Cracked Glass | AOT x Male Reader

Chapter 3 - Withdrawal

_-{Year 847: Collapse}-_

Another month and a half went by tediously. Two months in total since the aptitude test. Currently, Marco, Jean, Connie, and Sasha were all huddled around the mess hall's window. The past few weeks F/N had been increasingly cranky, groggy, and sarcastic. They watched as F/N made his way out of the barracks, and towards the bathhouse.

"He's like a vampire..." Connie said, eyes squinted.

"Yeah." Jean nodded. "Never seen circles around someone's eyes so dark."

"Has he really not slept in two days?" Marco questioned in disbelief.

"Not a wink." Sasha shook her head. "Said it's withdrawal."

"Withdrawal?"

"From those cigarettes he smoked the first day." Sasha continued. "Apparently, when he lived in Stohess, he bought them from the Military Police. I overheard him talking to Krista about it the night of the ceremony, while I was sleeping. Trying to kick a habit like that is impossible for some people."

"Wow, leave it to potato girl to overhear and remember something, while asleep." Jean remarked.

"Shut it horse face."

"You think he'll make it through training?" Marco mumbled, with a worried expression. They all shrugged and sat back down at the mess hall table, as F/N disappeared into the wooden building. "How do you even get into something like that anyways."

"The slums." Sasha answered again. "Apparently, he grew up in one, told me so himself. It's why he's so good at pissing Sadies off, and playing cards."

"What about his parents?"

"I'm not too sure. I never asked, didn't seem like a topic right to ask about. He has told me, however, that his dad is an alcoholic, and was an MP." She paused. "Nothin' 'bout his mother though.

In the bathhouse, F/N had just turned on the shower, and began to rinse off the sweat from last night. His mind was foggy, his eyes blurry and lidded. Halfway through, they began to droop, and he almost passed out right there. But his head hit the shower wall with a loud thump and he stood back up shakily.

"Fuckin' hell." He groaned. The cold water was only dampening his mood, so he decided to get out and dry himself. While dressing himself in his uniform, he heard the bell that signaled training. How long had I been in there? He thought.

Making his way towards the now assembling group of cadets, he joined the pile and sifted through them to find his four friends.

"Hey F/N!" Marco called out, turning the rest of their heads.

"You actually showed up." Sasha smirked. "I thought you might've passed out in there. What took so long?"

"Morning nap." He said sarcastically. Maybe it wasn't that far from the truth, though.

"Attention cadets!" Sadies yelled. "Today, for ODM training, you will be going into the forest in pairs! The goal is to practice maneuverability, and gas conservation! Once you reach the other side of the forest, your tank pressure will be measured and you'll be sent back with a fresh supply! The bottom ten cadets will be runnin' until they drop! Am I clear!?"

"Yes, sir!" The mass responded, breaking away into a mob of chatter. F/N and Sasha formed a group, along with Jean and Marco, and Connie left to go find Daz. There'd be a two minute time delay between each person, as well as each subsequent group. Sasha decided F/N had better go first, before he passed out right here. She gave him a slap on the back, a rather hard one, and he was off.