Off Record [Ereri/Riren] ✓

55 ⚕︎Conceal ✍︎

Off Record
Chapter 55
⚕︎Conceal ✍︎
Levi

con·ceal

/kənˈsēl/

verb

keep from sight; hide

"Eren? Titan?" I shake their limp form gently, slapping their face.

Two golden eyes snap open and scan the room. "He-He's gone."

I move his hair behind his ears. "Are you two okay?"

His mouth forms a tight line, a telltale sign he doesn't want to admit something. Instead of speaking he just shakes his head. "Eren's gone."

My heart rate speeds up. "For how long? Not indefinitely...?"

"I don't know."

"At least you're here," I say. "You must be shaken up too. Anything I can do to make you feel safe?"

"I'm fine." he growls.

"It's okay to not be fine. Sometimes I'm not okay," I say, petting his hair.

He closes his eyes. "It was so real."

I grab their hairbrush and begin to untangle his hair. "I'm sure it was. Just for the record, if Grisha ever did come to visit you two, you wouldn't be alone with him. I'd definitely be here and if he tried anything, I'd break him."

Titan nods. "I see." he looks down at his hands and sighs. "You're still stronger than me."

I continue brushing. "I already said I'd protect you both."

"Dependant... needy... pathetic." Titan snatches the hairbrush and snaps it in half, throwing it across the room. "Fuckin' quit that."

"I bought that with my own money."

"Is that supposed to make me feel guilty?" Titan scoffs and brings his knees to his chest.

My bottom lip is brought between my teeth and I curiously crawl up in front of him and unwrap his arms from his knees, spread his legs apart, and crawl into his lap, my back against his chest and my head against his shoulder.

Titan huffs but lets his arms drop over my shoulders. He pulls me closer, as if afraid I'll slip away.

Closing my eyes, I wait patiently for him to speak when ready.

"How did you know... that we were..."

"The cameras. They don't have audio, but I could fill in the gaps," I say, leaning more into him.

"Jesus, is that all you do? Just watch us all day?" 

"If you could, I'm sure you'd watch me all day."

"Probably." Titan admits. "Are you sad... that I'm here and Eren's not?"

"I'm worried about Eren, but I'm not sad to be with you."

Titan nods again, just numbly taking in my answers.

"I love you." I wrap my arms around his, looking up into his eyes. "Are you sad I'm here?"

"No." Titan growls softly.

"Want to do anything?"

"Wanna punch your perfect fucking face." Titan scoffs.

I break away from him. "Asshole." Crossing my arms, I flop down on his bed. "What would Izzy think if I came home with a black eye?"

"Izzy... what if this happens around her?" Titan folds in on himself again. "I can't... I won't... How can you even let me near her, knowing what I am?"