The Guardian's Tale (AOT fanfiction)

-Friends-

"Seems if I just sting myself...I'll turn into a big strong Titan." Kenny said. "One of the dumb ones...unfortunately. For awhile...it oughta keep me...alive."

"You had the time and strength to inject yourself before I got here if you wanted." Levi spoke up after a few moments of silence. "Why didn't you ?"

"Fair point..." The man replied. "I guess I'm just scared. If I don't inject it right then...I might turn out the same as Rod. All messed up like-"

"I know you're not just sitting here waiting to bleed to death." Levi interrupted. "Surely you have a better excuse than THAT."

"Well runt...the thing is..I don't feel like dyin' without my dream coming true. But...I see now...after all this time, I think I see why he did it." He then started laughing as the Captain and I looked at each other, confused. "We humans...we're all the same. Every last one of us. For some it's drinkin', for some it's women, for some even religion, family, the king, dreams, children, power. All of us had to spend our lives drunk on somethin'. Else we'd have no cause to keep pushin' on. Everyone...was a slave to somethin'. Even HIM." He then started coughing up blood. "So...what're your poisons runts ? Heroics ?"

Levi then grabbed him by the shoulders, demanding that Kenny tell him everything he knows. Starting with why the First Reiss King did not want humanity to survive. In my mind, it was simple. It didn't matter if it was before or after the walls were built...Humanity would always be the cause of its own suffering. But Kenny said he didn't know but that it was part of the reason that the Ackermans turned their backs to the crown.

"Apparently...that's my name as well." Levi spoke up. "So tell me...who are you ? What were you to my mom ?"

Kenny let out a small laugh and said he was only her brother, making Levi's eyes widen. 

"That day...why...why did you leave me ?" The Captain asked. 

"Same reason I ended up abandoning Yuki and her brother...I just wasn't cut out to be somebody's dad." He simply replied.

I slowly looked up at Captain Levi and then looked back down. What about him...and Commander Erwin ? Where they ready to be someone's father when they took me in ? Kenny then handed the box containing the syringe to Levi then slumped back against the tree.

"U-Uncle Kenny...Uncle Kenny wake up..." I pleaded as tears rolled down my cheeks. "Please..."

Captain Levi simply took me in his arms and I rested my forehead against his chest. He might have abandoned us but...he taught my brother and I how to survive. Levi then slightly pulled me away and poked my forehead with 2 of his fingers, leaving me awestruck as he slowly stood up. I rubbed my forehead and looked up at him. Why ?

"You coming brat ?" He asked as he turned away and slightly held out his hand. 

"I...Yeah...let's go." I looked up at him, smiling brightly and took his hand.

(...........)

I silently watched as Premiere Zachary set the crown down on Historia's head. I still wondered though...what if it had been me up there ? Everyone cheered for her but I just stood there, looking blankly at the scene unfolding in front of me. I'd let them down...everyone that died for me to get this chance...that died for an Uchiha to claim the throne again...died for nothing. The soldiers bowed as she saluted but I couldn't bring myself to. If one thing...my father taught me this : Royalty never bows. Even to other people of a royal bloodline.  Royals bow to no one.

I could feel the Commander's blue eyes glance at me but I couldn't do it. I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth, tears forming in the corner of my eyes. All of those deaths...and I couldn't take my chance.

After the ceremony, Historia and the rest of the Levi squad walked down a hall. Eren asked if she was actually going to follow through with Mikasa's suggestion to punch Levi. He tried to get Mikasa to acknowledge that it was a joke but she doubled down and told Historia to dare Levi to punch her back. She then retorted saying that she had to be able to do this to call herself queen.

"Huh...well I guess the headline 'new queen dies a few moments after her coronation' sounds pretty good." I half joked as I spotted the Captain.

We all stopped and Historia clenched her fists. She gave him a small punch in the arm and everyone's faces filled with shock except for Mikasa and I.

"Did that hurt ? Well I'm queen now so too bad." Historia exclaimed. "If you have a prob-"

She was interrupted by Levi letting out a small laugh as we all stood there, frozen in shock. Jean looked at me and I shrugged. I'd barely ever heard him laugh except when I was little.

"Thanks you guys. I needed that." He thanked. "Oh yeah and Yuki...I came to give you this." He pulled out my old plush from his jacket and handed it to me. "I figured you missed him. What was his name again ? Uhm let's see...Oh yeah ! Tsuki."

"F-FATHER CUT IT OUT IT'S EMBARRASSING !" I exclaimed as I blushed, taking the bunny from his hands.

I saw Levi's face fill with shock and I heard the others gasp. It took me a few seconds but I realized that I called Levi 'father' and I smacked a hand over my mouth.

"I uhm I meant c-" Levi interrupted me by pulling me into a tight hug as everyone yelled out in shock.

"Oh yeah I know it's embarrassing but...that's what fathers are for isn't it ?"

(............)

I was sitting outside with the others, holding my plush tightly in my arms when all of a sudden, my ring started glowing and a bright light flashed against my eyes.

Reiner's Titan was laying face down in the ruins of Shiganshina district.His armor had been torn up in places and it didn't look like he was conscious. Reiner softly kissed his ring and whispered 'I'm sorry' before Bertholdt pulled him out of his Titan. He then turned to the Beast Titan who appeared to be saying something before a blond man with glasses came out of it.

"REINER !" I yelled.

"Yuki...?" Jean asked, placing his hand on my shoulder. "You alright ? What happened ?"

"I..." I buried my face into my plush and shook my head. "Sorry...it's nothing."

TO BE CONTINUED !