That's an interesting way of looking at it, actually. I can't say that I disagree with you. I certainly don't like the idea of other people suffering. If it came off that way, I didn't intend for it to...
[Armin Arlert, speaking to Eren Jaeger, afraid that he's the one who sounds cold. But he blamed the both of them in that memory, didn't he? And he does now. He's just as much of a monster. On bad days, he feels even worse.]
[ Maybe Eren dared to imagine it too, long ago before he fucked up his own brain and committed to dying. Since then (whenever that was), he hasn't really had hope.
He still doesn't quite get there, but it's closer than it was. ]
I hope you're right.
[ He almost doesn't say it back because he's Eren, but he's also aware that he's about to go on some mission to who the fuck knows where. He has no plans to die, but you never know. (Not that death is permanent. Not that death would hurt others less.) ]
[Eren's death will destroy Armin in any timeline or universe, permanent or not.
[He isn't expecting the reciprocation; doesn't need it, really. He meant it when he said so. He knows that Eren loves him. Throughout their lives, he's shown it in a thousand ways.
[Still, his stomach flips. Sorry, Eren, but these words are being immortalized forever in the form of a screenshot. He'll look at it while Eren's gone.]
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[Armin Arlert, speaking to Eren Jaeger, afraid that he's the one who sounds cold. But he blamed the both of them in that memory, didn't he? And he does now. He's just as much of a monster. On bad days, he feels even worse.]
I'm happy to be here with you, Eren. Right here.
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I'm happy to be here with you too. It's better than I would have ever dared to imagine.
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[It's a great comfort.
[Maybe Armin had dared to imagine something as beautiful as this once, but he understands what Eren is saying. In ways, Ellipsa really is a paradise.]
I know what you mean. Of course I do.
It can only get better too. That's what I think.
We'll be okay. When's the last time I could say that with confidence? I really believe it.
[He thinks so, anyway. He hopes.]
I love you. Very much, Eren.
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He still doesn't quite get there, but it's closer than it was. ]
I hope you're right.
[ He almost doesn't say it back because he's Eren, but he's also aware that he's about to go on some mission to who the fuck knows where. He has no plans to die, but you never know. (Not that death is permanent. Not that death would hurt others less.) ]
I love you too.
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[He isn't expecting the reciprocation; doesn't need it, really. He meant it when he said so. He knows that Eren loves him. Throughout their lives, he's shown it in a thousand ways.
[Still, his stomach flips. Sorry, Eren, but these words are being immortalized forever in the form of a screenshot. He'll look at it while Eren's gone.]
When are you heading out?
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I'm gonna go meet Reiner in like an hour. Don't worry, though. We'll be okay.
[ He says that, completely at odds with his reasons for bothering to say I love you. Hypocrisy, aka, #justerenthings. ]
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