THIRTEEN • Eren Jaeger

CHAPTER 5: Loop Three, I

"Interesting, that means Mikasa—you're up next," said Sasha. "Truth or dare?"

"I'm not playing," she protested.

"You're no fun."

"Fine," Mikasa said. "Truth."

"Who would you go out on a date with in the 104th?"

For the tiniest, briefest millisecond, Mikasa's grey eyes darted at Eren beside her, but she covered it up skillfully. Something like a knife pushed through your chest, something you'd never really felt before until now.

Jealousy.

You'd spent so much time knowing that Jean and Mikasa were meant to be, that you'd forgotten what the path could diverge into if some things did or did not happen. Maybe there was a timeline where Mikasa had fallen in love with Marco, or Annie with Jean. The thought was absurd but anything was possible.

"I'd go out with Armin," Mikasa said plainly.

It was obvious that she only said his name because he was the safest option.

"Truth," Armin said quickly. "I don't feel like doing a dare at the moment."

"Of course you'd say that." Ymir rolled her eyes. "Armin, who would you punch in the face in this room?"

"Eren."

"That's how you know you're real chummy with each other," Ymir said. "Boring. Next!"

A tension shifted in the room as you looked at him.

"'Ren," you said brightly. "Truth or dare?"

Jean brought his fists to his shoulders and made a flapping gesture at Erem, quietly hissing, "Chicken."

Eren threw him a dirty look and forcefully said, "Dare."

Finally.

"Eren," you said smugly. "I dare you to kiss the prettiest girl in this room."

Triumph. At last. You had been getting impatient. Eren would kiss Historia, the prettiest girl in the room, and you'd get the ball rolling. Eren would know everything young, free from the grief of being older. One kiss. He did tell you before that the moment he kissed Historia's hand was the moment he learned everything.

Wolf whistles. Armin quieted the group's teasing, afraid that it would wake up the commander, but even he looked mildly interested, holding his breath with anticipation as he glanced between you and Eren. You knew what they must be thinking. It must have looked like you wanted to find out who Eren liked. You shuddered. The thought was unsettling; Eren was your best friend.

"God," Eren muttered, uncharacteristically nervous, "[Name], are you obsessed with kissing or something?"

He tried to cover up his emotions, but you could see redness creeping up his neck, warm against the firelight. You didn't say anything. You raised your eyebrows, just a little bit, friendly teasing. Eren huffed at you.

"Fine. Whatever."

A jig played in your head.

You pointedly looked at Krista, who looked taken aback by your gaze, as you waited for Eren to get up and kiss her dazzling face or dainty knuckles or whatever, you didn't really care. You were breathless, and oxygen ran out as you realized that you'd waited for a second too long and Eren was not leaning over to Historia.

Instead, you felt a hand cup your cheek.

Your head was redirected from Krista, so you were facing Eren's green eyes, twinkling in the firelight. His fingertips held your chin, so you couldn't look away.