The swift movements F/N prior struggled to pace himself against on the rooftops began to become more familiar, more predictable; buildings seemed so patterned now, like a squared out grid. This fast combat, that's what they were built for, and became revealed clearly to F/N as he continued on ahead of his fellow cadets. His eyes traced those cadet's positions behind him, even while moving, because although he couldn't prevent their deaths, he could at least somewhat steer them away from the larger threats skulking in the streets. Still, the casualties were insurmountable and only the experienced could survive. F/N bullied that fact into them before departing. For those who knew what it meant to fight a titan, who swallowed their fear and stood firm—their will destined them survival. For the weak unskilled majority, they will perish in the fight, aiding their brothers and sisters in order to trudge forward. That in and of itself, was courage just the same.
F/N ramped up his speed in approach of a short, six-meter class titan before slipping into a crouch on the opposing side of the roof as his foe. His boots numbly clacked against each tile until he stopped and closed his eyes, listening closely for the thunderous footsteps meandering down the street. Thump... thump... thump... thump. Now! He vaulted over the sight barrier, nailing an anchor through the titan's exposed nape. The iron gears groaned loudly while retracting, sputtering out a trail of gas behind him and marking the path he followed. F/N kept his arms pulled back in anticipation, body tense as a compressed spring as he neared the unaware monster. Like a switch being flipped he drove his arms forwards, the built three years of muscle memory carrying his blade along the correct path effortlessly. The titan was nothing more than steaming flesh slowly burning away now. Eventually there'd be nothing left, like it had never existed at all. But it had, and so long as F/N stood he'd recognize that for the ones who perished.
Still on edge, he heard Sasha swinging in from the street over, and saw her jacket flapping in the wind like hanging clothes as her boots crackled with an audible thud on the tiles next to him. Plastered across the stunning face he'd known was a proud smile. "Nice one!" she hollered.
"Thanks," F/N mumbled in response, unusually flustered, until a wave of dizziness overtook him. The cadet realized his earlier fatigue was beginning to return, only this time his stamina wasn't nearly as high. The world seemed on tilt despite his leveled eyes. Push on regardless, he told himself. That was what it meant to be a soldier. That was what it meant to still be alive. "Straight ahead, thirteen meters, take out its legs," he ordered unconsciously.
Sasha hummed in response, skidding down the tiles to street level. He watched her carefully sprinting from above, a slight nervousness twitching his fingers as the titan took notice of her. It scowled and slapped the ground with an open palm where she was only moments before—having managed to dodge backwards—spraying cracked cobblestone across the street. However, as Sasha began to reposition, and it began to stand back up, a burst of steam erupted from its neck. F/N squinted curiously while the monster collapsed onto the ground, lifeless.
"Mikasa?" He landed beside her, yet she made no response to his words, her eyes scanning around frantically—a desperation in them that was unfounded on her face. "What are you doing here? They gave the order to evac already."
"Where's Eren?" she asked without taking her eyes off the battle field. "I need to find him."
F/N bit his cheek. "I'm not quite sure. He was in a squad with Armin, and Armin's the only one of them I saw earlier. You'll find him farther back, I'm positive he'll know where he's at."
"I see. I'll go find him, then. Thank you." She narrowed her eyes, springing away shortly after.
Mikasa, she was a raven that sat on Eren's shoulder and F/N never quite understood why. What was so special about the brunette who's brazenness was the direct opposite of her cool? They were opposites. Maybe that's why they stuck like glue? Not to mention Shiganshina, that kind of hellish experience brings people closer, a sort of co-dependence. And maybe, he wondered, if he'd grown up there too, would he have turned out the same as them? With different goals than he had now?
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Cracked Glass | AOT x Male Reader
Fanfiction"You killed your own mother." Those words were engrained into his every action, every value, and every idea. In the year 845, The Fall of Shiganshina drastically changes the life for many within the walls. This however, had no impact on F/N. He, unl...
