No Name [Ereri/Riren Fanfic] [COMPLETED]

Chapter Sixteen

     I woke up that morning to find myself snuggled up in someone's arms, whose I had no idea. I stretched out my own arms and legs before wiping at my eyes to find out who was in my bed. Once my eyes landed on who it was my face heated up.

     "W-w-what... W-why is he...?"

     Before I could try to formulate a response to my own question, the person, Eren, began stirring awake. I quickly got out of my bed, grabbed my clothes, and ran into my bathroom. I leaned against the door and held my clothes tightly against my chest as I tried to remember what happened last night. The memories came back to me and I cursed myself for showing that weak side of me in front of him, in front of Eren. I was supposed to be the pillar that would support him, but at this point I think I'm starting to depend on him instead.

     I walked over to the mirror to see if I'd need to shave or not but instead I noticed my eyes were red. Had I really cried last night? This question popped into my mind as my fingertips gently pressed against the redness of my skin underneath my eyes. I sighed before pushing off the counter and heading into the shower to get ready for the day; we only have today and tomorrow left before we get back into writing up new songs after all. I cleaned up and got dressed before taking one last look in the mirror and heading out the door, somewhat ready to face Eren.

     However, when I re-entered my room the brunet was nowhere in sight. I still don't fully understand my feelings towards him and why I'm slightly upset for him not being here, but I decided to not let those emotions sway me like they had last night so I headed downstairs to join the others for breakfast, hoping the brunet would already be down there.

     When I reached the kitchen I was welcomed by Hanji and Miche and the food they had prepared for us. A few minutes later, Eren had come down and greeted everyone with his small shy smile he only showed to me. Him being able to smile in front of the others was a big step for him when I thought about it, so I smiled back and grabbed plates for the both of us. I could hear Hanji and Miche whispering behind my back about something regarding Eren and I, but I didn't mind it because they were usually like this anyway. I handed the brunet his plate and began talking to him.

     "So, did you sleep well?"

     "A lot better than usual, thanks to you."

     "That's good." This conversation wasn't going anywhere so I decided to quiet down and talk a bit about last night. "Listen, I'm not one who goes around showing that side of me to everyone I meet... I only got that way around my mother and Isabelle... So, I want to forget about me crying like that, got it?"

     Eren looked at me, confused, for a bit before realizing what I was talking about and then thinking some more. "Sorry, but I can't forget about it. That's the first time anyone has ever worried, cared, or even got emotional about what I've been through so I'm not going to let go of that. Ever."

     I was about to retort back but two things happened. One, Hanji and Miche were watching us intently. And two, Eren had given me yet another one of his signature calm and gentle smiles that made his vibrant eyes glow warmly. I hated it when he looked at me like that... but at the same time I loved it with all my heart. I hated this change within myself because it's new and unknown, but I loved it because I could feel myself becoming a better person than I was before meeting Eren.

     The whole time while the four of us ate breakfast and talked, I couldn't stop thinking about Eren. Something about him just radiated hope itself, despite all the despair and misery he had to endure. All the bad things that had and were being thrown at him only made that hope shine brighter, making it spread to others. That much I could tell just from being around him. He reminded me so much of myself sometimes that I end up getting a bit emotional, but being able to show those hidden emotions scares me just like it scares me on how I feel about him.