bakerstreet | aren't we all lost stars?

[Jean is in that half-awake half-asleep phase, where everything is hazy and seems like it can go either way, when Eren settles into his bed without so much as a "scoot over." It's not as much of a bother as one would think: insomnia and nightmares and bed-sharing are very common in this world of theirs. And it wouldn't be the first time for them, anyway.

It's not until Eren snags Jean's pillow that he even protests.]

Hey.

[Have an elbow digging into your ribs for that, Eren.]

You've got two.

[Eren grumbles quietly, trying to keep his voice down so as not to wake the others (Sasha in particular always seems to have something to say when she catches them in situations like these). He doesn't turn around to look at Jean, even when elbowed, but he does slip one of his feet back to spitefully press cold toes against Jean's ankle.]

You don't need both.

Yeah, well, you also have your own bed.

[Jean hisses as the toes -- chips of ice, really -- press into his skin and it takes everything within him to not scream or kick back into Eren's shins. The last thing he wants is to alert the others and risk Mikasa's wrath or, worse, Connie and Sasha finding out about this.]

Do you mind?

[There's a short pause on Eren's part as he debates weather or not to ignore Jean and act like he's already sleeping, but in the end, he reluctantly gives in.]

Fine.

[The pillow is shoved back in Jean's face.]

It smells too much like you anyways.

[Nothing like a face-full of cotton pillow to fully wake him, whether he wants it or not. And a Jean woken up before he's meant to is an even crankier Jean.]

Try not to get too turned on by it.

[His elbow finds its way into Eren's side again.]

And try to keep your hands to yourself, yeah?

What are you even-!?

[Eren cringes more from how sharp and loud his voice comes out sounding than from the actual jab to the side. He'll wait to make sure that no one's stirring before trying that over again in a quieter tone.]

'Awfully suspicious that that's the first place your mind wanders off to.

[He peeks over his shoulder to glare at Jean, but does as he's told-- keeps his hands to himself. No more counterattack jabs. No more cold foot warfare. He just settles back in place on his side of the bed and tries to make do with using his arm instead of a pillow.]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but you're not that handsome, Jean.

You're right, Eren.

[Jean scoffs, his mouth curling into an unseen smirk -- one that he's sure Eren can easily envision anyway.]

I'm much more handsome.

[Uhg. Of course he can envision it. Stupid Jean. Stupid sexy smirking asshole. It's like he wants to rub it in or something.]

I'm not going to cop a feel you gigantic hambone.

[He rolls his eyes -- another gesture that's easy enough to envision.]

So you can rest easy tonight. Your precious virginity is safe once again.

Notice how you didn't argue with my assessment...

[Smug and warmed as he feels about that, he makes a noise in the back of his throat, his mouth curving into a sneer.]

And it's awfully suspicious that's the first place your mind wandered to...

[He grumbles lowly.]

But sorry, as much as you wish that's the case, it's not.

Oh?

[Eren tries to make it sound as disinterested as possible, even if there's actually a good bit of curiosity there. For a while, he lets the words hang, as if that were the end of it. He pulls the blankets up closer to his chin, yawns for good measure, then finally adds in 'casually':]

Not sure if I believe that.

[And not only does Jean rise to the bait, he takes a big ol' chunk out of it.]

It doesn't matter if you do or not, Eren! Plenty of people can vouch for me.

[Plenty is stretching the truth a tad bit.]

Can't say the same about you and Rosie Palms, though...

Name some then.

["Prove it" is a rather childish tactic, but Eren's feeling particularly obstinate right now and is not above using it. He even turns around so that he's resting on the side facing Jean. It's easier to see through bullshit answers when your facing the right direction, after all.]

[Fuck. Of course Eren would be the type to try and verify his claims. When Eren turns, Jean's there, already facing him, chin propped up on his palm, a frown marring his features.]

Why? Gonna send them scathing letters of jealousy?

[When backed into a corner, obviously the best thing to do is to deflect and react childishly.]

More like send them my condolences.

[All joking aside, he's finally starting to piece together the shards of truth behind the bloated ego. Saying he'd had "plenty" of partners was probably just Jean talking shit, but one or two still seems like a reasonable possibility...]

So? What's it like?

[Caught off guard by Eren's curiosity, Jean blinks.]

What's what like?

[A pointed look. Asking was embarrassing enough as it is, but now Jean's making him spell it out for him?]

Sex. What else could I be talking about?

[The confusion isn't all that surprising though. It's not like Eren's particularly known for his interest in such things.]

Everyone's always making such a big deal about it. Is it really as great as they all make it out to be?

[Jean's first instinct is to tease Eren, as boys their age are wont to do amongst themselves at times like this. But when he thinks about it, it's indeed not surprising at all that he wouldn't know or care about something like that.]

...well, yeah. But I can't explain something like that to someone like you.

[It's weird, first of all. And more importantly...]

And you don't have anything to compare it to, so it's impossible anyway.

[He thinks it over before nodding. Apparently, he's willing to accept that answer.]

Just as well, I guess. Killing titans is more important. I don't need any extra distractions.

[It was a passing spell of curiosity, really. Now that the moment is over, he's mentally admonishing himself for giving into the temptation.]

[Jean's stare turns flat. Is this guy even for real?]

...yeah, no. It's not a distraction -- it's a completely normal and natural, human thing. Don't knock it till you've tried it, Eren.

[It takes a good bit of willpower to bite back the comment on the tip of his tongue. His situation is far from that of a 'normal and natural human'. His interaction with others is limited almost entirely to other members of the Survey Corps, and he's got an escort nearly non-stop during the day. Who could he even find to have sex wi-]

...

[Rolls back over onto the other side, away from Jean.]

It's getting late. Let me use one of your pillows and I'll make the bed for you in the morning, alright?

[It occurs to Jean at that moment just how messed up his wording really was. The guilt isn't overwhelming but certainly enough to get him to palm his face with a grimace.]

Geez. No -- not like that. I didn't mean it that way, Eren. I'm --

[Sorry.]

I fucked up. I meant that it's something everyone does and enjoys. I wasn't trying to say anything about you and...

[Realizing saying anything more will only make things worse, Jean promptly shuts his mouth and sits up, leaning over Eren's shoulder.]

Hey. You're not...mad at me, are you?

Wh- what? Mad? No, it's not like that at all!

[Eren edges towards the brim of the mattress. Their sudden closeness has him nervously readjusting the blankets and pulling his legs up closer.]

Just tired. Aren't you tired?

[Shit. This is so awkward. His face feels like its burning up and a part of him honestly resents how fucking oblivious Jean seems to the real issue at hand here.]

You can scoot back to your own side of the bed and lie down now!

[Jean pauses, a hah? on the tip of his tongue. Eren's behavior is, for a lack of a better term, weirding him out. And spurning his curiosity, if he has to be honest. Where he normally expected the usual exchange of barbs, he's getting an Eren who would much rather grump and curl in on himself and avoid contact altogether.

Color him suspicious.]

...no, I'm not tired, thanks to you.

[He doesn't quite scoot to his own side of the bed so much as he retrieves one of his pillows and gently bops Eren's shoulder with it.]

Here.

[Snort.]

And what's with you all of a sudden?

[Eren's mindful not to let their finger brush as he inches a hand up slowly to take the offered pillow. Once he has it though, he promptly uses it to cover his face and muffle a groan.]

We were talking about sex. Now I feel weird. Happy?

[It's not the full explanation, but it's as much of an explanation as he's willing to give. Jean can do the rest of the math himself.]

Weird?

[Perhaps Eren is, in a way, lucky that Jean isn't someone like Connie, who would poke and prod and ask him what do you mean by that, Eren? over and over until something gives.

On the flip-side, that means Jean knows -- or thinks he knows -- what Eren means, and he can't help the smirk when he sits up and folds his arms, knowingly.]

Oh ho. You're not feeling weird.

[This is revenge for his sleep deprivation. For the ice-cold toes on his shin!]

...even talking about it gets you hard, huh? You really are a virgin.

aren't we all lost stars?

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