HOUND
Chapter rewritten - 9/19
Yup, another rewrite directly after the other. I just really feel unsatisfied with my return to writing. I think I needed to break that awkward period when I started again...
This feels a lot better. Maybe not perfect, but it feels real and has a good weight to it I think lol
It's also about 6,000 or 7,000 words more than the old chapter which had something like 3,000? words.
I hope you enjoy it!
It had been a struggle to get here. Home, at least, Wiebke's home.
As they walked down the dirt road through the trees, Wiebke talked about her home. She skipped through the trees beside the dirt path before pointing through the woods. "Mom grows apple trees! They were my grandpa's, he grew so many! I'm pretty sure we have the biggest apple trees too."
"I'm sure they are." Anne giggled, watching Wiebke excitedly run around the road.
"We put all the apples in this really big basket, it's like really big. I try to pick it up sometimes but I couldn't do it. It's so heavy!" Wiebke hopped over a small muddy puddle before jumping in front of Anne to grab onto the titan woman's arm. She tugged on the material, getting her attention. "I'm pretty sure you could lift it though, you're so strong I think you could even lift our house!" She laughed, still skipping beside the older women.
The titan had been long since given a name through Anne and Wiebke's combined efforts to find her a name she liked. It wasn't a hard choice, but Anne had been extremely critical of what name truly suited their titan companion. So 'Eva' it was.
Eva looked down to see the little girl skipping by her side. "Maybe." The grating voice wasn't exactly pleasant.
Even Anne cringed a bit and cut in before Eva could say anything else. "She's very strong, I think she could lift your house and all the baskets." Her anxiousness betrayed her attempt at a pure smile.
If Anne was being entirely honest, she was a threat to lose her nerve. The closer they got to the farmstead, the tighter that knot in her stomach got.
There were so many ways this could go wrong, that they could all get in serious trouble. But... Wiebke needed to go home and they had to deliver her safely there. As far as the two women were concerned they were to walk up to the cottage, knock on the door, return Wiebke to her mother, and then leave without making a fuss.
Of course, in that time Eva could decide to speak when she shouldn't and her voice will scare the mother. Or Wiebke would tell her mother that Eva is a titan, despite Anne's attempts to get Wiebke to promise she wouldn't. The little girl never agreed not to, she didn't understand exactly why not and Anne couldn't explain it.
How exactly would Anne go about telling Wiebke that the woman that saved them both would be considered a monster? That everyone would try to immediately kill her if they knew. It wasn't unreasonable either, if they saw a titan and attacked Anne couldn't blame them... Even Anne wanted to kill those titans that devoured her home.
But Eva wasn't like that. Whatever made this titan different was enough for Anne, she didn't care about anything else. Anne was alive and Wiebke was going home safe, she really couldn't find it in herself to question that. It felt like such a fluke they were alive at all or got away with all their arms and legs anyways.
Eva's ear twitched, her eyes locking onto Anne's nervous expression. The titan's pointed gaze was jarring even to the toughest of people. There was something in that look Eva gave that made Anne feel like... Well, as if a titan was targeting her. Just like the ones in Shiganshina that nearly grabbed her.
It wasn't a mindless monster though, it was Eva. Sure, she is a titan and that look could be considered the same as all the others. With the context Anne had now though, it felt different and only because Anne knew more.
Eva's expression, the weight of her gaze, could be easily compared to that of another titan if Anne was to try. It felt somehow rude to do so though. Eva hadn't done anything but be kind to them. Anne is fairly certain Eva doesn't exactly know what kindness is or means really. So far Eva hadn't shown any moral complexity like that, to the titan everything seemed clear.
Eva protected the people she escaped Shiganshina with. She kept herself and the means of their arrival in Wall Rose secret. If she had a way to feed or shelter them, she would... though that usually fell to Anne. Still, Eva's protection was invaluable. As refugees scraping by, having someone strong like Eva on their side was a boon.
One shared with other refugees at times. Mostly kept to Anne and Wiebke as their secrecy was life or death worthy. Eva's mere existence challenged everything she had ever heard about titans. All the talk about titans being violent monsters bent on devouring humanity until their extinction; Anne just wasn't sure anymore.
If Eva was one of many, then Anne wasn't sure what was happening outside the Walls. Everyone accepted that titans are monsters and that's that. Outside the safety of the Walls was absolute death, no two ways about it. So Anne believed that Eva must be unique, something they've never seen before.
Then again, Anne had never been outside the Walls or even been atop the Walls to see outside. So in truth, she had no idea what was really out there.
Withholding a deep sigh, Anne glanced back up to Eva to see the titan staring at her. Surprised, Anne tried to stifle a gasp. "Have you been staring at me this whole time?" Anne raised a hand to her forehead, feeling her perspiration. She had been sweating from her nervousness and hadn't noticed.
"Some." Eva's simple answers tended to get to Anne. The titan could speak long sentences, but it didn't exactly come to her like it did for Anne or even Wiebke. Her voice had such an unnatural and strong tone to it that Anne was sure she'd hear it in her dreams. Or nightmares, one or the other. It wasn't a bad voice, just... the voice of a titan. Which Anne figured made the voice she was hearing scarier than it actually was.
"Well, what do you want?" Though Anne didn't mean to sound flippant, she knew that's exactly how it sounded. Luckily, Eva wasn't exactly good at picking up tonal cues.
"You are... breathing hard." Of course, Anne's anxiety was obvious to everyone. Even Wiebke could tell something was wrong with Anne.
With a nervous chuckle, Anne gave Eva a tired look. One that went over Eva's head for sure, but she was learning. "We're about to meet Wiebke's mother, that's a big deal." Anne groaned, flicking her wrist to the road ahead of them. "With a stranger from Shiganshina and... uh, and even bigger stranger from Shiganshina."
It definitely took Eva a moment. "You-" Eva started, but shut her mouth before glancing away. "Ah, Titan." She then pointed to herself and nodding her understanding.
"Exactly. It's not like this happens everyday. No one has ever heard of a talking titan before, much less one that doesn't uh, you know, eat people." Anne whispered the last part in hopes Wiebke wouldn't overhear her.
Eva took a visibly deep breath, "Nothing dangerous here." Her reassurance was a kind attempt, but it wasn't enough as Anne still looked nervous. Taking a second, Eva pointed between them. "We have been on the streets, months now. Was that not scary?"
Anne's eyes wondered to the dirt road, her eyes flickering between dirt and rock. "Yeah... I know you're right. Living with other refugees packed into those terrible camps was definitely worse. I think you meant 'scarier' too. You could've been found out so many times..." It didn't just scare Anne, she was also deeply worried about losing her friend. Titan or not, Eva was the only person that showed Anne any kindness. Even some other refugees would forsake their own and Anne didn't blame them. Life after Wall Maria and Shiganshina wasn't easy for anyone.
"Yes, scarier. This is easy." Eva always managed to sound so confident that Anne was a little envious. Anne assumed it was part of Eva being a titan and not knowing the finer points of human emotion. But still, Anne wanted to be that confident too.
Her nerves had calmed a bit, even if she was still stressed about meeting Wiebke's mother. "Right. It'll be easy."
"Should tell her." Eva nodded in thought. "Honesty, right?"
In a panic, Anne shook her head and hands. "No, no! I mean, okay- Honesty is the best policy and you should always be honest... but this isn't one of those times where honesty will..." Anne huffed in frustration. "So there are times where being honest will be more harmful than it will be helpful. This is one of those times."
Eva just hummed her understanding. Which wasn't good enough for Anne since Eva's silence in a conversation usually meant she knew exactly what she was doing. Anne tapped Eva's arm, "Just... let me do all the talking, okay? She's likely going to be really emotional with Wiebke coming home. We should keep it simple."
Still no response from Eva, not even her usual single nod. It disturbed Anne, but there wasn't much she could do about it.
They didn't have long to walk now. As they started the final turn on the dirt road the corner of Wiebke's cottage came into view. Just through the trees, shaded by the canopy of the forest leaves, stood an old home. It had clearly been built a few times over. Some stones were considerably older than others, some wood was rotted beside new boards, and the roof tiles didn't match the small attachment on the side of the home.
It was surrounded by a garden that had long since overgrown with a stone wall separating it from from the forest. It was a beautiful mess that had certainly seen better days.
But it was definitely Wiebke's home as the little girl bounced in excitement. She let go of Anne's hand and raced towards the farmhouse, laughing the entire way as she called out. "Mom!"
Truly, the farmhouse was a gorgeous sight. It was much older than the town outside it, though its age didn't explain the overgrowth around it. If someone was living here, they would have taken care of the vines growing up the stone or dug out the weeds that were as tall as Eva.
It felt strange, almost abandoned. Yet when Anne looked down she could clearly see fresh wagon tracks and in the paddock a little ways from the house were horses. Someone had to be here.
Wiebke reached the front door and tried to open it. She pulled and pushed on the handle, shaking the old wooden door as hard as she could. Disappointed, Wiebke started to bang her hands on the door, "Mom! Mom, I'm home! Open the door!" Wiebke kept banging the door so hard the metal hinges were shaking.
Anne stopped a few feet from the door, putting her arm out to stop Eva. "We should wait." She dropped her arm, "The first thing Wiebke's mom should think about is her daughter, not worrying about guests. Let's give them a moment."
Unsure what they were waiting on, Eva watched Wiebke continue hitting the door. She would listen to whatever Anne told her to do, the woman had always been quite astute.
It took a couple minutes before Eva heard something from inside the cottage. She heard the wooden squeak of a door faintly, followed by footsteps coming towards them.
Then, the lock on the other side clicked and the door swung open so hard it hit the wall beside it.
She had heard the calls once she started up from the basement. Some part of her head was in denial when she heard it at first. Wiebke's voice was unmistakable though and she couldn't resist coming to see for herself.
Defying all odds and the last few months of misery and grief; there stood Wiebke. The little girl didn't recognize any of that though and simply jumped forward to hug her mother. "Mom! I missed you!"
The woman was shocked, paralyzed by her grief. She had barely come to terms with her daughter's death and now, here she was. Confusion, pain, and relief hit her all at once and she fell to her knees. "Wiebke... is that really you?" Her hands clutched Wiebke's own. "How-? It's been so long." She was trying to grasp anything to make sense of it.
Before she could waste anymore time though, she pulled Wiebke into her arms. With tears spilling from her eyes, she embraced her daughter and let out all the grief she had been carrying. Wiebke was just as happy to see her mother again. Their reunion was everything Anne hoped it would be.
It felt strange standing and watching them. Anne wondered if they should've let Wiebke and her mother reunite privately as it was a very emotional moment for them both. That wouldn't have made sense since they had to be sure they were in the right place... but still, Anne couldn't help but tear up herself.
Eva felt her arm being moved and looked down to see Anne had taken it. Anne offered an appreciative smile, glad for the comfort Eva brought. In response, Eva lifted that arm above Anne much to her dismay. Then Anne felt the titan's arm rest across her, pulling her closer to Eva's side.
It was one of those kindness gestures that Anne hadn't been sure if Eva understood. Well, she was sure Eva did understand now. Anne welcomed the half hug, smiling as she watched Wiebke and her mother.
She didn't have to wait for long though, as Wiebke's mother opened her eyes to see two strangers. While she was so focused on seeing Wiebke she didn't see the strangers that arrived with her. It both alarmed her... until she realized that it didn't make much sense for Wiebke to just show up months after Wall Maria fell.
Taking a few calming breaths, she rose to her feet with Wiebke's hand in her own. She met the gazes of these two strangers, noting the dramatic differences between the two.
One was perhaps the tallest woman she had ever seen with a sharp but flat expression, she seemed guarded and somehow... unnerved her. The other woman was much shorter and was clearly moved by their reunion. While she didn't want to make any assumptions about these people, it was hard not to.
"I'm sorry, I didn't see you." She began a little worried. Eva still kept that stoic expression, but Anne was all too happy to introduce them.
Waving her off, Anne smiled brightly. "Oh no, it's alright. I figured you'd want to see Wiebke first." She tried to be polite as possible, but knew just their presence was jarring for the mother. Anne left Eva's side, approaching the woman and offering her hand. "I'm Anne-Laure and this is Eva."
Hesitantly, she accepted Anne's hand. "I'm Liesa, Wiebke's mother. Though... I think you already know that." Her smile was lopsided and unsure.
"Oh, we're heard a lot about you." Anne chuckled, trying her best to put Liesa at ease. While Anne couldn't, Wiebke did. The little girl smiled back at Anne completely comfortable with the strangers. Though the reunion was special, Anne knew Liesa wanted to know more. "We... Well, I found Wiebke in Shiganshina." Anne answered before Liesa could ask.
The shock was clear, Liesa did not expect that answer. She stuttered on a reply, anything to properly express her surprise and sympathies. It was impossible to know what to say to those few that survived. Liesa was at a loss, she didn't even know if she was allowed to be happy Wiebke was home when faced with survivors from Shiganshina.
"And Eva too, she found me with Wiebke in Shiganshina." Anne gestured to the tall woman behind her, gesturing her to come join them. Which Eva accepted curiously.
"We should talk inside." Liesa blurted out quickly. She ushered Wiebke inside while welcoming the two refugees into her home. It was a bit awkward, but Anne and Eva followed them inside anyways.
Liesa said something in a hushed tone to Wiebke, then the little girl hurried down the hallway. That seemed to be enough for Liesa to return to the duo waiting uncomfortably. "Please, sit." She gestured to the table deeper into the room. Liesa went towards the kitchen counters and began pouring water for her guests.
Anne pulled Eva along to the table and sat together. The tension in the room was thick, but Anne wasn't sure exactly why... and Eva didn't notice it at all. Anne listened and watched Liesa moving around the counters before returning with a drink for both of them and sitting across from them.
"Oh, thank you." Anne took the stoneware cup in her hands, appreciative for the drink. The silence after was deafening. Anne glanced sideways before elbowing Eva.
Eva nodded once, "Thank you." The side eye Anne was giving the titan was not well hidden at all. Eva's manners hadn't really ever come up before so Anne made a note to remember to teach her.
Liesa observed the odd interaction with a raised brow. "I... didn't want to talk about this in front of Wiebke." She started, looking between the two odd women at her table. "You said you found Wiebke and each other in Shiganshina?" Curious, though reluctant to bring up this terrible day, Liesa had to know.
Anne's expression turned somber, her eyes resting on the water in her hands. "I found Wiebke unconscious. She had been hit on the head with debris I think. I don't know where really, I had been running since I saw that... titan over the Wall. I picked Wiebke up and just kept going." It wasn't hard to talk about it anymore, but it did make Anne feel tense.
"How...? How did you survive?" An expected question, though Liesa regretted asking it the second after. "I'm sorry, that's a terrible thing to think."
"No, it's alright." Anne reassured her with a gentle smile, "To be honest, we wouldn't have survived if it wasn't for Eva. When she found us... she got us out. I ran all the way from the outer gate to the gate into Wall Maria. It had been destroyed by the time I got there, but Eva kept us going. Without her, we would've been..." As her sentence continued, Anne realized perhaps finishing it wasn't the best idea.
Liesa knew what she meant anyways, she didn't have to say it. It was still hard to understand how they managed to survive the breach and make it back home. It didn't much matter exactly how in the grand scheme of things, but Liesa had to know. "It's been so long-"
"We should tell her everything." Eva's powerful voice interrupted and silenced the room.
Initially, the sound Liesa heard made no sense to her. It was so unusual and jarring she didn't quite understand what made it. Surely, in her mind, that sound could not have come from one of these women.
"Eva!" Anne hissed at the taller woman, not sure exactly how to chastise her without giving everything away.
Liesa glanced to Anne, seeing her wide eyes and obvious panic. A stark contrast to Eva's calm demeanor, her focus still on Liesa herself. "What... was-" Liesa shook her head, "Was that you?"
"Yes." This time Liesa saw Eva's mouth open, saw the movement of her throat. This strange sound definitely came from this woman.
"Eva!" Anne barked again, "Are you serious?" She had no idea Eva had any intentions of speaking at all. Throughout their time as refugees, Eva remained dead silent to not give herself away. Now she was throwing caution to the wind.
Confused, but still wanting to know what happened to her daughter, Liesa nodded. "Please, tell me everything." She sat up straight, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath to calm herself. Something told her she might need to keep herself under control for this. "I won't get mad, I won't say anything at all until you're done." Liesa was resolute and Eva was as well.
Anne knew she lost this fight. With a frustrated groan, she waved it off. "Bad move, but whatever I guess." Anne grumbled to herself, her finger mindlessly tracing the wood grain of the table.
Ignoring the comment, Eva began. "I am a titan. I woke in Shiganshina." Just hearing Eva say it out loud made Anne nervous. "Anne was trying to run, carrying Wiebke. I found them running from another titan. I saved them from it, then climbed Wall Maria to keep them safe."
Liesa didn't show any signs of what she was feeling. She let Eva speak without interruption. Anne was clearly miserable hearing Eva openly admit to being a titan.
"We stayed there until morning. Then, I carried them to Wall Rose. I climbed over it and hid with others..."
"Refugees." Anne muttered.
Eva only briefly glanced down, "Hid with refugees. We survived, but could not find Wiebke's home. Took work, time, then Anne found you." Her voice was somehow louder, like it resonated in her throat when she spoke. It sounded as if she was echoing in this small room. Liesa couldn't understand it and she wasn't sure if she believed it.
Seeing how anxious and defeated Anne looked told Liesa there was some truth here. Though in her mind surely a titan wouldn't save anyone or even try. Titans are monsters, this woman in front of her seems normal.
"You..." Liesa blinked a few times, trying to see the differences between the women. One still stoic and the other, smaller woman not shy about her disapproval. "... But, that's not possible."
"Oh, yeah. That's what I thought too." Anne's words were a little muddled. She took a deep breath, still giving Eva a sharp side eye. "Eva shouldn't have said anything. We really didn't want you to know, cause it's a lot. But here we are I guess."
With that, Eva returned Anne's side eye look. "Honesty is the best policy, right?"
Anne slapped her hand flat on the table, "Enough with that, Eva. Seriously, you're making us look bad..."
Eva just gave a small lopsided grin towards Anne. When she saw it, she rolled her eyes and waved Eva off. "Oh, stop that. You can't act all innocent now."
Watching the short squabble really kind of endeared Liesa to the odd women at her table. They were clearly close, even though they seemed opposites to one another. "You're... a titan? One of those monsters outside the Walls. How- I guess I want to know, how you're like this?" Liesa loosely gestured to the small stature of the woman.
Now granted, to the majority of people Eva was remarkably tall. With her stature towering over most at about six feet. However, for a titan she was perhaps the smallest ever. With the smallest recorded titans being three meters, Eva was still a lot smaller.
"She can change how big she is." Anne answered before Eva could. The titan turned to look at her curiously. "We found out pretty quickly Eva was a bit weird like that. I mean, she didn't eat us and she saved us. So, obviously she was different... Then we got to Wall Rose and didn't know what to do. Leaving Eva behind felt... wrong somehow." Eva's usual hard look softened, she did feel grateful for Anne's insistence to bring her along.
Liesa, still frozen to her spot, couldn't help herself glancing over the tall woman at her table. She did not look different than anyone else. Nothing would tell Liesa she wasn't human or, at the very least, just an unusual person.
Anne poked Eva's arm after catching the affectionate look Eva was giving her. "It took a long while before we figured it out. Then, Eva managed... this. She's been like this ever since, but we know she can be big again. When we've needed her protection, Eva was always there for us. I'm not exactly tough or intimidating after all, best I can do is say mean things. Eva can knock some sense into... people really in need of it." The sly chuckle from Anne told Liesa they had a few run ins proving this.
"May I ask some questions... Uh, Eva. Just to make sure I'm understanding this." It was certainly taking some effort to grasp this and Liesa was doing her best.
Eva turned her attention to Liesa before giving an affirming nod.
Shifting in her seat and clearing her throat, Liesa prepared herself. "You are a titan. At some point in Shiganshina, after the gate was destroyed, you saved Anne-Laure here and my daughter, who Anne-Laure was carrying. Do I have that right?"
Again, another short nod from Eva.
"You, as a titan, got Anne-Laure and my daughter to Wall Rose. You protected them in the city with other refugees, despite... being a titan." Liesa knew she was saying titan a lot, but it was difficult not to continually mention it. The notion was insane to her.
Eva also noticed her repeating it and nodded again. "You have doubts?"
Liesa almost laughed at how ridiculous the question was. "Of course I do. It's not exactly like titans just... do... things like that." She struggled for the right words, "They're monsters. They destroy and devour, they're not known for saving anyone."
In response, Eva excused herself from the table. Anne thought perhaps she was offended and was momentarily worried by the action. Her prior playful demeanor completely dropped into concern for her friend, but was quickly dismissed when she saw Eva beginning to unbutton her shirt. Then Anne understood what she was doing.
Feeling a tad embarrassed seeing Eva starting to undress her shirt, Liesa turned a bright red. She couldn't exactly look away, but she really didn't want to stare at a half naked woman.
That embarrassment died instantly when the unbuttoned shirt fell from Eva's shoulders. Liesa was beyond shocked, she felt even a little faint and fascinated.
Eva's torso was entirely flat chested, there was nothing there at all. No defining evidence of a human being. Instead it was clear she had muscle definition and... there was no movement at all. She wasn't breathing. Liesa really couldn't take her eyes off this extremely unconventional display, there was a lot to say and yet nothing was coming to her head.
Simply put, Liesa started to believe them. At the same time, she couldn't understand... "Why?"
"Huh?" Anne raised a brow. The little show Eva put on amused Anne, but Liesa seemed far less amused.
"You're... not human. I don't know how to believe it, I'm probably going crazy. But if you really are a... a titan. Why help humans? You-" Liesa's voice caught in her throat. The terror humanity has felt for decades was standing in front of her right now. It was hard not to be scared. "Titans are monsters. What makes you any different?"
Now Anne was at a loss for words. She had no idea why Eva was different, she was forced to accept it in the moment. "I don't know why she's not like the others. I had been running so long my feet were bleeding, I had a little girl in my arms... I wasn't exactly given the luxury to study Eva before I had to trust her with our lives."
A bit ashamed she had asked, Liesa still had to know. "You saved my daughter, both of you did. I don't want to sound ungrateful." A small forlorn smile appeared, "I have struggled for so long just to accept I wouldn't ever see her again. Her father, my late husband, was a good man and I've been raising her alone ever since. She's my whole world. I can't begin to describe the pain I felt when we got word of Shiganshina's destruction."
Eva began to button her shirt back up as she rejoined them at the table. Both her and Anne shared a mutually sad glance before returning to Liesa. Anne wished they had managed to find Wiebke's mother sooner so she wouldn't have had to suffer for so long. They had done their very best, still Anne couldn't help but feel a bit responsible.
"Just like I can't find the words to describe my grief, I also had no words to tell you how thankful and happy I am to have her back. Wiebke is more important than my own life and I would do anything for her... Not being there for her that day or her grandparents... I wish I could've done something. I'm still so wracked with grief I can't exactly only be happy. I'm so confused how to feel..." Liesa swallowed hard, "So please, excuse my rudeness when I ask you these things. I have to know what my girl went through, how her grandparents died, and how a titan coming to my home isn't dangerous?"
Anne winced a little, she really wasn't sure how to answer that. "We don't blame you for being wary. I guess I really never had to ask. I knew without Eva we would've died and from there, I just accepted how things were." She leaned on her elbow, resting her head in the supported hand. "To be honest, I had no intentions of telling you exactly how we survived. I didn't want you to worry..."
"I wanted to tell everything." Eva continued where Anne trailed off, "I still have some trouble understanding so much. There is a lot I struggle with. But I am not a threat. Ask anything you want to ask."
Liesa took that invitation immediately, she had no issues taking up the offer. "Are you going to... eat anyone?"
"No." Eva and Anne answered in unison. There were no doubts between them that this was not a possibility. Their confidence didn't exactly sooth all of Liesa's worries though.
"How can you be sure?" The question was somewhat more directed to Anne, though they both accepted the question.
"The only thing Eva's ever actually worked towards is finding ways to sleep more or guarding me and Wiebke as if we're going to be attacked every second of the day." Anne grinned, though she felt it perhaps a bit out of place to reminisce about it. "If Eva wanted to devour anyone, she had plenty of chances. Every time we've gotten into a fight with someone, Eva's avoided violence for as long as possible. Ruins her attempts to be lazy..."
Though it was a little more playful than the mood called for, the levity didn't go unappreciated. Eva shrugged, "I like sleep more than fighting. I do not want to eat a person. I like food, the same food you eat."
"So you do eat?" Liesa felt a bit more at ease. Still, it is a titan she's conversing with so she wasn't entirely okay.
"She doesn't need to." Anne took the question from Eva, "She likes good food, like good cooked food and stuff. Give her that old stale bread like they give to all the refugees and she won't eat it though. She's picky like that."
A titan with a food preference was odd. Liesa continued, "Have you ever eaten anyone?"
Eva's expression faltered, she appeared as though she had been slapped across the face. Her gaze fell down and to the side, nervous and guilt ridden. "I have."
Just the thought disgusted Liesa, that feeling of being unsafe came back. "Why?"
"I do not know." Came the unsatisfying answer. Eva appeared just as unhappy about it. "I said I woke in Shiganshina. Before I started thinking, my memory is... bad. I do not remember much."
"Eva... She wasn't exactly all there before we met. It took some time to, I guess, teach or remind her how to talk even. She picked it up just fine and she clearly understands everything. She's just a little rough around the edges, but she has feelings too." Anne really wasn't sure if that helped at all, so she tried to rephrase herself. "I mean, she's my friend. She's compassionate, considerate, and loyal. She's not a monster."
"Okay, I'm willing to accept that." Liesa had to work the realization into acceptance, yet she still fought with the concept. "I guess if you're not dangerous... it's alright. I don't really understand and I don't think I really ever will, I'm sorry."
Anne shook her head fervently, "No, don't worry. I don't get it either. It's fine, we really only wanted to bring Wiebke home. I didn't mean for all this to happen."
Thankful, Liesa stood from the table. "Well, I don't think I can ever repay you for that. I suppose like you, I don't need to understand why. Wiebke is home and while we have lost a lot, I can be happy she's with me again. Thank you for that." Her attention fell to Eva, "And titan or not, you saved them. I can't lie, even after everything the very thought of a titan is terrifying. I'm still glad you were there though."
Suddenly feeling a bit rushed, Anne shot up from the table. She really wanted to thank her luck that this woman wasn't threatening to report them to the Garrison. "It was nothing really, we're relived we found you! We've been searching for months, but knowing Wiebke is home safe makes us both feel a lot better." Anne smiled wide as Eva rose from her seat, watching Anne's nervousness resurface.
"Of course," Liesa headed around towards the door. "Thank you again, I think I'd like to spend some time with Wiebke though, today has been very taxing."
All too happy to be leaving without making a scene, Anne stepped towards the door with Eva in tow. "I'm sure! We'll be on our way now." Anne was practically pushing Eva out of the door, though the titan did not see a reason to rush so she continue to walk leisurely to the door.
As Liesa opened the door for them, a brief though came through her head and on a whim she asked. "You lived in Shiganshina, right?"
Anne hesitated a moment and looked at Liesa quizzically. "Uh, yeah. I was a tailor and I lived above my shop. It was near the outside gate that was hit first." She mostly recited it to herself, but it was exactly what Liesa was curious about.
"So, where do you live now?"
Embarrassed, Anne ran a hand over her hair. "Oh, well... you know, here and there."
"We lived in refugee camps, but when they got full we lived on the streets." Eva had no shame at all. Refugees were survivors to her and she didn't see their homelessness as anything to be embarrassed about. Sleeping outside was preferable to Eva anyways.
Anne felt all the shame for the both of them though. "It's not that bad. They still give out rations for refugees so we just hang around." Her nervous laughter hid nothing at all, despite her desperate attempt to do just that. She did start trying to push Eva out the door though.
Liesa looked outside wistfully. It hurt to see the aftermath of Shiganshina and Wall Maria's destruction. The refugees were everywhere, starvation rampant, and then there was the operation to conscript refugees to take back Wall Maria... It was a terrible time for everyone. Those lives weighed heavily on all the survivors.
As Anne was making progress getting Eva out of the door, Liesa fought with herself about what to do. She hated seeing so many people suffer and not being able to do anything about it. With Wiebke gone, the farm had begun to fall into disrepair. Liesa hadn't the energy to get up and work anymore. The pain was overwhelming and the garden, farm plots, and even the barn was overgrown.
It would be a lot of work to restore it and Liesa wouldn't be able to do it alone. These women had brought Wiebke back home and one of them was definitely strong enough to do all the physically intensive labor the farm demanded.
In truth, Liesa was trying to talk herself out of it, but she knew her decision had been made for her. Wiebke was home, that's all that mattered. These people, as unusual as they were, made that happen.
"If you have no where else to go..." Liesa's voice cut through the air and Anne's head turned to look at her in surprise. "Why don't you stay here? At least, for a while, until you find a place of your own."
Anne was fully taken aback, stunned by the offer. She had no intentions of taking her up on it though as it felt too generous. "We couldn't impose on you, but thank you."
Liesa looked out to the sad state of her land, "Well, in truth I need some help." She was a little ashamed herself by the state of her farm, she felt it reflected poorly on her. "Since... I thought I lost Wiebke, I stopped working on the farm. It's really gotten in bad shape and I could really use the help. Especially someone who can do some heavy lifting?" Liesa wondered if implying Eva's titan strength was useful could be considered rude or not. She really wasn't sure.
Anne's eyes were wide, her mouth slightly agape. "I- I'm sure-" She was a bit frustrated with herself. Taking a deep breath and composing herself, Anne pointed her thumb to Eva. "That's up to her I guess. I mean, I'm fine with some honest hard work. What about you, Eva?"
She was really hoping for Eva to agree. Even though they could survive on the streets and refugee camps, Anne hated it. If this offer was legitimate, working on the farm was a small price Anne was happy to exchange for a warm bed.
Eva didn't anticipate Anne would accept the offer, considering Eva's state of being. With a shrug, Eva nodded. "Yes, I can do that."
Quickly, Anne threw her arm around Eva's waist. "Great! If you'll have us, you'll have two farmhands ready to do whatever you need!" Eva just grinned and shook her head at Anne's excitement.
Hoping she didn't regret the choice, Liesa agreed. "Then... I guess you can stay here so long as you help out."
Anne groaned as she opened her eyes to see the faint light of the sunrise. It was still mostly dark and she could already hear people in the kitchen moving around and, undoubtedly, preparing for the long day ahead of them. They were given a place to stay as long as they worked and Anne had ever intention of earning her keep.
However, there was an additional job Anne had for the last few months. The tedious task of waking up Eva and convincing her to work. Sure, the titan did agree to hard labor, but it was less for Eva and more for Anne. Sleep is still sleep, on the streets or in a bed.
Well, in this specific case Eva didn't exactly have a bed. As Anne swung her legs over the edge of her bed, stretching and yawning almost dramatically. It was meant to be comical, Anne was so happy to have a bed, a blanket, and shelter she really couldn't stand the thought of leaving its warmth.
But to keep it, she had to work for it. As she stood up and took her first step she immediately tripped. Distracted in her sleepy haze she had completely forgotten the titan sleeping on the floor of their shared room. With a tired sigh, Anne shook the sleeping titan with her foot.
"Come on, time to wake up, Eva." Shaking her really didn't do much, Eva made no response. Anne was still half asleep and really didn't want to struggle with the stubborn titan. "I really need you to get up. We have work to do!" She rested on her haunches and shoved Eva with both hands.
Still, nothing. The titan remained dead asleep.
Confused, Anne looked out of the window before recalling the day before. It was a bit overcast, the entire sky blanketed in clouds. It never rained, but it had the day before that even. Which meant there had been very little sunlight over the last three days.
Anne groaned, "You're completely out of it, huh?" She lightly patted the side of Eva's face. With no signs of Eva moving, Anne knew what the issue was. She needed to get her outside in direct sunlight, let her rejuvenate and things would be back to normal. It felt a little awkward though, Liesa had allowed them to stay and she was already apprehensive enough about Eva. Highlighting even more differences between Eva and them could be damaging to their image.
Unfortunately, there was no way around it. Without the sun Eva would not be able to work at all.
Instead of wasting time panicking on what to do, Anne got dressed and made herself presentable. Shaking off any awkwardness, Anne left the bedroom and continued down the stairs. She was immediately welcomed into the kitchen by the smells of a delicious breakfast Liesa was setting out.
As she stepped into the room with the mother and daughter duo, Anne waved. "Good morning."
A good restful sleep had given Liesa the time she needed to come to terms with her guests and their oddities. She felt more comfortable with them here now, though she still had to wait and see if they could carry their weight. "Good morning, Anne. Breakfast is about to be done."
Pleasantly surprised, Anne smiled sweetly at Liesa. "Oh, thank you so much!" Before realizing she still needed to fetch Eva, she looked back up the stairs before turning back to Liesa. "Um, I forgot something last night and, don't worry, I know how to take care of it. It'll just take a few minutes."
Curious and worried, Liesa hesitated as she lifted the skillet filled with cooked eggs. "Oh? What's that?"
"Well, it's not bad or anything... But titan's need sunlight to function. I happened to forget last night which means..." Anne pointed her thumb back up the stairs, "I gotta get Eva outside so she can wake up. Otherwise, she'll just lay there forever." Anne just decided to lay it all out. She fully expected Liesa to show some kind of disapproval and winced.
Contrary to yesterday's discomfort and questions, Liesa showed no signs of being bothered. "Oh, alright. Do you need help?"
The calm response surprised Anne. Liesa seemed so suddenly well adjusted to the idea of living with a titan. For a moment, Anne hadn't remembered to reply until Wiebke got up from the table to get her dish. Anne shook her head, "No, actually. Eva's really light I can just carry her down... I didn't want to worry you is all."
Liesa nodded, "When you're done with that, come back in and have breakfast. It's important to have a big meal before we start work." With that, Liesa seemed to brush off the odd situation entirely.
Anne's head was spinning with this dramatic change. She wouldn't question it though in case she made it worse, so she hurried back up the stairs and into the bedroom. Sure enough, Eva was still in the exact same position on the floor.
"You're so lucky you're ridiculously light." Anne rolled her eyes, bending down to hook her arms under Eva. She carried the six foot titan with relative ease. A bit difficult fitting through the door and down the stairs, but ultimately not hard to carry her at all. "I wouldn't do this for anyone else your size. If they fell on me, I'd probably be squished."
Anne glanced to Eva's head resting over her shoulder. She knew it looked silly, such a small woman carrying someone so big in her arms. When she got to the kitchen the surprise was evident on Liesa's face as well.
On the other hand, Wiebke just giggled. "You look funny." The little girl's laughter seemed infectious and Liesa began to chuckle with her.
"Oh, har har." She scoffed playfully. "Uh-" Anne looked at the front door and realized she had completely forgotten about it.
"Wiebke." Liesa gestured to the door and the little girl hurried over dutifully. She unlatched the door and pulled it open, letting Anne carry the tall woman outside and into the early light. Once she was outside she heard the door close behind her.
Finding a suitable spot was a bit challenging. The land in most places was forest with a thick canopy, but when Anne saw it she knew it was perfect. A small hill with a drop, a tree had grown at the top and fallen over, leaving a large gap in the canopy perfect for her titan friend.
Laying Eva on the grass, Anne sighed in relief. Carrying Eva wasn't too hard, but it still took some strength to do. The sun was beginning to rise and in a short while, Eva would be awake again. Satisfied, Anne returned for breakfast and she was excited for it.
When Anne finally got back inside she saw Liesa and Wiebke already eating. A plate filled up waiting for Anne at an empty seat. "It smells amazing, Liesa!" Anne sat down, grabbed her fork, and took a big first bite. It had been far too long since she had eaten a proper meal, just the flavor of the eggs alone made Anne want to cry in relief.
Liesa could see how excited Anne was to dig in. Refugees were not exactly given any decent food due to the shortage. Everyone was struggling, rations were not enough for a person to survive on. Anne was eating and savoring every bite, just seeing how happy she was to have good food again made Liesa smile.
Breakfast mostly went by in silence, everyone just enjoying the early morning. It wasn't until Anne could see the morning sun coming through the kitchen window. The sun was rising fast, finally beginning to reach Eva on the broken sunlit hill.
As Anne put her dishes away, Liesa approached her. "When do you think Eva will wake up?"
"Probably not long. As long as she has sunlight, she'll wake up pretty quickly. It's just been really shady these last few days." Anne shrugged, "I'm sure once we start for the day, Eva will join us."
Liesa accepted the answer and started towards the front door. "Let's get to work then, there's a lot to do." Liesa didn't need to convince Wiebke, the little girl was glad to be home and didn't need to be told to go outside. Once they were outside with Anne following just behind, Wiebke raced over to a wooden swing and began to swing herself.
As Liesa and Anne headed to the fields, they were immediately met by Eva standing to the side of the dead plots. She raked her fingers through her hair, looking over the farmland before spotting the other two women nearby.
"You were right." Liesa was glad to see they wouldn't have to wait for their heavy lifter. "Good morning, Eva."
The titan nodded her head, "Yes, good morning." Her eyes kept glancing between the dead fields, overgrowth, and various dead plots.
"We need to till the main plot. I used to have a horse for it, but he is too old and can't pull the plow anymore. So while he lounges around the stable, we need another way to pull the plow." Liesa looked to the titan and it didn't take more than a moment before Anne picked up on her suggestion.
"Ah, that's perfect! Eva, you're the new plow horse!" Anne laughed, then laughed harder at Eva's confused look.
Liesa lead them over to the shed attached to the house. It had some overgrowth, Liesa had a hard time opening the door even. A tall, thick weed had overtaken the front and sides of the shed. The thick vine tendrils had effectively tied the door shut. With a hard pull, Liesa sighed in frustration.
Without a second thought, Eva grabbed the edge of the door and pulled it free. Her strength easily tore the plants off the door and flattened the rest under it.
It was a small display of her strength and Liesa was pleased. She had worried her betting on this titan's strength was a long shot, but she handled this bit quite easily. If Eva did lend her strength on demand for the farm she could really make this a lot easier than Liesa previously feared.
Stepping inside, Liesa pointed to the large hunk of metal laid over in the corner of the room. "We need that, but I can't move it without help."
"How did you even get it in here?" Anne gaped at the sheer size of the metal plow.
"I used to have farmhands, but after everything... I couldn't really afford to keep them on." Liesa rested her hands on her hips, waiting expectantly. But when nothing happened, Liesa lightly tapped Eva's arm with the back of her hand. "Would you?" With her gesturing to the plow, Eva finally understood.
"Oh, right." Eva walked over to the plow trying to find a good way to grab on and drag it out. It was difficult, but she managed to start dragging it out of the shed. Liesa and Anne stepped out of the way as Eva dragged it outside.
Once back on the grass, Eva let it go. Liesa was beaming, her hopes thoroughly restored. Operating the farm alone was near impossible and with the sorry state it had fallen into, Liesa had started to fear she let it get too bad.
Luck was on her side and she had been gifted this titan. What Liesa really needed to get the farm up and running again was raw strength. For plowing, harvesting, heavy lifting of all kinds; it was the most expensive work and the hardest to find help with. As she looked up to the tall titan woman, Liesa couldn't help but get excited.
"Now, do you think you can pull this plow through the farm plots? We have to till the land before we can even hope to plant anything." Pointing to the first field, Eva raised a brow.
"I... do not know what I need to do." Eva shrugged again, helplessly confused.
Anne slapped her hand on Eva's back. "No worries, I'm sure we can figure it out!" She really didn't want to leave room for error. It was time to buckle down and work, not give any reason for Liesa to kick them off the farm.
"First, I'll fix the horse collar on you and when I've gotten the plow up, you'll pull it through the field. We do that for every line all the way until the end. Anne will start working on clearing the weeds out from the smaller plot we can't plow." Liesa pointed to the small fenced in area away from them. When Anne didn't move, Liesa flicked her wrist towards Anne. "Well, I'm sure you know how to do that. There's a wheelbarrow out there, just pile up the weeds in that. When you're done, come find me."
Anne practically jumped, "Yes, ma'am!" She was nervous about leaving Eva and Liesa alone though. Still, she rushed off to get to work. Eva would do well, Anne trusted her. It was still a strange situation regardless.
Liesa had also left Eva for the shed, before hauling out a large... loop. Eva figured that must be the collar she mentioned, though she wasn't sure how to use it.
"Okay, so you'll have to pull this whole plow through the ground. I won't lie, it's going to be hard work. Do you think you're strong enough to pull the plow?" While Liesa did want this to happen, she wouldn't force something that was impossible.
It seemed Eva was less sure about the idea. While she inspected the plow and the collar Liesa hand over her shoulder, Eva found a problem. She was both not big enough for the collar and not strong enough to pull the plow through anything. It would make it a lot harder and it was already difficult moving it.
"I need to be bigger." Eva met Liesa's eyes, "Are you okay with that?"
That sounded perhaps more threatening than it should. Liesa was a bit apprehensive, but if that's what it took... "If you're okay with it, I am too."
Eva nodded once and said nothing else. She began to shed her clothing again and it made Liesa turn a bright red again. Eva had no issues undressing openly or simply being naked at all. Yet Liesa was trying not to stare as Eva hung her shirt over the fence beside them. When she removed her pants Liesa was especially nervous.
But no matter Liesa's awareness of Eva, it was still a shock to see the body of a titan under those clothes. Somehow with just the addition of a shirt and pants, Eva had looked like a completely different person.
When Eva looked at Liesa again, she could see her blushing face and worried expression. "Are you upset?"
"Upset? No! I'm just... it's strange." Liesa's eyes wandered over the body of the titan in front of her. Eva was a relatively normal height with all the lack of features of a titan. Even though Liesa knew there was nothing to worry about, it was more jarring to see Eva entirely as a titan. "Um, go ahead and do what you need to do. Don't worry about me."
Eva's head tilted slightly and she turned to face Liesa. "I am not easy to be around. I scare you, I am scary." Her bluntness was unexpected, but oddly welcome to Liesa. "I worry, I understand. Be honest."
It was a very strange kindness that Liesa would've never expected to come from a titan. A monster that devours humans... was offering understanding, that she knew what she is and what that meant for people around her. Something about it made Liesa a tad sad. "It is very scary, you're right. I've never seen a titan before, I don't think anyone I know has."
Eva's eyes closed as she nodded softly. "I try not to be. If you need more, to be ready to see me. It is fine."
It was easy to tell Eva's speech was a little broken. She seemed to have some issues with it, though she did make sense. With a deep breath, Liesa grinned. "What I really need is to get the farm running again. I'll get over everything else, but yes I think you're right. It'll just take some time to adjust."
Satisfied, Eva took a few steps away from Liesa. "I will not be too big. Just enough."
As Eva took those steps back, Liesa started to see why. Eva's body began to change, there were these bright strands attaching to her body from thin air. There was some steam when the new connections were made. Her body started to change faster as more of those colored strands attached to more of her body, building her bone and muscle until she towered over Liesa.
When the strands slowed down, the thin sinewy lines all over Eva's body were healed with a quick flash of steam. Then her body looked complete again...
"Big enough." Eva crouched down, resting on her haunches so she could almost half her height.
Liesa was a tad shocked, the incredible display of titan power was unheard of and she wondered if anyone knew this was possible. When Eva had been standing up she was about the same height of her home, a two story cottage. The sheer strength at this height... Liesa was sure she couldn't even imagine it.
Setting the collar against the side of the shed, Liesa chuckled. "I guess we don't need that, huh?"
Agreeing, Eva reached out for the plow. Now she could easily lift it in one hand, holding it up and inspecting it. "Show me." Eva stood back up, ready to follow Liesa.
"Okay." The woman muttered, keenly aware of the heavy footsteps behind her. It was hard to come to terms with Eva as it was, but now it was undeniable. There was a titan following behind her carrying her farming equipment. For a moment, Liesa wondered if she really was losing her mind.
After a brief trial and error with Eva using the plow, they managed to find a good way to get the work done with minimal effort. Liesa only had to watch as Eva forced the plow through the dirt following Liesa's directions. Eva could easily rip through the ground with the plow. With how quickly the beds had been tilled, Liesa could see easily tripling the farm plots with Eva's help.
Anne had been sneakily watching from the gardens, her hands full of weeds and dirt. She took brief moments to stop and spy on how Liesa and Eva were getting along. Seeing Liesa's smile as Eva's titan strength make quick work of the fields made Anne swell with hope.
As a result of introducing Eva to the farm, their harvest quickly became one of the largest privately owned farm providers at a low price. One bed was entirely dedicated to the food shortages, going directly to free food providers for the impoverished that fled Wall Maria and the few survivors of Shiganshina.
There was nothing in their life that Eva did not improve. The family had lost a husband and father a year before Shiganshina fell, which left them barely scraping by. With the growing dread of losing the farm, Anne-Laure and Eva joining the family ended up being the much needed miracle Liesa had been praying for.
Work aside, Anne and Eva's presence in the family filled empty chairs and company Liesa and Wiebke had been missing. It made the family feel whole again, finally moving on from their losses.
Things were finally looking good and they lived peacefully on the farm together. The concern that someone might discover Eva was largely dismissed now. No one ever came to the farm and Eva was always dressed properly when off the farm. When speaking quietly, Eva's voice was indistinguishable from anyone else. When she spoke normally... it was obviously not human, so they avoided that.
Eva stayed with the family day and night. She never left the farm without them and she rarely gave anyone outside the family a passing glance. Quiet and infinitely patient, Eva turned out to be a perfect guest.
With only a few accidents on the farm when she was just learning how to maneuver through buildings. A few broken dishes, chairs, and one vase later Eva had finally got enough spacial awareness to not break things or bust an arm through a window. It also helped that she now understood what it meant to break those things.
Wiebke was obsessed with climbing the titan. Being so high up was fun for the girl and after one incident when Wiebke fell from Eva's shoulder and the titan caught her without hesitation, Liesa was no longer worried about the risks.
Anne finished mixing the sack of dry horse feed and tied it off, Eva coming over to lift it into the wagon. With a little wave as thanks, Anne climbed onto the wagon quickly followed by Liesa and Wiebke. They had a full and stacked wagon ready to sell.
It took a minute for Eva to burn off enough of her body to be small enough to blend in. With the burning mostly under the skin, only burning lines across her body to let off steam, it almost appeared nothing was changing until she finished and her height was noticeably different.
She kept her human appearance at a height of six foot, quite a bit taller than Liesa and Anne, but not enough to be suspicious. She had to keep that height or otherwise garner suspicion if she had ever made herself shorter or even slightly taller.
It didn't seem to bother Eva though, she was completely fine with changing height to suit their needs. Though doing too much too quickly did tire her out, they found her limit rather quickly and worked with her.
This was perhaps her favorite part of the day. To be out with everyone, she could see so much. Her curiosity helped a lot when it came to learning about the world around her. No one ever questioned her thankfully, so far they did not see any issues with letting Eva wander on her own as she was always careful.
While Liesa handled the sell, Anne and Eva began to unload the wagon with little Wiebke picking up the smallest baskets to help. Eva paused a few times, looking through the crowds to see so many people...
For the briefest of moments she saw flashes of Shiganshina. She felt something inside her chest twist painfully, whatever it was caught in her throat before Anna interrupted.
"Hey, can you toss me the corn in the back?" Anne pointed to the brown sack. Eva bent over, picked it up, and returned to Anne. She hopped out of the wagon and dropped it off with the merchant. "Ok, thanks." Anne watched her deliver the sack before everyone returned to the wagon.
"We got plenty for a while, we will be fine." Liesa always said something like this, she was grateful to not have to stress over money. "Let's head home for dinner, I'll make us-"
The horses stopped and Liesa went quiet. The crowd was blocking the main street and they all looked around confused. Until Wiebke stood up and pointed to the formation of horses ahead.
"Look! They're back!" She seemed so excited. Eva raised a brow to the others.
Liesa realized the green cloaks and symbol of the Scouts. They had made it back, though it appeared they were in bad shape as usual. She knew one of the wagons with a sheet covering it were their fallen comrades. Their bravery to save humanity was only equaled by their losses.
If Liesa was honest with herself, the reminder of how dangerous titans were always made her think about Eva. The feeling vanished as quickly as it hit her though. Eva was not like others of her kind, she wasn't a monster. Or... she was at some point, but no longer. Something had changed in her.
As the Scouts passed through, Liesa and Anne remained silent for the rest of the ride home. It was jarring enough for Anne to relive the terror she had survived and it was all too humbling for Liesa. Speaking after seeing the condition of the Scouts felt disrespectful.
The ride was quiet, Anne and Liesa glanced at each other but said nothing. Wiebke and Eva didn't notice.