Heartbeat (Eremin)

Learn to Let Go

I'll start with a Ke$ha song and end with a Ke$ha song.
Learn to let go-Ke$ha.

I know I haven't published since May and it's the last chapter but my view count and motivation levels are waaaay down. Anyway my theory is that once this is done I can go back to running two fics at once but we'll see how hard college hits.

The beaches in the movies had always been beautiful; all sandy and soft looking. But the beaches here were so rocky, so stoic. The shells along the belt where the tide had reached when it last came in were mostly from clams and were sharp against Eren's bare feet when he stepped across them. There weren't colourful conch shells like in the southern beaches. Just clams.
He had wanted to take a memento back with him, but he had expected shells that would stand out, big pink telephone shells like he saw on tv, not these round white ones and tiny hermit crab spirals. He wanted something bright that would draw in the attention of any visitor he had, so that they could ask him why he had it.
And he would tell them, without a moment of hesitation, that it was there to remind him of the day he took his best friend to the ocean.
"You're finally here, dude." Eren whispered, setting the object in his hands onto a flat bit of shale rock. "You almost didn't make it. It's hard to get human ash through airport customs."
"We considered taking a cross Canada trip in Levi's mom van but I don't think I could stand being in a space that long with Eren." Jean teased, trying to lighten the mood. Eren had almost forgotten they were all here. They had been so silent.
"Be nice." Marco scolded in that delicate way he had. Jean put his arm around his boyfriend.
"For the record, it's not a mom van."
"What do you need all that space for, Levi? You're barely five feet tall."
"I got a deal on it."
"Can you even reach the pedals on that thing?"
"Yes. But the visor doesn't go low enough so the sun is always in my eyes."
"Move to BC. They never have sun."
"Guys. Shhhhh." Marco hissed.
Eren didn't mind the banter. The distraction was comforting.
"Who wants to speak first?"
"I will!" Jean stepped up. "Armin, you were the best little dude I ever knew. So optimistic and sunny. I'm pretty glad to have known you."
"Thank you." Marco whispered.
They all took their turn, saying their final words to Armin, voices cheerful and a tiny bit sad. Eren took in every single one, not wanting to forget any of them.
And then, finally, it was his turn.
"Armin...I...I'm just really glad you encouraged me to stay with the group. I know dealing with this would be way harder if I didn't have all these great friends to support me. I really wish the surgery hadn't failed, but I can't help that, can I?" He took a deep breath. "Anyway...I love you...so much...and I hope you're happy and with your parents...wherever you are."
He nodded to signal that he was done.
"You can do the honours, Eren." Mikasa said, voice gentle.
"Thanks." Eren lifted the urn and walked down the beach toward the ocean. But his foot caught on something before he got there and he fell to the ground, dropping the urn and spilling ash into the sand.
"Fuck!" He shouted in anguish. Armin would never get to the ocean now.
"Eren, wait," Marco rushed over to him, picking up the large piece of drift wood, which Eren had tripped on. It was shaped like the letter A.
"I think...this is where he wants to be." Marco handed the wood to Eren, who took it in shaking hands.
"Yeah. Me too." By the time high tide came, Armin would be swept off anyway.
Eren dumped the rest of the ash into the sand and spread it around with his free hand.
"Goodbye, Armin. I hope you get to see the ocean whenever you want."
"Let's get back to the hotel before it gets too dark." Marco helped Eren up. The brunette clutched the drift wood to his chest.
He had only known Armin Arlert for a short time.
But that was a time he would never forget.

The end.

Finally lol.