Off Record [Ereri/Riren] ✓

31 ⚕︎Intemperance ✍︎

Off Record
Chapter 31
⚕︎Intemperance✍︎
Levi

in·tem·per·ance

/inˈtemp(ə)rəns/

noun

lack of moderation or restraint.

"Hello, Eren," I greet as the brunet walks in with Ryder. Zara, the stuffed elephant that Isabel got from her father and my brother, Farlan, sits on top of the table beside me.

"Hello." He greets. He looks nervous.

"Isabel told me to let you borrow Zara because Zara will make you 'big an' strong.' You also get to sit right here beside me and the two women will be across from us," I explain, patting the seat.

His shoulders relax and he walks over and sits down. "That's sweet of her." He eyes the elephant.

I look to Ryder and stretch, leaving my left hand on Eren's thigh. "How was he? Did you or Lynne have any issues?"

Ryder stares at the floor. "He did really well today. He talked to himself more than usual, but it wasn't a problem."

"If you keep staring at the floor like that, it might ask you to marry it." I smirk. "How can I get you up to head nurse to take Bertholdt's place if you're so timid all the time?"

Ryder flinches and looks up. "I'm sorry, I just, I mean, I just feel a bit... awkward." He laughs nervously. "I'll get over it."

"Let's talk about it. Eren can help. He gets counseled on a daily, so he should know how to somewhat do it." I lean back in my chair. "Is it a person that makes you uncomfortable?"

Ryder sighs. "You, sir, you, uh, intimidate me."

Next to me, Eren scoffs.

I squeeze Eren's thigh to shut him up. "Well, this is a pretty new occurrence. I thought you'd be more grateful since I was the one who got you this position in the first place. Now I'm recommending you as head nurse, a very hefty pay raise mind you, and yet I intimidate you? Is there anything I can do?"

Ryder's eyes widen. "I am grateful! I am, I just feel weird since you caught me... um, with Eren. I'm sorry, you're being so normal about it and I'm just worried about nothing." He pushes his hair behind his ear.

"If I die, you have to take my place in charge of Eren," I say.

Eren squeezes his eyes shut, probably disturbed by the thought of my death. I notice him rubbing his ring.

Ryder nods and stands up straighter. "I know. I'm fully capable."

"How much do you care about Eren?" I ask as I rub circles on the mentioned male's thigh to calm him.

Ryder shifts his gaze to Eren and his eyes soften immediately. "I care about him a lot. I feel like, had we met in the outside world, we could've been really good friends." He smiles at the thought.

I nod. "I highly doubt that you want to be just friends with Jaeger and if you did meet in the outside world, I wouldn't be surprised if you two got married or something."

"I don't want him." Eren whispers.

Ryder looks at Eren again. "Uhm, I don't know. It doesn't matter anyways, it's pointless to speculate."

"Ryder, do you want to go drinking with Lynne, Melanie, Hanji, Erwin, and me this Friday night?" I ask.

"Sure," Ryder nods.

Eren lays his head on the desk.

"Hanji's crazy self has just been dying to get you to come and even 'pair you' with someone," I say. "So be warned."