Underneath the Tree on That Hill(1)*

Under a tree on a hill, somewhere in Shiganshina. The leaves above fluttered in the breeze, casting dappled shadows over a boy who was lying on the grass beneath it. 

Eren leaned his back against a tree trunk, staring at the beautiful sunset before him.

This was his favorite spot as a kid. He'd always enjoyed taking naps here back then. 

Mikasa would always act as a mini Carla, waking him up whenever he overslept.

Back then, he was just a naive child who believed that titans were the cause of those walls.

Never in his wildest dream did he imagine that the humanity within the walls was treated like livestock by humans outside, or more accurately - by the Marley Empire. The humans exiled here were turned into wandering, mindless titans; to cage the inhabitants here from their elusive freedom. Their true enemies were not the titans, but humans. The humans who created the titans to cage them in.

"Eren."

He'd recognize that voice anywhere.

"Mikasa." he looked to see a familiar face sitting down beside him.

A gentle breeze blew, as they both admired the scene before them in silence. The landscape unfolded before them, a tapestry of hues painted by the dipping sun.

"It's been so many years, but we're back here again." Mikasa's expression softened as she took in the view. "It's so beautiful. Moments like that make you forget, even if just for a while, about the titans and the battles we face."

"If only the walls in the distance didn't exist, I wonder how Shiganshina would look like without them from here." Eren took in the dipping sun on the horizon, its descent casting an orange glow over the landscape.

He hated the walls. It served as a reminder of the freedom denied to him. A reminder that they were like cattle, trapped within. 

Mikasa reached out, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure that day will come." 

"When everything is over and the Titans are nothing but a distant memory, let's come back here. We'll sit beneath this tree, on this hill, and admire the sunset together. I promise you."

Eren looked out over the town they had fought so hard to reclaim and protect. The place had been a witness to everything. Their pain, their growth, their journey. 

A quiet understanding passed between them, and Mikasa nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I'll hold you to that promise, Eren."

Meanwhile, a fat bird, vibrant in its feathers, caught their attention as it hopped about on the ground nearby. Was it trying to get their attention? It resembled very much like the hairpin that he gave Mikasa on her birthday. 

It might be looking for food.

"Hey, Mikasa," Eren said, "Look at that bird over there. Think we can get it to come closer?"

The girl chuckled slightly at the bird's antics.

"Sure, let's try, maybe it's hoping for some food," she said.

Eren reached into his bag for a few breadcrumbs he had brought. The bird, sensing the offering, approached cautiously. As he scattered the crumbs, the bird hopped even closer. Mikasa joined in too, and soon the small creature was comfortably pecking away at its meal on the ground.

It was a success.

Laughter bubbled between him and Mikasa, a light and carefree sound that echoed in the quiet surroundings.

"This is nice," Mikasa's gaze met his with a warmth that went beyond the sunlight dappling through the leaves. 

The little plump creature let out a contented flutter of its wings and a small delighted chirp. It was pleased with the delectable feast it had enjoyed.

The bird hopped even closer, seemingly wanting more. Eren extended his hand, offering another piece of breadcrumb. The bird immediately perched itself on his outstretched fingers. Bold.

"Trying to convince the bird to join the Survey Corps, Eren?" Mikasa leaned in close and brushed her fingers against the bird's delicate feathers, gently ruffling it. The bird responded by nuzzling and rubbing itself against the palm of her hand. It was surprisingly trusting of Mikasa and did not shy away from its touch.

"Why not? I think it would make for a pretty good soldier. Maybe it can warn us if titans are nearby. There's a reason why the Survey Corps Emblem has wings, you know."

"Oh? Maybe we should get some opinions from this genius bird on our strategy against the titans then," Mikasa continued to stroke the bird, which responded with a gentle coo, its tiny head tilting in acknowledgment.

Eren chuckled. "I'm sure it has valuable insights. It did choose the best company, after all. Don't underestimate birds, they are smarter than people give them credit for."

Mikasa's laughter rang out, a sound that Eren found more enchanting than any melody. Intertwined with the chirps of the bird and the gentle breeze, it was a moment of peace Eren had not experienced in a long time.

He watched as the bird ate its fill, giving another contented coo. When it seemed like it was about to fly away, it flew instead toward Mikasa, delicately picking up a loose end of Mikasa's scarf. It expertly wrapped the fabric around the girl before it took flight.

"See. It's quite smart, isn't it?" 

Mikasa simply smiled as they both looked at the bird that disappeared in the horizon.

"But there's a long way to go, there are still titans outside the walls, and the Marley Empire … the perpetrators of this whole issue," Eren said. "I have to finish this before I perish. The curse of Ymir, it is supposedly absolute."

"It's a lie." Mikasa's hands tightened. "There's no way it can be true." 

Eren's voice turned low. "The curse of Ymir is something all titan shifters have suffered from." 

 "It's false." Mikasa whispered, her voice barely audible. "I can't accept this. There has to be something we can do."

"The future of Paradis. I have to secure it before my time is up. Erwin recognizes the problem as well. That's why he's prioritizing clearing out all the titans on the island beyond the walls. The situation on Paradis has to be stabilized as soon as possible." 

It was for Mikasa's sake too. If Paradis was safe, so would she be. Eren wanted his friends to live a long happy life.

The girl shuffled herself closer to him.

"What do you plan to do from now on, Eren?"

His voice took on a determined edge. "There's still so much we don't know about the world outside. But The Marley Empire … I will make them pay in full for their crimes against humanity. I will destroy the culprits and take revenge for what they did to mother."

Mikasa's eyes widened. Eren thought he saw a mix of surprise and concern hidden in them.

"This isn't just about survival," he continued, his tone resolute. "It's also about justice, about ensuring that no one else has to suffer the way we did. I won't let them take away the freedom of anyone here on Paradis. How many children like us do you think were left orphaned because of Wall Maria's fall? "

"Eren, I understand your pain, but revenge won't bring back what we lost. We have to be careful not to become the monsters we're fighting against." 

"I won't forget who I am, Mikasa. But I can't let them go unpunished. I don't believe Erwin will as well. They are a threat to Paradis and have to be dealt with." he said. "After the appointment and award ceremony, my responsibilities will be different. Historia is going to appoint me as the Lord Protector of Paradis, I must do all in my power, to keep moving forward to secure a future for everyone here."

She nodded, her hand reaching out to rest on his, a silent reassurance. "I'll stand by you, Eren. Let's face this together."

A sense of warmth welled up inside Eren's heart. He wrapped an arm around Mikasa's shoulder, pulling her gently to his side, close enough that their bodies were in contact with each other.

"E-Eren?"

"Thank you." he said slowly.

Mikasa remained quiet, however, the blush that appeared on her face didn't escape his keen observation. 

Eren mind was getting messy. Should he make the first move? He hated how he was getting cold feet.

"When I saved you back then from the titans in the field … I felt like you were about to say something else. What was it?" he asked.

The girl continued her unbroken silence, but her face had turned redder than her scarf.

"Ever since I rescued you from the kidnappers when you were a child, you have always been the one looking out for me, taking care of me even when I was mean towards you. Being thoughtful, risking your life to keep me safe. I …" Eren paused, a weight of emotion in his words. "I wanted to live up to that as well. To protect you too."

Mikasa's black eyes, so ever beautiful blinked. "When Reiner tried to kill me, you put yourself in harm's way just to keep me safe."

"Of course I would, you are someone important to me." Eren's eyes were on his lap. He couldn't believe the words that just came out of his mouth.

"R-right." Mikasa leaned against him, her head finding a resting place on his shoulders. 

Eren could hear his heartbeat amidst the rustling of the leaves.

"So what're you trying to say, Eren?"

He met her eyes, a mix of fear and longing in his own. "Mikasa, I..." 

The girl's intuition was frightening. She wasn't letting him wriggle his way out of this one.

Was he going to run away once more? To deny his feelings too? Why did he want to keep lying to himself? Yeager, he told himself. It's now or never. That was why he called her out tonight. He had killed and fought many titans, yet was acting so indecisive in front of a girl.

His cheek felt the gentle caress of a warm touch, prompting him to lift his gaze. Mikasa's beautiful eyes were watching his, her hand on his face.

"You're really going to make me go there ..." 

Mikasa didn't answer, her hair fluttering in the wind. It was as though time had stood still in that moment. 

He brushed Mikasa's hair behind her head with the other hand, and then stopped and pulled her face close to his. Their foreheads pressed against each other.

"E-Eren?"

" I'm in love …" He took in the gentle black eyes of hers. "I'm in love with you."

Those words hung in the air, and the world seemed to pause for a moment.

Before he knew it, Mikasa's lips were already on his. Eren eyes widened, surprised by the girl's eagerness. She made the first move before he could.

He took in the feeling of her gentle lips against his own. Eren's heartbeat quickened and he could hear his pulse reverberating in his ears. His mind was blank as he instinctively reached a hand to the back of Mikasa's head, another to her back; pulling her body even closer.

That was his first kiss, and it was like a delicate dance, where their lips moved in perfect sync, expressing the depth of their feelings. Eren couldn't believe that something like that was sitting right under his nose all this while and he just ignored it. 

Mikasa pulled away slightly, her forehead leaning against his, her breaths heavy. "I've loved you too for a long time. All I want … is just to be by your side."

"I was just too stupid to realize it before, but now I know." 

Mikasa took the initiative to continue, their lips continued to meet in perfect harmony, igniting an intense connection that could not be described in words. 

Eren slid one of his hands down from her hair to her back and then pressed her ass - It was surprisingly soft. He couldn't resist giving it a few more playful squeezes. The actions caused Mikasa to let out a series of soft moans, as she upped the intensity of the kiss.

Eren wasn't sure if the girl was alright with them going further. He could already feel his pants getting tight and that he might soon lose control of himself.

Mikasa's hands reached for his clothes, unbuttoning them.

There was his answer …