Attack on Titan: A Blacksmith's Tale

Chapter 32: The Female Titan and her Blacksmith

Groaning, Annie started to open her eyes, feeling like she just ran a marathon. Given everything she went through, it wasn't surprising she felt this way. At least her body was back to normal. However, when she remembered what happened between her and Dillon, she sat up abruptly, ignoring her body's protests. She didn't see him anywhere, so it was possible he was still unconscious from the incident.

The door opened without warning and in stepped a grinning Hanji, having heard her movements. "About time you stopped taking a snooze."

Annie could not help but still be wary around this woman, though she hoped her expression didn't show it. "How long was I out?"

"It's morning now," she answered, closing the door behind her. "You were quite the sight yesterday. Probably sent half the Scout Regiment to therapy by your appearance alone."

She let out a snort. "I tend to have that effect on people. Where's Dillon?"

"When he finally stabilized, we got you both to the infirmary. He woke up about an hour before you did. We debriefed him on the incident, but afterwards, he took a walk."

"Where is he?" Annie hoped she didn't sound too desperate.

"He's at the lake about a mile from here. I've got Moblit watching him from a distance," she assured, furrowing an eyebrow. "Can't believe he was able to function normally after everything. Must be a Psion thing." Definitely something she was gonna file away for later.

She sighed, knowing that now was the best opportunity to talk to him. "Hanji, I need your permission to shift."

Hanji raised an eyebrow. "And why do you need to do that?"

"If we're going to be working together, he's got to see me as me, or else all of this is pointless."

She drummed her chin, thinking it over. "I'll consider it, but under one condition: tell me everything that happened yesterday. Leave nothing out."

This was going to take a while.

Skipping stones across the lake was doing nothing to ease the torment Dillon felt or the migraine that pounded his head, the latter being the least of his problems. Ever since he woke up, he couldn't stop thinking about what he did to Annie, and it made him feel sick to his stomach. He was supposed to be better than this, be a decent person, not a lunatic. Come to think of it, he lost the title of "decent human being" a long time ago. The incident in his mind only confirmed it. Annie hated him. It was the only thing she probably felt for him, and he didn't blame her. He deserved it.

His heart skipped a beat when he felt the ground shake. Only one thing could make that sound, and one person who'd come for him. She was back. He took several deep breaths before he had the spine to stand up and turn around.

There she stood, looming over in a way that clearly displayed their height difference. The sunlight highlighted her inhumanness, the shadows emphasizing her muscle structure. "Hello, Dillon," she greeted.

"How did you find me?" he asked.

"Hanji told me," Annie answered. "You didn't think they'd let you wander off alone, did you?"

"No, I didn't." He could not hide how uncomfortable he felt in this moment. One step was all she needed. "You're a Titan."

"Your observational skills are impeccable." A slight smirk appeared on the Female Titan's face.

"Why?"

"I don't want you to separate me from the Female Titan in this conversation. I thought a constant visual reminder would help with that." She knelt closer to his level, causing him to back up a bit. "I'm not going to hurt you, Dillon." The neutral tone was finally gone as she spoke far more gently than she ever had in her life.