Different Kind of Love

Chapter 17 - Learning the basics

"Annie?" Eren knocked on her bedroom door.

"What do you want?" The door opened and Eren looked in, Annie stood holding the door, she wore a white hoodie which she looked beautiful in, her body was small and actually quite thin, considering her strength.

"I just wanted to say sorry about before."

"Make sure it doesn't happen again, or I will hurt you."

"Fair enough."

"Speaking of hurting you, we haven't seen you fight yet, come and train with me."

"Actually I'm pretty hungry, I'm going to go and get some..."

"Training. Now." Annie interrupted.

"Y-yes sir. Ma'am! Ma'am, shit, sorry."

"Whatever, meet me out in the garden in five minutes."

"Ok I'll see you there."

- 20 minutes later -

Eren ran to the garden fast as he could. He paused and looked around, Annie was no where to be seen. "You're late." A voice came from Eren's right, but when he turned, he was met with a knee to the stomach, winding him. "Rule one, always be prepared. We can't afford to drop our gaurd." Another knee to the stomach. "Rule two, if someone attacks you, fight back." Then another. "And rule three..." Before she could give Eren another knee, his arm shot up and grabbed her leg. Taking Annie off gaurd, Eren took advantage and pulled her closer to him, this time his knee went for her stomach. But Annie was fast. Too fast. Before Eren connected, his other leg was knocked from under him by a sweep of Annie's leg. "Rule three, always be prepared for your enemies attacks. Learn to block, if not counter, every move you see."

"You're good."

"I know."

"Where'd you learn to fight?"

"The basics come naturally with the curse, then my father taught me the rest."

"Well he did a good job."

"Thanks. You aren't that great a fighter but you have potential and you have the passion. You'll get far."

"Thanks... I guess."

"You've still got a lot to learn, don't worry though, if you continue training you should be an expert in no time."

"You really are amazing."

"What?"

"Oh umm... Nothing I was just... I need to go and umm... Yeah I'll just leave."

"Ok. Let me know if you want to train anymore." With that Annie and Eren headed back inside the hotel where Reiner and Bertholdt were sat sharing what looked to be chicken & bacon pasta. Bacon. Of course.

"Have fun?" Reiner asked as the two entered the room.

"He's still an amateur, but he'll learn." Annie responded, almost breaking into a smile. Almost.

"Anyway, I need to talk to you Eren, I'll meet you in your room." Reiner finished the last mouthful of his pasta and set off for Eren's bedroom.

- Five minutes later -

Eren entered his room to find Reiner casuall slouching against the wall. "What is it you wanted to talk about?" Eren spoke as he made his way to sit on his bed.

"The truth." Reiner replied sternly. "Who we are, why we do this."

"Ok, I'm listening."

"First off, the reason we are how we are is because of an experiment, one your father and those we killed were involved in. "Project Shift" was the name. We were called the 'shifters', people with the ability to change their body and become stronger. If their mind has one specific task in mind."

"How many of us were there?"

"There were 6 from what I remember, but one was killed and the other ran away before we could get to her, I guess she didn't want to get involved."

"6? And what do you mean killed?"

"I mean he was killed. He was caught off guard by some bitch. Straight kill. He didn't even have a chance to fight back."

"Shit. So, you want your revenge, right?"

"That's right."

"And after that?"

"After?"

"Yes. What happens then? You've had your revenge, they're all dead. Then what?"

"Hmm. I don't know."

"Well I think I've already made that decision for myself."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Go back to my life. Back to my friends, family... Mikasa..."

"Mikasa? Your sister?"

"Adopted sister."

"I don't know if we can go back. Not with how we are."

"Are you stupid? I've managed up until now and you said there was another who escaped? They seem to be doing fine. Speaking of which, why me and not them?"

"You were the only one we could find. Whoever the other is, they did a pretty good job of covering their tracks, it looks like they really didn't want to be found."

"But doesn't that prove you can live like normal people?" This caused Reiner to go into a state of deep thought. He stayed in this state for a few minutes. "You ok, Reiner?"

"Yeah... Fine..." Reiner had a confused look on his face as he headed for the door. "I'll talk to you later. And I'll... Think about what you said."

"Alright. I'll see you later." Eren watched as the door slowly shut, leaving him in silence.