A Land Of Monsters And Men

Come With Me

That night when you heard the door knock it wasn't Levi who stood outside.

"Bertholdt?"
He wore a green trench coat with a hoodie.
"Please let me in."
Once he was inside he looked around nervously until his eyes turned to desperation.
"Please come back with me."
"Go with you? Why so you could feed me to someone to gain back the power you lost?
I'm sorry Bertholdt but I'm not the same stupid girl you met.

I apologise that Ymir ate one of your friends but that is no longer my problem.

I won't have you take me back to your lands so you can feed me to someone."

"It's not like that! Reiner, he's.."

He looked away as if contemplating.

"Is he..dead?"
Shutting his eyes they looked into yours.
"It's much worse he's gone mad. Ever since you were taken he would stare into the flames of the fire pit. I would act as if I were asleep but I haven't slept much. He would stay awake through the night looking into the flames saying he would see you."

"See me?"

You went into the kitchen as he followed along.

"He would claim that the flames would show you. That you were being interrogated and your screams of agony had kept from sleeping at peace. Even when the fire would be put out he would wake up screaming in a cold sweat."

He was taken back when you offered him a bowl of soup. "You must be hungry, please have a seat."
His cheeks flushed feeling the warmth of the bowl and the steam softly touching his face.

"Thank you but I can't stay long."
"Bertholdt I said sit and eat! You will tell me everything but you should have something to eat."

Your deadly gaze made him anxious as he sat down by the table sipping the bowl. His eyes widened having the taste of meat.
"Is this?"
"It's board meat, I killed it myself. I'm not used to being limited on ingredients. So this is the best I can do."

He slurped the bowl until it was empty leaving him with blushed cheeks.
"It's the best I've ever had."

He scratched his head embarrassed of his table manners until he seemed to look nervous once more.
"Tell me Bertholdt , what's going on in your mind?"

Resting your elbows on the table while you leaned into your closed hands with your intimidating eyes. They weren't like the ones he saw before you weren't the same girl he met.
"When you were being interrogated..
Was Annie there?"

Being silent for a while you realized why he was asking this.
"She was in a crystal shell."

His eyes closed letting out a shaking breath.
"Thank you. By any chance are you with anyone?"
"Why do you ask?" Of course you would deny being with Levi, you are willing to lie in order to protect the family you have now. Something you have never had.
"Reiners visions, he would say there was someone else with you. He believes it's Eren, we never wanted to harm anyone or our friends. But Reiner is certain you are with Eren. So he's not going to hold back, stating that he will kill Eren."

Shutting your eyes you gritted your teeth.
"No, I haven't been with anyone. I do see him as a child and so I've felt more like a mother. He can be hot headed and a stupid brat at times."

Bertholdt chuckled, rubbing his neck remembering Eren fighting with Jene or screaming out over killing Titans.
"He can be sometimes but he's got a good spirit." Frowning he looked at his empty bowl as you took it to the kitchen to get him more soup.

"Oh no I'm good."
But you ignored him as you sat back down in the same position you were. Covering half your face with your closed hands with the intimation.

"Just come back with me."

"I can not do that Bertholdt."

"You don't understand! He's gone completely mad! The last vision he had of you made him almost fall off the edge of the wall. We aren't alone on this island, we have someone coordinating our moves.

I'm not sure how much the scouts have told you but there is another titan shifter. The Beast Titan, he looks like an ape. Reiner wanted to change the mission to saving you and Annie. He challenged the Beast Titan and it almost killed him.

But this second time Reiner won. He's always held back but this time he didn't. I'm afraid Eren won't stand a chance the next time he battles with Reiner."

Bertholdt raised the bowl of soup.

"There's nothing holding him back anymore. So please return with me, I can't save Annie but I can save my friend's sanity. Just me being here with you, I'm putting my own life at risk."

"Bertholdt if you are here then that must mean he's here."

His eyes looked into yours.

"Is he here Bertholdt?"
"Yes..."