Partnership

Chapter 5: kindness?

Eren's pov:

I felt like I had been walking for hours on end, even though it was only for about 10 minutes. Stupid Reiner, stupid Annie....most of all stupid me... jeez can I be anymore pathetic? Why can I never protect myself, why must I always bow down... ugh these thoughts aren't helping my mood at all. What else makes me feel better... hmmm maybe a nice strawberry banana smoothie, some relaxing music, and a couple of sketches will do the trick. Urgh.... Dammit why did he have to punch so hard and what the hell at least he stepped on my left hand instead of my right... Otherwise I wouldn't be able to draw until it healed.

I looked up to the sound of faint chirping sounds and noticed the cafe just up ahead. I held my arm against my ribs, somehow adding pressure seemed to lessen the pain. I'll have to think up a lie about the hand though, that's going to be one really ugly bruise. When I looked down at my hand and stretched it a bit a strong sharp pain shot through my whole arm. I groaned inwardly and kept walking, I looked up feeling like someone was watching me and that's when I saw him.

He had raven-hair and he seemed so peaceful looking at whatever it was he was looking at.... wait.. is he staring at me? He wouldn't be right? I don't even know him, should I wave? I shook my head mentally and kept walking slowly, when I was about 5 steps away from when I last looked up, I looked over again and watched the man.

He is staring at me...why though? Maybe he knows me from somewhere, or he's mistaking me for someone else? oh...never mind he looked away finally. That was weird. I saw him look at the birds pecking at the ground by the flowers he looked so peaceful and relaxed that I didn't realize I wasn't paying attention to where I was going and before I knew it the bottom of my chin scraped against the ground.

I teared up and felt tears start falling freely. No Eren! Mom said I needed to stay tough for Mikasa... she'd be so ashamed of me right now here I am crying like a little baby in the middle of the street in front of a complete stranger. I slowly looked over and saw the man had already disappeared. I slowly buried my face in shame and cried silently. Suddenly I heard a sound like someone clearing their throat and I froze. Oh god kill me now how embarrassing. I heard it again and stayed quiet.

"Oi you fucking shitty brat! When someone comes to help you the least you could do is respond holy fucking hell!" I jumped and looked up at the man who had once looked so peaceful and relaxed and now looked cranky, evil, and pissed.

"S-sorry... I um... sorry... " I felt tears start to form again and I looked down at the ground.

"Tch, Well are you going to stand up? Or would you rather stay laying on this fucking disgusting ground?"

I nodded and slowly stood up and winced slightly, he seemed to notice that and bent over to look into my face.

"C-can I help you? U-um... is there something you need?" He looked annoyed and reached over and tilted my head back. I felt something press against my chin and I winced.

"Does it look like I need fucking help from someone like you? Oi! stop moving your damn head!" I froze and waited until he was finally finished wiping my chin. I looked down at the short man and smiled a little. "Th-thank you" I stuttered and blushed slightly.

"Don't worry about it, here I figured you might need this you look pathetic" I smiled and was about to say thank you as he handed me the strawberry banana smoothie but before I could he nodded once and took off walking back to what I assumed was his car.

I watched him walk away and shouted, " THANK YOU MISTER!"

He turned and started walking backwards and waved, "welcome snot nosed brat, go home and take care of that cut properly and put ice on that hand! I would stay longer but I would be late for work so see you around"

I smiled and waved and watched him get into his car and drive away, I looked down at the drink in my hand and shrugged feeling slightly better. I turned and walked the rest of the way home so I could take a nap, dress my wounds, and get ready for work after a shower.