Ay, welcome back lads and ladies, this is Chapter 10. There's probably only going to be one more, if not, no more chapters at the training grounds so this could possibly be the last one then I'm going to move it into Trost. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 10: Jumbled Processing

Annie rested her head against the shower wall, letting the water stream down her back. It was clear to her that Mikasa would always share a stronger bond with Eren than her. The way she cared for him, her willingness to do anything for him and her goddamn good looks, was she kidding herself by having a fondness of Eren? This must be what jealously feels like, come on, focus, you don't need him. It was just so frustrating, she wanted to push Eren out of her mind, away from her but she just couldn't. She drove her fist into the wooden wall, splinting it as well as breaking the skin on her knuckles. Steam rose as her skin began knitting itself together and she gritted her teeth. I'm just a monster anyway, an enemy of humanity.

You got that right. A female voice sounded.

I don't need you right now.

You never do, come on Annie, let's have a little chat, the voice taunted.

Nope.

You know you're probably misunderstanding the boy's connection with the other girl, although, I must admit, it's very entertaining to watch the great Annie Leonhart tear herself apart over a boy.

Why are you even here?

I never leave Annie, I'm a part of you.

Aren't you just a mere side effect of the guilt, trauma and pain we were exposed to?

No, I'm much more than that, I've been here since the very beginning.

The beginning of what?

Since you took on the role of the Female titan, before you was a woman not nearly as cold as you, quite a warm person in fact. I nearly liked them. Your…

Stop, stop talking.

Your mother.Tears leaked from Annie's eyes.

If you want to go back even further, I was a part of Ymir, the first titan, when she died her soul split into the 9 titan shifters. I am one of them. We are not simply a power for you to access. We are a separate entity with the ability to grant you that unique ability. Unfortunately, you mortals are not a complete vessel for us and by certain laws, we're forced to allow you to use us should certain conditions be met.

So, you're the conscious of the Female Titan?

Not so much a conscious, more of a being that exists within your mind. You're partially correct, it's hard to explain.

Why are you telling me this? It almost felt as if the Female titan shrugged.

I'm bored, being trapped inside a mortals mind gets quite boring, not much excitement.

"Hey Annie? You nearly done in there?" Mina called out.

Looks like it's my time to leave, we'll talk later Annie.

Yaaay…

I heard that, sarcasm won't get you anywhere.

Alright, alright. Annie silently turned the water off and dried herself off before putting on a singlet, a hoodie and some sweatpants before exiting the washroom as Mina hurried in for her turn. Annie didn't bother with her hair, she would tie it up later, at the moment no one was in the girl's dorm. Probably at the mess hall. She crashed on her bunk and closed her eyes.

Hey Annie.

For fucks sake, not you again, it hasn't even been longer than 10 minutes. Annie was suddenly plunged into darkness, she opened her eyes to see, nothing. There was nothing to see or feel, except the squishy, dark reddish ground. She frowned where am I.

So, Annie. Annie looked towards the origin of the voice to see two glowing red eyes about 14 metres high, a shadowy figure was standing, concealed by darkness. The voice of the female titan snapped her back to reality.

Wondering why I'm speaking to you again so early?

Because you're bored?

Exactly.

Alright, so were you going to tell me anything.

I'm just going to offer some advice, be grateful that I'm the kindest and most lenient of the 9 titans.

Uhhh, thank you?

Good start, things will be better for you if we get along. Unfortunately, human shifters tend to be very obnoxious and unlikeable, with the exception of your mother.

Can we leave Mum out of this conversation?

Very well.

So, what makes you the most lenient out of the titan shifters?

I'm probably the friendliest, I lend more of my power to the mortal chosen to be a shifter. I don't seek to completely gain control of the human's mind unlike some of the others such as the Attack, Armoured and Colossal titan. Normally I wouldn't be able to talk to you but something about that new serum made our presence stronger as your life expectancy lengthened. Which doesn't bother me, I was more than happy to just watch but some like the Colossal and Attack titan especially will use it to be a bit more, tormenting I'd say.

Do you have a name? Or are you just referred to as Female titan?

A name? I've never had a name but I rather like the name 'Liza'.

Then I'll refer to you as Liza. It almost felt as if Liza was smiling.

Now, about your current problem.

What problem?

The one involving the boy.

Oh, Eren?

Is that his name. The one with the dark brown, messy hair. Emerald green eyes?

Yeah that's the one.

Interesting… Last name?

Yeager.

Ahhh not the one I was thinking of. Annie looked questioningly at the shadowy figure.

Eren Kruger was the name of an individual that previously possessed the Attack titan, however, I don't know where that power has gone or the individual that possesses it. Oh, I completely forgot, I should use a more negotiable form. Liza shrunk until she was a couple inches taller and emerged from the shadows. She was a blonde woman with grey eyes and short hair that was swept to the side to stick up in a messy, wavy mess, not much shorter than Annie's. She was wearing a white tunic and long dark pants that clung to her legs with the addition of boots that reached halfway up her calves. She had her hands stuffed into her pockets.

We should be able to talk easier now. Liza's voice wasn't as loud or echoing and was slightly higher pitched.

My advice with Eren is to get his side about what his relationship with the dark-haired girl is really like. I'm aware of your mission but considering what you've been through, you need a bit of happiness in your life. Maybe if you're alone with him, bring your cold cover down a bit and let him see that you care about him for a moment. Reckon you can do that? Annie nodded. Liza smiled.

Then I should probably send you back so you can get on with life as much as I would like to stay and chat. Liza smiled and backed into the darkness before returning to her 15m red-eyed form.

Until next time Annie.

Annie awoke in her bed as Mina was coming out of the washroom.

"Hey Annie, wanna come to the mess hall and get something to eat?"

"Yeah, in a sec."

"Alright, see you there." Annie gave a slight incline of the head. Liza's not so bad. I always thought she was just a voice meant to torment me but as it turns out, she's not a bad person, or being, to talk to even if it gives me a throbbing headache.

Annie slowly got up and rubbed her eyes before putting on some boots and tying her hair up into a messy bun. Let's see if Liza's advice helps.

Back at the Mess hall

The mess hall was pretty much packed now, every cadet was seated and chatting amongst themselves. Eren, Armin, Bert, Reiner and Connie were laughing at each-others shitty jokes while Historia and Ymir shook their heads. Mikasa was on Eren's other side with Sasha trying to scavenge everyone's leftovers. Just a typical day for the recruits except for one table that was completely empty due to the amount of people that felt too under pressure and quit the program. Annie walked in with her normal, blank face and took a seat on her own in the corner near the corner of the isolated table. She rested her elbow on the table and stuck her had on her palm, looking intensely bored. She looked around the room, spying Eren and Reiner laughing along with many others. For a split second she felt the slightest bit down when he failed to acknowledge her presence. Hmph, like I care, what did I even expect? A warm welcome, how foolish of me.

Eren noticed when Annie walked into the room. How she sat all on her own at the table in the corner looking extremely blank, the only feelings he could detect were boredom and… sadness? He got up and began to walk towards her table when he bumped into a certain asshole.
Annie was brushing over how shit life was, why her father had allowed her to be taken, why fucking boys had to exist. I wouldn't be in this mess if it weren't for them because I wouldn't even be in this shitty world if not for them. Damn it all. She returned to the real world to the sound of cussing. Jean had grabbed Eren by the shirt, demanding why he treated Mikasa so poorly while Eren forced his hand off. Jean went to shove Eren again but what Eren did next was a surprise. He used the technique that Annie used on him when they first met. Jean was now on the floor looking up in shook while Eren turned and winked at Annie. Her eyes were still wide but she managed to nod her head. So, he did pay attention to what I was doing. He walked over and sat down across from her.
"So what did ya think?" he asked, looking smug and she rolled her eyes.
"It was sloppy, you need to work on it," he frowned. "But I'm impressed you successfully pulled it off," and BAM! The smugness returned. "Well it's all thanks to you that I even learnt that move."
"I guess so. You still hell bent on joining the scouts?"
"Yep."
"Why? You're just going to waste your life like that. You'd be wasted joining them."
"I could say the same."
"How so?"
"An incredibly skilled individual like you joining the MP's? Your talent would just be wasted with swine like them."
"I aim for survival Yeager," but she appreciated his compliment all the same.
"Well my aim is to contribute towards a cause for the survival of others. So, the world can be a better place."
"Then you're a bigger idiot than I thought." She had to admit, his sense of duty was surprising, even if it meant he was basically committing suicide. He just smiled.
"Not the first time I've heard something like that but my goals aren't changing. As long as I live, I won't let humanity fall to the titans." Godammit Eren, if you join me in the Military Police then I can at least protect you, protect you from others. Unfortunately, I can't protect you from yourself.
"You realise that you will die?"
"Not necessarily, do I look like I could ever die?"
"Don't get ahead of yourself, with that attitude, you'll be among the first."
"You're not worried, are you?"
"You're a semi-decent human being."
"I'll take that as a compliment, should I be honoured?"
"Honoured that I would hesitate to knock you out? Yes, you very well should be."
"That really means more than you think." She frowned.
"It does?"
"Yeah, it beats getting stung by the ice you spread on everyone. Especially Reiner."
"Because he's a dick."
"He's not that bad."
"Yeah because you boys are all 'BRO's over HOES' or some shit."
"Can't break bro-code Annie." She huffed.
"Spare me," she muttered.
"Annie, is everything ok?" She threw him an icy glare.
"I'm fine."
"Like I'd believe that, come on, spill." She narrowed her eyes.
"Alright, you wanna know what's wrong," she raised her voice. "I'm speaking to a boy who's not a massive pain the ass to me. A boy who admires and respects me and isn't a completely shit human being to me. Now he's the only one like that and that boy is willing to throw his life away in order to be a hero because he's a righteous piece of shit!" His eyed widened for a few seconds and he looked down at the ground.
"Yeah, I guess I deserve that. I'm sorry Annie but my decision still stands. Sorry to do that to you."
"Then I'm done here," and with that she got up and left the mess hall, leaving him to sit there and stare at the seat the girl of his dreams once was. He looked down at the table and clenched his fist, I swear on my life to make this world a safer place for her. I'm going to eradicate every single threat to her life so she can live in peace. It wasn't peace that Annie longed for in her life, it was happiness. If only Eren could realise that.

Hey everyone, hope that wasn't too boring for ya, lemme know what you think about the titan powers being a separate being that lives inside the bodies of the human shifters. Don't worry, there aren't miniature people living inside them, it really is more of a mind kind of thing. They're there but not physically if you understand that. PM me or leave a review if anything's too confusing such as dialog structuring or the story in general and I'll gladly clear it up for you. This one took a bit longer to write, bit more thinking involved and I began to improvise, I didn't have the whole 'Liza, titan powers have a conscious, etc' that was kind of an idea I had on the spot and decided to go along with so it should get less confusing as I continue with the story. Thaank you all for reading and have a good day/night. See ya next chapter.