As you lied on the ground under a tree, you heard the birds chirping as you closed your eyes until you heard someone walking.

You opened your eyes and saw a young girl with pale skin, grey eyes, and shaggy black hair looking at you.

"Hi Mikasa. Did Mom send you to look for me?"

Mikasa: "Yeah, me and Eren. I didn't think you'd run all the way out here."

"It's quiet."

You heard running from afar, and you got up off the grass to see Eren.

Eren: "Hey, next time, could you not go this far? My legs are about to give out. I'm not like you both yet."

"Sorry. You can lay down next to me if you want."

Eren did so and Mikasa joined in as well.

"By the way, why do you both smell like... fuel?"

Eren: "You can thank your dad for that. He was working on one of his experiments and it exploded, with the smell getting all over us."

"Well, he is trying to make a new formula."

Suddenly, the ground shook and you three are surprised until it stopped after a minute.

Mikasa: "Another earthquake?"

"Is it me, or have they been happening more often lately?"

Eren: "They've been happening more often. I've been seeing more people pack up and leaving."

Mikasa: "Should we tell your families to do the same? I'm concerned about this. I don't want anything bad happening to either of you."

"No need to worry too much, Mikasa. We aren't going to let anything happen. After all, we're ready to take on whatever life throws at us."

Mikasa: "I'll still protect you both."

"Very well, but don't think we're weak."

Eren: "Yeah."

Mikasa: "Very well, but we're in it together."

Eren: "Okay, why don't we head home? You can pay us back by letting me and Mikasa stay at your house for tonight."

"Fair enough," you chuckled. "I'll even get mom to make you both dinner."

Mikasa: "Race you both there!"

You and Eren got up and started chasing after her.

Eren: "Hey, that is so not fair!"

"You won't be ahead of us for too long!"

The three of you laughed as you raced back to your house.

Some years later....

Now a teenager, you are sitting on your bed, looking at your arms, which now have several markings on them like tattoos. Outside, you heard footsteps and a pair of hands gently held yours.

You looked up and saw a grown-up Mikasa, just as a grown-up Eren stopped by the door.

Eren: "Hey guys, we're going to be late."

Mikasa: "Y/N, I'm going to protect you and Eren."

"...I know you will."