Same, but Different

•Chapter VIII•

"Was it a cute puppy?"

I laughed. "It was a very cute puppy."

"Did you fall in love right away?"

"With Mommy or the puppy?"

"Mommy."

"I think I did," I smiled as I remembered it, the feeling less painful than it was when I first got off the streets. "You see, she was very kind and very pretty, and she seemed responsible too. She was perfect."

"Eren?"

I turned to see one of my one night stands. Stanley? Steve? Stephen! "Uh, hi."

"You never called me back, what the fuck?"

"Language," I gestured to Titan. "And I told you, I don't own a mobile."

"Still, what the fuck!"

"Titan, do you want to go and get ice cream?" I asked my son, trying to get him away before this situation turned hairy.

"Oi, don't ignore me!" The man edged closer.

Before I could stop him, Titan ran forward and kicked Stephen's shin. Hard. "Leave my Daddy alone, you big meanie!"

"You little fucking brat," he swore, grabbing Titan's hood and dragging him backwards.

"Daddy!"

"Let my son go." I said steadily, the boy struggling. "Now."

"He fucking kicked me, he deserves to get roughed up a bit."

My heart dropped, my stomach suddenly churning from fear. "Please, just let him go." I tried to bargain, my mouth getting drier by the second, "He's my son, I don't want him getting hurt."

"You don't think the brat needs a little punishment?" Titan was tearing up as the man's grip on his mother's coat hood tightened. I felt sick.

"Please, you can do whatever the heck you want to me but leave my son out of this. He doesn't need to get involved with this."

"You got him involved in this by not calling back."

"It was a one night stand, you said you wanted casual!"

"Something wrong here?" A policeman came up behind Stephen, placing his hand on the man's shoulder. "Could I ask you to let go of this child please, Sir, or will I need to resort to a less peaceful mean to return him to his father?"

Stephen clicked his tongue, roughly shoving Titan forward. I ran to catch him, squeezing the life out of my son from relief as the boy started to cry into my shoulder.

"Thank you, Sir." I said gratefully, bowing my head as I stood with Titan in my arms.

He smiled, his eyes catching the light. "Eren, right?"

"Fabric softener guy," I replied, him never having said his name. "I, uh, thank you. Thank you so much. But yes," I extended a hand, "Eren Jaeger, and this is Tobias."

"Matthew, Matthew Green," he shook my hand.

"Can I do anything for you? As a real thank you. I shouldn't have let myself get into this sort of situation, so you really saved me there." I smiled wryly.

He raised an eyebrow, "Anything at all?"

"Within reason, yes."

"Are you single?"

I let a laugh slip from my mouth, covering it once it left. "I'm so sorry for laughing, it's just... I haven't been asked that in a while. But yes, I am. Single father working at a convenience store."

"That's not bad," He said. "But, uh, if you're single... would you, um, would you like to go on like, a date with me?" He asked awkwardly, making me smile.

"Sure, I'd be happy to." I replied with a faint blush, still clinging to my son.

He grinned as if he'd won the lottery. "Thank God you said yes, I was going round to the convenience store everyday trying to work up the guts to start a conversation with you. You just- you really caught my eye, Eren. Oh, I must sound like a lunatic stalker." He facepalmed.

I shook my head, giggling. "No, I think it's sweet. Honestly, I'm flattered. Um, I live at 5427 Durrington Drive, pick me up, I don't know, Saturday next week around six in the evening?"

He nodded eagerly. "I'd be honored to."

I smiled. "It's a date."

"I, uh, I'm on duty so I have to go, but I'll definitely be there!" He said as he ran off, waving goodbye,

"Daddy, are you going to have sex with that man?" Titan asked, looking at me from where he was leaning his head in my shoulder.

"M-Maybe, but... not like I have been lately. I need to... I need to get my act together, so I can keep us safe. Daddy might actually get a boyfriend, Ty." I said.

"I hope he makes you happy, Daddy." Titan whispered, "You haven't been happy lately."

I kissed my son's forehead. "I hope he makes me happy too."

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Author's Note:

I hope y'all like Matthew, he's a sweetheart and he's playing a part in this story now.

I'm trying to respond to everyone's comments, and the number of them is genuinely heartwarming.

Love y'all!

-Mei, ya happy gal.