Nest & Wings (Annie Leonhardt x Male Reader)

Chapter 08: The Shocking Truth

After three years of training, you were reaching the end of your time as Cadets. Everyone was focused on brushing up their skills before the finals. After all, only the top ten would have the opportunity to join the Military Police.

Many considered it the best option as soldiers in the Military Police get to live inside Wall Sina where they would almost never have to fight titans. Even though it provided an objective for the Cadets to strive for, logically it sounded counter intuitive.

Annie worded it best when she said, "Amusingly enough, in this world, the more of a fight you can put up against the titans, the further you can get away from them." It was when Eren first questioned her about her combat skills.

While people like you and Eren were baffled by the contradiction, it motivated everyone else to improve. Having said that, Even Annie herself was fixated on joining the Military Police. Albeit in her case, she seemed to have a different reason, as she didn't appear to be afraid of titans like the rest. But on the whole, it was a testament to the kind of hope the system itself had in the prospect of humanity overcoming the titans.

That day you had a lecture on the history of the walls. It was super boring, as it was the same old story that everyone had learned in school before enlisting in the military. But it was part of the curriculum, so you had no choice but to sit through it.

Instructor Keith starts to explain, "Over a century ago, the titans appeared and became humanity's natural predator. With their immense strength and vitality, they quickly became an extinction level threat and the last remaining humans were forced to retreat and live inside the walls that were built to keep the titans out. The walls were named Maria, Rose and Sina..."

As he explained, you question him, "Are there really no other humans outside the walls, sir?"

He answers, "No, I've been outside myself and there's no way anyone can survive out there. Now shut up and pay attention!" and continues with his lecture.

As he said that, you finally realize where you had seen him before. It was the morning that Shiganshina was attacked. Keith Shadis, he was the commander of the Survey Corps at the time.

Even though he said that, you couldn't help but imagine if it was true and if titans really were a natural occurrence. These things weren't explained to you, instead they were taught as facts and no one questioned them. The only other people who were interested in the outside world were Eren and Armin.

Armin kept talking about something called the ocean, "It's a salt lake so big, merchants could never deplete it, even if they spent their whole lives extracting salt." was how he described it.

Eren mentioned about how it got him into trouble with the other kids as it was generally considered taboo to speak of anything outside the walls. Apparently, Armin had a book about different landscapes outside the walls that his parents left behind. He wouldn't have gotten away with just bullying if the Military Police were to find it instead, as it was extremely illegal to hold onto things of that sort.

It was clear that someone high up really didn't want anyone to learn about the outside world. It made sense as curiosity can become a very dangerous thing. That 'someone' probably didn't want people to 'invite' trouble by attempting to sneak outside as the titans' motives and their origin really were a mystery.

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After the lecture,

You go to your usual spot to train with Annie. However, for the first time, she doesn't show up without notice. Annie was really punctual and would usually notify you if she was busy. You figure it must've slipped her mind as the finals were approaching fast and it must've put a lot of pressure on her as she had to rank within the top ten in order to get into the Military Police.

You contemplate whether you should go looking for her, but you figure it'd be best not to interrupt her and decide to call it a day. You head back to your barracks and change into your pajamas before getting ready to go to sleep. You lie in bed for a while, struggling to fall asleep, as you would usually be training at that hour.

About an hour passes and you were still awake. You notice Reiner and Bertolt who were on the bunk next to yours get out of bed and sneak outside while everyone else was asleep. It seemed a bit suspicious, but you didn't want to incriminate Reiner as he saved your life and was generally a model soldier that you looked up to. But having nothing else to do, you decide to follow them despite the guilt you felt doing it.

They walk into the forest behind camp and sit down on some logs. You watch them while hiding behind some bushes from a safe distance where you could still hear them. A few minutes later, they're approached by a slender figure that looked like a woman in a hooded sweater.

You couldn't make out who she was from behind as her head was covered by the hood: clearly indicating she was smarter than Reiner and Bertolt who sneaked out with their faces exposed. You listen closely as she starts talking to them.

"While you two were playing with your friends and sleeping like logs, I was crawling around the capital's sewers. But thanks to that guy, I can't risk it all again. Let's just go back to Marley. They'll be happy we have any information at all." She tries to convince Reiner.

Reiner responds, "Are you sure about that? After five years Marley will be expecting more than just information."

"Then what do you want us to do?" she questions him.

"We'll destroy Wall Rose. It's our only shot at luring out the Founding Titan." Reiner answers.

She cautions him, "That's gonna get most of your friends killed."

Reiner walks closer to her and says, "How many times do I have to tell you? They're not our friends, they are demons! But it doesn't hurt to gain their trust. In fact, your lone wolf attitude is more suspicious—"

"You're making me sick. How about you keep your face away from mine?" she complains, cutting him off mid-sentence.

As she said that, you were still trying to put together what exactly they were talking about. "What's Marley? What are they looking for? Why did Reiner call us demons?" You kept thinking to yourself.

While you didn't have the answers, one thing was clear. THEY were the ones who attacked Shiganshina and took everything away from you five years ago. But more importantly, they are going to attack Wall Rose next. Armin's suspicion was right! It was always just a matter of 'when' they attacked and you just confirmed that it was going to happen sooner than later.

You were shocked and speechless to the point you didn't want to believe what you saw with your own eyes. But as devastated as you were to find out that Reiner of all people was an enemy, you knew you had to warn the others immediately. However, just as you were about to turn around, the woman takes off her hood. You watched in disbelief, as you couldn't fathom what you saw next.

If felt like time had slowed down as you watched her hood come down, revealing the pale blonde hair distinctly tied at the back of her head. It was Annie! As if it wasn't shocking enough that Reiner was an enemy, you couldn't bring yourself to believe that Annie; your closest friend— the person you've been training with every day for the past year, was also with them.

You are overrun with mixed feelings. You feel anger and hatred for what they did five years ago. You feel hurt and betrayed by two of the most important people in the world to you. You feel terrified that you were just a few feet away from three people who might actually be titans; all while you continued to delude yourself, refusing to believe what you just saw.

As you debated with yourself, you hear Bertolt say something which only added to your internal conflict. "All this time, I've been having the same dream. About that man who hanged himself at the farm. I can't help but wonder why he told us that story before he tied the noose."

You had no context as to what he said. But the way he said it conveyed a great sense of pain and guilt. It made you question yourself about everything you thought you knew. "Titans are monsters! Then why did he say that? Do they actually have emotions? If they do, how could they murder all those innocent people? Does this have something to do with why Reiner called us demons?"

You realize that there could be a bigger picture beyond your understanding at this point and decide not to act hastily. You were completely drained out, so you sneak your way back to camp and go to bed before they returned.