#the way krista's first question is 'But why your mom?' and he replies 'she's the strictest person i know'

[xmxisxforxmaybe]

Okay

Summary: Rami needs his brother to make him feel okay after the intensity of filming Mr. Robot, Episode 407.

A/N: Well, this is a bit of a grey area for me because Sami isn’t a celeb; however, the muse bit and she would NOT let go. Also, if you haven’t read @bohemian-napsodyy​‘s HC about the Reader x Rami on set during Ep 407, do it. Their Anon beat my own muse by a few hours 😉 

Warning: Spoiler-ish for Mr. Robot, Episode 407

When Sami stepped off the plane, he grimaced.

The air inside LaGuardia was stifling, almost putrid compared to the air of his west coast home. Sami hated coming to New York City in the summer, but when Rami had called and asked him to hang out for a few days on the Robot set, there was something in his twin’s voice that Sami couldn’t ignore.

“I’m supposed to come in July, Ram. School just let out. I’m exhausted. Are you sure it can’t wait?”

“Uh, well, uh, I don’t know. I guess so,” Rami had stammered.

Sami knew there was something his brother wasn’t telling him, but why he wasn’t telling him was what concerned him.

“Just tell me what’s wrong.”

“Nothing’s wrong,” Rami said immediately, and Sami knew that the vulnerability Rami had just let slip was being hurriedly caged away. He could practically hear the door slamming shut as Rami changed both the subject of conversation and the tone of his voice. Sami knew his brother better than he knew his own self.  

And that was the thing with being an identical twin; they were quite literally your other half, and even though at times Sami wanted nothing more than to knock his brother senseless, he loved him with a depth that few could ever understand.

When they had hung up, Sami was still uncommitted to visiting the Robot set early, but an unease settled in the pit of his stomach and didn’t let go until he texted his brother later that night to say he’d catch the first flight out in the morning.

Rami’s reply was short, a simple “OK,” but Sami could feel his brother’s relief and knew it was mirrored in the way his own body had relaxed when he finally sent the text. It didn’t matter that they were literally on opposite ends of the country, 2,800 miles apart; Sami always knew exactly what Rami was feeling.

Despite having worn sunglasses, a hat, and earbuds, Sami was approached three times as he navigated his way through the crowded airport, remembering another reason why he hated New York City. In LA, people just didn’t approach celebrities like they did on the east coast, and they especially did not give a shit about the brother of a celebrity.

The first person to approach was someone who recognized him as “the other one” once they got close enough, and then comically turned on their heel and tried to walk away as if they hadn’t just made a beeline for the wrong twin.

Next, it was by someone who knew exactly who he was and asked for a picture anyway.

And finally, it was by someone who, despite his protests, insisted that Sami was Rami, clearly preparing for a new role. Sami shook his head and smiled for the camera, thinking Rami’s people would have fun with that one if it picked up any traction online.

The taxi ride to Rami’s apartment in Soho was too long, but Sami caught up on his texts, first making sure to tell his mom he had a safe flight.

Sami paid for his taxi and made his way into the building that housed Rami and a few of the other cast members, including Carly. Sami liked Carly and hoped to run into her even though his visit was going to be a short one. She never failed to tell some sort of embarrassing story about Rami, which Sami mentally tucked away for the times when Rami would get his head stuck too far up his own ass.

Rami was still on set, so when he knocked, the door to the apartment was opened by one of his brother’s assistants. It was still strange to think about the level of fame his brother had achieved. Rami had always done too much, had always been totally in control of his career, but that way of life was now forgotten, rather it had to be forgotten because way too many people wanted a piece of him now.

Sami honestly didn’t know how his more introverted brother handled it—the press, the fans, the relationships he had to build and maintain, and then the work itself. Being a teacher was hard, thankless, and often emotionally draining. But at the end of the day, Sami got to stop, got to be himself free from most societal expectations and got to hide himself away able to function in unnoticeable ways, unlike Rami.

And it bothered Sami to know that his twin was struggling to adjust to his new life, too. He felt even more guilty for hesitating to come for a visit when it had been so long since he’d even seen Rami.

Sami had seen more of Rami inadvertently than intentionally since winter. He’d walk by magazines in the grocery store or pop online and see images of his brother, exhausted and unhappy.

“Rami has a bit of a long shoot in Central Park today, but he should be home around 7. I know he’s going to be glad you’re here,” this woman Sami barely knew said.

Fuck. A stranger knows more than I do, Sami thought as he gave her a smile. He didn’t miss the way she looked at him—the same way most people who knew his brother first did. They see the resemblance and wonder just how alike the twins are.

As Sami settled in and walked through his brother’s somewhat sparse, definitely lonely apartment, he worked to stifle his guilt. It wasn’t like he could just take a few days off and follow his brother around the world. When a teacher took a day off, it was usually more work than it was worth.

Sami flipped through Rami’s mail before opening the fridge and finding next to nothing inside. He rolled his eyes, and despite his distaste for New York, Sami was glad he came. Clearly, his brother needed him, even if he wasn’t able to say those words.

* * * * *

Sami had visited the Robot set quite a few times over the years, but he had never been to set on a day like this. The entire atmosphere was tense; it felt like something dirty had slid under his skin and stuck there, and after awhile it began to pulsate until its presence couldn’t be ignored.

Rami had explained that this was it; today’s shoot was the culmination of all of Elliot’s suffering, and Sami could clearly see just how invested everyone who worked on the show was.

When Rami emerged from his dressing room, no longer his familiar twin, but as Elliot Alderson, Sami gave him a small smile which Rami returned before he wiped his features clean again, fully Elliot in an instant.  

From his perch behind one of the cameras, the assistant director was watching the screen with their eyes glued to it. Sami had the luxury of looking between the screen and the set, and the luxury of letting his mind wonder. It was so strange to hear the scene delivered with the scuffle and echo of noises that would be removed during post-production. And even eerier to watch without the carefully scored background music.

Sam said, “Cut,” for the umteenth time that day, which gave Sami time to stretch, moving around to observe the other actors.

Rami had kept himself isolated today, talking only to Sam between takes. There was no joviality. Normally, Rami would be watching the playback or offering a critique, and on easier days, playing a joke on someone, or laughing about some awkward quirk of his that belonged to him and not to Elliot that he needed to erase for the next take.

Sami watched as the makeup crew rushed in to touch up the character of Vera, making his brow even more sweaty than before.

Sami found this amusing because the same effect could be produced for next to nothing by simply opening a window and having the actor stick his head into the New York humidity for two minutes.

Hollywood was weird.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his twin begin to bounce back and forth, heel to tow, before he broke out into his signature jog in place.

Rami settled in and sat down on the sofa across from Elliot’s captured therapist.  

This was it.

Sami watched with wide eyes, not even realizing he was holding his breath as Krista peppered Elliot with questions—the questions that were leading him to his monster.  

As Elliot began to remember, Sami forgot he was watching his brother, his mirror since birth, and felt himself completely lost in Elliot’s revelation, and Sami even stuffed his fist into his mouth to tamper down the groan of horror that threatened to disturb the entire scene.

Sami felt like he had experienced something transcendent, and instead of calling cut, Sam just walked up to his Elliot and put his hands on his shoulders; it took a few moments, but then Rami melted into his director and rested his forehead on Sam’s shoulder as he talked softly to him.

Sami swiped at the tears he hadn’t even realized had fallen, unable to take his eyes off his brother, wanting nothing more than to comfort him and bring him back to just being Rami.

But there was another take. And another.

“I can do it better. I can do it better,” Rami repeated, pouring drops into his eyes to clear the redness from crying to restart the scene.  

By the fifth take, Sami was uncomfortable. His brother was pushing himself too hard, taking longer and longer to collect himself between takes.

Sam was behind the camera, his face serious, and he had his assistant get Sami.

“We’ve got the take, but he wants to do it again. He won’t listen to me.”

Sami glanced at the screen and watched the tears fill his brother’s eyes and knew that Rami had nailed it on that very first take. But he also knew that his brother had been carrying around the character of Elliot for years—he owed everything in his life to Elliot because if it wasn’t for this show, Rami would still be the weird kid who was in The Pacific and the funky little pharaoh who was in Night at the Museum, recognizable, yet still struggling for success.    

Rami came out of the dressing room, once again looking like he hadn’t just performed the most gut-wrenching scene television had ever seen.

“I’m ready,” he said in a voice that said the exact opposite.

Sam said, “We’ve got it Rami. No more.”

“I can do it better.”

“Rami, it’s done. You’re done,” Sami said stepping toward his brother, grasping his shoulders and forcing him to look at him, really look at him.

Rami turned his eyes on his twin and blinked slowly.

“Done?”

“Done, Rami. You fucking nailed it.”

Rami took a shuddering breath and swayed on his feet. His eyes filled with tears so quickly it took Sami and Sam both by surprise.

Sam reached over and grasped Rami’s shoulder.

“You’ve done Elliot justice. We can see every thought. Feel every feeling. It’s brilliant—you were brilliant.”

Rami swallowed and gave Sam a heartfelt nod before Sami walked his brother back into the dressing room.

As soon as the door shut, Rami broke.

Sami was there to catch him, to hold onto him as he purged the emotions he had built up during Elliot’s revelation.

Neither of the twins moved for a long time, stuck together like they had been their whole lives, drawing comfort from the other’s warm presence.

Sami finally spoke in his mirror voice that was just a bit higher than Rami’s.

“You realize once this airs you can tell everyone who said you won an Oscar for lip syncing and wearing fake teeth to eat a dick?”

Sami felt his brother suck in a laugh, his shoulders shaking slightly under his hands.

Rami pulled away to look into Sami’s eyes, mirror eyes of the same undefinable hue as his own, eyes that never looked at him as some sort of other, a celebrity, an actor, a movie star. Sami only ever looked at him as Rami.

“Thanks for being here.”

Sami sighed, a soft smile on his lips as he pulled his scrawny brother in for one last tight hug, the unspoken you’re welcome settling over Rami, letting him know he was going to be okay.  

[emmabodt]

Mission Success: Chapter 3

The sun had just barely painted the sky with the first colors of dawn when Bertholdt and Reiner shook the others awake. Krista blinked sleepily as Ymir smacked Reiner's thick arm. Eren just glared at Bertholdt as the green eyed giant shook him.

"Uhhhh... It's too early for this shit," Ymir groaned, her jaws locked in a yawn as she pushed herself up.

"Ymir...language..." Krista mumbled, still half asleep as she rubbed her eyes. Reiner couldn't help but stare at the petite blonde for a moment longer than necessary before kneeling down to check his ODM.

"Krista, I can talk as foully as I damn well want to," Ymir grunted.

"We don't have time for talking. We need to get going. Krista, how much gas do you have left?" Bertholdt asked, also checking his gear.

In answer to the giant's question, the petite blonde stood up and rapped her knuckles on the canister." About half a tank."

Bertholdt nodded absently, looking over at his friend." Reiner? I've been thinking... What if we gave Ymir your gear? That way you won't damage it too much."

Reiner stood up in one smooth motion." Mmm.... It would take too long for us to swap gear. Besides, even if I did damage it, we wouldn't need it back home. And Ymir will do just as much damage to it as me in her Titan form."

Bertholdt looked down at his feet."...Right..."

Reiner gave his friend a long look before clapping him on the shoulder.

"Bertholdt.... I know leaving Annie behind is rough on you. But we will come back for her. Remember? I promised you two that I would get you two home safely. I'm not about to break that promise. We will go back for her."

Bertholdt looked away from his comrade." You and I both know it won't be that simple... We would have to get permission from Zeke..."

"And when we do, we could probably get Pieck to help us," Reiner said, squeezing the giant's shoulder.

"Who are Zeke and Pieck?" Ymir asked loudly. The two Warriors spun around to see the freckled girl standing right behind them, hand on her hips and with a raised eyebrow.

"Ymir! Don't do that! One of these days you might actually give someone a heart attack! Damn!" Reiner scolded, clutching at his chest. Ymir shifted her weight from one foot to the other with a huff of amusement.

"That doesn't answer my question..."

Reiner rolled his eyes." Some friends of ours. Happy?"

Ymir fixed him with a I'm-not-stupid look." Some "friends of yours" as in your fellow Warrior buddies?"

Bertholdt sighed.

" Yes, Ymir. Is everyone ready to go?" asked the giant, looking around. Krista gave a subtle nod while Ymir rolled her eyes. Eren just glared at the Titan trio.

"Alright then. Here I go," said Reiner as he walked off the edge of the Wall. Krista let out a little gasp, causing Ymir to give the side eye.

"Really, Krista? You ride that guy all day in his Titan form, and you worry about him falling off a Wall? Now that's just sad."

Krista turned a faint pink and tried her best to glare at the freckled girl. "I-It was just a shock, seeing him walk off the Wall like that."

"Mhm."

"Uh, you guys, we need to go," said Bertholdt as he stood up. Eren had already been tied to his back, and was now writhing as much as he could possibly manage while screaming his muffled screams.

Ymir rubbed the back of her head." Fine. Let's go."

The freckled girl was next to jump off the Wall, instantly transforming into her Titan. Bertholdt glanced down at the petite blonde next to him." You ready?"

Krista gave a small nod before stepping off the Wall and shooting her grapples into Ymir's shoulders. Bertholdt watched her before turning his head to look at the boy on his back.

"Eren, if you keep struggling like that, we're going to fall," he said quietly before jumping and sinking his own hooks into Reiner's neck. He crawled around his armor to sit below his friend's ear.

"Reiner, why is it that I have to keep carrying the most obstinate people? Next time we do this, it's your turn."

Reiner let out a small rumble in reply before taking off with Ymir on his other shoulder. They had a long way to go, and there was no time to waste.

=======================================================================

The sun was beginning to set when Reiner finally slowed to a stop, almost falling to his knees in the process. Ymir, Bertholdt, and Krista all jumped off of the Armored Titan to the ground below him. The moment they were clear, Reiner settled himself on his chest and let out a burst of steam from his neck. Bertholdt fumbled with the knot that held Eren on his back.

"Ymir, watch Eren and make sure he doesn't run off. I'll be right back," said the giant, letting him fall to the ground. Then without waiting for her reply, he took off towards Reiner.

Using his ODM gear to climb up his friend's Titan armor, Bertholdt was able to get to the nape quickly. The armor had cracked and the muscle had split, exposing the back of Reiner's human back with a blast of steam. Without hesitation, Bertholdt knelt down and hooked his arms under his friend's shoulders and began to pull the blonde out. Bertholdt silently thanked Captain Magath for making them learn to relax their muscles when Reiner came out easily.

"How're you doing, Reiner? Thanks to you we made it pretty far. I think we can get to the harbor by... Reiner? Can you hear me?"

Bertholdt leaned down to look at his friend and saw that Reiner hadn't hadn't opened his eyes. The green eyed giant became concerned as he checked the blonde's shallow breathing; Reiner had pushed himself too hard today and probably wouldn't wake up till noon tomorrow. And the fever that he had wasn't going to help matters.

With a quiet sigh, Bertholdt slung Reiner's arm around his shoulders and supported Reiner's weight on his other arm. With a grunt he lifted himself and his friend to his feet and began the long decent to the ground below.

Ymir huffed in annoyance when Bertholdt finally returned.

"What the hell took you two so long? You've been gone for an hour..." the freckled girl trailed off when Bertholdt stepped into the light of the fire they lit, revealing the condition of his comrade.

"What happened to Reiner?!" Krista asked in horror. Even Eren, who was sitting off to the side, was taking an interest in Reiner's limp form.

"He pushed himself too hard today and ended up unconscious. Reiner probably won't wake up until tomorrow morning, but he won't be able to transform for a little while," Bertholdt explained as he laid the blonde down on the ground. He looked up at the three pairs of eyes watching him." Does anyone have any water? Reiner also has a fever."

Krista stood up and quickly made her way to the two Warriors, a small wine skin in her hands. "Ymir and I went and looked for some water after you left, since I had a wine skin..." said the blonde girl softly as she knelt down next to the burly blonde. Bertholdt watched her as Krista took off her cloak and ripped a small piece of it off. Krista folded it, then picked up the wine skin and doused the cloth in the cool water before gently setting it on Reiner's forehead.

"There," she said softly as she stood up." That should last him for the night."

"Thank you, Krista," Bertholdt murmured quietly. Krista gave him a small nod before going over to sit next to Ymir, who was giving her an odd look and a raised brow.

"You should all rest, and we'll figure out how we're going to travel tomorrow. I'll take first watch."

Ymir let out a loud yawn." Of course, Ber-Turtle. 'Night." The freckled girl flopped onto her back.

Bertholdt raised a brow at her blonde friend and mouthed the nickname Ymir had just given him, to which Krista gave a small shrug before laying down next to her friend. Bertholdt sighed before noticing that it was quiet. Or rather, that someone was quiet.

Eren was gazing thoughtfully into the flames, still gagged and bound. Feeling Bertholdt's gaze on him, he raised his head and met the giant's gaze. Bertholdt blinked, completely surprised by the lack of hate in his eyes. Instead, there was...defeat. Hopelessness. It was like looking into the eyes of a child who had gotten lost and was tired of trying to find the way out.

Bertholdt dropped his eyes again, knowing he shouldn't do what he was about to do, but also knowing that if he wanted to salvage any hope of friendship with Eren, he had to do this.

"Hey, Eren...do you want me to remove your gag?" the giant asked quietly.

The normally angry boy just shrugged, which Bertholdt took as permission to approach him. When he knelt down in front of him,Eren visibly stiffened but kept his peace. As soon as the gag was untied, Bertholdt let it fall to the ground and went back to his post next to Reiner. A beat of silence passed.

"Eren?..."

"Mmm?"

"Remember what you asked me, back in the Titan Forest? About what was going through my head when you told me about your mom?"

A small, almost pathetic gleam of anger came into Eren's green eyes.

"Well... You never let me finish what I was saying."

Eren blinked before leaning forward as best he could with his bound hands." What do you mean?..."

"... I said that in that moment, I felt sorry for you. What I didn't get to say was that as time went on, every time I looked at you or thought back to day..."

Bertholdt dropped his head to his knees and went quiet for a moment. When he lifted his head again, Eren was shocked to see he had tears on his cheeks.

" I wish we would've thought of another way to infiltrate the Walls. It hurts every time I think about how many people died because of me, because of Reiner, because of all of us. And the worst part... We didn't even know it was wrong."

Eren gave Bertholdt a half hearted glare." How could you not know that knocking down a Wall and letting people get devoured by Titans to is wrong?!"

Bertholdt looked down at his feet."... I can't tell you much right now, but you will find out for yourself soon enough. I'll just tell you...we've been hated since the day we were born because of the blood in our veins. And the only way we could even have a shot at gaining their approval was to do as we were taught."

"That doesn't make sense," said Eren groggily. Bertholdt noticed and wiped his eyes.

"...Sorry. I'm keeping you up. Get some rest."

Eren grunted as he layed down on his side. Then he perked his head up, his green eyes glinting in the firelight.

"Aren't you going to gag me again?"

Bertholdt looked at him wearily.

"No. I don't think you need it."

[emmabodt]

Mission Success Chapter 4

Bertholdt watched tiredly as the sun colored the sky above him. He admired it's colors for a moment before turning to check on the blonde beside him.

Reiner was doing better than he was last night. Thanks to Krista's ministrations the night before, his fever had gone down completely, and was now sleeping peacefully with only the occasional mutter or twitch of his fingers. Bertholdt hoped that he would wake up soon; the sooner he did, the sooner they could get home.

The giant lifted his green orbs at the sound of someone stirring, and met the sleepy blue eyes of Krista. She sat up and rubbed her eyes a little before returning Bertholdt's gaze.

"Good Morning, Krista," murmured the giant, lowering his gaze to his feet.

"Good Morning," parroted the blonde, also looking down at her feet. A beat of silence passed before she spoke up again.

"Bertholdt?...Could I ask some questions?"

Bertholdt looked back at her hesitantly."...You can, but I can only answer certain things right now. When we get home Reiner and I will explain everything."

Krista nodded absently."... So....where is your home?"

Bertholdt grimaced." It's...not here. Sorry, I can't answer that question until we get there."

"Okay. My next question is; are you two...you three really orphans?"

Bertholdt gave his head a gentle shake." No... Reiner has his mother back home, and Annie was raised by her father. I don't know much about their families, but Mr. Leonhart apparently raised Annie to become a Warrior from a young age. That's probably why she's not very friendly... I know a little more about Reiner, but not much. He lived with his mom not too far from his relatives."

"Seems like Reiner come from a good family. It sounds nice..." said Krista wistfully.

Bertholdt blinked, confused by the sadness in her voice. He was about to ask about it when she shook her head.

"What about your family, Bertholdt?"

The green eyed giant looked up to the sky." Well...I have my Mom and my Dad... Actually, I don't know if my dad is still around... He was really sick when I left... My dad is a really great guy. He taught me how to hunt when I young. And mom taught me how to read. Every night before I went to bed, she and I would curl up together with a book and read two stories, one for her and one for me..." Bertholdt stopped, realizing there were tears streaming down his face. He hastily wiped them away before looking down at the ground.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to start crying."

It's okay. You really miss your home," said Krista gently. Bertholdt nodded absently, a dark look on his face.

"Funny, I start crying because I miss home when hundreds of others lost their own because me. I must really be a monster."

"Monsters don't cry."

Bertholdt snapped his head up and saw that Eren was sitting there watching him blankly. He hadn't even noticed the boy waking up.

"What?" Bertholdt asked.

"Monsters don't cry, Bertholdt," Eren repeated.

"What do you mean?"

Eren sighed." Monsters don't cry. What I mean by that is that you are not a monster."

Bertholdt looked back down at his feet."...Thanks, Eren."

Eren huffed." Don't thank me. I just saying you're not a monster."

"Who's not a monster?" asked a groggy voice. All three heads turned to Reiner, who had sat up and was now blinking the sleep out of his eyes. The marks around his eyes had finally faded, and Reiner was looking a little less pale. Bertholdt gave his friend a gentle smile.

"It's not important. How are you feeling?"

Reiner scratched the back of his head." If I'm being honest... I feel like I went through one of Shadis's hellish field runs before having Annie put me through the wringer. In other words, I feel like shit."

Eren cocked his head."...I thought the only time you fought Annie was the time you made me fight her."

Reiner shuddered, a grimace crossing his face." Annie was selected for her hand to hand combat skills...and I happened to be her punching bag for it. I think I wasn't able to walk for about a week after that..."

Bertholdt nodded quietly as Ymir, who had finally risen and was quietly listening, fixed the boys with her bronze eyes.

"So, bitch face was picked for her ass kicking skills. That's obvious. What were you two picked for?"

Bertholdt fiddled with his hair self consciously.

"... I was selected for my marksmanship..." mumbled the giant.

"Your marksmanship!?" Eren yelped incredulously.

"Yep. Good ol' Bertl here has the finest eye of everyone I know. He was able to hit the center of the target with all ten bullets. I... barely even hit the outer ring with two," said Reiner proudly before growing quiet. He was dreading the next question.

"And what were you selected for, Braun?" Ymir drawled. Reiner dropped his golden gaze to his feet.

".....They told me they picked me....for my loyalty, but....the truth is...I wasn't really picked. Their decision was...influenced." Reiner said bitterly. Bertholdt placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder as silence fell around the group.

After a moment, the burly blonde gave his head a shake and gently brushed off the giant's hand as he tried to lift himself to his feet. He swayed slightly as he stood before walking forward unsteadily. Bertholdt watched his friend with unmasked concern as Reiner began digging around in his pocket.

"Reiner...What are you doing?"

"Looking for my knife. What does it look like I'm doing?"

Bertholdt's eyes went as wide as moons." Reiner! You can't transform! You haven't recovered enough for that!"

Reiner looked down at his friend with an exasperated expression." How else are we going to make it to the harbor? Ymir can't carry us all, we're running out of gas, going on foot would be suicide, and don't even think about using your Titan form. That leaves me to carry us."

"If you push yourself too much, we won't ever make it there!" Bertholdt yelled standing up to tower over his friend. Eren and Krista watched in shocked awe as Bertholdt and Reiner had a silent, but ferocious stare down. This was the first time they had ever seen the giant get angry at his best friend. The first time they ever seen them fight.

Bertholdt was the first to drop his gaze. He knew there was no other option; waiting around for Reiner to recover would leave them vulnerable to Titan attacks.

"I just...wanna make it home, Reiner," said the giant quietly. Reiner closed his eyes and rested a sympathetic hand on his friend's shoulder.

"I know Bertl... What happened to Marcel won't happen to us. Promise. No ones going to sneak up on us, and I'm not going to freeze up again either."

Bertholdt nodded silently before Reiner removed his hand and walked away, creating enough distance between him and his charges to safely transform. A flash of light later, and the burly blonde boy vanished into his Titan. He swiveled his giant head around to look at the now tiny people behind him and let out a throaty rumble.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, we're coming, ya big lug," drawled Ymir, walking over and transforming into her own Titan. Bertholdt looked back at Eren.

"Sorry, but I still have to carry you."

Eren merely shrugged and glowered at the ground as Bertholdt secured the normally angry boy to his back. Eren's behavior was starting to worry the green eyed giant; this wasn't the Eren he knew. That Eren would still be kicking and screaming. Then again, Bertholdt also wasn't like what he was before Reiner blew their cover.

"Hey, are you ready Krista?" Bertholdt called over his shoulder, double checking the knot on his chest. When he heard no reply, he turned his head and saw the the petite blonde staring hard into the distance." ...Krista?...Did you hear me? Krista?"

Krista blinked a little before turning to face the burdened giant."...Sorry, did you say something?"

"Yeah...Are you ready to go?"

"Yes," Krista responded before starting off towards Ymir. The freckled Titan quickly attached herself to his friend's armored shoulder.

Bertholdt eyed her curiously as he latched onto Reiner." Hey, Krista?"

"Yeah?" called the tiny blonde.

"What were you staring at earlier?"

A beat passed before she answered." I don't really know myself... But I swear that I felt something or someone watching us."

Bertholdt frowned." ...Don't worry about it. I'm pretty sure it was just your nerves."

Krista nodded just as Reiner took off, kicking up a cloud of earth as he shot off at a sprint. He knew that if he could hold that pace all the way to the harbor, they would get there by nightfall. The only problem was if.

Unknown to any of them, something was watching them; short cropped black hair and lazy grey eyes took in the sight of the infamous Armored Titan as it disappeared into the distance while wearing a genuine-but slightly strange smile due to the abnormal shape of its head.

"Hhmmm....Zeke will be quite happy to hear they're finally coming home... I'd better get to him first..."

After vocalizing the thought aloud, the strangely shaped Titan turned and followed after the pale haired Titan, swiftly passing them on the way to their destination.

............................................................................................................................

Reiner didn't know how much more he could take. His body was screaming at him to stop moving, to lay down and rest, but he continued to push on. He was so tired, and so hurt and confused, but at the same time he just wanted to go home and put this whole thing behind him. Guess that was what gave him his split mind.

"Hey, Reiner! Do you see it?! It's the wall; we're going home!" Bertholdt's voice echoed slightly in his ears; just a side effect of being in his Titan. Barely able to keep his eyes open, the blonde boy peered through his Titan's eyes at the horizon. Bertholdt was right; he could just make out the wall that he'd left behind almost...five years ago.

Bertholdt couldn't help but smile as Reiner let out a quiet grumble. They were going home. They were going home! Five years, five long, hard years, and now he could go home.

Eren squirmed a little on his back." There's another Wall?"

"Well...not like Maria, Rose, and Sina...this Wall was built as....as a..," Bertholdt swallowed, sweating heavily. It made his stomach churn to think about the wall was built for.

"Execution...." Ymir growled, not bothering to pull herself out of her Titan. Bertholdt dropped his gaze as Eren swiveled his head to look at the freckled Titan.

"What?! What do you mean execution?!

"That why I like this...this where they come from," Ymir said in her deep voice.

"They?..." Krista questioned.

"Titans..." Ymir rumbled. Eren's eyes went wide in shock.

"Wait, what do you mean the Titans come from that wall!? And what does that have to do with you or an execution!?"

"Eren, I will explain as soon as we get to the wall. I promise," Bertholdt murmured, locking his eyes on the slowly approaching wall. Eren let out an aggravated huff, but held his tongue. If he wanted answers, he was going to have to be patient.

The small party reached the wall about an hour before sundown. Reiner, knowing he was on the brink of slipping into unconsciousness, summoned the last of his strength to climb the wall to the top. Bertholdt protested against his extra effort, but the blonde boy knew that he was too heavy for his friend to scale the wall with. He also just wanted to spare his dignity a little.

The moment his passengers had gotten off of him, the Armored Titan slumped forward, relaxing his muscles as he slipped into blackness. Bertholdt quickly untied Eren from his chest, muttering a brief apology when Eren hit the ground with a thud. A moment later, he scurried over to his best friend as fast as his long legs could. Once again he pulled out the unconscious  blonde, who was burning with a dangerously high fever.

"Krista! Do we have any water left?! Reiner is even hotter than he was last night!" Bertholdt yelled down to the petite blonde below, who was checking on the condition of Ymir. She shook her head.

"No, I just gave the last of it to Ymir! I'm sorry!"

Bertholdt lifted his friend's bulk onto his back with a grimace." It's alright, I'm sure we can find something else to bring his fever down..." replied the giant as he finished descending the steaming Titan body.

Krista opened her mouth to say something when an voice spoke from behind the small group.

"Perhaps I could interest you in some medicine?"

Everyone spun around to see a man in his late twenties with a scraggly blonde beard and hair to match. On his nose were spectacles that made his light green eyes gleam.

"Who the hell are you?!" Eren shouted. Krista was asking the same question with her eyes while Ymir was just studying him carefully. However, Bertholdt's eyes went wide, and he hastily placed Reiner on the wall before turning back to the mysterious man and snapping his hand to his his forehead.

"Captain Zeke!"

"Zeke"chuckled as he walked over to the giant.

"Bertholdt, you can drop the formalities. You are Bertholdt, right? Damn, you're a lot taller than you used to be. Can't you let us short people have a chance?"

Bertholdt chuckled nervously as he dropped his salute." I'm afraid that I can't help that, and Reiner couldn't either. Could I take you up on that offer of medicine?" The two of them knelt down next to the unconscious blonde as Zeke took out a small box.

"Of course. Pieck told me that Reiner was the one carrying you all today, and we know he's not really built for endurance like Marcel and Annie, so I brought this up with me," he said, taking out a bottle and tipping into Reiner's mouth. Bertholdt watched silently with a pained look on his face before...

"Bertholdt! Who the hell is this guy!? Answer me damn it! How the hell is he alive all the way out here?!"

Eren was terrible at concealing his feelings. He was pissed, confused, and a tiny bit scared. The guy in front of him was reminding way to much of his father. The eyes, the beard the face shape...

When Zeke turned to Eren, Bertholdt saw his eyes widen slightly."...Who is this, Hoover?"

Bertholdt look down at his feet." Our objective, sir. We completed our mission."

Zeke finally took notice of the two girls beside Eren, and his voice became very quiet." Bertholdt, I know for a fact that that blonde isn't Annie, and I can't help but notice that in Marcel's place is a person I do not know. Care to explain?"

Bertholdt sighed sadly.

"...Marcel was devoured by Ymir not long before we broke down the wall...."

"And I guess the same fate befell Annie as well?"

Bertholdt shook his head." No sir. Annie... We had to leave her behind, and we know her cover is blown....They're torturing her, Zeke..."

Eren watched the two of them with barely conceal anger." Again, who the hell are you, and what the hell is going on?!"

Zeke looked back at the angry boy and fixed him with a calm look." My name is Zeke, and I am Bertholdt and Reiner's superior and fellow Warrior. Who are you?"

Eren fixed him with a glare to which Zeke shrugged." Alright, there goes a decent conversation."

Zeke turned to the two girls." And what about you two?"

Krista opened her mouth to reply but Ymir clapped her hand over it." Why should we trust you, monkey? she hissed, brown eyes glinting darkly.

"Monkey? I believe you're wrong there, jaw," Zeke countered calmly. He he just simply guessed, and Ymir didn't try to deny it. Krist huffed and removed the hand from her mouth.

"I'm Krista...sir."

Zeke gave her a polite nod before turning to Bertholdt." You can explain everything once you've had some rest; I'll send Pieck to pick up Reiner."

"Pieck's here too? That's nice to hear," said Bertholdt, bringing himself to his feet. He helped Eren to his feet and gestured for the girls to follow him.

"Do you still remember where everything is, Hoover?" Zeke called.

Bertholdt turned his head with a gentle smile on his face." Of course I do."

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Word Count: 2734