Chapter 28

Calming down, Annie began to think logically. Honestly speaking, she really did not have to worry much about these two getting suspicious of her of doing anything wrong. There was nothing they could do to her. Also, every one of them needed each other to get back to their homeland.

Even if that was the case, Annie wanted to get these two off her back. They were being incredibly nosey in her business and she was not comfortable with it at all.

'If anything, I can use this to my advantage so they won't try bothering me again. From what Bertholdt had asked me, he thinks I'm only using them. Of course I am not but it wouldn't hurt to use this excuse.' Annie thought to herself, deciding she should probably give the tall nervous boy a satisfactory answer so she can leave sooner than later.

"Uh, I'm only curious Annie. Even back at Marley you never really interacted with any of the warriors in training. It's unusual that you would do so with these...."

"These devils!"

Bertholdt could not finish his reasoning as Reiner interrupted him with a harsh whisper. His face scrunching up into disgust, confusing the colossal shifter. His buddy Reiner has been doing this often.

At one point he would seem friendly to the other cadets in training, then soon after when they were alone, he would sometimes call them names. Either Reiner was a very good actor, or something was wrong with him.

'Maybe I am just thinking too much about it.' Bertholdt thought.

"Devils, Reiner? And here I thought you stopped considering them as such after hanging around them for so long. Being so friendly too." Annie said with an accusing eye. This is just like their previous meetings.

'Reiner would always says he's only doing it not to seem suspicious but I don't trust his word on that at all.'

Reiner only looked away and said "I'm only solidifying my place here to gain their trust. Don't tell me that's what you're doing too? You already said you would be the one to try and spy on the king. What changed?"

Annie couldn't help but role her eyes. "I don't care if you don't believe me, but Eren and Mikasa needed to be watched. Especially Eren. He's.....different." She said, seeing the look of realization on the faces of the two boys across from her. They remembered how she told him he can easily kill her if she didn't have Titan powers.

"You're still on about that Annie? I admit....he is gifted. Even without having prior demanding training unlike us, he's still probably able to best us in a fight without using our Titan powers. The only reason why you would focus on Eren and Mikasa so much is because....."

"Is because they are strong and she sees them as a possible threat!"

Reiner said with Bertholdt finishing off his words at the end. Now they understood. The two trust Annie, but they wanted to know the reason for her recent "friendships". She was never the type to actually try hanging with others.

But they weren't 100% sure if Annie's judgment was correct. Reiner and Bertholdt had absolute hard confidence with their shifter powers against the people on the island. They wondered how a kid their age could be a threat against that.

'They reached such a delusional conclusion on their own without me saying a single word.' Annie thought.

"Yes." She said. "If we are going to be fighting against these people in the future, it's important to flesh out the strong and weak ones. Even though we have our powers, we can never be too careless, just like before."

Her words triggered the memory of the demise of the 4th person that went along with them on this mission. A boy named Marcel who was also a shifter, had been eaten by a mindless Titan.

They never forgot that day.

"There is no doubt that Eren is the strongest amongst them as I told you before, but he's growing at an alarming rate. Not only that but someone with his strength is bound to survive long as I don't think mindless titans will be a problem for him and he'll gain the attention of "important people" within the walls. So until it's unneeded, I'll be sticking close to him and Mikasa." Annie said.

The two boys listened to what she said. It seems like her judgment and decision was the smartest one. If Eren is so strong, his actions in the future could possibly gain the attention of people they needed to find.

They could just kill Eren now if he was a possible threat, but that was a big no. It would be a major risk as the only other person that really hangs with him besides his girlfriend Mikasa and close friend Armin

was Annie.

They would easily be found out, which would force them to act again.

Seeing the two guys thinking to themselves, Annie got up to leave.

"Uh....Wait a minute Annie! Where are you going?" Bertholdt questioned with his hand outstretched.

"We're done here. There's no use on speaking any further. Don't bother me anymore to meet here unless you guys want people to get suspicious." Annie said before leaving.

Reiner who sat next to Bertholdt looked at him while shaking his head. He put his hand on his shoulder and said "That was pretty awkward. She's not going to acknowledge you if you keep being so nervous."

"What are you talking about Reiner? Come on, let's go to the cabin." Betholdt said.

"Whatever man."

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Not too far away from the trio that now left, Eren sat down with his back against a tree. He had heard everything they had talked about while being unnoticed. That also included what Annie had said about getting close to him and Mikasa.

Fortunately Eren was not an idiot. He can tell that Annie was only lying. This wouldn't be some misunderstanding situation. He's no genius, but knowledge of canon and their characters gives him a big advantage.

With that, he knows Annie wasn't the type to purposely get close to others only to benefit herself or because she's cautious of them.

'But this does give me a great idea. I can use this for my benefit. I'm definitely going to try and get Annie on my side and so far it's going well with her opening up more and even lying to Reiner and Bertholdt.'

'She is very important for the future.'

Eren thought to himself. He got up from his spot and walked back to the male cabins, making sure nobody saw him.

The only thought on his mind was how good of a double agent would Annie be.