Eren hadn't been satisfied or happy about Reiner's admission today. At some point he'd been self-righteous about the perceived differences between them, about how he wasn't a traitor and he wasn't a murderer and and and.
Joke's always been on him.
Later in that dim basement knowing he was about to (win) raise hell, he only felt...necessary. He had been meaner and more dramatic than he had to be, transforming after taking Reiner's hand and helping him stand. That was cruel and he knows it. But he hadn't been pleased to know their similarities, to know Reiner's anguish.
At the beach the momentary victory he had was replaced with the knowledge that he shouldn't have done it that way. It was dirty and he doesn't need to play dirty anymore. Maybe it's old habits and maybe there's just something irrevocably twisted inside him. At least he tried to recover a little.
At least now he's making a concentrated effort to stay grounded in time so he doesn't fuck up Reiner's birthday of all things.
Reiner kisses his hand and he watches, eyes no longer distant. Reiner still treats him with softness so often. Eren himself doesn't know how to do that. Did he ever? Was he ever soft? Weak, sure. But soft? He can't remember now.
They could kiss right here on the street again and nothing about it would feel loaded, he thinks. They could just be two boys on a date like they aren't stained with blood. Like they haven't been at each other's literal throats. Like they're normal, human. He doesn't do that, but the realisation surprises him.
"Cheeseburgers," he manages to say. "They're amazing. It's like...a sandwich but it has grilled meat and melted cheese and stuff." He's not actually sure what all goes on it. Tomato? Some kind of sauce? Doesn't matter. The meat is actually the important part to him, since that was so scarce for so long.
"That doesn't sound anywhere near as good as it is. I bet somewhere here has them."
He turns and tugs Reiner's hand to follow down the street. He doesn't really know where they're going but that's fine. They were always planning to just wander until they found something that sounded good.
no subject
Joke's always been on him.
Later in that dim basement knowing he was about to (win) raise hell, he only felt...necessary. He had been meaner and more dramatic than he had to be, transforming after taking Reiner's hand and helping him stand. That was cruel and he knows it. But he hadn't been pleased to know their similarities, to know Reiner's anguish.
At the beach the momentary victory he had was replaced with the knowledge that he shouldn't have done it that way. It was dirty and he doesn't need to play dirty anymore. Maybe it's old habits and maybe there's just something irrevocably twisted inside him. At least he tried to recover a little.
At least now he's making a concentrated effort to stay grounded in time so he doesn't fuck up Reiner's birthday of all things.
Reiner kisses his hand and he watches, eyes no longer distant. Reiner still treats him with softness so often. Eren himself doesn't know how to do that. Did he ever? Was he ever soft? Weak, sure. But soft? He can't remember now.
They could kiss right here on the street again and nothing about it would feel loaded, he thinks. They could just be two boys on a date like they aren't stained with blood. Like they haven't been at each other's literal throats. Like they're normal, human. He doesn't do that, but the realisation surprises him.
"Cheeseburgers," he manages to say. "They're amazing. It's like...a sandwich but it has grilled meat and melted cheese and stuff." He's not actually sure what all goes on it. Tomato? Some kind of sauce? Doesn't matter. The meat is actually the important part to him, since that was so scarce for so long.
"That doesn't sound anywhere near as good as it is. I bet somewhere here has them."
He turns and tugs Reiner's hand to follow down the street. He doesn't really know where they're going but that's fine. They were always planning to just wander until they found something that sounded good.