Reiner watches, awestruck, as Eren's lips curve up. As he sees not the smirk that drives him crazy, but a half-smile he hasn't witnessed in years. Not since he arrived in Ellipsa to find Eren so much older. Not since he betrayed Eren in their world, leaving all those friends behind.
It's beautiful. Precious. Like a rare flower blooming on an ocean cliff: hard-won and hard to protect.
But Reiner wants to protect it. Wants to see it again and again and again. Wants to grow old with it on Eren's lips.
His throat tightens, emotion overwhelming him as Eren says, Okay. That simple word, a simple acceptance. And it hits him—really hits him—that Eren wants this, too.
Maybe it's impossible. Maybe the curse will claim them whether they will it or not. But with both of them aimed at the same goal, Reiner thinks they have a chance.
"Okay," he repeats, the smile that blooms on his lips full and bright. He leans down then, aiming to press a kiss to Eren's lips. To feel that half-smile against his and swallow it whole.
Eren might not allow himself to dream of forever just yet. He has the photographs, though, the possibility of a future where they can just be what they choose. Is that, at last, his cherished freedom? Maybe. Eren's freedom is destructive and punishing, like so many things about him.
This doesn't have to be. It's a heady sort of realisation, that they can just choose.
Ellipsa is its own sort of cage, the darkness outside threatening. Eren will still go to any lengths to save what they have here. There is nothing he would not do to hold on to this. It's just that this now includes Reiner, as close as possible for as long as possible.
He's right there to catch Reiner's kiss in return, arms winding around him without thought. Will they really still have this a year from now?
He decides that they will. Against all odds, they will do this because they said they would. It's that easy for this moment in Eren's mind.
"I'll still love you with wrinkles," he says against Reiner's mouth — a throwback to last year, Reiner's anxiety about his face in the mirror.
Back in their world, Reiner and Eren never really had a chance to work together. Not beyond their time as cadets, helping each other through their training. They were always in opposition: the immovable object versus the unstoppable force, destined to clash again and again and again.
Here, they have worked together. It's because of their decision to not fight that a truce was reached. It's because they chose to steal time that peace has reigned between those from Paradis and those from Marley.
Now here they are, deciding on something again. Deciding they will have their forever.
United, who is to say they can't have exactly that?
Reiner laughs against Eren's lips, deep and joyful. "And I'll still love you," he promises. "No matter what."
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dreamsofwings) wrote2021-07-13 03:17 am
;w; !!!!
It's beautiful. Precious. Like a rare flower blooming on an ocean cliff: hard-won and hard to protect.
But Reiner wants to protect it. Wants to see it again and again and again. Wants to grow old with it on Eren's lips.
His throat tightens, emotion overwhelming him as Eren says, Okay. That simple word, a simple acceptance. And it hits him—really hits him—that Eren wants this, too.
Maybe it's impossible. Maybe the curse will claim them whether they will it or not. But with both of them aimed at the same goal, Reiner thinks they have a chance.
"Okay," he repeats, the smile that blooms on his lips full and bright. He leans down then, aiming to press a kiss to Eren's lips. To feel that half-smile against his and swallow it whole.
no subject
This doesn't have to be. It's a heady sort of realisation, that they can just choose.
Ellipsa is its own sort of cage, the darkness outside threatening. Eren will still go to any lengths to save what they have here. There is nothing he would not do to hold on to this. It's just that this now includes Reiner, as close as possible for as long as possible.
He's right there to catch Reiner's kiss in return, arms winding around him without thought. Will they really still have this a year from now?
He decides that they will. Against all odds, they will do this because they said they would. It's that easy for this moment in Eren's mind.
"I'll still love you with wrinkles," he says against Reiner's mouth — a throwback to last year, Reiner's anxiety about his face in the mirror.
no subject
Here, they have worked together. It's because of their decision to not fight that a truce was reached. It's because they chose to steal time that peace has reigned between those from Paradis and those from Marley.
Now here they are, deciding on something again. Deciding they will have their forever.
United, who is to say they can't have exactly that?
Reiner laughs against Eren's lips, deep and joyful. "And I'll still love you," he promises. "No matter what."