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English
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Published:
2021-03-21
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757
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1/1
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90
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Pelagic Placidity

Anonymous

Summary:

It had always been Armin's dream to see the sea; to smell the salt of the ocean breeze and witness the never-ending expanse of ultramarine waves that seemed to go beyond what the eye could see. His dream was built around the premise of there being more - so much more - to life than the stifling monotony of grass, wood and stone.

Eren shared in this dream, and yet, where Armin clung to the ocean as a symbol of hope and freedom, for Eren it had only served as a reminder of what their lack of freedom kept at bay - any semblance of a normal life.

Notes:

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(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

The faint roar of the ocean rolling up to the shoreline like a wave of hasty footsteps down a busy street at rush hour lulled Eren into a deep state of relaxation - somewhere halfway between sleep and wakefulness.

The crash of the retreating tide against the endless grains of sand remained the soft cry of a memory that was once the fading footfalls against chipped cobblestones as the city slowly waded from the bustle of the day to the still of dusk.

The salty tang that tinged the cool wisps of wind wafting across from the water to the sand and eventually to the nearby fishing village served as a soft trigger to the stench of the river that coursed through the Shiganshina District on its pathway to the inner walls.

The caress of the evening sun littered gentle kisses across every inch of tan skin bared to the elements, fading to a soothing warmth akin to the dry heat of dying embers as its once-fiery tongue lapped meekly through the thin layer of his roughly-darned swim trunks.

If he kept his eyes closed, he could envision that he was once again a slight boy of 7, squatting beside the grassy banks that lined the Shiganshina river; the wafts of treated water permeating his clothes as he scrambled to save unlucky tadpoles whilst Armin ordered him from the safety of his perch on the stone wall behind.

Armin.

Armin had remained a constant in his life for as long as Eren could recall; as his body followed its circadian cycle, as the sun displayed its daily dive beneath the horizon only to emerge once more the following day, Armin would be there.

It had always been Armin's dream to see the sea; to smell the salt of the ocean breeze and witness the never-ending expanse of ultramarine waves that seemed to go beyond what the eye could see. His dream was built around the premise of there being more - so much more - to life than the stifling monotony of grass, wood and stone.

Eren shared in this dream, and yet, where Armin clung to the ocean as a symbol of hope and freedom, for Eren it had only served as a reminder of what their lack of freedom kept at bay - any semblance of a normal life.

As it tenderly cultivated Armin's ambitions, it simultaneously fuelled Eren's deeply rooted resentment and frustration at the reality of their situation.

For one, the sea was the life and opportunities that could be made possible; for the other, the sea was the taunt of a life so stifled that something as fickle as a body of water could disguise itself as a faux-premise of freedom.

Eyes still closed against nature's artistic exhibition, Eren rolled onto his side, ignoring the bite of the grains of sand that had adhered themselves to his damp skin as he blindly reached for the warmth of his lover's hand or hip; any point of contact would suffice.

Still soothed by the faint roar of the ocean beyond, a gentle, genuine smile graced the features of the brunet's face as warm, less-calloused fingers grazed against his knuckles.

He brought Armin's hand to his lips and pressed soft kisses to each digit, sighing in peaceful contentment as Armin's other hand snaked up to caress his cheek and tug lightly on his hair strands, slightly crunchy from the salt of the seawater.

"Eren? Look at me..." Armin's voice was as soft as ever, deliciously comforting without a shard of pain or anxiety marring its intonation. Eren blindly pulled Armin in for a clumsy kiss, murmuring against his beloved's lips, "In a moment, dear."

Armin echoed his satisfied sigh and smiled against Eren's lips before swiping his thumb across the taller male's knuckles in an affectionate, familiar motion.

"I love you forever, Armin." Eren brushed their noses together in a loving caress as they shared another lazy kiss.

Their lips curved upwards together in a shared, heartfelt smile as Armin whispered his response, "I love you always, Eren. Won't you open your eyes now, love? Look at me..."

And so Eren did.

The sound of the waves, shifting of the sand; the smell of the salt, soothing heat of the evening sun and the hands of his beloved all faded away to a chilly room as his eyes adjusted to the light.

Armin lay at his feet, angelic features unrecognisable in a face battered, bruised and bloody. Eren looked down at his bloody fist and closed his eyes again.

Notes:

This account is no longer active.