Chapter 24: Annie 2
" A...curse??.....haha....are you being serious right now Asriel....a curse?" laughed Annie wearily. She was tired, she felt like her whole world was crumbling, everything she knew was being told it was wrong and she was starting to believe it and now, a curse.
" I get that it's quite unbelievable but it's the truth, Annie. If you want to see it for yourself, I can show you the previous titan shifters' memories and experiences," said Asriel while hugging Annie, she looked listless. She held onto him tightly when she realized she was being hugged. She was afraid, afraid that she was going to die soon but his warmth made her feel that everything was going to be alright.
" I.....I don't know what I should do Asriel...." said Annie in a soft voice after a while.
" I want you to join me, Annie, I want you by my side," replied Asriel as he gently pulled her away from the hug and looked directly into her eyes. Annie was surprised by his action and words but the instant she looked into his eyes, all her doubt and fears were washed away.
" You don't have to re....." Asriel was interrupted by a sudden kiss from Annie. He was initially surprised but slowly wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him. They shared an intimate kiss for a while and separated.
Annie locked her eyes into his, a tinge of red apparent on her snow-white cheeks as she said in a soft voice " You.....better take responsibility,".
Asriel was mesmerized by how lovely she looks right now that he nearly forgot to reply. He gently cupped one side of her cheeks with his hand and softly rubbed his thumb across it and replied " I will, so don't think that you can get rid of me easily,"
Annie smiled slightly as they both went in for another kiss. She hugged him tight as if her life depended on it as he hugged her slim waist. They separated after a while as Annie nuzzled into his neck and hummed in delight.
" Come on, let's go back, I think the others might be worried about us by now," softly whispered Asriel.
" Mm," replied Annie with a nod.
They made their way back, hands held together, Annie had never felt such warmth, such intimate contact and such affections. Even her father's hug before she left lacked such things. She wondered if she was worthy of them after all she had done, after all the innocent people that she had killed and brought misery. Then, she remembered about Mikasa. What would she do if she knew her secrets? Will she hate her? Or will she try to kill her?
Asriel looked back at Annie as she suddenly stopped halfway.
" Are you alright? Is something wrong?" asked Asriel in a worry.
".....I...I was just wondering if I really deserve any of this...." replied Annie after a while with a self-deprecating smile. " I have killed countless innocent people and ruined countless lives....do I really deserve...." before she could continue she was pulled into a hug.
" Everyone deserves a second chance Annie, besides, you didn't do it because you wanted to. You were just following orders, so don't think that you don't deserve a normal life. If you are still feeling guilty, I'll be with you, by your side from now on so let me carry some of your burdens," said Asriel.
Annie hearing what he said couldn't stop her tears pouring down from her eyes as she buried herself in his embrace. Asriel comforted her until she calmed down and wiped her tears from her face with his thumb and said with a smile " You'll have ice stalactites on your chin if you cry so much in this blizzard you know,"
Annie chuckled a bit and asked with a playful smile " What about Mikasa? You do know that you are cheating on her right?"
" It's not cheating if I have permission haha," replied Asriel with a wink.
" What!?" exclaimed Annie in shock.
*Flashback*
" Eru?" (Mikasa)
" Mm?" hummed Asriel as he continued combing Mikasa's long silky black hair. This was their daily routine when they have free time after training. They were sitting under the shade of a large tree. Mikasa, of course, sat on his lap.
" Do you like Annie?" asked Mikasa.
" I would be lying if I say I don't," replied Asriel as he continued combing.
" I see...." (Mikasa)
" Is something wrong Mikasa?" asked Asriel.
" What if....what if she also likes you and wants to be with you, will you..... will you leave me?" asked Mikasa, her voice getting smaller as she continued.
" Mikasa, look at me, I will not leave you for any reason, no matter what, I don't care if someone likes me or not or if I like them, I will never leave you," Asriel replied seriously as he looked directly into her eyes. Hearing this she leaned into his embrace with a slight smile and said,
" Mm, I will never leave you as will Eru...but you still like her right?"
" Like I said...." as he was about to continue Mikasa interrupted him.
" You still like her," said with a mischievous smile.
" I...." again he was interrupted.
" You still like her," (Mikasa)
Asriel's eyebrows twitched as he said " Come here you mischievous bundle of cuteness," and started tickling Mikasa. They both tried to tickle each other while laughing until they fell on their backs, Mikasa on top and Asriel below. Mikasa let out a small chuckle and kissed her Eru. Asriel returned her kiss and rolled to the side so that he would be on top and her below. After a while, they separated and smiled at each other.
" I don't mind," said Mikasa.
" Mm? What do you mean?" asked Asriel with a confused expression.
" I don't mind if it's Annie," said Mikasa.
" Eh, Um, although I like her I wasn't going to pursue her, I already have you after all," replied Asriel.
" We both know that's not true Eru," replied Mikasa with a smile.
" Uuuu...I'm sorry..." replied Asriel with a sad tone.
" *shakes head* Mm nn, it's alright Eru, I could see that she really likes you as well, so I don't mind," replied Mikasa with an affectionate smile.
" Mikasa..."
" Eru....."
*kissing noises*
*Flashback ends*
" Yes, she said that if it was you she wouldn't mind, now come on, let's go back," said Asriel with a smile and stretched out his hand towards her. Annie nodded absentmindedly, held his hand and followed him.
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" Eru! You are back!" exclaimed Mikasa as she dived into his embrace.
" I missed you too Mikasa," replied Asriel as he hugged her. Annie was on the side not knowing what to do or what to say. Before it got too awkward Mikasa separated from her Eru and looked towards her. She had noticed how they came back hand in hand so she knew that Annie was already Eru's. She hugged his hand and gave her a smirk.
[ Are you challenging me, Mikasa? Since you already accepted me then fine, I accept your challenge.] thought Annie with a twitch of her brows. She too hugged his other hand and looked back at Mikasa challengingly. They continue to stare at each other menacingly for a few moments before they both broke out into a smile laugh.
" You two get yourselves reacquainted, I'll go check on the others," said Asriel and kissed both of them on their lips.
At another place in the cabin, Christa was looking at them with mixed feelings.
At another corner, Ymir was staring daggers at Asriel. So was Bertholdt.
At yet another corner, Reiner was looking at Annie and thinking that she had betrayed them.
Suddenly a loud noise came out from one of the rooms of the cabin.
" Guys!! Look!! Some ancient looking military rations, and some sort of a book written in some ancient language or something," said Conny waving a book in his hand above his head. Everyone gathered around Conny in interest to what these were. Everyone was unable to read what was written in the book and the words on the rations.
Except Ymir, Bertholdt, Annie, Asriel, and Reiner.
" Operation Downfall....." whispered Ymir looking at what's written in the book.
" You...how are you able to read that..." asked Reiner who was near her and heard her whisper. He has a grim look on his face as he asked.
" Don't tell me...." Ymir looked back at Reiner and then realization dawned on her.
[ It seems that the marleyans had been sending their forces since long before....interesting.] thought Asriel.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Aldunhokoron
Aldunhokoron Sorry for the wait guys, I was extremely busy these few days, let me give you a summary.......convention, company's new product (frozen organic food), lifting heavy objects and stuff, advertising, explaining the description of the product over and over and over and over again to people who were interested in it, accounting cause the freakin accountant didn't come and it caused me headache, in the end, I was extremely tired when I come home, took bath and went to sleep immediately.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone