Old Friends
"W9147?"
W9147 looked up from her meal.
The woman smiled at her. "Oh, good. You're eating a lot better. I'm glad to see that. I have someone I'd like to introduce you to."
W9147 watched as the woman stepped farther into the room. Behind her was a short man with black hair and cold eyes.
"W9147, this is Dae. He will be your handler from now on," the woman said.
"Nice to meet you." Dae walked over to her and held out his hand with a smile.
She lifted her hand. Before she could touch it his hand flew past hers and landed on her face. Her body fell from her chair, her shoulder slammed against the floor.
"Brat, you will properly introduce yourself," Dae hissed.
She pressed her hand to her face and looked at the woman. The woman was looking at her notebook.
"Well? Do I have to stay it again?"
"Sorry."
Dae slapped her again.
"You will address me properly. I am Mister Dae to you."
She bit back a whimper and stood. "Yes, sir, Mister Dae. I am called W9147"
Rain gasped and slumped against the wall. Head spinning she closed her eyes.
"Rain?" Eren called softly.
"Dae." Rain opened her eyes. She watched Eren's split form come back into focus. "He was my handler. I remember. He was horrible."
Eren nodded. "You will have your revenge as soon as I take the Rumbling to Marley." He took her hand and helped her to her feet. They proceeded to walk down the hall.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Rain asked a few seconds later, their hands still connected. They were drawing closer to the room where two of their friends were being held.
"There's no other choice," Eren replied.
"They're not going to be happy about it no matter how things turn out." Rain sighed, wondering where Levi was. She wanted to tell him everything Eren had told her and what she was remembering. She had no family. That there was an accident that caused her to remain child like. And she had a handler. But she had no idea where he was. Or where to even begin to search for him. Then again with Zeke there it was better for her to not know. Zeke could take control of her.
Before she knew it the door to where Armin and Mikasa were being held came into view. Eren's loyal soldiers were standing guard. This was it. The next step in Eren's plan. She took a breath and released it. There was no turning back after this meeting.
Eren pulled out a knife and sliced his palm. Another part of the plan, be ready for a fight if Mikasa and Armin tried something. Or so it would appear. His plan was simple. Getting his friends angry at him would lead them to kill him.
Rain's heart squeezed. Oh how she hated this plan. If only they could think of something else. But they couldn't. The world needed to be rid of titans for the good of everyone. She had a roll to play in his plan. She was the back up, but Eren didn't want her to transform here.
"You ready?" Eren asked.
"No. But there's no point in dragging it out. Let's get this over with." Rain stepped up to the door.
"Would you like us to come in?" Floch asked.
"No, you all stay out here," Eren ordered before signaling for the door to be opened. They stepped inside.
"You remind me of a certain someone," Armin was saying when they entered the room.
Eren walked into the room and stared over at Armin and Mikasa.
Rain stood beside him, tensing at the thickness that hung between the three life time friends. Mikasa shot her a glare but she ignored it. Instead she glanced around the room. A few Eren soldiers were in the room. Mikasa and Armin were near a round table. The curtains on the window were open, but they were too high for anyone to look in.
When their eyes went back to Eren he lifted his hand to show the cut on it. They sat down at the table. He sat across from them.
Rain came to stand beside Eren, too tense to sit. She shifted back and forth on her feet, unable to meet Armin's gaze when he looked at her.
"We're leaving," one of the soldiers said.
"Okay," Eren said. The door closed.
"Was that Floch's voice?" Armin asked. "You came here with Floch?"
"Yeah." Eren nodded. "I wanted to talk to you guys in a quiet setting. We can settle Eldia's problems without any conflict. Hange and the others will be fine. We're just moving them."
"We're the ones who wanted to talk to you," Armin said. "We just wanted to know what you were thinking, Eren. And you, Rain. What made you decide on your own to attack Marley? If Zeke and Yelena have really gotten you on their side…"
"I'm free," Eren said.
"Huh?" Armin blinked.
"Whatever I do. Whatever I choose. I do it out of my own free will," Eren said.
His words triggered another memory for Rain.
"I have free will," she said.
Dae laughed. "Look, W9147, you have no free will. You are a slave to Marley. You will obey what we tell you." He lifted a fist and punched her.
Blood spurted from her nose. Her hands shot up to her face as she landed on her backside.
"Now get back to your training! You're wasting my time!"
"You met with Yelena in secret of the night of the rail opening, right? Has this all been your free will since then?" Armin asked.
"That's right." Eren nodded.
"No. You're being controlled," Mikasa said. "You're not the kind of person who'd involve innocent civilians and children, even if they live in an enemy state. You've cared for and thought about us more than anyone. Haven't you? You saved me from being kidnapped." She grabbed her scarf. "And wrapped this scarf around me out of your kindness, right?"
"I said keep your hands on the table," Eren said.
Mikasa placed her hands back on the table.
"I hid myself in Liberio and spoke with Zeke. Brother to brother. I learned a lot then. Zeke knows more than Marley does." Eren looked to Armin. "You're still going by and seeing Annie, aren't you? Is that of your own will? Or it is Berthold?"
"What?! What do you…" Armin's eyes widened.
"If memories play a major role in forming who a person is, that means part of you has become Berthold. A part of an enemy soldier that feels love for another enemy soldier is influencing a significant part of your judgment. You, an adviser to Eldia, holder of one of the nine titans. You weren't soft like this before. You never backed the enemy. Your judgment was always able to lead us to the answer. But every time you open your mouth now it's 'Let's talk'. You're absolutely useless. Armin… Berthold's gotten to your brain. You're the one being controlled by the enemy."
Rain wondered if his words were true. She never had an experience like that. Of course her titan was created differently.
"Eren! What are you trying to do?" Mikasa said.
"I'm just saying there's nothing further removed from the freedom than ignorance. I learned about the Ackermans there, too. The reason you're strong, Mikasa. It turns out that Marleyan scholars still barely know a thing about the titans. But what came about by accident from the Eldian empire's fiddling around with the subjects of Ymir during its long history was the Ackerman clan, who maintain a human form but, in come cases, can manifest the power of the titans. Still, the Ackerman clan was designed in order to protect Eldia's king. As a result, the instincts in their blood will still activate once they recognize someone as a host."
"Huh?" Mikasa said.
"In other words, you only cling to me because of your instincts as an Ackerman. You obeyed my order in that moment when you were facing death," Eren continued. "Apparently when all of those conditions are met, the instincts hidden inside the Ackerman clan's blood will awaken. Not only did this heighten your physical abilities to an extreme, you were even given the experience in battle accumulated by every past Ackerman by way of a path. All because you happened by chance to trick yourself into believing I was the host you had to protect."
Rain crossed her arms, knowing Mikasa wouldn't accept Eren's words.
"You're wrong," Mikasa said.
"I am? How?" Eren asked.
"It wasn't by chance. It was because of you I was able to become strong. Because of you, Eren. It was all because of you."
"Apparently, once an Ackerman awakens they often find themselves suffering from sudden headaches. They say this happens out of the true self trying to resist being forced to protect its host. Sound familiar?" Eren said.
Mikasa's eyes widened. "No…"
"What I'm saying is that the real Mikasa disappeared in that mountain hut, at nine years old. Leaving only you behind, even faithful to your Ackerman instincts," Eren said.
Rain lowered her eyes. Marley has ruined so many lives.
"No…I…" Mikasa shook her head.
"A clan who lost their true selves. Created only to follow orders. In other words…slaves," Eren said.
"Stop it, Eren!" Armin said.
"Do you know what I hate the most in this world? Anyone who isn't free. That, or cattle," Eren said.
"Eren!" Armin said.
"Just looking at them makes me so angry. Now I finally understand why. I couldn't stand to look at an undoubtedly slave who only ever followed orders. Ever since I was a kid… Mikasa. I've always hated you," Eren said.
Tears swelled in Mikasa's eyes.
"Eren!" With a furious growl, Armin launched himself over the table. "How dare you!"
On instinct Rain lifted her fists.
Mikasa grabbed Armin and slammed him down on the table.
"Mikasa?" Armin looked at his friend with shock in his eyes.
"See? All you've ever done is live according to what your Ackerman blood has told you to do," Eren said.
Mikasa released Armin. "N…no…"
"That's all you are," Eren said.
Armin punched Eren in the face. The chair hit the floor.
The doors swing open. Two soldiers rush in. "Mr. Yeager!"
"It's fine." Eren stood and walked towards Armin. "So, Armin, we've never fought before, have we?"
Armin pulled back his fist and charged.
Eren countered with a punch to Armin's cheek. "Know why that is?" He punched Armin multiple times before kneeing Armin in the side. "It's because there's no way you could even put up a fight against me."
Armin dropped to the floor, blood dripping from his nose.
"Just stop," Mikasa said, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Like I said at the start. If you'll tell me where Zeke is there's no need for us to fight," Eren said.
"Why not get her to tell you where he is?" Mikasa's tone spat venom at Rain. "Everyone knows she knows where the captain is. He probably told her himself."
Rain lifted her head and parted her lips to reply but Eren stopped her.
"It doesn't matter if she knows or not. I won't ask her to betray the man she loves," Eren said. "Take them away."
"Sir," the soldiers said.
"The brat who killed Sasha, too," Eren said.
"And? What is it you even wanted to say?" Armin asked as Mikasa helped him sit up. "Is that the freedom you wanted? The freedom to hurt Mikasa? Tell me. Who's the real slave to a piece of shit?"
Eren gritted his teeth. "Who are you calling me a slave? Let's go."
"Where?" Armin asked.
"Where it all started. Shiganshina District," Eren said.