[ That touch could ricochet through him like a bullet.

It draws everything into a much sharper focus. He said too much. He still lied, yet it was closer to the truth than the lie he told Akira. Even half a lie was too much. A crack in a mask can reveal an identity just as easily as throwing the mask away entirely can.

Some great, yawning chasm pulls him down and snaps its jaws shut. He feels pale, cold, ill, even if it doesn't actually show.

And Eren is so present, so compassionate. Maruki goes on autopilot, and his smile warms. ]

I appreciate that more than I can say.

[ He feigns a twinge of pain as an excuse to pull his hands away, busies himself with replacing the sling as he speaks. ]

I know I don't have to tell you this, but please keep that in confidence. It may seem like I've hardly told you anything, but–

[ The arm settles, he's now lost for anything to do with his hands again, his stomach lurches. ]

It isn't something that I divulge to just anyone.

[ He is never speaking of this again. ]

Thank you for listening. I mean that.