DISCLAIMER: I do not own Attack on Titan
Sorry! I missed two updates but I've had personal issues come up. I have not started the next chapter yet, but it will be Kisanna's POV.
XIII
Middy was light on her feet.
She could sneak and snoop wherever she pleased because of that. It'd be hell for her brother whenever they played tag. Once he lost sight of her, he could never find her again. She could walk by adults without being noticed. She could sneak up on Nyll of all people. She'd been just a surprised as the red head that day.
She never thought she'd use it for bad things.
It was a slow day with the fireworks store. Nyll was still sick and talking to Isaac about it and Sosai being an annoying worrywart again. Her brother and Naowna were in the basement tinkering around on some project Nyll gave them. Then there was the main room, where the forge was, that was currently being manned by Breino. Well, with a little help from Tsukeru, but she couldn't help but wince every time he accidently broke something or set something on fire. Breino took it easily and just waved off the mishaps, too busy to meet the day's quota. Kisanna was there too, she'd make chit chat with Breino who'd turn an interesting shade of red. Or she'd welcome customers and actually help out.
Middy wanted to help. But they wouldn't let her. Was it because she was the youngest? The clumsiest?
Or maybe it's because she was blonde?
She groaned, "Tsu-Tsu, I'm bored."
The brunette stopped what he was doing (carrying a box dangerously across the room) and peered over at her. He had dark smudges on his face. Middy swooned over how well it brought out his bright brown eyes. She had to shake her head to come back to reality once she realized she was staring at him and he was starting to lose grip on the box.
"Sorry, Middy." He was saying, strained, "I'm learning about fireworks from Breino."
She pouted, staring pointedly at the dark haired princess sitting near the warmth of the forge. She was smiling at something Breino had said. "Can Kisa play?"
Over the few days that the Kiranese Trio had come, Middy had found a special attachment to the tan skinned girl. Kisanna was tall, just a tad shorter then Breino who was the tallest in the bunch. Tsukeru came next, followed by Isaac. Tinker was the same height as Isaac (and she swore when they stood next to each other they could pass as fraternal twins). Then there was Nyll, then Sosai, then Naowna, and last and hopefully not least, her.
She pouted. Good thing Kisanna was always there to cheer her up with stories her grandparents often told her. She really liked it.
Tsukeru winced, the box almost slipping from his hold. Breino, having gotten used to watching for incidents around the brunette, swooped in to take hold of the box. He smiled down at her, "Sorry, little one. She's helping customers."
I know you want her all to yourself. She wanted to say, with her tongue stuck out.
She crossed her arms with a huff, unknowingly resembling her brother as the two went back to work. She sat watching the three for a moment before standing. Making sure not to creak any of the floorboards, she made her way out of the room into the study. The study wasn't anything big, but there were too many bookcases in Middy's opinion. She only liked this room because it leads to the backyard, and the basement.
She carefully slipped through the basement doors, tip toeing down the side. Aggravated voices soon reached her ears.
"I told, no there, there!"
That was most definitely her brother.
"Specify then!"
And that was Naowna.
Middy hopped off the last stair, taking in the entirety of Nyll's basement. She often wondered how she managed to dig this out all on her own. It at least spanned the block. But, she heard Naowna mentioning how the carpenters were good friends of the red heads dad and literally built it for free, or something or other.
It was big.
The walls were decorated with weapons, all odd and some familiar. Some contraptions sat around in spaces, lined up like they were purposefully put there. At the far end of the room was an assortment of storage closets. Right next to the stairs was three desks, all lined up in front of a blackboard with many different blueprints clipped to it and complex numbers that made the blonde's head hurt.
Currently, her brother and Naowna were leaning over a table, staring down at documents with scowls. A few tools and objects were strewn on the table, with boxes underneath it filled with what seemed to be defective creations.
She warily approached. Her brother was fuming still, "I shouldn't have to specify! The spanner tightens thatscrew so the cartilage doesn't fall apart. I thought that was common sense!"
Naowna threw her arms up, dark eyes narrowed in exhaustion, "That doesn't make any sense because I've never held a spanner in my life."
Tinker snorted, pushing up his monocle and giving her a dull look, "Tch. So it's all book smarts."
"Are you picking a fight?" The short girl snapped, holding a wrench threatening towards him.
Tinker scoffed. "Like you could punch-"
Wham.
Middy suppressed a snicker as her brother took a tumble. She took this time to approach, putting on a big grin, "Big brother, I-"
"Not now, Middy." Tinker grouched, standing up and rubbing the bump forming on his forehead while glaring at the smug girl across the table, "I'm busy."
Naowna rolled her eyes, "We're busy."
"Yeah, right." Tinker said bitterly, "I'm doing all the work while you can't tell a broad head from a splint."
His partner bristled, "That's because-!"
Middy retreated, disappointed and sulky. Not that her brother ignoring her bugged her, oh no. Middy was way too tough for that. She was brave now, for sure. She could handle anything, even a bratty big brother with his head in the ground.
She froze, halfway across the basement. Her hands felt warm. She realized she'd put them in her pockets, but her right hand was holding something smooth. What-
Oh.
The blade.
She glanced over at the bickering duo before venturing further back towards the storage closets. Once far enough away, she took out the weapon, staring at her reflection. The blurred reflection of her stared blankly back, grey eyes unreadable and blonde hair pulled back into messy pig tails. She noticed how dirty the blade was, but acquiesced her pocket wasn't the cleanest place for it. It had been in her pocket for almost a year now.
She slowly blinked. It took a moment to process before she jolted.
A year. She gaped at the metal. We've been here for a year.
She put the weapon back in hiding, glancing back over at the two. They were still bickering, not even noticing that she hadn't left yet. She sighed, feeling her boredom return. This place used to be so much fun. Where'd it all go?
She caught sight of a half opened storage closet. She stared, disbelievingly. Usually they would be locked, but looking closely, that one wasn't. In fact, it was cracked open just enough to make out a shape inside. She crept closer, making sure not to tread heavily. Her hand grasped the side door, carefully moving back and wincing at the quiet squeak it gave.
She stared.
A pair of wings rested on the nails of the backboard. They were thin, brown leather strapped to long wooden beams. A harness, strikingly familiar to the 3DMG one, was attached to a pair of beams extending from the wings. Tiny holsters were attached in pairs to each beam. Hesitantly, she touched it.
The leather was smooth and soft, like a kitten. The wood was glazed down, its shiny surface cold under her fingertips. She shivered, a strange feeling swirling in her chest. She glanced back once more, assured she wasn't noticed, before grasping onto the two beams.
Carefully, she lifted the glider off its stand. It was lighter then she thought it was, and upon closer inspection, strange silver thread hung off the beams. Tugging on opened up a holster with a sharp click. A tug at another made the left wing twitch. Middy felt that strange feeling blossom in her chest, her lips twitching upwards.
Soundlessly, she closed the closet, making her way onto the stairs.
"Stop that!"
She froze.
"Stop insulting me and teach me, you twit." Naowna's irritated voice reached her ears. A sigh of relief escaped the blonde.
"I would if you would stop beating me!" Her brother howled.
She slipped upstairs, careful to shut the basement door before sprinting into the backyard. As always, the garden brought a fresh smell of carrots, cabbages, and smashed tomatoes. The blonde didn't bother with investigating and strapped on the glider. It was hard to figure out where all the buckles went at first. Two looped around her thighs, another around her waist, two more around her bicep, and one awkwardly crisscrossing over her chest.
Now what? She experimentally tugged the strings, rewarded with numerous clicks and a flap of the right wing. She counted ten strings in all, wrapping each one around a finger. She flexed them, this time both wings flapping. It seemed her index fingers controlled the wings, the pinkie finger stabilized it, and the other three worked the holsters.
Encouraged, she rapidly flicked her finger. With a yelp, her feet left the ground. She hovered for a moment, panicking as the ground grew smaller below her. A strong wind caught into the wings, pushing her up and away from the fireworks store. Her panic was lost to pale, wide eyed terror as the entirety of Shinganshina grew smaller before her.
And then the Walls.
As far as the eye could see were plains and forests and, wait, what was that strange blue triangle? A mountain? Higher she went, but she felt less fear and more awe as the world came into view. She felt the glider being tugged against the wing. Looking up, a smile formed as her hand caressed a cloud.
The wind stopped.
"Eh?!"
There was a brief moment of suspension before Middy experienced the full effects of gravity. A scream ripped through her throat as she went freefall, somersaulting and losing any sense of up or down.
Make it stop! Tears blinded her eyes. Please!
Her fingers twitched and the glider jolted upwards, the wings spreading out like an eagle's as the fall became a glide. The blonde clung to the harness in relief, sobbing and hiccupping. It felt like forever before her feet touched the ground. The field of wheat tickled her bare legs, but she gave it no heed as she collapsed into breathless sobs. Vainly, she tried to rub the tears away.
That was scary.
But at the same time, she couldn't fight that watery smile crawling across her face.
That was amazing!
"Girl!" A gruff voice called from over the hill. She caught sight of a hat, a pitchfork, and black hair. It came closer, revealing an older man with a smaller girl at his side. They matched each other with black hair; they both even had it up in a ponytail. The girls face was framed by short bangs and she stared at Middy with curious golden eyes. They stared at her with an appropriate amount of bewilderment and confusion.
"Little girl," the man gruffly took of his hat, kneeling uncertainly in front of her, "Are you alright?"
She stared. The other girl cocked her head, eyes raking over the glider. Middy felt that familiar feeling in her chest and finally identified it as excitement. She felt the unbearable urge to flex her fingers again, to fly the skies, but then she thought of home and the people there and wondered if she should ask Nyll for it. She gave her the weapon, so she'd give her the glider, right?
That didn't matter. No, nothing mattered now. Nothing but the blue sky, the mountains she saw, and the clouds she was absolutely determined to touch once more.
Her hand clasped the blade in her pocket and she smiled despite their confused faces.
"Yeah." She laughed, "I'm great."
No that was not Sasha or Mikasa. My friend flipped out when she read it over for me and almost broke her comp when she read it over email. I had to change some things but that girl will be important later on. Just saying. You will know when a character from the plot shows up. Which should be soon...
Happy belated valentines day everybody! I finished my senior paper rough draft and now I go nap, kay bye.
Review.