Vista - Attack on Titan x Reader

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE: Blood

***(Y/N) POV***

"I can hear your teeth chattering from here. Calm down." Levi sighed, glancing over to me as we walked towards the town square, where Nicholas' cremation was taking place. I found it so disrespectful to hold such a thing in a public space, but nobody else seemed to think so.

"Well, excuse me for being scared shitless..." I muttered back, gravitating closer once I spotted the large crowd of people ahead.
"We can stay by the back, and leave whenever you feel ready to. Just remember to breathe through your mouth, unless you want to swallow back your own sick..." Levi did a double take when he realised my unimpressed expression, but merely offered a shrug of the shoulders as a form of apology.

"-lcome, citizens of Wall Sheena and Wall Rose. Today, we gather in memory of Section Commander Nicholas (L/N), of the eighty ninth, fallen in battle. Son of the late Section Commander Clifford (L/N), survived by mother, Linnea (L/N) and sister, Felicitas (L/N)...We-" When that man gestured to the side of the crowd, my eyes followed, and I breath halt midway up my throat.

Dressed in black, my mother and sister just stood there, watching with surpringly calm faces. Neither of them seemed to be upset by losing Nicholas, but it didn't really shock me all that much. My mother's hair was highlighted with silver, peeking out from the brim of her ridiculous hat, and her eyes just watched the announcing soldier as he spoke.

Felicitas, on the other hand, had grown into even more of a beauty. Long, ashy hair fell loose over her shoulders as she looked around, her face screaming boredom. One look at her waist let me know that it had been cinched tight for the occasion, and it made me seethe. Of course she was the type to think of only her appearance on such a day.

I snapped out of it when Levi nudged my side, giving me a look that said 'Quit being a coward. You're fine. I'm right here'. Even if that was the case, I couldn't help but feel uneasy, but that feeling quickly turned to anguish once they lit my brother's body aflame. The smoke was dark and rotten, but I kept breathing in and out of my mouth, each breath causing me to shift closer to Levi until I was pressed right up against his side. He didn't make a move to push me away. He just stood there and watched quietly, letting me use him as whatever support I needed.

This was a mistake...but...I'm glad I came...At least someone in this family actually gave a damn...

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't help but let my sights wander to my estranged family. Memories of my childhood began to bubble up to the surface, and my organs felt like they were twisting into knots.

***FLASHBACK***

"What is wrong with you?!" Felicitas screeched loudly, bringing the handle of the broom down for a third time against my back, causing me to squeak out in pain. "Why would you do something so disgusting?!"

I hadn't thought there had been anything with wrong with what I did. I had simply used a hairbrush to get a chunk of something brown out of the cat's fur. My mistake had been not realising that brush had belonged to my sister.
"I..I'm sorry..! Y..you can have mine..!" I yelped, bracing myself before I felt the wooden broomstick smack against my head.
"Yuck! I'm not gonna use yours! That's worse!"

Wilbur wandered into the room, chomping on an apple and unphased by the scene before him.
"What'd the little freak do this time?" He asked, wiping his mouth and looking to his twin.
"She got cat crap all in my new brush, that's what! I almost got it in my hair!" Felicitas huffed, choosing to throw the broom at my cowering form before stamping her feet. "Daddy isn't home so I gotta punish her!"