Chapter 14: Defiance, Defeat.

Training Camp

_Aren't you tired of this?

The blonde frowned and stopped looking at the clouds, focusing on the male laying on the grass at her side. Once more they'd snuck out of hand-to-hand class.

_Tired of what? Skipping class?

_No, i mean... of this camp. Of duty. Of... whatever's brought you here. Wouldn't you like to... shove it all aside? To say "screw this, i'm gonna do what i want" and go your own way, wherever the wind takes you? Like a cloud?

She turned her head to the other side and snorted. But he knew better; she didn't want him to see her face. Otherwise she wouldn't have looked away.

_You're getting philosophical now? Can't you wait till we're done fucking? -This time he snorted.

_Oh, are we gonna? And here i was, thinking you wanted to spend time with me.

She rolled on her side, swiftly climbing on top of him. Her hands did short work of his belts; in seconds, he was free and throbbing in her skillful, small and strong hands.

_I AM spending time with you. -a smile preyed on the corner of her lips- Or at least with your lower half.

He smirked and sat up, locking their lips together, letting himself fall and sink in her like he did with all the others. Sink in pleasure.

Sink in oblivion.

Forest

_Aren't you tired?

The question hung in the air like a flag and rang like a shot in their ears. He wasn't sure why he'd said it; she, inside her titan, wasn't sure why it affected her so much. But when he eyed her with that sad look and turned to tend Petra, both knew two things as Eren's roar cut through the air. First, he knew it was her. She was sure of that. And second, he knew she wouldn't kill him as he checked on the barely conscious woman.

If only Annie knew why she couldn't do it.

Stohess

_Aren't you tired?

And now, in the streets of the district, the question sounded once more despite they both knew there was no need for an answer. She looked down to the ground.

_Why, what are you talking about? Why would i be tired?

_I saw you cry. In the forest.

Nikolai saw her beginning to crack. Her lips trembled before her whole being stiffened.

_I was scared. I thought you were going to kill me. -she said mechanically.

He shook his head.

_You knew we were leaving. I know you don't want to do this.

_You know nothing.

_You let me live.

_Eren was there, he was going to attack me.

_You only needed a moment. You knew i wasn't going to fight the moment i turned my back on you, and yet you didn't even try to crush me. You didn't want to. You don't want to.

She didn't say a thing. Instead, her hand went to her eyes, covering them as she trembled slightly. A faint sob reached the four people near her.

_I... have to. I never wanted to, no. But i have to. -her voice came strangled, almost defeated and h felt his heart shrink- I'm sorry. For everything... for Wall Maria, for Trost. For... for Marco, and the scouts. But i had to, i can't...

Leonhardt stopped sobbing, drying the tears with the back of her hand.

_This is how it ends. You... you can't understand. I'm sorry...

_And if i understood?

The girl blinked, frowning at the white haired soldier.

_What?

_What if i did? Understand you. Your pain. Your grief. The... void within your chest. The wish of being able to sleep without wondering if nightmares will come.

_You can't. No one can. No one here could...

_You're wrong. I do. And i can prove it. Annie, please listen to me. I can, and i will prove it to you. And i will protect you. I can convince Erwin not to surrender you to the authorities.

She shook her head, snorting.

_How could you? Why would you?

_Because -he said taking a small blade from his pocket- we are more alike than you think.

He pulled his sleeve up and then made a long cut from his wrist to his elbow. Blood dripped as the small knife made its way. Annie stared in shock.

Suddenly, the blood flow stopped. Incredulously, Leonhardt looked as his flesh began to close, until no trace of the cut remained except for some blood on his arm. She rubbed her eyes, as if not believing them.

_I... you... how?

_I'll explain everything, i swear it. Just come with me. What i can and will tell you, and everyone else... no one knows about this. Neither Erwin, nor those three... but i want you to see, Annie, along with them. I want you to leave this path, to realize it's not too late. Trust me.

He saw the internal fight in her body. Her fists clenched and unclenched in a loop, her tongue wetting her lips every few seconds; her eyes went from him to the gound, to the sides and back again. Please, he begged in his mind, choose to come with me.

_Would you... fight for me?

He blinked and smiled.

_I already am, Annie.

_And... for them?

He didn't heasitate. He'd also thought of the others.

_For them too.

She smiled in turn. She wiped a tear in the corner of her eye.

_Promise?

_With all my heart.

As rotten as it may be.

_Then... then i hope -she said, tracing her ring with a finger- that you'll forgive me.

And she snapped the needle open. He barely had time to jump backwards when the flash blinded him momentarily, covering his eyes with an arm. He looked again to see the Female Titan run down the street. He cursed internally, running to the trio climbing the stairs.

_Nikolai! -Eren said once they met- What was th...?

_Shut up and transform! -he hissed- She's escaping! We have to stop her, now! Mikasa, rendezvous with the offensive teams! Armin, stay with the support squad.

Whatever doubts the other two had they silenced them, moving to meet their respective groups.

_What about you? -Jager asked.

_I'm going with you. I promised Annie i'd protect her and i won't give up, not even now.

Annie ran towards the wall, heart heavy but not willing to give up. Even now, when she felt less of a human and more of an empty shell, she couldn't abandon. She owed it to her comrades, to her father. She'd chosen to fight and wouldn't stop; part of her wanted to rest, to quit but she couldn't listen to it, she wouldn't. She had to advance, to run, to struggle because for Leonhardt, stopping even for one second meant to drown, to listen to the screams that filled her darkest hours.

Loud, thundering steps coming from behind made her speed up, sprinting to a side when she spotted a group of Legion members coming after her as well. She swatted a pair coming from behind and above, forcing not to close her eyes as their bodies flew and the crushing sound of their bones reached her. She had to keep running. She had to escape.

A roar coming from her back signaled Eren's arrival. She spun and faced him, eyeing Nikolai as he moved around her, stopping on a nearby roof.

_Please, stop this! It's not too late! Listen to me!

He didn't dare call her name. Not with so many witnesses, even if they were more focused on running away. She didn't hesitate, instead bracing as Eren approached and blocking a furious fist with her elbow. Her leg went to his ribs, and Jaeger quickly held it with his arm; Annie didn't give him a chance before throwing a brutal headbutt that made him stumble backwards, still holding her. She threw a cristallized fist to his face, shattering it and forcing him to relent and put some distance.

Nikolai attacked, coming from the right. She raised an arm up to him; instead he moved past her, hooking on her side when she swept with the other hand and spinning downwards, slicing behind a knee. She stumbled, focusing on him. Big mistake.

Eren lunged forward, one eye already restored; he applied that trick the same way she had. His fist connected with her jaw, obliterating half of it and throwing her backwards. The soldier moving near them knew he could not stop the teen: right now his temper was controlling him, and all he could hope was to incapacitate Annie before it was too late. She was retreating towards a big, gray building with solemn aspect.

_A fucking church? Eren, hold on! There might be...

He didn't listen. Nikolai gritted his teeth and swung down as both titans lunged forward, moving behind her a moment before they clashed. Landing on a roof near the building, he focused in the church and sensed the faint chorus from within. It was full of people!

Inside, the people gathered in familiar ritual. Their voices joined as one, praying for answers. Asking for deliverance from the darkness invoked by the heathens in the Corps and their ilk.

_Maria, Rose, Sina! -intoned the priest- We call for your protection, we humble servants of your will! Grant us your favor; might your shining and pure light blind the demons that cower in the darkness, preying upon your faithful...!

A loud crash followed by screams cut him from his ecstatic speech. Incredulity mixed with rage filled his being as a man -a brat, in the Survey uniform- landed on the wall and jumped down.

_Everyone, get out of here now! -he shouted- You'll be in danger if you stay!

The people didn't move, confused and shocked by his apparition. Nikolai looked at the window and his heart shrunk when he sensed the gigantic shape approaching; he felt the slight trembling in the ground. He had to act quickly.

_Everyone against the wall! -he shouted angrily. He pointed a sword at them- NOW!

Scared, the cluster of people backed away from him and stood on the opposite side. All except the priest, who walked to him with maddened eyes.

_YOU, INFIDEL, HEATHEN, DEFILER! HOW DARE YOU APPROACH THIS SACRED PLACE!? HOW DARE YOU SOIL THE HOLY GRO...!?

Nikolai shot his hooks on the floor, impulsing towards the man paralyzed by his action, holding his robe and pulling him along as the window was destroyed when the Female Titan landed through it. The people began screaming again, covering their eyes and babbling in utter terror. The giantess stood up, and the soldier saw the same fear in both the people's and Annie's eyes before she ran away.

Niko felt his breath getting heavy in his chest as he looked at the people. A young woman approached him as the priest went out of the church to shout at the running titan.

_Sir... what's is going on? -she asked, voice trembling- Have the titans... are they... here? -he shook his head tiredly.

_No. No, she's... she's the only one. There is another, but he's on our side. -he placed a hand on her shoulder- Check everyone, help any wounded move and take everyone towards the center district. I have to go, do it!

He saw Jaeger run after her as he made his way above the roofs, heart racing. He spared a glance at Mikasa, landing on the street after a failed attack on the giantess. He glanced briefly at Armin, crouched atop a house and covered in sweat. His attention went back to Eren as he fell backwards, Leonhardt's powerful kick sending him on his back.

In that moment Niko flew towards her, slicing the muscles in her upper arm. Leonhardt felt it fall limp and turned, sprinting once more towards the wall while Eren recovered, followed by the white male soldier who begged her to stop. She ran directly towards a clear zone, where she knew no one would be able to attack her.

Nikolai stopped at the edge of the area, scanning for anything useful to move and cursing in frustration as she made it to the wall, beginning to climb. Eren was about to reach when the white haired soldier hooked to his shin, then made his way to his shoulder.

_Don't follow her, you'll be easy to throw down! I have an idea! -he said to the green eyed titan- And i hope you have a damn good accuracy!

Annie kept climbing without looking back. She didn't hear Eren climb, which relieved her. He seemed to have given up because of his disadvantage. And her other stalkers had no way to reach her in time...

A shadow flew past her, moving in an arc downwards and shooting the 3DMG to attach to the wall. Eyes wide, she saw Nikolai swing and stop right above her only to jump down and land on her face. She stayed still, drinking the image of the once cheerful and smug soldier now looking almost defeated. Broken. Tired, although not physically. His eyes were the eyes of a man walking to his own execution.

_Annie, please. -his voice was low, yet the silence let her hear clearly- Give me a chance. Let me see you.

Down in the street, Hange gathered along the Survey Corps members still capable to fight, looking in amazement as the young man stood on the creature's face. He gave a step backwards as she opened her mouth. Then, as everyone gasped in shock, he jumped into her maw.

_What is he doing? -muttered a man.

_Squad leader Hange! -a young woman called, taking her out of trance- We have a chance, the titan is not moving!

Zoe blinked and looked around. Then at the titan still on the wall; sighing, she shook her head.

_Whatever he's doing, it seems to be working. We can't risk provoking her.

_But WHAT is he doing?

_I'm not sure... Mikasa, i was told he foiled the trap. Is that true.

_More or less. -the asian looked up, hesitating- I think Annie knew it was a trap.

_Then why did she follow you?

Ackerman shook her head, meeting her gaze.

_I can't say for sure. But Nikolai, he said... he tried to convince her not to fight; i think he's doing that right now... he also said he knew how she...

Someone shouted. Both women looked up, eyes widening when they saw the titan fall back. Before it fell on the ground where the Legion and Eren's titan awaited, a small shape jumped out from her open mouth and landed beside it. Nikolai then turned, cursing and trying to cut the through its neck when a sudden flash made everyone stop on their tracks. The titan's flesh began to wither and fall, revealing Annie, encased in a crystal cocoon.

Niko hit it once. Twice. Three times and his blade broke, and then he used his fists. He'd lost. They all had. Specially the girl now frozen in front of him. He felt the anger and frustration bubble in his chest and threw his head back to howl... only to feel it die in his throat when he saw the titan's face inside the wall. He heard a voice and turned to find the cult leader speaking to Hange.

_You must... cover it. -said the priest, panting- Don't let... the sunlight reach it!

Nikolai froze. He knew. The priest knew, he had answers. The white haired man closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then another. He forced his mind to focus on the task of covering the titan. But as he ran after the other scouts, he was sure of something. Once he was done, he would have a long, serious talk with that priest.

Wether the man survived it or not, it didn't really matter.

End of Chapter.