Not The One Who Dies ⇀ Attack on Titan *Original*

Part 24: Broken Spirt

Arthur rode up to the old broken down home with a sigh. The man got down from the horse with a grunt, putting his feet onto the ground.

Arthur sighed as he walked into the home, looking around the now grass filled area. He looked to the table on his side with a sigh, seeing an old family photo of his father, mother and little brother. Arthur picked it up and turned it around, seeing a piece of paper taped to the back of it.

He's eyes slightly narrowed in confusion as he unfolded it and began to read it. The man felt his eyes widen and his knees buckle at the first few words of the letter.

Dear Arthur,

I am so sorry... I don't know how to start this letter, truly I don't. What I do know is that I messed up and I may have even killed you in the process. When the house caught fire, I tried to get you out... with all of my power I tried but I had to run Arthur, I know I failed you, I'm the reason you're dead... but they were coming and I needed to get Logan and Maria to safety, I should've tried harder, I know that. I don't even know why I'm writing this, you're dead and there's nothing I can fucking do about it.

I promise you that I won't let you die in vain son. I'm going to get Maria and Logan to a safe place and then I'm going to go and kill them all, I promise son. I am so sorry, I'll always miss you.

Love, Dad

Arthur broke down in tears as he reread the letter over and over again, all these years he had thought of his father as a monster who left his son to burn. He killed so many people just to get the opportunity to kill the son of the man who had left him behind only to realize that the man was no monster, it was his father.

Arthur sat there for a while, letting his body shake in pain. It had been years since he let anything hurt him mentally. He sluggishly made his way to his feet as he turned out of the building and left the home before freezing in the doorway with realization.

The Celler

------------------------------------------

Eren sat in the back of the wagon, still tied with his mouth blocked. The boy's eyes began to grow tired as he heard the faint sound of a horse's hooves hitting the ground. The boy's body snapped up with hope in his eyes as he expected to see Logan and Stark riding up to the wagon to save him and Historia, although it didn't seem like she wanted to be saved.

His eyes fell as he spotted a man in an MP jacket riding up to the wagon, looking around before spotting the shifter. The MP rode a bit ahead to talk to the people in the front of the wagon, informing them of what happened.

"Sir, there's a letter here for the boy." The MP told Reiss who scoffed and shook his head earing a stern look from his daughter.

"Historia, I'll allow you to go read the message to the boy. I'm not letting him out of his restraints." Reiss said as he gave her the letter causing the girl to nod and give the man a small smile. Historia climbed to the back of the wagon and sat next to the boy, leaning her back on the wood before looking to the restrained, tired boy.

"You got some mail, Do you want me to read it to you." Historia asked causing Eren to slightly nod, curious about who in the world would send him a letter. Historia nodded as she opened up the contents before beginning to read.

"Hey, dumbass. I really do hope you can read this and don't need Armin to read it for you. It's uhm, It's Logan." Historia began to read out as Eren's ears perked up, quickly moving his body to face the girl with his head leaning against the wood on the other side of the wagon.

" I wanted to write this because I was thinking about you, things have been really tough the past two days and I uh, I'm really tired. It's hard for me to sleep without you next to me, did you know that? I just figured that out, Don't worry though, I managed." Historia read as a smile formed on the boy's face and his eyes brightened at the words. The boy's heart felt tight as he nodded to the girl to continue reading as she slightly scanned the words in front of her as her smile seemingly broke, her eyes starting to glimmer in the sunlight.