A Love Like War (On Hold)

Chapter 1

You stood there on your own, a good distance away from the others, enveloped in silence as you hid yourself in the shadows while you watched several soldiers rushing about as they proceeded with burning the remains of your fallen comrades You couldn't help but feel a slight pang in your chest as you watched as the ashes fall around you like snow does in winter.

'It's all his fault.' You thought to yourself as you held out your hands in front of you just in time for you to catch one of the falling flakes. 'If I hadn't met him then I probably wouldn't be feeling this kind of pain right now.' You continued to think as your eyes wander to a group of familiar looking cadets. They all looked so sad, especially Jean.

"Look at what you did you idiot." You muttered under your breath as your sapphire blue orbs stayed at the crouching form of the man known as Jean Kirschtein. "You made the other idiot cry." You sighed as you lifted your gaze up into the night sky that was tainted red because of the firelight.

'This was what I was afraid of. Being left behind.... is really worst that dying.' You thought to yourself.

Taking a deep breath, you closed your eyes. You could clearly feel them all. All the grief and despair that the people there felt due to the loss that they had suffered only hours before because of the Titan Invasion at Trost, their voices echoed in a chorus of cries as they called out the names of their dearly beloved that had already passed on to the next life. How you wish you could do the same. How you wish to call out his name and vent out all the frustrations and emotions that you have kept bottled up inside of you ever since you found him there, sitting inanimately, half of his body burnt away, and staring into nothingness.

"Damn it, Marco." You muttered in a low growl as you kicked a nearby wall with as much force as you could manage. "Who told you that you could die, you bloody idiot. Show yourself already." You whispered angrily as you returned your gaze at the scene in front of you.

Time passed as you continue to stand there, watching as they continued to burn more corpses. You were about to leave when you noticed Jean moved and speak up, asking the others what they were planning to do as he slowly stood up.

"I... I'm joining the Scouting Legion." He said, his body trembled, whether it was from fear or anger or something different completely different, you didn't know, with much conviction in his voice that you couldn't help but smile at his words when you suddenly felt a strange yet familiar presence beside you.

"You should smile more often, (y/n)." a kind and warm familiar voice said. "It really suits you." It continued and you could practically feel the person smile beside you.

"Shut up, Marco." You muttered in feign annoyance as you pulled your green scarf towards your face to hide the blush that was threatening to appear on your face which earned you a low chuckle from the said male. "I honestly want to punch you on the face right now." You growled at him.

"Ah... I don't think that's a great idea at the moment" he replied with a laugh making you feel a bit annoyed at his attitude.

"You're probably right." You whispered as you dared to steal a glance at him only to be met by his warm smiling face looking at you making you turn away in an instant. 'He looks so alive...' you thought to yourself. "Mind telling me what happened." You stated in a flat tone that sounded more like a command than you intended to before shoving both of your hands inside your pockets and start walking away from the mourning crowd to god-knows-where.

"Hm?" Marco hummed in confusion as he followed you.

"How you died." You replied in the same flat tone you used before.

"Oh..." he laughed lightly as he scratched the back of his head. "Hmmm... I don't really remember." He said thoughtfully.

"Marco." You warned, your voice containing a certain pointy edge that made most people cower in fear of you, before shooting him one of your infamous icy glares which made him laugh nervously.

"Believe me, (y/n). I really don't know..." he trailed off. "All I remember was I was walking around, I think, and then... the next thing I knew was that I'm dead. " he explained with a pained smile.

"I told you not to die." You half growled, half whispered in annoyance as anger boiled up inside of you due to the lack of information that you were getting about the perpetrator.

"I'm sorry, (y/n)." he said sounding sincere as always. "Look at the bright side! You'll be getting some new recruits as you hoped." He added cheerfully.

'But you aren't one of them.' You thought glumly to yourself.

"I guess." You sighed in exhaustion at the thought. "Leave it to horse-face to inspire people and lead them to their doom." You muttered.

"They'll be fine." Marco chided. "After all, you'll be looking out for them, right?" He added.

"Don't ask me for what's impossible, Marco." You grumbled.

"I wasn't asking you. I know you'll be watching over them from the shadows on your own accord." He said as he quickened his pace and moved in front of you, blocking your view of the path ahead. "Despite how cold you act around them, you really do care for their safety. You just really don't show it or realize it yourself." He added before giving you one if those wide grins of his that you love so much.

"Tch, even in death you're so annoying." You muttered in annoyance as you brushed through him. "Stupid ghost." You muttered.

It was silent for a little while until he decided to break it.

"I'm glad that you can see me, (y/n)." he whispered in a soft voice that sounded so sad unlike the cheerful tone that you were used to.

"Huh. I'm glad one of us feels that way. I for one am not glad that I can see you. People might think I'm crazy if I keep talking to you." You said jokingly making him laugh, yet again. "Now, shut up." You commanded.

"Yes, ma'am." he chuckled as he replied.

Together, the two of you made your way towards the shadows that leads to god-knows-where completely oblivious of the figure that owned a pair of emerald green orbs that seemed to have followed you from a distance since you left the gather.

"Who was she talking to?" he muttered to himself.