Garbage Queen

“Going through the underground is the only way” Jeremie insisted, survey corps hood pulled over his head. 

William stood directly outside the tunnel entrance, eyes downcast. “Then I can’t go with you” he answered quietly “I’m afraid of the dark, you see”

It was a lie, a clear one--but that didn’t mean Jeremie’s theory was right! It all had to be some sort of coincidence...Aelita saw Yumi stiffen up beside her, hand on the hilt of her blade.

“Why did you steal Odd’s gear?” She demanded, angry over the loss of their friend. Aelita could understand but blaming William was insanity!

“Go ahead, tell us” Aelita encouraged “Explain to them that it’s just a big misunderstanding” Jeremie shot her a sympathetic look and she ignored it. They were wrong, they had to be.

Sure, William could be brash and reckless;not to mention way too self confident. He’d even gone as far as to declare he would be in the top ten on the first day--not that he’d been wrong. 

But he was also their friend, their comrade. He had saved Ulrich during the battle at Trost, had helped Aelita figure out how to use her gear. There was no way that well-intention ed person could be the abnormal titan that wiped out a third of the survey corps. There was no way to connect the guy who tried so hard to keep them from giving up just a few weeks ago to the blood thirsty monster who had swung around soldiers like toys. It made no sense.

So why wasn’t he denying it? Why was it so quiet all of a sudden?

“Go on!” she insisted and was met by laughter. Loud and crazed. It took her a moment to figure out it was coming from William.

“I’d love to, really. I really want to tell you what you want to hear but...I don’t think lying will help me at this point.” with that he lifted his hand to his mouth.

“Now!” Jeremie yelled and two soldiers came from hiding grabbed William’s arms. A third shoved a cloth in his mouth.

Aelita felt numb, it was true. Did that mean there was two more titan shifters among them? Two more traitors? None of her friends would...right?