Better Off This Way: Eren Jaeger x Reader [MODERN]

~Chapter 26~

VROOOM
"WOOOHOOOO!" I squeal, revving the engine of my car as I jump it over a small hill.
Eren clung on to the passenger seat for dear life.
"Getting you a ride was a terrible idea!" He shouts.
"Wait- do you even know where we're going?"
"We're meeting the others at the rail road by the juice factory, right?" I ask.
"Alright, just- try to slow it down a little, k? I wanna make it there alive, not in a body bag."

The others were already there waiting for us, their cars lined neatly along the rail road.
I pull up along side Mikasa's Charger.
"Where are they?" Eren asked as we walk to the group.
"They're taking their sweet ass time." Mikasa sneered.
"Bet those pussies aren't even gonna show." Jean scoffed.
"Wait- where's professor Smith?" I ask, looking around.
Hange and Levi exchanged looks.
"Well, you see... he-"
"General Smith is in the hospital." Levi said bluntly.
"What?! Why didn't you tell us?!" Mikasa asks.
"We need to go see him after this!" I add.
"No! He doesn't want anyone seeing him in his condition right now." Hange replies.
I glance at Levi, who seems to be filled with remorse. "He's not doing very well." He says.
"Well, what's wrong with him?" Eren buds in.
Hange and Levi exchange yet another look.
"He has Pneumonia, and it's- it's terminal." Hange says.
The group fell silent, everyone looking at the ground.
This really blows... Professor Smith is my favourite professor, it's almost like he actually gives a shit about me. I'd be lying if I said I never held anything he's said dear to me.
I know he was Levi's General but, how close were they really?
VROOM
The rumble of motor cycles instantly ripped me from my thoughts.
I see approximately 20 of them rolling towards the tracks from the other side.
It was them, the Titans.
"Wow, there's twice as many of them than there are us." Eren says.
"Are you scarreed?" Jean teased.
"What? No. It just means double the pleasure." Eren replies.
They pull up to the tracks across from us and two of their leaders dismount, all of them wearing red bandanas.
Mikasa and Levi step forth to meet them in the middle of the tracks.
"Is this all that's left of your units? Not too late to back out." One of the leaders, a bearded man sporting more patches than any of the others, said.
"Just as charming as ever, Colossal." Levi retorted.
"Ah, hello Levi." He gave a nod.
"Hiii Mikasa." The other leader said to Mikasa. He appeared to be Colossal's General.
"Hello One Eye. Long time no see." Mikasa replied.
"Where's my dad?!" Eren steps forward.
Colossal glances at Eren with a smirk.
"Still a little hot head I see." He chuckles, Mikasa gesturing for Eren to cool it.
I step forward and place my hand on his shoulder, he grumbles but relaxes his stance.
"So where is this going to happen?" Levi asks flatly.
"Are you kiddin' me? You're outnumbered! Just leave. All we want is K-town." Colossal snickered.
"I think you seem to forget who it is you're dealing with here." Mikasa growled.
"What possible advantage do ya think you have here, little girl?" One Eye smirk.
"We have one of the children of the corn!" Jean pointed at me.
Ouch? I think?
One Eye fixes his eye on me. "Touché." He replies looking me up and down with a smirk.
"Really, Jean?" Eren rolls his eyes.
"Come on you guys! Just- give it up! Y'all don't stand a chance here." Colossal laughs.
"What do you think you can do to us without Smith around?" One Eye chuckles.
"We're not backing down." Levi replies sternly.
"Alright, alright! Have it your way." Colossal smirks, then turns to face the rest of his gang.
"We could all use the exercise anyway, right boys?" The Titans all laugh and cheer, revving their motorbike engines.
"Okay, Okay! Settle down men." Colossal chuckles, and returns to facing us all.
Suddenly, Eren and I noticed the man we saw at the Pulp bar walking towards Colossal and whispering in his ear, then pointing towards me.
"That one is mine!" Eren growled, pointing to the man.
"Your mom is mi-" He was interrupted by Colossal slapping him.
"SHUT the HELL up, cant you see we're in the presence of a lady?" He says, pointing towards me.
The man scurries away, mumbling under his breath.
"Eren! Oh my boy Eren! You done good buddy! Look at this fine specimen, gentlemen!" Colossal said to the other Titans while gesturing towards me.
They all started revving their engines and whistling.
Eren grew angry, clenching his fists and standing in front of me.
Colossal stepped towards Levi. "You sure you wanna put your little sis through this?"
Levi steps closer to him. "You just wait until she gets her hands on your men."
"Little missy can fight, hey?" Colossal chuckles. He then claps his hands together and smiles. "I can already tell this is gonna be a hoot and a half!... Alllright Levi. What are your terms then?" He laughs.
"No weapons. A hand to hand combat, a fight for honour. I think we can all agree that both you and I have lost enough men." Levi said flatly.
Colossal seemed to be hit by those words but covered it up quickly and smiled. "Honour, hey?"
Levi nods.
"How will one side know that the other is unarmed?" Colossal questions.
Hange steps forward. "I've programmed this device to detect any and all weapons within the radius of a kilometre. Even anything that could be identified as a shiv. Watch what it does when I turn it on." She says, flicking a switch.
The device blared loudly, causing everyone to groan and cover their ears, except for Hange of course who smirked then flicked the switch off.
"That was because we're all clearly armed here." She chuckles.
"And the winners?" Colossal turns his attention to Levi.
"The winners, get to stay in K-town." Levi replies.
"The losers however, leave."
"...Okay, let's have it your way. For honour, Levi." He turns and walks back to his motorcycle.
"The industrial zone. Friday, nine o'clock sharp.... Don't be tardy Levi." He mounts his motorcycle.
"Always a pleasure Mikasa." He salutes, and with that, they drive away.

Finally, we arrived home. Eren had been quiet for the whole car ride. That must have been rough, I'm not worried about them for my sake, but Eren has just lost so much...
He was distant, I understood and gave him some space.
He sat on the couch, so I quickly gave him a kiss on the head and headed to my room to organize it.

~Third Person Point of View~

Eren sat quietly staring into the darkness, emotionless.
"Mreow~" Leo enters the room confidently, wanting for someone to listen to him speak.
"FUCK!" Eren shouts, startled.
"Jeez, what the hell do you want?" Eren snapped.
"Mreoowr!" Leo shouts.
"What- what is that? What are you saying? I don't speak fluffy idiot." Eren says.
"Mreooww!"
"Go away you mangy rat." Eren sighs.
Leo rolls onto his back flirtatiously, clawing towards Eren.
"Mreowr~" Leo meows softly.
"Well.... I guess you are pretty cute for a mangy rat."
Leo squints towards him, purring.
"Huh- I guess doofuses need love too.." Eren trailed off.
"You're lucky to have your mom." He says, rubbing Leo's belly.
"I have trouble remembering my mom sometimes..." He sighs.
"I guess we both have trouble fitting into this world, don't we?... Do you ever feel like a burden? I do... more often than not.... we both have one thing in common for sure though, we both love [Y/N]. So we're going to have to make this work, buddy." Eren says sternly, shaking his finger at Leo.
Leo pawed at his finger gently, assuming Eren was playing a game with him.
"Jee... you are really cute... c'mere you lovable idiot." Eren rolls onto the floor beside Leo and pulls him close.
Leo seemingly returns the embrace.
"Mreow~" Leo meows softly again.
"What is it?" Eren asks, Leo continues to meow.
"Oh god- do you want me to sing to you?" Eren cringes.
"That's it, isn't it?"
Leo meows again.
"Okay, fine." Eren sighs. "I guess doofuses really do need love, I know I did."
Eren started to meow rockabye baby to Leo.

~First Person Point of View~

Slowly I creep out of my room hearing Eren's inaudible voice in tune.
Who is he talking to?
I near the couch and hover over it, seeing Eren singing- or, meowing a lullaby to Leo.
I smile. "Eren?"
"FUCK!" Startled, Eren throws Leo onto the couch.
"Damn... mangy animal attacked me."