Apologies. I just talked crap about letting my readers easily skip the detailed spicy parts but here I am, ending the epilogue with smut. In my defense, this time the smut is actually quite relevant to the plot and not for the fan service alone (unlike the previous ones).

The steamy part will end with the line, "Do you still have the energy to—" What you saw behind the blurred vision was…

Thanks.

Here you are again.

After letting Historia accompany you with college errands to get back at things slowly, you dropped by Erwin's place to nap. You reached his home by late afternoon and he's expected to be home before evening so you quickly settled yourself on his bed. You thought you'd have a peaceful one because of his scent glued on the mattress and pillows but you woke up frozen and sweaty.

And the ceiling is broken and a titan's head is plugged tightly into the hole.

Upon realizing that he's home and he's walking towards the room, you closed your eyes tight and feigned sleep. The practical thing to do is to cover yourself with the blanket but you can't move your limbs, not at all. And your breathing is getting more and more ragged. Still, you tried in hopes he wouldn't notice.

Of course, your man will always be sharp. You felt him sit on the bed and glide his hands on your face to soften the curl in your eyebrows, gently whispering sweet nothings to you all the while encouraging you to move a muscle.

When you could finally speak you said, "There's something at the ceiling."

"Okay, tell me what it is."

"A titan's head with its mouth open. It's about to completely break the wall and eat me."

He hovered his head on top of you so your eyes would be fixed on him instead of the ceiling, "And what are you thinking right now?"

You finally moved a finger, "That if this titan gets my head then I'm good as gone. I won't exist everywhere now."

"I told you, you will not cease to exist." He gently said.

Yeah, it's pretty much impossible but his words are more than enough for you. That's why you have to get back from it.

A lump formed up in your throat. You gulped it down then you slowly regained control of your muscles. Erwin soothed you afterward.

The circumstances regarding your existence rattled you since the night you voiced it out to him. Never mind the completely busy yet tranquil days, this setback would have you depressed for weeks if not addressed immediately.

And so you feel like you're in dire need of comfort. He'd give it to you, he would give everything to you. That's why you reached up to him for a kiss, wrapped your arms around his neck, and arched your back. It went for a while and when he saw how lidded your eyes are, he knew what this night would be about.

"Can we do it?" You muttered gently. You have to have him near you as much as you can. To feel that you're not close to disappearing just yet. That he could touch you as a completely tangible being and not a soul fluttering into mere dust.

"As much as you want." He held on to your waist and hummed. After a last chaste peck on your lips, he proceeded to nuzzle his lips on your neck. He showered his attention at the sensitive spot on the side of your neck, just a little bit below your ears, and you felt him smile upon hearing your sighs because of his nibbles. "Would you like to take the lead?" He whispered.

"You're fooling around. You always end up throwing me down the bed after a while."

"But I love seeing you try." He chuckled.

And so he let you throw him on the bed and reverse the position. He's smiling a bit too sweet but the amusement and teasing laced his features just as much. Every single time you attempt to be ahead of him. It gets quite too endearing.

"I'll be on top now. Tell me if you want to stop."

Erwin let out a laugh then rested a forearm on top of his eyes. With the look on your face, he's certain you'll falter a moment from now. He doesn't even have to switch you on his own. "Continue."

"You don't want to stop?" You inquired with a smile.

Erwin slightly moved his arm so he could see you in one eye, "You seemed to be enjoying this a lot."

"I am. I'm not ceasing to exist right now. We could have each other and I get to feel it." You murmured and hovered until your faces were centimeters away.

"You are." He rested a palm on your cheek. "Feel how warm my hand is?"

"I do." You lightly turned to kiss his palm and landed a kiss on the bridge of his nose as well in exchange. "You can feel it too, right?"

"I do."

"Have you seen it? How we took each other that night? Have you felt it too?"

He heaved a sneering chuckle then. "Tell me more."

"I was on top of you, helped you a lot, let you do me as many times as you can, whispered apologies as you can't bring yourself to stop. Wasn't that included in your dream?"

"I almost committed homicide upon waking up."

"Why? Our dreams about that world include feeling whatever we see."

"And when I tell you I still want to touch you as soon as I wake up the next morning only to be reminded that you're actually an unmovable heap in life support, would you understand how frustrating that was?"

"But I'm here now."

He heaved a sigh upon hearing that and hands slowly glided all over your back. It was then both of you realized that he still has to be reminded of it from time to time as well. It's not only you who's struggling about it. It's not only you who gets vulnerable thinking about it especially when fragments of that day resurface in your minds.

"You're here." He whispered. You peppered his face with kisses to help him.

"Let's do it again. I feel like it's been a hundred years since then." You closed the proximity by resting your forehead with this, swirling your hips so you could feel him below you further. Both of you hummed. "Can I do it again, Commander?"

He grabbed your head for another kiss again, way deeper this time. He tried to be patient with you. He really did. Your adjustment after what happened was his utmost priority all this time.

He slightly pushed your head up to pause the kiss then you immediately whined. "Why are you always pausing it on the good part?"

"I'm curious about what you have in mind. Come on, lovely thing. Tell me."

Little did he know, the kiss made you mushy already — no rational thoughts but have him — feel him again and again. "I'll lock you here so you won't leave. We're doing this endlessly."

"That so?" He smoothly slid his hands to your waist and thrust his hips forward. Blood rushed down in between your legs. Pathetic sighs followed suit. "How would you do that when you're already this sensitive? We haven't even started yet."

"Don't underestimate me," You scoffed and tried to shoot your lidded eyes open to assert. "I will make you a whimpering mess again, Erwin Smith." Despite the convicted tone, you let it out rather weakly. You want to have him right this second and that desperation is making you want to beg.

It almost made Erwin laugh. Still, he could cater to your desire to take charge as much as you want right now; despite immediate failure, until you finally admit defeat. "Show me then. My pretty soldier doesn't waver and surely knows what she's doing." He cupped your face, "Does having me come inside you included in the whimpering mess you want me to be?" That indeed shot your eyes open and Erwin feigned a surprise, "And now you're embarrassed about it? Really?"

Well, you really are embarrassed by that. "To be fair, I did that because—" You pondered. You also don't have a rational reason why.

"Because?" His thumb playfully circled your cheeks.

"It feels really good that I don't want it out?"

"So are you going to be that reckless again?" He doesn't mind. Not at all. As he continuously says, you could have everything you want in this world and he'll see to it that it's done.

"Can I?"

"You told your brother you don't plan to have children."

"Yeah. The only kid I'm willing to take care of is him."

Okay, he gets it now. He laughed. He thought you were joking when you said it just feels good. "Well then, that'd work here after all. Take the lead."

And that's what you're concerned about after the heated kiss. You want to be under him again. Being on top would take lots of pressure and energy because you're not used to it yet. Now you're starting to admire him for being so confident about it. He sensed your reluctance so he frowned as if he didn't see it coming at all. "So are you going to be like this again? Riling me up only to hesitate in between?"

You gave him a pleading look in hopes that he'd let you off again this time. It's not that you can't take the lead. He hadn't touched you for so long and even if the realization is quite late, the yearning for him made you weak and submissive. "I'm willing to learn, okay! I just don't want to tire myself out. We have all night, you know."

"Oh?" He seems genuinely surprised this time. "So this won't be settled in one round?"

You're about to answer yes, but then Erwin has the stamina enough to make you unconscious. Of course, you want to relish it and that's by not blacking out early. You have to clarify that.

"You're hesitating again." Erwin mused. "Do you think I have lots of patience for this?"

"Can you take me easy for the first round?"

That's the cue that you finally gave up then. Erwin finally shifted so he'd be the one on top. He pinned you with both of his hands again. "You're being too bad on me right now. Don't you think you should've asked me this earlier instead?"

"Sorry. You look so good when teased." You shot him a grin. "And I missed you a lot."

He looked at you for a while then gave you a peck. "So are you done with the teasing now?" You nodded. He landed a chaste kiss again. "Sure?" You nodded again, the grin did not falter. He kissed you again. "I don't think you'll be grinning like that as we go further, though."

And you'd love that. "I'll take it like a good girl."

"Of course, you would." He muttered as he slowly trailed his fingers to your chest. "Not like you have any other choice." He released your hands for a while so you could unclasp your bra.

He pinned your hands again, though, so you tried to grasp a hand out of it. You have a habit of pressing his head on you and he knows it so he trapped it tighter instead. Without a word, he darted his tongue on your bare chest. Right, this man won't let you off this time. You chuckled in defeat and let him play around the sensitive skin for a while. He gave both of them the wanted attention but when you got too impatient, you tried wiggling out with a whine again. He just stifled a laugh though. He wouldn't grant you that so easily.

Erwin went lower to land wet kisses from your chest down but as soon as he reached your abdomen, he stopped and got back up again. You almost asked him why but the mischievous glint in his eyes answered your question; he will be making you desperate and you won't be able to do anything about it. As if it's his way of teaching you a lesson to go by your word instead of leaving him with hesitance, that you're about to be put in your place for assuming you could get away with all the things you're doing to him.

He removed his hand from pinning you but even before you could act on it freely he sternly said, "Don't you dare move it." Then gave you a hard look. You quickly followed with a smile. "Eyes on me." It felt like flipping then. You're never getting over this tone even if he would only dare to use it during these moments. God, this man's too soft on you.

He slowly removed the garments left in him — with his shirt first, boxers, then underwear. With his body laid bare before you, your smile faltered and desperation took over. He held back a mock; no need to fret, he had all the night to tease you. Upon cupping your cheeks again, he felt the heat on your face. "We haven't even started yet." And pointed out nonchalantly. You frowned and attempted to stray from his orders until he clicked his tongue. "You know better than moving that, dear."

You want to pull his hair out and have him nuzzle your neck for hours."I learned my lesson now."

"I don't think you do." His fingers slid on your clothed core then stroked it too weakly, deliberately. "You said you'll take it like a good girl."

"Yeah, I did."

He smiled, satisfied that you understood it somehow, then stroked a little bit harder. It wasn't enough though and he knew it. When he felt the forming wetness on your underwear, he only chuckled but didn't do anything about it. He was rather quick to notice your hand twitching instead. Without stopping his fingers on your core, he used his spare hands to pin you again and then latched his mouth on your chest to suck again.

"Please."

"Got the grin gone too fast? I expected more from you."

"You win." You admitted. You don't even feel bad for the defeat. You can get back at him next time when you're not so desperate anymore. "You win— please, do me now, please?"

"That won't do." He stopped and sat on his knees. His face was flat and lacking mercy. "Touch yourself."

"What?"

"I don't remember stuttering, love." He said with the same tone.

At least he allowed me to move my hands now.

You quickly put a hand inside your underwear but then Erwin sneered, almost apologetic for not making his instructions clear. He got your hand out and guided two of your fingers on top of your underwear instead. He doesn't need to speak and just expected you to follow through. As much as you're frustrated, disobeying means having this slower, much more tormenting.

Also, deep down, you completely love what he's making you do. You told him you love the tease? He'll see to it that you'd get it.

You rubbed two fingers on your clothed core then your spare hand played on your breast. Luckily, he let you do that much. He looked amused despite the lack of a smile. Only when your face got needier that he started to smirk. In hopes to rile him up further, you intentionally showed your ragged sighs and moans with a plea in your eyes.

After a while, he finally took pity so he instructed, "Fingers in."

You quickly do so then, intentionally set the garment aside so he'd see how you'd touch yourself very well. The wetness made him tick his eyebrows up even though his face stayed the same. Two fingers easily slipped inside and it went on until you asked him to work on you again. He shook his head with a smile as he finally realized your moans are already genuine and uncontrollable this time. The way he looks at you just shows how aware he is of his success.

"Erwin," You breathed out. "Please fill me up–" You shot his erection with a begging look again. "Fill me up now."

His smile is laced with nothing but endearment now. "Third finger in."

The sight makes your head fuzzy. He looks so good flashing that sweet look for you, and so you follow despite the frustration. To make up for it somehow, you just had it the way Erwin does — spreading yourself open, curling up inside, scissoring around, pulling it out, and smashing it back in.

He seemed more impressed and he hummed to encourage you more. Just more, you thought. He'll give in, he's about to give in, you just need to be the good lady that you are for him. You pulled your fingers out, clenched on nothing so he'd see, then slammed it back with a moan. Your wetness dripped then and Erwin seemed to enjoy the sight that he started palming himself up.

More.

Just take more.

When the clenching got frequent and your voice tipped louder, he finally acquiesced to your needs. Erwin swatted your hand away to replace it with his own, silenced your moans with his mouth and tongue darted in. You hummed in delight and wrapped an arm around his neck while your other hand moved his spare one to your chest. He let you do so and played around your tit as you asked, very much returning the gesture of being so good for him.

It felt so much better with his fingers too. He completely knew how to move it the way it'd pleasure you the most. He curled it up inside, let it out and rubbed your clit, pumped inside again then did it over and over until he felt you clenching on him. Your skin prickled with pleasure, and heat spread your skin. But just when you were about to let it all out, he quickly pulled his fingers away along with his mouth.

You let out a confused huff. "Why?" Tears almost formed in your eyes.

"Oh, love." He chuckled and petted your head. "I wouldn't get you so riled up only to come without me inside." He then hiked your legs up to remove your underwear and when it was done, he flipped you over the bed. You almost whimpered and he kissed your back in a laugh. "On your knees."

So you did and shoved your face down the pillows. He stroked himself up and down your wetness."You've been good for me like I asked you to, haven't you?"

"I do," You plead under him. "I'll be good for you. Please."

"You always do. Always the best for me." He assured and slowly pushed inside. Finally, he let a grunt out. He's swallowed by your warmth and the way you intentionally clenched inside despite your little pain almost made him delirious as if you're not going to have him out of you again. "Do you need time?" He asked despite the urge to just delve right in without mercy. He also adjusted a bit to take you better and it pretty much did the job of unleashing the pleasure out of your pain.

"You can move." Languid, sensual, considerate as usual. When you pushed your hips in tandem with his thrusts, he went faster. Slowly but surely, your voice tipped to its crescendo and you ensured very well that your clit would still be given the much-needed attention. "S-so good, 's too good. Please don't stop. Please–"

"You look so good bent over me like this. How could I stop?" He followed the praise with a hard thrust. "Look at that, taking me so gorgeously well." He added with a whisper and a hint of a chuckle.

If you don't know him well you'd think that he's completely unperturbed by this. He sounds so composed as if this doesn't affect him as much as you do. But he's completely flushed, his grip on your hips is tight, his breathing is subtle but unsteady as if he is still holding back, and the way he kisses your back and nibbles on every skin he could reach — oh, the love and adoration he keeps on showering you. You don't want this to end.

Then his bucks became much more relentless, his husks more evident. You tried to utter something, perhaps another series of begging. Shockwaves blurred your vision as the heat pooled on your back. You're falling apart and he knows it too well by the way you're clenching much harder.

But then he stopped. He lied. He said he wouldn't.

No, why would he?

You looked at him from behind, face laced in confusion again. You almost thought something went wrong but then he only looked as riled up as you are. He just begrudgingly halted. "But why?"

He composed himself with a sigh, flipped you on your back again, and lined himself up. "Live with me." He thrust without warning and so you gasped. "Live with me and let's start finding that damned tree together." He repeated with another thrust then stopped himself with a frustrated sigh.

There, you finally understood what he was on and so you stopped in your tracks. Fear laced your face yet again but he looked at you knowingly, resolutely. He knew you'd have this reaction again. That's why he waited — put you over the edge together with him before bringing it up again. You need to be well aware that you're one, he could feel you as you could feel him because you exist, and that wouldn't change anytime soon. "Live with me and let's find it." Not even the predicament of your existence would change it.

"I—" You were cut off when he thrust again.

"Live and find it with me." He husked. "There's no way this would be our last one."

You then realized that he wasn't asking for your approval. He is making you know. That's a statement and he wouldn't have it the other way. He can't see you that horrified again. You do not deserve to fear after doing something so selflessly for them. Both of you will have each other beyond this — drawn, bound together, again and again and again.

"I will." You headily reached for his face to kiss him but he didn't lower his head yet. He just looked at you lidded, waiting for more.

"Tell me properly." He said, sternly.

"I'll live and find it." You drawled, tears verged on your eyes. It's not even about the delayed pleasure anymore; it's just the realization that you wouldn't feel alone again — that the people living here in this space would never make you feel alone again like a speck of dust or an empty shell. "I'll live with you and find it."

Satisfied, he finally lowered his head for a kiss. He chased for the high he delayed you, assured you with whispers that you'll get it this time, that his pretty girl would get everything he could ever give. You wrapped your legs around him tightly with drawn-out whimpers. After you were well aware that he wouldn't dare stop anymore, he laughed at your noises and called your name. "You told me I'll be the one whimpering here." As if he's not on the precipice of doing so. "You sure got the guts, huh?"

"Sorry, 'm sorry." You murmured with eyes shut tight in pleasure and hastily peppered him with kisses. Not like you're going to stop teasing him after this.

"You're always full of pride until I make you a babbling mess. Does it feel that good? Doing it this way?" He punctuated the remark with a pounce, then moved your legs up a bit so he could be deeper. Oh, how quick his demeanor could change. Moments ago he's professing an oath to you then now he's just jeering menacingly.

"It is— oh god— it is." You shuddered but you can't let him just jeer at you. You started the tease and so you'll win. "But you're not any different— no, not at all!"

Well, he is way more different. He's more down bad for you. He would get on his knees if you asked him to. He loves you more than everything, even more than himself. Heck, he doesn't even love himself. "Expound."

"I didn't even hear you sayyou love me. I'm the only one who— who did!" You scoffed, attempted to open your eyes so you could establish your sulking. "—that night! You're so, so, full of pride, you pathetic commander."

Oh no.

Erwin almost laughed, of course with a hint of guilt. The commander was so out of it that night that he couldn't even talk, was too cowardly, and even had the guts to be thankful because his utterances of affection were mostly incoherent burbles. He doesn't deserve you at all. He cupped your cheeks, kissed you sweetly, and whispered. "It might not be too obvious and I might be flooded with inadequacies but— fuck wait, oh god. Why are you clenching so hard?" You heaved a weak but sly chuckle. Nonetheless, he sighed to compose himself. "—but I love you more than anything else."

"'s too obvious though. Heh." You shot him a wry grin. Yeah, Erwin knows that you're pretty much messing around because he's been teasing you a lot. That's what he deserves.

"Good. I have a lifetime to show it to you after all." You still had the teasing grin plastered. He responded with a look of adoration. "And find more lifetimes because you will not disappear. I'll ruin the world for you. Will have you again and again." You stopped grinning then, only sheer surprise laced your features. He flipped your mockeries again and now you're about to cry.

Erwin's not in the mood to tease around anymore, though. He closed his eyes and nuzzled his lips on your nose. "Hmm, you're clenching harder on me now, baby. Are you close?" He breathed out. The spasm and contracting of your walls don't feel intentional anymore.

You are. His pace is languid now and with warm sighs. His words are all drawn out and laced with affection, reverence even. Let it out. I got you. I'm a bad man but you'll have the best things in this world— will love you more this time, make it up to you.

That's pretty much it for you. You came with a loud sob, writhed at his mercy. And because you very much asked to have him inside you, you didn't untighten, not at all. You rather gave him a hard time pulling out. You tried to speak amidst shaky breaths, "I'll lock you down here, Erwin. We're staying in this bed forever."

He hummed in concurrence, continuously whispering faint yes in between. Erwin finally let the heated pool on his back, held onto your legs harder, and kept you from moving as he was about to empty himself inside. "And you'll take me well as I come, won't you?" He breathed out.

"Y-yes—would love to!"

With your walls continuously fluttering around him, tension snapped inside Erwin. He stuffed you full of his cum with a breathy grunt. It felt so good, so warm, you're so delightfully filled. You wrapped your legs around him so it'd stay there.

Indeed, he completely ensured that his seed would stay deep inside as you wish. Your legs felt quite jelly, completely overstimulated. You attempted to shake your legs away but he had held them down firmly. He's going to give you what you want and he'll make sure you stay in his confines as he does. "Own your words and take all of them. Just a little bit more. Almost done."

You're dumbed to answer again and your mouth was gaped open. He's tempted to take pride in it with a chuckle but your comfort is his utmost priority. "You okay?" You let out a tiny whimper as soon as he got himself out of you. "Answer me."

"I-I am."

"Would you like to clean it up?"

Of course, you would. That's when you forced your fluttering eyes to open. He almost clicked a vicious grin. You leaned up a bit as he ushered himself to you. With your hand wrapped around him, you took your mixed essence for your own. Erwin let you do so with a sigh, even helped you through it by slowly bobbing your head forward and backward. You hummed pleasingly.

When it's all cleaned up, you let yourself drop on the bed again, completely spent. He hummed in satisfaction, hovered on top again to pet your head, kissed it, and stayed like that for a while. "Sorry. Seems like I didn't take you too easy for the first one." Then he glided his fingers on the sides of your mouth to clean the excess.

But you're about to drift into sleep. "The apology's too late now, you bastard." Your head's floating.

"Oh, I know." He wryly replied then played circles on your cheeks. "But that doesn't mean we're done. You said it won't be settled with this, right?" He tapped repeatedly until you opened your eyes again.

"You're being bad on me right now."

"You're not the one to talk. And I'm just doing what you asked me to, serve my lady like the sweet girl that she is."

"Do you still have the energy to—" What you saw behind the blurry vision was his tranquil yet unrelenting look. He's not exhausted at all. "Yeah, right. Why would I even bother asking that?" You cut the question yourself.

He massaged your limbs so they wouldn't be too sore throughout the night. He missed you a lot and both of you have to deal with it, take all of him until he's spent and dried up. "Are you having a hard time keeping up?"

"No way. Told you we'll do this endlessly."

"I went so hard on you that night." He whispered in lament upon remembering his dream, the one you pertained to earlier.

"Not hard enough, young man."

"Oh? You want me harder?"

"You're too soft on me."

"Of course, I would. You're so sweet to me, can't hurt you like that." Then landed kisses on your cheeks and down your ears. "And we have all the time for it. I'll love you gently for now, as I should've done so before."

"You asked a very important question in between, though. Who in the right mind would do that?"

"Your man was never in his right mind to begin with. Let's start with that."

"Yeah," You opened your eyes properly this time. You looked at him sadly. "No one in their right mind would be willing to damn a world with further glitches because of someone like me."

"You're not just someone for me." He stopped massaging your limbs and held on to your hand again. "Unlucky for this world because I got aware of its circumstances and the fact that they're threatening you away from me." He kissed your knuckles. "In one of the worlds you managed to see somehow, were you able to encounter a version of this where you didn't exist at all?" The question struck you like a knife. Memories flooded over with so many terrible scenes. You bit your lower lip up and you could almost feel your eyes swell again. "Seems like it wasn't a good one, then." He added upon examining you.

"You—" You breathed out. "You didn't last long with those nightmares."

He's not surprised. After all, nothing would save him from that other than something that's completely the same as him, that something being you. He went to you to be judged and that's all he had wished for. That judgment would be more than enough for him to keep living, whether or not you'd decide to go to him like this again. "How about the others?"

"Isabel's confliction towards her eccentricities estranged her relationship with her siblings. Don't know how long but she ended up not so cheerful anymore." You pondered. "I really didn't expect that."

"And?"

"Historia had a hard time coming to terms with herself easily." You sighed. "She let an important person slip away because of it."

"Then?"

"Levi…" You swallowed. "Was so guilty about everything."

It was silent for a while as if he needed time to process what you saw as well. "Your brother?" He said after a while.

"I wasn't able to see him and know." and you're not even looking at him anymore. You're just staring blankly somewhere.

"I see." He muttered. "So do you realize it now?"

Of course. "But still, it's hard to–"

"I'm not asking about anything else. Do you realize it now?"

"I do." You muttered weakly.

He hummed then turned your face to him. He landed a chaste peck on the bridge of your nose. "That's a good start, then. You have to willingly come to me so you could help me find it, after all."

"But how…" You paused. The lack of certainty numbs your throat. "I don't know how we're supposed to do that. What if we end up not finding anything and we just–" have to come to terms with the hope we failed to embody?

"I wouldn't lie and tell you it's pointless to worry about. But see, when the wall fell I also have no idea how we're supposed to find anything relevant to take it back." Oh, right. How could you forget that? He was with you all those times. "But unlike that moment, I'm way more confident on this one because I already know what to find and where to start. I wasn't able to get this much until the fifth year in my post back there."

You smiled poignantly then. You went through lots of uncertainties as it is. What is there to fear? You just have to firm up and face it again. Finally, the reluctance subsided, enough for you to joke around. "It's unfair, though. I did something so huge! If we managed to find something to alter my circumstances, that wouldn't be fair for everyone!"

He shot you a deadpan look, "And you, out of all people, expect me to feel bad about it?"

"That's rude of you. Why are you like that?"

"What do you want me to do about that, then? Cry? Feign selflessness?" He bantered. "You told me I have to be honest now. I would still kill for you."

Indeed, this world's pretty much damned now. "I shouldn't have bothered asking that."

"How's the thing about your brother right now?"

"I feel so much better working on it but it's quite challenging." You tiredly sighed. "I need to find a stable income myself and more family stuff so I can qualify."

"Aw, is that so?" God, this man. He sounds like he's about to mock you again. Every single time this is being brought up and even if you don't know why, he keeps on teasing and musing around "Oooh, told him you don't want to become a mother? Sucks for you, you need to be one on paper."

"The idea I have in mind might not be so bad, then."

"Give your lowly subordinate a chance to hear an idea as great as that." You deadpanned.

"You're not my subordinate. You're way above me." You tried to retort but he cut you off. "But really? You want to hear about it?"

You curled your eyebrows and when you flashed him a glare you realized the idea in question might be something he just thought to mess around. He's trying to hide a smile. "You don't sound great, mister."

"Yeah, it would never sound great coming from someone like me."

"Just tell me. Oh god." He cupped your face and fixed it, wiping up some sweat and strands glued on it. He didn't speak after. "I'm getting quite anxious now, Erwin."

"Marry me." He casually let out. You gaped your mouth open. You hadn't felt this deep of a shock again in a while. He observed your reactions for a while and then added. "Completely under your conditions, though. It could be purely intended for your brother alone. I also figured you might not want to partake in a commitment as big as that since we got together just recently and—"

"Just recently?" You huffed loudly and realized your inquiry might be quite misplaced as of the moment but still— "We literally just talked about extending my stay beyond this lifetime."

"So do you agree or—"

"You didn't let that out as a question, Erwin." You interjected as if you heard his thoughts loudly. "Whether I agree or not is the least of your concerns."

He was silent for a while and attempted to hide a sly smile. "I was trying to be discreet about it at the very least. So I'd appear as someone with basic human decency."

Your thoughts were deprived of you then. You faced the ceiling again and just laughed out loud. He watched as you did, albeit with curiosity — perhaps anxiousness — lurking around his gaze. You pretended the small tear that dripped down your eyes was only because of your hearty laugh. "Basic human decency is asking such a question while naked. Sure."

"Oh no. I didn't take note of your preference regarding such matters." He almost gasped. "How inconsiderate of me."

The disbelief on your face was replaced with a smile. You attempted to not laugh again only to fail because when you turned completely to him, he looked genuinely nervous already. "I think the fact that you asked me to live with you and find that tree to wreak another havoc was already an answer. Of course, it would transcend a matter such as marriage. Marriage is something only applicable in this lifetime."

He nodded. "I thought I had to work on making you realize it slowly."

"I know better now, smart-ass."

"You do. I'm not satisfied with that laugh, though. Perhaps you need to be clearer about your compliance."

"Compliance? Are you dropping a command?"

"No. It's an imploring request and your disagreement would subject me to a life and death moment." He clarified.

"You're a bastard."

"Am I?"

"If you laid this down to anyone in this exact way, they'd run away from you."

"Would they?" He looked surprised again.

"Uh-huh." The way you cupped his cheek and gave him a long kiss answered his question though, and when you withdrew from it he let out a deep sigh of relief as if he had held that breath for so long. He also let it register for a while.

When he turned to kiss you, you realized it's not intended to end with silly kisses again. You welcomed it with pleasure as you always would. "Tell me properly, then." He pressed in a low voice. "Tell me you would."

"I'll be the one to do the begging if you didn't ask first." You stated as a matter of fact.

He was silent for a while then slowly nodded. He curled his eyebrows in between, though. "I would never let you beg. You're way above me."

"Stop there, mister. I'm not gonna marry someone who isn't my equal."

He looked quite horrified, "So are you not…"

"Yeah, if you keep on saying I'm above you. We're way beyond titles and ranks. No one's above each other now."

"So if I worked on fixing that, would you marry me?"

"I'll help you fix that after marrying you." You shot him a teasing smile.

He was stunned at first; it was as if his nervousness only subsided after you finished that particular remark. After a sigh, he chuckled and whispered before kissing you again, "I've polished tons of plans in mind to convince you into doing so. Glad to know that I wouldn't need them anymore."

After a long and painful struggle beyond lifetimes, shifting from worlds and embodying everything it entailed in your entireties, the grim finally subsided into pure solace.

Grief would still visit everyone from time to time — just like how dusk ebbs the light and paves way to the darkness until it subsides at dawn. But see, there are nightlights to guide you while it persists. After all, when you saw it blink in yellow and had it accentuate the features of this man that night, you realized for the very first time that you're not supposed to be alone. That you still have numerous gleaming wills to cling to. Dusk might've started in horror for Wahren, Verra, and all the bearers of the Parallel but the want to protect and preserve these lights during darkness saved them.

And you're the one who was saved by it the most.

I started this fic last July 2021 and finished it this August you for reaching 'til the end of it! If you're still interested, I've made a sequel that is set in a completely different universe. It's entitled "Edge of the Precipice". It's because I'd like to explore the consequences of saving the reader's existence from the Parallel. Although I opted not to explicitly label it as such to my new readers; it can be considered as a stand-alone.