Work Text:
Stohess
…
“Annie. Fall.”
When Annie hit the ground, Eren spent no time to waste, ripping her arm off and tearing her head off.
“He’s going to eat the person inside!” Yelled Hange.
“Eren!”
Thankfully, Eren only ripped the flesh surrounding the nape to reveal the… crying Annie inside. You pushed Jean off of you as you stepped closer to get a better look.
Why is she crying…!?
A bright shining light appeared from the nape of the Female Titan. The skin between Annie and Eren’s titan began merging, the brunette being unable to escape as he continued to struggle. Captain Levi fortunately came in, slicing the Attack Titans' nape and freeing Eren. Your attention returned to Annie who seemed to be the one releasing the vibrant light… she was crystallizing herself just as she did with her hands and nape.
As you stared, you felt your body subconsciously move towards Annie. All your senses screaming at you not to do it, to stay back… but you just couldn’t stop. You ended up using every last bit of your gas in order to reach the girl in time.
Your friends shouted at you to get back, Captain Levi ordering you to return to the rooftops but you didn’t hear them… or rather you chose to ignore them. Now staring at the girl in front of you, slowly reaching for her and cupping her face in your hands. You saw Annie twitch at your touch. At this point you realized you could no longer move your legs as you slowly began to be engulfed in the hardened crystal. Yet you weren’t scared, instead choosing to trust your comrades to free you and with that faith in your friends you accepted your fate.
“We’ll figure this out together… Annie.”
The crystallization began spreading much quicker and in your last seconds free, you enveloped Annie in your arms and not long after, the two of you were trapped together.
Mikasa had attempted to reach you before you were encased in the crystal but her limited gas unfortunately caused her to get there a second too late. The ravenette banged her fist against the crystal, calling out for you. Her voice was slightly muffled but you could still make out every word she said, assuring you that she would get you out of there as soon as possible.
You could hear the chatter around you, Jean was kicking the crystal and shouting for Annie to come out and let you free. The realization that you were very much awake and aware of everything around you settled. You would be stuck here for who knows how long, all while listening to the world continue with or without you. As your mind raced with these thoughts, you also began to feel claustrophobic, your body not moving with any of your attempts. There was a sense of panic that had risen inside of you as you realize you could no longer move. Yet there was also a sense of calmness because although you couldn’t move, you could still feel Annie’s warmth. But there was no use in worrying about it because no matter what… you were stuck.
Time felt like it was going by so slowly, and all you could find yourself doing was letting your mind relax. What else could you do after all? In no time, you felt yourself and your mind sink into calm nothingness. Falling asleep amid the chaos ensuing around you.
You dreamt of many things. Life before the military, when you were happy with your parents and your friends. Life without titans, without fighting. Life if Annie had chosen you over whatever it was that she trying to accomplish beforehand. That was all you could do in your state.
Dream.
—
Perhaps the only things that kept you from going insane in the last four years was hearing the voices outside of the crystal and the constant touch of the blonde girl you so quickly tossed your life for.
Mikasa and Armin often visited, and slowly over time you could hear their voices deepening, their tones turning somber. You could only imagine what they were truly going through during the war, Armin explained many things to you. Even regarding the situation with Eren. How you wished to be there for your friends, maybe you would have been able to help. When Mikasa visited it was clear that she was only talking to you, unlike Armin who addressed both you and Annie.
You weren’t sure if they knew you could hear everything but nonetheless you were grateful for the company. Annie clearly wasn’t going to be much of a conversationalist considering your situation.
Yet even now, four years later, you would still think about that moment… the day in Stohess where you put yourself in the crystal despite the shouts from your friends and the orders from your superiors to get away. You would think about the different outcomes if only you had done this… or that. The only thing you were one hundred percent certain you’d do again… is be right here with Annie.
Though you wouldn’t lie to yourself, sometimes wishing you had never fallen for a traitor.
With the years continuing on, you only really had your thoughts to accompany you. Constantly dreaming because most of the time you couldn’t really tell if you were sleeping or awake. The noise and chatter from outside the room you were kept in also helped you keep track of your conscious or unconscious state but it was different this time.
Before the sounds were faint, so subtle that you wouldn’t really be able to hear them unless you really focused on it. Now the sounds of soldiers shouting, guns going off, and that infamous sound you had hoped to never hear again. The thunderous boom, the lighting hitting the ground… only this time there were more than just one or two.
After what Armin had spoken about it was clear that the war wasn’t getting any better and there was a high chance that Marley would either invade soon or Eren would succeed in releasing the titans within the walls.
Your fear had come true. Marley had taken the initiative and the warriors were beginning their attack. You weren’t informed one hundred percent, much of the context was left out of Armin and Mikasa’s retellings. You weren’t sure what to truly think about the situation. There was nothing you could do but hope that everyone of your friends would make it out alive.
…
The fighting continued and the panic had set in long ago. Although most of the sounds were muffled, the cries of the soldiers were as clear as day. Who would come and tell you about your friends if they were alive or dead? No one else ever spoke to you besides… well your friends.
You weren’t left with more time to think as a sinking feeling in your chest and throat set in. It felt like you were drowning, as your mouth was filled with water, you attempted to cough it all up. Your breathing felt sharp and painful. Why? You questioned.
The realization set in quickly that you were no longer in the crystal… purely because of the pain you felt in your side from hitting the ground. It was slightly painful to breathe as the water from the melted crystal somehow managed to get into your mouth and after not having moved or eaten for four years, you were already incredibly exhausted.
❗️❗️
The room was fairly dimmed as there were no windows and only a few candles lit up the area. This allowed your eyes to adjust much quicker than compared to a pitch black or overly bright room.
“…y/n?”
The sound of your name was so faint that you would have just brushed it off as you just hearing things and due to the ringing in your ears but all the memories rushed back to you. The entire reason you were in your situation was because of… Annie. As you turned your head to the side you were met with the icy blue eyes you so desperately missed.
“Annie.” Her expression was similar to yours, eyes widened and as you two laid on the ground, your chests rising up and down. Although your body was screaming… shouting at you to not get up, you were so tired… you couldn’t help but sit up and reach towards the blonde.
❗️After all these years…
It was kind of gross. You and Annie were covered, head to toe in the crystal's unknown liquid but it also didn’t matter to you as you were quick to launch yourself on her. Annie’s lips were still as soft as you had remembered and not even the strange substance was going to stop you from touching Annie.
The first person you saw in four years was Annie…you could see that she was a bit surprised that you were so willing to kiss her and in all honesty you had gotten over a lot of what she had done. As shitty as it made you feel, you also had four years all by yourself to learn to forgive. It wasn’t like you could seek revenge either way.
The sound of the soldiers footsteps were heard just outside of your door causing the two of you to freeze. Not only were you wearing the outdated uniform but everyone already knew how Annie looked. No matter what, the two of you wouldn’t just be able to walk out of HQ. Not to mention the fact there was possibly a fight going on outside and what you assumed to be the start of the rumbling. The boisterous sounds of titans walking really sealed the deal for you.
“What do we do now..?” You questioned, looking around the empty room in hopes of finding anything that could help.
“Well I am going to leave.” Annie said with an emphasis on herself.
“Right, let me just walk away now from the girl I just tossed four years of my life for just because she’s too stubborn to accept I’m sticking by her side.” You rolled your eyes, got up and walked towards the door. Your legs were still adjusting to being able to move again and you were surprised that the muscle you previously had was retained. As you leaned against the door, you deduced that the soldiers were all gone and this was your chance to leave without being apprehended again.
“That’s not what I meant, Y/n.”
“Alright, miss grumpy pants, let’s not argue right now. I’m happy that I’m back with you but now I might technically be considered a fugitive because of my choices. We need to get out of here.”
“We need to split up temporarily, if they haven’t changed the building too much then you would know more about this place than I would.”
“You’re right but I don’t think we should stray too far from each other. Keep in mind it doesn’t look like our bodies have progressed much…” you said looking up and down at Annie’s small form then down at your own, “physically were most likely out matched… be quiet and stealthy.”
Annie walked towards you, and already began opening the door. You were quick to stop her, something inside of you hurting at how nonchalant Annie was about being free at last and especially towards seeing you again.
“Annie-“
The blonde was quick to sigh and meet your eyes, “I love you… so please don’t misunderstand. I just want us to escape before we waste time.”
You felt a sense of relief when Annie said she loved you because you had definitely begin to doubt but you also understood that Annie in general was never very good at displaying her affection. All you did in return was nod.
“I… love you too. We'll split off here. There’s a chance you could find someone from the 104th and they won’t immediately capture us.”
“Be safe. I'm not sure if I have enough strength to transform but if I can then find me and I’ll make sure we can escape.” The two of you now standing outside of the room you were kept in for four years, stared into each other’s eyes last time before you departed. This time Annie was the one who initiated the kiss, a short but passionate one that you left you both wanting for more. “Don’t be an idiot, Y/n.”
“Just this once… I won’t.” you smiled, watching the blonde walk off to find your best escape route.
❗️Just for you. I’ll leave everything behind.