A/N: Hello everyone! Thank you for the reviews and more! They're really what motivates me and helps me get more excited with each and every chapter I put out.

Please enjoy this next chapter as well!

Chapter Three

Lilith watched each of the figures disappear off the hanger of the airship. There one moment and gone the next. Eldian after eldian falling in a uniform manner, an array of different expressions painting their faces.

Fear. Exhilaration. Acceptance.

She looked away, arms crossed over the vest of her uniform in an attempt to ground herself- to numb herself to what was unfolding.

She'd experienced a year of war and it still never got any easier.

Zeke caught her gaze from across the way, eyes covered by goggles compared to his usual glasses. Without them he looked younger, less stiff around the edges. He offered her a nod, a reminder she was not alone in this.

It did nothing to lessen the stone in her chest.

"Are you ready?" Beside her Reiner clenched the knife in his hand, eyebrows drawn together in an astute way.

Lilith watched the last of the eldians be let go of the rope holding them, plummeting below to the fort Lilith knew awaited them. "Does it matter?"

"Remember our objective for the mission, Lilith." Zeke stepped closer to the opening of the hanger, bowing his head to take in the dozens of parachutes sailing below. He began clearing his throat. "If all goes according to plan this will finally be all over."

And then without waiting for a response, let out a bellowing scream, flashes of light exploding below them like miniature suns. Dulling everything in comparison from the radiance, so bright Lilith had to squint as titans appeared in the aftermath. Dozens of them hurtling to the fort below and hitting the structure with a resounding rumble.

Chaos erupted hundreds of feet below them. And yet Lilith could not look away, watching as the men turned beasts grabbed at the enemy soldiers and began eating them.

Just as the first cannon went off, Reiner was already jumping off, gone before Lilith could say even a final word to him.

"Do you think this will work?" Lilith questioned lowly to Zeke beside her now, aware of the watchful eyes of their superiors behind them.

She didn't have to articulate further. While Marley had at one time been the most powerful nation in the world with the power of the titans, others were still fighting back. Building weapons day by day that could combat against even titan shifters and make them inefficient in comparison. If they weren't careful, even the mighty titan shifters could fall today,

"It has to." Zeke nearly whispered. When he turned to her, he grabbed her arm. "It's time we finally go home."

He pulled her with him off the ledge, gripping her hand as they dropped. Wind roared in their ears, curling around them in their plummet. A vengeful spirit stealing the breath from Lilith just as she and Zeke pulled the strings of their parachutes and were ripped from one another, their fingers ghosting just barely in goodbye.

Further away from the male now, floating in the breeze, Lilith focused below her, destruction raging on the surface. Reiner, in his armored titan form, took out more of the weaponry, debris and carnage raining in his wake, Porco right behind jumping from one ledge to the next, leaving screams in his wake. Smoke plumbed out from the wreckage, black as death, a warning to anyone further out of what had been done.

Everything was going as planned.

Lilith spared one last glimpse to Zeke, a knife in his hand as he nodded to her. Without another glance, Lilith focused her attention down to their landing, feeling the familiar electrical current dancing over her limbs. Unlike the other warriors, there was no need to injure herself in order to transform, one of the aspects that separated them from one another.

The reason why even before Zeke could bring the blade to his hand, an eruption of electricity burst from Lilith, muscle and bones taking shape like a sculpture. Leaving behind a fifteen meter titan in its wake as it landed upon the ground in a smoke of debris and rubble.

Screams echoed in the air at the sight of her, soldiers running. Too late as Lilith moved her hand, bringing it upon the men, blood splattering-

Golden eyes snapped open.

Lilith shot up from the mattress of her bed, breathing in array and limbs shaking. For a startling second she spared the room a glance, reminding herself where she was- in her bed, at home back in Liberio. No longer in the battlefield of the Mid-East war wreaking havoc upon lives by the order of Marley.

She sucked in a deep breath, faltering at the rapping of knuckles on a door. Her door. Lilith's legs twisted out of her sheets, falling to the ground. She pulled herself up from the comfort of the mattress, bringing herself out of the room and to the entrance of her apartment. There the knocking went on again, snapping Lilith out of her lull and rushing her to the door.

"Who is it?" She called through the wood.

"Lilith!" At the sound of the familiar voice her shoulders slackened. "It's me, who else?"

A curse slipped past her plump lips. Unlocking the door, Zeke stood at the entrance, grey eyes alight on her with a frown. He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but at the sight of her quickly shut it. Instead he said after a moment, "Forgot we planned on having breakfast?"

Lilith stepped aside to allow him inside. "No." She lied. "I simply slept in."

"Really? I couldn't tell from your hair's birdsnest." Zeke admonished, setting a paper bag upon her dining table that let out a mouth watering aroma.

"It's not that bad." Lilith pouted, catching sight of her reflection in her mother's china cabinet nearby. Her red hair was indeed in disarray, her skinner paler than usual making her gold gaze more ominous. Dark circles decorated around them.

Zeke offered her a snort, already in the kitchen sorting through plates and forks. When he returned Lilith was seated at the table, combing her hair with her fingers. He brandished a plate before her. "Rough night?" He asked simply.

Lilith turned away. It'd only been less than two weeks since their return; since the end of the Mid- East war. Even so she'd yet to find true comfort in her home. Visions often plagued her at night, and sleep seemed too far away at the feel of how soft her bed was compared to the barracks she used to sleep in.

Often she wondered how the other warriors dealt with it. She was the newest member to their team, and though she'd grown up with them, Lilith had only begun fighting alongside them a year ago. Experiments to make her into a titan shifter had been longer than planned, more difficult than imagined. By the time she was deemed fit to be in the front lines, everyone had already gotten a taste of it.

Besides Porco, all of them had experience back in Paradise. Even so the male had become accustomed to the lifestyle during the past four years while battling in the Mid-East war and seemed unaffected by it.

Lilith appeared, at first glance, the only one who had yet to become accustomed to the blood and carnage that came with their jobs.

"Not really." Lilith mumbled finally, reaching to open up the brown bag. Inside rolls sat, accompanied by jars of butter, jams, and honey. In a separate container Lilith could make out thinly sliced meats and cheeses, slowly placing them all out on the table.

"Nightmares?" Zeke asked, offering her a knowing look when he grabbed a piece of bread.

There was no use lying to the male. He'd always known Lilith better than the back of his own hand. "Yeah." She let out a sigh. "I've been working and volunteering at the hospital alot too, so maybe that's it."

Lilith's days had begun to blur as she became more accustomed to the schedule she had set up for herself. Daily she trained the warrior candidates, watching their techniques and helping them improve in areas they lacked. Twice a week she regularly met with the Brass, filling them in on the children's progress- her least favorite duty. And as often as possible she visited the hospital, spending time with patients and attempting to crack the enigma of her most recent interest, Eren Kruger.

Often Pieck teased her over the male when Lilith had enough time to catch up with her fellow warrior. Between her hectic schedule and Zeke's impromptu check ins, it wasn't often she was able to meet with her. Still and yet, when they did, Pieck often chuckled at Lilith's retellings of the patient, becoming quite engrossed with the stories.

Lilith was a likeable person. Everyone knew it, including Lilith herself. It was the reason why she was popular among the patients at the hospital, able to relate and sooth the most battle worn soldier. It was the reason Doctor Fischer had specifically asked her to deal with Kruger in the first place and yet the male was still as closed off as the day she'd met him.

And Pieck knew how much Lilith became invested when things never went her way.

"Maybe you should take a break. From the hospital especially." Zeke watched Lilith place a few slices of meat upon her roll after spreading it with honey. When she finally met his persistent staring, he took a bite of his own meal.

"No." Lilith said firmly. When he sighed she tried changing the subject. "Can I ask you something?"

This got Zeke's attention. "What is it?"

Lilith chewed on her food and swallowed before asking, "How do you get someone to open up to you?"

The male's face scrunched up in confusion. "What?"

"You're a guy aren't you?"

"I would think so given the last time I saw myself without pants on. Would you like to check yourself?"

"Don't be a pervert." Lilith ignored the heat rising in her cheeks. "What I mean is, how should I approach a man to get them to talk to me more?"

He brought a hand to his chest. "How dare you break my heart by asking about another man?"

"So dramatic." Lilith muttered under her breath at him. "Just answer."

"I would talk about myself."

"Sounds conceited."

"That's because I am."

A small hand came to her temples to rub it. "I knew I shouldn't have asked you. I'm going to Reiner."

"I'm serious." Zeke continued on. "If you want him to relate to you, talk about yourself. Your likes. Your experiences. You'd be surprised what people might find similar to themselves."

Lilith considered his words, nodding along to them. "That actually makes sense."

"Well I am rather intelligent in case you did forget." Zeke said just as Lilith threw a pice of bread at him.

"Don't make me kick you out of my house."

The walk to the hospital after training that same day felt longer than usual. Despite being in charge of the warrior candidates, Lilith had taken advantage herself that day to do a little training. By the time she was done, having the kids themselves join in, Lilith had been sore and dripping with sweat.

Now, after having gone home to change and shower, her limbs seemed like they weighed more than usual, dragging behind her. If it weren't for the fact that Doctor Fischer had specially asked if she were coming today, Lilith's may have taken the time to rest. Zeke's words from earlier rang in her head, a silent reminder that she should perhaps take a break.

Another time, she decided, making out the building in the distance. Turning around the corner to her left, she was only a block away then. Just as she saw a familiar blond haired figure across the street.

Reiner.

She called out to the male with a wave, smile disappearing just as quickly. The male continued walking without even sparing a glance in her direction, face blank and desolate. His eyes looked even more sunk in than the last time she'd seen him, tinged dark beneath from lack of sleep even from where she stood.

It was only after she called out to him again and gained no response again that she crossed the street to stand in front of him.

"Reiner!" At the sight of her he blinked, like he was waking up from a dream.

"Lilith?" He squinted at her.

"I tried calling you twice." Lilith raised an eyebrow at him. "Are you okay?"

Reiner seemed to shake out of whatever remaining trance he'd been in. "Yeah." To reinforce his statement, he nodded his head. "Sorry about that. Just thinking, I guess."

Lilith didn't voice it, but Reiner had been "thinking" often. It seemed to have gotten worse since their meeting days after their return home, but even before then Reiner had seemed more in his head. The complete opposite of the kid she'd watched sail away on a boat years ago with Annie, Berthodt, and Marcel. The Reiner she'd known that left had been proud and happy, not the quiet and serious man he was now.

"I see." Lilith said though she wasn't easily fooled. "Going home now?"

He nodded his head again. "What about you? Didn't you already finish training with the kids?"

"I did. I'm going to the hospital now."

"Hospital? What-"

"I volunteer there." Lilith interrupted before he began getting the wrong idea.

"You do?" Reiner appeared considerate, blinking his eyes in surprise. "I didn't know that."

"I started a few years ago. During the beginning trials of the testing." At the mention of such, Reiner seemed to sober up quickly. It was one of the topics he and the others knew to never mention unless Lilith herself did.

Zeke had only reinforced it whenever the topic came up in the early years of experiments Lilith underwent. He'd nearly threatened them at the time to keep their mouths shut around her when they'd begun questioning what she was going through. When they could no longer turn a blind eye to the dull shine Lilith's usually vibrant eyes had taken. For nearly three years they'd watched the life be sucked out of her until she'd one day appeared on the battle field of the Mid-East war like her old self once again.

"The hospital, isn't that where…"

"That's right. I guess you can imagine why I've grown such an attachment to the place."

Reiner nodded. "Do you go often?"

"Every day since we came back. But back then it was more difficult."

During that time, Reiner had just returned home from paradise with Zeke and Pieck. Though just as soon had the war with the Mid-East begun and they'd been sent away just as quickly again. That had been when Lilith started the beginning stages of the experiment to turn her into a shifter. In between the time was when she'd first begun volunteering at the hospital.

The experiments however had left her schedule unsteady. Lilith could be gone months at a time depending on how bad the experiments were. Even more if she were injured in the process or something went wrong. To this day she could still recall the five months she'd been trapped in the labs of the scientists because her legs had become entrapped in the torso of her Titan form.

Throughout that time she's had no one. Even Porco who just inherited the jaw Titan had been sent to the front lines. From then on she only saw them a good one to two times a year depending on how long they were on break for. And during those times Lilith never let on what she'd been through besides with Zeke who had seen it first hand every time they took his spinal fluid.

Reiner stayed quiet. "You're really amazing, you know that?" He uttered finally. "I could never do half the stuff you do given everything you've been through. As it is now… I'm…"

His words didn't settle right with Lilith. Partnered with the expression he offered her, eyes wide and hand covering half his face, she started forward.

"Don't say that Reiner." She brought a hand to his upper bicep and offered it a squeeze. "The fact that you're still here is amazing enough."

At her words he stilled. But even then she could make out the shadows playing in his gaze. He shrugged her hand away. "Reiner-" she began, cut off when he shook his head.

"Forget it Lilith. I'll see you."

Reiner was gone then, leaving Lilith on the street with passing Eldians sparing her curious glances. She watched his departing figure, taking in his hunched back and frowned.

She turned away then, pushing Reiner to the back of her head for another time, and made her way to the hospital.

There, she took no time to rest before setting off to different patients. One of the nurses had requested she help an older soldier bathe the moment she walked in and from there Lilith continued on nearly nonstop.

She'd just finished playing a game of checkers with a patient, a young one by the name of Gunther who seemed more interested in her dating life than the game, when a nurse approached her. Lilith was friendly with the older woman, Maya, and didn't so much as complain when she asked her to wheel around another patient for fresh air. This one was a soldier not much older than herself, mute and deaf from an explosion out in the trenches. An easy enough task as she took the opportunity to bask in the fresh air herself.

When Maya came to find her again a half hour later, she accompanied her the rest of the walk out in the courtyard.

"Looks like you're getting popular again." Maya commented, hands behind her back. She was a pretty woman, in her mid twenties with dark hair pulled into a bun and brown eyes. When she smiled Lilith thought she looked charming. "Everyday the patients are asking for you to keep them company."

Lilith let out a huff of air when she laughed. "Sadly I'm only one person."

"I bet they wish there were multiple of you." The woman grinned.

A hum sounded from her lips. "Not every patient." Lilith seemed to mutter unconsciously.

As if knowing who she was referring to, Maya questioned, "How is that patient Doctor Fischer asked you to crack open?"

At the mention of Eren, Lilith's eyes found him without much trouble. He was across the courtyard in the same bench he always sat at, staring out in front of him. She'd long since spotted him the moment she got to the hospital.

As usual, he was in the same spot from the last she'd seen him. It was a habit of his to be there at that time, Lilith realized. The male was always at the bench after two until later into the evening when it was time for dinner.

As if sensing her gaze, his single eye shot to her, meeting her own with a dull look. Lilith didn't bother looking away, simply shrugging and said in response, "Hard."

"I figured." Maya laughed, drawing Lilith's attention back to her. "He's a bit aloof, that one. Always on his own and barely talks. The doctor seems to think he'll get better though. Mentally that is. It's probably why he wants you spending time with him. He knows how good you are with others."

"I don't know. He seems…" Lilith tried searching for the right word. "Off."

Lilith had since felt that way over the course of time she'd begun spending with him. He was often standoffish when Lilith asked questions of his past in an attempt to help with his amnesia. It often worked with other patients and helped greatly, yet to her it seemed like he was being vague on purpose. Brushing off questions or simply ignoring them.

It only seemed to worsen when she'd one day asked about his family. Had seen the way he tensed before mumbling he couldn't remember. Like he was lying.

"Maybe he's just nervous being around a beauty like yourself." Maya laughed, earning an eye roll in return. Lilith had been around enough men to know when they were too shy around her and Eren was not one of them. He wasn't a blubbering fool. He was blunt. Straightforward.

"Maybe." Still Lilith couldn't shake off the feeling she got about the male, pushing the patient she was walking around into the shade of a nearby tree.

Maya nudged the redhead at the sight of her perplexed expression. "Why don't you go figure it out since it's bothering you? I'll take care of this one while you deal with Kruger."

When Lilith glanced back to where the male in question sat, his attention was on her once again. Like a challenge.

She narrowed her eyes.

"I'll see you later." Lilith said then, ignoring Maya's chuckle while she headed across the courtyard.

Eren was already awaiting Lilith as she made her way over, green eyes pinned on her figure until she was right before him. Up close there was a fresh scent coming from him, as if he'd just bathed earlier on.

Lilith offered him a smile. "Eren. Up for some dinner with me?"

He leaned forward, hands gripping his crutch in front of him where his leg was missing. "What's on today's menu?"

That was how Lilith found herself some time later, eating roast beef and potatoes with the male on his usual bench. Watching the sun begin it's slow descent in the sky and bathe them in a golden haze.

"How's the hospital?" Lilith questioned, placing another bland piece of meat into her mouth.

Eren shifted. "The same as usual."

Lilith hummed. "Do you like it?"

He spared her a rather serious look, his one remaining eyebrow rising. If not for his bandages, Lilith figured he would be giving her a rather bland expression, as if to say "what do you think"?

"Well I don't specifically like it. I'm sure you're much the same."

Lilith supposed putting Zeke's advice into play could come in handy now. Often she realized she never talked about herself. Only usually asked Eren questions to see if he would recall anything.

Eren chewed on a potato thoughtfully. "Why do you volunteer here then?"

"My dad used to be a patient here." At his attention, she almost smiled. "He used to be a soldier too. He was sent out for another war at the time when I was younger. By the time I was nine he came back badly injured."

She could still recall the sight of her father, arms missing and the hollow look in his eyes. A stranger she couldn't even recognize.

"I spent an entire month visiting him with my mother. Got to really know the staff and one of the doctors. You probably know him." Lilith played with the food on her plate. "Doctor Fischer?"

At his lack of response at first, Lilith thought he wouldn't answer. But then he finally said, "I do", and she actually did smile.

"Well he was my father's doctor. Took really good care of him until the end." Her smile turned bitter, eyes downcast like the sunset. "He died later on from internal damage."

If she expected a condolence or anything, Lilith wasn't surprised when he didn't offer one. She could tell he was one of those who had seen too much in life. Who had come to terms with the darkness. Dying was just another thing they had to deal with.

"After that I used to avoid the hospital like it was the plague. I hated it here. But then I came by one day and the strangest thing happened."

She faced the courtyard now. "I thought I saw my father. It was another soldier obviously, but the angle and the injuries reminded me so much of him when I passed. Before I knew it, I had just walked in and started helping him. Then the next thing I knew I kept coming everyday to help him before I was helping others too."

Eren was silent beside her. She still went on.

"You know what the crazy part about it was though?" This time when she faced Eren, his entire body seemed to have shifted to look at her. "Taking care of them helped me more than I did them."

Eren, face still, took her in. "Do you still miss him? Your father?"

"Everyday." Lilith answered truthfully.

"I don't." At this Lilith stilled. "I don't miss my father. Sometimes I think I'm glad he's gone."

A breeze dozed past them softly, causing Lilith's red hair to intertwine with Eren's own brown locks. Green clashed with gold in the silence.

"Is he dead?" Lilith finally asked.

"Yeah." Eren didn't so much as move, shadows playing on his face from the sunlight.

His words seemed to echo within Lilith. Had he just remembered that fact or had he known that all along? If that were the case however what else was he keeping to himself?

Slowly Lilith offered a soft nod, careful of her next words. "That's one thing we have in common."

When she smiled at him, she could have sworn his remain eyes appeared softer.

A/N: A little bonding experience for my fav future toxic couple ;)

Either way we got a little more information on Lilith's past concerning her family and experiences leading up to her being a Titan shifter. We'll of course get more detail once Eren and her get closer which I'm very excited about.

Starting next chapter we'll also be officially following the Marley arc once Eren and Falco begin spending time together. From there the plot should pick up a little more and become more interesting.

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