Levi's Lover [2]

Chapter 35

" You were the one who breached Shinganshina's inner gates, do you know how many Eldians were devoured by pure Titans because of that? And Annie Leonhart. I hear you killed more than a few Survey core members in your time, and that's before we get into all the innocents you trampled trying to fight your way out of Stohess, and let not forget the brave liberators of Parados, there Armin the level-headed one, who seems far too kind to cause the sort of bloodbath he did at the harbor in Marly. How high do you think you can stack those corpses? don't forget the civilians, there were plenty. Not to sell the rest of you short, everyone gave a heroic performance in Liberio, Jean most of all. Little Falco here threw himself in front of you to protect the cart, but you didn't let that stop you from firing that Thunder Spear, did you? And of course, you thought you all made it out clean. Until Gabi gunned down Sasha. What a sweetheart that girl was, even I couldn't help but feel sad for her. And to you, she was family, you went through training together, went through hell together, losing her must've been more painful than I could imagine. " Emma couldn't help but bite on her inner cheek, trying to stop herself from saying one more thing that would cause another fight. She was bitter, burning with rage, and rubbing her fist from when she punched Reiner who sat across the campfire from her. She glanced over at a sleeping Levi and back at the popping fire. She tuned out of the conversation for a split second. 

" Right. Almost forgot, you had mentioned another name. He was already dead by the time we met but I remember you said you were good friends. What was it? Marco. " Silence rang in the air, a thick tension and she noticed the way everyone flinched or lowered their heads, especially the two titan shifters sitting across from her. Reiner and Annie. " As I recall, you said Annie had something to do with his death, didn't you? Did you ever ask her for details? I bet she'll tell you. " Her throat went dry, she didn't want to hear the gruesome betrayal of the sweetest person she could have ever possibly met, just the thought made a shiver go down her spit despite being outside in the warm air. She looked up, through the campfire and she could swear she was Marco staring back at the lot of them. She blinked again and the figure was gone. 
" I stole his ODM gear and left him where the Titans could get to him. Marco got eaten because of me- "

" Annie was only following the orders I was giving her. " Pain and silence again, grimacing looking from her friends and pained looks from the two other titans. " During the fight in Trost, Marco overheard me and Bertholdt discussing something secret. If we'd let him go, he could've exposed us, so we decided we had to silence him. We figured nobody would think twice about a scout getting eaten by a titan. So I tackled him onto a roof and I pinned him down, and I ordered Annie to strip off his ODM gear. " Emma didn't notice the lone tear that fell down her right eye as she stared across at Reiner, she felt empty. " Then. We just left him there. Marco was stranded on that rooftop without a rig, and a titan got to him. " 

" S-so, did he say anything before he was killed? Jean whispered, he was shocked, no blinking, and eyes widened beside her. " He asked why I wasn't willing to talk to him. " 

" I think that question still applies. We haven't been willing to talk. We all just started fighting and assumed it had to be to the death. " Her stew ran cold in her hands, she set it aside, deciding she was no longer hungry. " But we can still change that. A little while ago, we were all ready to kill each other, and now, here we are, talking. It's something, right? " To think we'd all be sitting around a campfire sharing a meal with people we once called enemies. " Emma snickered once again. " I don't think it was once called, more like still is. " 

" I stood and watched the titan as it devoured Marco, and then a switch flipped and I couldn't figure out why it was happening. I just snapped. I flew into a rage, hellbent on avenging Marco. I cut down the titan myself. " She clenched her palms once more, ignoring the bitterness in her mouth. " We get it Reiner, you're saying the guilt of carrying out your mission screwed with your head. " The tension thickened, you could feel it from a mile away. " Don't forgive me. I'm truly worthless. "

" I said we get it. "

" I'm sorry. "

It happened faster than you could imagine, she barely saw it happen before it did. Reiner already had a healing bruise on his face but more was added once Jean shot up in a fit of rage and attacked Reiner for the second time. She could admit he had it coming, she got her rage out on that man and Jean was just adding his. She stared as it happened and a small smile formed at the corner of her lips.