"GRIFFITHHHHHH!"

Griffith awoke from his slumber as he shot up in bed letting out utter gasps and pants. There it was again - that same occurring dream, or nightmare - to be more precise. A nightmare of Guts shouting Griffith's name with so much rage, there was blood pouring out of Guts' right eye and he noticed that his friend's arm was also missing in the nightmare. The background of the dream was always blurry, but he could see Guts clearly every time. These nightmares have been ongoing for weeks every night, but Griffith has always kept it a secret from everyone, especially from Guts.

Every time he awoke, Griffith's heart shook with anguish at remembering Guts' face. In the dream, Guts carried a look of not only anger towards Griffith, but a look of betrayal as tears and blood streamed down his face. This image of Guts has been haunting Griffith for weeks and weeks, it feeling as if his heart was being relentlessly stabbed every time the brutal scene flashed in his mind.

Not only that, but within the nightmares there was always these ominous voices warning and taunting Griffith - telling him that he cannot escape his fate, that he will betray all of his comrades, and more importantly Guts.

They would tell Griffith that he cannot escape what he was chosen to do.

In the reoccurring nightmares every night, Griffith would argue with the voices, telling them that he would never betray The Band of the Hawks, and especially Guts. However, the voices kept on persisting, and lately it has really been eating away at Griffith - especially tonight. Despair filled Griffith's heart as he did his best to fight back any tears and he pondered about what on earth he could have possibly done to Guts in his nightmare to make him scream out his name with such hatred and hurt engulfing his voice. The thought of ever hurting Guts that way was truly shattering his soul; guilt was endlessly plaguing him with every second of the day.

In the past, he's always gone out of his way to save Guts without any hesitation, all he could think of in those moments was to always make sure that Guts was okay...so why...why would he betray him? Griffith's body trembled as he hugged himself as a way to seek comfort, him almost not resisting the urge to dig his nails into the skin of his arms. The thought of ever hurting Guts in that way made him just want to inflict harm upon himself as punishment, and as a way to distract himself from the nightmare that keeps cruelly haunting his mind nonstop.

'Maybe... Maybe I really am a monster.' Griffith thought as he looked up at the moon illuminating through his bedroom window of the castle he was currently staying at as a guest in, as the snow slowly fell from the sky. Griffith clutched his red necklace that he always wears, his lucky charm that he likes to call it, that seems to ever so mysteriously protect him from evil every time. He thought clutching onto his necklace would make him feel less uneasy as he continued to get lost in his thoughts about the nightmares and Guts. 'But why would I betray Guts...? Are these only merely dreams, or are they really actual visions from the future...? Can I really escape my fate...?'

Wanting to get some air, Griffith put on his coat and soon enough he was slowly walking outside; he couldn't get his mind off of Guts as the snow quietly fell.

There in the distance, he next saw the man on his mind...

Guts.

The two were now standing in front of each other, their gazes intertwined.

Griffith was the one to speak up first hesitantly.

"You do know Guts, that you're a dear friend to me, right? I would never betray you. I just want you to know that..."

The icy wind rushed through their hair at that very moment and there was silence for about minute as they stared at each other.

"But... Doesn't a true friend of yours, have their own dream? I want to be your equal, Griffith. But even then, I seek a dream for myself outside of being your equal."

Griffith stood there puzzled; him now fully realizing that Guts must have overheard his conversation with Princess Charlotte that one time.

"Oh... Well, I embarrassingly admit that when I said such a thing to the princess, I was just trying to appear noble and outwardly strong. There was some truth to my words, yes, but I have always considered you my friend regardless, Guts. I'm sorry you overheard that conversation."

Guts remained silent. His expression was stern as he gazed at Griffith, him talking with his eyes instead.

As he gazed back at Guts, Griffith was quiet for a moment before he spoke, him now fully realizing that Guts really was going to leave The Hawks.

There was a selfish part of Griffith that desired to only allow Guts to leave if they settled that decision by drawing their swords; however, he just couldn't get that grueling vision of Guts suffering out of his mind. He wanted to prevent any future suffering towards Guts if he could. For once, he wanted to put his dream of obtaining his own kingdom aside, and he didn't want to hold Guts back from pursuing a dream of his own. He didn't want Guts to resent him. He hoped for one day that both of their dreams would inevitably intertwine with each other, especially in the chains of fate if that is the actual true reality that cannot be changed. Griffith inwardly smiled at realizing that Guts is the only one capable of making him forget his dream, even if it's just for a few mere moments, and this feeling was rather alien to Griffith; for he finds himself not caring anymore if his dream never physically materializes during his lifetime. As long as he knew that Guts held him in his heart and also knew that he brought upon happiness towards Guts; Griffith was content.

At that very moment, Griffith had a tiny realization abruptly enter into his awareness. A birth of a second dream had been awakened in his mind; that dream being: a future of Guts being forever by his side, them both standing beside each other as true equals as they navigate life together for the rest of their days.

Griffith's expression was rather serious, but it softened a bit after thinking things over.

'Guts, you are my new dream...' he thought bittersweetly, feeling a newfound warmth in his heart that he has never known before.

Suddenly, it seemed meaningless to have a kingdom of his own without Guts by his side.

Finally, Griffith spoke out loud; his voice quiet, sadness subtly lingering within it.

"...You will return to me someday, Guts?"

Guts nods. "I will."

A soft chuckle escaped Griffith's mouth as a playful smirk smoothly fell upon on his lips.

"Hmm. Good. Because you're still mine, after all."

Guts rolled his eyes at Griffith's somewhat flirtatious comment and he smirked a bit himself.

"Shut it."