The Heart of Humanity

Chapter 7: The Truth

CONTENT WARNING

This chapter contains discussions of past trauma.

Reader discretion is advised.

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Eva woke with a start, cringing when she sat up too fast. She blinked a few times, the unfamiliar room coming into focus and the events of the evening rushing back to her. This must be Erwin's bedroom, but there was no Erwin around. She crossed her legs, taking in deep slow breaths and noticed her freshly bandaged hand. The pain was dull, but it helped ground her.

"Fuck," She muttered. She glanced out the window, the sun still hadn't risen but a few hours must have passed. She slid out of the bed, taking a moment to stabilize herself. The sedation had run its course and left her feeling parched and nauseous. She felt ready to talk, she figured she owed at least that to the man that had saved her.

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Erwin glanced up from his desk when his bedroom door opened, smiling slightly when he saw Eva on her feet. She had folded up the sleeves of the shirt she was borrowing, and was twisting the hem as she hesitantly met his gaze.

"How are you feeling?" He asked. Eva bit her lip, glancing away.

"I-I know it's late, but can we talk?" Erwin was relieved to hear her voice and nodded. He stood, pouring two glasses of water from the pitcher he retrieved earlier, just in case. Eva took a seat on the couch and Erwin sat beside her. He set down the glasses and kept a little space between them as he angled himself to face her. Eva pulled up her legs to cross them on the couch.

"Th-Thanks for the shirt and I'm sorry about your mirror."

"Don't apologize, it's easy enough to fix," He assured her, silence falling between them as she released a few slow breaths. Erwin waited patiently for Eva to speak first, wanting to give her full control over the conversation.

"I think you know that we've been lying to you," She began. Erwin was a little surprised, not at the assumption but that she was able to read him as well as he'd been trying to read her. It made him realize what he knew - at least about her - she had let out purposely because he had done the same.

"And-and I think because of that you know that I gave up on it after my peace offering," She continued, finally meeting his gaze. Erwin held it, debating on what to say next, and decided on the truth.

"I know why your brother is here, for my life and for a document that incriminates Lord Lovof. I know he hired him, but I'll admit I don't know your place in all of this," He explained. Eva nodded along as she listened.

"But I did notice that you seemed to have given up on whatever your job was," He confirmed.

"I was to get close to you and collect information. The documents I guess, but I didn't know it was for that idiot." Anger flashed in her eyes.

"Not that it mattered, I wasn't going to follow through."

"Why?" He asked, and noticed her cheeks tint pink as she watched him.

"You're smart Erwin, and incredibly observant. I'm sure you know why."

"I don't imagine having a crush on me is enough to go against your brother," He replied. Eva sighed, glancing at her hands in her lap.

"It's not just some dumb crush," She replied shortly, a little annoyed but Erwin couldn't be more pleased. That her glances and flirting hadn't just been in his head or an elaborate part of their plan to kill him.