"Reiner, what's this metal case we found in your left breast pocket?" Hange questioned him.
Hange had blindfolded Reiner at this point and completely searched his belongings. She even stripped the ODM Gear from his body. She had a metal case in her hands as she knelt to him.
I was busy bandaging Jean behind Hange. Connie had left to take care of Sasha's wounds. Jean flinched as I tied the bandage around him.
"Sorry, Jean." I muttered under my breath.
"It's fine." Jean dismissed me.
"You made a point to tell us about it, but why? What's inside it?" Hange questioned.
"Letters." I heard Reiner say through his hoarse voice.
"Letters? What do they say?" Hange asked again.
"One's for Krista. Ymir wrote it. The other is for Viv." My brows raised in surprise hearing my name.
"Whatever you do with me just make sure they both get to read them." Reiner softly pleaded with Hange.
"Only after we've inspected it." Hange clarified and put the case away in her pocket.
"Now then," Hange stood up and pulled out her parry blade, "I have lots of questions you can answer but, you're a tough one." My eyes filled with dread as I saw the killer look in Hange's eye. She was going to kill him. Jean looked at me with concern before looking back at Hange.
"If you don't wanna talk, I can't make you. So I'll ask. Will you cooperate and tell us everything we want to know?" Hange asked. He's not going to say yes…
"I won't." He whispered.
"Thank you Reiner. It's helpful to see that you're ready for death." Hange stated.
I clenched my fists against my lap as the whites of my knuckles showed. I couldn't bring myself to speak up. I don't want him to die but I've been given an order not to let my personal feelings get in the way! I closed my eyes as Hange pushed her blade against his throat. I could hear Reiner cough.
"Hange wait!" I opened my eyes in surprise when I heard Jean speak up, "We…need him alive! So we can steal his power!" Hange gasped and stopped her assault. She slightly backed off the blade and stared at Jean. I stared at Jean myself in shock.
That's right. The theory is we inject one of our own to turn them into a Pure Titan. Then we have the Pure Titan eat one of the Intelligent Titans. That Pure Titan then in theory should turn back into a human but with that Titan's power.
"We don't know the situation with Levi on the other side." Reiner coughed up blood, "And we don't have the time to confirm it ourselves. These Titan powers have exceeded our understanding too many times. We thought we had him before. I refuse to underestimate his power again!" Hange argued. It was hard to watch as she dug the blade deeper in his throat. Reiner made a choking sound as she did so.
"I'll start by beheading him, but that's not enough on its own!" Hange has always been off her rocker but she's never been sadistic like this.
"This isn't like you, Hange. If we back down from our chance to cure our ignorance, then what hope do we have to beat the Titans down the road?" I looked at Jean in amazement. He's really sticking his neck out right now to save Reiner.
"Jean…" I spoke softly.
"We need to learn all we can about the enemy, or we'll lose." Jean stated.
"Vivien, how much gas do you have left?" Hange suddenly asked me.
"Not a lot. Maybe enough to reach Mikasa with Armin and Eren, but that's about it." Hange pulled her blade back and stood up.
"That's more than me. Swap tanks with me. I'll go find Levi and get the serum. If I determine we can use it then fine, but if not. I'll send a smoke signal. If you see the signal, then it's up to one of you to kill Reiner. And Vivien," My eyes stared widely at Hange, "Remember what Levi said. Leave your personal feelings behind. You are first and foremost a soldier." She reminded me.
"Right…" I answered softly. I disconnected my gas tanks with Hange's. She took off in the direction Mikasa did earlier. I heard Reiner cough which caused me to look over at him.
My chest hurt seeing the state that he was in right now. I felt a hand grab my arm. I looked down at Jean. He had a look on his face and gestured towards Reiner. I took a deep breath before approaching Reiner.
I knelt down in front of him. I hesitantly reached my hand out before placing my left hand on Reiner's bare chest. I reached out to him the same way he had done to me months ago. I felt his breath catch in his throat when he felt my touch. I could feel his heartbeat against my hand.
"Viv…" He called my name softly.
"I'm here, Reiner. I never got to say thank you back then. I counted twice that you saved me two months ago. I still question why you did. At first I thought it was because you felt guilty for lying and tricking me for the past three years. But part of me couldn't believe that. Part of me wanted to believe that Bertholdt was right. Truth is, I don't know what to believe. All I feel is hurt and pain." I started.
"Viv, I-"
"Let me talk!" I raised my voice, "You did all the talking up on Wall Rose two months ago. I barely got a word in and because of that I had no closure. I need this closure, Reiner. I was confused that day. Everything hit me all at once then. I've had time to process everything since." Reiner remained quiet.
I continued, "You asked me a question. The same one you did the day after Trost. You wanted me to go home with you. Now that I know the truth, I can give you an honest answer. But first, you need to know this. Eren told us about the split personality that you developed to deal with your misdeeds that you committed five years ago. Your mind couldn't deal with it so it did that to cope with the trauma. My question that day on the wall still stands. Who are you really, Reiner? Furthermore, I have to wonder. Which version of you did I fall in love with? The Warrior Reiner or the Soldier Reiner? I don't even think that you know." Tears formed in my eyes. I could see Reiner's jaw tighten as he clenched his teeth.
"What I do know is that I can answer your question. I can't go home with you, Reiner. How can I go home with you; when I'm not even sure who you are anymore?" I answered softly. A single tear rolled down my left cheek.
"But," I placed a soft kiss on his forehead before backing up, "I know that I still love you, Reiner. Even after everything you put us through." I said softly. Reiner let out a shaky breath as I saw a tear silently fall down one cheek.
"Viv! Look out!" A shadow casted over us. I looked up and my eyes widened seeing the inside of the mouth of a Titan.
I felt Jean tackle me away with his ODM Gear. We skidded against the ground. We looked back to see the quadruped Titan grab Reiner with its mouth before sprinting away. The Titan had cargo strapped to its back and a person was riding on top as well. I recognized that Titan, it was with the Beast Titan earlier!
"Jean, Vivien! Are you two okay?!" I heard Connie's voice come from beside us.
"Yeah, we're fine." Jean flinched as he stood back up.
"Where the hell did it come from?" Connie questioned as he ran up to su.
"No clue, but it took Reiner." I stated as I stood back up.
"Seriously? After all that, he gets away just like that?" Connie asked in disbelief.
Connie went to run but I grabbed the back of this cloak, "We can't risk going after them! We've lost enough Scouts today as is! Our best bet is to meet back up with the Captain and Hange!" I scolded him as I pulled him back. Connie looked at me with shocked eyes. He slowly nodded and I released my grip.
"Hey Viv," I turned to look at Jean, "Never say I've never done anything for you, got it? If I didn't speak up earlier, Hange would've killed Reiner right in front of us." I walked up to Jean and placed my hand on his shoulder.
"I know. Thank you, Jean. I didn't expect you to do that but I appreciate that you did anyway." I thanked him. I turned back to Connie.
"Connie, grab Sasha. Let's regroup with the others." I stated.
"Right."
Reiner's P.O.V
Reiner laid on top of Wall Maria. His limbs were still regenerating and his eyes still covered. He knew that he got rescued but his mind still revolved around what Viv had said. She was right, how could he ever expect for her to go with him if he's not sure who he is anymore? What she said tore his heart in two and destroyed the fantasy he created. The fantasy in his head that maybe their relationship could work out. Even though he's known since the beginning that it wouldn't. It couldn't. He's a Warrior and she's an Island Devil. It never would have worked. He was a fool to think otherwise.
His mind drifted back to the kiss she placed on his forehead. It was the same way when he had first kissed her. Same thing when she placed her hand on his chest just above his heart. She meant it when said she still loved him.
"Well Reiner, you got incredibly lucky today. Also, once you're recovered. You have some explaining to do. Starting with why an Island Devil girl seemed to be all over you. What exactly did you get yourself into while posted here undercover?" He heard the Warchief questioning him.
Reiner remained silent for the time being. He couldn't tell the Warchief the truth. That would just put Viv's life in danger later on. He'd have to lie for now. No one could know how he really felt about Viv.
"Don't know. She's just some girl I was in the cadet corp with here. I guess she had a thing for me. Not that it matters, she's just an Island Devil." Reiner lied. It tore him up inside speaking that way about Viv. About the woman that he loves.
"Hmm, I see. Poor girl was set up for heartbreak from the beginning and didn't even know it. I'd say I pity her but that'd be a lie. The Island Devil's may have won this time, but we'll be back. Next time, we won't be beaten." He heard the Warchief state.
Vivien's P.O.V
I landed on the roof and watched in horror as Hange held back Mikasa. Levi was on the roof covered in blood. Mikasa had raised her blade towards Floch. Eren was hanging by the edge of the roof. Commander Erwin was lying still and a burnt body that could only be Armin laid close by. Bertholdt with his limbs chopped off also laid on the roof.
"No…don't tell me." Jean muttered.
"It can't be…" Connie followed.
"Both Armin and the Commander…" I said just above a whisper.
"It isn't fair…" Hange manage to mumble out. Captain Levi sat up and took out the syringe with the Titan serum.
"Aaahhh!" Mikasa suddenly screamed out and thrashed against Hange.
"I understand how you feel but most of us are dead! We can't afford to lose our commander too! The Scouts must endure! We lose our symbol of hope, we lose everything!" Hange shouted at Mikasa.
"I know that but Armin can help us too! He's special!" The rest of us could only watch in silence as Hange and Mikasa had their screaming match. I've never seen Mikasa act so unhinged before. Sure she goes crazy when Eren is in danger but she never acted like this.
"You're right, he has an amazing mind! That said, Erwin is far more experienced and he's a leader!" Hange argued. Mikasa gripped Hange's wrist.
Hange broke free from Mikasa's grip. Mikasa was too emotionally unstable to keep up her strength. I could hear her sobs as Hange held her back.
"Listen, Mikasa, there's people I want to bring back too. Hundreds at this point. Ever since I joined up with the Scouts. Everyday brought a new farewell, but you need to understand. Eventually, you'll have to let go of everyone you've ever met. I know that's tough to accept. It's tough for me too. It's hard to stay sane, living like that. It hurts, it really hurts. I know, but even so all of us just have to push forward." I hesitantly walked forward.
I knelt down next to Hange and looked at Mikasa through tear filled eyes. Mikasa took a sharp breath when her eyes landed on me. My body was pushed back as Mikasa collapsed into me. Her body racked with sobs as she cried against me. I wrapped my arms around and held her tight as she sobbed. I looked up at Hange with pain in my eyes. Hange's gaze softened when meeting mine.
"Something happened with Reiner, correct?" I responded by nodding my head.
"He got rescued by that quadruped Titan." Jean muttered. A glint casted over Hange's only lens.
"I see." Was all Hange muttered. Mikasa's sobs slowly began to subside as she began to calm down. I continued to hold my sister close to comfort her until she completely settled down.
"Captain," I looked up hearing Eren. He grabbed the Captain by his ankle, "Have you ever heard of the sea? It's like a lake but bigger. So big that it stretches past the horizon, and it's full of salty water. Armin told me-"
"Hey! Stop making this harder!" Floch yelled and grabbed Eren off of Captain Levi.
"He told me there's a sea beyond the walls. Said that, we could go there together!" Eren didn't fight back as Floch sat him up and held him back. Tears streamed down Eren's face.
"Thing is, it's been our dream since we were kids. Only I forgot it a long time ago! I wanna avenge my mom! I want to butcher all the Titans! The only thoughts in my head are filled with hate! Armin has lost as much as I have, but he isn't just like me! He cares more about than just fighting!" Eren tearfully sobbed. Mikasa picked up her head as she stared at Eren. She had finally settled down.
"Everyone get out of here right now! I don't want Erwin to eat one of you instead of Bertholdt!" Levi ordered.
"Right, get Mikasa up Vivien." Hange ordered me. I nodded and stood up with Mikasa.
"Come on. We need to go." I said gently to her. Mikasa said nothing as I fired my ODM Gear and took off with her in my arms. A single tear fell down my cheek. Goodbye Armin.
I retreated to a nearby rooftop. I released Mikasa and turned my head back. It wouldn't be long until we saw the light of a Titan. One by one, what remained of the Scouts landed next to Mikasa and I.
A bright yellow light engulfed the sky and we could see a blonde haired Pure Titan emerge. The Captain did it. We all gasped seeing Captain Levi using his gear to get to safety, but he had the Commander in his arms. He gave the serum to…to Armin?
We watched as Armin in his Pure Titan form stumbled towards Bertholdt. The latter began to wake up. My eyes widened as Bertholdt began to scream and wiggle as Armin picked him up.
Bertholdt then caught sight of us, "Guys, please! Help me!" He pleaded out to us. Fear clearly marked on his face and tears streamed down his cheeks. I fell to my knees and I couldn't tear away my gaze. I didn't want to watch this but I couldn't look away either.
"Annie! Reiner!" Were Bertholdt's last words before Armin chomped down on his head and devoured him. Armin then suddenly fell forward and the nape of the Titan opened up.
The rest of the Levi Squad ran ahead of me. I stayed on the roof and watched from afar. Bertholdt's screams still echoed in my head. The look of hope he had in his eyes briefly when he saw us. He thought for sure that we would save him…but we didn't. We stood by the sidelines and watched as he was devoured.
Armin emerged from his Titan as the Levi Squad surrounded him. Tears streamed down their cheeks. Faces of relief shown on them. We had our friend back at the cost of another. Bertholdt's last words crying out for Annie and Reiner but neither of them would ever hear him. But I could, and Bertholdt's screams and last words would haunt me forever.