~~~
~~~
A couple of days passed since Zeke's sudden arrival. Eren agreed to your terms of his brother's stay with reluctance. He understood where you were coming from, though. Armin was right about him respecting your decision.
Tonight you and your bandmates would meet your large friend group at a nice restaurant nearby. You stood in the bathroom attached to your room, styling your hair the way you wanted.
In the last two days, you received texts from a few of your curious friends. They all seemed very interested in who you were bringing to dinner. If only they knew it was the strong-willed girl you'd had a crush on for years.
Sasha and Connie put the pieces together and teased you relentlessly about 'bringing a date to dinner'.
You were nervous to see the reactions of your friends when you walked in with Mikasa. Unlike you, they didn't get a warning of her return.
Stepping back from the counter and smoothing down your outfit, you exhaled softly. You took one final glance at the mirror and left the bathroom.
Two blonds were arguing in the living room when you entered.
"What's going on?" you asked cautiously.
"We can't leave him alone in the house while we're out. He's like a child! He already broke two vases because he slipped while looking for spare change!" Armin explained. He was wearing a white dress shirt and black slacks. He ran a hand through his silk hair then placed both hands on his hips.
Zeke protested, "Y/n, you can trust me. Don't listen to him, he's delusional." He was still in his usual attire, a t-shirt, and jeans.
Armin's face turned red from anger. "Why you-"
"You broke my vases?" you interrupted.
"No."
"He did! I watched him do it the second time!"
You learned the hard way that messing with Armin was a death sentence. Especially when he was mad. The argument had to stop before it turned physical.
"Zeke, get dressed. You're coming with us, but you sit far away. You don't talk to us or our friends." You pointed a stern finger at him.
He pouted and groaned like a child before slumping his shoulders and stomping down the basement stairs.
Armin rubbed a hand over his face and, in an annoyed fashion, checked his watch. "Will they ever be done?"
You chuckled. "You're always the first one ready. Don't you know that by now?"
He rolled his eyes and fell back on the couch. "Shut it."
Eren appeared at the basement door, looking frustrated. In his hand, he held out the tie to the suit he was wearing. "How the hell do you tie this thing?"
Armin sighed and stood back up, his rest short-lived. They made their way over to him and began to walk him through each step while his eyebrows only furrowed more.
His long hair fell around his face as he tried his best to maneuver the tie correctly. His face lit up once he got it right.
"How have you gone this long without knowing how to tie a tie?" Jean leaned his head out of the hall bathroom, which you didn't even know he was in.
"Shut up, Kirstein. I get by." He glared.
Jean laughed and fully emerged from the bathroom wearing a beige suit vest and slacks. Underneath, he wore a cream-colored dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up. His hair was tied back in a short ponytail with a few strands falling loose.
Your eyes shifted back to Eren, who was struggling to put on his suit jacket and you stifled a laugh.
"Stop laughing! It's not funny." His words were hard to understand since he held around three bobby pins between his teeth.
You laughed some more despite his agitation. You were disrupted by the light clacking of heels on the stairs to the second story. Looking in that direction, you saw Mikasa walking down and you had to stop your mouth from dropping open.
She was wearing a simple tight black dress that reached just above her knees. Silver dangly earrings were in her ears and a dainty silver necklace hung around her neck. Her ring adorned fingers played with the hem of her dress. She smiled at you from across the room.
Eren bumped your hip and you nearly shrieked. His presence next to you had gone unnoticed until then. He snickered at you and nodded to Mikasa. You narrowed your eyes and tugged a lock of hair out of his bun.
His smirk dropped. "What'd you do that for? Now I have to do this all over again. Bitch." he grumbled the insult and left your side.
Mikasa walked over to where you stood. "Hi."
"Hi." You returned her smile.
She sucked a quiet breath. "You look nice."
You couldn't fight the grin that spread across your face at her simple compliment. "As do you."
She smiled again and you felt you might collapse from the surge of butterflies in your stomach.
Zeke came up from the basement, gaining everyone's attention. "What the hell are you wearing?" Eren chided.
He was adorned in a baby blue suit with ruffles decorating the dress shirt. You struggled to hold in your laughs, as did the woman beside you.
"Don't talk about it." Zeke lowered his eyes to the floor as Eren laughed loudly without shame.
"Marco's here to pick us up," Jean announced, shoving his phone into his pocket. He wanted to see Marco's reaction to Mikasa's homecoming at the dinner, but that dream was cut short when she answered the door to him the day prior. He was shocked, to say the least.
Sure enough, when you looked tho the front door, you could see the glare of Marco's headlights in the darkness.
He waved you all over to get in his car. Jean sat in the passenger seat, perks of dating the driver. In a backseat that was designed for three people, you were crammed inside with Armin, Eren, and Mikasa. Zeke was forced to ride in the trunk.
Mikasa was pressed up against your skin. In the confinement of the car, you could feel her warm breath tickling your shoulder whenever she spoke.
A shiver ran through your body and your hands gripped your knees. Nobody noticed, thank god. You were very grateful that the only light sources were phone screens and the button rims inside the car.
Everyone chatted mindlessly until Marco turned a corner into a parking lot. He parked the car near the entrance and got out with everybody following suit.
Once you were inside, you were greeted with the familiar smell of the restaurant. It was the one you always went to when meeting up with the group. You didn't know the owners, but Reiner did, and he was the one who planned these gatherings.
"Welcome to Galliard's!" greeted a blond man whose name tag read Colt. A look of recognition crossed his face. "Oh, it's you guys. Right, this way." He grabbed a menu for each person and led you to a large booth in the middle of the restaurant.
You took a good look at everyone. You all went to the same high school, some of you just didn't meet until later. Like you, Sasha, and Connie.
Five people were seated at the table. Two were missing. Ymir and Historia were late. Figures.
They all saw Mikasa looming behind you since each of them had some form of shock on their face. Several voices suddenly arose from the group.
"When did you get back? And why did I not hear about it?" voiced a betrayed Bertholdt.
"Mikasa, I didn't know you would be here," Annie said coolly.
"Oh my god, Mikasa!" Connie tried to act surprised.
"Mikasa! I had no idea you'd be here." It turns out Sasha was just as bad of an actor.
"This is your plus one, Y/n?" Reiner held a knowing expression.
"So no one is happy to see me?" Eren sounded hurt.
Reiner wasted no time standing up to pull you in for a hug. He pulled back after a few seconds and held you by the shoulders at an arm's length away. "Like the beard?" He gestured to his chin.
"Sure, Reiner, it suits you." You patted his shoulder and he returned your cheerful smile. He moved to talk to the others as Bertholdt came into your view.
When he hugged you, you noticed how much taller he was than you. You had to stand on your tip-toes to see over his shoulder. "What the hell, Bertholdt?" You fucking ladder," you blurted.
He laughed at your lovely way with words. "Hi, Y/n. It's been a while. I'm glad to see you're still doing well."
"It has. I feel like I haven't seen you in forever. How's it going at the school?"
"It's definitely going. I'll tell you about it in a second. You wanna sit down?" He moved to the side to let you slide into the booth. Mikasa was on your right and Bertholdt was on your left.
Everyone was seated except for Zeke, who stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to do. Eren told him to find someone to get him to a table. He just pushed up his glasses and left.
Across from you sat Sasha, Connie, and Jean who were laughing their asses off at something Marco said. Reiner, Eren, and Armin sat on the cushy bench across from Annie who sat on one of the three chairs pulled up to the table.
"So, Mikasa, when did you get back?" Annie asked.
"Earlier this week."
"What? You've been here that long and we didn't know?" Reiner gaped at her.
"We thought it'd be a nice surprise." You shrugged.
"I thought you were bringing a date. Or is she your date?" Connie teasingly wiggled his eyebrows while Sasha laughed loudly.
You blushed madly at his question. "Shut up, guys! You already knew I was bringing her, anyway."
"You knew?" Bertholdt's eyes boggled.
"No wonder you're so calm. Out of everyone I'd expect you two to go ballistic," Annie pointed out.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Connie lifted his arms in an attempt to appear threatening.
A new voice spoke, "It means you're an idiot." You looked up to see Ymir stood behind Annie's chair with one hand around Historia's shoulders and one in the pocket of her suit jacket.
"Ymir, hi!" You greeted and she raised an eyebrow.
"This is your date?" She chuckled.
"She's not my date," you grumbled, folding your arms. Ymir just snickered and sat in the chair next to Annie's, Historia sitting next to her.
"Quit it, Ymir. Is that all you have to say to someone we haven't seen in two years?" she scolded her girlfriend.
"How is it, Mikasa?" Ymir turned and asked.
"It's good. Glad to be back." She gave a small smile.
"That's good to hear! We're all happy you're back," Historia said with enthusiasm. Mikasa nodded in response.
You picked up your conversation with Bertholdt from earlier about his job. He was an elementary school teacher and from what he told you, he was very good at what he did.
Other conversations went on, jokes were told, and by the time the waitress came to the table for your orders, you'd caught up with everyone. The whole group was excited Mikasa came home and it showed.
Her hand brushed against yours multiple times under the table and your shoulders tensed up whenever they touched hers. She didn't seem to mind the contact. You wished she'd just take your hand since you were too scared to do so yourself.
Those moments of giddiness were short-lived because you noticed two familiar figures at a table toward the back.
Hitch smiled maliciously and waved at you while bringing her champagne glass to her lips. Marlo sat across from her on his phone, drumming his knuckles on the table.
Your eyes widen and you quickly move away from Mikasa, startling her.
"Are you okay, Y/n?" She placed a hand on your shoulder with a worried expression.
"I'll be right back." You brushed her hand off and shimmied out of the booth, heading to the bathroom.
You pushed the door open and luckily no one was inside. Your hands gripped onto the edge of the counter as your mind raced. What the hell were they doing here? Why tonight? Your blood was beginning to boil as you became angrier by the second.
The door swept open and in walked the woman of the hour. "Hello, Y/n," she sang.
"What are you doing here? Can I not have a meet-up with my friends without you riding my dick?" you sneered, looking at her in the mirror.
Shock flashed across her face and she let out a breathy laugh. "Such colorful language, Y/n! I didn't expect that from you!" She turned to face the sinks and your eyes met in the mirrors.
"What are you doing here, Hitch?"
"I'm having a nice dinner with my friend, that's what I'm doing. It just so happens you were here tonight as well," she said.
"So it's a coincidence? If you say so, I don't believe you."
"That's exactly what it is. You don't have to believe it, but it's the truth. I can promise I wasn't planning on spying on you tonight." She blew her bangs away from her face.
She honestly couldn't tell if she was lying or not but your anger level was rising quickly and you didn't know if you'd be able to stop yourself from saying something you would regret.
"What is your problem, Hitch? Seriously, have you nothing better to do? I haven't seen half of those people in months." You tore your eyes away from the mirror to fully look at her.
"I told you, Y/n. I wasn't here for you. I don't have a problem." She narrowed her eyes as she stood at her full height, facing you.
You scoffed. "Tell me what your problem is. I want to hear you say why you're doing all this. You never did give me an explanation."
"I don't have a problem."
"Yes, you do. Why did you follow me in here? Do you think you can intimidate me or something?"
"I know I can intimidate you. Stop acting like you're the one with the power right now. I'm the one who has the guts to tell people what we were. You wanna know my problem? My problem is you. You couldn't get over a stupid high school crush. You still aren't over it and it's fucking weak."
You backed away as she got angrier with every word she spat. She hesitated for a moment and inhaled sharply.
"What's weaker is how much I care. I gave a shit about you and you couldn't see that she didn't. I knew about your feelings the whole time. You think I'm dumb? I know you thought of me as a distraction. And I liked being your distraction. But you run away from everything. You're a fucking coward."
You were too shocked to even try to apologize. Your mouth fell open and tears pricked your eyes. Her breathing was ragged and her eyes were big. She blinked several times and the light caught a few wet streaks on her face when she turned her head.
"Hitch, I-"
"Please, don't say anything."
The state of shock you were sent into was broken when a sudden bang sounded outside of the bathroom.
Hitch looked desperate to get out of the situation, so she took the opportunity to bolt out of the bathroom. You took a moment to compose yourself before leaving to assure your friends you were okay.
The moment you stepped out of the bathroom, you stopped dead in your tracks when you were greeted with the jarring sight of Zeke seconds away from being punched in the face.
A man with short black hair was kneeling on Zeke's table with one hand gripping his collar and the other pulled back in fist.
"Zeke Jaeger right? You owe me a lot of money and my wedding ring," the man seethed and punched Zeke hard in the jaw.
He fell to the floor, clutching where he was hit. You stood there, stunned. Just as the man was bringing his leg forward to kick him, your instincts kicked in and you rushed to crouch in front of him. You braced yourself for the impact that never came.
"You'd really kick a woman?" an unfamiliar voice spoke.
You looked up and saw him being held back by a man with a slicked back undercut and a bomber jacket adorned with patches.
Eren and Mikasa were at your side in an instant with the others following closely behind.
"Are you okay, Y/n?" Mikasa put her hands on your shoulders and you nodded. Eren shot you a worried glance while tending to Zeke.
The short man was still being held back by the guy from before, but now someone new was at his side. He looked like bomber jacket dude but with a different hair color and style. He was trying to talk down the black-haired man.
Bomber jacket interrupted, "Look, dude, you're scaring my customers. We don't do that shit in here. One of my waitresses panicked and called the cops. They'll be here soon for you if you don't take this the fuck outside."
"Porco! Watch your language," the brunette hissed. 'Porco' glared at, who you assumed was, his brother.
Eren and Mikasa helped Zeke up and began to lead him out of the restaurant. You and the others followed, except Annie, Reiner, and Bertholdt who stayed to talk to the restaurant owners.
Once you had safely gotten outside, you sat Zeke down on a bench. Sasha managed to snag some napkins for his wound.
Everyone except for you, Eren, and Mikasa were seated on the sidewalk. You three were also on the bench.
The door to the restaurant was pushed open and two voices were heard. The short man was walking out and a taller blond man was lingering behind.
He noticed Zeke and stopped his mumbling. He pointed a shaky finger at him and his face contorted into a nasty glare.
"Where's my money, bitch?" he shouted.
"Levi, why don't you calm down before you do something again." The blond man said.
'Levi' scoffed. "I just want my money back. And my wedding ring. Where the fuck is my wedding ring?"
The color drained from Zeke's face. Levi yelled at him again, "Where the fuck is it?"
"I pawned it."
If looks could kill, Zeke would be dead. The pure anger that was displayed on the man's face was enough to make you cower.
"Let me at him!" Levi purged forward and Jean attempted to stop him, but just ended up on the concrete. He pushed past Eren and in the blink of an eye, Zeke was on the ground. He was getting the shit beat out of him in front of your eyes.
Your friends yelled at him to get off. The man who was following him tried to hold him back, but Levi seemed even angrier than he was inside the restaurant. Eren tried pulling Zeke away with help from Mikasa.
Sirens sounded in the distance and you knew they were growing closer with each passing second. The staff hadn't called off the police, you realized. "Guys," you called.
"I'm gonna kill you!"
The sirens were muffled by the yells.
"Stop, Levi!"
They were clearer.
"Get off him!"
They were loud.
"What the fuck is your problem?"
Blaring lights could be seen over the hedges.
"Get off my brother!"
"Guys!" you yelled over everyone. You pointed to the police cars that were now pulling into the parking lot.
'''''
𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 𝟑,𝟑𝟐𝟖
thank you so much for 3k! i forgot to write this note at the end when i published this the first time. it took me so long to get this chaptout but i think it was worth it. hope you enjoyed and stay safe <33
edit: omg i had to fix some bc wattpad messed up on my laptop