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But I do want this. [He does. He doesn't want her - them - to take it back.]
I'm not-- [Cheating on her? That's how it feels.]
You are my wife. ["Behold my vow."]
[She moves to raise his hand to her heart. If he doesn’t follow, she’ll complete it on her own. “And behold mine.”
[Her other hand stays in Armin’s.]
I didn’t say to take another wife… [Although it stings, a bit, as she says it. That stiff “Congratulations, then.”]
You love her, too. I’m not mad.
[His eyes drop to his lap again.]
I do.
[Very quietly - almost difficult to hear:] All of you.
[Her heart beats just a bit more with his hand over it. It’s a comfort while it lasts. She just… wishes he wouldn’t keep looking away.
[But she hears, despite the quiet. It’s as if that’s the only sound—their words, their heartbeats.]
And I—we, we all want you to be loved. [Aubrey squeezes both their hands.] That won’t change, either.
[Then again, growing up in the barracks, didn't all of them have their little individual bonds? Significant, but not discriminatory. It wouldn't be the first time Eren kissed three people in the same day and thought nothing of it.]
Mikasa should have what she wants too...
[He squeezes their hands.]
If that's an option...
All of us, and then...her.
[At this, Armin's thumb drifts affectionately over Aubrey's knuckles. His smile is reassuring.]
I'd have to agree with that too.
[It’s not as though Aubrey hasn’t had her own doubts. But with her hands in theirs, squeezing and reassuring, and having seen Eren so soft with all of them… it’s impossible to feel that it’s wrong. She meant what she said, just as much as Eren means his vow.
[This… this can work. When Aubrey catches Armin’s smile, she echoes it.] Yeah. It’s an option.
[Not unlike the world itself…] It’s what we make of it.
[He looks at Aubrey. His hand is in hers. For days, she held him while he dreamed.
[He's desperately in love with her.]
Come here...
[He tugs on her hand. Come closer. Kiss me. Enough distance. I missed you.]
[How… does this work? In practice? She doesn’t want to let go of Armin, leave him out; so when Eren tugs on her hand, Aubrey mirrors with the other, an invitation. Time to find out.
[But there’s no hesitation. Aubrey missed Eren desperately. She raises their locked hand to his face, both of theirs, as she leans for their lips to finally meet.
[Aubrey’s learned a bit since they last kissed. A small sigh escapes her; I missed you; I need you; you’re back.
[You’re finally back....]
[Eren kisses his wife. He holds their interlocked hands up there by his cheek, and he kisses her. It never gets old. He never stops wanting for it, craving. He could kiss her like this for a thousand years, held up in The Paths for a makeshift eternity, and never get tired of it.
[If he could create a reality for Aubrey, he wonders, what would it look like?]
[Oddly enough, Hell has its perks.
[Once they've finally parted ("finally" because he is not eager to do so), he glances between her and Armin.]
So, then...
You should also.
[That's how this works, right?]
Kiss? You mean? Do--
[Well. He looks at Aubrey, laughing again.]
If you want to, yes.
I'd like to.
[Eren is here. Eren is close, and awake, and Aubrey will never, ever tire of it. She thought she might restrain herself for Armin’s sake, and his laugh is beautiful to hear, but… well, once they’re together, Aubrey’s in no rush to part, either.
[This is their makeshift eternity, after all. There’s no rush. Eren, Eren, Eren; her Detriment, her husband, her vow. When they’re like this, she’s certain anything the world could throw at them doesn’t compare. It’s only brought them closer, after all.
[She’s smitten.]
[When they finally do part, it’s not without a trace of sheepishness that Aubrey turns to Armin, as Eren directs. They just talked and all, but… it’s real, now. It’s happening, and he’s laughing, and Aubrey wants it, too.
[Her answer is a breathless laugh and, without letting go of either hand, kisses Armin in turn. Makes Aubrey feel just a tad spoiled, having not one but two of her favorite people in the world like this.
[She’s not complaining.]
[He turns to Eren.]
[All doubts vanish. He yearns for Mikasa next. He has it all, somehow. He doesn't deserve it - not a bit. But he wouldn't let it go in a thousand years. Once, he pushed them both - them all away; it feels good not to have to do that anymore.]
[Dry glance up.] Hey, nice to meet you.
You too. [Is it, though? What fresh Hell is this?]
I know that these questions are meant to provoke philosophical debate, but honestly...my answer would depend on a few important factors.
I can't honestly tell you that I'd sell out a friend regardless of the circumstances. As to whether or not I'd help the innocent in question, the consequences of that action or the opposite would matter a lot.
[Oh, so he’s a “let’s pry apart the unwritten context of the question and then maybe I’ll give a straightforward answer” type.]
Alright. Remind me not to get on any of your friends’ bad sides. [More flat than judgmental.] So you’d help the innocent if, and only if, your friend could keep getting away with it.
If I'm completely honest with you, I'm not sure I'd help the innocent at all.
It's not a pretty answer, but the world I come from isn't a pretty place. Your definition of a crime might be a necessary evil in the context of war, and one of my friends being locked up might mean the difference between winning or losing that war.
It just isn't that simple, I'm afraid.
[And damage to innocent collateral is something Armin's had to resign himself to. This guy doesn't realize who he's talking to.]
Oh, so you’re talking, like… war crimes. [Is Kade making a morbid pun (a crime for war) or using the term in a straightforward manner? Yes. It’s followed with a shrug.] I mean, yeah, I’d personally prefer to help the innocent like a wide-eyed goody-two-shoes. But the highest stakes I’m used to are like… whether my brother gets a crunch bar or not.
[Flat lie, that. Occasionally the stakes are lethal, albeit for however much mortality is worth when death can be reset-retconned. It’s its own brand of mess.]
[Another glance at the question list.] You’ve probably got strategies for all these filed away, right?
No, like…
[Another skim-over.] “Shallow friends.” This one’s talking about school and other shallow crap. But it’s about whether you’d keep someone in your life even if they’re a pain in the ass.
And if that person’s a subordinate…
[The implication, to be clearer than Kade: these questions will not challenge Armin. There are always caveats, and they’re all situations he’s had to think about, whether he’s faced them personally or not. Hence, “strategy.”]
For what it’s worth, I would. Have, in fact.
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