Chapter 15
Since everyone seemed to have conveniently vanished, Annie contemplated what to make for dinner. Sunset, she checked, was in just over an hour. If Mikasa did indeed fast until sunrise, she ought to eat a good meal first.
Privately, she could admit she was tired of cooking for their small army, but given the circumstances, full moon, she couldn't suggest they take a break and go into the village for a meal.
She'd just about settled on pasta, a staple in her world, when Eren walked in. He dropped three large pizza boxes on the table.
"I was in the mood."
"Oh. That's great," she said with genuine feeling.
"Probably need to heat them up, or have Hoover wave his magic wand."
"Either way it saves me from cooking."
"You need to make a duty list, so it doesn't fall so much on you. This is my way of cooking, so check me off."
"Fair enough."
He went to the fridge, shoved in the beer he'd bought along with the pizza, and took one out for himself.
"Do you have any other skills you dreamed about?" he asked.
"I'm better at fighting in them. I'm not as good at the flipping and jumping and kicking, even in my dreams, as Historia or Mikasa, but I'm not embarrassing. But..."
She poured herself a glass of the sun tea someone, who hadn't been her, had made that afternoon. "Unlike the crossbow, it doesn't just come to me. Historia tried to teach me the basic handspring a little while ago. I got a D-minus."
"You need to work on your upper body strength as much as your form. Those bands Mikasa gave you aren't enough. Start swimming laps, hard. Start doing push-ups, pull-ups. You do any yoga?"
"A little."
"Do more. Planks, chaturanga, use your own body weight. Don't do the same thing every day. Switch it up, but do something every day. Increase the time until you've got real muscle fatigue."
"All right."
"What?" he demanded when she just kept looking at him.
"We're having an actual conversation you initiated."
He shrugged, drank some beer. "No point in conversations unless you've got something to say. You held your own last night. Part of that's the knife Bertoldt gave you. But most of it's because you've got guts. I'd've said you didn't the day I met you."
"You wouldn't have been wrong."
Those sharp green eyes took her measure, straight on. "Yeah, I would've. I'm coming from the outside. You formed your group, not long before I came into it, but you'd formed it. You're the glue."
"I'm the..." The idea surprised her into silence.
"That's right. And what you said this morning, that was right. Truth is truth, even when you don't want to hear it. Everyone's not going to just fall in line, because people just don't, especially people who've had their own agenda for a while. But you were right. We went out there last nigh and we fought off an attack. We were lucky because we weren't fighting as a unit. That's got to change, and that's something I can help with."
"How?"
"Battle plans, Blondie. Training. Discipline."
"That sounds...military."
"That's why soldiers fight the wars." He started to flip up the lid on one of the boxes.
Annie laid her hand on it, kept it closed.
"We eat together, that's training, too, isn't it?"
"Okay. Better eat inside. Storm's coming in."
"Then let's go tell the others." She started out, looked back until he shoved away from the counter to come with her. "Can I try out your other crossbow?"
"It's got a hundred-eighty pull weight. Even beefed up, you couldn't cock it."
"I'd still like to try it."
"Push-ups," he said.
The first rumble of thunder sounded as she started up the stairs.
By the time they'd all gathered around the kitchen table, the sky hung dark and broody. With the quickening flashes of lightning, the thunder rolled closer on the hard wind.
"Nothing like a good storm," Mikasa said. "Unless it's pizza."
"Even bad pizza's good." Armin lifted a slice, bit in. "And this ain't bad."
Watching him, Historia picked up a slice, took a careful bite. "It's wonderful."
"Best pizza? Where?"
"New York," Bertoldt said immediately, and Mikasa shook her head as she chowed down.
"This little mom-and-pop in a little hillside village in Tuscany. Amazing. Ann?"
"I had some really nice pizza once in Paris."
"French pizza?" Armin snorted. "Forget about it. Neck-and-neck between New York and this trattoria in Florence. How about you?" he asked Historia.
"This," she said, and took another bite.
"Kildare," Eren said when everyone looked at him.
"Irish pizza?" Mikasa grabbed another slice as she laughed. "That's below French pizza."
"In a restaurant run by Italians," he added. "It wins because it was unexpected."
"Speaking of winning," Annie put in. "We should talk about the idea that we won last night because Marley was testing us. Eren brought up the need for battle plans, for training."
"Training?" Mikasa's eyes narrowed. "Such as?"
"Bertoldt does what he does." Eren took another slice from the same pie as Mikasa, the one loaded with sausage and pepperoni. "That's a specific skill set nobody else here can train for. But Annie had it right. We went into last night individually. We can't risk that again. We need to know what Bertoldt has...up his sleeve."
"You're right on that." Bertoldt nodded, poured wine. "And you'll know from here and on. We need strategies and plans. If we only react, more, react individually, we'll lose."
"No argument, but what training?" Mikasa continued. "I'm already working with Annie and Historia on hand-to-hand, defense. And after today, we know Annie's a regular Daryl Dixon with a crossbow."
"Crossbow?" Armin paused with a slice halfway to his plate. "How did I miss that?"
"Who's Daryl Dixon?" Annie asked.
""The Walking Dead"," Armin supplied. "You can handle a crossbow?"
"Apparently."
"Handle, my ass. It was THWANG!" Mikasa mimed the shot. "Bull's eye. I'd stick with her in any zombie apocalypse."
"I appreciate that, but I think Eren means we need to start working, and training together. We've made noises about being a team. We need to train like one. Bertoldt's teaching me about what he uses to make medicines, so I can help there."
"I could learn," Historia said. "I like to learn."
"You should all know the basics. What potion, what salve, what tincture for what injury. You all know basic first-aid of the ordinary sort," Bertoldt added. "But we're not dealing with the ordinary."
"And if you're injured, we wouldn't know what to use. Okay," Mikasa agreed. "We take time for some magical medicine lessons."
"Other skill sets have to play. You and Armin?" Eren shook his head, reluctant admiration. "Can't say I've ever seen better shots, and you both keep a cool head. You start target practice with the others."
"I don't like the guns," Historia said quickly.
"You don't have to like them, gorgeous, you just have to learn to handle one. And you've got some moves."
"I'd pit her against Black Widow. I'm going to buy a shitload of graphic novels for you guys," Armin said when both Historia and Annie looked blank.
"You need to teach Annie, refine Mikasa, you've got moves of your own, but Historia's faster, smoother."
"Yeah? And what about you? Bertoldt, Armin?"
"We'll all work on it. And on hand-to-hand. Training," he repeated. "We need to put a couple hours a day, at least, into it. Annie can make a schedule."
"I can?"
"You started it, Blondie. You were right, now you follow it through."
Mikasa polished off her second slice. "You've got a lot to say tonight, Jaeger."
"Because I've got something to say." Lightning flashed, and thunder boomed hard behind it, causing Apollo to belly under the table until his head was resting on Mikasa's feet. "I've fought with you twice, and what I've seen is a lot of skill, and no unity."
"So we hone the skills, and unite," Armin finished. "I'm behind that. On the united front, I think-"
"Sorry." Mikasa pushed up. "I'm going to have to eat and run."
"Run?" Armin looked toward the window as the rain started in a gush. "Where?"
"To my room to start. It's nearly sundown, and since I'd as soon not strip down here in the kitchen, I'm going up."
"You can come back," Annie told her. "You don't have to stay closed in your room."
"Yeah, I get it, appreciate it. I'm going to need to run. Storm or no storm. I'll need to run off the energy. I'll be back. If there's any pizza left over, I've got dibs on it at sunrise."
She grabbed a third slice and headed out with Apollo close to her side.
Bertoldt looked after her, then back at Armin. "You were saying?"
"Ah...I lost track. I guess...unity. I'm all in on weapons training. Where'd you get the crossbow?"
"Eren," Annie told him. "He has two."
"Ever used one?"
Armin shook his head at Eren. "But I'm all about it. After last night, I'm going to need more ammo. I expect Mikasa could use more. Looks like we need a supply list, and what we could call a supply officer. I nominate Mikasa there. She has the most contacts."
"Supplies are more than weapons. It's food," Annie pointed out. "Household supplies."
"I could nominate myself. Or you. What about your kind of supplies?" Armin asked Bertoldt.
"I'm taking care of it. There would be some things we can acquire as easily as household supplies, but some I'm sending for. We've picked up most of the duties around the house and grounds, but I suppose we could be more organized about it."
"I don't mind switching off dinner prep with Armin, but it's nice to have the night off."
"Pizza night," Armin grinned. "Once a week."
"Done." Bertoldt toasted the idea. "And as Annie and Armin handle dinners otherwise, I propose they're exempt from getting pizza. The rest of us can alternate that as well."
"I like pizza." Historia, after savoring the first, chose a second slice.
"I pity those who don't. As for strategies..." Bertoldt cocked an eye at Eren.
"I figure the three of us can hammer some out."
"Meaning the three of you. Men."
Eren shrugged at Annie's statement. "Ever fought a war, Blondie?"
"Not until now."
"Ever play war?" Armin asked. "As a kid?"
"Well, no." Since Historia didn't appear to mind being dismissed, Annie felt the burden of female pride rest fully on her shoulders. "I bet Mikasa did."
"And I'd wager she's been in more than a few skirmishes. We'll see what she has to say about it."
Now Eren shrugged at Bertoldt. "Fine."
"But we have to search." Historia looked from one to the next. "We can't stop."
"We won't be stopping," Bertoldt assured her. "But it looks as if we'll have more regimented days, at least for now."
"I'll make out my end of the supply list." Armin rose. "But first I'm going to start a fire in the other room. The storm's probably dropped the temps, and we're going to have a couple of wet...canines."
"I'll help you." Historia rose with him. "And I'll do the dishes. It should be my turn."
Happy to pass that duty off, Annie sat back with her wine. "And what's my assignment?"
"You'd be the best to keep track of needed household supplies. And I think Eren will agree you can be trusted to write out tasks and schedules the fair way. We never followed through there. And I'd say the training schedule should be yours, Eren."
"We'll want an early start, as one of us has one more day that ends at sundown."
"What sort of early start?" Annie wondered.
"Sunup. Calisthenics. You want to beef up, that's how you start. Then breakfast, plenty of carbs for you. I'd say we need a day here, forming those strategies, starting weapons training, before we go back out to dive. When Armin finishes building his fire, we could start outlining some basic plans. Attack as well as defense."
Eren got up. "I'm going to take a walk first."
"It's storming," Annie reminded him.
"I don't mind getting wet."
"He'll go up," Bertoldt said after Eren walked out, "and get his sword as well as his jacket. And he'll walk the perimeter, we'll call it. And do the same thing around midnight."
"There's a soldier in him."
"Oh, without question."
"But he's not ready to tell us about it. Armin's ready. He had something to tell us before Mikasa interrupted and had to go.
"Do you think so?"
"I'm sure of it. I don't know what, but he's ready to tell us the something more. Bertoldt."
He smiled. "Annie."
"There's another kind of training I need, and I think you can help me. Not that," she said with a laugh when he grinned at her. "Well, that, too. We can call that training. But I need to learn how to open more to what I have."
"You already are. I knew about the crossbow because I watched you. Not a moment's hesitation in you. You took it, and used it. Because you knew."
"Not deliberately. I didn't know deliberately, and that's what I want. I don't think I'll ever control this, not completely. I don't think I'm meant to. But if I'm to really do my part in all of this, I need to have some control. I've spent so many years trying to suppress it, and now I want to use it. Can you help?"
"I think I can."
"Good. I'm going to go up, work out the supplies, the assignments. And leave you men to your war council."
He grabbed her hand before she could walk away, kissed it. "There'll be six sitting on that council before this is done. This is only the start."
"So we'll start with the soldier, the sharpshooter, and the magician. It would be stupid to object."
"Add the lycan, because I think you've the right of that."
And it mollified. "Should I wait in my room or yours?"
"Make your choice. I'll find you."
When she left, he thought he'd already found her. And that, like Eren's exceptional pizza in Kildare, was unexpected.
She went to her room, changed into loose cotton pants. She decided she'd do an actual chart for the task schedule, with names, days of the week, and appropriate chores and errands.
Before she got started she walked to the terrace doors, opened them to the sound of the storm.
And saw the shadow of the wolf.
She caught the scream, swallowed it back. "God. You scared me, Mikasa." She took a deep breath because her voice had trembled. "I don't know if you understand me. That's a question we should've asked."
And when the wolf strolled into her room, she swallowed again.
"I guess that answers that. I'd offer to towel you off, but that just seems really strange. Stranger. Ah, Armin started a fire for you downstairs. He's sweet that way, and thought of it."
The wolf simply stood, watching her. Unnerving, Annie thought, to look at the wolf, sleek and wet and fierce, and see Mikasa's eyes. "You should try and get some sleep tonight, I don't know if that's how it works, but if you can, you should get some sleep. Eren called for calisthenics at dawn."
At this, the wolf growled low.
"Okay, you definitely understand me. It actually makes sense, as a whole. I'm going to do a household supply list, and task assignments. And we're going to start the training, by skill set, tomorrow. The men are going to get together down in the kitchen, talk battle strategies."
The growl came again, and now the wolf paced.
"Yeah, I had the same reaction, except you're invited onto the war council." When the wolf stopped pacing, Annie nodded. "Right. We figured you had some experience where Historia and I don't. But we will. We're going to take tomorrow, seeing as you have to make it a short day, to start putting the training together. See, it makes sense."
She wasn't sure if the sound the wolf made was agreement or resignation, but it wasn't quite a growl.
"You should go down, get warm and dry. You might not be able to add anything to the strategy session, but you can listen."
The wolf walked to the door. Annie followed and opened it.
"I'll see you in the morning."
She closed the door quietly on what she decided was the strangest conversation she'd ever had.
Suddenly, it struck her. Could she sense Mikasa's feelings, in wolf form? Feelings echoed thoughts. So if she could, there could be more of a conversation.
She'd ask Mikasa if she was open to trying it.
But for now, with the storm blowing out to sea, she got her supplies, and began creating a chart.
She did a draft, edited it, re-edited it. It took longer than she'd imagined. She finished it, perfected it, then wrote out a supply list with a lot less fuss.
Done, she forced herself to put in fifteen minutes with Mikasa's bands, and tried some push-ups. She would get stronger.
Still alone, she slid into bed with her sketch pad.
And fell asleep with a half dozen sketches of the wolf on her page.
When Bertoldt slipped in beside her, she sensed his warmth, turned to him.
"It's late." He brushed his lips over her brow. "Sleep."
So she slept on, and dreamed of a room lined in gold and silver, studded with jewels, mirror bright.
She dreamed of the god who sat on her golden throne, staring into those jewels, her beauty dark and unearthly.
The reflections, dozens and dozens, covered those walls, and were wizened, hideous, twisted.
On the god's scream of rage, the jewels shattered.
And the walls ran with blood.
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