Light in the Dark: Bertholdt x Reader {AOT}

Battle for Trost (Part 2)

You and Leon had just arrived at the interior gate together. The squad leader sent him off to support the middle squad. He waved to you and winked as he left, making you blush. You started to feel guilty about the entire thing, knowing that it was kind of fucked up considering your feelings for Bertholdt. You had been desperate for Bertholdt to touch you again. If anything, Leon was just a release. Either way, it didn't change your feelings. If anything it made you want Bertholdt even more. You were worried about him and Reiner since the Colossal appeared. What Bertholdt had said the previous night also loomed over you. You really thought he was just being paranoid about today, but in the end he ended up being right about his hunch after all.
Pulling you away from your thoughts, the squad leader present sent you to go help other squads still in Titan territory. 

You headed towards where the supply base was located. As you were heading that way, you killed 1 abnormal and 3 titans that had been walking around aimlessly (but still in the way). You tried not to get cocky from killing so many in succession. 

Further down you spotted a bunch of people standing on a few of the roofs all together. You recognised most of them as members of the 104th squad. You landed nearby Jean and Connie. Jean was mumbling about how he only needed one more day of peace before his was in the MPS. This annoyed you. You hated how Jean wanted to ride the easy path to the high life. What's the point in joining the MPS if the walls fall anyways?

You spotted Armin alone, his face pale and hurried in his knees. you noticed Mikasa was nowhere to be found. From the corner of your eye, you saw Marco, Reiner, Bertholdt and Annie all lane nearby on a separate roof. Mikasa soon landed near them asking Annie something before heading towards Armin, who seemed pretty much totally out of it and in shock.

You looked back over at Bertholdt and his group. You missed him and had been worried about him since the start of all of this. You used your ODM gear to fly over to the roof they were on, hurrying yourself in front of Bertholdt and hugging him tightly. Annie glared at you for a moment before turning her gaze away somewhere else. You noticed her glare but chose to ignore it. Reiner paid no attention and was focused on what Mikasa and Armin were talking about.
Bertholdt pulled you close to him, wrapping his arms around you. His eyes were watering a little as he squeezed you tighter. "I was worried about you. I couldn't find you anywhere and kept freaking out."

"I-I'm fine. Luckily when the wall went down I wasn't too close to the Colossal." You felt your arm stinging a little, and you winced in pain. You looked at it as you unwrapped yourself from him, noticing you had a burn on it. Because of everything that had happened, you probably hadn't noticed it due to adrenaline. "Oh, I guess I wasn't careful enough." You went to touch the burn, but Bertholdt grabbed your hands and looked at it.

"It doesn't look to bad, but avoid touching it. It'll just make it hurt worse. Don't scratch it either or it won't heal properly." Bertholdt face saddened as he let you go, turning his attention towards Reiner. He wiped the dots that had formed earlier under his eyes.

 
"Reiner, what now?" Annie asked him quietly.

"Not yet. We need to wait for them to group up." He replied back. Marco was still with the four of you, and was half listening to their conversation as well as paying attention to Mikasa and Armin.
It was then that you noticed Mikasa's face, and Armin crying. You turned your attention over to them, trying to hear what Armin was saying.

 
"The cadets of squad 34. Thomas Wagner, Nack Tierce, Milieus Zeremski, Mina Carolina, and Eren Yeager. These brave five cadets upheld their duties. They died valiantly on the battlefield." Armin continued to bawl his eyes out while everyone started feeling discouraged about trying to face the titans. Mikasa calmed Armin before getting up and walking towards your group.

"Marco, if we eliminate the titans at HQ, we can then refill our gear, allowing us to get over the wall, is that assessment correct?"

 
Marco looked nervous. "Y-yeah, sure. But there's too many of them near HQ. Even with you on point, it's unlikely we'll be able to do-"

 
Mikasa cut him off, shooting a glare at him. "I can do it. I'm strong. Stronger than the rest of you. I am a warrior. I'll do it, even if I have to do it alone. I'm surrounded by a bunch of unskilled cowards who are too scared to fight. You all disappoint me. You can sit here twiddling your thumbs while I fight."

Several other cadets rebutted to her comments. "You're crazy. You can't beat them all by yourself!"

"It's suicide Mikasa."

"Mikasa are you out of your mind!?"

"If I can't beat them, then I'll die. But if I win, then I live. The only way to win is to fight." Mikasa hopped off and used her ODM gear to fly off towards HQ. Little did the rest of you know she was very limited on her remaining gas as were the rest of you, as well as her blades.

"Tch. Was that supposed to be inspirational?" An irritated Jean yelled. Jean looked around at everyone. "Are we all just going to sit like ducks and let her die in vain!? No! Everyone, keep to her rear and let's head for HQ. Keep all engagements to a minimum and retain as much of your gas as possible." With that, Jean launched towards where Mikasa had been going, along with Armin. Everyone else soon followed after them after feeling motivated by Jean. Marco had left with everyone else, all that was remaining was you, Reiner, Annie, and Bertholdt.

 
"We need to move, Bertholdt." Reiner insisted, turning away from the two of you with Annie. "We can't stay in one spot for too long."

"I know Reiner." Bertholdt sighed, grabbing your hand for a moment, giving it a light squeeze. "Look, please be careful. Stay close if you can. I don't want to lose you." Bertholdt pulled you close and hugged you again.

 
"Y-you don't need to worry. I'll be fine." You we're a little cocky from having survived all the excitement so far. "Besides, I've already killed a few of these things on my own. What's a few more?" You chuckled, giving him a reassuring smile before breaking away from him and flying off towards the rest of the others. Annie followed after her.

Bertholdt still had a look of gloom on his face. "Reiner." He turned his head towards the blonde, who's back was facing him.

 
The blonde looked at him from over his shoulder. "Bertholdt, you're gonna get hurt. She's a devil like the rest of these islanders. If you continue to grow attached, the mission is doomed." He sighed. "I get what you're feeling, I'm feeling the same way. Maybe these islanders aren't devils. They seem like normal people to me as well but..." Reiner looked ahead again. "It doesn't matter. We have to finish it so we can go home."

"B-but I think she would understand. Why can't we take her back with us Reiner?"

"Because it's too risky. Do you really want her to live what we had to live through as children?!"

 Reiner glared at Bertholdt, pissed off. "The two of you can't work because it's not possible. You're just gonna hurt each other if you continue. We are going to have to go back there eventually, with or without the founder."

 
Bertholdt's eyes teared up. The thought of losing the only person he had cared about depressed him. He knew how cruel Marley, no, the world was. He knew that the mission would end eventually. Some part of him wished it was already over and he had never met you, as then neither of you would have to go through all of this.

Reiner flew off towards the others, followed by Bertholdt.

To be continued.....

Sorry for the delay in this chapter guys, and if it was rather short. I've been super busy between work and everything else. I have my cat back so that's also a priority. See you in the next part!