UNCAGED SOUL || Attack on Titan x Reader

To be Happy || Marco Bott

This is a continuation of Happy is Her.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ༶•┈┈⛧┈〄┈⛧┈┈•༶ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

It never once became his intention. To fall for someone that he knew his best friend had feelings for since God knows when. Then again, it wasn't his fault anyway to let himself embrace this feeling, right? Jean had been married for a few weeks now anyway. He would no longer give in to his actual desire.

And amid all the bubbling happiness, you have been missing. Gone without a trace, with no one knowing where you were.

Marco could still remember all the details of that day. When Jean asked you to be his wedding organiser, to stand there beside his best man because, to him, you were his best woman. There was a pause as you spooned the appetiser into your mouth, and it seemed Jean had focused too much on the woman beside him to see the horror on your face.

He thought you would say no, trying to find some random reason so you could run away. But then again, it was you. The same woman that in her previous life would give herself in front of danger to make sure everyone was safe. Even when he couldn't see how high you had flown with him taken away too soon, he knew a lot of things about you.

You just smiled, dabbing your lips with a handkerchief as you finished your meal.

"Sure! I know you best, Jean. I can make your wedding like it's something out of a fairy tale~ Gonna ask Mikasa what she wants too, of course. Don't worry there, Mika."

Snatching the wine on the right side of your plate, you gulped the remaining burning liquid down your throat, and that was enough of a sign about what would come next. The rest of the dinner was filled with a strained smile on your face and a clueless couple chipping in about what they wanted at their wedding party.

Then add him, Marco Bott, the best man who could only hold your hand underneath the table once you started to tremble. You glanced to the side, surprised to feel his coarse hand interlaced with yours. He knew what clouded your mind without you having to say it out loud. The shadow on your face, how it was begging for help.

He wished he could just take you away, somewhere far from the one person who had your heart, but at the same time crumpled it in his hand. But who was he, ‌anyway? No one. The only thing he could do was to be there. He wasn't able to persuade Jean to see what was already laid in front of him, to see you.

Something he couldn't do anymore after he proposed to Mikasa.

Even a few minutes before the wedding, he was the one who found you inside the restroom. Your make-up was still intact, but one thing for sure, your heart wasn't. He said nothing, pulling you into his embrace, and just whispered sweet words. About how strong you were, about how you deserved so much more.

You sucked it up again, standing and clapping on your seat as the priest finally said, "You may kiss the bride." There were tears in your eyes and for others, it might have looked like tears of happiness because you were there to support your best friend in getting the marriage and stable life he always sought for.

But that wasn't the case. Your tears meant so much more than a masked joy. It was built from the longing you had for Jean ever since years ago, the same longing you had maybe even in the previous lifetime when things were too unpredictable.

When you cried, when you finally cried that time as Jean and Mikasa kissed as husband and wife, it must have been the last straw.

You realised by then everything was set in stone, that there was no room for you anymore, not even in this lifetime. Marco wanted to catch up with you, to be by your side. But when he arrived at your seat, it was already empty — you were nowhere to be found.