Be My Bride (Ereri)

♡

Eren is a good, obedient boy. Most of the squad thinks so after working with him for a while - he listens to orders and executes them with determination if not finesse, even if it's not something he's thrilled about.

Petra decides he is perfect for this task.

She had been examining the rooms of the castle, pulling open closets (dusting, sweeping) and had found a trunk hidden beneath the wood paneling. Inside, there was a white, velvety soft wedding dress made out of expensive materials. What it was doing there, rotting underneath the floorboards in a smelly old trunk, she didn't know. She just knew it was perfect, fine silk managing to keep its warm, clean glow even through such a long period of time. It was kind of dusty, though that was easy to take care of. She found herself hanging up a fresh looking gown in no time.

There were also other accessories inside the trunk, hidden by the marvelous dress. They seemed to be new, unworn, same as the dress. Long ago it would have made her blush and dream of her own wedding day, of all the memories she could make, but now all she bothered to do was clean them and set them up to be admired. However... it wasn't enough. She wanted to see this wedding garb on somebody.

Eren came to mind. Sweet, young, obedient Eren... even though the dress wasn't intended for a man, she still found herself searching him out and requesting his... help. Since he had no other duties to take care of at the moment, he had accepted. On their way to the room they'd stopped for a short conversation with Hanji, and they had ended up tagging along, apparently intrigued by the maniac gleam in Petra's eyes.

Now Eren stood before the pleasant white dress and less than holy accessories, looking like a fish out of water.

Petra clasps her hands together and smiles wide, ushering him closer to examine it in better detail. "How do you like it? I think it's simply beautiful. It isn't very fancy, but it's still charming. I thought it would suit you!" That makes him frown. Petra ignores the look on his face and continues on, putting on a hopeful face.

"Don't you think so, Hanji?" Hanji nods, looking weirdly intense. "It's pretty slim. I think it would suit someone young like you, Eren... how about we get this on you and-" He immediately turns to her at that, expression turning sour. "Well, just for a short while. Please? I mean, I cleaned it and everything... can't let it go to waste, right?"

Is it even possible for him to refuse, he wonders. Eren just shakes his head, thinking that Petra would definitely be upset she'd gone to all this trouble, only for him to reject her idea... almost reluctantly, he refuses gently. "Sorry... I, don't really think it would fit me. I don't think it's appropriate for a man to wear, either... um," Petra's face has frozen. "Sorry."

Hanji slams their hands down on his shoulders and turns him to them. He bites back a shout of surprise. "Wh - Squad Leader -!"

"No no no no! That simply will not do, Eren. For the sake of science, you must try it on!" Their look of complete and utter seriousness does not crumble, but they are still near laughter, face flushing. It is an eerie sight. "This time, it's an order! I most agree with Petra, here. And those stockings, all of it - you must wear them as well!" Behind him, Petra muffles a snort of glee.

"But - that's not fair!" Eren protests in a childish burst of obstinacy. Hanji ignores it and motions for Petra to take the dress down from the hanger, and she does so. Hanji manhandles him into standing straight while Petra pushes the gown up to his chest, sizing him up. "Perfect!" She chirps, unable to contain her glee.

Eventually he relents and Hanji immediately rushes off to get a proper mirror from a neighbouring room. Undressing in front of Petra is an incredibly embarrassing thought but she luckily understands and leaves for a moment while he slips the gown on. It's really awkward, and sort of difficult... But if he could handle the 3D gear straps, he could handle a damn dress.

It's not like it's uncomfortable, once it's on. The inside silk brushes against his skin pleasantly, so different from the usual coarse gear he had to wear. All of that had relatively cheap materials; this... this is the complete opposite. So soft. Comfortable, even, if it weren't for the dress part. The lace tickles his chest but it doesn't itch, though it probably would after wearing it for a long time.

He has to call Petra back soon enough, unable to zip up the back of it. Petra can't help but squeal with happiness when she sees him, and that just makes him duck his head and blush. That gets to her even more and she serves up several embarrassing compliments. "Ah, you look adorable! See, it fits you really well - not too tight, but it doesn't sag or anything either... amazing, you're really starting to look like a cute bride!"

"Ugh..." Eren mutters under his breath while Petra zips up the back. She can't help but fuss, straightening out the wrinkles and adjusting the top. Suddenly curious, she parts the slit of the dress and tuts, much to Eren's chagrin. "You didn't put on the stockings properly! See, you have to connect them to the garter belt..."

Petra forces him to sit on the bed while she fixes it herself. Hanji chooses that moment to burst in with a long mirror, and they can't help but laugh at the sight. "Whoa-oh! Am I walking in on something I shouldn't see?! Was this your intent all along, Petra?" The confronted woman snorts loudly, straightening up after fixing the stockings. She's slightly pink. "O-of course not! I was just fixing these, see..."

Hanji sets down the mirror and Eren's two superiors rush him toward it. He can't help but gasp at the sight of himself. Well, he doesn't look too ridiculous. The dress does fit him kind of good. Kind of. Just a little. How did clothing manage to change so much about a person?

Petra can't help but clap cheerily, and she wanders over to a nearby box. She pulls out shoes - they have a nasty looking heel on them, though they're clearly meant to go with the dress. Eren sees them out of the corner of his eye and shakes his head immediately even though she hasn't said anything.

"N, no! Not those, too. Seriously?" Hanji and Petra are giving him scarily intense looks. It is worrying.