A Love Like War (On Hold)

Chapter 2

MARCO'S POV

As I continued to walk, well, more like glide or float to be honest, beside her along the ruin-filled streets towards wherever her current destination was, I couldn't help but became more aware of her than I usually was. As to why, I don't know but it was a bit troubling.

After all, this wasn't the first time that I was this close to her after dark. In fact, more often than not, I usually find myself by her side after dinner during our trainee days that we often got teased and mistaken for being a couple which always ends up with her blushing lightly, adding a hint of color on her usually pale cheeks, and me being jabbed on the side by her as I laughed it off making her complain on how annoying I was. And to be honest, I don't think that this was any different than those times... so why does it feel like that it was?

With that thought lingering my mind, I took a chance and looked at her.

She looked more beautiful under the moonlight. Her sapphire blue eyes seem to sparkle lightly as the light touches them, her skin was seemed to glow as the light grazes it, and her raven black haired flowed like silk in the air, tempting me to touch them.

"Stop staring like that. It's disturbing." She muttered softly as she continued to make her way out unto the forest just outside of town.

"Aren't you going to the grounds to pick your branch?" I asked her, confused as to why she was leaving town.

"... I don't have to." She replied flatly.

We continued forging into the forest in silence with only the music of the night in the background until we reached a place that looked like acastle and made her way in as if she owned the place. Once we were inside, I realized why she didn't even bother to knock. The place would probably be considered deserted if it wasn't for some few lighted oil lamps hanging on the wall but it only made me more nervous and agitated.

"Are you sure it's ok for you to be in here?" I asked her, scanning our surroundings for any sign of movement.

"It's fine. Just relax, Marco." She said as if she sensed my agitation before turning at one of the corners only to stop for a few seconds to try and grab one of the oil lamps. "Tch, it's too high up." She muttered under her breath making me chuckle.

"Here, let me get that." I said as I reached for the lamp, surprisingly it didn't pass through, and handed it to her.

"Thanks." She replied before making her way down to a set of stairs as I followed suit.

"May I ask, where exactly are we going?" I asked, curiosity getting the best of me.

"The dungeons." She simply replied.

----TIME SKIP----

She stopped her descent a few steps away from the end of the of the staircase that was occupied by a single wooden door and turned her gaze towards me and began to speak in a stern voice that I've only heard during the Invasion at Trost.

"Once I enter the room at the bottom of this staircase, I will ignore you." she said in a barely audible whisper. "I will not entertain any questions that you may and will ask during that time. So it would be best to keep your thoughts to yourself for a while." she added before she continued to make her way down the staircase without even waiting for my response.

--------------------

"You're late." a cold voice greeted her as soon as she opened the door.

"My apologies, Corporal." she replied calmly, before giving the short man that was standing in front of her a proper salute.

The first thing I noticed about the man since we've entered the room, aside from him being short, was his raven black hair and his skin tone. It was strikingly similar as hers. The only difference between them was the color of their eyes, the man's more muscular built, and the length of her hair. Aside from those distinguishing features, they were more likely to be mistaken as twins. I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't notice the man move until his face was only inches away from her own.

"Erwin would want to hear about whatever it is that you have to report as soon as possible." the man whispered in a hushed tone. "He also wants you to be there during the brat's fucking trial." he added.

"I understand." she whispered her reply.

"Don't be late." the man said before he left her on her own.

As soon as she was sure that the man was no longer within hearing range, he let out a loud exasperated sigh and made her way towards the cell where the man from before stood.

"(y/n)!?" a familiar voice shouted in surprise as soon as she had reached her destination, taking my by surprise.

"Is that Eren?!" I asked her as I dashed to where she was. But all I got for an answer from her was silence. True to her words from before, she ignored me completely. Leaving me with a set of unanswered questions that ran through my mind. But the one question that bore more weight that the other was 'Why is one of our friends being confined in a place such as this?'