𝔇𝔢𝔣𝔦𝔞𝔫𝔠𝔢 (𝔏𝔢𝔳𝔦 𝔵 ℜ𝔢𝔞𝔡𝔢𝔯)

CXI - Where The Sky Meets The Sea

The real question is does Eren trust us enough to tell us what he figured out?

***

"Hey, heroes of the walls!" The squad turns to face the owner of the voice, eyes falling on the approaching figure of Hitch. I stand from my kneeling position in front of Sasha, body turning to face her. The throne room was swarmed with people from across all regiments, all gathering to witness the survivors of the retake of Maria getting their medals of bravery. 

"Hitch," Jean voices first, watching as she raises a hand to wave at us all. "You came." 

"I'm here to see all of you get your medals," she replies. "I did play a big role in this revolution you know." 

"Right," Jean replies quietly. There was a hint of silence for a moment, not even the soldiers beyond the conversation seemed to be making any noise despite the numbers. "Marlowe. He was brave until the end," he says turning to Floch who stood idly to the side. "Right Floch? Tell her." The boy's gaze falls to the ground, a solemn look on his face as he agrees. 

"Right," he replies quietly, his voice nearly incoherent before he looks up and meets Hitch's gaze again. "Marlowe Freudenberg was a fresh emergency recruit just like me. But regardless, he did a good job unifying us all. It seemed hopeless out there. The survey corps was on the verge of being wiped out. Even when we were all terrified to the point of being useless, he was the one guy who never stopped encouraging the rest. He was an amazing guy." He hesitated for a moment. "But at the very end he must've regretted ever going there." My gaze snapped to Floch, emotions warring with each other at his unnecessary concluding comment. She turned away. 

"Thanks, I'll be the one laughing if any of you mess up at the ceremony," she says as she walks away. Jean turned to Floch afterwards, the trio all standing behind them watching their exchange skeptically. 

"Hey! Why the hell did you go and say-" Jean began, visibly upset at Floch's choice of words. 

"Well," Floch begins, cutting him off, glancing over his shoulder at Armin who stood silently a few steps behind him. I bristle slightly at the blank stare Floch pins on the blonde, my tongue running along the front of my teeth beneath my lips as I await what he has to say. "Someone has to tell the truth, right?" Armin takes a breath, stepping forward though his movements are timid. 

"I know that you desperately wanted to revive Commander Erwin," he begins. 

"That's right," Floch says, not even allowing Armin to finish. "I thought the Commander was the right choice, not you. But I wasn't the only one, it's all of us. It's what everyone thought reading the report. They wondered why it wasn't Erwin." Eren wasn't having any of it, Mikasa glaring at him like there was no tomorrow. My gaze remained on the boy who dared insult Armin, belittling him for a choice he had no say in. 

"And what do you know about Armin, hm? C'mon, tell me," Eren deadpans coldly. 

"I don't know anything," Floch replies, his tone deadpan. "I'm not his childhood friend. I'm not his friend at all. But I do know why Armin was picked. It's because you two and Captain Levi allowed your personal feelings to get the better of you, took the injection for yourselves and made an irrational decision. In other words you couldn't throw away what was important to you, right?" I step forward standing between Floch and the trio. 

"I think it's time you shut it," I deadpan, my glare unwavering, but he continued to speak as though i wasn't there. 

"Eren I bet deep down inside you think you're always in the right," Floch speaks. "That's why you never gave up, like a little kid who won't listen to reason." Mikasa places a hand on Eren's shoulder.