Reader X Jean - I meant the other Jean

Everything was going wrong.

You spurred your horse on, not looking back, willing it to go faster. You knew what was behind you, those footsteps were unmistakable, but you kept going.

You had to.

One wrong move and you were dead, if your horse slowed for even a second the titan would catch you and it would be game over. You fumble around with the flare gun looking for the right flare, your hands shaking in desperation. “Come on, come on” You mutter under your breath trying to keep calm.

Your horse jolts briefly causing you to drop your flares, scattering them on the floor, leaving them behind. You curse loudly a tear falling down your cheek. This wasn’t the time to cry; crying would cloud your vision making it harder to small obstacles like rocks and tree branches. You urge your horse to travel faster as the footsteps get slowly louder, praying you can find somewhere safe, somewhere where you were out of range, like that tree.

A tree!

Your heart pounds in your chest as you turn your horse’s course, making it run towards the only tree in the area. Your legs burn and your arms ache but you ignore it all. You need that tree. Finally you’re in range, you glance up at it. It was a tall tree with huge thick branches protruding out of its trunk.

Perfect.

You gentle start to rise on your horse, trying to stand up fully but maintain your speed. Your horse however does not understand your intentions and rears back making you fall from the creature’s body onto the soft grass. You cry out as the horse starts to panic, it can see the titan and see you on the ground. In fear it bolts, running off into the distance leaving you with the 12 meter class titan. You scream loudly and run towards the tree, when you are again in range you use your gears to pull you high into its branches, out of reach of the titans preying hands. You relax onto a branch before you start to cry. This was it, game over. You had dropped your flares; your horse had left you. Luck wasn’t on your side. You begin to cry. You had loved that horse, it had been so gentle and easy to ride, it was almost like it understood you and you understood it. But now he was gone, he’d left you to-

“(NAME)!”

You look around to see your horse galloping back to you, with Jean right behind it! You stare in amazement. Had your horse gone to get Jean? You smile, clever boy. Jean followed your horse to the tree, the titan was still trying to get at you despite the fact you were way out of reach. Jean jumped off his horse and shot out his gear attaching it to the back of the titan neck before flying in to make the kill. You start jumping on the tree branch, “Oi! Fatty! Keep your eyes on me, just look at how tasty I am!” you shout, trying to distract the titan from an ever advancing Jean. Jeans blades reach the titans weak point and with a powerful swipe he kills the creature. You punch the air in joy knowing you weren’t going to die, “thank you Jean, I owe you!”

You come down from the tree and walk up to your horse, it nuzzles you gentle and you stroke it’s face. Jean walks up to you, “You ok?” he asks. Looking concerned. “Yeah” you say sighing “I’m fine now thanks, I’m just glad you’re so good with your blades.” Jean blushes at your complement. “Well yeah, I got into the top ten for a reason you know, the Survey corps should be grateful to have someone like me on there team!” You smile and continue to rub your horse’s face a long silence follows before you finally say: “You know what, I love you Jean. Without you I would have died today, I can always count on you.” There is silence again before Jean grabs your hand and pulls you close. Before you know it he plants his warm lips onto yours and gives you a gentle kiss. He releases you from the kiss and stands back looking smug, you stare at him. “Um, what was that for?” You ask questioningly. Jeans smug smile drops. “Well you just said you loved me and I’ve liked you for a while so I took my chance and kissed you.” You pause “Um, I was talking to my horse.” He freezes “What?” He says horrified, “your horse?” “Yeah” you explain “I named my horse Jean.” Human Jean stares at you for a minute before his expression changes. “You’ve gotta be kidding me” he begins but you roll your eyes and grab him by the collar pulling him in for a passionate kiss. When you break apart you look him in the eyes. “I guess I love you too” you say smiling.