No Name [Ereri/Riren Fanfic] [COMPLETED]

Chapter Ten

     During dinner we shared jokes, thought of lyrics we could possibly use to finish the song Eren and I worked on, and talked about our next steps as a band. Doing all these things helped me bury the rage that was building inside me from that shortly-lived meeting with Erwin, but I still couldn't shake off the thought that he was after something that none of us knew of. Having an itch that I couldn't reach was unpleasant but it fueled the reason why I needed to find a way to scratch it away. I will admit there is definitely something alluring about Eren, so much so that maybe that unknown allure is what caught Erwin's interest. However I knew that if Erwin got involved with the brunet it wouldn't be good.

     I heard rumors from my makeup artists that Erwin used to be a loose canon and one not to mess with. He used to sleep with countless women before he cleaned up his act and took up the job of our band's manager, but I still have my suspicions about him. You don't just completely get over what made you feel that high everyone seeks for a simple job as a manager; more over I sometimes hear things go down in his room whenever he stays the night. Putting those past rumors aside, I was so lost in thought that Eren had to call me in a loud tone to snap me out of my trance.

     "L?! Did I get you?"

     "Yeah, sorry about that. I was thinking about the brief meeting with Erwin, it put me on edge a bit is all."

     "What do you mean? What did he say?"

     I looked around and then pulled Eren close to whisper in his ear. "Come with me, I don't want them to overhear us."

     I pulled him with me by the hand into the small laundry room we had in the house and closed the door before locking it to make sure no one would open it and get the wrong idea.

     "We talked about you. Erwin has an interest in you but I don't know what he's trying to gain. He asked about your family status and visits to the hospital with a diagnosis of mild depression, but I can't wrap my finger around it. When I was leaving he told me to keep an eye on you and learn more about you, but I don't know what he plans to do with the information. It's been gnawing at me since I got back and I felt you had to know."

     "After we left the concert where you last performed I noticed that this blond man, I'm assuming is Erwin, kept staring at me when I was in the same place or room as he was. It's been creeping me out a bit but I didn't know how you'd react about it if I told you."

     "That's definitely suspicious. We need to go back out to finish cleaning the dishes but before we do I need to tell you something. Whenever Erwin comes over or we go out to practice, swear to me that you'll do everything you can to avoid being alone with him. He has a history with women and men alike and it spells bad news if he's got an interest in you. Swear to me that you'll avoid being left alone with him."

     "I swear."

     "Good. Thank you, Eren. Now then, let's go back and finish the dishes."

     Just as I was about to open the door for us to leave, Eren grabbed my wrist in a quick manner. I looked back to him and saw that he had immense fear painted on his face, his body shaking.

     "What if... what if he forces something..."

     "I won't let him lay a finger on you, even if he's my band's manager my band members are more important because each member is a part of my family now. That includes you too, Eren."

     It was silent for a few seconds before I heard the brunet in front of me sniff and bring me into his arms, holding onto me like I was his only support beam left.

     "I'm sorry, I just need this for a bit..."

     Despite him being taller than me, I allowed him to embrace me because I knew what he meant by this. I knew why he asked the question before, and I understood his pain all too much. I assumed his father did similar things and more to him after his mother died, and well I had to endure similar actions when I was nothing more than a child. We both needed this embrace, whether we liked it or not. We needed to be there for each other for the times ahead.

     Time went by and Eren and I were about done with the dishes, receiving no help from Hanji or Miche. I had to wonder why they've been trying to abandon Eren and I after simple things like dinner, and then I came to a conclusion; they saw us as a couple. I will admit though that Eren does check practically every box when I look for a partner, but he's a part of the family and family members don't go as far as what I'm thinking right now. Then again I have to wonder about the relationship between Hanji and Miche as I do like the two together as a couple themselves.

     I snapped myself out of that abysmal thought process and finished drying the last dish and putting it away on it's respective shelf. After we cleaned up the kitchen-slash-dining room some, Eren and I headed upstairs to call it a night. I was about to go to my room when Eren simply stopped in front of his.

     "L, I'm sorry if I'm being an inconvenience to you but I was wondering if... if I could sleep with you tonight. I start thinking about what Erwin might do if I'm alone with him and..."

     "Of course you can. I don't want you or anyone else to worry or be frightened about anything. You can cling to me if it makes you comfortable."

     Eren turned and nodded before entering my room after me. My room was fairly decent; dark grey walls, black and white stripped bed with an ebony headboard, ebony desk with a matching chair, TV with a few beanbags to sit and watch, other band posters, walk in closet, built in bathroom. I went inside my closet and quickly changed into my pajamas before heading towards my bathroom to brush my teeth. After I was done I went back into my room and switched my white lights to an easy-going red and got into my bed, holding the covers up so Eren to could get in as well. He did and like I thought when I invited him to, he clung to me like his life depended on it. I wrapped my arms around him by instinct and held him close as to ease his pain of remembering unpleasant memories.

     "Tomorrow we're going to go out as a normal group of people to go shopping and maybe stop someplace to entertain ourselves. It's a normal thing we do; we picked a day in the week to go out not as a band but normal people and we just hang out and catch up with each other. It should be fun."

     "I'm guessing Erwin will be accompanying us?"

     "Yeah, but I doubt he'll try anything tomorrow. He holds family day as dear as I do. He wouldn't do anything to tarnish it, but if he does try then get some distance between him and find me immediately. I'll protect you."

     Eren nodded against my chest and hummed in slight contentment before we both fell asleep.

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Here's chapter ten. Sorry it's up late but I'm trying my best you guys. School is being more of a bitch to me than when I was a freshman last year, so sophomore year isn't going so well so far this third nine weeks. The struggle is too real. Homework, assignments, essay papers, slide show presentations, digital art projects. TOO MUCH AND NO TIME TO DO PRACTICALLY ANY OF IT!!! Okay, I'm done ranting now XD I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I'll see you in the next one!!!

~ Author-san