They got in the car and Eren started it up instantly. The drive was mostly silent, not even the radio was playing as they drove down the dark streets. The silence ended when a street light had lit up Eren's face and his hair was pulled back all the way for the first time all night.

"What the hell happened?" Jean asked reaching his hand out to Eren's cheek that had now scabbed over scratch marks on his face.

Eren's grip on the steering wheel tightened and he remained silent for a moment not knowing how to answer the question.

"Levi didn't do this did he?" Jean asked just to be sure.

Eren shook his head. "I did," he mumbled out finally. He didn't know why he was still defending him so much. "The thoughts they hurt, I couldn't shut them out, I couldn't silence them," Eren whispered before biting his lip not wanting to say a word more.

Jean went to open his mouth but closed it again silencing himself. Eren had been through enough tonight the last thing he needed was Jean badgering him about how he shouldn't hurt himself when Eren already knew that. Jean knew he probably didn't even do it on purpose, those marks didn't look like they were intentional, and by the way, Eren acted and the brief explanation he gave told him the same.

The rest of the ride happened in complete silence. There wasn't very much traffic and they were able to reach the destination rather quickly. When Eren pulled up at the park Jean gave him a questioning look at first.

Eren was a bit nervous because this was the first time he was showing one of his safe places to someone else. He hadn't even really told Levi about this place.

Eren excited the car and Jean followed. Eren went straight for the tree and made his way through the leaves. Jean waited outside the leaves for a second unsure what to make of it.

"If I go in there you aren't going to kill me are you?" Jean asked looking at the suspicious tree. He heard Eren let out a little chuckle from behind the leaves.

"Of course not," Eren said once he stopped laughing.

Jean took a deep breath and moved the leaves out of his path so he could slip between them. When the leaves cleared he saw Eren leaning up against the trunk of the tree sitting with his legs crossed and arms in his lap. He looked comfortable here, more relaxed and less tensed. It was easy to see why the place itself was secluded and pretty even with how dark it was.

Jean sat down and followed Eren's lead crossing his legs and putting his hands in his lap. "So," Jean said clearing his throat, "what are you planning to do?" Jean asked.

The atmosphere suddenly changed from the relaxed state to a more stressful one. Jean could almost feel Eren tense up despite barely being able to even see him.

"Well," Eren started. He explained everything he was planning to do. He told him his whole plan of how he would pack his things tonight and leave tomorrow. He told him how he planned to resign. How he couldn't bare to face Levi straight out because it was all too painful. There was a time that Levi was the only reason that Eren was breathing. Of course, things have changed since then, but the pain of it all felt like Eren was leaving a part of himself behind when he even thought of leaving Levi.

Jean listened the whole time and the only time he interrupted was when Eren told Jean he wouldn't stay in his apartment very long. To which Jean cut him off to tell him he could stay as long as he needed to or wanted to. He knew Eren wasn't used to living alone, and that alone would be pretty hard for him to get used to.

Eren thanked him and finished explaining the rest of his plan to which Jean agree to and decided to help him with anything that he needed help with. They went over the last few details and decided it was getting late. Jean checked his phone since Eren had left his in the car to avoid any calls or messages he may have gotten from Levi.

"We should head back," Eren suggested when Jean told him the time.

"Are you sure," Jean asked knowing that Eren would have to go back home to Levi.

"Yeah," Eren said with a hesitant nod, "Marco's probably getting worried about you," Eren said standing up and slipping past the leaves.

Jean followed Eren looking down he wasn't sure if that was jealously in his voice or just flat out pain. Regardless he stayed quiet. Eren kept a fast pace and Jean had a hard time keeping up. When he noticed his friend's head was facing the grown he knew that he was trying to hide something and Jean knew what it was.

Jean finally caught up to Eren with a slight sprint. He caught Eren by the arm and caused him to halt his hasty pace. "Eren turn around," Jean asked gently he wasn't trying to order him around he just wanted to help.

Eren stayed motionless debating his next action. He slowly turned his body leaving his head down and his eyes closed.

Jean took no time to throw himself at Eren engulfing him in a hug.

Eren opened his eyes. He didn't know what Jean was going to do, but he didn't expect this.

"You don't have to hide your tears from me Eren," Jean said patting Eren's back.

That was it, that did it. Eren felt as all his tears released all at once. 'Today's been a long day,' Eren thought again feeling the tears start to stream down his face.

Jean knew that today must have been hell for Eren. His world came crumbling down in more ways than one. He ran into one of his abusers who caused him harm and threatened him once again, Levi, the one he loved the most, was cheating on him, he decided to quit the job he loved because it would be too painful for him. Hell, he had even told Jean he might have to stop talking to Hanji and Erwin because they would choose Levi's side since they've known him longer, and even if they didn't it would be too painful to talk to them because they are 'his' friends.

"Everything is wrong," Jean mumbled to himself not loud enough for Eren to hear over his own sobs. 'Eren is supposed to live happily with the one he loves. He is supposed to have friends who love him unconditionally. He is supposed to be at a job he loves doing. Whether it's what he loves either as his job or on the side. He is supposed to be happy, he deserves to be happy, he doesn't deserve this shit, any of it,' Jean thought feeling tears prick at his own eyes as his heart broke for his friend that was going through unimaginable pain and torment.

"I'm sorry," Jean whispered to Eren as he heard Eren start to calm down a bit.