“C’mere, get on this side, ma,” Eren drawled, his voice low and smooth as his hand snaked around your waist, guiding you to the inner edge of the sidewalk. The gesture was casual, almost thoughtless, yet it sent a warmth spreading through your chest.

You and Eren were close—closer than most friends. Some might even say the two of you had a friends with benefits kind of arrangement. And while you both were quick to deny it whenever the rumors surfaced, the truth was undeniable.

To Eren, you were more than just a friend or a fleeting connection. You were his grounding force, someone who kept him sane amidst the chaos of the world around him. He never said it outright—Eren wasn’t exactly the type to wear his heart on his sleeve—but the way he acted when you were around made it clear enough. You were his calm in the storm, his reprieve from everything that dragged him down.

But that didn’t mean he wanted to see you with anyone else.

It was an unspoken rule between you, a silent understanding that while you weren’t together, there was something there—something neither of you was ready to name but both refused to share with anyone else.

So yeah, maybe it really was a friends with benefits kind of relationship. But even that didn’t seem to fully encompass what you and Eren had. It was messy, undefined, and, in its own way, perfect. For now, that was enough.