DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN SHINGEKI NO KYOJIN.

Date Uploaded: April 8, 2017-Saturday.

Note: Advanced apologies for the OOC's.

Ultimate boredom: *laughs* Yes, Rico doesn't like how she was placed along with the Survey but I decided that if I want to introduce her, I need her to join the main team! Yeah, I updated rather quickly. Must be because of my ultimate boredom as of recently *chuckles*. Nah don't worry about Sasha, she'll be fine(?). I tried my best to make all the minor characters who died immediately in the anime, to last a little bit in this fic. Giving Hannah and Thomas recognition was so far what I got. The others, I'm still working on it. Too many characters to develop *laughs* and yes, I intended the mention in A/N as an inside joke. I love your review spams, they make me smile! *smiles*. I'll stop now, just read *laughs*.

And so this chapter will be short but when chapters are short it means answers will be given. *laughs* Or is it?

Read on!

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN: THE TITAN WHO CARES
Armin, Reiner and Bertholdt stayed in the biggest tree they could find. Mike was the person who left to scavenge. They wanted to come and help but if Mike takes Reiner with him then the two would fight, if Mike takes either of the two they'll make a problem. And so he went alone, leaving the three with his trust.

It's been days since they were stranded with no horse, no food supply and no one to come and save them. They had to wait before beginning to scavenge or else they're mincemeat. The number of titans within the area of the legion was too much to handle. But with the soldiers scattering, it was safe to assume that the titans would scatter as well.

Armin kept quiet as he evaluated his actions. He actually fought with Bertholdt back there and he almost caused another's soldier's life. In fact, he may have already have blood in his hands. Instead of saving them, he was fighting with a comrade. But while he was thinking about it, he couldn't help but be disturbed with how Bertholdt's been staring, or was he glaring, at him.

It's been hours. Armin was sitting far from the tree's body and remained in the middle of the end of the branch and the body of the tree. Bertholdt was leaning on the tree while staring- glaring at the blonde soldier.

"What?" He asked as nice as he can. He kept telling himself not to level himself to Bertholdt's level.

"..." he said nothing.

"I'm sorry if I fought with you last time. I had to defend myself and-" he paused for a bit before changing his words, 'no, I'm not gonna say it's all your fault because it's partly mine as well. So I won't make excuses. I'm sorry Bertholdt is all I'm going to say' is what he wanted to say but, "Hey-"

"If you're sorry then I was right. You did force Annie to surrender." The other soldier said bitterly.

"You know, I'm glad you brought it up. Because I've been receiving hints from you since Krysta's birthday." Armin will not back down. Even if in his theories... at the back of his head... Bertholdt is...

"I love Annie. Yes! I won't deny it! That's why I am always keeping my eye on you!"

"Then did you know... that she's the Female Titan?"

"I know and I kept it a secret. For her sake. But YOU," Bertholdt points at him, "you're a traitor."

"I'm not a traitor!"

"Traitor who doesn't care of another person's feelings to be considered a soldier but also a traitor of humanity for protecting a shifter!" He yelled. "You don't belong to either side, Armin. You're no human, you're no titan. You're on a side where you're the only person in it."

As the once silent soldier express his anger and envy towards him, he realized how much Bertholdt liked the small blonde. But why? Why does he like her this much? To the point that he's willing to kill?

"Stop it." Reiner, being the one who mediates the two, tells Bertholdt to stop it, with a hand on Bertholdt's shoulder. "Rest."

Bertholdt said nothing more and hopped down the tree. Reiner stared at Armin for a moment.

"Reiner... are you..?"

"Just rest, Armin. Looks like Mike won't be back for another day." He says, refusing to answer his question.

When Reiner hopped down to another branch, Armin remained seated where he was, his mind trying to piece together the bits and pieces of what he's gathered so far.

Annie...

Bertholdt...

Reiner...

What's their connection? Do they know each other? How long? How long gave they known each other? Did they come from the same hometown.

Then Armin remembered something that Annie said when they were young.

Flashback (reference prologue):

"Any friends around?"

"They're not here."

"Are they still alive?"

"I hope so."

End

It may be a coincidence, she could've meant someone else but it could also be the perfect fit for the puzzle. If assuming he was right, then it means they're childhood friends and if they're childhood friends, then...

"I know and I kept it a secret. For her sake."

Bertholdt's words... it would only mean he knew long ago that Annie was a titan shifter and that the small blonde has been a titan shifter since she was young. Is it possible that Eren as well? There were no signs that he was a titan shifter before.. maybe Armin was still missing something.

Continuing to think about it. Is it also possible that Bertholdt is a titan shifter? Or Bertholdt just knew of the secret? Is it the reason why he liked her? What about Reiner? Does he know? He's been acting neutral about Annie's case and just acting as a protective older brother for Bertholdt and refused to answer his question... maybe he knows, maybe he doesn't. Both cases still stands.

What is it that Armin was missing? What connects all these theories? Is it connected to baby Titans? To the attack on Shiganshina? The big titans from before?

Wait!

Sasha and Connie saw a titan before. One inside the walls. One wearing an armor. Where did it come from? What was it doing there? What happened?

As he remembered correctly, Sasha was saved by Annie. Annie was involved again! Then Sasha said that Connie and Hannah may be in trouble so she went back. Annie went back but did NOT report anything of what happened when she came back. What's missing?

Debriefing Connie and Hannah, Hannah doesn't seem to remember the details because she was somehow delusional after Franz's death. Connie on the other hand had no detailed information of the titan. But he mentioned someone came to save them. Someone with a gun. The titan changed its course and they escaped. And as far as everyone knows, only the MP has guns.

MP. Gun. Mysteriously saved them. It has to be Annie!

But what happened? Then? Who did the titan chase? Or did he chase this mysterious savior assumed as Annie?

" 'Traitor who doesn't care of another person's feelings to be considered a soldier but also a traitor of humanity for protecting a shifter!' "

Was he talking about me? Or was he talking about himself?

Did he mean he cares for this person and he's comparing me as someone opposite of him? If so, then it means...

Traitor who doesn't care of another person's feelings to be considered a soldier means... a soldier who cares for another person's feelings.

but also a traitor of humanity for protecting a shifter means... a soldier who will not protect a shifter is in humanity's side.

This doesn't make sense. He's saying he cares about another person's feelings but he's not protecting a shifter which is Annie. Then he's not talking about himself? What am I missing?

Annie...

...you have the answers...

...to my questions...

...if you won't tell me...

...I'll figure this out myself.


Mike came back and was relieved to find that the three did not kill each other while he was gone.

"I saw a flare." He tells them. "The captain is still alive."

"Captain Levi?" Reiner asks.

"When need to hurry. It's a signal that it's safe to travel. If we're late, we might be left behind." Mike says as he checked how his 3D Maneuver Gear was doing. There was little gas last.

Armin removed his 3DMG and gives it to Mike.

"What are you doing?" Mike asked. Bertholdt glanced at them.

"You'll need it more than I do." Armin says. "I'll use yours. If I'm running out of gas, I'll tell you then you can just carry me or something."

Mike nodded and agreed with the exchange. "Alright soldier."

Armin got Mike's 3DMG and returned Bertholdt's gaze.

I'll get my answers, Bertholdt. And I'm gonna expose your secret.