Beyond The Walls (AOT x OC Fanfic)

Rallying Hope

The soldiers gathered at the base of the wall, nervous murmurs filling the air. The plan to retake Trost had left them rattled, their expressions clouded with doubt and fear.

"A plan to recapture Trost District?" one soldier scoffed, disbelief in his voice. "You're kidding me! It's suicide, plain and simple. How do they expect us to plug that hole in the gate?"

Several soldiers nodded, others mumbling agreements under their breath. Daz, already trembling, spoke out louder than intended, "To be forced back into that hell... No! I don't want to die! Let me see my family!"

Marco immediately turned to him, his voice gentle but firm, "Hey, Daz! You're too loud!"

But Daz, in his panic, was beyond reasoning. "There's nothing to be gained from this mass suicide mission!" he cried. His despair only fueled the rising tension.

A nearby superior officer caught wind of his outburst and marched over, his face hard with anger. "You there!" he barked, "Are you planning to abandon your duty?!"

Daz faced him, the terror clear in his eyes. "Yes, that's right!" he spat back. "It's a hundred times better than getting devoured by a Titan!"

The superior's hand moved to his blade. "How dare you mock mankind and our order!" he said, a dangerous edge to his voice. "I have the authority to execute you on the spot!"

Before things could escalate, Marco jumped between them, pushing Daz back. "Stop, Daz!" Marco pleaded, trying to keep him calm. Daz wrestled from his grip, wild-eyed and shouting.

"I'm not going back there!"

Around them, soldiers looked on, a few muttering to themselves.

"Maybe he's right," one soldier whispered. "This whole plan just feels like a death sentence."

"Are they really expecting us to just march in there and get eaten?"

More voices joined in, wavering under the weight of their fear.

Then, from the sidelines, Jeiden stepped forward, her expression fierce. She took a deep breath and projected her voice so it rang across the gathered crowd. "Enough. All of you. What good is it doing to give in to fear now?"

The surrounding soldiers fell silent, their attention drawn to her commanding presence. Daz, still fuming, looked up at her, his eyes uncertain.

Jeiden met his gaze, her tone sharp but steady. "You're all ready to throw in the towel, talking about abandoning your posts and leaving this place in chaos? Is that how you want to go down? Running while others take up the fight you're walking away from?"

Daz shook his head, his voice laced with frustration. "You don't get it! Some of us just want to live. It's insane to expect us to walk into certain death without a say in the matter."

Jeiden's gaze softened, but her resolve never wavered. "And if we don't take the risk, we all die anyway. Everyone beyond these walls, including your families you're so desperate to get back to. Staying safe here—giving up, running—none of it protects them."

The soldiers exchanged uncertain glances. Her words struck a chord, but fear still clung to them.

"This isn't about glory, or duty, or some pointless order," Jeiden continued. "It's about survival. If there's even the slightest chance that reclaiming Trost means we can hold the Titans back a little longer, that we can buy enough time to find a real solution, then isn't it worth fighting for?"

Jean, who had been listening closely, took a step forward. Though his expression was guarded, he spoke with a hint of understanding. "So you're saying we're all just supposed to blindly follow orders, risking our lives on nothing but faith?"