See You Later

"Burn.... Die.... Suffer.... All of you...."

...

The ocean stretched into infinity, a vast, shallow expanse where the sky and sea became one. The water barely reached Eren's knees as he sat there, his legs submerged in the crystal-clear surface, ripples forming and fading with each slow breath he took.

There was no land, no horizon—just an endless expanse of shimmering blue beneath the golden embrace of the sun. The air was still, warm, carrying no sound but the faintest lapping of water against his skin.

Above him, the sky was a vast canvas of pure azure light, unbroken, undisturbed, as if time itself had ceased to exist. The sunlight poured down without heat, illuminating everything in a soft radiance, casting no shadows, leaving no place for darkness to hide. The ocean reflected it endlessly, a mirror to the heavens, stretching beyond sight, beyond meaning.

There was no wind, no movement—just an eternal calm, a serenity untouched by sorrow or fear. It was a place outside of life, beyond death. A place where nothing changed, where nothing was lost. Here, in this vast, endless sea of light, Eren sat, holding her close, smiling softly, the skin on his chest burnt and was black, with veins stretching upwards, glowing faintly like tree branches.

"Ne, Mika... It's warm, isn't it?" Eren murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to her pale cheek, pulling her closer until her head rested against his chest. His arms cradled her delicately, as if afraid she might slip away. With careful hands, he adjusted her in his lap, brushing strands of hair away from her face.

"I think you should take that scarf off... You might catch a fever," he said softly, his fingers grazing the fabric around her neck before cupping her cheek. His thumb traced slow, absentminded circles against her cool skin.

A quiet chuckle left his lips. "Oh... My bad. I forgot..." His voice wavered, but the smile never left his face. "No need to get mad about it..."

The sunlight bathed them in gold, the endless water reflecting their figures in a dreamlike shimmer. And still, she remained silent.

Eren let out a soft breath, his gaze drifting over the endless expanse of water surrounding them. The golden sunlight rippled across the surface, casting a serene glow over the void-like ocean. There was nothing else—just them, suspended in this quiet eternity.

His fingers combed gently through Mikasa's hair, his touch slow, reverent. "You know, the kids were teasing a lot today," he mused, shifting slightly so he could hold them closer. Their tiny bodies rested against him, fragile and still, wrapped in the warmth of his embrace. "I think they're going to be strong... just like you."

He chuckled, though the sound was laced with something fragile, something breaking. "They'll probably end up scolding me a lot... just like you always did." He tilted his head down, pressing another kiss to her temple, lingering there as if waiting for her to smirk and look at him with big kitten like eyes and demand something from him.

But the wind was the only thing that answered.

His fingers trembled as they traced the outline of her face. "You sure have gotten heavier... but not too much," he murmured with a small smile, his voice carrying the warmth of old, familiar teasing. Slowly, his hand drifted down to her abdomen, his palm pressing gently against it.

Eren rested his forehead there, his breath warm against her unmoving skin. He smiled, brushing soft circles over the place where life had once stirred. "Huh? I go first?" he whispered, almost surprised. His lips curled into a fond smirk, yet his voice cracked.

"Hmm… Well, it's gonna be a boy... But even if it is, you'll win again, even after guessing incorrectly... Just like always." His voice grew softer. "Not that it matters. I'll do anything for you, anyway..."

His gaze lifted to their children, their tiny forms nestled against him, their small hands limp in his grasp. He exhaled a quiet chuckle, pressing delicate kisses to their foreheads.

"Yes, yes... I'll cook something nice for tonight, my cute little devils," he murmured, his tone full of love, his smile unwavering—yet his fingers trembled slightly as he held them closer.

His breath trembled as he looked back at her, his vision blurring. "Honey... I have good news... Just for you..." His voice wavered, yet he forced a smile, pressing his forehead against her scarf as if trying to feel the warmth that had long since faded.

"The Curse of Ymir... I know how to remove it..." His fingers curled around her hand, squeezing gently, as if she might squeeze back. "My days won't be numbered anymore... We can live..." His voice cracked, a sharp breath hitching in his throat.

"A long, peaceful life... just us... and no one else..." His words barely held together, trembling like his hands as they caressed her cheek. "I promise..." But the silence that followed was heavier than any vow, and the sea stretched endlessly before him—vast, empty, and indifferent.

He laughed, but it cracked at the edges. His arms tightened around her, as if holding her just a little closer could change something—anything.

"...Say something, Mika." His voice dropped to a whisper, barely audible over the lapping waves. "Just one more time... "

Yet the silence was suffocating, pressing down on him like the weight of the endless ocean. His vision blurred, and when he lifted his eyes back to her, his tears slipped free, falling onto her face—warm against skin that had long turned cold.

"Please... Wake up... Darling..." His voice cracked as he cradled her closer, his thumb brushing over her lips as if that alone could bring her back. "I promise... I'll treat you better... I'll do everything... I..."

Desperation gripped him, and he leaned in, pressing a trembling kiss to her lips—cold, dry, unyielding.

"What's the damn point of living if you're not with me..." His forehead rested against hers, his breath shaky, uneven. "I... I love you..." He pulled away as he cried his hearts out.

His fingers curled into his hair as he pressed his palm against his forehead, his shoulders shaking with the cruel irony of it all.

How many times had she wept, mourning the future where he was the one to leave her behind? How many nights had she held onto him, terrified of being left alone?

But in the end... who knew she'd be the one to go first?

"S... Sorry..." His voice was barely above a whisper, strangled by grief. "I... I couldn't protect you... I... Honey... Wake up... Please." His throat tightened, the words refusing to come out, dissolving into choked sobs. His voice dropping to a whisper, as his tears rolled down falling on her cheeks.

"I... I wish I could see you again..." His eyes fluttered shut...

And a memory flooded into his mind... As if she herself sent it to him.

....

"Hey... Mikasa...I'll put an end to this. This endless cycle of death, of violence, of suffering..."

"I'll find you. And then... We'll be together for eternity."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

....

His eyes fluttered open, and for a fleeting moment, he smiled at her—soft, gentle, as if nothing had changed. As if she were still there, still breathing, still his.

Without hesitation, he pulled her closer, cradling her, his warmth pressing against the cold stillness of her body. "My Mikasa..." he whispered, his voice trembling yet tender.

"I promise.... I'll find you...."

Then, a sharp pulse ran through him. His titan marks began to emerge, black veins etching across his skin like cracks in fragile glass. His breathing hitched as a familiar heat surged through his body, his fingers tightening around his children, holding them close against his chest.

"And the next time we meet...."

His gaze lifted toward the endless horizon, the golden sunlight shimmering across the tranquil waters. His breath quickened, shallow and uneven, as a metallic taste flooded his mouth. Slowly, crimson streaks trickled from his lips, his nostrils, staining his skin as his vision blurred.

"I would never let you out of my sight..."

His grip tightened around them—Mikasa, his children—holding them as if he could defy fate, as if sheer will alone could keep them together. But the weight of the Curse pressed down on him, dragging him into its embrace, his strength unraveling thread by thread.

A shaky exhale left his lips, a whisper, a promise, a farewell.

"See you later..."

And with that, Eren Yeager let go.