Eren struggles with his thick-headedness.

Eren lay in bed that night, thinking about the same problem he'd mulled over in his head hundreds of times. He'd been a trainee for three years already, and he still didn't have his answer.

"Hey Eren," Armin said softly, stepping into the boys' quarters. "Are you asleep?"

"Nah," Eren replied, his eyes locked on the ceiling. "Just thinking."

"About what?" Armin asked, his eyebrows furrowed. "Is anything bothering you?"

"It's nothing important, Armin. Go to bed."

The blond shrugged and crawled beneath his own covers on the bottom bunk.

Eren sighed and turned onto his side. Today had been strange, and especially awkward. It had taken his problem to a whole other level.

His problem was with Mikasa. His sister. Well, his adopted sister.

Anyway, he'd always sensed that Mikasa felt something for him, though he'd always passed it off as sisterly love. But deep down, he knew it was something more than that.

Today, however, had been different. Today, Mikasa had confessed something to him, and he had absolutely no idea how to react.

Which had resulted in a shouting match and her stomping off in an angry huff.

She hadn't spoken to him for the rest of the day, and he was uncertain as to whether he should be glad or not. Besides, he needed this time to think things over.

It had all started in the mess hall. He and Mikasa had woken up earlier than the other trainees and had gone to get breakfast. They sat together at one of the tables by the window, gazing out at the dewy green morning grass. A light mist settled over the area, and the sun peeking over the horizon had turned it a brilliant shade of gold.

"It's beautiful out there, isn't it Eren?" Mikasa breathed.

"Yeah," Eren agreed. "You don't see sights like this very often anymore."

They had sat in silence a bit more before Mikasa finally spoke. "I used to see this every morning...when I lived in my old house with my parents. The mist would come down just like this, all golden and sparkling. I used to think it was magical." She laughed sadly, no doubt missing her mother and father.

Eren reached out, gripping her shoulder. "Well, I'm glad you got to see it again."

Mikasa turned to look at him. To his surprise, her eyes were a bit watery. "Eren...so am I. Especially because I get to see it with you."

Eren but his lip, not certain what she meant by that. "Um...me too?"

"Do you really feel that way, Eren?" Mikasa stared at him questioningly. "Do you feel the same as me?"

"Y-yeah, of course!"

Mikasa smiled. "Eren...I love you."

Eren furrowed his brow. He loved her too, like a sister. That's what she meant, right? He grinned uneasily. "S-so do I! I always have! You--you've always been there for me Mikasa, like the sibling I never had."

Mikasa looked down at her hands. "Oh."

Eren frowned. "Is something wrong?"

"No...I just thought...never mind."

"Never mind what, Mikasa? You can tell me anything, remember? I'm your brother." He placed his hand over hers.

Mikasa stared at it for a moment before throwing it off. "No! Eren!" She shouted.

"Wh-what's wrong, Mikasa!"

"Ugh! You're so clueless! Can't you see, Eren?"

"S-see what!?!"

"I don't want to be your sister! I'm not your sister! I love you, but not in the way you think!"

"M-Mikasa...?"

Mikasa glared at him. "God, you're still so clueless even after I confess! Never mind, Eren! Just forget this ever happened!" She stomped away from the table, leaving a dumbfounded Eren behind her.

He was distracted for the rest of the day. Commander Shadis had to yell at him three times during his lecture to snap him out of his daze, which resulted in him cleaning the entire stable block.

By the time he dropped off to sleep, he was exhausted and still bewildered by Mikasa's earlier confession. His mind chewed over her words, and though he was tired, he couldn't seem to fall asleep.

Rolling over to peer at the bottom bunk, he whispered, "Hey, Armin. Are you asleep?"

"Not anymore," Armin grumbled, pulling his covers off of his head. "What is it, Eren?"

"I've got a problem."

Armin immediately sat up. "What's the matter?"

Eren quickly dropped down to Armin's bunk to speak to his best friend. He began talking, telling him the events in the dining hall in detail.

By the time Eren finished, Armin was shaking his head sadly. "You really don't get it, do you Eren?"

"Get what!" Eren cried. "I wish someone would just explain it to me! I've been trying to figure it out for years now!"

Armin sighed. "You really are clueless. Eren, Mikasa's in love with you. She's always loved you ever since you saved her when you were nine. She's idolized you ever since, but you've been too occupied with your titan obsession to notice it."

"Mikasa? Idolize me?" Eren looked aghast. "She always treats me like I can't take care of myself! Besides, she's stronger anyway!"

"She treats you that way because she can't stand the thought of you betting hurt! Mikasa really cares about you! How could you never have noticed?"

"I thought it was a sibling bond," Eren said weakly. "It's weird to think of my sister liking me in that way."

Armin snorted. "She's not your real sister, Eren. Your family just took her in."

Eren sighed. "I know. Truth be told, I've always liked Mikasa too, but I tried not to think about it because I thought she would find it creepy. I guess I've blinded myself against my own free will."

Armin nodded factually. "So, what you need to do tomorrow is talk to her about how you really feel. Tell her that it was all just a big misunderstanding and that you care for her beyond the 'sibling bond' you share."

Eren grinned excitedly. "Thanks Armin! I will." He climbed back up to his bunk, pulled the covers over him, and was snoring within minutes.

Armin sighed. "He really is a total idiot."

***********************************

The next morning, Eren approached Mikasa in the breakfast hall. She caught sight of him and promptly turned her back.

"Mikasa," Eren pleaded. "I want to talk to you."

Mikasa shook her head. "I don't want to talk to someone as dumb as you."

"I have a terminal illness."

Mikasa spun around. "WHAT?!?"

Eren chuckled. "Just kidding. But it got you to talk to me."

The black haired girl glared. "Baka." But she relented and followed him to an empty table, setting her tray beside his. "Alright, what is it?"

"Mikasa," Eren began, taking her hand. "I realized what you meant yesterday, and I just want you to know, I return your feelings. I've always been too afraid to show it, because I thought you might despise me for thinking of you in that way. But, if you feel the same as me, then..."

Mikasa blinked. "E-Eren...you..."

"I really like you Mikasa, in way you like me. And I want to always be by your side, to protect you from anything that will inflict harm upon you."

"That's my job," Mikasa reminded him.

"I want you to be the one I make it to the end of this war against the titans with. I want you to be the one I spend the rest of my life with. I love you, Mikasa."

Eren held his breath, waiting for Mikasa's reaction. For a few seconds, she did nothing, and his heart stopped beating. Then she threw her arms around him, squeezing him tightly.

"I'm so happy, Eren!" She cried. "I thought I was going to have to beat it into you!"

Eren chuckled nervously. "Well, I'm glad you didn't." He suddenly became aware of the fact that the breakfast hall had become very, very quiet. Everyone, except for Jean, was staring at them with hearts pulsing in their eyes.

"That was so sweet, Eren!" Krista cried, rushing over and pulling both of them into a hug, which made Ymir scowl. Jean snorted and sat in the corner, sulking.

Connie thumped Eren on the back. "Yeah, I never knew you were the sappy type! Seriously, I thought you were programmed to only say 'I will kill all the titans!'" Mikasa laughed at that while Eren frowned and declared that he had every right to repeat that slogan as often as he wanted.

Meanwhile, Armin was watching in the background, his mouth hanging open in awe. "I never thought he could pull that off," he mumbled to himself, pushing his blond bangs out of his eyes. "The things that idiot can do never fail to surprise me."

End.