fiddlestick | aefenglom IC Inbox

[

which means to say that he notices— not the part about himself, which he had enough confidence to admire (it’s what always got him far), eren’s eyes are wide and casting down, suddenly staring. ]

You never would’ve said that a few months back.

[ he’s impressed, and as someone who never liked the occasional self pity, he’s . . . rather happy. just looks too surprised to really show it. ]

[Elliot hadn't realized that he'd said anything notable, but Eren's reaction sure makes him pause]

Aha....when you put it that way, no, I guess I wouldn't.

[He gives a little shrug]

Suppose I've grown a little with everything.

[At lot has happened, between here and his home. He's grown as a person, in a few ways]

[ even with them nearing the house soon, it does look like eren’s attempting to slow his steps. take a few moments longer to reach the door, that way, whenever they turn the right corner. ]

It’d be disappointing if you didn’t. [ not for eren, but for elliot’s own sense of personal growth. even if we all know character development could go both ways, eren takes it down the positive route this time. ] That’s good. It’s what we’re alive for.

[That's cute Eren. Elliot meanwhile, being the short legs he is, appreciates the slowing of the steps and goes along with it.]

Hehe, that's true. We're always growing and changing. [He smiles up at Eren] Though some of us took a more literal approach approach to that.

[Mister I managed to grow even TALLER]

[ he big now. doesn’t quite laugh to that, but he does heh quietly. ]

Now I just need to take it metaphorically.

[ the step closer to change is realizing there’re things you could afford to change though, isn’t it? somehow, when he thinks of keeping a life like this one . . . it doesn’t sit well. doesn’t match up. it felt like fleeing, if he were to be honest— he’s always hated it when he’s always, always done the opposite. he’s always run away from the calm and straight into the storm.

but that didn’t mean he couldn’t, you know. live a little. he’s holding his bonded’s hand and feels more at ease in doing so, even if they eventually, get to the door and hang there, with the stained glass window of a wyvern above their heads. he has to look up at that, for a second. ]

Even if it’s a little, I hope I can.

[The window itself has been modified some. The wyvern is still there, but so are other things to signify his loved ones: a star, a crow, a cat, and the newest addition: a white rabbit, though it's not clear who that'd be in the house.

Elliot meanwhile, keeps looking up at Eren.]

I'm sure you will. It won't be easy, but ... well, you're never been one to run from a challenge.

[ oh— the window! hey, who allowed elliot craig to be cute? ]

Never been one to run from anything . . .

[ even if it took him a while to either wake up, come to conclusions or get started on a new plan. he gets there eventually. the fucker even puts in cheat codes when he should be at game over. the crow is crow, the cat is fie . . . was the star towa? ]

Who’s the rabbit?

[ he asks rather abruptly, tongue slithering out and raising high in the direction he tips his head to. ]

[The universe did because it needed some good things in this world]

Haha, that's true...

[There was no denying that one. But ah...he pauses, before he realizes what he means and looks up as well]

...That's Millium. Her code name was White Rabbit.

[The one who died, in other words.]

[ . . . :( ]

And the star?

Towa. I couldn't think of an animal, but she really likes astronomy...so it felt fitting.

[ oh— not expected, but he shouldn’t expect more. he’s only encountered towa a few times in passing and wasn’t much of a regular. even so, he could see . . . maybe where the brightness came from? she smiled a lot, minus that one time and day where she looked like hell. as did probably everyone in elliot’s household.

a grunt from him and a look that extends his time watching the glass, before one of his hands slide into the front pouch pocket of his poncho. alright, alright. ]

Guess I’ve stalled long enough. [ time for u to go home, mister 😭 ] I’ll see you later?

[He wouldn't be wrong about her brightness. Honestly, if anyone was their star, it'd be Towa. Even if she wasn't officially part of class vii, she was vital to them.

He smiles a little at that, so Eren was stalling for time to hang around huh?]

Yeah...you probably got other stuff to take care of. [Though...] Mind if I get a kiss goodbye?

[ a kiss goodbye— what was this now, in his gut? apprehension? shyness? diffidence that shouldn’t quite be there after everything they’ve actually managed to do with each other. maybe it’s been too long. maybe it was a touch of domesticity that eren only saw his father do when leaving home from work and saying farewell to his mother.

counting that eren hasn’t given people goodbye kisses, not even the web of partners he’s collected. or has he? maybe he’s overthinking it and the lengths of his tenderness could go. it reminds him that he’s had intimacy, but always keeps further proximity at arm’s length. eren was incapable of anything more . . . intricate, and mikasa was proof of his turmoil. why was he even thinking this now? more proof of overthinking and i apologize for the amount of emotional calculations elliot has to secondhand feel.

eventually, when eren hunches down, he presses his lips almost chastely to his bonded’s cheek, stands straight— then looks (and feels) flustered. ]

—Bye.

[Oh sweet Aidios Eren he meant it as a cute flirty thing. And so he's rather surprised and confused when the bond feedback gives a whole wall worth of Eren having a mental overload at overthinking this. ]

U-Um...

[He's about to say he doesn't have to do it when Eren gives that rather...super chaste cheek kiss and pulls away before Elliot can respond back. Right that was ... way more awkward.]

It's-It's okay, I really didn't mean much by it...

[He really hadn't!]

Bye Eren.

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