KAIROS • MISC. ONESHOTS

>\ HALLELUJAH ; ( CONMIN. )

( TW: mentions of past abuse, and death )

Connie stood in the back, watching the funeral commence. It was so strange how "forgiving" men are, even someone as renown as Mitchell Braun. It just didn't occur in the small male's mind how he could forgive his son for what he did, but then it hit him: It was his only child. His son.

The male didn't regret what he did, a few days ago in their apartment. His friend encouraged him to stick up for himself, who sat numbly next to him, watching the service as well, and watched him beat Reiner to death. He deserved it, too, because of the years of emotional, physical, and alcoholic abuse the male with a shaved head put up with while in college. He even went as far as to defend him.

It was weird to say, but Connie felt a lot better seeing the blonde dead than him towering over him, drunk- able to break him into billions of pieces. And he did, but only mentally. Something he'd never get over. As people started to leave, Armin grabbed the others hand, mumbling something about leaving. It took a bit to process, but eventually he got up and left.

It felt like walking away from a fire, and the two found themselves crying. The bald teen stopped a few meters away, looking back to make sure the wake ceremony wasn't actually on fire. Everything felt cold. . .

"Connie, talk to me!" Armin finally yelled, letting go of his hand. The other went to talk, but words wouldn't form, only tears. He could emotionally stomach people yelling at him yet. Sobs broke through him as he shrugged, his face and lungs burning.

"Please," he whispered, grabbing his face so the other would focus on him. He wiped away the waterfall of tears and resting his forehead against the other's.

"I'm scared," he finally said through tears. "I fucking killed him and I could feel all their eyes on me in there! I killed their lovely relative, panal! Me! I wasn't even charged with anything! I killed Rei-"

"He hurt you! He abused you! He deserved this!" Armin shouted about Connie's hysteria. Much quieter, he continued, "He deserved to die for dehumanizing you! You don't actually regret this, do you?"

He tugged himself away from the blonde, shrugging violently. He was angry for becoming a monster. Soberly ripping the life from his abuser. "No one deserves death, Armin." He then unlocked his car, and got in. He wasn't going to drive off, not until he saw the sun set, but he needed some way to feel safe. His car always had done that, for some reason.

When the city got chilly, and the day turned into a starless night, Connie igniting his engine. The duo had forgiven themselves through silence, and held hands as they drove far, far away from the wake. Never again shall they have to weep over the muscular blonde, but the memories will forever haunt them. It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah.