Please read the authors note at the end.
Chapter 24
Only Howlett should've been unaffected by Mike's declaration. He had witnessed it himself, the Beast Titan speaking. And yet when Mike said it, the teen still felt a shiver run down his spine, he still felt his stomach drop and his pulse pick up. It was like it was finally confirmed. And just like that he was back to how he was when he first witnessed a colossal titan being revealed beneath the walls. The implications that come with it. Yet another person who could transform into a titan and is just as adamant in ending humanity as they knew it. Why? That's the big question, why? It was the one question fueling the Scouts, fueling Hanje as she stood there with a pensive look, the same one she wore as she sat on the ledge of the wall that she had threatened to throw Pastor Nick off of. Why are the people with this unique ability to transform into the predators of Humanity, doing everything in their power to end humanity? And why is it that only Eren is unaffected by this malicious intent?
He casts a glance to the freckled and unconscious scout who's being watched over worriedly by Kris—Historia. That's her name apparently, at least that's what Hanje had informed him of. So many secrets. Is everythin connected somehow? Ya asked me that a few months ago and I'd say it's all a coincidence but now, can't be too sure. Matter a fact, feels like I can't be too sure about anythin anymore.
"Howlett."
He stands at attention as he's called by Section Commander, "Yea boss?"
She gestures for him to saddle up along with Moblit and Eld as they start their Journey to the wall. "Is it true what Mike said? This… Beast Titan. It spoke?"
"Yea it did. Weren't some random words or grunts either, it talked like it was smart. Ya should've seen it too Boss, could've swore it was smiling like… like it was enjoyin it." He grits his teeth in anger. It burned him , to know that whoever was controlling that furry skin suit was gleeful to his all these people die.
All the excitement Hanje had was killed at that moment, he suspects it's because the very same anger raging inside him was working up a storm in her too. "tell me more." She demands.
He kicks the horse up to speed along side her as he explains, "Everytime it roared the Titans started attackin, it's like it had some kinda control over them. Combat wise he was different than anyone else too."
"What do you mean?" Moblit asks, studiously writing down everything that Howlett is telling her, sure that it's what Hanje would want.
Howlett rolls his shoulders, trying to stave off the tenseness he still feels. "It didn't come runnin at us or nothin. It- the thing threw stuff at us. Rocks and trees, powerful enough to look like they were bein shot from a cannon."
Hanje is inquisitive once again, "So a titan that prefers long range combat. Or more likely a titan shifter. This is—"
"Excitin?" Howlett supplies.
"I was gonna say concerning but the prospect is still exciting nonetheless!" She forces a smile.
But Moblit isn't smiling, in fact he looks upset. "And you decided to fight him on your own?!"
"I-I ain't really had much choice!" Cal stammers.
Eld brings his horse closer, "He's right, I ordered him to, he was the only one fit enough to provide assistance to Cadet Ymir and… we were desperate." He nods in respect to the young Scout, "he followed his orders and he followed them well."
"Be that as it may, you can't just fight titans much less a titan shifter on your own! I wouldn't even advise Captain Levi to do so! It's too reckless and dangerous even for Survey Corps standards!" The Vice commander admonishes.
Cal flinches, remembering all the risky decisions he made. Honestly being thrown at the beats Titan was a last desperate resort he decided on, thinking back it was a miracle that it actually worked and he wasn't swatted out of the air. His guess could be that he managed to catch the Beast off guard from just how insane the action was. Including burrowing inside the massive body. He didn't confide it to anyone else, but even he was shocked by what he did, how violent it was. There was a reason why he isn't fond of the title he gained, 'The Wildman', because it felt like he really was wild. Every time he went into battle it was like a part of him deep inside is released. It disturbs him how easy it is then to commit such brutal and violent acts even if it's to titans. He decides it's enough to think on that, he's not really looking to go down that rabbit hole right now.
He didn't realize Moblit was still talking but thankfully he was too wrapped up in what he was saying to realize Calian's lack of attention.
"—Please just promise us, no more playing the hero. The Survey Corp has survived this long because we all work together and rely on each other as a team."
"Ya got it mob, I'm sorry."
The second in command stares at Calian in trepidation before relaxing with a small smile, "Good."
Hanje clears her throat, "Calian You know I trust you, but to cover all bases I still have to ask—"
"I ain't known she was a titan either Boss. If I did well… I honestly don't know what I would've done. But I definitely would've told ya."
Relief flashes over the section commanders features, happy to see he wasn't offended and the manic light returns to her eyes. "I'm bursting with delight right now! More people with the ability to transform into a titan! Oh I hope she wakes up soon I have so many questions! Questions I had for Annie but since she's inside her crystallized prison I was afraid those questions would remain unanswered!"
Humoring her, Cal asks, "Like what boss?"
"Please don't!" Moblit groans, but it fell to deaf ears.
"Frist I wanted to find out if there's any differences between a male and female shifter, than what it could possibly change in their body such as—"
The Scouts set camp at the top of Wall Rose, providing medical attention to everyone who needs it such as Lynne Mike, Eld who true to his word did suffer from a concussion, and Henning. Calian was surprised to see that Reiner refused treatment something he tried to talk to him about but for some reason, the blonde b lew him off.
"Hey Reiner I know you're tough and all but ya should still get that thing looked at, I mean who knows what's been in that titans mouth."
"I appreciate your concern Cal, but I'm fine. Christa…. Historia made sure of it."
Howlett gazes at him in concern. His tone seemed very forced and he noted that the blonde was sweating profusely, his expression twisted in rageful conflict. Bertholdt didn't seem any better, than man looked two seconds away from an anxiety attack, his eyes were constantly shifting from one side to the other, his hands twitching and his shoulders staying so tense his neck nearly disappeared.
Feeling exhausted Calian drops his hands limply to his legs, "Look wherever ya'll can go ahead and have your dick measuring contest as long as ya'll want. Just remember we're your friends ok? We got your back. Ya don't have to force yourselves to be strong all the time."
He was hoping the remark would have appositive effect and relax the two, but instead it had the exact opposite effect. Bertholdt couldn't even look him in the eyes anymore and Reiner closed himself off even more. Why're they reactin like this?
A small voice in his head is trying to push through to be heard but he unconsciously pushes it down and quickly searches for and finds Sasha, her face breaking out into a thankful grin as she hops into his arms as she always does, her legs swinging in the air as he twirls her effortlessly. "You made it!"
He kisses her forehead, "Told ya I would, and I'd never disappoint my darlin."
She smirks mischievously, "You better not!"
He sets her down and notices her strained expression. "Ya ok Sash'? Ya look like somethin's on your mind."
She begins to stutter and her fingers twitch against his chest, "What? N-No j-just thinking about something."
His eyes narrow, "thinkin bout what?"
She opens her mouth but her breath hitches and she stops, biting her lip as she looks away. "Come on not ya too! I already got Reiner shutting me out! Did I do somethin?"
Sasha's eyes snap to his, small tear drops beginning to form at the edges of her eye lids. "I… I'm sorry. They told me not to, they promised me not to say anything. I-I didn't wanna believe it, but it has to be true!" she whimpers.
Calian worriedly embraces her, and she buries her face into his chest as she tries to stifle her cries. "Darlin ya startin t scare me. What're ya talkin about? What didn't they want me to know? Who didn't want me to know?"
He feels someone grab his shoulder and sees that the hand belonged to Mikasa, who's normally expressionless face is slightly contorted with resentment and anger. "Mika—"
"We know who they are Cal."
His breath hitches and his eyes turn from their normally bright grey to dark nearly black. "… What?"
She continues, "The Armored and Colossal Titans. We found oitu who they were."
"Who is it?" He struggles to keep his grip form getting tighter on Sasha's arms, knowing he might hurt her if he does.
Mikasa glances at Sasha, who bites her lip and looks away, but nods. "… Bertholt is the Colossal. And Reiner… He's the Armored."
For the longest time, Calian does not move. He's as solid as a rock. He doesn't blink, his chest barely moves as his breathing becomes a very low pant. Inside his mind is a whirlpool of emotions and memories. It can't be. It just can't be! These guys, they've been with us for the past five years, growin with us, eatin with us, trainin to kill fuckin titans with us! There's no way they'd be the ones who put us all in danger. The ones who killed my parents. Reiner he's the big brother, he's always got our backs always ready to help us be it to pick up slack in trainin or to be there to vent to whenever the nightmares of my parents dyin came back. Bertholdt is always silent but doin the same for us, carin for everyone silently. His heart twists and his breathing becomes strained. No how dare they! How dare anyone say it's them! How dare accuse them! They're the best goddamn people I know! Who the fuck are they to say it's Reiner or Bertholdt and who the fuck are they to say I shouldn't know about it! What they don't trust me or something?! He wants to keep denying it but the small voice in his head finally breaks free and he's suddenly looking at every memory and interaction he's had with them. The look on Reiner's face when Cal called him his friend, the way Bertholdt always kept to himself away from everyone… like he didn't want to build any connections. How they were always together with… Annie.
The girls watch as a myriad of emotions clearly wash over his face until cold fury settles. His expression remains stony but his eyes look like a raging storm. "How?"
Sasha still hasn't found her voice but Mikasa stands as firm as ever as she explains, "Section Commander Zoe had requested a Background Report for Annie to find out where she came from. There were two cadets reported to be from the same region as her, Reiner and bertholdt."
"no… No that's too flimsy to connect them. How did ya figure it out. Actually, Who figured it out?" Calian's fists shook.
"Armin. When Hanje pointed out that They were part of the group that were told Eren was place din the right wing of the Scouting formation, Armin explained that that was the section annie attacked. And when he fought along side you, Reiner was in annie's grasp yet hen he escaped, she began running in the correct direction to Eren."
The battle begins playing in his head like an out of body experience. He watches Reiner refusing to keep his hood down. He watches Reiner attack annie but thinking now, it almost looks like he just flew into her hand instead. Calian strains to remember how her hand looked when Reiner freed himself. 3 of her fingers were cut so those three points should've been where the smoke was rising from… So why was it rising from her palm as well? He must've carved his location in her palm. A thought pops into his head. "Mikasa… who decided I shouldn't be informed of it."
Her hardened expression softens slightly, "I- I can't say."
"Can't or won't?"
"Won't." She admits. "I felt you had a right to know. So I told you."
He wants to be angry with Mikasa, he does. But he can't bring himself to. The only thing dominating his mind right now is the feeling of utter betrayal. Those traitors listened to him talk for years about what he lost from the fall of Wall Maria, what it did to him. How much it hurt to see his parents, hell all those people die. Were they laughin? Were they enjoyin it? Everytime they lookd at me, was it like admiring a trophy? Those Mother fuckers. Those Bastards!
His breathing picks up, practically seething through his teeth. His unblinking frenzied glare zeroing in on one person. Reiner Braun. Calian bellows ferociously, his ODM Gear firing and propelling him to the teens. The blonde's eyes widening in terror as the massive teen flies directly toward them both. Bertholdt didn't have a chance to react as Howlett's fist punches deeply into his midsection, tearing through the skin and muscles and rupturing his organs. At the same time Reiner's face is stomped into the solid floor, the force of which cracks the stone beneath and breaking his nose and front teeth. Calian hasn't stopped roaring as his bloody hand rips out of Bertholdt's torso and he begins hailing massive fists with frightening strength back to back into Reiners face. Each hit causing more and more damage, to the point that one eyeball has flown out of the blondes socket. "YOU REPTILIAN MOTHERFUCKERS! YOU SNAKES! YOU TREACHEROUS PIECES OF SHIT!"
None of the Scouts could move, not even Eren who's still floored be their revelation of their deceit. Bertholdt is gurgling as he painfully bleeds from his mouth, his arms are the only things that's keeping his organs inside his body. Reiners one remaining eye is nearly shut from the devastation that's been done to his face, unable to defend himself as his body twitches from the sheer pain. Calian grips his face so that his eye can look into his wild glare, his eyes now whited out once more, watching him in impotent horror. Calian then shifts his hands and begins digging his thumbs into the eye and eye socket, drawing out a painfilled gurgle from the betrayer. Bertholdt yells in terror at the show and, panicking does the only thing he can do.
The Scouts, namely Mikasa, Armin, and Hanje begin running towards them, "EREN! CALIAN! RUN AWAY!"
But they're too late as the yellow lightning dances along the two and explodes outward. The thrown back by the force and barely have the time to react as Calian is thrown straight towards them. They duck just in time for him to sail through the air and crash into a wagon. Howlett groans in pain, his vision blacking out and returning, his ears ringing. His body aches all over but the unyielding rage burning within him blinds him to his pain and body's protest. He wills himself back on his feet, his eyes focusing in time to see The Colossal Titan forming atop the wall with the Armored titan in front of it, Eren in it's hand. The Armored titan looks directly at him and he returns it's glare with his own hatefilled scowl. He likes to think that inside Reiner is cowering in fear as he leaps to the Titan infested side of the wall. Ignoring any and all protests, Calian Runs and leaps off the wall into a nosedive, his blades already drawn.
I don't care what it takes, I'm comin for ya Reiner!
Authors Note: Sorry it took so long, i had a much longer chapter written up that basically ended up with the Nameless Hero Moment that aOT 2 is famous for but after a little glitch in my laptop, it was lost. So i had to write everything all over again. This didn't come out the way i wanted it to but i decided that i put this off for long enough. The rest will come next week by Wednesday so please stick around for that one.
I'll be honest I was tempted to just speed through this so that i can get to the changes i made as well as the character interactions and development i want to explore but so it doesn't come out any worse i have to be patient. Also to some of the questions i had from last time, The whole jaws titan throwing Calian. Like i said, that whole battle was inspired by the battle you have in the AOT 2 video game, and if you see the distance between the beast titan when you fight him and the Castle, it's not that distance between them, so i thought since titans are all strong enough to effortlessly lift humans regardless of their weight, it wouldn't be that unbelievable if Ymir could throw Calian especially from that distance. and like i said in the chapter, it was a reckless and desperate idea he came up with.
also concerning his strength, i confirmed in a previous chatoer that he is an ackerman and thats soemthing thatll be explored more later on but hes a lot more liberal in his use of his strength.
Anyway, like i said before much longer chapter will be out next week that will have the Nameless hero moment, hope you all stick around for it and enjoy, see y'all!