time loop AU: eventually, in the course of the loops, jean would have broken down. he’s tried everything, he’s lived through years of trying to save his best friend and failed every time. eventually, on one loop, on the day that marco is fated to die, he would have just decided, fuck it, we’ll run, we’ll quit the corps, we’ll become fugitives and blend in with the civilians, anything, to save marco. 

but marco won’t let him, smiles because he trusts that jean’s leadership will save him, that he’ll stay alive simply because of how much he believes in jean. 

and jean just breaks down because he’s been trying for so hard for so long and he’s so, so tired.