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I Know The End | Ch. 6

Zombie Apocalypse!Au, Older!Grumpy!Eren x Sunshine!Reader

Content: Reluctant traveling companions to lovers, Slight age gap, found family, eventual smut so Minors - DO NOT INTERACT.

Warnings: 18+, violence, mentions of SA, gore, animal abuse, murder, slight smut. (this chapter is really dark you guys, I apologize 😩)

Chapter Summary: The events of the ambush and it’s after effects. Personalities change and relationships shift.

Masterlist

A/N: omg you guys i’m so sorry i took so long to write this, i’ve just been hecka busy, but chapter 6 is here now!! and this one will give you whiplash, i can tell you that for free. i hope you like it!!!! <3

chapter 6

Eren’s P.O.V.

“So, you’re the motherfucker who killed Colt.”

Eren’s eyes shot open. He was met with the sight of bruised knuckles curled around a trigger, visible because of the pale glow of the moon streaming in from the windows. He held his breath, swallowing at the fear that was bubbling up his throat, not even daring a twitch of movement in the case this lunatic was trigger happy.

The view of the man holding him at gunpoint was obstructed by the weapon digging into his forehead, leaving his identity shrouded in mystery. Eren’s mind was running rampant with all the possible ways he could get himself out of this situation, the gears turning furiously.

Though as the last dregs of sleep began to slip away from his form, and reality began to set in with the overworking of his mind, Eren suddenly remembered it wasn’t just him that resided in this church. He wasn’t alone anymore.

Another painful reminder was the sound of bodies struggling, cries of help muffled by the palm of a hand.

Y/N.

Eren’s body jolted, an involuntary response from his desperation to help her. His shoulders raised off of the pew, though he was forced back down as the man pushed his gun harsher into his skin. It was sure to leave a bruise.

The man clicked his tongue three times in disapproval. “Don’t make any sudden movements, Casanova. Unless you want a bullet lodged in your skull.”

A harsh breath of annoyance pushed out of Eren’s nose as he bit his tongue, holding back any of the threats that wanted to slip over it. A muscle twitched in his jaw, his hands slowly raising up in begrudging surrender.

“Sit up.” The man ordered, and Eren could do nothing but comply. His boots met the solid ground of the church, his teal eyes glared daggers at the man who was now visible to him in this new position.

He was surprisingly well-kept for a man living in the apocalypse, his skin free from grime and his sandy undercut hair slicked back neatly. Tipping Eren off that these guys had come from somewhere established, a safe community where this type of look was achievable. Which only meant that there would be even more people waiting on their return. More people to come looking if they never did. He would have to move the girls out of here quickly— if they ever made it out of this mess.

Eren forced himself not to flick his eyes towards the door in the back where he knew Gabby and Ellie resided, most likely completely oblivious to what was ensuing in the main room of the church. If this guy was at all observant, he didn’t want to risk the chance of them being found.

He did however let his eyes fall towards the altar, to where he knew Y/N to be— once another terrified whimper seeped through the fingers of her captor. His blood spiked red hot with anger when he saw thick arms locking her in place against a hardened chest, half her face covered by a large hand, leaving only the sight of her pleading eyes to tug at Eren’s heart. She struggled against the man’s grip, feet kicking restlessly. But the man was too large, too strong, and there was a wicked look in his hazel eyes, like he found amusement in the woman’s distress.

Eren wanted him dead.

“Don’t look at her.” The first man spat, using his gun to force Eren’s chin back towards him. “Look at me.”

Gritting his teeth, Eren met his gaze, the man seemed to be getting the same amount of enjoyment out of this endeavor just as much as his counterpart. He was obviously the type of person who relished in the anarchy, thrived in it. Eren abhorred these types.

“Care to tell me why… despite my attempts to reach out to my contact stationed at this post, I received no response from him?” The man questioned, eyebrows furrowed with feigned confusion.

“And then when I come to check up with him, I find him dead with an arrow right between the eyes?” He then continued, his tone far too nonchalant to be speaking of the death of a comrade.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Eren said simply, his voice controlled.

The man’s lips curled into a smirk, a scoff ringing out into the air a second later. He shared a look with his partner before turning back towards Eren, shifting the gun to his temple.

“You sure about that?” He asked, bringing his face closer to Eren’s, his hot breath fanning over his skin. “Or is that not your crossbow?”

Eren’s eyes followed to where the man gestured with a nod, landing on Y/N’s crossbow that she had left leaned up against the pew that he had happened to choose that night. And it might’ve been odd, but Eren was grateful that the incriminating evidence pointed towards him and no one else. He was the one to blame. Hopefully he would be the sole receiver of whatever revenge they were planning.

“Oh.” Eren let slip from his lips, like the reminder flashed forward in time with the gesture.

“That’s all you have to say?” The man responded, “‘Oh’?”

“Yeah. I remember it now.” Eren answered with ostensible nonchalance, looking back towards him as if it were a casual conversation. “As I recall it, your contact didn’t put up much of a fight. He practically killed himself by getting in my way.”

A sharp sound of protest sounded out from Y/N, most likely trying to allude to the fact that it was her who killed their comrade and not Eren. He refused the urge to spare her a begging glance, to let him take the blame. He was unsure of what they would do if they knew the truth. And luckily (in Eren’s case), neither of the men took it as such, only believing she was still fighting against the forceful grip she was trapped under.

“Will you shut her up?” The man said, paying more attention to the distraction rather than Eren’s confession.

“I’m trying, Porco, but she’s not exactly putting up an easy fight.” The other replied, grunts of exertion protruding from his lips from every movement she made to get away from him. Eren felt a strange surge of pride at this, knowing that she was a fighter, just as he. It brought on a sense of hope that maybe they could get out of this unscathed, protecting the ones they care most about.

That all changed with the words that fell out of the so-called Porco’s mouth.

“I know a way we could get her to be quiet.” Porco replied, turning away from Eren. And though the gun was no longer pointed towards his skull, he was that much more afraid as Porco rounded on the woman in his partner’s arms.

“She is pretty…” He observed, stepping nearer. Y/N flinched away when he brought his knuckles up to her cheekbone, brushing against the skin that shined with frightened tears.

“Don’t fucking touch her.” Eren seethed, standing up from the pew, fists clenched. Though his aggression was quickly put to rest when Porco pointed the gun back at him. The man surged forward, a harsh hand on Eren's shoulder, weapon pressing abrasively— once again— against his forehead. He was brought down on his knees, complying when every part of him was screaming to fight, to draw blood, to kill.

“What was that?” Porco said as he advanced on him, maniacal with his words. “You don’t want me to touch her? That’s rich coming from you, Casanova.”

His grip was rough on Eren’s chin as he forced him to look up into his conniving facial features. Grin wicked as he licked his lips, every movement he made wanting Eren to drive his fist further and further into his skull.

“How about it, huh?” Porco sneered. “I’ll forgive you for killing my guy if you let me take a pass at your girl.”

“If you even lay a finger on her—”

“You’ll what?” He condescended, tilting his head in a way that angered Eren even further, “Have your brains splattered across the floor? I think you’re forgetting who has the upper hand here.”

Eren pushed his forehead against the weapon, trying desperately to prove that he wasn’t afraid. And maybe he wasn’t. His anger was forcing its way through every nerve in his body, enough so that he would stare down the barrel of a gun, knowing that whatever the outcome, she would remain unharmed. As long as she was safe, as well as the others hidden within the confines of the confession booth, he would do anything to take this threat away.

Though this was unapparent to the man who stood above him, who looked around the room as if he had an audience. Obviously taking pleasure in the chaos he was creating.

“You know what?” He said, his cruel smirk painting his features once more. “I don’t need your permission.”

Porco leaned forward, his lips pressed right up against Eren’s ear, correspondingly the gun was held up to his temple on the opposite side.

“I’ll fuck your girl right in front of you.”

There was a white blinding anger that surged through Eren’s core, forging through him with horrifying force. He imagined his teeth sinking into the skin of this man’s throat, ripping the tendons, blood pouring out from every crevice, making him pay for a comment like that, for the threat of his touch on Y/N’s skin. But the fantasy was interrupted by a harsh, agonizing scream.

And there were teeth and blood. But to Eren’s surprise it wasn’t his own.

Ellie had somehow escaped from the hidden confines of the confession booth. Her pointed teeth were digging their way through the forearm that was previously gripped around Y/N’s torso. Growls were escaping their way through the jaw that was locked around his appendage. Blood splattered across the floor.

“What the fuck?” The other man cried, trying to shake free from the grip of this dog that Eren had never felt more grateful towards, the defense that she provided allowing Y/N to slip free from his grasp. She fell forward, hands braced against the floor as she caught her breath. Though just as quickly, she looked back towards her dog, both she and Eren caught sight of the man lifting his arm in a powerful fist, bearing down on the dog that was fighting so valiantly.

“No!” Y/N screeched at the same exact time her dog let out a sharp and plaintive whimper under the strong blow the man ministrated against her. The dog released him, stumbling back— ears held against her head, tail tucked under her legs, wavering from the inflicted wound, looking so much weaker than what Eren had known of the animal. He wondered about the shaking dog Y/N had found in her basement, right on the precipice of the apocalypse.

But he couldn’t let the thought plague him for too long. Instead, under the distraction of it all, Eren brought the force of his elbow into Porco’s temple. The gun in his hand slipping from his grip, falling into Eren’s lap. It all felt so lucky, as Eren’s own hand wrapped around the weapon, fingers finding the trigger in a moment’s notice.

The man with his forearm bleeding freely was now advancing towards Y/N— dog forgotten as she cowered in on herself after that horrifying bludgeon. Y/N was scrambling, trying everything to get away, most likely hoping for a path that would allow her to get to her dog. What she didn’t notice was Eren pointing his newfound weapon at her adversary, and as soon as the man took another step forward, a bullet whizzed through the air, piercing itself between his eyes. Just as the arrow did his compatriot. He fell to his demise just the same.

A frustrated, curdling roar of anger sounded out from beside Eren, and before he knew it he was down on the floor, wrestling with the weight of a maddened man who witnessed the death of yet another one of his comrades. The gun, unfortunately, slipped from his grip within the pandemonium, skidding across the floor.

All Eren could focus on was the man who had somehow gotten the advantage. His thighs were trapping Eren in place, hands gripped into the fabric of his t-shirt.

“I’ll kill you.” The man raged, hands shifting upwards, tightening around the expanse of Eren’s neck. Eren’s legs kicked from underneath the man, trying everything to break free as his vocal chords began to restrict under Porco’s grip, fresh air being lost to his lungs. But his anger was matched with Porco’s, both of them filled with adrenaline from the actions taken against those closest to them. And with the upper hand now in Porco’s favor, Eren was at a disadvantage.

He was gasping, searching for any breath that could provide his lungs with relief. His fingers tugged at the rough hands wrapped around his throat. In each passing second death seeped in all around him from every corner of the earth. His life flashed before his eyes, starting with memories from his childhood, and then the beginning of the end, and the people he met throughout its duration. But all that mattered to him were the last couple of months when he found his humanity in the young girl he took in, as well as the last few days where his life finally felt complete now that he found—

A gunshot rang through the air once more. Porco’s grip loosened around Eren’s throat as he fell down beside him, brains now seeping onto the tiled floor, eyes glassy with death, perhaps a fate that was spoken into existence. Eren gasped in huge lungfuls of cold refreshing air, savoring the life that was almost taken from him. But his still-panicked gaze found purchase on the path the bullet had come from, landing on Gabby standing at the end of it. The gun was held aloft in her shaking hands, barrel steaming from the bullet that just blasted from its confines.

“Holy shit.” The young girl breathed, gun dropping to her side, “I just killed someone.”

“Gabby.” Eren croaked, vocal cords strained from the violence inflicted. He rolled over, propping himself up on shaky hands and knees. Regret brittled his bones, knowing that she had never done that before, wishing she didn’t have to at an age so young. It was a burden he never wanted her to bear. His efforts fallen flat within his missteps.

His movements were in an attempt to get to her, to make sure she was all right and that her humanity wasn’t being lost to her, the same way his own was the first time he drew blood. But once he was up on his knees, he caught sight of Y/N, sitting next to a dark lump on the floor. Eren’s heart lodged itself in his throat and before he knew it, he was up on his feet staggering over to where the woman sat, shoulders trembling with every sob that wracked through her body.

“Is she…” Eren choked out, dropping to his knees beside her, an arm instinctively wrapping around her shaking form. Despite her grievances, Y/N relaxed under his touch.

“She’s alive.” Y/N spoke, her voice small, almost to the point where her words came out as a whimper, though it was filled with an aching relief. Her hands smoothed over the head that now resided in her lap. The dog’s eyes were shut closed against the world around her, her breathing so shallow that Eren could hardly tell if her heart was still beating, he was hoping it was only because of the dark that surrounded them. Y/N continued her reassurances, almost as though she was trying to convince herself, even with the tremor that still plagued her.

“Just shaken up, is all. She’ll be alright… we’ve been through worse… But, Gabby—”

“—’m fine.” Gabby interrupted before any inquiries, she sat down on Y/N’s other side. “I’ll be alright too.”

“Gabby—” Eren started.

“I said I’m fine.” She reiterated, maybe a bit too harshly. Eren had opened his mouth to argue the fact, but then he felt as Gabby’s own arms snaked their way around Y/N’s waist, and the words faded off of his tongue.

All four of them were lost within their desperate need of solace, holding onto one another with shaking hands. Two dead bodies lay behind them, forgotten as they all sat in front of the altar with candles burned down to the wick. The faith that once was held in this building by previous loyal churchgoers now placed entirely on the delicate foundation of this forming bond between them.

Y/N’s P.O.V

8 years ago.

Chaos. That was all there was at the beginning.

It was like the world was distorted by a dark twisted filter of destruction. The sky seemed darker than usual, strange for a summer’s day in early June. There were rows and rows of stagnant cars as everyone tried to force their way out of the city. Soon replaced by horrified mobs that wouldn’t care if they trampled over those who tripped over their feet. All that mattered to the mass majority was to get away by all means from the ripping teeth and bloodied fingernails of the monsters that were now running rampant through the streets. Most of the efforts were in vain.

The bloodshed on that very first day was one of the worst blows humanity had ever taken.

Y/N was one of the few who was oblivious to the start of the apocalypse. A feat that seemed impossible, due to the fall of society that had overtaken their world. But she was on a train, headphones plugged in, her thoughts solely on the excitement of getting to see her family again after a year of being apart.

Though reality soon set in as the train started to slow to a stop, halfway between the two stations. Y/N remembered being annoyed at first, frustrated at the delay in her journey probably due to some technical difficulties, but the frustration was soon replaced by confusion as the passengers were evacuated from the locomotive.

The confusion then turned into fear when Y/N finally witnessed the chaos.

She tried calling her parents, her ear was met with low beeps as the call was disconnected. The lines were down, overrun with all the others trying to contact their loved ones. The people around her were no help, as they scrambled to find a way out of this mess once the conductor announced what was really going on. And as they all began to argue about what should be done— if they should take the train into one of the stations or wait for instruction from government officials— Y/N had decided that she could walk the rest of the way home.

With her luggage left behind, save for the backpack over her shoulder, she slipped away under the guise of all the mayhem.

It took her two days to finally reach the neighborhood where her house resided. The streets she grew up in were eerily quiet, nothing so much as stirring as Y/N made her way down the sidewalk.

Surprisingly, she hadn’t run into much during her journey home, since most of the damage was still convoluted within the bounds of the city. She didn’t run into any other living soul, only stopping to rest for thirty minutes at a time, eating the snacks she had preemptively packed for the journey home that should’ve been much simpler than this.

Every so often the ground would tremble, and in the distance would send echoes of great roaring booms. Perhaps the government had resorted to bombing what was left over… the thought unsettled Y/N in her bones.

She thought of her dog, who trembled at the sound of mere fireworks. Her heart ached. She prayed her family would have stayed home. Waiting for her. They had to know she would’ve done anything to get to them. They wouldn’t leave her behind.

However, her house was just as quiet as the street, proven by the lack of excited claws clacking against the floor, a sound she was used to hearing whenever she walked in through the front door. Her bottom lip began to tremble. But she wouldn’t let herself cry. Not yet.

Instead she moved into her kitchen. A place filled with happy memories of her little family making dinner all together. Her mom would be chopping vegetables, a bright grin on her face from the corny joke her dad just told as he stood over the stove. Ellie would be sitting on the precipice of the room, smart enough to know that Y/N’s dad would be quick to shoo her out if she attempted to step a paw further inside. Also smart enough to know that Y/N would eventually sneak her a piece of chicken when her dad was pretending not to look. All of those happy memories faded into these kitchen walls.

It looked so much emptier now that everyone was gone.

The image of her kitchen began to blur as tears filled the corners of Y/N’s eyes. Her throat was tight as she started to imagine the worst. Coming to terms with the fact that she was the only one left.

She was all alone.

Or was she?

An ominous creak rang out from deeper within the house, capturing the girl's attention. A knife that was left on the drying rack by the sink was now held secure in her hand. She ventured further into her childhood home, only stopping when she reached the closed door of her parents bedroom. There was a faded noise seeping in from under the door.

Y/N’s heart was racing. Her fingers grasped around the doorknob, turning slightly. The door creaked open as she pushed against it.

She was frozen in place.

That was until the sight in front of her had caused such a visceral reaction that bile forced its way up her throat. Unable to stop as she released the contents of her last feeble meal, splattering across the floor.

Y/N had heard briefly of what has been happening these last few days from a comment made by the conductor. That people have been turning into cannibals, eating at the flesh of their fellow man, aggressively and violently. Causing the people they bite to do the same, spreading the disease. And over the past forty-eight hours the girl feared having to run into one of those monsters. She didn’t. Until now.

Sat on the bed in the middle of the room were her parents. But not as she had ever known them.

Her father was hunched over the carcass of what used to be her mother. His teeth gnashing, crimson blood covering the expanse of his chin, as well as his fingers that dug into a gaping hole in her mom’s stomach, unaware of his daughter standing in the doorway. Though that changed when her coughing and hacking had caught his attention. He stared up at her with hungry eyes, slow moving, like he was about to pounce.

“Oh, dad.” Y/N mourned, holding the knife out in front of her, her tears now falling freely, burning hot down the skin of her cheeks. Is he not the man she once knew him to be? Does he not recognize his own daughter? Was she soon to have the same fate as her mother? The woman he married and always claimed to be the love of his life, now a gory mess on their marital bed?

Her father tumbled off of the mattress, his eyes still clouded over and angry. Lost in his irises— the same color as her own— was the warmth she had known throughout the eighteen years of her life. This thing was not her father. He was a monster standing in his place.

“Please…” Y/N whimpered as he started to stagger towards her, knowing that this could only end in one way. “Please, don’t.”

Of course he didn’t understand her, his possessed mind set on its current goal. Hands out reaching for her, a cruel imitation of when he used to do the same to pull her into a loving hug. A sob wracked through her body when she caught sight of a bloodied bandage wrapped around his forearm. Had he been one of the firsts to be bit? Had he not known what he would eventually turn into? Going to sleep besides his wife thinking it was just a freak accident and all would be fine in the morning?

The theories ran rampant in Y/N’s brain as she continued to back up, her father still lumbering towards her, hissing at the sight of her.

“Dad.” Y/N said again, almost like she was begging. Begging for him to stop. Begging him to turn back into the man that she once knew. She couldn’t do this without him. She couldn’t do this alone.

She was forced to stop when her back hit the wood of the door at the end of the hallway. It wasn’t fully shut, so it creaked as it slightly shifted back under the weight of her body. She knew what lay behind her. It was the staircase that led downstairs. She could escape down below, slam the door shut and avoid doing what she knew she had to.

But seeing him like this. Seeing her own dad, a shell of the man he once was, was too hard to bear. And she didn’t want to let this monster live in his place any longer than it already has. It was unfair that this thing had stolen her dad from her, stolen the feet stalking forward, stolen the hands reaching out, stolen the heart that was no longer beating, the eyes that were no longer loving and replaced it all with cold unfeeling death.

So with a newfound energy and rage, the girl raised the knife, plunging it deep into his skull with a strangled cry of exertion.

Her dad— now free from the unrelenting grasp of this monster— sank to the floor, unmoving.

“I’m sorry.” She cried, dropping down beside him, too afraid to touch him, but wanting one last moment with her father. Her salty tears dripped down onto his face, causing streaks to carve through her mother’s blood staining his chin. “I’m so sorry.”

She stayed like that for a few moments more, mourning the death of her parents. Her cries were loud and unrelenting, her hand was clutched to her chest trying hard to even out her breathing that was forging through her in staggered intervals. Her grief wouldn’t let her calm down, keeping her shoulders rigid and her throat raw.

But somehow through it all, she heard a new sound, wavering up from behind her, up the stairs and through the crack in the door. A muffled, warbled whimper, as if her grief was manifesting itself outside of her body. But that wasn’t it… no. She knew exactly what it was. Who it was.

Y/N scrambled to her feet, desperate in her movements, practically tripping down the stairs to where the sound was coming from. She rounded the corner, eyes searching for the dusty storage-space tucked underneath the stairs. A place of solace her dog always ran to when the boom of fireworks or the rumble of thunder became too overwhelming.

She was met with an occupied space. Big brown eyes staring up at her, her entire body shaking with fear, and a tail that slowly started thumping against the floor.

“Ellie.”

More whimpered cries escaped from the dog as she realized who was standing in front of her— a sound she always made when happiness overwhelmed her whenever a family member returned home. Y/N’s own tears gushed harder down her face, only this time with the most overwhelming relief she had ever known.

She dropped to her knees, the movement sparking the dog to stand up on shaky legs and move forward into her owner’s arms.

“I’m here, sweet girl.” Y/N whispered into her fur as the dog continued to cry, her tail now wagging more furiously as her familiar scent washed over her. Ellies nose was dry as she sniffed at Y/N’s cheeks, most likely due to a lack of water. Y/N would have to get some for her, as well as some food. But for now she had her arms wound tight around her dog, shoulders shaking with relief. She wasn’t alone anymore. Ellie wasn’t alone anymore. They had found each other within the chaos.

“I’m here.”

~ present day

“We have to go.”

Eren’s words were sharp with the command, maybe too soon after the fact. There were protests from Gabby, who tried to argue that there was more time needed to recover. Y/N wanted to agree with her— in favor of her poor old dog still trembling in her lap, but she knew that Eren was right. Especially at the mention that more of them could be on their way as soon as they didn’t hear back from the man that seemed to be their leader.

So now they were back to wandering through the forest, before the sun had even begun to rise. The shadows overcast from the trees were shifting and changing in Y/N’s tired mind, looking far too much like more enemies they might have to defend themselves against. She jumped more often than not at any slight movement, still shaken by the events that transpired.

Ellie was tied to her waist by a rarely-used leash, too worried to let her dog wander off like she usually did. Not that she would’ve done so, Ellie was sticking close to Y/N’s side, her movements slow and careful. Though, the reassurance the leash provided was always welcome. She wanted her dog near her, somewhere close, where she would be safe.

It would be a lie if Y/N said she wasn’t worried. Her dog had taken many hits before, some much worse than what happened tonight. But Ellie was getting old, her reaction time much slower than what it once was, now proven with the timid dog that walked in time with her steps. The bounce back of her usual energy was taking much longer than it ever has.

Y/N didn’t dare think of the extremities that could’ve taken place tonight, if her captor had been that much more forceful, or if Porco had been quicker with his gun. She could have lost the one thing that mattered most to her in this world. She still could. It was hard to keep the fear at bay. Death was imminent, there was no getting around it, but with the way Y/N’s worries plagued her mind it was like she enjoyed the torture of fearing the inevitable. Her overactive imagination was far too strong for her own good.

The only thing that anchored her to reality was the man who walked a few paces in front of her now.

Eren was strong with the way he moved through the shadowed forest, deliberate with his actions just as he was earlier that night. It seemed as though he wasn’t affected at all by what had happened, his strength resounding in the very way he kept them all moving. At the moment, Y/N was grateful for his resilience, it was like a spark of hope lighting itself against the aggressive darkness of dread.

It was the very lifeboat Y/N needed to pull herself from her own harrowed worries. She kept her eyes on the shoulders that were often brushed by the low hanging branches surrounding them. The sight of him keeping her present, keeping her moving.

Gabby, on the other hand, was far in the distance behind them, her feet dragging through the foliage that lay beneath their feet. Her demeanor was soft and quiet, unlike anything Y/N had known of her from before. Every so often Eren would turn, his teal gaze catching on to Y/N before shifting towards the young girl behind her. His brow would soon furrow every time he realized she hadn’t moved any closer.

With the time Y/N had now gotten to know the man, she knew that look well. He was worried— just as she was. Though this time it was more so than ever before. Perhaps he was worried for Gabby the same way Y/N was worried for Ellie. The events of the night caused far too much damage beyond the physical realm. The woman was unsure of what that damage could be for the young teenager, but it burdened her nonetheless. Since she now seemed to care about her as much as any other friend she’s had in her life.

So as the sun began to rise, and the day went on, there were many times when Y/N tried to engage the girl in conversation, ranging between casual topics to more in depth questions about what she was feeling at that moment. But every single time, her attempts were brushed off by a shrug and a brief comment of dismissal. A nut too tough to crack.

“Does she seem off to you?” Eren once asked, as they took a break by a small river, a babbling brook carving its way through the forest floor. Serene in its very nature and a sight that would usually excite the young girl. Though now she only sat silently on a large rock stationed near the bank, knees curled in on herself as she took in the scene.

Y/N pursed her lips at Eren’s question, unsure how to answer it without worrying him further.

“I don’t know, she’s quieter than usual.” Y/N replied, careful with her words. “We didn’t get much sleep… maybe she’s tired.”

“Yeah.” Eren responded, though he sounded unsure. “Maybe.”

The conversation was put to rest as soon as they continued on with their journey. The remainder of it was surrounded in silence as no one dared to speak. They passed through endless miles of forest green, their footfalls ringing out into the nature beyond. There was not a soul in sight beyond those within their group. There weren’t even any buildings from what they saw last of the church that faded into the distance behind them. The road was far gone as they ventured deeper and deeper into the trees.

When the sun was low in the sky, casting golden light over their heads, being quite obvious there was no promise of a shelter with four walls and a roof, Eren had finally conceded their journey.

“We need to stop for the night.” He had said, now standing in front of a naturally formed alcove, established in the side of a hill.

The rest of them gratefully accepted his notion, their tired feet now overworked from a day of walking. Gabby immediately threw off the backpack that was digging into her shoulders, it falling onto the forest floor with a resounding thump.

“Finally.” She relented, flopping down besides her belongings, seeming a bit more like herself. Y/N smiled softly at the display, her worry slowly beginning to ease its way out of her system.

“We can set up a fire here.” Eren continued as the action-man he always was.

“You think it’s safe?” Y/N inquired, unhooking Ellie from her leash, allowing her to sniff around the premises they deemed worthy for their camp.

“We covered a lot of ground.” He nodded, already clearing a space for a firepit. “And if we’re sleeping outside we’re gonna need the warmth.”

There were no arguments after that. Within the hour, as the light of the sun faded over the horizon it was replaced by the bright orange of a flickering fire, sparks popping up into the cool night air. The respective facial features of each person surrounding the heat was underlit by the dancing flames, each one of them stoic in their silence as they ate at the meal prepared by Eren— who had returned to the camp after searching for firewood, with a rabbit bouncing on his hip.

It was the first hot meal any of them had in days, a welcome comfort after the distress they faced. And it definitely raised Ellie’s spirits as she sat by Y/N’s side, staring eagerly as the woman picked small pieces of meat off the bone, drool slobbering from her lips. She grinned at the sight of her silly dog with her wagging tail. Never able to refuse her, Y/N gave her a bite between each one of her own.

When she had gifted her dog the last bite of their shared meal, Y/N rubbed her greasy fingertips across her jeans, her gaze shifting. And then she stilled. Her eyes landed on the man who sat across the fire, she was met with the blinding teal of his irises. He was already staring at her. And he didn’t even feel the need to be ashamed he had gotten caught. Instead, his expression was thoughtful as he considered her, slowly chewing his food. His strong features were accentuated by the fire below his feet, a reminder of how handsome he was, sending a jolt through Y/N’s spine.

She felt herself flush and quickly averted her gaze, eyes now landing on Gabby— who at that moment decided to push herself up to stand, thankfully stealing away Eren’s intimidating stare.

“I’m gonna hit the hay.” She said, clapping her hands free from any dirt.

“Take the sleeping bag.” Eren responded with no hesitation.

“Don’t need it.”

“Like hell you don’t.” He retorted, before pulling said sleeping bag out of his bag and tossing it her way. The girl plucked it out of the air with ease, but still rolled her eyes in the process.

“Fine.” She grumbled and then turned to go, probably hoping to make some distance between her and the firelight. But as the girl continued to walk away, Y/N realized she wasn’t stopping just beyond the orange halo of light the fire provided. She was moving deeper into the woods.

“Where are you going?” Eren was quick to react, standing on his feet. Gabby stopped at his words, turning to face him.

“I’m gonna sleep over here.” Gabby answered, jutting her thumb over her shoulder. Eren’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Why?”

“It’s called privacy, old man, ever heard of it?” She chided. Y/N noticed how a muscle twitched in Eren’s jaw. He took a step forward, perhaps about to drag the young girl back over to them by force. Y/N opened her own mouth before he could.

“Hey, Gabby?” She inquired, standing on her feet as well.

“Yeah?”

“Do you mind taking Ellie again?” Y/N asked, her tone soft with the question in contrast to Eren’s sharp frustration. “I think she prefers sleeping with you.”

A small smile flickered up on Gabby’s lips, she nodded simply and waited as Y/N prodded Ellie to follow after the girl, which of course she did happily. From the corner of her eye she saw Eren's shoulders visibility relax, but only slightly.

A deep sigh escaped his lips as he sat back down on the log he had dragged over near the fire earlier that evening, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose. Y/N fidgeted where she stood, unsure of what to do with herself now that it was just the two of them.

“I’m sure she’s alright.” Y/N offered, bending down over her own backpack to tug out a small blanket she had buried deep in its confines. Something to do with her hands.

“She’s not acting like herself.” Eren countered, his hand dropping down to his lap, revealing his worried features.

Y/N shrugged, not having much to say on the matter since she’s only known the girl for a short amount of time. She did notice the difference with her most recent demeanor, but Y/N was once a teenage girl too, and she knew how much of a rollercoaster that was in and of itself.

“Maybe she really does want privacy.” She mused, as she spread her blanket out across the forest floor, close to the warmth of the fire.

“She hates sleeping alone.” Eren blurted, “Ever since I found her. If I wasn’t near her when she woke up, she’d…”

Eren shook his head, his words fading off his tongue. Perhaps in respect to Gabby’s newfound want of privacy, not wanting to reveal the moments when she’s weak. But Y/N didn’t take offense to that. She understood. As well as the fact that the picture was already painted.

“It’s just… weird for her to want to be alone. Especially after last night,”

“Well, she’s not alone, is she?” Y/N reminded him with a soft smile. He met her gaze, his own lips twitching up slightly with the reassurance.

“Yeah, you’re right.” He breathed, “Thanks… for that.”

Y/N shrugged off his gratitude, shaking her head, “Nah, don’t worry about it. It was the truth anyways, I think Ellie likes her more than me.”

Eren let out a low chuckle at that, causing Y/N’s stomach to dip. Her bottom lip tucked between her teeth to hold back a brighter grin. She hid her face by focusing on straightening out her blanket, even though she didn’t really need to.

“Are you going to sleep?” Eren asked, his attention being caught by her redundant movements.

“Um… Yeah.” Y/N said, her tone going up a pitch with hesitation. She had made the decision in the pause between her words. She wasn’t exactly planning on going to bed, but she supposed that’s exactly where she was headed with her current actions. “Are you?”

“I’ll probably stay up.” Eren told her. “Take watch.”

“Okay.” Y/N nodded, and then she paused again, looking around.

“Don’t you have a sleeping bag too?” She questioned.

“Oh, uh, no.” Eren replied, looking down at his feet. “That was our only one.”

“Won’t you be cold?”

“I’ll be fine.” He reassured her. Y/N narrowed her eyes at the man, unconvinced, but with the soft smile he offered her she found herself letting it slide. So instead of arguing, she slipped underneath her blanket— unconventional for sleeping besides a campfire, but better than nothing. And once she was settled, back turned away from the fire (as well as Eren’s burning gaze), her exhaustion finally registered in her brain. It was almost a surprise how quickly sleep took over her form.

Though she slipped out of it just as quick a few hours later at the aggressive sound of chattering teeth. She woke up with a furrowed brow as the sound had snuck into her dream in a confusing fashion. Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, she raised herself on one palm, looking around the now darkened camp. The fire was almost completely out, only a few glowing embers sat among the ash. As her eyes adjusted to the dark, she took in the sight of Eren’s shadowed form, laid out in front of the log he once sat at. His shoulders were shaking, curled in on himself for any sense of warmth.

“Eren?” Y/N croaked. He jumped at the sound of her voice.

“Shit—” He sat up quickly from his position on the floor. “I’m sorry, I fell asleep.”

Y/N shook her head, to forego his apology, though she quickly realized how dark it was, and felt foolish since he probably couldn’t even see the gesture.

“That’s alright.” She then whispered, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, ‘m fine.” Eren replied.

“Are you sure you’re not cold?” She questioned again.

“Not at all.”

Y/N rolled her eyes. Another thing he couldn’t see, but maybe he could feel the force of her frustration as he spoke again.

“I’m alright.” He reiterated. Y/N let out a huff of annoyance. And then Eren’s teeth started chattering again. This was ridiculous.

“Eren, I’m not deaf, you know?” She argued. “I’m cold just listening to you. Take my blanket.”

“Then you’ll be cold.” Eren countered through the dark.

“I’ll be fine. I’ll take next watch.” She told him.

“But you were still sleeping.” Apparently he wouldn’t let this go. And Y/N’s patience was wearing thin.

“Fine.” She stated, her tone decisive just as her next choice. “Then come here.”

“What?”

“Come here.” She repeated, her frustration now very apparent.

“Why?”

“The way I see it, we can either keep arguing who gets to take the blanket or we can just skip ahead to the obvious solution.” She answered, sitting up all the way, her eyes finding purchase on his shadow in the dark.

“And the solution is…?”

“We’ll share.”

Eren didn’t respond after that. In fact it even sounded like he wasn’t breathing at all. He went so still that Y/N almost thought he had fallen back asleep. Or maybe even left her alone by the dying fire. She opened her mouth to say something more, but was cut off when Eren finally spoke.

“Are you sure you want to?” He asked, his voice barely above a murmur.

“Neither one of us wants the other to be cold.” She said, her frustration taking a back seat as she matched his tone. “It’s the only way.”

He paused again. But this time Y/N was certain he was there.

“Okay.”

Through the shadows of the night she heard shuffling as Eren stood from his spot. The sounds of his slow footsteps signaling his arrival to her side of the camp. When he finally reached her he had stopped— standing above her, hesitating for what was to come next.

Y/N stared up at him, his teal eyes somehow shining through the dark. Her stomach dipped once again once she realized how close he would be within a few seconds. Maybe that’s why he took a pause, maybe he realized the same thing. Y/N wondered if she should be nervous. Though she definitely was, as her hands trembled in her grip around the blanket. Even so, she held his gaze as she peeled back the fabric. A silent invitation.

A deep breath was released from the man in front of her, perhaps preparing himself. Though the pause was much shorter now as he soon accepted it.

They were silent as he placed himself beside her, fingers brushing when he went to grab his corner of the blanket from her. A soft gasp escaped her throat when they did. Y/N prayed Eren didn’t hear it.

Though that would almost be impossible considering how close they were. Y/N’s blanket was small— small enough to fit in her backpack comfortably with the rest of her items— so for it to be able to cover the both of them fully, their shoulders had to be pressed together, their backs against the forest floor. They both lay rigid, and uncomfortable. Afraid to move. Afraid to breathe.

They laid like that for a while.

“I’m worried about Gabby.” Eren whispered into the air, surprising Y/N once he broke the silence. His tribulations from before still haunting him to the point where he must’ve needed to say something out loud. Maybe their proximity made him feel safe to do so.

“How so?” Y/N encouraged, knowing that he’ll eventually reveal what was really going on, hopefully providing clarity on his own theories on why Gabby was acting so differently.

“She’s never killed anyone before… a person, I mean. ”

Oh. Y/N’s heart sank. What a strange joke made by the universe. Just the night before they were confiding with one another about the burden left behind by the cruel acts this new world forced your hand to make. And now Gabby was faced with the same moral dilemma. Even if the man deserved it, having to kill someone with your own two hands takes a toll. The first one being the worst of them all.

“I never wanted her to have to do that.” Eren continued, his words said with a slight strain in his voice. Y/N didn’t dare look over, in case he was displaying emotions that didn’t want to be shared. She kept her head faced towards the sky above, stars blinking down from between the branches of the high standing trees.

“I knew it was inevitable.” He added, and then he released another harrowed breath. “But she’s just a kid. I wanted to hold it off as long as possible… but now that it’s happened, I’m scared— no, terrified that…”

“That it will change her.” Y/N finished for him.

“Yeah.” He responded, even though she didn’t phrase it as a question. The word hung in the air above them, neither of them really knowing what to say.

“Well it is going to change her.” Y/N then said, ripping off the bandaid. “It already has.”

“I know.” Eren conceded, “But she shouldn’t have to know what it’s like. And now that she does… I’m even more terrified that she’s gonna end up like me.”

Y/N let herself look at Eren at that. His features were lost to the darkness, but she could see the silhouette of his nose. He was still looking away. Though his head slightly twitched towards her as she shifted under the blanket, changing her position so that she lay on her side, arms curled into her chest.

“Is that such a bad thing?” She whispered.

“If you knew who I was before… What I did before… maybe it is.” He replied.

“Before what?” Y/N questioned.

“Before Gabby.” He murmured. “...Before you.”

He turned his head to look at her, their gaze finally meeting once more. Y/N saw the worry that had been flickering over his irises all day, now at full force as he admitted his fears and his regrets. Y/N sucked in a breath, her own eyebrows tugging up with concern at what his self image was. She felt a desperate need to change that for him.

“As far as I can tell, if this is the person you are after meeting Gabby… if she was the one who pulled you out of whatever you used to be, I think she’ll be just fine. If you’re there to do the same.”

Eren’s eyes softened at her words. The tension slowly seeped out of his shoulders.

“She’ll need you there too.” Eren breathed, he shifted his body into the same position Y/N was in, they now faced each other head on, nowhere to hide as they held onto each other's gaze.

“You think so?” She murmured, a small spark of warmth glowing behind her sternum at the inclusion. It felt silly to be somewhat excited about the prospect, but it made her realize just how badly she needed the reassurance.

“I know so.” He assured her.

“And what makes you so confident?” She replied, lips tilting up in a half smile, her teasing coming out at the most inopportune moments. But Eren paid it no mind. Instead he simply answered her.

“Because I needed you.”

Y/N’s breath hitched in her throat. Her smile sliding off of her face in quick succession. His honesty sent a jolt of surprise to run through her nerves. Her eyes searching his face for any sign of the joke he must obviously be playing on her.

“At the church, you asked me if that was the case.” He continued, since Y/N’s words were lost to her. “And I just thought you should know that I do. I need you.”

“I need you too.” Y/N whispered, the confession falling so easily off of her lips. Almost like she was just falling into the motions of this conversation.

But of course the words were true. They couldn’t have been anything else. It was proven in the short amount of time they had known each other that they already needed one another to survive in a world like this. But perhaps there was something hidden. A deeper meaning that was not yet discovered. Or rather, not yet revealed. It was too soon to do so now. So perhaps they can hang on to the surface level, and find satisfaction within the shallow end.

Eren sucked in a breath at her reciprocating words. Almost like they were a surprise to him. But his softened features twisted harshly once again as remorse seemed to take over.

“I’m so sorry.” Eren had then said, closing his eyes and shaking his head against the earth beneath them, confusing Y/N in the process.

“For what?”

“For letting them hurt Ellie, letting them get to you.” He whispered, teal eyes revealing themselves, filled with shining regret. “And then when he… when he threatened to—”

“Eren.” Y/N said, her tone now pleading, knowing where he was going with this. She was desperate to stop the oncoming spiral he was headed towards.

“He was going to…” He swallowed around the words, unable to say them out loud.

“But he didn’t.” Y/N asserted, placing a hand onto Eren’s freezing cheek. His own large hand moved to cover it, like it was instinctual for him to do so.

“You must’ve been so scared.” He strained, fingers wrapping tighter around hers.

“I wasn’t scared.” Y/N shook her head, confidence dripping from every word. “Do you know why?”

“Why?”

“Because you were there.” She whispered as she shifted their hands so that they were now clasped in the small space between their bodies, wanting to make sure that he saw the truth within her irises. “I knew I’d be okay— that we’d all survive, because you wouldn’t have it any other way. There was no room for fear knowing that.”

Eren’s eyes flicked over each feature on Y/N’s face, as if he were looking for any hidden lies. When there were none to be discovered, a shaking breath of relief escaped from between his lips. He nodded in agreement.

“That’s what I felt too.” He revealed. “Having you there with me.”

“We make a pretty good team, huh?.” She smiled softly at him, causing a soft chuckle to push through his nose. The sound of content being the greatest thing she’s ever heard.

“I suppose we do.” He inevitably agreed.

And that was the last thing said before they let their conversation slowly fade into the night, being replaced by the soothing caress of sleep. The sound of their even breaths moving in time, their hands still intertwined between them.

Eren’s P.O.V.

Eren awoke to the sound of birdsong, and gentle blue sunlight that only shows itself in the early hours of the morning. His eyes were left without the usual bitter sting that came with a restless night of sleep. In fact, he had felt more rested than he had in years. Perhaps the difference was the woman that now resided in his arms, a position that must have formed itself sometime during the night.

The faded scent of mint overwhelmed his senses with his nose pressed into her hair. His rough calloused fingers had somehow slipped under the fabric of her shirt, firm against the burning skin of her hip, her back was held tightly against his chest from their proximity.

His heart stuttered, having her this close to him. Though he felt uncertain of how he was supposed to react to it all. Was he allowed to relish in the press of her body against his own? Was this something she wanted or perhaps it was all unconscious actions done under the influence of sleep and a need for warmth.

Of course that was when the woman shifted in his arms, though only doing so to sink deeper into the solid form of his body. Unfortunately, the action brought forth a shocking discovery when the curve of her ass brushed lightly across his crotch.

A low hiss escaped his lips when that in turn brought notice to the natural phenomenon that occurred behind his zipper whenever the sun would rise. Eren’s touch became softer and more unsure as he held his breath, willing all of the strength inside his body to hold himself still, not wanting to give her a rude awakening. But Y/N only relaxed further into his chest, the entirety of her now pressing solidly against the whole of him. He prayed to the universe that she was still asleep and unaware of what was happening behind her.

Eren shut his eyes, focusing on the pattern of his breathing.

They shot open when Y/N shifted her hips once more, ever so slightly but somehow more intended. Was she awake? Did she know what she was doing?

He found out the answer to that when she did it again, this time very much purposefully as the roll of her hips pulled a groan from deep within Eren’s throat. His own hips pressing back into her of their own volition. A soft sigh escaped the girls lips at the accidental reciprocation, her sound of satisfaction causing his cock to twitch in his pants.

“W-what are you doing?” He murmured into her hair, his hands shaking as they searched for an appropriate place to rest. His brain fuzzy as Y/N found a consistent pattern, his breathing growing heavy in her ear.

“Nothing.” She whispered softly, almost convincingly innocent. The next harsh grind of her ass caused Eren's hand to shoot out and grip at her waist.

“This isn’t why— shit—,” Eren strained, trying to convey that she didn’t have to do this for him, the words fumbling over his tongue. “I don’t want you to think that I—”

“—Shh. ’m not thinking anything.” She cooed, snaking a hand up to rest on the back of Eren’s neck, bringing him closer. A spark of electricity shot down his spine at the touch of her fingertips against his skin. “Just feels good.”

“Y-yeah.” Eren agreed breathlessly, dipping his nose down into the crook of her neck. “It does.”

Her reassurance brought a sense of confidence to the man, his grip growing harsher against her waist as he began to rut into her more deliberately. A sweet moan protruded from Y/N’s lips, the sound of it resounding in another twitch of Eren’s cock.

Heat began to surge all around them in a great contrast to the cool morning air. Unreleased tension threatened to burst as they continued to work themselves up. Y/N’s ass was now pushing back into him with a gentle rhythm, Eren pressing himself into her harder with each one of her back-thrusts.

Harsh desperate breaths wavered out from their throats, punctuated every so often by Eren’s low grunts and Y/N’s tiny whines.

Every part of Eren was on fire, a sheen of sweat layering itself onto his skin as he continued to hump into her, chasing a high that was dangerously close, far too soon.

Not that the woman in front of him was doing any better. She was arching into every firm grind of his hips, her mouth hanging open in a silent moan, shivering under the fingertips that Eren was now dragging over her skin, deeper into the fabric of her shirt. A sharp gasp left her lips when they brushed the fabric of her bra, catching on the hardened nipple underneath.

“Does that feel good?” Eren smiled into her hair, earning another sweet moan from the pride in his voice.

“Mhm.” She whined, nodding her head, her movements becoming quicker in her excitement.

“Feel’s good for me too, sweetheart.” He groaned, the nickname falling freely from his lips through the dizzying cloud of pleasure. “Gonna make me cum.”

“Please.” Y/N begged, grabbing the hand that was on her waist and holding it there, a silent concession to take what he needed from her.

A deep shudder rolled through Eren’s shoulders at the anticipation. More grunts tumbling from his lips with every thrust. He was pushing himself harder into her than ever before. He was close, so close—

“Ellie!”

The sound of Gabby’s voice had the two adults scrambling apart. Their secluded bubble of lust now burst and raining down on them with heavy disappointment and unyielding embarrassment. Abrasive in his actions, Eren stood quickly from his spot, turning away from the scene of the crime. Only for his eyes to land on Ellie, who sat at the precipice of the clearing, her tongue lolling out of her mouth, tail thumping wildly against the foliage.

The stupid, fucking dog.

“Don’t run off like that!” Gabby was soon to appear behind her, sleeping bag tucked under her arm.

Before Gabby caught sight of them and any shame that might still be lingering in the air, Eren quickly turned to the nonexistent last glowing embers of the fire, pretending to stomp them out like that was his plan all along. He heard the zipper of Y/N’s backpack behind him, surely busying herself with a different menial task to feign innocence.

“Morning.” The teenager called out as she closed the distance left between them. The two of them returned her greeting with some of their own, awkward in the way they spoke. But the young girl didn’t seem to notice, only moving to pack up the sleeping bag, completely unaware of their fragile facade.

Eren scratched at the back of his neck, the burn of Y/N’s touch ever present.

What the hell just happened?

~~~

A/N: Honestly this chapter is all over the place but I hope you like it!! hehe! let’s see where there relationship goes from here, shall we?? muahaha ILYSM thank you for reading! <3<3

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