Allies and Enemies (AoT Reader Insert)

Chapter 14: Before Today Became Tomorrow

Year 854: Libero Internment District

Day of the Festival

Summer.

For many, summer is seen as the height of the year. Not only in temperature, but in spirit and festivities. This year in particular was exceptionally lively.

It wasn't often that the Eldians of the Libero District came together to celebrate anything. However, with the conclusion of Marley's most recent war it seemed as though Libero had just as much to celebrate as Marley itself.

From food to crafts, the summer market was brimming with life.

For many of those who'd previously been out fighting Marley's war, this was the first summer in nearly four years where they were actually back home. This was especially apparent for a select few who, due to a mission across the sea, would be attending their first festival in nearly a decade.

"Reiner, won't you please play a song with Miss (Y/n)?" A certain young girl pleaded to the vice War Chief; a man who also happened to be her older cousin.

While it wouldn't be entirely true to say that Reiner hadn't attended a single festival in the past few years, he never liked to mention those kinds of things around others. After all, the festivals he attended weren't ones held in the Internment District, and they certainly weren't held by Marley. In all honesty, it felt... surreal - like by admitting that he enjoyed aspects of his mission he would be betraying the country he loved so much.

But all of that was besides the point.

Right now, the only point he needed to make clear was that he wasn't about to sing or dance for the entertainment of his younger cousin. No matter how much he loved Gabi, it wasn't at the expense of his own dignity. What was left of it anyways.

Gabi tugged on Reiner's sleeve. "Her playing is so beautiful! Don't you want to hear it again?"

"Gabi, you know I'm not much of a singer..."

"But you can play the guitar so well! Isn't it the same thing as the ukulele?"

"That's... no, not really."

A slow yet soft plucking pattern pulled Gabi's attention away from Reiner, who was awfully relieved for more than one reason. Very soon, the melody was passed to Pieck; a melody which Pieck confidently partook in.

The song wasn't familiar, yet the feeling around it was light. Reiner could even go to say that this melody was enough to lighten the heaviest of burdens from a person's mind. Even if that feeling lasted only a moment, it was a wonderful moment indeed.

Reiner briefly recalled the night he and (Y/n) spent as trainees. Not so far back that they were only Warrior Candidates, but far back enough that they were back on the island.

He remembered the way the town folk went about their daily tasks but sang and laughed all the while. He remembered how the children excitedly gathered wood for a community bonfire and how one little girl was enough to convince the usually goal oriented (Y/n) to stay out past curfew.

It all seemed so silly now...

Shadows stretched along the walls of the surrounding buildings as people, though mainly children, danced around the flames of a bonfire that likely should've died an hour ago. It was as though the joy and laughter of those around fueled the fire more than wood ever could.

Aside from those who plucked at crudely made instruments were those who sang in harmony with one another.

Song after song, melody after melody, they sang.