Chapter 21

The general atmosphere had not improved. Despite Gabriel's heroic rescue, a lot of scouts had died and Eren was to be handed over to the military police. Gabriel was unaware of all of this as he made his way towards Stohess District. He wanted to see his friends but was told they were busy with duties so he decided to go pay Annie a visit. He walked through the district with people making way for him due to his large stature. He was wearing his Scout Regiment uniform so he was able to get into the MP barracks without much trouble aside from a few cruel remarks about the scouts most recent failure. He paid no mind to it as he looked for Annie's room. He eventually found it and knocked on the door. It opened to reveal a barely clothed girl with ash colored hair. She had either just woke up or got out of the shower. She wore a towel around her waist and nothing more than a bra which heavily exposed her cleavage.

"Who are you?" She asked as Gabriel covered his eyes burning red.

"U-U-um!" Gabriel said nervously not wanting to look at the barely clothed girl out of embarrassment.

"Hitch who is it? And put some clothes on would you?" Gabriel heard Annie's voice in the room.

"Some scout." Hitch said. Annie felt her heart stop momentarily. "What's your name?" Hitch asked Gabriel.

"G-guh-ugh-" Gabriel tried to say but couldn't force out. Hitch found it quite amusing how he was so nervous in front of her like this. Perhaps she could mess with him more? He was quite a hunk after all.

"What's wrong?" Hitch said inching closer, enjoying this a little too much. She knew she had looks and Marlowe was too uptight to take the hint.

"ANNIE!" Gabriel yelled as he saw the blonde standing behind Hitch. Gabriel brushed past Hitch who let out an irritated sigh. Annie gulped when she saw Gabriel run towards her. She was rigid, tensed up as can be. She couldn't see him! Not now! "I-I m-missed y-you!" Gabriel cried lifting her up with a hug. Hitch sighed as she walked to the shower and left the two alone. Annie clenched her teeth as Gabriel hugged her tightly. She didn't even return the hug as Gabriel put her down. She looked and saw the big ugly bruise on his face and felt her stomach twist a know.

"Y-you w-were r-right." Gabriel said sadly.

"Huh?" Annie said gulping.

"T-the m-mission, a-a l-l-lot of b-b-b-bad t-things h-happened." Gabriel said referring to her warning some weeks prior. Annie was sweating bullets as he lowered his head in sadness. "S-s-Superman's s-squad d-d-dies a-and m-ms P-Petra m-might d-die!" Annie turned and looked away, she couldn't bring herself to look at him right now.

"A-and t-then a g-girl t-Titan a-almost a-ate me!" Gabriel continued. Annie bit her lower up at hearing this. "S-she k-killed s-so m-many p-people! I-I h-hate h-h-her!" Gabriel growled clenching his fists tightly. If it weren't for her, Ms Petra and the others would be alive and healthy. Annie couldn't take anymore, she promptly got up and walked towards the door. Gabriel saw this and followed her.

"H-hey w-what's w-wrong?" Gabriel asked gently. Annie choked up.

"Nothing!" She said, she couldn't even look at him right now.

"Y-you're m-my b-buddy, y-you c-can t-tell m-me." Gabriel said, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. Annie froze at the touch.

"No I can't, you'd hate me forever." Annie thought sadly when she felt arms wrapped around her.

"I-I'll a-always g-give y-you h-hugs w-when y-you're s-sad." Gabriel said so full of compassion. Annie slowly turned and put her head on his chest. Here he was hugging and comforting her, what if he knew? Would he still be so caring? Annie could hear his heartbeat, so slow and calm. She was burning up, why did there have to be people like this? Why did she ever accept that damn mission? There was no turning back now, she knew that. All that time being cold and emotionless hadn't driven feelings from her fully. Gabriel, he first friend, so kind and so gentle to everyone. She didn't deserve to be his friend, still, the thought of him hating her was worse than death in her eyes. She slowly looked up to see those innocent blue eyes of his. Maybe, if there were no titans, maybe she could have married him. Those pleasant thoughts turned to pain realizing it wasn't possible. She didn't care though as she pulled Gabriel's head in and gave him a deep kiss on the lips. Gabriel gasped at what was happening! He had never kissed anyone before! He wasn't supposed to kiss girls like this unless they were in love! Sure he loved her as a friend but not like this!Annie quickly pulled away, so many conflicting emotions running through her. She looked back up at Gabriel who looked so very confused.

"W-what-" Gabriel tried to say.

"I have to go!" Annie said holding back tears as she ran out her room into the hallway. Gabriel quickly followed.

"W-wait!" He called out. Annie kept going till she ran outside and disappeared. Gabriel ran out but could not see her anywhere! He began to run through the streets calling her name hoping to find her. After ten minutes he came to an empty alleyway and saw her being restrained by several scouts.

"S-stop! Y-you're hurting h-her!" He cried. Annie looked him in the eyes. He then looked and saw Eren, Mikasa, and Armin in the entryway below. Annie fought and fought but could not escape these scouts. They had gagged her mouth so she couldn't bite her tongue to transform. She the flicked her ring which revealed a small sharp nail and prepared to use it when she took one last longing look at Gabriel.

"I'm sorry Gabriel, you will hate me now." Annie said cutting her finger. Gabriel didn't have time to react as the yellow light engulfed the area killing all the scouts who were restraining her. Gabriel was blown back as debris flew everywhere. Once he regained his bearings he quickly looked to see where Annie went. His gaze looked up and horror engulfed his chest.

No.

No!

NOOOOO! She was here! Annie was the Female Titan! Annie looked down at him, sadness in her eyes. Gabriel growled as something took over again. All those dead bodies, all those times he hugged her, all those times she said he was her friend. He snapped, he would kill her with his bare hands! He didn't care if he had no ODM gear, he'd claw this evil bitch out with his own hands if he had too.

"DAMN YOU!" He roared. Annie quickly grabbed him and picked him up as she started to run. Maybe if she explained to him why she was doing this, maybe he'd understand, maybe he'd come with her to live with her. Deep down she knew these were lies. She really just wanted him because she loved him. Damn everyone else on the island, she'd make sure that he would live!

"GABRIEL!" Gabriel heard Armin call out for him but he was too angry, beyond furious to even notice or care. Annie continued to run dodging scouts whom she had no qualms killing only enraging Gabriel even more. Annie ran as she noticed steam coming from her hand. She looked and saw Gabriel was legit biting away chunks of flesh like a rabid dog. As small as he looked in her hand, he was red, his veins in his forehead popping out as the murderous intent to rip her apart was etched across his face.

"FUCKING BITCH! I'll KILL YOU!" He screamed. Annie felt hurt by these words but she pressed on. Gabriel continued to bite away at her flesh. Oh if he had ODM gear the things he would do to her! His fantasies of hearing her scream as he made her pay for what she did numbed him from the pain he was feeling over her betrayal. Once he saw his biting was doing nothing to slow her down. He resorted to using words, unleashing the full hate in his heart.

"YOU'RE RIGHT! I DO FUCKING HATE YOU!" He screamed. Annie suddenly stopped running after hearing this. Those words she feared, she knew it was coming and that she deserved it but actually hearing them…. The pure venom and rage in his voice stabbed her through her soul. Annie brought him to her face, tears leaking out of her Titan eyes. Only twenty minutes ago he had been so kind and full of happiness. "Ugly! That's what you are! Lying to me all this time! I wish I killed you! I wish you would burn! I wish your father beat you like mine did to me! You repulsive, ugly, EVIL WHORE BITCH!" Annie closed her eyes as her entire Titan body quivered from those words. He was cut off when another bright yellow light lit up the sky. Annie knew what that was, a fight was coming her way. She looked back at Gabriel who was still thrashing. She knew a fight was coming and she couldn't risk him getting hurt. She gently laid him down and he quickly got to his feet. She leaned in and placed a kiss on him, careful not to knock him over.

"GET YOUR DISGUSTING MOUTH OFF OF ME! I swear I'm going to get some gear, and I'll carve you to pieces! First your Titan body! AND THEN YOU-" Gabriel felt the ground shake as a fist plowed Annie right into a building causing it to collapse. Gabriel looked to see Eren's Titan steaming with anger. It was obvious he was as pissed off as Gabriel was. Eren charged forward as the two began to exchange blows. Eren was pissed, this fight wouldn't be like their last one, not by a long shot, this time, he would murder her! Eren shot off after Annie as several scouts landed next to Gabriel including Mikasa, Armin, and Jean.

"Gabriel!" Mikasa cried. This was the first time she had seen him since he came back with the wounded scouts. He ignored her and went straight towards Jean who has happy to seem him up and walking.

"Heimer! You're okay! I thought you bit it! I knew you could pull through! You are the be-" Jean tried to say.

"Give me your gear." Gabriel interrupted coldly.

"Huh?" Jean asked confused.

"Did I stutter?" Gabriel warned grabbing him by the collar. Jeans eyes widened in fear. Armin gasped knowing Gabriel had lost it again.

"Gabe, please calm down!" Armin pleaded.

"Shut up!" Gabriel snapped as a hand gently touched his shoulder.

"Gabe, please." Mikasa said sadly. She hated seeing him like this. "This isn't who you are." Mikasa was one of the very few who could get him to calm down. She had missed him and wanted to see him again to badly, especially after what he did to save to all those wounded. Gabriel breathed heavily as he let go of Jean. While he calmed down, he was still in rage mode.

"I have to kill her, I'm the only one who can." Gabriel said, clenching his teeth. "All those years I spent time with her, she had the gall to kiss me!" Had the situation not been so dire, this would have been an interesting story. Jean relented as he took off his gear. While he too wanted a shot at Annie for almost killing him, he knew he didn't stand a chance against her. Plus, with Captain Levi injured, the combined strength of Eren, Mikasa, and Gabriel was their only hope. Gabriel put on the gear and took one look at Mikasa as they two sped off to help Eren leaving Armin and Jean.

"Jesus!" Jean said holding his throat. "I knew when he got mad, he got mad! But still-"

"You know that isn't him Jean." Armin said sadly. "He was really close with Annie, as hard as this is for all of us, it must be awful for him." Titan roars and explosions could be heard in the distance.

"I'm worried about him." Jean said. "If he flipped out like that over Annie, I can only imagine what he'll do when he sees the Armored Titan again…"

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