Chapter 4: Survival Games – Part Three

Quick little message. The timelines going to jump a few parts so I can get to the point where interactions start getting meaningful. Timeskips will be evident until Reiner and Bert reveal themselves which is where the story really begins. These first chapters are more of a prologue if anything and set the course of Eren and Annie's relationship. Gotta remember that Annie is a tough nut to crack so development will happen rather slow and over time. At this point they just hold a mutual respect for each other. Hope you enjoy, on with the story.

Annie's arm felt completely fine in the morning, regeneration does have its advantages. However, she opted to keep it in the sling for a week or two to minimise suspicion. Eren began to stir next to her as he tried to sit up but realised she was still on his arm. "I can't feel my arm," he stated groggily as she sat up and he jiggled the loose limb around to regain some feeling. A short breakfast and some packing up allowed them to continue the last leg of this pain for a challenge. The weather was great, so they were able to make quick progress through the snow. They reached the outpost by about midday and were surprised to find out they were the first there. Annie went straight for her room and laid down while Eren grabbed their red flag and planted it outside before joining Annie to redo her bandages and sling with improved medical supplies.

"How's the arm feeling?"

"Like a dull, aching pain. I can't move it around too much," he nodded.

"Weird, there should at least be swelling or bruising with a fracture. Maybe it's more minor than I thought," his brow furrowed.

"Probably, I don't know any more than you do," she stared blankly.

"Eh, you're probably right. Either you've got superhuman healing," he joked. "Or it just wasn't that bad in the first place. Anyway, I'm glad you're alright."

"You didn't do too shoddily out there Eren," his shoulders slumped.

"You nearly died, Annie. You nearly died because of me because I wasn't fast enough to react."

"Ah but the hero still saves the damsel in distress in the end," he crossed his arms.

"Hardly the time to be joking around, Annie."

"You live in the past too much Eren, don't think about what you couldn't do. Think about what you could do to improve so it doesn't happen again in the future."

"You're right but I still owe you one."

"No, you don't. I saved you, you saved me plus you patched the both of us up. I'd say we're even." He smiled at that.

"I'm gonna head to my room and rest, you should be ok without the sling, but I'd recommend keeping it on for the day just in case. I'll come and check on you later but get some rest first," she grunted in acknowledgement before fidgeting to get comfortable.

Eren laid in the room opposite Annie's as he went over the roller coaster that was the past couple of days. It was tough, he still blamed himself for her near death. Frustrated, he clenched his fists and grit his teeth. I'm still not good enough, not strong enough. He really needed to hit something to vent his anger. Getting up, he began heading downstairs towards the front door to find anything that wasn't a person to punch. As he reached the living area, the door opened to reveal Mikasa and Bertholdt walking through the door.

"Oh, hey guys," Eren waved to them as their heads lifted to meet him.

"Eren, you're alright." Mikasa looked him up and down, satisfied that he was in piece. "You beat us here, didn't expect that," Eren chuckled at that.

"Yeah, well. Annie's a good partner to keep your ass in gear," she raised a brow at that.

"Good to see you Eren," Bertholdt greeted with a smile. "Can I ask where Annie is?" He rubbed the back of his neck.

"Sure, she's up the stairs and down the end of the hallway. Her room's on the left."

"Thanks, I'll catch up with you in a sec."

"No worries… Oh, by the way, she might be asleep. She was pretty banged up but she's ok and will be 100% in a few days, hopefully," Bertholdt's eyes slightly widened at that.

"I see, thanks for letting me know," he continued up the stairs to check on Annie. Eren turned to Mikasa.

"You still have to plant your flag, yeah?"

"Yeah, thanks for the reminder. How'd you get here before us, anyway? We really only had that snowstorm that stopped us. Aside from that it was smooth travelling."

"We cut through the forest," her head snapped towards him.

"The one with the starving wolves in it?"

"Unless there was another forest, yes."

"You could've died, Eren. You shouldn't be so reckless… Wait, Annie didn't force you to do it, did she?"

"No, it was a decision we were both willing to make. Mikasa, I would've died if it weren't for her. She saved my life," Mikasa sighed.

"Guess I'll have to thank her for that; tell me how it happened?"

"She stuck her leg in the mouth of a wolf that was about to tear out my throat."

"That doesn't sound like Annie."

"Guess I'm just a special boy."

"Especially stupid, what happened after that?"

"Ah, they knocked her off balance and they ended up rolling down a hill into a tree," Eren continued from there until he reached the climax of the story and his voice caught.

"It reminded so much of what happened to mum, Mikasa. Immobilised as a predator's about to eat her alive."

"Eren, don't think too heavily on things like that, it'll tear you apart. What matters is that you're both safe and owe each other nothing," Mikasa planted their black flag next to Eren and Annie's. "I'm just glad you're alive and safe," Eren furrowed his brow.

"You don't have to be so overprotective all the time. Live for yourself a little, Mikasa."

"You're the onl-."

"Only family you have left. Yes, I get that but don't ignore your own life for me. You know I don't respect that," Mikasa lowered her head and took a deep breath.

"Ok Eren, I'll try," he winced, feeling like he was a bit harsh.

"Sorry, it came out harsher than I expected," she just nodded. I'm sorry Eren but I can't do that. You're all I have left; I can't lose you.

"You're awake," Annie's eyes shifted to see Bertholdt standing in the doorway.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Eren said you might be asleep."

"Well he was wrong then."

"What happened to you Annie?" He knelt at her bedside. She was confused by his words; does he mean what happened to me physically or my interactions with Eren? "What hurt you out there?" He continued; she nearly sighed in relief.

"Nasty wolves. That's all."

"Annie, haven't you been pretty close with Eren lately?"

"If you want to look at it that way."

"You know it's dangerous for us to get close to these people. They could never forgiv-."

"Close the door before saying things like that you idiot," she hissed. She doubted anyone was close enough to eavesdrop but there was no excuse for being careless. Bertholdt quickly shut the door before returning to her side. "Bertholdt, take your own advice. You and Reiner have been pretty chummy with some of the other recruits," he looked down in shame.

"Y-You're right but it's not like we really… Um."

"Spit it out," he was starting to sweat, and he became visibly nervous as he painfully said his next words.

"We're not really like, y'know, 'involved' with anyone," she raised a brow.

"You mean a relationship?" He nodded and quickly received a hard slap to the face.

"Nothing like that is going on between Yeager and myself, got it? He's nothing but a pawn for me to cash in on if things get sticky," she bit out, visibly frustrated. "If anything, he's a temporary tool at most," Bertholdt brought a hand to the red skin where she slapped him. "Besides, he wouldn't feel like that for me. I'm not attractive as far as females go."

"Not true!" Bertholdt adamantly protested, she raised a brow at him.

"You've said similar things before. Why?" His face went red, shocked by the sudden question.

"No reason, I just disagree with you," he mumbled. She inwardly sighed, she wasn't an idiot and Bertholdt could be read like a book. She wouldn't push the topic further but sooner or later she'd have to address his horrible attempts at hiding his feelings. Who knows, maybe Bertholdt was the best or only option for her. They were both murderers and came from the same home, after all.

"Okay," was all she said. Bertholdt put his head in his hands.

"I just really want to go home. I'm sick of this place, sick of being away from the people I care about," he rambled. She could only nod in understanding as she thought back to her father.

"Me too Bert, me too."

"Oh, I forgot about our flag. Mikasa probably put it out by now and I said I'd catch up with Eren. See you later, Annie."

"Later," with that, he left the room. Leaving Annie to ponder the recent events. I'm sorry, Eren. But you're not like me. You aren't a monster; you aren't cursed with this power. Considering that, I can't allow you to be any more than a pawn in this game. It isn't your fault, it's just the nature of this cruel world that we're in such different leagues. You played my game Eren, but you could never win and soon… I'll have to inevitably remove you from the field because this damn feeling won't leave. This silly feeling that we're bound, somehow. This feeling… Surely, with your removal. It'll leave too…

Definitely a shorter chapter but it wraps up the end of this 'arc' if you could call it that. Next chapter will take place during the events of the Trost arc. There'll be a little more depth on what this 'feeling' that Annie describes is, and how the revelation of Eren's status changes the game; further taking control from Annie's end.