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“As much as I miss her, I don’t particularly like coming down here when I’m off duty,” Hitch mused, holding a lit torch above their heads. “Though I’m here more than anyone else, but not usually in my off hours.”
Historia smiled at her. “Part of your royal duties, unfortunately. Plus, I am the Queen.”
“Why do you want to come down here anyway?”
It was barely light out, the sun already dipping low, and once they went underground it became very dark. But Historia wasn’t afraid. She knew exactly how many steps it took to reach her desired destination.
“Boredom,” she finally answered.
Hitch rolled her eyes, but she didn’t comment further. Historia felt a slight twinge of guilt, but ignored it. She understood Hitch had been close with Annie, so coming here likely made her uncomfortable. But Historia had learned to be selfish, and she would be making this journey regardless of Hitch’s personal feelings on the matter. Besides, they stationed Hitch to guard Annie because of their history together, just in case.
When they stepped off the last step, Hitch pressed her back to the wall. “I’ll stay on guard out here,” she announced. “Shout if she somehow gets out and tries to eat you.”
Historia just nodded, then she quietly pushed the heavy wooden door open and stepped into the room.
It was quiet where Annie slept.
Despite years of effort, the crystal that encased Annie’s slumbering body was still as hard and solid as ever, hiding her from the rest of the world. Her crystal was situated in a holding cell deep underground so that even if she were to suddenly break out, she wouldn’t escape so easily.
Though, Historia mused, looking over at the pair of guards who were slumped over the desk, fast asleep, the security had really loosened up over the years.
She sighed. While it was worrisome, she didn’t mind it now, for the lackluster security allowed for her to come down here undetected sometimes. She would slip out of the royal palace without anyone even noticing, wearing an ordinary farming outfit with a hood that deeply covered her head, making sure no one could spot the blonde hair within. She was wearing the same outfit now.
If the others found out she came here after hours too, especially Hange, there would be hell to pay.
But Historia was burning with curiosity—had always been, since the moment she was told that Annie was the Female Titan and she had lost her battle with Eren, encased in crystal when they captured her.
She spent the late hours of the evening shrouded in the shadows of the room, staring at Annie’s pale face. She studied every wave and curve of the crystalline blue, wondering what it would take it finally crack it open. She recalled her coronation, and the moment Eren had grasped her trembling hand and pressed a whisper soft kiss against her knuckles. She had still been in the throes of grief, having read Ymir’s final letter to her, and having anyone touch her made her skin crawl. But more than that, Eren touching her had made her feel an awful, strange wave of something.
She would never forget the look on his face, that day, after touching her must have awakened something inside of him. She knew he held the Coordinate Power, and it was her Reiss blood that had briefly given him control of his power.
She shivered, wondering again what Eren was planning. He had disappeared, and part of her hoped he would stay gone.
Historia glanced again at Annie’s peaceful face, wondering if she was conscious. Could she still feel things? Hear things around her? If Historia went up to her, and spoke to her, would she be able to tell that someone was saying something? These questions drove Historia mad. Her loneliness drove her to step forward, cautiously but curiously pressing the tips of her fingers against the hard crystal.
Part of her had mistakenly thought it would be cold to the touch, almost as if it was ice, but it was warm. She pressed her palm flat, staring in wonder at the crystal. What did it feel like, inside there? Was it warm and comforting? She wondered if Annie would stay in there forever, or if she would ever emerge. She still looked sixteen, even though four long years had passed since then.
Historia grinned, realizing that if Annie were to get out, she would be the smallest person around. Historia was always the only girl shorter than Annie, but not anymore. The years had filled her in. She was taller, fuller, and rounder in all the places that counted. But the stress of it all had her hollow eyed, and she couldn’t always get herself to eat. The terrible future loomed over them—maybe some part of her had seen whatever visions Eren had, and she instinctually knew that nothing good was coming their way. Or maybe they were just used to it, to the death and destruction and the terror.
Even as things grew peaceful, there was always the terror. It underlined everything, seeped into the very marrow of their bones. The children of their children too, would know the bitter taste of this fear. It would be punched into their very DNA.
Historia couldn’t help the dark turn her thoughts took, sometimes. It was a very grim world they lived in, and after losing Ymir, she struggled to find her proper place in it. Ymir leaving her to die by the enemy hands would forever be the one thing she would never forgive, or understand. She couldn’t really understand Annie either.
She was suddenly hit with a memory, back in their training days, when the world seemed a lot smaller when it was just them versus the titans, and when they were blissfully ignorant.
It was time to bathe, and they all did so in the public bath house. It was just easier, and cheaper, to have all the cadets hop into a bath together. There were showers sprinkled about, but no real privacy either. Historia had grown up very, very sheltered. She also never grew up like most kids, so she didn’t really know how to pretend to be embarrassed about her nudity. Luckily for her, most of the girls didn’t seem to care.
Ymir always snuck in after everyone else was done, and Historia understood why now, that she was a young girl attracted to other girls, and it was difficult for her to walk into a room filled with them naked and still maintain her aloof, detached attitude. Historia had just thought she was weird.
Annie, though, had seemed to be the only one with actual modesty, and that piqued her interest immediately. Annie was someone she hadn’t been able to manipulate yet, because she just didn’t seem interested at all. The smart thing to do was stay away from each other, not form any bonds, because when they graduated and joined their areas of choice, they would either never see each other again, or die very quickly.
But Historia was depressed and lonely, and she figured she wouldn’t live past training anyway, so she might as well make all the friends and bonds she could. Ymir had been the first to seek her out—Historia understood why now, of course—and the others Historia had painstakingly manipulated until they all liked her and wanted her to be around. She projected whatever they wanted to see, playing the part of the perfect, demure girl that everyone saw her as.
Annie, however, seemed to dislike her from the start. Historia had taken offense to that, until she realized she wasn’t special in that regard—Annie disliked everyone. She was a lone wolf, always separate from the other cadets. Historia had told herself that was fine, to just leave Annie alone and maintain her façade with everyone else. But that bothered her, and she found herself trying in subtle ways to interact with Annie, to get Annie to interact back.
Now, Historia was sitting in the deep, big bath surrounded by the other girls. They were all chatting and laughing, and a few of the showers were running. It was a cosy, warm atmosphere, and it made Historia feel warm inside, too. Then she noticed Annie step into the bath house, still dressed in her dirty training uniform. Annie swept a glare over everyone, then she selected a spot as far away from everyone else as possible.
Curious, Historia decided to watch her. Annie moved stiffly but quickly, and when she was naked but covering herself up with her towel, Historia realized with some amusement that Annie was embarrassed.
As she’d said, Historia didn’t feel that sense of embarrassment in this room, even though it was something she wanted to project since she was pretending to be some pure, innocent doll. She just hadn’t seen it in action enough yet to mimic it.
Now was her chance.
“Sorry, everyone, I just want to wash my hair,” she apologized to the girls. They all smiled and told her not to worry, and Historia maintained her sweet smile until her back was to them and no one could see her face.
She selected the stool directly beside Annie’s and turned the facet for the above showerhead. Annie had gone rigid, arms crossed over her chest, thighs pressed tightly together.
She had such beautiful, creamy skin, Historia thought. She eyed her secretly, then decided to just get on with it.
“Hi Annie,” she greeted, turning to give Annie her sweetest smile ever. “Fancy seeing you here.”
Annie glared darkly at her through the curtain of her damp, stringy blonde hair. Her nose was the most prominent feature on her face, only second to those burning blue eyes.
They had so much of the same colouring, but they were so different about it. Historia was told her blue eyes were warm like the ocean in summer, or the blue sky during spring, but Annie’s blue was cold, hard and at that moment, very hostile. It made Historia smile.
“And you just happened to choose the spot right next to me?” Annie deadpanned, flicking her eyes to the other stools, all available and all far away from her.
Historia laughed. “You looked lonely.”
“I’m not.”
“Not anymore.”
“I wasn’t before.”
Historia huffed, not used to having to put so much effort into her interactions with others. Her day to day social life was exhausting enough. She didn’t understand things the way most people did, and she couldn’t really properly express herself, or even understand herself, so now trying to understand Annie was going to give her a headache.
But she didn’t want to let her real feelings show on her face, and instead gave Annie another sweet smile.
“Well, I just wanted to come over and talk. You’re always on your own, and I’d like to get to know you.”
Annie had given her such a dark look that in that moment, it had scared Historia. It was loaded with so much emotion, so much loathing, but it hadn’t been directed at her.
Historia understood it all now. Back then, though, she really didn’t. Annie was such a frustrating puzzle to her, but she felt so compelled to try and figure her out.
Annie finally stopped glaring and turned her shower on, but she still kept one arm pressed over her breasts. She was almost as small as Historia, but she was quite blessed in the chest area. Historia admired the soft edges of her ample breasts, and she wondered what the colour of her nipples was.
At that thought, she finally frowned. Why would she wonder that?
She started washing her hair, even though she didn’t need to, and she kept a close eye on everything Annie did. She look very disgruntled, and she kept shooting subtle glares Historia’s way, which made her want to laugh. Rarely did she ever feel any sort of joy or amusement for real, so Historia was really enjoying herself.
Historia finished washing her hair, then she decided to be daring. She turned her face fully to watch Annie, and she delighted in the way Annie noticed immediately, going stiff, and quickly covered up. Her ears were already an interesting dark shade, and Historia watched in wonder as Annie’s wet cheeks turned red as well.
“Enjoying the show?” Annie spat at her, brows furrowed low, full lips pulled into a near snarl.
Historia pressed her fingertips against her lips, suppressing another grin. “You don’t like being watched?”
Annie let out a sigh. “I don’t think anyone would like being stared at when they’re naked.”
“No one else here seems to care.”
Annie’s blush deepened. “Most here will be dead anyway, why would they?”
That comment was harsh, but it didn’t make her so much as flinch. Historia expected everyone else would outlast her by a lot, so she barely even blinked at the remark. Annie had clearly expected a strong reaction, and she tilted her head slightly when she didn’t get one. Historia just smiled at her. Not her fake, sweet girl smile, but a genuine one.
“I’m sorry, I’ll stop staring then.” She turned back to the shower, lifting her arms and cupping her hands under the spray. She could feel Annie’s eyes on her, staring at her breasts, and her nipples hardened.
A weird feeling swept through her. The first time she had ever felt something in response to someone’s eyes on her body. Was this what it felt like? Being embarrassed? But it didn’t feel bad, and Historia couldn’t figure out what this feeling was.
They didn’t speak again. Annie finished up in a hurry, and when she got up, she briefly dropped her arms to gather her things, then she tightened a towel around herself and walked off, not sparing Historia another glance.
Sitting there in the warm spray of water, Historia felt heat spread throughout her entire body. It started at her fingertips, spreading inwards. She took in a breath, moist air filling her lungs, and stared after Annie.
The colour pink was all she could think about.
Back in the present, Historia recognized that she had also been a horny teen, in her own way, and seeing Annie that way had made her feel a lot of things, among them being attraction. Even now, Annie was so beautiful.
God, she was so lonely.
Historia closed her eyes and pressed both hands to the crystal, sending out a thought in the hopes that maybe she had the power within her, somewhere deep, to open this damn crystal.
Open, she commanded silently, feeling the hard waves against her skin, but nothing more. She opened her eyes and looked at Annie’s smooth features.
Probably not, she mused. It would be wishful thinking.
“Hey, Queenie, you done yet?”
Historia turned to see Hitch in the doorway, looking like she very much did not want to be there. She was pointedly not looking at Annie.
“Yeah, I’m done, let’s go.”
Hitch’s relief was palpable. “Good,” she said, “you’ve got your nightly duties to tend to, and I don’t want to get chewed out again for giving in to your whims and letting you neglect your job.”
Sighing, Historia followed, feeling like a chastised teenager and not the rightful Queen of Paradis, back to the palace, wondering not for the first time when her loneliness would finally ebb away, and when the jagged wound in her heart would finally begin to heal.
In the room they had just left, a single drop of liquid hit the ground.
Annie’s eyes snapped open as her consciousness swam into focus, and then she was coughing the bitter liquid from her lungs and throat. She had enough sense left in her to do so quietly, all of her training kicking in as adrenalin began filling her.
The burn in her lungs—her entire body—made her eyes water. She hacked until everything was out, and then she slowly pressed up onto her elbows and glanced around. She was underground, that much she could tell, and there were only two torches lit on the walls casting waving orange light.
There was a guard post, but no one there. Annie blinked, not believing her luck. Did they notice she was starting to thaw? Where they waiting just outside, blades at the ready, to finally take her down?
Her time in the crystal was a blur. It was like a very long, broken sleep. She would wake up briefly, but everything had always been muffled, and then she would succumb again. Drifting in and out, unaware of what exactly was going on around her, hearing the mumbling voices that tried talking to her day after day.
She wasn’t sure why she was out of the crystal now, and that concerned her. Had Zeke launched a rescue mission for her? Had something else happened?
Annie wouldn’t have the time to figure that out.
Around her were broken fragments of the crystal, and she was still mostly weak as she just lay there, drenched and quickly growing cold. She collapsed onto her back and stared up at the dark ceiling, studying the lines of shadows as they danced along with the flickering flame.
Annie fought through the pain and exhaustion, and got onto her feet. She still had a mission. It didn’t matter how much time had passed, or what had happened on the outside. She wanted to complete her mission and return home. It was tempting to just escape, but she had no future that way. She would be immediately fed to the next warrior candidate, not even given the chance to live the rest of her short years.
No, Annie wouldn’t do that. She didn’t want all of the death and destruction at her hand to be for nothing. As much as she hated it, she still had a job to do.
Capture Eren. Kill the puppet Monarch of Paradis. Find a way off the island and return to her father.
A slight pang hit her chest, but like everything else, she ignored it.
Annie slowly crept to the door but froze at the sound of footsteps on the other side. She slid to a dark corner and went still, willing her weak body to remain as silent as possible. The door creaked open and a figure filled the doorway. Annie stared, her breaths heavy in her chest, and then her heart lurched.
Hitch stepped into the room, eyes squinted against the darkness clashing with the flickering fire light. The sight of her was almost overwhelming. It was proof that Annie had failed so completely. Hitch wasn’t that bitchy teenager that Annie remembered—she looked like a full, matured woman. She was taller, more filled out and above that, much fiercer. It was just in the air around her.
Annie still slid towards her, fists clenched tight. Her personal feelings clashed with the obligations she held, so she stifled the voice in the back of her head telling her not to do this. Hitch arriving was unexpected, and unfortunate, but a perfect opportunity. Annie needed a new outfit. Her current one was getting stiff, and she feared it would be outdated and she would stick out.
What else had changed while she had slept? She was afraid to find out.
Annie’s foot scuffed softly on the hard ground, but it was enough for Hitch to hear in the same second she seemed to fully realize that the crystal was open. Hitch let out a gasp and then whirled around, but Annie struck before she could properly react.
She got Hitch into a headlock and took her down, back hitting the wall. She slid down, Hitch squirming and struggling against her. God, Annie’s muscles were so weak, but she fought back with everything she had.
“Annie,” Hitch cried out in a gurgle, eyes bulging.
“I’m sorry,” Annie told her, genuinely meaning it. Pain bloomed in her chest, and then Hitch finally went unconscious and stopped moving, slumping against Annie’s body.
Annie didn’t waste a second. She quickly undressed Hitch and slipped into her clothes, greatly annoyed by having to roll the pants and the sleeves up. The shoes were too big too, but she could still walk in them. She had the sense time was running out.
With great regret, she tore her old shirt into strips and used that to gag and tie Hitch up. Then she carefully set her aside in a dark corner, using her folded pants as a cushion for Hitch’s head.
“I’m sorry,” she told her again, and then she left.
Annie knew the layout keenly thanks to a map Reiner had given her, but it still took a moment to figure out where in the underground tunnels she was. Once she had, she easily located the secret passageways. She found the one that led directly to the palace, one that no one knew about. She knew this, because it was dark, filled with cobwebs and years of dust. She resisted the urge to cough and her lungs burned as she quietly walked.
This was dangerous, but Annie had no choice but to act while her return was still secret. The moment they discovered she was out, the entire army would be on her tail. Her plan was to get into the palace, attack whoever was being forced to wear the crown for this cursed island, and then she would demand answers.
After that, well, there would be more blood on her hands.
This time, Annie refused to fail. There would be no crystal nap time for her if she couldn’t succeed with her second chance. She’d rather die here, anyway, than by the hands of Marley if she returned a failure.
Annie swallowed thickly, feeling the fear and uncertainty in her chest. Her fingers were knocking together, and she wasn’t used to feeling this weak and lost. She hated it. Almost hated it more than this whole damned world.
She made good time into the palace, and then she had to sneak her way through the hallways until she reached what should still be the monarchs’ bedroom. There were two guards standing there, so Annie caused a distraction that had them running the other way. Before they could return, she hurried into the room beyond, being as silent as possible.
Annie pressed her back against the door, hardly believing she had successfully made it this far. She palmed the dagger she had taken from Hitch, and felt the heavy weight of it against her palm. There was a figure in the bed, still underneath the covers.
This room as opulent, fit for royalty. It soured her mouth.
Heart pounding, mind racing, Annie stalked forward with the sharp point of the knife heading the way. Before she could let any doubts fill her mind, Annie moved closer. She was about to announce herself, but then the person turned over to face her, and Annie was struck dumb by Krista’s sleeping face.
Krista was the current ruling monarch?
Her mind wasn’t just racing anymore, it was running a damn marathon. She didn’t have the time to stand there in shock, though, but she couldn’t get herself to move an inch closer. The dagger suddenly felt heavier in her hand, pulling her fingers downwards.
In that moment she was really hit with the reality that life had moved on full-steam ahead—without her. She was drowning in an ocean she didn’t remember swimming in.
Flashes of memory came in, of Annie betraying people who had trusted her—Marco, the poor boy eaten alive right in front of her—and she pictured what Krista’s blood would look like soaked into the white of her nightgown.
She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t hurt someone she had unfortunately grown fond of. As much as she had tried to ignore her, Krista had been the one person that had crawled underneath all of her defences. She’d been one of the weird ones, but Annie supposed there was much more to her during their training, if she was here in the palace, sleeping in the royal bedchamber.
Before she could make a decision on what to do, blue eyes were suddenly open and staring up at her in alarm. Krista didn’t resemble the feeble, annoying girl Annie remembered. Before her was a strong, grown woman, but she looked terrified.
Annie’s mouth went dry. She lowered the dagger, but did not drop it, and pressed a finger to her lips, hoping that Krista would listen to her and not make a noise. She didn’t want to have to use the knife. She didn’t want to hurt her.
Annie couldn’t understand where these feelings were coming from. She had choked her former friend out, stole her clothes and left her near naked in the dark, but suddenly she couldn’t hurt Krista? Her chest felt tight and hot and Annie’s mind was struggling to keep up.
“Annie?” Krista spoke softly, not moving, but clutching tightly at the blanket around her.
Annie licked her dry lips. Her fingers were trembling again. “Krista, I—”
There was a sudden knock on the door, and Annie’s instincts kicked in. She dove for cover, hiding behind a curtain next to the bed. The curtain was still softly swishing when the heavy door opened and one of the guards poked his head in.
“Your Majesty, is everything alright? I thought I heard your voice.”
Annie couldn’t see them, so she closed her eyes and listened.
“I’m fine, thank you, Boris. Just a nightmare, I think.”
Boris opened the door further, half entering. “Are you sure, ma’am? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. We were just chasing the trail of a ghost, too, it seems.”
Annie’s pulse was thrumming harshly in her neck. She cracked her eyes open and despite the stress of the moment, her eyes noticed a stack of papers on the desk to the other side of her. While Krista spoke quietly with the guard, telling him she was fine, Annie read what she could on the top page.
It was from Ymir.
Boris finally left, and since Annie was still hiding there behind the curtain, he hadn’t been alerted that she was there. Annie took a moment, then she stepped out from her hiding spot and dropped the knife. Those soft blue eyes regarded her calmly, almost compassionately, and Annie’s heart cracked.
“I haven’t heard that name in years, you know,” she finally spoke into the heavy silence between them.
Annie licked her lips. “What?”
“Krista,” she answered, smiling. “That’s not my name.”
Annie tilted her head. “What is your name then?”
“Historia. Historia Reiss.”
Annie’s eyes widened. She had gone to military school with the fucking Reiss heir. She was like the heir. She wondered then why Historia hadn’t told Boris that she was there. Why she was staring then, like Annie was a lost puppy.
Annie let out a sigh.
“I’m sorry.”
Historia’s smile turned sad. “What for?”
“Everything. All of it.”
For the first time since she had been given this terrible titan power, Annie allowed the full force of her guilt to crush down on her. She was just another tool used to cause more death and destruction in this never ending cycle.
“You read the letter?” Historia asked it, staring at Annie’s other hand.
She’d grabbed it, Annie realized. She flushed. “Sorry.”
Historia glanced away from her, a faraway look passing over her face. Hesitantly, Annie set the note back down and walked towards her. She didn’t know what she was doing. She didn’t know why her feet were taking her towards Historia, and not the nearby open window. She needed to escape now. If she couldn’t go through with her assassination plan, then escape was her best bet.
But Annie was so tired. And there was so much she didn’t understand. So much she had missed.
“Please tell me,” she pleaded, horrified to hear her voice tremble. “What happened while I was sealed away?”
Historia regarded her seriously. It was so weird to see her like this, not smiling sweetly like some saint—and Annie had always seen through the act. Historia looked so much… better, and bigger, and just, more. Not a whisp. Not a wraith passing through the days. Before her was a Queen. The damn Queen of Paradis. And Annie didn’t think she was just some figurehead, either.
“Alright,” Historia finally answered. “Get in.”
She lifted the blanket, and without complaint Annie slipped underneath. It was warm and soft, and tears pressed at the back of her eyes.
Historia began to explain, and Annie just quietly listened.
The shock of waking up to Annie at her bedside was an undercurrent to the happiness Historia felt, even if Annie had been standing here with a dagger pointed at her throat.
Now, they were lying side by side in her bed, Historia’s throat dry from how much talking she had done. She explained everything to Annie of what had happened following her departure into the crystal. Annie just listened quietly. She told her about their troubles with Marley, their new equipment, the project that had cleared the entire island of titans.
She told Annie about how Eren had changed once she had accidentally awoken the power in him, and how he was currently missing. Reports had him in Marley, but they didn’t know what he was doing or why, or where exactly he was.
She told Annie about Berthold’s death. Ymir’s and Erwin’s. She told Annie how Armin had inherited the Colossal Titan. How Historia had murdered her own father after he tried to manipulate her and turned into a grotesque titan that almost destroyed the walls. She also told Annie about personal things, her childhood and upbringing and why she joined the army to begin with. When she was done, felt raw and ripped open, but she felt elated to have someone to just talk to about all of this.
Historia was the queen. She had no friends, no one who really sat down with her and listened to her. Those fake smiles from her teenage-hood no longer worked, and she couldn’t get them to fit right on her face anymore.
Historia finally understood herself now, and she was unbearably lonely.
“I think I managed to undo your crystal,” she finally admitted into the silence. Annie hadn’t spoken yet, and Historia was too scared to look at her. “When Eren touched me,” she continued, “it woke something in both of us. The coordinate power meeting Reiss blood. I don’t have the coordinate, of course. It’s still with Eren. And he can’t use it without Reiss blood. But when he touched me… I don’t know, something happened. Like electricity. I always had this feeling in my chest that if I just touched your crystal, maybe you’d come out. And I think I was right.”
Annie listened in silence, and then Historia turned into her side to look at her. She was struck by how tired Annie looked. She had been properly frozen in time, so she wasn’t skin and bones, but there was an undeniable emptiness as she met Historia’s eyes over the expanse of her bed. Everything she had just been told must have been overwhelming.
“Or Eren’s come back and managed to use the power,” Annie finally told her, voice carefully neutral.
Historia shook her head. “I was at your crystal earlier in the afternoon. Besides, the walls are still intact. Nothing else happened. If he came here for you, he would have been there when you got out to take you away.”
Annie finally nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. Guess it was you, then.”
Historia took in a big breath. “Do you think…” she let her words trail off, then carefully studied Annie’s face. The attraction she had felt for her all those years ago was still there. Even knowing everything—Annie working for the enemy, causing so many deaths, trying to assassinate her—Historia still felt a pull in her chest.
It had been so long since she had felt anything like this, and it made her cheeks warm. Annie noticed her blush, but she didn’t comment on it, thankfully.
“What?” Annie finally said.
Historia let out a soft laugh. “Just a stupid idea, I guess.”
“Tell me.”
“I thought maybe, if I managed to open your crystal, then maybe I could awaken something else with your titan power? All of the titans came from my ancestor, after all. Maybe there’s a bit of Reiss in all of it.”
Annie studied her face. “Awaken what, exactly?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know, it was just a dumb idea. We’d have to touch to test it out.”
She blushed, realizing what her words were implying. What Annie could assume she was trying to do with the suggestion.
“Okay,” Annie told her. She held her hand out. “I’ve got nothing else scheduled for my evening.”
Historia laughed out loud suddenly, but covered her mouth to stop the noise. She was delighted when Annie’s lips twitched. “What even are we doing?” she asked quietly, reaching out towards Annie’s hand.
“Dunno. I feel really lost right now, so I’m going to latch onto anything.”
Their fingers intertwined. Annie’s skin was warm and soft, and her fingers were shorter than Historia’s. It wasn’t a dramatic difference in size, but it was enough. It was proof that time had progressed. It was evidence that Annie had remained in stasis while everyone around her moved on. it was also cool, because there was finally someone smaller than pipsqueak Historia. She grinned at the thought, and then caught Annie’s eyes as they stared right into her soul.
“Nothing,” Annie told her.
Historia furrowed her brows. It was true. She tried to give a command like she did with the crystal, but she didn’t even know what to command for. Eventually she gave up, pulling her hand away from Annie’s. She felt foolish.
“You said Eren kissed your hand, right?” Annie asked.
Historia’s eyes widened. “Yeah, he did.”
“Maybe I should kiss it too, then?”
Her heart did a flip in her chest, so she just nodded. She watched, blushing, as Annie reached for her hand again. She scooted closer, their knees brushing underneath the covers, and then she felt the soft warmth of Annie’s lips skating over her knuckles. All the while Annie’s darkened blue eyes stared into hers, as if searching her face for something. It was overwhelmingly intimate—something Historia had no proper experience with.
She was keenly aware that she was wearing only her nightgown, not even panties underneath, and Annie was looking at her with such a heated expression. She could feel her nipples tighten, and wondered if they were poking through the thin material of her gown. If Annie could see them. What Annie thought, if she could.
“Nothing still,” Historia breathed, head feeling airy from the amount of blood suddenly pumping through her.
Annie drew back, eyes hooded. “Shame,” she said. “Would have been interesting to see if that would work.”
“Yeah.”
They stared at each other, the energy charged between them. Something molten was swirling in Historia’s chest, steadily travelling south. She was a little horrified of what she was feeling, but then she couldn’t blame herself. She was alone in bed with another person, someone she happened to find attractive still, even after everything.
Historia decided to blame it on how lonely she was.
“So much has changed,” Annie said quietly. She turned onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. Historia only noticed then that she had on an ill-fitting outfit, and then she recognized the pin that was attached to the collar. It was Hitch’s. She spared a thought for Hitch, hoping she wasn’t too badly banged up.
“What are you going to do now?” Historia asked her, aware of how loaded the question was.
“I was planning on trying to still fulfil my duties, but I can’t.” She swallowed and Historia watched the way the cords of her throat moved. “I guess all I can do is try to get back to my dad, if he’s still alive.”
Historia remained silent, a sense of disappointment beginning to creep in. Logically, she knew that Annie was a criminal and needed to be imprisoned. She had caused so many deaths. But she had also just been a tool of Marley, with no real will of her own. Could they really blame her?
If word got out, no one would be willing to forgive her crimes. But Historia realized that she would try her best. She would do what she could to aide Annie, even if it was to get her out.
“Okay,” she said.
Annie finally turned to look back at her. “You’d let me leave?” she asked. “After everything I’ve done? You wouldn’t call your guards, have me arrested and locked up?”
Historia chewed on her lower lip, Annie’s eyes sliding down to stare at the motion. A faint blush dusted over Annie’s cheeks, making Historia’s stomach swirl.
“No. You deserve to get back to your dad, Annie. You’ve been used enough.”
Annie looked away and nodded. She didn’t say anything for a time, and then she sat up quickly. The motion made Historia’s heart jolt. She watched, saddened, as Annie retrieved the dagger, put it away and then headed for the window. They were on the second floor, but Annie would be able to make the jump fine. If not, she would heal up fast.
Historia sat up, watching her, but didn’t move to stop her. She felt as though her heart was lodged in her throat, constricting her airways and absorbing her words. She hadn’t felt this level of panic since she had watched Ymir run away from her, and tears began to gather at the corners of her eyes.
Annie glanced once more at Historia, then she slid one leg out the window. Historia was moving before she realized what she was doing, and then she was gripping Annie’s hand tightly, stopping her from leaving.
“Wait,” she breathed, shoulders heaving, “let’s try one more time.”
Annie’s brow furrowed. “Try?”
“The touch thing, if we can make it work.”
Annie stared. “What is the point?”
Historia sucked in a breath, her stomach doing flips. She knew she sounded stupid. What was the point in doing this, in trying to waken some kernel of power within them? She didn’t even know for sure if she really had been the thing that got Annie to finally emerge from her crystal. What she did know was that she didn’t want her to leave, at least not until…
“What if we kiss?” Historia blurted out. “What if that’ll do it, and we get some sort of vision, like what Eren got?”
She thought Annie would laugh at her, or scoff at the ridiculousness, but instead that leg retracted and then Annie stood back up in her room. Historia smiled ruefully, delighted at the minor height difference between them. She remembered how even with Annie, she’d had to slightly tilt her head back. Now it was the other way around, and Annie’s sudden frown probably meant that she noticed it too.
“Sure, then,” Annie told her, voice soft, almost hesitant. “Why not?”
Why not indeed, Historia thought.
Nervous now, she led Annie back to the bed. They sat down, fingers intertwining, quivering. Historia had no experience with this, only what she’d read in the romance novels she got from Levi. But Annie’s lips looked too inviting, and then they were leaning together, breathing the same breath.
The moment their lips touched, it was as if an explosion of light, sound and memory washed through them both. Historia wasn’t in her bed chamber, kissing Annie Leonhart, she was in a battlefield of thousands of Colossal Titans.
They parted with a gasp, their eyes wide in horror. Annie covered her mouth with a hand. She was sweating, her hair even more dishevelled now, and she must have looked as pale as Historia.
“That was… from the future?” Historia questioned, hardly believing it herself. It was a familiar feeling to what she experienced with Eren, but this time it was so much more… real. She could remember the scalding heat of those titans and the thunderous sound of their steps. It was a vision many of them had been dreading since the moment Eren disappeared.
“Eren’s gone off the deep end,” Annie said quietly. “I saw him in his final form, leading that army of Colossals. He’s going to destroy the world.”
Historia felt tight with tension. They were still holding hands, clutching as if they were afraid to let go. Unconsciously, she scooted closer to Annie.
“We need to see more,” she said, desperation lining her voice. “If this really is memories from the Coordinate power, we need to learn more so we can stop him.”
Annie nodded firmly. “Maybe I should stay.”
“You would?”
“If this is really going to happen, then there’s no point in leaving. But I do want to get my dad out of Marley.”
“I’ll organize that for you.” Historia’s heart was racing. “Anything you need.”
Annie nodded, eyes going distant. After the shock passed, Historia felt how heated her cheeks were. Before they had been assaulted by that vision, the sensation of Annie’s kiss had been overwhelmingly good. Suddenly, she wanted it again. She wanted more.
“Kiss me again,” Historia breathed, “please.”
Annie studied her. She looked like she wanted to say something, but she kept quiet. Historia wasn’t asking so that they could try for another vision. She was asking simply because she wanted.
“Okay,” Annie said, and then she was leaning in and taking Historia by surprise in a sweet, tender kiss. The brush of her lips was sure, so Historia let her set the pace, let her lead. There was no vision this time—thank god—but there was a heavy, heated air between them. The fingers clutched between Annie’s were squeezed tightly, and then another hand came up to cup Historia’s jaw.
Her head swam. She was consumed by the feel of Annie’s mouth, the taste of her kiss and the smell of her. Somehow, she still smelt so good, even after being fossilized for so many years.
Historia couldn’t contain herself. She deepened the kiss, becoming almost frantic with the need suddenly blasting through her. She seemed to take Annie by surprise, but that didn’t stop her. Annie’s hand dropped from her jaw, so Historia reached up and gently grabbed her face, pulling her in deeper. In moments they were both toppled over onto the bed, lips brushing, tongues exploring.
Annie quickly became shyer, whereas Historia took on the offensive. It was intoxicating, having Annie beneath her, panting and moaning softly each time Historia tugged at her lower lip with her teeth, or suckled on her tongue.
Curiously, Historia caressed the soft skin of her stomach. Her coat had fallen open, her shirt riding up, so Historia had full access. Annie never pushed her away. If anything, she arched her body upwards as if begging for more.
“Annie,” Historia breathed against her mouth, head and heart both swimming.
“Yes,” Annie answered, the question sitting unspoken between them.
“Are you sure?”
“Please.”
Without needing more, Historia continued taking the lead. She undressed Annie slowly, enjoying every new expanse of skin that was revealed to her. Annie wasn’t as muscular as she was four years ago, but she at least wasn’t gaunt. Her bones didn’t press against the lines of her skin, but she was visibly weaker. She looked vulnerable, staring up at Historia through her blonde lashes, her pale white cheeks a flaming red. She was panting harshly, her arms covering her bared breasts.
“Let me see you,” Historia ordered her gently, running fingertips over the bones at Annie’s wrist.
Slowly, hesitantly, Annie nodded and then her arms fell away. Her thighs were still pressed together, but that was alright. Historia’s eyes were stuck at her chest, at the ample breasts capped by gorgeous pink nipples. Historia remembered this shade of pink, the way they made her feel.
Arousal speared through her, causing waves to skip through her stomach and hit right against her clit. She absolutely throbbed.
She went slowly as she draped herself over Annie’s body, aware that Annie was nervous. Had she ever done something like this?
Imagining it made a strange spike of jealousy spike through Historia. She dipped her head, pulling a taut nipple between her teeth. She bit down very gently, but it was still enough to make Annie release a very loud moan. She covered her face with her hands, clearly embarrassed.
Historia stared at her face, fascinated by this side of her. She lavished one breast and then the other, kneading the impossibly soft flesh, sucking on those delicious nipples.
She was ravenous.
Annie’s world had always been about survival and pain. If she wasn’t training, then she was shoving food down her throat or forcing herself to sleep. She needed those things to keep going, but she never enjoyed them. She hadn’t had time to think about things like sex and pleasure.
But, God, was she thinking about it now.
This turn of events had surprised her, but more so she was taken aback by how aroused she had become simply from Historia’s kiss. She wasn’t skilled in this area—Annie was still a virgin.
Her entire body felt like it was on fire. Wherever Historia touched her or kissed her, or where that tongue slid along her skin, set her alight. She was light headed but she was trembling with need. She was absolutely soaked, her thighs slickened down to the sheets. At one point she had stopped worrying about being naked, and she just parted her thighs for Historia to settle down.
But Historia was near obsessed with her breasts. She worshipped them carefully and hungrily, and all Annie could do was clutch at the sheets below them, grinding her teeth to stop herself from moaning, but even then, the sounds just came out on their own.
Every pass of sensation against her breasts was like a livewire. She never knew her nipples were this sensitive, or how aroused the stimulation would make her. Historia was driving her wild, until Annie was arching her hips, drying to get any sort of friction against her aching clit. Historia glanced up at her, grinning deeply, and Annie realized she knew exactly what she was doing.
But, Annie still didn’t have the nerve to take the lead. She knew the mechanics of what to do next. She had read about it, heard about it during her cadet days, but it was an entirely different thing to do it. Historia seemed plenty knowledgeable herself, so Annie decided to just let her have her fun.
Said fun had Historia slowly sliding down until she brushed her lips against Annie’s slick inner thigh. The sensation was almost too much, but Historia was so very gentle. Annie could hardly breathe. She stared down at her, both horrified and incredibly horny.
Sure, warm hands clamped down on her hips, and then Historia went all the way in, covering Annie’s slickness with her mouth. It was wet heat everywhere as Historia sloppily lapped at her, and Annie could do nothing but shut her eyes and part her lips, face tightened with ecstasy.
“Can I put a finger in?” Historia asked her suddenly, warm breath fanning over Annie’s drenched folds.
“Yes,” she gasped out.
Historia smiled, mouth slick, and then went back to work. Annie couldn’t watch her—couldn’t muster the strength to keep her head up as Historia’s tongue swiped against her clit in the most delicious back and forth of friction. She seemed to know every spot that sent stars behind Annie’s eyes, and she hit those spots eagerly.
Eventually she felt a finger swipe at her entrance and she tensed, wondering if it would hurt, but Historia slid it in slowly. There was no pain. It was a stretch that burned with pleasure, and when it was all the way inside of her, Historia drew out to the tip, then gently slid back in. The dual sensations made Annie’s head snap back, hips bending right off the bed.
She’d always been a clit only kind of girl, whenever she had the rare desire to masturbate. But now she understood why some liked penetration. She was being stimulated somewhere deep inside, making her pleasure climb to dangerous heights.
Historia continued to eat her pussy like a warrior, gently fucking into her with one finger until Annie begged her for more, and then she put in two. She always maintained the same gentle, slow pace. It was searing, blinding, and then Annie covered her mouth with a hand to muffle her shout as she crashed into an incredible orgasm.
Historia’s finger went still, but she still gently rubbed in circles against Annie’s front wall, extending her orgasm for another few seconds. She removed her mouth and rested her cheek against Annie’s thigh, staring up at her with the prettiest blue eyes Annie had ever seen.
She just lay there, twitching and limp, shocked that something like this could feel so good. Shocked that someone else had been able to wring this out of her.
“Can I still touch you?” Historia asked her, voice husky, heavy.
Annie nodded as much as she could.
Still resting there between her legs, Historia used her wet fingers and traced patterns against Annie’s belly. The smell of her arousal was strong in the air around them, making her blush more deeply, but she liked it. Liked the claim her body was making to this, to Historia and her room. She had stained these sheets, and she hoped they would never be washed. That some part of her would remain here, even long after she’d gone.
Those fingertips skated along her ribs, past the swell of her breasts. Historia played with one nipple, then the next, not trying to wind her up again, but doing so simply because she looked like she was having a lot of fun doing it.
Annie let her, even if it was too much. If her toes kept curling with every brush of skin on skin. Eventually Historia stopped and crawled back up, now kissing the spots where her fingers had been. Her tongue dipped out, sampling the sweat and slick along Annie’s skin, making her groan tiredly.
“That was unexpected,” Historia chirped, gently laying on top of her. Historia’s breasts were beautiful, and they felt amazing as they pressed against Annie’s. This was heaven, surely.
“But amazing,” she offered, blinking the blurriness from her vision so she could stare into Historia’s face. Curiously, she leaned in and kissed her.
Annie tasted her own arousal on Historia’s lips, and it made her moan deeply. Historia’s answering moan had her lower back tingling.
“You taste amazing,” Historia panted.
“Mm,” Annie replied, licking a trail against her lower lip, “I suppose I do.”
“Fuck, that’s hot.”
Annie wanted to laugh. This was such an absurd situation, if she stopped to think about it. She had just recently hatched from her crystal egg, and instead of murdering the ruler of this devil’s island, there she was in bed with her.
Annie didn’t want to be anywhere else.
“My turn,” Annie finally said after kissing Historia absolutely senseless.
“What?”
She was still embarrassed and nervous, but she felt a desperate need to return the favour. She wanted to know what Historia tasted like, what her face looked like filled with pleasure and if her body twitched in the same ways.
She copied what Historia had done to her, fingertips across pale skin, a nipple tweaked between thumb and forefinger. She was delighted with the sounds Historia released and how she jerked every time Annie pinched a nipple. Historia was even louder when she switched to her mouth, biting when she felt like it, but mostly just using her tongue to flick the tip, her lips to suckle hard. She was beginning to throb again herself, just from the way Historia was reacting to her.
Seconds turned to minutes, until Annie had built enough confidence to finally slide downwards. Historia really was absolutely gorgeous. One would think that being royalty would have pampered her, but she was stacked with firm muscle. She wasn’t bulky, but lean and lithe. She looked strong in a way that Annie never had. She wasn’t envious, at least. She was in awe.
Historia watched her openly as Annie kissed a path to between her legs, not looking away once. So Annie decided to hold her gaze, even when she could smell the heady musk of her, could feel the heat of her. She hesitated for only a second, but Historia raised a brow at her in challenge, and then Annie dove forward with her tongue and swiped from entrance to top.
Historia’s taste was divine. It was both what she had been expecting, but also completely otherworldly. Annie had no other experience to compare this to. The only thing she knew was that she loved the way Historia tasted against her tongue, loved the heat of her lips and folds against her mouth, and she was obsessed with the way Historia struggled to keep her gaze.
Grinning, Annie went to work. She experimentally swept her tongue everywhere, even though she knew exactly where Historia wanted her. Unlike Annie’s clit, which usually remained hidden in its hood even when she was aroused, Historia’s was out to play. It was cute, and it must have been throbbing underneath the point of Annie’s tongue.
She ate Historia out like this would be her last meal at the end of the world, and she was gloriously rewarded with the most beautiful expression of utter pleasure. Historia eventually threw her head back, gasping and moaning as Annie licked her, and then she was grabbing and massaging her own breasts, twisting at her brown nipples, and Annie slid into her with two fingers.
God, it was so hot inside of Historia’s body. There was hardly any resistance as she pushed in, and Historia’s hips jerked harshly at the penetration. But she just moaned louder, so Annie continued, fucking her with those fingers as she suckled at her clit.
When Historia came, it was with a shout that made her heart skip high in her chest. Surely someone had heard that? But no one busted through the door to see what was up, and Historia was allowed to ride the pleasure as Annie slowed her motions until she stopped, pressing one more kiss against Historia’s mound before she lifted herself.
She was covered in sweat, and the room smelt heavily of sex, but she was utterly satisfied. Historia pulled her close and kissed her, groaning at her own taste. Then they melted against each other, breathing softly, hearts thudding.
Annie felt like her world had shifted on its axis
Historia couldn’t remember ever feeling this good. Her body was buzzing, like a current of pleasure lived permanently under her skin. Annie was also a nice weight against her, and Historia pressed a tender kiss to her temple.
“That was so good,” she complimented.
Annie snorted. “Not so bad for my first time?”
Historia caressed the skin along her ribs. “So good for your first time.”
“You’re welcome, My Queen.”
Historia laughed quietly and playfully slapped her shoulder. Annie grinned at her. Historia grew quiet, staring at her, and then gently bopped the tip of her nose. She’d always loved that feature of Annie’s, how prominent her nose was. She knew some of the other girls back in training had sniggered about it, but Historia found it beautiful. She grinned softly, and Annie’s answering smile made her heart skip.
“What?” Annie asked. “Do I have something on my face?”
She shook her head. “No, just admiring you.”
“Oh. Thanks. You’re not bad yourself.”
Historia laughed. “Thanks, Annie.”
“You’re welcome, Historia.”
Hearing her true name from Annie after all this time felt so good. She intertwined their fingers and cuddled in closer, wanting to burrow as deeply into Annie as she could. Annie fell asleep first, her breaths evening out and her body growing heavier, but not unbearably so.
Maybe it was a little questionable, but Historia found herself just watching Annie as she slept. This was her first time sleeping properly out of the crystal, and Historia hoped she was having a good sleep. Nice dreams. That her body was resting properly.
Hitch woke up freezing. She at least had a makeshift pillow to cushion her head but she was still otherwise in just her underwear. The cold seeped up from the stone floor and up into her bones, making her shiver.
While she wallowed in her misery, she couldn’t help but find amusement in this situation. For of course it would come to this—Annie would somehow escape, and Hitch would be the one to first discover her, only to be choked out and tied up—nearly naked. If they found Annie after this, she was definitely going to get her revenge even if it was the last thing she did.
Hitch had so many things she wanted to say to Annie. Not many nice things, either.
She had no way to know what time it was, or for how long she had been out. Luckily she didn’t have to wait too much longer. The pair of guards who usually slept there by the guard table, and who were fucking missing when the escape happened, finally returned.
They first noticed the crystal and its missing occupant, then they noticed Hitch. They quickly untied her and one of them offered his coat, which she took greedily.
“Your asses are so fucked,” she hissed at them, furious. They failed to meet her eyes.
While one of them escorted her back to her rooms so that she could dress properly, the other went to alert the other guards.
All hell was about to break loose.
Historia must have fallen asleep as well, because she was woken when her bed chamber’s doors burst open. There was weak morning light filtering into her room through her open window, which she had left open since last night, and her eyes widened when her guards, Dennis and Boris rushed into her room. They came to a dead halt when they saw Historia and both flushed scarlet.
“Your Highness,” Dennis started, covering his eyes with his hand, “we have an urgent report.”
“It’s bad, Your Majesty,” Boris said, looking at her face and clearly trying his damn hardest not to look anywhere else.
Historia pulled the blanket up higher to hide Annie. Annie had woken and gone rigid, but she didn’t make a move. Her face was buried against Historia’s throat, and her breathing had turned heavy. Historia tightened her arm around her.
She was glad then that she had kept her gown on last night, but poor Annie was fully nude beneath the covers. From her bare shoulder, that much was obvious.
“What’s wrong?” Historia asked, voice measured. She had a guess.
“Annie Leonhart’s crystal broke, and she escaped through the night.”
Historia started laughing. Boris and Dennis stared at her, clueless until Annie lifted her head to glare at them. At once they fled from the room, likely to report this to Commander Hange.
What a mess this would be, Historia thought. But she didn’t mind.
Annie was warm in her arms, and they would have to fight her to get Annie away from her. They did get up and get dressed, though, before the entire army arrived and found them in bed together. Annie was clearly nervous, eyes darting from the door to the window, but Historia was calm.
She held Annie’s hand in hers and kissed her softly. They stood in front of her window, the view of Mitras stretched out before them.
“Relax,” she told her, swiping a lock of hair behind Annie’s ear. “I won’t let them do anything to you.”
“I’m a criminal, Historia. A murderer.”
Historia maintained eye contact. “You were a child soldier forced into a war you never started. I’m the Queen. Even if that title has meant little since these walls were erected, I’m not going to let my rule end up like all the others.” She pulled Annie closer to her. “Besides, we do have a secret weapon.”
“And what is that?”
In answer, Historia kissed her again. “The power of a kiss.”
The stress melted away from Annie’s posture and she snorted, lips quirking. “I always thought you were super weird, you know.”
Historia beamed at her. “You’ve got no idea.”
They stood there, staring out over the people as they bustled down the streets, trying to live normal lives in the abnormality that was their lives.
Historia knew things would be difficult, and this bond with Annie new and fragile, but she would fight for it.
No matter what, she’d fight for what she wanted. Her people. Her island. Her freedom. And Annie.