wings of freedom | aot x reader

Reluctant Heroes

Chapter 4

The day you've been waiting has finally arrived, graduation. You spent the whole day celebrating with the other cadets, sipping a beer or two Sasha stole from who knows where. It was about time all of the hard work took a break, but you couldn't feel any happier for improving your potential so abundantly for the meantime.

You looked over to Bertholdt with his flushed cheeks, caused by the excess of alcohol he was drinking. He smiled unconsciously at you, his eyes dropped down suggesting his tiredness. You smiled back, holding onto his shoulder and making sure he wouldn't fall off his seat.

Mikasa patted your back lightly, "You did well f/n!" She said, showing for the first time sympathy towards you, "Pity you didn't make it to the top 10, but frankly you can do much better than horse face over here."

You chuckled in response, stealing a glance at Jean who was seated alone in a nearby table, playing with an empty cup. It hurt to see how solitary he was with the exception of Marco, sometimes you wondered if Jean was really a witty prick or just seeking for friends in a crowd.

"Jean!" You yelled, catching the boy's attention. He looked up, those eyes that were once so cold and reserved now stared at you with a rather jubilant sparkle. Your arms pulled him to your table.

He awkwardly took a seat next to you, keeping a strained glare fixated on the ground. Bertholdt suddenly fainted, knocking his head on the table while loud snores started escaping freely from his mouth. A few of your roommates started giggling at the cute sight, only resulting in you throwing them piercing glares and protectively slithering your arms on Bertholdt's chest.

They quickly turned away, avoiding any arguments with you. Now also drifting into sleep with Bertholdt's steady heartbeat, you saw as Jean raised his head slightly with a flirty smirk. You pushed sleep away and kept an attentive eye at Kirschtein, preparing yourself for what he was about to do.

"Who needs a retard giant when you can have me, ladies?" He said, speaking with the girls who seemed to be lacking interest. They flipped their hair carelessly, pretending not to notice the wink Jean sent them.

"Back off Kirschtein, you try too hard honey. Why keep trying when you know girls won't ever date you?" A brunette spat, making Jean's skin go pale, filled with humiliation. The other girls nodded in agreement, not minding the impact of their mocking words.

As much as you passionately hated the boy seated right beside you, the fever rising inside of you was impossible to maintain balanced. You squinted your eyes, shifting cold gazes at the three girls, struggling not to punch them like there was no tomorrow.

"Shut the hell up." You say, keeping your voice pacified and quiet. It was your job to justify fairness, wasn't that why you joined the army? To give humans what once was theirs.

"What?"

"I said, SHUT THE HELL UP!" You screamed, now ranting and standing up, threatening the girls with all your anger. Bertholdt woke up to the huge chaos, placing his hand on your shoulder and trying to manage your temperament, "Do any of you have feelings? As stupid as Jean may look, he also has emotions you heartless snakes."

A skinny brunette stood up, punching her hands on the table and creating a ruckus that echoed through the whole cafeteria. After she managed to capture the attention of every single cadet, her hand flew to your cheek roughly damaging your glasses.

"Who do you think you are? Eh four-eyed girl?" She said, the room was dead quiet. Connie and Armin held onto Sasha who was fuming menacingly to the unsympathetic human being in front of you, ready to fight her.