakers brought the tiniest of smiles to your face. For all her tough demeanor, she really was a romantic at heart.

"Did something happen today?" She asked. The question threw you off.

"What do you mean by that?" You answered, leaning back in your chair and taking another swig out of your water bottle.

"I don't know, you just seem a lot quieter today."

"I'm always quiet."

She exhaled as a small scowl made its way to her face. You hated to see such a displeased expression taint her beautiful features, but you knew she was just worried for you.

"Seriously, I'm fine." You say after a pause, trying your best to reassure her nothing was wrong. Truth be told, you were lying through your teeth, but it wasn't anything a nap couldn't solve, surely.

Mikasa didn't respond to that, turning her head to the side just enough to block her expression. You weren't sure what to make of it, but the silence that followed for the whole ride home made you hopeful that your lie had worked.

Finally, she pulled into the parking lot of your apartment complex, and you pulled your phone out and entered the building wordlessly, not even waiting for her to walk at your side like you always do. Another red flag, in her eyes.

You set your gym bag on the counter, hearing the click of the lock as Mikasa entered right behind you. You were about to collapse onto the couch when a quiet voice sounded from across the room.

"You should take a shower, you're pretty sweaty." She suggested, setting her bag next to yours and stretching her arms above her head.

You sigh, kicking off your shoes near the front door. "You're right, I'll be out in a minute."

Your shower took longer than it usually did. Quick, lukewarm showers were always the best for you, just so you could get in and out as soon as possible, you always had other things to take care of. But, today, you let the water run hotter than usual, standing and basking in the warmth it gave you. Normally, this would be a waste of time, but right now, you assumed you could use the comforting sensation.

You got out, finally, drying yourself off quickly and slipping on a large t-shirt and pajama bottoms. Your girlfriend was the only one you were going to be seeing anyway, so you didn't see the use in getting dressed in anything presentable.

You were surprised, though, when you opened the door and were immediately assaulted by the smell of bacon. You peered over in confusion to Mikasa in the kitchen, washing her hands off in the sink. Next to her were a few plates; bacon, eggs, potatoes, and waffles.

"Mikasa? How did you make all this in 10 minutes?" You ask, raising an eyebrow at her.

She turned around and pushed a plate in your direction, already prepared with a healthy portion of each food. "You were in the shower for 30 minutes, not 10."

You could feel your expression drop immediately. You took your time a little bit with this one, you knew that, but 30 minutes seemed a bit much.

You didn't voice this, though, walking over to grab a fork and a knife to eat with. When you turned back around, Mikasa had a plate of her own.

"Here, let's eat on the couch, I found a movie that I think you'd like." She suggested, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear shyly as she refused to meet your eye. She's a romantic, sure, but never a confident one it seems.

"That sounds fine. What is it about?" You ask, walking over to the living room and turning on the TV, waiting a few seconds before the screen flickered on.

"The Mariana Trench." She responded, taking a seat right next to you, immediately leaning a portion of her body weight on your arm. "A research team went to test a new type of submarine to try and explore the trench, but the test suddenly fails, and then these three divers are trapped down there and have to try to survive. I saw it with Armin and Sasha the other day, I thought you might like it."

"Sounds interesting." You chime in, nodding your head. You handed her the remote, letting her type in the movie into Netflix while you took a bite out of your food.

"You're a pretty good cook." You note, taking a few more bites off your plate.

"Thank you." She responds with a slight blush.

Mikasa finally found the movie, sitting up for a minute to turn off all the lights, and you instantly missed the warmth by your side.

An hour and a half passed, and you could already feel tiredness seeping into your eyes, threatening to slip closed. You were on your back on the couch, Mikasa lying down on top of you, your empty plate placed on the coffee table.

The movie finished with a pan out of the main characters, the screen fading to black as the credits started to roll down the screen.

"What did you think of it?" She asked. It almost surprised you that she was still awake, you had assumed she slipped into unconsciousness a while ago.

"It was good." You answered, yawning. Mikasa looked up at you from her spot on your chest, but you didn't meet her gaze at all. Your eyes were glued onto the TV, even though the credits couldn't have interested you less.

Mikasa sighed in frustration, sitting up in your lap and tugging on your arm to get you to sit up too. Instinctively, you wrapped an arm around her lower back to keep her closer to you. If it weren't for the dark lighting of the room, you would've been able to make out the faint pink on her cheeks at the action.

"Y/n." She stated firmly, and the hardness to her voice rattled you a bit. "What is going on?"

Your smile faded a bit as you cocked your head to the side. "What... do you mean?"

She lurched forward suddenly, wrapping her arms around your neck and burying her face right under your chine. "Your obviously not okay. I can tell something is bugging you. Please, tell me what it is, you don't need to keep it a secret from me, whatever it is."

You felt her nuzzle further into your neck. She really does care, doesn't she... you thought.

You turned your head to the side in thought, you hated to see her so worried over you.

"Fine, I just..." You exhale, furrowing your eyebrows as you try hard to put what you're feeling into words. "I don't know..." You admit. No matter how intense the feeling was, you couldn't seem to pinpoint it to anything or any event in particular. It was frustrating.

A hand moved to your back and rubbed slow circles on it, beckoning you to continue.

"I've just felt like shit over the past few days, everything feels so dull now. I don't know what it is at all, I don't even know what I need right now. I just... really want a break from it all."

You felt Mikasa shift against you as she hummed in understanding. She leaned forward, forcing you back down on your back. You looked back to where she was on top of you, and she quickly leaned in to kiss you gently on the lips. You returned the kiss immediately, planting your hands on her back to pull her in closer once again.

She broke away from the kiss, and you immediately missed the warmth.

"It's okay if you don't know what you want." She spoke, breaking the silence. You were about to question her, but she continued. "You don't need to understand it right away, I'm just glad you told me. You know I'll always be here to listen to you no matter what."

You nodded slowly, leaning back against the armrest of the couch.

"You said you wanted a break, right? I actually heard that they were doing a scuba diving event at the beach a little ways North from here. How does that sound?"

"It sounds expensive Mika..."

"Ah, don't worry about that. I, uh, I've actually been planning to take you there soon, I have money saved up for just that."

"Are you sure you want to?"

"Positive."

You nodded, standing up and picking Mikasa up, and her legs wound around you immediately as she clung onto your torso. You reached your bedroom, miraculously not bumping into anything in the dark of the apartment. You dropped her on the bed and climbed in after her, pulling the blanket over both of your bodies.

"Y/n." Mikasa spoke, reaching out to grasp your hand from under the blanket. "Seriously, I'm always here for you. Don't forget that."

"Yeah," You nodded, rubbing your thumb over the back of her hand. "I know."

She leaned in, planting a small peck to your forehead that made blood rush to your face. "I love you. Sleep well."

"I love you too."