The sky looked like it was on fire.
Red, burning. Like the world was being peeled open from above.
You were covered in blood that wasn’t all yours. Hands shaking. Knees weak. Smoke filled your lungs like it was trying to make a home there.
And still they were coming.
Titans. So many of them. Towering shadows through the smoke. Dozens. Maybe more.
And you couldn’t even scream anymore.
“Fall back!” Armin’s voice was hoarse. “You have to fall back NOW!”
Connie stumbled past you, his face twisted in horror. Jean was bleeding from the leg. Mikasa had blood on her blade and none of it was fresh. She looked at you. And she knew.
Someone had to stay.
You turned slowly. Reiner was already watching you.
He always knew what you were thinking before you said it.
“I can buy you some time,” you whispered, barely louder than the wind.
His eyes didn’t move. “Then I’ll double it.”
A pause. Just long enough to feel the world tipping beneath you.
“I wasn’t asking you to stay.”
“And I’m not asking for your permission.”
You should’ve argued. You should’ve begged him to run with you. But there was no time. The others were getting away. That was the only thing that mattered now.
Still you looked at him. You really looked. At the tired lines in his face. At the quiet steadiness in his eyes. At the man who had survived more than anyone should have.
And you hated this.
You hated that this this was how it ended.
“We could’ve had more,” you said quietly.
Reiner stepped closer. His voice was barely held together. “Don’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“Because it makes it worse.”
You blinked, and you were crying, and you didn’t even remember when you started.
He took your face in his hands, gently, like he was afraid you’d break.
“I think about it all the time,” he said. “The cabin. The quiet. You and me. Mornings that don’t smell like blood. Nights where we sleep through the whole thing, not waking up to screams.”
“I wanted that,” you choked. “More than anything.”
“I know.” His thumb brushed your cheek. “Me too.”
You wanted to stay in that moment forever.
But forever was never an option for people like you.
The ground rumbled. They were closer now.
Reiner leaned in, his forehead resting against yours. “You know something?” he whispered. “If things had been different… if we got out of this… I would’ve asked you to marry me.”
You let out a broken laugh that sounded more like a sob. “That was the plan.”
“I was going to build you that garden. Grow tomatoes. Maybe some carrots.”
“I was going to paint the door yellow.”
Reiner closed his eyes. “I would’ve kissed you every morning. Every single one. Just to make sure you knew.”
Your heart was shattering. Right there in your chest. And still, you nodded.
“I would’ve said yes.”
And then no more words.
You kissed him.
The kind of kiss that says I wish we had more time.
The kind that tastes like goodbye.
The kind that breaks something sacred.
When you pulled away, the Titans were nearly upon you.
You both drew your blades.
He didn’t let go of your hand until the very last second.
You fought like hell. The way dying people fight: no hesitation, no fear, nothing left to lose.
Reiner was a storm, tearing through flesh and bone, half-armored and bleeding from wounds that wouldn’t close. You moved like fire, fast and furious and burning through every breath.
But it was never going to be enough.
The sky turned black.
You fell hard into the dirt beside him. Your body was done. Your eyes barely stayed open.
Reiner dragged himself to you, blood running from his mouth. He laid beside you, his hand fumbling to find yours. He found it.
You could barely speak. “Did they make it?”
He gave the smallest nod. “Yeah They’re safe.”
You turned your head to him, vision swimming. “Then it was worth it.”
He looked at you, really looked, like he was trying to memorize every piece of you before the dark took over.
“Close your eyes,” he whispered. “Let’s go home.”
You did.
And in that final second-
You were there.
The yellow door. The garden. The quiet.
The two of you.
Alive.
