Nice Talking (M)

                                    

                                          
Warning: Homophobia, slurs
                          
Modern AU
Eren's POV
                          
   "You're going to hell, you know that?" These words pierced right through my ears, stiffly turning around to face the voice that had been talking to me. This older women, maybe in her 50's was scowling at Armin and I, who were just trying to sit at the park and have our coffees together. 
                          
   "Who are you?" The blond spoke up, feeling him sit up straighter and pulling away from my side. I only tightened my arm around his shoulders, narrowing my eyes at this lady with cocked brows. No one was going to shame us for cuddling. That's for sure. 
                          
   "I'm a women of my belief. Sinners like you-"
                          
   "Why should we care?" I butted in before I could listen to her lecture, watching her stumble back as if she was punched. "Watch you're manners!"
                          
   "I can disrespect anyone who threatens me and my boyfriend." I only raised my voice more, still under yelling levels just to show that I wasn't afraid to fight her back. Normally, my punk street ware scares people off but this lady had some balls. I can get just as scary as I look and then some. 
                          
   At this point, she started looking desperate, yet she had the audacity to get closer to the two of us. "There are children in this park you know?" She pretended to whisper even though she was just as loud as before. 
                          
   Armin, who usually was able to keep his calm in most situations, even sounded a bit fed up. "Then they can learn there's different kinds of relationships other than heterosexual ones." He still remained civilized, but his face was slowly turning into a scowl. 
                          
   "Oh so you're targeting children—"
                          
   "Don't you dare say that. We aren't targeting anyone except maybe you because apparently my arm around him forced you to not mind your own damn business and come disrespect us."
                          
   "My daughter was a gay— a lesbian too and she was able to find help in God too—"
                          
  "Good bye. Nice talking."
                          
   "God will offer forgiveness if—"
                          
   "Good bye, now."
                          
   I kept talking over her, repeating "good bye" as I rubbed Armin's shoulder for comfort. He wasn't shy about leaning his head on my shoulder, feeling him release a big sigh as this lady and I continued to fight. 
                          
   The lady couldn't take a hint that I wanted her gone and only kept feeding the fire with Bible verses. But the next thing she did made my jaw drop...
                          
   Miss Karen here got closer to us. We started leaning away while I guarded the both of us with my right arm. Without even touching her, the women stumbled back, screaming out "Ah! Stop it! Stop hitting me! AH, HELP! HELP ME!"
                          
   I was actually speechless. Taking a sip from my coffee, I just sat and watched her carry on, heads turning in our direction looking just as confused as us. She was simply The King's Jester flailing around and performing this horrible damsel act. The damsel who was attacked by the coffee-sipping gays on the park bench. 
                          
   Eventually, two park rangers rushed over and tried quieting down the lady, looking just as confused as us. I could tell we weren't in trouble already. 
                          
   "Miss, what is the issue?" The male ranger tried to assure the women she was safe with his hand on his weapon belt, the female cop doing the same but angled towards us. 
                          
   "Th-Those two men attacked me!" The Karen cried and panted out, holding her face as if she got clocked. 
                          
   Both the rangers looked to us, unconvinced.
                          
   Sitting up a little straighter, the blond defended "We were just having our coffees and she walked up to us to get in our faces, lecturing homophobic comments to us."
                          
   Already trying to talk over us, the lady argued "Th-They— They tried to take my purse from me... and my wallet! A-And my keys, and—"
                          
   Both the cops looked us up and down and then looked at the lady, both pissed off. "Miss, I need you to step over here for a minute for questioning." 
                          
   "Of course, Officer."
                          
   That left the both of us with the female officer, looking disgusted as the lady walked away. It was clear which side this officer was on. "So this women walked up to you and started making homophobic comments to you two?" The office recapped, both of us shaking our heads.
                          
   "She said that we're going to hell and that 'God could help us' since supposedly her daughter 'got help' too. When I told her off, she got frustrated and said I was disrespectful even though she threw the first punch. Then she tried to claim we were targeting children for some reason. I tried ending the conversation but then she started screaming and... here we are."
                          
   The officer shook her head as I spoke, leaning in as she said "I'm so sorry that happened to you both. Would you like to press charges?" Thank god she believes us. 
                          
   "No." Armin spoke up before I could, looking as if he was ready to go. "No, I just want to go home now..."
                          
   "Armin—"
                          
   "If you want to stay, then stay. But I'm leaving."
                          
   The officer who pulled the Karen aside was trying escort her out of the park, watching her fight back and look back at us. Despite creating distance between us, see spit out the word 'faggots' with such venom, feeling like an arrow to the chest.

                          
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Author's Notes
                          
   Image from Irving Park in Oregon