"You do think of me as an island devil, don't you?" she whispers, her lips brushing against his, her breath is warm and teasing. She lies draped over him, her body languid, her scarf barely clinging to her neck—just enough to partially hide the red marks of kisses and bites Eren had left behind.
"I don't," he murmurs against her mouth, his voice quiet yet firm.
Her fingers trace the sharp curve of his cheek. "Liar."
He exhales a quiet chuckle, watching the way her lips curve into a knowing smile. It's both infuriating and intoxicating—how she feels so close, yet just out of reach.
"You sure?" he asks, tilting his head slightly.
She nods, her smirk deepening, and he swears he feels a chill despite the heat radiating between them.
"Fine then," he sighs. "If you don't believe me, I just won't come and meet you in these dreams anymore."
She huffs—and then, without warning, bites his nose.
"Hm? And how's that supposed to work? I'm the one coming into your dreams," she counters, her voice lilting with amusement.
He grins, pushing her down against the mattress, their fingers entwining as she gasps, a soft "Ah… Ereh…" slipping from her lips.
He presses a lingering kiss against her damp forehead. "I just won't sleep. What are you gonna do then?"
Her smirk returns, slow and confident. "That's not gonna happen… You will sleep someday, and when you do—" her fingers tighten around his "—I'll be here again."
Eren stares at her, his chest rising and falling with slow, measured breaths. The warmth of her touch feels like a fever burning into his skin.
She tilts her head, watching him with quiet amusement. "What is it?" she whispers.
He exhales through his nose, his grip on her hand tightening slightly. "You feel so damn real."
Her expression softens for a fleeting moment before a teasing smirk tugs at her lips again. "And what if I am?"
His fingers trail down the curve of her back, feeling the familiar dip of her spine. He knows her body, her scent, the way her breath hitches whenever he touches her like this. "Then don't disappear."
She leans in, her lips barely grazing his. "I never do." And when he looks and her again her face starts to fade away. "Who are you..." He manages a faint whisper and she frowns whispering back," The next time we meet I'll tell you.... Don't forget me till then."
And she leans in her eyes filled with unshed tears, lips quivering. "Find me, Ereh..." And he presses his lips against her. His grip tightens, as if holding her just a bit closer will keep her here, keep her from slipping away like mist. But the moment he blinks—
She's gone.
Eren's eyes snap open. The room is cold, dimly lit by the pale glow of moonlight filtering through the window. His fingers twitch against the empty space where she had been. His chest aches. His throat is dry.
He sits up, his breath uneven, heart hammering against his ribs. His hand comes up, pressing against his forehead, damp with sweat.
Just a dream.
And yet, his body remembers her warmth. The way she looked at him. The way she whispered his name like a promise.
The door creaks open slightly.
"Dad?"
A small voice.
Eren looks up, his vision still hazy. Ymir stands at the doorway, her golden hair tousled, her eyes reflecting the dim light.
"You alright?" she murmurs, rubbing her eyes sleepily.
Eren swallows hard, forcing a small smile. "Yeah."
She hesitates before stepping closer, climbing onto the bed beside him. Without a word, she curls up next to him, resting her head against his shoulder.
Eren wraps an arm around her small frame, his fingers gently stroking her hair. He doesn't answer right away. His throat feels too tight.
He presses a soft kiss to the top of her head. "Sleep, Ymir. Tomorrow is gonna be a long day. The journey is long. Sleep well."
She nods against him, her breathing slowing as she drifts off.
Eren leans back against the headboard, staring at the ceiling. His fingers stroking her long hair absentmindedly.
He closes his eyes again.
And silently, he waits for her to return.
But nothing comes, it's blank his vision is blank....
As the sun rises over the horizon, casting long golden streaks across the barren landscape, the next generation of warriors depart for Paradis Island under the command of their War Chief—Eren Yeager. Their mission was clear yet perilous: infiltrate Wall Sina in secret and retrieve the Founding Titan.
But the task was anything but simple.
The only royal blood loyal to Marley was Ymir, and her survival was paramount. If she perished during the mission, all hope of securing the Founder would be lost.
Yet, sending her alongside Eren was a calculated necessity. Should an opportunity arise to consume the Founding Titan, hesitation was not an option—Ymir would be the inheritor.
Strict orders from the higher-ups prohibited breaching the walls. This operation had to be executed with absolute precision. Any mistake, any misstep, could mean failure—or worse, death.
—————————————
"The girl of my dreams..."