A/N: A sequel to Relapse, So there was a one year time-skip since the last story. The events that took place in the Marley already happened. Enjoy this angst fest!

Lapse Pt. II

Year 855

Wind whistled sharply passed Eren's ears, drowning out the commands of the first Squad leader who flew just up ahead of evergreens and bright blue skies became a whizzing colorful blur as he was urged to go faster, keeping his momentum balanced, but propelling himself forward, defying gravity for the longest time while his hair whipped his face.

Several other fresh-faced scouts lagged behind, Eren pushed off the top of a high branch, using the improved gear tech, he angled his body, somersaulting in mid air, then shot straight into the skies like a bullet, doing well to preserve his gas while maintaining his speed. He left the rest of the scouts to dart through clouds of vapor. One of the recruits became awestruck, watching him become weightless- free, flying higher near the sun, a real icarus come to life from one of Armin's storybooks.

Eren loved training with the new recruits, he could never get used to the feeling of being admired for who he was, and not what.

The trainee's themselves were an intuitive bunch, many more brains with just enough brawn this year round to beat their own ragtag crew that was the 104th squad. He supposed Armin was doing an excellent job with his new career as a professor of the Training Corp Program.

Though, Eren missed him. Missed his long ramblings of the outside world, his rapid interest with literature, and just who he'd been as a person.

Even so. Eren was proud of Armin. Of the man he had become. He had faced his demons head on long ago. Eren wished he could say the same for himself.

A distant pop, then fizzle sounded off from his right, a flare gun signaling they change course. Eren kept his gaze forward, twisting only his body to track the plumes of green mist shooting up from the forest. So high up above the trees, Eren got a clear vantage point of the whole mountain they're to be doing a recon mission at. Reaching the very top was the goal for the 70th expedition outside of the walls.

The land outside the walls were vast, rich with minerals, exotic animals and abandoned villages. Commander Hange intended to explore of every inch of it, gathering resources and intel for civilization within the walls.

The walls.

While they were free for the most part. Though cautious, preparing for their next mission overseas. The walls still stood, towering over them all. A grim reminder of their caged past. The king's past.

He saw to it that no enemy would ever set foot on their land. Using the power of the coordinate, he commanded colossal titans by the masses to become the shield protecting the Eldians who had escaped with him from the clutches of the Marley. But that was so long ago.

This was a new age. Did they truly need those walls now? After so long, war after war, sacrifice after sacrifice. His brother promised he and his people freedom with the help of his royal blood, and Eren finally intended to use it after the next dozen recons of their land.

No. No. No. The walls are not to be touched. The walls are sacred.

Eren blinked. Unwillingly he lost momentum, being forced to slow down, a bit of dust got caught in his eye.

Didn't I tell you… You never listen!

Eren shook his head. Not now.

Didn't I tell you… To not cross that fence? Didn't I tell you?!

The voice in his head was drowned out by Jean's commanding tone carried by the wind.

"The mountain top is our rendezvous point, we'll be meeting there with the other squads. No stopping until we reach that mountain! This is also a test of endurance!"

The recruits who lagged behind gave shouts of confirmation. One of them zoomed passed him. Smirking over their shoulder, giddy that they had finally passed one of their own Squad leaders. Eren met the mischievous gaze of a girl not much older then he. Big blue eyes, long fluttering black hair. Pale skin. A doll-like face akin to Historia.

His breath hitched. Chest tightened. Every thump of his heart gradually increased.

"Frieda?"

Everything stopped. For a moment. Freida was smiling at him. Just smiling as he plummeted down, down, down into the earth; The evergreens swallowed him, the sun was replaced with shadows. The branches he had so effortlessly avoided now scraped every inch of his skin as he sunk deeper into the forest.

"Squad leader?!"

A moment of alarm brought him back to reality, only for a second. But the moment was lost. As he had no idea what to do. His hands were stretched out, loose. Grabbing onto nothing. What was he doing? What was he supposed to do?

It was too late now. Eren closed his eyes, and prepared for the pain of his bones shattering upon impact. Just before his body could meet the earth, a blur of black and dirty blonde hair crashed into his side, knocking the breath out of him. An arm circled tightly around his waist, he and the other were nearly struck from the onslaught of tree trunks, but Jean dodged, and weaved between, using the rest of his gas to hike them up onto a thick branch.

Eren was thrown unceremoniously onto the solid ground. He could hear Jean panting, swearing under his breath.

"What the hell was that?!"

His head began to ache. Eren sat up, gazing warily into Jean's glaring amber eyes.

"You nearly hit the ground for fucksake! Eren, what's your problem? Can't you follow orders anymore, you're supposed to be my second-in-command! Look what kind of example you're setting for the new recruits!"

Eren blinked, slow. He looked down. Avoiding Jean's expression of contempt.

"What is it, did your gear malfunction?"

His hands trembled. The gear strapped to his back felt a little to heavy for him now. Eren shook his head, "I… Forgot."

"What?"

"The ODM gear," Eren looked up, "I forgot how to use it… momentarily."

Jean's anger vanished, replaced with the look of puzzlement. Jean circled Eren, observing his gear for any nicks, dents, or missing pieces. But Eren knew he would find none.

Finally he asked, "How?"

"I don't know, my mind just… " Flashes of Freida's smile burned in his retina. Eren rubbed the side of his temple. "I blanked out for a minute, I'm sorry."

Jean was silent, staring down at Eren like he was a lost cause. Jean never hid his emotions. Eren could feel his own pride ebbing away. Being pitied for losing himself was Eren's greatest grievance. But he could do nothing to stop it.

"I'll have to report this back to the Commander.."

"I know."

"I can't have you in my Squad if you're going too… if this is going to be a reoccurring thing, you know that, right?"

"I know, do what you have to do."

Jean sighed, unhooking a flare gun from his utility belt, he knocked in a bullet, then shot straight into the skies. Yellow mist rocketed high atop the tree they settled in. The recon mission was now terminated.

He waited patiently in the Commander's office, hands folded in his lap. The muscle of his jaw clenching, a lump in his throat he couldn't swallow. His right leg slightly bouncing with trepidation.

He was doing so well these past few weeks- and now...

He wondered if Commander Hange was going to force him to go on temporary leave from the Survey Corp, she had threatened him with that course of action before. Eren didn't know what could be worse, losing his mind in the midst of doing tasks, or losing his mind in the dark lonesomeness of his bedroom.

The door of the Commander's office opened than, accompanied by a woosh of air, there stood Commander Hange, her expression sullen, though still unreadable. Eren swallowed once more.

"Commander."

"Eren." She gave a curt nod of her head. "Come with me."

The ride to the that dingy shack in Dauper was a little over two hours; but Hange was always the one who chose such far away meeting points. The last, Eren remembered, had actually been outside the Walls of Maria. For precaution. Hange didn't want any civilians actually seeing them as they transported the female titan from one location to another. If was more for the safety of Annie Leonhardt than that of the people, really. After all she was marked a terrorist, just as Eren was in Old Eldia, except Annie was a traitor of the walls.

While Eldia had given Eren the title of 'Usurper'.

It was just one of the many ways they were alike, he supposed. The Commander slowed her stallion, and so he, and the several other guards she had brought with her followed, they began trotting down a small pathway hidden by a mess of shrubbery. Down the line of the path, Eren could see the little shack Hange had stowed away Annie, At the front door was Robb, the same burly watchman that's been assigned to her for all these years, and by his side, one of Zeke's many devotee's, a blonde muscular woman standing two feet taller than the watchmen.

Eren always thought Yelena was quite a scary one. She practically eclipsed poor Robert, she stood taller than any other man of the Survey Corp; and her dark round eyes were always assessing everything around her, they gave Eren chills. But she was a loyal one, and that was what Zeke deemed most necessary.

As the group came to a halt, their horses skittering dust into the air, It was Robb who greeted them first.

"Commander! We were worried you forgot the location." He chuckled. Commander Hange hopped off her horse, Eren followed after. The rest of the group stayed back, as their only job was to keep watch of the perimeter. Besides, the only protection they truly needed was-

"Hange!" The door of the shack was kicked open, startling both Robb and Hange, Yelena simply glanced behind her, boredly, then had to lower her gaze as a tiny fuming Captain Levi stomped passed her.

"'Bout fucking time." Levi huffed, he gestured Eren over to him. "I was getting tired of that hooked nose wench, now hurry it up and get your dose of medicine Jaeger."

Inside the shack, everything had been cleaned, thoroughly. From the cracks of the floorboards, to the chipped wooden walls, even the single glass window looking out into a vast forest was gleaming, clearer than any of the windows of the Survey Corp base.

Eren almost wanted to laugh, but knew Annie wouldn't find it very funny; seeing as how, Levi had probably made her be the one to do all the cleaning. There was even a rag soaking in a bucket of soapy water by the door.

"He put you to work, didn't he?" Eren leaned back against his chair, one of two in the room. The other, Annie occupied, with thick chains binding her wrists to the floor. Her arms hung on each side of her; she was restricted movement, no matter how many times Eren had pleaded to his superiors that she was no longer as dangerous as she once had been. Annie was very much reaching her last year as the female titan, just as Zeke was at the cusp of his shifter power.

Eren tried not to dwell on that. It was difficult, however, seeing those tired lines under her eyes, more prominent than they had been months before, how thin her limbs were becoming, how pale a white her usually silver blonde hair was turning.

"He did. But I gave him hell for it." Annie shrugged. "He is one pushy, tiny old man."

Eren sniggered. "Don't let him hear you say that!"

"As if I care." Annie turned her head to the window, gazing longingly to the outdoors. To freedom. "So," She focused her attention to him again, "before we get down to what we're really here for, I just want say, I like what you've done with your hair."

Eren fingered a tendril of his now short fringes, they no longer obscured his vision. He'd taken to grooming himself after the last year had resulted in his drunk self having an unfortunate accident with his longer hair… and some rapidly spinning gears.

He'd kept it trimmed short to his nape now, just as he had when he was fifteen… sometimes though, when he looked in the mirror, he saw entirely different man, sharper looking, older, completely taciturn. Not his father. But the other.

"Thanks."

"Hm, you could've shaved though," Annie cocked her head, "don't know what you're trying to do exactly, growing out those whiskers of yours, you're starting to look a bit like my old Military Police Commander."

Eren made a disgusted face, rubbing furiously at his cheeks, groaning when he felt the coarse hair that speckled his jawline. "Ugh I do! I really do, but it just grows back even quicker, shaving is a hard task you know!"

Annie smiled, slightly. At least she was at ease this time, compared to the last, and the last before that.

"It's not too bad." She said. "I just think It'd look better if you shaved."

Always the picky one, she was. Eren scoffed, "Of course, of course. Whatever you say, next time you see me, I'll be sure to come back with a full grown mountain man beard, how would you like that?."

She snickered. "If you can even call those five hairs on your chin a beard."

"Oh, c'mon!"

They laughed. Annie shook her head, still smiling as she thinned her lips, taking him in, her blue eyes bright as a robins egg shone in the light of the afternoon sun. Glittering like crystalline, Eren was bewitched by them. But truly he was by all of her. It was not his fault, so much as it was his superiors for forcing her to become his 'cure'.

Eren did not want to ruin a moment like this with his personal baggage; but she was the only one who could handle such weight. The only one that their memories could not bleed through and take over, the only one they could not touch.

"So, what brings you to my office this time?"

Eren sighed, "The usual, only this time… " He flopped back into his seat. Scratched at his temple.

Annie raised an eyebrow. "Only this time?"

"This time, I saw an hallucination."

Annie gestured for him to go on, or as much as she could with her hands bound.

"I ah- I saw Freida, the girl I told you about once before?"

"The Queen's sister?"

"Dead. Elder sister, the previous founding titan, yes." Eren cast his gaze down, shuffling his feet underneath him. "I heard her voice first, but since our last meeting, I'm able to ignore them now, most times, so as long as my mind is preoccupied with something. So that's what I did, I was leading a mini squadron behind me when I saw her, she looked back at me and she…"

"... Eren you know I hate it when you pause." Annie tapped her foot irritability,

"I'm sorry, just remembering it- it… felt more like a dream, if anything. Freida looked alive and real, and she, she just smiled at me."

Annie cocked her head. "That's it?"

"No I started to fall then." Eren closed his eyes momentarily, reimagining the events prior. "And I don't know what happened after that, I was just… falling, tried to use my gear but- I forgot how to work it."

Eren felt blood rush to his cheeks as he muttered the last part. Not so much embarrassed as he was ashamed.

"It's like something was taken from me, a part of me, and I just forgot, sorry if I make little sense."

Annie was quiet as she absorbed this information, she usually wasn't so quick to assess what happened or what he was feeling, it's not as if she were an actual qualified physician, but she was amazing at deducing certain problems, relating to him or not. Annie cast her eyes down to her lap as she thought of a way she could help him.

"Do you still remember how to use the ODM gear?"

Eren rubbed his nape, "Well I- Yes, I do, but, it's a bit fuzzy, like that feeling I've got when I just learned how to use it, my body isn't accustomed to the gear like it's always been."

"You really did forget." Annie leaned against the chair, the weight of the chains putting a strain on her arms, she ignored the ache of her muscles, trying to think of an alternative.

"You said it felt like something was taken from you, did you mean the memory of learning how to use the ODM gear?"

Eren furrowed his brows, drawing back "No, I haven't thought of that…" A sick feeling started to bubble in the pit of his stomach.

"I don't know how the inheritance of the founding titan affects you mentally, but Eren, It does sound a lot like your memory was robbed from you."

Eren didn't like where this conversation was heading to, didn't want to hear the truth of it, really. It couldn't be.

"It's not possible." He mumbled. "That's not how it works that- the previous founding shifters are all dead, I inherited only the most of Freida's memories, and my father…"

"You have to consider it," Annie's tone grew soft upon noticing Eren's distressed face, "If this is the first time something like that happened, it's very likely it will happen again."

Eren grimaced, his gut coiled into itself. He could sense them watching him. Judging him. All of them.

"How could it be, how could they wipe my memories?" Eren stared at his opened palms, tanned and callous from his duty as a soldier. "I'd only ever been influenced by them, but this isn't something I can breakthrough, it just… happens."

"Eren…"

"I can't fight back, and that's what worries me. I can't do nothing against this, Annie. I can't."

His hands clenched into fists, so tightly, blue greenish veins pushed from underneath his skin. Eren's shoulders drooped, his head hung low. He was never prepared for the price of becoming a shifter, and never for the outcome. He was forced into this by his father. He wondered briefly, if his father too had most of his memories wiped by inheriting the founding titan. No. Eren had the founding titan abilities far longer than his father had by now; ten years, to be exact. Ten years… and three left to go.

What would become of him in those three years? What would his mind become without his balance, without Annie.

He didn't want to think of it.

"I don't want to forget." He whispered, looked up in time to catch the fear in Annie's eyes, she masked it all too quickly.

"You won't." She said. "You're stronger than that, Eren."

He could feel the sickness bubbling, churning. His insides growing hot. His head felt too heavy for his shoulders. He could tell she was thinking of the inevitable too.

"I wish it didn't have to end this way." Eren stood from his seat, walked three steps, then fell to his knees in front of the girl who kept him sane. Annie looked down into his pleading green eyes, lips parted to draw in a breath. "If I had authority, I'd free you from these chains, I'd let you see your father, I'd let you go home."

"I know." Sometimes he'd talk nonsense to her, it was his outlet. He'd say things to her that he'd lock away inside himself. Annie had heard most of his secrets already. She had known all this time of his infatuation with her. Only Eren failed to make her realize it was not just infatuation, but hopeless love. Desire. Longing.

"I wish the titan's didn't exist, this power. If none of it existed, if none of it came into existence, the things I've done, the things you've done, we've done." He choked on a sob, "My mother would be alive, my father, my friends."

It stung her to think of the original 104th squad. "I know."

Eren reached out for her, wrapping his arms around her hips as much as he could, he laid his head upon her lap, cheek pressed against her cotton dress, he sighed softly.

"Eren, don't." Annie warned him, just to remind him the proximity he was within of her was prohibited, touching was prohibited. If they were caught in this position, Annie would not see Eren for as long as she had left to live. Yet he broke this rule so regularly that she grew accustomed to it, only cautioning him of what could happen.

"Why is this world is so cruel." He spoke not just to her, but to himself as well. "It takes things from me, one by one, even my body, and now it's taking my memories, I only have so much left to give it."

Annie turned her head to the door. The only barrier that kept she and Eren from those awaiting him outside.

"I can't fathom forgetting everyone I've ever known."

The knob of the door jostled slightly, causing Annie to jump. "Eren- Eren, you have to get up!."

He buried his cheek into the folds of her dress, Annie could almost feel the prickle of his facial hair. "I don't want to forget you."

She stilled.

"I can't. I can't." He was sobbing.

Annie swallowed, worried. Glancing from the door to the broken young man at her feet. She could only do so much for him.

"Eren, you won't forget me. Even when I'm gone, You're far too stubborn."

Her voice went unheard as he clutched at her dress, she could feel him trembling. Had her hands been free, she would've grabbed his face and forced him too look her in the eye as she spoke those words to him. She too, was scared. But she chose not to focus on the future so adamantly. This life wasn't chosen for her, she was forced into it, just as he was.

Eren was right in a way, had the power of the titans not existed, the world would have been a better place. Even for all it's wars and chaos. Titans, and shifters we're just another oddity thrown into the mix. Annie couldn't wait to be free of this shitty world. She cared for very few people, and loved only two. She wouldn't be leaving behind much.

Eren clung to her small frame like his very life depended on it, and perhaps it did. He sobbed quietly, but no tears fell from his face, because they had dried up long ago. He didn't want to lose her. She was his anchor. But he couldn't cheat death. No matter how hard he willed the founding titan's power to alter it's paths. Thirteen years was thirteen years. It was a fair trade, but a cruel one.

"I promise," he lifted his head, meeting those striking blue eyes he'd grown to love. "I promise I'll remember you, I won't forget," he swallowed. "I won't. Stay with me, okay?"

Annie smiled sweetly, perhaps the last Eren would recall in the years to come.

"Okay."