literature

After the Scarf: Missing in Action

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Literature Text

It had been a week.

You thought this to yourself as you sat in a rocking chair, staring out the window in the living room of your house. The quiet squeaking of the chair was the only sound in the house, along with your quiet breathing. The ingredients to that night's dinner lay untouched on the counter. You had recently lost your appetite in the latest stage of your pregnancy.

A small sigh escaped your lips. You rested your hands on your bulging stomach, a sad smile forming on your lips.

A knock sounded quietly at the door.

"Come in." You called. The door opened, revealing a shaggy head of hair. Jean peeked around the door, and upon seeing you in the rocking chair, stepped into the cottage.

"Hey." He greeted. "I um...brought you dinner." To emphasize this, he set a small bag down on the table.

You shot your best friend a grateful smile. "Thanks Jean, but I'm not really hungry."

Jean looked at you worriedly. "You said that last time I visited, and from what Christa told me, you said yesterday too."

You shrugged. "I just don't have an appetite." You replied simply. 

Jean sighed with a bit of irritation, running fingers through his light hair. "You should eat anyways.' he told you, taking the bag and walking over to the kitchen counter.

He began taking ingredients out of the bag. A roll here, a potato there, and some fruit as well, as a treat. While he began to prepare it, you sat quietly in your chair, continuing to stare out the window. There was a comfortable silence between you two, no words needing to be said. But nevertheless, you spoke.

"It's been a week."

Jean looked up from the counter, towards you. A bit of surprise registered on his face, but he nodded in confirmation. 

It had been a week since he went missing. A dozen squad members had ventured out on a routine exercise, Rivaille among them. Less than a dozen had returned. Those who had not come back were deemed either dead or missing, Rivaille being amoung those who were missing. 

Ever since receiving the news, a member of the corps had come by everyday to check on you. You had retired from the corps due to your pregnancy, but the friends you had made never changed. Jean tried to visit as often as he could. You two had grown closer over the week, not romantically, of course. That time had passed long ago.

Jean stopped what he was doing and walked over to you, kneeling in front of the rocking chair. 

"He'll come back." He whispered. But you could hear the touch of doubt in his voice. "You and I both know that."

You smiled at Jean sadly. "No." You whispered. "We don't."



















Meanwhile, on the wall:

"Erwin" 

"Erwin, our shift is over."

"It's time to go."

The commander shook his head. "No" He replied simply. "Not yet. Not until the sun sets."

"Sir?"

Erwin turned to the soldier, a small smile crossing his lips. "Procedure says that a soldier must be missing for a week before he is declared dead. Rivaille went missing at sunset a week ago. I won't leave until the sun sets."

"Y-yes sir!"

With that, the soldier spun and walked off, leaving Erwin staring alone at the setting sun.

He gave a small sigh, and for once, fear clouded the  eyes of the great commander.

"Rivaille..." he breathed, the name lingering on his lips. "You can't do this. (Name) needs you."

He closed his eyes, breathing in the smell of the sunset and the evening light.






"Sir..."

"I know."

Even though his eyes were closed, he could tell the sun had now vanished beyond the horizon. The sun had set, and so had the hope for the soldier to return.

"He's gone." Erwin whispered, his face blank.





They turned from the wall, back towards the town, but something made Erwin stop, and glance one more time at the plains that extended beyond the wall.

"Wait." he told the soldier quietly, squinting his eyes at the plain. A small shape made itself, a shadow against the evening light. Erwin wouldn't have noticed it if he wasn't looking closely. But now...

"Open the gate!!!" he yelled. 





You had fallen asleep after Jean had left. 

You looked up, out the window, to find the night sky enveloping the last dim rays of light from the sunset. 

And in that moment, you realized he was gone.

Tears pricked your eyes, and began to spill freely down your cheeks. your face contorted into such a look of sadness and despair anyone who looked at you would have felt their heart shatter.

"Rivaille" you sobbed. "No...."

You sat there for what seemed like hours, knowing your husband was never coming back, knowing your child would never be able to know its father. Your loud sobs rang through the house, and eventually faded to quiet hiccups, which then became silent. You sat in a trance, your eyes heavy with tears. 




It was only then that the door opened. 


You froze, your back towards the door. You knew exactly who it was, but you couldn't quite believe it. 

His footsteps crossed the room, each second seeming to last for an eternity. You couldn't control your emotions. Happiness surged inside of you, but you were afradi at the same time that you were wrong. It couldn't possibly be him, he was dead, after all...

"(Name)..."

Your eyes widened, and your hands rose to your face. Fresh tears sprung to your eyes, and you couldn't stop them from flowing freely down your face. 

That oh so familiar voice, deep and serious as always, reached you again.

"(Name), look at me."

You raised your head, and came face to face with the dark orbs that always seemed to pierce through your soul. Rivaile was injured, you could see. His arm was held to his chest with a sling, and his head was bandaged, his dark locks spilling over the white gauze.

"No." You whispered in disbelief. "It can't be, you, you..."

"I'm alive." Rivaille whispered.




You never did find out what happened beyond the walls, or how Rivaille manged to make his way back to you. All that you cared about was that he was alive, and you knew he would never leave you.

There,have some angst!!
I've been meaning to write this for such a long time. It has been in my stash for weeks now,but a recent suggestion made me finish it.

Rivaille will always come back, no matter what. :heart:

Rivaille and all characters belong to Shingeki no kyojin, you belong to Rivaille.
© 2013 - 2024 Zephyros22
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Good ending thank you