Take These Broken Wings
3. Someone Beautiful
"What's going on over there?" Armin asked as his eyes peered over at the village square. There was a large group of people, all of them laughing and cheering with music laced amongst the whoops. Mikasa and Eren were with him, as it was their turn to gather supplies from the village. A few pink clouds still strung about the sky, refusing to be washed away by the rising sun.
"I'm not sure I really care. Captain's going to be pissed if we're late with the supplies," Eren proclaimed, "Besides, it's just a bunch of ignorant villagers."
"Come on, it'll just take a minute," Armin chirped as he walked towards the square. Mikasa was wordless but she followed him, regardless. Her eyes sparkled with a small hint of curiosity. After all, it has been a while since she's seen a happy energy.
Eren groaned as he followed his best friend. It's one thing to be curious, it's another thing to let it completely override everything else. Maybe it was the way things turned out for him, but too much curiosity was somewhat unappealing to him.
People were dancing and singing. They were enjoying themselves. Children spun in circles and the older people were stepping in accordance with the music. The ones who were too meek to join the circle clapped to the music, smiles donning their faces. However, there was one person who danced much livelier than the others. Her steps were in perfect timing and the smile on her face never wavered.
Her royal blue dress twirled and turned in time with her passionate steps. Sometimes, she let out an airy laugh as she danced. She must've been their age. Even though Armin was sure that he's never seen her before, there was something familiar in her eyes. As the music filled the air with a lively melody, the young woman managed to dance her way towards the trio. Her smile was sweet, if not a little enigmatic.
She had extended her hand out to Eren, wordlessly offering him to dance. Quickly, Eren shook his head. He didn't dance. He was a soldier, after all. It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that he didn't know how to dance. It was just that he didn't dance.
The young woman wasn't at all hindered. Instead, she offered her hand to Armin. When put on the spotlight, Armin was quick to get nervous. But the smile rang something familiar. So, although he was unsure if he could keep up, he took the young woman's hand. She quickly pulled him into the circle of dancing villagers.
They didn't speak much; she only gave him direction on how to take part in the dances. She guided him when they were together and didn't mind that Armin looked down at his feet most of the time. When they weren't dancing together, Armin did his best to remember what she told him about the steps.
"You're thinking too much! The steps are guidelines! You don't have to follow them," she laughed once their hands clasped together again. She asked him to feel the music. Armin nodded once and continued on, trying to follow her advice. But how does one feel something that was only sound? The more he thought about it, the more he thought he couldn't do it. Still, her hands led his into a flurry of fast-paced, light-hearted dance steps.
When the music finally slowed and the cheering grew louder, everyone began to bow to their partners. The young woman curtsied, tipping her head in the slightest. Armin did his best to imitate a gentleman's bow, with a hand behind his back and his feet kept together.
The young woman beamed at him, her onyx eyes twinkling like a faceted gem. "Your eyes remind me of the ocean."
"... Pardon me?"
"I-I-I mean, that's what I always imagined– the stories about the oceans are that it's blue, right? N-Not that I have a book about the ocean. O-Oh dear, not at all," she stammered, the twinkle in her eyes disappearing immediately. Her cheeks began to heat up as her hand motions became exaggerated and hasty. "U-Um. It was really nice to meet you. What I was trying to say that– your eyes, they're really something. I... I should go."
She turned on her heel and disappeared amongst the villagers instantly. Armin couldn't even give out a "wait!" in time. He was left to wonder what she meant. As the gathering began to disperse, Armin's brow furrowed when he returned to the duo.
"Is something wrong?" Mikasa asked.
Armin shook his head and looked back at the village square. The musicians providing the music were putting away their instruments, a few children scattered around them. Some children were still in the middle of the square, dancing with no music. The adults began to shuffle on with their day, the smiles on their faces the only tell-tale sign of the small celebration.
"No, I'm fine. That was something, wasn't it? It's been a long time since I've seen people dance just because," Armin asked, his voice retaining a cheerful tone. Mikasa nodded, accompanied with a small "mm". Eren shrugged once, then ushered the others to start gathering the supplies.
The young woman was in a mental panic. What if he found out? He was just a villager. If he were to find out, well, she could be reported to the Military Police! If that were to happen, their entire cover would be blown. They could all get prosecuted, labelled as criminals. She'd might have to see her family, including herself, hanged simply because she couldn't keep her mouth shut! She prayed with all her might that he didn't catch on and if he did, he'd keep quiet about it. How could she have been so reckless?
"Are you all right?" he asked her curiously as she approached the manor. She tried to smile amidst her anxiety, though it was harder than anticipated.
"I'm fine, you shouldn't worry," she responded, "I managed to get honey."
His smile was soft and endearing as he picked up the jar of honey from her basket. He let out a soft chuckle and placed it back neatly. "That should appease him for some time."
"Big sister's back! She's back! She's back!"
"Oh my god, yes. Yes, I see her. I don't need some goddamned brat yelling in my ear about something I can see with my own two eyes!"
There was a small pause.
"She's back, everyone! Big sister's back!" he yelled even louder.
"Come here, you little freak, I'm going to chop off your limbs and serve them in soup!" the woman yelled as she bounded after Serpiente, who already had a good start to begin with.
"What are we going to do with those two?" she muttered, mostly to herself. She shook her head disapprovingly, though the ghostly smile on her face told that she was rather amused.
"Those two are just being... those two. I'd honestly be shocked if one day, Zola was nice to Serpiente," Friedrich proclaimed. The young woman let out a warm laugh at the comment. The two continued towards the manor entrance, their steps keeping a rhythmic tune. Mariposa finally managed to subside her anxiety, a wistful expression on her face.
"Are you sure you're all right?" he asked again, his voice sounding a little more suspicious this time.
"Of course! I just... met very beautiful people today," she murmured, her tongue rolling on her words cautiously. Her smile gave a small hint to what she saw in those very beautiful people.
When Friedrich asked what they looked like, the young woman's smile grew even brighter. Her onyx eyes glimmered like an evening night sky. She began to describe a strong woman, with ebony black hair, pale skin and eyes as dark as hers. The strong woman didn't smile and in actuality, looked a little intimidating. But, Mariposa saw something beautiful. And the young woman couldn't help but to offer to dance with her friends in an effort to be closer to her.
Mariposa then began to describe the beautiful young man who was incredibly conscious of how he stepped and where he stepped. Where his arms landed on Mariposa and whether or not he was in time with the music. Still, he held a charm to his thoughtful antics. She enjoyed the way he danced, although it was dancing she wasn't used to. And she couldn't lose the sight of his eyes in her mind. They were what was most beautiful about him.
She was sure the other young man was beautiful in his own right, but she dismissively waved him off.
The two had taken the groceries that Mariposa bought out of her basket inside the large house. In the kitchen of the manor, Friedrich's team were busy preparing for the dinner. All of them, except for Zola and Serpiente, that is. Mariposa had begun to tidy up, although she thought it was already incredibly clean. Friedrich often spoke endearingly about Captain Levi's cleaning habits.
However, this time around, Friedrich didn't seem very endearing. His mind was somewhere else as he chopped the vegetables for the broth. No one else said anything about it. A wail came from outside, and Mariposa was almost certain it was Serpiente panicking about Zola.
"Is everything ready for this evening?" Mariposa asked when the young man was silent for far too long. Friedrich nodded slowly, his brow furrowed in the slightest. He looked troubled. "That's not a look from someone that's excited to see an old friend."
"Oh no, that's not it," Friedrich started. The young woman furrowed her brow slightly, as if a sour taste rested on her tongue. Friedrich licked his lips once, his face reflecting a strange sickening within his stomach. "There's a young woman on his team. Her name is Historia Reiss."
When the name hung in the air, Mariposa tried to search the curves of his face for a more meaningful explanation. "Is that what's bothering you?" she asked softly.
"I've never seen her before," he muttered, mostly to himself. It was obvious that it was bothering him greatly. "Where did she come from? Who is her mother? Her father? What of the rest of the family? Why have they allowed her into the military?"
"You're thinking too much into this," Mariposa whispered as she placed her hand into his. Her thumb rubbed over his skin reassuringly. "At least, be happy that she is a Reiss and has learned to fight."
Friedrich agreed absently, though his mind still dwelled. However, Mariposa easily took over the young man's job of chopping vegetables. She chopped away, her voice joining the others in a rucked song with awkward rhythm. The young man was left to ponder the coming events. He stayed at the kitchen table, sitting upright with his hands clasped together. His icy blue eyes were swirling with stormy colours.
It's almost impossible for a Reiss to leave past Wall Sina. Friedrich knew this far before he became John Christopher. After all, he was raised in Wall Sina. Historia looked to be a teenager, a few years younger than Friedrich himself. How was it that he never met her? He knew all of the Reiss family. Surely, he should've come across her at least once during that time. But, like Levi said, a lot has happened in five years. Some untold development on Levi's part would explain such an anomaly.
Friedrich let out a thoughtful, crooked smile. There were still many untold developments that needed explaining.
"Big brother."
Serpiente stood at the manor entrance, the door opened wide. His grin mirrored his exuberance, even though his breath came in small pants. He leaned on the doorframe, his arm slightly above his head.
"You're easier to read than a picture book. Which is saying something because I don't even have to read you to understand you. You should really step up your mysterious brooding," he chirped. Friedrich let out a smooth chuckle, his hands unclasping as he leaned against the back of the chair.
"Did you have a point with this?"
"Surprisingly, I do! Anyway, Historia's curious about you, too! She says you look familiar. Just thought I should let you know that," Serpiente proclaimed. He strode inside as if he was the lord of the manor. He didn't even close the door behind him.
Friedrich wrote the boy off, telling him that if he was going to act like he owned the place, he should clean it like it was his own. That quickly depleted his proud demeanour, a result of outrunning Zola and losing her interest. However, the boy's words stuck with the young man.
The Reiss family were royalty. Their names held such incredible power to them. And perhaps that's why Friedrich was digging himself a hole in which he couldn't get out of.