Off Record [Ereri/Riren] ✓

45 ⚕︎Domestic ✍︎

Off Record
Chapter 45
⚕︎Domestic ✍︎
Levi

do·mes·tic

/dəˈmestik/

adjective

relating to the running of a home or to family relations

Nine days.

Nine days until death day, aka court day. I'm excited, but not like a kid waiting for a present, well, maybe a little like that. If all goes well, Eren will come home.

I brought Isabel as a resolve booster.

"Daddy, Daddy." She pokes Eren's cheeks. "How was lunch?"

Eren's eyes are shining and I realize just how good he looks when he's happy. "Lunch was good, I think I made some friends."

"Friends are nice. I have friends here, but none outside." She frowns, her light brown/dirty blonde highlights peeking out amongst the red of her pigtails. The color makes me smile sadly, Farlan appearing in my mind.

"Did you actually eat?" I ask.

"Oh," Eren's eyes widen a bit. "N-No, I forgot to."

Izzy claps. "That's great!"

"It is?" Eren looks puzzled.

"Yeah. It's fantastic," she says. "It is fantastic 'cause I made us a picnic!"

"Wow, that is fantastic." Eren chuckles. "Thank you, Isabel."

She nods and I get up to grab the basket and set up the blanket and food before sitting down by everything. "You two coming?"

Eren slides off the bed and onto the floor with a thud, crawling over to sit on the blanket as well, crossing his legs.

Izzy picks up a sandwich and sticks it in her mouth as she begins to make plates for everyone, giving everyone a sandwich, fruit, and potato salad before sitting between Eren and me.

Eren starts eating, covering his mouth as he talks with food still inside. "Did you know that the others kinda hassle Ryder?"

I frown. "Still?"

"Yeah... Jean especially got really rude about it. And Ryder just... let them." Eren sighs.

"Why doesn't he do shit?" I ask myself.

"Pony is being a bully to Tarzan? Well, Er-Ti can beat him up then," Isabel says with a curt nod, dipping her apple slice in some caramel sauce.

"Eren isn't allowed to get in fights. He needs to be good so he can come home." I sigh.

"If Pony is being a bully and Er-Ti stop him, then Er-Ti is being a very good boy because bullies make people cry and need a time out." Isabel throws the rest of her apple in her mouth and 'humph's.

Eren smiles endearingly, picking at his own fruit. "Thanks, Izzy, but I'm afraid it's not that simple." Eren looks at his hands. "He was rude to me too," he looks at me. "But I held back."

"What'd he do?" I ask.

"Nothing that bad, just rubbed me the wrong way. What he said to Ryder was worse. He said he was all bark and no bite and that he can't do anything for himself without someone's orders." Eren says.

"Ryder does small things that no one notices, but if he stopped doing them, people would notice," I explain. "He's also nicer to the patients and doesn't want to use fear tactics."