Dining Room
The headquarters outside of the Northern Gate were filled with the sounds of celebration, but also with the constant noise of wagons creaking and soldiers stepping off. They needed as many soldiers in Trost as possible, though; an attack on the other cities was possible, and the capture and defeat of the Armored Titan were worth capitalizing on. So, the Garrison and the Scouts would now rotate between cleaning Trost and defending the cities near it, the former being a higher priority. The rest of the 104th was in the same headquarters; this was time for dinner, for which a hot meal had been provided to all the soldiers.
You walked towards the door of the dining hall, the soldiers around you stopping and staring as they immediately spotted the silver of your hair and knew who you were. Many of them were soldiers of the garrisons, who looked at you with pride and respect. The rumours of your contribution in the battle of Trost and the capture of the Armored alongside Mikasa were spreading through the entire garrison like wildfire. Even now, you could hear a group of soldiers whispering about your exploits. You could feel a thousand eyes on you.
"Almonacid, please let me," One of the soldiers, a young man with a bandaged arm, said to you as he held the door open. The admiration in his eyes was clear.
"You don't need to," You told him.
"N-No, I do," He insisted. You simply nodded and walked into the hall. The place was buzzing with the noise of hundreds of soldiers eating and talking, but as you walked in, a wave of silence seemed to spread outward from your position, a ripple of quiet moving across the room.
You scanned the faces. The 104th were gathered at a long table near the far end of the hall. Most of them had survived the ordeal except a few unlucky squadrons. Some of them, like Jean, had blood on their faces and a deep exhaustion in their eyes, yet they all seemed alive. You saw Armin, Sasha, Conny, and the others, and then you saw them.
Historia sat next to Adelaide, her small frame seeming even smaller after a day of battle. But as her blue eyes met yours, a small, gentle smile appeared on her face, one that quickly turned into a full beam that lit up her entire being. A wave of relief washed over you at the sight of her smile, one of the only few things that could manage to calm the rage in your heart.
Addie, on the other hand, had a different reaction. Her hands were shaking as she brought a piece of bread to her lips. She almost choked on it as she breathed deeply upon seeing you.
"Aghh...agh!!!" She coughed, a bit of the water she had next to her spilling on the table. Historia immediately started patting her back, a soft smile on her face. All while Addie's face flushed red.
Silence came over the entire dinner due to the sudden interruption from Addie's choking; the entire cadet table's attention turned to her. All the while, the two girls had different, albeit similar, reactions.
Then Connie began to laugh. His booming laughter cut through the silence. "Hey! Addie! You are not going to die from that piece of bread now, are you?"
He meant it as a joke, but you saw the brief flash of fear in Addie's eyes before it was replaced with a deep blush. Sasha soon joined Jean, Ymir, Marco, Mina...Everyone. Soon enough, everyone was laughing, not at her, but at the situation. The sheer absurdity of it all after the blood and the horror of the day. You did not laugh. You could not, but you did feel the temptation to do so. A calm washed over you for those brief instants.
As the laughter subsided, you walked toward their table. The cadets who sat between you and the girls quickly stood up and let you pass without a word. They all had the same look of admiration on their faces. One of the heroes of Trost, the one who fought the Armored Titan directly. The ones who had survived when so many others hadn't.
Then you stood in front of them. Historia and Addie. The girls who were on your mind all day. The girls who represented the warmth you had fought for.
Historia did not say anything, neither did Addie. They just stood up and embraced you.
Their arms wrapped around you in a tight hug, a silent confirmation that they were safe and so were you. "We missed you," Krista whispered into your chest. Her embrace was soft and warm. Addie, on the other hand, hugged you with a desperation that seemed to come from a deep well of fear. She held onto you like you might disappear if she let go. She was shaking. You placed one arm around Krista's waist and the other around Addie's, pulling them closer.
You stayed like that for a moment too long in view of everyone, and yet it did not matter one bit. All that mattered right now was the feeling of them pressed against you, the warmth of their bodies chasing away the cold inside. Then you finally withdrew, Jean took the chance to distract the rest by asking you a question.
"Quite the hero today, Almonacid," He said, raising his mug of water. "I guess I owe you one now." There was a hint of a smirk on his face, but there was also a genuine respect in his eyes. "Once I am in the military police, I'll see if I can put a good word in for you, though you might be in the Survey Corps by then." He was trying to keep the mood light, trying to forget the blood and the screams.
"Oi, Conrad!" Connie shouted from the other end of the table. "Is it true that the Armored Titan was very difficult to beat? Did you use some sort of secret technique?" He leaned forward, trying to get closer to your table, his curiosity and excitement almost making him fall off the bench.
Before you could answer, Sasha spoke, her mouth full of bread, "Obviously! He must have seen us train our special moves, and he went all 'whoa, that's cool, I'm gonna use that,' and he probably did it with Mikasa, didn't he?" She then continued eating, not really expecting an answer.
Eren, who was sitting next to her, slammed his fists on the table, "That's not it! He just fought with everything he had! He didn't need any secret technique to take down that monster! He fought for all of us!" He said, and his green eyes burned with the same fire you'd seen during the battle. He had the same will as you. You could not help but nod in agreement.
"You fought as good as Captain Levi, that's for sure," Marco said, a gentle smile on his face, "I think I've heard that Lord Garnis wants to throw a ball on your honor..." He said almost shyly that he had obviously heard it from Victoria, Lord Garnis's daughter.
Everyone threw Marco a look of pure bewilderment. Marco Bodt, one of the most reliable and modest men among the cadets, was not a gossip. Of course, his expression once he realized what he had said.
"And where may you have happened to hear that, huh?" Mina Carolina said, raising her eyebrow at him with a sly grin.
Marco's face went red, "N-Nowhere! I just... heard it! I think that there is a high chance that..."
Everyone laughed again, the tension in the room easing even more. Even you cracked a smile. The laughter was a welcome sound. A sound of life after so much death. The smile erased the horror of the battle for a moment. But then you saw Armin, who was not laughing.
He was looking at you, and not at your face. He was clearly concerned by something; his eyes were fixed on you. "Conrad...Is it true that Reiner..." He couldn't finish, as you could see the betrayal in him. His mind was trying to process what he had seen firsthand. He could still not believe, neither did Eren or anyone else. They had not seen Reiner's face in the steam, only you.
The laughter died. The room grew quiet once more, the weight of the day's events pressing down on them again. You felt Krista's and Addie's hold on you tighten, their bodies going stiff as they realized what Armin was about to ask.
"...That traitor!!" Eren roared as his fists slammed onto the wooden table, a deep thud cutting through the stunned silence. Every eye locked onto him, onto his face contorted in a way no one from the 104th had ever seen, ot even on the brink of death in Trost. This wasn't the fire of their shared, abstract hatred for the mindless giants. This was a visceral blaze that consumed him.
His voice rasped with betrayal. "That bastard... after everything... after all the training... all the talk..." His whole body seemed to vibrate with a barely contained energy, the muscles in his neck cording tight. His green eyes, usually burning with a righteous fervor, were now fixed solely on Conrad, searching, accusing, pleading all at once. You could almost hear the cracking of his own heart from across the room. "He is the reason that so many of us lost our homes!" He said with a tone that would send shivers down the spine of any Titan or even normal soldiers.
For everyone else, this was also a betrayal. But they had seen him, and the rumour that Reiner Braun had been the Armored Titan had spread as quickly as that of your victory. It was a rumor that most of them did not want to be true.
"Eren, calm down!" Historia said, her voice firm and clear, but there was a tremor in it. She let go of you and put a hand on his shoulder, her blue eyes pleading with him. "...He was our friend too..."
"A friend?! The truth is that he's a monster! That he's been lying to us since day one! That he... he..." Eren's voice broke, the words catching in his throat. He couldn't finish. The betrayal was too much to bear.
You simply stared at Eren. The rage you felt toward Reiner was still simmering inside you, but seeing the pain on Eren's face, on the faces of all the other cadets, the rage was replaced by resolve. You placed a hand on his shoulder. "The Survey Corps will interrogate him," You told him, your voice loud and clear, "We will find out the truth, and justice will be done, I promise that."
The room went silent. The weight of your words, the certainty in your tone, was a promise that everyone present understood. The tension in the room eased once more. The cadets found a reason to be reassured.
Armin, however, was not reassured. He was still looking at you with a mixture of fear and fascination. He hoped that the rumour about your arm had not gone this far. He hoped that they would think it was just a trick of the light from the steam of the Titan. But he had heard it too. The way the garrison soldiers, the way Captain Levi, the way the commander looked at you. He knew. And he was scared for you.
"Conrad..." He muttered to himself. The anxiety killed him; he wanted to help you out just as you had helped the others.
But then.
The door to the dining hall opened. Captain Levi stepped inside.
The chatter died. The laughter was snuffed out like a candle in the wind. The only sound was the scrape of a bench as a soldier stood up, a quick, clumsy salute that was copied by everyone in the hall.
"No need to stand on ceremony," Levi said. He walked through the room with a casual, almost leisurely gait that was at odds with the tension he radiated. He moved towards your table, the cadets parting before him like a sea. His gaze swept over the room, taking in the exhausted faces, the half-eaten meals, the lingering dread that had not been washed away by the victory. Then his eyes settled on you.
Alone.
"Conrad Almonacid," The Captain's name was a statement, not a question. He stopped in front of your table, his hands in his pockets, a posture that was deceptively relaxed. He looked at Historia and Addie, then back at you. "You've finally shown up."
"We've been looking for you for over an hour, Cadet," Oluo Bozado added, a slight smirk on his face. "You know how much of a pa—" He let out a small yelp as Petra elbowed him in the ribs.
Captain Levi shrugged, ignoring the interaction. He turned to you, "Commander Erwin wants to see you. He wants to give you an offer to join the Survey Corps."
A murmur went through the hall. An invitation to the Survey Corps from Commander Erwin himself. And Levi is delivering it. That was an honor that no soldier had ever received before.
Historia and Adelaide looked at you, their expressions a mix of pride and anxiety. You were finally being recognized for your strength. But you knew that this was not just about your strength. You had looked at your arm. At what you had become. You knew that the commander would have questions.
"I'm honored, sir," You said, your voice steady.
"Good, now don't waste any more of my time," Levi said, already turning to leave, before stopping to gaze over at the rest of the cadets. "The rest of you, eat your food and get some rest. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." Then he started to walk, and you knew you had no choice other than to follow. You gave one last hug to Historia and Addie, and then finally spotted Annie in the corner of the room, far away from any group, a ghost in the corner. She met your gaze only for a brief instant, and her eyes showed a deep concern.
It's not easy to interpret the look Annie gave you. The flicker in her blue eyes is unreadable in the hall's dim light.
Your feet felt heavy as you walked after Levi. Even as the cadets congratulated you.
"Way to go, Conrad!" Connie shouted again, clapping with the rest of the cadets. The support of your friends made the weight on your shoulders even heavier.
"Get him in the Scouts, he'll make a fine soldier!" Jean added, surprising you, as he had the widest grin on his face.
"Mikasa too!" Sasha added as she finally swallowed the rest of her bread.
Armin remained silent, but he gave you a determined nod, one that was both supportive and questioning. You hoped that you would find out the answers that you knew that he had for you.
Petra gave you an encouraging smile as you passed her, but it was a bit tight; her smile did not reach her eyes. She was clearly serious about you.
The night outside was cool. The moon cast long shadows on the walls of the headquarters. The celebration inside was a distant hum.
The walk to the office of Commander Erwin was silent. Levi did not speak, and neither did you. The sound of your boots on the stone path and the distant shouts from the city were the only things that broke the silence. You had questions, but knew better than to ask them out in the open. Not of him, but if he knew about you.
-x-X-x-
Upon reaching the office, you were greeted by the sight of a man in a white shirt with a stern expression, the very one who gave the rallying speech earlier. The Survey Corps' commander, Erwin Smith.
"Almonacid," He said as he looked at you from behind his desk. His eyes were intense and unfeeling. "Take a seat," He gestured to a chair in front of him.
Levi stood by the door, arms crossed, as if he were guarding the office. Or you.
"I'll be quick," Erwin said, not wasting any more of your time. "Your performance in Trost was exceptional. Both you and Mikasa Ackerman. The capture of the Armored Titan. The truth is that it would not have been possible without the two of you." He paused, looking at you as if he were expecting a response.
You gave a slight nod, your gaze unwavering. You were being scrutinized, and he was searching for something. The question of your arm. You knew that Levi had told him about it. The way the soldiers who had seen it were acting now made that clear.
"We've had reports about your arm," The Commander finally said, leaning forward. "To be frank, it was just a single report. However, given the circumstances, Levi's own words and our..." He searched for the right word. "...recent findings regarding the Armored Titan, we need to understand the extent of your abilities."
And then the room grew even more silent. The question was now out in the open. You could see it in Levi's eyes. In Erwin's.
"What are you?" The Commander's question was so direct and so quiet that it almost sent a shiver down your spine. As if questioning your very essence. "And...how does it relate to the fact that we just discovered the Armored Titan is a human?"
"I don't know," You finally answered, the words tasting like a lie even as you said them. But what else could you say? You didn't know. Not really.
Erwin didn't say anything. He just watched you. His stare didn't waver. And for a fleeting instant, you thought you saw something bright in his eyes. He was analyzing every word you had just said, your tone, your movements, your lack of eye contact, your posture.
So you pressed forward. "I just know that I almost died back there." Your right arm flexed involuntarily, the memory of the bone cracking, the flesh tearing, a phantom sensation that ghosted over the new skin. "And then...it was back."
Levi's posture changed, a subtle shift of weight onto one foot. His hands came out of his pockets.
"You almost died," Erwin repeated. He picked up a pen from the desk, rolling it between his fingers. "There is no shortage of soldiers who would give anything for that 'almost'." He stated a cold, hard fact of their profession. "But they don't come back. Not in one piece."
He put the pen down, the click loud in the silent room. "But...I believe that you fought to return not for yourself, but for something else." He looked at the wall, the map of the world hanging on it, with its three rings and the empty lands beyond. "And that's exactly the kind of person we need in the Survey Corps."
"So...you still want me to join?" You asked.
"I want you to join," He said. "But that's an offer. It's an order," His words were not a request. You were not a hero to be celebrated. You were a resource to be used.
Levi pushed himself off the door frame and moved to stand beside Erwin's desk, looking down at you. "You are lucky, Brat, we've caught that report before anyone else did," He said. "God knows where you would be if the Military Police hadn't left Trost in such a hurry as not to leave anyone around to ask questions." His tone was flat, yet there was a strange...gratitude? No. That couldn't be it.
"Everyone's focus will be on Reiner Braun and the victory at Trost; any rumours about your arm will be dismissed as adrenaline-fueled stories of soldiers who lost too much," Erwin added.
"And if it's not?"
"Then that is a question we will have to deal with when it happens," Erwin said, and that was the end of that conversation. "For now, your sole mission is to guard the Armoured Titan, and that includes Reiner." The commander's words were final. "He is to be kept alive at all costs. Do you understand me?" He didn't need to add what would happen to you if he didn't.
"I understand, sir," You said, your throat dry.
"One last question," He said as you stood up. "Who among the cadets was the closest to Reiner?" He cared not for the friendships that had been shattered today, but for information.
"Eren, Armin, Bertholdt and me, sir," You replied, thinking of the big guy you had trained with for all this time. You wondered where he was; you had not remembered seeing him at the dinner hall. "I've sparred with him throughout all of the training we've all done. Sir, I don't believe that any of them knew." You added, defending them.
"Noted," He said, and then he turned back to look at his notes, a clear dismissal.
Levi walked you to the door.
"One more thing, brat," Levi said as you were about to leave. "Tomorrow, we transport the Armoured to the old headquarters away from any of the gates. I want you before dawn at the stables. Got it?"
"Got it," You replied, then left the office. With a traitor amongst you all. The fact of Reiner, your friend, being the enemy, was an open wound that had not yet stopped bleeding. The moon outside the office was now gone, replaced by the faint glimmer of the coming dawn. The outskirts of the North were now quiet, the celebration now subdued.
You walked back to the Barracks, only to feel a hand on your arm. You tensed immediately, until you realized who it was. "Annie?" You said, your tone filled with surprise. Her blue eyes, somnolent as ever, looked even more tired than usual.
"We need to talk," She said, her voice edging on the side of weak desperation.
You felt a pull of concern. Not just from her tired state. There was something else. A familiar sense of dread had been with her in training. "Come with me," You said, leading her to an empty storage room away from prying eyes. You made sure that the room was empty and secure before you turned to her. "What is it?"
Her gaze weakened. Her focus drifted to the side. She was struggling with words. "...C..." She did not know how to start. The weight of the day had finally caught up with her. And the sight of your arm was not the only reason.
"Annie," You said, stepping closer.
Her focus shifted to your arm. The one that was lost. The one that came back. She placed her hand on your new arm, her fingers tracing the skin. She was examining it. Feeling it. Her touch was soft and careful. "...I..."
"Annie, what is it?" Your concern grew.
"Did you know?" Her words were quiet and her gaze sharp. Her vulnerability shifted. "About your power?" She said, her eyes cold as they no longer gazed at you but rested entirely upon the space between the two of you.
Your new arm tensed under her touch. "No."
Your one-word answer seemed to satisfy her.
Her shoulders sagged. She collapsed onto a wooden crate, the sound echoing in the dusty room. "You have surprised me more than once now," She looked down at her hands, her fingers tracing lines in her own palm. "First with love, then by convincing Historia, Addie, and me to be...okay with this situation..." Her hands relaxed, as a short smile played on her lips. "Maybe, I shouldn't have met you at all." She said this not with sadness or regret but with a sense of inevitability, like an acceptance of a fate she couldn't have foreseen but now recognised.
"I wouldn't want to think about such a possibility," You replied, taking a step closer to her. Your body provided a shadow that engulfed that of Annie. A protector.
Her blue eyes almost widened for a moment, allowing for her guard to lower just enough for a second. Interrupted only by your following words.
"It's over now, Annie. Reiner is captured. The battle is won." You said.
She shook her head. "No," She said, "It has just begun." She took a deep breath, a shuddering one. "I saw you today, your arm...The way you fought...You are in grave danger, Conrad."
You remembered the conversation with Commander Erwin and Captain Levi; they knew.
Her eyes met yours, her eyebrows frowned in anger. "The moment that your secret becomes public...Then they will have you hanged. You will be a monster in their eyes. I..." She stopped and looked away from you, her hands trembling as she placed them between her knees. "...know." A silent confession. You thought of what she could mean.
You put an arm on her shoulder, the feel of your skin against her uniform. The strength in your fingers as they brushed against her collarbone. "Annie," Your own breath hitched at the contact.
"...I won't let that happen, Conrad," She replied, forcing herself to look at you, to reaffirm her own choice. "I...won't." She repeated.
Then she finally let go of the tension that had held her since you entered the room. She let her head fall onto your chest, allowing the weight of her decision to come back again. Your arms instinctively wrapped around her body. Her body relaxed even further. "I will stay with you, do you understand?" She said, her tone mixed with bitterness and determination. "This world...it can take everything else from me...but it's not taking you."
For a long moment, she stayed like that, her head against your chest. You listened to her breathing, slow and deep, and ran your thumb across her shoulder. Her blue eyes eventually opened, looking at you. Lips slightly parted as if to say something.
"I am yours," She then said. A final promise that was both a shield and a chain. One that was meant to protect both of you. To keep you safe from them. "And I'll stay with you..."
"...To make sure we are both safe." A new vow.
She pushed herself up from your chest. Her hands found the collar of your jacket and closed the gap between you. Her body pressing against yours, her head tilted, a glint of defiance in her blue eyes. Her kiss deepened with a desperate urgency, a claiming in the face of the world's end. Your hands moved from her shoulders to her back, pulling her even closer until there was no space left, only the heat of her body, the scent of her skin, the soft, pleading sounds she made in the back of her throat. You felt her teeth nip your lower lip, a sharp, sudden spark of pain that only fueled the fire. Your tongue tangled with hers as your own body finally answered hers. Her hands roamed under your jacket, grasping for the firmness of your arm.
"I will be your monster...if I must," She gasped out between kisses.
"Annie." You wanted to tell her that she didn't have to be a monster. That you would protect her. That you would all figure this out, somehow. All your strength had worked to take down the Armoured, but only by a hair's breadth. All the while, your new arm moved, pressing against her. Your fingers brushed against the back of her neck.
"Shhh," She interrupted, silencing your protest by pressing her lips to yours again, softer this time, more tender. "Don't say anything. Just promise me."
The cold of the storage room seeped through your uniform from the floor, a stark contrast to the heat building between you. "I promise," You whispered back. "I will never leave you."
"Good." She pulled away from you but kept her hands on your chest, her thumbs circling over the fabric of your shirt. "Now we must go before we are missed." Her hands stilled.
Her fingers twitched, and she pulled away from you. A sudden wave of vulnerability washed over her face. The strength she had tried to display was quickly replaced by the shy, detached cadet you had sparred with countless times. She smoothed down her hooded sweatshirt, her movements becoming stiff, almost mechanical, and then you grabbed her wrist gently.
"Don't leave," You told her.
Her breath hitched. Her head was tilted downwards. You pulled her back into your arms, your arm wrapping around her waist. You held her for a moment. The desire to abandon all thought, to forget everything in a few moments of shared passion, was strong.
Her body went limp against yours. Her hands pressed against your chest, her fingers digging into the fabric of your uniform. She let out a soft whimper. "Conrad...I..." She looked at the window, as if trying to make her escape through there. "I don't deserve..."
You cut her off by pressing your lips to hers. You guided her to a cot in the corner, sitting down before pulling her onto your lap. Her legs straddled yours; in that moment, all of her weakness came over, and you took no time in undressing both of you. Your fingers fought the hem of her jacket, pulling it off in a single strong motion.
.
-------------->
.
The move left Annie gasping, but she hurried to remove her own shirt. Fingers clumsily unbuttoning down, revealing the pale skin and the small, pert buds of her breasts. They were perfect. Perfectly sized with soft pink nipples hardening in the cool storage room's air.
You wasted no more time. You lowered your head and captured one of them in your mouth. Her gasp was loud, almost a scream, as her hands grabbed your hair, pulling your head closer to her. She arched her back, offering herself to you fully as you continued to tease and suck at her nipple. You switched to the other, giving it the same attention. Her breathing was ragged, her body trembling with pleasure.
You pulled away from her, your lips crashing back onto hers again. The heat of her body transforms the warmth into sweat. The feel of her skin against yours, her breasts pressing against your chest, it was all a dizzying and overwhelming sensation. Your hands roamed her back, your fingers digging into her skin as you claimed her as yours.
Then you pushed her onto the cot. She looked up at you, her blue eyes hazy with lust. Her fit and toned legs spread for you, revealing her most intimate flesh. You could see the moisture glistening on her folds. The sight was an intoxicating invitation, one that you were not about to refuse. You guided your fingers towards her flesh, your hardness straining against your trousers.
"Hahh... Conrad..." Her gasp was a request for more.
You obliged. You slid one, then two, fingers inside her. She was tight, and her warmth, but she was ready. Her moans grew louder, her body bucking as you moved your fingers inside her, searching for that spot that would drive her wild. You found it, and she cried out in pleasure, her back arching off the cot.
No words came after that, only the ragged breaths and moans that were swallowed in the heat of your bodies, the creaking of the cot, the soft slaps of skin on skin, the desperate sighs and whimpers that filled the room.
You guided yourself to her entrance, your arm guiding the rest of your body into her. The feeling was immense, the pressure building as you thrust into her. Her gasps turned into strangled cries, your own upper and lower body now working in tandem, grinding into hers, each thrust sending a shiver through her body.
Soon, you were getting too into it, enough to forget all about the world and its problems for a few brief moments. All that mattered were the moans, sighs, the sweat on your brow, and the feel of your bodies. All the soreness and tensions from the previous battle were forgotten. Only the crevice of Annie's wet womanhood against your manhood took over your mind as you pumped into her again and again.
The cot groaned as your movements became more urgent. The heat between your bodies was enough to create a cloud of steam in the cold storage room. Her face contorted ever so slightly as a wave of pleasure washed over her. The feeling of you inside her, the way you filled her up, the way your body moved against hers. Her hands moved from your back to your neck, pulling you into a kiss that was both desperate and tender, a desperate attempt to anchor herself in the sea of pleasure.
Annie could no longer hold back. A loud gasp escaped her lips as her inner walls tightened around your throbbing shaft. The sudden, clamping pressure sent a jolt through your entire body, but you held your composure, continuing your thrusts to draw out her pleasure. "Aaahhhh!" The cry of pleasure spilled out from her lips like a waterfall.
As her body shuddered from her release, you slowed your pace. You watched as she came down from her high, her body sagging against the cot, her limbs now heavy. She looked at you with hazy eyes, her lips parted. "More," She whispered, her voice raw.
You didn't have to be told twice. You left the cot, lifting her in the air as you cornered against one of the walls of the small room. Her body slid against the cold wall of the warehouse, a yelp of shock and pleasure escaping her lips. Then, you slammed back into her with a powerful, deep thrust. Each move, a punishment for being a monster, a reward for her acceptance.
.
-------------->
.
What came out of her mouth were not words, but no longer coherent pleas; instead, they were a series of guttural moans; you heard steps outside, but cared not, as you lost yourself completely inside of her.
"Annie," You grunted her name like a prayer, a curse. Her head fell forward, her forehead resting against your shoulder as her body continued to move in tandem with yours.
Moments later, every single feeling except for the climax vanished as you drove yourself to the hilt, the world narrowed down to the feeling of your shaft being squeezed by her insides as your seed poured inside her. You let out a heavy groan, burying your face in her hair. Your hips twitched, riding out the last waves of your release.
Her body weakened as a result, and you held her up, her arms doing their best to hold as well as her toned legs resisted the inevitable, her head turned to the side, her hair plastered to her sweat-slicked neck. The footsteps outside faded away, leaving the two of you in the aftermath.
After a long moment of silence, you helped her up, her legs still shaking as you guided her back to the cot. You both lay there, the tangled blanket offering little warmth against the lingering chill in the storage room. Annie curled into your side, her head on your chest, her breathing slowly returning to normal.
After a few long minutes of recovery and silence, your arm traced circles on her back, your thumb stroking the skin at the base of her spine. Her muscles tensed, then relaxed as your touch soothed her.
"...Tomorrow..." She whispered, her body still against yours. "...We still need to be careful."
"Sleep." You said, your other arm reaching to cover you both with the blanket. "Sleep. I've got you."
She didn't answer, but she shifted even closer, her body molding against yours. You felt her breath warm against your skin. The quiet was heavy, filled with the weight of unspoken words and the ghost of what you had just done. But for now, it was enough. The exhaustion from the day, from the battle, from this encounter, was finally catching up to you. You closed your eyes, the steady rhythm of her breathing a lullaby in the quiet darkness.
-x-X-x-
Outside the door of the storage room, a pair of feet had come to a halt. They belonged to the dark-haired cadet who, only a few minutes ago, had been told tomorrow's orders by Captain Levi. After the long day, she was ready to head back to the barracks and get some well-deserved sleep. Though her mind still wandered with the memories of her and Conrad's connection on the battlefield.
The familiar surge of heat traveled up Mikasa's neck. She had never felt anything like it. That look in Conrad's eyes when he turned towards her, that look that wasn't just of soldiers trusting each other. That look of connection, the one that had been there, for a moment. It meant total understanding, blind faith almost, and it felt...good.
Right.
Intimate.
As if she were a part of him.
And she had wanted more. Their mutual strength was a bond that went beyond anything she had felt. She didn't understand it; it almost felt as if words fell short in describing the feeling. She missed a piece of the puzzle, one that she had attempted to discuss with Conrad back when he had managed to get them both through the blizzard.
To trust blindly was not in her nature, yet her trust in him had been absolute during the battle against the Armored. She was about to develop those thoughts further, to the memories of seeing Krista and Conrad kissing at the camp's infirmary.
But her thoughts died when she heard the noise coming from the storage room up ahead. A soft grunt and a thud against one of the wooden walls caught her attention. Could it be a thief? A wounded person seeking refuge? or something else, altogether. She moved towards the door, her footsteps quiet.
Then she heard a gasp. Not a gasp of pain, but something else entirely. One she recognized. One that was a private gasp. A private feeling. Her hand stopped moving mid-air. The gasp came again, followed by a soft moan. The creak of a cot. Then another moan, louder this time, that almost sent a shiver down her spine, she knew these noises...From her own experience.
The same one that was triggered by the display of affection between two of her friends.
She heard another moan, then a guttural groan and the distinct rhythm of skin meeting skin. This was not a thief. This was not a wounded soldier. This was far more primal. She felt that she should leave; she needed rest and a distraction from these thoughts, but instead she put her ear closer to the door.
Then she heard her name. Not her own, but that of the other soldier. That of the one who had sparked that new feeling. It was the name that made her blood heat up with intensity.
Conrad.
Mikasa's breath caught in her throat. Her knees weakened for just a moment, a weakness she hadn't felt since the last battle. She opened the door ever so slightly. The hinges did not make a single sound as she peered inside, her eyes adjusting to the dim light. She then saw the two figures in the corner of the room. Two figures locked in an embrace, moving in unison against one another. Conrad and Annie.
Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic, trapped bird against a cage. She stared at the way Conrad's back muscles tensed with each thrust, at the way Annie's pale legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him deeper. Her face flushed a deep red. Her gaze then moved to the floor, where their clothes lay scattered.
Then she looked back up, to Conrad's face. She could see the pleasure and love in his eyes. And in Annie's, she saw a look of surrender...Complete surrender to him. Then came the climax, Annie's hips bucked uncontrollably against Conrad's. Then, the gasps and whispers that followed.
They lay entwined on the cot, a messy, intimate portrait of two people who had found solace in each other's arms after a day of hell. Mikasa thought the deed complete, her own body reacting to the sight before her with a heat that radiated from her core, a sensation she craved more of.
Then she saw the way Conrad's arm wrapped around Annie's waist, the way he pulled her closer, the way she muttered something that made Conrad lift her up and pin her against the wall.
The next few minutes were a complete blur to Mikasa, the sight of the two bodies pressing against each other with an urgency that seemed both desperate and fated. The sounds of their bodies, the gasps, groans, and moans...It was almost more than Mikasa could bear.
Her body shivered, and she left the storage room with the image of Conrad's body moving against Annie's burning in her mind. The cool night air did little to quell the fire that had been ignited within her. The wetness between her legs had become uncomfortable, a reminder of the desire that now surged through her with a force she had never experienced before. A desire for Conrad. No..more than that.
A need for Conrad.
She leaned against the wall, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The need to touch herself almost overcame her. She slid a hand down her pants, her fingers finding the aching heat between her legs. She closed her eyes, picturing Conrad. Picturing herself in Annie's place. She felt the internal war waging inside her again. One that stopped her fingers from moving further.
A war between duty and desire...But no, it wasn't duty that stopped her. It was the knowledge...The total understanding that whatever she did to herself would never compare. That she wanted more than a temporary release. She wanted the real thing. Not an imitation. The image of the tensing muscles, the sheen of sweat on his skin...She remembered all the details. Every single one.
Her fingers pulled away. A defeat that signalled a victory.
Then a thought popped into her head...If Conrad had to be with anyone...She was sure that only herself, Mikasa Ackerman, had the right to claim that spot by his side. After all, it was she, alongside him, who had managed to take down the Armored. Not Annie. Not Krista. Her...The thought was the most selfish that she'd ever had, but it felt right. It felt...right. She pushed off the wall, her stride purposeful as she made her way to the women's barracks.
'I need to be with him...He needs to be with me,' she thought, an order that the deepest part of her, the one that had awoken to defeat the Armored, knew was the only one that made sense. And so she knew what she had to do. The question now was not if she would act on her new desire, but when, and where. She would have to be patient, the danger of the Titans...still present on her mind. But now she had a secondary objective that demanded her attention. A mission that was not just for herself...
-x-X-x-
Your mind woke you up before dawn, right as you were told to. Annie still lay sleeping on your arm, a peaceful expression on her face, the slight parting of her lips a quiet invitation. The desire to stay in bed with her almost overcame you, but the thought of your mission was stronger. You carefully removed your arm from under her head, making sure not to wake her. You watched her for a second longer, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm, her hair spread across the pillow.
Before, you would have expected her to wake up before anyone else, as she usually did, but it was clear that mentally and physically, she was strained. With a small movement, you leaned in and left a light kiss on her forehead. Then you stood up and got dressed. However...
"It's not good taste to leave a fragile girl naked in the cold." Annie's morning voice was as clear as the night before. She turned her body, the blankets falling from her shoulders and showing a sliver of her chest.
"Didn't know it would be this cold." You pulled your belt tight, the leather creaking as you secured it.
Annie's arms moved around her knees, hugging them as she sat up. Her blonde hair had lost its stiffness and was now messy. "You have your orders for the Armored Titan, right?" She said this almost in a monotone way, like she already knew the answer.
"Yes." You moved to the small, cracked window. The air seeping through was cold and damp.
The small cot creaked as Annie stood up, a sigh leaving her as she stretched. Her naked form was a beautiful sight, illuminated by the early morning light. "I needed that...to forget."
"To forget what?" You turned from the window.
Annie walked toward you, her movements slow and deliberate. She didn't answer right away. Instead, she placed a hand on your arm, her fingers tracing the skin. "Everything."
She put on her undershirt, then her pants. Her face frowned as if she were delaying her next question.
"Bertholdt..." Annie started, her back still towards you, her words trailing off as she struggled to form the question. "Was he there?" Her hands had been clutching her pants, but now they were trembling. "Did you...did you see where he went?"
The name hung in the small room. Bertholdt. The quiet giant. The shadow behind Reiner's broad shoulders. You searched your memory, the chaos of the battle replaying in your mind's eye. The blood, the steam, the desperate faces of the cadets fighting for their lives.
You saw the flash of the Armored Titan's fall. The scramble for victory. The faces of your friends. Jean's grim determination. Eren's fiery rage. But no Bertholdt.
"No," You said, the single word a heavy stone dropped into the quiet. "I didn't see him after...after Reiner."
Annie's shoulders sagged. It was a subtle movement, a release of tension so profound you almost missed it. She turned back to face you, her eyes cold and distant for what she was about to say. "Good." There was a bit of hope in her words, but she seemed too ashamed to show it.
She pulled her white hoodie over her head, covering her face. When she spoke again, her voice was muffled by the fabric. "Don't tell anyone, but if you see Bertholdt...or anyone sees him, you have to capture him immediately."
This wasn't a question. It was an order.
"You mean...?" You started, but she didn't let you finish.
"I don't expect him to show his face...But if he ever does..." She said as she finished pulling on her pants, "...don't trust him and do as I said."
Then she looked up at you, her blue eyes now demanding your absolute compliance to her request, a promise. "Can you promise me that?" This question made you pause. She wasn't asking for a promise to keep her safe, no, this was something else entirely. "I will explain after Reiner is transferred...to Sina," She added, her eyes not leaving yours. "Please."
There was something else in her eyes. A desperation you had seen in Reiner's as the Titan's steam cleared. A desperation for something other than survival.
"I promise, Annie," You said, the words a solemn vow. "Now we must both go."
She didn't respond, but she moved towards you again. She wrapped her arms around your waist, her head resting against your chest. You held her back, allowing this moment to last. The feeling of her body pressed against yours was a comfort you desperately needed.
"I have to go," You said, pulling away from her. "The commander..."
"I know," She said, her head down as she took a step back. Then she took a deep breath and put her hood up, hiding her face once more. Now the time to transport the traitor had come.
-x-X-x-
You were at the stables at the designated time, and the survey corps was already more than just awake; they were ready. The horses were agitated, their breath creating plumes of white smoke in the cold morning air. Soldiers moved with a practiced urgency, loading supplies onto wagons, checking their gear.
A large, specially reinforced wagon stood at the center of the chaos. You couldn't see inside, but you knew Reiner was there. You also knew that Commander Erwin wouldn't take any chances. The wagon was surrounded by members of the Survey Corps, their hands never far from their blades.
"Almonacid."
You turned to see Captain Levi, his face as impassive as ever, but there was an intensity in his gaze that hadn't been there the previous night.
"Almost late, brat," He said. "Get in position. You're on point with the rest of my squad and me. Erwin wants an extra set of eyes on that friend of yours."
Captain Levi then gestured towards the cart, but then turned away towards the members of his squadron. "You guys, get ready, we move out in ten," He ordered. The Special Operations Squad, among the strongest soldiers of the Survey Corps, all obeyed the captain's command immediately. Petra, the one with the orange hair, gave you an encouraging smile as she passed by, while Oluo gave you a look of annoyance as usual.
But then Captain turned to you, and you felt the weight of his stare.
"One more thing, Almonacid," He said, his voice dropping to a volume only you could hear over the noise of the stables. "Try not to lose any limbs in case anything happens."
The words were spoken with a deadpan delivery, a casual jab that held a different, more sinister meaning underneath. A reminder that your secret was known to those who mattered. And that they would be watching.
Then the Captain merely glanced at an approaching group of soldiers. You immediately recognized who they were, the silver hair that belonged to your sister unmistakable even in the dim light. Emelina. She marched towards you with Mikasa trailing behind her. Her eyes fixated on you for a brief moment before she brushed a hair out of her face.
"They will also be joining us in the escort," Levi said, "Be glad that you won't be the only cadet from your batch to join the expedition to escort the monster..."
Emelina didn't wait for him to finish. She simply stopped in front of you. "Brother," She said, her voice devoid of any resistance to the idea of traveling near the dangerous Armored Titan.
Mikasa stopped beside her, her gaze moving from the wagon to you almost instinctually, her red scarf a stark slash of black against the pale dawn. "Captain, what are our specific orders?" She asked, her focus already shifting to the mission at hand, a professionalism that was both reassuring and, given the tension between you two, somewhat unsettling.
Levi noticed the bit of attitude; you thought that perhaps she wasn't all that keen on the idea of leaving Eren and the rest behind.
"Simple. We make sure he makes it to the old Survey Corps headquarters in one piece." The Captain gestured to the reinforced wagon. "It should be unconscious right now. We aren't sure what it's capable of...Not even," He is interrupted once more, but not by your sister, but by a spectacled woman whose hair was in a messy, high ponytail.
"Not even if it will turn into a titan again...or if some of its abilities remain..." The woman adjusted her glasses with one finger. She had a curious glint in her eyes that made you feel as if you were a new specimen to be studied, not a soldier.
"Who are you?" You asked.
The woman pushed her glasses up, a wide, almost manic grin spreading across her face. "Name's Hange Zoë, squad leader," She said, her arms spreading wide, almost hitting the person next to her, a tall man with dark hair and worried eyes who quickly caught her arm. "And you must be Conrad! Oh, we have so much to talk about!"
The Captain immediately intervened to avoid further interruptions. "Hange," He warned.
"Hoho, I would never! I just have a few questions!" Hange said, but the Captain's face remained even stern.
"What example are you setting for the cadets?"
An unimpressed Hange simply looked at you as if she could have a conversation with her eyes.
"Right, sorry," She took a step back, but her gaze never left you. "I look forward to our little chat later."
Levi's lip curled into a sneer as he stared at Hange for a moment longer. He then turned away from the scientist and towards the cadets.
"Mount up," He commanded. "We'd better move before it wakes up."
Mikasa and Emelina didn't hesitate to follow, the sound of the two of them securing themselves to their horses already a familiar part of the mission. You looked at Mikasa, her gaze meeting yours right as she put the strap to her horse's head. Her expression was as hard as the stone of the wall she wished to protect. But something inside you knew that there was something else behind that stoic face of hers. You simply did not know what it was.
Then you looked at Emelina.
She had mounted her horse with an easy grace. Your sister's expression was unreadable, her silver eyes fixed on the wagon that held your former friend. "To think there was more to that empty head of his than muscle and a misplaced sense of duty," She said, her voice meant only for you. A thin, humorless smile touched her lips. "I knew he was hiding something. They all are."
There was a strange satisfaction in her tone, as if her suspicions had been validated in the most horrific way possible. You said nothing. There was nothing to say. Though all your shared memories with him, from the spars in the training ground, the exercises, the friendly competition in ODM gear, and all those times you ate together...All of those things now had a different meaning. One stained by the betrayal, one you still felt in your bones.
The column began to move, the groan of the wagon wheels and the synchronized steps of the horses creating a steady rhythm. Other than Reiner, there was no risk of titans. Yet, the formation that the survey corps had set up was one that was meant for a full-blown expedition beyond the walls, not a simple transfer. Levi rode at the front, his small form a stark silhouette against the rising sun. His squad, along with you and your sister, formed a protective perimeter around the wagon.
You and Mikasa rode next to Petra and Oluo, their horses moving in perfect sync with yours.
"So you're the ones who managed to beat the Armored to a pulp," Oluo said, his usual smug grin plastered on his face. "Impressive. But don't think that makes you special. We've dealt with monsters before, right, Petra?"
The female scout smiled, but it was a tired smile, one that didn't reach her eyes. She looked like she wanted to correct Oluo. But she didn't. Instead, she looked at you, "You were all brave to get that close. I'm glad you're all okay." Her genuine kindness reminded you of Historia, but with a maturity that you respected.
You didn't know what to say to her, but your sister didn't have that problem, "Oh, you don't need to worry about us," Emelina said, her voice smooth and confident. "Conrad here," She pointed towards you with her thumb, "Can handle a few dozen titans. Can't you, brother?"
"A few 'dozen'?" Oluo almost choked on the word. He glared at your sister, a muscle twitching in his cheek. "How many actually 'confirmed' kills did you get, brat?" Oluo challenged. It was almost a pathetic attempt to salvage his own ego.
Mikasa's grip on her reins tightened as she unexpectedly answered the question for you, "Twenty-two. As I recall," She said, not looking at you but at Oluo, and then at the road ahead.
Oluo's eye twitched. His jaw worked as he bit down, hard. You heard a faint 'click' as he bit his tongue. Petra had to stifle a laugh, covering her mouth with her gloved hand. You didn't even have to say anything.
"Twenty-two," Emelina repeated, a sly smile playing on her lips.
"They aren't confirmed yet," You said, not that you completely remembered each and every single one of them. From the ones you managed to kill at the Gate, to the ones within the city, and the ones that appeared as the Armored fell.
Petra coughed, covering her laugh, "Heh...Don't worry about it, Oluo," She said, making an almost reassuring wave of her hand.
"In a single day, too...without counting the Armored that Mikasa and my brother helped bring down," Emelina added. She was really enjoying this.
Petra simply gave you a look of awe. "You all must have some kind of miracle on your side to have that many confirmed kills in one day." She looked forward again, "Still, it's nice to have someone like you in our ranks." Her eyes move to the side, as if she had just remembered something, "Oh...right! Welcome to the Survey Corps! All three of you!" Her energy seemed so authentic.
Oluo clicked his tongue, a sharp, bitter sound. He spurred his horse, moving up to ride closer to Levi, no longer interested in the conversation.
Mikasa gave a short nod. Emelina's smile widened as she looked at you. But you simply looked away. Twenty-two. It was just a number. A number that didn't bring back the dead. It didn't make the betrayal any easier to swallow, but it did help to count your contribution to humanity so far.
"Conrad," Mikasa's voice cut through your thoughts. She wasn't looking at you, but at the path ahead. "Your kill count in Trost," She began, her words measured and precise, "It was impressive." Her gaze turned towards you. Her eyes were intense, a dark pool. "Your strength and agility. Without them, more would have died." Her left hand then moved, her fingers tracing the fabric of her red scarf.
Your gaze moved to her fingers. To the way her thumb caressed the black fabric. It was a gesture of comfort. Of familiarity. You'd seen it before, but not like this. There was something more than just mere praise embedded in her words and expression.
Petra looked between the two of you. She felt the tension. She had seen soldiers form bonds before, bonds forged in the heat of battle. But this was different. However, she had a senior duty to fulfill. "As well as you may have performed, always remember! Never get overconfident," Petra's tone remained warm, the almost lecture turning into a warning. "Even the most experienced soldiers can be taken down in a split second." She looked ahead, "We lost a lot of good men and women in the rush back to Trost...So please, for your own sake. Remember your training."
Her words brought a dose of reality to the conversation.
"We will," Mikasa's reply was simple, and she looked back to the road.
Before you could find a response to Petra, a brief bump on the road caused the wagon carrying Reiner to shift, a small but noticeable sway that made everyone's gazes fixate on the wagon for a second. The chains holding the reinforced cargo compartment rattled.
The horses whinnied nervously.
Levi, who was riding ahead, glanced back, his gaze sharp. He saw nothing. As his face turned to look ahead at the road, everyone relaxed once more.
"Wouldn't want that thing waking up on us before we get there," Emelina said, frowning. You were in complete agreement. You remembered how hard it had been to take down, and the memory of it punching your arm off was still vivid. The cargo you were carrying was as precious to humanity as it was dangerous. Then you looked at the members of Levi's squad, a group of individuals who had seen a lot more than you had. Even Petra, for all her friendliness, had a hard look in her eyes that told of a thousand battles.
Just a few more hours, and you would be at the old Survey Corps HQ. For a moment, you wondered what your fellow cadets were doing. Commander Pixis's idea of reclaiming Trost required both time and luck to patch up the gate. Thankfully, though, they would most likely not be in any direct danger. Of course, that was only if the Colossal or any other abnormal did not show up again. 'Reiner's...' You mentally corrected yourself.
'...But what of Bertholdt?'
The memory of Annie's plea surfaced again, the image of her determined eyes. The promise you made to her. "Capture him." The thought of Bertholdt being one of them sent a jolt of pure anger through your new arm, making it tense involuntarily. The quiet giant, always following Reiner's lead. You felt like a fool for not seeing it sooner.
You wanted to trust Annie, but a seed of doubt had been planted. What did she know that she wasn't telling you? And why Bertholdt specifically? The questions spun in your head, a dizzying vortex. You looked at Mikasa's back, her dark hair flowing with the rhythm of her horse.
A small forest began to appear on the horizon, a welcome break from the flat, barren plains that surrounded Wall Rose. As your column entered the woods, the temperature dropped, and the sunlight now filtered through the dense canopy of leaves, casting long, dancing shadows on the road. The smell of pine and damp earth filled the air, a much-needed change from the blood and gunpowder that had saturated your senses for the past day.
Just a couple of hours more, and then today's mission would be over.
-x-X-x-
Trost - Barracks
The mess hall of the cadets' barracks was quieter than it had been the night before. The celebration had died down, replaced by a more subdued atmosphere of recovery. Interrupted only by Eren, as he realized that Conrad, Mikasa, and Emelina were not with them. "Hey! Where are Mikasa and Conrad?" He asked Armin, who seemed not to have a clue what to answer, as he had also just noticed their absence. The toll of the battle had certainly exhausted him.
"They left a few hours ago, Eren," Jean answered, not even looking at him, too busy eating his bread and soup. "They were helping the Survey Corps with transporting Reiner somewhere safe. Something like that."
Armin's gaze lowered before he looked at Eren and gave him a nod. "That makes the most sense, those three were able to defeat him...So it would make sense for the Survey Corps to enlist them right away." He reasoned.
Eren's gaze followed the wooden rafters of the ceiling for a few moments. He held his fist against his mouth. "Dammit!" He then stood up, almost tipping the wooden bowl over. Then, after a glance from the rest of the cadets, including Marco, Adelaide, Mina, and the others, he sat down with a thud that made the entire table vibrate.
"Reiner was a traitor..." Eren gritted his teeth, the spoon in his hand now bent. "All this training. All this talk about being a warrior...all of it was a lie." He looked down at the bowl, not really interested in eating. "...And I can't be there to see that monster finally pay for it...for what he did to humanity."
"That's not all you're mad about, is it?" Addie's small voice interjected. Everyone turned to look at her.
She was staring at her own soup, the broth swirling as she stirred it with her spoon. "He was our friend, too. He was your friend, Eren." Her hands were shaking slightly, the spoon clinking against the ceramic bowl. Her hair, usually neatly braided, was messy from a restless sleep. Her green eyes, usually so bright, were clouded with a grief that mirrored Eren's. She was angry, but she was also sad.
"Yeah...I still can't believe it," Connie's spoon froze halfway to his mouth. "I mean, he always seemed so dependable. He even helped me with that one exercise where..."
Sasha put her bread down, her own face pale. "I guess...he was just a good actor," She said, her own accent, the one from Dauper that she tried so hard to hide, slipping through in her shock. "He ate with us...Always sharing his food...What a monster."
"It's more complicated than that," Krista's soft voice cut through the growing despair. She looked at her hands, folded on the table in front of her. "We don't know what Reiner...what if he was forced to do all that?"
Ymir, sitting beside her. "Forced? Come on, Krista. He helped destroy a gate. He killed people. There's no 'forcing' that." She leaned forward, her chin resting in her palm, she was still a bit sour about the whole...Conrad and Krista's situation. "That's just your savior complex talking again. Don't go trying to paint that monster as some kind of tragic hero that needs saving."
"Stop it, Ymir!" Krista snapped back, her eyes meeting Ymir's for the first time since the battle. The usual warmth in them was replaced by a cold fire. Ymir simply raised an eyebrow, a bit shocked. "We are all...just trying to understand," Krista added, her voice shaking slightly. She looked away.
Jean slammed his now-empty bowl on the table. "Who cares what the reason was? He's a traitor. End of story." He looked at Eren, then at Armin. A strange, unspoken understanding passed between them. The three of them, who had often been at odds, now found themselves on the same side of a line drawn in blood. "What's important now is what we do next." His eyes then moved to Addie, whose hands were still trembling. Then he looked at Mina, who had been quietly listening to the entire conversation. Her usual cheerful smile was gone, replaced by a thoughtful look that seemed out of place on her face.
Marco put a hand on Jean's shoulder. "Jean's right," He said, "He may have been our friend..." He stopped before he said anything else; the anger he felt within was a strange feeling. Anger for a friend. Anger for someone who could have threatened the love of his life, Victoria. For a moment, the thought of why he should care about Reiner's life when all of humanity was at stake made him feel even more guilty for not feeling more. He saw that the other cadets were also thinking, trying to process the betrayal.
"Let's trust in Mikasa, Conrad, and Emelina, then," Eren's voice stated with firmness, though his voice weakened for a moment, as if he did not know what else to say or what else to do. His friend...A tear welled up in his eye as he looked at them. "...they'll make sure he pays."
There was a silence.
A long, heavy silence.
Then Sasha broke it. "Hey...has anyone seen Bertholdt?" She looked around the hall, her spoon still frozen in mid-air. "I haven't seen him since yesterday...Not even when we were fighting...He's always around Reiner, right?"
All heads turned.
Ymir's expression hardened. She didn't say anything, but her eyes darted to Krista for a split second.
Armin's mind went into overdrive. He thought of all the possibilities. Bertholdt was with Reiner. The giant, the quiet, the loyal shadow. Where was he? Why wasn't he here?
No one answered. The only new feeling everyone now had was suspicion.
The image of Bertholdt, sweat beading on his forehead during a sparring match, flashed in Armin's mind. The memory of Bertholdt giving him a helping hand after he fell from the ODM gear during training. "Are you okay, Armin?" His deep, quiet voice. "You need to relax your shoulders more."
Armin's hands started to sweat, and he wiped them on his pants, the fabric rough against his palms. He thought of Reiner, of the Armored Titan, of the betrayal. There was a certain logic to the whole situation, especially the timing. The horrible timing. The interrogations regarding Reiner would begin soon, and having Bertholdt, his closest companion, missing...it was too much to be a coincidence.
"He must be helping with recovering the bodies, right?" Sasha said, breaking the silence. She looked around, her eyes wide, her food forgotten. "I mean...he would've told us if Reiner was a...you know." She couldn't bring herself to say it.
"Right..." Connie nodded, trying to convince himself. "He's probably...yeah. He's probably helping with the...stuff."
The word hung in the air. The "stuff". The bodies. The gore. The cleanup. But it was a weak excuse, and everyone knew it. Bertholdt was not the type to volunteer for that kind of work. He was a follower, not a leader. He followed Reiner. And Reiner was gone. And without Reiner, what would he do...or what would he be capable of?
There was no answer. Not a satisfying one. But if there was one...Then, it had to be urgently shared with the military...or all the efforts to capture Reiner would have been all for nothing.
***
Survey Corps Old Headquarters
The hours passed by, and the sun was already setting behind the hills. The old headquarters was a collection of crumbling stone buildings nestled deep in a forest, far from any major settlement. The place had an air of neglect and decay, with moss covering the walls and weeds choking the courtyards. The Survey Corps had not used this place in years, but it was the perfect location to keep a high-profile prisoner. Once you arrived, the anxiety and fear of Reiner transforming again was a shared concern among all members of Levi's squadron.
The Survey Corps positioned themselves around the castle, their weapons ready, their senses on high alert. Only Levi's squadron and a few others would enter the castle directly and then carefully deposit Reiner into the underground dungeons, which were supposed to keep Reiner from transforming.
Captain Levi did not waste any time. He was the one who kicked open the heavy wooden door to the dungeon, the sound echoing in the silent corridor. The air inside was thick with the smell of damp stone and rust.
"Get him in there," The captain commanded.
Eld and Gunther, two of Levi's most trusted men, dragged Reiner's limp form out of the wagon. He was still unconscious, a dead weight that was extremely heavy.
The job was almost done, and you stood behind, swords at the ready alongside Mikasa and Emelina. Mikasa was particularly close to you. Your gazes met for a moment. There was a strange kind of understanding, something that went beyond simple comradeship. The unspoken connection formed in battle returned with intensity. Her fingers twitched at her side, almost imperceptibly. A mirror of your own.
But then, as Eld and Gunther descended the stairs, a loud gasp.
"AAAHHH!" Reiner's scream tore through the air, high and inhuman. As if he had awoken from a horrible nightmare.
Your fingers gripped the handles of your swords. Everyone did.
Reiner's head moved from side to side, his eyes widened in terror, a look of a trapped animal.
"He's awake!" Hange's gasp from a distance was a mix of surprise and excitement, but also a hint of fear. She took a step closer, her glasses reflecting the torchlight.
Levi turned around, but there was no fear in his eyes. "Well, well. Look who's back with us," His words were flat and deadpan.
Gunther and Eld tightened their grip, eyes wide as they continued dragging him down the stairs. Reiner kept staring to the sides, muffled sounds coming off his mouth as he attempted to say something.
"Tsk..." Mikasa clicked her tongue as she readied her gear.
"Stay back," Levi warned the rest of the squad.
"I will cut him down if he tries anything," Emelina stated, her own silver hair glistening as she prepared her blades. Her own sense of revenge for what he had done to your arm, to you, and to everyone.
Levi shot down the notion with a single gaze.
But then, you saw Reiner's gaze pointed at you. His eyes widened even more. The color of his fear was a deep, sickly green. He began to mutter something that you couldn't quite understand. Only the muffled noises of something he attempted to say. Words he could not get out. But it almost felt as if he was not just scared, but confused...almost pleading to you. His lips moved, but no intelligible words came out.
For an instant, you felt almost tempted to help him. To help him understand. But then, you remembered the deaths, the destruction, the pain of your arm being ripped off. A cold rage began to build inside you. A rage that made your blood boil and your empathy shut down for him.
You averted your gaze from him, much to Reiner's surprise and dejection. You turned your back on him, focusing on the stonework of the dungeon, the feel of the sword hilts in your hands, the smell of damp earth, and the weight of your sister's stare on your back. This was a choice. A choice to not see the person you knew, but the monster that wore his skin.
A thud and a clang of chains echoed up the stairs as Reiner was thrown into the cell. The transport was completed.
"All of you, get out," Levi commanded, his own patience wearing thin. "And you," He pointed at you. "You stay."
You did not protest. You simply nodded. The rest of the squad began to file out, with Mikasa giving you a concerned glance, while Emelina had a smirk of approval.
"I will wait for you outside," Emelina whispered as she passed by, "Don't let the captain bully you too much."
You almost smiled at that. The idea of Levi bullying you seemed almost absurd, but you knew that the captain could be ruthless when he wanted to be.
Once the heavy door to the dungeon closed, you were left alone with Levi and the muffled sobs of Reiner from the cell below.
"You know," Levi began, his back still to you as he stared at the cell door. "That look on your face. The one you had when you looked at him." He then turned to face you, his gray eyes boring into yours. "You have to get rid of it. Or it will get you killed."
You met his gaze, refusing to look away. His eyes were as tired as his attitude.
"He was my friend," You finally said, triggering a small outburst of anger within.
"Tsk." The sound dismissed your response immediately. "Friends die. Soldiers get betrayed. Get over it." The captain took a step closer, the sound of his boots on the stone floor loud in the quiet dungeon. "But if your emotions ever compromise a mission," He stopped, his gaze unwavering as it stared into you. "I won't hesitate to cut you down,"
The way that the Captain spoke...You did not doubt it. Not for a second.
"I...I understand," You said, knowing that emotions were the least of your concerns right now.
But the captain had already moved on. His gaze moved away from you as a small smile formed on his lips. "Still..." He began, "You were quite the show yesterday...Twenty-two Titans and a limb to spare...Keep it up, and you might even surpass me, brat,"
Your head snapped up to look at him. Was that a compliment? A compliment from the Captain Levi? No. You knew that it wasn't just a compliment, or perhaps...
He patted your head before you could give it any more thought. He raised his voice loud enough for all of his squadron to hear. "Alright, everyone! Get ready for tomorrow. The real work is about to begin!" The Captain then turned and began to leave.
You just stood there, unable to process what had just happened. Levi had patted your head. You touched the spot where his gloved hand had been, the feeling still lingering. This whole interaction left you disarmed and confused. You thought you would be reprimanded for your loss of control, for the regrowth of your arm that should be impossible. But no...He treated you not as a soldier who had barely survived, but as someone who has the potential to be...among the best?
Strange. Very strange.
As you left the dungeon, the sun had already set, and a few torches had been lit across the courtyard. You saw torches approaching from outside, the rest of the survey corps moving in to ensure that the Old headquarters was fully operational.
Mikasa approached you, her face impassive as always, but her grip on her scarf tight.
"Are you okay?" The words were a simple question, but you could hear the concern beneath them. Her dark eyes scanned your face, searching for an answer.
"I'm fine," You said, the words feeling false even as you said them.
She didn't press you. Instead, she followed you silently as you walked towards the courtyard. "We were assigned a room for the night," She said, breaking the silence. "All three of us," She added, referring to your sister as well.
You simply nodded, still lost in your thoughts. The reality of the situation was starting to sink in. Reiner was a traitor. You were a freak, or at least something close to it. And you were now a member of the Survey Corps. The very corps you had always admired and hoped to one day join.
A sudden realization hit you. This was the end of the road for your old life. The life of a simple cadet, dreaming of joining the Survey Corps but never really thinking it would happen. You were now a soldier, a soldier who had seen combat, who had killed, who had lost a limb and...and regrown it. A soldier who was now tasked with guarding a traitor, a former friend.
Only Mikasa's hand reaching for your own brought you back to the old headquarters. "Here," She said, her touch a surprising warmth against your cold skin.
You looked down at your hands. One old, one new. A perfect match. They were both strong. Strong enough to protect the people you cared about. Strong enough to kill the monsters that threatened them. The thought was both comforting and terrifying.
You looked at her again, her face bathed in the torchlight. Her dark hair framed her face, and her red scarf was no longer tied up as tightly as before. The pale skin of her neck was visible, and your eyes lingered there for a moment, tracing the curve of her throat. You saw her swallow, a subtle movement that you wouldn't have noticed before. But now, you did. You noticed everything.
"Room's this way," Emelina's voice forced Mikasa's hand to let go, a reminder that you were not alone.
"Let's go," You said.
Though the intensity in the eyes of Mikasa remained for a beat too long before she turned towards the building your sister pointed at. As the three of you walked inside the stone building, your mind was not on the small, dusty room, but on the feeling of Mikasa's hand in yours.
Inside, the room was small, barely enough space for two bunk beds and a small window that showed the moon. You had made it. The transport of the traitor had been made with relative ease. You did your job. But as you and your fellow cadets made yourselves comfortable, the weight of the day's events finally hit you. The time for rest after a long day of blood and betrayal.
The moments between arriving and settling on the dusty bed were lost on you, as you felt your exhaustion take over, your body demanding rest, and your eyes shutting close.