Kenny and Uri
"Are you aware of what you have done?"
"I am."
….
Kenny always felt like the bond was a waste of potential. It was a useless form of bondage that connected him to another person for no other reason. He had wasted something special, something that he could have gained from. If he had thought it through, he could have used the bond for something else entirely. He was not sure what, but he would have used it to his own benefit.
But...he had to admit that being bonded to Uri wasn't all that bad. In fact, he kind of liked the Titan Shifter. But, he couldn't understand how someone with such power could be so helpless.
Even as Uri was slowly dying, Kenny remained baffled. He was surprised that Uri felt like what he was doing was all for the good of humanity. Was dying really going to benefit what was left of the pathetic race?
Part of the bond kept him aware of Uri's dwindling lifeforce. He could feel Uri's heart grow weaker as some unknown force attacked him. Everyday, Uri's life was being chipped away. Soon, there would be nothing left.
Kenny could feel Uri dying. He was feeling through the bond how weak Uri's body was really growing, and it terrified Kenny.
His palm, the one with the unhealed scar, didn't give him a moment's rest. It itched and burned, morning, noon and night. He felt like he had to do something...anything to save Uri and preserve that man's life. The bond was made aware of Uri's upcoming death, and the bond was urging him to do something, to take action and save Uri's life.
But he held back and did nothing. He did nothing, because he could do nothing.
He knew Uri was to be given up as a sacrifice to his own niece. Frieda, in her mindless Titan form, was to consume her uncle and inherit the Founding Titan. But what Kenny did not know was when such an event would take place. He wasn't even sure he wanted to know.
Kenny had refused to go, he had refused to find out the time and place of the ritual. He portrayed a careless attitude, like Uri's impending death did not matter to him. But on the inside, he knew that if he was to be made aware of the time and place, he would not be able to control himself. He would wind up rescuing Uri. The bond would force him.
But it didn't matter. The bond kept him connected to Uri, no matter what.
Kenny was leaning up against a tree, overlooking a field, when he felt Uri's pain. Suddenly, the sun was no longer hot. The birds had ceased their singing, and the air had gone still. The moment Uri felt fear, Kenny felt fear. The bond pulsed with fear, and Kenny's entire being was roaring to protect Uri. Through Uri's eyes, he saw the hideous Titan coming for him.
Kenny gasped, freezing. He was unable to move, unable to do anything, but share in the fear of his bonded.
He felt Uri's pain as the Titan dug into his body. He felt Uri's growing terror...
...then Kenny felt nothing.
His life, his own life...was no more.
Kenny continued to stay where he was, staring at nothing. The bond was still there, but it was...dark. The other end of the line existed no longer.
He didn't even notice that his hand had begun to bleed.
Levi and Erwin
"Let's just make it official."
"Levi, what are you doing?"
"I am completing the bond, willingly."
…
Numb. He felt numb.
He could feel nothing but the lifeforce of his bonded fade away. As Levi sat next to Erwin on the roof, he contemplated on what he had done.
He could have done it. He could have saved Erwin's life and given him the Titan serum. He could have fed Bertholdt to Erwin's mindless Titan form and granted Erwin the power of the Colossal Titan.
But he hadn't. In the end, Levi had chosen to save Armin's life over Erwin's.
He had chosen to save the life of another Scout, over his best friend.
Levi thought he was going to blackout when he made the decision. His mind had exploded with pain, and he could barely move. Even as he made the decision to let Erwin die peacefully, the bond had tormented Levi. It had urged him to inject Erwin with the Titan serum. And he had wanted to. He had wanted to! He wanted Erwin to live. He needed Erwin just as much as the Scouts needed their commander.
He needed his friend, his bonded.
But even through the bond, Levi knew that Erwin was done with living. Turning him into a Titan Shifter would be sentencing him to a different Hell, and that was the last thing Levi wanted.
In a twisted and almost ironic way, Levi realized that he was fulfilling his promise, a promise he had sworn all those years ago. He had sworn that he would kill Erwin Smith, and today, he was fulfilling that careless vow. He had decided to let Erwin die. He had been the one who decided to let the commander bleed out.
Levi's eyes burned from the unshed tears, but he refused to let them fall. Tears would not turn back time and change his decision. All the tears he had left had been wasted on the field where Isabel and Furlan's bodies were buried.
Levi had the strong urge to save Erwin, to preserve his bonded's life. But Erwin's will had been stronger. As strong and fearless as he was, Erwin was also tired. He was tired of fighting, tired of condemning countless lives to their deaths.
He was tired of living. Tired...of everything.
Levi swallowed thickly, pushing past the growing lump in his throat. "But what about me?" he thought silently. "Were you tired...of me?"
Levi felt the brief, cool touch in the back of his mind through the bond, and he latched onto that. Bowing his head, Levi brushed his hand up against Erwin's cold fingers. He could hear Erwin's labored breathing, he could feel the slow and dying beat of Erwin's heartbeat.
He could feel Erwin dying.
It was terrifying. All he could hear was that faint heartbeat. He didn't know when it would give out. He didn't know when his heart would stop beating that slow and steady sound. But for the moment, it meant he had Erwin on this earth for a little while longer.
Levi no longer recognized the sound of his own voice, even as he spoke. "About my promise that I'd take out the Beast Titan," he started. "Looks like we're going to have to wait."
Rage filled him at the thought of the Beast Titan. It had been Zeke who had killed Erwin, and it was Levi who would return the favor. The bond screamed for Erwin's murderer, just as Levi inwardly screamed for Zeke's life. And he wanted it. He wanted Zeke dead more than anything. For a brief moment, Levi's vision turned red, and all he saw was the crimson color of rage. If the bond could no longer have Erwin, than it would have Zeke's blood spilling on the ground.
But Levi tampered down on those feelings. He did not need Erwin to feel his rage and anger in his final moments. What Erwin deserved was peace. Peace at last.
Hanji's voice broke through the haze that had consumed Levi up to this moment. "He's already dead."
Levi shook his head. This time, he grabbed Erwin's hand. He could tell Erwin was not dead. Levi felt it. There was just a small bit of Erwin left. Even as the bond stretched and frayed from the strain, it was still there.
Until Erwin breathed his last.
Mikasa and Eren
"Eren! Do you know? Do you...do you know?"
"The commander told me. But...I think I've always known."
…
She could tell that he was struggling. Everyday was a struggle for him. It was hard for him to breathe, and it was even harder for him to walk. He was growing tired and worn out. His face was gaunt and pale as the curse took ahold of him. But his green eyes had yet to lose their shine.
With less than three months to go before the curse took his life, Mikasa had to face the horrible truth.
Eren was dying.
Mikasa stared at the lone figure resting beneath the large tree. The branches of the mighty oak offered shade and protection. Eren sat with his back against the trunk of the tree, his eyes closed and a look of peace on his face. The long grass swayed in the warm breeze, ruffling his hair.
It was a beautiful, peaceful picture, and one that Mikasa wanted to cherish forever.
She approached him, sitting down next to him. She tried to be as quiet as possible, but the bond had alerted Eren to her presence long before they had even caught sight of each other.
Eren let out a shaky breath, leaning up against Mikasa. His head rested on her shoulder, and Mikasa tried to quell the rising sadness filling up inside of her as she felt his frail shoulder brush up against hers. He never showed this much outward affection, unless he really yearned for it. The curse must be worse than she thought.
"Have I ever told you 'thank you'?" Eren asked suddenly. His voice, which she was grateful for, still retained his usual spunk. Closing her eyes, she could recognize the voice of her bonded. It was one of the many ways she could identify Eren.
Mikasa blinked, surprised at the question. "You don't ever need to say that to me."
Eren was silent for a moment, his head still resting on her shoulder. "Oh. Okay." He pressed in closer to her, his eyes closed. "Well, thanks anyways."
Mikasa smiled. "You're welcome." She then frowned. "But...thank you for what?"
She felt him shrug lightly. "Oh, nothing. And everything." She felt his mind brush up against hers through the bond, and her smile returned. She lightly traced the scar over her palm, the very scar that declared their bond to the world.
"Mikasa Ackerman," Eren said suddenly. "Are you aware of what you have done?"
Mikasa nodded. "I am. I have bonded to you, and I am to protect you."
"You've always been there for me," he said quietly. "Protecting me, befriending me, caring for me. But I want you to do one more thing for me: I want you to go on living," Eren said. "Live, and carry on my memories. Because if you die, than the memories you carry of me within you die as well."
Tears fell down her cheeks. He had known. Even back then, when she was struggling to live, he had known.
"Eren…" she started.
"Promise," he ordered firmly.
She bit the inside of her cheek. Leaning back into a more comfortable position, she rested her head against his. "Let's just relax for today. It's so peaceful."
Eren sighed, sounding displeased. "You didn't promise. How can I die in peace if you didn't promise?"
She winced. Even though she had years to come to terms with The Curse of Ymir, she still feared the day when Eren would die.
"My death will not be peaceful," he teased lightly. "And it will be all your fault."
Mikasa sighed, relenting. "Fine. I promise."
Eren chuckled, sighing happily. "Good. Now we can relax." He snuggled into her, closing his eyes once more. Mikasa adjusted her seating position, moving her arm so she could wrap it around Eren's body.
"Sorry," he mumbled. "I'm just...so tired."
Mikasa rested her chin on his head, inhaling his scent as the tears fell down her cheeks. "It's alright," she said. She reached out for his hand, the hand that bore the same scar as hers, but Eren was already grabbing for her hand. They latched on, fingers entwined as they rested beneath the large tree.
"Thank you," Eren breathed sleepily, right as he dozed off in her arms.
Mikasa squeezed her eyes shut, finding comfort in the bond they shared. "You're welcome."
