57th Expedition(6)

(Mikasa POV)

Lying on the wooden floor, Mikasa looked up at the skies. The parting grey clouds gave her much-needed reprieve; rain no longer pattering against the planks of the cart nor her body. Her drenched uniform was less cold now, and her shivering began to subside.

She felt another jab against her back as the cart trembled, followed by a -thud- sound.

"Ouch, what's up with this path we're taking..."

She turned her gaze towards the voice. Eren was seated at a corner of the cart, leaning against the sideboards and holding on to it. Everything about him was attractive - the annoyed expression that hung on his face right now and especially his eyes, eyes that could make her do anything.

With a creak of the wheels, the wagon shook once more. The cart's floor that she laid against was already uncomfortable enough, and now thanks to the wagon shaking again; the dirt that was sent flying stuck to her face - would Eren find her unappealing because of it? She tried to brush it off.

"Don't move, Mikasa. You're supposed to pretend… I mean you're supposed to be heavily injured." Eren said.

"If I'm heavily injured ... why aren't you doing anything?"She muttered under her breath.

"Geez, Erwin's plan this time..." He paused. "Well, I guess if you think about it. It does make sense. By having most of the central cart guard to act injured, our enemies would probably think the expedition failed."

Mikasa agreed. No doubt Commander Erwin's idea was a fantastic one, more so since it allowed her to get close to Eren. She had been pretending to be an injured soldier on the commander's orders, but Eren wasn't doing his part very well - in taking care of her. Was he waiting for her to make the first move? She would do it then.

"My leg … it hurts."

Eren moved beside her, kneeled, and pressed a piece of cloth on where she pointed, "H-here, h-hang in there."

"Thanks … "Mikasa's body trembled at his touch."M-my l-left hand now… i-it hurts too."

Eren nudged his body closer and pressed with the fabric."Is that better?"

"A bit higher, at the elbow."

"Here?"

She nodded. Lying on the floor, Mikasa could feel his breath now on her ears, causing her mind to wander. Eren was so close to her right now. This was her chance and she wasn't going to let it slip.

"How is it?"Eren was still pressing on her elbow.

"M-my c-chest too, it's bleeding. I think I fell from a t-tree and hurt myself. "

His gaze turned towards it. "I-Is t-that so?"

"Y-yes."

Eren's hands, inching closer and closer, began to hover right above her proud peaks. They were about to touch it when he pulled them away ."It's t-this really fine? I-I think you don't have to make your acting so realistic. Just continue to lie down and do nothing until we get back. Okay?"

Mikasa's heart sank as she squeezed out the words: "Fine…"

"Watch out!"A third voice came from a soldier in front who drove the horses.

The cart shook violently and Eren landed on top of her. His body, radiating warmth, pressed down on her wet uniform while his face was buried on top of her chest.

Mikasa's heart began to race as heat rose to her cheeks.

"MMm-"Eren wanted to say something, but instead his teeth sunk down hard on her breast, firming it up amidst the pressure. A soft moan escaped Mikasa's lips, and her body melted amidst Eren's bite that had sent a wave of pleasure through her - something she had never experienced before.

"E-Eren…" she gasped, her fingers curling into her palms.

Eren's cheeks pinked up, and he pushed himself away ." S-sorry!"

"It's … fine." Mikasa didn't mind in the slightest, if Eren wanted more, he only had to ask. But that was just wishful thinking as this was, after all, Eren Yeager, dense and clumsy and yet still so perfect in every way - Romance was probably the last thing on his mind. Petra might be able to give her some advice on how to get his attention. She would have to ask her when they returned.

"Your … waist, Mikasa." Eren said, breaking her thoughts ."You're bleeding!"

At once, she ran her hands underneath the soaked uniform on her waist. Something sticky and warm stuck to her hands. Blood. How did she get injured?

Eren was already unbuttoning part of her clothes, revealing a crimson patch on her stomach. " It looks bad. Why didn't you realize it until now?"

"It's just a small scratch. I'm fine." Mikasa said, hoping he wouldn't notice the peaked tips on her chest that were still pushing hard against her bra; it was too embarrassing.

"You call that a small scratch? Look at all that blood!"

Eren's voice was laced with concern, one she had never heard him speaking in, one that made her feel loved; just like how her parents used to make her feel. Her heart jumped as Eren's hands touched hers, brushing them aside from the wound.

"This might hurt a little, I'll dry up the blood first." Pressing gently, Eren began to push the fabric down on her injury; he bowed his head ."It's all my fault."

Mikasa's pulse doubled, heat flooding her face. "It wasn't. It was part of the plan."

"The plan didn't involve you getting that injured!"Eren's voice was frayed as his gaze met hers. "U-um, I`m going to start bandaging it up now. Don't move."

Mikasa kept still. She continued to observe Eren, who tore off a long piece of clothing from his sleeve, revealing the bumps on his arm beneath it. When did Eren have biceps? She had been training with him ever since they joined the Special Operations Squad, and never noticed it.

Did he break the curfew secretly at night just to build his muscles? She should have paid more attention to Eren and snuck more often into his room, to check on him.

Eren's hands slipped beneath her waist, continuing to bandage it up as he wrapped the cloth around again and again.

The tiny rigid buds on her chest tightened to pebble hardness. Mikasa couldn't blank her mind at all. The way Eren's hands slid the fabric around her waist, the way they brushed against her skin; she couldn't get enough of it. If only he could always do this and more to her.

"Almost. Just bear with a little more."

"O-okay."Her breathing was getting more shaky and heavy, despite her best efforts to steady it. She couldn't let Eren find out how aroused she was by him; what would he think of her if he knew she had such a side to her as well? Would it make him dislike her?

"It's done. Just rest, don't make it worse ."Eren leaned his back against the side of the wagon, propping a knee up while his other foot stretched out across the floor. "We should be reaching Karanes soon. I'll get you to the infirmary as soon as we do."

"T-thanks ." Mikasa carefully touched the fabric that he had wrapped around her. The warmth from Eren's hand lingering on it felt so gentle.

"Making you battle the Female Titan twice, was probably too much, even for you. I can't remember when was the last time you got so injured from a fight …" His gaze, seemingly filled with guilt, locked with hers.

"I'm really fine. You're not to blame."

"But I supported Erwin's plan, and landed you in such a state and caused so many people to di-"

"It's not your fault. You did the best you could."

Eren kept quiet for a moment, and when he spoke again, his voice was so soft Mikasa almost couldn't hear him. "I wonder how many lives were lost? The center rear was almost completely wiped out."

Mikasa glanced at the downcast figure. His tone earlier told her everything she needed to know, he was still in pain. The revelation that Annie was the Female Titan was probably another reason as well. If she could do anything to lessen it, she wanted to.

"But we captured and found out who the Female Titan was, right? Commander Erwin will definitely be able to use that to humanity's advantage," she said, hoping it would cheer him up.

Eren's face brightened a little ."Yeah, I guess. Erwin did tell me something way before the expedition started. He was right after all."

"What did he say?"Mikasa asked.

"Someone who can't sacrifice anything … will never be able to change anything. That's what he told me, "Eren said. "By giving up on those lives, it has allowed us to capture one of our enemies. The reason why this expedition was a success."

"That's … kind of deep. I'm surprised you remember stuff like that ."

"H-hey! I do pay attention when it comes to important matters. I'm an officer after all."

She covered her mouth and laughed softly. "I wonder though if sometimes the sacrifice … is worth what you are trying to change."

Mikasa looked up at the setting sun that painted the skies deep red.It would never be possible for her to give up Eren for anything. He was the most important person and meant the world to her.

"I suppose …" Eren's reply became softer and softer as it trailed off before it returned to normal again ."Bells, I can hear them ringing from a distance!"

A smile tugged at Mikasa's lips; they had finally returned.

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A/N:1.6k words