As the brunette stepped forward, a gust of wind whipped through the strands of his hair. His eyes narrowed on the horizon of the casket. Each step felt heavy, harder. The sand didn't feel skin sloughing beneath his feet, the salt in the air tasted bitter, and the waves clashing against stone went deaf.
As he neared the casket, his gaze focused upon a face of a young, blonde boy. The agony in his heart quaked at the sight of silent innocence. Eren laced his fingers through the golden silk of the boy's hair, and rested his palm against his cold, soft cheek.
Eren let out a breath,
"Armin…"
Eren's face was expressionless as his vision locked on the blonde's face. He grazed his thumb along Armin's cheek bone.
"Armin…"
The wind had lost its gust, the sand wasn't soft, but grainy. The ocean wasn't the blue it used to be, but a murky green where all of their memories and his sorrow drown. All because Armin was no longer with him. Armin taught Eren the outside world. And now they're here, but only one of them to experience the vast blue shield that covered the view for miles-on-end, the feel of gold mud between their toes, and the taste of salt in the wind.
Eren's vision blurred, but cleared when he blinked. Tears fell upon the boy's face. Eren gripped the edge of the coffin and bent down to bury his face in Armin's chest. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to listen for anything that proved Armin was alive. Armin wasn't dead, he couldn't be. Armin waited for this moment his whole life, Why would he miss out on this? So many thoughts ran through Eren's mind.
Armin was empty.
Eren's eyes widened. His back straightened and his head sprouted over his shoulders. He looked at the boy's face again, tears rushing down his face. and apologized. He clenched his teeth.
"It should've been me." Eren persuaded.
But nothing could bring Armin back. That is what made Eren angry the most. His best friend, his mentor, his love, was gone.
Eren cupped Armin's cold, dry, skinny neck, and farewelled him with a kiss. In that moment, a memory flashed in Eren's mind of when they were kids, when Armin told Eren of the outside world, with its sea of fire and deserts of Ice. Armin was alive in that moment.
Eren pulled his lips away, his head, and his body. Tears raced down the brunettes face and finished on Armin Arlert.
"Goodbye…Armin."