Well, Annie thought, that was a hell of a long con. She twisted in the air, her training kicking in, and on instinct she hooked to the wall. It held, and she rapidly slowed as she saved herself. She swung into the wall, not very hard as she ignited her gas canisters and threw them the other way, so she just lightly bounced off and then slowly returned to being against the wall. She was now floating, caught in the air against a wall, and what appeared to be a very dangerous titan.

She took in as many of the details as she could, but in her current state, being both tired and injured, she was sure she was seeing something wrong. Perhaps, she thought, it's the angle from which I'm seeing it. What else could explain these...deformities? There was no other word she could think of to explain it. The Titan she was looking at was pockmarked all over it's body. There were tiny little holes across everything she could see but the face. The chest of it was practically made of a very thin layer of skin, stretched out like a tiny web, as there were so many tiny holes. The same thing went for both legs, although those faired much better than the rest of the body. The face was untouched, but yet the hands were, to put it simply, gone. Where the hands should've have been were just stumps, but even as she watched new hands were growing in. Fast. Very fast. Faster than she had ever seen a titan heal before. And all the pockmarks on its body were also healing. There was something...odd about it. She had seen many a leg or arm regrown, but this was just different. It was, almost, wrong. First of all, what punctured all these tiny holes into the Titan, and second of all, why?

And it was tall. Really tall. Well, not as tall as the Colossal, but taller than most of the other Shifters. It was maybe 19 or 20 meters. It was sure to attract quite a lot of attention, from both titans and Humanity. It was somewhat well bodied in regard to its size, and it was clear that the legs were packed with muscle. Which, considering the titan weight-strength ratio, meant it probably had some kicks that would hurt. It was certainly an interesting design, and it seemed its combat style was well defined with how much was built into the legs, but the pockmarks made it feel like there was some aspect that she was missing.

But she'd have to figure that last part out later. At the moment, she had no time to think, that was she knew all she needed to know. She could analyze later. Right now she had to determine the aggression of the Titan, and see if it- No, she thought, if HE will attack me. If he had spent all this time playing the long con already, it's likely he will at least try to make it look like he's attacking me, to make me doubt whether or not he's aware of it. Or maybe he's tired of this game. Perhaps he'll just kill me. She looked towards her ring, her thoughts turning to the possibility. If that's the case, then my only choice is to run. If I do it now, then I might have the surprise factor on my hand. He may not be expecting the immediate transformation. Regardless, at some point I will be forced to do it-

Her thoughts were cut off as she heard a low, almost rumbling sound come from the beast. Her focus was bought towards the Titan again, and the first thing to notice is that it was whole now. All the marks had been covered over, and the hands had regrown. Well, actually, on closer inspection all the pockmarks had not been healed. On the hands, within the palms, there were many. A bunch of tiny marks engraving the hand of the creature, and although little trickles of steam poured out, it was clear that those marks were not being covered over.

It was also clear the beast was not looking at her. Instead it was turning around, its steps pounding into the ground with ferociousness strength. The thick brown hair which adorned its head whipping around with rapid speed. It's jaw hardened, and it was clear that it was entering a battle stance. Annie could just barely make out the shapes of a few titans behind it.

So, she sighed, He's distracted. This is my moment to leave, I suppose. She began to manipulate her gear, but found it was caught. The fall and desperate attempt to catch herself had jammed the left hook, and it wasn't returning anytime soon. She signed, So I can cut it and try to move with one side, which is most likely suicide anyway, or I can transform and just run.

She picked at her ring, prepping it, but at the last moment something crossed her mind. If he wanted to kill me, he had his chance. It wouldn't have been very hard to execute me while I floated here. Perhaps, she bit her lip and took a look at the Titan, Perhaps he's...protecting me. No, impossible. I'm a threat and we both know it. Whatever reason he's here, he would've killed me once he had the chance. I'm a liability to his mission, an obstacle, and so why keep me around?

Unless...unless he doesn't know. What if he can't identity Titan Shifters? What if he can't feel it? Then he's letting me live, assuming I'm just a normal human, and that when he saves me and gets me out of here, I'll spread the tale of this mysterious Titan that helps humans, and when he needs to use his form during his mission, they will be more reluctant to attack him. It's a dangerous plan, but there's just something so powerful about his form. The beast had already ripped through four titans, one by tearing the head right off, one by punching a hole through the neck, and the other two by picking them up and smashing them together. He's powerful. Powerful enough that he thinks he can handle himself with these Titans around and make it out fine. If that's the case, having a good reputation could prove more useful than killing a random human.

Or maybe...maybe just maybe, he sort of likes m-no. No one would let affection get in the way of their mission.

More titans were starting to drift out of the alleyways towards the beast which was smashing through their lines. The more Annie looked at it, there was something sloppy about his fighting methods. They weren't as precise as she had seen him use back in the bouts. It felt more animal than human, as she watched. It must be the wounds. He's tired, not fully in the mindset. Allowing the more primitive instincts to carry him. If that's so, he's playing a risky gambit.

Yet even so, there was a grace to the movements. An almost pretty style of fighting which echoed the kinds of imagery invoked by heavenly defenders, angelic protectors. It was beautiful. The way the Titan moved and seemingly danced across the battlefield, delivering precise blows and heavy punches. It reminded Annie of herself, except she'd never considered battle to be pretty before. Especially not her own fighting.

A group of three titans approached, all above 10 meter class. Behind them, were another two over 10 meter class and an assortment of smaller titans. It was a dangerous procession, as being surrounded was a problem for any Titan Shifter. It wasn't impossible to fight out of, but it could mean trouble under the right circumstances. Annie knew this well. And she was curious as to how the situation would be handled. The group was soon on top of the Titan, and while it reached out and took one of the big ones down, the others were in close, and there was little room to run to.

The large group descended upon the Titan, dragging it down even as it fought and pushed against. It pushed out against the group, even as they collapsed onto it. Annie had never seen a Titan Shifter die like this before. She knew it happened. But it was gruesome, disgusting, horrible. It was sort of saddening. Like a great tragedy was being committed. She hadn't expected this. This wasn't right at all. Angel was supposed to fight his way out, not die. She messed with her ring, and the thought, alongside the want, crossed her mind.

But she was interrupted by the loud cry which emerged from underneath the pile of titans as what looked to be an explosion erupted from the center, steam rushing out with rapid speed and the entire mass of titans instantly and suddenly evaporated, completely and utterly wiped.

Annie was stunned. That's...some power. Whatever that was. And she watched intently as the Titan, once again covered with pockmarks, collapse to the ground. It's knees buckled underneath itself, and the chest pounded against the ground, its arms completely gone.

Interesting. A desperation tactic? Of what kind though. And how? What was that explosion? I've never even heard of an exploding titan before. Well, looks like it isn't very long for this world anyway. She gazed at the defeated figure, which was starting to disintegrate. In the distance, there were titans that looked to be wandering over. Most of the ones around, however, looked to be dead.

It's time to leave now. I've had my fun, I've seen what I needed to, and that's enough. Not like most of it will matter anymore. Angel will die here, and that threat is eliminated. But yet... there's just...something. Annie felt inexplicably drawn to him. It must have been his manner, his charm, but there was a guilt which settled in her chest at the thought of leaving him. It just didn't...it didn't feel right.

It really did look like he was...but why? Why would he...protect me?

She cut her left hook, after shooting the right one into the a building near the ground. She swung down, landing onto the ground a couple feet away from the dissolving mass. She could just make out the Human which was inside it. She carefully walked towards it. At the very least, she needed his gear. She would need that.

That's all I need to recover. Remember that.

Between the many pockmarks which had covered it, and the rapid rate it had dissolved at, by the time she got there it was gone. She could clearly see his figure now, lying broken on the ground. She knelt down next to him, pulling out her knife, and pulled the gear off him. Quickly, with precision and ease, she adorned the new set, cutting her own off. She had the means to go now. Yet she paused, and took a look down at the boy.

What is this feeling? I feel like I'm committing some crime right now. It's just...why do I feel so guilty? Why do I feel like I'm the person who is being the evil person now? He's the one who kept his secret hidden, for whatever intents and purposes. He's the one who got me into this situation, but at the same time...he also got me out.

"Damn it Angel." She said softly under her breath.

And he coughed.

Just once, then twice. Then he groaned. One, long groan which felt like he was trying to say how tired he was.

Annie sighed, her face showing no emotion still, and yet she knelt down once more and shook him.

His eyes opened, albeit slowly and weak.

"Is it over?" He said, softly and weak.

"What?" Annie said, truly surprised he was admitting his powers to her. There was no coverup, no attempt at misdirection.

"I...I was having a bad...a bad dream." Nevermind there it was.

"It's not important. What's important is that I'm getting you out of here."

"Where...where are we?"

"...Somewhere dangerous. I'm injured. We'll talk later. Right now I need to...we need to move." Annie looked at his face. It was so calm. Maybe he'd already accepted death. Maybe he thought he was dead already.

"Oh. Alright..." He smiled, and shook his head, and took a deep breath, before he moaned and his eyes closed and he seemed to be out again.

Annie held him, in her arms, and briefly wondered what she was doing here. Sticking her life out for this person. He'd only jeopardize the mission. He'd only prove to be a problem later on. And yet...I don't care.

And then she was off, with an Angel over her shoulder.

Her own Guardian Angel.