Shift [ArminxEren]

Shimmer

Running. Running away from the infinite darkness that overwhelmed him so very much. Nothingness stretched out for miles, sending a rush of fear all throughout Armin's body. Body? He felt no body. Only the painful, heavy throbbing. Not one, but two hearts could be heard, giving him hope to find this other heart. He felt to be dying, no breath, just the horrendous terror and the feeling as if Armin was falling at an exhilarating pace.

This thought sent him into much more pain. His heart felt much more intensely heavy. He could see it- yes! A distant shimmer of light. Could Armin make it? Probably not. On the brink of collapsing, he attempted to calm myself down to Lessen the pain. Failing horribly. The other heart's pace quickened tenfold. It was louder. Yes, much louder. A shimmer of hope. With every step he took he settled, feeling himself calm. He would make it. Yes, yes he would.

•••

It has been three days since Eren visited Armin last. Yet he had expected this visit to go much, much better.

He came through the door, he could sense something was very, very wrong. His body. It was... moving. Armin breathed heavily and clutched at his heart, legs flailing uncontrollably. Nurses urgently called other doctors in, trying to shoo Eren out. Given he have spent all of his free time here for the last seven years, they all knew who he was. "Sweet darling Eren, we would much prefer you to leave. We do not want you to have to watch your friend... pass away... If this is such a case."

He stared glassy-eyed at his best friend, fear dancing in his stomach. "No! A-Armin!!" Eren shredded over to his companion, immediately hugging his half-conscious body. "Armin..." His heart hammered heavily, loud as thunder. A heart throbbed, not wanting to be seized. A heart wanting to be free, not to be crushed by the angry fist of bondage.

Suddenly he knew exactly what to do.

Gingerly, yet urgently, Eren removed Armin's hands from his chest and held them tightly, struggling against his trying to pull them away. "Armin, it-it's alright. It'll be all ok. Just listen." Pained breathes slowed. His heart quieted. Lightly. But not in the way he wanted- Armin was about to die. The breaths became short, strained huffs, mixed with wheezing whimpers- begging for life. "You're not dying..." His arms weakened, shivers seized, and shoulders relaxed.

"E-Eren... I see you. I see it. I see the lights. Yes. They are very clear to me now." Slowly, his eyes opened, filling with tears. Awake. Emotional. Alive eyes. "Stop talking! You're going to run out of breath!" He looked at Eren, confused. "But I'm already dead... Eren... Why are you here? I-I thought I saved you, I thought..." Any existing positivity in his body seemed to burst out. His head turned as Armin averted Eren's eyes. "Armin. You're alive. Very much alive. Now please, please try to stay with me." He nodded lightly, a sudden glint of positivity brightening up his features. "I took a bullet for you, and now..." Absently feeling his left lobe tenderly, he finally met my gaze. "You are the light that brought me back from the dead." Smiling lightly, he snuggled into my side. "Thank you." His breath as heart beat evened.

Anything can shimmer. Turn from a tragedy, to a glowing light. One sign things can be the same again. Spreading a glittering hope to troubling times that could otherwise ruin one's life.

Shattered to shimmering. Situation to gift.