There Is Freedom Here

Chapter 9: Behind the Curtain

Staring at the worn-out wetsuit that the employees had offered you after you signed the waiver, you placed your phone and purse in the locker in front of you. Bending over to pick up the wetsuit from the metal bench, you stared at the material that appeared to be hard to put on. You took a deep breath and glanced at the shut lockerroom door before unclothing yourself.

After a good ten minutes of attempting to put on the piece of clothing, you exited the locker room with moist feet from the leftover shower water that sent a shiver down your spine. Sun greeted your face as you let the heavy door shut closed and your skin, under the cold, damp wetsuit felt a bit of relief.

You saw Eren sitting on a similar bench from the locker room bench outside, his wetsuit not even zipped up yet. You furrowed your eyebrows and sat next to him, bringing your phone out as you did so.

"Why is your wetsuit halfway down?"

You leaned back to spare a glance at his back to see his bareback. It was perfect in almost every way. He had good posture along with no flaws*,-- scars, stretch marks, and anything in between were nowhere to be found.

Maybe the absence of those qualities was because of his ability to regenerate? You nodded, that must be it.

"I couldn't figure how to reach the zipper." He turned around and pointed at the zipper at the very bottom of his back.

"There's a strap that helps you zip yourself up. Here, I'll just do it. Stand up real quick."

Eren stood up in front of you but didn't face the other way. Now you were staring at his v-line, something that you didn't notice before because he was sitting down.

You cleared your throat after noticing the valley of hair leading down to the bottom portion of his wetsuit.

"Turn around."

Eren obeyed and you grabbed the black strap that was connected to the zipper. You dragged it from the bottom of his back to above his head and double-checked to make sure it was completely zipped.

"Ah, thanks."

The same blonde woman who had picked the two of you from the crowd peeked her head from around a large door that led to the stage.

"You two ready?"

"Yup."

"The man at the desk has your waivers, right?"

"Yes."

--

You read the waiver and reached the part where it confirmed whether you could swim or not. You glanced at Eren beside you, blankly staring at the identical piece of paper.

"Eren, it's asking whether you're able to swim or not."

"It can't be that hard."

"It's not, once you get the hang of it."

"I'll be fine. You worried?"

"Of course! I don't want you to drown in front of hundreds of people!" you whispered harshly, trying to not gain the attention of anybody around you.

"I'll just hang on to the dolphin."

"I'm not sure about this, Eren."

He sighed and leaned back in the office chair. You chewed on your nail as you unknowingly stared at his face.

"I'll be fine, you just have to trust me."

--

"Ladies and gentleman, do you remember the couple we called out at the beginning of the show?" The blonde woman, Carol, said.