Trick

The next day

Ashley's POV

"Ashley, please take a break." said my mom

I kept watching the video of Ghost's camera feed on my computer.

"Sorry." I whispered

I closed the laptop and looked at Brooks and Damion sitting in front of me. Damion looked sad about something and Brooks just looked like himself.

"Ashley can you go get a few things for me?" asked Annie

"Yea sure." I said

She gave me a list and I signaled Damion and Brooks to come with me. I turned to leave but I looked at my mom and next to her Commander Armin.

"I'll be back." I said

I left the house and the three of us got into a car and drove off to a nearby store.

"Did you hear? Colonel Ghost is going after him." said Damion

"Is he?" asked Brooks

"Yea. He hasn't been home since then." said Damion

"What is he even going to do?" I asked

"I don't know." replied Damion, "I hope he can talk Keegan out."

"I wish I was there." I sighed

"He tried to kill Emma, I think he'll do the same to you." said Brooks

"You don't know that." I said

"Yea but I know for a fact that Damion nearly died because of him." said Brooks

"That wasn't Keegan." I sighed

"When will you learn to accept the fucking fact?" snapped Brooks, "If you want mom to receive a flag in front of her doorsteps then go ahead."

I stomped on the brakes launching us all forward.

"I won't accept the fucking fact!" I yelled, "I know for a fact that Keegan wouldn't do that!"

"And I know for a fact that he will!" snapped Brooks

"He has dad's memories in him! He-"

"Dad fucking hated us!" yelled Brooks as he punched the radio, breaking it

"Guys calm down please, we're holding up the traffic." said Damion

"This is Keegan we're talking about!" I continued to yell at Brooks

"Is mom's memories not affecting you huh?! Do you not realize that you're just the same as her?!" yelled Brooks

"Guys please-"

"Shut up!" both Brooks and I yelled at him

Damion just slid down his seat and hid himself.

"Mom and Armin? You find that weird? I find you switching between Damion and Keegan weird you fucking whore!" yelled Brooks

I punched Brooks so hard his nose broke, blood pouring out.

"Fuck!" groaned Brooks

"Ashley..." whispered Damion

Brooks holds onto his nose and Damion gives him tissues.

"Don't fucking touch me." growled Brooks, slapping away Damion's hand as he tried to help

Brooks grabs a bunch of tissues and gets out of the car and slams the door. I drove off in frustration and I saw Damion just in the back a bit scared.

"I don't want to hear you talk so if you're going to come with me I suggest you stay quiet." I growled

He immediately nodded and just scooted away.

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

1 hour later

Ashley's POV

It was dark out now and we were heading home. Damion hasn't said a single word since I told him to and it was nice that way. We got home and my mom was sitting at the dinner table with Armin. She looked at me and she raised an eyebrow and I was slightly confused. That's when I looked at the small table in front of the couch and I saw bloody tissues and a first aid kit.

"Care to explain?" hissed my mom

"Brooks probably explained everything already." I replied

Damion dropped all the bags into the kitchen and just looked around not knowing what to do.

"But I've been thinking about something." said Armin, "Something related to Keegan."

That got my attention so I approached him and my mom.

"Back when Eren was still alive... he took Keegan and talked to him a lot. What if he was tested as a subject for the next inheritor of the attack titan." said Armin, "It only explains why Keegan acts like Eren most of the time."

"Ajax would have found out." said my mom

"Yea, uncle Ajax can figure anything out." I agreed

"But what better explanation would there be?" asked Armin

Suddenly my phone rings and it's from an unknown number.

"Wait, plug this." said Armin

He hands me some kind of usb so I plug it into my phone then answer it and put it on speaker.

"Hello?" I asked

"I knew you would answer my call." said a familiar voice

"Keegan?" I gasped

Damion looked worried but my mom signaled me to continue.

"That's such a disgusting name." groaned Keegan

"I'm not going to call you the Prophet." I replied, "You're Keegan, you're my friend."

"Oh please, save it." said Keegan

"Why did you call?" I asked

"You must be wondering how I inherited your father's powers." said Keegan

"I would like to know." I replied

I heard him chuckle.

"Let's start from the beginning shall we?" asked Keegan, "I was there when I was killed. It was me."

"Then how are you alive?" I asked

"The body you buried wasn't mine though... no it was actually a clone." said Keegan

"Clones?" I questioned

My mom looked shocked and Armin looked lost for words.

"Oh right... that was supposed to be the biggest secret." said Keegan

"B-but clones aren't real. How can that scientifically make sense?" I asked

"Ask your mother, I'm sure she's listening." replied Keegan

I looked at her and she looked horrified.

"Mom?" I asked

"We destroyed all the evidence on how to develop clones, how the hell is that possible?" asked my mom, "Even if a clone was made, there's no way you could have made it yourself."

"Not unless... not unless Eren made it." said Armin

"Huh? Armin what are you saying?" asked my mom

"Eren was a clone wasn't he? The one that died he was just a clone." said Armin

"Well... I'm not surprised you got that right Armin." replied Keegan

My mom covered her mouth and tears began to come out of her eyes.

"Keegan... Eren's alive?" asked my mom

"He is." replied Keegan

My eyes widened, memories of my dad flooded into my head, both good and bad ones.

"Where is he? Is he with you? Please let me talk to him." said my mom

"You'll have your chance to talk to him." said Keegan, "But for now, stay out of my way."

"Keegan, please don't do this. I understand your hatred towards the world but we can fix this together." I said

"No, I can fix this!" yelled Keegan, "This world will never understand without having a price to pay."

"But your father-"

"He left me! He made me like this!" yelled Keegan

"No he didn't, please Keegan stop this." I pleaded

"It's too late." said Keegan, "Stay out of my way or I will kill you."

He ends the call and Armin takes off the usb and plugs it into his phone.

"I'm going to send his coordinates to Colonel and the others." said Armin

"Where is he?" I asked

"India." replied Armin

"I'm going." I said

"There's no point Ashley, he'll be long gone when you get there." said Armin

Reaper's POV

"How's your stomach?" asked Doc

"I'll be fine." I replied

I walked into the infirmary and approached my mom.

"Hey mom." I greeted

She turned and smiled.

"Are you okay?" asked my mom

"I'm fine. Are you?" I asked

My mom's smile disappeared and she sighed.

"I failed Keegan." whispered my mom

"Mom, don't blame it on yourself." I said

"Then why is he like this?" she asked

She looked at me and I looked away.

"I was harsh on Keegan, I treated him the way I was treated back when I was a child. I wasn't a good mother but I thought I was doing a decent job." she said

I saw a tear roll down her cheek.

"I sucked at a lot of things. You may not have noticed but I had a lot of flaws. I couldn't take care of your father. I couldn't do anything that required emotions, your father as well. But the one thing I thought I was decent enough was raising you two." said my mom, "But I shouldn't be surprised. I sucked at it Emma. I really sucked at it and look where we are. What would you expect? You and Keegan both lived your lives in a house that had no emotions. Did you even consider it home at that point?"

I stood there, silent.

"A lot of people see me as a hero, but deep down inside, I'm not cause I couldn't save your father nor Keegan." said my mom

"Mom..." I whispered

"Look at yourself Emma, you're just like me and your father. Emotionless." said my mom, "I'm not saying that because I don't like you or anything. I love you with all my soul but I really wanted you to not turn out to be like me and your father. Yet you did."

"Mom, I choose to be like that." I replied

"I know but I've been thinking... if me and your father weren't emotionless... would you still be like this? Would Keegan still betray us?" questioned my mom

She looked at me and her eyes were tearing up.

"I'm sorry Emma, you must have had it rough because of me." said my mom

"Mom no please stop. It wasn't your fault and I'm happy. I've been happy living with you guys." I said

My mom wiped her tears and sighed.

"Yea... but do you think... Keegan was happy?" she asked

I stood there, not knowing how to respond to that question.

"Give her some time." said a voice behind me

I turned and it was Rina.

"Lieutenant Colonel is looking for you." said Rina

I sighed and nodded.

"I'll be back mom." I said

She nodded so I left the infirmary where Doc was waiting for me.

"Something wrong?" asked Doc

I looked up at him and sighed.

"My father was known for being an emotionless person and I'm just like that." I said

I looked at my hands.

"What part of me makes others... like me?" I questioned

I looked up at him.

"I know that you like me." I said

Doc seemed surprised and he slightly looked away.

"But... why?" I asked

I looked at the ground.

"How did my parents maintain a stable marriage when they're emotionless?" I asked

"Cause there was love." replied Doc, "Your parents may be emotionless but they aren't like that towards each other."

Doc sighs and rubs his neck.

"I wish I can understand but I don't." he replied

I sighed and just nodded.

"Let's just go." I replied

We walked towards the briefing room in silence for about a minute until Doc broke it.

"How did you know?" he asked

"During our undercover mission." I replied

"That was when you first noticed?" he asked

"Why did you like me before as well?" I asked

"W-what? W-well I-I mean n-no... I-I mean y-y-yea." he stuttered

I stopped walking and looked at him.

"How long did you like me for?" I asked

Doc seemed nervous as he looked around.

"Since... since like elementary school..." hesitantly replied Doc

I stood there shocked at Doc's response.

"W-what? What why?" I asked

Before Doc could respond, Specter appeared from around the corner with Bullseye.

"Oh hey you two." greeted Specter

"Shouldn't we be at the briefing room?" asked Bullseye

"Yea yea right let's go." quickly replied Doc

He sped walked towards Bullseye and slung his arm around him and walked away.

"What's up with him?" asked Specter

"Doc likes me." I replied, still in shock

Specter gasped and covered her mouth.

"Wait wait he finally confessed?" asked Specter

"W-What? You knew?" I asked

Specter grabs my arm and we walk down the hallway.

"We all knew since we were friends." said Specter, "He told us and we just kept it a secret."

"So you're telling me he liked me for like over 10 years?" I asked

"11 years to be precise." said Specter

I walked in shock but I shook it off.

"Whatever... now's not the time." I sighed

"You're going to reject him?" asked Specter

"N-no not necessarily." I replied, "Just not now."

"Oh I see." said Specter

"So... how's it going with you and Bullseye?" I asked

Specter chuckles a bit.

"Oh... nothing much." replied Specter

"You two seem to be having fun." I said

"It's really nothing." replied Specter, "I just... I'm just fascinated by him."

Specter just smiles at me.

"You know you can't hide your feelings well." I said, "Just like your mom and my dad."

"Oh please don't even bring that topic up. Makes me question everything." said Specter

"Come on, it's an interesting topic. I mean your mom liked my dad." I said

"No no I don't want to talk about it." babbled Specter

"My dad even confronted your mom about the whole situation." I continued

Specter walks faster, trying to get away from me but I catch up with her.

"You have to admit that it's an interesting topic." I said

"Please please drop it." pleaded Specter, "We're here."

"Sure but for now." I replied

We entered the briefing where most of my squad was already there with Lieutenant Colonel Kit.

"Take a seat." said Kit

I took a seat in the briefing room.

"We got a call from Commander Armin, apparently Keegan called Ashley." said Kit

My eyes widened.

"He explained how he survived and how he inherited his titan powers." said Kit, "But before I explain it, what I'm going to tell you is highly confidential."

We all nodded so Kit sighed and continued.

"16 years ago during Judgment year the TMO were able to create clones." said Kit

We all sat there in utter confusion and shocked.

"We destroyed every intel and data on clones. Well that's what we thought." said Kit, "Apparently the body we buried was a clone."

"But who made the clone?" asked Dynamite

"Eren Jaeger." replied Kit

The room fell silent.

"But Eren was killed..." said Dynamite

"Unless we killed a clone." implied Specter

"Exactly, we killed a clone of himself." said Kit

"So clones are back." I sighed

"Who knows about the clones?" asked Kraken

"Everyone who survived Judgment year." said Kit, "Ghost team 117, Badger team 087, Blackfox team 034 and others."

"Shit..." sighed Kraken

"The titan cure Commander Hange Zoe created was able to kill off the clones." said Kit, "But since it doesn't work on titans anymore I don't know if it'll have the same effect."

I sighed and shook my head.

"That's it, you're all dismissed." said Kit, "Oh and Reaper stay behind."

I stayed behind as everyone else left.

"There's something I need to tell you." said Kit

"What is it sir?" I asked

He sighed and he seemed sad.

"Your grandparents were also turned into clones during Judgment year." said Kit

My eyes widened.

"Wait. My dad was able to meet his parents again?" I asked

He nodded.

"Including the members of Ghost team 116." said Kit, "But they were killed again because of the cure."

The fact that my father lost the people who he cared for twice must have had a huge impact on him.

"Did he know the outcome of the cure?" I asked

Kit shook his head.

"He was the only one who didn't know. Everyone else knew." replied Kit

"When you mean by everyone else... do you mean..."

"Yes. We all kept it a secret from him." said Kit, "We all did."

"I see..." I whispered in sadness, "Is that it?"

He nodded so I saluted and left.

I began walking down the hallway all by myself but then I stopped and leaned against the wall.

'Just how much did you suffer? Is that why you won't talk about it?'

Annie's POV

I took in a deep breath and sat on the ground and leaned against the tree. I looked up and I remembered the time Eren brought me here with the kids to have a picnic.

"You always loved this place." I said to myself

I looked up at the leaves on the branches, the breeze blowing through them. My hair blew in my face so I just tied my hair back into a messy bun.

'I wonder if Ajax headed to Keegan's last location.'

I sat there and played with my hoodie a bit. But then I felt someone creeping up on me so I turned around and I saw a man standing a few feet to my right wearing a long thin black coat with a hood over his head. At first I was going to ignore him but then my eyes widened when I saw his body structure.

"I knew you'd be here." said the voice I never forgot

The man took off his hood and my eyes widened and I covered my mouth when I saw Eren, his hair tied into a bun, with the titan marks under his eyes.

"Eren..." I whispered as a tear fell out of my eye.