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the-coincidence-child · 1 year

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★ꕀ༒︎ꕀASLAN INFOꕀ༒︎ꕀ★

★ꕀ༒︎ꕀ★

:General info:

NAME- Aslan Sakamaki.

IN KANJI- 明守蘭スバル

BIRTHDAY- August 2nd

AGE- 11 (physically however is speculated to be 100+ years old)

STATUS- Alive

RACE- Half human, half vampire

GENDER- MALE, he/him

ETHNICITY- Japanese

HEIGHT- 150 cm

BLOOD TYPE- A

HAIR COLOUR- Black, with two white stripes placed in his hair.

EYE COLOUR- Red.

OCCUPATION- 1st year middle school student.

Ryoutei Academy, middle school program.

★ꕀ༒︎ꕀ★

-FAMILY MEMBERS-

SUBARU (Father)

EMI CHIHARU (mother)

KARLHEINZE (Grandfather)

CHRISTA (Grandmother)

MAMORU CHIHARU (Grandfather)

SHUU (Uncle)

REIJI (Uncle)

AYATO (Uncle)

KANATO (Uncle)

LAITO (Uncle)

KINO (Uncle (?) )

RICHTER (Great uncle)

★ꕀ༒︎ꕀ★

-VOICE ACTORS (HEADCANNON)-

Japanese- Mariya Ise

ENGLISH DUB- Christina Valenzuela

★ꕀ༒︎ꕀ★

-APPERANCE-

★ꕀ Aslan is a young boy with short black hair with two white stripes in the two front strands of his hair. His hair is cut unevenly with one little strand being longer then the rest. He has fairly pale white skin and deep red eyes just like Subaru's

In HAUNTED DARK BRIDAL Aslan wears a black vest with a white button up shirt, with black shorts. As well as some brown dress shoes showing his tight white socks. He is also seen with a necklace around his neck.

His SCHOOL UNIFORM is a white dress shirt buttoned all the way that has two little blood stains at the side of the collar as well as a little messed up tie, a black blazer, black vest, and black pants. As well as some black shoes. On his left forearm he has a little blue patch, to show that he is in the middle school program.

★ꕀ༒︎ꕀ★

★ꕀPERSONALITYꕀ★

★ꕀ Aslan is said to be just like his father Subaru, a hot head who may need a anger management class. He tends to bottle up his fears and anger getting upset at little things someone does, until one little thing will happen and he will break and scream at everything around him. He's fairly quiet, and doesn't see the point in speaking unless he's spoken to.

He's fairly a bit more calmer then Subaru, when he's bothered by his uncles or kids at school he's seen to be able to maintain his emotions better then Subaru is able to. However if he's touched in a situation he is not afraid to get violent with not just objects but people.

He's explained to be a "tsudere type", specifically towards Yui as her caring and affection always ends in him getting embarrassed he will constantly tell her off when she's nice to him. Once he is warmed up to someone though, he is a lot more gentle and caring, and can sometimes act like a normal child once he lets his guard down.

★ꕀ༒︎ꕀ★

★ꕀHISTORYꕀ★

★ꕀ In his first appearance, he was originally said to be the youngest brother of the Sakamaki family. Until Yui finally cracks the code that he is instead revealed to be Subaru's first son.

Aslan's mother "Emi Chiharu" was a sacrificial bride whom caught the eye and attention of Subaru. The two fell in love and ended up making love with each other. A few weeks later Emi found she was pregnant with Aslan, however at the same time her father Mamoru who is a known vampire hunter found her trying to bring her back. But due to the abusive history the two had Emi unsure of Subaru's safety, hers and the child growing inside her, packed her things leaving a note for Subaru and ran far away to get away from the mansion and her father.

She gave birth to Aslan, alone in a tiny, abandoned home continuing to raise him in there for the 4yrs of his life. Emi and Aslan had a strong bond with each other, Aslan even caring and taking care of his own mother, due to her poor mental health and physical health as well. Knowing how unaccepting the human world was of Aslan's kind, she did her best to keep him away from human contact. However, on lucky occasions she would walk with him in the village that was nearby them. However, upon a walk through the village a searcher who was sent to look for her by Mamoru, found her where abouts. Reporting back to her father. Mamoru and a search team came to get Emi, however upon finding Aslan and that he was a half breed. His anger took over and Aslan's mother was tortured then murdered in front of him. He wasn't saved either, originally supposed to be killed Karl came just in time to quickly save him. Karl brought him back with him, clothed him sending him off to live with the Sakamaki's. Where Subaru found out what happened with Emi, and that he now has a son. Even while being "safe" in the Sakamaki home, Emi's Father Mamoru hunts for him daily. Trying to kill him off so he doesn't breed his bloodline in the Chiharu bloodline.

Due to his trauma from recent events, he was unstable around the brothers. Learning who Subaru was and that he was his father brought him a rage that seemed unnormal for a young child like himself. Blaming him for his mothers death and that if he had just left her alone he wouldn't have been born and she'd still be alive. Looking at himself is a constant reminder that he was at 'fault' for her death. Due to Subaru's own trauma he was very unfit to raise him, and they never bonded or grew a loving relationship with each other. In fact Subaru neglected him quite a lot afraid of his ability to be a parent.

So Aslan grew up alone, becoming a cold and reserved person. Due to his mother keeping him away from human contact he is no good at making friends, or just interacting with people in general. With no one to support him, constant teasing from his uncles, a neglectful father whom he hates and argues with often. Aslan grew up to be a fairly violent, quite, untrust worthy person.

★ꕀ༒︎ꕀ★

★ꕀRELATIONSHIPSꕀ★

Aslan's relationship with SUBARU is seen to be nonexistent and very complicated. The brothers say that they normally just tell other students and the school that the two are brothers to cause less concern over the fact that the two have such a strained relationship.

Subaru, while doing his best to avoid Aslan finds it in possible when Aslan is sent to middle school after his own highschool set up a middle school program. Causing the two to argue more with each other.

Aslan is seen throughout Subaru's route and his own to be mean and brutal towards Subaru. If he is able to, throwing insults his way or again if able to be hitting or throwing things at Subaru. However, this is said to be done because Aslan wants attention from Subaru. And that he secretly loves him. Which isn't far from the truth. He still blames him for his mothers own death, even though it's just internalized blame on himself. However that idea scares him so he put the blame on Subaru.

So you can see why he shows such annoyance when ever Yui and Subaru interact with each other. He fears that if he loves another women Subaru will completely forget about him and kick him to the side completely. Then he'd have no one at all, and end up all alone.

★ꕀ༒︎ꕀ★

REIJI and Aslan have the best relationship with each other then anyone in the household. Aslan is seen impressed and admiring Reiji as a person and will even try and dress like him. Aslan once mentions to Yui that Reiji is the closes thing to a father figure to him.

-UNCLES-

Aslan is seen ignoring his uncles a lot. He gets away with it by hiding in the addict. But when he is down with them he deals with a lot of torment and bullying from them. The triplets for example doing it the most, will like to cause out burst from him, they even have a game called "like father like son" to see what reaction is most like Subaru. Most of his anxiety was caused by the triplets. So he does his very best to avoid them the most.

MUKAMI'S

Aslan likes RUKI a whole lot, when he saw him for the first time he was in awe by the scares on his neck, bracelets. Reiji got quite concerned when he said "that was the coolest thing someone has ever done to me" when the Mukami's flipped the car around, and Aslan saw the brothers there.

He admires him, however feeling off because the two are quite similar regardless. He doesn't openly say he likes him, but he does his best to treat him with respect even though he will get smart mouthy with him to 'assert dominance' show him he's not just some little kid. He writes about him a lot in his note book.

★ꕀ༒︎ꕀ★

Aslan dislikes KOU, his cheerful nature and two faced nature piss him off to no ends. However, he tends to find himself giggling when he see's how easily he can get Subaru flustered, upset. Even making prank plans with Kou to get a rise out of Subaru.

★ꕀ༒︎ꕀ★

Aslan acts very tough around YUMA, he doesn't care if he's plenty bigger then him. He has a very authority complex mindset, and wants people who look stronger then him to back off and to be respected by him, or for them to fear him. He doesn't show much interest to him besides trying to keep him from treating him like a kid.

★ꕀ༒︎ꕀ★

He's actually quite kind to AZUSA. He has made a few jokes about him being like a 'older brother' to him instead, jokingly calling him "lil brother" when he see's him.

★ꕀ༒︎ꕀ★

GRANDPARENTS

Aslan shows a lot of hatred to KARLHEINZE. Because he not only saved him but put him with the Sakamaki's. And in general sends a lot of unwanted things his way. They do have a sort of relationship with each other, but it's not the best nor a loving one.

Aslan thinks CHRISTA is weird. And honestly doesn’t like spending time with her nor being in her presence. The first time they met was by force from Karl-Heinz, Christa mistakes him as child Subaru, and will want to do nothing but hold and cradle him in her arms.

He has plenty of hate for MAMORU, not only because he killed his mother right in front of him, but because he has caused him to run away so much, and has tried to kill him on multiple occasions.

★ꕀ༒︎ꕀ★

YUI Aslan is shown to be distant with her, completely ignoring her existence. Sometimes even using violence to get her to leave him alone.

Once he noticed the relationship growing between Subaru and her he found himself growing to dislike her even more. Her motherly attention to him made him makes him upset, due to him not knowing the feeling of motherly love it's all too new for him to process.

He is seen to later open up to her more, even protecting her from his uncles a few times. In this time, Aslan and Yui have grown into a motherly son sort of vibe with each other. Though Aslan does his best to keep that kind of relationship small. As he feels he will end up hurting her in the end, and doesn't want to forget his own mother. But he gives her survival tactics and shows her how to get away from his uncles and Subaru so on.

If you pick his route for HDB, MB, DF you'll know he never bites Yui once even when he's in chronic pain.

★ꕀ༒︎ꕀ★

★ꕀABILITESꕀ★

Like all vampires, he has an inhuman strength as well as increased speed, increased vision and hearing, and smell. Being a vampire, he also has fast healing and healing saliva. But because he is a half vampire, his abilities are a lot weaker then a vampire.

★ꕀTeleportation

★ꕀFlying (During a full moon, Laito said he's always flying around the house or outside.)

★ꕀ Poison blood (because he is half human half vampire his blood is incredibly toxic, however has a mouth watering smell.)

★ꕀOTHERꕀ★

Because he's a half human half vampire species, he is more at risk of dying then other vampires. If his body is injured, he needs a little more care towards it. HOWEVER, he does not need food or blood to survive and can live without it CURRENTLY.

★ꕀ༒︎ꕀ★

★ꕀTRIVIAꕀ★

★ꕀ Aslan is right handed.

★ꕀ Aslan has a fiancé, her name is Elizabeth Minato.

★ꕀ He likes to sing and play music, Karlheinze got him a guitar and drum set for his birthday. Reiji even had to put rules on the volume because of how loud he would play with it.

★ꕀ He likes to read.

★ꕀ Aslan received a gift from Subaru for Christmas one time. After Aslan finally revealed that he was interesting in gems and stones Subaru went out of his way to buy him a set that he wanted but was out of stock. Secretly gifting him them.

★ꕀ Aslan likes to fly in the sky. Due to his enjoyment of stars and space he likes to go as high as he can.

★ꕀ The brothers said they enjoy listening to Aslan's laughter.

★ꕀ when the power went out, and Shuu couldn't listen to music. He had Aslan play a calm song on his guitar and sing him to sleep in his room.

★ꕀ Just like Subaru, his hair fluffs up in the summer time as well.

★ꕀ He sleeps and spends most of his time in the addict. Very rarely coming out. Though he does have his own room.

★ꕀ He likes to eat cucumbers with salt.

★ꕀ He sneezes like a kitten.

★ꕀ He's the only one of the brothers in all families who doesn't like Yui's blood.

★ꕀAslan really cannot get along with kids younger or his age, kids in general. He has mentioned on many occasions that he does not like talking or hanging out with them. Because he himself does not recognize himself as a child rather he see's himself as adult.

★ꕀ༒︎ꕀ★

#diabolik lovers #diabolik oc #Aslan Sakamaki #Aslan #biography #bio #character info

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grey-eyed-menace · 2 years

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The most striking difference between Makiko and Cordelia are there eyes, despite her practically being her mother in miniature, it's rather infuriatingly easy to tell them apart once Makiko is grown, which is something Cordelia has always, always, hated.

Her daughter inherited the wide, doe like, eyes of her mother, similar in appearance to Kanato really, (always so insistent, the little boy, calling her his twin, always clinging, always grasping, fingers interlocked, always reaching for her), it lends a softer edge to her face, a gentleness that Cordelia has lacked for centuries.

And if, perhaps, the world was cruel enough to let Cordelia survive long enough to see her daughter fully grown, then maybe she'd also be scandalized by the girls way of dressing.

[God, it's like she's in some Victorian drama, as though showing even the barest hint of ankle will send her suitors, numerous and all just as ugly as the last, screaming about whores and Sakamaki women being one and the same.]

Haruka and Beatrix share little little between each other, Haruka inherits heavily from her paternal grandmother, all broad shoulders, veiny hands, and upturned eyes, but the way they hold themselves never makes you doubt them as mother and daughter.

There's a steel to them both that makes even the most proud of suitors refuse to look them in the eye, a measure of a woman who knows what she's worth and refusing to budge back on it.

If Beatrix had been around longer, if Haruka had been able to see the side of her mother that was more then the neglect and tired weight of a world that only saw you as a tool to be used and discarded, they'd have been a terrifying force of nature.

[Haruka prefers the simplicity of the nights spent with a violin in hand, when she's something to be shown off.]

Perhaps it's a blessing in disguise that Kagami and Christa rarely differ in the way they present themselves, all fluttering silks and fae-like beauty, jutting bones and striking coloration.

No one ever expected Christa to break down into hysteric wails during her wedding, to be locked away and forgotten as easily as the change of the seasons, no one expected anything from the White Rose except to be fought over.

And so, no one expects the quiet rage that fuels Kagami, the iron that lies behind the quiet smiles and soft touches, no one quite expects her to take so heavily after her father, either, and no one certainly expected such a pretty flower to slip a knife between Tsukinami Shin's ribs.

[They call her a flower to be admired, already halfway wilted due to her mother's fate, they don't expect the poisonous roots over the beauty of her petals.]

#Diabolik Lovers #Diabolik Lovers OC

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sadclearance · 2 years

Note

ANYTHING with Subaru Sakamaki (preferably male reader if you don't mind)

gentle

pairing: subaru sakamaki x male! mortal! reader

summary: gentle is a foreign word to subaru, but he's a gentle boy.

category: fluff

warning(s): hemophilia(?), anemia(?), blood, biting, hickey(?), syringe (for prescribed medication)--i have no medical knowledge originally a oneshot but two more parts planned

word count: 2728

key:

italicized - flashback of christa's (subaru's mother's) words or thoughts

subaru sakamaki's mother wasn't present for much of his childhood, and the few memories he has of her are tainted by her often erratic state.

although he knows his mother wasn't stable and would be considered by most as abusive, she was important to him, and he took everything she said to heart.

"filthy"

"dirty"

"monster"

"something on your mind?" a gentle voice asks subaru. he feels nimble fingers gently wrap around his right hand, which is tightly gripping onto a pencil. it's on the verge of breaking, and that would've been his fifth pencil gone this week if the stranger hadn't intervened.

"gentle..."

subaru responds to the foreign word by abruptly pushing the stranger against the closest wall, his powers adding to his swiftness.

"agh--" the stranger, who turns out to be a boy who looks around subaru's age, grunts as his body slams into the wall. "sorry, you just looked like you were about to break your pen--"

subaru punches the wall next to the boy's head with his free hand.

"i'm sorry!" the boy flinches hard, squeezing his eyes shut tight.

"gentle!"

subaru releases his grip and lets the boy fall to the ground.

he picks up his pencil and is about to leave when the stranger's voice stops him.

"hey, i'm really sorry about interrupting you. it was my bad to sneak up on you like that," the clueless idiot says sheepishly.

subaru only scoffs before taking his leave.

"they're so pretty, aren't they, subaru?

if you provide the special care they need, they'll flourish and stay beautiful forever.

but just one mistake, and their pretty petals will wilt away and perish."

subaru becomes consciously aware of one of his classmates. he's never bothered to pay attention before, but it's as if this guy's presence demands subaru's interest. it was the way that he so swiftly changed from being terrified of subaru's violent demeanor to brushing it off as a natural reaction to being caught off guard. is he really that naive? what's wrong with him?

so far, what he knows is that his name is y/n, he is a new student, and he is incredibly stupid.

"hey," y/n smiles.

subaru isn't sure how this happened. did researching a boy so idiotic make his unawareness rub off on him? he's been staring directly at y/n, and he clearly saw that y/n noticed and was approaching him, yet he's still startled when he snaps out of his trance with y/n's face right in front of his.

subaru scowls at the boy and sits further back in his seat.

"what's up?" y/n asks as he sits in the empty seat next to subaru's. the seats around him are always empty. his temperament and sour personality aren't exactly a secret.

subaru tries to punch his desk hard enough to leave it on the edge of shattering as a warning, but y/n doesn't seem to want to take it.

"you've been staring at me a lot lately. could it be that the popular subaru sakamaki has taken an interest in me, the lowly commoner?" y/n jokes.

subaru's glare falters.

"what?" he hesitates.

"i was just kidding," y/n reassures. "is it because of last week? when i snuck up on you? because i'm really sorry about that. you just seem down every time you break a pencil, so i thought i could save that one."

what a talkative guy.

"yeah, i guess i am."

subaru didn't mean to say that out loud, and his face starts to burn.

"i don't give a damn about pencils," subaru immediately spits, averting his eyes and trying to ignore the way his face was heating up.

"yeah, my bad," y/n says dejectedly before getting up and returning to his original spot in class.

subaru waits until he knows y/n isn't nearby before allowing his eyes to wander to the back of the boy's figure. he almost feels bad for treating him so coldly.

his gaze moves toward the pencil in his hand as class starts.

---

the school courtyard is surrounded by rose bushes, which subaru recently found out is y/n's favorite spot to spend his lunch at.

he wouldn't say he started spending more time in the courtyard because of y/n. perhaps he too enjoys the presence of roses, which serves as a painful reminder of his late mother. who's to say otherwise?

lunch starts with his cheek resting against the palm of his hand, staring at y/n as he eats sunflower seeds at the table in the middle of the courtyard, where he always sits.

as a vampire, he's never thought to eat sunflower seeds before. subaru rarely eats human meals because there isn't really a need for it, and when he does, it's grand meals. sunflower seeds simply don't fit into that category.

he doesn't care much for sunflowers in general. the roses that surround his peripheral vision catch more of his interest.

his vision subconsciously focuses on the roses that are next to him. his seat is at the edge of the courtyard, and a few stray roses are closer to him than they should be. the groundskeeper would probably snip them off as a punishment for their disobedience later.

subaru reaches out to touch the closest one to him when he suddenly becomes aware of a presence right next to him.

"the roses are really pretty, aren't they?" y/n asks as subaru's hands reach the rose.

the rose crumples in his tight grip.

"ah, careful!" y/n says as he pulls subaru's hand close to him. he pries open the fingers and lets the scrunched up petals fall to the ground. "that looks painful."

subaru looks at his hand to see what y/n is talking about. there is a rose thorn buried in the palm of his hand.

"let's go to the infirmary--"

"mind your own damn business," subaru growls, taking back his hand from y/n. "there's an infirmary?"

"right..." y/n rubs the side of his arm. "well... if you don't wanna go to the infirmary..."

y/n pulls out a first aid kit from his bag. it's a foreign object to subaru, as vampires doesn't need such things. he only vaguely remembers seeing a human have one when he was out in a civilian city years ago.

y/n gingerly takes subaru's hand once more and uses a pair of tweezers to pull out the thorn. he carefully drops the thorn away from them and finishes it off by smoothing a bandaid over the wound.

subaru knows he should've teleported away from this inconvenience, seeing as his powers would have healed the small prick on its own, but he stays.

"and the finishing touch is a kiss to make it all better."

subaru's clenched jaw can only slacken at the sight and feeling of y/n's lips brushing against the palm of his hand.

"what are you doing?!" subaru asks when he overcomes his shock, snatching his hand back again.

"a kiss to make it all better?" y/n repeats as if the answer is obvious.

"that stupid human saying..." subaru scoffs as he gets up from his seat and leaves.

yet, he still can't help but stare at the place where his skin met y/n's lips when he gets back home.

---

as the weeks go on, subaru notices that y/n is often alone. he isn't like subaru, the infamous lone wolf. he speaks with others and usually sticks with a group of low ranking half-blood vampires in class.

subaru wants to know if y/n is a half-blood.

his speculation of what species y/n is is interrupted by y/n falling to the floor.

"what happened?" one of the half-bloods asks as he hops off of the desk he was sitting on.

"sorry," y/n lets out a timid laugh. "i just felt really dizzy."

"dizzy?"

"yeah. guess i need to get in better shape or something."

"okay..."

dizzy? subaru frowns. that rules out vampire.

---

subaru had forgotten that stupid pencil y/n saved that one time in the classroom, so he goes back to get it. he refuses to admit to himself that the pencil holds any sort of significance, even if he's going out of his way to stay after school to get it back.

as he nears his classroom, he hears a racket.

his ears tell him that there are desk legs scraping on the floor, small objects scattering across the tiles, and someone being shoved against a wall.

he's contemplating whether or not he should involve himself with something so troublesome when the luring scent of human blood catches his attention.

he isn't even sure why a human is on the school premises, but he doesn't have time to care about the trivial facts. he breaks through the door to the classroom, blind with desire. he freezes at the sight laid out in front of him.

y/n is pinned to the wall by one of the half-bloods he's usually around, his teeth buried in y/n's neck, and another sits on a desk watching the ordeal.

the half-blood with his filthy hands on the collar of y/n's shirt drops him and turns around to face subaru.

the two disappear into the air before subaru can hurl himself at them, knowing fully well that the power of two half-bloods is no match for one full-blood with temperament issues.

"subaru," y/n smiles faintly from the ground.

there is no doubt about it. the cause of his temptations is y/n.

subaru feels an impossible rage building up inside of him as his eyes find the source of the smell. the half-blood had already taken a bite. he digs his teeth in over the mark, sinking as far down as they can go.

he closes his eyes in bliss at the delightful taste of fresh human blood. it tastes better than he remembers it being.

"shot... the shot..." y/n says weakly as he slides his hands across the ground, clearly searching for something.

subaru opens his eyes and sees something that looks like a syringe. there's already liquid inside of it. that must be what y/n's been searching for.

he panics as he feels y/n go limp. his prey have all fallen before but never this soon. he laps at the flowing blood, but it just doesn't seem to be stopping.

he grabs the syringe and jabs it into y/n's arm, unsure of how to revive a human or what the purpose of the syringe even is.

"damn it!" subaru shouts, punching the wall next to y/n's head once more.

---

"subaru?" y/n calls. "is that you?"

ah.

he's been caught.

by then, the news that a human was attacked by vampires on school grounds is spread all throughout the school. subaru was about to punch the next person who mentioned a human when he overheard that the said human was in the infirmary.

nobody even knew that there was an infirmary at the school before this happened. there was no need for one. every student--well, all but one--had the ability to heal themselves.

well, he only came by to see if he was still alive.

not that he cares or anything, as clearly shown by how he's skipped all of his classes to roam the school grounds, trying to find the infirmary.

"thanks for yesterday," y/n smiles as subaru reveals himself.

subaru is more than confused.

"you did a pretty terrible job of giving it to me, but you still gave me the shot nonetheless. you saved my life."

once again, subaru's face burns, and he can only scoff at the statement.

"i wasn't trying to."

"okay, i believe you," y/n laughs.

subaru stands there for a bit, just watching.

"aren't you supposed to be in class?" y/n asks.

"none of your business," subaru huffs.

"well, if you're not going to class, why don't you take a seat?" y/n gestures to the chair next to his bed. "this room gets lonely after a while."

"you've been here for a few hours. human hospital stays can last for days," subaru rolls his eyes but takes a seat anyway.

"this is my room."

subaru isn't sure if this is supposed to be a joke or not. on one hand, it is pretty peculiar that an infirmary not known to most has popped up out of nowhere.

on the other hand, why would his room be the infirmary? well, that also leads to a million other questions including: why is a human attending ryoutei academy?

"this is like boarding school for me, i guess," y/n shrugs when subaru doesn't respond. "when school's over, i just come back here. my father gives lots and lots of donations to the school, so they made this place for me to stay at."

"must be boring," subaru says, more just saying his thoughts out loud than responding to y/n. it's a small room with a bed with curtains that could surround it, a door to the restroom in one corner, a small refrigerator--the bare necessities that he can think of for a human. yet, there's nothing to do for fun. there's no television, no damned books like reiji's room has, no music player like shuu does.

"it is," y/n agrees, leaning back on his bed. "when i'm not at school, i'm in here, bored and lonely."

"go spend time with those disgusting half-bloods you're always with then," subaru rolls his eyes.

"if i didn't know any better, i'd think you were jealous," y/n teases, earning a glare from subaru. "even if i wanted to, i can't really do that now. since yesterday and all..."

subaru turns away. he had done the same as the half-bloods, so why is y/n letting him stay in his room?

"i'm not allowed to leave this room outside of school anyway, so i guess yesterday doesn't really matter," y/n tries to laugh off.

"says who?"

"my father," y/n plays with a loose thread on his blanket.

"flourish"

subaru grabs y/n's hand.

"what--"

before he can finish his sentence, he's in a gothic style room.

"so vampires really sleep in coffins," y/n laughs a little. "is this your room?"

"yeah..."

"can i get in it?" y/n asks.

"i don't give a damn."

subaru turns his head, but he can still hear y/n opening his coffin and get inside.

"there's padding in this thing. wow," y/n feels around the foreign thing. "it's more comfortable than i thought it would be."

"so who's this pretty thing you have in your bed?" laito suddenly appears.

"woah--!" y/n jumps when laito appears right next to him in the surprisingly roomy coffin.

"no need to be scared, little birdie," laito laughs lightly. "or maybe you should be."

"get out," subaru clenches his fist, trying his hardest to contain his anger.

"why so angry, little brother? sharing is caring, don't you think?" laito turns to y/n and holds his face in his hand.

"i... i'm sorry, i don't really know who you are," y/n tries to back away, but he doesn't get far from laito's grasp.

"get out!" subaru yells, fist punching through the wall.

"i'll leave if i can take this one with me," laito leans his face close to y/n's neck. "his smell alone is inviting."

laito licks a long stripe from y/n's jaw to his adam's apple before a fist is swung his way. he teleports away just in time before subaru can punch him.

"you're always so sensitive," laito sighs before leaving fully.

"thanks," y/n smiles.

subaru looks at him for the first time since they've entered the room.

"what?" he asks when subaru just stares.

the top of white hair is the only thing he sees when he feels a warm mouth on him.

"wait, subaru, if you bite me now--"

"just one mistake, and their pretty petals will wilt away and perish."

subaru retracts his teeth, but he stays latched on.

they stay like that for a while, and subaru is sure that this is supposed to be awkward. he's on top of him, closer to him than he ever has been to anyone since his mother's imprisonment, and he's attached to his neck for a reason that isn't feeding.

the useless thoughts leave his head when he feels a hand on his head, gentle fingers stroking his hair.

"but that won't be a problem for you, will it, subaru? since you're such a gentle boy."

a/n;

req from tumblr

i wrote the first part of this a year ago and then the only note i left for myself to carry on was:

"idkk y/n has anemia and hemophilia lol and then that's why subaru has to be careful and mortals are like roses because if you're not careful they will crumple wilt and die"

hope you like it anon!

#subaru sakamaki #subaru sakamaki x reader #x male reader #male reader insert #diabolik lovers x male reader #diabolik lovers #subaru sakamaki x male reader

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bubbleteaimagines · 3 years

Text

Pants on Fire

Reiner Braun Oneshot

Summary: Part two of this

Pairings: Reiner Braun x Reader

Warnings: Angst

when you woke up, you had a killer headache. moaning, you grabbed at your head wishing the pain would just stop. you opened your eyes to see what the hell was happening, but you quickly gasped and scuttled away when you saw who you were sitting next to.

“woah, woah, easy,” reiner’s voice caused panic to swell in your chest. letting out a scream, you swung in his direction and jumped back.

“get away from me!” you yelled out, your fearful eyes locking with reiner’s.

those eyes, those damn eyes that once brought you to your knees now filled you with utter terror. those eyes that you once could never get enough of now belong to a murderer.

“y-y/n,” reiner’s face flashed with hurt as he reached out for you. “y/n, baby it’s just me.”

“no!” you recoiled from his grasp as tears filled your eyes. “no, no, no! you’re a monster! g-get away from me!”

you tried to scramble back but your back ended up hitting a tree. it was then that you noticed exactly where you were, a yelp escaping your lips as you noticed eren and ymir with you, titan’s scratching at the trees below you.

“eren! ymir!” you yelled out for your comrades, seeing as they were on another tree. eren’s arms were cut off and so were ymir’s.

eren offered you a weak nod while ymir said nothing.

“what did you do to them?!” you shouted at reiner.

“don’t worry, they’ll heal,” bertholdt told you. he was standing a good distance away from you, reiner having been the closest.

“y/n—”

“shut the fuck up,” you found yourself staring at him with hatred in your eyes, even though you felt quite the opposite. on the inside, your heart was hurting. scratch that, it was burning and it was burning for reiner. your body had become so accustomed to his touch that you were aching for it, but you couldn’t. because he wasn’t your reiner anymore.

“you don’t get to speak after everything you’ve done,” you snapped, pain in your voice.

“baby please,” a frown tugged at his lips, “please, let me explain.”

“oh boy, here we go again,” ymir rolled her eyes.

“get away from them!” eren shouted out, his glare intense on reiner. but in his state, he couldn’t exactly do anything.

“i said shut up!” you growled again, flinching as reiner leaned closer to hold your face.

you couldn’t help it— you immediately began to melt. his touch was your weakness, after all. it always had been. it sent electric shocks through your body and reiner knew you had felt it.

he was gentle, just like he had always been.

“baby...”

“don’t touch me!” you cried out, smacking his hand away. “don’t you fucking dare!”

“please, y/n, you have to understand!” he pleaded. his eyes were sad, begging you to listen. “everything i did, that was before you. and everything i’m doing now, it’s for you.”

you would have scoffed if you weren’t so heartbroken in the moment. everything inside of you wanted to reach out to reiner. you wanted to be in arms, you wanted for him to hold you and comfort you and explain all of this confusing stuff to you.

you wanted him, even after everything you saw. and that absolutely disgusted you.

“please,” a tear slipped down your cheek as you looked helplessly at eren. “just let me go. let us go, we won’t tell the others where you are. you can let us go, reiner. you can turn yourself in and end...whatever this is!”

“i can’t,” reiner turned away as he gritted his teeth. “i wish i could baby, but i can’t.”

“stop calling me that!” you broke down, pain coursing through your veins at the nickname.

baby.

reiner had called you that during your first date.

baby.

reiner had called you that when he held you in his arms, peppering soft kisses on your face while telling you how much he loved you.

baby.

reiner called you that when he made love to you, whispering how good you felt around him.

your fists clenched. “you lost the right to call me that the minute you revealed your true self to me. you’re a murder, reiner braun! do you hear me?!”

you could tell that your words were hurting him, like a knife digging deeper and deeper. he looked utterly heartbroken as he heard you speak but oddly, it brought you satisfaction.

by the way he had shattered your heart it was only fair he felt the way you were feeling right now.

“you killed my family,” you continued, “terrorized my friends! you sat there and listened to me cry about them when it was you the entire time!”

“i’m sorry,” reiner looked away, tears filling his eyes but you weren’t listening.

“you held me when i had nightmares from that day and whispered how much you understood! you stood by while our friends were killed by the titan’s you let in! you made love to me, reiner, you were my first! you were my everything goddammit and you...it was all a lie!”

finally, your voice broke and you leaned back against the tree, sobs raking your body.

everything inside of you began to shut down, and you just couldn’t take it anymore. how could you after you just learned the man you had loved for three years was a traitor?

“y/n—” reiner tried to reach for you but you were unavailable. “i love you, you have to believe me. nothing i told you was a lie!”

“won’t you just shut up already?!” eren’s voice cut the atmosphere like a knife. “can’t you see that you’ve done enough damage? for three years you’ve strung y/n on and lied to them, why can’t you just stop?”

“because you don’t understand!” reiner suddenly yelled, causing you to flinch back. “i...we don’t have a choice! we have to do this!”

“no you don’t,” you whispered brokenly, letting out another sob. “reiner, please.”

“i’m sorry baby,” he sunk down and held his head in his hands. “i-i wish there was something i could do...if i wasn’t such a coward...”

a stray tear ran down his face and you hated yourself for getting the urge to wipe it away.

“reiner,” bertholdt’s voice caused the blonde to look up with pain behind his eyes. “i know this is sad for you but you’ve got pull it together. someone’s coming!”

at this, all four of you strained your necks to see what he was talking about. peering around reiner’s tall frame, hope flooded your veins as you saw green smoke.

“the scouts,” you whispered, your eyes widening. “the scouts are coming!”

you could have laughed in that moment. even though you knew they weren’t necessarily coming for you, you were still going to be rescued.

“shit,” reiner and bertholdt became frantic bad the sounds hooves echoed closer. “we gotta leave — they’ll be here soon.”

“no!” ymir was the one to protest. “i’m not leaving without christa! we had a deal, braun!”

“w-what?” you stared at ymir with betrayal. she had made a deal with them?

“there’s no time,” reiner snapped, ignoring her request. “we have to go before they get here and take eren and y/n from us!”

“what do you want from me?!” eren yelled angrily, thrashing around.

“what we want is for you to come with us — no resisting. can you do that?” reiner grunted, strapping on his ODM gear.

your eyes widened in fear. “no! no reiner you can’t leave!” you involuntarily blurted out.

this caused reiner to pause, hope filling his eyes.

“i-i mean,” you were quick to cover yourself, “you can’t take me with you! it’s not fair! i won’t — please, don’t make me!”

“i have no choice,” reiner frowned, bending to your level with sad eyes.

“you do,” you spit out, rapidly nodding your head. “you do reiner, please. eren was right — don’t you think you’ve done enough?”

“y/n you don’t understand,” he shook his head. “i can’t lose you baby. you’re the one thing that’s kept me sane. i have to...there’s no other way.”

he reached over to grasp you in his arms and it was then that you realized you weren’t even tied down in the first place. you had been completely free the entire time. so why — why did you not try to run? why did you not try harder to escape, when freedom was right there?

“baby, please,” you locked eyes with reiner. “please don’t do this.”

you knew he was on the verge of collapsing as you reciprocated the nickname. your voice was so soft, so small that reiner actually feel to his knees.

“there’s always a choice,” you reminded him, delicately placing your shaking hand on his cheek. “and if you love me, if you truly love me then please, reiner. leave me here.”

reiner eagerly grabbed at your hand, desperate for your touch. his large palm overlapped yours and he savored the feeling of your skin on his.

“i’m sorry,” his voice broke as he shook his head and took out a small dart. “i love you, baby. so much,” he promised.

“that’s why i have to do this,” he whispered, and then your world went black.

when you woke up again, you found yourself staring at the familiar patterns on your ceiling.

confused, you sat up, the last memories of reiner lingering on your mind.

“hey,” a gentle voice caused you to jump slightly, but you calmed down once you noticed that it was only armin.

he looked a little worse for wear, his blonde hair messy and his blue eyes swimming with emotions. but hey — at least he was alive. and so were you apparently.

“armin,” you groaned out, your throat raspy from being knocked out. “what happened?”

you remembered reiner’s eyes and his face contorted in pain. that was the last sight you saw before everything went black, and apparently a lot had happened since then.

“we found you in a tree when we went to rescue eren,” armin explained, fiddling with his fingers. “eren said that reiner left you there before he and the others ran away.”

“what—”

you remembered your conversation with him.

“if you truly love me then please, reiner. leave me here.”

you let out a gasp. against your will, more tears began to fill your eyes. pretty soon, you found yourself sobbing again while armin gently held you in his arms.

“hey, hey,” he frowned as he heard you call out reiner’s name, “he’s gone, okay? he left with bertholdt and ymir. you’re safe now — y/n i know he lied to you. and i know it’s painful but he’s gone, you hear me? he can’t hurt you anymore.”

another cry left your lips as you heard that reiner was gone. so that was it then. the love of your life was gone and you were never going to see him again.

“armin,” you managed to choke a sentence through your sobs. “i’m not crying because reiner lied to me.”

armin frowned. tilting his head, you could tell that he was confused. “y-you’re not? t-then why are you crying then?”

you sniffled as all the memories of you and reiner began to play out in your head. every kiss, every delicate touch. every time he made you laugh up until the very last time he made you cry.

you replayed it all, and then you stopped once you got to his last words to you.

“armin, i’m crying because he told me the truth.”

#reiner braun imagine #reiner x reader #aot reiner #reiner braun x you #reiner braun x reader #reiner braun #reiner x you #attack on titan x reader #attack on titan imagine #attack on titan #shingeki no kyoujin fanfiction #shingeki no kyoujin imagine #shingeki no kyoujin x reader #shingeki no kyojin

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rosec0urtz · 2 years

Text

Reiner cadet head canons

As we know, Reiner was always the big brother role; but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t a little shit at times 😎

He was surprisingly always up to mischief, and liked to play pranks on other cadets

The commanders would never tell him off though, because they didn’t think perfect Reiner would actually be putting bugs under the girls pillows or gluing books shut.

It’s cuz he liked the attention

The pranks he did on Historia/Christa were a lot more gentle; but he stopped one day when he saw her crying over her perfectly organised pencil case being suddenly not so organised. That and because Ymir said she would shove said pencil case up his ass if he did it again. Tomato/tomato.

If they had a day off the next day (I mean tbh even if they didn’t) Reiner is passing a disgusting bottle of heavy alcohol round the boys dorm and daring them all to drink.

Connie is eager and is usually the first drunk

Reiner is the last.

In ODM training he would try and annoy Bertolt by pushing him (gently) in the air or cutting Titan dummies first because he thought Bertolts reserved reactions were funny

Loved to cook and would often volunteer to help with meal making for everyone’s breakfast/dinner

He is honestly really good at cooking so Sasha end up joining him a lot to “help taste test” the food he makes.

He learnt a lot of stuff from his mum so he’s pretty good with his seasoning

When he gets stressed or misses home he likes to use his ODM gear and just soar around in the giant forest. The wind in his hair helps clear his head and he like to think he’s getting better with the gear because of it.

He also writes letters to his mum when he’s missing home, ofcourse he knows he can’t actually send them to her but it helps get the thoughts and overthinking off his mind. Once Connie found a letter and teased Reiner so Reiner beat him up.

Reiner really enjoys reading and makes a lot of use of the library’s.

He find the paradis history really interesting but cringes at the things he knows are completely inaccurate or made up. He’s surprised no one notices or calls out the mis information but of course would never bring it up himself

This is the first ever head canon I’ve ever done please be gentle with me 😪 and send requests!!

#attack on titan #aot #snk #aot incorrect quotes #shingeki no kyojin #104th squad #104th trainee corps #cadets #reiner braun #aot warriors

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diaphobic · 3 years

Note

For the parents: thoughts on pregnancy?

(Going with the assumption the whole 1 vampire year of growth is 20 human years is correct, making one pregnancy last 16 years and 6 months for the baby to fully develop, and delivery being a 24 hours minimum thing per baby)

Beatrix: “To carry the first son of Karlheinz was truly a blessing. I cherish the memories I have carrying my sons. Both of them were very gentle boys even while I was carrying them. They treated me well.”

Cordelia: “Hah! Pregnancy? I only ever went through that to please my dear husband. It was a highly unpleasant experience. I curse those triplets for taking so long to come out. They’re lucky I’m such a beautiful woman. I stayed stunning throughout that pregnancy.”

Christa: “I’m happy to have had my son Subaru, but.. It.. It was awful!! Having a child.. No, a thing grow inside me was disgusting! I was being corrupted day by day!”

Karlheinz: “Fufu, pregnancy is quite an amazing journey. My wives each grew a new child from the seed I planted inside them. Life is beautiful, is it not?”

#diabolik lovers #beatrix sakamaki #cordelia sakamaki #Karlheinz #christa sakamaki #(( Karl no ))

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dionnaea · 3 years

Text

Return | Reiner x Reader

pairing: reiner braun x reader

warnings: pining but confused reiner, fluff, just cute stuff :)

wc: 1.3k

a/n: i have some other ideas for this reader and story, but i liked ending it here. lmk if there’s interest in a part 2!

attack on titan masterlist | general masterlist

It had been, to put it politely, a shit day.

First, Annie had kicked your ass during hand-to-hand combat training, rosy bruises now forming along your skin. Second, your wires had gotten tangled during ODMG practice, leaving you hanging upside down from a tree until Christa found you around five minutes later. Dinner was terrible for multiple reasons (the main one being that Eren had knocked soup all over you while tousling with Jean), and now, as you finally tried to get a moment of peace, Reiner was waiting patiently outside of the girls’ barracks. You weren’t sure how long he had been standing there, arms crossed like he was the hired guard of the place, but you didn’t really care. Ignoring him, you started your trek to your desired location.

“Hey! Y/N!” He was whisper-shouting, not wanting to be found out by your superiors, as he pushed himself off of the wall. When you didn’t acknowledge him, he called out again. When no response came, he resorted to other methods. With a large step, he managed to catch up to your pace and with calculated precision, he reached out and grabbed your wrist.

You stopped at the contact, eyes widening for just a moment until you brought your face back to rest in its neutral position. His touch was surprisingly gentle, his grasp only applying enough pressure to get your attention. Slowly, hesitantly, you turned around. You met his gaze, careful to not let your flustered state come to his attention.

“Do you need something, Reiner?”

It came out more harsh than you intended, but the boy was used to that by now. Your voice was never soft when speaking with the other cadets, instead usually coming out as neutral and with enough interest towards others that the spotlight naturally drifted off of you. You were quiet, but not so quiet as to be labelled as such. You spoke when you needed to, participated in conversations you were dragged into, and seemed generally amicable. You lived life in the middle, just normal enough to be both unremarkable and unnoticeable.

It was impressive, honestly, and over the time he had known you, Reiner realized exactly how much effort you constantly put in to stay in that position.

Reiner faltered at the way you stared up at him, like you were waiting on both permission and an order. It was too submissive, too innocent for a girl like you, and he didn’t know if he loved or hated the way your eyelashes fluttered when you blinked. He could feel your heartbeat under his fingers, steady and unwavering unlike his own. His heart usually ran a tad faster when he was in your presence but now, noticing the way his fingers crossed over his thumb as they circled your tiny wrist, he felt like it might stop beating all together. Quickly, he let go, moving his hand to rub the back of his neck.

“Um, I…” He wasn’t sure if he wanted to confess this, but he didn’t know how else to explain his presence outside of your dorm. “I was worried about you, knew somethin’ was off. Figured I’d wait outside until I saw you.”

You blinked again, expression steady except for a small twitch of your lips. Was that annoyance or the start of a smile? Reiner didn’t know, but he desperately hoped for the later, nervous you might think he was some kind of stalker after his weak explanation.

“Oh,” was all you replied with.

There was an uncomfortable silence between the two of you, and Reiner was sure he’d been standing there avoiding your gaze for at least five minutes at that point. His mind stumbled to find something better to say, but words escaped him, and he wondered how he had ever managed to call himself smooth with a straight face. Right as he started to say something, you spoke, your voice as crisp as the night air.

“Thanks. I’m fine, though.”

The gratitude seemed sincere enough, and you appeared mostly unbothered by the situation. Still, a part of Reiner felt that he had interrupted something and a bit of guilt nagged at the back of his mind. Against his better judgement, he tried to ease his own insecurities by pestering you more.

“Where are you going? You know you’ll get in trouble if you’re seen out of the barracks at this time of night.” There was worry lacing his voice, but a note of leadership and command was there, too.

“I know.” You tucked your hands into the pockets of your pajama bottoms and just barely tilted your head to the side. “You’ll get in trouble, too.”

It was a good point, and Reiner, in all honesty, hadn’t really thought of what consequences might be bestowed upon him when he snuck out of his own bunk to go to yours. Mostly, he was thinking about you.

You let out a small sigh and brought your hand up to point your thumb behind you. “I’m going to the lookout over the lake. You’re welcome to come if you really want to.” Obviously, Reiner was hesitant to leave you; it was clear from the hurried glances he sent your direction to the way he avoided your gaze when you allowed your eyes to meet his. You didn’t know why he was so worried, but you had decided to give the guy a break and allow him to come with you if it would ease his concerns.

After he agreed in the form of a nod, you turned back around, walking the path you had gone down so many times you could do it with your eyes closed. Reiner followed silently, but you could feel his eyes on you as you took every step. It felt like he was studying you, and you wondered what knowledge he was hoping to find along the planes of your back.

You paused, reaching your destination, and when you still heard the crunching of leaves behind you, you spoke up, snapping Reiner out of his trance before he walked right off the cliff, “Reiner, we’re here.” You motioned your hand out in front of you in presentation and then took a seat, leaning back on your arms and reveling in the feeling of cold stone seeping into your skin. He followed suit, sitting down beside you.

For a bit, it was quiet, only the sound of wind cutting through trees floating into your ears. To both your surprise and his, you spoke first, your voice softer than Reiner had ever heard it. Suddenly, he was trespassing on private property, heart racing as he waited to be caught and kicked out.

“You know, I come out here almost every night.” Reiner turned to face you, studying your profile as the moonlight traced the lines of your face. Silver dusted down the slope of your nose. “It’s just… peaceful, I guess. Reminds me of home.”

Reiner froze. Missing home. Now that was something he could understand. “Me, too.” He paused, scared to say his next words out loud, scared to admit something to you that he didn’t even want to admit to himself. “I… I want to go back. Home, I mean.”

The corners of your lips turned up, and you let out a light chuckle, the sound being swept away by the wind before Reiner got a chance to truly listen to it. “I think we all do. It’s too tempting to want something we can’t have.” You finally turned your head to meet his eyes, sparkling gold. They held unspoken secrets, and you knew he could see the same thing in yours. “But doesn’t that make it all the more rewarding in the end? When we do get to go back home?”

There was a sharp intake of breath, Reiner’s chest filling with air for the first time since he arrived on this island. Home. You said he’d get to go back, and for once, there was confidence and passion and hope in your voice. And for some reason, for some odd reason Reiner would never truly understand, he believed you.

#attack on titan #attack on titan fanfiction #snk fanfiction #reiner x reader #reiner braun #reiner braun x reader #snk #mere writes

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n0irrrr · 3 years

Text

e m p t y / 14

shingeki no kyojin | series [various x male!amnesiac!reader] summary: [Name], an amnesiac boy awakes in a unknown place – trying to remember anything makes him have horrible headaches. Who is he? And why he can’t remember his own face? masterlist

chapter fourteen

seek

“Nothing is going to work, XXXXXXX.”

”Don’t speak so negatively— this kid is our future.”

”Our future? XXXXXX, we have no future! Yeah, he controls it, then what? Can we return from the death? Of course fucking not!”

”I believe in him. He will be one of the people who free us all— you heard him, didn’t you? This kid is strong.”

”Is that what you call strong? The brat can barely handle a headache, and that’s where he cries like a goddamn baby. This kid is not going to be a hero, nor a savior. This world is condemned to fail like in the beginning.”

”He wouldn’t suffer much if you weren’t so intrusive onto him,” they sigh, “the XXXX may have kill us all, but our destiny made us stay together— we have to protect this child.”

“How the fuck can we protect if we’re not there, and this kid doesn’t bear a damn headache?”

”He won’t try to remember— he knows the pain well.”

”That’s right, XXXXXXX. W——, stop being like this— [Name] will get a concussion or get ill like before. The child has had enough already.”

”As if I care. It’s not as if I have faith in the first place,” he sighs, “we should have stayed hidden... the X?#! was a son of a bitch for doing what he did. Why the fuck did we returned?”

”We can’t let the past repeat again— this world doesn’t deserve that.”

”Humanity deserves it.”

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"—me]! Enough sleep!"

"Hmn...?" He opens his eyes slowly, recognizing Jean with an annoyed expression— [name] noticed he was already ready for training, "how tiring..."

"If you don't wake up now you will in three hours— so get dressed already,” he helps [Name] sit, getting his messy hair out of his face and talking to him to not fall asleep again. Marco was near to learn about how to wake up [Name] properly, as he was his partner. He didn't say it out loud, but [Name]'s sleepy and messy hair was a pretty cute and funny look.

The thought made him blush, looking at the side in shyness, "What I'm thinking?!" He smiled sheepishly, rubbing the side of his neck.

Successfully making [Name] getting off the bed, he stretches like a cat. Looks like Jean has already placed his uniform on the bed to not make it more difficult to him. "Thank you, Jean."

His friend sighs, gritting his teeth. Irritated by such careless attitude, Jean ordered him, "just dress already, okay?"

"Aaaah? Jean looks like a mom! HAHAHA!" Connie jokes, laughing with everyone else. This makes Jean's blush worse, not liking the spotlight one a bit.

This is what I was trying to avoid!!! DAMMIT!

"S-SHUT UP!"

“You are talking too loudly,“ [name] rubbed his eye, frowning. They were so loud in the mornings— he couldn’t wait for their day off to sleep as much as he wanted.

“That will be necessary to make you stay awake, don’t you think?" Marco chuckled sweetly, helping [name] to button his shirt. “[name] does look as cute as a kitten, but he is strong, or even stronger than Annie... For some reason, I feel... safe,” he thinks with a tint of scarlet on his face, finishing his actions. It was true— [Name] wasn’t an idiot, much less clueless. Marco believed his friend stood his ground with whoever, and if [name] noticed the true dark intentions of others, they would pay a big prize for it. He had to be just waken up from that slumber in which the freckled boy wouldn't leave him alone.

“That's annoying,” he yawns, "I can't wait to sleep in the woods again..."

“The woods? Wouldn't that be dangerous? You don't know how many wolves can be there! Or even bears!!"

"Bears are cute," [name] blinked, "I wouldn't mind."

"Don't say that!!! They are dangerous!"

"But cute," he chuckled, "do you think Reiner would win a fight with a bear? Bertolt is huge, but I think Reiner would win."

Marco blinked a few times as he processed the sudden question. Laughing, the freckled boy imagined such scene. "What was that question for?"

"Dunno— just thought about it," he stands up, seeing Marco finished buttoning his shirt. "What are we doing today?"

"Oh—! We are doing a training in the woods! I think it's a survival thing— so maybe we would be there for two days," he smiled, "isn't that exciting?"

"The woods?" [name] grinned.

"You won't find a bear, [name]!"

"If I'm lucky maybe I would be paired with Reiner..." he mutters, tapping his lower lip with his finger.

The freckled boy sighed, amused by such interesting person. [Name] could be incredible when he wanted— he sure said silly things, but when the situation was needed he was responsible and took things in a serious manner. Analyzing him was interesting and funny— it was as if Marco was watching a deer from a hide place, observing and taking notes. [Name] was sure different, but Marco couldn't pin point what was the thing that made him who he was— his unusual eyes? the mark he had on his shoulder? the stuff he said? his motivations? He couldn't describe it, but it was pleasant to spent time with him.

"—co. Marcooooo..." [name]'s voice filled his ears. He didn't even notice him losing himself in his thoughts, "what were you thinking about? Are you sleepy?"

Marco gently laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry— I was just thinking," he looks at [name], "we should go for breakfast— there's still time, so let's go!"

[name] blinked, tilting his head. It wasn't often Marco got lost in his thoughts, "...okay," looking at Jean, who was still fighting with Connie, [name] spoke out of him, "we are going to breakfast, Jeanbo!" and with that, [name] took Marco's hand to leave with a grin on his face. He didn't want to stay and hear Jean's yells at him— he could hear Connie's laughter as he repeated the nickname. Jean is going to be angry at me... Oh well.

Marco just laughed, amused. He really never wanted training days to end.

━━━━━━✧♛✧━━━━━━

As breakfast finished, Marco left first to get ready with Jean— the both of them were eager for today's training. [Name] took his time to finish, leaving the barrack to find the others. Unfortunately, some other thing made him remember how unlucky he could be.

He bumped into someone else, making the poor victim fall on the ground.

"I'm sorry— I didn't see you," [Name] spoke with worry, offering his hand to the other to take— it was a petite blonde girl. The boy blinked, tilting his head as he saw the resemblance of a pretty doll. Hmn... I know her. What's her name...?

But when their hands touched, an electrifying sensation passed trough arm to his eyes, making them freeze in the spot. It seemed the girl felt it too, because her friend quickly hushed [Name]'s hand from her, making them wake up from the strange daze.

P̷̟͑r̸̨̢̛͙͕͈̲̻͓͔͍̣̮͋̍͒̃̈́͜x̴̧̘̯̹̦͙̭̜͉͔̙͍̫͆͑̉#̴̨̢͉̲̥̞̤̣̦͕̹̙͌̾̅̏́͂͋̅ë̶̙̭͔̞̥͌̇̇̄͝x̷̮̺͍̗͍͖̟͙͛͜ͅx̶͙̭͗̂͛̌͝ ̵̢͚͍̙̪̜̙̜̣̭̮̦̠̅̑̅͋̈͌̈́̄ͅẍ̶̧̨̢̮͉̻̮͍̳͔͚̺̖̝̮́̂̄̋͌͆̏̆!̶̪͉̞̲͍͙̟̮͈̫̗͖̔̀̕#̴̱̠̄̑̂̈̍̈́́ ̷̨̡̢̧̥̜̼̪̐͌̂͊͊̐͌͘K̶̞̤͚̗̳̈́̏͗̚͠į̶̍̐̽͐̐ņ̶̝͕̮̺͓̄̋̊͜͝g̶͈̗̹̑͋͠ ̴̢̱̹̳̹̠̱̖̪͆̓̀̎̓̕f̵̳̤̮̒̇͂x̸̧̗̦͓̱̖͙̞̩̤̤̠̦̜͆̃̅͗̑̂̕x̶̧̤̖͈̥̰͎͇̻̙̰͇͇̠̉̂́̓̍͊͂͘͜͝x̵͈̲͖͕̺̘͎̤̠̳̪̋͌̃͑̉̈͌̃̍̚͝ ̵̛̪̝͔̖̖͓̠͖̖͕͒̎̏̐̽̀M̴̘͕̲̥̯̍̈́͗̒̃̑x̷̟̳̄̔#̴͔̣̺̭̯̪̒̄͌͋̔̃͐̓̍̃̊̽̚͝%̴̧̧̣͔̻͎̳̉̎͐̃̍͐͊̈̽͗̉͘̕͠͝x̸̛̦̬̦͇͙̲̙̻̙̜̊̈́͛̋͆̂̓͜͠ỵ̸̡̣̖̟͈͂͋̏̈́̑̓̈́̚!̷̢͉̰̯̳̺̪̟̪͓̰͚̖͖́͠

"What the hell are you two doing? You look like weirdos," she narrows his eyes to both of them, curious about such strange interaction, "is this a secret code to make me not know what you are talking about, Christa?"

"Of course not! We just..." She sees [Name], who has the same unnerved aura she has. What was that? “We had an electric shock!” she chuckles awkwardly, trying to light the mood.

It was strange, yet familiar. He had felt the same thing when he met Reiner back in the refugee— he had small electric shocks with other people before, but these two interactions felt much different. Nevertheless, [Name] doesn't think much of it and looks at the two girls who are staring at him intently. Blinking, the boy scratches his neck a little bit, feeling unnerved by the stare of the brunette girl. It looked like she was observing— it was an intense stare. [name] wanted to leave.

"Sorry, again," he speaks in a gentle tone, dusting the girl's clothes for her. Not liking him touching her one a bit, the tall girl slapped his hands off of her, surprising the boy by such rejection and force.

"Hey! Hands off of my Christa!" She spoke loudly, tightly hugging the blonde girl.

[name] frowns. ”Yours...?”

"Ymir! He's just helping out, let him be!" she spoke with a pout, turning to [Name], "don't mind her, she's always this dumb,"

"You break my nonexistent heart, my love,"

Ymir... What... a peculiar name was that... Ymir, Ymir, Ymir... Ymir?

W̸̗̼̖̯̲̠͙̐ė̴̪̜̥̔͐̂̔̂̅͒̒͑̍͘͠͠ ̸̣̥͒͌̀͌͋f̵̣̫̥̼̠̟̪̏͒͆̃̏͒̈́̋͒͠͠ì̵̠̥̺̹̦̈́̅̊̽͒̐͝ͅġ̷̢̲̥̤̱̦̳͎̭͉͓̠̖͛̒͛̄͝ĥ̵̺̻͓̻̼̳̟̫͆̃̂͐̿̊̔͗̉͌̅̂̚͝t̵̢̞͚̥͎̭̗͍̖̂̿̆̉̆͛̕̚̚ ̴͉̣͕͍͇̎̑̋̓̽͆̋̾̓̈́͠f̴̺͎̦̖͕̪̳̹̅̒̒͌͆̆͗͑̊̂͋̽͒ǫ̶̲̰̣̣̤̩̈́͜͜͝ŗ̸̳̀ ̷̨̢͚̮̯͎̫̹̞͓͕̝̠̬̻̀̿̏̊ǭ̸̨̼͚͈͕̯̲̭̄͜͝ͅu̷̢͉̟̮̝̖͎̗̙͌̓̕͜͠ͅṟ̸̳̥̟̹̦̲̺͖̲̺͂̐͛͒̂̈̅̓̕͝ ̷̢̡͈̯̗͙̄̓̄̂̈́͘͜͝ͅğ̵͎͔̝͇̥̰̭͕̘o̷̡̳͌̍̓̓̅̍̆̆ḑ̶̹̬̯̿̆̐d̸̼̞̩̝̪̱͔̥̪̩̈ȩ̴̢̝̖̺̫̦̠̪̫̅̈́̅̀́͋͋͜͠͝s̶̲̜͕̓͌̕͝͝͠s̶̛̟̰͉͍͇̰̰̖͎̹̣̮̗̩͋̀̓͆͂̈̕ ̸̢̭̯̳̜̣̯͓̘̣͛̈̀̈́̑Ỹ̶͚͉̀͜m̶̡͖̜̤̻͉̟͂̉͐̈́̎̄̎̚͘ǐ̷͇͉̯̣̉̔r̷̢̧̛͇̬͖̫̝̤̞̦̲̥̱̃͊̒̎͝—̸̗̲̞̺͇̥̬̝̼̩̻̓͌̈̓̓̎͝͠͠ͅ ̵̮͖͈͕̹̈́O̴̟̜̳̰̹͕̕͘ų̴̛̣̘̘͇͆͆͌̐̌͗̃͊̏̔͋͠ȑ̷̡̳̺ ̷̻̈́̏̔̂͒͗͗͋̓̕c̵͚̮̠͍̹̠̲͙̞̱̬̞͜͝r̵̨͈̗̰̞̳̤̰̦͇͎̥̱̮̦͒̅̄͑̕e̷̡͖̲͓̺̳̺̪͚̼͋̌̈́̃͒̏͒͒̐̀͑̎̆͜a̵̛̤̙͚̹̞͇̩̤͚̞ţ̸̛͔̤͖̺̖͇̀̀̇̐͊͑͒̎̎͒̕͜͝o̷̢͓̤̠̓̈̈͆̽̆̓͊͑͘r̸̢̼̈̎̐̒̋̊.̴͇͔̻͕̖̤̥͙̩̟͈̹͙̾ͅ

There was an inexplicable feeling— he didn't want to leave them. No— not them, but her. The feeling told him to stand by the blonde’s side and protect her for any threat, even if they were in a safe place. [Name] didn’t understand— what threat would he protect her for? Why would he? Frowning, [Name] decided to just ignore these thoughts, not pleased by another weird thing happening to him once more.

”See you around, I guess?” He tilted his head, feeling the urge to leave already. He didn’t like this feeling— something inside his chest revolted, as if it wanted to be freed. Something whispered over his ear, a bodiless voice with no gender nor soul— something and not someone.

”Oh, okay! See you around!” The petite girl gave him a beautiful smile, and if [Name] could guess, it looked like one of his mother’s. The brunette frowned at him, narrowing her eyes and staring over her nose. Seemed she was observing whatever he was trying to hide— [Name] just wanted to flee, and that’s exactly what he did.

Already leaving, he clenched his shirt, frowning. His unnerving feeling didn’t go away— his chest felt like burning, the tip of his fingers shaking; almost feeling as if needles pinch trough his skin. What was that feeling? If [name] could describe it, he didn't feel himself. Or to be more precise, his thoughts and mind didn't feel his'. It was strange— he felt as if those thoughts had been forcibly inserted into his brain by someone else.

"I don't like this. It's scary," he muttered to himself, moving the tips of his fingers in nervousness. "Creepy, creepy, creepy..."

Ț̵̛̰̥͔̞̪̱̈̔͋̽̈͑̈́͑͝h̸̡̛̤͚͉̞̠̦̠̞̹̥̞̽́͊͒͆̒͒͛̈̈́̚͜͝ḯ̴̥̗͋̋͋̉̃̓̆̃͜ͅs̴̨̳͚̮̯̰̻͈̥̤͈̐̿̃͌̐͘ ̶̻͎͗͌̒̌̎͋͑̊̋͒͠g̶̦̙͇͕̜̤͚̥̥̍̒̾̔̑͗̕͜e̶̫̰̿͋̈́̍̊̒̋͜t̵̨͇͕̯͖̬̮̞̙͔̬̖͖̺̉͒͒̈̑͌̉ͅs̵͖̞̭͇̑̾̃̍̈́͛̚ ̸̢̨̪͓̠̘̻̗̠̙͐͐͆͒̊͌̏͑̇́͋̇̓e̶̡̘͔͙͕̪̳̟̯͙͙̺̦̎̑̋̓͌͋͜v̷̰̫̼͎̝̾̂̊e̷̢̛̟͍̠̗͈̱̺̒̄͒̿͂͗̆͌̇̾͒̌̚͝ͅͅń̵̜̤͓͔̲̽͊̎̈̋̇͒̔ ̶͓̋͌̇͒̉̃͗̈́́͋͠͠͝b̸̛̺͇͖̙̟̹͎̫͔̮͎͉̒ề̶͈̮̱̞̚t̵̮̫͕͒̎̐̄̆̒͋̄̍͜ţ̵̧̢̫̭͓̼͕̲̜̼̪́̔̈́͆͒͐̓͑ę̸̢̯̮̓̇̅ͅr̸̥̰̭͐̏̓̊̂̅̑̐̏̀͒̈́̾͘͠ͅ,̸̡͕̲̱͍̭̩̲͍̯̙̈͂̏̂͠͝ ̵̢̤̳̬̺͙̙̳̣͚̺̟̘̂̆͗͋̇͑̽͌͛̏̈́͂͠ͅ—̵̖̱̪̳̦̅̄̔͠ͅ.̸̟̈́͂̄̓̑̋̃͘̚̚̚

━━━━━━✧♛✧━━━━━━

"Today's training is simple— as simple for maggots like you. First, you and your team will have to go to point A to B to collect a flag, then C to A again. Teams are already been done, and if I hear you want to switch places I will throw you to the ground and make run laps until you pass out," the taller man watches, "the teams will be maximum of three— a backpack will be given to each member with different utilities. The test should be done in two days or three days, depending on how incapable can you be. Someone has to keep a record of any circumstances going on during your training. Now, we will say the teams, so pay attention— SPRINGER! STOP LOOKING LIKE AN IDIOT AND LISTEN!"

”Jean Kirstein, Eren Jaeger, Thomas Wagner,”

”Fucking hell!” [Name] could hear Jean cursing.

[Name] hides his grin. ”Fucking.”

”Stop!”

”Mikasa Ackerman, Annie Leonhardt, Mina Carolina,”

"Daz —, Marco Bodt, Sasha Blouse,"

”Bertholdt Hoover, Reiner Braun, [Name] Knight,”

[Name] blinked, looking for Bertholdt’s face in the crowd. When he spotted him, he waved enthusiastically with sparks on his eyes. Bertholdt gulped, returning the wave weakly with a nervous smile. The taller boy could notice [Name] seemed... a little eager when they paired up in training. He had deduced it was his height, since [Name] always liked to ask about how he got so tall. It was a weird topic of conversation, but that's how he was— an unpredictable and a bit strange guy. Nevertheless, the tall boy was lucky enough to have Reiner by his side this time.

As the teams were together, the three teammates took their backpacks as they conversed. Bertholdt took a look at the map, analyzing the directions they had to take.

”Looks like we are together this time,” Reiner speaks to him with a grin, “heard you got second place the other time, tho.”

”I think we were lucky,” [name] scratches his neck, “I don’t know how will I go with directions...”

The three of them walk trough the woods, Reiner sparing a glance at the other teams taking other directions. ”We are going to be just fine— leave it to me and we’ll be safe and sound.”

[name] tilts his head, staring at Reiner with fake innocence. ”And if we encounter a bear? Maybe wolves? If it rains?”

”Fortunately, it will rain before any of the others appear.”

”What if... the titans appear? What then?”

Reiner and Bertholdt quickly share a look, before turning to [Name]. The boy’s eyes stare at nothingness for a moment, awkward silence prevailing. Neither of the two say anything— it sounded... almost cryptic, if he was hiding the real meaning of that question. Bertholdt felt a shiver trough his whole spine, creeped out by the tone [name] used. It was quite frightening... how someone so... like him, used such tone at them.

“That’s too dark,” [Name] yawns, breaking the horrible tension as they walked again, “hope we can see a bear. They are cute.”

”You... can say pretty scary things, uh, [Name]?” Reiner laughs nervously, sharing a look with Bertholdt. That was... strange.

”Sometimes we have to imagine every possible outcome, don’t you think? We have to be prepared,” playing with his hair lazily, the boy looks at the sky, “mmmh... the sky... it sounds different.”

”Different...?”

[Name] hums, “raining’s coming, possibly.”

”How can you tell?” Reiner stared at the sky, looking as bright as ever. There was no difference from other days— it had stayed sunny.

[name] shrugs. “Dunno— it’s just sounds different. As if I was hearing... steam.”

”You really are something else,” Reiner laughs, amused by such ability. “How much can you hear anyways? Are you nosy, perhaps?”

”A lot, actually. And no, if I’m not paying attention I don’t understand what others are saying— if the topic takes my attention, then I would know many secrets others have,” [name] answered indifferently, taking a closer look at the map as he rested his head on Bertolt's arm. The taller boy blushed by the proximity, a bit intimidated and uncomfortable by the statement.

The last sentence did sent a shiver down their spine— [Name] could have spoken with such a laid back and careless tone, but the two couldn’t help but feel something personal against those words. Sharing a quick look, Reiner chuckled to lighten his own mood and relax his tensed shoulders.

”Are you willing to blackmail? A such cutie and small kitten like you?”

“Well, this small kitten made you scream in combat training,” [Name] stuck out his tongue, narrowing his eyes in an offended way. “Blackmailing is bad anyways. I’ve read in novels that’s just the lowest of the low, and it’s such a pitiful tactic to use. So I will never use it. Roderick taught me that," [name] proudly spoke— as if he was telling them the entire truth of the world.

Reiner blinks, “you know, I’ve hearing you say a lot of things you learn on books— isn’t that a bit... unusual to say at our age?”

”Why? Books have a lot of answers I can learn. They speak the truth,” he puffs his chest in pride, “also they never disappoint.”

Reiner stares at him with narrowed eyes, debating what to ask. Should he go deeper or touch the surface...? He was kinda curious of [name]'s mind— he had heard him speak like this before, and his unusual behavior made him conclude something. Nah, let’s go in. “What’s sex?”

Bertolt chokes on his own saliva, calling Reiner’s name in a flustered tone. "R—Reiner! W—What?!"

As the blond expected, [name] said the same exact explanation he spoke to Jean back then. What he noticed was how sure [name] looked, not even embarrassed or unsure about the answer. Bertolt widened his eyes, blinking in amazement.

”...for the walls,” Reiner can’t help but laugh at such childish answer— where the hell was he in class? How could [Name] in this age say something like that? It amused him; even Bertolt averted his blushy face to hide his smile by such answer. It was a funny situation, really.

“Why are you laughing?” Jean didn’t laugh— well, his reaction wasn’t better. [Name] felt personally attacked by such reaction— was he really wrong? And for them laugh at him like that!

”I can’t believe this,” he passed a hand trough his face, “[Name], I’m not going to teach you something like that in a deep explanation. But I will say what you imagine what sex is goes much deeper than that,” even if he could be a horny teenager, no way in hell he could take more advantage than simple kisses [Name] gave him. Even when he looked so cute the other day— if [name] didn't even know what he was doing, then there was no fun in doing it. So that's why you don't fluster! Got you.

”Why won’t you?” [name] frowned, crossing his arms in irritation.

“Grab a book about the human’s anatomy and then we’ll do the adult talking,” Reiner smirked, walking ahead of him without saying another word.

As the amnesiac concluded he wasn't going to cooperate, he turned at Bertolt, who blushed like crazy because of the topic. ”Can you tell me why I’m wrong, Bertolt?” [Name] blinked repeatedly, trying his charms to get out an answer out of him.

“I—I will just say you are not entirely wrong, but not right either,” covering his mouth to stop a chuckle, the brunette couldn’t imagine [Name] being this clueless. Sometimes looking so tough, nobody could imagine such ideas from him— hell, he looked terrifying when fighting Reiner, so this situation was hilarious to him.

[Name] pouted, switching his attention to the path ahead. Was he that wrong? But he couldn’t just believe «Amelie’s Crown» lied with what it was... He had put his faith in Amelie! She couldn’t just betray his trust like that! How could you, Amelie?!

”I won’t believe Amelie lied to me...” he spoke to himself, lost in his own world filled with flower fields and frogs. His depressing aura was noticed clearly, confusing his two companions.

”Uh... you okay?”

[Name] huffed, irritated, "anyways," he turned his head to his companions, "who will take record of our training?"

"Ah! Good memory, [name]!" Reiner clapped his hands, "what do you think Bertolt? I can have the map and you can take record? Whatever you want, man,"

Bertolt timidly nodded, handing him the map. It was a nice change— the brunette didn't feel suitable for commanding directions, so silently taking record of what was going on was ok with him. [name] could just help Reiner in the leadership, but since his behavior went annoyed they weren't that sure anymore.

Nevertheless, a long day awaited them.

━━━━━━✧♛✧━━━━━━

[Name] nose crinkles, looking at the sky. He stares at the grey clouds, “I already smell the rain. We should find somewhere to stay before we get wet.”

”Can find another way to get you—“

”Don’t finish!!”

Eventually the teenagers found a cave deep in the woods, decently spaced to let them lay down. It was pretty wet— they couldn't find the cave before raining, so they were a bit soaked. At least they found a refugee; being under the rain was dangerous, even more with the chilly air. Reiner had [name]'s headaches in mind— breathing in cold was something bad for the head, and he had noticed [name] like rain, but acknowledged it was dangerous to his health. Both Reiner and Bertholtd could see annoying the headaches got at the point of being pretty mortal when doing training.

Placing his backpacks on the floor, the soldiers took out what was enough to do their beds and eat their packed food. Thankfully they wore their green caps this time, just because [name] warned them about the weather. Their clothes were not that soaked, so [name] being with them was pure luck.

”Sasha almost eat my stuff, man. One cannot know with that girl,” Reiner said, taking a bite of his bread. The gluttony girl went for everybody before training— they all knew food was precious this time, but Reiner had remembered the girl stated she was a hunter, so stealing other people's food was... a bit too much.

[Name] took his boots and jacket off, sighing in relief as the tight and wet fabric was off of him. He laid them on the floor, making sure they didn't get stained or ruined. He starts to unbutton his shirt, shaking a little bit because of the cold.

Reiner almost chokes on his food as he sees [name]'s exhibitionism, but coughs casually to stay unbothered. ”Hey, hey— you won’t strip, would you? I mean, I have no complains but Bertolt here will have a heart attack.”

”I’m just going to take this off. They are tight and that irritates me,” he answers, but stops midway to stare at the tall brunette, “didn't think it was death needed," Bertolt blushed, averting his eyes from [name]'s body, noticing the small drops of water falling on his flesh.

"What is going on with me?!"

”Anyways, I’ve been pretty curious when we fought. You seemed to know what you were doing— who taught you?” Reiner stared at him in interest, remembering his movements back then. He had beat his ass with no much effort; even Annie lost against him. And that, was something amazing and incredible— a stance he never saw before in a fight.

Nobody, he wanted to say. But deep down he knew someone have taught him everything— or at least he could say that from his short memories. “...Someone.” He opted to say, neither a lie nor a truth. Someone had done it, but he didn’t know who. He didn't know when, where— he didn't know anything about how he could fight like that.

”And that someone is?”

[Name] shrugs, taking a bite of his bread. ”Dunno.”

Reiner raised an eyebrow, confused. ”Dunno? You don’t remember or you don’t wanna say?”

Swallowing his food, [name] answered unbothered. ”I don’t remember.”

Reiner frowned, trying to recollect something— he heard something about his situation back then. ”Ah, I remember. Connie had said you hurt your head, right?”

Was everyone this nosy? “Yeah. I don’t know many things about me.”

”Not even where you are from?” Reiner asked, getting more interest by the individual in front of him.

Where am I from...? “...I’m from Shiganshina. I was raised there,” that was his home, thanks to Beatrice.

The blond raised an eyebrow, perhaps not believing the answer. ”All your childhood?”

”...Part of it.”

He wasn’t going to try and remember. The pain was very well known, making him stay away from even trying or think about it. He was tired of the same fate, and if nothing good came out of it, then it wasn’t something important to do.

”What do you mean part of it?”

Would he be able to explain? Beatrice had told him to not say the truth about his whereabouts, since it could bring problems. But could he trust in Reiner and Bertolt? The only person he had tell the truth was Jean, and he didn’t say much about it... Well, it wasn’t as if the two companions were some infiltrates of the Military Police, could they? Perhaps answering something small wasn’t dangerous— maybe... they were friends? They were... nice, after all.

“I...” he blinked, “I was from somewhere else.”

The blond hums, interested about the answer. ”Somewhere where?”

He began to feel irritated. "Aren't you noisy?" Reiner seemed too curious about it— or maybe it was just to pass the time. Either way, [name] didn’t like talking about his blurry past. It was a reminder of things that were never returning, and being the center of attention wasn't something he enjoyed either.

The blond laughs awkwardly, rubbing his neck. “Sorry, sorry. It’s just that... you seem mysterious, and that cute face you wear doesn’t help my curiosity from stopping.”

[Name] stays in silence for some time. Now that he thought about it, if he ignored Reiner’s forced flirty behavior, he radiated a... strong, brotherly aura. He had read about human’s auras— some radiated confidence, some others terror, vileness. [name] wondered what kind of aura he had, but the reminder of his situation build that doubtfulness of himself, making him thought about that so called aura being nonexistent for him. “...My past... is foggy.”

”Wait, so you do have memory loss?”

”I guess.”

"How much you can’t remember, then?"

The amnesiac tilts his head, scratching the tip of his fingers gently. "The first thing I remember is about me waking up in a forest, then my mom taking care of me."

That made some sense, at least. "Then... you were raised in Shiganshina but not born there...?" he blinks, "and there’s no recollection of anything about your past... damn, that’s... a little upsetting, but you seem unbothered by it."

"It’s not that I’m not... But trying only hurts me, and the doctor who helped me said if I over-did it, my mind could collapse and I would have serious injuries, so my mom made me stop doing that," he closes his eyes, "well, it isn’t as if I’m missing something— the people who have been around me... have helped me a lot. And if I can’t remember my past, the present is more important."

Reiner smiles. "I’m... glad you are handling it well. You seem to be filled with courage— no one needs to give you the 'you can do it' talk, uh?"

[Name] gently chuckles, amused. That wasn’t true— if it weren’t for Beatrice’s help, he wouldn’t be here right now. Even now, the need of someone helping him to stand on his feet was important. Being truly alone was something scary, and dealing with heavy stuff alone was something [name] wasn’t sure of. "Sometimes. Receiving help... is important."

Reiner hums. Bertolt looks like he wants to say something, and himself decides to spit it out before regretting it. "Why... why do you want to join the Survey Corps? Even with being face to face with them... you want to fight them..."

The amnesiac scratches his neck this time. "That’s because..." don’t. You think giving your trust isn't idiotic, you idiot? But before he could answer, he frowns. His answer isn’t all genuine— the true meaning of joining is hidden, because of someone else shutting his mouth. "I just want to bring my home back. Being trapped and cornered... is unfair."

[Name] can notice how Bertolt shifts uncomfortably with his usual nervous expression. The boy narrows his eyes, and the taller boy can notice being under such scary stare. The unknown voice is right, but [name] doesn’t want to listen. What could they do anyways? They were comrades, and for years they had to gain each other trust. Why would he suspect...? It was... ridiculous— uncalled for.

They were friends.

V̶͚͚͖͔͚̂̏̉͋̌̑͘ņ̶̱̻̱̝̠̞̣͙̱̿̆̑̓̒͜͠ĕ̴͍͔̺̲̲̝̲̲̣͙͋͐͝ǎ̸̢̡͎̻̖̲̫̜̩͆̕h̶̋̎̽͗̊͐̓͛͂̋͆͜t̷̜̪̳͍̰̞͕̐̑̓̀̽͒͜͝ͅc̷̹̱̤̠̩̭͎͍̹͂̽̄̆̀͊̀̈́̑̋̈́̄́͜͝ ̷̢̣̰̲̦͛̈̇̐̊̾̊̏̎́͠͠ỹ̷̢̧̡͍̣̘̼̪̫͔͖͎̗̙̓̈́͛̾͒͜͝n̴͇̲̪̤͇̼͙͜͜͠͠ą̵̘̳̦̘̙̫̣̘͇̬̤̞͉͜ ̷̡͚̰͎͕̜̤̻̮̼͊̿̀͗͐̿͘͠s̶̡͓̺̜̬̼̪͕͗̈͂̐̉͐̏̏́̀͒â̸̡̛͔̩̥͉̬̺̏̎̈́̊̐͂͌̈̇͌͒͂ͅy̶̡̗͎̱͓̦̫͙͕̺̍̿͒̒̅̕ḣ̵̯̀ḙ̸̢̛̺̝̝̎̆̄͛̾̋͝͝͝ͅh̵̜̩̤͕̖͕̺̔̎͂͌̈́k̵̙̙̻̺̮͇͉̞̋̊͝m̶̧̛̩̞̬̮̰͖̰̞̃̔̐́͋̄̍͂̋̂͒̍̈͜a̷̬̓̐̉̊̇̄̒͂̑͛c̵͙̭̰̞̻̗̯͇̦͒̈́̄̈́͆͜c̴̳̖͂̾͌.̷̤̔̒̈́̇̓͗̎̅̈́̅̅̓͘V̶͚͚͖͔͚̂̏̉͋̌̑͘ņ̶̱̻̱̝̠̞̣͙̱̿̆̑̓̒͜͠ĕ̴͍͔̺̲̲̝̲̲̣͙͋͐͝ǎ̸̢̡͎̻̖̲̫̜̩͆̕h̶̋̎̽͗̊͐̓͛͂̋͆͜t̷̜̪̳͍̰̞͕̐̑̓̀̽͒͜͝ͅc̷̹̱̤̠̩̭͎͍̹͂̽̄̆̀͊̀̈́̑̋̈́̄́͜͝ ̷̢̣̰̲̦͛̈̇̐̊̾̊̏̎́͠͠ỹ̷̢̧̡͍̣̘̼̪̫͔͖͎̗̙̓̈́͛̾͒͜͝n̴͇̲̪̤͇̼͙͜͜͠͠ą̵̘̳̦̘̙̫̣̘͇̬̤̞͉͜ ̷̡͚̰͎͕̜̤̻̮̼͊̿̀͗͐̿͘͠s̶̡͓̺̜̬̼̪͕͗̈͂̐̉͐̏̏́̀͒â̸̡̛͔̩̥͉̬̺̏̎̈́̊̐͂͌̈̇͌͒͂ͅy̶̡̗͎̱͓̦̫͙͕̺̍̿͒̒̅̕ḣ̵̯̀ḙ̸̢̛̺̝̝̎̆̄͛̾̋͝͝͝ͅh̵̜̩̤͕̖͕̺̔̎͂͌̈́k̵̙̙̻̺̮͇͉̞̋̊͝m̶̧̛̩̞̬̮̰͖̰̞̃̔̐́͋̄̍͂̋̂͒̍̈͜a̷̬̓̐̉̊̇̄̒͂̑͛c̵͙̭̰̞̻̗̯͇̦͒̈́̄̈́͆͜c̴̳̖͂̾͌.̷̤̔̒̈́̇̓͗̎̅̈́̅̅̓͘

”U—Uhm, [Name]...?” Bertolt timidly asks, gulping. [name]'s stare was lost— as if he was lost in the wonders of his mind, finally giving in into his wonderland. The taller wondered if the question was wrong to ask— after all, titans were a sensitive subject for some comrades.

[Name] just blinks, staring at Bertolt. He finally hums, laying on the ground and turning his back on them. “I’m sleepy. Good night.”

”[Name]! But we haven’t finished talking!!” Reiner whines, but there’s no response. It seems [name] fell asleep as soon as his head rested on the ground, or maybe he refused to answer more of the interrogation, “unbelievable. How can you fall asleep so easily? I wanted to ask more...”

After falling in silence, the two remaining look at each other without saying a word. Their connection and bond is already deeply formed, as a look exchange communicate whatever they want to say.

[Name] is someone much different than them— he may appear just like them, but those eyes... those memories he has locked deep inside his wonderland... those actions, defined who he was going to be in the future. What was he going to face along with them— a future no one wanted, but was necessary to happen. Actions nobody wanted, but were destined by fate to get done.

The rain fills the silence, drifting them to sleep.

T̴͉̤̬̝̃̄̅͐͜͜h̷̡̳̓̓̽e̷̛̛̹͖̜͈͕̾ỹ̸̧̌̔̍͑̅̇̆ ̶̧͍̙̣͚͚̟̙͇͠x̷̡̛͎̓̔̄͑̕͝ͅx̸̧̪̪͉̜̅̊̅̍́̕͜x̷͓̻̬̺̄͆̈́̐ ̸̨͖̝̗͆̾͛̌j̶̢̨̛͈̫͔̞̭͉͐̎̎͂̉̐̈́͋!̴̭̯̐͌#̵̝̫͉͇̰̦͈̝̇ͅ$̶̧̘̠̥̑̍̂̈͝ ̴̫̖̻̦͍͌͘̕c̴̡̬̯̻̦͚̠̯͗̈́̑̽̒́h̶̞͂͐̎̈́̍͠i̴̱͎͈̱̋l̴̯̽̎̉̒̈d̵̻̈́̾̑͛͆͠ŗ̸͔̪̖͒̿͋̊́̇̈́̇ḛ̵̝̪̄͊̐̽̅͊̕n̴̤̰͍̜͓̫͌͂̕ͅ!̷̡͔̍́̽̿͂̈́͌

x̴̡̓̋́̑̔͒̀͘͝x̷̨̹̫̳̗̙͈̠͚̿̏x̶͙̓̚͝͝͠ ̷̬͚͖̒͒̀ṭ̸̨̲̳̤͌͠!̴̻̲̯̠̘̪̩̈́͑̋͘͝͝0̸̧͉̤̞͊̽̈̓́͆̃̌́2̴̛̗͔̰̃̇̎̾̓ ̴̡̨̘̻̭̞̯͕̀̍̈͗͗͌̚͝w̷̫͎̯̫̌́́̃̽̉͒̾͌è̴��̘̤͈̫̻͎̃ ̴̙̣̙̭̫̄̌̍̈́#̷̡̙̼̈́͆̈́ͅ!̴̡̬̣̜̜͚͐͗̋̍̂0̵̛̯̰̹̰̯̄̏̉̀͝e̴̲̙͒͑́͝ ̵̡̻̘̣̝̙͎̇͐̍́͑͆̓͑͋͜a̴̫͉͉̟̼̮̙̿͐̊ ̸̛̛͙̹̜̳̣͔̝̞͐̽̂͛̽͘͜ć̸̹͇͔̼̜̮̥̤h̴̛̤̄̂ǫ̶̨̼̗̮̔͑̓̉̚ï̷̧̪̹͂c̶̗͆̓͌͑ḛ̴͗̒̐̽͘̕ͅ?̴̥͇̳̘̗̩̲̇̒!̶̲̣̯̰̙̈́̇̋̈́͛

━━━━━━✧♛✧━━━━━━

“There should be a flag around,” Reiner spoke, looking at both sides. They were already awake and ready for the day— it would be a long one, so they had to be prepared. Waking [name] was the hardest thing in the morning— Bertolt was easy to handle, thankfully. Nevertheless, [name] looked like he was in a deep slumber— an unconscious state that nobody knew how long would he be in if let alone. One of these days it could be a nice experiment to see how much he could sleep.

“You seem well prepared,” [Name] stated, noticing how independent and useful Reiner could be by himself. He seemed capable of doing anything— alone or with someone. It looked like he already went into some training before enlisting.

“What does that mean?” the blond raised an eyebrow, amused by the observation. He knew [name] was someone blunt and spoke his mind, so hearing his thoughts about him interested him.

”I can see you can do anything— are you going to the Military Police?”

”I’m that obvious?” Reiner chuckles.

”Not really. But it looks like you don’t have a hard time with anything, and many others want to get into the top ten,” he tilts his head, "I think everyone want to, so I guessed it..."

”Well, if it’s with you of course I will have a hard time,”

”And with Annie,” Bertolt interjected, holding his laugh.

"And, with Annie," Reiner roll his eyes, "that's my goal for now— just want to be... safe, working with the King. That's all. Hope you don't get bothered like Eren does."

"I don't judge," [name] speaks, "you can do whatever you want— Eren... is an idiot for telling others they are cowards for joining the other branches. Why would you fight something you don't want to? It's your life, so you are the one deciding. Not some ball of anger with spiky hair yelling like a crazy idiot..."

"Damn, that was something," the blond laughs, "ball of anger? haven't heard that before."

"But he's my friend, even when he's wrong sometimes," he looks at the sky, "have to make him don't forget where he is..."

The blond stares at him. The last sentence almost made him laugh— who guided who? He couldn't deny the strange friendship these two had; at first, it seemed as if Eren despised him by the amount of glares he sent to him. Then, something had to happen, since he saw the two sleeping together one night. He didn't strike Eren as someone needy, but Reiner noticed certain actions and expression only appeared when being with [name]. It was as if those actions were only for the privilege of [name]; things as holding hands, stare at his sleeping form, not shouting as loudly as he did... staring at him as if he was the most precious thing in the world...

Reiner could understand Jean's jealously at Eren, since it was obvious how the horse-face acted around the amnesiac boy. If Reiner was honest, [name] was... someone interesting to be around, and knowing him more was something Reiner wanted to achieve. After all, making him flustered was one of his weird goals too— [name] never flustered, nor looked embarrassed. That, was something Reiner was going to change.

"Ah— I see the flag!" Bertolt interrupts, pointing at his left from behind his two companions. Both of them instantly turn their heads to confirm, and indeed, there was a red flag proudly standing in middle of the forest, intact.

"Good eye, Bert! Almost got away without it," Reiner begins to walk to the direction of the flag, "hope this is over with today! The rain did make me more tired, so—"

As Reiner talked, [name] deeply frowned. Just as that time, he heard something— heavy steps along with grunting. It obviously wasn't a person, so his conclusion was that it was a creature of the forest. Perhaps they went out of bounds here, stepping in a territory they didn't belong. It was far but it was coming closer— [name] stayed frozen as he stared at where he was hearing the thing, while Bertolt, far behind him, looked at him in confusion.

"Hmn...? [name]...?" Bertolt wondered, worried.

"Wait!"

[name] eyes widened— it sounded big. As fast and quietly as he could, he ran where Reiner was. “Get down!” He pushed Reiner down with him, both of them harshly falling on the ground. [Name] gritted his teeth as he felt Reiner’s body over him, and the blond shifted his position by placing his two arms at both sides of [Name]. Without [Name] knowing, the blond did have a tint of scarlet on his face. The amnesiac laid on his back, patting a little bit. Reiner averted looking at his exposed neck, trying to think about something else. There was an open area above, in the trees, letting the rays of the sun hit [name]'s body.

”So cute... adorable, even. Is this what a god looks like?”

Thankfully they were in the middle of the woods, where a lot of plants and bushes were a good hide place. [name] aimed to fall into bushes, a decent yet fast place to not get caught. “Don’t move or talk,” he whispered, covering Reiner's mouth with his hand.

This time both of them heard it— heavy steps approaching where the flag was. Time seemed to freeze as a deep grunt was heard, and it's cause came into view. At first glance it could be said it was a bear, but such... dark face and huge body said otherwise. It had black fur, and a red eye— his left eye was scarred, adding more terror into it's appearance. It's face was almost skeletal; long nails, broken horns? no tail... what the hell is that?

Reiner tried to get something out of his backpack— but the minimal movement made the creature alarmed.

The bear? stopped it’s tracks— it seemed it was smelling something. [name] took Reiner's arm tightly, not knowing what else to do. He hoped Bertolt was away from here— he couldn’t hear him anyway.

"We should do something against this bear— how can we get away?" [name] tried to whisper as lowly as he could, not even hearing himself.

“That ain’t a goddamn bear!” Reiner harshly whispered, scared to the bone.

Unfortunately for them, the bear had as excellent hearing as [name]. The creature turned at where they were, grunting lowly as it quickly approached the area.

Oh, FUCK!

”Damn— Run!” [Name] helped Reiner get up and started running. Whatever that thing was was fast and it was just on their toes— none of them dared to turn around to see it’s terrifying stare. The only way they knew that thing was behind was because of it’s grunt sounds— as if someone was breathing right over their ear.

”Any ideas?!” Reiner yelled, not daring to turn around.

”You think I have one?!” There was no plan— the only thing [Name] could think of was running as fast as he could. Good thing to not have their equipment this time around— it could have been a fast way to end this situation, but they had nothing on them that could help.

“[Name]! If that thing gets to us we are dead!”

”Really?! Is that obvious?!”

”There’s no time for you being sarcastic!”

”Then don’t state the obvious, Reiner!”

They knew running wasn’t going to work forever. Eventually tiredness will overcome them and then they will get in trouble. [Name] had no idea what to do; if they took at least one second to do something else then that thing would get to one of them and surely die by being eaten alive. That didn’t sound pretty at all.

There was no other way— someone had to be the bait.

Reiner gripped his hand, eyeing it cryptically. “Okay, [Name]— I need you to—“

”I will run with it,” [Name] tried to speak between breaks, “I’m faster than you; I will lost it somewhere far away.”

Reiner blinked, dumbfounded. Trying to process such absurd words, the blond’s eye twitched in irritation, desperation and fear: he couldn’t help but scream. ”What the hell are you saying?! You can’t lose this shit anywhere! Look how close it is, for god sake!” The plan sounded stupid and worthless— it didn't solve nothing at all. If only Reiner got alone, then maybe [name] wouldn't get hurt.

”You think I don’t see it?!” The [hair color] haired yelled irritated, taking his backpack and throwing it carelessly to the creature’s head, successfully angering the creature by hearing a grunt, or whatever it was sent to him. “We’ll find each other somehow! Look for Bertolt!”

And with a last look, [Name] changed directions as quick as he could. He ran trough the woods, ignoring Reiner’s yells calling for him in desperation. His mind was going overdrive— he didn’t have a clue on what to exactly do against the scary creature.

Until he didn’t pay attention and his foot step on the weak ground, losing his balance and falling on some cliff. He tried to get a grip on anything, but he only hurt his fingers in the process. Nothing could be done as he fell over a small hill, until some bushes helped his fall at least a little bit. [Name] looked up, meeting the red eye of the creature who stated at him chillingly— the boy couldn’t ignore the chills on his spine, but eventually they broke connection when the thing turned and left, leaving [Name] alone in the forest as if he was unworthy of being eaten by it.

Breathing erratically, [Name] rested his head on the bushes, closing his eyes. “What the... hell...” His whole body hurt— his right foot, his left side (maybe bruised ribs?), his throat burned and he was sure there were many cuts and scratches all around his body. “How... unlucky...”

Laying there, [Name] changed his position to stare at the sky. It was orange, signaling noontime. He didn’t know how much time he was running from the thing, but it felt a good three hours.

He got up, and then he froze as he understood the situation he was in.

There was no backpack; so no supplies.

No map.

No food nor water.

No nothing.

He felt a laugh resonating at the back of his head; making fun of his situation— a laugh sounding so far yet just over his ear, as if someone was just behind him.

He remembered Jean’s words when something didn’t go as planned, or when he was stuck in a shitty situation—

“I’m fucked.”

Y̴̢̦̫̞̦͔̅̾͋̄͗̊e̸͙̘̭̝̩̦̣͌̆̿̋̾͊̋͌̉͐̕̕͘ş̶̖͕̫̗͙̳͔̥̤̙͖̗̰̫̔͑̄̅̆͂̕̚͝ ̵̲̠̟̦͕̙̥̲̲̥̜̞͊͋̓͋̐̈̂̈̈́̑͋̈̕̕ỵ̶̖͈̱̝̯̳̞͈͍̼̯̟̆̐̄́̎̏ő̸̢̧̟̭͔̮̱͔͖̪̞̙̮̈́̾̚͜ȕ̷͎̤̱̱̬̻͛͂̇̈́̐̈́͝ͅ ̵̢̛̤̹͔̰͙̙͈̰̙̳͎̮̽̈̓͗̔̄̑͘a̴̢̪͍̫̫͔̹̫̱̹̩̓̃̒̊́͋̈͜ŗ̴̬̘̣̬̗̻̩͗̒̊̍͋͐͛̓̈͆̈́͘ͅë̸̛̛̙̥̤̥̯̰͇̬̰̑̓͗̊͐̆̂̋͝.̵͖̰̲͍̲̱̠͙̭͈̒̂̋̋̆͌̓̕

♛

#shingeki no kyojin x male reader #eren jaeger x male reader #armin arlert x male reader #jean kirstein x male reader #reiner braun x male reader #bertolt hoover x male reader #male reader #male!reader #marco bodt x male reader #e m p t y

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marsbutterfly · 3 years

Text

I’ll Stand By You

Note: This is a direct continuation of a previous story called Letters to You. It's also the ending of a trilogy I wrote for Hanji. I'm so happy to finally be able to share it with all of you. I hope you enjoy it and if you feel comfortable, let me know what you think!

Previous Chapter

AO3 Version! | Wattpad Version!

Summary: No matter the amount of research you've done in your life, with Hanji or by yourself, nothing could have ever prepared you for the sight that greeted you.

"What in the world is going on here?"

You look at the destroyed castle ahead of you. Fear runs through your veins as you notice the titans storming the premises.

The sun barely shining from behind the walls, you notice the damage around you is far too great for it to have just started.

By the looks of it, the cadets have been fighting for at least a couple of hours.

"But that's not possible. Titans have never shown any signs that they could walk at night!" You think to yourself as you gently tap the sides of your horse, making it go faster.

You get ready to draw your blades when you lay your eyes on the five teenagers standing on the roof. They are too far away and screaming would be pointless.

Until you notice someone jump off the roof and before you know it, bright lightning comes falling from the sky, much like when Eren transforms.

You decide to slow down for a few minutes while the 3-meter class titan takes down several of its kind before getting its hair pulled, making it hard for It to move. From afar, you hear Krista's voice:

"If you're going to die protecting this tower, forget about it! Tear it down!"

You can feel your heart skip a bit, Maybe I misheard her, you think to yourself. Is it possible that this small, big-headed titan is one of them?

From all your research and theories, you did come across the possibility of other people having the same power as Eren and Annie, but you didn't realize there could be another person in such close proximity to you with this ability.

As the teenagers now rest on the floor, surrounded by all the debris and dead titans, you switch onto your gear preparing to kill the remaining titans.

"Are you guys ok?" You ask, striking the first one. They all smile at you, the relief on their faces is undeniable. That brings a smile to your face.

"Holy shit, I have never been so happy to see you, Y/N!" Connie says before putting his hands on the back of his head, you can see a few tears coming down his cheeks as they run after Christa.

Before you have time to do anything, you see a titan in front of her, about to grab her small body with its hands. As you prepare to kill it, you see a figure fly past you and strike one blow to the titan's nape.

You smile at the black-haired girl standing on top of a pile of rocks.

"Mikasa!"

"We'll take it from here. Come on, Y/N"

You nod at her before taking off, killing at least 3 titans on the way.

Once the Scouts ensure that all titans are dead, you use the cloud of smoke to go check on the person who emerged from the now decomposing corpse.

Ymir lost a leg and an arm, not including all of her internal injuries. Christa is already by her side while everyone else seems to take a step further away from her.

You feel two hands grabbing your waist and someone's head resting on your shoulder. A smile appears on your lips once you smell her perfume so close to you.

"I'm so glad you came!" Hanji whispers in your ear, her voice bringing chills up and down your skin.

"Of course I did!" She turns your body around and you take the opportunity to wrap your arms around her neck, giving her a quick kiss. "You asked me to!"

She smiles at you before turning her focus to the injured girl on the floor. Steam is already coming out of her wounds before Hanji even has time to take a closer look.

As you are about to kneel by her side, you pay close attention to Christa's next words.

"My real name is Historia."

The small, blonde girl looks at you right after Ymir closes her eyes once again, you flash her a gentle smile, in a way of telling her everything will be ok before starting to move the taller girl onto the stretcher.

With Hanji and Moblit's help, you finish tying her body up in place, not only trying to prevent her injuries from getting worse, but also to give the other soldiers a sense of security. Some of them seem too scared to even be around her, even if she's not awake.

You watch as her body gets lifted from the floor and makes its way towards the top of the walls.

Before you have time to use your own gear, you feel Hanji's hand wrap around your torso and your feet suddenly aren't touching the floor anymore. You let out a startled scream as she brings you up towards the top of the wall with her own gear.

Once she places you on the floor, you feel your legs shaking slightly.

"A warning would've been nice!!!" Your body falls on the floor as you try to catch your breath, your heart pounding in your chest.

She sits next to you, moving your hair away from your face so she can get a better look at you.

"I'm sorry, I wanted to surprise you." She smiles at you, you try to stay mad at her but the heat rising to your cheeks clearly proves you won't be able to.

You lean closer to her, softly brushing your lips against hers but as you are about to kiss her, you hear Christa's voice calling her name.

"We'll continue this later, I promise." You say and Hanji looks rather disappointed by the interruption but finding out what happened before the Scouts got there is the priority.

You can hear the two of them talking and the blonde girl explains how Ymir took the knife out of Connie's hand and jumped, transforming into a titan in midair.

"Ymir is an ally of humanity!"

A smirk takes over your features, Ymir is not the nicest person you know but, when it comes to the girl she loves, she would do anything to keep her safe.

You look at your favorite girl walking away by Christa's side and you decide to follow closely behind, paying attention to every word they are saying.

"Historia Reiss, as in the Royal Family Reiss?" You say before a few seconds of silence. She only nods and looks at her feet. You touch her right shoulder as Hanji touches her left, and at the same time you both say,

"Nice to meet you, Historia!" Followed by a warm and gentle smile.

As you get closer to Ymir's body, Historia runs and kneels by her side. You look at Moblit, who seems a bit surprised to see you, but still pays more attention to the current issue.

"She's still in a coma. She has, however, stopped bleeding and steam continues to come out of her wounds."

The three of you start to walk away, talking about which course of action will be the best but before you get too far, Hanji suddenly stops walking.

"Y/N... we don't know this for sure but we are almost certain that Bertholdt and Reiner are the Colossal and Armored Titans." She says, quietly. In a state of shock and denial, you simply let out a laugh, hoping it was just a sick joke.

"You cannot be serious right now." You take a deep breath. Hanji gets closer and places a hand on your shoulder.

"Have I ever lied to you?"

You look behind you to see Eren and the other two boys talking. You can only understand parts of what they are saying, but as soon as the red flag on the wall is ripped from its pole, everyone goes silent.

All you can hear is Reiner's confession.

"Reiner, are we doing this here? NOW?" You can hear the despair in Bertholdt's voice but also a hint of excitement. You see a silhouette pass by you and slice both boys. Reiner's arm and Bertholdt's throat.

As Mikasa is about to finish the tall, brown-haired boy off, Reiner pushes her off the wall.

You can see bright, yellow lights around them as you run back towards Eren. Armin yells telling him to run away but it's too late.

Everything happens too fast. The lightning strikes both boys and an explosion pushes you all away from them.

Your body gets flung against the boxes containing equipment and as you open your eyes, the Armored Titan and the Colossal Titan stand before you.

Reiner holds Eren in his hand as he goes down the wall and Bert slowly extends his arms grabbing Ymir and one other soldier.

The heat coming from the Colossal Titan plus the pain from your unhealed wounds are enough to turn your vision black before you can even realize it.

You wake up a few minutes later, the blue sky finally showing up from behind the dark gray clouds. You let out a grunt as you sit up, looking around you to access the situation.

You see the massive titan still attached to the wall and steam coming out of its body. From the looks of it, he's been sitting in this exact position for at least 20 minutes. You can't see any skin on his face, just his bones.

"Y/N!" Historia's voice enters your ears right before you hear a loud roar coming from the ground. You look at her, waiting for some kind of explanation but she looks just as confused as you.

"Was that the Armored Titan?" You try to stand up but the pain in your head forces you to lay back down. Another grunt leaves your throat as you frown in frustration.

You can hear Historia giggle softly.

"Don't break any more ribs, Y/N." You look at her, your mouth hanging wide open as you start laughing at her statement, but before you have time to go off on her, the wall starts shaking and the Colossal Titan's body starts to detach from the wall, making its way towards the ground.

As his body hits the floor, you can see the intense cloud of steam coming up and multiple soldiers screaming, you can recognize Hanji's voice as one of them.

Your heart skips a beat and you quickly get up on your feet, completely forgetting about your own pain. You see dozens of soldiers being flung in the air and among them, you notice Hanji.

As the hook of her gear detaches from the wall, her body begins to fall and you realize she's unconscious. Somehow finding enough strength, you run towards her, jumping over the bodies of other soldiers who suffered the same fate as her.

You position yourself underneath her falling body just seconds before she hits the floor. In a miraculous matter, you manage to grab Hanji without further injuring yourself or her.

You walk closer to the injured soldiers with her body in your arms, right before placing Hanji down on the spot you were once resting on.

Gently, you place her head above your jacket and remove her glasses to have a better look at her injuries, making sure your touch won't cause her any more pain.

Five hours go by and most soldiers are still passed out. The ones with minor injuries start waking up and getting examined by those who weren't caught in the explosion.

Eren and Ymir have been taken away by Bertholdt and Reiner but there is nothing you can do. With the horses on the other side of the wall, waiting is your only option.

"Hannes." You call the blonde man standing by your side.

As you make eye contact with him, you tilt your head towards Eren's best friends. "You should go give them something to eat." While you hand him three rations, he nods and starts walking towards the teenagers.

Mikasa wraps herself with the scarf and for a second you can see tears in her eyes. You let a sigh, feeling bad for not being able to chase after Eren.

"Y/N?" You hear Hanji's voice by your side. You quickly look at her before leaning down her face, trying to get closer to her but not enough to worsen her injuries.

"Are you alright?" You ask.

"I've been better" She lets out a weak laugh, you shake your head and smile at her. Even when she's in pain, Hanji tries to make you smile.

As you start playing with her hair, you hear Commander Erwin's voice coming from behind you.

"I'll be right back." You say as you watch her frown. Once you're standing up, you blow her a kiss as you walk towards the commander.

You quickly salute before he gives you a look and nods. He asks you and Moblit if the situation remains the same but suddenly you feel a hand wrap around your boot.

Looking down, you see Hanji crawling towards the tall, blonde man standing in front of you. As she manages to find the strength, she looks up at the three of you.

"Bring me a map." She says, before collapsing on the floor yet again.

As the newly welcomed squad uses the lifts to switch the horses from one side of the wall to the other, Moblit quickly hands Hanji a map of the area. She stares at it for a few seconds before pointing at one specific spot.

"It might be a long shot, but there's a giant forest here." She says. You can notice how her hands shake slightly and your heart sinks for a moment. "It's not like they can hide the Armored Titan's footprints but I think that's where they are headed."

Someone standing behind you asks why she thinks that, but you can see how it hurts her to talk. The steam from the Colossal Titan probably got into her airways and burned not only the external part of her body but as well as the inside.

"It's a gamble." You say, all eyes now turn to you. Hanji nods gently with a smirk curling up on her lips. "Even if they can still transform, the titans outside the walls are still a threat."

Erwin clears his throat before starting to explain his plan. The soldiers who were badly burned are to stay here and rest but anyone who can ride a horse was to follow him after Eren.

You watch as the horses gallop away, leaving behind only dust and the support of their comrades. As you turn around to talk to Moblit, you watch Hanji crawling around and struggling to move.

You arch your right eyebrow as Moblit shrugs his shoulders, both of you try to find out where she's trying to go.

"Hanji?" He asks, tilting his head.

"Get me a horse!" She blurts out before collapsing on the floor again, you notice how she's struggling to breathe so you kneel next to her, gently placing your hand on her back.

"My love, where are you trying to go?" You ask, giving her the gentlest of looks.

"To the village where they captured the titan that couldn't walk." She says, tears forming in her eyes.

You sigh before looking at Moblit and shaking your head, she's in no condition to walk, much less ride a horse.

"Do you mean Ragako?" He asks while a confused look takes over his features. He then proceeds to look up at you, who now stares at him, daggers coming from your eyes.

You shake your head repeatedly, trying to quietly tell him not to indulge her.

"I need to see it... with my own eyes!" Hanji gives you a pleading look, almost as if she's silently begging you for permission. Before you can even reply to her, Moblit speaks again.

"Don't say something so ridiculous!" He blurs out. You widen your eyes at him for this is the first time you've ever seen him speak to her in such a manner. He takes a deep breath and nods. "All right. If you have a hunch then I'll go there on my own."

Before she can argue with him, he sprints towards the edge of the wall. "You just stay here with Y/N and pass out or something!" He says before gathering with other soldiers.

Hanji grunts and her body once again lays against the floor. You look at her, feeling bad for not being able to protect her. In a second, she uses the last ounce of her strength left to lay on her back as she stares at the now bright, blue sky.

You stand up once again, determined to move her closer to another soldier, so they could apply medicine on her burns. She proceeds to look at you as she tries to find an angle where it doesn't hurt to breathe.

In an instant, you lower your body and pick her up in your arms. A loud squirm leaving her throat as she wraps her arms around your neck. Hanji smiles at you brightly before shifting her lips, inviting you for a kiss.

You happily oblige and carefully lower your body once again so your lips can meet hers. It's a quick and gentle kiss but filled with love nevertheless. You take a few steps forward before placing her down again.

The black-haired soldier comes to examine Hanji but as you are about to leave and go check to make sure Moblit was able to leave the wall safely, you feel a hand wrapping around your wrist.

"Don't leave me." Hanji says. You know it took all of her strength to ask you for this small favor. With a warm, bright smile, you sit behind her, crossing your legs and gently placing her head on your lap.

She lets out a satisfied grunt and you laugh gently, trying not to move too much as not to cause her any extra pain.

After a few minutes, the soldier hands you a small container filled with a mix of herbs, recently mushed into a paste.

You silently mouth the words "thank you" at them before changing your focus to the brunette laying on you.

Her eyes are now closed as she rests on your legs. Not wanting to startle her, you touch her shoulders as gently as possible, barely shaking her body.

As she looks at you, her lips curl into a smile.

"I'll rub some medicine on your face, ok?" You whisper into her ear as you stroke her hair. She quietly nods and closes her eyes again.

You dip two of your fingers into the paste before gently rubbing them against her face. Her features suddenly change and you know she's now being painfully reminded of the burns on her face.

Tears stream down your face onto the tip of her nose, the last you want is to inflict more pain on her but the wounds need to be treated.

"I'm so sorry" You repeat over and over again until there's nothing left on the container.

Once she opens her eyes, she fully takes in the sight of you crying over her. She quickly raises her hand, touching your cheek. You nuzzle yourself against her touch, letting out a sad smile.

"It's ok, I'm ok!" She says, trying to sound as enthusiastic as possible but right after finishing her sentence, she starts coughing.

You place your hand on the center of her back, carefully helping her stand up. Once she finds enough balance to sit on her own, you hand her a small bottle of water.

As she drinks, you use the back of your hands to dry the tears that roll down your cheeks. Hanji finally puts the bottle down and wraps her arms around your shoulders again.

The smell of her skin mixed with the herb is enough to calm you down.

You bring her body closer to you, paying attention to your movements. As your hands rub up and down her back, she places a soft kiss against your cheeks.

"Thank you for staying." You say, moving her hair so it won't come in contact with the medicine. "I know you wanted to see that titan, but your well-being comes first."

She sighs deeply, clearly annoyed but a smile still on her face. "Yeah, yeah, I know."

"There will be other titans but.." You say, trying to finish your sentence but Hanji rolls her eyes at you.

"But there's only one of me, yeah." You both burst into laughter, simply not being able to hold it in. Suddenly, you hear a voice coming from the body existing next to you.

You shift your head, making eye contact with Sasha.

"God, shut up!" That is all she says before covering her face with her hands, an attempt to stop the sun from hitting her eyes. You make eye contact with Hanji and she simply shrugs her shoulders.

"Maybe we should just give her something to eat." She whispers, trying to avoid yet another burst of anger out of the poor girl. You simply nod, using your right hand to dig through the bag standing by your side.

You place an apple on the floor and roll it away from you, aiming for Sasha's hand.

As soon as the fruit comes to a stop, her eyes go wide and you can almost see her inhale the apple.

Hanji starts laughing once again before resting her chin on your shoulder. Once she stops, both of you just stay in silence until you decide to speak.

"Thank you for the letters." You say with a smile on your face. She looks confused for a few seconds, but once she realizes you are talking about all the notes she has left for you before previous missions, the brightest of smiles appears on her face.

"You are very welcome!" She says, touching your face with her right hand. "I wrote them with so much love!"

"Can you please explain to me how Christa is.... I mean Historia is part of the royal family?"

"OOOOH YEAH!" She screams excitedly. She repositions herself, sitting on top of your thighs as her legs wrap around your back. "Get ready, because this is wild!"

"Holy crap." You say, trying to process all the information she just told you.

"I know, right?" Hanji says, putting her hands above her head. "It's insane!"

"Do you think she knows something we don't?" You question while staring at the sky.

"That's what we hope." Hanji says while holding your hand.

You stay in silence for a few minutes, just enjoying the fact that you are both alive. Not well, but at least alive.

As you wait for your comrades to return, you let your body go, falling backward onto the floor. You look at the sunset and raise your hand up to the sky.

"What is it, Y/N?" Hanji asks before joining you. A smile appears on your lips before you kiss her forehead.

"Even if things take a different turn now," you say, still looking up at your hand, "I'm just glad I have you here with me to deal with all of this."

"Thank you for coming." She whispers against your cheeks before turning your face with her index finger, making you look at her.

"Of course!" You say before giving her a peck on the lips and the two of you went back to staring at the sky. "I'll always be by your side!"

Even if you don't know where to go from now on, at least you will always have the certainty that Hanji will be there for you. Maybe the two of you should focus on healing before falling headfirst into a new mission.

But just for now.

149 notes · View notes

heyitsjay03 · 3 years

Text

Fighting For Tomorrow: Chapter Six

Disclaimer: Still haven’t bought AOT but I’m working on it!

AN: this. is a doozy of a chapter- i know. lots. and lots. and lots of words. but DAMN if i didnt love every part of it. however! if you guys prefer smaller chapters please please please dont hesitate to say something. seriously. id love to write you guys more frequent, smaller chapters but if you guys like the longass, slightly infrequent chapters then they shall continue. just say the word bby. also i felt kinda poetic in some of these sections so if you see reader gettin fancy with her verbage, don’t trip. that was my bad.

Reiner x Fem!Reader, eventual Captain Levi x Fem!Reader, Sasha x Sister!Reader

Word Count: 10k (i finished this at 2 am today before class and nearly passed out at the sight ‘10,008 words’ when i pulled up my word counter. CH-YOW this a big boy)

TW: gore/blood/violence/death, adult language/swearing, slight PTSD, mental anguish, self-harm, grief, nightmares, insomnia, hysterics, horse accident

You can read parts one, two, three, four, and five just by tapping the lovely numbers!

The flames crackle and rage before us, engulfing our comrades’ bodies in scarlet and gold waves.

Engulfing Marco’s body.

Jean had found him. Just… laying there. Up against a building. No one had seen him die, no one knew how he died, just that he did. Marco- our comrade, our friend... my friend- just gone. Taken from us. There was no valiant deed. There was no heroism. There was no triumphant story. Nothing. He just… died.

And that’s the worst part.

He was taken from us and no one knows how. No one knows why.

Marco was one of the first comrades I got close to. We were competitive- always fighting to outdo each other. I’d train two hours, he’d train three. He’d pass the ODM test after four tries, I’d pass it in three. Back and forth, back and forth.

But if we faced something bigger than us- if there was an exercise we couldn’t quite pin down, if there was another Cadet giving us problems, if one of our squad members were injured- we’d always come together to beat it. It was always like that.

He was like my little brother.

I scoff at myself. They all are like my younger siblings. Eren, Armin, Mikasa, Jean, Connie, even Annie and Bertholdt. They’re all family and losing Marco… it was like losing a brother.

I did lose a brother.

My brother is among the flames- being turned to ash before my eyes. Marco is gone. Taken from me. Robbed from me. From everyone. His intellect, his kindness, his leadership. All of it gone. Taken from humanity.

We’re just kids.

Marco was just a kid.

All of us- bright-eyed kids wanting to do our best for humanity. To take back what was stolen from us. To serve humanity. We didn’t know how much hate, how much horror was waiting for us. To watch our comrades- our family and friends- be torn apart in front of us. To lose the ones closest to us in unspeakable carnage.

All we wanted was to do something for humanity.

All Marco wanted was to do something for humanity.

He was just a kid.

Tears are streaming down my face as we all watch the flames consume the bodies of fallen soldiers. I can hear the crackling of wood, feel the heat on my skin. But the crackling is distant and the heat is faint. My chest feels empty and cold.

I lost Marco. I lost Hannah. I lost Franz.

And I’ll never get them back.

But I’ll be damned if I allow anyone else to be taken from me.

The Commander roars and rages before us, engulfing us in his words. They burn and singe like fire as they cross the Cadets’ ears. I can hear them whispering among themselves- asking if he’s serious or if he’s crazy or already resigning themselves to the Garrison.

It doesn’t matter what they say.

I’m joining the Scouts. Commander Erwin’s words are a comfort, a pleasant yet caveat warmth. Like a candle sitting beside a curtain. I know what I’m signing up for. I’ve always known. But it doesn’t mean I’ll be giving it all up now.

“I’ve made my decision.”

My eyes turn away from the Commander, landing on Reiner’s form beside me. His gaze is still stuck on the Commander, back straight and shoulders squared. I turn my gaze back to the Commander- not wanting to be chewed out by a commanding officer for not paying attention. “...really?” I ask quietly, “Where are you-?”

“The Scouts.”

My eyes are back on him. “What?” I hiss, “Reiner, you can’t... throw away your shot at the Military Police- you worked so hard, why would you-?”

“Eren was right,” he says quietly. I can feel his chest fill with breath before he chuckles. “They don’t need our skills so far away from the walls. They need us where we’re at use- where the people are.”

“Rei, please, please,” I whisper, “Please don’t do this.”

“Why not?” Reiner chuckles again, “You want me gone?”

“It’s not like that,” I shoot back, “I just…”

“You just what?”

“...I don’t wanna lose anyone else.”

“...you won’t.”

“You can’t know that… I’m already worried about Eren and Armin and Mikasa- if I have to worry about anyone else-”

“You don’t need to worry about me, darling… Because we’re going to get through this,” I can feel his finger graze the side of my hand before his hand takes mine. “Together.”

A shaky exhale leaves my mouth as I close my eyes. “...together,” I whisper as shivers run down my spine.

“That’s right, darling.”

“...those who wish to join other divisions are dismissed.”

Shuffles of feet scurry past me as I remain. I can feel their gazes, their judging glares and confused looks. They mumble to themselves. ‘Insane’, ‘crackpots’, ‘suicidal’, ‘deathwish’. Nervously, I swallow and grip Reiner’s hand tighter.

I can feel his smile. Proud and bright like the sun. Warming like the sun. Relaxation smoothes out over my skin as I soak it in.

I’ve done it. Finally. After years of fighting and hoping and wishing and dreaming about this very moment, I’m here.

The crowd clears out and a scattering of us remains. My eyes dart to each of the figures in the hopes of identifying my fellow crackpots.

Reiner. Armin. Mikasa. Bertholdt. Ymir. Christa. Sas-

My heart stops.

Sasha. Connie. Jean.

What the Hell are they doing here?! They were supposed to join the Military Police. They were going to, weren’t they?! Why are they still here?! Why aren’t they walking away?

At the very base of my stomach, something churns. Quickly and violently.

I think I’m gonna be sick.

I’m already going to be looking out for Armin, Eren, and Mikasa- I came to accept that long ago- but now Sasha? And Reiner? Connie and Jean, too?

Most of everyone I’ve ever loved has just signed their hearts and bodies away to the Scouts- to nearly certain death.

There has to be a way to change their minds, right? There has to be.

...but there isn’t, is there?

They heard the statistics. They know how many have died in the Scouts. They know all the facts, all the dirtiest of details.

And they stayed.

Gods, why did they stay?

I’ll drag each of them out of here by their ears, kicking and screaming, if I have to. I already lost Marco and Hanna and Franz. I don’t think I could take losing them, too.

But if they truly want to- if they know the risk and want to dedicate their hearts just like I am… why would I stop them?

I should be proud.

They’re- we all are- dedicating ourselves to the better future humanity deserves. To the eradication of Titans. To the freedom we all hunger for.

“Very well!” Commander Erwin’s voice booms out over us. “I welcome you- the newest recruits of the Scout Regiment!” His fist slams against his chest in a tight salute, “This is my real salute! Dedicate your hearts to the cause!”

The group moves as one as we all strike our fists to our chests.

My eyes glide from the Commander to Sasha once more.

She’s shaking. I can hear her stifled sobs from here.

But she remains firm in her spot.

She’s made her decision.

And I can accept that.

I lay awake. Moonlight flickers through the window- inching towards the other side of the room. It’s late and I’m exhausted but even when I am, I can’t sleep. There’s too much screaming in my head. Too much gore. Too much carnage that I can only barely remember. The only things that do remember are my heart and lungs- hammering and pounding and stretching to the fullest in the wake of whatever nightmare slinked back into the recesses of my mind.

Reiner stirs in his sleep and wraps his arms around my waist. Tucking me into him, he sighs and buries his head into my neck. “...can’t sleep?” he mumbles. His voice is deep. Deeper than usual, with a gentle rumble to it.

“No,” I whisper back, shrinking into him.

“Wanna talk about it?”

I stay silent. No. No, I really, really, really, really don’t want to. Talking about whatever bothers me is like pulling teeth. It feels like a burden that I’m casting onto someone else. And with Reiner… he’s burdened enough already. He’s everyone’s big brother. Everyone’s confidant. He shoulders responsibilities and punishments for others- never once thinking about himself.

But he’s exhausted. All the time, exhausted. And he’s so good at hiding it. Even around me. But I can see it. The way his golden eyes go hazy at times, the way his shoulders sag and the way things slip his mind. The way he can become an entirely different person with terrifying speed.

It scares me how much I think he carries. Because when he breaks… it’ll be cataclysmic.

Reiner’s lips slide up my shoulder and neck, pressing gentle kisses against my skin. “...well?”

But maybe he’ll open up to me if I take the step first. Maybe I’ll show him that there’s nothing to worry about- that I’m not going anywhere and that he can talk to me about anything. Everything.

“...I’ve… I’ve been having nightmares.”

His kisses stop where they are, lips still pressed to my skin for a moment before pulling away. His grip on me gets tighter as he pulls me closer. Reiner lets his head rest in the crook of my neck and sighs. “...what about?”

I laugh quietly, letting my fingers trail against his forearm. “...I don’t remember most of them but… there is one that comes back… every now and then.”

“I’m listening, darling.”

Slowly, I take a breath. My eyes close as I remember the details of the dream. “...it always starts off the same… I’m in a throne room and there’s a person at my feet. Sometimes… it’s a woman and other times it’s a man and other times, I can’t tell which, but… there’s always someone at my feet,”

“And they’re always crying,” I whisper, eyebrows drawing together and I grip his forearm. “Sobbing and pleading for mercy. A-...And I…” My voice quivers as tears start to flow from my eyes. “I… just… I don’t even know, I just… I see this… light- red light- come from their eyes and they just… they convulse and thrash around for a moment- screaming and crying and begging- before… before they…,”

“...before they die at my feet,” I whisper brokenly, eyes open and staring out into the distance as the scene replays. “And when they finally die… I look up… and there’s… corpses. Thousands upon thousands of corpses, Rei… All piled up on top of each other and in writhing rigidity. As far as I could see- there were bodies- and… and somehow I know that… that I… I had… somehow I know that I was the one that killed them all.”

“I’m your squad leader, Ness,” the man before us states before clapping a hand onto the horse towering beside him. “And this! Is my horse, Chalet…”

My eyes drift away from him, blankly settling on the various horses in their stalls behind me. I’ve tuned him out… I should probably listen to whatever he has to say. But… I’m so tired. Another night of staring at the ceiling while listening to Reiner snore and watching Bertholdt contort himself into a coil across the room.

I don’t know how many sleepless nights I have left.

My body lurches forward slightly as someone nudges me from behind. I turn to face whoever it was. Jean is towering over me with a smirk on his face as he pretends to be watching Squad Leader Ness. “...what the hell was that for?” I mutter, facing forward.

“You were falling asleep again,” he chuckles quietly, “Another… late night?”

I scoff and shake my head, “You’re a child.”

“You didn’t say ‘no’.”

“No, Jean,” I hiss, “I just… couldn’t sleep.”

I can feel him deflate slightly behind me. “...oh…”

“Yeah.”

“...I get them, too.”

“I really hope you don’t.”

Connie, standing beside me, scoots closer. “What’re we talkin’ about?”

Jean answers at the same time as I do. “Sex.”

“Food.”

Connie’s eyebrows furrow slightly as he risks a glance at me. “...huh?”

I sigh and roll my eyes, “We were talking about-”

“Did someone say ‘food’?” Sasha whispers excitedly behind me.

I sigh and roll my eyes again. “You three are-”

“Hilarious.”

“Your favorites.”

“Really hungry.”

Groaning softly, I shake my head at their responses. “Gods… I thought Armin, Eren, and Mikasa were a lot… then I had to get you knuckleheads thrown in, too.”

“Now!” Ness states, looking significantly more disheveled than he did a few minutes ago. Adjusting the bandana around his head, he huffs and stands up straight. “Follow me and I’ll show you to your dorms- and then you’ll be introduced to your horses.”

He walks off, leading us between the stables and the looming walls of the castle. My eyes trail up the crumbling stone- plants and vines and flowers managing their way through the cracks- and over the rolling hills dotted with trees. Sunlight floods the stone courtyard, basking us all in its warmth.

It reminds me of home.

Not Shiganshina- but of the modest cottage in the forest. I smile to myself, watching Sasha bother Jean with Connie’s help just in front of me. I remember playing with her in the trees. We made and marked that forest. There isn’t a tree in that entire forest we haven’t carved up with arrows and knives or with the undersides of our shoes as we climbed their roots and limbs. Sasha would be afraid at first- of foxes or wolves or falling or tripping. But as soon as I took her hand and led her to the sunlight, to the tops of the trees, to the very breath of the sky… she’d always hunger for more. To go to the brightest spot in the forest, to climb the highest tree, to scale the steepest cliff.

My smile starts to fade slightly.

She’s even more afraid than she used to be… did I cause that? Does she even remember? She was young when I left… Does she remember when she scraped her knee and told her that she was now one with the forest- that its blood was in her and her blood in it? Does she remember that first tree we climbed together? Does she remember the nights we would run barefoot around the dew-covered clearings in the heart of the woods with no light to guide us except that of the moon? Does she remember what it was like to not be afraid?

Will we ever get to go back…?

The group stops. Ness smiles at us and points down the hallway to our left. “Down this hallway are the boys’ rooms,” he points to the hallway to our right. “And down this one is the girls’.” He chuckles and turns back to us. “There is… one other thing.”

Uh oh.

“There’s only one bathroom.”

I stifle a groan. It’s a goddamn castle. How in the walls is that even possible- one bathroom, my ass.

“Well… only one that’s in good enough shape to be used, anyway. ‘sides the officers’ bathroom...” Ness admits, a sheepish smile growing on his lips as he rubs the back of his head. “You’re welcome to fix up the other ones, though! ...although, I think you’d need help…” Ness continues muttering more to himself than anyone else.

One bathroom. Unbelievable. I growl under my breath as Ness marches us back out into the courtyard. You’d think Captain Shortstack would be all over the renovations of this place- bathrooms included.

Whatever. It’s not like I shower when everyone else does, anyway. There’s always a possibility I could sneak into the officers’ bathroom like when we were in training… And there was that river...

“I can see you already coming up with a plan,” Sasha appears next to me, lowering her voice. “What’re ya thinkin’?”

I laugh softly, nudging her arm with my elbow. “Nothing regarding food.”

Sasha pouts slightly, “Fine… then what’re ya thinkin’ about?”

“Just plannin’ my way into the officers’ bathroom.”

“Oooh,” Sasha laughs maliciously. “Do you think they’ll have hot water?”

I sigh, closing my eyes and imagining the steam and feel of hot water cascading down my body. Hot water was a privilege in the Cadet Corps. ...one that was constantly being robbed from me. I’d mostly show up after everyone had already showered, praying that maybe I’d have even a moment to myself to unwind- and to not be stared at. And nearly every time, I bathed in freezing cold water. But there were a few times where I’d be wrapped in steam, delicate streams of hot water warming my frigid body.

...now that I think about it, those ‘few times’ were whenever Reiner would wake me up early to get in the shower before everyone else.

“Gods,” I mumble, looking at Reiner as he walks with Bertholdt and Annie. “I really hope so, ‘tato-muncher.”

As if he felt my gaze on him, Reiner turns around and smiles. I return the smile with a scrunch of my nose. Reiner’s eyes glide behind me for a second, returning to me before darting back behind me. I turn around to follow his gaze.

Eren.

Eren runs straight for us, green cape flaring out behind him as he charges towards the group. Our eyes meet and his pace increases. My hand latches onto Sasha’s sleeve and tugs, “‘Tato! ‘Tato, look!” I laugh, slapping Connie’s shoulder. “Look who it is!”

Connie and Sasha turn around and I can hear the others turn along with them. Armin and Mikasa greet him first, taking him into their arms and speaking quietly amongst themselves for a moment. When they break away, Eren’s smile widens as he looks over us.

“...you’re all here?” he asks quietly, smile slightly fading. “You all joined the Scouts?”

“Well, yeah,” I laugh, “Why else would we be here- shits ‘nd giggles?”

Eren rolls his eyes before scanning over us again. “Wait… if you’re all here… That means Jean, Marco, and Annie all joined the Military Police.”

My heart plummets like a rock into my stomach. That’s right. He wasn’t there for the funeral. He doesn’t know.

The remaining section of our group walks up behind Eren- Jean leading them all. Eren turns around and groans. “Not you, too.”

Jean doesn’t react. His face unreadable and voice flat, he rips the bandage off. “Marco’s dead.”

“...what?” Eren mumbles, “What did you just… What’d you just say? Did you say Marco died?”

Jean’s voice stays still as he continues.

“Seems like not everyone can die a dramatic death.”

“You don’t think it’s weird?” I laugh, picking up a section of hay and starting back towards the stable. “We know everyone, every thing’s position in the formation except Eren’s- arguably the most volatile and important piece of information to have. That isn’t the least bit confusing to you?”

Reiner shrugs, taking the hay from my hands. “Dunno… I haven’t really thought about it.”

I huff and shake my head, stepping in front of him and taking the hay back. “I can carry it,” I mutter, looking at the ridges growing in his face. “And by the look on your face, you have been thinking about it.” I turn around, lifting the hay over the stable door and onto the growing pile just beside my horse.

My horse nudges me with his nose, huffing. I smile and rub my hand up and down his nose, “...needy, aren’t we?” I whisper softly.

“Ya gonna give him a name?” Reiner asks, patting his hand against the horse’s neck.

Peeking down under the horse’s neck, I squint up at him. “You didn’t answer me.”

Reiner rolls his eyes and walks away, sighing. “You didn’t ask anything.”

“I asked if you were thinking about why we weren’t being filled in on Eren’s location in the formation.”

“Technically, you didn’t ask,” he shoots back.

My eyes lock with his in an intense stare. “...we really gonna do this right now?” I ask quietly, still petting my horse.

Reiner sighs and looks away, running a hand through his hair. I turn back to my horse, letting my forehead rest against his cheek. Reiner sighs again. The three of us stand in silence- only my horse breaking the silence with occasional huffs and flicks of his tail.

“...I have been thinking about it,” Reiner finally mumbles. “But… not like you have.”

Here we go again with him being all cryptic and skittish and avoidant. I am so sick of this game.

“Then how have you been thinking about it, Reiner?” I hiss, lifting my head off my horse and looking into his large grey eye. “All the time- just when I think you’re gonna open up to me about what’s going on in that…” I sigh frustratedly, “That… that… stupid, thick, adorable, blond head’a yours you just… you shut me back out again. And it’s so goddamn irritating, Rei,” I admit with a slight squeak in my voice.

Slowly, I turn to face him, gaze dropping down to the ground. “...I’ve been… I’ve been so open with you. More open than I have with anyone in my whole life- except, I dunno... Sasha- but I just… It’d be nice to have some’a that returned.”

I can hear him get closer to me. Gently, his arms wrap around me and tuck me into his chest. I’m swallowed in his embrace as he runs his fingers up and down my back. “...okay,” he whispers, “okay, darling… I’ll… I’ll try and open up to you, okay? I’ll…” he trails off and sighs, tightening his hold on me as he places his chin on the top of my head.

“I know how hard it is, and… I… I’m not trying to force it out of you or anything… I just… I want to help you,” I whisper quietly. “And I promise you, Rei...I’m not going anywhere.”

There’s a coldness in his laugh. It leaves his lips like ice and falls to the floor like daggers. “Thank you, darling. Just…,” Reiner takes my shoulders, pushing us apart. His gold eyes have slightly lost their luster as they peer deep into me. I squirm slightly in his stare, eyebrows furrowing. “You have to understand that there is a lot happening- something... bigger, darling.”

I blink and tilt my head slightly to the side. “Did you… did you get another assignment?” I ask quietly, “Something under the table?”

Reiner is quiet for a moment, eyes flicking between mine. “...yes. Something under the table- from people higher than the Captain.”

My eyes widen slightly. Is this what’s been weighing on him for so long? That’s why he’s been missing at times? What he’s been trying to tell me? Another assignment that he can’t talk about, even with me-

Oh gods.

I feel like a total ass.

“Who…?” I ask quietly, taking note of the way he straightens up to scan around us before shrinking back down.

Reiner scoots us back, tucking me up against the stable door. “I… I can’t tell you but… you understand that, right, darling?” He asks hopefully, a small lilt to his voice. Gently, his fingers trail my face and a small smile crosses my face. His lips mirror mine.

“I understand that, love,” I hum, leaning into his touch. “I do… I do have another question.”

Reiner smiles wider, lovingly staring down at me. “What is it, darling?”

Nervous claws at my stomach.

I shouldn’t ask this.

Why? He’s finally being open with me- willing to at least tell me what’s wrong. Shouldn’t I-

No. There’s something bigger here. Don’t. Ask.

“__________?”

I swallow my fear and meet his gaze. “...I heard you the night after the first clean-up operation,” I admit quietly, “with Annie and Bertholdt.”

Reiner’s eyes darken, dropping down and avoiding my gaze. “...how much did you...?”

“Not much,” I laugh nervously, “Just you guys arguing about telling me… and Annie saying to only tell me when you’re sure of how I’d feel.”

With a sigh of relief, he closes his eyes and smiles. He quickly presses his lips to my forehead. “Okay, okay… Okay… Sorry, I just… I don’t need t’get... chewed out for that.” I chuckle softly, “So… that big’a deal, huh?”

Reiner laughs, “Yes. That big of’a deal.”

“...so… it’s you, Annie, and Bertholdt,” I mumble, picking at the leather strap running down his chest. “Anyone else that I know?”

“No, just us three.”

“Am… am I in danger?” I ask jokingly, “All this secrecy- it makes me wonder.”

Reiner doesn’t laugh with me.

“Rei?” I call, looking up at him. “...am I?”

His eyes slide down to me, a small smile on his lips. “...stick with me, darling- I’ll keep ya safe.”

“...what?”

“There’s a lot at work here, __________,” Reiner sighs, his eyes going hazy for a second as he relives whatever is ‘at work’. Blinking, he focuses back on me. “But I can keep you safe. I’ve been keeping you safe.”

What does this even mean? Are there people I can’t trust? If that’s true, then what? What am I supposed to do? Be some tiny little doll cowering in fear behind him? I hate being treated like some weak, fragile, defenseless thing. And what if he gets hurt protecting me? What then? What if something goes wrong and he ends up being blamed for something he didn’t do?

And what about Sasha?

“...what about my sister? What about her? Who’s gonna keep her safe?” I ask, clutching the fabric covering his chest, “If anything happens to Sasha, I…”

“Nothing’s gonna happen to Sasha,” Reiner hums quietly, “We’re gonna keep her safe.”

“And Eren? Mikasa? Armin? What about the boys? If any of them get hurt, Rei, I just… I don’t think I could…”

“__________,” he says firmly, catching my attention. Slowly, my eyes slide up to meet his again. They’re gentle and glowing in the fading sunlight. His hand trails down my face again, leaving a buzzing wake behind it.

“You need to trust me.”

I swallow and nod quickly. “Okay, yes, okay… Okay, you’re right. We… We are all gonna be okay.”

Reiner chuckles and lets his chin rest on the top of my head as he tucks me into his chest again.

“That’s my girl.”

“Oiii!” I yell, waving a hand over my head. “Ponytail!”

Eld’s head starts swiveling around, looking for whoever called him. With a gentle kick of my horse, he trots closer. “Eld!” I call again, sliding off the side of my horse. My feet hit the dirt just in front of him as I straighten up, shaking a few stray hairs out of my eyes. “It’s good to see ya again.”

Eld smiles and chuckles, gesturing down to the emerald green cape around my shoulders. “So you made it.”

I look down and rub the fabric between my fingers. A smile crosses my face as I look back up to him. “Just like I dreamed I would.”

“You’re in pretty high spirits,” Oluo scoffs as he walks by with a supply box. Setting it down into a wagon, he huffs and turns to face us. “Considering we’ll all be facing death in a few hours.”

“Always the charmer, huh?” I mutter quietly, earning a small laugh from Eld. “And if you have t’know, I’m just happy we’re one step closer to going outside the walls…” I smile to myself, imagining the places Armin used to talk about. Fire water, ice hills, saltwater that goes on for so long even the merchants couldn’t drain all the salt from it.

I think that’ll be my favorite. ‘Sea’.

Oluo scoffs again. “Bright-eyed, suicidal recruit… Just don’t get someone else killed, will ya?”

“What the hell’s that supposed t’mean?” I snap back.

Oluo smiles crookedly, realisation splitting his face like a piece of china. “Struck a nerve, huh?,” he laughs, “Better get rid of those if you wanna make it.”

“Bold talk for someone that’s too insecure to keep his own personality,” I mutter, rolling my eyes. I turn my attention back to Eld- who’s gone awfully quiet as the two of us went at it. A blush is back on his cheeks and I can see him fidgeting with his gaze in an effort to mind his own business.

“...uhm…” He mumbles as his eyes catch someone walking behind me. “This is Petra!” Eld blurts, tugging a woman by the arm. “The one that checked on you when you were, uh… asleep.”

“In a coma, more like,” I laugh, dipping my head to the woman. She has ginger hair cut just above her shoulders and soft, kind eyes. There’s something about her that reminds me so much of a deer for some reason.

Petra’s eyes suddenly light up as she looks over me again. “I remember you- you’re __________! I didn’t know you had your heart set on the Scouts. Which is surprising… considering how much Eld talks about you.”

Eld’s face goes even redder. He stands rigidly, eyes fixated on the horizon.

...I think he just went into shock.

“Well, thank you,” I hum, giving Petra another smile. “For checking in on me.”

Petra shakes her head, “It wasn’t any issue at all.”

I dip my head again and lightly punch Eld’s shoulder. “Hopefully you told her the story of how I kicked your and Oluo’s asses.”

Petra tilts her head slightly to the side before a wicked smile crosses her lips. “...I don’t think I’ve heard that one, __________. Please, tell me.”

“Well, I was walking down an alleyway when-”

“That’s good!” Eld suddenly yelps, “Thank you so much, __________, for stopping by, but the Captain’s calling us!”

Petra giggles as Eld walks behind her, pushing her by the shoulders. Captain Shortstack Jackass is watching them with his arms crossed over his chest, eyebrows furrowed. He very obviously didn’t call either of them. “You’ll have to tell me when we get back!” Petra calls.

“Of course!” I laugh, watching as Eld goes even redder. Petra waves over his shoulder and I do the same before mounting my horse. I give his neck a gentle pat and urge him forward- back towards the stable.

“You... need a name, Horse,” I mutter as we trot past the various wagons and other Scouts getting their horses and gear ready. “All horses have names… I guess.”

Horse huffs at me.

“Well… you’re…” I look down at his coat as we start to pick up speed. It shimmers in the sunlight, revealing the faint speckles of black and grey under his cream-colored coat. “You’re cream and you’ve got freckles. And last I checked, you have grey-” Horse looks over slightly at me, light-brown eyes glistening. “Sorry… brown eyes. And black mane and tail.”

My eyes flick up, locking onto the figure standing just a few feet in front of my horse. Gripping the reins, I tug back to stop Horse from trampling whoever is in front of me. Instead, I feel myself being shot forward and colliding with the ground. Pain shoots out from my arm, branching out in heated flashes.

I roll onto my back and stare up at the clouds as they lazily float by. “Gods…” I mutter to myself, “That sucked.”

“Told you I’m better at handling horses than you.”

I sit straight up. My head on a swivel, I look around for the voice. It sounded just like… It couldn’t have been- no. No, I’m just-

My eyes land on him. Standing just a couple feet away, with a green Scouts cape on over his shoulders and ODM gear strapped on. He laughs, walking closer and shaking his head. “Jeez, __________, you’ll really get yourself killed if you keep trying to keep up with me.”

“Freckles?” I whisper.

Marco smiles and laughs again, “Really hit your head hard, didn’t you?”

“Freckles?” I whisper again, reaching out to touch him.

This isn’t real. It can’t be real. He’s dead. Bit in half. Died alone. Left in the sun to rot for days. He’s dead.

“Ah, jeez, you really did hit your head hard,” Marco mumbles, crouching down beside me. “We gotta get you to Sasha. She’s got some experience with injuries, doesn’t she…? And I won’t even tell Reiner! It’ll just be between us, okay?” He asks, worriedly scanning my face.

“Freckles, you… You… You aren’t here.”

“What are ya talkin’ about? I’m right here, remember? We were practicing horseback riding and maneuvering. Don’t you remember the bet we had?”

Wait a moment.

This was real.

This… this happened already, why am I…?

“...it was my haul from the Commandant’s office,” I whisper, “The… the fountain pen. You’d… you’d take it if I couldn’t pull off a sharp turn and activate my ODM gear while jumping off my horse.”

Tears start to cloud my vision as I stare up at him. “You aren’t really here,” I croak, “Are you?”

Marco shakes his head.

“...I miss you, Freckles,” I smile, tears slipping down my face as I look up at him. My hand brushes through his cheek- like he was a colored mist- but his smile remains. “Gods, I miss you.”

“You’ll see us again.”

I nod, feeling my tears start down the sides of my face. “...tell Franz and Hanna I said ‘hi’.”

“I will.”

“And you… you stay outta trouble, you hear me?” I laugh, tears choking me at the base of my chest.

“You’re the one that needs to stay outta trouble.”

I nod and laugh again, shaking my head.

“...take… take care’a the others for me, will you?” I nod silently. Marco looks up as Horse trots closer. “It’s time for me to go. Just… close your eyes, okay?”

My eyes slide closed before voices start to swarm around me. Bleeding into one another, it makes it so damned hard to hear what anyone is actually saying. All I can do is feel.

And someone’s got me by the shoulders, shaking me pretty damned hard.

I open my eyes to see familiar faces. “...I’ve got to stop waking up to you guys looking down at me like I’ve died.”

The four of them sigh.

“If you die because of a stupid horse incident, I’ll never forgive you,” Jean mutters, getting to his feet and walking away. I can hear him muttering about ‘how stupid’ of a funeral that would be.

“What?” I laugh, wincing at the pain shooting from above my left eye. My fingers graze the spot- only to pull away with a scarlet coloring.

Ah, shit.

“So,” Reiner grumbles, scooping me off the ground effortlessly. “You and your horse have a bit of an issue?”

I scoff, curling into myself as my head starts to pound.

“No?” He asks as we walk towards the castle. “Then what the Hell kind of stunt were you tryin’a pull?”

“I-,” I stop and groan, clutching my temples as they begin to sear. “I… I thought… I thought I saw someone.”

Reiner looks down at me as he pushes the castle door open with his back. Eyebrows furrowed, eyes flicking over every inch of me. It’s the same damn look as every other time I’ve gotten hurt. Which… arguably… is a lot of times.

The ODM incident where I almost cracked my skull open on a tree branch.

The time I slipped and fell in the bathroom.

The sparring training where I cracked three of my ribs. And my arm. And dislocated my shoulder. All because I wouldn’t yield.

The rooftop.

The grocery store.

Various little minor accidents scattered throughout.

And now this.

We round the corner and he places me onto a bed. I watch as he runs a hand down my face and sticks his head out the hallway to look around before returning to my side. Reiner sighs. “What am I gonna do with you?”

“Love me,” I hum, closing my eyes slightly as the pain throbs and squirms beneath my skin. “Unconditionally.”

“Gods,” he mutters, scooting closer. “I probably will.”

“Probably?” I ask quietly. “Not ‘most definitely’?”

A deep sigh passes his lips. It rumbles in his chest like thunder. Calming, soothing, gentle thunder. Memories of the forest running to find shelter as another storm took us by surprise. Bare feet padding the grass. Clothes sticking to our skins. Hair plastered to our faces- much like our smiles. Wiping her face as she ducks behind my arm. Telling her that the forest was telling the sky a joke, that the thunder was the sky’s laughter. Watching her peek out to watch the forest and sky talk, laughing as she swears she heard the punchline.

Does she remember what it was like to not be afraid?

“Hey,” Rei mutters, shaking my arm slightly. “Don’t go to sleep on me yet.”

“...sorry,” I mumble, opening my eyes and letting them glide to his spot beside me. “Where is she-”

The door slams open. Sasha- with eyes wide and clutching medical supplies to her chest- pants in the doorway. “Did I make it?” She asks wearily.

“Did…,” I trail off, sitting up to look at her. “Did you think I died?”

Sasha shakes her head, kicking the door closed just as Connie and Jean try to walk in behind her. “No,” she mutters. Plopping down beside me, she looks over me. “Just thought maybe you’d passed out.”

“Check my eyes,” I remind her. Sasha nods and leans in, forcing open my eyes with her fingers.

“...your eye-holes seem to be fine.”

“...my pupils?”

“Eye-holes. Same thing.”

I know Sasha’s joking but by the look on Reiner’s face, he does not.

“She’s only kidding, love,” I whisper as I take his hand. “She knows the basics.”

“Yep,” Sasha agrees, digging through the pile of medical supplies she brought in. “And you don’t have a concussion- and that thing on your head doesn’t need stitches- it should heal in a week or so... so you’re good to go after I clean it… ha!” She snatches a bottle of saline and a bandage. “You’ll be all good in no time, __________. Trust me.”

I’m the one that taught her. Why don’t I trust her?

“You awake?”

I focus back in on the now. The present. My surroundings.

Scattered trees and hills to the right. Denser trees on my left. Two horses trailing behind me. No flares from either direction. Reiner just in front of me.

“Always am.”

“Good.” He starts to pull back on his horse, levelling off with me. “How’s your head?”

Instinctively, I reach up and graze the bandage. “I don’t feel anything.”

“Good.”

“...are you okay?” I ask, looking over at him. His skin is pale and flushed pink with a slight tinge to his ears. “Here. Drink some.” Unbuckling my flask, I hand it to him.

...and he downs the entire thing before handing it back to me.

“Rei, are you sick?”

“No, I just-”

“Well, love, you look like you’re either about to shit yourself or vomit,” I laugh worriedly, “Are you sure?”

“__________, listen, I…,” he sighs and looks away. He’s even more red now.

I nudge him with my elbow. “I’m listening.” I smirk, stirrupping Horse again. My eyes turn to the horizon, scanning for any flares or anything that approaches us.

Reiner returns my smile and sighs shakily. “I wanna-”

Something appears in the distance. “What is that?” I mumble, staring at the thing. “Do you see it?” I point. “That.”

Reiner looks at the thing, squinting. “I… I can’t tell.”

“Should we fire a flare off?” I ask, reaching to my saddlebag. “Just in case?”

“Just… hang on-”

He stops just as the thing changes form, moving closer towards us and faster.

It takes shape as it grows. Fourteen meters, blonde hair.

Female body type.

My hands move on their own- throwing the canister into the gun, lifting it straight up, and firing. Red smoke fires out from the gun into the clouds. “Rei, we have to move!” I yell, turning the horses in towards the center of the formation.

I look over my shoulder, watching the two horses trail after Reiner. He stays going forward, heading right for it with glazed eyes. “Reiner!”

My eyes follow his gaze as I bring Horse to a stop. They land on the Female Titan, who snatches something from mid-air and dropkicks it. Blood trails after the broken body and I watch ODM wires disconnect from the Female Titan’s body- following the body.

It’s… is it like Eren? A person inside it?

“Reiner!” I scream again.

It gets his attention. Snapping out of his daze, Reiner makes a sharp turn.

As he gets closer, I press my heels into Horse’s sides. “Ha!”

Footsteps follow after us, thundering and quivering the very organs inside of me. My breath catches in my lungs as I feel it- her- getting closer. Gods. Gods, please. Not like this. Not like this. Not like this. Not like this.

Something flashes at my side. With trembling force, a foot lands beside me- crushing one of the horses before it could even make a sound.

We’re going to die. Right now, we are going to die.

I wince, waiting for her to reach down and crush me in her hand. Reiner yells something but it’s lost in the frantic whinnies of our horses, the pounding of my heart, the panting of my lungs. When it reaches me, it’s blurred together like the colors in my eyes.

‘I’ve gotten hurt’ is what it sounds like.

Gods, please. Spare us.

My fists clutch the reins as I look up. Blonde hair, blue eyes, fourteen meters. This is what will kill me.

The Female Titan’s other foot collides with the earth beside me. All at once, sounds and colors and shapes retract into their determined forms. Everything flushes back into focus as the Female Titan takes another step away from us. I watch as she continues sprinting towards the center- leaving us in her wake. Her head turns to look over her shoulder before she presses forward.

Right to Armin.

“Rei!” I yell, sticking Horse again. “She’s gonna hit Armin! She’s headed right for him!”

“C’mon!” He yells back, appearing at my side.

“This is the job we chose, right?” Jean snaps, “So lend me a hand!”

The rest of us are silent. Only hoofbeats and footsteps resound around us. Silently, Armin pulls his hood up over his head. “...pull your hoods up. Over your heads- far down enough so she can’t see your face.”

“You’re thinking she won’t kill anyone that could be Eren,” Reiner mutters, tugging his hood up over his head. “...that’s a nice, but small, consolation… Let’s hope she has bad eyes, too.”

Jean shakes his head, laughing. “I was always creeped out the way you used to hang around Eren so much,” he mutters as he pulls his hood up. “But I always knew you were capable.”

“...‘creeped out’ is a little harsh but thanks,” Armin mumbles.

Feeling the three pairs of eyes on me, I tug my hood up as well. “...I always knew I’d die next to you three bastards.”

“Well. If we don’t,” Reiner chuckles, “We’ll throw a big party ‘nd get married.”

“Oh yeah,” I scoff, pulling my swords out from their holsters. “We’ll have a big ol’ buffet ‘nd everything. I’ll even have a live band play for us.”

“You two lovebirds over there still squawking?” Jean barks, leaning forward to glare at us.

“Will you shut up for a minute?” Reiner shoots back, “I’m… Kinda doin’ something.”

“You can ‘kinda do something’ after this!” Jean yells, “We’re not dying today.”

“Fine!” I snap, “I’m not spending my last moments fighting with you two morons! Let’s just do this. Delay her as long as we can- by any means necessary. Got it?!”

The three grunt in agreement. “Jean, go to her left,” Reiner starts, “Armin, you go to her right. __________, you-”

“I’m going with Armin!” I whip my reins and follow after Armin as he heads to the Female Titan’s right hand side.

We level off just behind her. “She’s much slower than when she attacked me!” Armin comments, “If we’re going to do this, it has to be now!”

“Wait for Jean!” I yell, “He’s the best out of us with ODM gear. If he can get a good angle on her, it’ll be us being his support!”

A flash shoots out, launching into the Female Titan’s leg. Jean flies in behind it with his swords readied. The Titan crouches down and spins- flinging Jean. Armin and I get to our feet and stand on our horses’ backs. As my wires stick into the Female Titan’s leg, I give Horse a tap of my heel that sends him running away from the Titan.

Something swipes just under my legs. Everything around me slows as I watch the Titan’s hand bat Armin’s horse out from underneath him. His name leaves my lips the same way it did when Shiganshina fell. Breathless. Screeching. Desperate. “Armin!”

“__________!” Reiner’s voice carries out over my own.

Before I can do anything, I feel something crack against my back. I’m pushed forward- colliding with the earth and rolling for a few feet. Landing on my back, I stare up in a daze at the clouds.

Aching pain crawls through my veins- igniting my muscles in throbbing, squeezing pain. My back arches as I take long, hard breaths to stop my heart from pounding in my ears. It does nothing but amplify the sound as I feel my lungs burn and the cages around them scream in agony.

Broken ribs. At least a few on each side.

Certain slices and patches of my skin burn from the contact with the ground. Minor scratches, bruises, friction burns.

I’ll live. If she doesn’t finish me off.

Time begins to speed up again- her footsteps not taking so long to hit the ground as they get closer. Clouds seem to flurry past and my heartbeat begins to race once more.

The fight isn’t done yet.

I push myself to my feet, feeling every ache, every pain, every burn a million times over.

The fight isn’t done yet.

I’m not done yet.

The Female Titan tightens her fist, preparing to swing backwards at Jean. Breaking out into a sprint, I click my triggers and shoot my wires into the ground, allowing me to run faster. A blur of gold and green starts towards the Titan as I do- catching me attention so I stutter and stop.

Reiner.

Teeth gritted, eyes blazing, blades glinting. He’s going for her nape.

Armin’s yelling something. The Titan stays completely still as he continues screaming.

And then she snaps.

She catches Reiner’s body in her hand.

My heart stops. Blood stops. Lungs stop.

Everything.

Stops.

“...no.”

Chills run down my spine- dull and weak. Nothing like adrenaline.

Fear.

“No… no.”

I shake my head, watching as Reiner’s body disappears in her grasp.

Someone grabs my waist, tugs me away. “No!” I scream, thrashing around as everything starts to move again. “No!”

“__________!” Jean yells, pulling me away. “We have to go!”

A blur of metal spins out from her grip, severing her fingers off from the base of her palm. Reiner pushes out and around her back. Grabbing Armin, he sprints away from her and towards us.

The four of us break out into a sprint as she stares down at her palm. She gets to her feet and runs away from us- her hand still steaming.

Something breaks inside of me. Tears start running down my face as Reiner sidles up next to me. Armin- bleeding from his forehead- is in his arms. Titan blood evaporates off of Reiner’s hair and shoulders as he looks down at me. “We’ll be okay! She won’t eat us unless she’s a cannibal! We-”

I cut him off, punching his shoulder as hard as I can. “Don’t you ever pull that shit again, Reiner Braun!” I snap, furiously wiping the tears rolling down my face. “I swear on the walls, I… I will kill you myself if you do, do you hear me?! You scared the shit outta me! I… I thought I lost you.”

Reiner laughs breathlessly. “I told you, darling. We haven’t gotten married, yet. I can’t die until that happens.”

“We aren’t leaving anyone behind,” I snap, tightening Armin’s bandages. “None of that, you hear me?”

“We might not have a choice,” Armin mutters, “If we all stay behind, we might all-”

“I said no!”

The three of us go silent as Jean continues whistling for his horse.

But the question still hangs in the air.

Who’s going to stay behind?

There’s only one horse- there’s four of us. If somehow one of us gets our horse back, we’ll be able to get out of here but until then… We’re stranded in Titan country without a means of escape.

“We have to talk about it,” Reiner says quietly.

“No,” I get to my feet and shake my head. “No. We don’t.”

“__________-”

I hold up a hand to stop him, “Don’t.” Turning to Jean, I gesture to his bag. “You have an emergency flare, yeah?”

Jean nods and gets it out, loading it into his gun. Shooting it into the sky, purple smoke trails up from our location.

It’s a long shot, but they might get the message.

“We can wait three more minutes,” Reiner says firmly. “During then, we’ll decide who’s gonna-”

“I’ll stay.” My head snaps to Armin. “Just get a message to the command section- to Commander Erwin, if you can.”

“I’m staying, too, then.”

“__________, no-” Reiner starts.

“I don’t want to hear it, Rei,” I mumble, “Please. I don’t… I don’t want to hear it but look. We’re both injured. Armin’s got a possible concussion and he’s bleeding. I’ve broken half a dozen ribs and I’ve got more bruises than I know what to do with. If anyone’s staying it’s-”

“Neither of you,” Jean laughs, “Someone’s coming this way with three horses.” The three of us look over to him as he shades his face from the sun. “I think it’s… It looks like… Christa!”

“Guys!” Christa’s dainty voice rings out as she approaches, “Are you okay?!”

I huff a laugh, “Define ‘okay’, blondie!”

“If __________’s still cracking jokes, she’s still alive, right?” Christa laughs, coming to a stop just in front of us. The three horses surrounding her skid to a stop.

Horse trots up to me, nudging me with his nose. “Hey there, Horse,” I mutter, pressing my head against his. “Ya miss me?”

“What happened to you guys?” Christa asks as she looks over me. “You look awful.”

“Aw, gee, thanks, blondie,” I giggle, “I feel awful.”

Christa’s soft face tightens slightly in concern. “...you’re sure you’ll be okay riding alone? Your horse… I dunno his name… but he seems to run alongside me pretty well- even without a harness.”

“Yeah, that’s him, alright,” I mumble, rubbing Horse’s nose. “But I think I’ll be alright.”

“...I’m with Christa,” Jean says warily, “You broke six ribs.”

“What?!” Christa screeches. “Six?! No, ma’am! You’re riding with me or with Jean! Six ribs- what were you thinking?!”

I shrug. “I’ve done worse.”

“Worse?!”

Oops. Shouldn’t have said that.

Christa sighs, pinching her eyes closed. “Fine. The past is the past. I can’t change it. But you- right now- are going to ride with Jean or me. Pick one.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” I mumble with a smirk. “I’ll ride with you. Give the boys a little show, how ‘bout that?”

Christa turns a light shade of pink as Reiner helps me sit on top of Christa’s horse. “You behave,” Reiner mutters with a stern look.

But I can see it.

A little mischievous smirk plays his lips as he pulls away.

“Yes sir,” I coo, “I’ll be on my best behaviour.”

The four of us start off towards the center. “What’s your horse’s name?” Christa asks. “He really seems to like you. Before, I couldn’t get him to hold still- then, when I said your name, he calmed down and followed us perfectly fine.”

“...I just call him Horse.”

“...oh…”

I sigh and turn around to watch as Horse gallops. Cream-colored coat hiding thick muscles that twitch and writhe. Dots- freckles- that spatter his coat. His black mane whips about in the wind.

“Freckles,” I say quietly.

“What?”

“Freckles. That’s his name.”

I groan, letting my head fall back as my legs swing off the tree branch. “Rei, we’ve been sitting here for hours and you haven’t said a word to me,” my lip juts out in a pout, “Please talk to me.”

Reiner grumbles under his breath. His arms cross over his chest as he sits on the farest end of the tree branch away from me.

“Baby,” I whine, “you aren’t still mad at me for-”

“Yes, I’m still mad at you for being a tease. And we’ve been out here an hour. Hour and a half, tops.”

“Tch,” I groan again, “Baby, it was just a joke. I didn’t mean to drop my ring.” I hold my hand out in the sun to look at my moonstone ring as it glistens. “It wasn’t on purpose.”

“...you dropped it three times before we got up here.”

“I would never do anything to tease you.” Reiner raises an eyebrow and I roll my eyes. “On a mission.”

Rei’s shoulders lose some of their tension. “...you really didn’t mean to?”

“Of course not, baby,” I coo softly. “Not on a mission.”

Reiner sighs and rolls his eyes before getting to his feet. Wordlessly, he plops down beside me and lays his hand over mine on the branch. “You only call me ‘baby’ when you’re guilty,” he murmurs into the shell of my ear. “...so I forgive you.”

“Oh good, you caught on,” I tease, nudging him with my elbow.

“Easy, there, girl,” he huffs, “you’re still on thin ice.”

“You can’t stay mad at me,” I turn to face him and flash him a face-splitting smile. “I’m your darling.”

“...you’re right,” Rei laughs softly. “I could never.”

The two of us fall into a comfortable- buzzing with adrenaline but still comfortable- silence. I lean forward to look at the Titans gathered at the base of our tree, clawing and gripping the bark in an attempt to get to us. Hungrily, they salivate and stare up at us with glazed eyes.

The Female Titan. Why is she doing what she was? If she’s human, wouldn’t she want the walls to remain? They keep us safe for the time being. The outside world isn’t ready for us to break down our walls. And if she does want the walls gone, why?

And who is she?

“...are you listening?”

“Hm?” I ask, leaning back. “No, I’m sorry, I was just…,” my eyes flick down to the Titans, “...lost in thought.”

“I was just asking how your sides are.”

My fingers rub against my sides. They aren’t sore, they don’t hurt. I’ve always healed fast but knowing how long it’s supposed to take to heal sometimes, it’s… a little disconcerting. “I don’t feel anything.”

“...you’re better already?”

I shrug, “It could just be adrenaline. Or maybe they weren’t as badly broken as we thought they were. Bruising and breaks are really similar…”

Reiner hums in acknowledgment. “As long as you feel okay. When we get back, I’m still getting you checked out.”

“Yes sir.”

I lean over the side of the branch to see the Titans again. “It’s strange that we weren’t directed around the forest.” I comment quietly, leaning over more before my ODM wire locks into place.

“...Iyeah,” Reiner mutters, “Why wouldn’t we just go around?”

“I dunno,” I strain, slightly jiggling the wire a bit. “But do you think it was on purpose?”

“It’s Commander Erwin,” Rei chuckles, “Of course it was.”

“That’s true… I just… It’s so hard for us to see threats coming in,” I grip the wire and tug harder. “So why send them in?”

“Assuming he knows of the right flank casualties, we should’ve retreated a long time ago,” he mutters, “But we’re here and the center flank is somewhere in the trees.”

“Which is also weird, right?” I ask, yanking on the wire even harder. “I mean, if we are gonna go in, why not-”

The wire snaps out of the branch. The force of me pulling sends me over the edge of the branch. I watch as the wire extends rapidly- reeling me down towards the Titans’ grasps. Reiner runs to the end, reaching out to grab my hand.

But it’s too late.

A hand wraps around my body and pulls, unlatching my ODM wire from the tree. It starts to tighten as it turns me around to face it. My eyes lock onto it and I scream, thrashing around wildly. My arms are pinned in its hold- trapped against the steel of my ODM blade holsters and the clammy flesh wrapped around me.

Another Titan stares at me hungrily. As I look at it, red light starts to pour from its eyes like fog. Without warning, it lunges. I wince and duck away- waiting to be engulfed in moist darkness.

It doesn’t come. It’s replaced with an unearthly howl of pain and the sound of tearing flesh.

The grip around me falls away and as I’m spun in a free-fall, I catch glimpses of the scene above me. Red fog pours from the Titans’ eyes as they all latch onto the Titan that grabbed me. Bite by bite, they tear into the searing flesh of the Titan and devour the steaming chunks of bleeding meat.

They’re… eating it.

The red fog.

It was real.

My body stops, swinging up before I hit the forest floor. As we land on another branch, Reiner hugs me to his body tightly. “You scared the shit out of me,” he says raggedly. I feel tears drip onto my shoulder. But I don’t look at him- even as he pulls away, gripping my shoulders.

My eyes are focused on the fog swirling through the bodies of the Titans.

What the Hell is it?

Why does it keep following me?

Why does it keep saving me?

“...__________!”

I’m pulled back into my body- away from the grasping hands of the Titans that force muscles and tendons and organs down their throats. Blankly, I stare at Reiner. “What happened?” he asks quietly, looking over his shoulder at the Titans. “Are you-”

A scream rips out of my throat as I look down at my hands. My fingers start to rake through my skin, clawing for the source of the red fog.

Get it out.

Get. It. Out.

Reiner’s hands fumble with mine as they try to stop me from continuing the hurried slicing of my skin. “Darling, darling,” he says calmly as he grabs my wrists, “Darling, hey, look at me. Look at me.”

Wildly, my eyes fly around my surroundings.

Get it out. Red fog. Red fog. I have to get it out. I have to find it.

Red fog. I have to get it out.

Red fog.

“__________!” Reiner snaps, shaking me by my wrists, “Look at me!”

My gaze settles on him but I can feel myself twitching and writhing in place.

Red fog.

Get it out. I have to get it out.

“...you’re okay,” he mumurs, “You’re okay now, okay, darling? You’re safe.”

Tears burst from my eyes, leaking down my face as I roll my hands around from my wrists. Trembling violently, my body falls to the floor. Reiner catches me before I fall, scooping me up under my arms and holding me to him.

“There’s something... inside of me,” I strain, keeping down the screams wanting to claw their way out. My nails rake his back- threatening to rip through the fabric. “There is... something inside of me, Rei. I don’t know what it is. And I’m so scared, Rei. I just… I don’t… I don’t understand it. I… I don’t know... what it is. There’s… There’s something inside of me, Reiner, please! Please, Rei! Take it out! Get it out of me!”

WHEW

a doozy like i said. if you made it this far, i am so proud of you. my short attention span could literally never. as always thank you so much for reading and i hope to hear your thoughts and comments!

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lostbbygorl · 3 years

Text

THE BALL THAT STARTED IT (LEVI X F!READER):

AU: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE BY JANE AUSTEN

~~~~~

The air in the congested ballroom was mirthful. Laughter, idle chatter, and upbeat orchestral music filled the evening, and there were smiles and drinks all around.

A lot of the attendees of the ball were dancing. There in the audience row at the front seats were three young ladies, each very bonny and merry indeed. Y/N, her sister, Christa, and her best friend, Nifa, were all joking with each other and immersed in conversation. They paid no mind to the dancers in front of them. Christa and Nifa were giggling at Y/N’s sarcastic, witty remarks that she was famous for. Everyone knew that Y/N L/N was a dangerous opponent to have in an argument. Her words cut through like a knife, and her dazzling smile after shutting someone up was quite a satisfying sight indeed.

“ Christa, if every man in the room doesn’t end up in love with you by the end of tonight then I’m no judge of beauty”, Y/N teased her sister.

“ Or men”, Christa said, grinning.

“ Please, they’re far too easy to judge”, Y/N scoffed.

“ They aren’t all bad, you know”, Christa said, familiar with her sister’s disinterest in men.

“ They’re humorless poppycocks, in my limited experience”, she countered.

“ One of these days, Y/N, someone will catch your eyes. Then you’ll have to watch your tongue”, said Christa knowingly, eyeing the crowd. The mood in the room had shifted.

Suddenly, the crowd paused their dancing, and the music stopped. Everyone looked with awe and slight intimidation at the sight ahead of them. Out of curiosity, the three girls looked in front of them too, trying to figure out the sudden disruption. The dancers whispered amongst themselves. Y/N craned her neck, catching a glimpse of three new attendees of the party. Y/N then remembered a conversation from earlier on in the day.

Her sisters and parents were excitedly yapping about a Mr. Smith. He was a new resident in Trost, and he was an extremely wealthy man. His riches was most of what Y/N’s mother was impressed by. All Mrs. L/N ever thought about was getting her daughters married off to gentlemen of high status. So naturally, she started pestering Christa, her oldest daughter, to woo Mr. Smith when he arrived. Y/N figured that Mr. Smith had arrived at the party. But she was indifferent to him. To her, he was just another wealthy man on top of the social hierarchy. He’s probably a snob anyways, thought Y/N.

“ So which one of those painted peacocks is Mr. Smith?”, Y/N questioned.

“ He’s the blond in the middle. On the left is Marceline Smith, his sister”, Nifa explained.

Y/N scanned the siblings. They looked very similar, and it was a surprise they weren’t twins. Mr. Smith was a very tall man with light blond hair and ocean blue eyes. He was finely built with broad shoulders. But the most noticeable part of him were his bushy eyebrows, which his sister, Marceline also had. Marceline had long curly hair of the same shade as her brother. She was however much shorter than him, with softer features. But it wasn’t the Smith siblings that piqued Y/N’s interest, it was the short, brooding man accompanying them.

“ And who’s that gloomy little person with the chronic scowl?”, Y/N asked, earning her chuckles from her sister and friend.

“ That’s Mr. Levi Ackerman, the Smiths’ good friend”, Nifa said.

“ He looks like a miserable soul”, Y/N noted.

“ Miserable he may be, but poor he is anything but”, Nifa said.

“ 10,000 pounds a year, and he owns half of Ragako”, Nifa stated, impressed.

“ The miserable half”, Y/N snorted, earning her more chuckles from the other two girls.

The three newcomers looked around the room as they walked in the middle of it. The Smiths had small smiles on their faces, but Mr. Ackerman remained stiff and unsmiling. He had an arrogant air, and Y/N was turned off by it. He seemed too judgemental of all these strangers in the room. Y/N hated such qualities in people.

Sir Pyxis, the host of the ball, whispered facts about Trost to the group as they walked. He offered to introduce the ladies in the choir. Finally, the trio stopped walking and sat at the special seats reserved for them. The music began once more, and the room was lively again. Y/N shook her head and smiled when she noticed her mother nudging her father, urging him to introduce the new bachelors to their daughters. Her father was used to his hasty wife’s antics and ignored her words. He’d introduce them all, just not in such a rush.

“ Mr. Smith is rather handsome, isn’t he? And he seems the friendliest out of all three”, Christa noticed with a blush. She was a shy, gentle soul. She was very much interested in talking to Mr. Smith, but way too nervous to approach him. Y/N was particularly eagle eyed, and she had noticed Mr. Smith’s stare and smile linger on Christa when he walked in. She knew no sparks would fly if someone didn’t push Christa to get his attention.

“ Smile at Mr. Smith, Christa”, Y/N instructed.

“ He’ll notice your beauty”, Nifa chimed in. Sure enough, the man had shifted his attention to Christa. She was the most beautiful girl in the room in his opinion, and he hoped he’d have a chance to speak to her. Marceline Smith was getting a drink and chatting with some of the ladies at the ball. Mr. Smith was swooning over Christa and shaking hands with some of the men, but Mr. Ackerman remained as detached as ever. He wanted nothing more than to leave this party and retire in his room. He wasn’t interested in anyone or anything at this party, and it showed in his blank, bored face.

The three girls were deep in conversation again, but they were interrupted by a very animated Mrs. L/N.

“ Come quick”, she squealed before dragging her daughters and husband to the reserved area where Mr. Smith and the rest were.

“ Ah, the L/N family”, Mr. Pyxis exclaimed before turning to Mr. Smith.

“ Mr. Smith, may I introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. L/N, and their daughters: Christa, Y/N, and Mikasa”, Mr. Pyxis introduced. Mikasa was one of Y/N’s younger sisters. She was a quiet and studious girl who rarely partied. But she came to this one in hopes of seeing a certain young boy. Y/N wouldn’t have noticed Mikasa if Mr. Pyxis didn’t introduce her.

“ I have 2 more daughters: Sasha and Ella. They’re dancing somewhere in here”, Mrs. L/N smiled.

“ It’s a pleasure to meet you”, Mr. Smith pleasantly returned.

“ You already know my eldest daughter, Nifa”, Mr Pyxis started again.

“ And to you all, may I present Mr. Ackerman of Utgard in Rosa”.

The group bowed before leaving. Christa, Y/N, and Nifa retreated to a more secluded part of the ballroom. Christa chatted with them for a short while before getting up to converse with some of her other friends, leaving Nifa and Y/N together. For some time, the pair were the only people in that part of the room, till Mr. Ackerman had come along with a beaming Mr. Smith following behind him. There was some distance between both duos, but Y/N could still hear their words.

“ You were dancing with the only lovely girl in here”, Mr. Ackerman commented.

“ Oh, Christa is the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. But her sister, Y/N, is quite attractive too”, Mr. Smith responded.

“ She’s perfectly tolerable, if I daresay. But she isn’t enough to tempt me”, Levi remarked roughly. Nifa stared at Y/N incredulously. Y/N was offended, and disliked Mr. Ackerman even more now. Not only was he unfriendly and arrogant, but he was rude too. But she wouldn’t let him spoil her mood or fun evening.

Y/N exited the corner and parted ways with Nifa to seek out Christa. She saw Christa and her mother laughing with Mr. Smith. Marceline Smith and Mr. Ackerman quietly listened.

“ Ms. Nifa Pyxis is a sweet young woman”, Mr. Smith laughed.

“ Oh I adore Nifa”, Y/N said, pleased at hearing a gentleman compliment her best friend.

“ Indeed. It’s such a pity she isn’t very bonny”, Mrs. L/N said.

“ Mama”, Y/N said, annoyed and angry at this sudden jab at Nifa.

“ Oh, but Y/N wouldn’t ever admit she’s plain”, Mrs. L/N smirked. Mr. Smith looked shocked at her comment, having been an optimistic gentleman who didn’t like seeing and pointing out the faults of others.

“ Of course, it’s my Christa who’s considered the beauty of Trost”, Mrs. L/N bragged, embarrassing her daughters.

“ Mother”, Christa protested quietly, getting cut off as soon as she started.

“ She was only 15 when she started getting proposals from some of the most desirable bachelors around”, Mrs. L/N continued, her voice getting louder.

“ There was this one young man so much in love with her that I was sure she’d be married by the end of the month. But he did write her some very pretty verses”, she gushed, fanning herself. Both sisters were unsettled, and Christa was as red as a poppy! Y/N decided to divert the conversation.

“ Oh, yes, that. That was when I first discovered that the power of poetry drives away love”, Y/N cackled.

“ I thought poetry was the food of love”, Mr. Ackerman commented. This was his first time talking to Y/N. He may have seemed indifferent to her, but inside, he found her the brightest and most interesting lady in the room. Her wit was charming and her confidence was striking. She was bold and confident, very sure of herself and opinionated. A very rare type of woman in these times. He wanted to know more about her, he really did, but Mr. Ackerman was shy. He was introverted and awkward, and horrible at meshing with new people. He masked all this under his signature glare, and by following Mr. Smith around.

“ Yes if one is basic and so easily wooed”, Y/N smirked.

“ So what do you recommend to encourage affection then?”, Mr. Ackerman asked. It may have seemed like he was debating with her, but in reality, he was trying to understand how to impress her.

“ Dancing”, Y/N replied. Then she strutted up to him and got so close their arms brushed against each other. Neither Mr. Ackerman nor Y/N was blessed with good height, but the latter was shorter. So, she lifted her head up slightly so she was level with his left ear.

“ Even if one’s partner is barely tolerable”, she whispered loud enough for him to hear. And then she sashayed away to Mikasa, who was blushing at the words of a young boy of around her own age with a black man bun and emerald eyes.

Mr. Ackerman was shocked! He was embarrassed at having been overheard, and more so at having a woman like Y/N call him out. He gasped inaudibly and blinked his eyes furiously trying to grasp what had just happened. He looked over at Y/N, who flashed him a dazzling smile. Mr. Ackerman wasn’t used to being humbled like that, and his pride, which was massive indeed, had been badly hurt. The dance later on will be so awkward, he thought. God I hope she won’t be my partner, her gloomy sister, Mikasa was it? Yes, her, she’ll do.

But despite all of this, Mr. Ackerman couldn’t help taking sneaky looks in Y/N’s direction, and he hated it, but a small part of him was actually impressed by her no nonsense personality.

None of this was missed by Marceline Smith.

“ Levi, are you alright?”, she lisped, smiling sweetly.

“ Yes”, he said curtly.

“ Are you sure? Did that Y/N girl say something upsetting to you? She’s too firy, don’t you think? And her dress is most plain”, Marceline Smith pointed out.

“ No, she’s rather a refreshing personality in my opinion. And I judge women by their heads, not their gowns”, Mr. Ackerman shot back. He was getting tired of Marceline’s attention on him.

The last dance of the night was one even the new trio joined in.

Marceline Smith was with a tall man with a brunette mullet Y/N vaguely remembered as Jean Kirstein. Mr. Smith and Christa were dancing with each other, and Mr. Smith’s unblinking blue eyes twinkled as Christa blabbered on to him. Christa could be quite the chatterbox when she lost her nervousness! It was clear that Erwin Smith was enchanted by her. Unfortunately, Y/N was paired together with Mr. Ackerman. The pair was the only silent and awkward one in the room.

Both sides were glad when the ball ended and they could go home. Y/N was in Christa’s room, squealing about her and Mr. Smith after ranting about the rude Mr. Ackerman. Mr. Ackerman, on the other hand, couldn’t stop thinking about what Y/N had said to him.

Mr. Ackerman then remembered that she was much lower than him in the social pyramid, and that she’d be an unfit wife. She had also bruised his pride. But then again, why wasn’t he terribly upset about that?

#levi ackerman aot #captain levi x reader #levi x reader #captain levi fanfiction #aot fanfiction

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