Fic Title: Until the Sun Dies
Summary: Believing her father's concerns as a black family living in the secluded mountains of Wall Maria to be simple paranoia, a young girl sets on her own to discover the world and what it truly holds. Only to find after encountering another secluded family, the Ackermans, that maybe his concerns weren't so unfounded in the terrifying yet beautiful reality they live in. Befriending their daughter, a fellow survivor in what it means to be the last of their kind, Akunna finds her path leading to the horrors of the Fall of Maria and the 103rd Cadet Corps.
Pen Name: TheQuintessentialFicWriter
Cover Art by: pngdraws on Twitter

Content warning: Akunna does consider committing suicide at one point in the beginning to avoid being sold off in the black market in in the beginning of the chapter by biting off her tongue so if that is a trigger for you, keep that in mind.

Chapter 18

Morning didn't come fast enough with the robbers Akunna's only company.

One remained awake with a rifle as a watchful guard, not daring to close his eyes lest their prey attempt to escape. At least everyone else is safe, she'd remind herself when the glum of the night seemed even more apparent.

Maybe Uba had the right idea. As the carriage went over a particularly bumpy stretch of gravel, Akunna tapped the tip of her tongue against her teeth. The further and further down the path they got, the closer she knew she was getting to the capital's underground. From there, Akunna wasn't sure what'd happen to her. Those men from before thought I was a boy before so they were going to make me do hard labor. Akunna gritted her teeth, face darkening into a deep frown. They know I'm a girl this time, even if my hair's short a woman's a woman to them. Akunna suppressed a shudder her as mind searched through the options. Brothel? Personal sex slave? Her heart began racing as her legs closed instinctively. Uba.

Why did I have to fight with him that day? Akunna scolded herself, remembering the last time she ever met her father. I lied to his face and never saw him again. Maybe he even thought I was already sold off. Or worse. Guilt and self-resentment swirled in Akunna's belly.

You wouldn't have met Mikasa and her family if you didn't. You could've gone your whole life not knowing each other. It was a truth so real to her that Akunna resented herself for feeling a sense of relief and joy at it. You're on my mind way too much right now. I must really like you. Really really like you. If it wasn't the gravity of the situation at the forefront of her mind, black hair and gray eyes filled her thoughts instead. Maybe it was because she wished that they had had more time. If this was what was coming for her, Akunna was sure that she would've chosen something else that day. Maybe she could've waited that extra year to join the cadets. Or maybe she'd get too selfish and decide that extra few years still wasn't enough. Knowing her, it was a liable option.

Akunna released a quiet breath, steeling herself. For what it was worse, they got to see each other one last time. That was enough consolation for her.

I'll see you and Uwa on the other side, Uba. I'm not gonna let them make a slave out of me either. Akunna feigned a yawn, prepared to slam her teeth down on her tongue.

The sound of cloth tearing and surprised yelps came in response and Akunna looked at the second carriage in surprise to see two familiar brunets. No way. She breathed. "Eren!?" The flash of green eyes confirmed it as Eren and Jean made quick work of taking out the thieves in the second carriage. "What the heck are you doing here?! Are you crazy?!"

"You're the one who said to take care of each other!" Eren grunted as he struggled with one of the me in a chokehold.

He's insane. Akunna laughed in spite of the situation, the noise bubbling out against her will. Eren is insane. Insane in the best possible ways.

"Damn brats!" A blond man in a blue shirt snarled, gun prepared to shoot someone dead in the eyes before the most orisha-placed rock of convenience threw it off, a the bullet missing the boys entirely. Akunna yelped in surprise as her body flung back, the hook slipping out from under the hook she was placed on. Her arms were sore beyond belief, everything ached.

Akunna gritted her teeth with a sharp glare as she quickly pushed herself onto her feet and pushed the man right out of the carriage before she could even think twice. The man grunted in surprise for a brief moment as his body hit the ground and a sickening crunch followed as the carriage Eren and Jean were on rolled right over him and sent the carriage veering off to the side. Akunna's heart dropped to her chest. "Eren! Jean!" She moved to jump out herself before the sound of a pistol cocking back stopped her in her tracks.

"Don't you dare!" A man growled fiercely. "You're the only bounty I have at this point without that gear!"

You. Akunna's eyes strained with how hard she looked at the leader of the thieves, glaring right back at her. The rush of adrenaline Akunna felt next felt like equal parts fire and ice as she rushed the man on instinct. Her ears rang as he fired but if he hit her, Akunna wasn't sure as threw herself at the man with a purpose. She brought her head down onto his, the crack of their foreheads slamming against each other made her stomach feel queasy but she felt nothing as the man's nose spurted with blood.

The man let go of the reins with a yelp, the only hand he had left on them clutching his face. The horse veered off the trail and Akunna used the opportunity to push the leader off to join his friends when his body landed awkwardly on the bit of wood connecting the horse's saddle to the carriage.

Fuck. Akunna's body flew out of the carriage and hit the ground roughly on her back after the carriage crashed into a large redwood tree.

Akunna coughed as she shakily brought herself to her knees, dizzy from the crash. Blood oozed down her right arm, a bloody hole piercing through her uniform. This fucker really shot me. Akunna realized dumbly. Chest heaving, she yanked her wrists firmly in opposite directions and vaguely she thought to herself how easy that felt. Like cutting through the rare stick of butter she occasionally got to cut in the past. The dark-skinned cadet wasn't given the luxury to lull the anomaly further when a groan cut through the air and Akunna remembered that she wasn't alone in the wreckage. Where's the gun? Akunna stumbled onto her feet proper, eyes looking for the steel object urgently when she spotted it not too far off from where the man lay unconscious.

The man didn't get up again while Akunna made her way to the gun, cautiously keeping her eye on him. But he didn't raise, he was out cold even while Akunna clutched the pistol in her hand.

"Samantha." The man grumbled weakly and Akunna jolted in surprise, aiming carefully at his chest.

"Get up slowly." Akunna demanded, she didn't recognize the sound of her own voice full of forced conviction and demanding. He didn't.

Who the hell is Samantha to you? She felt herself seething. Family? Someone he really loved? A thief who attacked a group of teenagers having someone he cared about, that was rich. It never crossed her mind until today that those who'd wronged her in the past had a family. Maybe the robbers from that rainy day had families. Entire families who might've been nonethewiser about their activities while they stole Uba and killed Mikasa's parents. Why does everyone want to take me away from people I want to be with? Akunna's resentment only grew as she remembered the story the lead thief had told her about the jackrabbit who lost the race and slaughtered the victor and his family as retribution. They get to do this and get to go back home to their wives and kids in the end and they would've been completely fine with whatever would've happened to me. To us.

Akunna's finger rested on the trigger before unconsciously. She'd never felt calmer in her life until this moment. I'm tired of being the box turtle. Was her last coherent thought before she pulled the trigger.

Once more.

Another time.

And again.

Each round sounding like raucous thunder in her ears that sent her hands moving before she steading herself and shot again into the man's chest.

It took until Akunna heard the resounding clicks of an empty pistol that she realized no more bullets were coming out and she heaved a shaky breath as she stared at thief. Blood pooled around the two of them from his body like a river, shockingly crimson against the faded brown of her boots. The fury within her slowed to a slow boil as she dropped the gun on his chest, moving to stand up properly. This man was undeniably dead and she felt nothing other than cold as she took of her jacket to throw it over his face, not wanting to see her face anymore.

"This is just like hunting." Akunna whispered, not sure why she was speaking aloud her words. A very unsatisfying hunt, a storm of emotions boiling just beneath the surface. He deserved it.

He deserved it.

He was a bad person.

The main folks always told stories about heroes saving the day and forgiving their enemies. Either their stories were wrong or she wasn't a hero at all because Akunna didn't feel even a speck of forgiveness in her. Not one speck.

She glanced dully at what remained of the carriage after their crash, the horse hadn't made it in their struggle. She would be walking back from where they had came. Akunna paused a moment, looking at the bloody sleeve from where the bullet had passed through her right arm. There was nothing she could feel but Akunna knew that it would hurt like hell when her adrenaline rush was over. She looked back to the carriage wondering what was salvageable to make a makeshift bandage for her wound until she was able to have it looked over. Akunna looked over herself, really looked over herself. Her wrists were bloody, flesh torn into from the rope she'd forced off. With shaky hands Akunna went straight to work, using her teeth to help tie knots into the her carriage-made bandages.

"Don't be a box turtle in a world of jackrabbits, kid. The fuckers always win."

the loud crack of a neck snapping

mr. ackerman hunched over, a deep knife wound in his belly

mrs. ackerman's crazed look as she told her and mikasa to run, the last scream akunna heard her take

what have i been doing for three years

red threads and great distances

great distances and red threads

you made the wrong choice

you made the wrong choice

what have i even been doing these past three years

i don't wanna do this anymore gramps

It's okay, I'm alright. Mikasa is alright. Everyone's alright. Akunna breathed heavily and slowly, trying to slow her thoughts and the images passing through her mind. She stood up again, a bit wobbly on her legs. Some of the blood on her legs were starting to brown, the smaller splatter starting to look crusty. She needed to get back to her group, wherever they were. She kept her eyes forward, moving quickly. The sooner she was out of this forest, the better. She wasn't heading to Sina, she was okay and so was everyone else. As if the orisha themselves were trying to reassure her, Akunna perked her ears as she heard the approaching sounds of wires and hooks piercing bark.

"Akunna!" Armin shouted and Akunna could see his blond hair set against the trees and light of the dawn even from where she stood.

"Armin." Akunna's shaky steps turned into a jog, eyes warm. She was furious, she'd never been more elated. "Armin! Eren!" Armin's shaky landing wasn't helped as Akunna launched herself at him, hugging him tightly. "My brothers are idiots." Her words didn't match her relieved tone, her grip tight. She briefly felt guilty about all the blood she was probably getting on him. Akunna hugged Armin tighter, a hand yanking Eren's collar as he approached and she pulled him into the embrace. She didn't care if she got blood on them at all. "Such big idiots, I said to take care of each other not play hero. You're idiots, beautiful idiots."

Armin's laughter was wet, "taking care of each other means you too, so you're the idiot for not getting it." Akunna kissed his cheek once, twice before moving onto Eren who ducked his head.

"Quit rejecting your sister, Eren!" Akunna giggled. She was tired but she was alive, that was what was important. She let go of her suspicions of why the thieves had shown up in the first place, her regrets of playing here. All that mattered was that she was alive to experience this moment. "I deserve the affection right now!"

Two voices called for her, both familiar but Akunna only heard one. Her head whipped around fast enough that she was sure her neck would've snapped in other circumstances, but it didn't matter as she saw Mikasa coming her way. Even with the scent of death in the air and a heavily pounding heart, Mikasa was the only thing Akunna could see in that moment. The hold Akunna and Armin had on another relaxed as she turned around, moving urgently towards who she'd wanted to see the most. "You're alright." Akunna breathed, grip tight. It wasn't a dream this time, it was Mikasa right there in her arms. Yeah, I really really like you. "You're alright, I was so worried they'd done something to you."

Mikasa shook her head, "what did they do to you?" Mikasa demanded, her tone of voice dark with anger.

"It doesn't matter."

"Of course it matters!"

Akunna didn't argue, closing her eyes with a sigh. She didn't care about the specifics, she only cared about this moment. It took three years for her to experience this. In her dream it had been even shorter. She wished she could go back to it, or that that was her reality. That she had just gone to pick Mikasa up from work after a week of overtime and the black-haired girl was hugging her in relief. Then the two of them would return home, safe and far from playing the dangerous game of soldier. That was a choice that could've been made three years ago and it wasn't the one she'd chosen. "I kept my promise this time." Akunna chirped quietly with a small smile. "Let's just focus on that." Let's just focus on that. She added again for herself.

"Akunna..." Akunna opened one eye then the other slowly, looking over at Chadwick. His voice sounded squeamish and his face had the look to match as he looked in horror at where the robber lied.

"Don't look at it." Akunna pressed, her eyes trailing over the covered man coldly. "It's not even there. It's just a jackrabbit."

It felt like time moved slowly over the course of a few hours.

The military police and garrison soldiers from the training's destination arrived at some point to arrest the thieves that were still living and collect the dead, gathering a report from everyone they could. The ride back to the 104th training grounds was tiresome but the adrenaline never wore off and the pain never came following after, much to Akunna's relief. It was finally over and the superiors would be looking into her claims that she believed this was likely an inside job. Her suspicions of Christa had faltered a bit after she thought it over.

No cadet had known of the training until it had been announced. The true culprit had to be an instructor although Akunna wasn't sure as to who.

"You were all very brave." The nurse told Akunna as he stitched her arm. The bullet had gone through cleanly with no hint of infection, though her arm and wrist would scar. "Though I'm unsure you'll be doing much training until after your injuries have healed."

"I guess I'll enjoy however long of this unintentional break." Akunna was sure that if this were a couple of days ago, an announcement that she would be prevented from training would've been a primary source of aggravation for her. She looked over at a frowning Mikasa as the nurse left to look over Eren and Jean considering their tumble in the carriage they crashed in. "Smile would you? I'm gonna heal up just fine."

Mikasa's look of worry didn't falter, even at Akunna's words. "It almost happened again." She whispered, shrinking into her scarf. "Just like before."

Akunna didn't even guess what Mikasa was referring to, "this one was different. Their goal wasn't me at first until I opened my mouth and got their attention."

"Why would you do that in the first place?" Mikasa's inquiry was no less demanding despite her shushed tone. "Everything could've gone wrong and you might not even be here today. What you did was so-"

"I know, it was stupid." Mikasa's looks were scathing. "I promise it won't happen again, I doubt this is an accident that'll happen during this sort of training again."

"That isn't the point." The two of them fell silent before Akunna held out a hand and Mikasa grabbed it with both of hers tightly, setting it on her lap. "Why is going to the interior so important to you?" Mikasa mumbled and Akunna blinked. Her tone was grave "We could be happy anywhere, couldn't we? You're only doing what you think will make everyone happy without talking to us about it first. Without talking to me." That sounded as if it stung even more than the injuries Akunna looked to be. Listening to the pain in Mikasa's voice certainly stung more than anything else. "Why do you always do that?" Mikasa looked as if a headache was coming on.

Is that how you really feel? Akunna had no answer for her., too tired to even begin this discussion "We can talk about it tomorrow." She murmured. "We should just rest for now. But I promise we'll talk about this tomorrow."

Mikasa held her gaze from the corner of her eye then let out a heavy breath, gray gaze pointed to the floor. "Okay."

Not much else was exchanged between the two of them. Eren and Jean's injuries were minor enough they were fine to continue training and Akunna was left to sleeping in the nurse's building as to not agitate her arm. Akunna glanced at it, clenching her palm into a fist. She still didn't feel anything coming from it, no pain anyway, she noted as she softly passed her hand over the thin sheets of her temporary bed. Mikasa had long since been ordered to the dormitory due to a lack of her own injuries and Akunna's feelings were mixed. She wanted the alone time but she didn't. I need to be more decisive. Akunna sat up guessing that sleep would evade her for a while longer.

Tired but not yet sleepy, Akunna stood up, resigned. She needed fresh air.

The evening air wasn't quite cool but wasn't quite warm, a pleasant medium. A far cry from when she was trapped in a carriage, her fate uncertain. I definitely would've- Akunna stopped the train of thought there, walking aimlessly towards the commissary, not quite sure where she was headed. She rested her head on the railing on the building on the far side, hoping to avoid attention of anyone who might pass by at some point. The crickets chirped moderately and Akunna focused her ears on that, closing her eyes.

Then she heard the sound of a branch breaking and turn around quickly. "It's just me!" The person hissed. The moonlight revealed it was only Chadwick, sheepishly smiling at her.

"Chadwick, you should really warn a person before you just try and approach them in the middle of the dark." Akunna released a breath tiredly she leaned against the commissary wall. His snickers that followed made her glare at the tanned boy but it was nice and welcomed after the few days of awkward tension between them. "It's all fun and games, Hoggarde, until you get punched for sneaking up on a delicate young woman."

"You, delicate? I've heard everything."

"Leave the jokes to Ivan, please."

The redhead held his hands up in an offer of peace, "please, delicate young woman, accept my humblest apologies." He bowed in exaggeration. "I merely thought I saw you along way aways and wished to check up on you."

Akunna nodded, "that's more like it." She sighed as Chadwick sat beside her. "So much for a peaceful training exercise."

Chadwick sighed, "I thought at first maybe it was planned to see how we'd treat the situation if we were on assignment and were dealing with thieves." Now that was a thought that hadn't crossed Akunna's mind when the onslaught began. "But afterwards it became really obvious that it wasn't. Maybe they'll review this exercise in the future?"

"Or really vet out the instructors." Akunna inserted in addition. "I thought maybe a cadet ratted us out but it's hard doing that when none of us knew until the day of what we'd be doing. It had to be an instructor who dropped the ball because how else would those thieves know about this? Either this was stakeout and they hoped they'd ambush some soldiers or they knew this exercise was coming."

Akunna rubbed the back of her neck. "Sooo until a certain accident happened, how was your group?" She made her tone light to ease the atmosphere. "Eren and his friend Jean kept arguing every five seconds."

Chadwick made a sound that was a cross between a laugh and a sigh, "well no one argued but god it is so awkward having underclassmen taller than you." Akunna recalled seeing Reiner, the tall blond, and the even taller brunet from breakfast being assigned to Chadwick's group. They made anyone around them look like ants. "That Daz guy was a nervous wreck and the worst part was, I thought the he was 40." The effort it took for Akunna not to bray like a donkey resulted in her slapping her hand over her mouth while Chadwick gave her a manic expression. "I'm serious!" He whispered loudly. "I told him he was really brave for joining the cadets so late into his life and he just looked at me like he was gonna cry and told me 'I'm 14'. How do you look 40 at 14?!"

Chadwick threw his arms in the air, "then there was that Annie girl, she's the one with the blonde hair in the bun. I didn't even know how to talk to her, she's so quiet and always looks like she's planning on punching someone in the throat if they breathe the wrong way." Yes, Akunna remembered her. She looked intimidating and was likely one of the cadets to beat in terms of competition for the top ten. "I try talking to her and I just get one-worded answers and if I'm lucky? Maybe three-worded."

"Poor, poor Chadwick." Akunna moved her arms as if she were playing a violin, snorting when Chadwick gave her a shove. She giggled. I could've liked him if things were different. "How was Mikasa in your group?" Chadwick paused and pursed his lips thoughtfully "What is it?"

Chadwick shrugged, "I mean it was fine, I just don't think she wanted to be there." Akunna pursed her lips with an awkward hum, knowing that was more than enough of a confirmation. Chadwick snorted and gave an audible sigh that sounded too loud for the evening. She almost worried an instructor would appear, scolding them both for being out after curfew and being a bad example to the underclassmen. "Thought so. I'm pretty sure she wanted to be in yours. She asked a little about how you are in the 103rd. You both seem really close."

Akunna hummed a whisper, looking at the stars above. "It's just the longest we've been apart until recently." Akunna clicked her tongue, scrambling for words to get things back to the air between them before. "She can be pretty standoffish if she doesn't know you well but that changes when you do. She's amazing." Akunna's thoughts trailed off to what she dreamed the night she'd gone away with the thieves and what might've been if she hadn't left for the military school. That would've been amazing too. "We've been through a lot together and not just Shinganshina, it's hard imagining life without each other sometimes." She trailed off wondering what her point was in even bringing that fact up and what it had to do with Chadwick thinking Mikasa didn't want to be in his group. "The only reason I'm even here is so I can keep her safe and then she follows me here one year later. She's so dumb." Her insults came out more fond than Akunna anticipated.

"You tend to be dumb when it comes to people you really love."

"Yeah." The two of them fell into silence and Akunna bit her lip. "This isn't the first time something like this has happened." Akunna held her knees to her chest, one of her hands fiddling with the fraying fabric of her pants. Even in the dark she just barely adjusted to, she could feel Chadwick's eyes on her as he waited patiently for her to elaborate. "I mean, it was a little different this time. But back when I was 10, Mikasa and I were nearly kidnapped by human traffickers. It's how we lost our parents." Even now she could remember how the rain sounded, the strong and sickly smell of iron, Mikasa begging to go back for Mrs. Ackerman and Akunna knowing that wouldn't be possible. Sometimes she forgot about it completely, forcing the memories deep into her subconscious. Other days, it was all she could think about. "Then Eren showed up and that crazy weirdo saved us, gave us new families." Then the Titans appeared and that went down the drain.

"I... didn't know that." Chadwick murmured after a moment. Akunna felt a rough hand rest on her shoulder for a moment, giving it a light squeeze.

"When I was with these guys, they mentioned how dumb it was I wanted to join the Military Police being Nwabu." Akunna licked at her gums, pausing for a moment. "I'd be in prime kidnapping position and so would Mikasa, if anything the only ones who would be okay are Eren and Armin. It isn't..." Akunna paused again with a sigh, eyelids feeling heavy. "It isn't like I never knew that was a possibility, I did, somewhere in here. I just thought that if I didn't think about it, that wouldn't become a fact I'd have to face. That the safest place for humanity would be the most dangerous place for the two of us." She couldn't help the bitter laugh. "It's so ironic it isn't even funny. But if I let myself think about it, let that thought become a fact, what the hell have I been doing for the past three years working so hard if it doesn't mean anything in the end. I can't stop Eren or Armin from joining the Scouts. Mikasa's only here because I'm here."

Akunna gave the redhead a look, imploring him to say something like he always would when she was in a mood. "Have any answers for that one, Chadwick?"

Chadwick smiled weakly, "I don't have anything to say to that one."

Akunna sighed again, resting her chin on her knee. "Gramps said to take care of everyone and I'm over here being a mess. But after everything that happened, I'm just not sure about anything anymore. If I even wanna be here or if I just wanna call it quits and try to make the life I used to have happen again. Way back when I was 10, I used to live with Mikasa and her family." Akunna's thought drifted back to year 844 with a small but fond smile. "I ran away from home because I wanted to prove a point to my father but nearly starved to death until I saw her home and tried stealing a pie. But they decided to let me stay there until my father got back from his hunting trip. I'd go hunting in the morning with Mr. Ackerman and when we got back, Mikasa and Mrs. Ackerman would be up and breakfast would be ready. After that we'd do the chores for the day and then we'd just relax and play the rest of the day." Maybe they'd sit by the river and look out at the distant view of the inner wall of Maria or they'd go foraging for dandelions so Mrs. Ackerman would make dandelion fritters as a light snack with the blackberries and a bit of fresh syrup.

She wondered about a life of what it might've been like had the Titans never showed their ugly heads at all. If the traffickers never shown up that day in the mountains.

Uba and Mr. Ackerman would debate over the best preservation for meat, Mrs. Ackerman and Mrs. Jaeger rolling their eyes.

Armin and Eren would be coming back from an expedition in one piece for a celebratory dinner, telling everyone what they saw outside the walls.

Mikasa there soft as ever, smiling without a care in the world. Maybe they became doll merchants after all or maybe they'd move into Shinganshina to live their own lives in the city.

"I want that life again." Akunna wasn't sure who she was making that declaration to. "Even if it might end one day because Titans appeared in the Walls again or we run into traffickers. Even if it's just a year and a day, if I had that again, I could die happy. But." Akunna didn't finish her trail off. There was always a 'but'. I just don't really know what to do from here then. Do I join the Garrison? Akunna shuddered at the thought of the only other option, imagining looming and ghoulish faces she had yet to ever see.

Chadwick hummed lightly, sounding content, "whatever you do to make yourself happy, your friends in the 103rd have got your back."

Akunna smiled lazily, not sure if it was shown well in the moonlit dark. I can't keep putting it off forever, this talk. She reminded herself strongly while the air between them was light. "Hey, Chadwick, about before when we kissed?"

"I know, you don't feel the same way." Chadwick's tone was light but Akunna knew that belied what he was truly feeling. "That's okay"

"I shouldn't have kissed you if I didn't really like you that way though. At least, not if I knew about how you felt, that's unfair." Akunna grumbled, not wanting this to be passed over without even a proper apology. "I'm really sorry. And I'm sorry for avoiding you instead of talking to you about it right away afterwards, it was really shitty to do."

Chadwick's smile was small, "thanks for apologizing. It got kinda obvious when we got here that you didn't like me that way, can't blame a guy for hoping though." Akunna made an inaudible noise, not sure what else she could possibly add. "But it'd be nice if we could still stay friends in the end."

Akunna nodded with a grin, "yeah, of course." It was a weight off her shoulders to hear those words from the boy. She wasn't sure where her life would be heading after tonight, all she knew was that it would be heading somewhere she wanted.

They sat in comfortable silence, staring up at the stars until a flash of movement caught Akunna's eyes from the right as she spotted someone moving quickly from the girls' dormitory to the medical building. Her lips curled upward and Chadwick seemed to be read her thoughts. "I wonder who that could be." He sounded amused.

Akunna grinned, "I should head back. She might think I'm in the bathroom right now but if I take too long she'll probably get worried." The last thing they needed was a worried Mikasa storming the camp after everything that happened. Akunna wouldn't be able to blame her for that. So standing up, she dusted off her pants and gave Chadwick a wave. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow." Chadwick waved back. "Maybe you can convince your trio to sneak out into Trost with you before the joint training's over."

Akunna doubted she'd be able to convince serious soldier Eren and worrywart Armin to go along with that suggestion, but it was some food for thought. She made her way to the medical building quickly, ducking as though she was already under scrutiny. The door creaked quietly as she opened it and sure enough, Mikasa was sitting on the bed. "I thought that was you." Akunna closed the door behind her, kicking her shoes off towards her bed. Shouldn't you be back in the dorms? You don't have to sleep out here you know. Akunna knew Mikasa knew, but Mikasa came anyway once she thought it would be safe to sneak over. "Came to keep me company, huh?"

"I thought you wouldn't want to be alone right now." I didn't want to be alone right now was what Akunna heard. Mikasa mumbled her words, likely tucked into her scarf. It was hard to tell in the less illuminated room. "Where were you?"

"I ran into a friend while I was out and we started talking. I couldn't sleep and they caught me out." Akunna felt a yawn coming on. Maybe she would get some sleep tonight after all. "Get in, I'm tired." A yawn rose from her lips again. She was definitely tired. It was all too easy, scooting into the bed herself after Mikasa. Akunna yawned for a third time in a row as Mikasa shuffled a bit more, tucking right under her chin. Akunna lazily threw her right arm around her, noting lightly that Mikasa still ran a bit cold even with the blanket covering her. She held back a shudder. She's a living ice chip. A warm one, but an ice chip nonetheless. "Thanks for coming over." Akunna yawned for the fourth time, water trickling from her eyes. "I didn't actually wanna be myself."

Mikasa squeezed the back of Akunna's shirt lightly. "Me too."

Akunna squeezed back with a final yawn, a surge of affection flowing through her. "Mikasa Ackerman, you might be my favorite person in the world." She murmured sleepily, not hearing much else exchanged. Sleep came easily after.

Author's Note

(Smdh no one would let me work on this chapter in peace and kept interrupting or disturbing me somehow!)

Me when my Mikasa-anti friend suggests pairing Akunna off with Eren or Annie: U.U
Me when my brain suggests a slow burn romance between Akunna and Mikasa: UwU
Akunna meanwhile: *makes a morally gray choice to kill a man after he fell unconscious, wonder if that's gonna have any lasting psychological effects*

And with that, we end chapter 18. A least favorite trope of mine? OC's used to better the relationship of another character if they're in a love triangle/make them realize something about their relationship with another character. Akunna gave her apology and they left it at that and decided to be friends, a beautiful thing. I also had fun utilizing lack of capitalization and periods as well as how the sentences were aligned to play on how Akunna's thoughts were all over the place and that was really fun! Next chapter, Akunna and Mikasa finally have a long overdue heart to heart.

Also anyone else here play Genshin Impact because I'm so hype for Inazuma dropping next week finally because I am so tired of walking around Liyue and Mondstadt (keep in mind though that in 2.0 that only 3 out of the 6 main Inazuma islands are being dropped initially). TAT If so, who're you rolling for? I'm thinking of skipping both the Ayaka and Yoimiya banners for Sara and maybe Gorou and Baal. It's great getting some electro and hydro characters this time around because the amount of pyro and cryo characters Mihoyo keeps pushing out is ridiculous. And they better release a dendro character before Sumeru's arc. The next time a chapter of UtSD is out, we're gonna be well into the enjoying Inazuma train, let's have fun this new update guys! And if anyone ever wants to co-op, DM me I'm at AR 44 and I'm grinding amethyst shards, chunks, and jewels for the eventual electro character leveling up.

Side note, if SnK was a Genshin AU, EMA trio would be Mondstadters with Mikasa being half-Inazuman (her mother's family came to Mondstadt long before Inazuma's borders closed down). I think Eren would have a Pyro delusion + sword user who joined the Fatui to serve Ymir Fritz who is definitely the cryp a, Armin would be a Hydro catalyst scholar in Sumeru, and Mikasa would definitely be a Geo claymore or sword user. I see Akunna either being Anemo or Electro and from Natlan though her family immigrated to Mondstadt when she was a kid. Be a tiebreaker on Aku's prospective vision lol, Travelers, and let's talk other Vision hcs for other characters.

Song(s) I Bopped To For the Chapter: Stray by Steve Conte (Wolf's Rain Fans where you at?), In The End by Linkin Park, Reach Out by George Duke, Suavemente by Elvis Crespo, Harvest Song by Ishikawa Yui, the sounds of the Eletro Hypostasis and Primo Geovishap getting tired of seeing my face lol

Responses

KrimsonWraith: A new reader, thanks for joining the UtSD's family and I'm glad that I was able to grab your attention with two additional chapters and hope this chapter can reel you back in as well! There was a lot going on for Akunna mentally in this chapter but things finally slow down and she has a proper talk with Chadwick. That was a satisfying conclusion for them on that note without reducing Chadwick to the side character who helps her realize she has deeper feelings for someone else.

Titanlovrr: The Hunt was honestly so good, I need to rewatch it soon... And it is certainly making her rethink the things she wants in life and her current ambitions, that's for sure!