It’s cool outside. There’s a slight breeze, and leaves are catching each other, blowing around aimlessly. Once it’s still, a heavy sigh escapes his lips; he takes the cell phone out of his pocket, firmly pressing the home button.
12:13 AM
He’s late.
He wasn’t usually late— especially when situations of crisis came up, and it bothered Eren. Maybe he’d gotten himself into trouble.. he seemed to be pretty good at that, after all. People liked to pick on him for whatever reason. Probably because of his soft and caring nature, he was a good target. Eren leans his back up against the dark, hard wood of the park bench, resting the ankle of his left leg against the top of his right knee. Waiting; he hated it.
But just when his temper begins to flare in impatience, he sees a small, shadowy silhouette in the distance and calls out to him;
"Where the hell have you been? You’re late. Don’t tell me you got into trouble and had to out-run some assholes, did you?"
A watchful eye wasn't unappreciated -- simply unnecessary. His grandfather's age had become to affect his perception, that was undeniable, but rearranging the present circumstances of his mind, patience wasn't on his side. Nearly a plea bid him exit; surely, he would worry.
He'd text him in a couple minutes -- granted he had figured his way around a cell phone.
Mid-fall settled briskly, like fallen leaves, about his quickened pace. How rapidly the temperature decreased (this much was spelled out in the visible puffs of breath, surprisingly in tempo with his steps), but that was irrelevant. As was the sting of exhaustion which pigmented as blush in his cheeks, or the pang of an overworked heart to his caged lungs.
His best friend, his anguish, the reality he'd been alone in this park for a decade of moments was reason enough to continue.
"Eren-- there you are." Cut short, he retreats. Voice silent, and eyes drawn to the bramble swept sidewalk. "-- had I been attacked, I'd be in significantly worse shape than I am now."
"This isn't about me."
"How are you holding up? I brought a thermos of hot chocolate -- Grandpa made it --"
A deep, paced breath, "Are you cold? I hope you haven't been out here too long."
