Leo Simon
patreon
God of Destruction Chapter 4
🕑 Added 2024-01-09 22:47:55 +0000 UTCHitch slowly walked into the Commander's office, and she wasn't sure what to expect. Afterall, she was more or less just an average MP, though she could be counted as unique since most in her branch rarely did their jobs, and that couldn't warrant her being important enough to earn much attention from Nile Dok himself.
Though, what Hitch didn't expect was for her Commander to be joined by two other MP's, the both of them looking cutthroat and even a bit pompous at a first impression.
"What did you want to see me for, Commander? I've been told it was important." Hitch asked carefully, almost not wanting to hear the answer, and shifted in place under their eyes.
Nile remained stoic, though he did sit up from his chair as he spoke. "Yes, this is an important matter. You were Annie Leonhart's former roommate, and the person who guarded the crystal whilst it was in our custody, correct?"
"Yes... what does this have to do with Annie?" Hitch asked, not quite hiding the worry in her tone as she wondered what they'd done to her former roommate. Though an enemy, she couldn't help but feel worry for Annie when they'd taken her crystal away, saying something about possibly extracting her from that shell. She wasn't so stupid that she couldn't imagine what this was about, and it made her all the more anxious to get her answers.
"We've managed to drag the Female Titan out of her shell, with Leonhart being detained and within our custody, however we still need to transfer her powers to a trustworthy soldier. We believe that soldier should be you." Nile answered, making Hitch's heart skip a beat and her first instinct was to say-
"No." Hitch stated simply, not even wanting to consider the possibility of devouring someone, and she certainly had no intention of shortening her life.
A man with glasses regarded her coldly. "I think you misunderstand the situation, girly. You will-"
Nile cut across him. "Stop it, Roeg. We've already agreed that we wouldn't force her, since that wouldn't turn out well for anyone, and as such Ms Dreyse has every right to refuse us if she wishes." Hitch felt some momentary relief. "However, I must ask that you give this some proper consideration."
Hitch felt a tick on her eyebrow. "And why the hell am I the one you want to turn anyway?" She asked in befuddlement. "It's not like I'm the most qualified. In fact, why give it to an MP at all? Wouldn't a shifter be better off with the Scouts than us? They're the ones who do all the fighting."
Nile seemed to get annoyed by that remark, immediately countering. "The Survey Corps have always been loose cannons in the military. They've always put their own foolish ideals in front of what's best for the people as a whole, even resorting to blackmail and political manoeuvring in the past to get what they want. Whilst I'll admit they have had recent success, I'd rather they not monopolise all the island's Titan powers."
Hitch could tell he was omitting a few facts intentionally, such as the fact the Military Police was most of the reason the Survey Corps had to resort to such methods to survive, however she could agree with him in part. The Scouts allowed Annie to rampage through Stohess, turning a city full of innocents into a battlefield, and though she knew the logic in weeding out the Titan shifters, she also knew what a street full of crushed corpses looked like now.
Hitch frowned. "You still haven't answered my question though. Why me? What makes me different from the other candidates? Surely there has to be someone more suited for the job."
The man on Nile's right rolled his eyes as though he were talking to a child. "It's your story, girl. The people seem to have the idea we're useless and unproductive, made worse by the Survey Corps holding the Colossal, Founding and Attack Titans in their ranks, so you inheriting the Female Titan would improve our declining image. The fact you're Annie's former roommate, a young girl betrayed by her close friend, will help sweeten the deal and earn the respect of ordinary citizens."
Hitch felt her jaw drop, unable to stop herself from gaping at the audacity of the men in front of her, but her shock quickly turned to indignation and rage as she breathed out with barely controlled anger. "So, you want me to shorten my life, put a target on my back, and spin a sob story about my personal life just to make the Military Police look good?"
Nile pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering something incomprehensive under his breath, though she did manage to catch the word 'idiot'. The man however, showed obliviousness to her anger as he asked shrewdly. "Well, do you accept? If you do you'll be compensated handsomely."
"Fuck you." Was Hitch's response, not caring that she was talking to her superior. "Sorry for wasting your time, but I have no interest in being a pawn for these little schemes you have planned. Oh and if you want my advice on how to make people think you're useful, and this'll probably sound crazy to you, why don't you try and make your people do their jobs?" With a sense of finality, Hitch turned around to leave, but stopped when she heard the man in glasses call out from behind her.
"Everybody wants something, Ms Dreyse. Whatever that might be can be yours, and all you have to do is say yes. Come on, there must be something."
Hitch wasn't sure why, but for some reason her feet immediately became stuck to the ground when she heard those words. The idea of selling her precious morality for anything, let alone something material, was laughable to her ears. Then again, what if what she wanted wasn't something selfish like money.
Hitch found her mind wandering back to Marlow, that boy with a naïve dream to reform the MP's, and how he wanted to erase the corruption within the interior. At the time she laughed at it, and she still did chuckle a bit when she thought of it, now she just felt sad that he died too soon to achieve that dream.
Hitch smiled slightly at the thought, and briefly pondered on what Marlow might have thought in his final moments. Knowing how steadfast and heroic he was, he was probably wondering if his death would help humanity. That seems like something he would have thought in his final moments. He was a brave guy, and that's what someone like him must have felt.
"In the end, I'm certain he would have rather stayed back."
Remembering Floch's words at the memorial, she allowed her jaw to tighten. As much as she liked to think otherwise, since reality was often cruel, she knew that Marlow probably did regret what he did back then. He was human, he had flaws, and it was only natural to be afraid in your last moments.
Now, Marlow was gone, with him just being another name carved on a tombstone. Hell, he probably wasn't even worth that much to the government. Just another number on a statistic. His dream lived on in her though, and she had the chance to grant his wish.
Hitch breathed out, refusing to turn and look them in the eye, before eventually she found her voice.
"Actually, there is one thing."
----------------------
"I'm sorry, Hitch agreed to inherit the Female Titan?" Historia asked with surprise in her eyes, and Armin nodded back at her as the sunset in the background, making orange wash over the area.
"Yeah, but only under certain conditions." Armin began to explain, smiling slightly. "Hitch didn't say why she wanted this, but I think it has something to do with Marlow. He wanted to wipe out corruption in the Military Police, but he ended up dying at Shiganshina, so I think this is her way of making his wish a reality."
Historia smiled sadly. "That's pretty sweet of her."
Armin easily agreed. "It is. That's actually one of the reasons I'm glad she's getting the Female. I can tell she's a good person, that means she won't abuse her powers. I wish I could say the same... but I'm not so sure I could keep those words. I'm the Colossal Titan afterall, and with Marley around I can't stand afford to stand idle. I have too much to protect."
The queen had a contemplative look in her eyes, before she leaned back on the fence and stated. "You know, Armin, it's not just you that this island is counting on."
Armin gave a brief hum at the sudden change in topic, glancing at Historia as she continued. "The way you talk, it's like you think the fate of the world is solely on your shoulders. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the fact you do so much for us and the Walls, but taking too much of the responsibility has it's own issues. Don't you dare think you're alone."
Armin's expression faded from shocked to grateful, with him smiling as he responded. "I won't, or I'll try not to. I realise that I'm not alone, and that I can't do everything on my own, but I also have a lot on my back. The life of Commander Erwin and the power of the Colossal Titan weight down on me, and honestly that's the reason I try to come here whenever I can."
This time, it was Historia's turn to look surprised as Armin sighed. "Eren and Mikasa are great, don't get me wrong, but it just feels like I can't talk to them about everything going on in my mind. Eren has been really aloof since we learned the truth, in fact I should really talk to him about that, and Mikasa just hates it whenever I mention the Curse of Ymir and my limited life. It's not exactly their fault, they're heavy subjects, but it can get lonely since I've taken on such a large role in the Scouts. Honestly, I've kind of been detached from them."
Historia remained silent, a fact he was grateful for, as he continued and gestured around the field they were standing in. "But, coming here to visit you has given me an out. I don't get that many days off, but spending a bit of time here to help at the orphanage is enough to keep my head from frying. Maybe that's just me, but the time we spend together is special, Historia."
Historia looked a bit taken aback, her cheeks tinting pink, though eventually she just smiled back. "It's not just you, Armin. To be honest, my entire life has been flipped upside down since I became queen. I had to stop being a soldier, I've been able to help out the children in the Walls, and suddenly I'm just this other person now that I barely recognise."
Historia paused, her face looking a bit saddened. "I'm more of a figurehead than a queen, but that's something I can accept, however it can be hurtful to have my helplessness pointed out. I don't actually make many decisions, I just... sit there on the throne." She added that last bit with a hint of frustration.
"You aren't helpless, Historia." Armin immediately retorted her, causing her to look at him with a raised eyebrow and an unconvinced face.
"Really, how?"
Armin huffed, as though thinking for a moment, before he began. "For a starter, there's the fact that before you became queen the Walls were being led by a self-destructive regime that wanted nothing more to retain their own power and influence. Suddenly though, when you took the throne things started to look up. The Titan guillotines were constructed thanks to your permission, Eren was allowed further freedom to transform thanks to you allowing him to do so, and you decided to put in a system that helps children from all corners of our Walls."
Historia gave a brief laugh. "Any royal could have done that."
Armin corrected. "Yes, but you were the only royal who decided that they should do that." He gained Historia's attention. "Maybe you weren't raised in a palace and taught how to rule, but you've done a much better job than the other kings and queens of the past have. Back when we were discussing whether or not we should make the populous aware of the outside world, it was you who stood up and said, now these were your exact words: 'Let's announce it. Afterall, we're just returning the memories King Reiss stole back to the people. We all share the same fate as people of the Walls. We must unite as one and bring our true strength together.' In that moment, you officially made yourself a better ruler than your predecessors because you stood up for the most important thing a ruler should uphold: honesty. You chose to let Paradis know the truth of what's going on, and because of that we're slowly uniting into a force that will repel the outside world again. You are a good ruler Historia, because you care about others."
Historia's jaw was dropped by his explanation, but when she processed those words fully, the teenage queen blushed and rubbed the back of her head skittishly, not at all acting like the leader of a nation she really was. "Come on, no need to flatter me, Armin."
Armin gave a slight grin. "Hardly flattery if it's true, your majesty."
Historia huffed at that, throwing a playful fist at his arm which he barely felt with her cheeks still blushing. "Don't start calling me that, you're the only person who calls me by name these days. Even the others are going 'your grace' or, 'your majesty' honestly it was flattering at first, but now it's just annoying."
"Well, if it's any consolation, I don't plan on changing that anytime soon. Someone around here has to remind you that you've got a name, if not you might just forget it." Armin quipped, earning him a laugh from the other blonde, and he took notice of how beautiful she looked with a genuine smile on her face. Trying not to stare, he changed his attention towards to nearly gone sun.
As night began to break, Armin pulled out his pocket watch and was surprised when he noticed the time. "Damn, it's pretty late. Getting back to the city at this time will be a pain." A thought crossed his mind, and he asked. "Can I just sleep here?"
Historia blinked owlishly, before her cheeks tinted pink once again. "What?"
"Well, it'll be close to midnight by the time I manage to walk to the city, and I honestly don't feel like making the trip back there at this time. Unless you want me to turn into a Titan and walk there, in that case I could-"
"No- I mean, yes. Of course you can stay, Armin." Historia spoke, and Armin smiled at her gratefully.
"Thanks, I owe you one."
----------------------
Annie licked her chappy lips, trying to rid herself of just a single discomfort, only to feel a stab of disappointment when her saliva did absolutely nothing to moisten her lips. It was a tiny thing, but one that rubbed salt in her wounds.
The military had limited how much food and water she was allowed to consume, the cunning bastards, and she was constantly in a state of exhaustion from her lack of sleep. She couldn't transform, even if she had her limbs back, and odds were she'd just fail even if there was some chance of escape. Marley were long gone, likely kicked back to the continent with their tails between their legs, and she couldn't cross the sea in her Titan form. She was done.
Annie was restless, and her heart was full of longing... she wanted to see her father again, even if only once more.
She never wanted to become a Titan, but like everything in her life... no, actually, she might have had that control all along. Whilst it was true she'd been enlisted into the program by her father, she was smart enough to tell even at a young age that being a Titan shifter was nothing but misery. She could have failed intentionally, thrown off her results so Marley wouldn't know how competent she was, but she didn't. She wouldn't have become an honorary Marleyan, even if it came with some nice perks, she would have been alive in Liberio. She could have lived past twenty, maybe found something she loved doing with her life, possibly even find someone who would love her.
Maybe she could have even started her own-
Annie shook her head, knowing such thoughts would only hurt when she inevitably died. It hurt but... she was as good as dead. Armin wasn't lying when he'd visited her, as much as she wanted to deny it, she was going to be eaten. It was bitter and horrifying knowing everything she'd done, all the atrocities and sins, it all just amounted to her being eaten for those crimes.
Annie sighed out, feeling tired and dizzy. She'd lost track of time, especially since it was always dark in her cell, but she was certain it must have been weeks at the very least. It felt like an eternity to her, but that would be the result of having regrets as her only company. They hadn't tortured her physically, but knowing she was going to be eaten any day now was its own special brand of hell.
Though oddly, whilst she did feel plenty of anxiety and terror... she also felt some morbid curiosity.
Life had dealt her a horrible hand, even if she didn't help on that front, so maybe her last moments... would be a relief. Knowing that she wouldn't be burdened by her actions, the sins she was straddled with being lifted off her shoulders, it sounded freeing. Like it was something to look forward to... almost.
Annie learned not to care about life at a young age. That was the reason she spent so much time crushing bugs as a child- it was her way of preparing to pulverise countless people- however her own life was something she still found some value in, or rather, what it could do for her.
She was unsatisfied. She still didn't know if her father meant those words. Could... she could have truly been a regular girl. The creaking of metal caught her off-guard, and she wondered resentfully if the cell guards would give her another beating, only for two familiar faces to walk through the door. Connie and Jean.
Jean scowled at the sight of her, though Connie hardly reacted at all asides from the hardening of his eyes, and when they walked to her front they stopped for a moment Jean greeted her with barely held distain in his voice.
"Leonhart. You look like crap... and smell like it too." His brown eyes held a mix of emotions, but the most prominent for her was unfortunately anger, and he was making no effort to hide it.
Annie didn't have the strength to retort the jab, especially in front of two people she betrayed, so she just breathed out. "Why are you here."
Jean sighed, sounding resign. "Well, it's time for you to die I guess. The brass sure took their sweet time, but the one who'll get your powers has been picked. Say goodnight, Annie."
Annie felt sweat gather on her brow, but rather than try to throw away her dignity she decided to lower her head and try to steady her breath.
Jean seemed to notice this and spoke. "We wanted to have a few words with you, before you end up as Titan food, so we asked to collect you. Get ready, because we need to have a long talk about what you've done... and about Marco."
Annie felt her jaw clench at the mention of his name, but chose to remain silent. She knew her punishment was a long time coming, but it still made her want to breakdown at the thought of having to explain herself. She didn't want to talk about Marco, she didn't want to be eaten by a Titan. She wanted to run, to avoid having to face her sins head-on.
But... that was no longer an option.
----------------------
Armin pulled out his pocket watch, noting the time was 7:39 in the morning. The sky was blue and, though a bit cold, the air was fresh and the grass he stood on was green and lush. It was a downright lovely day, and he wondered if that would make Annie feel any better.
He breathed out his nose, noticing Jean and Connie in the corner of his eyes with Annie being blindfolded and gagged as they placed her in the middle of the field as a few people watched with differing reactions. Some, like the MP's, merely held distain, however Hitch herself had a conflicted look in her eyes as she watched Annie closely with a frown and clenched fists.
Armin put his watch away as he walked over to Connie and Jean, who both had grim looks on their faces, and he questioned them gently. "Did you get the answers you were looking for?"
Jean's scowl deepened, though his tone remained even. "Yeah, I did... she killed Marco, Armin. She took his ODM gear and left him for dead, along with Reiner and Bertolt. She did nothing as a Titan ate him alive, as he screamed for them to help him."
Armin burrowed his eyebrows, whilst Connie looked at the ground, though he did eventually ask. "What were his final words, Marco I mean?" He already knew, though he felt a need to hear them for some reason.
Jean tightened his jaw, looking like he was holding back tears. "He said that... they hadn't even tried to talk to him before killing him. If Annie's telling the truth anyway."
Armin closed his eyes hearing that, not even able to imagine how horrible it must have been for the boy. Being eaten alive was one thing, but to have three of your friends be your murderers? To not even be given an explanation? To just be left there, unable to do anything more than cry and sob as a Titan closes in on you?
It's always the kind ones who end up dead and, even though he didn't know him personally, Marco Bott was certainly one of those people.
"Is this really it, Armin? Are we really fated to fight Marley unless we want to end up like Marco, thrown into a Titan's mouth without being given any mercy?" Jean asked, looking bitter and hopeless whilst Connie appeared silent.
"Yes." Armin answered without hesitation, causing the two boys to snap their heads up in disbelief. "Marley... they don't do mercy, they don't want to talk, what they want is for all of us to die down to the last man. Unless we stop them, unless we knock them off their pedestal, they'll just come back and finish the job." He finished with finality, looking them right in the eye.
Jean however, was utterly taken aback by his friend's words. Armin was someone who would always talk if it were an option, since violence amongst humans was pointless, so to hear him say that war was their only choice... it was a bit much.
Armin looked away. "These aren't people we can just reason with, not so long as they have the power to slaughter us. The only was to secure peace is by making the idea of war hopeless. They can't kill us if they can't fight back, so we'll defeat them and make sure they won't be getting back up."
Jean looked conflicted, though a moment later he looks up and asks slightly concerned. "What happened to you, Armin?" He sounded partly lost. "You've changed a lot since you came back, it's like you're a whole different person."
Armin let out a deep and tired sigh. "I'm just me, Jean. That's all I am. Maybe I have changed, gotten less naïve maybe, but I'm still the same where it counts. Jean, I'm tired of losing people and even more tired of losing people because of my... incompetence. Back in Trost, before Eren was about to be eaten, I was too scared to move a muscle and a Titan nearly swallowed me. I had to be saved by him, and it's not just back then either. In Shiganshina, I froze up and dumped my responsibilities on you all because Bertolt rattled me. Because I let him rattle me."
Jean looked like he was about to cut across him, but Armin wasn't having it as he continued. "Every time I think about Marley, I can't help but think about every enemy, every bully, every Titan and traitor who's made me cower. If it weren't for Eren and Mikasa I'd have died a dozen times, and you know what? I realised that when I woke up. In Shiganshina, I should have been thinking about how to beat Bertolt when he was still in human form, instead I wasted my time trying to reason with him. Because, I can't stop being that little kid who was always picked on by the bullies."
Armin's words seemed to surprise his two friends, but he didn't let up. "I can't keep on relying on Mikasa and Eren, I can't keep on letting other people rescue me from those bullies. I need to man up and do it myself, I need to be someone people can lean on instead of leaning on others."
Armin finished his speech, with Jean and Connie being left without words, only to walk past the two of them when he realised Hitch was going to transform soon enough. "I'm sorry, but the Armin you used to know is gone. This is the new me, accept it or reject it, this is who I am."
Not looking back at them, Armin walked over to Annie despite a few protests from the MP's, and kneeled down next to the blonde girl as she squirmed on the ground.
To say she looked horrible would be an understatement. Her skin was pasty and yellow, likely due to her lack of sunlight and washing, her lips were dry and rough with cracks around them, and she smelled absolutely rancid. They truly had done a number of her.
Pulling off her blindfold, revealing red and bloodshot eyes, Armin pulled out a small box and showed it from a position where only Annie could see it. He could get in trouble if the other officers knew, but he didn't much care.
Armin tapped the tin box lightly, gaining her attention. "Annie, this is a box of special pills that will knock a person out a couple of minutes after they swallow them. I can't help you for obvious reason, but I can offer you a small mercy. You won't have to be conscious for this, so do you want one."
Annie's eyes strangely didn't go wide, she just looked depressed, though she did give a small nod and a muffled hum through her gag.
He felt a touch better about himself as he opened the box and pulled out a rough pill, which he placed into her mouth behind the gag, and walked away after a moment.
The other officers were looking at him funny, though didn't look too harsh, but Hitch's eyes held a hint of suspicion as she narrowed them and asked. "What did you do?"
"Knock-out pills. I figured it was a small mercy." Armin simply explained, making Hitch raise her eyebrows. "What?"
"Nothing... just surprised I guess. You're from Shiganshina, so I didn't think you'd offer her something like that." Hitch looked down, a syringe clenched in her palm.
Armin shook his head. "She definitely deserves it, but I still don't want to see her eaten alive. Unlike Marley, I don't derive joy from shoving people into Titans mouths. What I did was purely to maintain the moral high ground."
Hitch didn't raise her head. "What's it like... being a shifter?"
Armin huffed out. "Well, you'll have to put in quite a few hours to master your Titan. Plus, the idea of dying so young will get you down at times, but otherwise I'd say it's quite convenient."
Her lips quirked up slightly, only to fall. "Good to know. Now get the hell out of here, I need to eat Annie not you, blondie."
Armin snorted as he walked away. "Well, I'd call you bedhead, but you've gotten yourself a new hairstyle so I can't really talk. Besides, the jokes on you, I love my hair since it stopped being a coconut."
His words did little to dissolve the tension in the air as he joined Hange's side with the other soldiers, watching from afar and patiently waiting for Hitch to transform.
Then, after a minute or so, a flash of light lit up the whole area.
