Yourself

Just for a little longer

After cleaning up, Leda grabbed the folders she forgot on the table in the hallway and went upstairs to finish the paperwork she was supposed to deliver at Magath's office by the next day.

She passed by her window and took a quick glance towards Reiner's house. The light in his room was on and she could see him moving behind the closed curtain.

A little smile curled her lips as she slowly pulled her curtain closed as well.

Her eyes moved to the reports and she sat at her desk submerging herself in her work.

Josel Belter and Colt Grice's files were in front of her, the two remaining candidates the officers chose for the next generation of Warriors.

The next Beast and Armored Titan.

"Select one of them to inherit my titan, I really don't care which one" Zeke told her a couple of days ago."You already secured Jaws with Galliard, find a good candidate for Beast and your precious Reiner will be safe for at least the remaining six years"

Her brows furrowed thinking back at the conversation she had with the war chief

"That doesn't guarantee nothing...there are three candidates and only two titans...The third one could always..." she said to him

"I'm sure you'll figure out the rest without my help"

The answer Zeke gave her made her shiver, an unsettling unpleasant realisation suddenly crossed her mind. She knew what she would have to do, but she wasn't sure she had the strength to do it.

Her hand moved to her forehead and she started drawing little circles around her temples.

I left the Warrior program back then because I didn't want to become a tool in the hands of Marley. But am I really this selfish to put my desire to have him by my side even a day longer in front of everything?

Leda got up and approached the window again. Reiner's room was almost completely dark except for a small light coming from the windowsill; he had opened the curtain a little, just enough to show a portion of his bed where he was resting. If it was unintentional or not it wasn't clear but Leda couldn't hold a smile looking at his back.

Memories of that dreadful day fell in her mind.

The day the public security police killed her mother in her own house.

The day that scrawny wimpy kid she barely knew, bursted in her home to take her away from the scene. Even back then she thought that his back really had the strength to bear immense tragedies, despite how lanky he was.

Now that kid wasn't so small anymore.

It was her turn now to bear the weight of his pain. All that she needed was enough time to shoulder everything that was curving his back.

Enough time to set his soul free.

She sat back at her desk and made her choice.

***

Leda, head on her crossed arm, was still asleep seated on her desk with papers scattered everywhere.
After a long night of work she finally made her decision. Slowly the girl opened her eyes but her body refused to move.

 
If I skip work today my hands won't be stained. I could still consider myself a good person.

But no matter how many excuses she could think of, a part of her always knew she was the same as everyone else who lived in Marley. Marleyan, eldians both from Paradis or not it didn't make any difference. They were all the same, selfish, liars, murderers...in a word, Monsters. It was just human nature. No goos people really existed in this world.

Lazily she got up and put on a clean uniform, rearranged the files and went straight to the barracks to deliver the papers to Magath.

When she arrived, Porco was seated outside the main building and greeted her with a half crooked smile.
"Already up?" he asked her. His face was relaxed despite his voice was giving away a hint of sadness.
"I could say the same to you. Have you slept here again?" she answered sitting next to him on the marble stairs of the building.

"They'll give me Jaws." He blurted out without even answering to her question "Couldn't find the courage to tell my mother. I've spent seven years waiting to become a Warrior.
Seven years, Leda. And now that my opportunity came. I'm scared out of my wits. What if I see something I'm not supposed to see in Marcel's memories? What if I'm not as skilled as he was?"