Same, but Different

•Chapter VIII•

"That's sweet, Aki." The doctor finally finished my stitches and I examined my hand, flexing my fingers to test it all out. "Thank you, this is a really good stitch job."

"Thank you, Mr. Eren." Aki looked at the doctor. "Can we charge this to my father's insurance?"

"That's illegal." The doctor chuckled.

Aki groaned, writing out some information and handing it to the doctor. "Papa will cover the costs, I promise. Just give him a call."

The doctor's eyes widened. "There's no need to charge!" She exclaimed. "M-Mr. Ackerman got me the divorce I needed and got me custody of my children. I'm forever indebted to him."

Aki's chest puffed out proudly. "My father is a good man."

"He's a very good man," I said sincerely before I groaned. "I'll pay him back for this as well, I promise."

The ravenette giggled. "You might as well become his slave." She grabbed my uninjured hand, peering up into my eyes as she squeezed my hand. "Let's go home, Mr. Eren."

I smiled back at the girl. "Let's go home, Aki."

-

I was working the next day when a regular came in. He'd been shopping here for about a week or two, arriving at the same time everyday. I'd only noticed him because of his eyes. One was brown and one was a green-y color, heterochromia just like Levi.

"Welcome back," I greeted as he plopped down some random crap on my weird till desk thing. I laughed lightly as I scanned in some fabric conditioner, "Didn't you buy a full bottle of this stuff yesterday?"

"I, uh, I lost it." He replied, scratching his head awkwardly, "I thought I put it in my car but... guess not."

I held back the smile forming. "I get that, don't be embarrassed."

He nodded shyly, paying for his stuff before waving goodbye as he left.

I got off my shift a few minutes later, packing up and going back to the house. I'd promised Titan we could go and visit the park I'd avoided on the day I first went out with Levi. Titan said he wanted to see what it was like, what his mother and I did.

"Titan! I'm back!" I called out as I got back, the boy tumbling down the stairs at the sound of my voice. I wrapped my arms around his torso as he jumped into me, lifting him up. "You ready to go?"

"Yep! I just need to grab my shoes." He hummed happily.

The drive was calm, and I paid the driver exactly as Titan and I parted and started to walk. The thought of going back to somewhere with so many memories made me nervous, but I felt as though it was something I needed to do if I ever wanted to be at peace with myself.

"Daddy, why do you still go out late at night?" Titan asked quietly, his hand in mine.

I frowned lightly, "I'm just... trying to find a way to figure out stuff."

"You're having sex, right?"

My eyes widened at the mention from my son. "Titan, where did you learn about that?"

"Aki." He replied, "But are you?"

I blushed faintly. "Well, yes, but still..."

"Aren't you supposed to do it with people you love? Like you and Mommy, or Mr. Levi and Chelsea," Titan pondered.

"We're here!" I sang, trying to change the subject. Levi and Chelsea was a can of worms I was trying to seal shut today. "So, Ty, Mommy and Daddy met..." I pulled Titan along to a certain point of the park, "here. She was wandering around looking for her friend's puppy and bumped into me."