#side eruri

At that question the light behind Carla’s eyes faded. She pulled her hand back and reached into her pocket to pull out a tissue. Water formed at the edges of her eyes but she dabbed them away before they fell.

“I suppose it was only a matter of time before you found out, but Grisha… the world learned he faked the results of some of his papers. He’s lost all credibility in the scientific world and the hospital fired him for academic dishonesty. He left home a week ago and never returned,” Carla answered in a hushed tone, sorrow hanging over her words.

“Oh honey, that was his lab in the news?”

“Yes. I thought he just needed some time to clear his head but today he reached out to me. He doesn’t know when he’s coming back and he withdrew most of our savings, his savings. Now we need to move before the end of the month and I need to find a job to provide for Eren and Mikasa.”

A sob escaped Carla causing her to hunch over. She wiped away the tears as they came but she kept her voice steady.

Déjà vu hit Celine like a ton of bricks, unearthing long repressed memories. She trembled thinking about Carla’s situation but soon regained her composure. Placing a firm hand on Carla’s shoulder, she looked her right in the eyes.

“You will get through this, Carla. It’ll be long and it won’t be easy but you’ll do this. Even though it feels like your entire world was wrenched away from you, you’re gonna pull it right back and continue being the best damn mom to those kids. I’ve been in your shoes before and I’ll help you as best I can.”

Sniffing, Carla tilted her head in confusion. “You have?”

“Yes, many years ago. Jean’s dad passed away when he was just a baby and he left me with the most wonderful child to raise by myself. I know it hurts so much and you feel defeated but it’s temporary. The world won’t stop turning because he’s gone. And Eren and Mikasa won’t stop needing you. Just focus on one step at a time and everything will slowly come back into place.”

“One step at a time… I need to find a home. We at least have enough for that and a little while longer,” Carla tried to clear her mind. She took long and deep breaths until she regained her composure.

“Right, and then we can work on finding a date for you to start your new job.”

Carla snorted gracelessly at that remark.

“Start my new job? I need to find a place that’ll take a resume of ‘housewife and mother – sixteen years’.”

“Not a problem, we have an opening at my branch that I’ll hold for you,” Celine offered.

Carla’s jaw dropped.

“R-really? You’d do that for me?”

“Of course! Just focus on the other important things like your kids. They need you.”

For the first time during their conversation, Carla’s expression relaxed and the life returned to her eyes.

“Thank you so much!”

As if on cue, Celine’s phone rang. The two women glanced down to see Erwin’s picture flash across the screen, wearing his usual stern expression.

“I think I might’ve jinxed myself,” Celine sighed, ignoring her friend’s chuckling. She swiped a finger across the screen and took the call. “Hello Erwin.”

“Hi, Celine-”

“Jean again?”

“-yes. We’ve had a rather awkward situation develop and I’d like you to come down.”

Rolling her eyes, Celine gave Carla a dull stare. “Should I bring Carla? We’re currently having lunch together.”

“Ah, give her my regards. Yes, please bring her too.”

Carla cocked an eyebrow until Celina nodded at her, causing her to hang her head. “Oh, Eren…”

“Alright, we’ll be right over,” Celine confirmed. Hanging the phone up, she gestured to the door. “I’ll drive.”

The two women paid the bill and left in a rush. Much to Celine’s surprise, Carla pointed out a quicker route to the school that she was unaware of and beat her personal best time. As they pulled up to park, they saw Erwin waiting at the doors to the school.

“I hope they didn’t get in a fight again,” Celine sighed. Her son was so close to making it one semester without trouble. So damn close.

“Here’s to hoping,” Carla shook her head, unbuckling her belt.

They carefully shut the doors to the Honda Civic before joining Erwin on the sidewalk.

“Carla, Celine, I hope today has treated you well… Or at least as best as the circumstances allow,” Erwin greeted, his eyes focusing on Carla for the latter part of his statement.

“It was,” Celine said. “What happened? What did they fight about this time?”

Erwin frowned, shaking his head. “I’m afraid it’s not that simple. Good news is that the boys didn’t fight each other for once.”

Celine flinched at those words. “Come again?”

“From what I’ve gathered the boys didn’t fight each other. In fact, Jean defended Eren this morning from his friends.”

“Jean defended Eren? From what?” Celine interrogated the man, disbelief in her voice.

Eren wasn’t a boy that needed defending.

“Mr. Wagner and his little group were harassing Eren about his father,” Erwin started, pausing when Carla’s mood instantly soured. “Jean took exception to this and verbally lambasted them.”

“Oh he didn’t throw a punch, thank goodness,” Celine released a held breath, wiping her forehead she smiled.

“Correct, but he might as well have. His so-called friends saw fit to tape these to every locker in the building.”

Erwin pulled a neatly folded paper from his breast pocket, extending it to Celine. She quickly unfurled it, nearly dropping it when she saw the contents: a grainy picture of her son with large words underneath it.

“’Jean Kirschtein is a faggot’?” Celine read aloud, her blood freezing in her veins. “His friends did this?”

“Yes, we have them on camera. We currently have Jean in the office to shield him from harassment. Eren is also present since he took it upon himself to avenge Jean’s honor,” Erwin informed the mothers. He gestured to the building, “If you’d follow me we can go see them.”

Carla shook her head at the news.

Just as the three stepped towards the building, the doors swung open to reveal Levi dressed in a custodial outfit. “Erwin, get to the office. Now!”

“What?” Erwin tilted his head in confusion as they walked to the building. He quickly realized something was off when he heard the school’s PA echoing in the halls.

“…and the time we thought Connie shat himself on the bus to DC? That was Mina after she ate Taco Bell for the first time. Totally just blamed him and everyone bought it. Oh and she cheated on you Connie with Thomas. And then cheated on him with Franz who then cheated on her with Hannah,” Jean’s distinct voice announced.

Celine placed a hand over her mouth as the color drained from her face. While she listened to her son’s speech she noticed the posters lining the halls. Every locker with a picture of her son’s face with those nasty words underneath them.

“Let’s go, now,” Erwin stated, immediately power-walking for the office. He didn’t miss the smirk on Levi’s face as the janitor listened to the juicy gossip.

“But Thomas, you hypocrite, you’re the one that made out with Franz when you were both tipsy. And I just love how you told everyone you lost your virginity already. News flash, you fucked your stuffed bear Mr. Tinkles and pretended it was a big deal,” Jean continued. Repeated dull thuds could be heard in the background but Jean seemingly ignored it.

Celine kept her mouth bolted shut as she heard her son using such brazen language.

“And what about Franz? You really haven’t done too much. Besides the fact you like to pick your nose and eat the boogers. And that you wet your bed until like three years ago.”

The three adults were almost at a jogging pace when they could faintly hear someone shout, “Liar!”

“Call me what you want but I’m not a pants shitter, a toy fucker, or a cheater. Or a toy fucker. Poor Mr. Tinkles. In conclusion, fuck you three.”

Erwin and the mothers arrived at the principal’s office in time to see Hanji shoulder-checking the door. Each attempt was in vain as the wood held strong.

“Hanji, where are the keys?” Erwin asked, leading Carla and Celine inside.

Turning to reveal crooked glasses, Hanji raised a finger and opened their mouth but no words came out.

“Oh, right. Those,” Hanji eventually spoke.

Quickly retrieving the keys from their pants pocket, Hanji unlocked the door to reveal Jean sitting in Erwin’s chair facing the window with a sorrowful look while Eren was on the floor wheezing. Eren grabbed his sides while laughter wracked his body.

“Jean Alexandre Kirschtein, what have you done?” Celine asked, catching the attention of both the boys.

Jean spun around in the chair, his expression now akin to a deer in the headlights.

“Maman-!”

Carla’s eyes fell to her son who struggled to regain his composure. With a concerted effort Eren managed to stifle his laughter.

“He just straight up murdered Thomas Wagner, Mina Carolina, and Franz Kefka. Good riddance,” Eren explained, wiping a tear from his eyes. “Oh this is the best day of my life.”

Carla covered her mouth with her hand at her son’s reaction. It wasn’t disappointment or anger that kept her silent, but awe. Jean managed to bring a wide smile to her son’s face.

Erwin crossed his arms as he stepped into the room, clearing his throat. “My chair?”

Not needing to be told twice, Jean scampered away from the leather chair and into one of the plush chairs on the side. “Sorry, sir.”

“Why, Jean? They would’ve been disciplined and punished accordingly,” Erwin wondered as he pulled a pink sheet from his desk. He started scribbling on it, looking at the calendar on his desk for the date.

“No offense, sir, but they wouldn’t have learned their lesson. I know them. They’ve never known what lines shouldn’t be crossed and a suspension wouldn’t do anything. Now they know what happens when you go after low hanging fruit.”

Celine pursed her lips, processing her son’s explanation. While she didn’t know what to make of her son’s very public stunt, she was moderately impressed by his reasoning. Not that she’d ever tell him that.

“Ms. Kirschtein, you know the drill. Please sign here that you understand the reason for his detention,” Erwin said as he slipped the pink paper across the desk.

“Only a detention?” She asked.

Even Jean perked up at that news.

“Yes, he’ll be in detention Monday morning for using the intercom inappropriately and slandering students. He’ll be joined by his friends of course but this is no reason for suspension,” Erwin explained.

“Of course, thank you,” Celine nodded as she signed the line.

“You may take him home early today, I don’t wish for any further disturbances to our educational environment.”

“Okay, thank you.” Celine turned for the door when she noticed Carla. Before she could respond Carla held up her hand.

“It’s ok, I’ll get a ride with Levi. His shift should be ending soon and he was due to clean our house today. Go home Celine.”

Smiling, Celine replied. “Okay. We’ll talk about the other thing later. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything else. Now, come along Jean.”

Carla nodded.

Jean got to his feet, shoving his hands in his pocket and keeping his eyes to the ground. Before he got too far, Eren called out to him.

“Hey, Jean. Thanks,” Eren grinned at him.

Jean returned a tiny smile and shrugged. “No problem.”

Celine almost tripped upon hearing those words but thankfully caught herself. Today was really full of surprises.

“Maria? Is everything okay?”

Celine was already throwing her belongings into her purse and glanced at one of her coworkers. They exchanged knowing looks before Celine power-walked to the door.

“She mentioned drugs and graffiti and fighting but I couldn’t make heads or tails of it… I hope the boys are okay.”

“Thank you for calling, Carla. I’ll see you soon.”

Hanging up her phone, Celine pressed the button for the ground floor button repeatedly as the elevator door closed slowly. She crossed her arms and tapped her fingers against her biceps to remain calm. Calls from Erwin she got used to and accepted but if Carla Jaeger called her directly that never bode well. There was a reason they exchanged numbers in the first place after all. The boys had been so good after the joint birthday all those years before, even if it was just tolerating each other.

Her dated Honda Civic made great time on the streets when she considered the speed limit a suggestion rather than a law. She reached her son’s school just ahead of two other familiar vehicles. Even from her car Celine could see a group of students on the side with spray cans but they scattered amongst the grass along with a pile of students.

Jean’s mop of light brown hair stood out in the group of fighting students.

Anger pulsed through Celine’s veins as she slammed the car door shut. Before she could shout at the students another person beat her to the punch.

“Oi, shitheads!” A male voice called out as he sprinted over to the kids. They didn’t have enough time to even untangle when he arrived, easily pulling the kids apart.

“Levi, language!” Carla called after the man, quickly chasing after him.

Celine shrugged, briefly thankful for the man vocalizing her thoughts, and followed her as well Maria Bodt who ran after Carla. By the time they arrived Eren, his sister Mikasa, and Armin were sitting on one side of Levi while Jean, and his group of friends sat on the other. Marco sat a bit away from everyone, pale and shaking.

Jean sat with his arms crossed, covered in grass stains, dirt, and bruised up. Traces of bright purple were on his hands and shirt. His friends and Eren’s friends were in similar states of mess though Eren’s group lacked the purple paint.

Celine stared at the side of the school where in bright purple Trost sucks was written but the last s was a mess as if someone interrupted the ‘artist’.

“Jean Alexandre Kirschtein, what is going on?!” Celine demanded to know.

The blood drained from Jean’s face upon seeing his mom.

“M-m-mom?” Jean stuttered as the kids took into account the new adults.

“Eren Grisha Jaeger!” Carla yelled at her son. “What happened?”

“Th-th-they were spraying the school and we told them to stop,” Eren started to explain.

“No we didn’t, you were the ones spraying the school!” One of Jean’s friends alleged.

Celine narrowed her eyes, glancing over the kids. She confirmed her previous observation that Eren, Mikasa, and Armin lacked any paint on them. That was until Eren turned around and revealed a giant patch of purple paint on his back. Not even a kindergartner was that bad with spray paint.

As much as she wanted to trust her son’s friends, history had proven that wasn’t always the right choice.

“Y-yeah. Eren and them were-” Jean started to reply, his voice shaky.

“Don’t lie!” Marco shouted, tears at the edges of his eyes. “You guys smoked and thought it’d be a brilliant idea to graffiti the school. Eren tried to stop them while I called my mom.”

“Marco, you tattletale!” Jean squawked back, his eyes wide and filled with betrayal.

“Marco please go get Mr. Smith,” Celine gestured to the building, taking a few steps towards her son. She grabbed him by the ear and yanked him to his feet. A quick sniff confirmed Marco’s statement about the smoking. “Marijuana, property damage, fighting, and then lying to me?”

“Ow, ow, ow! I didn’t lie, it really was them!” Jean tried to shift the blame but never made eye contact. His gaze stayed focused on a rather interesting patch of grass.

“Don’t you lie to me young man! I raised you better than that.”

To Celine’s astonishment, Jean pulled away from her and glared at her.

“Raise me? You never raised me! You’re always at work and too busy to be with me,” Jean disagreed, puffing his chest out more.

Was that what this was about?

Goosebumps ran down Celine’s arms at her son’s defiance, her jaw dropping at his words.

The others watching immediately quieted at Jean’s brazen words. Even Carla and Maria Bodt were taken aback.

“Not raise you? Who do you think puts the food on the table? Who pays for you to attend the best possible school so you can have the opportunities your father and I never had? Who cleans after your messes and buys your videogames? I work late hours so you can have what you want and what you need,” Carla narrowed her eyes, reminded her son.

“What I want? Who said I ever wanted any of that! You’re never there to take me to school or track, never there in time to cook dinner. The only people who’ve ever been there for me are them!” Jean pointed to his friends, who nervously stared between themselves, then moved the finger to his mom. “You’ve never been there for me.”

That last statement felt like a dagger of ice was driven in Celine’s heart and someone twisted it as her blood chilled. To be called out by her son publically after he caused such a ruckus was definitely a new low, and her normally porcelain façade cracked but didn’t shatter.

“Don’t point your finger at me young man,” Celine replied, her voice eerily calm. She didn’t register Marco returning with Erwin and Hanji when the grass crunched below their feet. “Now I know I haven’t always been there for you but I’ve always provided, and clearly those that have are a bad influence. Drugs, fighting, and vandalism are nothing I taught you. Perhaps you learned lying from me since I’ve been telling myself the same one every day: that my son is capable of being a mature and smart young man.”

Jean’s proud appearance fell to his mom’s quieter tone. He flinched at her unusually harsh words, nothing like what he’d seen before. They were stoic, pointed, and hard. “Mom…”

“Perhaps you need a more constant and better influence. Go to the car.”

Jean wrinkled his nose at the idea, anger bursting forth once more.

“Why? So you can leave me at home and go back to work?!”

Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Celine shook her head. “No, so we can pack your bags. You’re going to spend the summer with grand-maman so you can learn proper manners.”

Jean’s face fell at her punishment. “Wh-what? But what about camping with Marco? He’s moving at the end of the summer!”

“You should’ve thought about that before pulling this stunt. While he’s clearly the best influence in your life I’ve made up my mind. I can’t be there for you during the day and those that have are worse. Maybe you’ll finally grasp that actions have consequences at the end of it.”

The expression of utter hurt that crossed Jean’s face cut his mother deeper than any of the venomous words he hurled at her.

“But-!”

“No buts. Car. Now!” Celine pointed at the car.

Water formed on the edges of Jean’s eyes, threatening to fall. His shoulders slumped over as he dragged his feet to the car.

Celine turned to face the others, a strange mixture of calm and hurt.

Even Erwin remained tight lipped until he heard the door of the Honda Civic slam shut.

“Ms. Kirschtein you may go home and discipline Jean. We can talk about this mess later,” Erwin offered, much to Celine’s relief. “I can get the perpetrators this clean this later.”

“No, we do this now,” Levi disagreed.

Those present turned to see the smaller man already back with a giant blue bucket full of steaming water and equipped with a belt of various spray bottles, brushes, and pristine white cloths.

“And you are?” Erwin quirked an eyebrow, doing a once over of the smaller man.

“Levi Ackerman, Mikasa’s uncle. These brats can get this cleaned in 10 minutes if they put their backs into it.”

Cracking a tiny smile, Erwin looked at Jean’s friends. “Well you heard the man, get to it Mr. Wagner, Mr. Kefka, and Ms. Woods.”

The kids grumbled but got to their feet, trudging over to the small yet intimidating man.

Celine stifled a chuckle at the bemusing sight before taking her leave. She had plane tickets to buy and clothes to pack after an incredibly quiet car ride.

---

The looming shadow of high school prepared Carla Jaeger for many changes: her children going through puberty, the inevitable birds and the bees talk, failed tests, perhaps more fights involving her brash son, and Mikasa inevitably bailing him out. But it was the little things she could never anticipate like her son’s spontaneity. She was curled up in a warm blanket watching Wheel of Fortune while her husband sat in front of the fireplace in his armchair deep in thought reading a novel when Eren boldly strode into the room with Mikasa on his heels.

“Eren-” Mikasa tried to warn but he cut her off.

“Mom, dad, I’m gay,” Eren declared, placing his hand on his hips while wearing a wide grin.

Mikasa sighed, falling to the floor and sinking into her face into her crimson scarf.

Carla blinked twice before her husband slammed his book shut.

“You’re what now?” He asked.

“Gay.”

“Really?” Carla replied, shock slowly sinking in. She hadn’t prepared for that. And neither had her husband apparently.

“Why do you say that? Did you just decide to be?” Grisha Jaeger wondered, his tone hardening. “You’re just about to enter high school.”

“Nope, I just realized it,” Eren shook his head.

Carla shook her head, smiling at her son’s silliness. “Honey, why do you say that you like boys? Do you have a crush on someone? Is it Armin?”

“Carla, don’t encourage him!” Grisha sighed.

“No, Armin likes pots,” Eren shrugged.

His two parents were speechless by that statement, unsure what to make of it. The sound of Mikasa smacking her head with her hand broke the silence.

“That’s not what pansexual means,” Mikasa mumbled into her scarf.

“That’s not important, honey. What matters is that we support you, whatever your preference is,” Carla smiled. While not an outcome she expected it didn’t change her love for her son.

“I’ll be in my study for the evening,” Grisha informed his family, a frown on his face. “We have an important paper that’ll decide the fate of my lab so please don’t disturb me with any more inane news.”