Flames and shadows.
He stood tall in the break of dusk, overlooking the burning town with amusement from the far end of a hill. Dark hair had fallen over his face, hiding his sapphire eyes from sight.
With a single long sword strapped to his side he shifted forward slowly. A small smile sat gently on his lips as he watched the town dance in beautiful flames of light and shadows. The fire sent a tower of smoke into the cooling sky.
Beasts that are just, monsters that show no mercy to the rich or poor, the young or elderly, the crippled or light footed. Titans, they were perfect really. The ultimate scapegoat, people never realizing that they caused the war from the beginning.
Screams and wailing filled the air, along with a coppery smell of blood. He simply stared out upon the buildings ablaze, he didn't feel pain. He was after all misanthropic. Titans ripping people off the ground and biting them grotesquely into separate limbs. The sidewalks painted bright red.
He did not set the fires, but he saw no need to still them. He was a handsome youth of twenty, slender as a knife, skin as flawless as white silk, a strong built figure and his heart as cold as the winter wind. Looking up he studied the deepening twilight.
A deep dark blue filled the air along with thousands upon thousands of newborn stars dancing ceaselessly into the night. White rays of the new moon shone on his face making his eyes glint with reflections of a million stars.
Savoring the extravagancy of it all. Lost in a state of oblivion.
He buried his hands in the pockets of his black coat, keeping warm from the night's growing chill. "You'd be laughing right now if you were here brother." He smiled gently remembering the only family he had ever had.
There were a few lonesome clouds in the sky, they seemed out of place and unwanted but somehow made the setting more beautiful as the rays shone through. The town fell silent and he waited patiently as the fires started to die. He walked through the burned streets, carefully examining every ripped up corps he came across.
Shattered shop windows and toppled horse carriages laid sprawled out along the sidewalk. The people obviously put up a fight trying to run from the flames. "What a mess." He chuckled walking on.
He stopped at a single horse carriage, there laid a black horse breathing deeply on its side. The other horse who had accompanied it was sprawled out dead with its side hanging over the slowly dying horse. The horse shifted painfully before him, it's leg was caught beneath the carriage left for dead.
He looked at the horse blankly, drawing his sword from its scabbard. The horse started kicking and crying in horror as if knowing what the man was planning.
"Listen, this is nothing personal, we all have to die someday. Some sooner than others. You won't feel pain if I show you real mercy by ending your life here and now." He explained to the horse. "You're cripple and no man wants a crippled horse, I'm merely shortening your dolour and inescapable death. If the titans don't kill you your hunger will' after all..."
"...the wall has fallen."
The horse fell silent and laid still, as if slowly accepting his words. He raised the sword with a swift motion, eyeing the muscled neck of the dark beast. "Don't you dare! " a cold voice screamed from behind him. He turned his head blankly at a girl with tears running down her eyes, she was wearing a green cape with white embroidery.
She was carrying a bucket of water. "Don't you dare hurt him!" She repeated furiously as her voice started to shake. He didn't speak, he simply kept his swords raised above his head. "I said put down your sword!" Her anger showing in her flushed cheeks as she stepped forward, waiting for the man to stand down.
"Can't you see its anguish?" He questioned her calmly.
"Can't you see he's fighting? Can't you see his breath? Can you see he wants to live?" She raised her voice angrily and started to shake. " I can't stand people who don't value the gift of life, everyone deserves to live." She clenched her fists in a attempt to pacify her anger.
Her eyes filled with tears when she realized he wasn't putting down his sword. What's made her so mad? Dammit it's going to die anyway. She's probably just in shock about the titans. It probably kill her parents... Maybe even her brother ... or sister. She's probably alone.
"It's just a horse." He pointed out brusquely. "And tell me what makes you so much better than him?" She screamed the words furiously and threw the bucket of water towards him, he dodged it easily and turned his full attention towards her.
She shivered seeing the unexpected cold asperity burning in his eyes, like a wild animal immediately put on defense. Her face filled with a look perilously close to fear. He didn't move, his stance showed he could easily impel on her and kill her with a twist of his long sword.
Dammit, why did I leave my maneuver gear behind?! Her stomach felt warm, she was completely defenseless.
Her expression softened when she looked at him again. Noticing his beautiful features. " Please... Don't hurt him. " she started again. A sullen look in her eyes as she stared at the ground. She wasn't afraid, more angry that she couldn't read his expression.
He relaxed, debating on what to do before he sighed and replaced his sword in its scabbard. "You're persistent." He leaned against a wall. "Now what?" "You're going to help me?" She had a excited expression on her face.
He looked at her annoyed, then smirked and raised a brow with a little chuckle in his voice "When ever did I say that?" He closed his eyes and buried his mouth under his white scarf. "Jerk, you're just going to watch?" She felt annoyed, what kind of person is he? He was like a mysterious alien with his dark hair and flawless skin. And his muscles... and... And those sapphire blue eyes shining like crystals...
"If you can't get the horse to stand I'll kill it and you can bury it if you like." His voice was calm slapping her back into reality, and she started to hate him. He found entertainment from the girls quick changes of expression. She was a little shocked then gave him a death glare. "You'll see bastard."
He smirked at her "You'd better hurry, I have to go find something to eat and I'm not a very patient guy." She jumped up and grabbed the bucket hurrying around a corner. He looked down only to see the horse glaring at him. "What?"
She came back carrying a bucket of water. "Not giving up yet? I'll put you on your ass this time." He grinned. "It's not for you jerk." She sat down and soaked a cloth in the water then placed it over the horses neck, wiping drying blood. He eyed her seriously as the horse gave a blow, relaxing under her smooth hands.
"Easy boy, steady now." She comforted the horse. "It can't understand you." He chuckled. "Really? You two seemed to be having quite a deep conversation a moment ago before I interrupted." She grinned at him. His face flushed slightly as he realized his words. "Sh-shut up." He closed his eyes and folded his arms annoyed.
"What are you even doing here?" Her voice was still. He clenched his fists at her words the answered angrily "I'm finding the man who killed my brother." She didn't speak for a while before she found her words biting down on her throat. "I lost my family a long time ago too."
So they didn't die here? What is she doing here? Why would a girl be out here taking care of oversized cows.
"What's your name?" she asked as she cleaned the blood off the horse's face. He didn't answer and studied her for a moment. She had light brow hair in a ponytail, dark brown eyes and long dark lashes. She was quite pretty besides her stubborn and childlike personality.
"Oi, you're going to make me guess?" She glared at him annoyed. "Break Rivaille." He answered closing his eyes. "Rivaille? Is that German?" He didn't give her an answer and searched his pockets bringing forth a cigaret and matches.
"That sounds really firmilliar you know..." She closed her eyes thinking hard. His blue eyes studying her from the corner of his eye, smiling as she pouted. "Dammit I don't know." "You couldn't possibly, it's French... So what about you horse girl, what's your name?" He lit the cigaret and took a deep breath.
"Don't call me that." She rolled her eyes while patting the horses neck.
"Well then ponytail, what is it?"
Please review and let me know if I should make another chapter. xx much love ~ SW.