AOT One-Shots/HCs

Eren x Reader ~ Smile

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When confronted with the vast expanses of the sea for the first time, the 104th and their captains get to see just how large the world around them outside the walls truly is.

For most, this is a thrilling discovery. But for some, it's daunting, and they need a little support grasping it all. And for Eren, that support comes from you.
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SFW, slight angst, fluff
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Some s3 Eren fluff~

"Gah! It's SALTY?!"

"Jean! Don't drink it! I tried it already, it tastes like ass!"

Y/N giggled to herself listening to Jean and Connie awkwardly splashing around in the surf. Ahh, the ocean. Something Y/N had heard so much and yet so little about, now laid before her very eyes. The salty breeze brushed through her hair gently, making her smile as she basked in the warmth of the sun.
Was this what freedom felt like?

She watched her companions all spread out on what Armin had informed her was called the beach, exploring all the new sights and wonders of this strange terrain. Even Mikasa had taken her boots off and was ankle deep in the water, looking over Armin'a shoulder at a beautiful blue shell he was holding.

Hange had found some small, strange creature they were now poking at with a stick, while Captain Levi scolded them for not being more careful of the strange thing from a safe distance near his tethered horse.

Sasha jumped onto the backs of the still struggling Jean and Connie, knocking all three of them down into the surf. When they emerged, they all rubbed at their eyes complaining of the burning the salt in their eyes was now causing.

If only Commander Erwin were here to see this...

Y/N sighed, then suddenly perked up, realizing there was one person in their group missing from these explorations.
Where's Eren?

Scanning her immediate surroundings with squinted eyes against the sun's glare off the water, Y/N quickly spotted him.

Eren was knee deep in the water, a scarred hand shielding his eyes as he stared intently at the far away horizon. Y/N was quick to remove her boots and run out to join him.
Only, she hadn't realized how difficult it would be to run against the crashing waves.

She started to stumble and let out a noise of panic, but just before she fell face first into the water, two strong arms caught her and hoisted her up.

"Careful, Y/N."

Y/N looked up, only to meet Eren's green eyes staring intently right back at her.
Only, they seemed so...Blank?

"Eren! Thanks!" Y/N breathed a sigh of relief. She took a moment to examine his expression. He looked lost, devoid of emotion. Almost as if he wasn't even there with them on the shores, but rather far away in a dark corner of his mind.

Y/N knew him well enough to tell. After surviving so many perils with him, spending sleepless nights by his side, training with him for years until they became the best versions of themselves they could be for the corps....She'd been there for it all. She learned long ago how to read him. And how to help him through times like these where he retreated into his mind.

"What's wrong?" Y/N muttered softly.

Eren didn't respond for a moment, but he seemed to snap out of whatever daze he had been previously in. He removed his arms from around her waist and turned to face the distant horizon once more, and it was only then that Y/N realized he had never removed his arms from her waist after catching her minuets before. A light blush coated her face.

And if he had stayed turned towards her for a second longer, she would have seen the matching pink dusted across Eren's face.

"Nothing. It's just...a lot to take in. We finally made it, the ocean is real," he spoke just above a whisper, but Y/N heard over the waves.

"Yeah....Armin was right, all of those years ago." Y/N chuckled lightly, and Eren couldn't help but crack a small smile of his own.

"I suppose so, yeah..." Eren started to drift off once more, his face returning to that monotone expression he wore when Y/N first reached him. All was silent for many moments, only the distant sounds of the others fooling around far behind them and the waves overlapping and splashing against the shore echoed against the hills they had come through to get here. Gulls circled and soared overhead, crying out as they searched for food or a safe place to land.

Finally, Eren broke the silence.
"So this...This is freedom? We've saved Paradis, yet our enemy lives safely across the sea far away from us?"

Y/N was taken aback, but once she took a second to process his words she understood his meaning.

"I suppose so...It sounds rather like a trapped freedom, don't you think?" she asked.

Eren nodded, his gaze firmly fixed on the horizon. Suddenly, Y/N understood his somber mood. Everything they'd learned, everything they'd seen, everything they'd experienced and had been forced to live through, only to learn they weren't the only ones in this world. Yet they were the ones who had suffered for over a hundred years....

Y/N sighed and lowered her gaze to stare at her feet through the clear water lapping around her knees. Looking back up, she decided her next move and walked closer to Eren to gently take his hand. He snapped his gaze first to their now intertwined hands, then up to her face. His expression broke away from that sullen, depressed look once again as he met her eye curiously.

"Right here, right now...This is what we've been fighting for. For now, let's focus on our victory. Our achievements. Our newfound freedom, even if it's limited for now." Y/N squeezed his hand. "We've made it this far, let's enjoy today, yeah?"

Eren was at a loss for words, but nodded his head in understanding.

"A frown doesn't suit you, Jaeger." Y/N teased Eren to lighten the mood. He in turn playfully scoffed and reached the hand that wasn't now firmly holding hers up to ruffle her hair lightly.

"Y/N L/N, always the optimist," he cracked a small smile.

"There it is! A smile! C'mon titan boy, give me a REAL smile," Y/N giggled as she couldn't help but tease him further.

Finally, he smiled. A true, genuine smile she loved more than any other smile. Her favorite smile.

And little did she know, the smile on her face just so happened to be his favorite smile, as well. In his mind, all he had done up until now was worth it, just to see her smiling so carefree in this newfound freedom.

Their, newfound freedom.

sorry Mikasa O-0
lemme know what you thought, or if you'd like to request, hit up the request page!

~Lynn