Friend or Foe... (AoT Reader Insert)

Chapter 20: Promises Are Made

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if I had decided to make different choices in my life. What would it have been like if I had decided that the life I wanted to live was a simple one; a life where the only thing I had to do was wake up, go to work, come home and sleep?

It would be a lot less taxing, that much was for sure.

Maybe in another life I would've been able to bask in the warmth of my mother's arms a bit more. I might've been able to see my father's smile as he sat down at the table for dinner, or perhaps I could've seen the smile on my darling's face one more time.

I've always loved her blue eyes.

It would've been so much easier. So much easier to forget all of the things I'd learned and just accept my place in society as a second class citizen.

Even so, I don't think I would ever be happy with that life.

Sure, I might have had more time for myself and sure I might have gotten to live a longer life, but then I wouldn't have gotten to know the people who changed me. The people who made my life worth living!

There were so many people who I wanted to believe I wouldn't give up for the world, but the world was cruel. It would snatch them away from me no matter how hard I tried to keep them by my side. Some might argue that if I wanted something I should fight for it, but I knew that fighting would only cause me more pain in the long run.

I knew that no matter how hard I fought, the people I loved would always be taken away from me. No amount of fighting would ever keep them by my side. That's how life always was for me.

That's just how life was for us.

Footsteps echoed through the hall as someone approached my room. If where I was could even count as a room.

A figure stood outside the door, their back turned towards me.

"It's time."

The rattling of heavy metal rang in my ears as I moved to stand up. I never really liked that sound. It always reminded me that I wasn't free. That I was less than a second class citizen.

That I was nothing more than a tool.

I followed the figure through a maze of halls. I wonder how many years it's been since the last time I saw her?

How many days have passed since she promised she'd return?

I wonder if she'd still know who I was just by the sound of my voice?

No... I doubt she'd even recognize me anymore.

"Wait here." the figure demanded, keeping their back towards me the entire time.

I suppressed the urge to let out a hoarse laugh. Like I was going to go anywhere. Not while I knew that she was out there waiting for me.

Like I'd ever leave my daughter in that horrible form.

Not another one.

Not again.

"(Y/n)?"

I looked down at the freckled male beneath me and blushed. I had drifted away during another sparring session, hadn't I?

"Sorry," I mumbled, "I was... distracted."

"Not enough, apparently!" laughed Marco as he stood up and extended his hand out towards me, "besides, isn't that usually my excuse?"

Sometimes I forget how much I love his laugh.