[ Maruki is held, completely and utterly, whole body burning up in Eren's embrace. With his face safely hidden, he wraps his arms around Eren, claws weakly at his back. ]
No, I knew, I just...
[ He didn't know.
There are a thousand stupid things he wants to say, a million stupid questions he wants to ask. His head is overcrowded, buzzing, and he feels just as lost in all of this as he did back in the alcove, like he's been dropped in the middle of the ocean without a single map.
Yet Eren knows this like the back of his hand. Maruki has to wonder if he'll ever manage to catch up.
He draws a breath, tries to explain his confusion in words that will make any sort of sense. ]
You're right. None of those words come close. But– if whatever we are encompasses all of those words, then they still matter. [ A beat. ] That word matters. To me.
[ Only one person was ever supposed to call him that. ]
I didn't expect to hear it. That's all. You really shocked me, jeez...
no subject
No, I knew, I just...
[ He didn't know.
There are a thousand stupid things he wants to say, a million stupid questions he wants to ask. His head is overcrowded, buzzing, and he feels just as lost in all of this as he did back in the alcove, like he's been dropped in the middle of the ocean without a single map.
Yet Eren knows this like the back of his hand. Maruki has to wonder if he'll ever manage to catch up.
He draws a breath, tries to explain his confusion in words that will make any sort of sense. ]
You're right. None of those words come close. But– if whatever we are encompasses all of those words, then they still matter. [ A beat. ] That word matters. To me.
[ Only one person was ever supposed to call him that. ]
I didn't expect to hear it. That's all. You really shocked me, jeez...