Off Record [Ereri/Riren] ✓

7 ⚕︎Commensalism ✍︎

Off Record
Chapter 7
⚕︎Commensalism ✍︎
Levi

com·men·sal·ism

/kəˈmensəˌlizəm/

noun BIOLOGY

an association between two organisms in which one benefits and the other derives neither benefit nor harm.

"What's your favorite color?" I ask the brunet.

"Blue or green." He answers.

"Which of the two would you like your next gowns to be? Or would alternating or both suit your fancy more?"

"Green's good, matches my eyes."

I nod. "Anything you want on it?" I start personalizing the gown via my laptop, turned so he can see.

"Can the rimming be gold?" He asks with a small smile.

"I can do that." I press a button and it happens. "Anything else?"

"No, th-thanks."

I nod and shut my laptop. "Want to tell me anything?"

"Like what? That's very broad." He blows a strand of hair out of his eye.

"If you want to talk, talk. If you don't want to, I can go to someone who needs me to listen," I explain. "Despite you having to be here, I'm not going to force myself on you when there are others who are willing to talk."

"I'm not sure where to start. I don't understand how talking is going to make me better."

"I understand how it'll make you better. Isn't that what matters most?"

"Apparently." He scoffs.

"I need to understand you before I can just start giving you therapies or put you on medications, Eren."

He paused, clearly shocked by the use of his name. "Um, you want to know how I change. If I break skin it'll happen and I can't stop it."

I nod. "Does it happen if someone else does it?"

"Sometimes, if I'm threatened."

I look at him, but don't ask what I'm thinking.

"He's an animal, his only goal is to tear into anything or anyone that gets close. He protects us." Eren explains.

"So he protects you from me, is it correct to assume?"

He looks me in the eyes. "If I let him, yes. My entire being sees you as a threat."

"Well then."

He smirks. "Don't take it personally. Or do."

"Now I want to bite you and break skin."

Eren scoots backwards. "No. Why? Why would you want that?"

"I won't do it then."

"I'm not responsible for what he does. You can't get mad at me if he hurts you."

"Plea insanity..." I close my eyes.

Eren doesn't say anything more.

I debate apologizing, but what really does apologizing do?

"Do you like not feeling responsible for your actions? Having another entity that you force your negative emotions and thoughts in until they fester and create the monster that is Titan? Is it bad to get mad, for Eren to get mad?"

Eren closes his eyes and curls in on himself. "I'm not a killer. Titan is. That's not me."

"Does Titan keep you company...?"