Okay here we go! I know there was a delay so forgive me. New chapter and reienrs will be just after the next don't worry. I've read chapter 97, quite interesting to say the least with the new information. I'm super hyped for next months chapter, things seem ready to go down. As usual drop a review, tell me your thoughts. Let us begin.

Deserving of the Truth

It had been a great day in the way of progress regarding both Annie and Eren's abilities. Her and Hange's hypotheses were proven correct when she and Eren had successfully managed to create 3 to 4 meter spikes from hardened parts of their body. They'd tested their damage by using them as daggers, as well as pitching them like the Beast Titan had months prior. The results were devastating to say the least, and had even prompted a hand to hand match between them similar to the exercises the 104th did in their training days of taking the knife. The fight had been far from one sided, though Annie had won in the end 5 to 4 against Eren.

Now as sundown was approaching, Annie was preparing to exit her nape when Eren's Titan approached her and held a hand out. Though he had done it before to gain her approval of his Titan at the start of the day, him doing it right now confused her. 'Whats he trying to do?' she thought to herself puzzled, and saw a few of the scouts who were still watching the pair look confused as well, Hange included.

Annie grew even more puzzled as Eren huffed and gave a look of impatience as he still held out his hand for her to take. Hesitantly she reached one of hers out to hold it and to her surprise Eren grabbed it as is came into range and pulled her closer. Her eyes widened and she went into her defensive mode but stopped as he wrapped his Titans arms around her in a hug. A moment later she could hear a faint rumbling coming from his muscular torso, seeming to come from his throat and chest.

Her eyes went still with shock, and the scouts who were still present were also in a state of it as well. Hange was looking at the pair with barely contained glee, she'd never thought she'd see any sort of affection when it came to titans. After all they were always seen as a threat or an item for war, even though she and the rest treated Eren as normal as he acted. But seeing the act before her still raised her eyebrows as she began to question what had brought it on, if it was neutral, and whether or not it would be rescinded in kind by Leonhardt.

Hange knew from her experiences with Eren about his views on the girl, even after they confronted her in Stohess. She also had been observant about how insistent he'd been to talk with her when they returned from the once fabled ocean. That and his confidence regarding the girl returning to their side made her question if the boy had once loved her. Seeing this now after their preferred company with each other since her Awakening now made sense. It also widened her eyes when she saw what was happening next.

Annie was getting over the shock of being hugged in her Titan form, especially since she had never imagined such a thing happening. As she stayed in the embrace she began to feel warm, and raised her own arms up to hold him as well. His emerald eyes and her own icy blues were closed as they held onto each other, and there were quiet sounds of content and reassurance that weren't heard by those with smaller ears. To those watching it just looked like Titans hugging, but between Eren and Annie it was a bonding moment on another level.

Annie felt a smile tugging on both her human and her titan's face as she held onto the embrace for another minute. She gave a light croon into his collarbone, and heard his low echoing rumble coming up through his throat out his nostrils. It was a unique moment for them to say the least, and probably in all of history. After all who would've thought Titans could or would hug each other in such a caring embrace?

Annie grudgingly broke the embrace after another minute, and like her Eren looked displeased that it had to end. But it didn't last long since both knew they could continue it later as humans, and felt happier that it could resume later. Right now both of them were a bit tired from using their Titan so hard for quite a few hours now, but it was a productive day all the same. Eren kneeled down on one leg and placed a fist on the ground to steady himself before exiting his nape. Annie sat on both her knees and did the same, and they both climbed down to the ground a few meters below.

As she landed on her feet she stood back and stretched her body out, feeling a few things pop along her back and legs. She rolled her shoulders to get the blood flowing before her tiredness could get to her, she also felt hungry. Eren walked over by the time she felt it rushing back to those areas of her body and held a small smug smile on his face. It caused her to raise an eyebrow at him before she asked in amuesment. "Someone's happy. Mind telling me why?"

He actually chuckled as they began walking towards the waiting scouts, maybe a dozen meters from them. "I'm just glad things are starting to ease up a bit and get better. We now have a new form of weapons that we can use, and they see that your keeping true to your promise, just like I said you would."

"Oh, so you were so sure I wasn't just gonna leave and do my own thing?" she jested back in amusement, and he gave a warm smile and a knowing look as they began making their way to the tunnel. "Never had a doubt, and I'm glad to know I can keep it that way. Plus there was that nice hug at the end..."

"That you started, if I might add. But I'm glad to know you trust me that much, even after all that I've-" but he cut her off before she could finish that statement. "Hey don't start thinking like that. We've been through this, it was what you saw as necassary. Sometimes what has to be done is the hardest things for us to decide. I've already forgiven you Annie, and we're gonna do this together. You me and everyone else here on Paradise." She found herself warmed by the words after the brief moment of annoyance at being interrupted faded away.

Giving a small smile, she took his hands as the approached the door to the underground base of operations. The usual guards to put her required shackles hesitated for a moment, but Annie held her arms out as if nothing had changed. She trusted these people that much if they were willing to trust her.

Though today had proven to be successful on many fronts, there still were precations Annie must follow to keep their trust. She wasn't bothered by it, she knew she would see the sun again soon enough. That and her shackes would come off in a few minutes. After all she wasn't a prisoner or an enemy, more of a...gamble.

'A gambler? Hmm' that was quite a way to describe herself as she reflects on it. She's been gambling her whole life on things, making those choices that she rode everything on in order to win, to survive. Just like she told Armin long ago, "Well it looks like you've won your bet. But I'm gonna gamble too, and here's my wager!" To think of where she was then to their situation now made her more thoughtful of those around her, the world around her. Change for the better had happened, even if it had cost blood and tears to do so.

Finally after walking for nearly ten minutes the shifter pair along with the other scouts arrived at "cell block" or as Annie out it, her accommodations. She wasn't shackled, anymore as they were deep enough in the ground that shifting would be dangerous, and they'd moved past that within a week from her good behavior about all the terms. She would only be shackled at entering or leaving the underground as a method of reassurance to this still deeming her untrustworthy.

Slowly and every so often back few would depart from the escort team to perform other tasks, run out commands and write reports. After a while the pair was finally by themselves with the exception of Hange who decided to still walk with them to Annie's room. As Hange went to unlock the door she found it to be already open, which caused her to look inside to see if someone were inside. To her brief surprise there was someone inside, who urged her to come inside alone. Taking a look back Hange told the two shifters to stay outside for a moment before entering the cell by herself.

Eren and Annie stood outside her fell in s state of confusion, why couldn't they go in? Was someone in there? They decided to make small talk when Hange finally came back out, and they were ready for an explanation. The former section leader looked at the both of them with a dissatisfied look on her face before telling the two. "You two have made great progress today, as well as my own little glee at you two in Titan form hugging each other, but I'm afraid that you two are going to have to split from each other for an hour or so. You can see each other after Leonhardt is finished with her report, and I want to talk to you about a few things Eren."

As the sounds of protest began Hange raised one of her hands to signal that it wasn't up for discussion. She already had reluctance to do this because it because it most likely would kill the pleasant mood between the two. "I'm sorry to have to do this to the two of you, and I know you two were probably going to enjoy some alone time, but it can wait an hour, can't it? Neither of you two are in trouble with me it the rest of the scouts, if that's what your goncermed about. There is someone inside who just needs to speak with Annie alone. "

"It better not be Mikasa Hange, or else it's not going to happen-" Eren began but Hange shook her head firmly as she took his arm and and to lead him away from Annie. "It's not I assure you, just someone who wants to talk with Annie. Come along Eren, You'll see her in a bit, if she wants your company. Which I think she might, cosnidsring what I saw from you two today. Don't worry, she'll be fine." Accepting her words, he grudgingly gave a look to Annie, who nodded in a reassuring way as she prepared herself to talk with whoever was inside. As Hange and Eren left she entered the cell and wasn't too surprised to see who it was inside. After all she's been dreading this since she's woken up, She spoke first.

"Hello Jean. I can see your here to talk about...it."

The brown haired boy leaning against the wall opposite the door merely nodded, and gestured for her to take a seat.

"That I am Annie, that I am."