Annie woke up the next day in her room. The sunrise was beaming through her curtains as she removed her covers to get up for the day. It was a bit too early for the other soldiers to get up but, this was normal for her.

She stood up to see that Mikasa also wakes this time of morning. "Good morning." she said before walking to the bath room with some clothes.

"Good morning." Mikasa replied.

Annie washed up for the day and dressed. After she came out, a brown jacket and green cloak was placed on her bed. Grabbing the clothing, he noticed the Survey Corps emblem.

"A new uniform. They dropped it off for you."

The blonde turned around to the voice. "Oh. Yeah. Thanks, Mikasa."

"No problem." A long silence was between them as Annie put on her jacket and hung the cloak up. "We better get ready for training." Mikasa said while waiting at the door.

Annie nodded before following her out the door and to the training grounds. Not much was really said between the two on the way but, nothing was to be told. Both had a high respect for one another but, not completely. A challenge rivalry was there.

The ground was set up with various obstacles and gadgets around them. Annie walked up to Levi and Hanji as other soldiers were doing their daily routines. Mikasa went to find Eren as soon as she was safe with Levi.

"Good morning, Leonhardt." Heichou said as he acknowledged her presence. "Let's get started."

"Annie!" Hanji immediately grabbed her arm as both of them followed him. "How did you sleep? Anything that should concern me?!" She asked with excitement.

"No.." Annie replied with a slightly annoyed voice. Hanji has been on her hip since she came yesterday. This woman and her titans..

The training went on all morning and lunch started coming around. She had to work on stamina and weights for 4 hours straight. Levi was ruthless to her. Others got breaks while she was going nonstop. While Hanji performed various tests and exercises on her as well.

Annie made her way into the lunch hall and sat down at a table in the far corner of the room with her food. Exhaustion started to hit before she even had a thought about lunch. Finally, after a few minutes, she decided that her body did need it.

"Annie!" A voice called from above.

She looked up from her plate to notice Armin starting to sit across from her. "Armin?"

He smiled and organized his food around before replying, "Sorry I couldn't see you this morning. We had a different schedule but, hopefully we can see more of each other this afternoon."

Annie gave a slight smile as an answer. "I hope so too." She wasn't going to say it out loud but, not having Armin by her side today was different. Since he was always standing up for her lately. Finding his presence, comforting.

Both ate their lunch in peace with Armin occasionally talking about his day. Annie only listened and put a few comments in. It was actually a pleasant lunch. Well, until she remembered the continued afternoon training.

"Don't worry about it."

"What?", Annie said after she looked up to see Armin with a reassuring smile on his face.

Armin could see how she was stressing with the 'over the top' practice sessions and Levi being harsh on her. "Don't worry about. All of us had to go through it. I remember the long days of training for the Survey Corps. They were killer." He chuckled a bit before realization hit him. "Although I consider you lucky since Heichou even let you come out to eat. The rest of us usually had skip lunches everyday."

"Really?" She asked.

"Yes!" Armins head nodded vigorously. "Brutal, I know."

Annie didn't seem that surprised since Levi would do that.

She finished her plate and got up to throw it away when Armin grabbed her arm.

"Annie. Lets meet up for supper if we don't see each other the rest of the day?I understand if you're busy." He asked. The nervous blonde was scared to ask her a simple question?

Annie's features softened a bit to reply, "Sure. I'm not too busy."

Armin let go of her arm. "Alright! See you later then!"

Annie walked threw her plate away and started through the door after he turned around to finish his lunch.

Levi was right outside and stopped her. "We have to go." he commanded. "Erwin is waiting for us."

Annie was slightly confused since they were supposed to be just training more. She could only follow as he started off towards their headquarters.

"Leonhardt." Erwin called out as they walked into the building. "Good to finally see you again."

Annie nodded firmly as a reply and sat at the table of the meeting room. Every leading commanding officer was there. At the end of the long table was even Mikasa and Eren.

"I'm pretty sure you're slightly confused on why your here." Erwin stated. "Well, we've called an emergency mission tomorrow. A certain group of titans have started weakening a spot in our wall. Our cannons have only done little, compared to the groups size, they can't take them down."

"Sorry I'm late!" Armin was running to his spot and gasped for air as he sat in the empty spot next to Mikasa.

Erwin glanced at Armin before continuing. "So we need Yeager and Leohardt to destroy as much Titans that are in the way as possible. This will be a beneficial act for the Survey Corps. Do both of you agree to this?"

"Yes!" Eren yelled from down the table.

Sheesh. This kid is always being loud. "I agree." Annie responded.

"Great. Tomorrow we are sending some ground teams to cover both of you so the titans won't all attack you at once." Erwin went through his papers to explain more of the plan.

This mission consisted of making sure Annie and Eren do their job correctly and covering them. Hours have passed on by and dinner was being called.

"On the last note, before we all get ready for tomorrow. Any questions?"

Only one hand was raised.

"Yes. Arlert."

He quickly put his hand down due to the sound of annoyance in his voice. "Yes. So, since everyone going to clearing paths for the two, who is going to actually be with them all the way?"

Erwin only looked at both Eren and Annie. "Ackerman will be next to Yeager the whole mission and you, Arlert, shall assist the Female Titan. Since you asked. Meeting is over. Be ready tomorrow." Everyone headed off to the lunch hall and the main four soldier behind.

"But, I'm not capable of-" Armin shut up after he realized they all left.

Eren stood up with Mikasa. "Better go eat Armin. We have to follow Erwin's orders. Even if you don't agree with them." Both also started walking towards the hall.

"Hey." Annie walked down the table next to him.

"Annie..." he said with a solemn face. "I don't think I can be capable of protecting you and being by your side. I'm the weakest one out there really.."

Annie's face was blank but on the inside she was in disbelief at how much faith he doesn't have in himself. He can stand up to those judges and defend her, one of the biggest threats to humanity, and risk the chance of being executed too. But, can't do a simple task of making sure that Annie can do her job right.

"You're wrong." Annie said.

"W-what?"

She sighed before replying, "I said that you're wrong. You may not believe in yourself, but I do."

Armin smiled at her somewhat confession. It was special to even hear her say things like that. "Thanks. I promise to be by your side. Even if it costs me my life."

Annie grabbed his hand and pulled him out of his chair. "We said we were going to eat supper together." she said when he looked at her with confusion.

"Oh yeah. Right!"

...

The next day was hell. Every soldier around them were setting up bases and cannons around the wall entrance as they tried to get everything set up for the mission. Around the afternoon was when Erwin decided it was time.

"Are all of you ready?" He asked after he finished giving the ground soldiers a pep talk. "There is no turning back. Humanity is relying on you two."

"Yes." "TITANS!" They replied.

Annie looked at Eren with wide eyes. Surprised that this kid is even still alive. Does he even have a strategy of controlling his Titan half? Males..

"Let's go!" Levi ordered as he was the leader of the Titan Group. "We told the cannons to watch out for both of you. Remember, get them away from the wall."

"Right."

Mikasa and Eren started on the right side with Levi. Annie, Armin and Hanji were on the left. Both leader took off ahead as both of the large titans appeared before them.

"You set?" Armin asked as they got to a clearing for her.

"Yeah." Annie replied as she shrugged off her jacket and threw it to Armin. "Keep it for me?"

"Of course." he said and put the jacket in his backpack. "Wait."

Annie was about to bite her hand until he called to her. "What is it?" she asked.

The blonde walked up to her and pulled the blue crystal of her necklace to the front of her neck. Armin stared into her eyes and said, "I'm next to you the whole way." He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before using his MG gear to get out of the way.

Armin forgot that Annie was a Titan at first but, not until she transformed in front of him. She started off to the group of titans until she stopped to notice Eren running in the other direction. Away from the wall.

She looked at Armin and seen that he noticed too. "Annie! We have stop him!"

The blonde Titan started towards Eren and as they got closer, Mikasa and Levi were trying to get his attention.

Annie tackled him to the ground and pinned his arms down. Mikasa landed on her shoulder next to Armin.

"Eren! Snap out of it. Don't compromise the mission!" Mikasa yelled.

He struggled from Annie's grasp. But, she wasn't going to let him out that easily. This angered him more and didn't listen to the orders of his friends.

Annie could only think of one thing and she raised one arm. She punched him across the face. The damage wasn't bad but enough to knock some sense into him.

Eren calmed down and Annie got off to let him go.

"Let's go Annie." Armin said from her shoulder. "We've wasted enough time! Head out Eren!"

His focus on the mission came back. Eren started running to the wall and at the left side of the group.

On top of the main wall. "Captain Erwin. Can Leonhardt do that?" A soldier asked after they saw Annie attack Eren. "She's still under probation."

Erwin chuckled a bit before replying, "Of course she can. Leonhardt has the most control over her form, unlike Yeager who hasn't had much experience. She is the Female Titan after all."