The Toxic Wasters

28. Epiphany

Erwin sat in the chair that was far too familiar to him. Opposite of the lawyer, his client, Eren Jaeger, bound to the table that separated them.

"Your cousin's alive."

Eren's head was hanging between his shoulders, thumbs twiddling in his lap. "I know," he murmured, "mom told me."

Erwin couldn't make out his expression from the long hair that obscured his face.

"How did you and Levi take the news?"

His head didn't budge. "We're glad she's okay."

Erwin tapped the pen against his notepad. He wasn't sure why he had come to see the couple. But something nagged at him, something deep in his gut. He just couldn't speak the feeling into existence.

"You know I found her," Erwin started. He didn't say it to boast, only to gauge Eren's reaction.

His admission did lift Eren's head in acknowledgment, enough to see his multicolored eyes.

"I didn't," he answered. His gaze then slightly shifted, "How did you find her?"

Erwin studied his expressions, prepared to see guilt or even anger. But all that lay behind Eren's eyes was worry.

"My family and I were camping when she was thrown out of a car. Hanji called an ambulance while I applied pressure to her wounds."

The memory was still painful. It had been the closest Erwin had ever been to someone clinging to life. It was not something he wanted to make a habit of. And his daughter had seen the scene. And while she did not understand the full scope of the situation, it had damaged her. She was beginning to awake in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. More often than not, Hanji was sleeping with their daughter in her bed, attempting to keep the nightmares at bay.

"So you saved her," Eren muttered, snapping Erwin from his thoughts. "Thank you."

It was not a response Erwin was expecting nor did he know how to answer. But his confusion returned as he asked, "You and Levi had nothing to do with it? No one is working for you two on the outside?"

Eren shook his head, but he did not keep his eye contact with Erwin.

"So this was the doing of someone completely unrelated to you?"

Eren didn't answer.

Erwin didn't bother pressing on the matter, he didn't want to stir a reaction from the brunet. He had more important questions to ask.

"Why don't you tell me about the day you told your family about the proposal?"

He could see Eren's brows draw together in confusion. Erwin was sure it seemed like an out of place question, but Erwin wanted to gauge Eren's answer and reaction. He already knew about that day, Carla had told him the most important aspect at least. But he wondered what Eren's answer would be.

"Um...Levi and I went to my parents' home for my birthday and told them. Mom was really excited," Eren smiled fondly, but it fell as quickly as it came. "Dad gave his normal spiel of rushing into things that aren't right for me."

"And your sister?"

Eren's eyes seemed to set in panic, but he blinked it away before muttering, "she didn't say much."

Erwin didn't know what to think. Was Eren trying to protect his sister? Why would he lie about someone trying to hurt Levi? Especially when he never hesitated killing those that did.

"Your mother told me she attempted to stab Levi, but you got in the way," Erwin admitted.

Eren visibly stiffened.