The penthouse glittered with the view of Tokyo’s skyline, floor-to-ceiling windows spilling the city’s neon glow into the living room. It was supposed to be a quiet night—just you and Eren, the kind of simple comfort you both rarely allowed yourselves. You’d picked out a movie, something lighthearted to laugh at together, and set the table with snacks: bowls of popcorn, a few of his favorite sweets, and cold drinks resting on coasters.

It felt warm, domestic, the sort of scene you always dreamed of.

When everything was ready, you padded down the hall to his room. His door was half-open, and the glow of his monitor lit the space in shifting colors. Eren sat hunched forward in his chair, headset on, controller in hand. His jaw was tight, eyes focused on the screen. You leaned on the doorframe, smiling faintly.

“Eren,” you called softly, “the movie’s ready.”

He glanced back, gave you that quick half-smile of his, then turned to the screen again. “Yeah, just give me a few minutes, babe. Almost done here.”

You nodded, not wanting to push. After all, he loved his games—sometimes a little too much, but you didn’t mind waiting. You returned to the couch, turned on the movie, and waited.

Minutes passed. Then half an hour. Then an hour. The snacks went untouched. The movie’s opening credits rolled into the first act, and you found yourself watching it alone, hugging one of the throw pillows to your chest. You told yourself he’d be there any second.

But the movie ended without him.

By the time you peeked down the hall again, he was still there—voice low and intense into the headset, eyes locked on the screen, completely lost in his own world. You didn’t even call his name this time. Just quietly walked past, the glow of the monitor brushing across your face for a moment before you slipped into your bedroom.

You changed into soft pajamas, crawled under the covers, and let the silence of the room wrap around you. The snacks were still out in the living room, the city still glittered below, and the movie credits looped faintly in the background. You closed your eyes, disappointment tugging at your chest.

Hours later, Eren finally came in. He placed his headset on the desk, rubbed the back of his neck, and muttered something under his breath about losing track of time. When he saw you asleep, curled up on your side, his chest tightened.