one-shots | snk/aot

Promises - Eld x Reader

His bony hands caressed you h/c hair, slowly making a braid that would eventually cascade down your shoulder. He had offered brushing your hair, before heading to the expedition and, gratefully, you accepted.

You still remember when Eld did this daily, back when your right arm was still badly injured. Surprisingly, the blunt man happened to be more competent than Petra. Not that it was a bad thing. From then on, you'd always have an exquisite masterpiece hanging in your hair.

"Eld?"

"Hm?" He mumbles, parting your hair in three sections, fairly and perfectly proportional.

His finger unexpectedly glides against your bare neck. You skip a breath, immediately stiffening your muscles and shutting your eyes, all the while wondering how his slightest touch drained all your common sense and how it drove you utterly insane.

"Sorry, what were you about to say?" Eld asks, bluntly.

"Would y-you teach me how to braid my hair?" You subsequently look downwards, scrutinizing your trembling hands.

A light compression lifts your chin from behind, that same ecstasy crushing your sanity, "I need you to look up."

You do as told, now being mesmerized by the image ahead. You stared at the immaculate mirror, the reflection of Eld's tall and lofty figure wavering your vagrant feelings. He shifted from leg to leg, and casually met glances, only momentarily.

"I'll teach you how to braid when we get back from the expedition," He said, suddenly loosening the recently made braid.

"Why did you do that?!"

"It looked unpleasant, I'll make a new one."

You smiled, not actually minding having to sit beside Eld for the next five minutes.

And once again, you felt his magical fingers perform its.. magic. Similar to what felt like silk, Eld's hands was beginning to drive you to eternal sleep.

You fought to keep your eyes widened, not wanting to miss a single second, but as the minutes ticked by you felt your consciousness dissipate. Was it too much to ask for these blissful moments never to end?

"Ah," You accidentally let out a moan.

"Y/n? Is it hurting?" He immediately stopped his actions, leaning his face towards your ear.

You felt the rising heat of your cheeks and ears, now fully aware of what you have done. Eld's heated breath that tickled your earlobe was clearly not helping the situation, to much misfortune.

"N-no! Absolutely not." You babble.

And for the remaining torturous minutes, you shift gazes from around the room while trying the hardest not to blush any further. Slowly, painfully yet pleasurably Eld braided you silky hair, tucking any left strands behind your ear. As much as your body needed to nervously move around, you struggled to remain still in fear of disturbing Eld's demeaning concentration.

You look upwards. He did too. He smiled. You smiled back.

"Done." His hands rested on both of your shoulders.

"Thank you." You answer, writhing the stool around and facing Eld's stiff chest. It heaved slowly as he maintained his breathing even, regardless of how close you were.

Unexpectedly, he raises you off the stool with both hands stuck on your waist. For a moment, you were frozen in place, perspiring silently, but undeniably fast. All the while, your stare was on the ground until his calloused fingers cupped your chin.

"Apparently, the ground is more attractive than me." His hoarse voice whispered.

"No!"

"Why won't you look at me?"

"Do I really have to answer that?"

"Frankly, no." He chuckled and you lifted your head, wanting to see his smile again.

He seemed startled before placing his other hand on your jaws. They were so cold resembling those of a lifeless doll, though fulfilling enough to send your blood ablaze.

"You never really answered me," You whisper back, searching for the deepest abyss his brown eyes could hold.

"Answered what?"

"If you'd teach me how to braid my hair." The corner of his lips lifted, as if assuring you.

"Yes, pleasurably,"

"Promise?" His nose leaned downwards, slightly touching the bridge of yours. A twinge of shock left your body numb under his gaze and possession.

"Certainly." Your lips quivered in anticipation as you unconsciously placed your hands on his arms.

Like a mouse and a cat, you fumbled under his arms while teasing and also being teased by Eld's charm and taunting lips. As soon as someone decided to lean in, the other would playfully back off. But even patience has its limit.

You held a breath as you sensed his warm breath close in, though you rejected to pull away this time. For a fraction of a second, even Eld seemed startled by your daring actions.

Before your upper lip could meet his, he froze in place. A platonic relationship is not meant to work.

So you leaned it. And didn't regret a single piece. Firstly, because it was a ton better than any achievement that you have earned ever since you joined the branch. Secondly, because to know you could experience this infinite amount of times was more than satisfying. And thirdly, because who wouldn't enjoy a breath-killing.. kiss with Eld Jinn.

•

•••

•

"What's that?!" A fellow soldier exasperated, pointing to a titan with distinct characteristics, some resembling those of a female.

It was acquainted by your eyes, therefore it scared you. There was no assurance of how you'd be able to handle the sprinting titan, which was currently chasing something or whether the Survey Corps would capture it at all.

"Just stick to the plan." You answer, trying to grasp some resistance yourself.

All the while, as you maneuvered through the massive trees, you reluctantly pondered what was Eld's current situation. As much as you wanted to believe everything was alright, you didn't.

The vigorous wind blew against your face and it kept growing wilder. That's when you felt the sturdy feeling of your braid slowly dispersing as all of your hair was set free. You frowned, feeling lost in that mane of hair and also incomplete without your braid.

You fastened your pace, reaching a location that was highly illuminated by the dawning sunshine. It was utterly obliterated, with broken trees and few soldiers scattered at every corner. Below the tallest bark, you found Petra with her body covered in blood.

"Petra..." You descended to the ground to have a closer look, as of your eyes couldn't quite capture and comprehend the image ahead, "W-where's Eld?"

With only a few steps, you reached Eld's half body. It didn't cross your mind at any moment that you had been bluntly staring at Eld, doing nothing but letting your tears stumble down to his bloody uniform. You cried, because the man you loved had just left this world. You cried, because perhaps this wouldn't have occurred in some alternate universe. You cried, because you'd never be able to see him until the day came, when you'd fall to your own demise.

"I guess you won't be able to keep your promise." You smiled a little, falling to the ground and hugging what was left of Eld, not minding the fetid reek of blood or the warm and sticky substance tainting your clothes.

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So I just finished my first sad one-shot, from a request. Sorry for the long wait and I hope you enjoyed reading it!

Next up will be a Farlan one-shot, my baby Farlan <3