Attack on Titan: Bloodline -- Version 2

• Chapter 14 •

Artwork by @/milkcupie on Instagram, Youtube, and Deviantart

Later that evening, Lorraine watched sorrowfully as the piles of dead bodies went up in flames. The stenchof burning flesh, hair, and clothes filled the air around the Cadetsand soldiers. The sun was just a dark orange sliver on the horizon,making way for the dark blue sky to start rolling in. Ashes fell tothe ground around the bonfires as the corpses were destroyed. Friends, loved ones, comrades, all burned the same. Lorraine lookeddown at her feet, standing alone beside her friends. Jean knelt closeto the flames and picked up a small handful of warm ashes from theground beneath the fire.

"Marco...I-I'm so sorry, Marco. Idon't even know which of these bones are yours anymore."

Tears started to run down her face asshe listened to the sobbing and crying around them. She folded herarms, cradling herself as she started to cry, too. She heard Jeanstand up and turn around. She looked up at him. He was crying, too.His fist was still clenched around the ashes he'd picked up. Hestammered nervously, "Guys...I-I've...I've decided...."Connie looked up at him, still holding his head in sorrow. Sashaasked, her voice hoarse, "Wh-what are you talking about?"Lorraine cocked her head to the side. Jean said loudly, "I-I'mjoining the Scout Regiment!" With those words, he held his fistup to his forehead, clutching the ashes tighter until his fingernailsstarted to dig into his palms. He was shaking. Lorraine saw the fearin his light brown eyes. He collapsed to the hard ground and startedsobbing uncontrollably. Lorraine wiped her tears away and knelt infront of him. She put her hand on his back, silently comforting him.

Dinner was quiet. A few folks weretalking, but not many. It was nothing like in the past, where dinnerswere loud and cheery. Lorraine sat next to Armin, listening to himtelling the group of bystanders about Eren's trial and the results.Lorraine leaned on her hand, picking at her soup with her spoon. Shehad stopped crying, but her heart was still heavy. She finally pickedup her tray, putting it away before stepping outside. She looked upinto the starry sky and sighed.

"We've lost so many...but wegained a chance to reclaim a part of our world. I will be joining theScout Regiment, too. I want to help humanity win this fight. I maynot be as strong as Mikasa, or as smart as Armin, or as brave asEren, but I will do my best to help. No matter what."

Her thoughts were interrupted by Reiner,who stood behind her.

"Hey, Lo. What are you doing outhere?"

Lorraine smiled a little and said, "Justthinking." He smiled back. She looked up at him for a moment,his golden eyes glimmering in the lantern light. He made her feelalmost happy in this dark time. She felt her cheeks heating up andturned away. She said softly, "Reiner...I-I never got the chanceto say 'thank you' for saving me. Back in the battle of Trost."He chuckled and said, "No need to thank me." Lorraine said,hugging her elbows again, "A-actually, it's not just then.Y-you've always been there for me whenever I needed you." Reinersmiled and said gently, "Yeah. Of course. It's what we do assoldiers. We stand by each other. Lift each other up." Shenodded and said, "Yeah. I suppose so." Silence met themagain, but instead of going their separate ways, they both leanedover the handrail of the deck. Lorraine looked at Reiner out of thecorner of her eyes. She blushed and looked back down at her hands.She started fiddling mindlessly with her cuticles and said,"R-Reiner...? Can I...tell you something...?"

"Of course. Anything."

Lorraine half-laughed under her breath,then said softly, "Well, when I first met you, th-that day backin Trost...I couldn't have known...I could never have guessed thatyou would someday...that you would ever be important to me. N-now,I...damn...I...." He turned to her, his face and heart filledwith joy. She took a deep breath. Her heart felt like it might leapout of her chest and her face felt so hot, as though she was sittingin front of a raging inferno.