I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other.
[All that… and Reiner walked away. For a moment it’s almost as though the emotions were shared once more; how can he just…?! At least face what you’ve made. Coward. Bastard. Aubrey almost can’t believe she commiserated with—
[Almost. Mikasa’s voice reminds her where they are, what’s happening. And ultimately, it’s heartbreak, all the way down.]
[Aubrey doesn’t let go of Eren, but her grip lowers, loosens; a hug, now. A quick squeeze, and then her left arm runs down his, trailing gently until her fingers run around the shackle’s edge. There’s nothing Aubrey can say that Mikasa hasn’t. But maybe, just as Armin did before, these chains too can fall away.]
[Aubrey's instincts are correct. The chains do fall away as she touches them. Eren's hands look mangled. They're already starting to heal, but it isn't pleasant. That really hurt...
[Reiner Braun is gone. The memory is over. Eren's heart is empty.
[He should be humiliated. Maybe part of him still is, or will be later. Right now, he just...wants to sleep. Something like that...He feels drained and cold.
[Is he still angry at Aubrey? He can't tell. He wants to reach up, to latch onto her arms with his hands, to hold on tight; he can't yet.
[He feels Mikasa on his other side, pressing her body against him, laying her head on his shoulder; Aubrey's warmth on one side, hers on the other.
[He really destroyed his hands.... Aubrey plants a soft kiss at Eren’s nape, then sits beside him, close. She doesn’t lean, not like Mikasa; she might, soon, but Aubrey feels strangely like she’s been flattened, weary and drained, and she wants to stay steady for just a little longer. Eren needs her more, anyway, she thinks.
[So instead Aubrey clasps Eren’s hand in both of hers. It’s a delicate thing. As if anything too much would break it irreversibly.]
[“Anyone…?”
[Aubrey shakes her head, small.] It’s just us. [A whisper of an answer.
no subject
[All that… and Reiner walked away. For a moment it’s almost as though the emotions were shared once more; how can he just…?! At least face what you’ve made. Coward. Bastard. Aubrey almost can’t believe she commiserated with—
[Almost. Mikasa’s voice reminds her where they are, what’s happening. And ultimately, it’s heartbreak, all the way down.]
[Aubrey doesn’t let go of Eren, but her grip lowers, loosens; a hug, now. A quick squeeze, and then her left arm runs down his, trailing gently until her fingers run around the shackle’s edge. There’s nothing Aubrey can say that Mikasa hasn’t. But maybe, just as Armin did before, these chains too can fall away.]
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[Reiner Braun is gone. The memory is over. Eren's heart is empty.
[He should be humiliated. Maybe part of him still is, or will be later. Right now, he just...wants to sleep. Something like that...He feels drained and cold.
[Is he still angry at Aubrey? He can't tell. He wants to reach up, to latch onto her arms with his hands, to hold on tight; he can't yet.
[He feels Mikasa on his other side, pressing her body against him, laying her head on his shoulder; Aubrey's warmth on one side, hers on the other.
["Do you really love me?"
[His voice comes out soft like a whisper.]
Is there anyone else...?
Anyone?
no subject
[He really destroyed his hands.... Aubrey plants a soft kiss at Eren’s nape, then sits beside him, close. She doesn’t lean, not like Mikasa; she might, soon, but Aubrey feels strangely like she’s been flattened, weary and drained, and she wants to stay steady for just a little longer. Eren needs her more, anyway, she thinks.
[So instead Aubrey clasps Eren’s hand in both of hers. It’s a delicate thing. As if anything too much would break it irreversibly.]
[“Anyone…?”
[Aubrey shakes her head, small.] It’s just us. [A whisper of an answer.
[She hopes it’s enough.]
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[He feels grateful.]
Okay.