The Bonds of Blood" [Fem OC X AOT]

chapter 17

"Rae!" Yoshi saw Rae and ran up to hug his twin sister tightly.

"Yoshi!" Rae exclaimed, returning the embrace with a warm smile. Yoshi then saw Eren and smiled brightly at him as well.

"How are you?" he asked Rae, looking her over from head to toe, checking for any signs of injury or fatigue.

Today was the day before the mission to venture outside the walls, and Rae and Eren were finally allowed to meet the new recruits.

"I'm okay," Rae replied with a bright smile. "Just a bit nervous, I guess."

"That's good," Yoshi said, nodding. He then looked over at Eren. "Nice to meet you too, you reckless moron," Yoshi rolled his eyes and replied, unable to resist taking a jab at Eren.

Eren smirked. "How can you be so clingy and at the same time act all cool?" he teased.

Yoshi sighed. "It's a skill you'll never understand, Eren."

"Eren!" Mikasa, who had been standing behind Yoshi, spotted Eren and hurriedly ran up to him, grabbing his hand. "Eren! Are you okay?" she asked, her voice full of concern as she looked him over.

Eren gave her a reassuring smile. "Yeah, Mikasa, I'm fine. Don't worry."

"I feel like you're all the same," Armin chuckled as he approached the group, observing the interaction with amusement.

"We're not!" Both Eren and Yoshi said at the same time, glaring at Armin for his comment.

"Mikasa's not my blood sister," Eren said defensively.

"Rae's actually my blood sister," Yoshi clarified, his tone firm.

Rae chuckled at their synchronized responses. "You two really need to work on your timing."

"I'll make that shorty pay," Mikasa said with a dark expression, glancing toward Levi, who was in the distance.

Both Rae and Eren chuckled nervously, trying to diffuse the tension.

"Hey, Eren," Connie called out from behind them. Eren turned around and saw that almost all their friends had joined the Survey Corps.

"Almost all of you are here! That means only Jean, Marco, and Annie didn't join," Eren observed, scanning the group.

"Eren," Jean's voice came from behind Eren, making him turn around in surprise.

"Jean? You joined the Survey Corps?!" Eren was astonished to see him there.

"Marco's dead," Jean stated coldly, his eyes reflecting a deep sorrow.

"What... What did you just say?" Eren stuttered, the color draining from his face.

"Turns out not everyone has a dramatic end," Jean said, staring at the ground, his voice heavy with grief.

Eren clenched his fists, his emotions swirling between anger and sorrow. His eyes burned with determination, yet tears threatened to spill as the weight of their losses pressed heavily upon his heart. The atmosphere turned somber, a heavy silence enveloping the group as they all absorbed the tragic reality of their situation.

A soldier approached them, breaking the silence. "It's time to get your Survey Corps uniforms," he said, his voice carrying a sense of authority.

They followed the soldier to a nearby tent, where racks of neatly hung uniforms awaited. The air inside was filled with the scent of fresh fabric and a faint trace of leather.

Each uniform was a symbol of their commitment and resolve, a promise to fight for humanity's survival.

Rae stood back, watching as Yoshi and the others selected their uniforms. The moment they donned the capes, the transformation was palpable.