Friend or Foe... (AoT Reader Insert)

Chapter 23: Broken Beyond Repair

"Attention!" I called, though my voice was rough and deep. Much deeper than any girl's would've been. The group of soldiers lined up before me and despite not knowing a single one of their names I knew each of their faces.

The soldiers stood stiffly, their eyes wide and their gazes straight ahead. It was more than what one would think necessary for standing at attention.

I cleared my throat before giving the soldiers a handful of instructions. If I had to compare them to anything, I would compare them to the type of instructions Commander Shadis would give us in the early mornings of Training.

Before long, the soldiers who had stood in front of me were halfway across the field. While it felt strange to be the one watching, it also felt familiar. Like I had done it a thousand times before and I would do it a thousand times after.

"Reed," a warm hand grasped my shoulder, "they want to see you inside."

I turned to see a man I didn't know the name of but knew the face of well. He was an older man, his only noticeable features being his mop of black hair and circular glasses.

I nodded, "of course. You'll make sure they finish their laps, won't you?"

The man with glasses laughed, "you make them work so hard for soldiers whose only purpose is to die. They knew what they were getting into when they enlisted for the army. I'm fairly certain that most of them won't make it past their first battle."

I glanced towards the soldiers who steadily made their way towards us, an expression pulling at my features which I couldn't quite control, before turning towards the man with glasses.

"It's the same for us too, isn't it?" I wondered aloud, "we fight to protect Marley though we know we're going to die in a handful of years; reduced to nothing but tools just for a red band. Does that make us fools or just naive?"

The man with glasses didn't reply. Or perhaps I had just left too soon to hear his reply. Either way, I soon found myself in the presence of men who I knew all too well.

The tension in the room was thick. Every breath was tourture in the presence of these people. Despite the fact that I worked, no, gave my life to them, I resented them for the things they'd put me through over the years.

I couldn't remember the last time I'd been able to get a good night's rest after the things I'd seen and done. After the things they'd made me do all for the notion of putting up a strong front!

But the moment I agreed to this life, I had already accepted all of those things, hadn't I?

"War Chief Reed," one of the men started, "Cadet (L/n)... she is your daughter, correct?"

I nodded. I didn't like the way the man spoke to me nor did I enjoy the way he looked at me with such a curious gaze. It only spelt bad news for me.

The man continued, "then is it safe for me to assume that her mother was also Aoi (L/n)?"

I shook my head, "if that was the case, wouldn't her file say as much?"

The man smiled as he threw a file onto the coffee table between us. A look that said 'I think you're lying to me.'

"It says here on her official file that she's adopted," the man opened the file on the table to reveal three photographs, "but she shares a striking resemblance to both you and your late wife, wouldn't you agree?"

"If you're trying to say something I believe it would be just to outright say it instead of beating around the bush, Sir."