If Only For A Little While

When Worlds Collide

"It's okay Eren, you don't have to say anything."

"Yes I do!" He cried, "You're important to me Lev- Mr. Ackerman so you have no idea how much this means to me. I really really care about you. I know you said I'm not supposed to but I do! When I'm with you I feel happy sand excited. My mom told me never to give up anything that makes me happy so I won't give up on you. For her. I'll avenge her one day but for now this is all I can do so let me do this damn it!"

Never in my life had I seen someone more passionate than Eren Jaeger, and I don't think I ever will. "Eren-"

"Please don't tell me to stop, don't disregard me like some stupid kid," He pleaded.

"I wasn't going to say that," I whispered softly, "I was going to ask," I hesitated before finally asking, "What happened to your mother?"

Eren looked like a puppy who'd been kicked, his green eyes threatened to spill over again, "What?" He whimpered, his voice rising barely above a whisper.

"What happened to your mother?"

"I've already told you, she was," he closed his eyes before saying, "Murdered."

"No not that, I mean how? Why? And by whom?"

"Why do you want to know?" he asked defensively.

"Please just tell me," I begged.

Finally the boy complied, his voice trembled, "Her neck was snapped by some gang members, I don't know why."

Gang members. Shit. "Do you know which gang?"

"Why does it-" Eren's eyes widened with realization, "Weren't you in a gang?"

I nodded, "There are two major groups in this area, the Recons and the Titans. Which one killed your mother?"

"I-" He looked uneasy, "I don't know, 3 men killed my mom but I don't know which gang they were in."

"What were they wearing?"

"I don't remember, black and red I think."

"Shit," I hissed, in a way though I was relieved. I don't know what he'd have done if he learned I was a part of the gang that killed his mother. Even so the Titans were a ruthless bunch, they killed whenever convenient, eager to murder without reason. The blood of Isabel, Farlan, and now Eren's parents was in their terrifying hands.

"What is it?" Eren asked innocently. I didn't want to- I couldn't drag him into this, but he needed to know. These were the men who took his mother and even though I knew it would ignite a unquenchable fire within him, one that could send him down a dangerous path, I had to tell him.

I took a deep breath and began speaking.

"The Titans. They're the ones who did it, I was- am," I corrected myself, "A Recon. The Titans are our rivals."

"So you know how to find them?" Eren asked, excitement practically pouring out of him like a waterfall.

"I do," I answered honestly, "But I-"

"Please don't say it," Eren interrupted, "I know what you're going to say. You're going to tell me how 'revenge isn't the answer' and 'it won't bring your mother back' but dammit I made a promise the day my mother died. I promised I'd avenge her, that I'd kill the men who killed her. I owe her my life and I'm willing to possibly loose it if it means her death has been atoned for. So I won't just sit by and let them live when she can't because-"

"Eren," I cut him off before he could ramble anymore, "I wasn't going to tell you not to. I was going to say that I won't let you do this alone."

"But I can't drag Mikasa or Armin into this mess, and I don't think anyone else-"

"Damn brat, could you be any more dense? I'm going with you."

He brightened immediately at my words, "You are? Why? I thought you weren't involved in this kind of stuff anymore."

"I wasn't," I grumbled, standing up to look out the window, "But as it turns out I have some avenging of my own to do, not to mention loads of unfinished buisness with the Recons. So starting now we're a team. Are you in?"

"One hundred percent!" He stood up and stuck out his hand for me to shake, "Can't wait to get to work," He winked, "Partner."

I extended my own hand to shake his, "Remember this partnership is business only. Platonic, understand? That... day at my house was a fluke, it won't happen again. Also I'm going to be more of boss to you than a partner."

"No fair," he whined, "Why do you get to be the boss?"

"For one I'm fourteen years older than you. Then you can't forget that I'm the only one of us who's actually a member of a gang so I'm the one geting us in in the first place."

He shrugged in agreement, "Sounds fair enough."

"Good," I sighed, "Now go home and pack, also you'll need to find a way to skip the next two weeks of school."

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Yay new chapter! The story's about to pick up big time so stay tuned 100% ❤️

I know I've been super negligent lately but I intend to change that! Thanks as always ❤️

-KarinParker