No Name [Ereri/Riren Fanfic] [COMPLETED]

Chapter Twenty-Four

     The whole ordeal with Erwin had pushed back our next album's release along with the tours and concerts. So in place of those everyone, including myself, within No Name had to prepare for and participate in the trials that would convict Erwin of rape and child molestation. Our identities came to light due to the trials but none of us minded it in the least. So long as we could remain a band, a family, for at least one more year then we'd gladly give up our real names and faces.

     Many times I had to take the stand in the court room and many times I had to feel Erwin's ever-lingering stare as I did so. His gaze made me uncomfortable, angry, and disappointed all over again, but it only made my account and my answers for the prosecutor all the more appealing to the jury. After about five or six days of this torment, the jury had finally come to a decision and had named Erwin Smith guilty of his crimes as damning evidence of his involvement in his wife's murder had been brought to light during one of the many sessions the band and I had to endure.

     Finally freed from the public's grasp, we decided to take a couple week to ourselves before we'd go back to recording. Of course, Eren and I didn't take those weeks off but instead worked on an exclusive song for the brunet's father. In the end I only remained by his side as support and gave him ideas along the way, but I didn't mind at all. The song he had prepared for his father is meant to reach him in the audience, so Eren was hoping it would clear some sense into him after these years. Deep down, I was rooting for both of them.

     Months flew by before we knew it and our first concert was approaching fast. It was expected for Eren to feel the nervousness rushing through him since he was still new to the band, so I did all I could to comfort him.

     "Hey, hey! Listen to me; listen to my voice." He nodded in my hold. "My first time on stage petrified me in more ways than one, but once I took position everything became silent. I could hear my mother's voice from far away, cheering me on. She's what keeps me going and she's my reason for chasing after music." I pressed our foreheads together. "Find your reason and everything will become clear and empty."

     He let go of a shuddered sigh as his hands closed around my own, of which cupped his face. The cheering of the crowd in the audience began to grow louder as the announcer introduced our band and had given us clearance to get on stage. I looked at everyone within my band and gave each of them a small nod.

     "Right then. If this is to be our last concert and tour together, let's blow them away."

     "Right." The others responded in synchronization. 

     Taking in a deep breath and letting go of it, I led the band onto the stage. The spotlights had begun to warm me from the cold AC in the rest of the building as I made my way to the microphone. The cheers became clear as they had begun chanting my name over and over before doing the same with the others. I had spotted two of Eren's friends, Mikasa and Armin, but I couldn't find his father anywhere. I glanced at him but he only gave a grim look before looking back into the crowd before us. Looking behind me, Miche and Hanji had both given me a nod in affirmation that they were ready to perform. I turned back to Eren but he kept his gaze in one direction. To get his attention I had to clear my throat before beginning my announcement for the audience.

     "Thank you all for coming and showing your support despite all that has happened since we last performed. Seeing as we have lost our manager this may be our last concert and tour together, so being able to perform for you all one last time, on air too, is a great honor. This band was originally created to help myself along with my closest friends and our newest member from our own troubles and trauma from our past, thus we discarded our identities to runaway from those pasts. Now that they have been revealed we've had to change something else, so we hope you all will humor us." Swallowing back some oncoming tears, I raised an arm to acknowledge Eren. "Most of tonight's music was written by our newest member and composed by him with help from the rest of us, so can we get a round of applause for Eren Jaeger before we begin?!"