Disclaimer: I (sadly) own nothing. All characters, etc. belong to Hajime Isayama
Promises Not Kept
They are both home when the news is brought. Philipp Ral opens the door to an agent of the Scouting Legion, but not the one he had been expecting. Before the man can even speak, Philipp knows. He can already feel his wife's presence slipping away. He feels a tug on his pants leg, and glances down to see a small girl of about five. She looks inquisitively up at him, her copper hair glinting in the sunlight.
Almost desperately, Philipp Ral lifts up the spitting image of his late wife and holds her to himself. The messenger hands him a sack of coins and the patch from a jacket, the dichromatic wings of which seem to gleam in the late afternoon light. He takes these things with the hand that is not supporting the petite child.
With a last condolence, the Scouting Legion member leaves, and Philipp closes the door to his home. Mechanically, he sets down the compensation and Petra wriggles herself down to the floor. He collapses onto the sofa and puts his head in his hands. The initial shock and horror has begun to be replaced by a deep sadness. Petra makes her way over to him and clasps his hand in her two smaller ones, inquiring childishly, "What's the matter, Daddy?"
Her father simply gathers her into his lap and begins to cry. As the grown man weeps, he holds his daughter close and whispers, "Promise me, Pet. Promise me you'll never join those fools."
The little girl wraps her arms around his neck, planting a sweet kiss on his wet cheek as she says, "Never, Daddy. I promise."
And the man smiles sadly to himself as he realizes that this lie, however innocent, is a lie all the same. Because she is strong like her mother, brave like her mother, and already has the same insatiable thirst for justice and freedom. And he clutches his small daughter to him, and prays that he can make the years he has left last.
A/N: *cries* oh my gosh, I'm so sorry guys, I'm bawling just writing this. Petra is one of my favorite characters, and this is an incredibly sad headcannon I have based on her father's reaction to her death. Y'know, I absolutely hate reading angst stuff, but it really seems to be the only thing I can write worth a second glance. Oh, curses…
Anyways, let me know what you think! [Constructive] criticism is always welcome :)
Beta'd by the wonderful kvrootetsurou (find her tumblr on my profile ^_^)