Stronger Together

"You can't do this, Eren!" Jean jumped in front of his comrade. "I know what you're up to. It's over."

"It's not!" hissed Eren, hoping no one in headquarters awoke. "I'll forgive the other titans, but not them. They killed my mother."

He shoved past Jean and descended into the basement, where Bertolt Hoover and Reiner Braun were being kept in a cell following the Warriors' defeat.

"You know they saved us, right?" Jean followed him. "They turned against Zeke! You'll regret this!"

Eren ignored Jean as the cell came into view.

A shackled Bertolt huddled on the ground. His green eyes reflected defeat. If tomorrow was death, he wouldn't fight. At least he and Reiner had won – they'd seen their homeland and helped them rise against Zeke.

And gotten many killed. Again, even if it was for a better cause.

Eren's hands were shaking. All he had ever wanted was the Titans' defeat. And now their god practically knelt at his feet. All he had to do was run forward, slide into the cell, and slit their throats.

"No, it isn't," Reiner said suddenly. "It's not just because I need you and your support. B-Bertolt, I love you."

"I knows that," Bertolt whispered.

"No, you don't understand!" Reiner remembered Ymir. Her empathy gave him strength. "I love you like Ymir loves Historia. I'm in love with you."

Eren gaped at Jean.

"N-no," Bertolt protested, even as his heart leapt. "I don't deserve this."

"But I love you anyways," Reiner retorted. Tears streamed down his cheeks, but dammit, good. "I'll die with you, if I have to. You're the person whose always been by my side. You were reliable even when my mind broke and I told you you weren't. I've never known anyone more dedicated to a person in my life. You're human, we're human, and we always have been. I love you."

Bertolt's shoulders quaked as he held back a sob. Could his kiss finally happen? "I love you too, Reiner. You don't deserve me."

"Fuck 'deserving,' no one deserves half the good or bad things that happen in this world." Reiner glanced back at Eren. "Carla didn't deserve to die, and you didn't deserve to lose your mom, and –"

His eyes landed on Jean, so brave.

"Marco didn't deserve me murdering him."

"What?!" Jean froze.

Eren raised an eyebrow.

"I take it back. Kill them both!" Yet, even as he stepped out of Eren's path, he knew what Marco would have said.

Eren didn't move. He watched their two sobbing friends, grasping each other. Friends who'd killed friends and betrayed them before they were even friends.

Friends in love. Friends filling in the gaps life had shot through them. Friends like Mikasa and Armin to him.

"I almost told you before we began the mission. And when you were so devastated afterwards. And that night we danced," sobbed Reiner.

"I wanted to tell you when we went to the church. Didn't you feel something there, even if it seemed unfamiliar? And the night we looked at the stars – Reiner, I was dreaming about you, not Annie." Bertolt grabbed Reiner's collar. "Remember when you rescued me from Zeke's beating when I had just become a titan? I've loved you ever since."

Like he had rescued Armin from a bully. Eren's stomach knotted. Could he really kill someone who reminded him of Armin? He'd never be able to look at Armin without seeing Bertolt.

"All we knew was killing, but you showed me love. I don't think I could have ever seen another way without your love. I would have died fighting alongside Zeke."

Reiner gasped, but he was swiftly overtaken by Bertolt kissing him, kissing him with so much passion even Jean felt embarrassed.

Eren's mind spun. Would he have turned out any differently if Grisha had never left the Warriors?

Mom thought everyone was special. Even them.

All he knew was killing. Like them.

But now they knew love.

He stepped forward. Bertolt saw him but gave no indication.

Eren cleared his throat.

Reiner gasped again and attempted to throw his shackled body in front of Bertolt.

"I hate what you two did! I can't offer you atonement from the people you'll never meet because you killed them," Eren said angrily.

"I know," Bertolt said sadly.

"But I'll forgive you! I'll work hard every day to forgive again and again! I don't know a way without killing, but – but if there's a chance –"

Eren doubled over, and for once he felt no shame as Mikasa's arms wrapped around him. How had she followed him? He never knew with her.

He saw now. Two could be strong in their weakness. His blade clattered to the stone floor. "I won't be the one who kills his friends."

"Eren –" Reiner began.

"He's right," Jean confirmed to silence his screaming conscience. "I'm sorry."

"No, we are sorry," Bertolt said. "Eren, you are a good person."

"Armin doesn't believe in good or bad, and neither do I," Eren said quietly. "But right now– you are good, Reiner, Bertolt. And stronger together. You deserve that chance."

"Chance?" Bertolt queried.

"To be good together."