his smile captured you. it was warm…familiar, and for whatever reason, looked like it was hiding something.
pt. 1
his eyes—the kind that seem to have seen all the world has to offer: the good, the bad, the ugly—hold yours for a moment longer than expected. it’s like you’ve momentarily caught a glimpse of something deeper, something that shouldn’t be there but is, anyway. eren shifts slightly, the smallest movement, just enough to let his otherwise perfect neutral expression falter.
damn, that’s a hell of a poker face.
“not much to say, really. i’m honestly pretty boring,” he mutters, almost dismissively, before continuing with a few generic answers to the questions you ask, as if he’s running through a script. as time passes, though, you notice he’s starting to loosen up, just a little—his words become less clipped, his tone more relaxed. but his guard? still firmly in place. always.
when his gaze shifts toward you, it lingers for a split second longer than necessary—just long enough for you to catch the subtle shift in his expression. his lips curl up at the corner, his eyes flicking down your body before returning to your face. it’s quick, almost imperceptible, but it makes your cheeks flush before you can stop it. you glance at your phone, pretending you didn’t notice, but in reality, you’re keenly aware of the notifications lighting up your screen—missed calls, messages from your friends checking in, wondering if you’re okay.
you snap your phone shut again, the cool glass meeting your palm with a soft thud. the time catches your eye, and you can’t help but frown. “it’s getting late, isn’t it? wouldn’t want the restaurant to kick us out.”
the words are meant to be light, casual, but you can’t stop the tiniest pang of disappointment from creeping into your voice. before you can disguise it, your lips curve downward into a reluctant pout.
eren catches it, and his eyes soften. “hey, don’t look like that, pretty girl. i had a good time too. if i didn’t have business to handle in the morning, i would’ve shown you an even better time...” he trails off, his cheeks flushing just a shade darker, and you realize—he’s drunk.
how cute.
you can’t help but laugh softly, rolling your eyes playfully at his tipsy rambling. “yeah, yeah. let’s get you home, princess.”
despite your protests, he insists on paying your bill and escorts you outside. you pull up your uber app, already halfway through ordering the ride when eren steps off to the side to take a call. as soon as his conversation wraps up, he’s back by your side, and you’re hit with the sudden realization of just how much you’ve had to drink. the cool night air feels like a relief against your flushed skin, and the silence between you two feels strangely comfortable.
you glance over at him, noticing the way the moonlight paints his features—sharp jawline, tousled hair, the way his eyes glint, like they’re holding something back, something you can’t quite place. you watch him for a second too long, and he catches your gaze, his lips curling into a playful smirk.
“don’t look too long, pretty,” he warns, his voice low and teasing. “you might fall in love.”
that smile—God, it could light up the night sky. you swallow hard, your heart giving an unexpected flutter, and before you know it, your hands are already reaching out to him, instinctively placing them on his chest. the air between you both seems to thicken as you lean in, drawn to him in a way you can’t explain.
it feels like an eternity of suspended longing before he finally meets you halfway. the space between your lips is almost unbearable, but when your noses brush just slightly, and then his lips meet yours, it’s like a gentle wave, soft and fleeting. it’s so tender, you almost think you imagined it.
but then, with his hands finding your hips, he pulls you in just a little closer. his kiss deepens, and the heat rises in your chest. still, there’s hesitation—he pulls back, just slightly, his eyes glinting with something unreadable.
“i think your ride is here, mama,” he mutters softly, a trace of regret in his voice.
you turn to look, your heart sinking a little at the sight of the waiting uber. "a-and you're sure you don't wanna come?" you try again, a quiet, uncertain edge in your voice. “it’s the least i could do since you helped me out earlier.”
he lets out a breath, his gaze flickering with internal conflict. for a moment, it looks like he might change his mind, but then he shakes his head slightly, his lips curving into a wry smile. “i don’t think i’d be able to hold myself back.”
the disappointment in your chest sharpens, but you nod, whispering a quiet "okay" as you step back toward the uber. he holds the door open for you, the gesture so simple, but somehow it feels like the end of something unspoken.
"thanks again," you murmur, one last time, before the door clicks shut behind you.
through the tinted glass, you catch eren's lips moving—probably saying something you can't quite catch. his words are muffled, but his gaze holds steady, like a silent goodbye that’s somehow heavier than it should be. the uber pulls away, and you can't help but wonder if that was the last time you'd see him... or if that was only the beginning of something you’re not sure you’re ready for.