Chapter 37: Return

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AN: Okay, so I feel like now that season 4 of AoT is out, it isn't really necessary to put spoiler warnings. We don't actually have any cannon information about what happened when the group returned to Marley (aside from the fact that Ymir died) so the two of us authors decided to take some... creative liberties. 

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The return home wasn't what I was expecting, though I'm not really sure what I was expecting in the first place.

Everything here just seemed so different. Like memories from a half forgotten dream.

The first few days back were the hardest. They were filled with questions that I didn't want to... couldn't answer. Why wasn't I a part of the first attack? Why didn't I bring the walls down? Why did we fail? Why did I fail?

The questions brought back things I never wanted to think back on. How the blood of soldiers felt as it dried on my skin. How the crystal felt, crawling up into my left eye. How I'd face Porco knowing his brother didn't make it back.

After a week of interrogation, we would finally meet with the other warriors.

After a week, we would finally be able to return home.


'What home is there for you to return to?'


I don't want to talk to you right now. Leave me alone.


'Just because you don't want to talk to me, doesn't make things any less true. You're all alone in this sad, cold world.'


Please... just leave me alone.


"(Y/n)?" Reiner was sitting across from me. When I looked up, I noticed the lingering gazes of both Reiner and Bertholdt focused on me.

I watched as their eyes trailed down towards my chest and back up.

When I followed their eyes, I noticed that my hand was placed overtop of my chest; in the spot where my necklace would usually be.

"Sorry," I cleared my throat, "force of habit."

I pulled my hand away stiffly. Grasping my necklace seemed to have become second nature; so much so that even if my necklace was not in its place, my hand would still find its way there.

"Are you okay, (Y/n)?" Reiner asked.

"Yeah..." I mumbled, "why wouldn't I be?"

"Not to seem rude but you've been pretty... out of it lately."

"Do we really need to talk about this right now?"

"I'm not trying to pry but genuinely, if you want to talk, I'm willing to listen."

"I... don't want to talk about it with you, Reiner." A look of hurt washed over Reiner and immediately a wave of guilt washed over me, "no... wait. I didn't mean it like that."

Though he nodded his head, I could tell that the words hadn't reached him. A part of me wanted to reach out but I sat rooted in my seat. I guess... the stress of a week long interrogation and constant berating from within my own mind really broke me down. It was unfair of me to say something like that, but a part of me didn't want to apologize. I shouldn't have had to.

"In any case, it's our last day of questioning," Bertholdt pitched in, "it won't be long until we can get out of this building and see the sun."

"Are you guys... ready to face everyone...?" Reiner asked.

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