[It's unsurprising and incredibly impolite, but Eren hardly seems to notice November taking his leave of them. Head bowed and teeth grit and fingers wrapped tight in Mikasa's sleeve as if he can keep them together this way. (Lost Armin to the whims of the CDC's control, and all he can do about it is grind his teeth down and swallow his anger until it eats away at him instead. Make promises that he would pay out in blood but can't yet begin to follow through on no, matter how badly he wants it.) It's not that he doesn't trust Armin to look after himself. They've been separated before, most dramatically when Eren was taken away after Trost. But he'd always known where they should be, that they were among allies, that they were safe. Now—
He knocks his forehead against Mikasa's. Gently, if firmly, just enough force to lean into her as he works himself up and then back down again. Quiet, but breath coming short and harsh. He hates them. For blackmailing, kidnapping, lying. Taking advantage, taking away. A familiar feeling flaring back up over months, chastened and chased in circles by the newer and sobering reminder that they cannot act against an overwhelming enemy with the information and power they hold now. That they cannot risk the rest of humanity for a selfish gain (or an act of revenge.)
It is paralyzing, infuriating, it runs against the grain of him to be stuck reacting and unable to do anything else. They're not the same helpless and haunted children they were in Shiganshina. (Sometimes it feels like nothing has changed anyway.)]
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He knocks his forehead against Mikasa's. Gently, if firmly, just enough force to lean into her as he works himself up and then back down again. Quiet, but breath coming short and harsh. He hates them. For blackmailing, kidnapping, lying. Taking advantage, taking away. A familiar feeling flaring back up over months, chastened and chased in circles by the newer and sobering reminder that they cannot act against an overwhelming enemy with the information and power they hold now. That they cannot risk the rest of humanity for a selfish gain (or an act of revenge.)
It is paralyzing, infuriating, it runs against the grain of him to be stuck reacting and unable to do anything else. They're not the same helpless and haunted children they were in Shiganshina. (Sometimes it feels like nothing has changed anyway.)]