'Just Be' [Jean x Tsundere!Reader] - Part 26

---'Just Be': Part 26---

With the promise of escape just beyond the corner, morale was uplifted all around.  Everyone was scrambling hastily to refill their fuel rods, of course, before the Titans could renew their attack.  But even with the impending threat, none could ignore the look of renewed spirit on their faces.  You smiled at your comrades, feeling a spur of optimism in your heart.  Making your rounds, you began collecting empty rods and passing them out to those who were manning the fueling stations.

"Hey, can someone fill these, too?" you called out.

"[First], toss one over here!" Reiner shouted in your direction.  He caught it deftly as you flung it at him, grinning all the while.  "Nice shooting earlier, by the way."

"Give me a break," you retorted with a smirk.  "Marco was the one who made up for my poor marksmanship! The way I was aiming, you'd think I was blind or something!" Blind with terror, that was what.  But the important was that you had lived through it, and no one else had gotten hurt.  ... Only rattled.  And speaking of which...

Sasha was sniffling.  Her hands shook so much that the rod kept slipping from her hands.

"Hey... " Your eyes widened suddenly, spotting your distraught companion.  "Hey, Sasha... What's wrong, girl? Don't worry about missing the Titan's nape that time...! Mikasa managed to cover for you, and you still did great!"

Your only response was a pitiful whimper.  You reacted with alarm.

"Sasha... Come on, you're safe now.  That Titan can't come after you anymore.  Don't freak out on me, okay? Please?" You uttered weakly.  "You... You didn't get hurt, did you?"

Sasha's eyes were brimming with mortified tears as she fitted the cylinder into the valve and filled it up.  

"No... it's not that..." she sniffled, biting a trembling lip.  Her nose was running like a river.  "I... I just can't believe I apologized to a Titan, of all things! I look like a coward! A complete fool!"

Well, a bigger fool than normal, anyhow.  This you thought to yourself privately, with a heart full of affection.

The fuel rod dropped to the floor with a clatter.  You gaped, looking startled as Sasha began fisting her hair, wailing hysterically.  "Ohhhhh, the shame of it all! I'm so mortified, [First]! How in the world am I going to look at my comrades with a straight face anymore?!"

She flailed her arms and moaned, leaving you in a state of bewildered panic.  Luckily, someone came to your rescue.

"Come on, girl! Get a grip! You can waste time kicking yourself about it later!" Connie snapped at her with furious urgency.  "I'll even help you with that! But right now, we have to book it to Wall Rose!"

"He's right, Sasha," you told her in a chiding voice, though trying your damndest not to laugh.  "Don't think too much on it.  Just concentrate on refueling so we can get out of here!"

Connie picked up the fuel rod and forced it back into the brunette's hands.  Sasha gulped and sniffled, nodding tearfully.  "Y-You're right..."

You smiled down at her, comforting her with a light hug.  "I'm glad you're safe, Sasha..."

With that, Connie looked satisfied, grinning heartily at you.  You smiled back at him gratefully.  Now that Sasha was back on task and everyone was almost ready to go, it was time for you to make your own preparations for departure.

"[First], there's a station free over there for you," Mikasa informed you, already set to leave.  "Go ahead and use it."

You smiled at her gratefully.  "Thanks, Mikasa."

She nodded at you quietly.  For someone who had just lost someone infinitely precious to her, you thought, she looked remarkably resilient.  Then again, in a room filled with high spirits, her forlorn expression seemed to hint at a suppressed sadness churning painfully beneath that veneer.  You watched her walk away wordlessly, unable to think of a way to console her over Eren's death.

At least the two people most important to you were still alive.  After all that had happened so far, that alone made you feel extraordinarily lucky.  A miracle, to be sure.

Trying to put it out of your mind, you headed towards the back of the room to refuel.  There, you noticed Marco and Jean sitting together at the same cluster of giant tanks, filling up a stack of rods.  The two if them were immersed in serious, quiet conversation.  Unnoticed, you observed them.  Jean spoke with a somewhat discontented expression, brows furrowed together.  All the while, Marco sat next to him, patiently hearing him out.    

It was a familiar sight.  The two Brothers-in-Arms were wrapped up in dialogue, as close as you had ever known them to be.  And as best friends, they were closer than most, especially in the way they confided each other with their thoughts and best-kept secrets.  You yearned to join them, but at a time like this... there was no room for you to squeeze in between.

So, you smiled quietly to yourself and wandered off in search of another place to refuel, leaving the two young soldiers to their private conversation.

---

Sitting next to Marco, Jean wore a dissatisfied frown as he continued to operate the refueling apparatus.  When something bothered him this much, he just had to say it out loud.  And not just because he wanted to mouth off either.  It  was something that was truly troubling him, enough to set him on edge.  As it turned out, Marco was the one person whom Jean genuinely trusted to hear out his thoughts, without being preachy or judgmental.

"I don't know why you keep saying that I'm a natural leader, Marco," Jean muttered, avoiding his friend's gaze.  "But I keep telling you - I'm not.  Don't bring that up again."

And as far as he was concerned, that was the truth of it.  First of all, Jean was of the opinion that no one would ever tolerate a leader like him, who was about as diplomatic as a mace to the face, and abrasively honest to boot.  Seriously, he was better at being the devil's advocate than directing people to fulfill a cause.  But beyond the flaws and tactlessness of his own personality, Jean was not ashamed to admit being scared shitless of the sheer responsibility involved.   Especially if it meant being at fault for the deaths of his comrades.  A leader had to be brave.  A leader had to be strong.  A leader had to be willing to make sacrifices, to consciously shed the blood of those close to him.  Jean believed that he was none of these things.

I'm not suicidal like Eren.  I don't have nerves of steel like Marco.  And I'm not brave in the face of danger the way [First] is. ...Courage ain't no quality of mine.

Marco gazed at Jean mildly, listening to what was being said - and what was not being said.  A patient smile appeared on his face as he switched fueling rods.  It was amazing, almost saintlike, how Marco could understand Jean's fears and insecurities with such precision, without the latter having to say a single word.  He was not only precise in his marksmanship, but also in the way he assessed other people.

"Listen, Jean..." he began gently.  "Don't get mad at me for saying this... but there's something that I think you need to know."

Jean let out a grunt of slight irritation.  It served to signal that he was listening, albeit reluctantly.

"You're not a strong person, Jean," said Marco in an honest voice.  "That's why you can sympathize with how the weak really feel.  You can understand fear and the desperation to survive.  And you know... Armin was right when he said you had a good understanding of other people's strengths and weaknesses.  That's why you're always scolding [First] whenever she does something to endanger herself."

Feeling uncomfortable, Jean gave a sidelong glower towards his best friend.  As Marco had guessed, he hated talking about this kind of thing.  Especially when he didn't believe most of it himself.  But even though Jean humoured the subject at Marco's insistence, he found no avenue to deny or disagree with what was being said.

"But there's something else that I've noticed, Jean," Marco added, his tone earnest.  "You're talented at... no, you have a gift at exercising great judgment, no matter what the situation.  Regardless of how hopeless or chaotic things get, you know exactly what needs to be done." A thoughtful expression crossed his features.  "I really do believe you have what it takes, Jean.  To lead others, get them to listen to you, and save lives in the process."

In other words, a soldier who can read the tide of battle...

Jean's eyes went wide.  Something about that statement hit a chord, leaving him unable to argue back.  

"After all ... I'm still here, aren't I?" Marco said, turning to gaze at Jean with a genuine smile.  "I survived this far.  That's because you made all the right calls and led us to safety when we were too scared to move.  Also, you were the one who figured out how to save [First] when she was in trouble."  His voice was filled with gratitude.  "Thanks to you, I'm still alive... and so is she."

When Jean didn't cut him off, Marco continued, confident as ever in his words.  "Despite the way you see yourself, Jean, you're braver and more responsible than you think, especially when your comrades depend on you.  And when it comes down to it..."  His smile became warm with affection.  "...I know that you'll never run away.  You'll always end up doing the right thing because you know how the weak feel.  Why else do you think we all believe in you so much?"

His smile was returned with a look of stunned silence.  Jean was struck by the simple purity and honesty in Marco's words.  It was enough to make Jean forget his prior misgivings and realize what was truly there - the giftedness that had existed inside him all along, when he had so vehemently believed otherwise.

Marco... he had a knack for spotting all of the important things to which Jean was blind.  And when he pointed them out, it as though they had existed in plain sight this whole time.  In the end, he really did know Jean better than he knew himself.  It wasn't enough to change Jean's apprehensions against being a leader... but it was enough to shake the foundations of his self-perception.  

Seeing the astounded look on Jean's face, Marco simply smiled back in that familiar, good-natured way.

"I know that it's a lot to live up to, Jean.  And I can understand if you're afraid of failure.  You're just like [First] in that respect," he said.  "But I know you have it in you, Jean.  I believe in you."

... Somehow, that last part was exactly what Jean needed to hear.  He fell quiet, and though he remained stoic in the surface, he couldn't help but feel a swell of pride at Marco's words.

As the rest of the tanks were filled, Jean spent the next few minutes in deep, silent thought.

"Marco..." He said suddenly, as though something had just occurred to him.  

"Yes, Jean?" Marco asked, attentive as ever.

"I was just thinking about that story you were telling to me the other night.  About that monster who died after unleashing death and havoc upon the world..." Jean paused, frowning.  "Damn, I can't remember the name..."

"The Dark Demon of Razgriz?" Marco's eyes immediately lit up at the mention of his most beloved mythical story.  

"Yeah.  That's the one. Ever since the gate was breached, I've been thinking about nothing but war and death.  As such, I'm somehow reminded of that story...." Jean's eyes flickered away momentarily, looking a little embarrassed. Truth was, that was the time he had suffered a nightmare, one that had left him awake and distraught in the middle of the night.  To ease his nerves, Marco had told him a story, one that he had learned and memorized since childhood.

"What were you thinking about, Jean?" Marco asked, surprised that Jean would bring it up at a time like this.

"... You mentioned that it was possibly based on true events that occurred in history," Jean said, his expression intent. "The Demon is actually a human soldier who once existed in antiquity, during a time of war.  ...Am I right?"  

"Well... I believe it's true,"  Marco shrugged his shoulders and smiled sheepishly.  "But no one knows for certain, Jean. That's just what historians say.  Could be that the Dark Demon is a nickname given to an ordinary human being who rose to fame on the battlefield.  A perfect soldier who sought strength, lived for pride, and read the tide of battle with perfect skill.  Powerful.  Unstoppable.  Almost inhuman.  A monster... and a savior.  I wouldn't be surprised if such a person once existed in history."

"Maybe so.  But then again, you mentioned in the story that the Demon comes back to life after a period of slumber," Jean pointed out.  His expression turned wry.  "With that being said, how could the story be anything more than just a fairytale? People don't just raise themselves from the dead and come back to life, Marco."

Except maybe for the lil' Firefly, Jean reminded himself, unpleasantly remembering a time when he had first believed you to be dead.  Even though you hadn't really been killed in the first place, to see you alive and well felt like a miracle in and of itself.

"I suppose not," Marco said quietly, adjusting his gear and loading up his fuel rods.  "But this is my guess, Jean.  It is possible that the Demon's spirit is reborn in those who have found a reason to fight.  Giving them strength.  Awakening their instincts.  Allowing them to push past their own limits, and become either heroes or monsters.  ...Maybe the Demon is alive in our hearts, Jean.  Yours, mine, and [First]'s.  You've felt it before, haven't you?"

Inexplicably, Jean's mind suddenly flashed back to that fight in the alleyway, against Fleischer in his men.  All three of you had fought tooth and nail to protect yourselves and each other.  One could even say that you, Marco, and Jean had behaved somewhat like monsters that day, fighting with such vehemence and mercilessness.  After all, Marco had consciously and cold-heartedly blasted away the arm of that thug with his rifle. Jean himself had crushed the gunman's eyeball with his elbow, not feeling a shred of remorse.  You had held a knife to Fleischer's throat and had damn near beaten him to death out of hate and vengeance.  All three of you had been a far cry from your usual selves.  Less like normal children.  More like demons, fueled by desperation, anger, and the instinct to survive.

Then again, it was that very same instinct that had driven Jean lead his comrades to safety through the thick of danger, even when he had been unable to believe in himself.  Likewise, Jean remembered the way you had used yourself as a decoy, flying with a speed and daring he had never thought to be human.  And of course, he couldn't forget how Marco had demonstrated nerves of steel and high-precision marksmanship, even when facing up against seven Titans at once.  

To think we all had it in ourselves to perform such feats, Jean shook his head incredulously.  Still... to say that I might be blessed by a spirit of war? It can't be.  That's just impossible.

Jean grimaced at the thought as he attached his fuel rods and tested his gear.  "Great.  Now you've got me paranoid that I might be possessed by some warlike demon from hell."  He grinned crookedly.  "At least I know exactly who to blame when I go insane and wrack destruction on the battlefield.  All because of some silly fairytale."

Honestly, he had never believed in that kind of superstition, and now was surely not the time to start.

But Marco clearly believed differently.

"The Demon is more than just a legend.  I'm certain of it," Marco assured him, wearing a smile.  "Listen, Jean.  Someday... when you and [First] come to visit me in Jinae, I'll show you the book itself.  Then I can tell you how the story really ends."

Another promise, huh? Jean grinned right back.  "... Yeah.  I'd like that, Marco."

He meant every word, allowing his sincerity to show through.  Marco looked elated.

... Of course, all they needed to do was survive this mess first.  All three of them.

Jean rose to his feet with a sigh.  "Come on, buddy.  Let's find the lil' Firefly and get the blazing hell out of here."

---

By now, everyone was gathering at the entrance of headquarters, eager to leave.  That said, it was determined that you would all leave together as a single group, flying en masse.  After everything you and your comrades had gone through to survive this far, neither of you were about to leave a single soul behind.  You were all in this together, until the bitter end.  

Armin helped you through the final preparations, stooping over to check that your 3D Maneuvering Gear was functioning properly.

"It looks like your gear overheated a little," Armin said, giving the gearbox a few tests.  "That said, it should hold out for a while.  You'll need to get it maintained as quickly as possible once we head to Wall Rose."

"Understood," you replied as the blond boy stood up.  You smiled at him gratefully.  "Thank you, Armin."  

"Your wrist..." Mikasa walked over to you, concern flitting across her face.  "Does it still hurt?"

You cringed at the reminder, looking down.  Marco had reinforced your wrist with bandages earlier, making it look as though it were wrapped from the knuckle down in a thick gauntlet.  It felt better, but it still felt rather uncomfortable and pulled.  

"A little bit," you admitted.  "It gets sore when I use the 3D Maneuvering Gear, but I can still pull the trigger at least.  Moving around should be no problem.  I should be able to escape with you guys without any help."

Mikasa and Armin both looked relieved.  For a while, they fell silent.  That was when you could see the forlorn, haunted looks in their expression.

"Are you two... alright?" You asked, tentatively.

With a pained, reticent look, Mikasa immediately averted her eyes and moved away.  She murmured something absent and incoherent before falling quiet once more.  You bit your lip in shame, thinking that you had made a tactless mistake in alluding to Eren's death.  Even so, Armin placed a hand on your sleeve.  You could see that he was trying his hardest to smile bravely at you.

"Don't worry about us, [First]," he said, lip trembling.  "Mikasa and I... we're dealing with it our own way.  Besides, we'll have time to mourn with this is over.  Eren, he..." Tears flooded his bright blue eyes.  "...he wouldn't have wanted us to give up fighting.  Not when he tried so hard to make sure that we all survived.  ... All three of us ..."

Unable to say a word, you gave Armin another hug, soothing him until he finally calmed down again.  From some distance away, you caught Mikasa's eyes drifting towards you.  For a moment, it looked as though she wanted to join in, but in the end she stayed where she was.  Even so, she offered you the faintest of smiles, sad and desolate, like a lonely road in the mountainside.  

Even now, you couldn't even begin to imagine what Mikasa and Armin were being forced to endure right now.  The three survivors from Zhiganshina had gone through so much together, having scraped through the worst of the invasion five years ago.  Without Eren, they just weren't the same anymore.  His death left a conspicuous void that simply would not close.  A gaping wound that would never heal.

...Which was why you reminded yourself of just how fortunate you were in comparison to the others, as Jean and Marco walked up towards you.

"Hey," Jean greeted you with a nod, looking more subdued than usual.  "Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah," you nodded firmly, staring up at him.  "I'm all set.  Let's all get out of here."

Neither of them could agree more.

"Let's stay close together," Marco reminded you.  "We're all filled up on gas, but the town's still swarming with Titans.  Let's not let our guard down until we're over the wall."

"Got it," you said.  Jean looked absent as he gave his agreement.  You tilted your head towards him, puzzled.  "Jean, is everything alright with you? You look a little out of it."

The boy appeared lost in the storm of his thoughts until he blinked at you, startled.  "Yeah.  Sorry, I was just a little distracted is all.  There's a lot going on in my mind right now."

Of course, you realized.  That was a little silly of you.  With everything going on like a shit-storm all around, it was only natural to be overwhelmed.  Then again, you suspected that it also had something to do with Jean and Marco's possible conversation just a few minutes earlier.  Realizing this, you gave Marco an inquiring look, but all he gave you in return was an enigmatic smile.

You pouted.  Boys and their little secrets.  You felt rather left out.  But now was not the place to be dwelling on that.  It was time to go!

"All of you, form up!"

The lot of you crowded before the entrance, holding your breaths in anticipation.  Safety and respite was just around the corner.  With that, the doors were kicked open, letting in a flood of blinding sunlight and gloriously fresh air.  You breathed it eagerly, savoring the taste of newfound freedom.  Already, your feet were bidding you to move forward.

"Let's GO! Move, move, move!"

The air was filled with drumming footsteps as you ran out into the courtyard grounds with the rest of the Cadets.  There was not a single Titan to be seen.  Like a flock of birds, the Cadets took flight as a single mass, firing their wires into the rooftops above and launching themselves into the sky.  

"Everyone, climb over the wall! We'll rendezvous with the main forces!"

"Stay on the lookout! Those Titans could be back at any moment!"

The sky was thick with young soldiers shouting their joy and determination.  Marco was already taking to the air, blazing a trail for both you and Jean.  "Come on, you two! I'll take point, so don't get left behind!"  

Following him, you raced towards the middle of the courtyard, clutching the handles of your gear and getting ready to take off.  That was when you noticed a small group of cadets lagging behind, not moving at all.  Jean was one of them.

Halting immediately, you looked desperately towards Marco.  He was already gone before you could stop him, eyes focused towards the front.  His form disappeared into the thick of the main group.   Already they were already disappearing over the rooftops, heading straight towards the wall.  

Conflict filled your heart.  You longed to follow him to safety into Wall Rose, but in the end you remained in the courtyard.  Not wanting to leave Jean behind, you ran over to the group of Cadets.  Armin was there, you noticed.  So were Reiner, Bertholdt, and Annie.

"Hey, you guys!" You called out in a breathless voice. "Jean! What the hell are you all doing? We have to go!"

"It's Mikasa..." Jean explained, looking just as baffled as you were.  "She's not coming down."

You noticed that their attention was directed towards the rooftops.  Looking up, you saw Mikasa, staring out into the townscape and not budging an inch, even when Armin called out to her.

"Mikasa!" the blond boy shouted, firing a cable and launching himself up onto the rooftop.  Reiner and Bertholdt exchanged looks of puzzlement before they followed after him, led by Annie Leonhardt.

"[First], I'm going up there to see what's going on," Jean told you, hurrying towards the building.  "You go on ahead with Marco! Hurry, or you'll get left behind!"

"I'm not leaving you here, Jean," you said stubbornly.  "I'm going with you to have a look."

You stared at him firmly to show him that there was no room for argument.  In response, Jean gave you an exasperated look, but said nothing.  Instead, he took to the air on his cables and landed upon the rooftop.  You followed right after him, gathering with the others to where Mikasa stood, overlooking the city beyond.

"Mikasa," Armin urged her.  "We need to leave.  Now."

But the raven-haired girl wasn't even looking at him.  Her eyes were wide and bright as they stared into the streets below.  They were filled to the brim with vaporizing, dissipating oversized corpses, and there was no doubt who was responsible.

"Armin... It's that that Aberrant from earlier," her voice was strangely fretful.  "The other Titans... they're..."

Armin looked.  The moment he saw what was going on, he gasped in shock.  Standing next to Jean, you could see it too.  Almost immediately, the sight hit your stomach with a wave of nausea and horror.

The Rogue Titan was pinned against the ruins of a nearby building, surrounded on every size by Titans of every class and height.  It twitched and writhed horribly as the rest of his brethren gnawed, tore, and feasted upon his flesh,  Their gnashing teeth ripped out chunks of meat from his body, all with sickening fervor. Raising his head, the Aberrant uttered a weak growl as the Titans continued to devour him, little by little.  His skin was turning grey and mottled, like that of a corpse.

Feeling ill, you leaned in towards Jean's shoulder, unwilling to look.

"It can't regenerate..." Armin observed, realizing immediately what was happening.  "Is it because it used up too much energy?"

" Oh no... "  Mikasa murmured, looking genuinely troubled.  "I was hoping that we could learn more about that Aberrant.  Whatever that thing is, that creature is our best chance at learning more about the Titans and finding a way to defeat them."

Reiner spoke up in an adamant voice.  "I agree.  If we lose it now, we won't be able to learn a damn thing."  He looked towards the Aberrant in question, furrowing his brow with disgust at the sight of him being torn apart by his smaller counterparts.  "Let's take out the Titans clinging to it and see if we can't keep it alive for now."

"Reiner, what the hell are you saying?!" Jean burst out. He grasped you by the shoulders to steady you, while you gulped in deep breaths of air.  "We can't stay here any longer! If that Aberrant dies, there's a chance that this place will get overrun again we before even get to escape!"

Surprisingly enough, Annie supplied her own opinion, eyes drifting coolly towards the Rogue Titan pinned against the wall.  "There's another possibility you should consider, Jean.  That Aberrant could very well turn into a useful ally."  She placed a hand on her hip.  "A Titan like that would be more powerful than any blade, gun, or cannon.  Don't you think?"

You widened your eyes.  So did Jean.

"An ally? That Titan?" Jean demanded, staring at Annie.  "Do you have any idea what you're saying? There's no way we can get a monster like that to fight for our side!"

"Jean..." You lifted your head, pale but coherent.  "There's something you should know.  That Aberrant saved my life not once, but twice.  ...Granted, all it seems to care about is killing Titans." You looked uneasily towards the Rogue Titan, feeling a strange semblance of pity for the creature.  "But when I spoke to it, I felt as though it could understand me for that instance.  I warned it about the danger coming from behind, and it heard me."

You clutched at the sleeves of his jacket, staring up at him.  "Don't you see, Jean? It saved our lives, and with such strength like that, it could very well be the key to saving humanity.  I really do think that it is possible to communicate with it.  There has to be a connection between Titans and mankind.  That Aberrant is our only clue.  We can't let it die!"

Standing nearby, Reiner, Annie and Bertholdt fell eerily silent as they listened.  You barely paid attention to them, for you were too focused on Jean.  Right now, he was locking eyes with you, wearing an expression of alarm and urgency.

"It's too risky, [First]!" he insisted.  His grip on your shoulders was near-bruising.  "After all we've survived through, we can't put ourselves in danger again just to save the life of some nutjob Aberrant!"

Jean's sharp, amber eyes were both demanding and pleading all at the same time.  "You understand what I'm saying.  Don't you, [First]? I..." His throat went tight, breaking his voice.  "I can't risk losing you again..."

You shut your mouth, lost for words.  The pain and fear in his expression was genuine, and you couldn't find the heart to argue with him.  It was true, you had to keep yourself safe for Jean's sake, and for Marco's.  But even so, you couldn't ignore the fact that there were bigger things at stake, such as the salvation of humanity...

"You guys..." Bertholdt warned.  You and Jean looked around, tensing up.  Shit...! The Titans were starting to overrun the place once more.  Were you too late to escape?

Armin suddenly let out another gasp.  "[First]...! Look!"

Bewildered, you followed the direction of his gaze.  When you saw what Armin was pointing at, all of the blood drained from your face.

It was a Titan, standing at a towering thirteen meters tall with messy blond hair and overgrown limbs like tree branches.  You recognized it instantly.  Already, the horrifying memories were flooding back in full force.

"That's..." you whispered, unable to say it.

Armin was likewise ashen.  "...the Aberrant that killed Thomas...!"

By this point, Jean was determined to pull you away to safety.  "For the last fucking time, you guys. We have to go. NOW.  If the Titans swarm this place again, we're all done for-"

"URRROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!"

His words were brutally cut off as the Rogue Titan roared to life once more, rattling the rooftop tiles and shaking you all out of your wits.  With a burst of inhuman strength and energy, the Aberrant charged out from the wall of the ruined building.  Rubble disintegrated to crumbs against his shoulders, and the smaller Titans that once clung to him were sent scattering in every which direction.  Kicking them aside, he surged forth with bestial fury across the promenade.

Several of the larger Titans continued to latch on to his arms using their teeth, their combined weight slowing his movements.  Even so, he continued to shamble his way forward with dogged, furious determination, not stopping once even as both arms were torn from their sockets in a spray of blood and shattered bone.  

You realized immediately that the Rogue Titan was charging straight towards the blond Aberrant that had swallowed up Thomas.  His green eyes were aglow with the vicious desire to kill.  He opened his jaws wide to the stretching point...

SNAP!

Watching in horror and fascination, you gasped as the Rogue Titan clamped his jaws around the Aberrant's neck, lifting its entire body clear into the air using only the grip of his goddamn teeth.  

Oh my God. You watched in astonishment, unable to look away.  That thing is like a Demon!

You, Jean, and the lot of you were completely dumbstruck.  From here, you could see the massive gash that exposed the Aberrant's right-side chest cavity, gaping wide and dribbling with blood.  The bones of his ribcage was beginning to crack under the sheer weight of the Titan he clutched in his teeth.  At this rate, it wouldn't be long until the rest of his body fell apart...

...But it wasn't quite done just yet.

With a mighty display of strength, the Rogue Titan began hurling his victim through the air feet first. Wielding the massive corpse like a flail, he began bludgeoning any foes that dared to advance.  Surprisingly, it was more effective than you first anticipated.

"GRRAAAAAAAARRRRGH!"

His cries were weaker now, you noticed.  But in what appeared to be a final display of defiance, the Aberrant mustered all of his strength and flung the giant corpse into the final Titan left standing.  Upon impact, it flew into a building, demolishing the structure in a spray of dust and debris.  The fallen Titan never moved again.

"Hey..." Jean uttered weakly, unable to tear his eyes away from the incredible, awe-inspiring sight.  "...Who was the one you said needed saving, again...?"

Not a word left your mouth in response.  All you could do was leave your jaw hanging open as the Rogue Titan finally released his fallen prey and bellowed one last cry towards the heavens.  All around him was the brutal aftermath of his rampage, the very vision of destruction itself.  The sight of your hometown torn up from rooftop to building to cobblestone was enough to leave you speechless.

Well, I'll be damned...!

The giant maverick's form suddenly erupted in a cloud of hissing steam.  His strength gave out at last, causing his body to collapse to the ground with a formidable crash.  There, on the cold hard stone of the street, he lay motionless - dead and defeated with the rest of his foes.  The district fell hauntingly silent once more.

Mikasa and Armin both stared in disbelief.  Likewise, you couldn't help but feel just as shocked and disappointed as they did.  Bizarre as the creature had been, the Rogue Titan's awesome display of might and power had been absolutely glorious.  Now it was over, just like that.

Reiner, Bertholdt, and Annie exchanged wide-eyed glances with one another, their expressions cryptic and impassive.

Jean let out a sigh.  Was it of weariness? Of relief? You could barely tell in the wake of your own shocked nerves.

"Looks like it ran out of gas," he muttered shakily, still clutching you by the shoulders.  As you stood there frozen and stunned, he gave you a light but impatient shake.  "[First]... we're done here.  That thing is dead, so we can forget about bringing it home with us.  In the end, it's nothing but another monster."

He shook his head incredulously.  "Honestly.  All Titans are the same.  How is that so damn hard to understand?"  Gripping your arm, Jean tried to lead you away.  "[First], snap out of it! We have to regroup with Marco and the others-"

"Jean..."

You pulled at the elbow of his sleeve, urging him to look.  Likewise, Mikasa and the others were stuck in a trance, still staring into the streets below.  

"Oh for the love of..." Jean gave an impatient growl.  "What the fuck is it now...?" At your insistence, he wandered over to take a look, gazing down with the rest of your comrades.

The Rogue Titan's battered and torn-up corpse was steaming from head to toe.  However, most of the vapor was concentrated at the nape, forming a thick and blinding cloud of scalding mist.  Once it cleared however, it became immediately obvious that the skin there was pulling apart, bulging into a point where even the bundles of muscle fiber were being exposed to the open air.

...Something was emerging from the nape.

Your eyes widened.  Standing next to Jean, you were transfixed.  Mikasa and Armin both stepped closer to the edge for a better look.

Half-buried against the dissipating remains of the Titan's nape was a human body, slowly stirring to life.   Lying there, it was draped facedown along the giant spine, wrapped up from head to toe in giant fibers of tissue.  As it lifted its head and rose into the air, its fleshy bonds weakened and peeled away with a snap, revealing its face at last.

It was a boy, no older than an adolescent, with unruly black hair that was strikingly familiar.

You stood there in utter disbelief, already struck by the fact that a human boy had just emerged from the disintegrating remains of a Titan, of all things! But as you glanced off to the side, you could see that Mikasa was reacting very oddly to the sight.  Her breath shuddered, and her dark eyes went wide and bright.  You immediately knew that look - it was one of recognition.

In spite of Armin's protests, she flew off the roof and landed, racing across the street towards the massive corpse... and the boy that lifted his face to the heavens.

"Mikasa!"

It was too late.  The girl refused to stop, and sprinted straight into the thick column of steam, there, disappearing from view.  

You and Jean exchanged mystified looks.  There was no room for argument this time.  With the rest of the group, the two of you followed Mikasa to ground level and ran after her.  By the time you reached her, the steam had cleared away, revealing the charred and blackened remains of the Rogue Titan.  

Perched on the crumbling spine was Mikasa, shedding tears and crying like a small child.  The sight was enough to shake the core of your being.  In all of the years you had known her, Mikasa had never shed tears in front of you.  Or anyone, for that matter.  And yet, here she was, sobbing out loud without a care in the world, tears streaming down her face.  Looking closer, you could see why.  She was clutching someone tightly in her arms, holding him to her chest as though he were her only lifeline.

This close, you recognized him immediately.  Your heart stopped, and your eyes went wide.

It was Eren.  He was the boy who had emerged from the Titan's nape.  His eyes were closed and he barely stirred.  But you could tell from the way his chest expanded and contracted gently, even in Mikasa's tightening hold... that he was alive.

---

By the time you and the others helped Mikasa bring Eren to safety upon the nearest sentry tower, she was still crying softly, holding Eren close.  He remained unconscious, though his eyelids fluttered faintly.  The sight of him here, warm and breathing, felt like something out of a bizarre and impossible dream.

Within seconds, Armin was also weeping, moved to tears by the sight of his best friend alive and well.  The blond boy collapsed to his knees, clutching Eren's hand.  His chest was suddenly wracked with uncontrollable sobs.  That was when you realized...

"His leg grew back..." You whispered, remembering how it had been ripped off in the initial attack.  His clothes were torn at the elbow of his sleeve as well as the knee of his trousers... but his limbs were there all the same, newly formed and perfectly whole. Every single digit was in place, and there was not a single scratch to be found.

How in the world could this happen...? you wondered, feeling suddenly faint.

...Mikasa and Armin cared about little else other than the fact that their childhood friend had been returned to them from the clutches of death.  Both of them were a sobbing, crying mess as they huddled around Eren, clinging tightly to his unconscious form.  The sight of their reunion was even enough to move you to tears a little.

Reiner appeared strangely stoic as he gazed down upon the three.  Likewise, Bertholdt had fallen into a solemn state, while Annie was as unreadable as ever.

Standing next to you, Jean was lost for words, unable to find an explanation for what was happening right in front of him.  As you looked up at him, you saw his eyes widening with sudden realization.  He turned towards the tower railing, gazing down into the streets far below.  

The town was filled with corpses.  Not of human bodies, but of the Titans who had been pummeled to death on the streets.  Once fearsome and mighty, their forms were now little more than smoking piles of disintegrating flesh.  Pillars of steam rose into the air.  Along with them swirled a great multitude sparks and burning ash, spiraling into the sky like pinpricks of firelight.  

Jean stared in amazement at the scene of destruction all around him.  "So in the end... Eren was responsible for all this.  He was the one controlling the Titan all along..."

You stood next to him in wordless agreement, still feeling dizzy as you tried to process this newfound knowledge.  This was a discovery that begged more questions than answers, and left you feeling as though the strange and unknown world all around you had suddenly grown infinitely larger.  You were merely a speck of dust, a tiny existence that could not even begin to grasp the true mysteries of the world.

Your knees suddenly felt weak, and your head felt light.  You were overwhelmed.  Likewise, Jean looked shaken.  Exchanging identical looks of both fear and wonder, the two of you stood a little nearer to support one another.  Somewhere along the way, his hand found yours and tightened warmly, seeking security.  You held on fast, unable to stop yourself from longing for the same.  Neither of you could comprehend the miracle that had just unfolded before your eyes, the act of rebirth in the midst of a whirling, violent apocalypse.

...

... Marco had been right all along.  The story of the Dark Demon and its triumph over death itself... was more than just a myth.