WARNING: This story will contain sexual depictions later on.

"What are you? An Easter Island statue?"

"You're one to talk. You look like The Hulk mated with a geisha or something."

"That's funny coming from someone who looks like a nose with legs."

"Still better than you and that freaky growth coming out of your neck."

Mikasa felt her eyebrow tick as she resisted the urge to touch her scarf. She wouldn't allow herself to be visibly bothered by the blonde and her snide remarks. Charcoal grey eyes battled silently with frosty blue with the insults hanging heavily in the air. Someone cleared their throat next to her and she broke the electric eye contact to look at the source of the incredibly uncomfortable noise.

Armin stared at her with uncertainty when she looked at him. Her expression did not change though she softened her gaze slightly. He cleared his throat again and smiled brightly, as if he were trying to clear the tense fog. "So, Mikasa, are you coming or not?"

They had been sitting in the cafeteria for lunch when Reiner mentioned that he was throwing a party. He had explained through mouthfuls of ham sandwich that he was inviting them all because his parents wouldn't be home for the weekend and there would be enough alcohol to go around. Mikasa had been about to accept the invitation when Annie had quietly said something about there being no room for bulky losers. It had turned into quiet jabs gradually getting louder and more heated although neither of them looked anything but bored. No one had the courage to interrupt them until the tense lull in verbal assault. Even Eren was staring desperately into his mashed potatoes, so he wouldn't make eye contact. No onegot in their way.

Mikasa didn't even hesitate before confirming and stood as the warning bell rang. She and Annie had this class together and it had been a silent challenge to get there before her every time. She made her way down the hall, her long legs carrying her farther than Annie's short ones. Everything they did involving each other was a contest. They wanted to see who could do more, handle more, until one of them breaks. It hasn't happened yet and no one is really sure what will happen then.

Their eyes locked on opposite sides of the hall. Mikasa saw Annie dodge swiftly around oncoming hall traffic and swiftly move toward the door. No. I have to keep fighting. If I don't fight I can't win or something like that. She lunged forward, stoic expression still in place. They were both neck and neck for the door. Someone shouted something across the hall that started a plague of cruel sounding laughter. Mikasa stopped suddenly realizing that Annie was no longer racing. Sharp grey eyes scanned the crowded hall until they landed on the small blonde girl. Her face was flushed red and her hands were fisted by her sides. As soon as their eyes met she seemed to snarl at Mikasa and pushed her way into the room first, slamming her backpack on her desk.

What's wrong?

What happened?

Why do you look like you're about to cry?

Of course Mikasa didn't ask that. Instead she sat at her own desk, glancing occasionally at Annie whose expression was as bored as ever though she was tapping her foot under the desk rhythmically. When the bell rang Annie was gone before Mikasa could even get out of her seat. She didn't show up for the rest of their classes that day. She stopped Armin and Bertholdt in the halls.

"You both know Annie, right?" When they nodded hesitantly she pushed on. "Do you know why she's acting so weird?"

They shook their heads and Armin spoke up. "Why? What happened?"

Mikasa tugged on her scarf thoughtfully. "We were trying to get to class first and someone yelled something in the hall and she just stopped and looked upset."

"Who's upset?" Eren struggled into view as Jean held him in a choke hold. Reiner followed close behind with a mischievous grin plastered on his face.

"Annie," Bertholdt was sweating again, "Mikasa, you said someone said something?"

"Yeah, from across the hall."

"It was probably Thomas and his horde, then." He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "They like to make fun of her acne."

She cringed inwardly. Annie was one of the unlucky ones who hadn't grown but had still produced all the oil necessary. It had resulted in a vicious battle between her and her face using god knows what to fend off the cursed spots.

"Really? Just a little remark about her face brings her down?" Eren laughed loudly and wheezed when Jean tightened the hold. "Maybe she's not as tough as we thought."

Mikasa stared at him blankly until he began to squirm uncomfortably and apologized. No. She's tough. Tougher than a lot of people. She remembered the look on her face when it happened. The way she looked angry and vulnerable all at once. The cute way her nose wrinkled. Wait, what? She remembered it clearly. Whenever she was irritated her nose would wrinkle. It was her tell. Even when she would stay straight faced her nose would wrinkle ever so slightly. Mikasa felt heat rising to her cheeks and she cleared her throat.

"Everyone has a weakness, Eren. Yours is your anger, and Annie just happens to be sensitive about her face." She was so thankful her voice was as calm as it normally was.

Eren nodded as best he could with Jean's arm around his neck, looking humbled. "Sorry, Kasa," He choked out. Jean nodded behind him, glaring at the back of his head.

"What are you even doing?" Armin had finally spoken up after gaping at the two struggling in the hall.

"Well," Jean started, "Reiner, Eren, and I were walking down the hall on our way from class. Eren was being an idiot and Reiner was helping him, so nothing out of the ordinary right?" Eren growled an struggled against Jean. "So, this asshole," He choked Eren for emphasis, "Tripped right into Mr. Levi." The group flinched at the name. "Knocked his coffee onto his shirt and he gave us both," He grit his teeth and struggled not to kill Eren, "detention for a week."

Reiner looked like he was suffocating behind them. His face was red and his shoulders were heaving with suppressed laughter. Armin sent him a pointed look laced with amusement. "Reiner, is that really what happened?"

"Yeah, except," He choked back strangled laughter. "Eren tripped on my foot that I just happened to put in front of him while I was walking." Eren and Jean turned simultaneously to face him. "P-pure coincidence, heh." Now Reiner was the one sweating nervously. Bertholdt watched him with pity in his eyes.

He could barely turn to run before Eren and Jean pounced on him, yelling something about how they would have to clean the whole school with a toothbrush for a week. While Armin and Bert roared with laughter, Mikasa slipped away to head home before Eren. She loved her brother, but she wasn't waiting around for him to get out of one of Levi's detention. She turned a corner quickly and nearly knocked into a small blonde figure.

"Watch it, Ackerman," Her voice was bored but it was laced with annoyance.

They stared at each other. She couldn't help but admire the way Annie's eyes weren't just one shade of blue. Annie began to look the slightest bit uncomfortable under her apathetic expression. Mikasa blinked slowly, managing to keep a straight face while fighting a blush. It was quiet for a few moments longer.

"Whatever you say, Leonhardt," She sighed inwardly, relieved for the second time today about her voice.

Annie grunted and trudged deeper into the school, away from her. Mikasa rolled her eyes when she passed and finally walked out the doors. She reached in her pocket for her iPod and frowned. She had her phone, but her iPod and earbuds were nowhere to be found. She groaned, vaguely remembering using it in drawing class, and hurried back into the school to get it.

Muffled voices greeted her when she turned down the art hall. They were coming from the drawing room. When she reached the door she could make out a mocking tone and brutish cackling followed by another, more familiar voice. Mikasa opened the door to see exactly what she expected. Thomas and his idiots were crowded around Annie, who looked vaguely uninterested except for her clenched fists and tense form.

Thomas turned to see who had joined them. A sly grin covered his face when he saw Mikasa. "Oh look, Leonhardt, Ackerman came to help us play connect the dots with your face."

Mikasa wanted to punch him right where he stood, but she stifled the urge. Obviously, he assumed that since she and Annie were always at each other's throats, she would want to get in on the bullying. Her face was blank as she strolled next to Annie. She glared up at her with a look that would have frozen anyone else solid. Mikasa had to fight a small smile when she saw her face. There's that wrinkle. She's pissed. She allowed herself a small smirk, Annie's brows scrunched as she glowered at the taller girl. Good.

"Wow, Annie. I didn't think these evolutionary rejects would give you so much trouble." Annie's eyes widened slightly as she betrayed the slightest bit of surprise.

"Yeah, well, I don't make it a habit to fight the mentally challenged."

The loud guffaws from the idiots slowly turned into disgruntled grumbles as they realized Mikasa wouldn't help them. Thomas stepped forward so he and Mikasa were nearly chest to chest. "What was that?"

Mikasa kept her bored grey eyes locked on his. "I think he's deaf too."

Annie snorted derisively. "It's probably a good thing, since he can't tell how stupid he sounds." Thomas' group chuckled nervously, waiting for their leader.

His face was turning red and his fists clenched at his sides. "What are you? The freak super hero wannabe squad?" He barked out a laugh. "I mean we've got Captain Pizza Face and Commander Stone Scarf." He glanced back at his group and laughed. They looked a little embarrassed for him, but offered what sounded vaguely like a chuckle.

"What are they doing in here, anyway?" Mikasa kept her tone light, but her eyes were now boring holes into Thomas' skull.

"I came to get my work from Ms. Ral, they came in after me and started pushing me around and talking out of their asses," She shrugged and sent a defiant look to the taller girl, "Nothing I couldn't handle."

She didn't comment, just continued to stare at the boy in front of her. He was obviously beginning to crumble under her stare. The room's silence was broken after a long moment. "Pushed you around?" Her voice was smooth and hard, laced with the vaguest hint of venom. Annie could definitely handle herself in a fight against them. I shouldn't even be angry. I should be laughing at the thought. But she was angry and she was not laughing.

She could practically feel Annie's confusion. "Yeah. So what?" She glanced between Mikasa and the now terrified boy. "I could've kicked their asses if I thought they were worth the effort."

"L-look, Ackerman, it was a mistake." He laughed nervously, "An unfortunate coincidence."

"Kinda like your birth," She said it so smoothly and calmly that it took everyone a second to register what they heard.

Annie, at this point, was struggling not to laugh. Thomas looked stunned as he and his group shuffled out the door, mumbling something about how they were too busy to deal with them. Mikasa walked over to the table she had used during class and gathered her missing iPod. She could feel Annie's eyes on her as she started toward the door.

"Why did you do that?" Annie's tone was bored but the confusion was obvious in her features.

Mikasa shrugged. "That was too far. You know, them making fun of your acne like that."

She nodded silently watched Mikasa with something more than boredom. "See you at the party, then." She exited the room without looking back.

Mikasa allowed herself a small smile and busied herself with her scarf. "Yeah." She knew it was a thank you. "See you."