It had been so long since Annie Leonhart stepped foot into reality. She had been encased in her crystal for what seemed like an eternity - the endless nothingness of peace, at long last, with her wish of being reunited in with her father playing in a loop in her head. Essentially, Annie had imprisoned herself in her own fantasy. She had created her own paradise, free from invasion till the day of her passing.

Except, that maniac had to reawaken her.

Annie.

Within the recesses of her self-manufactured illusion, she heard his voice calling to her, over and over again, maddening in its growing strain.

Annie, Annie.

What do you want? she'd demand, What could be so important that you dare interrupt my dreams?

Wake up, Annie.

Leave me alone.

Annie awoke not out of righteousness, but because she wanted to shut him up once and for all.

When she'd come to, she was on her knees, surrounded by shards of her broken, crystalline prison. Once she came to, she noted that escape was impossible for she was surrounded. Not by allies, but by the very same people who could still be her prey. Standing at the front and centre of the Survey Corps was Eren Yeager: older, his face boasting angular features, and the indomitable fire she remembered burning brightly in his eyes put out. However, there was a striking maturity about him. Forget the evolution in his height or built, or the fact that his hair was long enough to tie. It was his soulless stare that sent shivers up and down Annie's spine.

What used to be innocent green was now a hundred shades of flickering emerald. Ominously deep, it was as if Annie was looking into a bottomless well of murky water. Unnerving, intimidating, belittling; as though he was taunting her to challenge him just so he could drown her and enjoy it. It ignited a special kind of anger in Annie that she had only truly felt against Mikasa ever since she arrived on Paradis island.

'Good morning.' Eren greeted her. 'We've been waiting.'

Annie said nothing.

'It's in your best interest to follow my command.' he continued. 'If you transform into a Titan, so will I - and we both know how that turned out last time.'

When ordered by Eren to stand up and follow his lead, Annie gave no resistance. The last thing she wanted to do was put herself in a situation that would only secure her imprisonment, or worse, torture. Tough as she might be, she was still human. Pain remained a strong repellant. So she swallowed her pride when her hands were shoved behind her back and then shackled. The chains were weighty - nothing Annie couldn't handle. Actually, she was relieved to finally get some exercise.

As the militia approached ground level, Annie was taken into the clinic within the Survey Corps headquarters. Hange (who Annie was surprised to learn was the new commander) instructed the doctors to take samples of her blood. As the procedure took place, the subject was strapped down to a chair with unfamiliar faces in familiar uniforms watching her. She didn't get recognise anyone, save for Hange.

Just how many people died?

Where are Mikasa and Armin?

Ten vials of blood left Annie's body in under two minutes. You'll feel lightheaded, Hange said. Annie shrugged the warning off. Did she have a choice? Suck it up, buttercup. Nevertheless, true enough, the blonde Eldian struggled to walk after the doctors had wrapped some gauze around her right arm and told her to fuck off. Her escorts - soldiers of the corps - were less than forgiving. They urged her forward, poking at her with the hilts of their blades to push her to walk faster. In the past, Annie wouldn't have thought twice about fighting back.

Currently, Annie was too fatigued to give a damn.

She was shown to her room, which she was told would be locked from the outside. Upon entering, the first thing she noticed was that there were no windows. No reason to complain, though. She had everything she technically needed: her own bathroom with a bath and shower, a large bed, and a vanity. Huh. She never had a vanity before. Hitch spent half the morning seated in front of hers, beating her face to perfection with a brush and some tinted powder. Was that how women were expected to spend the first third of their day?

'Whatever.' Annie muttered to herself. She didn't care for that right now. All she wanted, more than anything, was to take a hot shower.

While the general population within the walled Eldian empire showered once in three days, Annie couldn't go a day without one... Or two: once in the morning, and once in the evening. When the warmth cascaded down her bare body, she sighed in relief. At last, she could feel somewhat clean again. After all the dirt, grime, and darkness she had to hold onto, living as an imposter... At the very least, her truth was out in the open now. Whatever punishment would be bestowed upon her, she could take. So long as before she runs out of time, she makes it back home to her father.

Annie got out of the shower and wrapped her body in the only clean article of makeshift clothing she could find: a towel. A fuzzy, white towel that barely went past her hips. Her next step was to tie her hair up. After that, she was lost for a while. Eventually, she sat in front of her vanity, where her reflection startled her. The Marleyan warrior hadn't aged a single day. Dare she say she even appeared more well rested.

What being knocked out for five years could do for you!

What should I do now? she pondered. If I try to escape, I'll probably be eaten. It doesn't seem like they want to interrogate me... Or kill me, or they would have done so already. So, why...?

Just then, Eren barged into her room, interrupting her thoughts.

Annie was shaken, but she refused to let her companion know that. And he really wouldn't have known, had it not been for the terror reflected in her eyes. In his arms, he carried some clothes - for Annie, no doubt. Couldn't he have arrived earlier?

'How are you doing?' he demanded, not asked, as he threw the clothes on her bed. Everything that tumbled out of his mouth always came across as an order. Annie didn't recall him being this way when they were younger. It was as if he had a completely new personality. Perhaps Eren had turned out this way because he had acquired too much power at too young of an age without enough time to learn how to wield it.

'I'm tired.'

'You've been asleep for five years. You don't get to be tired.'

Annie didn't reply. She just observed him, drinking in the evolved image of him. He looked stronger, more powerful. Like the part of the human bone that calcifies into a sharper form, sturdier form after being broken. He was a domineering sight to behold: tall, lean, and muscular in his black pants and coat. He could take her on - not that she would make it easy for him. But she was in no shape to fight him right now.

'What are you looking at?'

Still, Annie said nothing. Not even as he sauntered over to her, sharp features zoned in on her like she was his prey. Then, he was in front of her - unmoving, deathly still. Annie swore she couldn't tell if he was breathing.

Was he going to strangle her here? Eat her? She had enough time to bite her hand and assume her Titan form, as well. And if he was still the Eren she knew, then he wouldn't risk the lives of the people in the complex. He would at least try and take her outside. Maybe he was going to interrogate her? Would he really do so, without any militia to witness her spilling Marley's greatest secrets? Had they not already figured out-

Before her thoughts could race too far, Eren reached out for her.

Annie growled.

'What are you doing, you suicidal bastard?'

Eren was undeterred by her harsh tone. He planted his palm firmly on her bare, right shoulder. The heat of his hand was intimidating. True to the warrior that she was, Annie didn't break a sweat even though she knew more than anyone that her captor could crush her at any moment. Her guard increased when he leaned in, his face dangerously close to the dip of her neck. As she stared at the mirror, what she saw reflected was her own stone-face right next to Eren's. His gaze was surprisingly colder than hers.

If she was being honest, there was no real bite behind the frost of her eyes - only fear.

Annie presumes that Eren can probably sense that.

'Looks good on you.'

'... What?'

'The towel.' he gives her shoulder a friendly squeeze. 'I've never seen you in anything other than your training uniform... Or a hoodie.'

Annie feels the heat rush to her face. What the fuck? What the fuck did he just say to her? She suddenly felt very self-conscious, breaking her stone composure to cross her arms protectively over her chest. It took her a while, but when she finally regained some control over herself, she resorted to humour.

'Do you have any laying around?'

'Any what?'

'Hoodies.'

'Of course not.'

'Shame... I'd prefer to wear one.'

'And hide your body?' Eren's voice dropped an octave. He tilted his head to the side so that his lips were barely an inch from Annie's ear. When he spoke again, his words rang heavy in her ears. 'Now that's the real shame.'

'Stop it. What are you doing?' Annie recoiled, as if burnt. Not that she could move much, considering that Eren's firm grip on her shoulder was enough to keep her in place. When had he gotten so strong? Or was she just weak from all those years of immobility? Either way, she was highly uncomfortable. Her training kicked in. Her left arm, which was closer to Eren anyway, came up to try and grab him in order to throw him, but he caught her wrist in an iron grip. The hand on her shoulder moves to her back, thereafter he yanks her to her feet and against his chest.

Their faces are mere centimetres apart. His hot breath fans her lips, and the scent she inhales is that of Eren's skin: earthy, clean, like a fresh cup of coffee. Annie hates being this close to another person's visage - the claustrophobia makes her sick to her stomach. She supposed, however, that this wasn't a normal situation. Strangely, she didn't feel nauseous. She was scared. At any moment, she could be killed. She may never make it back to her homeland, not even in a bodybag. If Eren was going to gut her, she prayed that he do it soon and get it over with. This was practically a waiting game for her to become the Founding Titan's food.

She shivers.

Eren raises a brow. He can see what she refuses to admit.

She struggles to keep it together.

'Frightened, are you?' Eren taunts.

'So frightened.'

'So very, very frightened.'

Annie bit back a snarl. Usually, her sarcasm was enough to paralyze social interaction that she couldn't otherwise control. Eren had always been a persistent blockhead, but his level of tenacity had reached impenetrable status. In the past, he was an easy target for teasing. The mature demeanour he boasted now made her think about whether he was the one doing most of the teasing these days.

'What do you want from me, Eren?'

'Shhh...' his voice is anything but soothing, but it soothes her nonetheless. 'I won't hurt you. For now, I need you.'

I need you, Annie.

She scoffed. 'For now.'

'That's right.'

'Until the day you devour me.'

Eren smiled. 'Until the day I devour you.'

Thank you for reading the first chapter of this story! I only recently started reading/watching Attack On Titan, and I already miss Annie's presence in the story. I enjoyed reading the relationship between Eren and Annie, and I wonder how they would get along with all the developments that had taken place thus far in the manga. This story is canon-divergent. Please do let me know your thoughts on the premise of this piece so far!