The Adventures of Annieocchio: Part 7

Porco couldn’t stop tapping his foot. He was worried about Pieck. It had been almost four hours since Zeke had come and taken her from the training field.

“What do you think Dr. Hadfield wanted with Pieck?” He asked nervously as he polished a boot.

“I dunno” Colt shrugged. “I’ve learned it’s best not to ask questions around here.”

Colt could see that his answer didn’t do much to ease Porco’s mind.

“Look, she’s going to be the Cart Titan. I don’t think they would do anything to hurt her.”

“You sure?”

“Yes, speak of the devil here she-“

Colt paused.

Porco turned his head to see Zeke, two Marley officers whose names he didn’t know. They were bring Pieck back out to the training field.

Porco was relieved, but that relief was short lived.

“What are you all looking at, I still see officer boots that need to be polished.”

One of the officers barked.

Pieck quietly picked up a pair of boots and set to work.

As Zeke and the officers walked away, Porco finally broke the silence.

“Pieck…are you alright?”

“I’m fine” she said without looking up.

“Are you sure?” Colt asked, noticing her frustration at trying to look down her nose.

“Yes” she said curtly.

“But Pieck-“

“I GET IT! MY NOSE IS HUGE NOW! THERE I SAID IT!” Pieck shouted tossing the boot down.

She looked at the two of them, tears in her eyes.

“I mean it’s not that big” Colt said.

Pieck stared at him.

Porco was about to reassure her about her rather larger nose when a bird landed on it.

The three of them stood their stunned, the bird seeming unfazed.

Pieck suddenly bursted out into laughter. The bird still maintained it position on her nose.

Colt and Porco looked at each other and then ed in the laughter.

“This…” she said pointing to her nose, “is some how… supposed to help defeat the… island devils.” She said the bouts of laughter.

Porco was happy to see the Pieck smiling.

“No wonder Marley lost the founder and the Attack.” Colt chuckled.

Pieck sighed. “Not to mention probably the Colossal, Armored, and Female.”

“Shoulda been me.” Porco said. “Reiner is a dingus.”

Pieck snorted. “That may be true…but” her voice took on a more gentle tone. “I’m glad you’re still here.”

Pieck’s nose didn’t budge.

“Annie stay still.” Connie said.

Annie huffed but did what she was told. She didn’t really have much a choice.

Even though the rings were made of foam, Annie still flinched at them be tossed at her face.

“Yes! That’s 20 points for me!” Connie shouted.

“Mark it on the board Hoover!” Eren said.

Bertholdt begrudgingly put a 20 by Connie’s name. He was the score keeper.

“At this rate, I’d rather be tortured by Levi.” Bertholdt muttered.

“At least you are only the score keeper.”

“But it’s not fair watching you be humiliated.”

Annie merely shrugged as Sasha tossed a ring, hit her in the forehead.

“Reiner you don’t want to ?” Connie asked.

Reiner was leaning against a tree watching his fellow scouts.

“No, I’m ok with just watching.”

How can Annie and Bertholdt let themselves be subjected to such humiliating circumstances.

Reiner wasn’t sure what to do.

*Two nights earlier*

Reiner was grateful that Connie wanted the night off from guard duty.

“Sasha and I are going for a late night picnic by the lake.” Connie said with a grin.

Now Reiner had the perfect opportunity to speak with Annie and Bertholdt.

“Ok, so we need a plan.”

“Reiner” Bertholdt said rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. “Are backs are against the wall right now.”

“We could always just break down another wall.”

“Was that supposed to the a joke?” Annie said flatly. Her nose poking through the bars.

“Depends…”

“What would that accomplish?” Bertholdt asked.

“It would cause chaos, get the scouts mobilized and confused. Give us a chance to take Eren and flee.”

“Who is going to break us out genius?”

“Well I….Um….” Reiner was at loss for words.

“We also don’t know Eren is the founder either. So there goes that plan.” Bertholdt said.

“Well what do you suggest then Mr. I’m Gonna Turn Myself in” Reiner quipped.

“I did it to protect Annie”

“Yeah after she grew a bird stand for a nose.”

A small noise came from Annie’s cell. Reiner looked to see that tears had started to form in her eyes.

“Annie..I didn’t mean it like that…”

Annie wiped her eyes. “It looks harmless…but I hate looking at myself in the mirror. The taunting…it’s like I’m a kid all over again.”

“Annie…I’m really sorry. I should’ve been more sensitive to the topic.”

Bertholdt reached his hand out of the cell to take Annie’s.

“Honestly, I’m getting a head of myself. How much do they know already?”

*Present*

Maybe Bertholdt is right?

Reiner was conflicted. The warrior inside him was waging war with the scared sixteen year old kid who just wanted to go home.

Bertholdt was the most logical out of the three of them, after Marcel had died. If he felt that they had a chance cooperating with the military of Paradis, then maybe that was their best option.

Reiner watched as Krista gave Ymir a high five. She scored 40 points for her toss.

I wonder…what it would be like…if we could just all be friends?

The contrast between the sullen look of Annie and Bertholdt and the joys of his fellow soldiers was drastic.

He was sick of all of this. Titans, devils, warriors…fights, deaths, fear.

“F*ck it”

He pushed himself off the tree and walked with purpose.

“Reiner where are you going?” Bertholdt asked.

“Don’t speak to him traitor.” Mikasa snapped.

Reiner ignored all of them.

Erwin sat in his office, trying to make sense of the map that was in front of him and the drawing of a massive ship.

“Still trying to figure out how to cross that vast body of water?” Mike said as he came into his office.

“Leonhart and Hoover both mentioned they were brought on a ship. But I’m not sure how we could recreate that.”

He handed the drawing done by Jean to Mike.

“Can you imagine how much metal we would need?” Erwin asked rubbing his temple.

“Not to mention the foundries we would need. Our small scale operations couldn’t handle it”. Mike added.

“I wonder if the Colossal could walk?” Erwin pondered.

“If what those two told us is true. The deepest part of the sea is well beyond 50 meters.”

Erwin pinched the bridge of his nose, struggling to figure everything out.

There was a knock on his door.

“If it’s not Hange or Levi tell them I’m not available.”

Mike nodded, heading to the door.

After a few muffled words were exchanged Erwin was surprised to see Reiner Braun.

“Mr. Braun this better be important.”