Some Say (Jean Kirstein X Reader)

Chapter Twenty Eight

A large crowd gathers below us, many have come tonight to join in the ceremony. Much to my disgust, I was dragged along. I try to stay away from things like this, people stare. Something that has gotten on my nerves since being here.

Porco and Zeke sit on either side of me, both looking a little bored. Looks like I'm not the only one who doesn't want to be here. The young warriors sit in front of us.

My son tries to grab Porco's jacket, I move his hand just out of reach. A frustrated pout grows on his face as he attempts to do it again, capturing the attention of the titan shifter. Porco raises an eyebrow at me before dodging another swipe from the three-year-old. It soon becomes a game between them.

Someone comes over asking for Zeke, Porco, and Pieck to follow after them. They all get up, Zeke looks down at me.

"We shouldn't be long. Colt, here will look after you." He motions to the young man who is moving to sit beside me.

"That's okay, I don't think I'll stay the whole time. This one needs to get to bed soon." I brush my son's hair back from his face, earning a small giggle.

Zeke nods before walking off with everyone else. My son turns his attention to the new man sitting beside me and just as he did to Porco, he attempts to grab Colt's jacket.

"He's not afraid of strangers, is he?" Colt comments.

I shake my head. "Not one bit."

"He looks a lot like you." He says.

We both look down at my son who is still trying to grab ahold of Colt's arm, oblivious to the pair watching him.

"He looks a lot more like his father, to be honest. If you saw him, you'd see it." I explain.

Colt is about to say something else when the lights on the stage illuminate a single man. Willy. A man who I'd never met but had heard a lot about. His family held one of the titan shifters, the war hammer.

Willy starts his speech to the crowd, everyone listens in wonder as he talks about the history of Marley. My son settles down, resting his head against my chest.

The more I listen to his speech, the more my hatred for this place grows. How could they all be so ignorant? My hands start to shake with frustration. Colt looks over at me with concern.

"Are you alright, (y/n)?" He asks.

I suck in a deep breath and give him a small smile. I can't let my displeasure be too public. "Just a little tired, I should really be getting this one home soon."

He nods. "That's understandable. Leave when you need to, I'll let Zeke know."

His attention turns back to Willy on stage. Drums suddenly start beating loudly, stirring my son a little. I gently place a hand over his ear, that's facing the stage, to lessen the noise for him.

Willy talks about the Eldian's living inside the walls, about what happened to them, and the choices they made. I close my eyes for a second, knowing that this man has never stepped foot inside the walls, that he does not know what it's really like.

I can't listen to this anymore.

I stand up, looking down on Colt. As I open my mouth to let him know I'm heading home, Willy says something.

"His name is Eren Jaeger." He announces.

My blood runs cold and I snap my head down to the stage below. Did I just hear him correctly? Did he really say Eren's name? Murmurs in the crowd grow.

I clutch onto my son tightly. "Colt, I need to go."

Before the poor boy gets a chance to answer, I'm already heading for the exit. I need to get away from this all. My head is swimming with thoughts and the corners of my eyes already brimming with tears.