Attack on Titan Short Stories

A Chance Meeting in the Flower Shop

I made up Mr. Ral's first name since there isn't one.

I'm going off of the manga, so the scenes in episode 22 (I think?) didn't happen

SPOILERS! 🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨

It was a gray day in Trost. There was a light rain coming down, and the weather fit the mood of the day.

The owner of the flower shop was reading the paper. "Eight Soldiers Killed in Surprise Raid on Libero, Jeager in custody." He sighed and shook his head. He had known a few of the survey corps members that had died. The name
Sasha Blaus stuck out to him, he scratched his head trying to remember, then it hit him, another solider with cropped hair had come in a few weeks ago, order a half dozen Daisies. "Those are her favorite", he had told the shop owner. "Oh...and who's the lucky gal?" The young man had looked around and then said quietly "Sasha...Sasha Blaus". The shop owner just laughed as they exchanged money and flowers and he saw him on his way.

"Poor kid, must be devastated", he muttered to himself.

The bell rang as a customer walked in. He looked up, "ah hello Mr. Ral, it's always nice to see you". He waved at his long time customer. "I take it your in town to see your daughter". Mr. Ral smiled sadly, "yep I come see her every 3
months, the only times I can afford the trip to Trost". "Would you like the usual then?" "Yes please, lilies were always Petra's favorite".

The shop owner started preparing the bouquet of flowers. "Can I ask you a question?" "Sure" "You mentioned a few times that she served along side her boyfriend, how'd he handle her dying?"

Mr. Ral gave him a surprised look. "You men's in all these 5 years I've been coming here, I never told you". "No sir". Mr. Ral sighed. "He died the same day she did, later learned from their captain it was likely they died right about the same time". The shop owner looked down, "oh I'm sorry to hear that". Mr. Ral continued, "yeah left behind 4 younger brothers, I heard he was real good to my sweet Petra, but they both had serious ambitions of eradicating the Titans, but at least where ever they are, they are together.", he said with a soft smile.

"Military cemetery gonna be a bit more crowded today, they're having the funeral services for the soldiers who were killed a few nights ago in Libero".

"Yeah I read about that....it's strange, we went four years with our having military funerals...it seems like in war everyone loses"

The bell rang again, a man in his mid 40s came in with his wife and what the shop owner assumed was his young daughter. They were all dressed in black. He felt a sense of dread in his gut.

"Hello there, how can I help you fine folks". The young blonde just stared at her feet, and the wife looked at her husband. He held out his hand "I'm Artur Blaus, this my wife Lisa, and daughter Kaya". The name "Blaus" rang out in his head. "This must be that poor girl's family", he thought to himself. "We are looked for flowers for our daughter's....our daughter's grave site" he paused for a moment as if to stop himself from crying. The shop owner already heard sniffles coming from the young girl, the wife put her arm around the her.

"I'm not really sure what's appropriate for a grave for your child...it's all a bit new to me" I know that daisies are....were her favorite but I just don't know", Artur said.

Before the shop owner could answer, Mr. Ral cleared his throat.

"Excuse me, I don't mean to interrupt, but perhaps I could help", he extended his hand. "I'm Peter Ral". Artur shook his hand "Artur Blaus". "Was your daughter on of the corps members killed in the Libero raid?" Mr. Ral asked.

"Yes sir, killed in action is what 'er Capt'n told me, Levi's his name, would give me the details, only that they brought her body back, and when the service with be"

Mr. Ral sadly chuckled, "how ironic that we meet today, my daughter was killed 5 years ago, on the 57th expedition outside the walls, she was directly under Levi's command, someone she deeply admired, got the same from him then, killed in action, where she'd be laid to rest and when."

"I'd like to know what happened to my Sasha", Artur said gruffly.

"Not a day goes by that I don't wonder what happened to Petra, that was her name, before I found out, I was happily blabbering to her Captain about how proud she was and how she had her how life ahead of her, I should have known something was wrong when he didn't say anything back" "I didn't see her at first and thought she must be in the back with the injured considered she was also a field medic, but when the injured passed, and I didn't see her, just the wagons of bodies tarps covered in blood, it suddenly hit me, she was gone, I immediately sought out Captain Levi to demand what happened to her, all he would say was killed in action".

At this point Lisa and Kaya had stepped outside, finding it difficult to listen to Mr. Ral's woeful story.

"Sometimes I'm glad I don't know, but I do hope that it was quick and she didn't suffer".

Artur bowed his head, "I'm so sorry to hear about the passing of your daughter, Sasha was a field medic too, as well as a sharp shooter". "How old was Petra when she was killed?"

Mr. Ral sighed, "she was just 19".

"Sasha was 19 as well, and now....." Artur trailed off.

There was a moment of silence between the two grieving fathers.

"If you are looking for something beautiful and meaningful for her grave, I always put pink lilies on Petra's, she loved them, plus they symbolize enteral youth and admiration" Mr. Ral said. "Let's her know I've never forgotten about her".

Mr. Blaus smiled sadly at Mr. Ral, "A daughter know that her father will always love and remember her".

Artur turned to the shop owner, "I'd like a dozen pink lilies please".

The shop owner silent nodded, decided it best not to tell him about the cropped hair young man who would come in to get flowers for his daughter.

"War is a terrible thing, isn't it Peter", Artur said.

"It sure is, it's hard now that it's just me, Petra's mother died when she was young, but I keep moving forward because that's what Petra would want me to do".

Mr. Blaus nodded, "and I know that's what Sasha would want me and Lisa and Kaya to do as well, and her friends".

"Mr. Ral your order is ready", the shop owner said handing him the bouquet. "Thank you Simon". He paid the man and took the flowers.

"I'll be sure to pay my respect to your daughter when I go see Petra"

"And I'll be sure to go pay mine to your daughter as well Peter"

Before he turned to leave the flower shop he looked at Mr. Blaus, "if I know my Petra, she was there to give your daughter a warm welcome home, and will make sure she's not alone"

"Thank you, I hope we can meet again soon", said Mr. Blaus using every ounce of his strength not to cry.

Mr. Ral exited the shop, spoke briefly with Mrs. Blaus and Kaya expressing his sympathies, and they exchanged theirs as well.

He then began his walk to the cemetery, angry and devastated at yet another young life lost.

End