Despite the repeated questionings and insults from her 'guards', Annie remained silent and unmoving the whole time, not reacting to their words. They were meaningless. It was meaningless.
Nothing mattered anymore. Her village was destroyed, her father was probably dead. She had no hope anymore.
'you wanted me to live on, father, to survive and come back to you. It now seems that I outlived you. What do I do now, father? What do I do now?'
They locked her in a dungeon cell, apparently one that was once Yeager's, from what the Survey corpsmen guarding her said to each other.
They seemed convinced about her being a Titan Shifter, despite the lack of conclusive evidence.
She suspected that at this point, it was the only reason she was not tortured or killed, yet-the last vestiges of doubt over her identity as the Female Titan Armin claimed her to be.
An argument at the entrance to her cell. A familiar squeaky, child's voice, not one of the adult- if barely, guards of her new rooms.
The 'guest' comes closer, until his body is almost touching the bars separating them.
'Speak of the Devil…'
"You still look at me like I am the real monster, Armin. Do you think I don't see it amidst the pity in your eyes?"
The boy flinched at her words, but did not respond, lowering his gaze instead.
"How are they treating you?" He finally asked, after a minute of awkward silence.
He received in response an Icy glare.
"Have you eaten yet?"
"Do you intend to feed this titan you've convinced them I am? Did you decide to volunteer yourself as a meal?"
Armin chuckled as he presented her with a bowl, containing broth.
"Nothing so extreme, I only have some soup for you… Though considering is from the barracks kitchens, the reluctance is not entirely misplaced."
…
"Annie, could you get closer, I know that you are chained, but if you get closer to the bars, I could feed the soup to you." He hesitantly said, presenting a large spoon, to demonstrate his words.
Annie was about to tell him just where he can go and shove that spoon, but her traitorous stomach chose that moment to announce its hunger-via a growl that was missed by neither.
She was locked here since her capture yesterday, and did not eat anything since the light breakfast mid patrol back then.
One that was insufficient after the tiring excursion the day before.
So she settle to examine the bowl and its contents, and after just glaring at the infuriating boy as she did as he asked, gesturing to him to get on with it.
The girl was hesitant at the first spoon, but after it, she paused, likely looking for anything 'extra', before failing to sense any poison or other addition to the food, at which point her hunger got the better of her, and she glared at Armin to proceed already.
He kept looking at her as he fed her, and eventually spoke, his voice a whisper too weak for her guards to overhear.
"Y-you a-are right, I am scared of you. How could I not, after seeing the ease with which you ruined the scouting expedition as The Female Titan, you almost killed me, and killed so many elite veterans … and there was nothing I could do to stop you then.
B-but, Annie… you d-didn't kill me, when you had a choice, and I think you really are a good person. Please, it's not too late! Help us, show them that you are the kind person I know you to be. Help us save innocent lives. Help us prevent another Mina Carolina. Help us to stop more friends from dying."
XxXxXx
Reiner had a decidedly strange morning. First some of the senior Survey Corpsmen were missing, while others seemed tired-was there a private party or something he missed? It seemed unlikely to have been another expedition beyond the walls, the horses were all in place, as was the Captain, who was in command until a decision about Commander Smith was made by the Capital.
Than a stunned Jean passed by, a strange look on his face.
Bertholt seemed worried about Annie for some reason, revealing having a bad feeling.
And now this…
"I'm telling you, those are the gifts to the Holy Titan himself, for opening our eyes to His divine truth, for the miracle that saved Trost! To give them to anyone else-why that would be a sacrilege!"
"And I'm telling you, any packages must pass inspection, before proceeding to individual Scout they are addressed to."
An old man, wearing a strange cloak, stood near the current fortress of the Survey Corps, in one hand a basket filled with goods, and in the other reins to the horse he must have rode here on. He was arguing with the man on watch-this one an actual trainee from the western district of Wall Rose.
Reiner was wondering as too why he volunteered. The western district trainees had a surprising number of volunteers to the Scouting Legion apparently-more than the usual one to three.
'Still, Holy Titan? Is he talking about Yeager?'
Author Notes: Well, there it is-another chapter.
about the Cloak the Cultist had on-see the one used b Titan cultists in the prequel.
as per usual for when i focus on a single fic in a fandom- i decided to stick most of the things i'd like to see in a fic of that fandom, and see what could be integrated into the plot. Titan cults are one of them.
If you have any idea, suggestion, advice-please use the space below and write to me about it.
Don't Forget to Review.