"Mikasa… your gear… now," Eren whispered, his voice low and strained, ignoring the girl's trembling protests. Steam rose from his battered body as he forced himself to stand, his gaze locked on the towering figure of the Smiling Titan.
"W-We have to run… Eren… please…" Mikasa's voice cracked, her words choking as a violent cough wracked her frame. Crimson spilled from her lips, painting her pale chin.
"I don't have time for th—" Eren's words faltered as his body ached, blood spilling out from his mouth before his gaze shifted to Mikasa. She clung to him desperately, her breaths ragged and uneven, her fingers trembling as they gripped his arm.
His eyes widened, the haze of his fury momentarily breaking. Reality came crashing back. He clenched his teeth, his expression twisting as he crouched to hold her up. Mikasa's crimson-stained palm brushed against his face, leaving a streak of warmth and blood.
Eren clutched her hand with his shaky grasp his eyes darting from place to place... They were totally stranded... Standing at death's door...
"Hey… Eren..." she whispered her breaths low and gentle. Eren's gaze shifted at her,
"Leave me… and run..." her head rested against his bruised chest her mind slipping away to darkness.
Eren froze. Her words were like a spear through his heart, shattering his resolve. He glanced around the field, where chaos reigned—there was no hope. No way out.
"Fuck…" Eren cursed under his breath, his gaze finding Reiner's who flung a titan at them from far away. Without a second thought Eren clutching Mikasa sprang away, before the massive aberrant fell shaking the ground under it's weight.
Eren grunted, shielding Mikasa with his body as the impact threw them several yards forward. He hit the ground hard, skidding to a halt, Mikasa still in his arms.
Before he could move, a shadow loomed over them.
Eren gasped, his blood running cold as his eyes met the Smiling Titan's grotesque grin.
"Huh…" His voice wavered as he got to his knees, pulling Mikasa closer. He curled protectively around her, his body trembling as the Titan raised its massive arm to strike.
"Eren!" Mikasa's hoarse scream echoed, but before the blow could land, another figure intervened.
A flash of steel. The air split with the sound of a blade cutting through flesh.
"Hannes!" Eren shouted, watching as the man slashed through the Titan's fingers, halting its strike.
"Eren, take Mikasa and run!" Hannes barked, his voice fierce as he shot his hooks towards the blonde titan.
Eren's gaze darted to Mikasa's pale, bloodied face. Trails of crimson streaked her cheeks, her breaths shallow and weak.
"Mikasa… hang in there," Eren whispered, his voice heavy with determination. His own body screamed for rest, but he refused to give in.
Ignoring Hannes's command, Eren rose to his feet, gently loosening his hold on Mikasa. His eyes burned with rage and anguish, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms.
Mikasa weakly reached for him. "Eren… stop… you… need to rest… please" she whispered, but her words barely reached him her pain getting the better of her.
Eren didn't respond. "I'll avenge you by myself mom...." Eren whispered slowly raising his hand towards his mouth, trails of saliva connecting his jaws.
Bite.
"Heh?" Eren's eyes widened as blood spilled out from his hand seeping into the ground beneath.
Nothing happened?
Bite.
He tore deeper this time, blood splattering to the ground as he gnawed into his own flesh. Still, nothing happened.
"Ugh… fuck!" Eren hissed, his breaths ragged, his strength waning. "Transform, dammit!"
"Ereh… stop… you're… hurting yourself…" she pleaded, her pain silencing her once more.
Hannes, meanwhile, pressed his attack. His blades whirred through the air, slashing at the Titan's legs, its ankles, its joints.
But....
"Haa!!" With a fierce battle cry, he leapt for the nape. His blade glinted in the fading sunlight, but he miscalculated.
The Smiling Titan's hand shot out, its massive fingers wrapping around Hannes in an iron grip.
"Ugh.... Why now!!" Eren grunted, his heart pounding as he watched Hannes struggle. His teeth drilling deeper into his flesh.. teeth hitting against the bone.
Eren's eyes locked with Hannes's, who smiled faintly, his face twisted in pain.
"Eren… take care... son" Hannes said softly, his voice barely audible over the Titan's roars.
The Titan's jaws parted.
"Hannes!!" Eren screamed tearing away the flesh, his voice raw with anguish as the Titan bit down. Blood sprayed, painting the daises crimson..
Eren's knees buckled, his body collapsing under the weight of despair.
"Hannes…" he whispered, his voice breaking as he watched the titan chew on his body bit by bit...
"Eren…" Mikasa's weak voice called to him, her trembling hand reaching out as she crawled toward him. But before she could reach him, her body faltered, and her strength gave out.
The battlefield seemed to pause, the weight of loss pressing down like a suffocating fog.
And then...
Chuckle