𝐀𝐎𝐓 𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐒

𝗀𝗋𝗂𝖾𝖿 - 𝗉. 𝗀𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗂𝖺𝗋𝖽

" he's not coming back . "

; in which Porco
learns that marcel
is gone

...

Five months.

That was how long it had been since the last warriors had left Liberio to go to Paradis. It'd been too many years since Reiner, Bertholdt, Annie, and Marcel had left, so a recon mission was sent. Both Zeke and Pieck were assigned to go.

You and Porco were left behind.

You didn't possess the power of the titans, but you spent enough time with the warrior unit that you might as well have been one yourself.

...

"Do you think they're gonna come back?" you asked, turning over a smooth, black rock in your fingers. Porco didn't answer. You took the rock, and with as much power as you could muster up, you skipped it across the lake's murky water.

One.
Two.
Three.

Bloop

"Tch. Sooner or later, they will. Whether it be them or their death records, they'll be here," he reassured, fixing the loose strands of hair that fell onto his face.

"I miss them."

Porco paused, then sighed heavily. He leaned back and gently rested his head on your shoulder. He looked up at you with his amber eyes. he wasn't frowning, but you could tell that he was sad.

"I'd hate to admit it, but me too," he muttered. You smiled and slid your hand onto his chest. Porco wasn't a very touchy person, but he loved it when you placed a loving hand on his shoulder, his back, his chest, or anywhere else. It comforted him in a sense that nobody nor anything else could.

You closed your eyes and wrapped your arms against his shoulders, leaning gently against his head.

Just as you opened your mouth to speak again, the piercing blast of an air horn blared over Liberio's siren systems. This was the one sound and one sound alone that was used when warriors returned from a mission, and both of them could recognise it anywhere.

"Shit," Porco cursed, grabbing your arm and jumping to his feet. You two ran a mad dash to the docks, following the crowds
of people gathering to welcome back the 'Heroes of Marley.'

Once you got there, though, something wasn't right.

Only three warriors returned, along with another girl, who you didn't recognise. Three out of the original six that were sent to Paradis. They had failed their mission.

Porco was frozen to the spot, his hand still keeping a firm grip on your arm. You could see the realisation sequence in his mind that his brother was likely missing or, worse, dead. His eyes were wide; pupils dilated with too many emotions even to count.

Marcel - despite their brotherly quarrels - had been Porco's best friend for the 12 years that he had been around him. Even you shared a bond with Marcel when the three of you used to train and play-fight together.

"Porco, I-" he silenced you with a cry of anguish.

"YOU BASTARDS! WHERE IS MARCEL?!" he shouted above the confused clamour of the crowd. You looked up to see Reiner staring at the ground in complete shame. Everyone fell quiet, watching as Porco stormed up to Reiner.

"It was you. You let my brother die because you were too fucking lazy to fight for his life." Tears streamed down his face as he grabbed his collar, forcing the two to share direct eye contact.

"I'm sorry," was all Reiner could muster, his own eyes beginning to water as well. Porco's hand loosened on his shirt.

"You're sorry? You left my brother to die at the hands of devils, and that's all you can say?"

His voice dulled to a whisper.

"You should've been the one to die on that island."

With an upsurge of rage, Porco swung at Reiner's jaw. A gasp echoed around the crowd as guards restrained him under his arms. He screamed incoherent curses, struggling against their hands.

Porco was held as the other warriors were escorted to their headquarters to discuss the mission and the state of their other allies that hadn't returned.

"He killed my brother. He... he left him there," Porco gasped, his knees giving out beneath him. The guard gently set him on the ground, murmuring something into his ear before following the group of military officials.

And it was just the two of you again.

You approached Porco slowly, kneeling to his level and pulling him into a tight embrace. He was crying, and his entire body quivered as he set his strong arms around you as well. He nuzzled his head into the crook of your neck.

"Why did it have to be him?" he sobbed, his words muffled into your skin. You gently raised your hands to meet the soft strands of his hair and leaned further into his arms. You couldn't formulate an answer for him, only your little whispers of comfort beside his ear.

...

Marcel's funeral service was uncomfortable.

Reiner hung around the edge of the procession, only going up to bid farewell to the empty casket once everyone had finished. He looked like an empty shell of himself. His eyes, once a bright hazel, now shone a dull grey with the guilt that hung heavy over his head.

As per expected, Porco was on edge. This was the one day he feared the most in all his years of living. He almost refused to make a speech to commemorate his brother, saying he didn't want to seem weak in front of many people, especially Reiner.

You stayed by his side for the burial, your fingers entwined within his as you watched the casket be lowered into the earth.

One by one, the people started to leave, offering their condolences to him as they did. Reiner was the last to walk up, his sad eyes finally gaining the confidence to hold eye contact with Porco's.

He opened his mouth to say something but quickly hushed as he saw Porco's honey eyes glistening with rage. Reiner nodded with respect and left.

Porco sobbed.

He couldn't stand it anymore. He broke down, shouting obscenities and banging his fist into the freshly rain-soaked earth. He cried for himself and his poor, poor brother, who was taken from him too soon. He cried, wishing he could've taken his place.

"You'll stay with me..right?" This caught you off-guard. You pricked up as Porco looked up at you, desperation etched into his expression. You gave him a sad smile, kneeling in front of him.

"I'll stay with you till the day I die," you reassured, cupping his face in your hands. He glanced down to your lips and then back up to your eyes.

"Promise?"

"Promise."

A small, broken smile split out onto Porco's face. He slid his hands to the back of your neck and pulled you into a hard kiss. Salty tears mixed into your mouth as he began to cry again, this time from joy, from hope.

His calloused fingers slid to your jaw as he pulled away.

"You damn well better stick to your word."