𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑨𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒍. AotxMaleOc (Attack on Titan X Tokyo Ghoul)

Eren's Freedom

Only a few days have passed since Joseph has returned to Paradis and reunited with his family after many months. Even though he yearned to stay for one more day, one more moment with the people he cherished the most, the Consort King knew: the clock was ticking, and the moment of the next phase of the plan had arrived.

It was late night moving slowly to the morning, with the Sun yet hidden and darkness covering the whole sky. Joseph was already dressed in his uniform and stood at the door. As he got closer to their beds, looking at their relaxed faces, sleeping peacefully, he went into his kids room after and while they slept he kissed them both on their foreheads and whispered to them the last words of love before he left.

Standing on the porch, Joseph took a moment of reflection. The sun's first rays painted the sky in hues of orange, as morning birds danced in synchronized flight. Memories of simpler times flooded his mind, when he and his Scout comrades ventured beyond Wall Rose in similar formations to the birds. But now, those days seemed distant, tinged with the non-ending pain from the loss. Countless lives had been lost along the way, one above all others stung harder than them all.

Joseph: Ilse. I miss you so much.

He was gazing down at a picture he took down from his breast pocket. It was a photo of Joseph Squad some time after Paradis learned about photography. Joseph was tracing the faces frozen in time. In it was Gelgar raising his flask, Annie showing off her blade ring, Nanaba flexing her muscles, and Joseph and Ilse together with one arm around each other. Large smiles adorned everyone's faces in the black-and-white picture, especially Ilse. Joseph couldn't stop wishing he could see her just one more time. But that time was gone and so was Ilse.

As he felt a big lump in his throat, and stinging in his nose, he put the photo closer to his chest, fighting the tears that were threatening to form in his eyes. All the memories with her, from saving her to the night in Marley's refugee camp, again flushed through his mind, each being a knife that stabbed the half-ghoul in his heart. He tried to breathe deeply, to regain control of his emotions, with his eye turning dark red and black from the hurricane of sadness.

Joseph: Your death will not be for nothing. As you Captain, and your friend, I will honor your memory and everything we have fought for while I continue my path, even if it means you'll not be next to me on that journey. I will not let you down. I will succeed.

He finally closed his eyes and felt how all the stinging feeling was being slowly sucked out of him, how the terrible pain he felt was going away, the heat from his face and body disappeared and his mind drifting into nothingness.

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A sense of peace washed over Joseph, starting from his toes and spreading all the way to his head. He felt the soft earth beneath his feet give way slightly with a faint crunch, signaling his arrival to a well-known place. The once bright sun disappeared, replaced by a towering white glow in the distance.

A sigh escaped his lips as he finally opened his eyes, revealing the familiar starlit Paths and sandy terrain. This wasn't his first visit to this place, nor would it likely be his last.

Joseph: I know why I'm here.

Turning around, he spotted the girl with impossibly dark hair, dressed in white, her eyes shining with an otherworldly glow. She greeted him with her customary warm smile, a beacon of comfort in the depths of the unknown.

Frieda: Then you know I won't stop until I've said my piece, dear Joseph.

He nodded in agreement as she approached, her hand finding its place on his shoulder before pulling him into a gentle embrace. The white-haired Scout felt it being familiar to something. The feeling from the embrace felt almost identical to the hugs his mother gave him as familiar warmth enveloped him.