Promise you'll find me?

I won't stop looking until I do.

The air felt harsh against her face, like miniature needles were taking their turn to impale the smooth skin. It was beginning to burn and Margot knew her parents were going to be less than pleased to see the state she was in. Knuckles and cheeks dusted with a light pink, her nose a deep red, and her lips beginning to turn a soft blue, it would've been smart for her to head inside. The brown-haired boy that stood besides, his hands shoved into his pockets and shoulder practically vibrating with each shiver, glanced at her.

"When do you think the snow's going to start?" He asked, a childish curiosity filling the silent air and bringing life around them. Everyone was already inside, save for the few Military Police that quickly passed by or wandered from building to building. Her mom made her promise never to speak to them—to avoid them with a smile.

Shrugging, Margot pressed the tip of her leather shoe into the hardened dirt. It came apart quickly, staining the fading onyx color, "I don't think it will be anytime soon."

The boy's pout could be heard, "It's cold enough! Why doesn't it just snow already. We've been out here for hours!"

"Jean," Margot turned, her coffee-colored eyes meeting his hazel ones. Even in the dim glow that resonated from the houses that laid behind them, the soft hazel shone an almost golden color. When Margot first met, she believed that it was a trick of the light. She'd never met a person who had such a unique eye color before. The doctor who frequently visited her parents, whose eyes mimicked the same green of the leaves on the bushes beside her house, couldn't compare to such a startling color, "The snow won't come just because you want it to."

A scoff could be heard, Jean kicking at the ground with utter frustration, "I bet if we were in Shiganshina we could see the snow. The man from the market place—you know, the one who sells the apples—told me that the weather is always changing there. One minute it's sunny, the next it's raining. Why can't Trost be like that?"

"I hate to break it to you, Jean, but I think the man's lying to you." Margot stated, raising a brow, "If it rained in Shiganshina, I'm pretty sure it would rain here. We're not that far apart."

Her partner was silent, staring at the looming wall before them. Margot twisted her fingers, sighing in relief at the soft sting as blood circulated through them once more. Why Jean had come barging into her house before dawn was a wonder to her. His arrival almost had her screaming, the way he rushed into her room, already shrieking. Her parents, who were already awake at the ridiculous hour, merely pointed to her room and told him to enter. Those traitors…she couldn't help but frown, biting her lip and crimson liquid immediately flooded through the cracked skin. Why would anyone wake up just to watch snow fall? Margot couldn't help but wonder.

"We can always go to Shiganshina and see if it's already snowing there." She said, when she noticed Jean's furrowed brow and how his cheeks were slightly puffed. It was a strange habit, she had to admit, but one that always told her when he was in deep thought, "I'm sure our parents won't mind. It's literally right in front of us—we can't possibly get lost."

Jean hummed, "Do you want to?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Margot questioned, "I just offered the idea, didn't I?"

The scowled that covered her friend's puffy cheeks nearly made her laugh. He reminded her of neighbor's baby when he did that. Cheeks flush, lips in a pout, brows nearly touching, Jean was surprisingly adorable when he wanted to be. Margot knew that he was hesitating—wanting to take her up on the offer but too hesitant to. She couldn't blame him. Their parents, hers specifically, were far too protective. Rarely did Margot get the chance to explore further than the marketplace. Any desire she had to travel was presented to her parents, their words dictating where she was and wasn't allowed to go. Jean was faltering for his own reasons, and Margot suspected that it had to do with the Underground.

"I'll protect you," The words fell seamlessly from her lips. It was a promise the two clutched tightly to. Jean wasn't the most popular and his group of friends ended and started with Margot. The amount of times she'd come home with bruised knuckles—sometimes split depending on what the other kids said—while purple, green, and red marks littered her face were countless. Placing her pale hand on the brown coat he wore, nearly sighing in relief at the heat the radiated off it, she gently pushed him so that he met her gaze once more.

"We'll have each other," Margot assured, smiling at the light flush that covered his cheeks and how he merely blinked at her, "Nobody's gonna mess with us—not while we're together."

Jean stared at her, a smile breaking through the concerned expression his face once held. Smile more, Margot yearned to say, you should smile more. Jean looked his age when he smiled. The bags under his eyes weren't as visible, the crook in his grin making him appear even more charming, his cheeks burning a dark red. His hand hurriedly lifted hers from his shoulder, his fingers wrapping around her numb ones.

"How are we going to get there?" He asked, "We can't walk."

Margot smiled, "We'll ask the woman at the bakery! I overheard her telling my mom that she frequently goes there to see her sister."

"May," Skepticism flooded Jean's eyes while the use of her childhood nickname tried to soften the blow of his next words, "How do we know she's going to visit today?"

Oh, Margot blinked, that's a good point. Biting her lip, ignoring the sharp sting that emitted from the wound, she glanced around. Few people were up, which was expected, but the ones who were often traveled between Trost and Shiganshina to sell their goods. The man from the market place came every two days while the lady who sold sweets came every other. Pursing her lips, Margot let her brown eyes trace over every viable option. She could ask the man with the horse if they could tag along, but there was a high chance that he'd say no. The lady with the carriage always said no to Margot—no matter what bribes Margot tried to give her (which was simply the small allowance her parents presented her with at the end of each week). Rolling her lower lip in between her teeth, tilted her head to the side.

"We could always sneak into a cart," She said, ignoring the way Jean's eyebrows rose surprisingly close to his hairline and how his mouth formed a little 'O'. Surely he didn't the option was too ridiculous? He was the one who woke her up and forced her to sit and wait for the snow with him.

Teasingly, she mimicked his expression, "What?"

"N-nothing," He stammered, shaking his head slightly—trying to clear his expression while his eyes remained wide with disbelief, "You're joking, right?"

"No," Margot stated, "Why would I be?"

"Because," Jean struggled to find the words he was looking for and she watched with hidden glee as his face became increasingly red, "Because we could get into so much trouble! I can't get into the Military Police if I end up being a…a…a criminal!"

Disgust poisoned her expression, her face dropping and stomach recoiling at his words. She'd forgotten that he wanted to be one of them when he was older. It was his goal—his dream. Margot knew it was cruel to try and talk him out of it, to try and show them for what they really are, when it was one of the things that was getting him though his childhood. Margot wasn't unaware of how he was treated when she wasn't there…so she tried to be with him as much as she could.

Split knuckles and bloodied gums were worth Jean's smile.

With a forced laugh, one that sounded much too dull and bland to actually be hers, Margot playfully ruffled his hair. Silently, she marveled at how soft it was and how quickly it went back into place.

"You wouldn't be a criminal, Jean," She smiled, "You'd be a troublemaker."

Jean scowled, swatting at her hand, "I can't be a troublemaker either. I have to be the best."

You don't have to, the smile fell slightly, her head falling towards one side as she just stared at her closest—her only—friend, being the best really isn't that great. Not that Margot was the best at anything. She honestly was fine with being seventh best—or twelfth. Watching her parents reactions when she half-assed something always made her laugh. Sighing, she raised her arms over her head and stretched, turning to watch the faint hue of red rise before her.

"Well, Jean-Boy,"Margot giggled at Jean's red face, "If we're not going to Shiganshina today, how about we go tomorrow? Or next week?"

Spinning on the heel of her foot, her eyes flittered to her house as she tried to make out the shapes of her parents through the open window. Her mom was sitting at the kitchen table, resting her elbow on the cracked wood. Her dad, however, was nowhere in sight and Margot wondered if he already left for work. Meaningless words left her lips as she spoke to Jean, her mind focused on wondering what the future would hold. Would she go with Jean? Would her parents allow it? What were they having for dinner tonight? Was Doctor Yeager going to be spending the night with them again? When could she meet this 'Eren' he always spoke about?

"Or we could go in two years—" A firm grasp around her wrist cut her off, and Margot stopped, glancing behind her. Standing proud, with a boyish grin and eyes that shone with excitement, Jean slid his hand to hers, holding her tight.

"I promise to take you to Shiganshina!" He declared, "When I graduate from the Cadet Corps and get into the Military Police, we'll go together and see the snow fall."

Heat crept up her neck, staining the skin as it shifted from a soft tan to a gentle blush. Jean's eyes hadn't left hers, the gold color shining through as the sun rose in the sky. Never before had she seen him so determined—so focused. Jean—her friend, her brother—was smiling that smile she loved so much. Struggling to conceal a grin of her own, Margot gripped his hand just as tightly.

"Let's graduate together," She said, noticing how the tips of his ears turned a bright red, "Let's graduate together and help the people of Shiganshina. Let's be better than the Military Police—let's be the best."

"Promise?"

She squeezed his hand.

"Promise."

The sun was beginning to kiss the top of the wall, gentle rays beginning to light up the cobblestone pathways that littered the area. Margot's cheeks were burning, her eyes were stinging, and her hands were numb, but she didn't pay them any attention. She was sure they looked quite ridiculous. Two kids shaking hands as the sun came up, but Margot didn't pay the glances she knew they were getting any mind.

"You'll join the Cadet Corps with me?" His voice floated through the air.

"Yeah," Margot nodded, "It'll be fun…and we'll be together."

It was the news of the Colossal Titan that brought her mom to tears. Not that it kicked a hole in the wall and flooded Shiganshina with Titans or that thousands upon thousands of people were slaughtered in the one place they felt safe. No—it was the fact that it was the Colossal Titan. Pale brown eyes went wide with fear, rapidly rimming with red as Margot watched her mom's chest begin to rise and fall in an erratic pattern. She's hyperventilating, she realized, the hand grasping the edge of the table tightening and her knuckles turned white, she's having a panic attack.

Now, there are some parents who leave their children in the dark. Family secrets are ignored and spoken in hushed tones, ignorance being the key factor in keeping such a 'happy' family. But there are some parents who share the world with their children. Secrets are revealed when certain questions arise, promises are made that are not allowed to be broken, and the childish gleam slowly fades into nothingness. Margot's parents made sure that she was never kept in the dark. If they had the choice, she knew the rumors and whispers of dread would be kept from her. More than anything in the world, her parents wished that she had been born a male because, if the Gods had shown any kindness to them at all, she would've been safe.

Screams and shrieks soiled the air, people crying and begging for someone—something—to help them. Nobody in Trost truly cared about what was occurring in Shiganshina. They only cared about what was going to happen to them. Margot's dad wasn't home, already at work, and, before she could even blink, her mom grabbed her arms and yanked her underneath the table.

"They weren't supposed to come for a few more years." The mutters and mumbles echoed in Margot's ears. The flushed skin pressed against her felt hot, the hands that groped and squeezed her face felt cold. It was almost like, she realized, her mom was trying meld them into one person.

Head cradled against her chest, hand pressed against her as if to block the sound of the screeches and wails, Margot listened the familiar thump of her mom's heart. Loose strands of brown hair fell into her eyes, tickling her nose and collarbone. It felt wrong to be as calm as she was, but Margot knew that if she died, theywould be fucked. Her death would pass as a falling leaf and when it landed, the world around her would implode. Yes, Margot came to the conclusion that her thought process was a little more than messed up.

"You know you have to do," Her mom breathed against the top her head, the hot breath uncomfortable as it touched her sunburned scalp, "You know where to go."

"Yeah," Margot nodded, her voice equally as quiet, "To the Survey Corps. Not the Military Police."

Jean, I'm so sorry.

"And what do you get there?"

"I ask for a person named Hanji."

"Good," She heard the soft praise. Margot couldn't help but stiffen when the hand that one covered her ear slowly began to stroke her arms. The feeling was familiar: uncomfortable, ominous, full of regret and pain. Margot tried not to think about it too much—tried to ignore the chills that wracked her body and how her mind was screaming at her to run, "And what is your goal?"

Margot swallowed, biting her tongue and wishing the death sentence about to lips was nothing more than a myth. I just want to live long enough to see him smile. Please let me have that, and then I promise to fulfill my duty.

"To find the Founding Titan."

heylooo i really aint a fan of how aot ended so this is how i decided to cope haha

please Review! pretty please :)

ana