We should have known better. Who teaches their child wiping a city off the face of the earth is a good thing. Bertholdt nearly tells Eren this, but he decides against it; instead what crosses over his face is a complicated expression, of acceptance and grief. Eren's not fighting him, after all. Bertholdt does not expect forgiveness of any sort, least of all when he cannot forgive himself. He won't do himself the disservice of begging forgiveness after the fact.

In part because he must live with it, and also a tiny, manipulative part that knows Eren does not kindly view those with shaken convictions. Better to remain as he is now, potentially an enemy, than be seen as any weaker.

The statement of spending a long time away from hell - home - matches with what Jean had shared with him earlier. That they are all from different points, that they can be stolen but just as easily returned without any memory of being here.

He does not deny that some tension eases from his shoulders, though, when Eren says he'd rather die than go back.

"I don't want to fight if I don't have to," Bertholdt admits again after a long moment. No, he doesn't want to fight; he will if he has to. Just as Eren will not fight him right now, but might want to.

"I don't know how long I have here," He continues on, almost grudging. "I don't remember arriving here; if I don't have a body to return to, then this is all pointless anyways."