Chapter Text
The war was over. The Titans felled, the walls around them no longer keeping them locked down to this one place. The world was open and it was theirs to take in.
Huge celebration and fanfare erupted in the streets, soldiers of the Survey Corps, the Military Police and the Garrison sharing in drink and dancing with the citizens. Eren kept to himself on the sidelines, watching his friends and colleagues. Sasha and Connie eating and drinking to their hearts desire, Reiner trying and failing to dance with Krista, who was whisked off by Ymir. Hannes seated with Armin, Bertolt and Marco deep into a story and then not too far from them, he saw Mikasa. She was with Annie and Jean, who was talking to the women, more than likely being his boastful self, trying to impress Mikasa in particular. She had a small bemused smile on her face, potentially a bit tipsy. In these five or so years of being in the Survey Corps, Mikasa had gradually grew to see their colleagues as valued friends and even family to an extent. She always largely kept to herself or Eren in the beginning, but this was no longer the case.
When they met all those years ago, on that horrific night, all he wanted to do from that day on was keep her safe. Protect her from any evil that wanted to hurt her. But as they grew he realized more and more that she didn't need him for that. She didn't need him for help in combat, she was #1 in their training group after all. She was strong enough to protect herself, and she now had a large group of people around her that can make her happy and look out for her if at all.
You don't need me.
Eren quietly slipped away.
It was extremely early the following morning, He sat at the little table in the room he had in the assigned housing he shared with Mikasa, Armin and Marco, who had moved in after an intown exercise damaged his room in his prior lodging. Eren was finishing a note to Mikasa.
Mikasa,
It's time I go beyond these walls. They were confining enough when we couldn't leave. They're even more so now that the Titans are gone.
I have to go. And I want you to stay here. Because I know that the life you want can be better given to you by anyone that isn't me.
You don't need me anymore. I don't think you ever did.
Until we meet again,
Eren
He rose, folding the letter slightly and picking up his pack. He crept silently down the hall, not wanting to wake anyone. He stopped outside Mikasa's door, considering whether to go in and leave the note on her nightstand or not. He decided to just slip it under her door. He lingered a little longer before leaving.
He had been walking for half the day, the walls still looming large behind him, It would probably be a day or two before they were truly gone from sight. He figured that he'd walk for another couple of hours before setting up a camp for the night.
He would take note of all the nature around him. To his right was a virtual sea of trees stretching down far out of view. He panned left, likely to see the same th-
He jumped slightly. Walking right beside him was Mikasa, herself kitted up for a long journey. She stopped when he did, with Eren noting the sort of mixture of different angers in her face.
"How- how long have you been-"
"I caught up to you a few moments ago" she said. There was definite irritation, anger, and above all, hurt in her tone. "Lets keep moving"
Eren nodded, definitely now knotted up with shame. They kept walking in silence for about 10 minutes, though it felt longer. He wasn't sure if saying anything at that moment would would be smart, so he would wait until they set-
"How could you ever think I don't need you?"
He met her gaze. She was fully facing him as they walked.
"How could I possibly be here today if I didn't ever need you?"
He rubbed at the back of his head, stuck for a answer. "I just... I'm not strong like you are-"
"I'm strong because you make me strong. You are my strength. And there will not be a time where I will not need you to be apart of my life. So please, Eren, don't ever leave me behind again"
All he could do was nod. "I won't. I promise"
A very soft smile dawned her face as she faced away. He saw her point ahead. "I see an old outpost up ahead. You see it?"
Eren looked and saw it. "That can be where we set up for the night"
"It is supposed to be a bit cold tonight. We'll collect some branches when we get there, get a good fire going"
"Sounds like a plan"
She pulled a letter out from her pocket, his letter. "We can use your terrible note to start it" she said with a smirk.
Eren just chuckled. "Fair enough"