Execution

Phantom's POV

"What's wrong ma'am?" asked Colt

I watched as Ajax stood alone on the balcony, watching the sunset.

"I wanted to tell you something that I think is important." I said

"Is it, about his depression, PTSD and suicidal thoughts?" asked Colt

My eyes widened and I turned to look at him.

"You knew?" I asked

He nodded and sighed.

"I knew for 17 years." he said

"How?" I asked

He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"When we blew up the underwater facility, he wasn't normal so we took him to the Sentinel hospital. That's when we figured out he was diagnosed with those three mental illness but he also had another one." said Colt

"Another one?" I questioned, scared to know what it was

"Existential dread." replied Colt

My heart dropped and I wanted to cry.

"But when you came back, after we saved you, we went back and his existential dread was gone. I think you're the cure to his illness." said Colt, "But, he's never going to go back to his old self, before the battle at Flint Hills."

"Why didn't he tell me?" I asked

Colt looked at me then at Ajax.

"Cause he was afraid, that he might lose you in any way." said Colt

I understood what he meant but I felt awful for not knowing, but who am I to make that judgement, I would have done the same.

"How bad is his illness?" asked Colt

"His depression decreased but his PTSD and suicidal thoughts are the same." I replied

"That's, progress." replied Colt

But I could hear the uncertainty in his voice.

"Even though I've been married to him for 15 years, it's like I barely know him." I said

"I think it's because he's been living his life with secrets." replied Colt, "I wouldn't have known if I wasn't there."

"I wouldn't have known if I wasn't there a couple days ago." I said

"But he wanted to tell you eventually he just doesn't know how to." said Colt

"Hey you two! What are you two talking about?"

I looked over and saw Malvik with Tessa. Colt looked at me and I just sighed and looked over to Ajax who was staying as still as a statue.

"Is something wrong?" asked Tessa

"Not with me, but with Ajax." I said

Malvik and Tessa looked confused.

"I don't know if I should be telling you this, but I guess it's for his sake." I said

I rubbed my hands together in anxiety.

"Ajax has a mental illness." I said

Malvik's smile dropped and Tessa's blank expression was replaced with a slight frown.

"What kind?" asked Malvik

"Depression, PTSD and suicidal thoughts. Apparently he had existential dread back then as well." I said

"For how long?" asked Tessa

"I don't know, but I was the first person to know and that was 13 years ago. According to the doctor he had it for a long time so I guess it was ever since the battle of Flint Hills." said Colt

'His suicidal thoughts probably started to hurt him when I rejected him.'

"How bad is it?" asked Malvik

"Pretty bad, but his depression decreased." I replied

"But the others didn't." I said

"His PTSD though, what is he afraid of?" asked Tessa

Colt looked at her and raised an eyebrow.

"Of course, you." replied Colt

Tessa remembered and her expression soothed and turned into guilt.

"When I was with him during his exam, his first question was what has happened in your past that affected you in a bad way. The first thing he said was his parents, then he said his team." said Colt

"Oh..." whispered Tessa

"He's changed, sometimes I wish I could have boot camp Ajax again but that would change everything." said Malvik, "I wish he could talk to us about it."

"He has more worries, he doesn't want you to know cause it'll be more of a burden." I said

"Let me talk to him." said Tessa

"Wait, I don't think that's a good idea." I said

"No, it's my fault, all of it is. I just need to talk to him, it won't be anything bad." she replied

I sighed and decided to let her go even though I felt icky about it.

Ghost's POV

I heard the door behind me open, I thought it was Emily but instead Tessa stood next to me.

"Hey, what are you doing here alone?" asked Tessa

Something about her voice felt, sad, guilty, concerned.

"I don't know, I guess I just like it." I replied, "Something wrong?"

Tessa looked at me and back at the sunset.

"A lot of things are wrong." she replied, "Emily told me."

I glanced at her realizing what she was talking about.

"Ah." I replied

"I'm sorry." she whispered

"Why are you apologizing?" I asked

"I feel like I'm the cause of your illness. Especially your PTSD." she replied

"Ah." I replied

"I don't think I was able to properly apologize, even though I probably have I just feel like I'm still at fault." she replied

I nodded.

"I understand, you did what you did but all of it was in the past. I can't always hold that grudge against you, I can't and I won't." I said

"Even if you say that I still believe I'm at fault." she replied

"I'm not going to lie and say it's not your fault, it is but what can I do?" I asked, "Nothing, it only matters about now and the future."

Tessa looked towards the sunset and the wind blew against us.

"Gunner, Tech and Exploder all forgave you, and I do the same." I continued

"I don't deserve it." she said

I took a deep breath in and closed my eyes.

"I still forgive you." I said

Tessa looked down and leaned against the stone parapet.

"Thank you." she said, "I can't believe you changed so much."

"I didn't expect it either." I replied

"We haven't had a one on one talk for a long time." she said

"That wasn't a one on one talk, more like you yelling at me not to be stupid." I replied

Tessa nodded remembering that time.

"I guess, I'll leave you alone now." she said

I nodded and she left.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eren's POV

"All you have to tell me is Zeke's location." I said

"I don't know." groaned Mike

"You're the last one who was in contact with Hange, where is Zeke?" I asked, "Where's Captain Levi and Commander Hange?"

"I lost contact with them, even the squad who left with Hange broke contact." replied Mike

Mike rubbed his eyes in frustration.

"I'll go back out there and find them." he said

I sighed as he hopped onto a helicopter with his squad.

'This better work.'

Annie's POV

"I'm getting sick of sitting here." said Connie

"Eren's not even here, he's in South Africa." said Jean

"Look everyone calm down for now, we just need to relax and think about this." said Armin

"Armin you can relax but the rest of us can't." replied Jean

"I wonder what Porco's doing." whispered Bertholdt

All I was thinking was about Eren, no one else, nothing else.

"Annie, are you okay?" asked Mikasa

I didn't respond, I felt so lost in my thoughts.

"This pisses me off so much." sighed Ymir

But then I heard keys jingling and then I saw Hitch approach us with caution.

"Hitch, what's going on is the queen-"

Ymir stopped talking when she saw Hitch slowly tear up.

"Hitch, why are you crying?" asked Ymir

"I'm sorry, but the people, of Eldia, agreed." said Hitch

"Agreed with what?" asked Ymir

Everyone got up and looked at Hitch.

"They've agreed to execute the three Marlyeans who took part in destroying Wall Maria." she said

My eyes widened and everyone in the room started frowning in anger.

"Who came up with that idea?" asked Ymir

"Eren..." whispered Hitch

"No, no Eren's not like that." said Armin

"Armin!" snapped Jean

"He's willing to kill Annie?" asked Mikasa

Before Hitch could reply 3 MPs came in and two of them pointed their weapons at us.

"Bring the two of them out." said their sergeant

One of the MPs unlocked the door and entered but Jean quickly grabbed him and punched his face, spun him around, pulled out his sidearm and pointed it at the MP. He pulled him in front of him and the rest of us gasped but we stood our ground.

"What the hell is going on?" asked Jean

"We have our orders." replied the sergeant

"Bring me Eren." growled Jean

"Can't do that sir, we'll open fire." said the sergeant

"Even with your comrade in line?" asked Connie

"It doesn't matter." replied the man Jean was holding onto.

"Bring me Eren, there has to be a misunderstanding." I said

"Can't do that, you have till 10 to drop it or we will kill all of you." said the sergeant

He cocked his M4 and everyone slightly backed up. Jean grit his teeth but he looked at the others and let the MP go. Once he loosened his grip the MP spun around and punched Jean and took his sidearm.

The MP then handcuffed Bertholdt only then Armin, confusing me and the others as Armin looked at the MP with a bit of fear.

"Why is Armin getting executed?" I asked

"Did you really think that we're going to just kill off the titan shifters and lose their powers? No that'll be ridiculous." said the MP who handcuffed them.

Then it hit my head they weren't just going to execute them, they'll feed Bertholdt, to Armin.

"No no no you son of a bitch!" yelled Ymir

Ymir tried to attack the MP but he shot her in the stomach and she fell to the ground, bleeding.

"Ymir!" gasped Bertholdt

"Cooperate, then no one gets hurt." said the sergeant

The MPs dragged Bertholdt and Armin out with Connie and Jean yelling out for Bertholdt.

"You sons of bitches I'll kill you all!" yelled Connie

"Bertholdt!" yelled Jean

But then more MPs showed up.

"Sergeant, we're to extract all of them out." said the squad leader of the MPs that just arrived.

"Do as ordered." replied the sergeant

The MPs began to handcuff us all and they led us out of the jail cell onto the prison courtyard where a bunch of MPs were lined up on the edges with Titan artillery weapons pointed at the middle.

But near us stood Eren looking at all of us. I wanted to run to him but I was pushed and forced onto my knees.

"Eren you son of a bitch..." growled Connie

Before I could say anything I saw Armin in the center of the courtyard all alone.

"Armin!" I yelled

That seemed to get Eren's attention but then I saw Reiner on the catwalk in handcuffs.

"Reiner do something!" I yelled

"If he does something it'll lead to automatic death and mutiny across the country." said Eren

"Eren what are you doing?" I asked, "Why? Why are you doing this?"

Eren looked up and out of curiosity I looked up and saw Bertholdt, his legs tied to a crane hanging upside down unconscious.

"Because of Bertholdt, my mother was trapped under my house thanks to a giant ruble that fell onto it. This is for my mother." said Eren

"Eren you motherfucker, I'll kill you once I get my hands on you!" yelled Ymir

That's when someone approached Armin and injected him with a needle and ran off.

"Armin!" yelled Mikasa

A bright light flashed then came a loud explosion, smoke covered where Armin stood before and was replaced with a titan. The MPs on the roof began firing harpoons at Armin, holding him in place.

That's when the crane started moving towards Armin, Armin saw Bertholdt and he opened his mouth waiting for Bertholdt to be dropped inside.

"Eren stop please I'll do anything just stop!" I yelled

That's when I saw Bertholdt wake up, his eyes widened when he saw Armin below him ready to eat him.

"R-Reiner! Ymir!" yelled Bertholdt

"Eren stop this, enough of this!" yelled Reiner

"You're next Reiner." said Eren

"Eren stop it just stop it!" yelled Connie

"Eren!"

I turned and saw Porco approach Eren.

"Eren, stop this take me instead." said Porco

"I'll take you as well if you don't back off." said Eren

I desperately wanted to shift but then Eren snapped his fingers and Bertholdt began to descend into Armin's mouth.

"Eren stop it!" yelled Porco

He pushed Eren and tried to save Bertholdt but two MPs came and held him down.

"Bertholdt!" yelled Ymir

"Eren stop it we can change this!" yelled Jean

I squeezed my eyes shut as I listened to everyone screaming, Reiner was the loudest of all. But then I felt Eren's hand forcefully open my eyes.

"Watch, as you took away the things I love the most. Watch as I take the things you love away from you." said Eren

"BERTHOLDT!" yelled Reiner

"EREN STOP THIS!" yelled Mikasa

Bertholdt's upper body was now in Armin's mouth and Armin bit down, killing Bertholdt.

"BERTHOLDT!" yelled Ymir

Everyone around me began screaming in agony, the air filled with despair and anger.

'Bertholdt...'