[ just as he falls, falco moves in further— peter's chin could safely find his shoulder as the boy ducks into him. if they were standing, this wouldn't work, falco's too short. but if peter continues to sit, the young boy before him could keep up his kneel, back erect to make himself taller, and wrap his arms around the eldest boy: one across his back, the other behind his head to encourage a dip. i've got you. ]

I'm still here— [ falco was a good judge of character (most times). peter has never been any of those things to him. his words are soft, close to the fabric of his clothes and the mess of curly hair against his ears. ] All of this, you've been feeling all of this, by yourself— how is that weak? How is feeling guilt weak, when . . . It helps us change, Peter?

[ the hand on the elder boy's back soothes, in circles, and his temple bumps against the side of peter's face. ]

But . . . But you can't do this by yourself. There're— so many things we wish we could change, that we can't, because it's done. [ sending those letters. not being more precautions, too eager to please. the ambush on liberio, all the deaths, his friends, the rumbling— maybe if he hadn't been so open to eren jaeger, none of that would've come to pass. ] But we can make sure we do something today, to change today, and I know that's what you're doing. I see it, everyday. That's who I know— That's who I love, and Charlie does, too.