You and the ceiling had become pretty well acquainted with each other at this point. You've been staring at it long enough anyways, unable to fall asleep while the sound of Jean's faint snoring echoed from the living-room couch.

You had tried everything you could think of to make peace with him, but he wouldn't bite. You offered to make him his favorite dinner, to rub his back... hell, you even offered to suck him off as a last ditch effort for an apology - to which he only made some snarky comment about how you probably would rather suck Eren's cock than his.

You didn't blame him for being upset, but the fact that he would rather sulk around and pout than actually talk about it like an adult was starting to irk your nerves. If he was so repulsed by your presence, why didn't he just end it? It's almost like he wanted you to suffer...

and suffer, you did. You hated sleeping alone. The feeling of a large, warm body to sleep next to always made you comfortable - it made you feel safe. The emptiness that now surrounded you felt without end - lonely, a feeling you haven't felt since before you met Jean.

The truth was, you didn't have anyone else. Your parents were gone, deceased just before your seventh birthday— to which resulted in you living with your aunt who was hardly what you would consider parent material.

You met Jean in your final year of middle school. The two of you started off as friends, but it quickly blossomed into more - then at seventeen, Jean's family took you in, already considering you as their future daughter- in- law. You felt so loved, so cared for... the Kirstein's always treated you like family.

The problems between you and Jean didn't start until the two of you decided to move out and get a place together, on your own at eighteen.

The stress of real adult problems in the hands of two teen, like paying the bills while juggling school and work, started to take a toll on the two of you. You found yourselves bickering more and more over the stupidest reasons, soon digging deeper with hurtful words and things better left unsaid.

Still, despite all of this, Jean was your comfort. He was there for you when no one else was - the two of you, plus Sasha and Connie had become your own weird, little family. You feared that if you and Jean were to ever break up... you'd lose it all.

So, you stay.

That's why you're left cuddling your pillow tearfully amidst the pain you're feeling in your heart, while Jean sleeps peacefully out in the couch, long legs strewn off the armrest as his body lay limp in a deep slumber.

You toss and turn a few more times, until you hear a buzzing sound rumble from atop your nightstand. You reach aimlessly for your phone, the dim lighting causing you to squint as check the notification. You feel a flutter in your stomach once you see who had texted you -

Your eyes lingered on the message for a little too long, surprised that he even messaged you so soon in the first place. You took your time to think about whether you should respond or not, as you pondered, another text came through.

Blowing up the photo, you examined the sight glowing on your screen. His tattooed skin bare and on display, you wondered to yourself if he chose such a photo on purpose, to tease you - to tempt you? In any case, it was working.

You heard shuffling outside your bedroom door, the turn of the handle triggering your fight or flight as you quickly exited out of the text and stuck your phone under your pillow - curling yourself away and closing your eyes, you pretended to be soundly asleep.

You heard Jean's heavy feet drag along the carpet and into the bed, feeling his eyes on you once he snuggled tightly under the covers. Your eyes remained closed as your mind remained conscious, feeling the sudden brush of warm fingertips across the skin of your cheek - followed by a soft kiss placed delicately at your forehead.

The sudden softness of his actions causes your eyes to flutter open, where you find a sleepy Jean staring into your (e/c) solemnly as he strokes the peak of your lips with his thumb.

"Thought you were asleep." He says, his voice deep and groggy fresh out of his slumber.

"I was." You fib, not wanting him to know that his antics left you in sleepless torment. "Thought you wanted to sleep on the couch tonight."

"I did," his bright, brown eyes illuminated by the peek of moonlight that slipped through the curtains, "but it's cold out there."You smile at his pride, clearly he's unable to admit that he missed sleeping next to you as well.

"It is pretty cold, let's warm up." You respond, teasingly. You grip his strong bicep and pull him in closely, to which he responds by wrapping his arms around you, pulling you flush against his warm chest. Nuzzling into the crook of his neck, you carefully listen to the sound of his heartbeat as the rise and fall of his breathing calmly lulls you to sleep.

You woke up to an empty bed per usual, Jean had already left early for work on this bright, Saturday morning. You appreciated him for working so hard to support the two of you, he allowed you to focus on your schooling while only working part-time to help with the bills - though he wouldn't hesitate to throw it in your face during an argument.

Things seemed better, though you hadn't had a chance to talk it out with your boyfriend just yet. You hoped he would be willing to open the communication, instead of pushing it aside like it never happened. As much as you'd like to forget about it and move on, you knew that he would let it fester within him and use it against you in some bitter way.

You sighed, getting out of bed and brushing your teeth - soon getting dressed to go get some groceries for the house. You could certainly use the fresh air to help clear your head. Upon opening the front door, someone else had emerged from the apartment across from yours -

"Eren." You say, impulsively the word flies out of your mouth as soon as your eyes meet. He smirks, pushing away the few strands of hair that fell delicately in his line of view, before sauntering over to you in wide strides.

"Morning," He says, using one arm to pull you in for a quick hug. With your body now flush against his, you feel your face set aflame, despite the heavy layers of clothing that separate the two of you, "you never texted me back."

"Oh, yeah. I fell asleep, I'm sorry." You respond, which wasn't exactly a lie, though you weren't sure what you would have even responded with.

"Well, you can make it up by grabbing some coffee with me." He suggests, the look in his eyes is teasingly sly, but so damn tempting.

"Oh, I'm not -"

"Relax," he chuckles at your visible reluctance, "it's just coffee. I'm not askin' for a date, I know you're taken."

You inhale sharply - somehow, hearing him say that stung a bit. You should feel relieved that he doesn't want to ruin your relationship with Jean, right?

This is good, y/n. Stop being weird, he respects your relationship. Now you can continue being friends without drama.

You smile, shoving any hesitation that remained down, agreeing to grab coffee with your friendly neighbor. No harm, no foul.

"Come on," he says smoothly, offering his hand out for you to grab -