Chapter 9 - Blossom
With a flick from my finger, I continue wading through the copious amounts of text on the screen of my Scroll.
It's taken me about a week but, I think I'm starting to get the hang of this thing. There's a few features here and there that I haven't tried out yet but, I can actually use the damn thing now. The sensitivity's a lot higher than any touchscreen I've ever tried before. It takes a bit of patience and perseverance to kick a few bad habits I've retained from my DS. I expected there to be differences between an LED touchscreen and a holographic one but, I didn't think it'd be this much of a hassle, especially when I've been around technology all my life. It's strange. Fascinating, but strange.
With my eyes firmly latched to the screen, I shuffle my head against the bed pillow as I swipe through the swarm of information. My teeth grit. Despite the sheer amount I've been wading through for the past half an hour: I haven't been able to fine what I've been looking for.
This morning, as part of our daily training regiment, Qrow decided that instead of our usual routine, we would focus on a form of Aura training.
More specifically: discovering what my Semblance is.
In layman's terms: a Semblance is some sort of superpower. It doesn't sound particularly complicated where I say it out loud, does it? Well, there's a bit of a reason for that. The thing is, everything that Tai told me that night about Aura was literally 'everything.' It didn't take longer than an hour but, in that time, Tai summarized everything that Remnant had learned about Aura and, to an extent, Semblances.
So, after helping Tai make lunch, I thought it might've been a good idea to use the browser on my relatively new Scroll and maybe see for myself if there's any correlation that I've been missing. So far, that hasn't really been the case. Don't get me wrong, I've found plenty of online articles, blogs and forums from several fighters between the four kingdoms detailing how they discovered their Semblances but I haven't found a single link between any of them.
They're all different: different powers, different amounts of time, different circumstances. Hell, they're so different, not all of them were able to confirm which of their traits might've effected it. Due to the powers manifesting from a person's Aura, the powers have a relation to a few traits of that person's personality. The fact that there are people out there that can't connect their Semblance to their own personality traits is very troubling.
That means the "Trigger," for the Semblance might be something I'm not even aware about.
I stifle a sigh, tearing away my gaze to glare at the bedroom ceiling. This isn't helping. I'm just going around in circles at this point. Bringing my attention back to the Scroll, I swipe the browser away into the background. If I haven't discovered it after afternoon training, I'll try reading through them again. See if there's anything I've missed. I highly doubt it though.
I just wish I had something conclusive to work with. Something that gives me a better indication of what I should be trying instead of 'Do random crap until something mystical happens.'
Maybe these articles aren't going deep enough. Maybe if I ask somebody of what their Semblance experience was like?
Peering at my Scroll again, an afterimage of a beaming face and golden hair forms in my head. A young vivid memory that had formed only a week ago yet, somehow always pops into my mind when I look at my fresh mobile device. A thought occurs to me. I sit up, fingers flickering through the applications, stopping at the almost bare contacts app that I found myself staring at more than one occasion. Standing alone, at the very top, is her name. Biting my lip, I hesitantly select the message button.
The empty screen appears. The same obnoxious message telling me the obvious is still there. My stomach unsteady, I tap the message bar and unlock the keyboard. Okay, only one step left: type the message. Swallowing, I slowly lower my finger down to the screen. Slowly. Slowly.
It stops, still a few inches away from the screen. My thoughts reticent, I hiss out "What the hell am I doing?" Without a second thought more, I close the Scroll down and hurl my head right back into the pillow.
"I'm such an idiot," I curse myself. Yang's out with her friends. If I sent that now, I'd just be annoying her. She doesn't want to spend her Saturday afternoon listening to some idiot whine about his Semblance problems. I should just leave her alone and solve this by myself.
I gently settle the Scroll onto the bedside table, right next to my lunch bowl, and palm my temples, a heavy sigh heaves from my chest.
However, as soon as I do, my ears pick up the husky sound of panting that feels eerily close to me. Without a moments notice, I launch myself off the bed. My erratic gaze darts around the room, searching for the second voice. The weighty panting intensifies. I peer down the side of my bed and standing there, the source of the husky voice, is an all-too familiar adorable corgi.
"Zwei?" I gasp.
"Arf!" He replies, tongue waggling as it always does. I let out a breath. With a hand reaching out to pet him on the head, legs dangling over the side, I look up to see that the -once closed- door wide open. Unable to hide the surprise in my voice, I ask him "How in the world did you manage that?" I'm not even mad. I'm more amazed than anything else, really.
"Arf! Arf!" He barks at me, like I was expecting a proper answer in the first place. Dogs somehow manage to accomplish the weirdest things, I swear.
"Zwei!" Just then, a bubbly voice calls out from the stairs. "Where'd you go, ya silly butt?!" Ruby? Before I'm given any chance to move, Zwei bounds from his position and torpedoes himself right at me. I let out a yelp, more like a squeal honestly, as he parks himself right on my lap. Unsure of what to do, my arms hover around him as though I'm trying to conjure a magic bubble or something. As she finally reaches the top and with the door wide open, Ruby quickly catches eye of us.
"Oh! Hi Eren!" Her attention shifts to the merry corgi on my lap, eyebrows furled. "Is Zwei bothering you?" I recognise her tone. It's the exact same one I take with my dog from time to time. It's the 'Disappointed parent,' voice you use when your pet's being rather inappropriate. It's not scathingly harsh or anything, it's more to show disapproval than anything else.
"U-uh..." I splutter. Zwei tilts his head towards me, giving me the most adorable face. He's a step away from begging me not to send him away. "N-no." I shake my head. "No. He's been fine." I think it's impossible for this dog to annoy me, even if he tried. Ruby blinks twice before smiling.
"Well, good!" With her eyes locked on Zwei, she slaps both her knees to call him. "Come on, boy! It's time for your bath!" He doesn't move, staring blankly back at her. With a twitch in her lip, she walks into the room with her arms stretched out. "I'm just going to carry you if you don't come down now," she says in a sweet tone. However, the gleeful corgi has a retort in mind for his owner, he simply flops down and lies on my lap. Ruby's face falls as her eyes narrow. "Clever boy..."
'Clever boy,' is right. This dog's heavier than he looks and he's practically glued to my legs right now. I can't even move them. Unsure of what to do, I ask, "Um, d-does he usually do stuff like this?" Wearing a pout that would look unbecoming on another person, Ruby huffs and folds her arms.
"Yeah. He always tries to find a way out of getting a bath," she groans loudly. "Argh! Why are you always such a pain over this, Zwei?" She throws her arms up into the air. "It's just a little water!" Her body slumps are she glares lightly at him. "You don't act like this when it's raining." I catch a chortle that almost escapes my throat. As anti-social as my dog is, I don't think he'd be able to deny how much he has in common with other dogs.
"Hey kid!" A rough voice calls from downstairs. There's no way I can mistake that for anybody else than my mentor. "Break's over! Time for round two!"
"Coming!" I call back, uneasily looking down at the cute little dog taking up residence.
"Uncle Qrow's pretty strict, isn't he." Ruby suddenly states. Jolting my head up, I shuffle lightly against the bed covers.
"I, um, I suppose so?" I say, my voice hushed as though had the ears of a bat. If he hears me, my training's going to become a lot more... difficult. Hands behind her back, she bounces in place.
"What are you training on, today?" She queries.
"U-um, we're trying to find my, uh, Semblance," I answer. "Qrow thinks that I'd have a better, u-um, chance at the entrance exam if I-I knew what my Semblance w-was." I'm not entirely sure why Ruby would be interested in what we're doing but, I figured it wouldn't really hurt to tell her or anything. In-fact, if my eyes aren't trying to fool me, I think I see something glint in Ruby's silver eyes.
"I can help!" Before I can even consider opening my mouth to stop her, Ruby quickly rushes out the door yelling back, "I'll go talk to Uncle Qrow!" Just like that, Ruby thunderously bolts back down the stairs, leaving me slack-jawed. Is it just me, or am I becoming predictable? Well, anyways, I should probably follow her.
"Zwei?" I say softly. "I need to go now." Zwei just gives me a look. Instead of sitting up and letting me leave, I feel his weight press harder on me like he just transformed into cinder blocks.
Uh oh.
It took a considerable amount of goading -as well as a belated promise of a portion of my dinner tonight- but I finally managed to escape my pint-sized captor.
As I tiptoe down the stairs, my ears pick up Ruby's high pitched squealing. When I reach the bottom, the first thing my eyes draw towards is the hyperactive form of Ruby who's jumping up and down like her entire house had suddenly morphed into a bouncy castle. I think it's safe for me to assume that things went well.
Qrow watches as his niece springs around the room, rubbing the back of his neck and trying his best not to laugh. As he gives me his full attention, he sinks back into his usual relaxed posture. "
You took your time, kid," he greets, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Let me guess..." he starts, his words drawling as he spots Zwei trotting beside me with his chest puffing out. "Yep. Figured as much." He... keeps his hands stuffed in his pockets. Huh.
I was kind of expecting him to take another shot from his flask but, lo and behold, he keeps it tightly attached to his belt. Then again, he doesn't seem to drink that much whenever he's around Ruby and, to an extent, Yang. Guess he has more self-control than I thought.
"Right," he continues. "You've probably heard it from Ruby already but, she's gonna take over for me." My mentor shrugs. "We weren't exactly getting anywhere so, a different perspective and a different way of thinking might give you a better shot." That's some sound logic but, why do I have the strange feeling there's an 'And' in there somewhere? "And," there it is, "I get to take the afternoon off." He wears that smug grin like a glove. Just as it looks like it's about to stay there permanently, Tai calls out from the kitchen.
"Hey Qrow! If Ruby's going to be helping Eren, you get to wash Zwei!" Just like that, Tai manages to wipe Qrow's haughty smile clean off his face. As he stares down at the cheerful corgi hiding behind my legs, I can quite safely say that Qrow hasn't gotten the best end of the deal.
"Damn it," he grumbles, his posture sagging. I hope I'm hiding my smirk properly.
"Hey! Hey!" Ruby bounds up to me, beaming a gigantic smile. "Let's go! We'd better get started!" As she turns heel towards the door, a sudden spark must've made its way into her mind as she gasps an "Oh!" and immediately spins back into place. "That's right!" She scrambles over her words. I think she has something in mind but, she seems to be struggling to properly put into words. I can hear mumbling something, counting the words with her fingers. "I had an idea. You know how Semblances need specific triggers, right?"
"Y-yes," I answer. Ruby throws an arm up towards the ceiling.
"What if we try figuring it out in a place you're comfortable with? Maybe your Semblance will trigger if you're feeling more relaxed?" I ponder on the idea for a moment.
"Th-that... sounds good," I say decisively. Ruby gleams at my answer.
"Great!" She pauses for a moment. "So, uh, do you know? The place you feel comfortable in, I mean." A place that I feel comfortable in...
W-well, I know where that place is but, it's... not exactly the most conventional of places.
Broken hollow branches with multiple knife-shaped holes lay scattered around the forest ground, surrounded by empty rifle rounds and half-buried from snow fallen throughout the night. The west side of the forest hasn't looked any different ever since I started training here by myself.
I always find myself being drawn here. It has a certain feel about it. At night, people would probably find this place haunting and rather frightening. I can understand why: the wind howls something terrible at night. Yet, this place has never really bothered me. I don't know the exact words to describe it but, being here feels rather... mystical. It's quiet, isolating yet, never truly lonely. Honestly, I feel more at home here than I do in the guest room. Hell, I feel better training here than I do the actual training grounds. Somehow, I'd always feel someone's beady eyes crawling up my spine.
I'd much rather train here. At least, when Qrow isn't with me.
"Isn't this where I unlocked your Aura?" Ruby points out. I thought she might've recognised this place, though I wouldn't fault her if she didn't. It has been a few good weeks.
"Y-yes. The exact same," I reply. Her eyes surveying the area as my stomach churns. Just because I find this place comfortable, doesn't mean others will. She'll probably think I'm some kind of weirdo who spends his time lurking in the woods like a freak.
"It's... pretty cold," I wince slightly at her observation. Even I can tell that she doesn't like it. Despite herself, Ruby turns and gives me a smile. "Well, it works for you so I think it's perfect!" That's an odd way of saying, 'You're kind of a creep.' "So!" She suddenly claps her hands, "What did you and Qrow try already?"
Fumbling over my words, I quickly list off everything that Qrow and I tried to find my Semblance so far. Some practical, some... not. I'm still wondering where he got the idea that stepping on a pin would activate my Semblance? Ruby bobs her head with every method I list off without even batting an eye at some at the crazier stuff we've tried. Guess everybody in this household's just used to him being... him.
"Hold on," Ruby interrupts. "You guys haven't tried the obvious one, yet?" Obvious one? Oh. That one.
Invisibility.
I shake my head briskly, "Qrow figured that if it was, it would've shown up by now." Something that I was more than happy to agree with. He didn't exactly want to waste time on something that would've shown up passively in regular conversation when we could've been trying other methods. I'm fairly certain that my Semblance isn't invisibility at this point, and that's just fine with me.
"Rats," Ruby kicks limply at the snow. I suppose things would've been far easier if it was invisibility but, Qrow seemed pretty certain. She quickly bounces back with her fists resting on her hips. "Okay then! We'll just have to do the one thing that you haven't done yet." I tilt my head slightly.
"U-um, which one is that?" She smiles awkwardly, scratching the back of her head as her eyes dart away from me.
"Well, uh, y'know it's... well," her hands hover around one another like she's trying to trap the answer in an invisible box. "...Talking."
"...Huh?" I say blankly. She groans to herself loudly, bumping herself in the head with a single fist.
"No! No! That's not what I meant! I-I meant..." She sighs lightly to herself, looking aside. "You've never really... had a real conversation with any of us."...Actually, come to think of it, I think she's right. I have most definitely talked to them all before but, those talks tend to go either two ways: Either I ask them a question or they tell what to do. Despite the amount of time I spend with Qrow and Tai, I've never really discussed anything with them.
"Y... yeah. I-I think you're right," I acknowledge. My body shivers as I say the words but, it's not quite as severe as I remember it.
"Alright. Lets try it, then!" Ruby's cheer is quickly substituted by silence. I stand expectedly, waiting for Ruby to make the first move yet, her posture doesn't even budge. Is she struggling to think of something to say, or is she looking for me to make the first move? Is that how it works? Seconds pass and neither of say anything, our eyes wandering to the trees. I should say something.
"Um..." I start, looking around for a subject to springboard from. I glance up at the sky, snow trickling down from the sky. "Nice... weather we're having."
"Y-yeah. It's very... snowy. Heh. Heh," she laughs awkwardly, giving me an uneven smile. I repay her with an awkward smile of my own, we might as well be cringing at each other. "Have I... told you about Crescent Rose yet?" Her weapon comes unravelled from her back, the scythe piercing the snow-filled ground.
"Um, yes. You have." Numerous times, actually. Crescent Rose was what we used as the base design for Warbreaker after all. I think Ruby might've realised as she quietly puts her scythe away, coughing into her fist once it's secure on her back.
"R-right. Right..." Silence again. For what feels like an eternity, the only thing either of us can hear is the wind blowing through the bare branches of the surrounding trees. Just then, Ruby chuckles to herself. "We really have no idea what we're doing, do we?" She lowers her head to the ground. I'm inclined to mimic her, laughing in the same manner.
"Hah. No, we don't." Then again, I didn't even do this kind of thing back home. Every single time we'd go to family get togethers, I would just stand at the side and let them talk it out. Ruby lets out a frosty breath.
"How does Yang make this stuff seem so easy?" Doesn't that seem familiar.
"Believe me, I know the feeling, " I say, rolling my eyes. Her eyes spring up to connect with mine. The suddenness causes me to step back slightly, my gaze blinking away from hers.
"You have an older sibling too?" She exclaims. Oh, that's why. She wouldn't know anything about them. The only person that would know that I have any family is Qrow, since he managed to gander a peek before that bet of hours. It looks like he hasn't told any of them. At least, not Ruby anyways. My heartbeat slows back down to normal. It's really not that surprising the more that I think about it.
"Y-yeah. Sister," I reply, rubbing my arm.
"Oh my gosh! We're fellow younger siblings!" For a second, she spreads her arms wide like she's about to hug me. However, after taking a step forward, she promptly stops and lowers them again. Was that reflexive? Eh, doesn't really matter. She steps back into place. "What's her name?"
"L-Louise..." That's... the first time in quite a while that I've been able to say that name. Hah. I-I never realised how much I used to say it until now. Ruby's giving me a look. I-I must've been quiet for too long. Quick, say something else. "S-sometimes, I call her Lulu!" I burst out, far louder than I originally intended. Damn it. Control yourself, you moron.
"Lulu? Why's that?" Ruby queries.
"Because it annoys her like no tomorrow," I answer. The memories flooding into my thoughts. Without even realizing, a fond smile grows onto my face. Hah. I've only been a month away but they seem so, so long ago.
"Eren." Ruby speaks up. Did I go quiet again? I-I seriously need to stop doing that.
"I-I'm okay. Just thinking about a couple things, that's all." I try to dissuade her, like I've done so many times before and like all those times, she gives me the exact same blank face.
"Alright then..." It feels almost routine at this point. The air feels thick that it's almost hard to breath, it's like I'm inhaling smoke. This wouldn't have had to happen if I just kept my emotions to myself.
No. I have no reason to be doing that at all. They won't stay memories. I won't allow it. Beacon. I need to get to Beacon. Find a way home instead of wallowing in bullshit nostalgia, idiot.
"Hey," Ruby speaks up, her tone perking up. "Are we both having a conversation?" I blink twice, the realization hitting me straight in the face. We talked a little about our siblings. Sure, it's not much and the talk was a little off kilter and awkward but, we had a conversational topic. We didn't even notice that it happened, it was all so natural.
"I... I think we are," I comment, unable to hide the surprise in my voice.
"Huh. That's so weird," she remarks just as quickly as her face lights up. "Let's keep going!"
I think I'm starting to understand how certain portions of my family can talk so much because, once the pair of us started, Ruby and I have been talking for feels like a while now. Every time we finish with a subject, we instantly find something else to bounce the conversation towards. For instance, I never knew that Qrow used to be Ruby's mentor. Apparently, she had to beg him for ages for him to finally train her and that Qrow apparently has a scythe attachment to his weapon that I haven't seen once.
Also, Ruby was apparently quite the klutz when she trained with Qrow. She was always falling all over the place and it seemed like the world was out to get her while she was training. Seems to be a running theme in this family. Weird.
Eventually, we stop to take a breather. My voice is as hoarse and dry as a serial smoker. I can't remember a time in my life that I've talked this much. It's unbelievable.
"Hey, Eren," Ruby says, feet dangling from her branch. "Why do you want to become a Huntsman?" I blink. That's a rather sudden question to ask. I suppose if Yang's curious about where I come from, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to assume that Ruby would want to know a little about why I want to be a Huntsman. She's quite the fangirl as our talk seems to indicate.
"I..." I try to focus on a point but I can only furl my eyebrows. Nothing I come up with seems to cover the scope of reasons why I want to go to Beacon. There's so many for me to go that it'd be downright insanity for me to not even try. Actually, I think that's it. "I've got all the reason in the world to get into Beacon." It sounds vague but, it's simplest way I can put it. It's the truth. "What about you, Ruby? Why do you want to be a Huntress?" I pass the question back to her.
"I want to help people," she says it so simply, without even a hint of hesitation.
"That's it?" She nods.
"Yeah. I've got a few other reasons but, that's the big one," she shrugs her shoulders, looking rather blissful about something. "I want to be someone who fights for what's right. Someone who makes the world a better place..." She looks at me. "Someone who protects people. No matter what." ...I clear my throat.
"It... sounds like you want to be a hero," I say, fumbling with my hands.
"Yeah! Basically," Ruby cheerfully remarks. "I want to protect people against things they can't protect themselves from, like the Grimm."
"That's..." Stupid? Dangerous? Foolish? No. None of those words fit Ruby at all. "Pretty admirable," I tell her. With a great big toothy grin, she beams at me.
"Thanks! Still got a few years at Signal though. By the time I get to Beacon, you'll be way stronger than I am!" Sorry, I couldn't help but choke out a bitter chuckle.
"I-I wouldn't know about that. You're pretty strong." She might've told me that she was complete crap before Qrow taught her but, nobody with that little talent could do the things I've seen her do. If her year is filled with people at the same skill level as her, I think the world's in safe hands.
"Aw, crud! It's already dark out!" Ruby cries out. I gaze up and the once clear blue sky has made way for the night sky and that strange fractured crescent moon. "I totally forgot about your Semblance! Gah!" Oh. Crap. She's right. I totally forgot about it too! Guh, I'm never going to be allowed to badmouth my family ever again.
"Well, it's not all bad," I say aloud, scratching the back of my neck. "I, um, enjoyed our chat." Ruby jumps down from her perch, landing on her feet with nary an 'Oof!' to speak of.
"Yeah, it was pretty nice. We should talk more often." She shuffles in place."Maybe... at dinner?"
"I'm... not so sure about that, Ruby." Before I can get another word in, Ruby immediately jumps in.
"You wouldn't be bothering anybody! Yang and Dad will be totally okay with it!" She closes the gap between us, leaning as far forward as she can as her lip contorts into a small grimace. She really wants to sit with them? That doesn't make any sense.
"Why?" I ask her "Why would you want me sitting with you? You don't even know me." She looks me straight in the eyes.
"Because I want to. Get to know you, I mean." ...What? "I want to be your friend," she says bluntly. Is... is she being serious? Is she actually being serious? I look back into her eyes. They're the same as last time. S... she's not lying. There's no way. She steps away from me, giving us some much needed distance. "Just, think about it? Please?" She pleads...
"...Yeah," I nod my head. "Okay. I-I'll give it some thought." It's not a guarantee, but it's not a no. I'm still very much on the fence about this. I... I just need a little time to think it over. Thankfully, Ruby doesn't push me for an answer. She simply pulls herself back, her posture relaxing, and lets out a breath she's been holding in for the past half minute.
"Thank you."
"Eren?"
My mind snaps back to reality. Taiyang is standing right in front of me hold a piping hot dinner plate in his hands. Blinking myself out of my stupor, I gently take the plate out of his hands. Just like I always have before.
"Th-thank you," I say, bowing my head slightly.
"Are you okay? You seem a little out of it tonight," he says, brow creasing. I shuffle my feet together, staring deeply into my dinner plate if only just to not look him in the eye. I've done so many times before but, not today. Not tonight.
"I-It's nothing," I answer, my voice barely any louder than a murmur. It's as powerful as a light breeze but that's the strongest I can muster without flat out screaming it. Taiyang gives me a look. A single, solitary look. I can't get a read on them, on what he's trying to do. It's like he's trying to dig something out of my eyes, I avert them further.
"...Alright. You know you can always talk to me if there's anything bothering you," he says finally. I let out a small gasp under my breath, quiet enough that only a bat would be able to hear me.
"R-right," I reply, bobbing my head. "Thank you, sir."
"I'll leave you to it, then," he says softly. He turns his head, tending to his own dinner portion. I turn around to make my way towards the door, like I always have before. My ears fidget, ready for the part that comes next.
"Later Eren," waves Yang who dives into her meal with fiery gusto. I wait for the next part to come but... nothing happens. My body halts right before I'm out the door. She's off-beat. Even when she stuffs her mouth full of food, she's never been off-beat before. A chair screeches, scraping against the floor. I hear her begin to form words but she cuts herself off before she can even start. I don't turn around. I just wait.
"Bye, Eren," she speaks, finally and uncharacteristically dour. Without turning around, I give her my answer.
"Bye, Ruby." Without another word, I leave the kitchen and the rest of the family. Shockingly, by the time I reach the stairs, none of them spoke up. There isn't any question: any explanations, any chattering, laughter or anything. It's silent. I suck in a breath. My decision is final. Things will go right back to normal and Ruby will never ask me to sit with them again. She... she might even hate me for this but, this is the right decision. I know it is. This is the right thing to do.
Isn't it?
I stop, making it no further than the third step of the stairs. I peer up, the very top shrouded in darkness. My right flinches, ready to continue my journey to the top but, it refuses to move any further. Admitting defeat, I let out a palpable sigh as I lean my back against the wall.
What the hell am I doing? Is this what I want? To eat dinner by myself everyday? In that room?
That's not my table.
Am I supposed to eat at the same table my entire life? Am I just going to eat off the floor until I find the way back home?
I'm doing the right thing.
Am I? Or am I just saying that to make myself feel better?
I'm a stranger. They don't want me there.
Am I? Qrow's my mentor. Tai teaches me how cook.
Yang gave me her number. Ruby... Ruby wants to be my friend. Nobody has ever asked me to be their friend, not since Primary School.
And I'm just about to throw it back in her face. She's not a stranger. None of are strangers. Not to me, not anymore.
Sitting down, I lay the dinner plate on my lap and I slip my hand into my back pocket, taking out the Scroll Qrow bought me. I open it up, swiping right back to the contacts tab where Yang's details still resided. Tapping onto the message function, I'm greeted once again by that damn message. Thankfully, this'll be the last time I'll need to read that. My fingers are trembling, I'm constantly deleting and retyping every idea for a first message. Finally, I settle on one. I take a breath, exhaling slowly through my nose.
Once I send this, there's no going back. One way or another, things won't be the same between me and them. Am I sure about this?
Yes. It's the one I've wanted to make this entire time. I click on the send button. I hear Yang's Scroll blare, the cluttering of cutlery to plate. I can just barely make out Taiyang asking if it's 'One of her friends.' She opens her Scroll and the message is sure to read clearly.
'Can I please sit with you?'
"Ruby," she says, more than likely showing her the same message. I hear the table jolt slightly, the assortment clanking together. That's step one, now for the hard part. I step out from behind the kitchen door, dinner in hand and lowering my head sheepishly. Ruby's the first to notice me, gasping and giving me a smile that I don't deserve. Yang notices me next without gasping like Ruby, did she hear me coming? Finally, Taiyang catches sight of me and turns his head around towards the door.
"Eren?" He exclaims. His words cause me to further lower my head. "What's wrong?" This is it. I sent a text message, now I have to say it for real in front of everybody. I gulp, sweat starting to ooze from my forehead.
"A-ah... Can..." I start, choking on my own saliva. Their eyes are on me, watching me, judging every move I make. Every disjointed movement, every word I fumble on. I'm making a fool out of myself. "Can I..." N-no. I have to keep pushing. I want this. I know I want this. I can't keep holding myself back. I open my mouth once more, "Can I si-"
The chair in front of me bounds forward, almost causing me to drop my plate. Somehow, the chair was pushed with the right amount of might that it doesn't tip over. I look across at the person opposite: Yang. With an arm wrapped around the back of her chair, she nods her head towards the seat. She wants me to sit with them. They all want me to sit with them.
"Thank you," I place my plate down on the table.
"Don't mention it," she replies. I sit down in the chair, nudging forward towards the table.
Well, here I am. I'm sitting at the table. From the other side, Ruby is beaming at me. I repay her with a small smile of my own. From my left, my shoulder surges as Tai gives me a small welcoming pat. From below, I hear the pitter-patter of paws as Zwei lies himself down by my legs. I wasn't eating by myself anymore.
It's been a full month since the incident. A day hasn't gone by without me yearning to return home again. Make no mistake, that hasn't changed. I will find a way home. No matter what.
But, as I take a bite out of my mash potato and embrace its sweetness, I think that I'm going to be okay here.
It's okay for me to enjoy this, right?
"Hey Eren?" Ruby pipes up. "Aren't you going to take your hoodie off?" Oh. That's right. I-I still have it on...
You know what? I think I'll be fine taking it off. Just this one time.
A/N: I think I'm noticing a running theme when I start planning my chapters. I plan the key points: I think that they're going to be very short: I start coming up with more ideas halfway through writing, I add them into the story, boom. Short chapter that should've taken less than a week ends up taking more than two.
Clearly, I am the greatest writer on the face on the planet. The next chapter's going to have so much happening in it too. Ugh. Well, at least the Yang and Ruby chapters seem more equal now. Also, I've effectively debunking Invisibility as Eren's Semblance. It seemed too obvious and it's already been done. I'd rather go for something a little more creative. Also, I'd be really interested to hear what you guys think Eren's semblance is going to be. It is based on something from his personality though, that trait may or may not have been shown yet.
So, what did you think of this chapter and the story so far? Good? Bad? Made you blind from reading it? Be sure to leave a review! Contructive criticism is encouraged.