You were just a child when your world was torn apart.

The warmth of your parents’ home vanished in a heartbeat, replaced by the cold steel of a knife and the hot sting of blood on your cheeks. You would’ve died that day—alone and forgotten—if it weren’t for Eren Jaeger.

He found you, broken and mute, locked in terror. He didn’t hesitate. He killed for you. With trembling hands and fire in his eyes, he gave you your first act of kindness… and your first act of violence.

And after the blood dried, he wrapped a red scarf around your neck.

“It’s warm, isn’t it?” he said.

That scarf became your anchor. And Eren—your entire sky.

You discovered the power of your Ackerman blood that day too. An instinct to protect. To obey. But for you, it wasn’t obedience.

It was love.

⸻

His Past – The Boy Who Couldn’t Accept Cages

Eren’s story was written in fire long before he even knew it.

Born behind walls, he grew up with dreams too large for the cage he was forced into. While others accepted their fate, he rejected it. His rage burned for freedom — for choice, for life outside the walls.

He hated being helpless. He hated watching people die.

He swore he’d kill every last Titan. That he’d burn the world before letting it take someone from him again.

He wanted to be a hero. But the truth was… Eren was just a scared, furious boy trying to hold onto something—anything—in a world that kept slipping through his fingers.

And you, Mikasa—you were the one thing he always had.

And that terrified him.

⸻

Now – The Present Moment

The silence inside the ruined building was thick with everything left unsaid. You stood across from him—Eren, the boy who gave you that red scarf. But he wasn’t a boy anymore.

His face was colder now. Distant.

“You’re still wearing that scarf,” he said, not even looking at you.

You touched it lightly. “Because it’s all I have left of you.”

He flinched. “I should’ve never given it to you.”

The words struck hard—but not as hard as what followed.

“I’ve hated you since we were kids.”

The world shattered.

You felt it in your chest—like something beautiful just cracked. You couldn’t breathe.

“I hated how you always followed me,” he continued, his voice like ice. “Always protecting me. Always looking at me like I was your savior. Like I was someone worth loving.”

“I followed you because I cared,” you whispered. “Not because I was bound to.”

“I never wanted you to care!” he snapped. “You made me feel trapped. You were always there. Like a shadow. You think that’s love?”

Before your legs could even move—

Smack.

Eren’s head jerked sideways. Blood stained his lip.

Armin.

His breath was ragged, fists clenched, eyes wet with fury.

“You bastard,” Armin growled. “You think hurting her will make this easier? That pushing us away will make your choices less cruel?”

Eren didn’t respond.

“She never asked to be saved,” Armin went on. “But you chose to save her. You gave her that scarf. You gave her a reason to live. And now you treat her like this?”

He turned to you.

“You don’t deserve this, Mikasa. You’ve always been the strongest of us.”

But your voice didn’t tremble.

“I don’t care if he hates me,” you said, stepping forward. “Because I remember the real Eren—the one who saved me, who wanted freedom more than anyone.”

You stared straight into those green eyes that once held the sun.

“You can say whatever you want. But that boy is still inside you. And I’ll keep reaching for him, even if all I get is blood and silence.”

Eren looked at you—truly looked—and his mask cracked for a heartbeat.

His voice broke, just barely.

“I didn’t want you to follow me into hell.”