𝙎𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙧 |AotxMaleOc

Questions(🍋)

After they arrived back at the gates the first people that entered were the wounded and dead. They were always first so the wounded could be gotten medical treatment, and the dead could be taken to their next of kin. Ari watched as the carts and wagons entered in, he hung his head low, he couldn't help but feel a little responsible and guilty. He wondered how many of them could have lived or how many of them wouldn't be missing their arm or leg if he had come out about his power earlier.

Christa noticed the brown haired young man was feeling down. She took one of his hands that was wrapped around her waist and gently caressed it.

Christa: Everything ok, Ari?

Ari: I just can't feel a little responsible for this.

He gestured over to all the wounded heading in. Christa did her best to turn around and face her boyfriend.

Christa: No, Ari, none of this was your fault. Each of them knew what they were getting into, you can't be expected to keep everyone safe. This sort of thing is going to happen no matter what.

Levi pulled up Next to Ari and Christa towing a cart.

Levi: She's right, you know.

Ari: Captain?

Levi: Who knows what would have happened if you showed your power earlier? Hell Eren almost was shot in the courtroom, I had to kick the shit out of him to save his life. Bottom line is you can't fault yourself for what's already happened, not because you could have done something different, because what's done is done.

Christa and the Captain's words were convincing to Ari and he sighed and nodded. Soon all the wounded had gone in and everyone else began to go into the safety of the wall as well. However when Ari peeked over Levi's shoulder he noticed his cart was full of bodies.

Levi: My squad, they were always the first ones in, and the last ones out. It's something they took pride in, so I'm going to have them be the last ones out one last time. Now go, it's your turn. And remember, their deaths are not your fault, nor your responsibility.

Christa moved the horse through the gate as Ari was left to ponder what he had been told.

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Back at HQ everyone was given standard 3 days rest before anything else would happen. Expeditions beyond the walls are extremely draining, both physically and mentally on soldiers and it isn't something people can recover from after a good night's sleep. As a result the standard procedure is 3 days rest for everyone, you can do as much training or anything else as you want but it is not required.

However despite what they had hoped Ari and Christa wouldn't exactly get free time during all of this. First, the female titan had to be investigated, but it looked like Armin and Erwin were taking the lead on that. Second, Hange was going to stalk Ari like a hawk until she got some testing done. Third, Hange also wanted to work with him on a few projects as well. Fourth, Eren had also woken up shortly after they got through the gates and he needed to be briefed on what happened and Ari wanted to help him master his titan.

Luckily the night they all got back was at least one the couple would have to themselves since everyone was legitimately tired. None of them could muster the energy to do anything meaningful at that point. As they placed their horses back in the stables and got ready to head inside Ari was still being hounded by his friends and he figured that he did owe some of them an explanation. But he didn't want to reveal everything right away.

Armin: Come on Ari, how long have you been a titan for?

Mikasa: Were you ever gonna tell us?

Andrew: Why does your titan look so strange?