A Second Chance (Marco x Fem Reader)

Chapter 70

"We have to head straight for Liberio!". You watched Annie from the entrance to the ship's wheelhouse, observing the way she struggled in Jean and Mikasa's grasps with a lump in your throat. Hange looked at her saddened.

"We decided with Magath that we'd go to Odiha... rather, it was the only choice left". Hange then took a deep breath, looking troubled. "There was no way to save your hometown, Liberio". Annie immediately stopped her attempt of breaking free from Mikasa, freezing up, standing completely still. You couldn't see her expression, but you were sure it matched the devastated look now present on Reiner's face as he propped his arm against the doorframe beside you in an exhausted manner. You followed his gaze and met the sight of Gabi cuddled up next to Pieck, both utterly crushed by the news.

'This is horrible, their poor families...'

You crossed your arms tightly by your chest, as if the pressure would help keep your heavy heart from sinking to the pit of your stomach.

"Then... Then I don't have any reason left to keep fighting", Annie said quiet, her voice breaking as her figure sunk all the way until she was down on all fours on the floor. "I'm getting off". Hange took a good look at her, trying to figure out what to say.

"Even if the rumbling stopped this very second, we wouldn't be able to stop Liberio and Marley from being annihilated. Even Magath understood that. But he still put his life on the line to clear a path for us. He didn't do it for the sake of Liberio or Marley. He did it so we could save even one more life of a stranger, whose name he'll never know". Everyone in the room stayed quiet after Hange finished. Mikasa had joined Annie on the ground, crouching down on her knees with a supporting hand placed atop Annie's back.

"Then let me ask you again", Annie eventually spoke. "Could you kill Eren?", she asked, sending chills down your spine. You still couldn't even begin to fathom the slight chance you'd have to put an end to him. That fierce, brave and selfless boy you've known for years. You still had no way of knowing why he so suddenly resorted to trampling everyone outside the island, and in no way were you okay with his actions; but even so, to you there had to be another way around this. Another way to end this where Eren would be able to come back to you,- back where he belonged. "If I tried to kill Eren... would you be able to sit back and watch?", she continued, looking up at Mikasa first, before taking a deep breath, the next words leaving her mouth almost sounding like a desperate plead. "I... I don't want to fight anymore". She looked at every single one of you, stopping once she meet your gaze, as well as Connie and Armin's, who limped their way inside the room to join you. Armin's jaw was still steaming, his body desperately trying to repair itself after that devastating shot. "I don't want for us to try and kill each other again". You could swear you saw tears forming at the brim of her eyes, though she didn't let a single one fall. "Not with any of you... not even Eren"

You tightened your crossed arms even more, not really able to prevent that sinking feeling anymore despite your efforts. You didn't want that either. Hell, at this point you didn't even want to fight Reiner. You were tired of all the destruction. Tired of the relentless fighting and the smell of cadavers rotting everywhere you went.

Annie just lost her sole motivation for moving forward, and you could absolutely understand why stopping here was the only choice that seemed worth taking on her part. You would have done that too if it weren't for the fact that you still had goals. Goals only achievable by putting an end to this rumbling. You still had people to fight for and people to protect; one of them being the cause of all this.

No one really said anything, but their looks told you they were all agreeing with the fact that fighting each other at a time like this was not something you wanted. The silence continued for moments more, until you decided to go check up on Levi and Falco, both resting on the deck below.