Fleeting Feelings

Eren strode down the empty hallway of the hospital, hands tucked in his pocket.

The losses of the recent expedition had been huge, and it was simply only by a stroke of luck that they were even able to make it back alive. The fact that the Survey Corps's Hospital had been so crowded for the past few days was a sign of the heavy casualties sustained by them. If only he hadn't got captured, if only he had more power, if only titans never existed -The world would be a beautiful place where they could live in peace.

Till now, he couldn't understand why Reiner and Bertholdt wanted to become mass murderers of humanity. However, he knew for sure he would never become one like them.

Definitely never.

Orders had been passed down for him to rejoin the Special Operations Squad and Levi would come to bring him to the hideout location soon, but he wanted some time to talk with Mikasa before he left.

Furthermore, the order also stated that he would need to be prepared to turn his blade against a human from now on, not just titans.

Eren didn't think the situation was that serious as he had yet to see any signs of the government making any move, but at the same time - he greatly trusted Erwin's judgment and abilities. It was thanks to his plan that they managed to lure the Female Titan out and capture her.

It also helped that they were close to each other - Erwin was after all the one who had him and Mikasa graduate early from the cadet corps to join the Scouting Legion. He hadn't forgotten his kindness too in providing him with some money during their previous trip to Inner Mitras.

"Hey, Eren. Paying Mikasa a visit?"

He turned to see Armin walking down the stairs.

"Not at all. I was just feeling restless and wanted to go for a walk." Eren said, deadpan.

"Sure, the hospital is definitely a good place to take a breather, especially at night. Don't you think so?" His friend shot him an incredulous glance.

Why off all the time did Armin have to be here? Eren knew full well he had been caught out. He scratched the back of his head.

"How's Mikasa doing?"

"She just fell asleep. From what the doctor said, it isn't too serious as long as she rests. But it will be at least a week before she can move normally." Armin said. "Did something happen during the recent expedition between you two? "

He felt his cheeks heating up "Nothing."

In response, Armin simply squinted his eyes. He clearly wasn't buying it.

"So something *did* happen." his friend teased.

"Well, it's regarding what happened a few days ago. During the expedition where we fought against the Armored Titan and his allies."

Armin nodded. "And?"

Eren looked away. "Well … we thought we were all gonna die back then. She thanked me for all the things I did for her, and for teaching how to live, and for the scarf and it was like a …"

He couldn't bring himself to say the words, but Armin finished the sentence for him.

"I see. So it was a confession." His friend grinned and gave an approving thumbs up. "But surely there must be more to it, right?"

Eren's head dropped even lower. "Her face was so close to mine … it seemed like she wanted to … k … kiss me."

"Please tell me you did."

He shook his head.

"What!" Armin facepalmed. "Don't you know how much courage it took for her to be real with her feelings? The least you could do is acknowledge them."

"Which is what I'm going to do right now!" Eren blurted out the words, realizing shortly afterward he had given himself away.

"Better late than never, go finish it."

"... I've been trying to think of a good location where I can bring her to. I want to do it properly."

Armin gave him an encouraging pat on the back, urging him on. "As long as you're not running away from your feelings anymore, I guess the pacing is up to you."

Eren said goodbye and walked up the familiar flight of stairs that led into Mikasa's ward, trying his best to ignore the pounding heart and restless pressure building inside him. He had faced and killed countless titans, and he couldn't believe how he was feeling right now just over speaking to a girl.

He passed by a doctor along the way, and exchange some courtesies with him, asking about how Mikasa was doing. Eren was relieved to hear from him that she was indeed alright, and just need plenty of rest to recover.

Upon entering the room, Eren looked at Mikasa as she lay on the bed, her eyelids shut as she continued to rest from the ordeals of the expedition just a few days ago. It had been a difficult period for everyone in the Survey Corps, and he knew full well that if it wasn't for the Coordinate power being unleashed at the last minute - none of them would have made it out alive.

He had tried in secret to use the power when they returned to the walls, trying to will in his mind or just silently murmuring words like 'telling all the titans to leave the region of Wall Maria or to just start killing each other.' But the same pulse surged through him when he wielded the power against the Armored Titan never came, suggesting that it didn't work at all.

There was probably a condition associated with using it, was it contact with a titan? It appeared to be triggered when he came in physical contact with the Smiling Titan, judging from how the system voice sounded in his head then. Perhaps he should bring this up with Erwin and get Hange to capture a few titans to conduct an experiment - she would certainly be more than enthusiastic to assist in such a matter. Obviously, he would have to find a way to persuade them without revealing the system.

Or maybe the power was just one-time use. Either way, it held the key to humanity's hope of triumphing over the titans. He wouldn't give up on it.

"Eren?"

A gentle voice called out to him, and he saw Mikasa's eyes fluttering open.

"Sorry, I must have woken you up."

"Mhm." the girl sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes before she smiled. "Thank you … for taking the time to come."

"It's the least I could do. You got injured because of me."

The girl seemed to want to say something but appeared to hold back against it. She simply nodded.

Eren mustered his courage, breaking the silence.

"I would like to speak to you about something. It's regarding what happened in the fields a few days back. When we encountered the Smiling Titan and were about to be killed by it."

The girl slightly bowed her head.

"I didn't forget the words you spoke back then. I-I would like to discuss that further with you."

Eren inwardly cursed himself, the sentences he'd just spoken were anything but smooth. This was Mikasa, why was he getting all nervous and finding it hard to talk to her suddenly? Armin probably would be better at this given the number of novels he had read.

"What do you mean?" the girl probed, her face blushing.

"When things settle down, would you mind going somewhere with me? I have something extremely important to tell you." he continued. "I would like to do this properly, It's the least you deserve."

He placed a hand on her cheek, gently brushing across it. Mikasa's face turned at once even redder than her scarf. However, she made no attempt to shy away, as she placed her hands on his and tugged them lightly, not letting them leave.

"Okay. I'll be waiting for it, Eren. Promise?"

"I Promise."