Not The One Who Dies ⇀ Attack on Titan *Original*

Part 37: The Calm

Logan walked through the nice building, looking around for the two faces he knew would be there while his three friends all went to wait for him to have his meeting, playing with the kids.

Logan walked past the guards, giving them small nods and into the queens room, finding Cloud and Historia sitting at a table. The queen was reading a book to the boy who had his head laying on his arms, deeply entranced in the tale she was telling.

"Hey, guys! Sorry, our training ran long." Logan said, a smile evident in his voice. Cloud's head snapped to the man, a large smile on his face as he pushed himself off the chair and into a giant hug from the boy. Logan chuckled as he patted the boy's head.

"Hey, little man... How're you doing? You being good for Historia?" Logan asked as they hugged, a dumb smile plastered on his face as he felt the eight-year-old boy nod into his shoulder before running to go get a toy to show him. Logan stood up as he walked over to the queen who stood up from her seat as he pulled her into a hug.

"Hey, Historia. How ya doing?" Logan asked, a small smile still on his face as he hugged the queen who quickly wrapped her arms around the boy's waist.

"I'm alright, just stressed about everything. Getting these kids into safe places ontop of all the government stuff going on- It's exhausting." Historia said, a tired smile on her face as her friend sat on the other side of the table.

"I bet, how many kids do we have left?" Logan asked, rubbing his chin as he looked to the girl he considered a sister.

"Only a few, the Braus family came and took a few of them last week. I feel horrible for the kids who weren't taken though..." Historia sighed causing Logan to nod as Cloud came rushing back into the room, a large smile plastered on his face. The boy showed his best friend two toy versions of the ODM swords causing Logan to quirk an eyebrow at Historia who chuckled.

"Well look-" Logan was saying before he was interrupted by coughs erupting from his throat causing him to wince and hold his hand up to the two before clearing his throat.

"Are you alright?" Historia asked, Cloud looking at the boy with worry flowing through his gaze. Logan nodded, looking back up at the two.

"Sorry about that, just a cough... So, Cloud, how come you didn't go with Mr.Braus?" Logan asked, rubbing his mouth noticing a small spec of blood on the back of his hand. Logan kept it quiet as he cleared his throat and wiped his hand.

"Oh! Well, I actually wanted to talk to you about that." Historia said causing Logan to quirk an eyebrow, looking at the girl who was leaning forwards on the table, staring at the section commander of the scouts.

"Talk to me about what?" Logan asked, looking at the girl with suspicion before his gaze returned to Cloud who was anxiously messing with the two wooden swords.

"Well... I was thinking and since you and Cloud get along so well, I figured Cloud might be better off somewhere else, other than the Braus farm." Historia said, looking nervously at the man who furrowed his eyebrows, confused about what she was talking about before his eyes widened in realization. His eyes shot to the boy who was looking at the ground, seemingly full of worry.

"Would uhm- Would you want to come stay with me, kiddo?" Logan asked, kneeling out of his chair to the boy. Cloud looked up with excitement in his eyes. The boy nodded quickly causing Logan to lightly smile and look to Historia before turning back to Cloud. Logan smiled as his eyes began to well with tears, he had no clue what he had done to deserve the boy, but he was thrilled that he thought so highly of him.

"Well uh, I'd like that. Yeah, I would." Logan stuttered out, smiling widely at the boy who smiled up at him before he looked to Historia.

"Can I go get my bag, Mrs.Historia?" Cloud politly asked causing Historia to nod, patting him on the head. Ever since Logan had first met the boy, he always had reminded him of himself when he was younger. The two watched as the boy scurried from the room, rushing towards his own.