A/N: !WARNING MAJOR SPOILERS UP TO THE RECENT CHAPTER 126. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION!

I just thought of Eren & Annie having a mind chat via the PATHS dimension like Rey and Ben having a chat via the force. idk I'm thirsting for ereani interaction

Paths

Every bump on the road jostled her body as the small blonde tucked herself further into the corner of the wagon. And each time she was nearly thrown off before she could grab a hold of something, Annie wondered if this choice she made was a good one. Perhaps it wasn't a good one, but it seemed that the world threw her a bone and like a hungry dog, she had no choice but to take it.

At the very least she had left something for Hitch. Annie hoped her former roommate would not resent her for leaving so early when they had just reacquainted, albeit forcefully. This trip would've been too dangerous for the sandy-haired MP soldier anyway.

Annie sat near a barrel at the very end of a four-wheeler supply wagon being manned by Armin Arlert, the movement at the back was more erratic. Every whip from Armin had the steeds galloping as if they were being chased by man-eating giants. She could have made herself a spot at the front where she wouldn't be thrown around so often, but that mousy haired girl—who had big eyes vaguely like a boy she once knew—gave her wary looks. The little fair haired boy called Falco would occasionally toss curious glances her way too.

Those two kids were part of the warrior unit—like she had been. That's what the little girl—who had introduced herself as Gabi Braun— told her. Gabi had been next in line to inherit the Armored titan, with Falco who had been competing against her.

But certain things went astray before Reiner could choose who to pass the torch too.

And now Falco has inherited the Jaw titan. Annie doesn't remember Porco Galliard much, but she did remember his courageous brother, Marcel. She wondered if both brothers harbored secret feelings for Reiner, considering they both had risked their lives to save him. She's sure she wouldn't have done the same in their place.

She still has some grudges against the armored titan for the years of manipulative abuse he pulled on her. In fact, if she ever saw his face again, she just might kick it.

Fortunately for her, the destination they were heading was a run-down home that Gabi said she had left Reiner to heal in.

"So, what happens after we find Reiner?" Annie had asked Armin as he was packing the food supplies for the trip prior. He had turned to Connie then, with a determined look in his ocean eyes. "Then we find a way to go after Eren."

Mikasa had been silent, sitting in the coach seat. But her down-turned face told Annie she had agreed with them, surprisingly.

So, they were basically on a suicide mission. How splendid, Annie had sarcastically thought then, only nodding in return. It's always one battle after the other, one fight after the other, one war after the other.

Would she ever know peace for once? Could there even be peace in a world like this?

Whatever it takes to go back to father, I suppose. Annie huddled into the corner, watching the blur of ruined homes as the wagon raced by. I did say I would do it all over again…

A feathery light feeling touched upon the crown of her head, Annie blinked, watching the smoking charred remains of the small town. The thick smoke burned her eyes some, so she rubbed at her eyes trying to repel the sting.

She rubbed until she saw stars—and when she opened her eyes again, she really did see stars. Bright white shining dots in an ink black sky.

There was a streak of greens, blue and purple lights cutting across the night sky, like someone had taken a paint brush and smeared it across a dark canvas, the lights flickered and glowed brighter than the stars. It stole her breath away, Annie tried to recollect herself.

She breathed in, eyes widening in disbelief. She no longer felt the rumble and tumble of the wagon floor beneath her—but, a soft shifting ground. Sand. Annie looked down digging her hand into the white grains, watching it fall from her palm.

Where…

She stood up slowly, dusting her old uniform of the sand.

"You're awake now, huh?"

That voice behind her made her freeze, Annie's heart skipped a beat, out of trepidation, and because she knew that voice.

"… Eren?" She turned around, cautiously, hiding her ring-fingered hand behind her back. Always ready.

There he stood a few feet from her, in that same tan tunic that was just a bit smaller on him, dark pants, and long hair that fell around his shoulders. And like Armin—like all of them really except for her. His face was grown, more angular, sharp, serious. Dangerous.

She suddenly felt trapped in this vast out known space.

"Where am I?"

"It's been four years, nice to see you woke up from your little nap." He tilted his head, peering down at her.

"Yes well, your loud voice was a suitable alarm." She retorted, glancing to her right, then left. She turned back to him. "What is this place?"

"It doesn't exist to outsiders; this place is where every Eldian is connected. And where shifters go when they die, and when they are born. It's our end and our beginning."

She felt chills course through her. End and beginning? What the hell was he talking about?

"Are you…", she took a hesitant step forward, "you're not really, here right?"

"No. And neither are you."

She's stunned for the moment. Annie did not know whether to take a chance striking him, making a run for it, or both. She settled for neither in the end. She did not know if she could take him alone anymore, and certainly not in some magical dimension. Eren was watching her studiously. As if he were mapping every contour and curve of her face, it unnerved her greatly. She dropped her hand that had been ready to flick the trick ring on her finger. She figured he had known about it already, considering their last battle.

"You," Annie cleared her throat, "You never visited me."

Why did she say that? She hadn't meant to speak it out loud, but it was one of the thoughts that circulated in her brain upon laying eyes on his face again.

"When I was crystallized." She elaborated when he quirked an eyebrow.

"And how do you know if I didn't?"

"Because I was lucid the entire time. It felt more like passing dream." She took careful steps towards Eren, having to her crane her neck the closer she got to him to look him in the eye. "I can see and hear. Nothing was ever a clear image however."

Annie folded her arms, "I do know that Armin had visited me a number of times."

"I'm aware of that." Eren turned from her, he started to trek across the sandy terrain, he gestured for Annie to follow without looking back. Annie was still for a minute, before she started after him, struggling to keep up with his long strides.

"Do you want to know what he talked about?"

"His special feelings?"

Annie blinked, flabbergasted, and only slightly pink in the cheeks. "What? No."

"He talked about you."

Eren faltered somewhat in his gait. But continued as if nothing had happened. Annie pressed on, noticing the chink in his armor. "That's all he ever did. Hitch went on and on about boys—but Armin, all he did was ramble about you. About your crazy ideals, about how you were drifting further away from everyone."

Annie stopped herself, considering all the stories Armin had told her as she lay in an immovable state. She remembers the way his voice would tremble as he uttered Eren's name.

"What happened between you two, exactly?"

Eren glanced to her momentarily not pausing in his stride, "I made up my mind. We had a fight. That's all."

Obviously, that was not all. But this Eren was not like the one she remembered—the one she trained with who wore his heart on his sleeve and was an open book to her. Annie regrettably found herself missing that loud fiery youth.

She huffed, "I don't get you; I remember when you were so determined to kill every titan outside the walls. And now you want to kill every human outside the walls?"

"Pure titans were Eldians who were prisoners of the Marley. Did you know that? Did you know they brought prisoners to the island and turned them into mindless titans?" Eren shot her an accusatory look.

Upon seeing Annie avert her gaze, he scoffed, "Yeah, I thought you would know that."

"Not everyone is your enemy, Eren."

"You're my enemy."

The way he so blatantly stated it made her made halt for a couple seconds. "I was… but I don't want to keep fighting, I just want to go home."

It was easier said than done. Annie briefly wondered if Eren knew that she was going to be apart of the suicide mission to cease his war on the entire world. He probably did. He probably knew what was going to happen before it even happened. She didn't know how—but she got that, strange feeling.

"I want to be able to still have a home to go back too." She mumbled more to herself than anything. "… were you serious about it?"

Finally, Eren stopped walking. His bare feet buried into the sand as he stood just before a towering tree. It had an ethereal glow about it, blinding her vision in white. Annie could not believe it—had that tree been there before? She hadn't been paying much attention to where she was walking, she had only been following him.

This place—this place was wearing down her grip on reality.

She shook herself from her stupor. "Were you serious about destroying the world. Everyone? Everyone outside of Paradise? Innocent people too? Woman and Children?"

Annie waited for Eren to respond, but he did not speak a word. Staring at that glowing tree like he was entranced by it. Captivated.

Growing frustrated, she trudged through the sand to stand in front of him. He was whole foot taller than her now, but height never did intimidate Annie, she was adamant as ever. "My father is still in Liberio. In the Marley nation, he's all I have and I—"

"He's not your father." Eren interrupted her without taking his eyes off the tree.

Annie choked back on her words, "H-how did you—" She bared her teeth, shaking her head. Stupid magic bullshit. Bastard! "No, he isn't. But he's the one who took care of me, who made me strong."

"To be a tool for war?"

Her hands automatically clenched tightly into fists, she hissed "What you're doing is wrong."

"I don't think it's wrong, and I don't it's right either. But it is just." Eren peered down at her then. His gaze a stormy gray, cutting through her defenses. "I have to protect this island from enemy nations that want us annihilated. We're a prime target, Annie. Don't you know that?"

Eren spread his hands, "I have a family too. Maybe not a mother or father anymore, but my friends… my friends who I've grown up with, who I've battled alongside with. When I think of them, what I can do for them to live peacefully, to be happy. I can do anything, no matter how gruesome. No matter what blood is shed."

He sighed, "I just want them to be free."

Annie scrutinized him, "At the cost of everyone else's lives?"

He stared down hard at her. "Wouldn't you do the same for your father? For someone you love?"

Annie thinned her lips, looking away. Eren shook his head, "Don't answer that. I know you already have… and would again."

The knowledge he has of her scared Annie to no end. This Eren truly did not feel like Eren Jaeger. But it was, according to his… former friends. It was him, and she must accept that. No matter how much she hated it.

"There's nothing I could do to stop you anyway." Annie lamented.

Not alone, at least.

"I hope we don't run into each other. I don't feel like challenging whatever hideous form you're in right now."

Eren cracked a smile at that—though a small one. There was a twinkle of mirth in his grey eyes.

"Likewise." He tilted his head, gazing down at her with softer look. "Y'know, I did want to visit you. Many times."

"Why didn't you?"

"Unlike Armin, I don't talk to rocks."

Annie folded her arms with a pointed look, "Even one that can hear you?"

"Especially that kind." He leaned down so his face was at level with hers, "Never know what secrets might slip out."

A seed of anxiety blossomed in Annie's stomach; her heart beat quickened. Eren was too close—she didn't consider her proximity to him, as it had never been a thing to consider in the past.

He was so close she could feel his breath on her cheek, their gazes were locked on each other, stormy gray on clear blue. There was a sudden heat she had never felt before present too. She was becoming uncomfortable

But they had been sparring partners. They had always been close, always touching, always grappling.

So why did it matter now?

Annie abruptly turned from him, facing the tree.

"I guess I'll say my thanks now." She heard him step beside her.

"For what?" Annie put a hand to her chest to placate her erratic heartbeat.

"Teaching me how to fight. Your techniques always came in handy when I was in a tough spot. Reiner was strong… but not quite as strong as you."

Annie shrugged off the compliment. Eren watched her curiously, "Why did you teach me by the way?"

That question caught her off guard. Annie tried to think of a reason, "I don't know. I… "

She trailed off, she realized that was a question that she had mulled over herself many times. And often she had figured It was the same reason as to why she had spared Armin, why she had saved Connie. But truthfully, she just… didn't know.

"I just… wanted too." She shrugged again. "I didn't really think you of all people would survive that long once we graduated anyway."

Eren snorted at that. "Ah—so you did it on a whim?"

"I guess so."

"You are an enigma, huh?"

"Not really." She turned to him, only to see a little blonde girl in his place. The little girl was dressed in rags, staring up at her behind a fringe of straw-colored hair.

Annie blinked, stunned. "Eren?"

The little girl waved at her.

Alarmed, Annie could feel herself floating—falling into an inky abyss as the sands parted like the sea to swallow her whole. "Eren!"

And as she fell into darkness, she heard his voice whisper in her ears— "See you on the other side."

At the blink of an eye, she was once again back in the wagon, that had now stopped its journey in front of a run-down cabin. Annie felt dizzy, she rubbed more furiously at her eyes until she saw colorful shapes—but no stars. No white sand, no glowing trees. No Eren.

None of that came again. It felt like dream—but she knew that it wasn't.

"Huh?" Annie looked out from the wagon, she spotted Mikasa climbing down from the coach seat of the other supply cart. Armin appeared in her vision than, he held his hand out to her, "Do you need help getting out? I know it was bumpy trip, I tried to take the most stable roads."

"I'm fine." She stood up, but her legs wobbled, and she nearly fell off the side of the wagon.

"Careful!" Armin caught her elbow, "I know your body must be pretty tired after staying in one place for so long."

"I'm fine." She said more tersely but allowed Armin to help her down from the wagon. "Is this the place?" Annie nodded to the ruined cabin, Falco, and Gabi were at the entrance with Connie.

"Yeah. Reiner's in there. Once we get him, we'll work further into our plan."

Annie cracked her knuckles. "Let me be the one to wake him up than."

She decided to keep quiet about her little venture into the unknown. It wasn't as if it would come in handy in their suicide mission anyway.