Spotter

Last Chance

Real quick! I don't think I've said it before, but Jean is aged up in this fic. In my mind, he is 22 and Y/N is about 24.

-Parks 🖤

"Reiner!" Mikasa, Armin, and Jean all gasped in unison.

"For fuck's sake, Reiner," Y/N sighed and rubbed her eyes.

Connie's face gave away no emotion. He stared at the table in defeat. They must have given him so much shit for that, Y/N thought. Connie sighed and looked down at his lap.

"He has really muscular thighs..." Connie mumbled under his breath, but it was loud enough.

Y/N cringed and squeezed her eyes shut. Eren jumped up so quick that he almost knocked his chair over. While Reiner was howling with laughter, Mikasa and Armin shared looks of shock. Their eyes were wide, and their mouths hung open. Jean was now the one rubbing his eyes as everyone else devolved into laughter.

"Well. After discussing my boyfriend's thighs as a group, I'm gonna leave," Y/N laughed and stood up. "See you guys later."

They all said their goodbyes through their chuckles as Y/N walked away. When she walked into the hallway, she smiled to herself and shook her head. They were ridiculous, but she meant everything she said. Y/N was so grateful for all of them.

"Y/N!"

Y/N stopped and turned around to see Jean catching up to her.

"Jean?"

He looked pale and more stressed than before. As he stopped in front of Y/N, he rubbed the back of his head.

"Sorry to startle you."

"It's okay," Y/N paused for Jean to continue, but when he didn't, she said, "So... Is everything alright?"

"Oh, uhm... right, so..."

Jean was starting to make Y/N nervous. She wasn't used to him stumbling over his words like this. In an attempt to calm him, Y/N grabbed his hand with both of hers and smiled softly at him.

"What's going on?" She asked.

Jean avoided her eyes and looked at his feet instead. He took a deep breath, and on his exhale, he stumbled over the words, "Are you really happy with him?"

Y/N blinked and turned her head. "What?"

"I'm sorry. I know this is out of the blue, but Mikasa was right. I might not get another chance, and you almost died on the last mission we went on. I just want to know that you're genuinely happy with him."

Y/N pressed her lips together and furrowed her eyebrows. She didn't like where this was going.

Don't say it. Don't say it. Tell me you're worried about me as a friend. Please.

Jean sighed. "I love you, Y/N. I have for so long, and I'm sorry I'm telling you now. I regret not telling you sooner every single day."

Y/N looked down at his hand that she was still holding. His friendship was dear to her, and the prospect of losing it made her feel sick. But she loved Erwin.

She released her grip on his hand until it slipped from her grasp. Her own hands dropped to her sides where they hung limp.

"Jean... I'm sorry. I-"

"Y/N?" Erwin's voice reached around Jean.

Y/N looked up searching for his familiar blue eyes. Erwin got defensive. Not because she was talking to Jean or even holding his hand. He was angry at the hurt that he saw scrawled across her face.

Erwin turned to glare at Jean, who somehow got even more pale.

"Excuse me, Commander. Y/N," Jean looked at Y/N for an extra second, hoping she would look at him. Just once.

But only Erwin was looking at Jean. Y/N was zoned out, staring ahead trying to process the information.

"Let's go, little one," Erwin wrapped his arm around her shoulders. As he steered her away, he didn't stop looking at Jean. Not until Jean turned and walked away.

Y/N wrapped her arms around Erwin's torso as they walked down the hall. Erwin didn't push her to talk, and Y/N didn't offer anything up. The walk to his office was quiet, and Y/N kept her arms around him the entire time.

Once they made it inside, Erwin sat on the couch.

"Lay down," he patted his lap.

Y/N laid her head in his lap and stretched out her legs. Her eyes fluttered closed when he ran his fingers along her scalp.

I love him so much.

"Jean told me he loves me. So... obviously that upset me," Y/N chuckled dryly.

She could feel the muscles in Erwin's thighs tighten. I hate that Connie was right.

"Why were you sad?" Erwin sounded like he didn't actually want to ask the question, let alone hear the answer.

"Because I'm scared I'm going to lose that friendship."

"Oh."

Y/N turned her head to look up at him. His head was tilted up to avoid her gaze.

"'Oh' what?"

Y/N sat straight up when a single chuckle escaped Erwin.

"Are you laughing at me?!" Y/N was offended.

"No," he chuckled again. "No, I swear. I'm sorry. It's a laugh of relief." He took a deep breath and stopped laughing. "For a second, I thought I might have to deal with you leaving me for Kirstein."

He laughed again than composed himself. Y/N was putting in genuine effort to not laugh with him. He's such a shit.

"He's not going to want to be friends with me, after I reject him," Y/N whined.

She laid her head back in his lap, and Erwin resumed playing with her hair.

"I'm sorry, little one. Losing a friendship can hurt as much as losing a romantic relationship."

"I love you, Erwin." Y/N snuggled her head into his now soft thigh.

Erwin smiled down at her, and his heart clenched. I don't think she understands how much I love her.

"I would do anything for you." Erwin brushed his knuckles along her cheekbone. "I was thinking we could go to the Wall this afternoon, just the two of us."

Y/N looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "Just the two of us?"

"Yes," Erwin chuckled. "Everyone will meet us there tomorrow. And if you want, we can sleep on top of the Wall."

Y/N could hear the excitement in his voice.

"Can we leave now?"

This time Erwin barked out a laugh. "I still have to meet with Hange and Levi to finalize the schedule. We can leave after lunch."

Y/N turned her head to kiss his thigh. "Stop being so nice."

You could be dead by tomorrow night, Y/N wanted to say, but kept it to herself.

"I love you."