Complications Throughout Generations

Chapter 76

Eren's POV:

Shockingly, he left me alone at school. But he didn't dare ask me to come see him. In fact, we haven't talked at all. It's been an excruciating couple weeks but hopefully something good will come out of it. But if I'm being honest, it feels like nothing has been going right since that night.

"I don't know," Jean shook his head, "she's just seemed distant." Jean and Mikasa troubles. I'm shocked she even let that happen. Sometimes we have boys nights. This was one of those. We all gather up in Jean's basement and either talk shit or talk about our girl problems. Or in my case, boy problems. I came out to everyone in 8th grade. No one, and I mean no one was surprised.

"You were probably being annoying as shit like you usually are." Reiner laughed.

"Remember how I supposedly beat the shit out of you that one time? I will do that again." Mikasa must've told him that one because I know I most certainly don't remember that. But I wish I did.

"Yeah, that was pretty crazy." Connie laughed. Jean shot him an evil glare and the laughing ceased.

"I don't think you've done anything wrong." Armin said. Always the smart and sensible one. Him and Annie have been off and on. This is just my opinion, he deserves to be treated like a king because all he's done is spoil that girl and love her unconditionally but she always has that sour face on. I suggested he tried to go for Historia but then Reiner looked like he was ready to transform and throw me into a building. "The only thing she's ever said was that you hang out with Marco a lot." My eyes nearly popped out of my skull. I couldn't help but feel like that was selfish of Mikasa to say. She knows how much Jean missed Marco. He didn't even know who Marco was when he met him. Marco was homeschooled so he was new to Sina Rose. On top of that, Marco was never in any of the history books. So Jean had absolutely no idea who he was. Of course, they just clicked.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Jean was disappointed. "God forbid I have another friend."

I felt my phone buzz in my pocket. Definitely a text.

Reiner - Talking about Marco makes me feel like shit

Eren - Why?

Reiner - Because that's pretty much why Jean punched me in the face last time

I set my phone down and covered my mouth to hide my gasp. So it all comes full circle.

"I don't think it's about Marco." Connie shrugged, taking Doritos out of the bag and shoving them in his mouth. "Probably just having a phase."

"Tell me about it." Armin rolled his eyes and laid down.

"What's going on with you and Annie?" Bertolt timidly asked. Of course he wants to know.

"Same thing. Distance. Wants to be alone, calls me and tells me to come over, wants to be alone, calls me and tells me to come over." He sighed.

"What do you guys even do?" Jean asked.

I looked over at Armin's face and it went red.

"Armin." I gasped. "Are you a virgin?"

Connie started to choke on his Doritos and pounded his chest with his fist. "You and Annie have been fuck buddies this whole time?!"

Armin sat up and panicked. "It's not like that, I swear."

"Friends with benefits?" Reiner smirked.

"S-sure." He stuttered.

"I cannot believe you lost your virginity before me." Connie laughed. We all looked at him like he was dumb, which he is.

"Bro, you won't fuck anyone unless it's Sasha." I laughed. I think I probably get on him the most with his feelings towards Sasha. He went to speak but closed his mouth.

"What about you, Jaeger?" Jean asked. "Would you go for anyone besides Levi? That hasn't happened yet, has it?"

I groaned and shook my head. "Second base is as far as it's gotten." Then Jean smirked.

"Who's the bottom?" He asked.

"That's confidential." I was beat red in the face.

"Oh come on, Eren." Connie laughed.

"What happens in the bedroom, stays in the bedroom."

"Lame." Then he throws another chip in his mouth.

"What about you, Reiner?" I asked, moving the subject away from me and Levi. "Anything with Historia?"

He groaned and shook his head. "Ymir is literally up her ass 24/7. It's even harder when she remembers who I was a thousand years ago."

"That's rough, buddy." Bertolt put a supportive hand on his shoulder.

"That's what you get for trying to beat my ass all the time." I dramatically said.

"You are literally a terrorist!" Reiner exclaimed.

"Were. Past. Tense." I separated my words for emphasis.

"Eren, I have a question." Armin said and his entire demeanor changed. It must've been serious. I nodded for him to continue. "If you could start The Rumbling again in today's world, would you?"

I wanted to come up with an educated answer for such an intense question. "I would do anything to keep the ones I love safe. As would all of you. Back then was a different situation. I wanted a perfect world for you guys. I knew I would be the only one to give it. What I did was fucked up. No question. But in the end, you guys lived a good life. All that pain and suffering had finally paid off. That's all I wanted. No more fighting, no more war, no more Titans. Just life and love. But no, I wouldn't do anything like that again. But I will say this...I would do anything to keep you guys safe and to make sure everyone's happy."

No one said anything at first. Truthfully, I can't tell if I regret what I did. But I keep that to myself. Yes, I know genocide was what was committed. But the end result was tremendous in my eyes. Their dinners at Mikasa and Jean's, the fact that they had a family, Armin and Annie's love blossoming, Gabi and Falco taking care of Levi. I mean sure, Levi didn't have the best time but I felt like I took care of that in the end.

"Do you ever miss those times?" Reiner weakly said.

"Nope." Connie said while chewing. I tried to stay serious but I just busted out laughing. He may be an idiot, but he sure as hell knows how to lighten the mood.

"Eren, I have a question too." Jean said. "That scarf you gave her...she never takes it off. Did it have to do with something back then?"

And that's when everything clicked in my brain.

That's why Mikasa's been distant from Jean.

Me.