Chapter 3: Tragedy
"Are they alright?" It was Eren who asked, after the long battle only him and Annie managed to grab the others and escape. Eren only grabbed Ymir hoping that they would leave Reiner and Bertholdt for dead. Though he knew Annie wasn't going to leave them. Bertholdt had landed on his head when Reiner took a rush that he wasn't expecting. He spent the last of the fight just protecting him alone. He then gave out of energy and went unconscious as well. Ymir was okay until three fifteen meter Titans ganged up on her. She was torn apart before Eren came in at the last second.
He killed the Titans that attacked her and removed her from her nape. Meanwhile Annie was trying to find a way to save Reiner and Bertholdt. Eren with Ymir secured in his fist, softly so that he wouldn't crush her. He ran toward the four Titans that were trying to break Reiner's armor. Eren rushed up and jumped into the four who weren't expecting the assault. Using the distraction to her advantage, Annie crystallized her fingers. Then with the rest of her strength removed the armor from Reiner's nape. She got Reiner out and moved his body to get Bertholdt out from under him.
Annie then looked at Eren who killed three of them and threw the last at the other eight that stood before them. Annie didn't know how she had managed to convince Eren that they had to go. They were weaken severely and was still outnumbered. Though in Eren's eyes it was probably one on one. The Female Titan grabbed his arm and nodded behind them signaling to run. However Eren only looked at her then back at the Titans who waited for they're next move. It was only when he looked down in his palm and looked down at Ymir. He looked up once more and back at Annie then ran. The Titans began chasing and Annie hurried to pick up her friends.
"They should be fine, we all have the healing ability." She said as if to say duh, they had managed to find a house to let them rest in. Eren stared at Bertholdt and Reiner's sleeping form. He then realized that he couldn't do this. Whether he wanted answers or not, they along with Annie were traitors. The reason his Mother and countless innocents were dead. And all for what? Because these three were supposedly forced? Eren wouldn't have it, he didn't think he could ever understand. And frankly he didn't want to, his compassion had wore thin over the years. He stood from the chair, he didn't care what would happen to him when he got back to the Corps. He just needed to go back he'd deal with that when he got there. "And where are you going?" Annie asked but already figured where and why.
"I'm not going anywhere with you guys, what you did was unforgivable." Eren said closing his eyes and turning his head toward the ground. He felt it, the pain, the anger eating away at his psyche. Urging him to end their lives right now. "I just can't live with kno-"
"I said you're not going anywhere..." Annie interrupted him, Eren looked her way. Her eyes said she meant those words and he snarled out.
"What's going to stop me? I'll transform right now and be on my own way." Eren threatens getting his hand ready, Annie regards him for a few moments.
"You think you know me don't you, got me all figured out..." Annie asked, Eren was taken back by the question. He glanced her way before heading toward the door.
"I don't think I know you at all, I just know what you three have done." Eren spoke quietly as he put his hand on the knob. Annie grabbed his wrist as he twisted the knob. He was astonished at how fast she had moved. She was now looking him in the eyes before pulling him toward her.
"Let me give you my story, get an understanding before you make a decision." Annie muttered, her hand was still wrapped around his wrist. He doubted she realized it because it felt as if she was peering into his soul with that gaze. Eren didn't want to hear her story, he wanted to leave. 'But if it gets me outta here without a problem...' Eren thought as he found the chair he was sitting in. He sat down and so did she. He didn't meet her gaze, just stared at his hands that rested in his lap.
"Reiner, Bertholdt and I were born in a village about two days away from here. It's perched up on a cliff that overlooks the forest. So Titans weren't really a problem because they first had to get up the mountain. That was until he came..." She spoke with distaste, Eren looked up to her at that, "I was only six when it happened and I remember it like it was yesterday. The Beast Titan, he came and turned most of my people into Titans. Including my Mother!" Eren winced at that, he didn't know how he would feel if his Mother had been turned. Annie glanced at him and knew he was thinking about it. Her lips twitched up in a malicious smile.
"How would you feel seeing your Mother turn into the beasts you loathe with all your heart? Then proceed to eat your Grandmother?" Eren didn't know how to respond, and Annie cherished the moment then continued. "Watching your own Mother take your only grandmother by the leg and eat her. Oh and she chewed her thoroughly, and I stood in front of her. Watching, funny thing was is I didn't shed a tear. I felt it, but in a different way. I felt it slowly tear through my mind. Rip it apart and keep it fresh. Afterwards they took her from me and my Father and we wouldn't see her again until I had to eat her. Now what you see me as now is the product from that occurrence." Eren suddenly stood up, he felt himself start to sympathize with her. And she wasn't even halfway through yet. He had to leave, he didn't want to understand anymore. Cause it would reduce his hate for her or worse ultimately forgiving her. And that was something he refused to do. Annie stopped when he stood and her face turned sour. Eren thought he met a new person from how much emotion she was showing. His head turned toward the door which confirmed Annie's suspicions. Knowing he was caught Eren and Annie raced for the door.
He beat her to it but had only opened the door halfway before he was slammed against the wall. Annie's crystal blues burned into his emeralds. He could see the hurt in her eyes and grunted. He didn't want this, but it was already working it's way in his mind. He saw the door still halfway open he tried to overpower her but failed.
"Your not going anywhere, your going to sit here and listen to what I have to say Jaeger!" Annie hissed as they continued to fight for dominance. Eren struggled trying to push her away by her shoulders. However the iron grip she had on his jacket said different.
"No! Get off of me! I'm leaving I don't need this!" Eren replied as he tried to reach for the door. Annie then grabbed his throat and clenched it with all her might. Eren choked under the grasp as his wide eyes found hers.
"I've never talked about this to anyone, you are the first and maybe the only." Annie whispered as he gripped her wrist. Her eyes then went back cold, half lidded she then whispered to him. "Your afraid aren't you? Afraid that you might've judged me too soon huh? Understanding filling your mind and you don't like it. Well that's too bad, because I'm not finished." She loosened the hold on his throat and he inhaled hungrily, his lungs burning for oxygen. "Now do you want to sit down or do you want to stay like this. I don't mind either one..." Eren's anger started to build up again but he lost it when he stared into her eyes. He slumped in her grip in defeat. She used her foot to kick the door close and removed her hand away from his throat.
Eren massaged his throat as he took deeper breaths to recover. She stood in front of him in case he had any second thoughts of escaping. He went back for his chair but she stopped him.
"Bring it by me" She ordered him, he hesitated then obliged her and brought the chair in front of hers. They took their seats, she eyed him for a few moments. She averted her gaze when Bertolt began to stir. Once he lay still again Annie continued her story.
"I believe to get mine and his mind off of it my Dad trained me. Day in and day out, all I ever knew growing up. I remember breaking my ankle a couple times from kicking a post he had made in the backyard." Annie spoke, Eren could see her reliving every sentence she said. She no longer looked at him she stared at the wall behind him. "And he still made me kick, I trained in his art of martial arts for years until I was ten. Then they came, Marleyan soldiers and the Chief. They came and they devastated our village. They were looking for kids that would be inducted into his warrior tribe."
"Why kids?" Eren asked, if he was going to endure this he might as well get all the details. Annie looked at him as if it was obvious.
"Because kids are easier to manipulate." Annie answered him in a low tone. Eren nodded getting it, she studied him for a few more moments then continued. "He wanted to know who the strongest was. And just like that my people sold me out. He didn't even say what the consequence was if he didn't get the strongest children." Annie clenched her fists tightly after the last part. "So I was picked first, then Reiner, Marcel and Bertolt. My Dad tried to convince them not to take me. However our people insisted I was the strongest. They left but kept coming back for the next five days. They talked to my Father in private so I couldn't hear. The first two days he argued with them and they beat him. They broke his arm and his face was purple. He acted as if nothing happened and he continued to train me. The fourth day they came they watched me as I trained." Annie paused, Eren sensed that this wasn't easy for her. Annie had never gave him any insight on her in the past. Except her getting her techniques from her Father. He thought that that's all she gave to anybody.
So her doing it now was probably taking everything she had. He noticed his hate for her diminish and he was highly disappointed in himself. He really wanted to cry now, because what if Bertholdt and Reiner had similar stories? His hate for them would diminish as well. Then what would he have to avenge his Mother's death? Annie was just a innocent victim of the world they all lived in. How could he fault her for that? She wasn't finished but he knew enough to know how this story ended. His hate for the Titans wouldn't cease but if they had never came his Mother would still be with him.
"... I made sure I executed every kick, every punch and every block to perfection. I thought that if I did bad they would kill my Father. The last person I loved was on the line. I don't think I've ever went as hard as I did that day." She spoke, Eren looked over his shoulder to the door again. He then felt fingers dig into the sides of his thigh near his knee. They squeezed in hitting major pressure points. He turned back so fast he could've broke his neck. His hands flew over hers as he stopped them. "I know you're persistent, but I'm just as stubborn." She warned him, she removed her hands from his. Eren blushes slightly, he didn't want to hear anymore though. So much information was being thrown at him. He needed time to process it all.
"I'm not going anywhere, but look-" Eren stopped himself when he thought about it. 'Annie probably needs this more than anybody, I'm conflicted on whether she deserves it or not though.' He then locked eyes with her, she was waiting for him to finish. 'Regardless, this will give me a better understanding about her. I didn't want to at first but it's too late now I'm already to far in.'
"What?" She asked in response to him stopping mid-sentence. Eren was brought back to reality and shook his head.
"Nothing I forgot." He spoke finding the ground interesting. Annie stared at him for a few moments. She felt herself want to close off and stop talking. Though she knew he and herself needed this more than anything. She sighed deeply before continuing.
"After that the Chief was satisfied, he spoke to my Father and they left. My Father started crying and he came to me. He got on his knees and hugged me. I asked him if I had did bad, he told me I was perfect the best he's ever seen me do. That's when he went in depth about how I shouldn't let anybody in. How no one would understand what I would have to do. Except him, he would be the only one that would. That he would forgive me and welcome me with open arms. He asked me to promise him to come back. And that's what I did..." Annie ended, Eren had questions and suspected that there was more but wasn't going to pressure her. Annie watched him intently, he had guessed she was waiting for a response. He clenched his fists tightly as he fought over this newfound guilt.
"Okay... I-I get it, but Annie I can't forgive you just yet. I understand where your coming from, it must've been a long and hard journey. B-but you have to understand that what you three did... It was unforgivable and your story will be the first and last I hear!" Eren said referencing to Bertholdt and Reiner. Annie's normal indifferent expression returned.
"So you want to judge someone's actions before learning their motives?" Annie asked, Eren stood up out of his seat and leaned forward pointing toward their sleeping forms.
"At least you tried not to get close to anybody Annie!" Eren exclaimed getting closer to her face, her gaze hardened a little. "Those scumbags over there got close to every fucking body. Reiner, heh oh I hate him the most. All of you gave the false facade but he, oh he acted as if he was everybody's big brother. So did Bertholdt! Talks about how we were going to survive it all. What life for us was gonna be outside the walls. Being there for comfort when we brought up the pain from your attack in the past. And it was them the whole time, get a good look at that picture! Chumming it up with the people that killed your family! What a cruel reality!" Eren exclaimed, Annie just looked away from him bored. Eren stood straight and gave a empty smirk.
"You're not going to be able to keep that up for long." Annie then turned back his way to see what he was getting at. "At least not around me your not, because you've disobeyed your Father." Annie's eyes widened at that, Eren takes note of this and his smirk turns into a grin. "And guess what, he was wrong, because I get it. I understand why you did what you did. Hell all they would have to do was tell me they would kill Mikasa and my Mother when I was ten and I would have done anything they would have asked me." Eren said truthfully as he took a knee to look her in the eyes. "As I said I won't be able to forgive you now. But in due time it will happen, but in the mean time I'm on your side. So you can cut that emotionally detached bullshit-" Eren was stopped by a fist in his mouth, he fell on his back and looked up to see Annie straddling him with her fist cocked back.
"I'll beat you into a bloody pulp Jaeger!" Annie shouted, Eren sat up quickly and grabbed her wrist gently. He knew she could probably reverse it and have him kissing the floor in no time so he made sure to be gentle and quiet.
"What are you afraid of? Annie the worst has already happen to me. What are you going to do? Go back to the barracks and kill our friends?" Eren asked, Annie snatched her wrist out of his grasp.
"You fucking idiot this wasn't for you to forgive me! This was for you to understand why! You're not supposed to be my friend, you said it yourself! A cruel reality being friends with people that's responsible for your family's death!"
"I didn't say I forgave you, I said it would take time. Plus what would be the point? I understand the reason why. I even said I would have done it as well. I know it's eating you up inside. Why would I make it any harder on you than what it has to be?" Eren said, Annie didn't know where he had found this sudden maturity. However she had her own questions as well concerning the way he now looked at it. She jabbed a finger into his chest and looked him in the eyes.
"You're logic isn't making any sense, you claim you understand me and my reasoning. Then how can you continue to hate Reiner and Bertholdt?!" Annie accused, Eren grunted before glancing at the two boys still laying idly. His fists clenched unconsciously, he swallowed a lump in his throat before speaking.
"I guess I won't be as hard on them, but as I said before Reiner didn't have to feed us lies." Eren reinstated, "Was it apart of your mission to build strong relationships and cut them away? Was that all apart of the deception?" Annie knew it was something deeper because Eren was only giving a small percentage of the real reason why. She stared in his eyes for a few more moments before dropping it. She crossed her arms and looked back at Ymir who was sitting up now. She yawned and stretched with a smirk on her face.
"Hope I didn't interrupt any post love making shenanigans." Ymir teased, Eren rolled his eyes while Annie remained indifferent. Though inside she was hoping Ymir hadn't heard a word she said. It was meant for only Eren to hear, she didn't know what urged her to do it. But out of everybody she felt as if he deserved her reasoning.
"Get your mind outta the gutter Ymir, we need to get moving." Eren stated as he moved to the cracked window in the kitchen. "Plus there were nine left from the ones we faced. It won't be long before they're wandering gets them to us." Eren then turned around to Ymir and Annie. "Not to mention the Survey Corps could be here at any moment. I know they're not happy about the stunt you pulled." Ymir grinned mischievously and winked at the teen.
"You mean the stunt you pulled, they don't know I broke you out." Ymir reminded him, Eren sighed while shaking his head.
"Anyways, then we have these two which we don't even know are on our side. They even attacked Annie, so they're a problem." Ymir put her hands up defensively while still on the floor.
"Don't look at me I didn't save they're sorry asses." Ymir said innocently, Annie had her arms crossed and acted as if Eren wasn't looking at her.
"Well Annie what do you think they're your friends." Eren said folding his arms as well as looking at her. She turned her face to him and wore that same emotionless face.
"I don't think they would approve, they truly want to be warriors. They don't have a true cause, other than keeping the village safe and brainwashed into believing in the honor of being a Warrior..." Annie explained, Eren's eyes narrowed at them. Ymir glanced in their direction as well.
"Then they're not to be trusted..." 'And left for dead' Eren finished through thought. Ymir nodded in agreement.
"He's right, if they decide to kill us and take Eren then they'll win. Eren barely can keep control of himself when he transforms." Eren visibly winced at the comment. "You might could take Reiner but I'm a mere five meters and Bertholdt over there is a colossal. The odds aren't in our favor." Ymir stated, Eren took a step toward them.
"Then I say we kill them before they kill us." Annie grabbed his forearm and gave him a stern look. Eren looked back at her in mild anger.
"They won't, I'll train Eren in his form to increase our chances if Reiner decides to take him. Because they're not going to kill us, I know that much." Annie explained letting Eren's forearm go. Ymir stood up stretching before resting her hands on her hips.
"You just said they're loyal to the "Warrior code" or something. They even attacked you for crying out loud." Ymir pointed out, Annie understood that.
"Yes but let me talk to them, once they see home again they'll come to they're senses." Annie said, Eren scoffed before walking off outside. Annie hoped he wasn't trying to run off again.
"Okay I'm fine with it, but are you sure you can convince them. Because I know you haven't forgotten I'm in the equation. The one that killed your friend, they won't be as forgiving as you." Ymir spoke, Annie gave her a sideways glance.
"Who said I forgave you?" Annie asked, Ymir exhaled and walked beside her.
"Regardless, they harbor more ill will for me than you do. It'll be hard for them to at least tolerate me." Ymir explained, Annie nodded before going out the door in search of Eren. He wasn't to far off, only a couple yards away looking off in the distance. Annie walked up from behind him and stood there.
"You know here recently, I've been wondering why I'm forever getting the shitty end of things." Eren spoke quietly hearing Annie walk up.
"Things happen for a reason..." Annie replied, Eren gave an empty chuckle.
"I used to think like that to." Eren replied as a ghost of a smile spread across his face. Annie watched him carefully, he then gripped his fists hard. "Until I saw that things only got worse time after time after time." Eren spoke, he walked from beside her and started going on his own. Annie who wasn't going to let him go anytime soon called out to him.
"And where do you think you're going?" Eren looked back at her and shrugged.
"Nowhere, I just need to take a walk." Eren replied, Annie deciding not to believe that it was just a walk spoke against it.
"And leave Ymir here with three traitors?" She baited him, Eren looked her in her eyes coldly.
"Two... She can handle herself, and she's the cause of all this. Anything that happens falls on herself." Eren muttered before turning and continuing to walk. Annie looked on with the same expressionless face.
"You believe everything you're told?" She asked him causing him to stop in his tracks once again.
"... Not anymore." He spoke his back turned to her, she knew that was a low blow but she told herself she didn't care. "Do you?"
"I never did..." She answered him.