Chapter Text
With droplets of rain water dripping down on the balcony, the warming buzz of the early summer morning stirs Eren from his deep sleep as he lays stretched out on the lumpy futon of Yurie’s pullout couch. Glowing sunlight fills the small living room of her one-bedroom motel apartment and as he softly groans and opens his eyes, he can hear the sound of pop music coming from Yurie’s radio as the aroma of a deep dark roast fills his nostrils.
Groaning once more as he realizes sleep’s over and done with, Eren foggily checks the time on his phone; seeing notifications from Instagram about friends with much more exciting lives than his. Stiffly shifting to sit up as Yurie tiredly pads into the living room, he catches a peak of her plump rear end hidden under her oversized shirt as she passes by the couch.
“Mmm… morning,” she yawns as she rubs her dishevelled hair.
“Morning…” Eren murmurs with a raspy voice as he buries his face into his pillow once again to get a few more z’s. “Sleep good?”
“I slept well enough,” she sighs as she pours coffee into two mugs before grabbing her Irish creamer. “But, you know. Six hours doesn’t leave much in the way of a well-rested slumber.”
“And Beansprout?”
“He slept alright,” Yurie chuckles softly. “He came and climbed into my bed around 5. He wanted a cuddle.”
“Pfft. Lucky little jerk.”
“Mmm, can’t help that he loves his mama,” she smirks with a blush. “How about you?”
“Mmm… I slept okay,” Eren yawns and fluffs the couch cushion before leaning back to stretch out. “Despite having no one to cuddle with.”
“Yeah, yeah. Poor you…” Yurie chuckles as she brings him his brew. “Here, I think you need this more than I do.”
“Thanks,” he chuckles as he’s handed his mug. “I could use a good sleep in.”
“Well, you have a day off coming up, don’t you?” she sighs as she settles into the edge of his bed to gaze at him. “Sleep in then.”
“Mmm, yeah, I have Friday off for once,” Eren sighs as he develops the slightest performative pout. “Too bad Zeke’s always so loud and obnoxious when he wakes up—he’s always such an asshole with throwing the fridge door open and stomping around—”
“You know, you wouldn’t have to worry about how loud your brother gets in his living room if you just got your own place,” Yurie smiles with a playful eyeroll. “Aren’t you getting tired of couch surfing, Eren?”
“Pffft… no….” he waves her off with a dismissive hand. “I have such nice coaches to surf on. I’m not about to complain.”
“Uhh huh…”
“Besides, can’t really afford my own place right now…” Eren flushes as he swirls his black coffee a little. “Not like I’m making great money as a busboy and mechanic.”
“Well, you should be making so much more money as a mechanic, Eren…” she sighs and offers him a weak smile. “Honestly, I don’t understand why you don’t…”
“I told you already, Red. I’m not certified. I’m only allowed to do the most basic oil changes part-time. That’s it.”
“Well, maybe you should get your certification,” Yurie says as she shifts to sit closer to him, ignoring his groan of protest as she does. “I mean it, you really should. There’s nothing wrong with bein’ a mechanic—they make good money.”
“I can’t afford trade school, Yurie,” Eren groans. “C’mon, between supportin’ Kai and keepin’ my car from conkin’ out, I’m scratching every fucking penny.”
“Well, can’t Zeke help you—you can’t tell me he doesn’t have the money to help get you through school—”
“No. I’m not askin’ him for another cent, Yur,” he shakes his head adamantly. “He’s done more than enough for me. I’m not about to ask him to fund me anymore than he already has.”
Sighing in defeat, Yurie smiles weakly as she hesitates before reaching up to gently tuck some of his long hair behind his ear; watching him closely as he blushes and pushes his hair back from his face.
“Well… you’re resourceful. I’m resourceful. Maybe we can think of something together.”
“Yeah, maybe…” Eren murmurs as his green eyes begin to twinkle and his smile grows just a little. “Maybe I can come over Thursday night and we can brainstorm a little?”
“Ohh, shit, I can’t…” Yurie flushes uncomfortably as she drops her hand from his face. “I… I have a date on Thursday.”
“Oh, yeah, right…” he says just as quickly as he feels a tight squeeze in his chest. “Fuck, I totally forgot—that’s why I’m watching Kai.”
“Yeah…”
“Do you guys know where you’re going yet?”
“Umm… I’m not really sure—It’s not a big thing…” Yurie chuckles softly as she pushes back her hair. “Just this guy called Lars—I met him at the club a few weeks back.”
“Oh? And is Lars the one?”
Laughing at that, she can’t help but snort. “Not anymore than any of them are? Lars isn’t the one. He’s just the one for the night. It’s all just fun.”
“Yeah, I get it…” Eren says with a bigger, somewhat forced smile. “It’s all fun—no big expectations.”
“None at all…”
“Sooo, I guess you’re kinda still up in the air with birthday plans, huh? Since Lars probably won’t be the one next week.”
“Yeah, I guess I am…” Yurie laughs softly as the two share a moment of soft gazes with each other.
“Sooo, maybe you go out with Lars then when you get back, we’ll put Kai to bed together and brainstorm…” Eren says with a hopeful breath as his eyes search Yurie’s twinkling gaze. “Sound like a plan?”
Nodding with a blush, she holds out her hand. “Sounds like a plan to me, Jaeger.”
“Good,” Eren smiles and licks his lips as he shakes Yurie’s hand before pulling her in for a stolen kiss to her soft gasp of surprise. Immediately, his kiss is passionate and unwavering as he pulls her closer; much to her blushing red cheeks and soft giggles. Almost immediately, she gives in; letting Eren kiss her with such unquestioning desire that drives her absolutely crazy. Quickly, she climbs on top of his lap to wrap her arms around his neck as Eren rubs his hands up and down her back; familiar with every dip, every curve, every small imperfection on the smoothness of her skin’s surface.
“Mmmm…” she moans softly into Eren’s lips as his chest flares in growing excitement.
Growling softly as his body thrives with early morning need, he quickly flips both of them over for Yurie to be thrown down to the mattress—only for him to lay on top of her and plunge his lips into her yet again.
“Mmm… mmm…” she moans into his lips again and again as he rocks his hips against hers; her thighs tightening around his body as he does.
“Oh fuck…” he chuckles with a soft hoarse rasp to his voice as he pulls away just slightly. “I want you so fuckin’ bad, baby… it’s been so long…”
“Oh, Eren…” Yurie moans softly as he reaches underneath her long shirt to hook his fingers around her panties. “Oh god, yes…”
“Yeah? You wanna be fucked?”
“Mmm…”
Releasing a soft moan and a needy whimper, Yurie lets Eren pull her panties down her legs before tossing them aside. And with his lips on her neck, she gasps as his hand rubs her so vigorously and impatiently before reaching between them to fumble with his boxers. Whimpering in impatience as he hoists her legs up, she grabs his face to kiss him so lustfully as she feels his hardening dick pressing against her with only the thin layer of fabric separating them.
Groaning with a deep-seeded need, shoving his boxers down one cheek then the other, Eren pulls Yurie’s body up to get her just how he wants her before a muffled whimper calls out through the wall.
“Mommy… Mommyyy…”
“Ohh, shit…” he whispers.
“Oh, no…” Yurie pants regrettably. “He woke up with me gone from bed. He’s freaked.”
Groaning huskily, Eren’s almost ready to ignore him and keep going, but already, Yurie’s face breaks into disappointment and concern for her little boy as he mewls out again as if he were lost.
“Mommyyyy…”
“I’m coming, sweetheart!” Yurie calls out as Eren dives desperately into her neck to kiss it all over again. “Just stay in bed! Eren…”
“C’mon, just let him be for a few minutes. It won’t kill him,” he groans in protest as he hoists her legs up again. “We’ll be so quick, baby… I promise… mmmm…”
Moaning as he kisses her even harder, Yurie hears Kai fussing in her room and groans in discomfort as she moves Eren off her. “No, I can’t. He needs me, Eren.”
“Ugh, but Yurie—”
“Knock it off, Eren,” she sighs as she quickly grabs her panties to slide them back on. “He’s only 2 years old—stop thinking with your dick.”
Huffing in frustration as he watches Yurie stomp off for the bedroom, Eren sighs as his dick keeps thrumming inside his boxers with nowhere to go now. Now he’s painfully throbbing with a need that won’t get taken care of, he’s in an irritable mood. It’s not easy getting riled up like that all for nothing.
Of course, he can’t blame Yurie, necessarily. Hell, he sure as fuck can’t blame Kai either. They have a stronger bond as mother and baby—Yurie’s been Kai’s entire world for his short time on earth. So of course she’ll drop everything to run to him at the first sign of distress. That’s only natural, he can’t fault her for that. Yet, as he leans into the wall just a little to hear the sounds of Kai’s fits of babyish giggles and Yurie’s whispers of endearment as the two cuddle in bed, Eren can’t help but feel a little alienated and put-out—the indisputable third wheel of the family.
He gets it.
Of course, he gets it.
He’s the father and he doesn’t even live here or watch Kai full-time. Of course, he’s gonna be treated less favourably as the semi-absentee parent by his son and his ex-girlfriend. But, fuck, he’s trying—no, he’s really really trying to be better. To be present. Would it kill them to include him like a parent of equal standing rather than just some stranger taking up space in their apartment?
Sighing heavily as he leans back on the cushions to scroll his phone and listen to the two carry on in the bedroom, Eren knows he’s being ridiculous. It’s irrational for a grown man to take it so personally that his toddler and ex prefer each other’s company. He’s not stupid—he’s aware of the all-consuming attachment held between a mother and her son, especially at this age. He knows that Kai will eventually grow out of it—by the time he’s a teen, he’ll probably be embarrassed to even be seen with Yurie.
But that’s then and this is now.
And right now, at this moment, Eren’s feeling pretty shafted.
Shifting as he gets out of bed, he pads down the hall to stand in the doorway and watch Yurie leaning over Kai as they sit on her bed; her hands playfully pumping the little boy’s skinny legs to his fits of uproarious giggles.
“Keep pumping, Kai! You wanna ride a bike, you need to pump your legs!”
“Hey…” Eren says as he gently taps on the door; interrupting the precious moment between mother and son. “I, uhh, I gotta head out.”
“Oh, crap!” Yurie says as she scrambles to her feet. “Your breakfast—I gotta make it—”
“Nah, it’s fine. I can grab a bite somewhere. Don’t get up.”
“Please, you’re not grabbing a bite anywhere,” she says as she scoops a giggling Kai into her arms to carry him past Eren and out into the living room.
As she does, the cute little toddler with big blue eyes stares back at Eren as he nibbles on his fingers. “Morning, Daddy.”
“Morning, little guy,” he can’t help but grin; immediately enamoured by his son’s cuteness as he always is. “Get a good sleep?”
“Yeah, me and Mommy snuggle afer my bad dream.”
“Aww, that’s cool. I wish Mommy would snuggle with me after a bad dream.”
Flashing Eren a rueful smirk, Yurie opens her old refrigerator to grab eggs out of the dairy box. “Last time Mommy snuggled with Daddy after a bad dream, Mommy ended up with Kai.”
“Huh?” the toddler blinks in confusion.
“Nothin’. Mommy’s just being funny—here, lemme take him,” Eren steps forward to grab a hold of Kai as Yurie murmurs in protest.
“No, don’t. He’s comfortable.”
“Well, you need two hands to cook, Yurie—c’mon.”
“No!” Kai shouts as Eren grabs a hold of him; his tiny hands clinging to Yurie’s neck as she reluctantly lets him go. Immediately, the little boy bursts into a fit of pitiful tears as he’s pulled into Eren’s arms, stretching and squirming like a baby as he reaches out for Yurie as if she was his last lifeline. “Mommyyyy!”
“Kai, she’s right here—you’re not going anywhere—”
“Mommyyyy!”
“Oh, Eren, just give him back. He’s upset—”
“Yurie, he’s never gonna learn to be away from you if you keep coddling him.”
“Coddling him??” she balks in disbelief as she drops the carton on the counter. “He’s two!”
“That’s right, he’s two! And he needs to learn it’s not gonna kill him to be two feet away from you—oh, fuck, look what you’ve done. You broke the eggs!”
“Oh, fuck!”
“Mommyyyy!” Kai wails inconsolably as his face grows beet-red and a trail of snot runs down his lip like a faucet. “Mommyyyyy!!!”
“Eren, give him back—”
“You know what? Fuck it,” Eren scoffs as he shoves Kai back into Yurie’s arms. “I knew this shit would happen—that’s why I said I’d grab breakfast on my own.”
Balking in disbelief, Yurie watches as Eren furiously grabs his jeans from off the floor to shove up his hips. Standing there with Kai crying and squirming uncontrollably in her arms, she stares at him as he thrusts his wifebeater down his chest and grabs his jacket to take off.
“What?! You can’t just leave.”
“I am leaving, I’ve got work.”
“But you can’t just leave—not when Kai’s like this—”
“Well, he’s more your kid than mine,” Eren says as he stalks past her to grab his boots. “You deal with him.”
Balking at the comment, Yurie flusters as she brings Kai over; her big blue eyes wide and incredulous in anger. “You’re going? You’re seriously going?”
“Yep.”
“Oh, I get it. You’re just pissed cause you didn’t get your dick wet—asshole!”
Scoffing as he shoves his foot in his boot, Eren stands up to glare down at Yurie as he towers over her. But his ex stands her ground with her intense blue eyes flashing in open defiance—something he’s always found so incredibly sexy if she didn’t have to be such a goddamn bitch about it.
“You wanna say that again in front of our kid? You wanna scar him for life with that shit?” he says coolly. “Be my fucking guest.”
“I don’t need to. You know it’s true.”
“Tch, fuck you,” Eren scoffs as he opens the door harshly.
“Fuck you! Eren, don’t you dare leave—DON’T YOU DARE SLAM THA—”
*SLAM!*
Scoffing as the apartment shudders from the door, Yurie huffs as Kai keeps crying in her arms. Biting the inside of her lip in anger, she turns around to walk her son back to their room in a huff; ignoring the eggs cracked and open on the counter as long thick strings of yoke pour to the floor below.
“Asshole…”
Sometime later, Eren’s beat-up sedan pulls into the gates of Zeke’s Jaeger’s autobody shop. Here, there’s a few scrapped cars along with a few with sick modifications parked discretely in the back; away from the eyes of any beat-cops or police patrollers rolling past. Of course, Zeke tries to keep things strictly on the level with most of his business dealings—he’s a decent tax-paying citizen. But, then again, oil changes and tire rotations aren’t exactly thrilling work and let’s be honest, they’re not what keeps the lights on in Zeke’s apartment. God knows Eren’s hardly thrilled by the work.
Parking in his spot, he gets out of his car and grabs his duffle bag from behind his seat. Grabbing his keys, he throws the employee door open to come into a narrow hallway, trembling from the sounds and vibrations of drills and motors going off in the garage. With his bag slung over his shoulder, Eren steps into Zeke’s office; a cluttered place full of scattered papers and empty beer cans where there’s an old couch and, mercifully, a fridge and a bathroom complete with a dinky little shower.
Here, Eren tosses his bag aside as he begins to change out of his clothes from last night. This is where he chooses to crash for the night sometimes—when he doesn’t want to deal with anyone, especially not Yurie or Zeke. Or, fuck, even Kai.
Here, he can just be Eren all by his lonesome.
Changing into his work overalls and pulling his hair up into a messy manbun, Eren yawns and scratches his neck as he grabs a beer from the fridge. Shutting it with his boot as he opens his can, he guzzles the whole thing back as he steps out into the hallway and takes his time sauntering into the garage. Here, there’s organized chaos everywhere with guys working with machinery, changing out tires, and working on engines. The smell of oil and sweat permeates the air and over the sounds of motors and shouts, music blasts from the speakers; making it next to impossible to hear anyone from across the shop.
Coming up to his much-older brother, Zeke, as the bespectacled and bearded mechanic leans over a car’s hood to check its transmission, Eren roundly smacks him across the head from behind without a word. Yelping out, Zeke flips around and soundly punches him right in the arm to his baby-brother’s wincing cackle.
“You fucking idiot!” he shouts in anger to be heard over the cacophony of noise.
“Ahh, sorry, man! I couldn’t resist!” Eren laughs and side-swipes Zeke before standing up and rubbing his arm as he steps closer to him. “What do I got for today?”
“Your favourite! Oil changes!”
“Aww, really?” he sulks as Zeke hands him his work orders for the day. “You know I fuckin’ hate oil changes—”
“No certification! No work with the engines, Eren!”
“Oh, please, since when do you give a shit about certification! You’re working on modded cars after hours for fuck’s sake!”
“Yeah, and I’ve got cops sniffing up my ass every month for some scratch to keep quiet!” Zeke says with a smack of his metal clipboard against his brother’s chest. “I don’t need the extra heat! Get your certificate then we can talk!”
“Pffft! You mean go to school and work my ass off as an apprentice for 3 years, then we can talk!”
“Exactly!”
Eren scowls at that as he begrudgingly takes the stack of orders in his hands. “Please! You make it sound like I can just enroll tomorrow!”
“You can!”
“Yeah, with what fucking cash? I’m not exactly liquid right now, Zeke!”
“I’ve got a discount!” Zeke throws up his hands with a smirk. “I’m happy to help cover tuition, man—”
“Thanks but no thanks!”
Sighing with an eyeroll, Zeke swipes his arm around Eren’s neck to yank him close with the gruff noggie of an older brother. “C’mon! Don’t be such a goddamn idiot! It’s good fucking money, Eren!”
“Yeah, I don’t want your fucking money!”
“You know damn well you could provide a helluva lot better for your son if you stopped being so goddamn proud!”
Pulling back from his brother’s headlock, Eren scowls as he shoves Zeke’s chest back. “Fuck that! I can provide for my kid—I don’t need your goddamn help!”
“Fine by me! Shut up and get to work!”
Throwing Zeke the middle finger, Eren stalks off and flips through his work orders before stopping before one car waiting for his work. Immediately throwing the hood open and setting it in place with its wire stand, he leans in to start changing out the oil; huffing and muttering under his breath as he does. Come hell or fuckin high water, he’s not about to be a charity case for Zeke or anyone. And he’s sure as shit not gonna take any damn charity when it comes to taking care of his kid.
He provides for Kai. He’ll be fucked if anyone else does it for him.
Later that night, after a full 8-hours of endless monotonous oil changes, Eren drives the short distance between Zeke’s autobody and Hannes’ Diner. Pulling in and killing his engine, ignoring the ominous tinkering sound that comes from the car as he does, he sighs as he lights up a cigarette and takes a moment to sit with himself.
He’s tired, he already knows he’s tired. That work might be boring but it’s draining as hell. And he’s got another 5 hour shift, meaning he won’t be done before 10. Then he’s gotta drive back to Yurie’s to watch Kai while she goes to work.
Fuck… when does it fucking end?
Grabbing his calculator app from his phone, Eren does the math of just how much he’s making today. He made $80 under the table at Zeke’s. Here, he’ll make $50… minus taxes… minus Kai’s living expenses… leaving him with about $40 for the day.
Fuck… he’s really busting his ass off, wearing himself down to a nub for 40 fucking bucks.
Groaning as he slides his head down on the wheel, Eren bangs it a few times for good measure. 40 fuckin bucks for the whole day. Meanin’ around $240 for the whole week. Just over $900 for the entire month. And Zeke seriously thinks he can just go back to school with that shit?
He could get the shittiest basement apartment and he’d still be down to maybe $150 for the entire month. He’d be living off ramen and chips and beer with the occasional weed if he’s lucky. Weed’s not cheap these days…
I can’t even afford weed… Fuck, I hate bein’ poor.
Some days, Eren wishes he was a weaker man. He could just off himself—take a gun to his head and blow his brains out and be done with it. Wouldn’t be so bad. Wouldn’t have to put up with a shitty car and shit jobs going fucking nowhere.
But then he’d leave Kai. And he knows it would mess Kai up for life, having a dad who just gave up like that.
Fuck, Yurie’d never admit it but it would probably mess her up too; probably would break her heart, knowing her.
And Zeke, Zeke would really be fucked up.
His friends would probably all be crushed.
More than anything, Eren doesn’t want to fuck Kai up anymore than he already has. He doesn’t want to be the reason why Kai turns to drugs and booze and probably goes down the same path as him if he isn’t already on that trajectory.
Fuck, he really doesn’t want that for his kid.
He’s already fucked up so much as a dad. He wasn’t even around when Kai was born. He’s not about to fuck up even worse and destroy his son for life.
Even if he works himself to the bone, Eren’s not giving up on either of them. He won’t give up on either of them. Not in the long run at least…
“Ohh, fuck…” he groans under his breath as he remembers storming out this morning. That’ll keep him in plenty of hot water when Yurie comes home tonight.
But that’s for future him to deal with. Right now he’s gotta think about this fucking shift and the next 5 hours that are gonna drag on. Annie’s off today. Nifa’s on vacation. He’s gotta waitress for them and he’s gonna hate every goddamn minute of it.
Groaning as he gets out of his car, Eren takes one last hard pull from his smoke before throwing it to the ground as he approaches the cracked glass door of the diner to step inside. Instantly inundated with an even harsher smell of smoke, he nods at a few regulars before heading into the kitchen. Eyeing Hannes flipping burgers as retro 80s music plays from his old radio, Eren passes his old family friend a nod as he throws off his jacket.
“Hey.”
“Eren. How’re you doin’ today, kid?”
“Mmm, okay, I guess,” he mutters with a shrug as he grabs his stained apron from off the wall. “Me and Yurie had a bit of a fight this morning.”
“Oh, yeah? Whaddya do?”
Chuckling as he ties up the back, Eren shrugs again. “Meh, I was just in a crappy mood, I guess.”
“Aww, what else is new… still, can’t say I blame you,” Hannes sighs as he flips a few patties. “You’re workin’ your ass off, kid. Not always easy.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Still, we do what we gotta do for our family. And you’re doin’ everythin’ you can for your son. He’s a cutie,” he shrugs as he comes over to pat Eren’s back. “I know it doesn’t mean all that much but I know your mom and dad would be proud of you, Eren…”
Offering him a weak half smile, Eren shifts and rubs the back of his neck. “You think so? After the shit I pulled?”
“Ahh, c’mon. You were just a kid,” his old family friend sighs. “Yeah, you made a bad decision, I won’t try to deny that. But… it was a crappy hand of cards you were dealt. A lot of people would’ve done a whole worse than you.”
“Really? Don’t know what’s a whole lot worse than missin’ out on your own kid’s birth cause you didn’t want to be around…”
“Well, you’re here now, aren’t ya?” Hannes shrugs with a small smile of his own. “Hey, Kai’s not gonna remember you not being around when he was born or when he was learnin’ to crawl or walk. But he’s gonna remember you being around when you take him to his first day of school—when you teach him how to shave and drive and when you attend his high school graduation.”
“Yeah, but I’ll always remember fucking up,” Eren mutters with a flush of deep shame. “God knows, Yurie will never let me live it down.”
“Ahh, she will,” the cook chuckles as he walks back to his station. “Give her time—give her a few years, maybe.”
“A few years? Jesus, she drives me nuts.”
“Well… certainly doesn’t help that you fell in love with someone just as fiery and stubborn as you,” Hannes chuckles as he flips again. “She’s a pistol, a real spitfire. But if anyone can handle her, you can—once she lets ya, that is.”
“Yeah, I’m not so sure she ever will.”
Chuckling, Hannes shakes his head as he whistles over at Eren with a few newly-made burgers and fries in hand. “Ahh, to be young, dumb, and in love again. Here, take this to table 5. Tell ‘em the soup’s gonna be ready in 5 minutes.”
Taking them from his hands, Eren strides out into the diner with only a few truckers and bikers smoking and chatting over their meal and coffees. Catching sight of a few regular lowlifes at table 5, he comes over and clears his throat.
“Deluxe burger with a side of fries?”
“Over here, sweetheart,” one of them smirks and twinkles his fingers mockingly. “Where’s Ice Princess? I like her.”
“She’s off…” Eren mutters as he slides the plates in front of the two. “Sorry, guys, you’ve got me today.”
“Aww, you’re pretty for a boy but sorry to disappoint, sweetheart. I’m way more into blondes…” the other says before the two break out into seedy cackles. “Go on, sweet cheeks—go get our soup.”
“Be quick, Princess.”
Cheeks flushing in agitation, Eren stalks off as they leer at him from behind; his teeth setting into the inside of his lips to stifle his growing anger. These assholes are always the goddamn worst; anytime he fills in for one of the girls, they always manage to get in an insult or two whenever they catch sight of him. He’s been called ‘Pretty Boy’ and ‘Princess’ in this diner more times than he can count.
It’s beyond humiliating.
Coming back into the kitchen, Eren growls in indignation as he sees Hannes groaning in discomfort as he rubs his stomach. “Those fucking guys are callin’ me Princess again, Hannes. I’m about ready to punch their lights out.”
“Don’t do it, Eren. Learn to ignore them,” Hannes groans as he shifts and stirs a pot.
“I’m past ignoring them—they keep askin’ for a beating.”
“I said don’t do it, Eren,” Hannes presses with a flared and clammy brow as he looks over his shoulder. “You can’t just punch every goddamn jerk who pisses you off. Don’t be such a hothead.”
“Oh, you mean I gotta ignore their bullshit and take their insults for what? 20 fuckin’ dollars and a shitty fuckin tip?”
“Yes! I know you wanna go out there and start World War III but you can’t let these guys get to you! Learn to practice restraint for once—ahhh, damnit, soup needs another minute and I need to run to the bathroom. I can’t hold it anymore. Take over for me, would ya?”
Watching as Hannes clutches his stomach and rushes off to the can, Eren glowers as he stares over at the pot boiling on the stove. Going over, he watches the thick and lump onion soup heat and bubble ever so slightly and a part of him wants nothing more than to take the soup and bring it out to drop it square on those fuckers’ heads. The soup’s not hot enough to burn but he’d get a kick outta just seeing them flail in their seats.
But then they’d kick his ass, most likely.
Not that Eren’s afraid of a fight, he’s been in scraps plenty. But he’ll get fired, he’d definitely get fired for this. And he’s not about ready to be even more broke than he already is.
“Ahh, fuck…” he mutters under his breath as he laddles out soup to pour into two waiting bowls. “Motherfuckers…”
Placing two spoons down on the tray as well, Eren’s about to pick it up and take it out but he’s not about to watch these jerks smirk and call him names again. Not without getting his own in. Brows furrowing as he thinks of something, anything, he turns to look around, to make sure Hannes isn’t coming out of the bathroom too quickly. And seeing he’s definitely not, Eren turns back to the soup as his mind races with a sudden and insanely intrusive thought.
Swallowing hard, he turns up the radio ever so slightly before he moves to unbutton his jeans and unzip his fly; fishing out the first few inches of his tip. And without any hesitation, he watches himself aiming for the bowls with a stream hitting dead centre, square in Hannes’ ‘savoury’ onion soup. Grinning from ear to ear, savouring the sound, Eren grabs a tooth pick to chew on and lets out a soft groan of satisfaction as he flicks off the last few trickles and stuffs himself back in his pants.
Whistling out a casual tune, suddenly in a good mood as he rezips, Eren grabs the tray to come out into the dinner; bringing the soup over to the table with a calm and collected look about him. “Here you are, guys. Two onion soups, fresh outta the pot—made especially for you.”
Sliding them in front of the two bozos, they smirk and show off their toothy grins as they puff from their cigarettes. “Thanks, Pretty Boy.”
“Need anything else?”
“Nah, get out of here.”
“Enjoy, fellas…” Eren says coolly as he turns off to stride back in the kitchen, completely unmoved. He doesn’t even bother standing at the door to watch their faces as they eat. He’s satisfied just knowing they’re stirring their soups at this minute and taking full and sloppy slurps from their spoons. And give it a second and strange looks come over their faces that they quickly write off as first reactions from the slightly pungent taste of onion and tobacco before they dig in fully.