I do not own AOT, all rights belong too Hajime Isayama
In case you dont know, I have recently created a TvTropes page for Island of Devils and its related works./pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Fanfic/IslandOfDevils
Also, rest in peace Akira Toriyama (April 5, 1955 – March 1, 2024)
Grisha walks into the bar where Carla works. He looks around and sees her serving tables. Grisha takes a deep breath before taking a seat close to where she's serving. Carla turns around and notices him, and he smiles at her.
"Well, if it isn't the mystery doctor?" Carla says.
"Grisha, will be just fine," Grisha says.
"So, how's your head?"
"Huh? Oh, well all my memories still aren't back yet," Grisga tells her.
"You really don't remember anything besides your name?" Carla questions. "And yet you still know how to be a doctor?"
"I guess it's like riding a bike," Grisha says. "Although I vaguely remember bits and pieces. But I've been going to therapy to try and remember some things."
For the last two weeks, Grisha has been going to therapist's recommended by Keith who have been trying to unlock his "repressed" memories with hypnosis. However, Grisha was using them to focus on his Titan power. He has since come to realize that, similar to the Founder, the Attack Titan can transcend time and space. In his case, he can see bits of future memories. That is why he chose to come to the bar this day (along with needing to mentally prepare himself for what he needs to do despite his lingering feelings for Dina). Whenever he uncovers a piece of the future he instead claims that it is a "breakthrough" with his memories. Then he tells part of a fabricated backstory crafted from stories he's gathered from his patients.
"Hmm," Carla sits infront of him. "What do you remember? Do you know why you were outside the walls?"
"I still haven't figured that part out yet," says Grisha. "But I think I'm an orphan."
Carla's eyes widen.
"Oh?"
"Yes, I remember, I was eight or so. I had a little sister, a mother, a father. Then one day…I'm living in the underground. What's in between is a blur."
The Underground is a subterranean city that exists underneath the Walls. It was meant to allow the Walled people to expand without having to cross into Titan territory. However, the place ended up becoming a cesspool for criminals and the most downtrodden place on the island. Assuming Grisha kept a low profile, and assuming the filing system is quite disorganized…
"Hmm, if you spent most of your life in the underground I guess that would explain why Keith couldn't find records of you," Carla says.
'Yes, that was my intention,' Grisha thinks.
Grisha's eyes drift to the two men laughing and waving their drinks around in a drinken state. In their fun, some of the contents of their beverages spill omnto the ground, including the ice that was used to cool them.
'Yes, this is about the right time.'
Grisha refrains from saying anything to Carla. He just waits until she turns around.
"All right," Carla says. "I should get going, I have alot more tables to serve."
"Over here, Carla!" a man at the far right table, right in the way of the spilled ice cubes, shouts.
Carla smiles and she continues on her way. As Grisha watches her walk, he counts down in his head while remembering the exact events that he recalled from his vision. 3…2…1… He then runs in Carla's direction.
"Carla, look out."
One of the drunken men grabs Carla in the ass, she smacks his hand away and unintentionally slips on one of the ice cubes. Carla screams, drops her carrying platter and falls backward. Before Carla can hit the ground, Grisah catches her. He holds her waiste with one arm while holding her hand with the other. Carla looks up at him, shocked, while Carla gazes down at her. Grisha pulls her up and back onto her feet.
"Are you all right?" Grisha asks.
"Yes I am, thank you, Grisha," Carla says, heart racing.
"I think you two owe her an appology," Grisha tells the drunken men.
"What? What did we do?" one of them asks.
"She slipped because you grabbed her," Grisha points out. "In a very innapropriate place, mind you. Actually, you owe her two appologies."
The men stand up and face down Grisha.
"Listen buddy, why dont you mind your own business."
"Yeah, what are you a cop?"
"No, im just a doctor," Grisha says.
"A doctor?" one of the men laughs. "Good." He balls his fist. "Then you can stitch yourself up after we beat you."
"No one is fighting!" Carla shouts. "Now get out!"
"Or what? Sweetheart."
"You heard the lady," a bald man in an apron says. "Get out, yer not welcome here."
"Oh, and who are you?" the other drunk man asks.
"Im the owner."
"Oh…"
"Oh is right. Get out odf her eboth of you before I call the Military Police!"
The two men grumble and exit the bar. The owner checks on Carla.
"Carla, are you ok?" he asks. "You can take some time off."
"No, im fine," Carla says. "Thank you."
"Hey," the owner says to Grisha. "Just for that, you get a free drink."
'Thank you, but a free drink wasnt my intended reward.'
"No, its fine," Grisha says. "I didnt do this for a drink. But Carla, maybe after work I can take you out for dinner?"
Carla blushes lightly.
"I would like that. I get off at five."
"I'll see you at five then."
After work, Carla looked for Grisha and there he was, waiting for her in the parkinglot. Grisha took Carla to a restraunt and he asked her about herself. Carla told him that she is currently living with her parents: Tom and Wilma. No brothers, sisters, or cousins either. Grisha told her thathe recalls having a younger sister named Faye, but she died when he was a child (mauled by a dog). Carla expressed sympathies but Grisha (lied) and said that it was an old wound now. But, during their date, after dinner when htey were walking down the lit streets eating ice cream, Carla asked a qustion.
"So, what did you mean when you said that it takes someone special to be a scout?" Carla asks.
"Oh, I just means that it takes someone who is brave and has a large amount of determination," Grisha says. "To go into Titan territory and survey the island, to infiltrate enemy territory, it takes precision and discreteness to avoid being caught. Something I've failed at before…"
"Uh huh, so would you if you could?" Carla asks.
"Do you not approve of what the Scouts do?"
"I just dont see the point of people needlessly risking their lives like that," Carla says.
Grisha wanted to shout that they are not needlessly risking anything. But he stays quiet. Based on his visions, he needs Carla to like him.
"Aren't you afraid of Marley or some other nation invading?" Grisha asks. "They are trying to prevent that."
"That should be trying to prevent it by reaching out for peace talks," Carla says. "Besides, no ones attacked in over a hundred years. Were safe."
'Not for long,' Grisha thinks, remembering his visions of the Colossal Titan from Marley appearing within his lifetime.
"So many people enter the bar to forget things, Grisha," Carla says. "Parents who lost their children to Titans on parol. Soldiers who are trying to drown away the memories. And Im worried about Keith. Im afriad some day he's going to be captured on the job or worse."
Grisha genuinely nods. He remembers the pain of being tortured by Marleyan officers. The fear of waiting his fate. The horror of seeing most of his comrads turned into Titans and sicced on the other one. He thinks of Dina, and the guilt he feels going on a date and attempting to woo another woman while she is still out there as a Titan. A part of Grisha feels sick, it hasnt even been a year since then yet. But he tells himself he has to do this.
"It is hell out there," Grisha says, genuinely. "I remmeber somehting else. I wansnt outside the walls alone. I was with a friend. I think we were just curious. We wanted to see what its like for people to become Titans. But he got too close. He…"
Carla looks at him sympathetically.
"I hate that rule," Calra says. "Its horrible to make Titanization a punishment."
"Oh, I completely agree," says Grisha.
"You know, it wasnt always like that," Carla says. "twenty years ago, it was only people who committed terrible crimes like rape or murder. It was still horrible, but then the royal government decided that anyone who is dying of natural causes or injuries will be Titanized too. Disgusting. There are already enough Titans in the world and it just makes things harder on the Survey Scouts."
"Was that the current king?" Grisha asks.
"Yeah, why?"
"Just curious."
'So either the king doesnt have the Founder and another relative of his does or the person on the throne is just a figure head,' Grisha determins. 'I will need to check the medical records for the royal family and other noble families to find the Founder. But I doubt they will let me into the Interior. I will need to make a name for myself to be invited in first.'
"What was his name?" Carla asks. "Or do you not remember?"
"No…" Grisha says. "I remember. His name was…Grice." Grisha becomes sad. "I feel terrible. I think his fate was my fault. He had a family and now they will never see him again. We had these plans for the outside world, and they just blew up in our face." Grisha starts rambling, letting the pain and guilt he had been repressing since he came to the Walls rise to the sirface. "Maybe your right, Carla, maybe some prices for freedom arent worth it."
Carla grabs his hand. Grisha looks at her shocked.
"All that is important is that we are safe and healthy inside these walls with the people we love," says Carla. "Now, I do want the rest of the world to accept us, and treat our kind better, but by reaching their inner compassion instead of preparing for war. Unless someone makes an effort and reachs out for peace, the pain and horrors in this world will never end."
"I think your right, Carla," says Grisha. "Things would be better off if everyone was like you."
Carla blushes and smiles at him.
'Its too bad the rest of the world isnt though,' Grisha thinks, admiring how she looks in the lamp light. 'You look rather beautiful.'
"Its getting late," Grisha says. "I should probably get you home."
"Yeah, I have a shift tomorrow," Carla says. "Keith is leaving on a mission soon. Maybe stop by the bar ever so often to keep drunks away from me? I can serve you a virgin drink so it wont affect your work."
Grisha chuckles.
"Good idea. I dont need to be known as the drunk doctor."
Both Grisha and Carla laugh.
Grisha drives Carla to the the front of her/her parents house. Grisha gets out and opens the door for her.
"Shall I walk you to the door?" Grisha asks.
"Better not," Carla says. "I havent been on a date for years. As soon as my parents see you my dad will give you the talk and my mom will ask you when the wedding will be."
'Within two to three years if the kid is going to be ten by the time my term is up,' Grisha thinks.
Grisha laughs.
"I get it. Well, good night, Carla."
"Good night, Grisha."
Grisha leans in and Carla kisses him on the lips. A sparkling sensation from his lips travels down his whole body. Grisha feels so good, though he still has to gnore the guilt in the back of his mind. Carla was truly a wonderful and beautiful woman. Dina was too but they bonded over theri shared desire to restore Eldia (not that they didnt share other interests), but while he was with Calra it was so casual. Grisha felt free. Like he could just forget his mission and be himself with her. But he makes a mental note to look at the picture of him with Dina and Zeke later.
Grisha bids her farewell and drives off in his car as Carla walks to her front door. She opens it and, true to her word, her parents are already waiting for her.
"So, how was it?" her mother asks.
"Yes, how was your date with the man who was outside the walls who claims to not remember much about his own life?" her father asks.
"Did you like him? Was there a goodye kiss?"
"Did your friend Keith find anything else on him? Like was he arrested for something and supposed to become a Titan but didnt?"
"How much is he making as a doctor?"
"Did anything seem suspicious at all?"
"Plans for a second date?"
"How often does he come to the bar? Is he a bar fly?"
Carla answers their questions one at a time.
"It was great, Grisha was a wonderful gentleman. Keith still hasnt found anything on that yet, and Grisha didnt seem like a criminal to me. I didnt ask him his salary."
"But Carla, you need a man who makes a good salary," her mother says. "Dont get me wrong, thats not the most important thing, but if you marry well you can stop working at the bar."
"Again? How often does he show up?" her father asks.
"I asked Grisha to visit often and I will serve him non alcoholic beverages," Carla tells her father. "And he protected me from two men who were to handsy for thier own good."
Tom shrugs.
"Ok. But tell me if anything with him seems off."
"Im going to bed now," Carla says, leading to her room. "Goodnight mom, dad."
"Night, Carla-dear," her mother yells.
"Goodnight, princess," says her father.
When their daughter is gone, Wilma chuckles at her husband.
"What?" he asks.
"Im just thinking about how my father acted when he found out I was dating you," says Wilma.
"What do you mean?" asks Tom. "You dad loved me."
"Oh, no he didnt."
Back at his apartment, Grisha stares at the picture he brought back with him from Marley. Him with Dina and Zeke. This picture fills him with both regrets, and resolve. He recognizes that he let his mission consume him and it drove a wedge between himself and his son, but he doenst regret everything. He regrets how he's trying to woo (and falling for) another woman right after Dina's Tinization. But he finds resolve that, though she is gone and he will be too in thirteen years, their efforts will not be in vain. He places the picture back in his journal and falls asleep, trying to see more pieces of the future in his dreams as he does.
A Few Days Later
Grisha is meeting Keith outside the Scouts Headquarters. There is already a blimp prepared for them for transport. Keith and a squad of other Scouts are being sent on another mission to gather information from their spies in Marley. They are going to fly into one of the nations that is bordering Marley (after having contacted and gained permission through a negotiation with the king, of course). Then they will sneak through the border into Marleyan territory and trek to the mainland. Both Grisha and Keith lamented that it would be so much easier to just fly directly into Marley, since it and Paradis are literally right next to each other. Or oif they entered by flying boat instead of (much slower) blimps, but they would then be easily spotted coming by the sea side. And they DEFINATELY dont want Marley knowing what kinds of technology they have. The royal government dont even trusts letting their allied nations know they have advanced air travel.
"So how long are you going to be gone, Keith?" Grisha asks.
"It will be a month, atleast," says Keith. "But it shouldnt be too hard. We have take passports and everything. Honestly, its easier dealing with marleyans than Titans." Keith looks at the blade strapped to his waist. "Its not always easy to avoid them as we patrol the island. Not even with ourt ODM gear getting from watch station to watch station. Sure the blimps pick us up at the spots but we have to move around ourtselves. I hate having to slice their napes since they were human once. And some of them are ones that Marley sent over. But theres no known cure for Titanism so the best we can do is put them out of their misery so they dont eat us. As long as we cant avoid them."
Grisha grimmaces. He hopes that some of the Titans that, on a rare occasion, the survey corps have been forced to kill werent his old comrads or Dina. He swallows the lump in his throat.
"But Grisha. I know this is probably asking for alot since your still recovering your memories, but can you keep an eye on Carla for me? Some jerks at the barcant always keep their hands off her. She can take care of herself but I would feel better if one of us was there for her too."
"I'll be ahppy too," Grisha says with a smile. "And I will be happy to hear about your mission when you return."
"Im afraid I cant do that, Grisha," Keith says. "What happens outside this island is strictly confidential."
"Of course, I understand," says Grisha. "So it stays between you and the premier?"
"I fill out a report, the report goes to the royal government, when we rreturn home we share what we learned with the king and his court first and then they decide what information is shared with the premier and the public. But yeah."
'Ah, that explains it,' thinks Grisha. 'Whenever the scouts return with knowledge of Ymir and Eldia the king wipes their memories and edits their reports so the truth remains hidden. I will have to test it when Keith returns.'
"Well, kick Marley's ass for me then."
Grisha locks hands with Keith and they shake.
"Just you see, Grisha. Im going to do something great."
"Im sure you will."
"I mean truly great. So great that everyone will recognize me."
"Um…good for you, Keith."
Grisha later waved goodby as the blimp carrying Keith and the other scouts took off.
Over the past two months, Grisha kept his promise (and his opwn agenda) to Keith. Every day, during his lunch break or after work, Grisha went to the bar and talked with Carla. He shared with her how his "sessions" to remain his memories are coming along. He told her about his work and asked her about her day. He took her on a few more dates and made her laugh. For brief moments, he enjoyed himself and forgot about his mission. But the memory of Dina and what he has to do remains in the back of his mind, always.
Grisha also dedicated himself to his work at the clinic. He became very well known and accomplished in the area. The head doctor even jokes that Grisha was doing so well he would consider leaving him the clinic when he retires. Grisha told him that would be great.
Grisha tried to petition to get into the Interior a few times, but they wouldnt allow a "commoner" to freely enter and move around the inner most elite circle without a good reason. And he wasnt accomplished enough to be considered for a house call from someone on the inside. But Grisha knew that he would someday soon. Thats why he dedicated himself so hard at work now. And its why he was focusing on the visions of the plague that will hit the district soon. After noticing hte symptoms and identifying the illness, he stocked up on large amounts of the cure. He was questioned about it by the other doctors.
"You never know," Grisha would say.
Two-and-a-Half Months After Keith Departure
Keith returned from Marley with his squad feeling like a failure. While he did recieve useful information about Marleys lack of military technology and struggles against nations that they have supplied with anti-Titan weaponry, one of their own was discovered and had to commit suidice by cyanide before being caught. Keith didnt have anything worth while to show for his efforts. And as he walked down the streets, he heard people gossiping about how the Scouts are failing and just getting themselves killed.
Keith enters Carla's bar. He sits down and runs his hands through his hair. He starts to feel thinning due to his stress. Carla, who was just having a nice conversation with Grisha about a funny story a client of his told him, notices Keith and walks over to him.
"Welcome back, Keith," Carla says. "How was your mission?"
"Just get me the regular, Carla," Keith says in a stressful tone.
Carla sighs and walks away to get his drink. Seeing the opportunity present itself, Grisha moves and sits by him.
"Rough time, Keith?"
"Next time we will find somehting good for sure," Keith says, venting. "None of the deaths weve had will be in vain, Grisha."
Grisha cocks an eyebrow.
"Hey Keith, I know your not allowed to share any infornation, but does the word "Warrior" mean anything to you?"
"What? Warrior? I…"
Keith pauses for a moment. Grisha leans in for a response as Keith seems to be lost for words. For reasons he doesnt know why, that word rings in his head. He feels like its significant but he doesnt know how. The, almost immediately, he forgets it.
"Im sorry what did you say?" Keith asks.
'Interesting,' Grisha thinks. 'So the king makes them forget about the Warrior Program too. I suppose it makes since if he still wants people to no longer remember Ymir and Eldia to make them forget the Nine. I asked Keith beforeif he recognized the words "Ymir" and "Eldia". He said that one was a rare unisex name in the Walls and the other caused the same reaction that he had just now. Then again, they should also know that Marley is planning to attack Paradis soon. Although the Owl said that the last king placed a vow that prevents the next user from activating the Rumbling unless attacked first. Oh Ymir! Dont tell me the royal government WANTS Marley to attack to break the vow! I need to get the Founder as soon as possible! Scratch that, I need to find out how to USE the Founder as fast as possible.'
"Oh, nothing," says Grisha. "Let me buy you a beer."
"I already placed my order, but you can pay for it," says Keith.
"You look like you need two."
"I cant have more than one. Im going on patrol tomorrow."
"Really? Now? But you just got back," says Grisha. "Dont overwork yourself, Keith. "That can lead to negative effects on your physical and mental health. Take it from the word of a doctor. Take a day or two off to go home and rest."
"I dont have time to rest," Keith says, determined. "I have greatness to achieve."
"...Keith."
"Which probably means that I wont be able to come into town as often."
Grisha smiles.
"I'll keep an eye on things for you here."
Keith reminded Grisha so much of himself back in Marley. He is strong willed. Detrmined. If only he had been born in Liberio, they could have been comards. Then again, its probably best that he wasnt. His determination and desire to achieve something made Grisha consider him as a possible candidate to pass the Attack Titan to when his term is up. It will protect him from the Founders power and with his position he can do something great with it. But there is still the question about that boy whose supposed to get it. Grisha decided that he would figure that out later.
He is driving to the Forest of the Giant Trees, just like he does every Saturday on his day off. He always arrives at night, to make sure that no one would be around to see him. Grisha exits the vehicle and walks a dozen yards away from his car and throught he forest. Most people woudl advise against traveling to places such as this at night since there could be predators such as bears and wolves. But Grisha isnt worried about that. The most dangerous thing in the forest, right now, is him.
Grisha braces himself as he takes out a scalpel and places the blade at the palm of his hand. He needs to get used to inflicting self pain if he's going to be fighting the Founding Titan in the future. Grisha winces as he cuts his own palm, he clenches his bleeding hand until the pain subsides, and he thinks of his goal. To turn into the Attack Titan to practice using his power.
In a flash of lighting, Grisha's Titan body grows around him. He rises fifteen meters into the air and looks around. Grisha exchanges vision between the inside of his Titan, with the flesh growing out of his face and body to enfulf it, to his Titan eyes. Everything looks so much smaller as a Titan. His car looks like a toy. The Trees are still massive, but not by much. He can wrap his arms around one of the smaller ones now. He moves his hand. His human one inside his Titan is conencted to strands of flesh like he's operating a puppet. He moves his Titan hand infront of his face and wiggles his fingers.
Grisha gets into position. Back in Liberio he had taken some self-defense classes with some of his comrads after joining the Restorationists. They thought that it would be a good thing in case they were ever mandandles by a particularly hostile Marleyan. Granted, it didnt help him much when they were arrested (since they had guns) but it did help him fight off some of the Titans as he ran to the Walls. Grisha punches a nearby tree, creating a dent in it. His hand doesnt hurt, and the broken bones slowly heal. Grisha practices his kicks and his stances. He practices his neck grabs and other moves used for taking down stronger opponents. After that he digs his fingers into the trees and practices climbing in an attempt to build up his endurance and test his strength. He tries to harden his fingers like he heard the Female Titan can do, but to his dissapointment the Attack Titan seemed unable to do that.
Grisha climbs to one of the branches and reached up to the one above him. He does pull-ups and leaps from branch to branch to test his agility and strenght. He even practices breaking and throwing branches as well. He purposly injurs hismelf by punching the thicker part of the trees some more, but he uses that as an excuse to test his regeneration. If he really focuses, he can heal from injuries two, three times faster than a normal Titan. It feels hotter when he does too. So Grisha decides to test the limits of his regenration. He focuses all his energy on healiing. He isnt injured anywhere, he isnt steaming, he just tries to focus on healing. Steam nautrally emits from his Titan body as it glows red with heat. Grisha pushes some more as he focuses on his rage, recallinghte fates of Dina and Faye. WIth a loud roar that shakes the trees, Grisha's Titan releases a massive amount of heat; His skin becomes like charcoal, with burning cracks, and he doesnt feel any pain. He keeps htis up for a few minutes before he tires out and returns to the ground to exit his Titan.
Grisha waits for another hour to transform again. But he cannot. He cuts his palm, and he doesnt even steam.
"I guess I reached my limit for the day," Grisha realizes. "I just need to do this more times to build up my endurance."
Grisha then gets back in his car and returns home. So that he may return in another work to build up his strenght.
Spring 833
Grisha returns to his normal schedule for many months. Work at the clinic during the day, dates with Carla every other night, practice with his Titan on the weekends. Just as Keith said, he become so dedicated to his job that he barely visited him or Carla anymore. Which gave the two plenty of alone time together. Then, finally, it happened. Winter hit, and all the diseases started going around. Grisha was put to work at the clinic non stop for the whole winter. But the worst of it didnt arrive until spring came.
They werent sure how it happened. Maybe one of the viruses just rapidly mutated. Maybe one district just had too many dead bodies from the homeless pile up from the winter cold (thats actually a big issue in some areas due to the economic inequality). But starting with the start of the next year, more and more people were being affected by this terrible illness. Those who could not afford treatment or were too far gone were declared dead and Titanized. People were begging the Military Police to let their friends and relatives go as their weak unconscious bodies were dragged away to the tops of the walls. The people cried as lightning rained down to increase the number of Titans outside the walls. The slightly luckier ones died of their illness before the military police could find them. But it proved to be a blessing for Grisha.
Thanks to his future-memory inheritance, he was able to see exactly what modifications to the current medicines he needed to make for them to treat the mutated plague better. He was also able to get a sample of the disease from another doctors patient (who dismissed it as the flu) through a saliva sample to create an updated vaccine before the palgue becmae widespread. His clinic bcame the most used one in the district as Grisha was personally able to treat the majority of patients and vaccinate others. Patients and relatives alike thanked and blessed Grisha for saving them from death, or worse Titanization. He recieved merits from the government for his humanitarian actions (if begridgingly), the head doctor said that right now Grisha seemed to be the most qualified to inherit the clinic when he retires in a few years. But, most importantly to Grisha, his actions were recognized by the Interior and got a notification that he would be recieving calls from the high class.
Grisha couldnt have been happier. He was now much closer to achieving his goal. Now he could get into the Interior and do background checks on all the noble families to figure out which one really had the Founder.
He was happily working on his last group of patients. The last few people in the district to get sick. Mrs. Hannes, wife of one of the Garrison members, was being administered her medicine throuhg a tube. He had already given Mr. Hannes a vaccine so that he wouldnt get sick. He reassured Hannes that his wife was stabilizing and would be recovering shortly. Hannes hugged him before leaving the room crying, and Grisha was proud.
Then, Keith came bursting through the door with Carla in his arms. Krisha had returned to Paradis the night before and immediately wen tto go check on Carla after finding out about the plague. Grisha warned Carla before to sanitize and wear a face mask while working to avoid getting sick. But it seems like she caught it anyways. Grisha was shocked and horrified at the sight of Carla affected by the virus. Not for any future plans, but for Carla.
"Grisha," Keith cried. "Carla, she caught the plague going around. Please, you must help her."
Grisha nods. "Set her on the rear bed. I'll get to her next."
Keith sets Carla down on a table next to another sick patient.
"What about her parents?"
"They are sick too," Keith says. "I will go get them."
"Not yet," Grisha says. "You've exposed yourslef and you havent recieved a vaccnine yet. I need to give you medicine."
"Grisha, dont worry about me!" Keith shouts.
"Your around people all day, Keith, I cant have you spreading the virus," says Grisha as he holds a syringe with the medicine inside. "Now roll up your sleeve so we can save Carla and her family faster."
Keith groans and does as he is told. Grisha sprays Keiths arm with a disinfectant and sticks the needle into Keiths arm and the man winces as Grisha injects him with the medicine. He wraps his arm to avoid getting an infection.
"Good," says Grisha. "Hannes is outside. Go with him to help uyou get Carla's parents. I will treat her and be ready when you two return."
"Understood."
Keith runs outside, shouting for Hannes. Grisha walks over to Carla, who is barely breathing and unconscious on the table. Grisha looks at her sadly and strokes her face. A brief flash of Dina being Titanized appears in his mind as he picks up the tube and needle. The last time a women he cared for was injected with something she turned into a monster and he lost her forever.
"Not again," Grisha says, determined.
Carla weakly opens her eyes and lets the light form the lamp overhead shine in. She feels weak, her head hurts, but she feels better than she was at home before she fell asleep. She looks to her right and she sees her parents laying on tables next to her, asleep as well.
"Their treatments were a success. They will be awakening shortly, like you."
Carla looks to her left and see's Grisha sitting in a chair beside her. He is smiling warmly at her.
"Grisha?"
"Im so glad I was able to save you, Carla," Grisha says. "Thankfully we were able to get you here just in time."
Grisha considers telling her that it was Keith that brought her and her parents into him. But he refrians. It might discourage her from what he is about to do.
"Thank you for saving me, and my parents," Carla says.
"I was so afriad that I would loose you," Grisha says, kneeling beside her. "Seeing you brought in, sick, it made me so scared."
"Its ok, Grisha."
"No, its not," Grisha says. "But it made me realize something. I never want to loose you again."
Carla's heart beats faster.
"Carla. Will you marry me?"
"Grisha?…" Carla sheds tears. "...Yes! Yes I will marry you!"
Grisha smiles and stands up to hug her. As the two embrace, both of them shed tears of joy. Though for Grisha, it is for more than just feelings (there there are definately still some there).
Keith walks into the clinic, carrying a bouchette of flowers and a balloon that reads "Get Well Soon". He stops and frowns as he sees Carla and Grisha hugging.
"Uh, what is going on here?" Keith asks.
"Oh, Keith!" Carla exclaims, noticing him. "Grisha just proposed!"
Keith's yees widen in shock. He lets go of the balloon, causing it to float to the ceiling. And his heart shatters into a million pieces.
"What…?"
"And I said yes!" Carla exclaims.
Keith glares daggers at Grisha, who is looking happily at Carla. He cant believe that Grisha did this to him. He found him outside the Walls, brought him in, helped him get bakc his memories, got him a good job. Now, after years of serving in the Scouts he has nothign to show for it. He's proven time and time again that he isnt special or competent at all. He's just a looser who gets himself and others nearly killed. And now, Grisha is the local hero and he has the woman of his dreams. Keith feels a great rush of envy surge through him. He wants to walk over and punch Grisha in the face. But he cant blame him. Its not Grisha's fault that HE was one of the special ones while Keith WASNT. And now Carla sees that too.
"Well, congradulations," Keith says, forcing himself to smile. "I'll leave you two alone."
Keith walks out of the clinic. Then once he's outside he runs into an alley way. He presses his head agains the brick wall and he cries.
Carla and Grisha didn't see much of Keith after the proposal. He threw himself into his work and was away from the district more than ever. They didnt see Keith at their wedding the following months after. He did show up but he left right after the I do's. Seeing how happy Carla was, he couldnt bring himself to object, but he couldnt bring himself to stay for the final part. Wilma gushed over having a successful and famous doctor as a son-in-law, while Tom gave Grisha a congradulatory handshake and a downpayment for a house they can live in. It was around that same time that Grisha recieved enough patients to afford his own clinic and Carla officially resigned fromher work as a waitress to become a house wife. All that was nice, but what really made him smile was him recieving a request from a high-ranking family in the interior.
As they settled into their new home, Grisha noticed the celler leading to a door with a lock at the bottom of it. Inside was a nice, spaced out room.
"Carla, do you mind if I use the celler as my study?" Grisha asks.
"Oh, sure," says Carla.
"It will be for work," says Grisha. "Very sensitive stuff so I would perfer if no one but me be down there at all times. Ok?"
"Sure, sure," says Carla.
Mid-Year, 834
A year after that, about two years after he first came to the Walls, after he and Carla had gotten situated in their new lives, Grisha brought up having kids.
"I think thats a wonderful idea, Grisha," Carla says. "You know what? I thik our nest could use an egg or two. What do you think for names? Im thinking that if its a boy, David. If its a girl, Hannah."
Thanks to his visions, Grisha already knew that it would be a boy. But he needed to play along.
"I was thinking for a girl, either Faye or Dina. But if its a boy, Eren."
"Eren?" Carla asks.
"Eren was the name of an old….friend of mine," Grisha says.
'A great man who understood sacrifice.'
"So, to be honest, if we have a son I would perfer that to be his name. Please."
"We can talk about it," says Carla. "We have nine months after all. So…um…shall we start tonight?"
"Im afriad not tonight," Grisha says. "Im leaving for a few days to make a house call."
"You dont need to stay out that long for a house call," Carla says, confused.
Grisha smiles.
"Its from the interior."
March 30th, 835
Roughly nine months later, Carla Jaeger gave birth to a a beautiful, healthy, baby boy. He had his mothers hair and his fathers eyes. They named him Eren Jaeger, and Carla cried tears of joy as she held her son in her arms as Grisha watches over them.
"Oh, Darling. He's beautiful," Carla says.
"Yes, he is," says Grisha.
"Oh, Eren, I cant wait for you to meet your gradnparents."
"May I hold him?" Grisha asks.
Carla hands Grisha his (second) son. Grisha looks at the baby with wide, sad, eyes as baby Eren looks up at him with curious ones. Grisha smiles sadly and hodls his (second) son close.
"Whatever the future holds, your going to do great things, Eren," Grisha says.
"Great things?" Carla quesitons. "Im sure he will. But what makes Eren special enough is thathe is our son."
"...Um, sure Carla," says grisha. "Thats what I meant."
'I'll do better than I did with Zeke,' Grisha thinks. 'This son will be taught love, in addition to war. And he WONT betray us.'
I took some creative liberties with Carla's treatment. I didn't want it to be exactly like canon.
All comments are appreciated.