A/N: Alright people, I'd like to start with a profound apology for the one week hiatus. I got caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life. Turns out it doesn't take a bunch of 10 meters high naked, retarded cannibals to make life a living hell. Sometimes it only takes a four foot midget who happens to be your 'responsable.' Just saying :D

Anyway, let's cut to the chase. This right here's an offering for the humble gathering that staunchly believes TheDarkCanTell a great tale… Enjoy

P.S. Because you guys were so patient I decided to give you a treat. This is my longest chapter yet. It's easily thrice as long as any I've written so far. And forgive the typos, coz I'll bet there are PLENTY of 'em! I'll proofread this when I've gotten some sleep. Or better still, anyone out there wanna Beta what TheDarkCanTell?

Chapter 3: Shattered

Eren stared at the crystalline form fifty meters away from him, unable to remember the last time he had been so uncertain about anything. Well actually he could remember, he reminded himself with some discomfort. It had been a mere few days ago and ironically the scenario had been exactly the same, save for mild alterations like the crystallization. But that time certainly couldn't count, though. Not with all the external chaos and internal turmoil he had been facing back then.

Things were different now, much safer, much more controlled. He looked down at his hand hovering inches away from his mouth. Even in the faint yellow light of the candle-lit dungeon he could see the paleness of his skin and the glistening droplets of sweat that adhered to it. A single simple bite was all it would take. All it should take.

So why then was he hesitating?

He should have seen this coming, really. The misgivings had started earlier in the day, soon after the episode with Mikasa at the Scouting Legion's castle. He firmly steered his mind away from the encroaching memory of the hot blooded sensations that had coursed through his body back then and willed it to focus only on what had happened after that.

(Eight hours earlier that day)

Eren and Armin descended the winding flight of stairs which led down to the entrance hall of the castle and made for the great doors. Before they could lay a hand on them however, the doors swung open to reveal another member of the scouting legion who was looking over his shoulder and talking to someone as he came through.

Eren was so engrossed in thoughts about his exchange with Mikasa that he didn't immediately register who the person standing before them was. It was Armin's sudden muttered swearing that snapped out of his reverie. In that same moment the other person turned to face them, and suddenly he was nose to nose with 'Horse-Face' Jean. The taller boy's forehead was wrapped in a bandage and his face wore a smug look that vanished the moment he saw Eren.

The two young men eyed each other warily and Armin's eyes darted anxiously from one to the other. It was common knowledge among the members of the 104th squad that they disliked each other, and it was easy to see why. After all as far as personalities and ideals went, they were like night and day.

And then of course there was Mikasa. Armin had seen Jean's eyes linger on her often enough to know how the boy felt, and he was certain her devotion to Eren who hitherto had been blind to her affections further exacerbated Jean's dislike for him.

However in the light of the recent events, starting from the discovery that Annie was the Female Titan, the two had settled for some kind of unspoken truce, maybe even an uneasy friendship. At this point Armin could only hope that it would last. Finally Jean elected to break the silence.

"Yeager, Armin."

"Hey Jean," Armin replied and looked expectantly at Eren.

Eren acknowledged the greeting with a curt nod then glanced at his head. "How's the head coming along?"

"Well, given that I'm no titan, it's taking its good time."

His gaze dropped questioningly to Eren's hands, which were still smoking as the last of the tissue repaired itself. Given the time lapse it should have healed itself already and they both knew it.

"An accident," Eren said shortly, looking away. Jean's eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"If you say so," he drawled, his voice drenched with sarcasm. "You're not on your way to do something stupid and get yourself in trouble again, are you?"

"Ah, you know me," Eren said, a mischievous glint in his turquoise eyes as he grinned unrepentantly. "And you? Still dreaming of an easy, titan-free life in the interior?"

"Every single day," Jean agreed, "but we both know it's a little too late for that. Besides, life on the edge of oblivion does have its perks."

At that moment his eyes shifted out of focus, travelling over Eren's head to something beyond him. Eren followed his gaze and saw that it was looking at someone at the top of the stairs down which they had just come. The person was backing the window at the top of the stairs, so that afternoon sun's rays framed the silhouette in a glorious halo of light, accentuating sylphlike curves. It was Mikasa.

It took Eren a moment to realize that the sound of sharply drawn breath had come from him. His heart skipped a beat then resumed thumping with a fury. And then it came again. That familiar stirring of longing in his pants.

Shit, not again-!

He turned and grabbed Armin's hand in the crook of his elbow.

"Come on - we'll be late if we don't get going!" Even in his own ears his voice sounded unnatural, strained. "See you around, Jean."

But Jean didn't reply and Eren looked quizzically at him. He was still staring up at Mikasa, his face wearing a bemused expression as he gazed at her like she was an apparition from heaven. His long cheeks were stained bright red. The intensity of his gaze made Eren almost want to look away, like he was intruding on something private.

But he didn't. A few days ago Eren probably wouldn't have given the matter a second thought. Right now, however, he was suddenly visited by a powerful desire to kick Jean's horse-face in. Or maybe give it a good head-butt, he thought, recalling the instructor's actions on their first day at boot camp. Armin must have read his mind because he tugged on Eren's arm.

"Yeah, we should get going!"

Eren made it a point to bump into Jean as he allowed Armin to pull him away. Jean blinked stupidly several times like someone roused from a trance and then turned to glare at him.

"Hey - what's the big idea, Yeager?!"

"Accident," Eren said not altogether untruthfully. After all he really would have preferred a head butt. Jean looked skeptical.

"Oh well, be certain to make that bitch Annie pay this time," he called after them.

"How did you know about that?" Eren asked, surprised.

"How else do you think? The commander told me," Jean replied, the smug look back on his face. "Anyway like I was saying, don't let your personal feelings for that bitch cloud your judgment like the last time. In the meantime we'll be waiting for you here, Mikasa and me. I'll be certain to take good care of her, so don't worry."

And after that it took Armin's firm grip on his arm and a significant amount of personal effort to keep Eren from returning and give the horse-faced shithead a good head butt.

(Four hours earlier that day)

For the next few hours though Jean's parting words stayed with Eren, haunting him. He was right. It was Eren's fault that Anne had crystallized the last time. He'd had her within grasping range and he'd hesitated. What made the event even more poignant was that he hadn't really been himself back then. The Rogue Titan had slipped into autopilot and gone berserk as was its wont.

And yet in the midst of all that rage and folly he'd somehow mustered enough presence of mind to rein it back at the last minute, albeit briefly, from gobbling Annie up. Something which he hadn't been able to do when facing Mikasa during the Battle of Trost, he recalled with shame. Why?

Could it be because you have 'special feelings' for her?

Of course not! It couldn't be. Why, the very idea was preposterous! She was a mass murderer, a sociopath, the enemy of mankind and blight to this Earth. And he was an avenger, meant to purge the earth of all titans, starting with her. So why then was he-

"Am I by any chance boring you, Eren? Coz I know a surefire way to put you out of your misery if that's the case," Levi said, patting his good leg suggestively.

"N-no captain," Eren sputtered, the vicious beating at the court coming to mind. "Please continue."

They were in a carriage set for wall Sina. Opposite them sat Armin and Hanji Zoe, the other members of the Scouting Legion's elite council. Commander Erwin wasn't around and in his stead Levi was giving them a briefing of the mission at hand. Or at least he had been until now. At the moment he was just malevolently eyeing Eren, who was doing his best to look remorseful.

"Just so everyone's clear as to their purpose, I'll repeat myself," Levi continued, his dispassionate voice tinged with irritation, "Eren here is gonna attempt to smash the girl's crystal open while another team is on the alert for when it happens. They'll have to close in on her and securely bind her hands and feet before she can inflict any injury upon herself and transform. That's how it works, right?"

The last part was addressed to Eren but Hanji Zoe beat him to it.

"Yes, it would seem any injury that draws blood, be it self inflicted or otherwise, triggers the transformation. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. We're yet to find a way to break that crystal, given that it's made from the hardest substance mankind has met so far. It stands to reason that it can be broken by something of equal strength or stronger, but…"

She glanced uncertainly at Eren. He knew what she was thinking, and she was right. He had yet to figure out how to crystallize his body parts like Annie's Female Titan did. But with all the expectant faces looking at him now, he wasn't about to admit defeat. He'd figure something out, he told himself fiercely and repeated the words out loud.

"That's the spirit," Levi encouraged and turned to Armin. "You said you had something in mind about this?"

"Yes captain, I do," Armin said, his voice jumpy as the carriage traversed some particularly uneven terrain. "If Eren could somehow slip into berserker mode, I'm fairly certain he'd be able to-"

He never got to finish.

"ARE YOU INSANE?!" Hanji practically screamed. "You want him to go berserk?!"

"We were all there the last time it happened," Armin insisted. "We all know what he can do when he's in that state!"

"What he can-?" She let out a brief, slightly hysterical laugh. "Oh, I don't doubt for one second what he's capable of when he's like that! Matter of fact, it's precisely because I know it that I'm worried. Think of all the things that could go wrong! He could kill the hostage, not to mention all the people who'd be there to help in her capture! And then there's the fact that we'll be underground, so imagine the damage and destruction he can cause there if he goes on a rampage in such tight quarters! You've seen what happened the last time he went berserk in the city! No offense, Eren."

"None taken," Eren hastily replied.

He could see her point clearly. Even he was less than comfortable with the idea. Armin, however, continued to think otherwise.

"I wish we could say that he could somehow learn to harness his titan's berserker powers but we all know that's not possible. Not within such a short time. And as for us being underground, the arena couldn't have been better chosen. It will be relatively cramped for his titan and thus limit the amount of damage he can cause."

"And the hostage?" Hanji wanted to know. "What about her safety?"

Armin turned to Eren, his Newman blue eyes unreadable as they met Eren's. "He won't harm her."

Could it be because you have 'special feelings' for her?

Armin, Eren thought with rising panic, don't tell me you also think-!

"Lemme guess; we know this for a fact because the last time he hesitated, right?"

"Well…" Armin began slowly, and she took advantage of his hesitation to reinforce her argument and leaned towards the captain.

"Levi, we can't seriously be considering embarking on such a foolhardy venture based on a fluke in Eren's-" She saw the look on his face. "Levi?"

"I suppose I could always cut him out the moment he has destroyed her crystal, like the last time." he said pensively.

"You suppose?" Hanji echoed with a derisive snort. "What do you mean you suppose-?"

She leaned back in her seat and took a deep calming breath, then another one. When she spoke again her voice was slow and soothing, the kind one used when reasoning with a petulant child.

"So this was your plan from the beginning, huh? That's why you arranged for a second team to retrieve Annie after Eren breaks open her cocoon instead of leaving it up to Eren who would be nearer and thus better placed for the task. In the meantime you're asking him to give in to a murderous rage within wall Sina, shatter Annie's cocoon and then wait by docilely until you cut him out. This is your big plan?!"

"No," Levi replied, looking out the window. "It's Erwin's."

Silence reigned in the little carriage. If there was one thing all the members of the scouting legion without exception agreed upon it was that Commander Erwin Smith's word, no matter how illogical or farfetched it may sound, was gospel and should be treated as such. After a several moments Levi turned back to them.

"Annie will then be brought back with us to our castle where the other two brats are being taken as we speak-"

At that Eren's attention sharpened anew.

"-where where we intend to torture her in the presence of the two to see if it would elicit some kind of response- got anything you'd like to say, Eren?"

"N-no, captain," Eren said, biting back the horrified protests that had been on the tip of his tongue.

"Good, because that was Erwin's plan too." His eyes glistened malevolently. "Although of course all the credits go to your friend Armin here, who came up with the idea."

Eren stared at the man by his side. He knew the captain had a dark sense of humor, but this was hardly the time or place for it to surface. Given the listless look on his face it was difficult to tell, but he didn't seem to be joking. And then again lying didn't seem like quite his style either. Whatever the case, he had just made a preposterous allegation, one that Eren was certain Armin would refute. He turned confidently to his best friend.

Armin was staring intently out of the window. His blond hair shielded his face from view, but what little part that was visible was deathly pale.

"Armin?"

The blond boy did not so much as speak or make the slightest movement in acknowledgment of Eren's call. A timely bump in the road caused them to sway back and forth, parting the curtain of Amin's hair so that his eyes were temporarily visible. They were glazed over and had a haunted look in them.

Armin, don't tell me you actually-! Why-how could you-?

And then he remembered Armin's words.

Sometimes, to defeat a monster, one must learn to abandon their humanity. Only those who are willing to sacrifice something can change anything.

Is that what you've done, Armin? Eren wondered as he watched his friend.

"-can't say I don't relish the thought of sinking my blades into that bitch," Levi was saying. "I did promise her that the last time we met. And I imagine it should be fun for you too eh, Hanji? Think of it; a real live Titan Shifter for you to poke and prod and cut open to your heart's content. Talk about a win-win scenario…"

And for the rest of the journey Eren took to watching the impending sunset, less certain than ever that he was able or even willing to complete his mission.

(Present Time)

`The feeling had only gotten worse with the passing daylight, and now in a dungeon deep in the bowels of the earth he was at an all time low. A small group of soldiers watched him, their shadows dancing across the walls and the vaulted ceiling in the flickering candlelight; Commander Erwin, Captain Levi, Major Hanji, Armin, some Scouting Legionnaires and a bunch of Military Police officers whom Eren recognized from his trial but whose names he didn't know personally. They all watched him expectantly.

Good thing Mikasa isn't here to see this, Eren thought idly as he fought to still his trembling arm. He already knew the bullshit she would have spouted.

Could it be that you STILL have 'special feelings' for her?

The soldiers were all clad in their 3DMG. This dungeon, Erwin had informed Eren and his companions upon their carriage's arrival, had been specially chosen for the impending altercation. Its 20 meter high, vaulted ceilings would favor a whole body titan transformation and its many supporting pillars greatly increased maneuverability, which would be necessary in bringing down a titan.

Which would be Annie and, if it came down to it, me, Eren thought with a growing sense of panic. Erwin had said as much.

"You recognize those people, don't you?" The Commander had muttered in his ear as they entered into the dungeon, nodding towards the group of military police officers in the corner.

Eren had spotted the tall wiry dark haired man with a wispy beard and mustache who stood at the front of the group, a mixture of fear and loathing distorting his gaunt face. Commander Nile of the Military Police. Eren nodded back in reply.

"Then you must know what they're really here for," Erwin had continued in his calm but intense tone. "They couldn't care less about the success of 'our' mission. They have a mission of their own and though we don't know what it may be, I'll wager it involves killing you without a moment's thought the moment things get out of hand. But I mean for things to get out of hand, at least for a little while. You understand, don't you?"

"What do you want me to do then, commander?" Eren had asked, looking up at Erwin.

Erwin had studied him for a while, his expression unreadable, before replying.

"Whatever it takes to complete the mission."

And with a final pat on the shoulder, Erwin had led the others to where the MPs were standing and began to instruct them to take position.

On second thought it would have been better if Mikasa was here, after all. She would have known how to handle the MPs if they tried anything funny, alright. And then right after that she'd ask, 'Eren, what happened to you back then? Could it be because you STILL have 'spe-'

Eren mentally shook himself. Why on earth did he keep thinking about her and that retarded comment of hers at a time like this?! But who was he kidding? She had been on his mind all day. She and her stupid comment.

"Oh, I'll show you 'special feelings'," Eren muttered fiercely to himself, and picturing her face clearly he chomped down on his hand.

And nothing happened.

Sh-shit! Not again-!

Again he bit into his hand.

Again nothing happened.

WHY?! He screamed inwardly, biting his hand harder than ever. Blood splattered everywhere. At this rate, he'd sever his hand.

Several seconds ticked by.

He heard the murmuring of voices, then the shuffling of feet. It was the military police. Some of them had begun to pace back and forth nervously while others were having what appeared to be a heated argument with the legionnaires. From here Eren couldn't what they were saying but he knew they were talking about him. His failure to transform wasn't planned and now it was making them uneasy. Twice or thrice Commander Nile touched the hilt of his sword. The last time his hand remained there.

Eren spotted Armin in the slowly escalating uproar. The blond boy was busy arguing with an MP police when he caught Eren's eye. In response to the desperate look he saw in them Armin waved his hands wildly over his head and mouthed 'you can do this!' with a fierce smile on his lips.

And that's when it happened. Eren couldn't exactly say what had triggered it. Maybe it had something to do with the way Armin's golden hair had moved as he waved his arms or the big smile on his face, but suddenly Eren was reminded of a different pair of arms, similar blond hair and an infinitely more insane smile. All this on a fifteen meter scale.

The titan that ate his mother. And Hannes-san.

Suddenly he was back outside Wall Rosa. Chaos was reigning everywhere as the legionnaires sought to retreat from the onslaught of titans. He and Mikasa were sprawled on the ground, felled from their steed by a seven meter titan that had come crashing down on them, courtesy of Reiner's vindictive outburst. His hands were still bound behind his back and Mikasa looked like she was gravely hurt, so there was nothing either of them could do when it appeared.

Eren had often idly wondered if it was an Abnormal Titan and he did so now. Oblivious to the battle raging around, it sauntered towards them like it didn't have a care in the world -except to eat them, of course- its ridiculously disproportionate arms swinging childishly about its thick trunk. Its face wore that perpetual grotesque grin that Eren so hated and its eyes were unfocused and heavily lidded as if in ignorant condescension.

Eren struggled frantically against the cords but it was no use. To his side Mikasa stirred, obviously fighting not to drift into unconsciousness. Eren glanced back up at the titan. It was the first normal titan Eren had ever seen, really seen, and since then its face had served as a template against which Eren would direct his genocidal intentions. And now it was going to be the last.

The titan was standing directly over them now; it bent down and reached down for him. Eren tensed back from its incongruously small hands, the hands that had gripped Carla Yeager. It was no use. Sooner or later it would get him.

And then all of a sudden the hand retreated as the titan stood up and with astonishing speed snatched out of the air a little object that had been hurtling towards its head. 'Definitely an abnormal' was the last coherent thought that registered at the back of Eren's head as he watched it raise Hannes-san to its mouth and bite down on him. Somehow he was able to clearly hear the sickening crunch of bones over the din around them, as he did Mikasa's piercing scream and another's - his.

It was the first time Eren had ever transformed without an injury. Unless a broken heart could be counted as an injury. Whatever the case, all he knew was that he had gone on a rampage, pummeling at every titan in sight until he got to Reiner. The Armored Titan was no match for his grief induced fury and martial arts skills and was destroyed after a short but decisive fight. But somehow in his rage filled state he was lucid enough to notice that the smiling bastard hadn't been among his victims. Somehow it - of all the titans - had gotten away.

Not this time! He swore silently, his mind returning to present.

Tonight they all die! Every-last-fucking-one! Starting with that blond bastard!

Armin had seen the way Eren had looked at him a moment before he started to transform. The sheer rage and murderous intent in his eyes were unmistakable. Out of the blue he found himself recalling the two conditions necessary for the Titan Shifting process.

Step One: Sustain a blood drawing injury, self inflicted or otherwise.

Step Two: Have a clear objective in mind.

And he knew for certain that Eren was going to kill him. If he didn't act fast.

Pulling the hood of his cloak over his head he ducked out of the cluster of soldiers and bolted for the crystalline structure at the centre of the dungeon. A deafeningly feral roar ripped the air around him, signaling the end of Eren's transformation. He had scant moments left in which to act but he had already formulated a plan.

Armin's reasoning was simple. Given that he had been gesturing to Eren and soundlessly encouraging him when the transformation had begun, it was safe to assume that something about him might have triggered it. He had never seen the titan that had eaten Eren's mom, but based on snatches of conversation he'd had over the years with Eren and Mikasa he knew it was blond and wore a peculiar smile, not unlike he'd done seconds ago.

The description matched that of a particular titan mentioned in the official report from the Rescue-Eren Mission. The report said that soon after seeing it, a bound Eren had suddenly transformed and an injured Mikasa had sprung to life. From the strength of their reactions, Armin was certain it must have been the same titan. The report didn't mention what had happened to the titan but he suspected it to still be at large. Putting all this together resulted in one answer. Or two, actually.

Either Eren had somehow mistaken him for the titan or he genuinely believed him to be it.

Now was not the time to guess which one of them it was, though. If only he could reach Annie's crystal in time, Eren's rage could maybe work in their advantage. He and she were the only blonds present - apart from Erwin but the commander's hair was too short, anyway - and now that he was hooded, only she was visible. If he got Eren's titan to somehow spot her in the crystal there was a good chance that he would attack it instead

Armin reached the crystalline cocoon and slid behind it. In the dim candlelight he could barely make out her outline through the crystal and he found himself fervently praying that titan vision was better than that of humans. At any rate now wasn't the time for any hesitation. He needed to act fast; the Rogue Titan was turning its head in all directions in frantic search for him. It gave another roar of frustration and stamped its foot.

"THIS WAY!" Armin yelled at the top of his voice. "IT'S THIS WAY!"

At once the Rogue Titan's head spun in his direction with birdlike swiftness and Armin took an involuntary step back away from Annie's cocoon. He saw recognition slowly register in the livid vivid green eyes. The Rogue Titan started towards them then quickly broke into a sprint, emitting another bloodcurdling roar as it came.

Armin instinctively knew something was wrong. He took another step back from the cocoon, then another and then checked his hood. It was still securely on. So why then was the Rogue Titan still glaring at him as it came? How had it known? He reached shakily for his blades, all the while knowing they could do nothing against the Rogue Titan's outstretched hand. This was the end.

"Shit!" Levi spat under his breath as he watched. "Why won't that brat move-?!"

He broke position.

"Levi!" Erwin shouted but the captain refused to listen and hobbled onward.

"That brat's smart, Erwin! Damn near as smart as you! He's worth more to us alive than dead!"

He shot his grapnels forward and they latched onto a pillar.

"Besides, who's gonna tell that Eren brat when he wakes up that he gobbled up his best friend?!"

And with a burst of compressed steam he was gone. Commander Nile and his men were preparing to take off as well, but they had a different agenda in mind.

"Abort Mission A and switch to Mission B!" he was saying. "Kill the Rogue Titan!"

Erwin grabbed his arm. At once a dozen guns were trained on him but he held on, regardless. His blue eyes locked on Nile's, unwavering.

"I can't let you do that!"

"Are you insane?!' Nile shouted. 'Let go of me! Let go of me, I say!'

He struggled futilely against Erwin's iron-clad grasp for a short while then shot his fist into Erwin's unprotected stomach. The blond man doubled over in pain and released him.

"Military Police, let's go!" Nile yelled as he took off.

"Shit-!" Erwin gasped and straightening himself he shot forward his grapnels. The Scouting legionnaires quickly followed suit.

Damn this leg, Levi thought as he sped through the air towards the running Rogue Titan. His grapnels whistled as he reeled them in for another projection. He twisted his hips upwards in midair for aim and shot them out once more. They connected with the ceiling and with a burst of steam he swerved onwards.

If not for this damned leg he would have been there quicker. Now it was too late. He was closing in but the Rogue Titan had had too much of a head start. Even now he saw it skid to a halt and bypassing the cocoon reach for Armin.

"Move!" Levi yelled at the top of his voice.

But the brat remained as immobile as the girl in the cocoon and titan snatched him up and put him into its-

"Eren! No!"

Into its hair?!

Levi's grapnels bit into a pillar and he reeled himself towards it, wincing slightly as his feet met the concrete. He could hardly believe it and yet there it was. The Rogue Titan made certain that Armin was holding on to its hair securely before turning to the crystal. Its roar punctuated the air as it stomped on it with all its strength. The ground trembled under the impact but when it raised its foot the crystal was still intact. Enraged the titan brought its foot down once more.

Which meant that there was only one thing left for Levi to do, really.

Releasing one of his grapnels from the pillar he twisted and shot it into the ceiling. Once certain it was securely anchored he released the other grapnel and did the same. Now he hung from the ceiling, facing the oncoming military police. He calmly drew his blades.

"Wh-what the hell do you think you're doing, Levi?!" Nile asked as he cut off his steam to avoid moving forward.

"Nile, you're a man accustomed to taking the easy way so out I'll give you one; abort your mission immediately or face me."

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Wouldn't I?" Levi chuckled darkly, his blue eyes gleaming dangerously in the candlelight. "There's only one way to find out."

The Rogue Titan looked upwards to make sure that Armin was still safe in its hair before continuing its onslaught on the crystal. He knew that he must keep his friend safe from the encapsulated smiling titan. It had already taken so much from him; his mother, Hannes, and he would be damned if he let it get Armin too. With another roar he fell on his knees and began to pummel away at the crystal with all his might.

Come out, bastard! Come out bastard!

The crystal bounced up and down under the impact but remained otherwise undamaged. Each time it tried to roll away he would catch it and bring it back.

Come out, bastard! Come out bastard!

His bones were beginning to crack from all the force but he couldn't care. He was going to bring the smiling bastard out if it was the last thing he was going to do.

Come out, bastard! Come out bastard!

His right hand broke off so he continued with the left.

Come out, bastard! Come out bastard!

The rumble of the poundings echoed through the dungeon against a counterpoint of guttural roars. The walls and pillars reverberated at each blow. Chunks of debris began to fall from the ceiling. The pillars were cracking. The dungeon wouldn't hold up much longer.

Come out, bastard! Come out bastard! Come out, bastard! Come out bastard!

Armin was the first to notice it. the Rogue Titan's fist had changed in color. Or rather it was now covered with a pale translucent substance. It had crystallized. At this rate Annie's crystal would soon-

Come out, bastard! Come out bastard! Come out, bastard! Come out bastard! Come out, bastard! Come out bastard! Come out, bastard! Come out bastard! COME OUT BASTARD!

CRACK!

The cocoon shattered to a million pieces and the Rogue Titan's giant fist froze inches away from its contest. That wasn't the smiling bastard. That was Annie.

And silence, save for a few falling debris, filled the hall.

"I'll be sure to report your actions to our superiors Erwin!" Nile was ranting petulantly. "Just you wait! I'll have your hides, just you wait!"

They were standing just outside the MP headquarters. It was still about 4 AM. Erwin as usual said nothing to these outbursts so it was once again up to Levi to speak for him.

"Hey Nile, stop whining like an oversized brat already, will you? My head hurts. You should be happy that for the first time in your sorry existence you have something more pertinent than a population census to report."

At this Nile bristled and sputtered some more impotent threats until the other military police led him gently but firmly away down the deserted street. Erwin and Levi watched him go.

"I thought he'd never leave," Levi said with a relieved sigh, rubbing his ears.

"Talking to a superior like that could land you in trouble with the Supreme Commander," Erwin commented. "You know fastidious he gets when it comes to respect."

"Yeah, I know," Levi said, an unusually boyish grin toying on his lips. "It's just that Nile and I go way back, you know. We've got… history."

Erwin permitted himself to smile briefly. He knew Levi was reminiscing about his life before the scouting legion. Back when he was a famous thug in the capital.

Just then the doors of the MP headquarters burst open and Hanji Zoe came running up to them. Her face was etched with fatigue and worry.

"We have a problem."

Neither man answered her but she knew she had their undivided attention. She took a great steadying breath before continuing.

"The girl – Annie Leonhardt – she appears to have lost her memory."

"How the hell did this happen?" Levi snapped.

"We think it must have been due to the sheer force Eren used to smash open the crystal," Hanji explained. "Actually, given the way it shattered I'd say it's a miracle she didn't get shredded to pieces herself, but her body did still take quite a hit. In such heightened cases of stress it's not unusual for the human mind to, um, temporarily shelve memories so as to block out the traumatic event."

They had just returned from the underground cells where Annie was taking a drug induced sleep, bound hands and feet, and were now seated in the main MP headquarters above. It was just the three of them; Erwin, Levi and Hanji. Erwin hadn't said a word since she had announced Annie's condition to them. Levi, on the other hand, couldn't seem to stop asking questions and frankly it was starting to get on Hanji's nerves.

"And how can we be sure that she's telling the truth?"

Hanji had to restrain herself from rolling her exhausted eyes upwards. "I've carried out every test known to man, plus some personal ones from my vast and highly versatile arsenal. Trust me; I know what I'm talking about."

Levi pointedly wrinkled his nose to show her just what he thought of her 'vast and highly versatile arsenal' and Hanji bit back a chuckle. Despite their constant bickering she and Levi got along like a house on fire.

"Does torture figure on your list?" He asked, his hand on his sword hilt.

This time she did roll her eyes. "Seeing as it's physical trauma that got us into this mess in the first place, I'd say no."

Levi got up from his seat. His hand rooted into his pocket, no doubt looking for a cigarette, and finding none he sighed and began to pace up and down.

"What a waste! All that work and planning, only for the bitch to lose her memory completely."

At this Hanji cleared her throat emphatically.

"Spit it out Hanji," Levi said without turning around. "We haven't got all night."

"Well technically she hasn't lost all her memories."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"There is one thing that she still remembers – Eren."

For a brief moment nobody spoke. Then Levi snorted.

"Hanji, you're sure you don't need a stronger prescription for those glasses of yours? Eren's not here."

That riled Hanji to no end. "I can see that, you little - ! Anyway what I'm saying is that Eren's the only person she remembers. She doesn't even remember her own name, much less where she is, but she remembers Eren."

Genuine shock showed on Levi's apathetic face, and even Erwin appeared bemused.

"Is that even possible?!" Levi asked.

"Apparently so."

"Then she really is useless to us."

"No, this changes everything," Erwin spoke out for the first time.

Hanji and Levi looked at him he stared unseeingly ahead, his brow furrowed as he sat there thinking hard. After a while he spoke.

"Where's Eren?" He asked Levi.

"In the barracks along with the others, probably sleeping. He's to take the carriage back to our base first thing in the morning."

"Not anymore."

Erwin got to his feet, followed by Hanji. All looked expectantly at him.

"You have a plan in mind, don't you?" Levi asked, leaning against a desk.

For the second time that night Erwin gave one of his rare smiles.

"I have a plan in mind."

Mikasa sat on her bed, inordinately thrilled. She had spoken to Armin earlier that day. The blond boy had returned at about 11 AM that day. According to him their mission had been a resounding success and finished earlier than expected. Eren still had to complete some paperwork to get his name exonerated, but otherwise he should be back in a couple of hour's time. Which should be right about now, she thought gleefully.

Throughout the whole time that he had been gone, which had really just been a day, she hadn't been able to stop thinking about him. True, normally he preoccupied most of her thoughts, but mostly it was worry for his safety since he could be so reckless. Or sadness at some of his more abrasive remarks.

But this time was different. This time all she could remember was the way he had looked at her and the way it had made her feel. The last glance he had given her at the bottom of the steps had been her moment of triumph because it lent further witness to his longing for her. Eren wanted her, wanted her like a woman. Of that she was absolutely certain.

She broke into unconscious humming as she adjusted the pretty flower she had worked into her hair earlier that day. She had decided that upon his return she was going to make the first step. She knew Eren well enough to know that if she waited for him she would have to wait a long time and she had no intention of doing so. Boys, it seemed, had no clue about how to go about these things.

Knowing Eren, he'd put up a fight though. She anticipated his possible arguments. 'We're brother and sister' currently featured at the top of the list. It had been a problem to her too at first, but not anymore. She didn't think of him like that anymore and from what she saw, neither did he. That explained his usual grouchy retort whenever she wanted to assist him in something.

Knock it off, Mikasa! I'm not your kid or your baby brother! He'd always say.

She giggled a little. He certainly wasn't either of them, and if she had her way then by the end of this day he'd be her man. She liked the sound of that. Her man, just like her Papa had been her Mama's and like Grisha had been Carla's. And she would be his woman. And when they got married-

Woah! Slow down, girl, she admonished herself lightly. One step at a time.

She took a last peek at herself in the mirror she had swiped from Christa's room. Color in her cheeks matched pleasantly with the red flower in her hair and the scarf around her neck. People had been commenting on her rosy complexion and the flower all day. She understood why they easily noticed it. Normally she wasn't nearly so… feminine. Almost everyone had complimented the change. Except for Jean, who for some reason wore a resentful scowl every time he saw her.

She heard the sound of an approaching courage and leapt off her bed. Her heart suddenly beating very fast, she took the VERY last look in the mirror to make sure she was alright, then with a deep steadying breath for her racing nerves, she made for the door to go and welcome her man.

Eren couldn't believe the kind of mess he'd gotten himself into. He knew he had said he'd be able to take on any mission for the sake of humanity but this, this was too difficult. He wasn't cut out for this. it was more suited to the likes of Armin, with his exceptionally quick mind. Eren's place was in the battlefield like Mikasa and the others, not here in this carriage with her.

He looked at the blonde girl seated opposite him. She was hugging herself tightly and had her feet tucked under her as she stared out the window. The frightened, despondent expression on her face was not unlike the one he'd first seen on Mikasa all those years back when he rescued her from those animals. This was definitely not the Annie he remembered and yet she was the same person. The one who had slaughtered all those people and the one who he must now play this farce with. Not for the first time he found himself wishing her memory hadn't shattered along with the crystal, back then.

The carriage skidded to a halt. They had arrived.

Annie didn't seem to have noticed it because she continued to stare out of the window. Eren tentatively nudged her knee with his hand. At the first touch she cringed like a wounded animal, her panic evident.

"It's okay, Annie," he heard himself saying in his best rendition of a caring voice, just like they had instructed him to. "You're safe here."

He backed out of the carriage slowly, making sure that at all times she could see his face and the reassuring smile he had plastered on it. He definitely was not cut out for this, he thought ruefully. Mikasa would definitely agree.

Throughout the return trip his mind had kept straying to her. He knew that she would disapprove of this turn of events as much as he did. Matter of fact, since Commander had insisted that it was top secret, he couldn't tell her why things had taken such a bizarre turn. That is why he decided to tell meet her and sort of brace her for what she was about to see. For some reason which he couldn't possibly figure it was particularly important for him that she of all people didn't believe what she would see. But first, he had to take care of Annie.

"Eren?"

It was Annie's voice, only softer and more vulnerable than he had ever heard it. she was still in the carriage, her frightened eyes seeking his for reassurance.

"It's okay," he said with more genuine warmth this time, offering her his hand.

She took it. Hecouldn't help noticing that her hand was softer than he had expected, given all the blows she'd given him with it at boot camp. Their eyes locked, he led her out of the carriage and turned to the great front doors of the castle. They were already open and someone stood in the doorway.

It was Mikasa. She had a flower in her hair, he noted automatically with a racing pulse, and looked utterly beautiful. Utterly beautiful and utterly devastated.

Mikasa looked at Eren and Annie, standing hand in hand, and when the shock had faded all she felt was the indescribable pain of her heart being shattered into a million pieces.

A/N: TADA! There you go, guys! This should keep your appetites nicely whetted till TheDarkCanTell you some more! Keep those reviews coming, and I'll keep the tale... spinning, deal?

Poor Mikasa! Poor Eren! And trust me when I say their sorrows have just begun, MWAHAHAHAHA!

p.s. I wonder what Eren's super secret mission with Annie is? Any ideas out there? You're reviews will tell.