Reject

Dialogue Prompt: "You're too good for me"

It didn't come as such a shock to Annie when he pulled her off to the side one field training day. Not to spar. To talk. Something the two didn't usually do often.

"We-I have to tell you something. "He said, eyebrows knitted together in uncertainty. Like he was debating whether he should continue or not. Annie neither moved nor offered any reply, and so he spoke again.

"It's about us…or um…you rather." He averted his gaze, ears tinging pink.

She had been expecting it. He was terrible at hiding his emotions; everything he felt was written plainly on his face. In his bright expressive eyes, in his body language. Annie was a pretty perceptive young woman; it didn't take her long to connect the puzzle pieces. She hadn't been so sure at first, but she believed her sparring partner Eren Jaeger was attracted to her. If his blatant wistful staring wasn't enough proof, or the odd way he'd offer her nonsensical things and claim them to be gifts, like a smooth rock or a dented hair pin.

She'd have to be blind too not see this boys crush. Hell, all of the 104th trainee camp had to be. He made it so obvious. Foolish boy, she thought. I'm only going to break your heart. But she would do it as painlessly as she could.

"What about me? "

"I don't know how to explain it," He mumbled, more awkward shuffling, "I just…" He trailed off with a sigh. Lifted a hand over chest where his heart would be and sighed again. He held out the same hand to her, and she looked at it questionably before placing her small palm within his. It was warm. He was always so warm.

The paler hues of her skin contrasted greatly against his olive tones. "Here." he murmured, and placed her small hand upon his chest. His own holding it there, she gasped as she felt the strong rapid rumble of his heart beat. Quick, thumping so hard she felt she could feel the tremoring pulse within her as well.

"Feel that?" He breathed, "It's beating so fast, and we're not even sparring."

He clutched her small palm tighter in his, "You make it do that, Annie."

Annie gazed up into his wide eyes and saw her own reflection waver back in ocean green depths. "Eren," She said, voice as steady as ever, "What're you telling me?"

The boy dropped her hand than, biting nervously into his bottom lip. The confession was there, just at the tip of his tongue. But he couldn't get it out.

"Eren?" She brushed lightly at his arm.

"I like you!" He blurted out. There it was. Plain and simple. Even If Annie predicted this outcome she couldn't stop the blush that painted her nose and cheeks an embarrassing red. Or the fluttering of her own heart.

A natural response, she thought. It's understandable.

"I think, not the way that Franz likes Hannah, but," he said quietly, moving closer to her, "Different. It's deep, confusing. It makes my head spin you know? I've never felt this way for anyone before. My hands get all sweaty, and-and…" He shook off, "But yeah, took me some time to realize, what I feel about you."

Another step closer, "And it's that I care for you, Annie. I like you."

Oh. Annie visibly gulped, avoiding his gaze. It hurt to swallow. "Okay." She told him, because what else could she offer?

Whatever hidden emotions that were being displayed openly on his face were dropped as she uttered that word. He tilted his head at her, apprehensive. "Okay?"

"Is that all you're going to say?" He was hurt, if not just a bit irritated. She could from the tremble in his voice.

I'm going to break your heart now.

"You have a terrible taste in women, Jaeger."

"What?" He looked down at her incredulously, "The hell is that supposed to mean…?" And his eyes go wide for a fraction of a second as he took in her meaning, "Oh, Annie, You're not a terrible person. Tough on me sometimes, sure." He chuckled halfheartedly.

"I mean; I can't find a thing that's terrible about you."

His tone gone soft as he told her this, stepping even closer to her. So close that she instinctively backed away from him. The crest fallen look upon his face made her own heart twinge unfamiliarly.

"...But you will," She muttered, shaking her head, "You will, and when you do. It will crush you."

"Annie…"

"You're a good person Eren," Another step back. "In fact, you're far too good for me."

Finally, he grew frustrated, as he always did when things got too erratic for him. Too much to handle. She was being too much. She was always too much. He marched toward her in three long steps, grabbed her by the shoulders so she couldn't turn from him.

"What're you saying…Annie…Annie, look at me."

But she wouldn't. She couldn't. If she did, she'd just be drawn too him again.

"I'm flattered, Eren. I am." Annie focused her gaze on the trainee sigil embroidered on his shoulder, anything but him. "I am not a kind person, like you are. I'll only end up hurting you."

He released her abruptly, too wound up in her words, "But I'm not-!"

She reached up than, placing her hand over his cheek to placid him. His voice caught in his throat, only a whine escaped. His hands balled into fists, but he leaned down for her none the less.

"It's better if we stay as we are," She said, her own robin blue eyes staring fixated at a point beyond him, "It's better if we don't get distracted. Yeah?"

He deflated. All fight dissipating from his eyes, "So you're saying you don't…want too…?"

"Maybe if we have met under different circumstances. Maybe if there weren't monsters roaming outside the walls."

And in them.

Annie dropped her hand, "But the chances of that are non-existent." Her eyes flickered to his briefly, the look of distress written on his face, the sign of rejection was too much for her to bare. She turned away.

"Find yourself a kind girl, Eren. Somebody worth your trust."

With that she brushed passed him, barely missing the way his shoulders sagged, and his head drop low with his heavy heart.

I'm sorry.