anonymous asked: Can I request some angsty turning into fluffy Bertholdt X Reader when reader finds out Bertholdt is the Colossal Titan? Currently am on a high of AoT. Please and thank you
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You heart stopped in your chest when you heard those words leave Reiner's mouth so casually, coming to a stop just a foot away from where Mikasa stood and clenching your fists at your side. You had heard the suspicions and rumours floating around the captains: they had found the letters exchanged between Annie Leonhart, the Female Titan, and Reiner Braun, accompanied with the odd side note from Bertholdt. But you had dismissed it - it was just rumours, there was no way Reiner, who had acted like an older brother to everyone, and Bertholdt, who wouldn't dare speak ill about someone, were capable of causing the greatest devastation to humanity.
Then again, it fit so well - Reiner was strong and broad, only ever bested by Mikasa in hand-to-hand combat, and Bertholdt was the tallest man you had ever seen - if you thought about it, then it didn't seem too crazy when you pinpointed the similarities between them, the Armoured Titan and the Colossal Titan.
"You're just tired, that it, right? Help me out here, Bertholdt. Your nerves are shot, you don't know what you're saying!" Eren's voice pierced the deafening silence, but it offered no relief from the thick tension in the air. Instead your heart began to thud against your chest faster, black oily fingers of dread scratching at your insides when no response came.
You turned just in time to see Bertholdt tense up, sweat pouring off of him and his fists clenched nervously at his sides - he was lying. You had seen it before, when he and Reiner had been caught hanging outside of the dormitories past hours, talking in low voices together - what they hadn't know was that you had been watching their every move from within the girl's dormitories, their faces barely illuminated by the oil lamp that hung between them.
"Ye - yeah! It's the battle fatigue talking!" Bertholdt bit out, visibly gulping.
"It's okay - you're okay. If you really were the Armoured Titan what's the endgame here? We wouldn't be having this conversation in the first place - what would you expect me to do? Say yes? Let myself be kidnapped just because you asked politely?" Eren's voice grew louder with each word, hostility coating his tone as he stared up into Reiner's wide hazel eyes, fear consuming them as he stared back. Behind them, Bertholdt's gaze was locked anxiously on Reiner.
Just ahead, Armin and Sasha continued to walk, led by Moblit and Hange, all deathly silent as they strained to hear the conversation over the wind, which seemed to intensify with each second.
"Right," Reiner finally said, a strained smile slipping onto his lips, but the same fear present in his eyes. "Not thinking straight, am I? Barely know what I'm saying here. Must have gone off the deep end." He let out a dry laugh.
Eren turned, sparing a lingering glance towards the pair as he began to walk away. "Come on, let's go."
But when Bertholdt's gaze finally met yours, you knew they wouldn't be following you.
The torn red flag suddenly broke in half, falling over the wall and creating echoing bangs as it fell. Eren stopped abruptly and Bertholdt jerked, both turning to look for the source of the noise, and behind you you heard the footsteps of the others come to abrupt halt. Mikasa visibly tensed up, her hands slowly moving from her sides to where her blades sat, fingering the sharp edges as she observed.
"That's the problem. I've been here too long for my own good. Three years of this madness, surrounded by idiots. We were kids - what did we know about anything? Why did there have to be people like this? Why? Why did I let myself dissolve into a half ass piece of shit?" Reiner's words sent chills down your spine, and you felt your heart skip a beat as he began to remove the sling Christa - no, Historia - had made from her skirt. "It's too late now! Damned if I know what's right anymore. Who cares? It is what it is. No choice but to face what Ii've done. As a warrior." Your throat clenched at the sight of his arm, the marks of the Titan's teeth beginning to slowly fade, steam rising from the mangled skin.
