Open catch all introduction

[wreckingbert]

Characters: Bertolt Hoover
Date: January 13th at first, then the second half of January for the rest
Location: He lives in the Water Sector, and is going to be mostly hiding out there unless someone drags him elsewhere. If you want him to be anywhere specific so your character can run into him, let me know!
Situation: Arrival, and then settling in. Wandering aimlessly around the city. Discovering technology.
Warnings/Rating: None presently.

The whole thing is very confusing. One moment he was sitting in a tree, listening as Reiner slipped again, forever drifting further and further away from him, and he with no idea how to get him back, no idea how to tether him back to himself. Then everything shifted, and for one horrible, confusing moment Bertolt thought he was turning into his warrior, letting the change take him, and terror spiked in his chest. That would be suicide here, the other titans would destroy him, even assuming he could transform now.

But he didn’t transform, and when the world stopped spinning and melting before his eyes, he was... somewhere else. He tried to listen as they explained things to him, but everything just sounded garbled and distorted, almost like they were speaking another language. One thing rang clear to him, though.

He is alone.

When they escort him out of the building, he balks a little at crossing the doorway. He’s a wanted criminal, a monster, a mass murderer that slaughters innocents, and going out in public, especially wearing the gear of another soldier around his hips, is like painting a target on his back.

Except no one here cares. He gets an odd look or two, but most people just brush past him. Ignore him. Look through him like he’s not there.

And there’s comfort in that.

Still, he’s a wanted man, and Bertolt does the only thing that makes sense: he climbs. He’s hesitant to use the gas in his gear, not knowing for sure how full it is and not wanting to waste the time to check. He wonders, idly, if the soldier it used to belong to dissipated into steam when he pulled free from his warrior body, or if parts of him are still inside him. The thought makes him sick, and he needs to stop and concentrate on his breathing for a few moments.

He’s a monster. He deserves whatever happens to him.

When he reaches the roof, Bertolt settles on the edge of it, his knees tucked up under his chin and his arms wrapped around himself in a pathetic attempt at self-comfort. He watches the people moving down below, wondering if there’s anyone down there that knows him, that knows who he is, what he is. Wondering what they’d do to him if they knew what he’d done. Wondering why, when he spent most of his life trying to fade into the background, being alone and invisible now is so terrifying.

Comments

[warrioreidlos]

Annie doesn't even factor into his thoughts anymore, not right now. With a soft grunt, Reiner rises to his feet, lifting Bertolt off the couch, carrying him off to the bedroom. Heavy though he is, Bertolt's weight is almost comforting. Now that he is here, Reiner can look out for him, can keep him safe.

Pushing open the door to the bedroom with his shoulder, he carefully deposits Bertolt on the bed. His hand is on the strap covering his chest before Bertolt can lay down though, and his expression is almost apologetic. "Sorry, let me take those off first."

Partially because he knows Bertolt will sleep easier without the gear digging into his skin, and partially because they only have three sets. The straps and the harness are easier to replace should it come to that, but that is no excuse for being wasteful with things.

Kneeling down in front of Bertolt, Reiner starts with the buckle across his chest, tugging it loose. "I'm glad you're here."

[wreckingbert]

Bertolt looks over Reiner's shoulder as he carries him, his dark eyes watching Annie as they leave the room.

He stays sitting up, nodding and holding still as Reiner starts to get the gear off him. He never wants to wear it again, all things told; the dark leather looks stained with blood and reeks of death. "I'm glad too," he answers quietly, looking at his knees with half-lidded eyes.

[warrioreidlos]

That is likely not a luxury they can afford. They can't use their titan forms here, not without calling too much attention to themselves. The 3DMG is all they had to defend themselves.

But Reiner will make it up to him. He'll clean it for him. Or something.

His hands travel down Bertolt's body, loosening straps and buckles as he goes. The air seems almost tense between them and it is that which has Reiner making the next comment, voice pitched low as if he doesn't want his words to carry beyond this bedroom. "Tell you what though, I think you really got a shot with Annie. She missed you a lot too. And did you see the way she reacted to you?"

Reiner Braun, shipper at work.

[wreckingbert]

That comment gets through the exhaustion fog, and Bertolt glances up at Reiner, his expression stricken. Not because what Reiner said is so awful, or even untrue, but because of what it implies. He looks back down quickly though, hopefully before Reiner could see the look on his face.

"And you'll marry Christa." He's too tired right now; he can't try to lure Reiner back into himself. Besides, does it really matter here? If he wants to play at being a soldier, does it make a difference? If a titan kicks in a wall around a deserted city, does anyone want to kill him?

[warrioreidlos]

He shakes his head, tugging the last few straps and buckles loose, pulling Bertolt out of his gear. Rising, he gives him a glance. "Naw. Christa is cute but you know she isn't my type." It is strange. When he is out of his mind, he can look at her and really want to marry her, but when he remembers who he is, he knows it is impossible. Not just because he knows she deserves better than a murderer, but mainly because she is missing some very important assets where he is concerned.

Reaching down, he ruffles Bertolt's hair, making it stick out ridiculously. "Don't worry, I'm still here. I'm not gonna slip away like that again." He is sounding far more confident than he really feels. He had never noticed before, would he be able to notice it here if it would happen? Still, what Bertolt needs now is him being confident, not him being broken.

"Come on, just kick off your shoes and go to sleep. Me and Annie will be here when you wake up."

[wreckingbert]

Bertolt nods when Reiner messes with his hair, not even caring at how silly it must look when it's sticking up in all directions. For now, at least, Reiner is here and himself, because he only wants to marry Christa when he's lost. When he remembers who he is, it's okay. He knows Reiner is likely to fall away from them again, that being what they are is too much for him sometimes, but for now, he'll have to depend on Reiner to remember himself, because he simply has no reserves of energy left.

Without another word, Bertolt collapses backwards on the bed. He reaches for Reiner as he's falling, but his fingertips only brush against Reiner's sleeves before he's out of reach. Bertolt is asleep almost before his head hits the pillow, his legs still dangling off the side of the bed and his shoes still on.

[warrioreidlos]

Reiner's mouth twitches, helplessly fond as he watches Bertolt. Useless, he swears. Crouching down, he tugs off Bertolt's shoes, not even bothering to try and not wake him. With how Bertolt is right now, he's pretty sure he could shift into a titan and break down half the district before Bertolt would even wake up. Once he has both his shoes off, he pulls both of Bertolt's stupidly long legs into the bed, tugging the blanket over him. For a moment he brushes his hand through Bertolt's messy hair, watching him sleep, before he pulls back, slipping out of the room. For now, Bertolt just needs his sleep. That's the most important thing for now. They can figure out what to do later.