The Guardian's Tale (AOT fanfiction)

-Kidnapped-

"Don't let him deceive you kid." Ymir sighed. "But wait a second, those Titans back at the castle had no problem moving around at night. Hell they almost ripped Tiny over there to shreds." She pointed at me. "What's stopping these guys ?"

"The Titans around here can't move at night. But you know all about that don't you Ymir ?" He asked her coldly.

I looked at Eren, still holding my left hand as I noticed him looking up, rage, hatred and determination filling his eyes. Just what exactly was he thinking ? I then looked behind me and noticed Bertholdt looking away as soon as our gazes met. Suddenly, I heard what sounded like horses and I immediately turned towards the source of the sound.

"Hmm ?" Reiner hummed. "What is it ? Are more Titans coming ?"

"I uhm..." I looked back at him and moved my left ankle which was now fully healed. "No...I just thought I heard something...that's all."

"Hey Reiner. Got any water ?" Ymir called out. "Help a girl out, I'm dying over here and Tiny looks as white as milk."

"Sorry there's not a hell of a lot I can do." He said, pulling me in so that my back was against his chest. "Even if it IS a matter of life and death."

I sighed and Ymir and I looked at each other. At least now we knew where we stood...sort of. Then, Reiner spoke up, saying they worked their asses off with no food and no water, ever since those Titans showed up yesterday. And he talked about how lucky we were the wall haden't been destroyed. I looked at Eren and my eyes widened. Thing is...it had been a few days. 

"Still you'd think that meant they'd give us a break. Don't even get me started on promotion." He said, hugging me tightly.

"What the hell..." Bertholdt spoke up.

"Whaaat ? Aw come on I don't think that's too much to ask. Do you ?" Reiner asked. "God knows we've done our share of heavy lifting. All things considered. I mean I get it, we're soldiers, duty first. It's just nice to be acknowledged." He slipped on the same ring that he had given me, on his left ring finger.

"You bang your head or something ? What are you even talking about ?" Ymir asked. "Seriously ?"  

"Urgh don't give me that. I'm not saying we storm in and demand the rank of Captain or anything. Oh yeah ! Where'd you find that cannon by the way ?" He Reiner asked joyfully. "I owe you and Yuki one for saving my bacon."

"HEY !" Eren yelled as he stood up. "What's wrong with you ? You've gotta be kidding me." Eren said darkly. "IF YOU WANNA DIE THEN JUST KEEP TALKING !"

"No...hold up Eren..." I placed my thumb on my bottom lip. "I think he's gone off the deep end. Is that what this is Bertholdt ? Look if you know something we don't, NOW would be a good time to put it on the table."

"Reiner...snap out of it." He simply answered. "You're not a soldier okay ? You and I are...we're warriors." As soon as he said that, I felt Reiner tremble behind me as he touched Marco's handkerchief tied around my arm.

"R-Right...I see...that's how things are..." Reiner said with a shaking voice. "Yuki...I'm sorry." He said as he let go of me and placed a hand over his eyes.

"I knew it...it didn't add up at first." I said, turning to Eren and Ymir. "Why would the man who broke the Wall risk his neck to save Connie ? It's like his personality is compartmentalized. Everything he does is a contradiction in terms. He can't help it...One one hand he's a warrior bent on pushing mankind past the brink. On the other...he's pretending to be a soldier. I think he got a little lost in the role. See...he can't resolve those facets of himself. He can't bare the weight of what he's done. The only way for him to manage his conscience is to fall for his own act. In short...he thinks he IS a soldier. That's what you call a split personality. His heart and mind are at war with each other and judging by his expression..." I pointed at Bertholdt. "This isn't the first stalemate."

"SHUT UP !" Reiner yelled which made my heart almost jump out of my throat. "Not another word."

Eren started lashing out at them while I just sat there, frozen and unable to look back at Reiner. I knew he could crush me like a bug due to our difference. He was tall, large and muscular while I was small, skinny and frail. I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard a sentence that left me speechless. 

"So then...you're just murderers. Psychotic mass murderers who snuffed out the lives of countless people who never did you any wrong. YOU'RE NOT EVEN HUMAN ANYMORE !"

"EREN SHUT UP !" I yelled at him, horror and fear filling my face. 

"I swear to you...one way or another the two of you will pay." He told Reiner. "And it's gonna hurt. Who's side are you even on Yuki ? Are you a traitor too ? Have you lost your humanity ?"

"EREN I SAID SHUT IT !" I yelled as my eyes turned blood red. "MARK MY WORDS IF YOU DON'T I'LL BURN YOU TO FUCKING ASHES." I slowly got up, putting all of my weight on my left side. "WE GET IT ALRIGHT ?! YOU HATE THEM. WELL GUESS WHAT THIS IS HARD ON ALL OF US. WHAT THE FUCK WOULD YOU DO IF YOU FOUND OUT THE ONE YOU LOVED WAS A MURDERER HUH ?! NOW SHUT UP BEFORE I KILL YOU !"

I was left panting, a huge silence settling down upon us all. Ymir lectured him and I turned to Reiner, remembering that night at the tower.

"Tell me something..." I brushed my fingers over both of our rings. "What's with the giant monkey ?" I asked, trying to make my tone more playful to relax everyone. 

"Monkey ? What are you talking about Yuki ?" He asked, confused.

"Huh...I thought for sure you'd know..." I sighed. "From the way you guys were ogling at that all slack jawed I figured we were seeing some kind of living legend or something."

"A monkey ?" Eren scoffed. "Don't be cute."

"Shut up and listen. Monkey, Beast, Titan, whatever you wanna call him. HE'S behind this latest fiasco." Ymir explained. "It's why Titans are cropping up outta nowhere. I get the feeling he's testing our strength."

"Reiner and Bertholdt are tryna get wherever HE is. It's how they're getting back home." I added on. "Feel free to correct me if I'm way off base." I turned to Bertholdt and raised an eyebrow at him.

Then, Ymir and Eren started arguing and I started blacking out from the pain of my broken ribs. Reiner held me up and looked at Ymir.

"Ymir ! There's no future for this world and you know it." He said.

TO BE CONTINUED !