𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑨𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒍. AotxMaleOc (Attack on Titan X Tokyo Ghoul)

A Deal

In Paths, knelt next to the other Shifters, Porco continued to strain against his bindings, desperate to free himself and stop Joseph from whatever he had planned.

Pieck: *pained grunt* Damn it. I can't move...

Joseph: There is no point in trying to break them. Trust me, I tried it myself.

The chains clinked and tightened, forcing Porco back onto the ground with a grunt of frustration. Under normal circumstances, the three or four chains binding them wouldn't have been enough to hold them down. However, their injuries were severe, and their energy reserves were completely depleted, leaving them with almost nothing to fight back with.

The Shifters put their best efforts into trying to steam their wounds shut. It was a pipe dream and they all knew it. Each of them had been awake for more than a day by now, stressed endlessly, and fighting nearly non-stop. Injuries sealed shut with the pace of a snail. Despite the seriousness of the situation the sand shifting beneath their struggles and the aura of the paths brought a worrying calm. Their heart rates were brought down almost by force and their broken bodies seemed at ease. Joseph by contrast was in a much better shape and still tense, even if he was tired as hell.

No matter how hard they tried, none of them could rise to their knees, let alone stand.

Eren squinted through blurred vision, trying to make sense of what was happening. Why had Joseph brought them to the Paths?

Eren: Joseph *cough* Do you have any idea what you're doing?

Joseph: I do...the question is...

He looked ahead, the Founder Ymir stood right in front of him with the centipede behind her. Ymir always had either a saddened or tired look on her face, it came from behind a slave for 2000 years. But now, she had a distinctly different look on her face. It wasn't one of sadness or fear, instead it was one of shock. Joseph anticipated it but still he kept his own expression mostly tense and muted.

Standing aside he gestured to the now restricted Titan holders.

Joseph: Here you have it, I have done it, broken all the shifters that would have resisted having their Titans be taken. You children in the internment zones are also safe, and your 9 titans will once again be yours. Just as I promised.

Reiner: Huh?

Reiner struggled against his restraints, his voice filled with confusion and pain.

Reiner: What do you *rrrgh* mean by "yours again"?

Ignoring Reiner's question, Joseph focused on the task at hand. This moment was the culmination of all his plans and efforts. As he looked towards Ymir, he saw a small smile spread across her face—a rarity, perhaps the first in eons. Her lips trembled as they curved upward, a sign of her fragile humanity.

Ymir: Good...

Joseph: I wonder how long it's been since she's said that.

No matter how far he went down this path he always found it strange. Ymir was the most powerful being ever, far more than he ever was. Yet she was still a little girl, nervous and even frail at times. He knew it was likely thanks to being treated like a slave for 2000 years.

Now that Joseph had actually treated her well and made a deal with her things were different. She had grown in confidence and her stance had gotten taller. At first it seemed like a good thing, now though Joseph was unsure. He could always sense danger whenever it was coming, and right now he felt that exact same sensation crawling down his spine. Only this time he could not run or hope to fight, especially with his friends behind him.