“The Scout and the Warrior”
Notes: One of my first fics for these two who I absolutely love, hope you like it and happy Jeanpiku week !!! ;)
“Another for the big booyy” Connie yelled, while extending his arm in the air with another cup of alcohol, poor Falco, he just turned 18 and this is how he was welcoming his manhood.
“You’re going to puke if you keep drinkin-“
“You heard him! Another, I can do this all night!”, the boy screamed while Connie was patting his back. There wasn’t any doubt, the boy got drunk with just four shots of tequila.
Jean couldn’t stop feeling embarrassed at how loud his friends were, sitting at the same table as them, his arms crossed as he prayed for them not to get kicked out of the restaurant.
He couldn’t deny it, after years of being considered heroes of Paradis (at least he and Connie), he was surprised how Falco became friends with them so quickly after he came to visit the island for a few days.
The past will always be there, each of them knew it, all the things they did, saw, felt….
But this was Falco’s birthday, there was no way they were going to let the boy spend his night having an existential crisis or worse yet, do nothing.
“Why are you so grumpy? Come here, drink some!”, Connie offered a drink to his tall friend but one of them had to be sober for when they return.
“I’ll pass, I rather remember all of this to tell you about it in the morning” Jean stated, he really wished he had a camera right now.
The three of them started to hear some footsteps approaching them quickly, when they turned their heads, the only thing they thought it was how long this night was going to be.
“Don’t act like the only one sober Jean, I have to tell Pieck everything when we get back.” Gabi mentioned while jumping at the table with a grin on her face, he would have believed her if he didn’t saw how she could barely stand too.
Falco and her suddenly looked at each other in silence and their eyes widen, something told Jean that they were thinking the exact same thing.
“Pieck’s gonna kill us”, they muttered at the same time and as they did, after an awkward silence, the two of them fall to the ground laughing, Connie didn’t mind to join them too of course.
Jean let a small smile escape from his mouth, he liked spending time with the tree of them after all, well, more with Falco and Connie but that was because Gabi always made sure to get on his nerves.
Still, he cared for the girl too and he had no doubt Falco was going to invite her the moment he and Connie told him about the plan they had for him.
Why Pieck wasn’t here though……?
The tall scout remembered her; they barely exchanged a few words during the Rumbling, the image when he saved her came present in his mind, he didn’t know much about her but he could tell back then she meant good, there wasn’t any tension when she was around and he could tell why Gabi and Falco liked her so much.
It was almost impossible not to remember somethings from her, like her long black hair, wait…. why was he thinking about her hair all of the sudden? He should be-
His thoughts came to an end when Falco invited himself to throw up on his shoes.
Long night, and it was just getting started.
“If you two keep sleeping I won’t be able to find your house”, the scout was carrying them both, Gabi was on his shoulder, with her head resting on his back, and Falco was being grabbed by his waist, he looked like a rag doll.
“R- right, turn r…ght”, Gabi managed to muttered while falling asleep, the scout was really wishing for her not to feel nauseous right now.
Of course, Connie had to be wasted in his bed already, it was a miracle he made it to his house, leaving Jean as a babysitter.
After walking through some streets, the scout figured out he made finally made it. There were two reasons for this:
1. After looking like a total kidnapper and earning a few looks, he distinguished a house with a green roof, which was the house he was looking for.
2. He could swear there was a small dark figure outside the door, with her arms crossed, standing there just waiting for him to get closer.
Some chills went through his spine, Falco and Gabi said that Pieck was going to kill them after all…. oh shit, that must also include him for letting them get wasted.
“Je-Jean…I need my bed” Falco commented while feeling nauseous again, “Why did we stop moving?”
The tall scout really could swear the small warrior was giving him a look even though he couldn’t see her face. “Falco, what time does Pieck go to sleep?”, his words were said in a nervous tone.
“Around 11 pm…. why?” the boy really wasn’t in the mood to ask questions, if Jean’s shoes had life in them, they could tell what was coming for them, again.
“Because I think she is awake….and pretty damn angry” he didn’t know if running was the best option, maybe he could leave Falco and Gabi, no, don’t be a dick.
“What is she doing?” the boy questioned the scout.
“She…is just standing there, menacingly” Jean knew he had to move sooner or later, this was getting awkward.
The boy chuckled, “We’re so dead”
After finally taking a step forward, the girl became clearer at the sight of the scout, oh yes, she is really angry.
Already in her reach, the girl walked towards them and put Gabi in her arms, while holding Falco’s hand so he wouldn’t trip as they entered the house.
Jean slowly helped Falco putting him on the floor for him to start walking. “Here, let me hel- “
“I think you’ve done enough” the warrior didn’t even care to look him in the eye, those were her first words, those clichés but at the same time hurtful words.
“Pieck, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have let Connie offered them many drinks”, the scout was embarrassed, she had the right to be angry, they show up this late and with Gabi and Falco in that state.
“That’s right, you shouldn’t have” she said effortlessly while grabbing both kids with caution, how the hell was she that strong for someone of her size, well, she was one of the chosen warriors back then after all.
Jean would have felt worse if the door had closed completely after the warrior tried to close it with her leg behind her, through the small gap he saw how Falco fell to the floor.
This time not staying still, the scout invited himself inside the house, grabbing the boy and checking if he hurt his head in the process.
If it wasn’t for Gabi also feeling dizzy, the warrior would have told him something about entering the house without permission before he interrupted her.
“It’s late, you and me are the only ones sober right now, I’ll help Falco why you take care of Gabi, they’re like this thanks to me, please, let me help you”, he said in a tone that was reassuring.
Even if she was angry with him, he had a point and it would be better and faster for the kids to fall asleep with his help.
Yes, Falco was 18 now and Gabi was getting there but right now it didn’t matter how she referred to them.
The warrior looked at the scout for a few seconds, “Call me if he starts throwing up, I’ll check on him after I take care of Gabi” she turned around still grabbing the girl and both of them walked slowly to the bathroom.
After a couple of minutes, grabbing the girl’s hair in case she vomited, the warrior thought about how the kids would talk about tonight when they got back to Marley, that if they manage to remember.
She laughed inside at the thought of Reiner reacting at his little cousin getting drunk for the first time, it would be really funny to see for her. And for the rest of them, truth be told.
But there was also another thing bothering her, Jean, not just for the fact of what happened but because she hadn’t seen him in a long time. She didn’t expect to do it and she didn’t care if she didn’t, the two of them weren’t very close but she felt indebted to him for saving her that time and for offering her comfort….when she was broken and alone. Maybe that’s why she hasn’t kicked him out of the house yet.
“I…I sleepy, want to bed slep” Gabi somehow thought she was being very fluent right now.
“You sure? I’ll help you get there, okay?” the small warrior said softly to the girl while tying her hair into a bun.
After a couple of stumbles, they reached the room, the girl lay down on Falco’s bed instead of hers but Pieck thought that it didn’t matter, they should just get some sleep.
“I’ll leave this bucket next to the bed, alright? Try to sleep sideways, I don’t want you to choke in your own vomit while you sleep.” The warrior poke one of the girl’s cheeks to check if she was listening to her.
“Oww, Pieck” Both of them chuckled, Pieck then stood up from the bed but before she could go, she felt the girl grabbed her hand.
“Pieck…. don’t blame Jean, no one forced us to drink, we just wanted to…have some fun” the girl spoke very low that the warrior thought she was mumbling in her sleep, but it was enough for her to hear.
“I know, I’m not mad at him, don’t worry” she placed her hand on the girl’s head and smiled at her, “Get some sleep, I’ll bring Falco later”
The girl also smiled at her and closed her eyes the moment the warrior left the room.
She was walking to the living room, she wondered if Jean maybe checked Falco for a while and went home without any of them noticing.
If that was the case, she would be angry….and disappointed.
For her surprise, the warrior was a little startled when she looked at the couch and saw Falco sleeping with his head on Jean’s lap. If someone had broken into house and seen the two of them, they would have thought it was a father and his son sleeping.
She looked at Jean, he was sleeping too with his head laying on his hand, by the look on his face, he had a long night too.
He looked so…calm. Of course, he was asleep, but she didn’t think someone could look so innocent and peaceful while sleeping, more if we talked about them…especially if we talked about them.
For a couple of steps the girl took, the old wood on the floor creaked, causing the scout to instantly wake up.
He frowned his face and realized he had fallen asleep, how could he? First he gets Gabi and Falco drunk, then he tells Pieck he’s going to help the boy but instead she caught him sleeping.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t-”, the scout tried to explain himself.
“It’s alright, they’re not the only ones who had quite the night, right?” the warrior responded, this time she didn’t look angry or frustrated, it looked like she was glad that the scout was still there.
“He…fell asleep the moment you walked with Gabi, the nausea is no longer there…I hope” he chuckled nervously.
“Thanks, for helping I mean and for staying in case something happen to him”, she expressed, the look on her face made the scout feel more peaceful with himself, those eyes of her really know how to give comfort with just a gaze.
“It’s no problem” he stated.
Both of them stayed in silence, they didn’t know if they should talk about how they’ve been doing, where they there yet? Was it rude to ask something about the other or were they just dumb?
Before the tension could get so thin for a knife to cut it, Falco grunted a little while sleeping, making the warrior and the scout aware that he was still there.
“Right…, I’ll take him to his room”, Pieck walked closer to them but was stop by the scout.
“It’s alright, I can take him, I don’t mind”, he was also about to tell her that the boy was heavier compared to Gabi but he knew that wouldn’t make sense after he saw earlier how the small woman could grabbed and hold both of them without trouble.
“Alright…it’s the room down the hall, at your left”, the warrior didn’t expect the scout to help her more than he already did.
Following Pieck’s indications, he walked with Falco on his arms and entered the room, being careful not to wake Gabi in the process.
Pieck followed them and lean on the door frame, watching the scout place the boy on the bed, the thought of him and the boy sleeping on the couch earlier and now he putting him to sleep really make them look like if they were a family.
Wait, what and why the fuck are you thinking about that Pieck? The girl shook her thoughts and snap out of them when the scout placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Are you okay?”, he asked so softly.
“Yeah….thanks for your help Jean” she gave him a little smile and walk away, heading to the living room.
Both of them stop at the door, it was late, Jean had to go home soon, staying the night wasn’t an option and the scout had that clear.
The two looked at each other again and it seemed that they wanted to say something, Jean did not know if the warrior was still angry with him and wanted to throw him out of the house quickly, the two haven’t spoken in a while after all and today wasn’t the best impression he wanted to give to the warrior.
“I’m not angry, if that’s what you’re wondering”, she ended the silence, of course she did.
“It wasn’t your fault, Gabi and Falco are old enough to decide what they want to do and I’m grateful that you brought them home” she was looking him in the eye this time, she always looked at everyone in the eye when she wanted her answer to be direct, another thing to write down about the warrior.
“It wasn’t your obligation but you still did, I appreciate that”, she noticed how the face of the scout was less tense now.
“No problem, you know…I like hanging out with them, they’re one of a kind, I think you know that better than anyone” the scout answered.
“Yeah, I do”, she said with a smile at the thought of them, they were like her little siblings and she knew she was an older sister for them.
The warrior saw the scout a little confused, she could see that he wanted to tell her something else.
Jean grabbed the door handle and thought about turning it but something was stopping him, the girl still didn’t know whether to say goodbye to him or not, she thought that maybe he would ask her if he could spend the night there.
“Are you o- “, the warrior couldn’t finish her sentence.
“How you’ve been Pieck?” the scout finally turned to her and stopped holding the door handle.
She never imagined that the scout was troubled about leaving because he wanted to ask her how she was doing first. She was still looking at him a little startled.
“It’s just…. after everything that happened, I know some of us have gone our separate ways but we still are in touch. I know how Armin and Annie are doing, how Mikasa’s doing, I talk with Reiner sometimes and Connie….well, after this night you can imagine.” This time he was the one that looked determined when looking at the warrior in her eyes, like if he just wanted an honest conversation.
“But I never heard from you, only through Falco and Gabi when they mentioned you sometimes.” Pieck didn’t expect that at all, she didn’t know why Jean cared all of the sudden? Yes, they were enemies and comrades once, but that didn’t make them close.
“I…don’t think there’s time for an explanation, it’s late, you should get home.” The warrior stated.
“If I come tomorrow, would you mind talking about it?” the scout really looked like he was hoping for a yes.
“I’m not sure if we’ll be here tomorrow”, the warrior responded.
Jean looked at the kitchen and spot a bottle of wine. There’s no way….is he really thinking in offering her-
“Then would you mind if I offer you some glasses while we talk” he really had guts, he just carried Gabi and Falco who were drunk earlier and now his asking her if she would mind. Of course, she wouldn’t! Most probably.
Judging by the expression on her face, he thought for a moment that she really was about to kick him out, but it turned to a more normal look. Did she felt like she own him an explanation?
“Alright, but I won’t drink anything” she said to the scout.
Was it pity? Did she felt bad leaving him hanging for an answer and that’s why she agreed with his offer? Whatever was the reason, the scout felt good talking with the warrior again, deep down, perhaps he was asking to himself if she felt the same way.
There weren’t many words coming out of her, she only spoke when Jean asked her things like how she was, how everything was in Marley since she, Reiner, Gabi and Falco spent more time there than in the island. He didn’t have to ask why, he knew it was their hometown after all.
“When my father died, I didn’t want to leave the house, it was the only connection that I had with him, Gabi and Falco wanted to stay with me since then, Reiner lives a couple of blocks away and comes to visit pretty often” this was the biggest sentence that left her mouth, Jean didn’t even think about interrupting her.
“As you already know, we came to visit for a few days, Falco wanted to celebrate his birthday in a different way and thanks to this title of “Hero of Paradis”, he made up his mind the moment he knew that I was offered this house a long time ago in case I wanted to live in the island” her voice was soothing to the scout’s ears, he did notice her tone changed a little when she mentioned about the title that she had.
It was not a title they were proud of carrying, even with the perks and recognition they had, it wasn’t right, not after this, not after everything that happened.
Like if the warrior was trying to read the scout mind while looking through him, she didn’t waste any other minute and asked the question.
“Why are you really here Jean?”, the tall man wasn’t insulted by her question the moment he heard those words, he knew that if he were in her shoes, he would wonder the same thing.
The scout looks down at his glass, they were both sitting on the floor on top of a carpet, the fabric make it really cozy to be honest. After a moment, he found the right words.
“I wanted to check on you…. like you did for me back then” he muttered, when he looked at the warrior, he was a little surprised to see that her eyes widen.
How did he remember? She thought that it was just a moment where the two of them were absolutely broken back then, she didn’t expect him to remember or mention the moment.
“As far as I remember, you were the one that approached to see how I was”, she answered.
“And after that, you did the same with me…. that night….it was horrible for us but still….” the scout stopped in mid sentence, he was looking again at his glass but just before finishing his sentence he met her gaze.
Her cheeks were starting to heat up, she did remember that night and while the words coming out of his mouth were so soft and tender, his look was piercing into her soul.
The scout smiled at her. “….it was good to know that there are good people in this world.”
His smile…was so distracting, her heart began racing the moment he said that, taking a look back at that moment.
“Back then….” Was the only thing that came out of her mouth, while she also made a dive in her thoughts, remembering that night.
———————————————————————————————————-
It was night and so many things were happening. So many things that made the scout want to punch one of the nearby trees until his knuckles shattered, so many things that made him kneel to the ground and scream in a frenzy of rage.
He didn’t want to kill Reiner, even though he had just found out that his best friend Marco had died because of him and Annie.
Thank God he walked away from the campfire where everyone was sitting, his face was the one of a man who didn’t want to fight anymore, a man who was exhausted, a man who had already seen too much death.
He ignored the steam that was heard in the distance, perhaps the cart titan returned to her human form, he did wonder how someone could be inside that body of meat for so many hours, even days.
He found a log lying on the ground and sat down, leaning his back on it, his gaze was lost in the stars, wondering if maybe there was life in them, maybe Marco was looking at him right now…. he and Sasha…. maybe they’re in a better place…. far better than this world.
He could have sworn that he heard footsteps approaching and receding, as if someone had passed him without noticing him but the truth was that he didn’t care, he just wanted to be alone right now.
Still looking at the brightest star his eyes could find, he took a deep breath and calmed himself down, his expression was more relaxed than before.
“I’m glad you two had the chance to meet….one more time” he said in a really low voice, maybe he went crazy and was talking alone but he needed to think they were up there, just somewhere, somewhere better.
“This world didn’t deserve yo- “he was cut off when some cries reach his right ear. ……Someone…. crying…? ……A woman
After looking where the cries came from, he finally found her. A young woman, she was also sitting against a tree but wasn’t talking to any stars or having philosophical thoughts…. she looked devastated.
The woman stopped crying the moment she felt eyes upon her. She quickly looked at her left and there he was, the tall scout who beat the shit out of Reiner earlier, looking at her with the same broken look that she had.
Oh shit. The scout quickly turned his head but it was too late, the woman caught him staring at her, he was a little frightened at the beginning not recognizing her, a lonely girl crying in the middle of the forest and at night, yeah it would have scared anyone.
But he didn’t recognize her……wait. Those titan marks below her eyes, no doubt she was the cart titan, that explained when he heard some steam earlier, he had never seen her outside her titan form, she looked…. just like them. A poor soul who was forced to survive in this world.
Both stayed in silence, they didn’t bother to move to another place to have some privacy, what did it matter if both of them were looking at each other at their lowest right now?
As if unaware that the boy was there, or most likely ignoring him, the woman could not contain herself and let out a few sobs, she was grieving, there wasn’t any doubt.
The boy sighed and stood up, he took some steps away and began to hear the cries farther and farther away, he thought about giving her the space she needed.
The warrior couldn’t even find her friend’s corpse, she simply received the news that he had died, just like that.
She cursed the duty she had ever since she was a kid, the moment you become one of the candidate warriors you must be ready for everything, that is how her superiors always made it clear to her.
But was this her future? Keep receiving the news of how her loved ones were eaten? Tortured? Burned to the ashes?
Were there still good people in this world? She knew better than anyone that she wasn’t a saint, neither of them were but…this world made sure for them to be in the bottom of a hole and to never find the way up.
If she needed to save the world with those who were her enemy once, then she would do it, not for recognition, not because of a good heart…but for the few people that she loved and were still present, she would get up in the morning, hide her emotions deep down and continue with her mission.
But right now, right now this was her moment, she had the right to have at least a night to grieve.
Was that man from earlier broken as she was? She knew they were in the same boat feeling like crap right now. What was the name of his friend……Marco? She could only think on his eyes were full of rage back then when he was punching Reiner but she couldn’t blame the tall scout.
I’m gonna miss you Porco, she already did, she could feel her eyes heavy because of how much she had cried, that and the fatigue was already starting to wear her down.
Wherever you are, I’m sure I’ll meet you again, someday….
She felt a hand touch her shoulder, if it had been in an aggressive way, she would have reacted differently but the touch was…. comforting.
The woman turned her head, she tucked some of her hair that was blocking her view, just to find the tall man, offering her with one of his hands some tissues.
He wasn’t angry, he wasn’t sad, he was looking at her like if his objective was just to make sure for the woman to trust him.
The look on her face…. now that he could see her up close, she was really a beautiful woman, it’s a shame that she also fell as a victim within the grasp of cruelty from the persons that consider them devils.
“W-what are you doing?” the woman managed to speak, hoping that the scout didn’t have other intentions. But no…. his eyes were reassuring her, like telling her that she was gonna be alright.
Was it possible for a warrior to find comfort from a scout?
“I just.…wanted to check on you” his words were sincere, they didn’t know each other at all but they were feeling the same, the look on their faces was from people who were strugglers.
She broke the silence extending one of her arms, grabbing one of the tissues and cleaning her face from the dry tears resting on her cheeks.
“My name is Jean” the man respond, thinking that maybe in that way he won’t look like a stranger at her eyes.
“Pieck” the warrior looked at him, this time with a smile, it was everything the scout needed in that moment, he gasped a little when his eyes met that beautiful expression from her face.
Was it possible for a scout to find comfort from a warrior?
They locked eyes, and in that precise moment both of them felt a warm feeling on their chest, knowing that after all…
It was good to know that there are good people in this world.
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