Vista - Attack on Titan x Reader

CHAPTER NINETY TWO: Co-Sign

"Wait, you're kidding, right? That's ridiculous!"

Connie smacked his fist down upon the wooden table, sending a grilled fish fillet flying. Sasha caught it mid-air, which came as no surprise, stuffing it into her mouth alongside whatever else she had shovelled in there.

"That's what I said! Concerns about stability, apparently! How the hell can anything be stable in times like these?!" I was pissed off in every sense of the term, and after Connie's outburst we had attracted the attention of the others, who gravitated over from where Niccolo was being 'forced' to cook.

"Uh, what's ridiculous?" Armin asked curiously, tilting his head to the side. Turning to him, I was sure my face was as sour as my mood.
"Apparently I need to have a man co-sign the papers as legal father if I want to adopt Odette! What the hell is wrong with single parents, anyway?! Nothing! It's stupid, but they won't budge!"

I had finally made up my mind about wanting to take the spunky little girl in. Sure, I wasn't confident that I'd make a great parent, but the bond we had formed was far too strong for me to ignore. Each time I visited, it became more and more difficult to tear myself away.

"Oh, you're adopting a child? Congratulations, (Y/N)." Mikasa nodded to me, and I heaved a sigh, dropping my head and clunking it down onto the tabletop.
"Thanks, but it doesn't look like it'll happen...I can't ask Kristoria, because she's not around to ask...and the bitch at the orphanage wants to make my life a living hell, apparently..."

Connie banged the table again, and I felt it straight through my skull from my point of contact.
"I say you just take her home with you!" He declared, and we all stared at him blankly.
"Yeah, no...Pretty sure she'd be charged with kidnapping..." Floch pointed out, and Connie sat himself back down slowly, sounding his realisation.

Groaning, I picked up a half shell from one of the plates, knocking it back into my mouth and chewing. I never even considered that things living in the ocean could be edible. Sucking up my bitter mood, I swivelled in my seat.
"Niccolo, Sasha's right. This is incredible. You're an amazing cook." I complimented, watching him flinch at my words, averting his eyes.

"Uh...yeah...thanks, I guess..." It was progress. I hadn't personally spoken to him since the night of his capture, but now that we had let him out and about, he had stopped being so vicious. Standing up, I moved between Mikasa and Jean, stretching my arms above my head.
"Well, I'm heading back to Shiganshina to check on repairs. Anyone coming?"

I knew Sasha was a hard no. She hadn't stopped sobbing from the moment she tasted the meal before her.
"I'll stay here and make sure she doesn't choke to death." Connie snorted, not willing to reach for any food in fear of having his hand mistaken for a piece of meat.

"Hange wants most of us on standby, and Mikasa is waiting on Eren and Levi." Armin explained, but Jean quickly raised his hand.
"I'm free. Besides, I need to meet with Pyxis regarding some defence upgrades."

Shooting him a thumbs up, I began to head towards the hitching posts, but as I passed the cooking station a cough caused me to pause.
"You...were trying to be kind to me that night...weren't you..?" Niccolo's voice was small, but I heard him loud and clear, giving him my full attention.

"Well, yeah, I was. No hard feelings though. When I was caught I pretty much did the same thing, so don't worry about it." I explained, shrugging my shoulders and offering a partially forced smile. It wasn't that I didn't want to talk to the guy, but I just wasn't in the mood to be all that cheery.

"Wait...caught..?" I began to walk off as Niccolo sounded his confusion, but I just waved over my shoulder, Jean in tow.
"Long story. Thanks for the food, Nicco. You've got talent."