A/N: The Final & Forth part of this short story! I'm curious if any readers would like to see more this timeskip au? Of Vice Commander Annie and Eren. While I love their older versions, I frankly think Annie joining Eren's cause, or opposing Eren could both end up terrible. lol

Waver PT. IV

"That was so foolish of you! Idiot. You're an idiot!"

Annie threw the broken heel she had snapped onto the table with more force than was necessary. She was pissed, and bare-footed because she couldn't walk wearing only one high heel. Her braid she had carefully styled was frazzled and coming even more undone. Her face was flushed, her breathing erratic, she glared contemptuously at the very idiot who was becoming more irksome by the second. He didn't even show an ounce of worry, shrugging out of his soiled white overcoat while she screamed at him.

"You realize that Marleyian could have gone to the authorities by now, and you told him who I am!"

Eren took a spare hanger from his wardrobe, "You know you're more prone to outbursts now. I like that, makes you more human. Don't worry, he won't tell."

Annie flushed a darker pink at his previous comment. "You don't know that."

She sighed when he turned his back to her to hang up his coat. If the Marleyian authorities showed up at her door tomorrow, well, she's going to be trialed, and quite possibly stripped of her rank. She would be forced to explain what happened in front of her peers and the Marley's officials. Even if she claimed self-defense, the justice system of the Marley had always been unfairly cruel to Eldians. She wondered if Eren told that Marleyian who she was on purpose. He probably had.

Asshole.

She felt two large warm hands on her shoulders, Annie jerked away from the touch. Looking up into that one bright green eye. Eren held up his hands, "Sorry, let me get your coat for you. Then we could talk. That's what you came here to do, right?"

She regarded him coolly. "… Yes." Annie removed her trench coat, handing it to him. Then brought the satchel above her head, mindful of the glass bottle within, she carefully placed it on the table right to her snapped heel.

She knew Eren was staring at her. He did it so blatantly, she almost felt compelled to cover her chest as if she were standing there nude. Instead, she folded her arms and took a seat. Boldly raising an eyebrow his way, Eren did the same with a curious tilt of his head.

"… Nice dress." He commented plainly.

"Thanks." She answered in the same tone.

With that he went to go hang up her coat. "So, what's in the bag?"

"Wine." Annie opened the flap of the satchel, she took out the bottle, brushing her heel out the way, she placed the wine on the middle of the table. "It's a Marley brand favorite."

Eren hummed. "Hopefully not spiked with anything?"

"No. but I'm starting to wish I did put something in it, with the way you acted."

She could see the corners of Eren's lips tilt upward in a smile.

Annie leaned against her seat, crossing her legs underneath the table. "Why were you out there pass curfew? Were you spying again?"

Eren rummaged in his overcoat pocket for something. "Hn, and who exactly am I going to be spying on?"

Annie huffed, "You tell me."

He shrugged, finding what he was looking for, he took the hair tie out of his coat pocket. "It was an experiment for me. I just thought," He turned to her, "If I'm an Eldian here, I should try to live like one, blend in."

"You're insane."

He merely shrugged again.

She took in the bleeding scratches on his face that were gradually disappearing. The cut on his lip that was slowly mending itself, the bruise underneath his right eye that was slowly fading. All his injuries were healing, except for his left eye.

"Did they do that you?" Annie gestured to his scarred eye. Eren occupied the empty seat across from her, playing with the hair tie in his hand.

"I did this… to myself."

That took Annie back. She furrowed her brows, "Why—"

"I have to look the part of a poor Eldian citizen, don't I?"

He's more mentally unstable than Reiner… Or is this… Is this part of some bigger plan of his?

Before she could ask him another question, he beat her to it.

"So, what's your story." Eren raised his hands, tying his long hair up into a bundle. "You obviously sought me out. But what's your reason for being here, Vice Commander?"

The way his voice dropped an octave as her title rolled off his tongue made her shiver. She composed herself. "I've been considering your offer."

"Have you?"

Annie bit into the plush of her bottom lip. Feigning hesitation. "This… This isn't me saying yes straight away but… I have been thinking what would be better for my father once I pass."

She wrung her hands under the table. "I know I won't last in this world too long. And my father is handicapped, he's been out of work since I was a child. He's my only family, so when I die, all my earnings will go to him. Honestly, my death is inevitable, so I at least would like to pass knowing he's living somewhere safe, preferably out of this godforsaken country."

Annie spared a glance to Eren. His right eye was focused solely on her—which unsettled her some—but he seemed to be lost in thought.

"You really care about him."

"Of course I do, he's my father."

Eren settled back into his seat. Drumming his fingers onto the table. "… Say that I can smuggle your father into Paradise—"

Annie perked up.

"—how do I know you won't betray me in the long run?"

The blonde narrowed her eyes.

What the hell? He practically begged me to join his rebellion, now he's having second thoughts? I'll have to clear his doubts…

"You want my power, right? You want me to join forces with you and aid you towards whatever goal you're aiming for." Annie leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. The low neckline of her dress dipped lower, revealing more of her pale bosom. She caught Eren's working eye dart down before immediately focusing on her face again.

She smirked inwardly.

"You should know this by now already, Eren. There's a limit to the people I care about. But I always put myself, and my father, first."

"So that just guarantees me your loyalty?" His voice sounded tight.

"Shouldn't it? How many times do I have to mention that I'm going to die soon? I don't care what happens after. If you promise me my father's safety, and can see it through, we might have a deal."

Eren still drummed his fingers. He started to tilt his chair backward, the way a distracted child might do in a boring class.

"it's war Annie, some people die. Some people live."

"Yes, and the weak follow the strong. The strong protect the weak."

She peered at him through her darkened lashes. "We'll just have to make sure the odds are in our favor then, won't we?"

The creaking of his chair resounded in the small studio room. Increasing, then decreasing in volume. Annie watched him as the gears in his mind spun.

"… You'd stay by my side," He spoke quietly, his eye cast down, "Even if that means the whole world will be against you?"

Annie blinked. The whole… world?

"What do you mean?"

Eren shook his head, halting his chair shenanigans. "I'm the most dangerous man in the world, according to the Marley, I have all the power they want. Other nations know what I am to them, a threat. But they don't consider me their ally, because I am Eldian. I am also a threat. Pretty unfair isn't it? Paradise is an island of war criminals born from war criminals. It's become a target for countries all over the world. They want my power, Annie. To subjugate my people."

Annie stared at wine bottle.

"So, I decided to take the matter into my own hands on Paradise."

"You did come here alone." She muttered. The realization suddenly dawned on her only then. It would make sense. If the Survey Corp—the Queen—or whomever mandated power on Paradise were to enact terrorism on Marley soil, considering their Eldian history, their so-called blood of the devil, then the Marley would ally with its former enemies to bring them down. To the Marley; Paradise was an even bigger enemy than all the nations they had fought.

Everyone on that island would be eradicated.

A seed of unease settled in the pit of her stomach.

And Eren plans to steal the War Hammer titan from the Marley… He's committing a grand sacrifice, thinking all his people would be willing to fight for him! He's mad but also… right.

"I do have some people on my side. I had to act first, or the Marley surely would have. Tell me, weren't you and the other warriors going to initiate an attack on Paradise, regardless of the actions our people took?"

Annie bowed her head. Eren got his answer.

"That's why I ask," he scooted his chair closer, leaning in on his elbows, mirroring her pose. "If you will stay with me, even when you will be marked as an enemy to not only the Marley and its allies, but too Paradise as well."

Annie shook her head, "My father—"

"Will be safe." Eren assured her, his green eye gleaming brightly beneath his tousled fringes. "He's an Eldian, it will be easy to hide him among the others. You can't claim he's your father, of course, but you'll still be able to see him from time to time."

Upon hearing that—her hands trembled, she balled them into fists to still them.

What is this… Trepidation? Is he really convincing me? No… No, I cannot be tricked.

Annie looked at him. At his green eye, peering at her with all the curiosity of a cat. Then to the scar where his right eye should be. Then she looked to the wine she had purchased.

I got two years left too live. I do not plan on wasting those two years fighting your war, Eren.

She moved forward and grasped his strong tan hands into her own small pale ones. She heard him sharply intake a breath.

"As long as my father is safe, and this war is over before I reach my death date. Then you found yourself a warrior. I just hope you don't make me regret it."

Eren was too stunned at her touch to form a quick response. He was still looking at their entwined hands, his mouth opened slightly. Experimentally he ran his thumb over hers. Annie watched the movement with heavy lidded eyes.

"You'd stay by my side?" His voice was almost a whisper.

"Yes." Her voice sounded breathless, she didn't know why.

"Fight a war with me?"

"Yes."

They stayed like that for a while. Time seemed to just pass by, Annie couldn't believe how tiny her hands were in his.

… He's warm…

She didn't know what was to come next. Then, Eren brought one her hands up to his lips, and he kissed her knuckles. His facial hair felt scratchy against her skin.

Annie fought to keep herself from squeaking at the sudden show of affection. The apples of her cheeks tinted a rosy hue, becoming darker beneath all that blush she had applied.

What- what is he—

"If you were going to join me, you didn't have to doll yourself up like that."

Annie's blue eyes widened. "What?"

He still held her hand close to his mouth, she felt his warm breath tickle her skin, she shuddered. "I think that was a bit excessive of you. I prefer you just as you are, Annie."

Annie scoffed. She yanked her hand back, heat rising to her face, and in other places. "I didn't dress up for you!"

He only smiled.

Annie tsk'd, turned her beaming red face from him. "And what was with that, anyway? Kissing my hand like some… prince."

He shrugged. "I was being chivalrous."

"Chivalrous?"

"Don't girls like a chivalrous gentleman?"

She scoffed again. "You are anything but gentle."

"Is that why you were drawn to me?"

Annie sputtered. Her cheeks so red, it looked as if she had come down with hives. "Excuse me?"

"Why else would you have dressed up like that?" He gestured to his cheeks, "All that make-up? You look… not like yourself, but I appreciate the lengths you went through. Even bringing wine." He nudged the bottle.

Annie, dying to change the subject. Decided it'd be best if they open said wine. Now.

He's got me feeling weird…

"We should open it, don't you think? I wasted hard-earned money on it after all."

Eren chuckled. "You broke my only cup, remember?"

"Ah."

"Don't worry." He got up, looking her over again. "I have some metal spares. Unless you'd rather drink straight from the bottle."

"And get your infectious craziness? I don't think so."

Eren snorted. He turned from her, walking to his bed, he got down on one knee then pulled out a small crate from underneath.

As he rummaged through the crate. Annie swiftly pulled out a small vile from inside her brassier. The vile was filled with a clear liquid.

One drop for dizziness, two drops for drowsiness, three drops for sleep.

She didn't know what it was exactly. The shady Eldian dealer she had bought it from after lunch hour hadn't known himself. But Eren was a titan shifter, he could heal any injury sustained to him. So, even if this questionable liquid was dangerous for his body, she was sure his power would mend it.

I hope.

Silently she popped open the wine cap. And, dropped the designated amount of liquid into the wine.

One. Two. Three.

She closed the cap tightly. Stuffing the vile back into her bra cup. It was uncomfortable there. But also, unnoticeable. Eren had checked her coat pockets when he went to hang up her coat, she was sure of that.

Said titan-shifter got to his feet again. Holding two metal tin cans. Annie rested her chin in her hands as he placed the cups on the table.

"You want to do the honors, or should I?" He jested. Annie humored him.

"Go ahead. It's your celebration."

Eren chuckled again, grabbing the wine bottle. "Celebration for… what exactly?" He popped the cap open, then poured the red liquid equally into both cups.

"You got a warrior in your ranks now, I'd say that calls for a celebration."

"Hm…" He looked at her with a twinkling green eye and a smile playing on the edges of his lips. "I guess so."

He grabbed his tin cup, and she grabbed hers. They clinked their metal cups together. Then they drank to good fortune. Or, rather Eren did.

Annie let the wine touch her lips on the rim of the cup, but did not let a drop go in. She feigned swallowing the alcohol. Eren drank the whole thing. Then he placed his cup back on the table.

He made a face as if he had eaten something strongly sour.

"Blegh."

Annie couldn't help but laugh at him. She never laughed, but sometimes it slipped through. Her laugh was obnoxious, and curt. She hated it. But from the warm way he regarded her, she would think he liked that sound. Annie cleared her throat.

Eren grumbled. "Don't laugh at me. I drink my fair share of alcohol all the time. I'm just not big on wine."

"Too fancy for you?"

He snorted. "I prefer ale to grapes."

Eren plopped down into his empty seat. He eyed the wine for a moment, before grabbing it again, and pouring himself another cup.

Annie gave a condescending look. "Not big on wine, huh?"

"I'm not, but… Eh, I'm big on alcohol."

Annie frowned at that but said nothing.

I might have to stop him if he keeps drinking…

"Anyway, look whose talking. You're still on your first cup." He pointed to her own tin.

Annie shrugged. "While you may be big on alcohol, I never was. And I don't think I can handle it very well, I do need to be sober if I'm heading back to my station."

"Does Reiner drink?" Eren swished the wine in his cup before taking another gulp.

Annie furrowed her brows. Thinking back to the first year the remaining warriors spent back in their homes away from that devil island. Reiner would down a bottle of scotch quicker than a parched man in a desert would down water. The hard liquor had only made things worse for him of course.

She shifted in her seat. "Nothing else aside from tea."

"Hm, that's strange."

You're strange.

"How is he?"

"Drowning in his guilt. Still mourning over our loss, seeing dead people that aren't actually there." Annie described Reiner as if she were describing the weather.

Eren hummed into his cup. "You know, it wasn't until after Bertolt died, I started to feel guilt over his death."

"So, he did die?"

Annie should have known. But, somehow hearing about Bertolt from Eren, made her heart sink. It was never confirmed, not really. Bertolt was considered missing in action. But the warriors who had been to the island, all knew he wouldn't have lasted long in Paradise. He had been the colossal titan, after all. Nicknamed the god of destruction. The second titan to fear after the founding.

"I thought you would know of that?" Eren had the gull to look surprised, he placed his cup back on the table.

"No, well… we only theorized it to be true."

"I'm sorry."

Annie waved him off.

What's the point of apologizing now, or at all even?

"That must mean, there is a new colossal titan?" She looked at him expectantly.

"it's not me. No. The person who inherited the colossal titan is reliable but…" Eren broke off in a heavy sigh. "their views differ from my own too much. I don't think I could ever win them over to my side. "

Annie caught the hint of sadness in his voice. She folded her hands together. Slouching into her chair, with a tongue to her cheek. Her thoughts surrounded by that of the previous colossal titan shifter.

"You know Reiner used to tell me that… Bertolt had feelings for me. That he always had, since our cadet days. He said Bert would stare at me a lot."

Why am I revealing this to him?

Though she supposed Bertolt's secrets shouldn't matter. It's not like Bertolt was alive to sulk in embarrassment anymore.

Eren was bewildered. As if something like that would never go amiss by him. "And you never noticed?"

Annie shrugged. "I wasn't paying attention to him all the time. He was too tall to look up at, I wouldn't know if he was staring at me or not, or even what face he was making unless I got a stool."

Eren laughed, but quickly disguised it as a cough when Annie glowered at him.

"You're still pretty short you know, how old are you now?"

"Twenty. And you're still a suicidal moron."

Eren raised his cup to that.

He gulped down the last of his wine, his tongue darted out to catch that last ruby drop beading down his lips.

Annie's face burned as she observed him, she rubbed her thighs together smoothing her hands over her lap. Swallowing inaudibly, Annie pulled her attention to the window behind them that over looked the vast dirty back alleys of the neighborhood. The window was shut to prevent the chilly air from entering, but she could still faintly smell the sea, miles away.

She wondered if that Marleyian she had knocked out had woken up at some point. Hopefully that one suffered a concussion.

Elsewise I'm going to be charged with assault twice.

"Annie," She heard Eren clear his throat, "I-uh… wanted to apologize for that kiss, the other day."

Annie straightened.

When she turned to him, he appeared rather sheepish, scratching at his temple. If Annie didn't know any better, she would think he was also blushing, but it was hard to tell given his olive complexion.

"I acted impulsively but, these days I often do things without even thinking."

She folded her arms. "Like trying to kiss a girl without her consent?"

He winced. "Yes."

"I accept your apology than." She narrowed her eyes, taking him in. Eren looked relaxed if not a bit agitated. Russet fringes fell over his eye, he swept the tendrils back over his ear. The first button of his shirt was popped open, and there was still was some blood stains dotting his collar. It made him look a bit feral to her. Annie cocked her head to the side, "Maybe you can make it up to me?"

It's only a matter of time until the drug kicks in…

"Huh?" He blinked. "Make it up to you?"

"You nearly stole my first kiss."

"That was your first kiss?!"

She blushed, nervously shuffling her feet as butterflies erupted in her belly. But she forced herself to keep her eyes on him.

"Almost first kiss. And what of it? I have duties, I just—I don't waste my time on that kind of thing."

Eren rubbed the nape of his neck. "Neither do I… So, you want me too…?"

"Kiss me again?" Despite how wired she looked, her tone was unwavering. And—

It's just Eren. One kiss shouldn't matter. He's going to knock out soon, anyway… I need a distraction.

Eren got to his feet. In three steps he was in front of her. Annie craned her neck to meet his face, which was twisted in uncertainty.

"Just a kiss?"

She nodded slowly, never taking her eyes off his.

He leaned down, brushing loose platinum tendrils from her face, then cupped her cheek. His vivid green eye bore into her blue ones, she was sure was going to drown in green for the rest of her life if she let this happen. She was sure was going to regret it.

No. It doesn't matter. None of this matter. All that matters is—

Annie closed her eyes, she smelled grapes on his breath as he inched closer, and then felt his lips on hers. He was warm.

Oh.

The kiss shouldn't had lasted as long. But it did. A simple peck had turned to something chaste. Something far more intimate than they had intended. Eren pulled away almost immediately when he felt Annie's cool fingers enclose around his wrist.

They stared at each other. Close, and curious. As tension thickened with pleasure from their kiss. Her first kiss with the most wanted man in the country. Who she had once mentored.

Eren muttered as he tucked her hair behind her ear. "It's a miracle that I can get someone like you on my side."

Annie surged up, grasping the front of his shirt, he straightened and stumbled, but his hands found her slim waist. Without the extra inch her heels had provided she was forced to stand on her tip toes. She pulled him in and kissed him fervently. Eren slanted his mouth over hers, and she felt the brush of his tongue against her lips, asking permission. This was so new to Annie. Hesitantly she parted her lips, felt his tongue run along her own. She shivered, nearly recoiled, but relented. Relaxing into his arms.

She tasted summer wine. Black grapes, alcohol, sugar and, beneath that, Eren. Just Eren.

His hands moved lower down her hips, smoothing the soft silk of her dress. She could almost feel his heated palms on her body through the thin material. As if he were leaving a burn where he touched her. It must be due to his shifting ability, but if that were the case, she should be burning him just as well.

Her hands moved to his broad shoulders clutching him tightly. Eren groaned, pulling back only an inch just to rest his forehead against hers. He stilled, holding her close. His erratic breathing matched her own; their tempo synchronized.

Then he chuckled lightly.

Annie's attention went to his well-kissed lips then to his green eye that was heavily lidded. She pressed her thumbs in the hollows of his collarbone. "What?"

He laughed again, "Sorry, I just had this outrageous thought."

"About what?"

He smirked, lowered his head to the side of hers, lips to her ear, and whispered. "That you put something in that wine."

A spike in her pulse broke her through the hazy bliss, Annie's eyes widened. Alerted, fearful, but she didn't dare pull back. Eren kissed her neck. Then his body began to grow slack against her. But he ground himself to her, using her small body as his anchor.

"… I had to stop you." Her voice trembled but was firm. She held onto him tightly, her arms looping them selves around his shoulders as his knees buckled.

"I wanted you to be… free." He mouthed against her neck, his strength failing him. His weight on her doubled as his legs gave out. Annie grunted, holding him up as if she were embracing him. Gently she lowered him to the wooden floor, with her hand cushioning his head.

Eren's eye was still open, pleading green as he struggled for lucidity, but it was a battle he was quickly losing. His eye locked on her, and she found herself trying to explain to him why.

"Liberio is my home." She brushed locks of dark hair from his forehead, Eren looked a lot younger, a lot like his old self.

"It's the only home I know, the only true home I have. I do love my father. But I also care for my cadets, the warriors, even Reiner. I couldn't let you take that away from me. I couldn't let you hurt them, no matter what the cause."

Eren sucked in a breath, as if to say something but even his coherence weakened. Annie could see the pupils of his eye becoming unfocused. It hurt her to see him in such a state, after the moment they had shared. It ate away at a piece of her heart.

I've never felt such guilt since… Marco.

She grabbed Eren's upturned hand. "You're right about one thing," Annie's lips tilted upward in a sad smile, "I did dress up for you."

The fingers she held twitched, "… Knew it." He rasped from a grimace that tried to be a smile. Gradually his eye closed, and his hand became limp in hers.

She stayed there with him for a while. Gathering her jumbled thoughts, swallowing down her guilt, locking away her feelings.

I did distract him though… I did.

The reassuring thought only made her feel worse. Annie stared at Eren's peaceful unconscious face. Silently, she leaned down and kissed his scarred left eye. Eren did not stir, the only movement was the rise then fall of his chest. Annie got up slowly, dusting off her dress.

"I'm sorry." She said. "Maybe in a different world, in a different time. But not here, not now."

Annie turned, hurriedly she grabbed her coat from the wardrobe, threw open the door, then fled. Forever leaving behind promises of freedom, of something more with an idealistic boy.

To Reiner, I must go to Reiner.

She ran as fast as her bare feet could take her.

And Chief Zeke, I have to tell them. No matter what, I protect my own. Just like you do, Eren.