Author's Note: Happy New Year, everybody! Hope you all enjoy the next chapter.
Chapter 2: Biting Back
Morning arrived at last, the sun shining down upon the village. Its rays poked through the holes and what was left of the windows of the houses. One of the rays hit Dillon in the face, prompting him to slowly awaken from his painful sleep. Memories of the previous day immediately came to mind, especially once he felt the disgusting sensation of his clothes covered in dried-up saliva. His first instinct was to move, but he quickly realized the position he was in. Ropes had his hands tightly knotted behind the chair he was sitting in. Grunting, he opened his eyes, revealing the blurry world before him. Once things started clearing up, he could see the familiar figure of Annie Leonhart standing in front of him, but it was not the one he knew. While she retained that blonde hair and fit body he knew intimately, her eyes were like that of a doll's: glassy and empty.
"Hello, Dillon," she greeted, her voice formal and distant.
His response was the opposite. With a furious snarl, he tugged at the restraints, but they wouldn't budge an inch. Despite the obvious fact that he couldn't escape, he continued to pull as hard it he could, ignoring the pain it brought to his wrists.
"Don't bother," she said, her voice still retaining that emotionless quality much like how they had met three years ago. "You'll need a knife to cut through those knots. Right now, you'll just wasting your energy."
Seeing that she was right, Dillon ceased his attempts at escape and settled for glaring at his captor, panting a bit.
Annie stared back at him, meeting his glower with an expression of apathy that could have impressed Captain Levi. Taking hold of the chair behind her, she dragged it with her before turning it and falling into it. Now seated before him, Dillon watched mutely as she moved her blonde fringe out of her eyes. He felt a dark, sudden urge to reach out and tear it off her scalp.
"We need to talk," she stated bluntly.
"Where am I?" he questioned, his voice hoarse.
"Far from any distractions."
Dillon snorted at that answer. '"Distractions.' You didn't have a problem dealing with them yesterday."
Annie regarded him for a moment. "…You're angry."
"Wow. Great observation. You can file that under, 'No shit.'"
"Dillon…" There was a flux of emotion in her otherwise colorless voice. "…you need to calm down and listen to me."
"Or what?" he dared, ignoring his survival instincts. "You'll cut me up? Rip my limbs off? Eat me again?"
"I only did that to keep you from struggling," she explained. "You weren't in any danger."
"Well, guess what? I make it a habit to not deal with genocidal sadists, so if you would kindly fuck off, that'd be great." The more he talked, the more he felt his energy return to him. As long as she didn't do anything to interfere with that, he'd be able to get out of this.
There was a flash of hurt in Annie's eyes before they returned to being orbs of ice. "You know I can't do that, Dillon. I won't let you put my survival at risk. Not now. Not after everything." There it was again, that flux, only now hushed as if she was telling a secret.
"It's always been about you the whole time, hasn't it?" he accused. "Screw everyone else, am I right?"
"My survival has always been my top priority. To make it back home to-!" She suddenly broke off, and Dillon was certain that he didn't imagine the fear that bloomed minutely in her eyes before she composed herself. "I won't let anyone get in my way. Not even you."
Unfortunately for her, he didn't give a damn about those emotions. All that mattered was stalling just a little bit longer. Still, he couldn't help but wonder, "Then why go through the trouble of kidnapping me? You could've just ran, but you decided to drag me along on this little venture."
"I... I couldn't leave you behind, not like that. Not with you thinking I was a monster." A mirthless laugh left her lips and her lowered eyes went distant. There was something disturbingly childlike about her voice as she muttered to herself, "Sorry, Dad. But he can't be my enemy. He can't."
Dillon just stared at her, more than a little disturbed. "…You're out of your mind."
"Maybe," she conceded, moving her shoulders slightly as if to shrug.
He sighed, shaking his head. "Well, don't worry. I don't think you're a monster." Immediately, his tone went stone cold as his eyes began to glow. "I know you are!"
Eyes widening, Annie made to lunge at him, but a psychic blast sent flying into and through a fragile wall as Dillon's bonds snapped. Now free, he jumped out of the nearest window, the adrenaline rush kicking in as he tried to find a way out of this mess. If Annie shifted, his escape attempt would be for naught.
"Dillon!" a pissed off Titan Shifter yelled from behind him.
Thinking fast, he psychokinetically shattered the window of the house in front of him while sneaking into the one behind it via the door. Now, he had time to prepare.
Being a Titan Shifter meant that Annie's level of durability was greater than that of human. While the blast felt like she had been rammed by a horse, she was quickly on her feet. Her eyes locked onto the broken window and her heart solidified in her chest. Then, rage flowed through her like river. If that idiot thought that he could escape, she would prove him wrong… painfully.
She leapt out the window in an instant, examining her surroundings. She saw the broken window ahead of her, but she knew Dillon was smarter than to hide in the first house he saw. Slowly, she took a deep sniff of the air. Even in her current form, her senses were far greater than the average human, and she knew his scent, which was heading away from the house. She found herself smiling, excitement pumping through her body, just like before as she made her run for was the soldier facade, well-groomed and smothering.
"Sorry, Dillon," she thought as she began tracking him down, moving past his attempt at misdirecting her, "but I can still smell you."
A glimmer of fear passed through their link. Clearly, her change in tone was unnerving him. "So… this is who you are."
"You really thought you knew me, didn't you?"
"It must have been so easy for you to play me. I was so gullible!" Dillon exclaimed, understandably angry.
Annie was closing in on the house. "You're half-right. I thought you were a naïve fool, the kind that would break after their first mission. Playing nice with you was easier than having to put with Eren's temper tantrums." The door was right before her as a scowl appeared on her face. "Letting you get close to me... that was the mistake. MY mistake."
"And now, you want me out of the way," he replied. "After all, I have the power to put a big dent in your plans. That's why you really kidnapped me. All that talk about how you didn't want to hurt me, didn't want me to see you as the monster you are, it's all bullshit, just like everything you've ever said to me."
Anger shot through Annie, flowing through her veins like molten heat and seeping into her vision like a red haze. His constant blindness to the facts staring him in the face was becoming intolerable. He was so wrapped up in his delusions that he refused to think. A fight, then, was all that was left to convince him.
She took a dozen or so steps back, her eyes locked on the door before here. Once she was a good enough distance away, she took a deep breath. She was a warrior made of diamond. She was unbreakable, incorruptible, unaffected by the frailties of human emotion. She locked out the tiny voice of a little girl, the girl that wanted to go home. The girl that only realized that her father truly loved her before they took her away from him. The little girl that didn't want to hurt him. Once that voice was drowned in the red haze, she charged. She jumped, leg stuck out before her and the door shattered inwards like glass.
The moment she landed on the ground, a sharp pain appeared in the leg, eliciting a pained cry from her lips. Looking down, there was a knife embedded in her leg so deep that in came out the other side. This time, she was cursing her foolishness. So focused on capturing him that she failed to remember that most houses would still have kitchen knives. There was a rapid movement, causing her head to shoot back up as she saw Dillon kick down the back door, fleeing from her.
Shifting was an option that Annie was so tempted with. Being larger than others, to crush her enemies under her feet like ants was as intoxicating as it was sickening. Enjoying the rush of combat was the only way she could keep her sanity, what little left of it there was, but she knew that becoming the Female Titan would just be too easy. She wanted to fight him, this creature that was so different than anything else this world had to offer, as herself. So, biting down a roar of pain as she tore the knife free of her calf, she took off after him. She felt her wound burn and tingle as it sealed shut, leaving only a bloody smear and a tear in her uniform.
Her target was in sight despite the head start he had, and all too suddenly she was reminded of trees that seemed to touch the sky and emerald eyes staring back at her in mortal horror. What a long and thrilling chase that had been, despite the events of the day. She knew that this one would be much shorter given his exhaustion. Sure enough, Dillon slipped and tumbled to the ground, causing her smirk to return. It was almost disappointing that it had to end so soon, but the fact that he wouldn't be able to get away was more than enough to make up for it.
Annie was almost upon him as she prepared to deliver a savage kick to his head that would have him out cold only for him to stop short and his fist to shoot out and catch her right in the gut. The force of the blow sent her sprawling to her stomach, gripping her chest as Dillon slowly rose, getting into a fighting stance.
"And here I thought you were better than that," Dillon taunted coldly.
Fueled by her fury, Annie got to her feet faster than either expected and moved her fists up for battle, stalking towards him in her own stance. Dillon threw a punch that she ducked under easily, straightening in time to grab the following cross punch. Her grip firm, she brought her fist up into Dillon's elbow. His cry of pain meant nothing to her as she then smacked down the arm with her right hand and her left elbow jutting up to strike him in the chin, sending him stumbling back. There was a distinct smell in the air and looking at him, she quickly identified it: blood.
This was a far cry from the last time they fought. Back then, they held back as to not do irreparable harm to one another. It was more like a well-choreographed dance. However, those days were over as Dillon growled dangerously. The gloves had come off. He dodged to the left, avoiding one of her kicks, as he got in close and kicked her in the stomach, doubling her over. A haymaker sent her back further followed by a running jump kick that landed savagely on the side of her head, causing her to tumble across the ground.
Most people wouldn't think of Annie, what with her size and off-putting personality, to be durable. But her Titan physiology extended to her human body and the pain she felt faded with a dull buzz that only continued increasing her rage. She was on her feet again and grabbed Dillon's incoming hook with her hand, driving her forearm into his arm. She then altered her arm's position and drove her elbow into his nose. Without pausing for a breath, she maneuvered herself under his arm and smacked Dillon's legs from under him from behind. Throwing his arm over her shoulder added to the momentum of her throw and he slammed into the ground hard, all of the force directed onto his stomach. She paused for a moment, backing away as she watched him sputtered dazedly and hack blood before getting to his hands and knees. She decided to repay him a bit. Charging forward, her knee caught mercilessly in the jaw and he was sent sprawling onto his back.
Groaning in pain, he spat blood out of his mouth and he struggled to get up. "...You were always... a damn good fighter. It's one of the reasons... why I thought highly of you."
"And you never give up. It's why I respected you." The battle was already over; the rest was mere detail. One roundhouse kick would finish this, knock him out cold, but that little voice in her skull had broken through the red haze. In fact, the haze was almost completely gone. Perhaps now, he would listen to her. "Stop this now... and come back with me. Let me-."
"NO!" His eyes shined brightly as he attacked her once more. Moving quicker than she could react, he landed a punch across the side of her face. This time, it was fueled by his psychic energy, making her feel like she got kicked by a horse. Her other cheek received the same treatment, blood flying out of her mouth and a tooth as a result. With a yell of fury, Dillon raised his leg and performed a dropkick on her ribs, breaking them as she went flying a good distance. "Never again!"
Well, this was different. True pain flooded Annie's chest, making it nearly impossible for her to breath. She could feel her ribs shift inside her, moving back into position and burning as they fused shut. When compared to wounds on the outside, internal wounds were a far more grueling matter when healing.
She snarled, rolling around to get on her hands and knees, angered by her own slip up. What a fool she had been. A fight wasn't over until the other person stopped moving!
Before she could formulate a new plan of attack, he was on top of her, a steely right-hand clamping around her throat as he hoisted her to her feet. Then his left fist slammed repeatedly into her diaphragm, disrupting her still healing ribs. Her cries of pain seemed to do as little for him as his did for her. As his fist pulled back for another strike, she turned her whole body to the right, getting her leg up to catch him in the chin. They fell together, him on his back, her on her front as she spun in their descent. She moved on top of him now, striking his own chest with a fist. She wanted him to know what a broken rib felt like. With what must have a burst of psychic energy, he smacked away her arm as she pulled back for a strike before giving her a punch to the face that sent her reeling. They both climbed to their feet as fast as they could, becoming two dueling whirlwinds of punches and kicks that were evaded or blocked by the other. Dillon managed to block a punch, responding with one that made her see white spots before he spun around her and drove his right elbow into the back of her head. She went face first onto the ground, cursing.
"You can't beat me like that," he stated in a raspy voice, taking a few steps back. "Why don't you make things interesting... Titan?"
Titan? Annie looked over her shoulder, into his eyes. She loved his eyes, a strong shade of brown like his hair. They always gleamed with friendliness, cheerful and full of life, beguiling the strength and commitment that he held yet never flaunted. But none of that was there now. Instead there was a horrid mix of despair and rage that bled into his face and contorted his features into a vicious scowl. Annie recognized that look. She knew it was the same she had five years ago and suddenly she saw herself, under a tree as she stomped on Reiner's face over and over again. She remembered her words, her fury and terror, and that's when she finally understood. Cutting through the red haze in her mind and striking somewhere deep and raw in her chest, she thought blankly. He wants to die. Dillon, you… you want me to kill you?
And it was in that realization in which she finally understood why he refused to listen to reason, why he tried to provoke her, why he held nothing back. He felt it was all on her. Only her. And he was right. She had done this. She had driven him to this. She had pushed him to the absolute edge of rationality because, finally, when she could have changed the outcome of it all for the better, when she could have gone away with him to live her life, when she should have been thinking about them and what they could have had, she had only been thinking about herself. Herself and her father. It was in that moment of burning realization that she finally understood just how wretched a monster she had become.
But even as she embraced this pain and let it burn into her soul, she was past rage and it developed into a white fury. She could accept that she had done this to him, but she would not be his executioner. She refused to let him quit, to give up and die when she still retained some feeble hope for them. The fire spread through her limbs, all of the pain being washed away as she found herself rising to her feet. I'm not going to kill you, Dillon. She thought. But I am going to beat within an inch of death for being such an asshole...
Coughing out blood, Dillon shakily put his fists back up, ready for her counter attack. "Compared to you... what are we? Just minor inconveniences. Pests. Bugs. Hopefully, my power will be enough… to stop you… to save them."
Annie turned to face him, relishing the flinch he gave as he saw the fury in her eyes. She idly wondered how her expression looked. The thought was overshadowed by her disappointment. She had hoped to give him a proper beating, but it seemed he was completely running out of steam, now just clinging to the life he wanted to lose. How pathetic. How sickening. Where's that confidant young man who spat in my face three years ago, who talked about hope and making a difference?
Clenching her fist, she stated in a low, furious tone, "You have no idea how disappointed I am in you."
Spinning clockwise, she delivered her right heel to his face and Dillon went down. He did not get up. Annie could see that he was still breathing, just out cold. All at once, the rage left, leaving a cold, aching void that threatened to engulf her. Only the world was witness to Annie Leonhart's tears, to the choked sob that ripped through her lips as her hands raked through her hair. "Damn it, Dillon," she spat quietly, wondering how everything had fallen apart so brilliantly. "Damn it."
(Yarckel District)
News about the Scout Regiment's spectacular failure spread through the country faster than a plague. Whereas the people were once evenly split about the idea of Eren Yeager becoming the Savior of Humanity, now a significant percentage of the optimists joined the realists and the pessimists, believing that it was a foolhardy move that got them nowhere. They were right back where they started. Due to this, Eren was going to be transferred to the Military Police where he would be studied, interrogated, dissected and probably executed, in that order.
It was these things that had Carolyn Amsdale in a VERY bad mood as she frantically gathered her notes. The Scout Regiment was the only military force that was trying to free the people from the Titans, and now the people were trying to take that away from them. They did not fight tooth and nail to keep Eren alive just so he could get dissected by the MP goons.
"Honey, are you sure this is the best idea?" Matthew asked, concerned for his wife's wellbeing.
"I'm not going to let Eren get executed," Carolyn stated, making sure her notes were neatly put together in her briefcase. "He's done too much for us."
"You heard Darius," he pointed out sadly. "There's too much stacked against the Scouts because of the Expedition."
She slammed the top of her briefcase shut, hitting him with a glower. "They are condemning an innocent boy to death, Matthew. You know as well as I do he's the best hope these people have at survival. Without him, all is lost."
The blacksmith knew when to admit defeat, especially when she was right. Heaving a sigh, he nodded. "Alright. If worse comes to worse, we'll break him out and go into hiding."
"Sounds familiar," she said dryly.
As Carolyn prepared to leave, however, there was a loud knock at the door.
"Sorry. Shop's closed for the day!" Matthew called out.
"I'm afraid I must insist," came a deep, familiar voice.
Eyes widening, Carolyn opened the door. "Erwin!"
The commander of the Scouts stood before her, looking rather exhausted and tired. All things considered, it would've been far more surprising if he wasn't. "May I come in?"
"Of course," she answered, letting him inside as she shut the door.
Erwin tightened the cloak around his body as took the silent offer to sit in the chair across from the couch Carolyn and Matthew currently occupied. One look at her told the commander everything. "I know what you are planning, Carolyn, and I must insist you stay out of it for the sake of your family."
"You know I can't do that," she said. "Eren's life is at risk. If they get their hands on him-."
"They won't," he assured firmly. "We have a plan in place for him, but you can't risk your life and your career for this. It won't solve anything." He raised his hand to stop her from interjecting. "I'm not just here because of that. I need to speak with you about your son."
The parents grew tense at that. Because of Matthew's mental connection, they knew that Dillon was alive, though he wasn't able to pick up on emotion or pain. They had the link set up that way to give each other their privacy.
"What happened?" Matthew questioned.
"…He was kidnapped."
Carolyn's eyes widened in horror. "What!? How!? Why!?"
"As you've heard, the Expedition was attacked by the first Female Titan," Erwin explained. "Due to her actions, we were able to deduce that she was a Titan Shifter like Eren is."
"I... I don't understand. What would a Titan Shifter want with our son?" Carolyn asked.
Erwin let out a very soft sigh. "...It was Annie."
They stared at him, dumbfounded by the revelation.
"Annie?" Matthew repeated. "As in Annie Leonhart?"
"Yes."
"She... she was working with the Titans," Carolyn said quietly.
He shook his head. "We don't think so. She targeted Eren specifically."
Matthew clenched his fist as fury coursed through his body. "I let her into my home. We let her into our lives. And now, she's taken our son!"
"Calm down," Erwin said quietly.
Matthew sprang from the couch, looking ready to throttle the Scout commander. "Don't you dare tell me to calm down, Erwin! We just lost our son! Our only child! The one person we love most in this world! Of course I'm going to be mad as hell! If you have a problem with that, then you can get out of my house!"
"Matthew, stop!" Carolyn pleaded in a shaky voice, grabbing his hand and pulling him down to prevent him from attacking. "Please." She looked at Erwin, tears falling down her face. "Tell us we can save him. Tell us we can bring him home."
And here came the worst part of the news. "I am sorry, Carolyn. It's too late."
That did it. Carolyn finally broke down while Matthew held her as he tried to keep it together, halfway between raging to the heavens and collapsing in tears. "No... please, no," she wept, burying her face in her hands.
This was a textbook example as to why Erwin hated informing families of his soldiers' deaths in person. Watching them break down as they were forced to come to terms with the loss was never easy, nor something he would ever get used to. The only silver lining was that they weren't placing the blame on him or the Scouts like other families did, yet that thought offered him no comfort. The Amsdale's had no reason to be broken apart like this. They didn't deserve it. He rose up to take his leave, having felt he had done enough damage. "I am sorry."
"…Promise me something," Matthew managed out as his own tears threatened to erupt from his eyes, though that anger was still present. "If Annie ever comes back…"
"We will treat her like any other traitor," Erwin swore with a before leaving the Amsdale's to grieve. Quietly and stoically, he made his way out the door, closing it slowly behind him.
"That went about as well as I expected," Levi, who had been waiting on the stairs, muttered.
Erwin let out a sigh, massaging his forehead to try and calm the headache he had developed. The stress was starting to get to him.
Levi stared at the district. "You know what's funny? Amsdale's kidnapping was out of our control, and we told them it would be that way... but not being able to bring him home after everything those two have done for us..." He shook his head. "Senseless thinking, yet it's crossing my mind."
"You aren't alone in that, Levi," Erwin stated gravely as the two descended down the stairs.
"Plan's in place to keep Eren out of their hands," he informed him. "He'll be safe."
"Good. And the potential traitors?"
"Still looking into that, though it's gonna take some time. Most of our resources are being dedicated to the fallout and the possibility of all of us getting labeled as traitors." He let out a derisive snort. "Bet those pigs are gonna love that."
"Eren's survival is too important for that," Erwin reminded him. "Until we can prove that Eren's abilities are invaluable to the cause, we have no choice but to pursue this to the bitter end."
Levi shook his head. "If you insist." He took to the skies on his ODM, leaving Erwin behind. Judging by how quickly he left, he was ready to go vent his frustration somewhere.
Erwin rubbed the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes. "And here I thought the Expedition five years ago went poorly. Now, it's gotten far worse…"
(Wall Maria Territory)
Pain was the first sensation Dillon came to know when he regained consciousness. Unsurprising, given the vicious fight he had earlier. What did surprise him was the fact that he was missing his shirt and the wounds had bandages on them. Still, it wasn't going to fix the cracked ribs or the general fatigue. So weak. So sore. So... helpless. What Dillon wouldn't give for some strength... or at least someone to rescue him. He knew that neither of those things wouldn't happen as long as Annie had him.
Speak of the devil, the door opened, revealing the blonde menace. "You're awake," she stated, her voice flat and toneless.
"...What do you want?" he questioned. "To wag your finger at me while saying how disappointed you are again?" At least his wit was still intact, however damaged.
Wordlessly, Annie walked over to him. His mouth shut as he glared at her, daring her to do something to him. She continued to close the distance between them, grabbing a chair by its back. Its legs ground noisily against the floor, yet he remained silent, a stark contrast from the last time she saw him. No more was he going to break in front of her. Right now, all he had to do was wait for another opportune moment. Annie placed the chair near his bedside, up near his head, and silently fell into it. She kept her expression carefully neutral, saying nothing. His brown eyes met her blue.
"...Well?"
The space between her thin brows creased. "I said wanted to explain this to you. I still do. I just..." She looked away. "I don't know where to begin."
"How long were you planning this?" he questioned.
A good a place to start as any, she supposed. "I didn't plan this. We didn't plan this. Do you honestly think we would willing wish death on thousands of people? I know you're smart, Dillon, so think before you answer me."
"...I don't know," Dillon admitted. "After all, the woman sitting in front of me is a stranger. I have no idea who she is."
She suppressed the dark, angry thoughts his anger enticed. "We were given orders to come here, by our superiors. We were the top four among others to be selected for the mission."
"Whose orders? Titans have a leader now?"
"...Our orders came from people, Dillon. As human as you and-" She stopped herself, knowing that she would have foolishly angered him if she included herself. "As human as you and your people."
Then, it started hitting him as things started becoming clear. "Wait... you mean to tell me...?"
"I come from far beyond your Walls, beyond this... island. My people know of yours and have for centuries, but yours wouldn't know of ours due to the isolation in the walls."
He wanted to deny her, deny that being a possibility, and yet... it made sense. Somehow, other humans were controlling the Titans to kill them, and they sent a trio of Shifters to help out with the task. There were soft noises coming from Dillon that Annie had to strain to hear. The sound increased just a little bit, but she could tell that he was chuckling.
"...Dillon?" She asked, concern fluttering into her voice.
"How ironic," he said, shaking his head with a grin. "What's beyond the Walls? Humans that want us dead."
"What you all know as 'the world' is really just an island, a small bit of rock before countless other continents. If you were to go past your Walls, you'd eventually reach the borders and see the sea."
"So, why do they want us dead, huh? Why'd they send you and the Titan Brigade for a country that's on the edge of collapse?"
"We were sent to reclaim The Founding Titan, to remove something that could posibbly threaten the entire world. It's a power that can only be used by the Fritz family, a line of royal Eldians. The descendants of Ymir Fritz."
He stared at her as if she grew a second head. "...what?"
"Which part don't you get?"
"What Founding Titan? You mean Eren?"
"God, no!" Annie didn't bother to hide the shudder that idea gave her. "If that fool had that kind of power, we would have left long ago. No, Eren is the Attack Titan. How he has this power, we still don't know. We were told it was lost, years ago."
"But that had to be the reason why you were there during the Expedition," he pointed out.
"Eren's the first great find we've had in years. We decided that, if we couldn't find the Coordinate, we'd take him instead. Perhaps, we thought, our superiors would pardon us for failing the mission in return for finding one of the lost Titan Powers."
"...Let me get this straight: you and your cohorts came to this place to find some mystical Titan power, killed 20% of the population, not including the lives lost in Trost, mind you, and then decided to kidnap Eren while bathing in the blood of innocents on the off-chance that maybe, just maybe, you can live a happy life?" He glared at her once more. "You must be really fucking idiotic to think that's a good plan."
Annie was getting really sick of his attitude. "You don't understand. You're not seeing it for our perspective. We don't have a choice!"
"So, you and the other bastards are doing this to save your own skins?"
She scoffed at his ignorance. "...You think we're being threatened with death? Dillon, there are some things far worse than death. It's not us who are at risk, it's our families. If we return empty handed, they'll pay the price for our failings. We'll simply be replaced by any new candidates they've got lined up back home."
Finally, he shut up, letting that information sink in. "...Your father?"
Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Now you're using your head. If I don't succeed, my Dad dies. What would you do for your family, Dillon? Your perfect, little family?"
He glowered at her, knowing that she had him there... for the moment. "So... you're trading me in for your father?"
A groan nearly left her lips. "No, you idiot. I want you to help me save my father."
"...And what makes you think I will help you?"
She stared incredulously at him. "Have you listened to a word I said?"
"Of course I did, but you left out the part where the Armored and Colossal Titans continue destroying this place until everyone is dead, including my family and friends." He glared at her. "What makes you think I'm going to abandon them to their deaths?"
He had her there. Damn. She forgot that he wasn't nearly as selfish as she was. "We can't stop them. Their drive to complete the mission is absolute. The moment they're discovered, they'll attack without mercy."
"Then I'll kill them," he stated without hesitation.
"You'll die."
"I'm still alive, and you haven't killed me. At full strength, you're nothing to me. They won't stand a chance."
There was some truth to that, she knew. The powers he had were something they had never been trained to deal with. She decided to try a different angle: "Why do you care whether or not they take Eren? If they get him, they'll leave. One life in exchange for the rest of them. Besides, last time I checked, you didn't care for Eren or his sister Ackerman."
He chuckled mirthlessly. "Wow. That was... you really must be the biggest dumbass in history."
She stared at him, a bit taken aback.
He took a breath and began. "Let me speak slowly so that you understand me: if you and the others just wanted this 'Founding Titan,' you could've simply infiltrated the Walls under false identities, found said Titan, and left. Instead, you break down Maria, cause the deaths of 20% of the population, break down Rose and get a lot of people who trusted you killed, and then finally attack the scouting regiment and kill dozens more. I sincerely doubt the people who sent you want us to live, because they are apparently as diplomatic as a parasite. You know, diplomacy? Talking things out as opposed to fighting them out? Oh, and let me make something abundantly clear, you self-absorbed sack of shit." He gave her the deadliest glare he had ever given. "I may not like Eren or Mikasa that much, but I would protect them with my life if I had to, because THAT'S the oath I took as a soldier! So, take your 'solutions', and shove them up your ass until you vomit!"
Finally, Annie snapped, getting right in his face. "Who are you to judge me!? You haven't been where I've been, you haven't seen what I've seen, done what I've done. I did horrible things because it was my only way out and now the one person I care about in these damn walls is calling me a monster and wants to kill me!"
Dillon didn't even flinch, giving her a pointed look. "And you have no one to blame but yourself."
Tears threatened to fall from her face as she pulled herself away from him. She had nothing to counter that with. Everything that has happened was because of her. She turned her back to him, face in her hand as she struggled to contain her emotions and figure something out. It was all falling apart, slipping from her fingers.
"…That being said…"
Slowly, Annie found herself turning around to face him. Was he really...?
"You need me to save your father, and I need to save my family... so here's my one-time, nonnegotiable deal," Dillon said, feeling in control. "I'll help you save your father... but you're going to do something for me."
"Which is?" she was almost afraid to ask.
"We're going to take a brief trip to Shiganshina, and get whatever's in Eren's basement. I've been in his mind before, so I remember what his house looks like. Then, we're going to return to Wall Rose and either kill or capture your comrades."
"And how do you propose we do the latter?" Annie asked, her annoyance clear. Just when she thought he was seeing reason, he proves her wrong. "I've probably been reported MIA and you're more than likely presumed among the dead. We can't just appear out of the blue. And, as I mentioned, those two won't come quietly. They will fight."
"And you want to infiltrate a freaking country that you haven't been to in the past five years," he reminded her simply.
She opened her mouth to retort... and then closed it when he realized he had a point. She scowled and looked away, her displeasure apparent. "Are you planning for us to hide from the military?"
"I'll think of something," he replied. "I still have a few mental connections that I can use to my advantage. Once they are dead or incapacitated, I'll give the Scouts whatever was in the damn basement, and then I'll help you with your father."
"…Is that all?" There were faults in the plan that, despite how much she wanted to address them now, decided that it would be wise not to push her luck.
"No." Dillon looked right into her steely, blue eyes that he used to love. "After I save your father, after we get him out of that place... I walk away. I go home, and we never see each other again!"
The words hit Annie like a ton of bricks. She felt them blowing the wind from her lungs and cracking the walls she spent most of last night making to keep her feelings locked away. She looked into his eyes and she could see it. The fire was back now that his purpose had returned, but there was anger and repulse in them at full force. "…Then what's the point?" she asked, her throat dried up.
"Everything you've ever done has been because of your father," he explained, his gaze never leaving her. "You'll get what you've always wanted… but you'll never have me again."
"That didn't answer my question... what's the point of me doing it if I don't have you?"
"Because you get to spend the rest of your life with your father when this is over," Dillon stated. "Unless you're willing to let everything you've done up to this point be for nothing."
"You're not getting it!" she said, standing up so quickly the chair fell. "If I don't have you then it's for nothing anyway!"
"...Then I guess we have nothing more to talk about."
"Then you don't get to help your people."
That blunt statement got his attention immediately. Dillon glared at her for a moment, wanting to lash out, but he knew that she was right. Obviously, she didn't care whether they died at this point. "...So, I get to help my people, and you get a lifelong prisoner?"
"You always said you'd be willing to give your life for the good of humanity," she said simply.
"And what would stop me from killing myself the moment we save your father?"
"You're not a coward."
He clenched his fists, knowing there was nothing he could do. No matter how hard he tried, there'd be no way to help humanity outside of becoming stuck with Annie for the rest of his life. Coming to a decision, he said, "Fine. I'll be your precious possession."
"Good... hopefully, it'll get better over time."
"Doubt it..." He muttered, his stomach growled noisily to remind him that he hadn't eaten in a couple of days. Not to mention the lack of water on top of that.
Without a word, she reached down and pulled a knife from her boot before moving to sever the knots.
Dillon took notice that it was the same knife that he had given her for her birthday back in Training. He remembered how he was afraid of how she would take it, how Sasha nearly got herself killed trying to snag the date from Annie, and how he was rewarded with a genuine smile. Unfortunately, every memory of Annie was replaced by that skinless abomination he feared and hated. Annie was dead, and in her place was a stranger.
With the last knot removed, Annie put some distance between them. Enough for him to move, but also enough for her to react if she needed to.
He massaged his wrists as he stood, feeling like his entire body fell asleep, but he fought through it. Unfortunately, the injuries really took a toll on his bodies. Scratches and bruises seemed to weigh him down, and that migraine never ceased to leave him alone. If he was back in the Walls, he would probably be marched to the infirmary, but luxuries like that would have to wait.
He nearly jumped when a ration bar landed on the bed followed by a canteen.
"Thirty minutes," Annie said before walking out and slamming the door behind her.
Letting out a sigh, Dillon took a few sips of water. His sore throat welcomed the liquid that would rejuvenate him for the time being. He made sure not to drink too much for the future. As he unwrapped the ration bar, which resembled a giant cracker, his thoughts drifted to the blonde menace. He could only imagine how much he shattered her with his words, turning his back on her like that. In the end, however, she brought it upon herself. She was a liar, a murderer, and a traitor, and his sympathy had run out.
Before he could take a bite, though, there was a sound coming from beneath the floor. It was soft and muffled, but he could still hear it. He listened closely and slowly recognized what that was: sobs. Annie was actually crying, something he never dreamed was possible. Pain shot through his body, yet it wasn't because of the injuries. His fist clenched so hard, his fingernails were digging in and leaving marks. Why did she have to make things so difficult for him? Why couldn't things have been simple? Dillon knew that he was doing what he had to for the sake of the people within these Walls, but it was starting to hurt him. For once, he hesitated blaming Annie for that.
Editor's note: I am sorry for how late this one came out. Life has been very hectic for me lately, and the fight scene in this chapter ate up a lot of the time I was able to devote to this. All in all, though, I'm satisfied with the product (otherwise I wouldn't have submitted it to the authors for posting). I hope you are as well.
Author's Note: The chapters, from here on out, are going to be harder to write, but I hope that what ends up getting produced you all will enjoy. Until next time.