Heyoo, I'm finally back! Thank you all for the lovely reviews, I'm honestly surprised and touched that this story has already gained some fans. I'm trying to make a point to update at least once a month, but between working a new full-time job and doing some art requests on the side, finding time to write and get in a good head-space for it is difficult. I hope to eventually create some more concept art for this story, so keep an eye out for some links appearing pretty soon :). As always, I hope you all enjoy this chapter!
It was blindingly sunny.
Tall blades of green grass swayed with the gentle breeze, creating a warm and calm atmosphere. Blinking a few times, Lyra sat up, looking around the beautiful place in wonder. Ah yes, the scattered trees, hundreds of wildflowers, and shimmering pond were all familiar.
She was back in her safe and small cove.
But...Her blue eyes searched the brightly lit area thoroughly. Where….where's my shelter? And the rock walls? Why are they gone? So preoccupied in her own head, she didn't even notice the silhouette sitting beside her.
"Hey."
The sudden voice made her jump. Lyra whipped her head to the side, only for her mouth to hang open in shock. This had to be a dream, right? Either this was some sort of cruel hallucination, or she was no longer among the living. "Willow?"
The bubbly blonde smiled brightly, the warm sun casting a heavenly glow against her freckled skin. "Long time no see, Ly!"
Sitting up straight, the teen lifted a hand to her head. It's strange...it's almost like I've been to this place before…."Am I…?" The word got caught in her throat. "Am I–?"
"Dead?" Willow finished for her, only to shrug in response. "Not sure."
"What do you mean, not sure?"
The twelve-year-old rolled her eyes. "You don't honestly believe I'm the real Willow, do you? I think we can both admit that would just be wishful thinking."
"So what? You're just a figment of my imagination?" Lyra asked, arching a single brow.
"Hm," The adorable girl pursed her lips, "More like a physical manifestation of your subconscious, but whatever helps you sleep, I guess."
The brunette slowly nodded. In an odd way, it made sense. Ever since her best friend's untimely death, her mind had taken a turn for the worst. Nightmares and hallucinations weren't an uncommon occurrence. "Is this a dream then? Am I asleep?"
"Who knows," She shrugged again, the action making her wild blonde curls spill over her shoulders.
The longer the two sat in silence, the more Lyra began to feel. Emotions began to creep up on her one by one. Peace. Happiness. Confusion. Longing. Melancholy. They were each recognizable, and quickly grew to be extremely overpowering.
Tears began to pour from her eyes like waterfalls, dripping down her face and splattering onto her torn pants.
"Hey, why are you crying, Ly?" Willow asked softly.
Lyra broke down then, bursting into full-blown sobs. Hastily she wiped her face with the back of her arm. "I don't know, I just...I'm really happy to see you!"
The corner of her mouth pulled upwards into a crooked smile, emphasizing the dimples in her cheeks. "I'm happy to see you too." She playfully ruffled her fingers through her dark brown hair. "I gotta be honest though, you look like hell."
She laughed weakly. "Thanks, I know. These past few months...they've been really hard without you." Sniffing, she cleared her throat, forcing back the rest of her sobs. "I felt so alone."
"Well, you're not really alone now though, are you?"
"Huh?"
The blonde rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean. Though I gotta admit, I never thought another person, let alone a titan would take my place, Ly."
"No one could ever take your place, Willow."
"I know. I'm messing with you." Her light and musical laughter filled the still silence as she playfully elbowed Lyra. "But he's definitely an interesting creature, isn't he? More human than half of the test subjects we ran into, right?"
"Right," The fourteen-year-old agreed. But a frown found its way onto her face, as her brow furrowed into a concerned expression. "You know, I feel bad for leaving him. Whether I'm dead or...just asleep, considering how he acts, I'm betting that he's worried about me."
Willow hummed in agreement. "Yeah...seems he has quite the crush on you."
Now it was Lyra's turn to roll her eyes. "I think infatuation is more fitting. Who knows really, I sort of stopped trying to figure things out when it comes to him. So long as he isn't a threat, I really don't care what he does."
Willow hummed again. The smile on her face was almost bittersweet. Another warm breeze came through the small clearing, making the grass and wildflowers quiver.
"So what should I do now?" Lyra asked after a long yet peaceful pause.
The blonde child sighed. Reaching to her right, she plucked a vibrant purple flower from the ground, twirling it around between her fingertips. "You should go back."
"Go back?" She repeated, "How?"
Again, the thin child merely shrugged. "Search me. But I'm betting it's how you got here in the first place. You were sleeping, remember?"
The "v" between her brow became more pronounced. "Yeah...I think so."
"Or you could stay here." Willow's voice had grown quiet.
"Stay here with you?"
The crooked smile was back, but it failed to reach her eyes. "Yeah."
Lyra couldn't look away. The urge to stay behind in this beautiful place with the best friend she had lost and miraculously found again was strong.
But another warm breeze blew through the small clearing, and for once, Lyra really looked at the heavenly girl sitting next to her. The glow from her skin and hair had been no illusion–just a beautiful temptation to leave the real world behind. It made her realize that the person she was looking at wasn't truly a person, but was, in fact, nothing more than an empty shell that she had conjured up to fill the void that the real Willow had left behind. She hung her head. "But you're not her. The real one, I mean."
"No," A twinge of sadness had found its way into her eyes, "I'm not."
Lyra sighed, "I guess I have my answer then." Stretching out her arms, the brunette fell back into the tall blades of grass, gazing up at the brightly lit sky. Funny enough, it's almost like the sky is moving–like it's alive somehow…
"Don't worry," The bubbly and kindhearted child offered a bit of reassurance, "I have a feeling everything will be alright in the end."
"You think so?" Another steady breeze washed over the colorful wildflowers and grass. The wave of calm that had settled there was gradually pulling her under. "Will I see you again?"
The crooked smile made a comeback. "Maybe. Your dreams are quite vivid. You never know." She stopped twirling the purple wildflower between her fingers, only to tuck it behind Lyra's ear.
"I'll miss you." The teen mumbled, fighting off the exhaustion as best she could. Her words earned a light and musical chuckle from her former companion.
"I'll miss you too, Ly." Affectionately, she stroked her hair, smiling softly. "Just go to sleep."
There was so much more that she wanted to say, but the heavy warmth continued to pull her under. Willow's kind face slowly faded, merging with the bright sunlight that blanketed everything in sight. Closing her eyes, Lyra drifted into the darkness.
It was cold.
Almost achingly so. Gradually, Lyra came back to the waking world. Numb fingers curled against the soft fabric beneath her. She opened her eyes.
It took a few moments for her vision to focus, but with how dark it was, she could hardly see anything. Her awareness slowly grew. Her throat was dry and tight, and her eyes felt almost sticky. She knew the feeling all too well.
She had been crying in her sleep.
But with each passing second, she began to forget the strange dream more and more. The warmth and contentment, and a heavenly smile were the only things she could recall. Pushing herself off the pile of blankets that had served as her bed, Lyra winced as the action pulled at her sore and aching muscles. Rubbing the sand and dried tears from her eyes, she blinked a few times, she waited a few seconds for her eyes to adjust to the darkness.
Exhausted blue eyes drifted towards the moonlit cove just outside her small handmade shelter. But she nearly jumped ten feet into the air when she noticed a titan's face less than two meters away from her own. It took her a few seconds to realize that it was only Eren, but the fact that he was this close was surprising as well as unnerving.
But why is he so close?
Ever since she gave him quite the literal shock a few weeks ago, he had been smart to keep his distance. So what brought about the sudden change?
The events of the previous few days resurfaced. Images of Eren being swarmed by an ungodly amount of titans, the intense screams and roars that came from his maw as he tried to fight them off on his own….
She shook her head from the horrible memory. She had acted on a whim–charging back into harm's way to save him.
She had killed them all.
Or at least, I think I did. Trying to control a power surge that strong must've made me black out. Her blue eyes flickered towards the sleeping titan once more. Don't tell me that he carried me all the way back here?
As she sat there trying to wrap her head around it, Lyra found herself intently staring at the giant's intimidating yet equally unique face. She had never been this close before, and figured she never would be again after this. Her curious and hungry eyes took in every detail–from the distinct shape of his nose, to the gleaming row of exposed teeth. There were small things that she noticed, things that she never would've seen unless she got up close and personal. Like how the dark circles around his eyes weren't completely black, but were actually just a slight shift in pigmentation in comparison to the rest of his skin. His cheekbones were higher than expected, making the geometric makeup of his face much more angular and sharp. And those teeth!
They were even more terrifying up close. No two were quite the same in size, but much to her surprise, all of them ended in a slight point. The edges weren't completely flat as she had initially thought, but she wouldn't consider them fangs either.
Unique and curious indeed…
It was then that Lyra realized that she had unconsciously moved closer herself. Already, she had lifted her hand, reaching out as her fingers itched to satisfy her sense of touch in addition to her sight.
Look but don't touch.
The mutual understanding that she had established with him pulled her back, and slowly, she lowered her hand to her side. Sighing, she leaned away. Curiosity was pushed aside as she convinced herself to remain satisfied in the fact that she could observe the rare sight before her. Just drop it, Lyra. Think about something else. Don't play with fire unless you wanna get burned. Slouching back against the sturdy wall of her small shelter, the brunette's gaze drifted towards the sky once more.
It wasn't completely pitch black anymore. The faint red and orange hues to the east were becoming more visible with each passing minute. Sunrise wasn't that far off.
Lifting a hand to her face, she dried her cheeks, still feeling as though she hadn't wiped away all of the evidence from her unknown dream. She didn't want to go back to sleep now. And she didn't think she could even if she tried.
A warm yet humid breeze washed over the space between human and titan, making the blades of grass and scattered wildflowers quiver. It took her a moment to realize that the shift in temperature had come from the slumbering titan exhaling, and that the slight rumble in the air and earth was him sighing.
Slowly, the giant's eyes opened, partially obstructed by a few thick strands of dark brown hair.
The uneasiness returned, but Lyra stayed where she was, keeping her legs firmly planted into the soft earth beneath her. Eyes wide, she found herself staring into a pool of green–an enchanting and rich color that threatened to pull her in the longer she continued to stare.
Not just green, She noted, her own eyes quickly taking in every detail she could. Flecks of silver and blue were also evident around his pupils, flawlessly blending in with the outer teal and green rings that made up his irises. The swirl of colors made her come to one simple conclusion.
They were beautiful.
The thought would've been absurd to any sane person who heard it. Never in her wildest dreams did she think the words "titan" and "beautiful" would end up in the same sentence. Blinking, Lyra pushed her thoughts aside, trying to relax as best she could. "Morning." She greeted hoarsely, draping an arm over her knee.
Eren blinked as well, but the motion was accompanied by a low and drawn out groan, a response that Lyra had come to know well with each passing day.
He definitely wasn't a morning person.
"Thank you," The words were hushed, but audible, and sincere, "For bringing me back here, I mean. I'm sorry if I worried you."
The titan lifted his head slightly, as if he was taken aback by her words. But eventually he relaxed again, those hawk-like eyes skimming her over from head to toe.
As if understanding his unspoken words, the brunette shook her head. "I wasn't hurt. It's just...channeling that much power...my body couldn't handle it, so I passed out."
His angry brow knitted together even more. Either he thought she was lying, or those piercing green eyes were scolding her, as if to say, "That was a really stupid thing to do in the first place."
"It was the only way to get those titans off of you." She tried to justify her actions, going off of her latter assumption. "There were too many of them. I couldn't just sit there and do nothing!"
He snorted and rolled his eyes. "I didn't need your help. I would've been fine."
"Yeah, sure." Lyra grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest. Realizing what she was doing, she facepalmed. "Just what the hell am I doing anyways? Understanding you is one thing, but assuming that you're actually talking back to me? I really am off my rocker."
The titan groaned, the sound much higher pitched than the previous one. It was a familiar noise, the tonality akin to a human voice that was hurt–or disappointed. Dare she say, offended even?
"I am talking to you."
Her brain filled in the translation once again. Over the course of the past few weeks, she had become accustomed to the series of groans, grunts, and croons, often trying to decipher just what Eren was trying to communicate with her. But sitting here, in the chilled morning air, it was like they were actually having some sort of conversation.
And she liked it.
It was really the first form of socialization she had in nearly a year. Yes, she had talked aloud to herself on many occasions, but it wasn't the same thing. Having someone listen and then reciprocate some kind of response back was a luxury at this point. And it was something she treasured.
"Thank you, again." She felt the need to further express her gratitude, but also just wanted to keep talking. "That's at least three times now that you've saved me from certain death."
The large beast crooned, giving a slight nod in addition to the low verbalization. "You're welcome."
She smiled.
Eren's brow lifted, his lipless maw parting slightly as his eyes widened. The genuine look of happiness on her face was a first for him. He had seen the taught pull of her lips every once in a while, usually when he had brought her food or assisted her in some way. But the way her eyes lit up–the way those blue pools that held the sky were practically brought to life again–he felt like all of his efforts had finally paid off, and that he had achieved something precious.
He wanted to see her smile more.
Curiosity was one of Lyra's weaknesses, and it didn't help that the air between them had suddenly become charged. Maybe it was her strong sixth sense, or her powers beginning to stir with a titan so close, but it was as if there was some kind of magnetic pull in the air–coaxing her to voluntarily close the distance between them.
This is really stupid. Her instincts screamed. If he wanted to, he could put those large teeth to good use and chop off her arm if she got too close. While she didn't think he would do something so drastic and horrifying, the fact that he could weighed on her mind. Even if it was purely by accident, he could very easily injure or even kill her.
Yet, like before, her fingers itched to satisfy her additional senses. There was only so much her eyes or ears could absorb.
Slowly she got to her feet, chafing her hands against her cold arms as she left the safety and warmth of her small shelter. Teal eyes watched her every movement, seemingly just as curious as her own.
Cautiously she walked forward, until he was within arm's reach. While she wasn't second guessing herself, she remained attentive to his reaction and visible body language. But so far, he hadn't moved, nor did he give any sort of indication that he opposed what she was doing.
Holding her breath, she lifted her right hand, slowly extending it outwards. It wasn't until she could feel the intense heat radiating from the titan's skin that she paused. Her fingers hovered over the beast's nose, as her apprehension returned. Would she get burned? The moment the thought formed in her mind, she had dismissed it. Eren had carried her all the way back here just hours before, and at the current moment, she didn't sense any sort of pain on her skin. Even when he pulled her from the freezing confines of the river months ago, she couldn't recall receiving any sort of burn-related injury from him.
Mistaking her hesitation for fear, Eren decided to act. Leaning forward, he closed the distance between them, allowing her hand to rest on the bridge of his nose.
Lyra exhaled, her eyes wide.
She was touching a titan and she wasn't dead.
The skin beneath her own was hot–but not enough to the point where it threatened to burn her. It was pleasant, in an odd way.
Fingers curling against the heated flesh, she slowly traced the contours of the cartilage, taking in every unique divot and shape. His skin was surprisingly smooth, although it was incredibly thick and taught compared to the average human's.
Must be nice. I doubt he has much to fear from the elements. When he made no move to stop her, her hands moved towards the dark skin beneath his eye. To her surprise it was much softer, and even less dense.
Eren sighed, closing his eyes as he leaned into her touch further.
Yet again his reaction had surprised her. It was almost as if he wanted some sort of physical contact. Thinking back on his behavior, Lyra had come to suspect that he had been around other humans at some point. It would definitely explain how he had known that she needed food to survive, and why he was willing to protect her from any sort of predator. Never had she given much thought to where titans came from, or if they had the capacity to be anything more than mindless and ravenous monsters. But now, she had more questions than ever.
And she wanted them answered.
"Eren?"
The titan groaned in response, the deep and rich sound rumbling through her. Like the pull of a curtain, he opened one large eye to look at her.
A sea of green.
Her own eyes widened, as she lost her train of thought. Again, those beautiful and intelligent eyes threatened to pull her in, wiping her mind clean for a few seconds. Shaking her head, she broke free from the strange spell. "N-Nevermind. It can wait."
He didn't respond, but instead pulled away, lifting his head slightly as he cocked his head to the side.
"What?" The single syllable escaped her grinning lips in a small laugh.
Turning his head upright once more, Eren slowly and cautiously moved closer to her again, his pointed ears twitching forward in a motion that mimicked curiosity.
Lyra quickly became aware of the hand sliding towards her, but forced herself to stay rooted to her current spot. She had been able to push the fleeting instincts to the back of her mind along with her activated sixth sense, but now that he was the one moving, they were slowly creeping back up again. Just don't move. She advised herself, letting her arms hang limply at her sides. Already she had a sneaking suspicion of what he wanted to do. It's only fair, so suck it up.
It started first with just a simple pat on the head, as the pad of his index finger gently stroked her long and fine strands of brown hair. Letting the silky locks slide over his fingernail, his thumb moved inwards, pressing lightly against the exposed skin of one of her arms.
Blue never left green as she watched every movement cautiously. But there was a sense of awe in her face. Awe that such a creature, who was capable of ripping apart a titan limb from limb and crushing a bear with the slightest pressure of his fingers, could also be so gentle, treating her as if she were made of glass.
All too soon, he moved away, sliding his hand back beneath his chin and relaxing once more.
Blinking, Lyra snapped back to reality, a teasing smile making its way onto her face. "Satisfied now?"
The titan huffed, his warm breath ruffling her loose strands of hair.
"Well, since I'm awake now, I guess I might as well make myself useful." She pointed out, placing her hands on her hips. "I'll need some more supplies soon–nature can only provide so much. I'll probably head further north–towards the abandoned fishing city not far from here." Walking past him, she grabbed her used and worn pack, and began filling it with the few things she would need for the several hour-long journey. When her companion didn't move, she glanced over her shoulder, giving him a questioning look. "You coming?"
His irises flickered upwards as he rolled his eyes. "You had to ask?"
The brunette smiled again as a light laugh escaped her lips. "Well, let's move then. I wanna make it back before sundown!"
He grunted, and stretching his arms out, the beast opened his skeletal maw and yawned. And pushing himself up off the ground, he slowly and carefully got to his feet, waiting patiently for the girl to get ready.
"There we go." Mumbling aloud to herself, the teen tied the large bag closed and slung it over her shoulder, turning towards her giant of a companion. She smiled, her eyes closing as the huge and cheeky grin took up most of her face.
Though she couldn't see it, Eren returned the gesture, as the corners of his skeletal mouth pulled up into his pitiful yet recognizable attempt at a smile.
He would do anything to keep seeing that smile of hers.