Inseparable (Aot x reader)

Declaration of War

I look around and see a red carriage waiting for me. I look back and wave at Eren before leaving him behind at the hospital and putting my shoes back on.

——time skip—

I walked through the red curtains which lead onto a platform which was higher than the crowds. I could see everyone from above and also the stage a bit to my left.

The stage was massive and made of wood. There was no backstage but there was space at the side for people to watch such as the actors. They could also listen from below the stage which was also the place where they got ready.

Metal and wooden bleachers were placed all around the stage whereas normal benches were placed right i front of it. The higher-ups from the normal part of Marley, where there were no Eldians, were sat at the back with many, many soldiers dressed smartly in white. They had badges on their blazers and one particular person had a red sash around them - he must've been the leader.

I look across and see Porco, Pieck, Zeke and Colt dressed in their long, white jackets with a white shirt and tie inside along with either a red or yellow armband. The candidates - Gabi, Udo and Zofia - sat in front of them and they wore their own clothes. They looked very happy and excited for this event but Falco and Reiner seemed to have disappeared.

There was no one else on the platform I was on so I sat down on one of the few chairs there were. The candidates wave from across the stadium but I pretend I didn't see them.

"Cozbi?" I whisper to see if he can hear me. "Cozbi?" I repeat. There was no answer. "Do I seriously have to destroy the city to find you?"

"What do you want?" A voice asks from the side of me. "Before you ask, I got carried away with exploring and got lost."

"Sure... Anyway. Have you seen Reiner and Falco?"

"Nope. Why? Should I go look for them?" He asks.

"Yes please. It will be interesting to know where they are." I say quietly.

"Oh so you do have manners?" He said before everything went silent apart from the voices of the audience.

"Who does he think he is?!" I think to myself.

"You don't need to know all the details but all I need you to do is get to a high rooftop after that blonde-guy's speech."

I look up to the rooftops of buildings that surrounded the area. Most of them were completely empty apart from some of the closest ones. They had the Eldian Soldiers spectating the show from the buildings since they were also making sure no one intruded in somehow. It looked like Magath had ordered them to go up there since he was also there.

Guilt consumed me like a wildfire; it burned a cavernous wound through my heart which was once filled with hatred for these people. Their smiling faces and the laughters that were going around. It made me realise that they were the same as the people back on Paradis - unaware of what it is really like out there.

It made me hate them more that they had made me reluctant to go with Eren's plan - in fact it was irritating. These people would have to go through hell soon.

I heard footsteps from behind me along with chatters of high-pitched voices. I turn around and see my 'family' - Binsa, Noah, Andrei, Hans, Monika, Andreo and Andrea.

They were all dressed in smart suits and dresses and were all looking happy. Lara and Kazue were with them too with two of our soldiers dressed in red.

I turn back towards the stage as they all took a seat on the chairs around me - Noah and Binsa sat on either side of me. My mother sat behind me as she whispered in my ear how proud she was of me. I didn't react to any of her compliments, of course, but I accepted them.