Chapter Ten

Annia had been transferred from the hospital wing on the training base to one in the city only a few days later after questioning had finished, she had a room to herself because the other three beds were empty. She was told she had been put into recovery and was awaiting assessment on her condition.

Annia was not enjoying recovery, she was not the type of person that enjoyed being confined to a bed, as well as not the type of person to enjoy being fawned over. All of the trainees she had helped came in and thanked her and wished her well for her injuries. It was suffering because each visit reminded her of her injury and of her uselessness now. She had no purpose because it was not assessment awaiting her but her discharge from training.

Her thoughts were broken by footsteps down the hall, she twisted to look. It was Lance Corporal Levi with Eren at his heels. She knew why Eren followed the Lance Corporal everywhere; she had heard some talk while at base before everything happened but gossip here surrounded by the soldiers filled in the blanks. She didn't mind Eren, she didn't see anything wrong with his titan shifting abilities he was still human in her eyes. Annia couldn't find the words for it but she knew instinctively that his intentions were good and he meant no harm.

Her thoughts raced as they entered, was she being told she was being discharged from the hospital and military, was something wrong with the questioning, what were they doing here?

"Annia Beauregard I am here to formally present you with your medals for your commendable bravery, fortitude and prudence in the face of such adversity." Levi announced formally but stopped there handing her the box. They developed a mutual understanding between the two of them that he could drop formalities and not speak so much. Neither of them were much for words and were very direct with what was passed between them, they got along well. She didn't even open the box to glance at the medals, they are not what she wanted. She patted at the box, Levi nodded at her in understanding and she nodded back.

He turned to leave, "Lance Corporal!" she called out and he paused, "I am going to make a selfish demand but please here me out!" Eren and Levi turned to look at her, "If I have to surrender these medals then I will. But I beg of you please allow me to stay in the military! I swear I will not be a burden, I will prove myself useful!" she pleaded holding the box of medals out with her hand as if to return them.

"I swore on my first day of training that I would sacrifice my blood, flesh and life for humanity. My life is the military please do not take that away from me!" she continued. Levi stared at the young trainee in understanding and even slight admiration of her spirit.

To his surprise he had developed deep respect for the young trainee; she was supposed to be the next prodigy before the incident at the training camp, he had heard talk that she would have filled his shoes after he died. During questioning he had learned a lot about her and through her instructors, her skills were impressive but she would purposely fail assessment for the sake of her comrades, and in the face of adversity sacrificed herself.

"I will do my best to see to that." He promised, she released a sigh of gratitude and her face broke into a radiant smile something rare for Annia.

"Thank you." She breathed out and the two soldiers then turned and went down the hall.

She finally opened the medal box to glance down at the small little trinkets that really had no value in her eyes but were one of the only possessions she truly owned. There were two laid delicately on the green fabric of the inside of the box. She stroked her finger over the one and the closed the box allowing it to rest on the bedside table.

Two days later Jean appeared in Annia's room and to her utter surprise informed her that she would be joining the second years who had now been promoted to third year. If she was able to keep up she would be accepted into the military. Although her face remained unexpressive and she had difficulty projecting it outwards, Annia had been ecstatic and excited and was desperately waiting to be released from the hospital.

Jean left her with the letter of admission that Annia clutched gratefully, he then excused himself from the room, she noted that under his breath he was listing off other duties he had to attend to in the base. Annia's excitement was short lived however, she heard two sets of footsteps heading towards her room from the hall and two voices.

"So she's in this room here?" a deep male voice asked rudely and impatiently.

"Yes, I already told yes." The voice of one of the female nurses who had attended to Annia replied equally impatiently and somewhat annoyed.

"Can I speak to her alone please?" the deep male voice asked still rudely but less impatiently.

There was a sound of frustration from the nurse, "So as long as you don't rile her up, we can't afford to put stress on someone who is recovering." The nurse said in response still annoyed.

At first Annia was convinced that the visitor was not for her, after all who would want to visit her, more importantly what man would want to visit her. However, they both stopped at her door and Annia's breath caught in her throat from fear.

A pair of very familiar green eyes stared at her despite the fact that the face was almost unrecognizable, it was her half-brother Alan. Her heart raced, she felt herself pale and it suddenly became difficult to breathe and swallow as she stared at her half-brother who she hadn't seen for years.

He had a smile plastered on his face, it appeared that he was ecstatic to see his half-sister and concerned for her wellbeing but Annia knew his facial features all too well and unfortunately the nurse didn't know Alan. The nurse had said something to Alan but the blood was rushing too loud and Annia's ears were ringing too loudly for her to hear the exchange.

After the nurse left the room Alan swung the door shut behind him, his face darkened. Weakened and nearly helpless all Annia could do was stare in horror as her half-brother approached her.

"So little sister it's been a few years." He grinned flashing his sharp white teeth at her, his green eyes hardened.

Annia swallowed and tried to regain her composure, "Alan, how are you?" she asked her voice only the slightest bit strained. She bit down on the inside of her cheek in order to keep from screaming or losing her composure.

Armin had accompanied Jean to the Garrison base in the city, Jean had to deliver a letter to Annia the brunette trainee who had fought so valiantly. But they also had a few other errands to run for Lance Corporal Levi and Commander Erwin, he was walking on the third floor of the building past the medical wards in order to pick up the last stack of documents to be taken back with him to the scouting corps.

That's when he heard a raised voice and a loud crack of flesh hitting flesh from one of the medical ward rooms that's door was closed. It was odd to see those doors closed, usually they remained open at all times of the day in case of an emergency. But then there were also the sounds coming from the room as well, he put his hand on the door and hesitated. He then clamped his jaw and swung the door open thinking to himself it can't be any worse than a titan.

There was a boy and a girl in the room, the girl was in the patient bed with the covers having been ripped off of her, her face was twisted to the side and a growing bruise was on her cheek. The boy's fist still hung in the air from striking the girl, his other hand had clamped her wrist preventing a fight.

The girl was staring at the boy with a look of hate and venom, Armin couldn't see the boy's face but he could recognize the girl, it was Annia.

"You're a disgrace to our family did you hear me! You shouldn't even have been born. You're the daughter of a whore!" the boy yelled out unaware that Armin had walked in, "And then you go and join the military like some sort of dog! Do you realise the affect it had on father's-no my father's business. Not only that but now look at you! You lost an arm now what are you huh? A cripple?!" He roared as Annia remained still her face still turned to the side from the blow, she hadn't moved at all. She simply glared back at the boy.

He pulled his fist back to strike again and that's when Armin moved, he threw himself at the other boy who was much larger than him, "Hey you don't have any right to do that!" Armin yelled grabbing onto his arm. The larger boy whipped his head around to stare at Armin who was clamped onto his arm.

"And what right do you have to tell me what I can and cannot do?" The boy demanded of Armin aggressively, "This here is my sister, I can do to her what I please." He growled.

Armin did his best to harden his face, but it was hard because he was so afraid right now. His heart was racing and sweat was beading on his forehead in fear, "Just because she's your sister doesn't mean you get to hit her." Armin called back, the boy threw his arm to the side and Armin was flung off, he landed heavily on the ground knocking his head against one of the beds. Armin lay on the ground sore and rubbing at his head staring at the much larger brown haired boy that approached him.

Armin's eyes widened in fear as the boy pulled back to strike, it was then that Annia leapt from her bed seizing her half-brother's distraction for her own benefit. She stuck out with a hard thrust kick directed straight for his kidney. She jumped off the bed having stunned him grabbed him by the arm and threw him over her shoulder. He hit the hospital floor with a loud crash. He lay on the ground eyes wide and winded for several seconds, his eyes darting everywhere. Armin still sat on the ground only a few feet away from Alan, staring at the felled boy.

Annia stood her ground from where she had thrown Alan slightly winded from the whole ordeal and having been weakened from weeks of recovery, "You said it yourself I'm no longer your sister- you've got no right to hit me." She stated, his green eyes finally found her light brown ones. Her face changed from stoic to deadly and murderous, "And if you ever try to lay a hand on anyone I do consider family- and that's everyone in the survey corps I will kill you. Let this be your one warning." She snarled, Alan paled from his position on the ground.

Suddenly the nurse who had escorted Alan to Annia's room as well as Jean burst into the room, "What is all the commotion!" she yelled and saw the situation, "What happened?" she demanded rushing over to help Alan stand.

Alan opened his mouth to speak but was still in such a state of shock he was rendered incapable of answering. Annia stared at the nurse coolly, the murderous look having left her face replaced by her usual look of stoniness.

It was Armin who found words first, "There was a confrontation going on between Alan and Annia, things got out of hand. I tried to mediate and Annia acted in my defense when things got out of hand." He explained in a rushed manner.

The nurse glanced at Annia who simply nodded in agreement with what Armin said, she then glanced at Alan. He flushed bright red across his neck and cheeks and hung his head low, "Shall I escort Mister Beauregard from the premises?" Jean offered the nurse, "To ensure he does not run into any further complications."

"If you would be so kind." The nurse said in response, Jean nodded and walked forward grabbing Alan by the arm and escorting him out of the room roughly. Alan's fight left him and Annia knew why, if he puts up a fight it will tarnish the Beauregard name. Can't have that now can we?

"Is everything alright?" The nurse asked tentatively sounding almost afraid of Armin and Annia.

"Yes ma'am, no need to worry nothing serious occurred." Annia informed the nurse hiding her bruised cheek. The nurse nodded and left the room.

Annia glanced over at Armin, "Are you okay?" she asked him her brown eyes meeting his big blue ones.

He flushed slightly pink on his cheeks, "Oh-uh no-I'm fine really thank you." He said in a nervous rush.

Annia nodded in response, "I should be thanking you really." She stated and glanced away her cheeks flaring up and eyes glancing to the ground "… so thank you." She finished awkwardly.

"Oh really it was no problem, I mean it's what anyone should've done." Armin responded waving his arms in front of him dismissively. He then glanced at her carefully choosing his words, "What was that all about- if of course you don't mind my asking. I remember you and your brother got along very well as children."

Annia flushed a deeper shade of pink because Armin just said that he remembered her, but still found that she couldn't met his eyes, "People change when they age and Alan was no exception." She started, "His loyalty to his father preceded his loyalty to me. He chose the family business and wealth over blood."

Armin nodded in understanding his face becoming solemn, "You were only his half-sister, that's why wasn't it?" he said gently attempting not to hurt her feeling.

He noted that Anna's jaw tightened somewhat before she spoke, "You can say the word illegitimate child, that name has been spat at me since birth. When Alan was old enough to realize what that met he despised me as much as his family." She stopped for a moment choking on her words, "I was a blotch, a stain on their reputation that they couldn't wipe out- at least not by their selves. When wall Maria fell they saw their chance, I was lost in the chaos. Finally the stain wiped out, only to find out it had returned to them"

"In response they acted colder and harsher to me than they ever had before, Alan's mother forcibly held me at one point and cut my hair. They drove me out with harshness and I fled. I thought it was the last I has seen of them." She finished, she glanced away from Armin out of shame, "I was wrong about that."

Armin stared at Annia sympathetically, what does one say in a situation such as this, "I lost my grandfather during the fall-so I suppose I know how you feel with losing your family and everything." He offered in order to break the long standing silence.

"I heard, is it too late to offer my condolences?" Annia asked attempting her best to sound empathetic but it was difficult to achieve for her still.

Armin nodded his head gratefully, "No not at all thank you." He attempted a shy smile at her, "So I heard you will be able to continue your training, an advanced program to graduate earlier than the rest of the trainees in your new division."

"Yes that would be accurate. I will be attending long enough to finish what would have been equivalent to the time I had missed." She confirmed for him.

"When you graduate where are you planning on joining?" he asked her.

The response was almost immediate, "Survey Corps."

Armin laughed nervously, "You're not saying that because I'm in the Survey Crops are you?" he asked nervously.

"When wall Maria fell, I saw my opportunity to escape the Beauregard family's reign of terror over me. I finally had the power to decide my own fate- and with that power I wanted to ensure others would be able to determine their fate." Annia explained her face softening, "I saw joining the Survey Corps as a way to achieve that." Armin nodded in understanding, he had no words to say in response to this.

Annia tried again to smile, managing to twitch the upper corners of her lips up, "Anyways didn't we promise as children to see what lay outside the walls Armin?" she really did smile then when that happy memory of her childhood resurfaced.

Armin's face lit up with recognition and he smiled and nodded, "I remember that time." His teeth showed bright white and he extended his pinkie out to Annia. Annia flushed bright pink and reached out her pinkie, when their pinkies locked a small uncharacteristic and girlie giggle escaped her lips.

Jean coughed at the door and the two turned to look at him, "Well I suppose I have to be going now Annia. Good luck with training I hope to see you in another few weeks." Armin said and waved his arm at her as he backed away to Jean.

Annia's smile faded away, slowly turning back to her usual expression. She nodded at him and waved her hand in response.

"Goodbye for now Armin." She said quietly, so quietly she wasn't sure if he had heard her as he turned to leave the room.

"Hey Armin did you know that girl?" Jean asked Armin as they walked down the hall, Jean was curious because it was unusual to see Armin getting wound up in conflict.

"Yes, we lived only a few streets apart in Shiganshina. She's a year or two younger than us, I didn't know her all that well but we got along the few times we did meet." Armin recalled.

Jean glanced at Armin and made a momentary face of disgust, "she's not like Eren is she?"

Armin shook his head, well aware that Jean and Eren did not get along, "No not at all. She's very quiet and reserved. Some may find her somewhat standoffish and aloof- her circumstances as a child weren't all that great, so I understand."

Jean nodded, "So do you think she'll make the cut?" he asked Armin, knowing that if anyone would be able to judge accurately it would be Armin.

Armin shook his head, "I don't really know- I've heard a lot of rumours but nothing for certain about her skills. But if Commander Erwin and Levi specifically asked for her to remain she must be capable. We also saw her kill that titan with only one arm, so I think she can make it." Actually I feel as though I should be saying I know she'll make it he mentally added.

Author's Rambling Space

When writing this chapter I was so glad that I reread it five times over before I posted it, because I realised that the entire chapter whenever I spelt Jean's name I wrote Jena. It took me five times of reading to even notice the mistake which resulted in a massive face palm.

Hopefully I caught all the Jena spelling mistakes and replaced them correctly but if you see Jena in the future it's supposed to be Jean... nothing really much else to say so bye!

Disclaimer: I don't own Attack on Titan or any of it's characters