The People You Meet in the Afterlife

Who is to Blame?

Since the 57th Expedition, the town of the afterlife saw a massive increase in the population.

Gunther was still trying to figure out where he fit in here.

Petra and Oluo were settling in nicely, and were becoming surrogate parents to the many orphaned kids here. Many from the attack on Trost a few months ago.

Eld had his little club of sad souls missing their lovers. But the two did enjoy a drink at the tavern ever so often, and sometimes in the company of other dead soldiers. Several from their cadet class.

The topic of discussion recently had been Annie Leonhart. For the most recent arrivals the events of Stohess came as a shock.

Gunther and Eld had been sitting outside of the local cafe owned by someone who died during the Fall of Wall Maria.

Looking up from their chess match, Gunther had noticed people heading towards the "viewing area".

"Eld check it out..."

Eld looked up. "Something big must be happening down below."

Gunther was about to ask if he wanted to go check it out when Oluo came sprinting up to them.

"Guys! I heard they found out who the female Titan is, they have her trapped!!"

The two followed close behind Oluo, finally joining Petra in the crowd.

They jostled forward to get a better view.

"...and now I'm going to make a wager myself"

Levi's squad watched mouths agape as a blonde MP laughed.

"Holy f*ck that's Annie Leonhart!" Said one of the scouts.

"She's the female Titan?!?!" Another spectator said.

"Who's Annie Leonhart?" Petra asked.

"She was in our cadet class, one of the only in the top 10 to actually go to the MPs, she wasn't really friend with anyone" the young solider explained.

"She's just like Eren" Oluo muttered. "Except I don't think Eren ever killed anyone."

"Look they've got her!" One of the scouts cheered.

"Good, hope Levi kills her himself." Gunther said coldly.

"F*ck her!"

The celebration was cut short though when a bright flash blinded them.

Every victim of the female Titan watched in horror as Annie transformed causing a shock wave killing those who had her tied down.

Eld turned his head to see to see small flashes of light in the surrounding forest, indicating those who had tried to contain Annie had arrived.

Over the next few days, Marco, his friend Marcel, and the book shop owner Tom had spent most of the time trying to explain the whole situation.

"Wait so Reiner and Bertholdt are the Armored and Colossal?" A solider had asked? "My father died because of them!"

"I don't know what to tell you..." Tom said with a shrug. "War is war"

"B*stard" Gunther muttered as he walked out of the tavern.

***********************************************
It had been a month since then. Petra, Oluo, Eld, and Gunther sat around the dinner table in the house that Oluo and Petra shared.

"Still can't believe I got bested by a f*cking kid", Gunther muttered. "I don't care what sob story Tom or Marcel gives, I'm counting down the days until I can get my hands around her neck."

"What could would that do? She would already be dead" Petra said quietly.

"At least it makes sense why that Bertholdt kid keeps sneaking off to see her at night" Oluo said. "According to Marco, he kinda fancies her, never got a chance to tell her though"

"Oh boo hoo. Traitor one didn't get to profess his love to traitor two. It's not like she's dead" Eld said bitterly.

Oluo let out a sigh, putting a sugar cube in his tea. "I mean...they are just kids"

Eld gave him a hard look. "You're still just a kid yourself, you and Petra both."

"I mean, Oluo has a point. Based on everything we know now, it's seems like they didn't have choice, and we were trying to kill her"

"I wasn't..." Gunther said taking a sip of his tea.

"I just don't think we should hold on to anger over something we can't change" Oluo said.

Eld shot up out of his chair.

"Are you f*cking serious!!! Do you know how many scouts died because of her! She didn't just killed people Oluo she toyed with people, killed them in brutal fashion. In case you forget she bit me in half leaving me to bleed out. I didn't get a quick death like you. For f*cks sake she smashed Petra into tree!"

"Eld..." Petra started.

"Save it Petra. You know thanks to you we are all dead! 'Just trust us Eren'"

Petra looked down at her tea, trying to hold back tears.

Oluo was now on his feet. "What would you have done. You were in charge after all when we took her on! Guess what we all died!"

"Yeah but you got the luxury of your girlfriend here getting us all killed, you didn't leave someone behind!!!"

"Tell that to my father! Tell that to my 4 brothers who still don't quite understand why Oluo isn't ever coming home. Or my mother who sits at night and cries holding my jacket!! F*ck you Eld. You aren't the only one who left a broken heart behind."

The room went silent. Gunther quietly stirred his tea. Petra sat in her chair, tears silently streaming down her cheeks.

Oluo and Eld looked like they were ready to exchange blows, breathing heavy.

It was Petra who broke the silence.

"He's right"

All eyes focused on her.

She sniffled a bit. "It is all my fault. I'm the one who told Eren to trust us. That we could handle anything. He didn't transform because I convinced him not to. If I hadn't, we would all be alive...my father wouldn't be alone"

Petra looked up. "So please if you are going to be angry at someone, be angry at me."

Another hush settled over the room. The only sound was Petra's crying, Oluo placed his hand on her shoulder.

Eld took a deep breath, and sat back down.

"It wasn't your fault Petra. I was Vice-Captain..."

Petra placed her hand over his. "And you were a hell of a vice captain. Minus Levi, I was ready to dedicate my life to you."

"You don't need to try and make me feel better..."

"I'm not, I should kill you...but what good would that do."

Eld let out a small laugh.

Gunther placed a hand on Eld's shoulder. "She's right, you were a strong leader, Levi chose well."

Now it was Eld's turn to cry. "I'm so sorry you all died under my watch, I'm sorry I've been wallowing in my own misery. Sometimes I forget that I wasn't Annie's only victim."

"I don't think anyone can win this war. Shifter or scout" Gunther said. "It was a honor to serve with all of you, and to die with all of you"

Petra wiped the tears from her eyes. "Well at least none of us were swung around like a yo-yo like Scott was"

The group laughed.

"Yeah that's a pretty sh*t way to die" Oluo said.

"Well I don't know about you guys but I could use a drink stronger that tea" Eld said. "Oluo where do you keep the good stuff?"

With the whiskey poured, Oluo raised his glass. "To the one person who we all trust and love and the one we left behind...our Captain...Levi"

"To Captain Levi"