A dull ache sat behind her eyes. Her mouth was dry. Her neck hurt from the angle she'd fallen asleep in. Even breathing felt sluggish.

She peeled one eye open with visible effort.

Fading evening light spilled through the curtains in thin strips across the bed. She groaned softly into the pillow, face scrunching in misery. She immediately noticed the pain from the stitches in her arm as she shifted, a sharp ache pulling through the muscle and forcing a quiet hiss from between her teeth.

Next, she became aware of the deep aching soreness Levi had left between her legs, the lingering reminder making her sink further into the mattress with a light groan. Reminded of him, she reached her good arm out across the sheets, her fingertips brushing gently against Levi’s warm skin beneath the thin blanket. Careful not to disturb him, she let her hand linger there softly, not wanting to wake him before he was ready. She peered over at him, flat on his back—

And clutching his crotch like a dragon protecting its treasure trove.

Y/n stared at him blearily for several long seconds, trying to process what she was seeing through the fog in her brain.

One hand rested beneath the pillow, accentuating the strong line of his arm as his head lay against it comfortably.

The other was aggressively cupped over his dick. Like someone was moments away from breaking into the room to steal it. Even asleep, his fingers twitched tighter every now and then, his brow faintly pinched in suspicion.

She gave another exhausted blink.

"Look at you…” she croaked, rubbing her eyes, voice ruined from sleep. “Protecting your pride and joy.”

Levi didn’t move.

Only grunted quietly through his nose before giving his crotch a good scratch, and dragging the blanket higher with the unconscious stubbornness of an irritated cat.

Y/n let out a tired laugh that immediately turned into a groan because even laughing felt like too much work after that nap. Her entire body felt feverishly warm and weak. She wanted water. She wanted to sleep another ten hours. She wanted to rewind time and never take the nap in the first place.

Her eyes drifted shut again against her will.

Then cracked back open when Levi shifted beside her.

His hand tightened protectively again.

“Oh my God,” she whispered hoarsely. “You think somebody’s gonna take it?”

Levi’s face tightened faintly in his sleep like he’d heard her somewhere far away.

Her thoughts began to drift to Historia and Troup, wondering where they were. Slowly, she sat up, forcing her legs over the edge of the mattress before standing weakly. She sluggishly made her way over to where her clean clothes had been folded neatly and pulled on a loose gray shirt and a pair of trousers, lazily neglecting to button them properly.

She slipped on a pair of socks—not even bothering with her boots—and glanced back toward the bed. Levi remained dead asleep, one hand still protectively cupped over himself beneath the blanket.

Y/n smiled softly to herself.

Then she quietly left him to defend his penis in his dreams.

She wandered the familiar hallways without a thought, her feet carrying her softly to the common room. She heard their laughter from down the hall and smiled as she pushed the door open.

Inside, Connie and Jean sat across from one another, a deck of cards and a bottle between them as they argued over the logistics of tomorrow’s mission. Historia lightly rocked a sleeping Troup near the fire, while Mikasa lingered nearby, watching with quiet scrutiny and occasionally turning her nose up at the way Historia held him.

Armin sat hunched over the coffee table beside Sean, papers scattered between them as they reviewed the plan once again.

“It has to be perfect—we can’t afford mistakes...” Armin muttered, sounding more like he was speaking to himself than anyone else.

Historia looked up at the sound of approaching footsteps, immediately softening when she saw y/n lingering weakly in the doorway.

"There you are...feeling better?" she asked softly, standing to hand Troup over to y/n who already had her arms outstretched.

"Yes...so much better," she lied, taking Troup, who grunted softly, traces of milk still on the corners of his lips.

“He cried pretty much the whole time you were asleep...teething?” Historia asked quizzically.

“More than likely...he chews on his fists all day now,” y/n muttered, bouncing him gently in her arms.

Troup stirred almost immediately, sensing his next meal close by. His sleepy eyes slowly blinked open, peering up at her with Levi’s storm-gray stare that was already set deep into his tiny face. Even half-asleep, his features pulled into a faintly irritated scowl.

“Looking just like his dad... indefinitely irritated.” Historia smiled, shaking her head at Troup. “Speaking of which...” Historia trailed off, clearly insinuating toward their earlier tensions.

“He might hold a little grudge for a while, but we made up...”

Connie snorted loudly from across the room.

“Oh we know, believe me, we all heard you ‘making up’.”

Y/n shot him a threatening glare. Jean chortled into his glass while Armin and Sean hardly even acknowledged her presence, both still bent over their planning documents.

"Shut up, Connie, you perverted little worm," she shot at him.

Mikasa sighed.

“Well, it is hard not to hear you two,” she defended Connie, who gave a thankful grin. “This time we couldn't tell if you were making up or killing each other.”

"Mikasa!" y/n hollered, surprised at her.

“That’s rich coming from you two,” Connie shot Mikasa’s direction, his eyes shifting to Jean as well. “I’ve heard less screaming during Titan attacks.”

“I can’t help that I’m a rigorous lover,” Jean countered with a shrug, like that somehow excused everything. "Don't worry y/n, sounds like the singles are jealous that they aren't getting any action."

Armin glanced quickly at Historia, whose pale skin had already begun turning pink, before hastily forcing his attention back down to the papers scattered across the table.

Troup suddenly began whining loudly in y/n’s arms, rooting impatiently against her shirt in a determined search for another dram of milk.

"How long ago did he eat?" y/n asked Historia.

"Thirty minutes ago." Mikasa shot a disapproving look at Historia. "He only had four ounces, it's like she wants him to starve..."

Historia scoffed at her, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms. “At five months, they can go three to four hours between a feeding, thank you.” Historia finished, crossing her arms and staring at Mikasa in disbelief. "I do have two children of my own, you know." she said, annoyed.

“Yeah, they’re heirs to the throne but look like war refugees,” Mikasa shot back flatly. “Do you at least let them have whole milk with their supper?”

“You know what—”

“Okay, enough, you two...” Y/n interrupted tiredly, bouncing Troup gently as his fussing worsened. “Historia, come with me to the study. We can talk while I nurse him.”

Historia rose immediately, looking more than ready to remove herself from Mikasa’s presence.

Once seated in the study, Y/n carefully pulled her shirt aside and freed one breast. Troup immediately latched on without hesitation, clearly experienced enough now to need no guidance at all.

Y/n listened calmly as Historia rambled on about all the things they hadn’t been able to discuss over the past few months apart. She spoke about her children’s studies, new charity initiatives, upcoming banquet plans—all pleasant things to hear about.

Still, there was clearly only one thing on y/n’s mind.

“See, I didn’t even know nipple confusion was a thing until my second child when—” Historia paused abruptly after catching y/n’s sly grin. “Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked suspiciously, crossing her arms.

“Don’t bullshit me. How long?” Y/n asked with a knowing smile, pulling an increasingly angry Troup away from her chest long enough to burp him.

Historia froze.

Then, despite herself, a small smile flickered across her face.

“It started right after you had Troup and they got back from the McCarty’s.”

Y/n hummed softly, shifting Troup to her other breast with practiced ease.

“I mean...I want you to be happy, Christie.”

“Oh no,” Historia sighed dramatically, already standing and pacing toward the window. “Here we go.”

“He only has a year and some change left,” y/n said quietly. “I just don’t want to watch you go through that kind of grief if we can’t break the curse.”

"We will break it." Historia said with finality.

y/n shook her head.

"Sometimes I don't know...I worry about whether my son will live to adulthood. Or die at thirteen," she said quietly, tears threatening to creep up as she looked down at her nursing infant. "I just don't want us foolishly riding on the faint hope that we can break this curse."

Historia’s expression softened as she stared out the window.

“I know,” she admitted quietly. “But despite the odds, I can’t help but imagine a future with him, y/n.”

Historia sighed helplessly, her gaze drifting back out toward the city lights below.

“He’s widowed. I’m divorced. I need someone beside me to help rule and...” A small, almost embarrassed smile crossed her face. “I can’t help it. I love him…but—we’re just trying to keep it casual for now...”

Y/n immediately snorted.

“Armin? Casual?” she laughed quietly. “I’d be shocked if he hadn’t already bought you a ring.”

Historia shrugged one shoulder innocently.

“He is incredibly good in bed,” she replied with a sly smile over her shoulder, trying to lighten the air in the room. “I’d be okay with having that every night for the rest of my life…”

Y/n rolled her eyes instantly.

“Yeah and I can go my whole life without hearing about my childhood friend’s sex life.”

She burst into quiet laughter while y/n adjusted Troup against her chest as he swatted clumsily at her with one chubby hand.

“Just be careful before you end up with another one of these,” y/n warned teasingly, nudging Troup gently.

“Did I mention it’s big?”

“This conversation dies here, or I’m joining the Yeagerists,” y/n scowled. “And that’s the last time I ever want to hear about Armin’s dick, its proportions, or any of its accomplishments.”

“Whose penis are you discussing in here?”

Levi’s voice cut through the room as he quietly shut the study door behind him.

Y/n nearly jumped out of her skin.

Troup startled violently in her arms before immediately bursting into shrill cries.

“God, Levi!” y/n gasped, clutching her chest. “Care to announce yourself next time? You scared me to death!"

Levi looked entirely unbothered by this information. If anything, he almost seemed amused.

“Give him here before he blows a lung.”

Y/n held him out, and he settled the second Levi tucked him against his chest and began rocking him gently.

Y/n stared at them in betrayal.

“Oh, okay,” she scoffed. “That’s the thanks I get for lending him my boobs.”

Historia shrugged dramatically.

“That’s just the way it is,” she sighed. “Mothers suffer. Fathers get worshipped for existing...”

Levi snorted quietly while Troup blinked up at him with complete adoration, chubby hand reaching for his chin.

Historia smoothed down her skirt before glancing toward the door.

“Well,” she said with a sly smile, “I’ll leave you two to it. I happen to have a very attractive military strategist waiting for me.”

“Unfortunately, I know entirely too much about that military strategist now,” y/n muttered.

Historia only laughed before she slipped out the door, leaving Levi and Y/n alone in the quiet study with their son.

“Well...” Levi muttered, glancing sideways at y/n. “Guess you got the confirmation you wanted.”

“And much more that I didn’t,” she huffed, earning a quiet chuckle from him.

Levi sat beside her, their shoulders brushing lightly as they both fell silent, absentmindedly staring toward the bookshelf across the room while Troup babbled happily in Levi’s arms, blowing little spit bubbles between sleepy noises.

“We have to stop this,” y/n said suddenly, her voice cracking.

The shift in her tone immediately gave away where her thoughts had wandered—back to the same place they always went.

Levi looked over at her quietly.

“We have to break this curse,” she whispered. “I can’t watch my son die like that. I keep thinking about Bertholdt... about watching Armin inherit him...” Her voice faltered.

“Stop,” Levi said firmly, reaching over and taking her hand before she could spiral any further. y/n looked up at him.

“Don’t do that to yourself,” he murmured, shaking his head slightly. “I told you from the beginning—we’ll stop it. I don’t care what it costs.”

For a moment, she simply stared at him before slowly nodding and leaning forward into a soft kiss.

The room fell quiet again afterward, save for Troup’s sleepy babbling and the crackling fireplace nearby. For just a brief moment, wrapped in the calm of the night and the warmth of each other, it almost felt like the world itself had stopped turning.

Levi rested his forehead lightly against hers.

“Let’s go back to bed,” he whispered. “Big day tomorrow.”

Y/n nodded in agreement, following him back to their room. Before long, the three of them had settled into bed once more, the quiet sound of Troup’s tiny snores mixing with Levi’s louder ones in the darkness. Somehow, the familiar noise soothed her completely, eventually lulling Y/n into a far more peaceful sleep.

When Y/n woke again, she found Levi sitting at the edge of the bed with Troup cradled carefully in his arms. He was whispering something softly to him—too quiet for her to make out through the thick haze of sleep—but the moment she stirred, his attention shifted toward her.

“Morning,” he said quietly, one finger trapped inside Troup’s tiny closed fist.

“And to you...” she murmured through a yawn. “Here, I’ll feed him.”

Levi handed the baby over carefully, and the room fell into a comfortable silence while Troup ate. The only sounds were his tiny suckles and sleepy little grunts.

“What were you two discussing?” she asked softly, nodding toward Troup with a faint smile.

Levi huffed quietly, the corner of his mouth twitching upward.

“Just telling him some things he needed to know.” He said softly. “Like that we’re coming back home to him.”

Y/n nodded slowly as silence settled between them again.

“Putting it into existence,” he muttered, meeting her gaze directly.

Her expression faltered slightly.

“I don’t want you to go,” Levi said suddenly, his face tightening with quiet concern.

“I know,” she replied softly. “But I can’t stay behind. We’re already stretched thin with people we can trust. Armin, Jean, and Mikasa have to receive Gabi and Falco. That only leaves me, you, and Connie.”

Levi sighed heavily, rubbing the back of his neck.

“It’ll go smoothly. The plan’s careful...” he trailed off, though she could practically see the gears turning behind his eyes already, searching for every possible point of failure.

A soft knock interrupted his train of thought.

“Y/n? Are you decent?” Historia called gently through the door. “I’m here to take Troup for you.”

Levi stood and crossed the room, opening the door to let Historia inside.

Y/n carefully transferred the now sleepy baby into Historia’s arms alongside the bottles she’d pumped earlier in the night. She leaned down to kiss Troup’s little forehead before finally letting him go, her chest suddenly feeling unbearably heavy.

“Hey,” Levi approached her gently once Historia had vanished back into the hallway. “Look at me.”

Y/n glanced up reluctantly.

“He’ll be okay,” Levi murmured, immediately noticing the fear creeping into her expression. “We still have a job to do. Focus on the mission.”

Y/n crossed her eyes briefly and clicked her tongue at him.

“Easier said than done...” she muttered, gaze dropping toward the floor.

Levi stepped closer, taking her chin gently between his fingers until she looked at him again.

“We have to keep fighting,” he said firmly. “Nobody else is going to break this curse for him except us."

Y/n nodded slowly, working her bottom lip between her teeth until Levi reached up and pulled it free with his thumb.

“I told you about that,” he murmured teasingly before pressing a gentle kiss to her mouth. “Don’t bite those pretty lips. They belong to me.”

She laughed softly at that, turning her head to press a small kiss into the center of his palm.

“Promise me you’ll come back safely with me, and I’ll reward you with them,” she teased, smoothing a hand playfully over his chest.

Levi’s mouth twitched faintly at the corners.

“Now that,” he murmured dryly, “sounds like motivation.”

He leaned his forehead briefly against hers before sighing softly through his nose.

“I promise,” he said quietly. “I’ll come back with you.”

With that, the two of them stepped out into the hallway together and headed toward Jean’s office.

At Port Paradis, hidden among the rooftops, Y/n fumbled nervously with her wedding band. A few yards away, high above her position near the skyline, Levi remained perched behind the tall steeple of an old building, nearly blending into the dark silhouette of the stonework itself.

Y/n tugged anxiously at the collar of her black ODM uniform, suddenly hyperaware of the fabric against her skin. The harness straps felt too tight. Too heavy. Her pulse throbbed unpleasantly beneath them.

Her palms were slick with sweat as she gripped her sidearm in one hand while the other rested against the blade housing of her ODM gear, her fingers twitching with restless anticipation.

She wondered when her nerves had gotten this bad. Every mission used to sharpen her. Now it felt like her mind tried to split itself in two—half panic, half precision.

So she forced the nervous energy into observation instead.

Her eyes swept carefully across the rooftops Armin had mapped out earlier, searching for even the slightest indication of movement. Something shifting in the shadows, a glint of metal or even the faintest silhouette of a rifle barrel.

Anything.

According to Armin, those buildings provided the cleanest line of sight to the tarmac below, where the small aircraft would soon land carrying what the enemy assumed was Falco and Gabi. If the assassin was competent—and they had to assume they were—they’d take the shot the moment the doors opened, and someone stepped out.

Which meant they would only have seconds to react.

Y/n adjusted slightly against the roof tiles beneath her stomach, ignoring the dull pull from the healing stitches in her arm as she scanned the skyline again.

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing but the usual bustle of commerce and chatter drifting up from below.

Her gaze flicked downward toward the treeline bordering the airstrip. Hidden among the dense branches, Connie crouched low against the trunk of a tree, binoculars raised as he searched the perimeter just as intensely as she and Levi were.

They’d already discussed the possibility that the shooter might work from ground level instead of the rooftops—or worse, that there could be more than one assassin working in coordination, taking multiple angles at the plane.

That was the problem.

They wouldn’t truly know where the threats were positioned until the plane actually touched down.

She swallowed hard as she saw the glint of an approaching aircraft in the distance. She checked her watch.

Right on time.

She looked up at Levi, who pointed two fingers downward at her, holding them there.

Stay in position.

She lifted the binoculars to her eyes, focusing on Connie’s position in the treeline below. Even from the distance, she could tell he was already watching her, waiting for instruction.

y/n gave a quick two-finger signal downward—the same as Levi had given her.

Connie answered immediately, fisting his hand and waving it forward in a knocking motion to let her know he understood. They went back to scanning the town below and the terrain beyond.

The plane was closer now, growing larger with every passing second. The roar of the engines reached her ears, and Y/n took a shaky breath, tightening her grip around the handle of her blade.

Try to take them alive...we need information, Armin had instructed.

Easy for him to say from five miles up the coastline in some isolated cove known only to the handful of Scouts who had first discovered Port Paradis after the fall of the Pure Titans.

Y/n steadied herself with one final breath as the plane touched down on the tarmac below, wheels screeching violently as they hit the runway.

The engines whined loudly before gradually beginning to die.

One of the Scouts positioned by Levi moved toward the aircraft, lowering the steps carefully.

Y/n crouched lower against the warm rooftop, blades drawn tightly now in both hands, ready to move at the slightest indication of danger while her eyes continued desperately combing the surrounding rooftops for any sign of the assassin.

Nothing.

The plane door opened.

Still nothing.

Then—

A violent electrical crack split through the air.

Screaming erupted almost instantly afterward, shrill cries of panic, voices screaming for help.

Y/n’s head snapped toward the town square, and her blood ran cold. Because towering in the middle of the street stood a twenty-meter Titan, its massive hand curled around a screaming civilian as it shoved the person headfirst down its throat.

Y/n gasped in stunned horror.

“Holy fuck...” she breathed in disbelief.

And suddenly she understood.

They hadn’t come prepared for this.

They had walked directly into a coordinated attack.

Levi Ackerman

Fics:

Perlocate

Coffee Shop and College/University AU, enemies-to-lovers, slow burn

The Feeling's Mutual

College/University AU, enemies-to-lovers, slow burn

Of Tea and High Buildings

Modern Setting and Office AU, Boss/Employee relationship

Spite

Canon Compliant, mutual pining

Thanks to you

Canon Compliant, hurt/comfort, enemies-to-lovers (but not really enemies)

Silver Underground

Pre-canon AU, hurt/comfort, memory loss

Don't Write Me Notes

College/University and Modern AU, strangers-to-lovers

No Funny Business

Modern and Office AU, Boss/Employee relationship, porn-with-plot

Lines We Cross

Celebrity/Actors AU, strangers-to-lovers, TW: Stalking

House Dad

College/University AU, strangers-to-lovers

Press Four For More Options

Modern Setting AU, sex work

Moon River

Modern Setting and Neighbours AU, strangers-to-lovers, slice of life

Piercing Sunlight

College/University AU, strangers-to-lovers, age difference

Superior

Canon compliant, enemies-to-lovers, slow burn, major character death

Tea And You ongoing

Canon Compliant, friends-to-lovers, slow burn

Your Debt Is Paid ongoing

Modern & Crime AU, strangers-to-lovers, dubcon, smut

Desperate Woman Seeks Plus One ongoing

Modern AU, strangers-to-lovers, fake/pretend relationship

Passed With Conditions ongoing

Coffee Shop and Cafes AU, strangers-to-friends-to-lovers, slice of life

One Shots/Drabbles:

Pressure Point Say It Sober The Convenience Store On 31st Street Place Your Bets Marry Me Private But Not A Secret Cracks In Steel Quiet Between The Blades The Captain's Wife Levi's road to confessing was arduous (to him) and full of longing You're Married? I Can Be Mean You Were Never Nothing What You Thought You Saw Smoke And Silence Waiting For You After Credits Grumpy Sunshine Time Liability Just Go Untitled Jealousy, Jealousy Already Always Almost Do Bickering Like A Married Couple Iris 1+1=11 ; part 2 Girl Dad Our Little Secret The Same Cut Twice Consequences And Negotiations Unfiltered The Rooftop Your Touch On Repeat Midnight Ventures Dad!Levi Sorry, We're Closed Body Heat Under The Storm

Eren Jeager

Fics:

HONORARY MENTION: The Last Song by ficsforeren, who has now deactivated their accounts on both Tumblr and AO3. Only mentioning it in the hopes that someone has kept it in some format so I can re-read it cause I just looooveeee simp Eren.<3

The Boys At Work

Office AU, friends-to-lovers, porn with plot, slight jean x reader

Bundle Of Doubt

Modern AU, ANGST, established relationship

Temporary Chemistry ongoing

College/University AU, mutual pining

Dopamine

Modern AU, toxic relationship, mentions of substances

One Shots:

Butterflies Coffee Strawberry Hairclip My First Kiss Camping 24 Hours All Mine I Wanna Be Yours Brother's Best Friend Rather Be Late Tears Over Beers Let's Not Think Too Much Always The Quiet Ones Hits Different ; part 2 ; part 3 Rebounding Cabo ; part 2 The Voice I Wanna Hear Close Quarters Casual Bad Influence Human Nature

Armin Arlert

One Shots:

But There Was Once A Time Tutoring Secret Relationship

Jean Kirstein

One Shots:

Do I Wanna Know? Dizzy Summer Naps Guessing Your Chapstick Flavour

Multicharacter

One Shots:

Third Party ; eren x f!reader x jean

“Are we going to sit here all day?” Levi asked, looking at you. His tone was a bit harsher than what he wanted, a look of hurt flashed across your face before starting the car and pulling out of the driveway. So many thoughts swirled around in your head thinking of the vows you made him, wondering if he was going to keep his.

“Are you not going to use your turn signal? And you need the right lane, or you’re going to miss your turn. My mom has been texting me non-stop about this damn shitty dinner.” Levi grunted and rolled his eyes watching you weave in and out of the lanes.

“I know where I’m going. We’ve been to your mom’s a lot of times.” You replied coolly, trying to keep a level head, all the stress of him fighting and pulling away left you angry and alone, but you didn’t blame him. The sudden change threw him for a loop, and now he has to rely on you for almost everything, and you did so without one word, even though Levi was a bit brash with you.

Tears stung the back of your throat again as you focused on driving, still missing the turn. “You missed the damn turn, what are you doing? Are you even paying attention?” Levi asked and huffed, looking out the window.

You turned to look at him with a watery gaze as you pulled over on the shoulder, gripping the steering wheel.

“I have been nothing but good to you ever since your accident, and you have been nothing but awful to me. I cook and clean for you, and then I bathe you afterward, and this is the thanks I get? I’m your wife, Levi, not some fucking nurse you can speak to that way. I love you, but dammit, you’re being an asshole to me.” You blurted and looked at the road again.

Levi stared at you slowly chewing on your words, knowing you’re right, it wasn’t fair because you put everything on hold to take care of him, your sweet words and touch at night whispering how you still love him and will always think he’s your hero.

He was never good with words that didn’t usually hurl insults or shit jokes, but now he was stunned in silence as you finally pulled the car into Kuchel’s driveway, seeing her standing on the front porch, rushing to the vehicle, and opening Levi’s door.

You got out and took a moment to collect yourself, pressing your sleeves against your eyes, hearing Kuchel grab the wheelchair and help Levi into it. “Are you coming in, dear?” She asked, walking around the car to look at you with a soft smile.

“Yeah, I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Just leave me out here with her, please,” Levi said, looking at his mom, then you leaning against the trunk holding your arms. Kuchel kissed the top of his head and walked back inside to peer out the window. “I’m sorry, I know I’ve been an asshole to you.”

“I don’t think right now is a good time to get into this, let’s just have dinner and go home. I’m exhausted.” You said, "Standing straight, walking past him, he quickly grabbed your hand and looked down at the ring he slipped on your finger two years ago, pressing a light kiss to the shining diamond."

you had told him once that you’ve been journaling since you were a child, how all the journals you’ve amasssed over the years had become an extension of you. a documentation of your thoughts, your dreams, all the ugly truths you’ve experienced.

he never once thought to invade your privacy by reading them. he knew how precious they were to you and any secrets you wanted to keep were yours alone, he was content to just laze around you while you wrote. but with you gone, and it sitting right there almost tempting him with its open page, he can’t help himself.

he ever so gently goes to pick it up, holding it delicately as if it might dissipate through his fingers any minute. he’s not sure what he expected, but it certainly wasn’t this. a scratchy sketch of a flower field. and what he certainly didn’t expect was to recognise it, it being the very same field he would take you to during the downtime between expositions.

he sits on the edge of the bed with a loud thud, his legs having lost all strength. at first he just means to inspect that singular page, but before he knows it he’s flipping through all the pages. carefully going over every line, drinking in all your words like wine. he can’t almost hear your voice narrating it, telling him all the miscellaneous thoughts you’ve had, describing all those dreams you never got to fulfil.