Note: This is set while Historia and Eren are still at the orphanage.
Eventually, I'm going to work on something a bit more substantial for these two, I swear, but I am weak for soft, romantic drabbles and this pairing seriously lacks those.
The sun is already going down when Historia steps back outside, painting the sky in shades of pink and yellow.
Eren is standing at the fence, watching it. It's become a ritual for him at this point and she smiles softly.
She creeps up behind him and slips her arms around his lean waist.
He tightens up immediately, taken off guard.
"Hey," she says quietly, setting him at ease.
The tension bleeds from his form and he relaxes.
"Hey," he answers, still distant.
His hand drifts to her elbow and rests there.
"I love you," she says.
A heaviness settles in her chest and she presses her face against his back, breathing deep.
It's the first time those words have left her mouth.
Eren hasn't moved.
She raises her head, trying to ignore the rabid beating of her heart.
He hasn't answered her.
His eyes are haunted as he stares at the horizon.
It makes her heart twist uncomfortably in her chest. She hates to see him hurting.
"Eren?"
He exhales audibly and lifts his arm just a bit, enough for Historia to slide under and press up against his side. He wraps his arm around her shoulder and pulls her close.
She has to tip her head back to look him in the eyes. She can't tear her eyes away from him.
"I love you," she repeats because it's so true that it hurts.
The corners of his eyes soften as he smiles. The pain doesn't quite fade from his eyes.
Historia's been hurt enough times to know three words aren't enough to drive it away. She's not naive enough to assume she ever can.
She can only support him while he hurts.
She's more than willing to do that.