[Elliot knows. Eren's memories had always been difficult, always running the risk of destabilizing him. When they were younger, before they knew how to handle things, there was a real fear that he'd lose his Eren to the memories.
They've grown since then, learned a lot. Elliot knew to stick by him and work through things. To be patient. Someone to ground Eren as he adjusted coming back from what he saw. And he listens.]
Armin?
[Ah right. That blond that looked like him when they were younger. Past Eren's best friend. Did he thank him for doing something awful? As the last thing they said to each other? Why would he do something like that...? Would Elliot?
To his credit, he pauses as he takes the question seriously, thinking it over.]
...No, I wouldn't. You'd know I was lying if I tried.
[Elliot was never a great liar, and Eren knew him too well. It wouldn't work. ]
Maybe I was just too far gone, or . . . [ he shrugs. would armin of all people really say that to him? even when he said it was an error right afterward, but . . . usually he’d know when armin lied. he didn’t give a damn if he did or not. he just kind of heard them and that was it. ] There’s no other explanation for “Thank you. You became a murderer for our sake”.
[ when it wasn’t even that. just a small portion was selfless. just a small piece of his past self had thought to save his home and his friends. the rest was spiraling mental illness, a shattered spirit and a selfish, childish desire he couldn’t let go of. ]
[He repeats the words, frowning as he does so. So that's what Armin had really chosen to be his final words to his friend. They certainly weren't great words. But even though he only knew Armin through the stories and memories, he couldn't see that guy actually meaning it sincerely.
He's quiet for a moment, thinking it over.]
...You probably were. [too far gone] I remember how you could get sometimes, and I'm sure it was much worse back then. [How hard it could be to reach Eren, how hard it was to get Eren to see him]
Armin probably...didn't want your final moments together to be fighting.
[ even if they ended up being fighting anyway, if they went by chronological order, but . . . it made enough sense for eren's eyes to soften. maybe selfishly, maybe in just overall relief. an outer opinion was better to lead him along than his own when he wasn't feeling well enough to see them himself. to that, eren realizes when he puts the side of his head back on his pillow and looks at elliot that, maybe, he didn't want to spend any more time dwelling on the subject. he brings his husband close, face to face and by the hips, touching front to front. ]
It was worse before, wasn't it? [ the tip of his nose brushes into elliot's, now cupping his face and sighing out a hushed: ] Thank you. For always being here.
[Those words seem to satisfy Eren. Or rather, give him some semblance of peace over the matter. Good. He knows how easily the memories could gnaw at Eren sometimes. He's come such a long way in the past few years. ]
Mm, but you've really improved. [It was Eren that improved, not Elliot working any kind of magic. He gives a gentle smile as he tilts his head to properly kiss Eren's nose]
Eheh, what are you thanking me for? I happily signed up for this, remember?
[He had no regrets in marrying Eren. No matter their past lives, Eren had always been the most important person in this life to Elliot. Ever since that day they spoke at that summer camp all those years ago. ]
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They've grown since then, learned a lot. Elliot knew to stick by him and work through things. To be patient. Someone to ground Eren as he adjusted coming back from what he saw. And he listens.]
Armin?
[Ah right. That blond that looked like him when they were younger. Past Eren's best friend. Did he thank him for doing something awful? As the last thing they said to each other? Why would he do something like that...? Would Elliot?
To his credit, he pauses as he takes the question seriously, thinking it over.]
...No, I wouldn't. You'd know I was lying if I tried.
[Elliot was never a great liar, and Eren knew him too well. It wouldn't work. ]
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Maybe I was just too far gone, or . . . [ he shrugs. would armin of all people really say that to him? even when he said it was an error right afterward, but . . . usually he’d know when armin lied. he didn’t give a damn if he did or not. he just kind of heard them and that was it. ] There’s no other explanation for “Thank you. You became a murderer for our sake”.
[ when it wasn’t even that. just a small portion was selfless. just a small piece of his past self had thought to save his home and his friends. the rest was spiraling mental illness, a shattered spirit and a selfish, childish desire he couldn’t let go of. ]
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[He repeats the words, frowning as he does so. So that's what Armin had really chosen to be his final words to his friend. They certainly weren't great words. But even though he only knew Armin through the stories and memories, he couldn't see that guy actually meaning it sincerely.
He's quiet for a moment, thinking it over.]
...You probably were. [too far gone] I remember how you could get sometimes, and I'm sure it was much worse back then. [How hard it could be to reach Eren, how hard it was to get Eren to see him]
Armin probably...didn't want your final moments together to be fighting.
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It was worse before, wasn't it? [ the tip of his nose brushes into elliot's, now cupping his face and sighing out a hushed: ] Thank you. For always being here.
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Mm, but you've really improved. [It was Eren that improved, not Elliot working any kind of magic. He gives a gentle smile as he tilts his head to properly kiss Eren's nose]
Eheh, what are you thanking me for? I happily signed up for this, remember?
[He had no regrets in marrying Eren. No matter their past lives, Eren had always been the most important person in this life to Elliot. Ever since that day they spoke at that summer camp all those years ago. ]