The mess hall was still buzzing from lunch when Jean slipped his hand around your arm. At first, you thought it was nothing—Jean always had some snarky comment or playful jab waiting. But this time he didn’t crack a joke. His grip was firm, his eyes shifting around nervously as he muttered, “Come on, I need to talk to you.”

You tried to pull back, but he tugged you along, steering you through the doorway and across the dirt path that led to the training field. His silence was more unnerving than his words. Something about the way he avoided your gaze made your stomach twist.

“Jean… what’s going on?” you asked, slowing your steps.

He didn’t answer right away, just stopped by the shade of the barracks. His jaw tightened, hands fidgeting like he wanted to say something but couldn’t get it out. “I… I just needed you away from them,” he muttered finally, voice low and strange.

Your chest tightened. Jean wasn’t usually this quiet. He could be a jerk, sure, but never like this. The unease grew with every second he refused to meet your eyes.

And then you noticed—across the training field, someone else had stopped mid-drill. Eren. He was supposed to be sparring with Connie, but his eyes were locked on you, narrowing as he watched Jean’s hand lingering a little too long on your arm.

Eren’s fists clenched, knuckles whitening.

“Jean, you’re acting weird,” you said, sharper now, pulling your arm back. “If you’ve got something to say, just say it.”

Jean’s mouth opened, then closed again. He looked frustrated, desperate even, but before he could spit out a word, a voice cut through the air.

“Oi, horse-face!”

Both of you turned. Eren was striding over, eyes blazing, his training jacket tossed aside as if he couldn’t be bothered with it anymore. His steps were heavy, purposeful, and the heat rolling off him was enough to make Jean step back automatically.

Eren stopped in front of you, his stare fixed on Jean like he was ready to fight him then and there. “What the hell do you think you’re doing dragging her off like that?”

Jean’s shoulders tensed. “It’s not what it looks like.”

“Then explain,” Eren snapped, leaning forward just enough to make the challenge clear.