SPOILERS FOR MANGA!

Language (T) because of Eren's potty mouth.

Mikasa stared at the cold ground of the lot.

How could she have gotten herself into this situation? Levi told her not to mess up, and she blew everything. She failed her squad. She failed herself.

"Where the hell is he?" Kenny spat. "You told me this would work."

Reiss scowled. "And it will. Historia told me about their relationship."

Mikasa's spine tingled with sadness. She'd been kidnapped, and worst of all, used as bait to capture Eren.

"He'll come," Reiss assured. "He'll come alone, just like we demanded. He knows the stakes."

Mikasa smiled mirthlessly at his overconfidence.

"You're wrong."

The men glanced at her, remembering where they had dumped her, out of sight, bound. The position brought back memories of her kidnapping so many years ago, only worse, because she wasn't helpless. Just stupid.

"Eren won't come for me," she said tiredly. "You're wasting your time."

Kenny waved her off. "Yeah, yeah, that's what they always say."

"But this time it's true. If it was Eren's life or mine, he would come. But there's more at stake. Everything he's ever worked for rests on this decision."

"What. Are you saying that Eren's devotion to the Corps is greater than his devotion to you?"

She didn't answer.

"You're his sister, though."

"No, I'm not."

"Then his childhood friend. You don't think he cares for you enough to rescue you?" Reiss questioned, disbelieving.

Mikasa glanced down at her scarf. "I think he's strong enough to let me go."

There was a pause, and for a second, she wished she hadn't said anything. She was volunteering for murder. Then again, she was also saving Eren from an impossible decision.

Kenny laughed. "You know, funny thing is I believe you. I saw the fire in that brat's eyes. He has that hero streak in him. No time for hot Asian girls, apparently."

Christa, standing behind Mikasa, hesitated. "Kenny—"

"She's right. Her boyfriend ain't comin. Levi won't allow it anyway. We don't have any use for her anymore, so you can kill her."

Christa's hand curled around the knife.

"Fuck," Eren whispered again.

"Shut the hell up, Jaeger," Levi scolded.

"She's just…lying there. She's breathing, right?" Eren asked, trying to crane his neck around the side of the building.

Mikasa had been taken, and those bastards had contacted him, warning him to come or they'd kill her. He'd been flipping out for the last three days, ready to leave for her until Levi caught him sneaking out.

Now the captain and the others were helping him get her back. The whole gang was determined to save her.

"She's alive, for now," Levi decided.

For now?

Christa stood beside Mikasa's limp form, and Eren sent a hot glare in her direction. She'd caved. She'd allowed herself to be manipulated, and now…she was holding Mikasa hostage. He'd thought she'd been stronger than that. These last few weeks, he'd thought she'd become a leader.

But she was still just as weak as before.

"You stay here, like we agreed, alright?" Levi ordered.

Eren nodded, and Jean, crouched beside them, snuck forward on cue.

"He'll come," Reiss was saying. "He'll come alone, just like we demanded. He knows the stakes."

Mikasa stirred from the ground. Her head was bleeding and she was tied up at the ankles and the hands. The sight made Eren want to puke.

"You're wrong."

She looked menacing for someone so broken. Eren noted Reiss's hands twitching nervously, and he had to resist a grin for her bravery.

She sighed. "Eren won't come for me…you're wasting your time."

Eren's smile melted. The words didn't register at first. He knew Mikasa's voice, and it didn't sound like she was bluffing.

Did she really believe he didn't care? That he would just abandon her, leave her for dead? How could she possibly think that?

"…If it was Eren's life or mine, he would come. But there's more at stake. Everything he's ever worked for rests on this decision."

"Are you saying that Eren's devotion to the Corps is greater than his devotion to you?"

Her lack of response was like a kick to the face.

She had to be lying. Lying. Stalling. Something.

"You're his sister, though."

"No, I'm not."

"Then his childhood friend. You don't think he cares for you enough to rescue you?"

That's right. She knew he cared. She wouldn't wear that goddamn scarf every day if she didn't. He'd told her that he'd be there for her, from now on. So she must—

"I think he's strong enough to let me go."

Eren blinked, hard. His chest ached, the bruise spreading.

She felt abandoned, and worst of all, she had it all rationalized. She'd had this idea planted in her head for a while now, that he would just let her die. How long had she felt that way?

"Jaeger," Levi cautioned, taking notice of Eren's flighty response.

"…We don't have any use for her anymore, so you can kill her."

Eren jolted, but Levi held him down. "Don't blow it."

Christa opened her mouth, and then shut it.

"No."

The two men whirled on her.

Reiss was incredulous. "What?"

"It's fine. I'll just do it," Kenny said, raising his revolver.

"No, that wasn't the plan," Christa said, sternly, darkly. "You told me Eren was the key to everything. That he holds Freida's power. That his father killed everyone in our family! It's Eren who should pay, not Mikasa!"

What? Eren was stumped by all of that information. He couldn't comprehend half of it. Where did his father come into all of this?

"Historia, kill her or I will!"

And everything happened at once.

Eren sprung from his cover. Jean tackled Christa to the ground. Levi cursed at his hormone-driven subordinates and shot for Kenny and Reiss, trying not to hit Eren.

The men on guard began to fire down on them, and Sasha, Connie, and Armin attacked from their aerial positions.

Chaos. It was chaos.

Eren rushed to Mikasa, who stared at him in wonder. He had a horrible flashback to when he'd found her tied up in the woods, cold, haunted. But now she was gaping at him. And her shock was so much more painful.

"I'm here," he said, as he cut through her binds and dragged her out of range from the raining bullets.

"Why?" she asked, and she turned to him, eyes wide.

"What do you mean, why?" he cried. "Are you stupid? Thinking I wouldn't come for you?"

"I…" she began, but Levi's shouts drowned her fumbling words.

They ran back for cover, retreating.

Jean was kneeling across from Mikasa, wrapping the cuts on her wrist as they rode towards HQ. Horseface was speaking to her in hushed tones, and Mikasa smiled softly.

Eren really didn't need to see that right now.

She'd thought Eren would just leave her.

Abandon her.

She'd had no confidence in him at all. No faith.

Eren knew he was blaming her for something that was his fault entirely, but he was pissed at her right now. Pissed at her for getting captured. Pissed at her for making him worry. Pissed at her for thinking he was heartless.

"Eren," Armin said, setting his hand on Eren's shoulder. "Talk to me."

Eren glared at the space in front of him.

Armin crossed his arms. "Eren, don't act like a child."

"Mikasa."

"Alright. What about her? Are you two fighting again?" he asked. "Already?"

Eren slumped. "No…I just…I heard her, when she was speaking to Reiss."

Armin's eyes softened. "When she said that you wouldn't come."

Eren nodded.

"But you did come. You rescued her."

"Yeah, I know, but she didn't expect me to. When I got to her, Armin, she was so fucking surprised to see me."

Armin waited.

"Have I been that…cruel to her, Armin? Have I really neglected her that much?"

The blond sighed. "Eren, did anyone ever tell you what happened that day you were eaten? When you transformed?"

Eren tried to think back. "Not really. I mean, I know what I did, but…"

"We all thought you'd died. I had to tell Mikasa that you were dead, and she went all self-destructive," Armin closed his eyes tight, reliving the memory. "She took her rage and grief out on the Titans, and then she ran out of gas. She almost got eaten before you saved her. She'd given up."

Eren stared at him. Why hadn't anyone told him? She was always lecturing him about staying level headed, and she almost kills herself?

"When you were taken by Annie in the forest," Armin continued, "Mikasa went after you. She nearly killed herself trying to bring you back, and if it hadn't been for Levi, she wouldn't be here."

Eren glanced over at Mikasa again. She was still talking to Horseface. Her lips moved slowly, like she was taking serious consideration in every word she spoke. When was the last time they'd talked like that? Really talked?

"We both know that you care about us, Eren," Armin said. "But you've been on this titan path for years. You're always getting hurt and picking yourself up again because you're so determined to move forward. And sometimes you forget to look behind you."

Eren opened his mouth to protest, but Armin kept going.

"You've never stopped to look around and see how much Mikasa cares. Yes, she's overprotective. Yes, she can be bossy. But have you looked deeper?"

"Deeper in what?" Eren asked.

"Exactly."

The wagon stopped moving and Armin hopped off.

"Wait, Armin, what do you mean?" Eren yelled, but the boy was already gone.

Eren couldn't sleep. He needed to talk to her.

Now.

He threw off the covers and wandered down the hall to the girls' room.

Christa would be in the prison ward tonight, getting a talking to from Levi. In the end she hadn't betrayed them, exactly, but Levi was going to find out what she knew, and how it concerned Eren's father.

Eren wasn't sure he wanted to know.

He knocked lightly on the door.

Sasha answered. "Hey."

"Where's Mikasa?" he asked.

She shrugged. "Not here."

Eren narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"She left a couple minutes ago. I don't know where!"

Eren sighed and sauntered through the fortress. He was about to give up and just go back to sleep when he saw the back door propped open.

He found her sitting on the steps, looking out into the black forest.

"What are you doing?" he asked, sitting next to her.

"Couldn't sleep," she admitted, looking at him with bright, curious eyes.

"Stop."

"Stop what?" she said.

"Stop looking so surprised at everything I do."

Damn. What was wrong with him?

She frowned at him. "Is this about earlier?"

Eren studied the sky and turned to her. "Look, I'm sorry."

"What? Why?"

He felt tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry for making you think you didn't matter."

"Eren," she said, and she reached out, but he pulled back, undeserving.

"I freaked out, you know, when you were gone. I tried to get to you sooner but I got caught," he rambled, and Mikasa smiled. "I'm so used to you being here that I kept forgetting you weren't. I turned to ask you a question like five times. Armin kept laughing at me."

"Eren."

"Then we came to get you, and you said that you didn't think I'd come for you. That I'd choose the corps. Do you know how that feels? To hear the person you think knows you best assume the worst of you?"

"Eren!"

"Mikasa!" he yelled, voice strained. "Don't ever think I wouldn't choose you! I already chose you!"

Her eyes watered.

Eren cursed and buried his head in his arms. Maybe he did act like a kid when he was confronted with feelings. But it was so much easier to pretend he didn't have any.

Mikasa watched him with new eyes, and she reached out, gently, to pull him into her. Eren finally gave in and fell into her embrace, exhausted.

"I'm sorry," she said, her lips brushing his ear. "I know now. Okay? I know you would come for me."

"Every time," he said, bringing his arms up around her. She was smaller around the waist than she'd been. Malnourished. The thought made him blink back more tears.

After a while, they broke apart, and he smirked.

"I guess we're both reckless when one of us is in danger."

She blushed. "What do you mean?"

"Armin told me how you reacted when I was missing."

"H-he did?"

Eren nodded, a wry smile on his lips. "Apparently I can make humanity's strongest soldier lose her fucking mind."

She punched him in the arm, hard, and Eren let out a high pitch curse.

"I think you mean second strongest," said a dead voice from behind them.

The teens jumped, and Levi glared at them from the doorway. "Go to bed, brats."

"Yes sir," Eren mumbled. He nodded for Mikasa to follow, and she grabbed his hand— something she hadn't done in years. He raised his eyebrows.

"Stop looking so surprised, Eren," she said, refusing to meet his stare.

He grinned, intertwining their fingers.

Levi rolled his eyes.

Let me know if you guys like this! I may continue with some oneshots/drabbles.