Chapter 12

Disclaimer: I do not own Attack on Titan

Rated M for gore violence, language, and sexuality

Enjoy

Garrison Headquarters, Calaneth District, Wall Rose, 850...

Raisa entered the office, and stopped in the doorway. She held up a bottle. "Need a drink?"

Hange glanced up from where she was slouched on the couch. "Isn't drinking on duty grounds for court-martial?"

"Only if you get caught," Raisa said as she kicked the door closed and walked over, plopping down beside Hange and handing the bottle over.

Hange examined the bottle, reading the label. "Brunhild Brewery? What is this?"

"Mead," Raisa explained. "Trust me. You'll like it."

Hange shrugged and took a swig. She gasped in delight. "This is good. I'm surprised Moblit hasn't discovered this. He loves telling me about new alcohol."

"He doesn't like it. Says it gets him too drunk too fast."

Hange snickered. Her smile fell and she took another swig of the mead. "Erwin'll receive the order to surrender Eren any minute now. It sickens me to think what the MPs will do to him."

"Speaking of MPs...I got confirmation that all the recruits from the one-oh-four were assigned to Stohess." She rolled her head to look at Hange.

"Oh?" Hange gave her the bottle. "How many recruits from the one-oh-four joined the Military Police?"

Raisa took a drink. "Only one."

The door opened and Moblit entered. "Hange, I have...oh, apologies." He saluted. "Forgive my rudeness, Section Commanders."

"It's alright, Moblit," Hange said.

He lowered his arm. "There's a couple recruits who'd like to speak with you. Both of you, actually."

"Bring them in."

"Your nanny is so polite when he's sober," Raisa noted as Moblit stepped back out.

Hange abruptly took the bottle back and set it down on the coffee table. Moblit re-entered with the two recruits who saluted properly. "This is Jean Kirschtein and Armin Arlelt. They said they have some theories as to the identity of the Female Titan."

Raisa and Hange exchanged glances. Raisa eyed the boys with an unreadable expression. "You're both from the Hundred-and-Fourth Cadet Corps, right?"

"Yes, ma'am," they answered.

Hange gave Moblit a look, and he closed the door. "At ease, boys," Raisa said. "Were you two with the right flank or the left flank?"

"Right, ma'am," Armin answered. "We...encountered the Female Titan along with one other."

"More like foolish engaged," Jean corrected.

"Really," Hange mused. "That must be an interesting story. Tell us everything."

Old Scouts Headquarters, Wall Rose, the next day...

Eren laid in his bed and glared up at the ceiling. Vanessa sat on a stool beside him. She stared mindlessly at the ground as images of her dead squad-mates flashed through her mind. Their happy faces, the dead look in their eyes, their families, everything. Over and over in her mind. She rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache develop. Eren noticed this. "You okay?"

"I will be," she answered. "My headaches have been more frequent lately. Probably just stress."

Eren sat up. "I, uh...I wanted to thank you. For saving me."

"Captain Levi is the one who saved you," she said. "I didn't really do anything."

"Well, thanks, anyway." Eren turned his glare to the wall. "It's still embarrassing, though."

"What is?"

"You always seeing me cry."

Vanessa stared at him. She could see a faint blush on his cheeks. He looked more ashamed than embarrassed. It reminded her of the nights she was on guard duty over him. N-No!

Two weeks ago...

"No!"

Vanessa stirred awake and nearly fell out of her chair. She glanced around and remembered she was in the cellar of the castle. Eren screamed again. Vanessa jumped to her feet and went to the bed. Eren was on his side, clutching the sheets. He cried and screamed, telling someone to leave him alone. "Eren!" Vanessa knelt down onto the bed and grabbed his shoulder. "Eren, wake up!"

"No! Stop it!" His body was tense and he was almost curled up in the fetal position.

"Eren, wake up!" She shook his shoulder harder. "You're having a nightmare. Just wake up."

She touched his forehead. His skin was hot and sweaty. She felt waves of despair and terror rolling off him. Vanessa gasped from the overwhelming emotions and withdrew her hand. Eren continued to cry and beg. Vanessa sat back, confused by a faint image in her mind. An image of a broken woman being eaten by a titan. "No!"

Vanessa brushed the image off as she began to worry. Eren was so deep in his nightmare that she feared he'd never wake up. She suddenly remembered something Christa used to do for her. Vanessa moved around him to sit against the wall, and she pulled him into her lap. She stroked his hair and tried to soothe him. "It's okay," she whispered. "It's okay. I'm right here."

Eren wrapped his arms around her waist, holding on for dear life as he buried his face in her stomach. "It's okay. I'm here."

His body began to relax and his breathing slowed down. Eren let out a soft moan of relief as his sleep turned peaceful. Vanessa kept stroking his hair. It was soft despite the sweat. She felt her shirt soak up the remainder of his tears. After a while, Eren seemed to be sleeping more soundly with a soft, subtle snore. Vanessa sighed in relief. I need to think Christa properly next time I see her. This is exhausting. She grabbed Eren's arms and motioned to unwrap herself. However, his hold tightened. "Eren, let go."

He continued to snore. Vanessa tried again, but his grip was firm. She panicked over the thought of being stuck all night. Eren muttered something that she couldn't make out, and snuggled her. Vanessa slumped her shoulders in defeat. She sighed in frustration and repositioned Eren's pillow so that it was between her back and the wall. She shook her head and resumed her comforting of Eren, gently rubbing his back and stroking his hair. "Mikasa's gonna kill me."

Present Day...

"You shouldn't feel embarrassed," Vanessa told him softly. "I'm getting used to it at this point. You've got nothing to be ashamed of."

Eren met her gaze, noting the sincerity in her voice. "I understand your pain, Eren," she continued. "Please don't blame yourself. Yesterday was just...no one could've foreseen what would happen."

He said nothing. Vanessa flicked her gaze to his forehead. "I bet you don't need the bandage anymore. I'll take it off."

She leaned in and began unwrapping his head. Eren felt her breath on his cheek and he realized their proximity. Vanessa met his gaze and froze, her hands still on the bandage. She was so close to him. Her nose was a centimeter away from his. They both leaned in slightly. "What're you two doing?"

Vanessa suddenly sat back, tugging the bandage off of Eren's head. "Just removing his bandage, sir!"

Eren rubbed his head. She had pulled the bandage off rather forcibly. Levi was standing in the doorway with his usual look of indifference. Vanessa glared down at her lap, trying to will away her growing blush. "He didn't really need it in the first place," Levi said. "Both of you, with me. Erwin will be back soon."

"Yes, sir."

Eren threw the sheets off and scooted to the edge. Vanessa got up and took a deep breath, her face returning to normal. Eren put his boots back on and grabbed his jacket, following Levi and Vanessa out of the room. They entered the courtyard and headed for the main building. "There you are, my dear!" Hange said, latching onto Vanessa. "Levi, I'm going to borrow her for a second."

"Fine," he said. "C'mon, Eren."

"Sir." Eren met Vanessa's gaze once more before following Levi into the main building.

Hange steered Vanessa over to the others. "You doing alright? Any injuries?"

"I'm fine," she answered. "What's going on, Commander?"

"Erwin mentioned you two had an interesting conversation back in the forest," she said. "That you have some ideas about who the Female Titan really is. I'd love to hear what your thoughts are on the matter. Wait here."

Hange stopped in the main foyer where Mikasa, Armin, and Jean were waiting and continued on towards Moblit. Vanessa turned her attention to her friends. "Hey, guys. What're you all doing here? I thought everyone was joining Section Commander Mike at the southern safehouse...?"

"We were given different orders," Jean said bluntly.

Vanessa noticed his uneasiness. He seemed more pissed off than normal. She turned to Armin. "What's going on? Is there a plan to keep Eren out of the MPs' hands?"

"Probably," he said. "But that's not why we're here. It's about the Female Titan."

"They're coming," Mikasa announced.

The four them snapped to attention as Erwin entered the foyer followed by Raisa and their squads. He led them into the main building to the great room were Levi and Eren were waiting. Levi harrumphed upon their entry while Eren stood up and saluted. "Took you long enough. Thought the damn MPs would get here before you."

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Eren's gaze fell upon his friends, and he frowned in confusion. "What the...? Why-Why are you all here?"

"We'll get to that in a moment." Erwin walked around the table and took a seat directly across from Eren. Everyone else took a seat. "We believe we've uncovered the Female Titan's identity. She won't slip away this time."

Raisa laid out a map of Stohess, and Erwin moved it so Eren could see. "Tomorrow we'll be passing through Stohess District en route to the capital. That's when we'll strike. It'll be our only chance to do so."

Raisa shoved a file over to Levi for him to read. "Once we've set foot in the interior, the government will assume custody of Eren, and the Scouts' authority to continue operations will be limited," Erwin revealed. "Thus, unless we wish to concede defeat...we must capture the enemy now."

"How, sir?" Eren asked.

"In Stohess, we'll use you as bait, luring the target into this underground passage." He tapped the location on the map, by the river. "The deeper, the better. Get her well beneath street level. That done, she should be easily immobilized even in titan form."

Eren furred his brows as he thought. "What if...what if she transforms before we reach the tunnel?"

"At that point, she'll be your responsibility," Raisa answered. "We'll be the ones taking her by surprise. It gives you an advantage if it comes down to a fight."

"How do you know she hasn't already escaped?" Vanessa asked.

"She won't risk going AWOL," Erwin said.

Eren gasped. "Wait, you mean she's-"

"Armin, here, identified her," Erwin revealed. "She's an MP. Likely responsible for the deaths of Hange's test subjects. And a fellow trainee in the Hundred-and-fourth Cadet Corps."

Vanessa's eyes widened and her gaze shifted to Armin. He returned her gaze, giving her a guilty, knowing look. Eren shook his head. "You can't be serious. I...we trained with her? And she...killed one of our friends?"

"I'm sorry, but yes."

"No. It can't be," Eren almost whispered. "That's impos-"

"Eren," Vanessa said. Her heart raced as realization set in. She first glanced at Jean before meeting Erwin's stoic gaze. "It's Annie, isn't it?"

Stohess District, Wall Sina, the next day...

Jean sat uncomfortably in the carriage. He wore a dark brown wig, a similar shade to Eren's hair color. Vanessa sat across from him. The transport convoy moved slowly. As per her orders, she wasn't wearing her ODM gear. She glanced out the carriage window, seeing MPs fly on the rooftops, following the convoy. "This is so stupid," Jean grumbled. "There's no way this is gonna work."

"What won't?" she asked. "The plan or your acting?"

"What acting?" he snapped. "I look nothing like him. I'm also taller."

"So? The MPs are too stupid to care," she said with a shrug. "If you really wanna sell it, just start screaming about killing titans."

"No. That's just gonna draw more attention." Jean frowned at her in annoyance. "How can you be so nonchalant about this?"

Vanessa blinked stoically. "What else should I be? This isn't exactly the appropriate time to get emotional. And it's a habit of mine to lighten the mood."

"Lighten the...? No, it's not. You just like to antagonize."

Vanessa nodded in agreement. "It does bring me joy."

Jean studied her calm, composed demeanor. He remembered their conversation about Marco several weeks ago. "Do you think they helped her? They said they didn't see anything, but...something tells me they were lying. They saw..."

Vanessa didn't meet his gaze. She opened her mouth to speak but a sudden explosion of thunder rolled through the city. Jean steadied himself. "What the hell was that?"

"Stay here!"

Vanessa quickly got out of the carriage. The entire transport convoy had stopped and everyone was staring westward. Across the city, a pillar of light could be seen. Vanessa stared as the light began to subside. It's Annie, isn't it?

Old Scouts Headquarters, Wall Rose, yesterday...

"Annie Leonhart?"

"Yes," Erwin confirmed.

Eren's face darkened in disbelief. He glanced back and forth between Vanessa and Erwin. "Wait. No. No. You think it's Annie? Where's...your evidence? Tell me!"

"Obviously the Female Titan knew what you looked like before she attacked," Armin said calmly. "Plus, she reacted to my use of your suicidal maniac nickname, something only our classmates would know. But the biggest reason I suspect her...is that I believe she's the one who killed Sawney and Beane."

Eren leaned away from Armin. "You're kinda goin' out on a limb there."

"Killing two titans at once required a precision ODM strike," Armin explained. "It only makes sense that the killer would've used the gear they were most familiar with."

"But, there was that whole equipment inspection," Eren argued. "Annie's totally check out."

"Except, the gear she presented...wasn't hers." Armin furred his brows in regret. "It was Marco's."

Vanessa felt her stomach turn as she processed Armin's words. Her last memory of Marco replayed in her head. "I don't understand," Eren said. "What's Marco got to do with all this?"

"Marco wasn't wearing his gear when he died," Jean informed. "I found his body two days after the Trost incident."

"And he had it on the last time I saw him," Vanessa added before Eren could reply. "It was moments before you plugged the hole. And he wasn't anywhere near the titans we were fighting. Actually...he was trying to get Reiner-"

"Hold on! Just-Just wait a damn minute," Eren insisted. "None of this makes sense. How do you get from Marco being dead to Annie being the Female Titan?"

"I helped Marco with maintenance on his gear. I know it almost as well as I know my own," Armin answered. "It was his gear she presented at the inspection. He had his gear on before he died, but when Jean found him, he didn't."

"That doesn't mean she killed Marco!"

"Think it about it, Eren. Why else would she have his gear? Even if she just found it-"

"Maybe you need to get your eyes checked-"

"I know what I saw, and the fact is-"

"Okay, we get it," Levi growled, slapping the file closed. "Do you have anything else on her? Any sort of concrete evidence?"

"Nothing, sir," Armin confessed.

"Annie looks like the Female Titan," Mikasa noted. "That's something, isn't it?"

"Really? What the hell's wrong with all of you?" Eren shouted as he jumped to his feet. "This is insane!"

"So, basically, we're going after her without solid proof," Levi noted, turning his glare to Erwin and Raisa.

"You're kidding me, right?" Eren begged. "What if it's not her? What if she's not the monster you all say she is?"

"Then she'll be cleared," Raisa answered. "It may seem harsh, but we need to act on this circumstantial evidence. Otherwise, we lose custody of you to the central government, and you're dead or worse. It's you or her."

"...we're talking about Annie," Eren said, shaking his head.

"Don't stand there and tell me this conversation isn't ringing any bells," Mikasa said. "You fought hand-to-hand against the Female Titan. Was there anything about her techniques that seemed familiar?"

"No, I-"

"Eren," Vanessa interjected. "Push aside your personal feelings for her. You know her moves better than anyone. Think. Armin's right. The Female Titan is-"

Stohess District, Wall Sina, present day...

"-Annie!"

Vanessa clenched her fists. The sound of stone crashing echoed through the streets, mixing in with the screams. Erwin, Raisa, and Levi exited their carriage as Nile ordered the escort squads to recon the destruction. Erwin turned to Raisa. "Go assist the capture squads. They're going to need your help."

Raisa briefly glanced at Nile. "You need me here."

"I've got it covered," he assured her. "Go. We can't let her escape."

"Yes, sir."

Raisa fired her anchor and took off. Nile gasped upon seeing her fly away. "Hey! What the-Erwin, where is she going?!"

"Deploy all troops immediately," Erwin insisted. "We should assume that a titan has already appeared."

"Are you out of your mind? This is Wall Sina!" Nile argued. "There's no way a titan would just suddenly show up here!"

Jean threw open the carriage door and hopped out. An MP blocked his path, preparing to aim his gun. "Who told you to move, Jaeger?"

Vanessa diverted the MP's gun away. "Back off!"

"How dare you!" He yanked his gun free. "Stand down, recruit! Jaeger, back in the carriage!"

"Fuck this!" Jean took off his wig and threw it down. "Call me Jaeger again and it's your ass, you got that? Vanessa, let's go!"

The MP blinked confusedly as the two of them ran over to Erwin. "Commander, what's the plan?"

"Aid the capture squads in taking the Female Titan down," he ordered. "Ask squad four for equipment."

"Sir!"

They saluted and ran off to squad four waiting at the head of the transport. They got their gear and quickly suited up. Jean glanced over at the dumbfounded MPs standing on the rooftops. "Idiots. Can't believe I wanted to join them."

"Like I said, you're better suited for battle," Vanessa reminded. "And you look really fierce right now."

"I'm not fierce. I'm pissed off," he argued. "C'mon, we're wasting time!"

Vanessa hesitated a moment as Jean took off towards the roof. She smirked and flew off after him. From up high, they could see where Annie was fighting off the Scouts, trying to keep them off of her as she searched the rubble for Eren. Annie hit the top of the buildings, sending debris everywhere to keep the Scouts back. Mikasa was among them, cutting Annie wherever she could. Vanessa and Jean flew down to where Armin was digging through some rubble. "Eren! Talk to me!" he shouted. "Wake up!"

"Armin!" Vanessa landed first. "What's wrong? Where's Eren?"

"Help me!" he begged. "He's stuck in here!"

Jean hesitated as Vanessa ran over to help. "Why didn't he just change into a titan?"

"He couldn't transform!" Armin and Vanessa moved a large stone piece out of the way. "I-I think there's something holding him back from being able to take on Annie."

"Are you serious?" Vanessa growled. Eren was visible now. He was pinned between a piece of brick road and stone wall.

Jean suddenly shouted in frustration. He pushed Vanessa and Armin aside and smacked Eren's unconscious head. "Enough of your bullshit, Eren! Did I or did I not tell you this day would eventually come? Look at yourself! Our fate's in your hands. We're puttin' our lives on the line, and this is all we can expect from our last best hope? Is that what Marco...what he..."

"Jean, stop." Vanessa grabbed his arm and he let go of Eren. "We need to help the others take Annie down."

"We can't leave him!" Armin cried.

Vanessa glanced down at Eren. He was breathing and he still had the look of denial on his face. Vanessa frowned in disappointment. "Eren needs to figure his shit out. I'm not going to let her kill anymore of our comrades."

She got up and drew her swords. Jean followed her lead and they both took off. They avoided the other flying debris as Annie continued smashing the rooftops. "Vanessa! Can you cut her out?"

"Without killing her?" she asked. "I can try!"

"We need a distraction," he reminded. "We need to get her over to Blanc Street."

"I'm open to suggestions."

"Annie! Are you going to kill me or not?" Armin screamed. He stood on the other side of Annie down the street. His voice was loud enough to catch her attention. "I seem to remember you making a wager! Well, here's your chance to make good on it!"

Vanessa took the moment to strike, aiming for Annie's nape. However, she slapped her hand over her neck just in time. Vanessa gritted her teeth in frustration as she cut through Annie's hand. The chunk of flesh went flying over her head and she flew down to avoid Annie's elbow. Jean flew around in front of Annie, slicing off her nose. This pulled her attention to follow him. "Armin! Follow us!"

"You got it!"

Annie gave chase as the three of them flew down the street. She swatted through the air, trying to catch either them or their wire. They led her to turn right down a wide street. As they flew through, Annie happened to glance at the building on her right. Her eyes widened upon seeing Hange behind a cannon and Raisa next her, smirking with her arm raised. "FIRE!"

Hange yanked on the trigger. Her cannon and several others surrounding Annie went of simultaneously. Annie instinctively slapped her hand onto her nape as she became entangled in anchors and wires once more. She tried to run, to pull free. However, the wires were too strong. She lost her balance and fell flat on her back. A couple soldiers threw down a barbed net, trapping her further. Hange and Raisa gazed down at her from the roof top. Hange giggled in delight. "Nice! And here I was convinced having a Plan C was northing short of paranoid."

Raisa drew her swords. "We should go say hello, Zoe."

"Yes, we don't want to be rude," Hange mused.

While Hange flew down to the ground, Raisa dove with her swords aimed. Annie instinctively hardened her hand. However, Raisa sliced at her wrist, tearing out a deep chunk. Hange hummed happily as she approached Annie. She drew her sword and held the tip dangerously close to Annie's pupil. "Do us a favor. Behave yourself."

Annie hardened the remainder of her wrist as Raisa dove again, but this time, she sliced at Annie's neck. Blood spurted out from the jugular and Annie's hand slipped ever so slightly as she opened her mouth. "Oh, don't bother," Hange warned. "Calling your cohorts to dinner isn't an option. No point since we're cutting through your vocal chords."

Raisa struck again, getting closer to the nape. "In fact, we're going to extract you right," Hange continued. "Don't want to this wonderful opportunity to go to waste. No, no...I'm going to read you like bull entrails. Every part of you has it's own precious story to tell."

Raisa gasped. "Everyone! Move!"

Annie swung her leg up, destroying the cannons holding the wires. Everyone managed to avoid Annie's flailing limbs and the debris. Annie rolled to her knees, her head bobbing slightly. The steam seemed to burn hotter as her wounds healed. Hange and Raisa landed on a nearby rooftop with the others. "Damn it," Hange growled. "We didn't have time to set enough traps!"

"Don't let her get away!" Raisa ordered.

Mikasa and Vanessa joined the other Scouts in pursing Annie as she ran away from them. They moved in sync, flying around Annie and cutting anywhere they could. Annie threw her hand down, yanking on Mikasa's wire. Vanessa gasped. "Mikasa!"

Mikasa managed to slow her fall to the ground. However, she still stumbled and landed hard onto the street. Vanessa swung low and aimed to slice at Annie's ankle, but her blades broke upon contact with her crystallized skin. Shit! She dove out of the way as Annie kicked. A flash of lightning drew everyone's attention. Annie paused, but the Scouts flying around distracted her. The thunder continued. It started low then grew louder and louder. Annie suddenly turned and received a sucker punch as Eren roared. Annie flew several meters back, slamming into a chapel. Eren's hand steamed as it healed, and he roared again. Raisa and Hange exchanged glances. "Think he's in control?"

"Hard to say," Hange answered.

Eren charged Annie again, but she took off, avoiding his tackle. Armin watched them warily. "In control? Maybe...but there's no guarantee this will turn out any differently than their last meeting."

Raisa glanced over at Armin, seeing the doubt in his face. "Come on, he wouldn't have transformed unless he knew for sure he could take her this time," Jean argued. "He's got this, okay?"

"Determination along isn't enough to win a fight," Armin countered. "You of all people should know that."

"Thought you'd have more faith in your boy," Raisa said. "He has the upperhand here. Last time, she ambushed us with a horde of titans. Now, it's Eren ambushing her with us."

"Jean!" Vanessa hopped up onto the rooftop, carrying Mikasa on her back. "Help me! She's heavier than Eren."

He hurried over and took Mikasa, helping her stand. She stirred and held her head. "I-I'm okay. Just got knocked out."

Vanessa glanced across the city where Eren was chasing Annie through the streets. Looks like you got your shit together. Moblit gasped in realization. "She's making a break for level ground!"

"Very well," Hange noted. "Raisa, you go left with your squad. I'll take mine right."

"Got it."

Raisa gestured for her squad to follow her. Armin and Vanessa followed Hange while Jean and Mikasa followed Raisa. They flew around the large park. Annie suddenly stopped and turned to face Eren. He lunged and she blocked his punch with her elbow, forcing him down to his knees. She raised a leg, but Eren blocked the kick and grabbed ahold of her. He roared as he threw her like a rag doll. She flew over a row of houses and crashed across the street. Eren came bursting through the buildings, his arms raised to tackle her. Annie dodged him and continued running. The Scouts paused a few rooftops away. Moblit watched the destruction as his despair grew. "Oh, God...I'd hate to say it, but the city'll be debris and corpses before long...even if we manage to catch her."

"Then that's how it's gotta be," Hange ordered. "We're sticking to the plan, got it? So stop babbling and ready the nets."

"Yes, ma'am."

They continued on, following Eren as he chased Annie further through the city. She stopped again, turning to face him in her signature fighting stance. Eren matched it, raising his fists. He surged forward, roaring. Annie raised her leg, her shin covered in hardened crystal, and kicked at his lower leg. She severed his leg and Eren fell onto his knees. Eren roared defiantly and punched her hard. With another roar, he lunged to tackle. Annie kicked him again. Her leg slammed into his face and he fell against a building. She tried to pull her leg free, but found Eren biting deep. She screamed and began beating his head. The Scouts finally caught up, but they could only watch. "I think she's abandoned her plan of capture," Raisa noted. "She's getting desperate."

"Where is she gonna go?" Hange asked.

Annie slammed her fist onto Eren's head again and he finally let go. Once free, she turned and bolted for the wall. Eren suddenly screamed as his wounds burst into flames. He pushed himself up and began crawling through the street then tackled Annie head-on. They both fell onto the base of the wall. Annie covered her neck as Eren pulled at her arms. In his fury, he reached around and grabbed her face, squeezing. His grip broke the bones of her face and Annie let out a piercing scream of agony. Hange glanced over at Raisa. "What is he-"

"Eren!" Mikasa gasped. "We need to help him!"

"No!" Raisa stopped Mikasa from taking off. "The state he's in...it's best to stay out of his way."

Annie elbowed Eren off, then turned under him. She slipped a leg free and kicked him away. Her fingers hardened into points as she leapt onto the wall. Jean gasped in panic. "She's headed up the wall!"

"She's trying to escape!" Raisa shouted.

"I won't let her!" Mikasa slipped around Raisa and headed for the wall.

Eren lunged again, grabbing hold of Annie's left leg. He bit down on her calf, but Annie kicked him off. As he fell, Annie continued up the wall. However, Mikasa flew by and swiftly cut through Annie's fingers. She swung back like a pendulum, and severed her other fingers. Annie's eyes grew wide in sheer panic as she fell straight into Eren's arms. He roared savagely as he slammed his fists down, severing her arm and head. He turned her body over and bit down on her nape. "Oh, no!" Hange shouted. "He's gonna devour her whole!"

Eren ripped Annie's nape open, exposing her real body. As the Scouts moved, Annie's body suddenly erupted in bright light. Eren roared as crystal began to form around Annie, covering her like a cocoon. Eren prepared to bite down again, but Raisa flew up and cut his nape. Eren fell out as the tendons holding him snapped, realizing him. She caught him before he could fall off. "Not a good idea to eat our suspect."

As the light died, Raisa hopped down with Eren. Mikasa took him, and set him gently onto the ground as she held on to him. As the titan bodies began to evaporate, the Scouts worked on removing Annie from her crystal cocoon. Raisa sheathed her blades and walked over as Hange supervised. "Well?"

"She's wrapped herself in her own hardened skin somehow. At least several layers thick," Hange explained. "This is a nightmare. Twice now we've failed. I'm not sure if Erwin can talk his way out of this one."

"He's gotten us out of worse situations." Raisa noticed Nile leading his MPs to the edge of the city. "It was either Annie or Eren. Considering how little we know about our enemy, I'd say this was the best outcome we could've hoped for."

"But was all this worth it?"

The sound of metal banging against crystal drew their attention. Jean was slamming his blade, breaking off sections. "Damn it!" he screamed. "Annie! Wake up! C'mon, face the music! You owe us! Don't be a coward! I know you can hear me!"

Vanessa grabbed Jean's arm before he could strike again. "Enough, Jean. It's over."

Jean gritted his teeth, but obliged. "Marco deserved better than this."

"I know," she said softly. She lowered her gaze to Annie sleeping soundly in the crystal. "Justice will come soon enough."

"Someone get me a wire net!" Hange ordered. "This thing belongs deep underground!"

"Understood!"

At the edge of the battle, Erwin and Levi waited as the Scouts began work on moving Annie. "Well, it was a valiant effort," Levi noted. "Can't win 'em all, though, right?"

"Right," Erwin agreed. "At the very leas the Scout Regiment's been exonerated."

"Don't be so sure, Erwin," Nile scolded. "You're going to answer for all the carnage and destruction you brought."

Erwin said nothing. Levi noticed something, and turned to Nile. "The Commander will report to the higher-ups like a good little soldier. There's no point in keeping him handcuffed."

"And why would I let him go?"

Levi pointed. Nile followed his gaze and noticed Raisa furiously glaring at him. He swallowed his uneasiness as she began to stomp over. "I am the Commander of the Military Police. If she raises a hand to me, she'll be court-martialed and arrested."

"She's well aware of that," Erwin assured him. "You'd be surprised at how logical she can be when she's enraged."

Military Police Headquarters, later...

Eren slowly opened his eyes. He rolled his head to look over at his friends. Mikasa and Armin were sitting on a stool at Eren's bedside, while Jean and Vanessa sat on the couch against the far wall. The window was open, letting in the setting sun and cool breeze. Eren groaned as he sat up. "Hey," Mikasa said softly. "You feel okay?"

"Yeah...which is weird, to be honest," he answered. He rubbed his eyes and blinked his sleepiness away. "So is...Annie still stuck in that thing?"

"Yeah," Jean answered, folding his arms over his chest. "You'd think after all we sacrificed to get her back, fate would cut us a little slack."

"It's humbling knowing how far she'll go to keep her secrets," Armin said.

"Humbling?" Jean scoffed. "More like infuriating."

The door opened and an MP entered, carrying a clipboard. "Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlelt...you two are up first."

"Yes, sir," Mikasa reluctantly got up.

Armin gave Eren a smile. "See you later, I guess."

They followed the MP out of the room. Jean sighed as he leaned his head back. Vanessa stared at Eren as she thought. "Eren, do you...remember when you almost ate Annie?"

Eren blinked in surprise. He recalled the battle, and seeing Annie's face when he exposed her nape. "I remember."

"Why'd you let her go?" she asked.

Jean raised his head, looking back and forth between Eren and Vanessa. Eren lowered his gaze to his lap. "I don't know. When I saw her face...I froze."

"Because you have feelings for her?"

Eren whipped his gaze to her in shock. "What?"

"It's the only reasoning I can think of why you would hesitate," she confessed. "You two spent a lot of time together. She taught you how to fight. Not to mention you were so conflicted about transforming and fighting her in the first place. What are we supposed to make of that?"

Eren relaxed his tension, but steadied his glare. "Not everything's so black and white, Vanessa. You're right. I do have feelings for Annie, but they're not what you think. Three years we trained together. She was one of us. A comrade. A friend, even."

"Yeah, and she killed over a hundred of our comrades and countless civilians," Jean pointed out. "She killed Marco, too."

"Just like that, huh?" Eren countered. "You could've done it? Kill her without a second thought?"

Jean turned his glare to the window, unable to answer. Vanessa maintained Eren's gaze. "A second thought? No. Annie was our friend. But so was Marco. And Eld, Gunther, Oruo, Petra, and so many others. You think fighting her out there was easy?"

"To fight monsters, we have to abandon our humanity," Jean interjected. "Armin said that, remember? Of course you wouldn't. You were too busy crying over Annie's betrayal."

Eren gripped the sheets tight. "I remember. It's my fault that-"

"Stop that," Vanessa ordered. "You're not to blame for any of this. This was Annie and the ones helping her. For whatever reason, they want us dead. They want us in chaos, suffering, fearful...maybe we do have to become monsters to fight them. Maybe we don't. We're human. We adapt. We survive."

Eren's eyes glimmered ever so slightly as he processed her words. He felt his chest fill with something he hadn't felt in awhile. "Yeah," he said. "We're human. We survive."

End of Chapter 12