[No one's ever been so happy to see him in his life. A wide smile breaks out on his face before she can tackle him; the next thing he knows, they're a pile in the leaves, arms wrapped around each other. He's laughing.]
I must have forgotten my phone. [Weird. How did he ask her to meet him here?]
Where were you, anyway? [His hands are in her hair now, messing it all up, setting the bow askew - his favorite way to say hello.]
[That’s more like it. The two of them could lie in the leaves forever.]
[Aubrey ruffles Eren’s hair right back. He’ll grow it out later, and she’ll never get tired of running her fingers through it, even when they snag. For now, it’s just short enough not to tangle.]
Does it matter where I was? [Can’t recall. Maybe Basil’s.] All that’s important is we’re together.
I think I oughta start calling you "Bow". You never take this thing off.
[With that, a little kiss to her nose, uncharacteristically cutesy for someone like Eren. He laces their legs together, leaves scratching where his ankles are exposed.]
As long as we're here, we're together. That's our promise, right?
[With a cocky smirk. It doesn't quite fight on his face. There's a self-assurance to it that Eren as this age just doesn't have; something thin, but convincing all the same. Smug.]
Call me the love of your life.
[But then he breaks into young laughter, nuzzling his nose deeply against her neck, fingers tickling at her sides.]
You’re the l— Hey! [Can’t help it, she’s sensitive.] Stop it!
[She swats his hands back, but it’s not with any force; more an attempt to grab his wrists and keep them by her, just not doing that. Of course Aubrey can’t keep Eren away from her. He makes her laugh until there are tears in her eyes.]
You’re the love of my life, Eren Jaeger. I don’t know what I’d do without you.
[As long as she's laughing, he's laughing. If all he did for the rest of all time was lie here in the leaves, listening to Aubrey laugh - he'd be okay with that. Hands finishing their work, he leans down again and kisses her cheek, her forehead, her nose, her lips; this perfect place, in this perfect climate, with that perfect laugh.]
You're the love of my life, Aubrey Jaeger, and I'll love you until the day I die and then some.
[Abruptly, he sits up, tapping their initials on this tree.]
Remember what I said? The trees on this land are protected, so they can never be torn down. As long as this tree is standing? [He taps the initials again, traces them with his fingers.] We're together. Forever.
[Aubrey Jaeger. Yeah, they’ll get married someday, won’t they? They’ll have their own vows, long before the party, under this tree—just the two of them.
[It’ll be perfect. This is perfect. His kisses, his laugh, him; this can last forever.]
[She traces down their mark in tandem, meeting Eren’s finger at the tip of the heart sealing the letters together. In a seamless, practiced movement, Aubrey reaches to hook her pinky around his.]
[It's a little too perfect, a little too coordinated, the way they trace their fingers in tandem, finishing off with hooked pinkies. Poising his thumb in front of his lips, he says:] I promise. [Then bites down.
[After a moment, he leans in to press their foreheads together, eyes falling closed. His voice becomes soft, searching. He asks:]
And you'll still love me...even once I'm gone. Right?
[He nods, still smiling. Has he ever smiled this much in his life? With Aubrey, maybe. He squeezes her hand, grip weak. Fall air has chilled his fingers, a sudden wind rustling through the leaves. Overhead, a bird caws as it circles.]
That's it. I'm happy now. Right here.
And it didn't hurt at all. Everything is going to be okay.
[His other hand comes to rest over hers, gentle as the white feather floating down from the sky. He opens his eyes, but his lids are heavy. He's still smiling at her. How can he help it? She's so beautiful.]
I'll always come back to you. So you don't need to say sorry anymore.
Just don't wake up yet. We've got a little more time.
[He reaches up for her, taking her face, trying to guide her head down to rest it in his lap.]
You know...I don't want to say goodbye either. Just had to is all...
[She lets him take her face, but her other hand holds it there, thumbing at his wrist where his pulse should be. She wants him to smother her. She’s not ready to stop seeing him yet.]
[She's a liar, but for once, Eren doesn't seem to realize that. He drops his hands from her face, and they fall limp into his lap. His head tilts forward without the strength to keep it upright. He murmurs something, but it can't quite be heard.
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I must have forgotten my phone. [Weird. How did he ask her to meet him here?]
Where were you, anyway? [His hands are in her hair now, messing it all up, setting the bow askew - his favorite way to say hello.]
Feels like I've been waiting for years.
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[That’s more like it. The two of them could lie in the leaves forever.]
[Aubrey ruffles Eren’s hair right back. He’ll grow it out later, and she’ll never get tired of running her fingers through it, even when they snag. For now, it’s just short enough not to tangle.]
Does it matter where I was? [Can’t recall. Maybe Basil’s.] All that’s important is we’re together.
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2/2
[Eren rolls on top of her, intent to crush.]
I think I oughta start calling you "Bow". You never take this thing off.
[With that, a little kiss to her nose, uncharacteristically cutesy for someone like Eren. He laces their legs together, leaves scratching where his ankles are exposed.]
As long as we're here, we're together. That's our promise, right?
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[He leaves her breathless, this boy. He laughs, and she wraps her limbs around his back, and doesn’t let go. He’s safe.]
Of course that’s our promise, silly. [She kisses him back, his nose, his lips, his chin. Anywhere, just to have him.]
And what should I call you? [There’s only ever been one answer.]
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Call me the love of your life.
[But then he breaks into young laughter, nuzzling his nose deeply against her neck, fingers tickling at her sides.]
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You’re the l— Hey! [Can’t help it, she’s sensitive.] Stop it!
[She swats his hands back, but it’s not with any force; more an attempt to grab his wrists and keep them by her, just not doing that. Of course Aubrey can’t keep Eren away from her. He makes her laugh until there are tears in her eyes.]
You’re the love of my life, Eren Jaeger. I don’t know what I’d do without you.
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You're the love of my life, Aubrey Jaeger, and I'll love you until the day I die and then some.
[Abruptly, he sits up, tapping their initials on this tree.]
Remember what I said? The trees on this land are protected, so they can never be torn down. As long as this tree is standing? [He taps the initials again, traces them with his fingers.] We're together. Forever.
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[Aubrey Jaeger. Yeah, they’ll get married someday, won’t they? They’ll have their own vows, long before the party, under this tree—just the two of them.
[It’ll be perfect. This is perfect. His kisses, his laugh, him; this can last forever.]
[She traces down their mark in tandem, meeting Eren’s finger at the tip of the heart sealing the letters together. In a seamless, practiced movement, Aubrey reaches to hook her pinky around his.]
Promise?
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[After a moment, he leans in to press their foreheads together, eyes falling closed. His voice becomes soft, searching. He asks:]
And you'll still love me...even once I'm gone. Right?
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[They seal their fates with a bite.]
[Aubrey closes her eyes when Eren does, but his question tugs them open. Her smile softens, though her brow furrows.]
Of course. Forever and always.
[A pause.]
Why are you leaving?
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If I could make you understand, I would...
[His hand ghosts over hers, lightly stroking.]
I know what I said, but you've always made me so happy. I was just so sad. I'm glad that's over.
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[She thinks she understands, though.]
[Boy of contradictions, that Eren. Happy with her, sometimes; yet always so…]
So if you go, you won’t be sad anymore? [Aubrey clasps at his hand, young and faint.] Will you be happy?
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That's it. I'm happy now. Right here.
And it didn't hurt at all. Everything is going to be okay.
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[Oh, Basil says that, too. He looked like he hurt a lot, though… She hopes what he says is true.]
I just want you to be happy, Eren. [She kisses his forehead, lightly as though he’s fallen ill. The bird, you see. He’ll be free soon.]
That’s all I’ve ever wanted, no matter what I said. I know I’ve been mean. And I know it’s selfish, but… I hope you’ll forgive me.
[Caw, caw, says the bird. The wind is cold. The day is short.]
[Is it really that easy?]
I don’t want to say goodbye.
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[His other hand comes to rest over hers, gentle as the white feather floating down from the sky. He opens his eyes, but his lids are heavy. He's still smiling at her. How can he help it? She's so beautiful.]
I'll always come back to you. So you don't need to say sorry anymore.
Just don't wake up yet. We've got a little more time.
[He reaches up for her, taking her face, trying to guide her head down to rest it in his lap.]
You know...I don't want to say goodbye either. Just had to is all...
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Is that really how it works?
[She lets him take her face, but her other hand holds it there, thumbing at his wrist where his pulse should be. She wants him to smother her. She’s not ready to stop seeing him yet.]
I’m scared, Eren. Do you really have to go?
What if I can’t reach you again?
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I already told you, Bow. I'll always come back to you.
Always.
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[Only here can she believe it.]
[She kisses him, lingering just a breath away. He sounds hurt… He doesn’t have to talk anymore.]
I love you, Eren.
Always.
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Can you forgive me too...?
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[Never.]
I will.
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[And he's gone.]
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[What did he say?]
[It ends like this. He falls. She holds him. He’s gone. She wonders what she didn’t hear, everything he never told her.]
[They never forgive. They never say goodbye.]
[Aubrey wakes up, and the nightmare begins again.]