Allies and Enemies (AoT Reader Insert)

Chapter 34: It Was Always You

AN: Just a reiteration but please be weary of spoilers from this point on!

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There are many things a person might do when they know a disaster is approaching. When natural disasters occur, many people will attempt to run away. As if a human's legs are enough to escape something as imminent as death. Even so, a living creature's natural instinct is to live. Whether that means bearing arms to fight, or bearing the shame of running away, fighting to live is all the same.

In the case of War, things are different.

How can such a large ordeal be encapsulated by a mere three letters? No ordinary person can truly comprehend the terrors of endless battles. Those who have survived through the horrors of war wouldn't even wish it upon their worst enemies. It really is such a terrifying thing.

Although the harbour is quiet this morning, the world is anything but at peace. As perhaps the only people left to oppose Eren, the Scouts and Warriors now prepared themselves to fight. Perhaps that is the reason why these people, born and raised into a life of fighting, continue to fight. They believe that by ending one man's desire to slaughter the world they can live in peace. Or perhaps they fight because it is the only thing they've ever known. Either way, nearly all of them prepare themselves for what may very well be their last battle.

"So I'm the only one running away?" Annie mumbled. Her eyes trailed across Pieck and Reiner - two people she had once trained beside who now looked so much older than she did. The four years hadn't been kind to them, but she supposed years of fighting in a war were the farthest thing from 'kind years.'

Behind Pieck, Annie could see the Scouts from Paradis. She'd never been very fond of any of them in particular, but she supposed that they weren't horrible people either. Even she could understand that they were in as messed up of a predicament as they were.

"Don't worry." Pieck started, causing Annie to return her gaze to her two companions. "You never really submitted to Marley from the start. There's no burden you need to be saddled with."

Annie's gaze suddenly landed on the Armoured Shifter. "Reiner..."

"I've always wanted to apologise to you, Bertholdt and (Y/n)." The Shifter admitted. "It all began that day when I forced you to go ahead with the operation. If we had just turned around back then, you and Bertholdt might've been able to go home to your families. It's brazen of me to even apologise but-"

"Yeah. I can't count the times I felt like killing you."

"... I admire your self control."

A smile tugged on the corner of Annie's lips. Although they'd never been what someone would traditionally consider friends, Annie and Reiner understood each other. The two of them could finally share a genuine moment with each other. Not just as people who had each other's backs on the battlefield, but as people who took time to understand one another.

"Take care of Falco and Gabi for me."

"Sure thing."

Annie waved a quick farewell to everyone gathered at the harbour. She kept her gaze low as she approached the ship. She could hear her comrades discussing the things that would have to be done in the following hours, but this wasn't something she wanted to be a part of anymore. For as long as she had left, she wanted to know what peace was. After all of the battles she's fought, she at least deserved that much, right?

When Annie reached the edge of the dock, she lifted her eyes to see (Y/n) waiting on the ship. Her gaze was relaxed as she stared past Annie and at the people in the harbour, yet her demeanour was that of a soldier's.