Red
"How come I don't remember you?" Tanya asked. Alexis let out a deep sigh, understanding what she wanted to hear.
"Do you remember the day that mom died?" Alexis says that made Tanya furrow her eyebrows at her.
"Ofcourse I remember it clear as day, that's what my whole has been about." Tanya answered mockingly. Alexis nodded.
"Alright, Do you remember anything before that incident?" She asked.
Tanya knotted her brows at her question but when she tried to remember the days before her mother passed, nothing seems to have come to her mind. It's like a blank slate. She held her head trying to reminisce everything but, nothing. She only caught glimpse of her deceased mother but no memory.
"H-how..." Tanya's voice began to crack as she held the side of her head. She's aware of the warmth her mother gave her, but before the day of the incident, she could recall nothing except for the face and wordless visions of Grace Karpov.
Tanya stared at her wide eyed when she remembered a conversation with Kenny Ackerman back when she confronted him about his connection with her mother.
"You should know, I even saw you back when you're a little kid. Who knew you'd grow up to be like this."
"He said we've already met when I was a kid, but I couldn't remember him."
"Maybe you were too young back then."
"Our grandfather injected a serum on you, that made you forget everything before that incident, that's how he got control over me. He used you, against me." Alexis explained. It was evident that she wasn't proud of the things she has done as she kept her gaze down.
Tanya wanted to break everything, only if she could move freely. Damn these bandages. She knew her grandfather was manipulative but she didn't expect him to go as far as erasing someone's memory. How far could he go just to be in control of someone?
"Y-You said he used me to control you. What exactly did he made you do?" Tanya asked as she tried not to stutter but failed.
"The devil's lair." Alexis said. Tanya scoffed, of course it would always come back to that. But as far as she could remember it, she was the one who did all the work. Five gun men including Kenny, she finished all of them, so what exactly did she do?
"The blue knight mob of wall rose. Our grandfather assigned me to kill them." She answered truthfully. Tanya did remember giving that intel to her grandfather, he said he'll take care of it from there. So it was really Alexis who did the deed.
"You meant the leaders?"
"Grandfather ordered to kill all of them." Just like earlier, Tanya noticed the guilt in her tone even though she's smiling. She doesn't understand why. Tanya never felt guilty for killing those people who killed her mother. But Alexis surely is built different.
"So." Tanya sighed deeply before continuing what she wanted to say. She still doesn't know where to stand on the events that has happened and what she found out, but one thing is for sure. Someday, she will have her hands stained with Preston Karpov's blood. Or maybe, she should mess with the survey corps first.
"If you actually killed those people, how come it's not reported all around the walls?" Tanya asked curiously.
This made Alexis' face lit up, she does like it when Tanya takes interest on her, it somehow reminds her of the past. Although the look on her face still says that she is pissed at everyone.
"Unlike you, my method of killing is different. I prefer using poison when killing people." Alexis smiled. Craziness surely runs in the family.
'Poison. That's interesting, I guess.' Tanya says to herself. But she still prefers decapitating people and watch them beg for their lives.
She let out a deep sigh before leaning back to her bed, wincing a little when the bandaged cuts made contact on the mattress she was on. However, Alexis was confused by her actions. She's going back to sleep? After finding about all that?
"Wait, you're just gonna doze off?" Alexis asked Tanya who already turned her back against her twin.
"I'm tired. Plus, I'll be plotting how my revenge is gonna go so shut up." Tanya muttered tiredly. She did feel drained after that emotional rollercoaster. The anger in her chest just keeps pilling up, it's like the universe is testing how far she's gonna go.
Alexis smiled at her, but, she's kind of worried. She didn't expect Tanya to end up like this. Only if she was fast enough, maybe she never would've lost an eye, or she wouldn't have her hand cut off. Even with all that, Tanya managed to talk to her like it doesn't even bother her. She's so strong, too strong.
"Tanya?" Alexis called in a soft tone. Her sister just let out a silent grunt, pure bitterness surrounding her form but Alexis doesn't seem to care, she wants to say it even if she'll get angry at her again.
"I'm sorry." Alexis apologized generally. She knew there's no way she can forgive her that easy, but she's willing to put in the effort.
"I'm sorry for everything."
There was a long moment of silence for the two. Alexis waited for a reply but, it's clear that Tanya won't come around right now but she's still hoping. She's still sitting there, waiting for her reply.
"Just shut up."
--
Back in the headquarters, The squad had just walked past the council room and heard them arguing with each other. They even heard Captain Levi yell in pure rage which was very unusual that it sent chills down their spine.
Jean, who couldn't stop thinking about a certain girl sat on the wooden staircase, he gazed on the scar on his palm, the symbol of their bloodpact.
He couldn't help but feep guilty all of a sudden. They didn't even got a chance to talk, he just turned their backs on her without any explanation. Jean couldn't help but think what she's doing right now, is she safe? Of course she's not. She's severely injured, and she's kidnapped, what else could go wrong?
Jean rubbed his face frustratedly on his palm when Armin came in the storage room, he saw how miserable he was. Basically, everyone felt that way. Guilt, torn, but what else can they do.
"Jean, it's time." Armin said in a low tone. He looked up to see who it was, letting out a deep sigh, Jean stood from his seat and walked out with Armin by his side.
"Is this really necessary?" Jean asked with an annoyed tone as they got together with the rest of the squad outside.
Just last night, Levi ordered them to clear out Tanya's room since there are gonna be new recruits and they are in need of space.
"It was Captain Levi's orders." Mikasa said in a low tone as they opened the door on her room and what they saw, surprised them.
"It's so.....Messy." Eren uttered as he looked around the room. The bed sheets and blanket aren't even attached on the mattress anymore, there were open books, pens, and water bottles that was scattered around on the floor.
"That's weird, Tanya hates mess." Sasha says quietly with a frown. She remembered when she first saw Tanya in the girl's barracks, she was annoyed when there was dust on the desk beside her bunk and threw her bag on the ground because of it. It was no secret that she misses her, and she's deeply worried about her aftwr seeing her last state.
"How should we arrange these?" Connie asked while looking at her things. None of them want to even do these stuff because It reminded them of her, and clearing her things out just makes everything too real.
"Captain wants her personal belongings in his office." Armin said when he grabbed a box. Jean, furrowed his brows on what he heard.
"Why would he want that?" Jean couldn't help but to feel bitter against his Captain. That day before her arrest, they were ordered not to talk to Tanya to avoid having their cover blown.
They just told them that Tanya broke the deal, none of them were even aware of what just happened. Until Captain Levi led her to that arrest. After taking her, that's when they found out about the killings in prison.
"We don't know but, Captain's orders." Armin just repeated.
"Uhm...guys?" Sasha called when she opened a drawer that seemed to have flooded with letters and ribbons. Some of them were red and there were dark purple too, just like Tanya's.
"What are those?" They soon have gathered around it as Sasha removed the drawer and placed it on the desk, being the curious people they are, The squad started to read some of them.
They were confused and shocked at the same time. "It's like Tanya has been talking to someone for a while now." Jean said while looking at the pile. Armin, being the smartest of all them decided to arrange it based on the contents of the letters.
"Those red ribbons, could it be connected to that Red hooded person who bombed the posts?" Eren asked suspiciously.
"Possibly. But why would that person take her?" Mikasa asked.
"Y-you guy, need to see this." Armin stuttered as he looked at the conversation between Red and Tanya. Theyir eyes widens.
"We have to show this to Commander Erwin." Jean says before they all hurried out as Sasha took the whole drawer, placing the letters and the evidence there.
They were all on their way to the Commander's door, panting when they saw the three of them just walked out the council room. They called out to them and couldn't help but overhear the conversation between the three.
"What the hell did you two do? Did you even atleast talk to her before jimping in to conclusions?!" Hanji was pissed, it was a rare sight to see as they faced the two men who clearly looked like they were about to have a nervous breakdown.
"How are we suppsed to know she was covering up for you."
"Plus, all the evidences were pointing against her. "
"You two talk like you just met Her, you know her hardships more than anyone yet you guys are the one who took away the last chance she have for peace." Hanji scowled at them. The squad felt even more guilty, looking down on the ground.
"Look, we still don't know if she's innocent or not. We all saw the sketch."
"How many times do I have to tell you she was with me!" Hanji exclaimed, that's also when Sasha decided to step up.
"Commander Erwin." She called hesitantly. The three of them glanced at the squad in annoyance but all that changed when they saw Sasha. Why is she holding a drawer?
"We found this on Tanya's room. I think we can find out who took her." Armin says pertaining on the scattered notes on the wood. Erwin, letting out a tired sigh agreed to what was said.
"Fine, let's look into it in my office." He said opening the door while the squad tailed behind him. But what surprised them is the person who was sitting on Erwin's throne.
"Tanya..."