Complications Throughout Generations

Chapter 26

Mikasa's POV:

An unexpected alliance of the Survey Corps, Marleyan Military, and Anti-Marleyan Volunteers had been formed. To some, he was strictly the enemy. To others, he was a friend. To me, he was family. There was a strong tension burning in the forest. There was no guarantee that we could all be trusted. But at the same time, we all knew what was at stake. Hange being Hange, tried her best by making stew for us all. You could tell she was tired but she's always stayed strong. Magath didn't help with Hange's tiredness. He continued to ask questions about the Survey Corps' intentions as Hange answered that we don't want genocide. But of course, that somehow prompted Jean to bring up all the Titans that Marley had sent to us over the years. Of course, that led into endless bickering with Hange, again, having to put a stop to it. But then soon later, the Female Titan shifter spoke.

"Can you kill Eren?"

"Killing Eren isn't the only way to stop him." I reply, feeling an ache in my chest. Killing Eren isn't what I want. It'll never be what I want.

"I knew you would say that. Then what? Are you going to persuade him? You think the guy who'd reconsider that easily would begin genocide on the rest of the human race?" Her words left a sour taste in my mouth.

"We don't know." Armin said, putting his head down with uncertainty. "Not until we talk to Eren."

"Then assuming you managed to talk to him. What would you do when he refuses to stop his genocide? Has thinking of Eren as the enemy turned you into idiots?" We all stayed silent. "I knew it." Annie whispered. "If those of us from Marley try to protect our homeland by killing Eren, you'll end up fighting us to protect him. I'm sure of it. That's how it'd end up, right? Mikasa?" I closed my eyes, not wanting to focus on her as she spoke. "I'm sure never in your life you ever thought of anything more precious to you than Eren." That was enough. I drew my blades and held them to my sides.

"So you're saying you need to kill me?" I wasn't afraid of Annie. Annie flicked out the barb on her ring, ready to transform.

"Leonhart!" Magath called. She folded it back into her ring and held out her other hand towards me.

"I get how you must feel." Annie began. "I also have one reason I want to stop Eren. I don't want my father in Marley to be killed. That's why I need your help. If you can convince Eren to stop, then great. At the very least, we have no reason to fight until then."

I quietly sighed and turned away from everyone. "Fine." I said.

Once Hange announced the stew was ready, I walked off into the woods alone. I turned around to give Armin a nod and he understood that I needed time to collect myself. I found a tree not too far out of sight and leaned my back against it and heavily sighed. I tried to look through the branches to spot the stars but it was hopeless.

"Mikasa." A voice gently called. But my body still jumped, not expecting company.

"Jean." I relaxed my shoulders, feeling safer knowing that it was him.

"Are you okay? I know what Annie said was probably a lot for you back there." His hands remained in his pockets as he nodded towards the group of people.

"Yeah." I nod with an emotionless expression. "I'm fine." I absentmindedly reached for the scarf around my neck but my stomach began to hurt once I realized it was no longer there. Jean was quick to notice the sadness in my eyes. He leaned on the tree adjacent from me and looked down at the ground then back to meet my eyes. "A-are you okay?" He seemed shocked by the question. It's not really something people think to ask anymore simply because we all know that we're all hurting, we're all tired, and we're all broken.

"I'll be okay." He gave a soft, not so reassuring, smile. "Just when you think things couldn't get any worse, they do. They get so much worse." His voice lowered and his gaze went back to the dirt on the ground.

"But we're all still alive." I tried to help ease his mind. I knew Jean was struggling. I've always known. Some people are easy to read with the words they say or with how they act out. I've tried to figure Jean out in the past and it didn't take me long. He has this habit of putting his hands over his ears when he's overwhelmed. That's nearly every night. Especially lately. He plays the part of being strong around others but when he doesn't think anyone's watching, he's alone in his thoughts, screaming at the world in which we live in. He's afraid. That makes him human. But he doesn't let his fears get in the way. He stays focused and strong. That's what makes him a leader.