The Guardian's Tale (AOT fanfiction)

-The Truth-

"Son of a bitch...Titan almost ripped my arm off. How pathetic." Reiner said as he placed his hand over his eyes. "All I could think was...this is how I go."

"Yeah well..." I pulled Armin up. "What what else were you supposed to think ?...I could've lost you. Besides...you're only human."

"Don't you get it my love ? This was my second time." He replied, grabbing my wrist tightly. "Armin, remember ? Go on, tell them how Annie nearly CRUSHED me like an insect. That's twice I've nearly died now. What are the chances I'll survive a third time ?" He asked, gripping me tighter. "This is what it really means...what it's like to be a SOLDIER. Eh, no good whining about it now. At least not until we can plug up the wall."

"R-Reiner please...let go." I whined. "Y-You're crushing my wrist." I forcefully pulled away as his grip didn't loosen. "Regardless..." I backed away from him slightly. "You and Bertholdt have been driven far enough from your hometown as it is." Suddenly, I noticed a change in Reiner's and Betholdt's faces.

"Truer words were never spoken !" Bertholdt exclaimed. "HOME ! Let's go ! We've been here long enough. Compared to everything else we had to go through, the rest is easy."

"You're right...we don't have much further to go before it's done." Reiner's eyes widened and he let a small smile form on his lips.

"E-Eren..." I tapped Eren's wrist lightly. "I-...I think we have to go."

Suddenly, Hannes came up the wall and we all gathered around him. Apparently, they spent all night looking for a breach but they found nothing. I was about to speak when Reiner grabbed my wrist again, this time intently crushing it. I winced and was about to say something but Bertholdt covered my mouth with his hand to block any sounds. He uncovered my mouth once Hange gave the order to head back to Trost and everyone started spreading out. I watched as Mikasa and Armin left, leaving only Reiner, Bertholdt, Eren and I.

"R-Reiner please..." I pleaded, tears welling up in my eyes because of the pain.

"Not yet." He said sharply. "Eren !" He called out. "We should all talk for a second." Eren then agreed and he continued. "5 years ago, WE compromised Wall Maria and launched an attack on humanity. I'm the Armored Titan and he's the Colossal." He said, pointing at Bertholdt.

"T-That means..." I traced my scar with my free hand. "You saved me...I knew it." I tried to pull my hand away but he was too strong. "E-Eren we have t-" Bertholdt cut me off by placing a cloth in my mouth as a gag.

"WHY ARE YOU TELLING THEM ?!" He exclaimed as he finished tying the cloth behind my head. "Reiner no ! Stop !"

"We're on a mission. Our goal is to ensure mankind's extinction." Reiner continued as he pulled me in closer. "But now...there's no need for that. Eren, Yuki. If you want the walls to remain standing it's simple. Just come with us. Do you both understand ?" He forced my arm at an angle where it would snap if I moved.

"Mmph..." I tried to speak as tears rolled down my cheeks.

How could this happen ? I trusted him. I thrashed as best as I could but Bertholdt tied both of my wrists behind my back, allowing Reiner to get a better and tighter hold on them.

"Understand ?!" Eren exclaimed. "The hell is there to understand ?!" He reached for me but I shook my head, it was no use.

"LISTEN TO ME ! I need you to do exactly as I say !" Reiner commanded. "Look I know this is sudden but we have to go. I can't tell you where we're gonna take the both of you . Well not yet." He looked down at me. "I'm sorry my love but you're too dangerous to not be restrained." He placed a finger under my chin as I continued trying to keep Eren at bay while trying to get out of the blonde's grasp. "Just...think of it as our hometown. Okay ? So what's it gonna be ? I think it's a pretty good deal, you get to avoid a huge disaster."

"Nhh..." I slowly nodded my head, looking up at Reiner with eyes full of tears.

Reiner placed me in front of him, his back to the others so that they couldn't see I was restrained and gagged. The rain slowly fell onto my face, and I shifted, placing myself as far away as I could from Reiner. He gripped my wrists tighter and pulled me against his chest. I should've known this would happen. I should've trusted my instincts.

"You're just tired...that's it right ?" Eren asked, placing his hand on Reiner's shoulder. "Help me out here Bertholdt, your nerves are shocked. You don't know what you're saying !"

"NNGH !!" I tried to speak once more but all that came out were muffled sounds.

"Right...not thinking straight am I ?" Reiner said as I felt one of my wrists snap from the pressure. "I don't know what I'm saying here. Must've gone off the deep end..."

A flag fell from the wall and everything suddenly went quiet. I noticed Hange and the others, looking back at us but realized they still couldn't see me.

"That's the problem..." Reiner said, looking down at me. "I've been here too long for my own good. 3 years of this madness...surrounded by idiots. And falling in love ? What was I thinking ?" He wiped the tears from my face. "Why did there have to be people like this ? Why did I let myself devolve into a half assed piece of shit ?!" He took off the piece of cloth supporting his arm. "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 I've done." Steam started coming off of his wound. "AS A WARRIOR ! No road left but the one that leads to the end ! Right here...right now !" He placed his forehead to mine and cupped my cheek. "I'm sorry my love...but this is how it has to be."

Mikasa suddenly came and slashed Reiner and Bertholdt as I managed to burn my restraints and take out the gag. As she was about to stab Bertholdt, Reiner pushed her out of the way.

"NO !" I yelled as lightning started surrounding them both. "REINER PLEASE DON'T DO THIS !" I turned to the others. "QUICK GET AROUND ME !" As they did, I bit my hand and a rib cage covered in crystallized muscles formed around us.

I planted my feet as firmly as I could to the ground but the heat from both of their transformation was still coming through. As I was still too weak and injured, the rib cage started slowly dissolving and the Armored Titan's hand pulled me away from the muscles connecting my ribs to the Titan's. I watched helplessly as the Colossal grabbed Ymir and Reiner slid down the wall, Eren and I in his hand.

"It's you..." I placed my hand on the exact same spot as 5 years ago, on his jaw. "But...why would you do this..." Tears rolled down my cheeks as I noticed a burn mark my hand had left when he saved me. "WHY WOULD YOU REINER ?! I-...WE...We trusted you...So why...why would you ?"

Suddenly, Eren bit his hand and turned into a Titan. He grabbed me and threw me back on top of the wall where I landed face to face with Bertholdt.

"You....You killed my brother..." Rage filled my eyes as I crouched before him. "YOU FUCKING TRAITOR !"

In response, he let out an ear piercing scream. It was me against this monster.

TO BE CONTINUED !