Author's note: So, I'd wanted to get this posted last weekend, but between Valentine's Day and the cold, it didn't happen as y'all can tell. I can't give an estimate as to how often this will be updated, since it is dependent on how classes are going and how inspired I am. I feel like this chapter could have turned out a bit better, but I'm still fairly happy with it. Thanks of all of reviews, favorites, and follows and I hope y'all enjoy!
"Absolutely not," Mikasa said sharply.
"Eren has a point. She knows more about shifting than any of us do," Armin argued calmly.
"Do you hear yourself talking right now? She can't be trusted," Mikasa said steadfastly.
"Mikasa is right. How many people are dead because of her? Marco, Levi's squad, hell, a good chunk of the scouts," Jean said in agreement.
"We don't know that she killed your friend," Erwin pointed out calmly.
"She had his gear! How the hell do you think she got it?!" Jean demanded.
"We don't know for sure," Armin said calmly, agreeing with Erwin.
"Even if she didn't kill Marco, she's still responsible for the deaths of countless humans," Mikasa argued.
"So are we," Eren interjected quietly, deep in thought. Jean glared at him.
"Are you really comparing that monster to us?" Mikasa asked, disgusted.
"How many people have we killed in the past few months?" Eren asked bluntly, causing a brief silence to fill the room.
"We were overthrowing a corrupt government so that we can save humanity!" Jean argued, finding his voice first.
"We were doing what we thought was right," Armin said, his eyes meeting Eren's in understanding. "I think what Eren's trying to say is that we don't know what her motives were. But that doesn't mean that I think we can trust her. She's too dedicated to whatever her cause is," he finished, and Eren felt a stirring of disappointment.
"You three have been pretty quiet. What do you think?" Jean asked, struggling to contain his anger as he addressed Erwin, Levi, and Hanji.
"I'd like to take the time to dissect-my, that's a scary look, Eren," Hanji said with a small chuckle. "It would be valuable to run some experiments with her as we have done with Eren in the past, but we would need her cooperation to do so," Hanji said, her tone turning less playful and more serious.
"And I believe that the Female Titan could prove to be a powerful ally to us, even without knowing why she did what she has," Erwin began, and Eren felt a glimmer of hope. "However, many of you were trainees with her and knew her personally. Do you believe she can be trusted?" he asked, and Eren's heart sank.
"No," Mikasa answered immediately.
"What Mikasa said," Jean said.
"And the rest of you?" Erwin asked, taking a look around the room, only to be met with silence. "Eren?" he asked.
"I…I don't know. But I think we have to. Annie can help us," Eren said, struggling with what his brain and what his heart believed he should do.
"Or she can be the death of us all," Levi said, speaking up for the first time.
"All of this is dependent on her agreeing to help us, and I don't see her doing that. She's come too far to change sides now," Armin pointed out.
"Do you think you can persuade her?" Erwin calmly asked Eren, who mulled it over for a moment.
"I don't know," he admitted growing frustrated with himself.
"I don't even know why we're considering this," Mikasa said, making her opposition known.
"Because she might be able to help us," Eren spoke up.
"She's dangerous. An enemy of humanity," Mikasa said coldly.
"This is going nowhere," Levi said, voicing his annoyance.
"Enough," Erwin said as he stood, silencing any discussion around him. "We will settle this later. In the meantime, go about your business as usual. All of you have permission to visit your fellow trainee should you wish to talk to her yourself," he said, concluding the meeting without another word.
Annie sighed as she counted the bricks on the ceiling of her cell for the fourth time that morning. Loathe as she was to admit it, her mind kept going back to her conversation with Eren the night before. She could hear the door to the prison swing open, which she assumed meant it was time for the changing of the guard. "Hello," a polite voice said, causing Annie to sit up. "I don't believe we've been properly introduced. I am Commander Erwin of the Survey Corps," Erwin said.
"You already know who I am," Annie said dully, lying back down.
"Do I?" Erwin asked, causing Annie to frown.
"Get to the point," Annie said flatly.
"To some people here you were Annie Leonhardt, a member of the 104th Trainees Sqaud. To others you were a member of the Military Police but to most of us you are the Female Titan, responsible for the deaths of many of our friends and comrades," Erwin said.
"You think I don't know that?" Annie asked quietly, hiding her emotions.
"No, I think you are fully aware of it," Erwin agreed.
"What do you want?" she asked tiredly.
"Your cooperation," he said, catching Annie's attention. "Eren seems to believe that you can help us," Erwin continued.
"Eren is a suicidal maniac," Annie said, inwardly smiling as she remembered their days back as trainees.
"Regardless, I believe he is right," Erwin said. Annie frowned.
"No one would trust me. They'd never forgive me for what I've done," Annie said, closing her eyes while being secretly thankful that she wasn't looking at Erwin.
"Maybe that's true," Erwin admitted, albeit caught a bit off guard by her words though he didn't show it. "And maybe humanity will still only know you as the Female Titan rather than Annie Leonhardt."
"If you're trying to convince me to help you, save it. I'm not interested fighting a losing battle," Annie snapped, more from instinct than anything.
"Then don't fight," Erwin said plainly, confusing Annie. She sat up, trying to better gauge his motives. "Just teach Eren. From what I hear you've done it before and were quite good at it. Besides, everyone would feel much safer if you didn't shift," he finished.
"You're assuming that I'm going to help you," Annie pointed out.
"Aren't you?" Erwin asked, his face unreadable though a hint of a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Annie sat there, stunned and Erwin stood up. "I see you still need some time to think over it. I respect that, but remember: any day the titans could break through the remaining walls. When that happens, humanity will truly have no chance. Until then, the Survey Corps will stop at nothing to protect humanity from the titans," he said.
"You're just like them," Annie said. "Wanting to go against the flow to change things," Annie said, grudgingly letting some admiration slip in. "You're insane, you know that?" Erwin chuckled.
"So I've been told. But I hear that that's a compliment coming from you," he said.
"Is it?" Annie bluffed.
"Considering your feelings for Eren, I would say so," Erwin pointed out, and Annie struggled to conceal the flush of her cheeks. Suddenly she was thankful her cell wasn't very well lit.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Annie lied, though Erwin saw right through her. Instead of beating around the bush, Erwin decided it was time to be direct.
"Are you going to help us or not?"