I woke up to birds chirping, the sun was just starting to come up. I pushed my long, black hair out of my face and sat up. I threw the covers off of myself and stretched.

"Off to an early start?" A yawning Mikasa asked.

"Yeah, I want to get a shower before all the hot water is gone."

"I think I'll come with you." She said standing up and stretching.

"Just let me grab my stuff and we can go." I grabbed my uniform and bathing supplies and followed Mikasa out of the door. As we were walking, I felt someone's hand suddey grab my shoulder, causing me to jump.

"H-hey Laken, Mikasa, good morning. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

I turned around to see Bertholdt and Reiner.

"It's fine Bertholdt. Good morning guys."

Bertholdt looked down and blushed, scratching the back of his neck. "Y-you can call me Bert, i-if you want to."

"A-alright, Bert." I said with the cutest smile I could manage.

"You girls headed to the showers as well?" Reiner asked.

"Yes." Mikasa said with her usual monotoned voice.

Just then Bertholdt tripped over a rock and dropped all of his belongings.

"Bertholdt, I-I mean Bert! Are you alright?"

He looked up and chuckled. "Y-yeah, I'm fine. Thanks."

"I think we'll just go on ahead and leave you love birds alone." Reiner said while putting his arm around Mikasa. She jerked his arm off of her and slapped him in the face.

"Damn, I was just trying to make a joke!" He said while rubbing his red cheek.

"Don't touch me." Mikasa snapped back.

Bertholdt looked up, his cheeks were a dark crimson color. "W-we're not love birds Reiner, and you deserved that."

Reiner rolled his eyes and walked off with Mikasa.

I looked down at the troubled gentle giant and blushed. "You know, you're cute when you're in distress." His cheeks turned even darker, if that were possible. I reached out for his hand.

"T-thanks Elizabeth you're pretty cute y-yourself."

He got up on his feet and started to pick his things up and I leaned down to help him. We both stood up after collecting his belongings, and caught each others gaze.We stood there a few moments looking at each other, as if taking in each others features.

"You know, Reiner's right. You are beautiful, if you don't mind me saying." He looked down and blushed again.

"Thank you Bert, really. That means a lot, coming from you." I said sweetly.

We started walking to the showers and somehow his hand met mine, our fingers locked perfectly into the others.

"Laken?" He asked, breaking the comfortable silence.

"Yeah, Bert?" I looked up at him as he stared ahead.

"I think I could get used to this."

I looked down at our hands and back at him. "I think I could to, my gentle giant."

He stopped dead in his tracks and looked at me. "I-i'm your what?"

"My gentle giant, my gent-" He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on my lips, cutting me off. His lips were so soft and smooth. And the warmth of his breath was intriguing.

We both pulled away without saying a word and continued to walk. Fingers locked together and blushing smiles on both our faces while we looked ahead.

We reached the showers and he let go of my hand. "I'll see you in a bit." He smiled and kissed my forehead. "Have a good shower."

I stood on his boots while on my tip toes of course, as he leaned his head down, and I returned the kiss on his cheek.We pulled apart and walked away blushing.

I entered the shower room and saw Mikasa sitting her things down. She heard me and turned around. "Hey, what was that about?"

I blushed and looked down. "He kissed me."

Mikasa jumped up and down and started clapping. This was HIGHLY out of character for her. She started screaming and giggling like a little girl.

(Bert's POV)

I let go of her hand. "I'll see you in a bit." I leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead. Her height was adorable, she was so tiny. "Have a good shower."

She stood on my boots while on her tip toes, I of course, had to lean down as she kissed my cheek. We pulled apart and went our separate ways without saying another word.

I walked into the shower room and saw Reiner as he looked up at me. "There's the man himself! What happened bro?!" He said with excitement.

"I kissed her." I looked down and blushed. Reiner walked up and fist bumped me. "You go man, you gonna make her your girlfriend?"

I looked down at my boots and grabbed my arm. "I don't know Reiner, should I? I think I really like her."

Reiner walked up and put his arms on my shoulders. "Bert, she obviously likes you man. I think you should go for it. There's no way she can deny you."

"Yeah, maybe you're right. It feels so weird though. Usually I'm so quiet, but I can't help but talk when I'm around her. She's just so beautiful." I looked up and sighed.

"Bert, I think you've gone and gotten yourself deep in this." He chuckled.

"It's just that, what we did to her. It's our fault Reiner! I didn't even want to go on that stupid mission!" I turned and punched the wall.

Reiner looked up in shock. "Bert. I know we did this. We'll take full responsibility for it when the time comes. But right now you have to stop living in the past. If you want this to happen and be happy, you have to live for now man."

"Yeah I know, you're right. But I could never tell her. That's our biggest secret! But I can't not tell her!"

He looked down at my now bleeding knuckles. "Look Bert, just promise me you won't tell her unless you absolutely have to, okay?"

I looked down at my best friend. "I promise I won't Reiner."

Both of our heads shot straight up as we heard the girls on the other side of the wall squeal and yell quite loud.

Reiner started to laugh. "Well, hope you didn't want to keep her a secret!"

(Hey guys! Comment and let me know what you think!)