Chương 19: Only You
The night wore on, casting a peaceful stillness over the camp. Mikasa lay nestled in Eren's arms, her soft coos reaching his ears in gentle waves as he held her close, cradling her like something fragile and irreplaceable.
Her face was peaceful, lips slightly parted, dark lashes resting against her cheeks. She looked so different, so vulnerable, as if all the years of fighting and sacrifice had finally lifted, leaving only the girl who had always been by his side.
Eren's gaze wandered over his friends sprawled nearby, each one fast asleep and thoroughly drunk. Connie lay tangled in a blanket, snoring faintly, while Sasha murmured something incoherent about food in her sleep, a smile still on her lips.
Jean, too, lay deeply asleep, his arm draped protectively over his face as if warding off the light that barely filtered through the tent.
A pang struck Eren's chest as he watched them. Connie, Sasha, Jean—friends who had stood beside him through battles, shared laughter and grief, and faced horrors together that others couldn't even imagine.
They were the best kind of family, ones he wished he could stay with forever, even as the pull to leave gnawed at him. But his gaze shifted back down to Mikasa, asleep and unaware, her presence like a tether pulling him back to what he knew mattered most.
She had spent her entire life by his side, putting herself in harm's way, sacrificing everything just to keep him safe. She deserved more than a life of battles and losses, more than this endless cycle of bloodshed. His last years, he decided, belonged to her alone.
"Hey, Mikasa…" Eren whispered softly into her ear, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. He gave her a gentle shake, his fingers grazing her shoulder, trying to wake her just enough to leave without causing a stir.
But she remained out cold, her breathing steady and unbroken, as if the world around her had finally granted her a brief, precious peace.
Eren chuckled quietly, feeling a rare warmth as he looked at her peaceful expression. With slow movements, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded letter, placing it gently beside Jean.
The letter, addressed to his friends, carried his words of gratitude and the sorrow of his goodbye. He felt the weight of it as he let it go, as if it held the bonds they shared and the memories they'd built, pressed into a few written lines.
Carefully, he gathered Mikasa in his arms, her head resting against his chest as he stood, his arms circling her protectively. She stirred faintly, her brow furrowing just a bit as her lips parted, whispering in her sleep.
"Take me… far, far away… Eren… just you and me... and no one else..." Her words were soft, barely more than a murmur, yet they filled him with a quiet joy, mingled with a hint of guilt that gnawed at him, echoing through his chest.
The happiness he felt being with her was real, and yet, deep down, a shadow lingered, a guilt he couldn't shake, as if he was taking more than he deserved.
He took a deep breath as he carried her out of the tent, stepping into the early morning light. The air was cool and fresh, the rays of moon casting a gentle glow over the land.
For a moment, he stood there, looking out at the vast, quiet world before him, and felt a glimmer of hope—hope that somewhere, somehow, they might find peace.
With one last glance back at his friends sleeping within, Eren held Mikasa a little closer, his resolve hardening as he started walking.
——————————————
Mikasa POV
The soft rumble of the train filled my ears as I blinked awake, my cheek resting on Eren's shoulder. The world outside the window blurred past, a strange mix of shadows and fleeting lights, and I felt a pleasant daze still clinging to my mind from sleep.
I nestled closer, barely aware of where we were or how we got here, but somehow, that didn't matter. All I knew was the warmth of his arms, steady and gentle.
"Mmhm…" I murmured, curling against him as I felt his hand slip through my hair, soothing and slow. Just when I thought he couldn't be any softer, his lips brushed the top of my head, making me blush.
We'd kissed so many times tonight, more than I could count. Each one left me feeling warm, happy, and just a little bit embarrassed, but I wouldn't trade a single moment of it.
Eren's voice broke the silence, low and soft. "You're awake?" he asked, his gaze meeting mine. I nodded, giving a quiet hum in response as his eyes stayed on mine, warm and a little amused.
"Where… where are we?" I asked, glancing around. My eyes fell on the rows of empty seats, and I realized we were on a train—something I'd only heard about from Marley's captives. We were building something like this back in Eldia, and I felt a flicker of excitement mixed with uncertainty.
Eren's gaze shifted to the window, where faint moonlight spilled in, casting a soft glow over his face. "You got a little too drunk," he whispered with a slight smile, "so I carried you to the station. I don't know exactly where this train is headed, but… I figured we'd find something good at the end of it." His eyes held a quiet determination, glinting in the soft light.
I felt my cheeks heat up again, remembering how I'd made him carry me all this way. "Sorry… you had to carry me. I wasn't heavy, was I?" It was a silly question, the second time I'd asked him tonight, but I couldn't help myself.
Eren tilted his head and smiled, his hand reaching up to lift my chin until our eyes met. There was a stillness in the way he looked at me, like he was seeing right through to my soul, and I found myself caught in his gaze.
His lips seemed so close, just a breath away, and the thought of kissing him again was almost overwhelming. He looked so handsome, so perfectly himself, that I couldn't resist leaning in, feeling the pull of him drawing me closer.
But just as I was about to close the distance, he smirked and said, "Yeah… you were really heavy. It was a real pain cradling you all the way here."
"Ugh, Eren!" I pouted, crossing my arms and turning away with a huff. He ruined the moment, and he knew it too, that grin on his face saying as much.
I felt his hands rest lightly on my knee and my waist, keeping me steady and close. Even though he teased me, his hold was warm, his presence comforting, as if he'd never let me go.
Eren blinked at me, completely oblivious. "What's wrong? Mad at me already?" he asked, his voice so innocent it made my heart melt. But soon he noticed my pout, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips as he whispered, "Come here, you…"
With a gentle tug on my scarf, he pulled me close, and just like that, his lips met mine again, capturing me in his warmth. Our kiss deepened as our tongues found each other, weaving together, and my soft breaths escaped me, sounding far more vulnerable than I intended.
I found myself pinning him to the seat, lost in the moment, in him. My Eren—he was just so effortlessly captivating.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we'll be reaching our destination soon," came the conductor's voice. For a moment, he glanced our way, only to turn as red as us.
"Yes… very well, sir," Eren muttered, looking down, his face both mortified and amused as I quickly released him, scooting back in my seat. My heart was pounding; I could hardly believe how bold I'd just been.
I wanted to bury myself in embarrassment, but I was also glad—no, maybe a little proud—that I could fluster him like that.
I cleared my throat, forcing myself to look at Eren again, who was sitting stiffly. He reached for my hand, his fingers warm around mine, though he avoided my gaze, his expression a mix of embarrassment and something almost playful.
"Do you… have any luggage?" I asked, trying to distract us both from the moment. He shook his head, his hand squeezing mine just a little tighter. He still wouldn't look at me, but I could feel his hand trembling slightly.
We both took a deep breath, settling back into our seats as the train neared its stop, trying to ignore the slight blush on our faces, and the quiet laughter that danced between us.
As we stepped off the train, the announcer's farewell faded behind us, and we drifted into a quiet walk side by side. My cheeks were still flushed as I whispered, "S-sorry… I... I got a bit distracted." casting a shy glance at him. Eren just nodded, a slight smile twitching on his lips, though he remained quiet.
After a few moments of silence, he spoke softly, barely above a murmur. "I… I don't mind… if you want to? You can kiss me whenever you want? I... I love doing that... With you..." His words were so gentle, so full of something that made my heart race. I couldn't help but smile, feeling warmth spread through me as we boarded another train.
The journey was long, and soon, with my head resting on his shoulder and our fingers entwined, we settled into the quiet hum of another crowded train, the world outside racing by.
"Eren…" I whispered, shifting gently to guide his face onto my lap. "You should rest… You've been awake this whole time." I brushed a stray strand of hair from his face, and he looked up at me, a small smile softening his gaze.
"Okay…" he murmured, closing his eyes. Within moments, his breathing steadied, and he drifted into sleep, his head cradled on my lap.
As he slept, I watched him, letting my thoughts wander. I knew our decision was bound to stir up a storm back home, but in this moment, nothing felt wrong. Eren had told me he'd left one final letter, his decision made.
We were both tired of the endless fighting, the never-ending cycle of pain and loss. We just wanted a chance to live, even if only for a little while, somewhere far from the weight of everyone's expectations.
Lost in thought, I barely noticed when a woman dressed in a neatly pressed uniform approached us, her face breaking into a warm smile. "Hello there... Would you like chicken or beef for your meal?"
Smiling slightly, I nodded. "Uh, beef, please."
The hostess nodded her gaze shifting at Eren, and gave a smile. "Oh, and this might be your brother?" She gestured at Eren, a flirty smile creeping onto her face. "Isn't he a cutie?"
A dark aura seemed to seep from me at her words, and the woman's smile faltered as she caught my death glare. Calling my Eren my brother, and flirting with him? Oh, she's done for.
"Um… hey, Mika… what's wrong?" Eren looked at me, still half-asleep, rubbing his eyes as he sat up.
"Nothing special darling.... Just ordering some food..." I gritted my teeth with anger and the hostess realized her mistake.
With a nervous smile, she handed us our plates—a beef and a chicken dish since Eren had said we'd share.
We ate quietly, with Eren occasionally glancing at me, making my cheeks flush. "Ereh… try this," I offered, picking up a small piece and holding it up to him.
He leaned in close, giving me a soft smile as he opened his mouth, then suddenly closed the distance, capturing my lips in a gentle kiss, catching me completely off-guard.
"Mmm…" he hummed, pulling back, a playful glint in his eyes. "I never knew beef could be this sweet."
He was just so smooth, so effortlessly charming, it left me breathless. "Ereh… don't… don't do that without warning," I whispered, hiding my face in his chest, my heart pounding. I felt him chuckle softly, his hand resting on my back in a reassuring embrace.
As we finished our meal, the day slowly shifted, the sun casting its last orange hues over the horizon, painting the world outside in warm, fading colors. We drifted into a peaceful rhythm, the hum of the train around us.
The hostess occasionally announced our whereabouts, though her words barely registered; all I cared about was Eren, and wherever this journey was taking us, so long as we were together.
We spent most of the time in quiet contentment, sometimes talking in soft whispers, other times just letting the hours pass by.
Eren fell asleep on my lap again, his face relaxed, as I gently ran my fingers through his hair. The world outside blurred, but inside this little pocket of peace, we were perfectly still, drifting toward our next beginning.
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