Attack On Titan: Goodbyes

Mikasa sat slumped on his lap, her head resting against his shoulder as his hand gently combed through her hair, holding her close. As she breathes heavily her body still exhausted from delivery.

In his other arm, the small, sleeping bundle nestled against his chest, breathing softly, completely at peace. Eren's gaze lingered on Mikasa's face—soft, serene, yet marked by the quiet weight of everything they had endured.

For a moment, he found it hard to believe that this was the same girl he had saved all those years ago. So much had happened in what felt like the blink of an eye. He had taken her home. They had grown up together. Lost his mother. Joined the cadets. Found friends.

Friends, huh?

A long breath escaped him, and guilt swept over his chest like a crushing tide. The faces of everyone—Sasha, Jean, Connie, Historia, Levi, Hange, Erwin—flashed through his mind, their voices distant echoes in a past he could never return to.

Still, a faint, wistful smile tugged at his lips. "Next time we meet... I'll introduce you guys to my family," he murmured, voice barely above a whisper.

Leaning his head back against the bed's wooden board, he closed his eyes, letting the silence settle around them. "I wonder... what happened after we left..."

...

Refugee Camp, Dawn

"Oi... Oi, brats, wake up. The ship's ready to depart."

Levi crouched beside Jean, shaking him roughly. The stench of sweat and damp earth clung to the inside of the refugee camp, making his nose twitch in irritation. If it were up to him, he'd have every last one of these filthy idiots on their feet, cleaning up this godforsaken place.

"Idiot, wake up," he snapped, his voice slicing through the heavy air.

Jean stirred, a groggy frown tugging at his features. "What... Where am I?" His voice was hoarse, thick with sleep and the remnants of last night's haze. His bleary eyes drifted from Levi to the familiar forms of Connie and Sasha sprawled beside him, limbs tangled in unnatural angles.

Scratching the back of his neck, Jean let out a hiccup—just in time for Levi's fist to slam into his gut.

"Ughhh!" He doubled over, coughing, his half-lidded eyes flying open as pain jolted his senses awake. His gaze locked onto Levi, whose scowl was more severe than usual.

"Oh… Right…" Jean muttered as fragmented memories of the previous night slowly pieced themselves together. Some details were still a blur, but the hangover pounding in his skull told him enough.

"Wake these two up," Levi ordered, shifting his gaze toward the mass of sleeping bodies around them. His sharp eyes darted from one unfamiliar face to another before narrowing. "And where the hell are Eren and Mikasa?"

Jean let out another hiccup as he nudged Connie and Sasha. "They should be around here somewhere, Captain… probably just sleeping off last night."

Connie stirred first, his mouth smacking lazily as drool trailed from the corner of his lips. Sasha woke up much the same, her vacant, sleep-heavy gaze darting around before she flopped back down.

"Old man, one more!" Connie slurred, lifting a finger, a hiccup following soon after.

Levi's fist crashed into his stomach before he could finish his request.

"Guh—!" Connie folded over, rolling onto his side with a groan.

As Connie writhed, Levi's attention flickered to something near Jean's feet. His sharp eyes honed in on a crumpled envelope—ash-green in color—lying precisely where Jean had been sleeping a moment ago.

Something about it made the hairs on his arms stand on end.

"Captain… They're not here," Jean finally said, his voice losing its earlier drowsiness.

Sasha, still rubbing sleep from her eyes, blinked in slow realization. "Yeah… They're really not here…"

Levi's fingers ghosted over the envelope before he bent down, plucking it from the dirt. The paper was slightly creased, as if someone had hesitated before leaving it behind. His jaw tensed.

"What…?" Connie muttered, his voice no longer slurred, his expression sobering fast.

Before Levi could react further, hurried footsteps approached.

"Oi, Levi!" Hange's voice rang out as she ducked into the tent, slightly out of breath. "The hell are you doing? Hurry up before the ship leaves!"

But Levi didn't answer.

His fingers tightened around the envelope, his eyes locked onto the writing on its surface.

[Letter from Eren to the Scout Regiment]

....

Inside the Mansion of Azumabito, Dusk

Erwin sat on the sofa, his usual composed expression unwavering and sighed, running a thumb over the paper's edge before finally breaking the seal, unfolding the letter with deliberate care.

...

To my comrades—my family,

By the time you read this, Mikasa and I will be long gone.

I won't make excuses, nor do I expect you to understand. But I need you to know this: I never wanted to abandon you. Leaving isn't an act of cowardice—it's a choice I made to protect what little remains of the future we fought for, a future I want to live with my most beloved.

Marley won't stop. The world won't stop. Even if I gave my life to fight them, another enemy would rise. Another war would begin. I thought I could end the cycle, but all I've done is delay the inevitable.

I wanted to believe in peace. That's why I ran. Peace that I can only find by giving her the life she deserve. I'm tired, of everything. I just want to live my last couple of years with her. With someone who sees me as a human and not as a weapon or a monster.

Jean, Connie, Sasha—I know you'll curse me for this, maybe even hate me. You should. If I were you, I'd probably do the same. But I trust you to survive, just like you always have. Please understand.

Captain Levi… I don't deserve to call myself a soldier under your command anymore. But I remember everything you taught me. I'll never forget it.

Hange… I wish I could've talked to you one last time. Thank you for sharing all those stories with me in that cold night.

Commander Erwin... All I want to say is thank you, for everything you've done for me until now. And thank you for showing me where I truly belong. Please protect Eldia till I come back.

And I know by the time I return, I know everyone will loathe me for everything, and even while getting crushed under the titan's teeth I could proudly say that I lived a life without regrets.

Live, long happy lives.

Eren

...

Erwin's expression remained the same though a faint trace of disappointment lingered in his features. His fingers traced the edges of the still-sealed envelope, hesitating for a moment before standing.

Beside him, Levi sat with his usual stoic demeanor, arms crossed, his gaze unreadable, though a flicker of something—perhaps acceptance and somewhat annoyance —flickered in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Hange and Sasha were preoccupied with calming the panicked Azumabito, their hurried voices blending into the tense atmosphere.

"Lady Mikasa..." was all Azumabito could mutter, her face pale with disbelief.

But what stood out most were the expressions on Jean and Connie's faces. Unlike the others, they weren't panicked or angry—just quiet.

Both leaned against the wall, hands in their pockets, lost in their own thoughts. There was no shouting, no demands for answers—just silent understanding between them.

Connie let out a slow breath, glancing at Jean before muttering, "Take care of each other you two…" His eyes settled on Jean who had a faint smile at his lips, "You alright?" And Jean nodded, "Keep her happy, Eren."

...

Faint light filtered through the misty window, casting a soft glow on his face. His eyes flickered open a trail of saliva rolling down his mouth as he clutched the side of his head. "Uh... That... That just now..."

His brain was still in a light headed daze. He looked down just on her face. As she let out a faint voice and she could tell her bofy felt exhausted. Even in the stillness of the night, she looked as breathtaking as ever.

A faint smile crept across his face and he pressed his forehead against her hair, "I don't regret anything... Mika..."