Rogue

Part 2: Chapter 23: King

Author's Note: Ah! I wanted to get this done by August and I did! This is the longest chapter of this fic. This is also one of the chapters I've been wanting to write for quite some time. It introduces the other titans and drops loads of clues about Rogue's past. There is a slight Manga spoiler, but it's probably common knowledge by now. This chapter is also pretty full of gore.

This was a monster of a chapter to write and edit, so if I missed anything or if there are any typos, please PM them to me!

Enjoy the chapter! Also, if you are reading this on Ao3, there is a special illustration that goes along with this chapter!

Also, please read the notes at the end of the chapter as well. There is important info about future chapters.

THIS CHAPTER IS 65K!

Chapter 23

King

His mind was swarming with confusion like bees in a hive, head almost pounding. Panic was all he felt flowing through his veins. His hands gripped the journal that he held even tighter, praying that his sweating palms didn't damage the pages. The first direction that his mind was pulling him in was the matter of his titanic friend. Rogue. What on earth had Rogue gone through? Why was his existence covered up when he was first discovered many decades ago? Armin felt his body tense up even further at this. It was incredibly clear now that the other deviant titans were after Rogue. It was likely that it was due to his status, but Armin was now having second thoughts about such being true. With the MP's and the church sweeping Rogue's existence under a rug, it was possible that there was something much more to his talent – the thing that The Female called the Coordinate. Was the ability of ordering titans something that only Rogue could do? Then again, maybe his Berserk Mode was part of the equation as well. After all, he had never seen a titan so relentless and powerful such as Rogue in the very state. Another query that had come out of the shadows and into the light was how Rogue had come to the walls and came into contact with Jorge. How on earth had he gotten there and inside Wall Maria? As he recalled, Hange discovered that he had come from a different region in the world – one that Armin couldn't even begin to guess where it was located. With Rogue's recent resurfacing memories, there was also evidence that Rogue's breed was social and not solitary – suggesting that they lived in groups. The other Jaeger Titan that Rogue described in his memories was possibly close to Rogue at one point in the titan's lifetime and could even be related by blood – a possible family member. If his friend even had a family – why were they not seeking him out? What on earth happened to the gentle titan? He wanted to know desperately. Everyone did.

Of course, the second direction his mind was going in was onto a more urgent matter that currently put the mystery of Rogue on the shelf. What he and the others were witnessing now made them tremble to the bone and chill all the way into their boots. The state of being petrified infected every male and female upon the tower. The full moon hung high overhead, illuminating the landscape before Utgaard and highlighting every needle on the pines. It also revealed a sight that both filled their hearts with dread and forced them into a state of shock. Below them, walking without an ounce of exhaustion, were at least a dozen titans.

Monsters that were still marching even after the sun had long since sat.

Armin swallowed, panic settling in even further. In his several years of being a cadet and going through countless lessons as well as reading Hange's research in addition to old surviving texts of titan biology – he had never heard of both normal and abnormal titans moving without the aid of sunlight. Sure, Rogue could operate and move until he would finally give into exhaustion around midnight at the latest. However, any of the common run of the mill variety always collapsed when the moon traded places with the sun. The titans below them looked just as hungry and agile as they would be beneath the sun's rays. Sweat traced down his brow. How! How could these titans move at night! What the hell was going on!