Annie's jaw tightened. She pushed the thought away, focusing on the fire. She reached for another stick from the pile Meeyn had left, tossing it into the flames. Sparks flared briefly, then settled.
Outside, the rain grew heavier, drumming against the roof. The forest was alive with sound—leaves rustling, branches creaking, water dripping into shallow pools.
She was alone.
For now.
...
Wall Rose, Eastern Edge – Late Afternoon, During the Rain
The rain poured in sheets, slicking the stone surface of Wall Rose and soaking the Scout Regiment cadets huddled atop it.
The air was thick with tension, the kind that made every breath feel like a prelude to violence. Eren Yeager stood rigid, his fists clenched, green eyes burning with a mix of confusion and betrayal. Beside him, Mikasa Ackerman's hand hovered near her blades, her gaze locked on Reiner Braun and Bertholdt Hoover.
Reiner's broad shoulders were slumped, his face pale but resolute. The words he'd just spoken hung in the air like a guillotine.
"Eren," Reiner said again, his voice low but steady despite the rain. "I'm the Armored Titan. Bertholdt's the Colossal. We're the ones who broke Wall Maria five years ago."
Bertholdt stood silent, his tall frame hunched, eyes wide with something like panic. He didn't speak, but his hands trembled at his sides.
Eren's breath hitched. "What… what the hell are you saying, Reiner?"
The other cadets—Armin, Jean, Connie, Sasha—stood frozen, their faces a mix of shock and dawning horror. The rain plastered their hair to their foreheads, but no one moved.
Reiner took a step forward, his expression hardening. "I'm saying we don't have time to play pretend anymore. Eren, you're coming with us. You and Ymir."
Mikasa's blades were out in an instant, the steel glinting despite the dim light. "Take one more step, Reiner," she Muttured. "I dare you."
Reiner didn't flinch. He met her gaze, unflinching, but there was a flicker of something—regret, maybe—in his eyes. "Mikasa, don't make this harder than it has to be."
Bertholdt's head snapped up, his voice hoarse. "Reiner, shut up!"
But Reiner ignored him. "Eren, come with us. We'll explain everything. You don't belong with these people. You're not one of them."
The words hit like a physical blow. Eren staggered back a step, his face twisting with rage. "Not one of them? You bastard, I—"
Before he could finish, a flash of lightning split the sky, blinding and deafening. The air crackled with heat, and in an instant, Reiner's body erupted into steam and light.
The Armored Titan's massive form materialized atop the wall, its plated skin gleaming in the rain. Bertholdt was already moving, leaping off the edge of the wall, another bolt of lightning marking his transformation into the Colossal Titan below.
Chaos erupted.
"Eren, move!" Mikasa shouted, grabbing his arm and yanking him back as Reiner's massive hand swept toward them.
The cadets scattered, drawing their blades, their ODM gear hissing as they took to the air.
Eren's jaw clenched, his eyes blazing. "I'm not running!" he roared, biting down hard on his hand.
Blood sprayed, and another bolt of lightning tore through the rain as the Attack Titan formed, its roar shaking the wall.
---
Somewhere Above Wall Rose – Same Time
Meeyn stood on a jagged outcrop of stone, high enough that the rain barely touched him.
Below, the battle raged—Eren's roars, Reiner's earth-shaking steps, the distant groan of Bertholdt's Colossal Titan. The Scouts were fighting for their lives, and losing.
Reiner had Eren pinned, the Armored Titan's massive arms locking the Attack Titan in a crushing grip.
---
Fields Near Wall Rose – Evening, After the Kidnapping
The rain had stopped, leaving the forest clearing slick with mud and the air thick with the scent of damp earth.
The hut, woven from branches and reinforced with Annie's Titan strength, stood firm under the canopy, its rough exterior glistening faintly in the late afternoon light.
Annie Leonhart sat just outside, her knees drawn up, Meeyn's tattered cloak draped over her shoulders. Her fingers worked a crude knife against a piece of wood, carving aimless shapes, but her eyes kept flicking to the tree line, alert and expectant.
Meeyn had been gone longer than the "couple of days" he'd promised—four days, by her count.
The silence of the clearing felt heavier each day, but Annie found herself oddly at ease, tending the fire as he'd asked, checking the barricade they'd built together.
A rustle snapped her attention to the trees. Her grip tightened on the knife, her body tensing, but the Titans didn't stir.
Then she saw him—Meeyn, stepping into the clearing, his pale skin catching the fading light, dark hair tousled, red eyes glinting with that familiar mix of amusement and intensity.
His cloak fluttered as he raised a hand in a casual wave. "Miss me?"
Annie's shoulders relaxed, a faint warmth spreading in her chest. She lowered the knife, sheathing it with a soft click. "You're late," she said, but a small smile tugged at her lips, betraying her relief.
Meeyn grinned, strolling toward the hut with his usual effortless confidence. "Yeah, well, the world's a messy place." He stopped a few feet away, tilting his head. "Fire's still going. Barricade looks solid. You've been busy."
Annie glanced at the glowing embers and the sturdy wall of stacked trees, pride flickering briefly in her eyes. "You said to keep things tight," she replied, her tone matter-of-fact. "So I did."
"Good call." He dropped onto the ground near the fire, stretching out with his hands behind his head, as if the days apart were nothing. "So, what'd I miss? Titans behave themselves?"
Annie sat across from him, her movements deliberate but less guarded than before. "They're quiet when you're gone," she said, her voice softer now. "Like they're waiting for you."
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