Camp Shiganshina

🖤T H I R T E E N🖤

"Have any of you been to the ocean? I've been reading about it in this book I brought and find it absolutely fascinating. Of course the lake is cool, but the ocean has water with salt in it! Do you think merchants used to use that salt for their trades or better yet do you think it could be used as some sort of remedy or something-"

"Shut up Armin, close the book before you trip over a rock!" Farlon shouted, startling myself with his loud noise. I hadn't expected Farlon to get upset so quickly. I also thought what Armin was saying was absolutely fascinating and definitely something to think about later. But at the moment Levi and I were taking the children on a hike per Petra's request.

"You're just as annoying Farlon," Ymir said, stretching out her arms whilst smirking at said boy. He only scowled before looking towards the foliage.

"Look children, an old large oak tree!" I butted in, trying to make sure our children didn't start fighting over unnecessary things. They looked and saw the tree in question. Just a large, brown and green oak tree standing in the forest. Absolutely nothing special about it, other than the few oddly shaped leaves.

"Jesus Christ, Eren, try and get the children interested in something for once. Not some dumb old big ass-"

"Paper?" I interjected, looking up into the tree and seeing a thick piece of paper tied to one of the branches. It looked fairly new, not old and damaged from the weather.

"I was going to say tree, but whatever. I am too tired to argue right now," Levi said, not catching on to what I've seen.

"No, stupid, the paper in the tree up there!" I exclaimed, pointing up in the direction of the paper. He sighed as heavily as he possibly could and looked up at the paper. Our children had stopped paying attention; Historian found a pretty flower and was showing Ymir, Armin kept to reading about the ocean, and Farlon was sitting next to Armin (occasionally sneaking a peak at the ocean book). None of them bothered us, probably because they've learned not to intervene when Levi and I start to argue.

"Yup, it's probably trash. Now let's continue on the hike-"

"Climb the tree."

"Me? Hell no, I am not climbing another filthy, disgusting, revolting, bug infested tree just for some trash!" Levi exclaimed, looking at me as though I insulted him and his mother all at once. I sighed, grabbing both his shoulders in an endearing way. He looked confused, slightly intrigued, as I slowly leaned towards his face. He got some semblance of an idea as he also leaned forward. He looked so captivating up until I shoved him against the tree.

"Get to climbing, lover boy. Maybe when the children aren't around you might get a kiss," I said, taking a step back and crossing my arms. I looked over towards the children and they hadn't left what they were doing, perhaps they were just too embarrassed to look at Levi and myself after my little stunt. Either way Levi looked like he was about to murder me.

"Damn brat..." He mumbled, jumping up to the lowest branch to climb the tree. He constantly mumbled cuss words about how filthy the tree is and that I was the worst human imaginable for making him do this. I only laughed and watched as he fumbled his way up the tree.

"How you doing Levi?" I yelled up as he finally got to where the paper was located. Levi positioned himself to where he was sitting on the branch before responding.

"Not bad, actually. It's quite nice being up here and away from you," he joked. I reached down and grabbed the closest thing to throw up at him.

"Bitch," I retorted, throwing the dainty pebble up towards Levi. He scoffed before reading the piece of paper.

"Fear. It controls people; their emotions, actions, words, thoughts, the list goes on. Never would I have thought pathetic little Eren would come back. You won't find her, you won't find her killer. Call Mama Jaeger, she'll let you know what happened in town. Maybe even your little boy-toy Levi Ackerman can help figure this out. Sincerely, Her Killer". Levi spoke from his branch, his voice and entire posture entirely stiff and monotonous. I stared up at his form in disbelief as I listened to what the paper said.

"Her Killer?" I exclaimed, stumbling backwards and tripping over a rock. I fell backwards, landing on my behind, and stayed staring up at Levi.

"Shit, Eren! You okay?" He called out as I fell, quickly jumping down the tree as fast as possible; the note held tight in his hand. He rushed over to me to ensure I'm okay, but I quickly grabbed the note from his hand.

I read the words over and over, wishing it to not be true. There is absolutely no way that Mikasa's killer is communicating with me. And let alone involving my mother and Levi, both people who are precious to me. I could feel my heart pounding and pounding, threatening to jump out of my chest. I could feel the lack of breathe being produced as it felt like my lungs had shrunk. As I hold the note my hand starts shaking and I remember her death. I remember every blood drop, every tear, the feeling of my raw throat as I scream for it to not be true.

I crawled backwards, trying to get away. I wanted and needed to get away. The dead and blank stare Mikasa's corpse gave me when I found her sunk into my mind. Her blood washing over me as I try to forget, but there's never any forgetting such a memory.

"...ren...eren...Eren...EREN?" I heard someone tell, snapping me out of my trance. Although my heart still pounded and lungs clawed around searching for air. My chest heaved up and down as I clutched tightly onto the person yelling my name.

"Mikasa...not her..." I mumble out loud, grabbing the back of the person shirt and sobbing heavily into the front. I could hear them sigh before sitting down properly and pulling my lanky body into their lap.

"It's okay, it's not real. Well I mean it was, but not now. I'm here, Eren. Don't worry, I won't leave," I could tell now that Levi was here, comforting me in ways I'd never thought imaginable. He held me close, allowing me to share all my emotions to him. And for that I am extremely grateful.

"Sorry...sorry Levi...I really don't know what came over me. Just so many emotions and thoughts and feelings I just...I just..." Levi shut me up by kissing my forehead. He allowed me to continue to cry with absolutely no explanation on my end.

Although the children might need us to explain some things to them.