Vibrant green eyes, long brown hair, a mustache, and a goatee. Those were Eren's physical, yet refined features. Otherwise, there was nothing about him that look handsome. That's what he thought, at the least. Though Mikasa would reassure him that he was handsome, she would also pester him to shave or wear his hair up. It wasn't just Mikasa who pestered him, but there was Jean, Marco, Levi, and Hange. They all thought that Eren should groom himself a little. Their efforts always ended like this; Eren would turn around, and they would either shut up, turn around, and flee back to where they were. Long story short, Eren never bothered to "pretty himself up." Not before.

Sure, it wasn't much, but at least he felt like he looked and smelt nice. He simply showered and used fragrant soaps and shampoos, but that was enough for him.

Eren strolled down the hallway, trying not to seem like he was so giddy. But he was. Word had it that Annie woke up, as in she was conscious. And apparently, she had asked for him, which had sparked the visit. Eventually, he reached his destination. Unfortunately, stationed in front of the entrance were two guards, both of them were MPs. Though the MPs couldn't laze around as much as they used to, that didn't stop them from doing so every now and then. This time, both of the MPs looked like they were too drunk to have common sense. Their dialated eyes oggled over to Eren, who just raised his brow.

"Well if it isn't the dashing knight in shining armor," one mocked, making a swooning motion with his hands, "Here to save his princess from her tower. But why didn't you climb up to her window. It would have been soooooo romantic."

His buddy giggled before raising a brown, glass bottle to his lips, confirming Eren's suspicions.

"Can you just let me in now?" Eren asked, agitated at these lazy louts.

"Awwww, is the prince triggered that we insulted his honor?" The MP taunted, rising up to a wobbly fighting stance. Unsurprisingly, the MP's knees buckled and he was on the ground, asleep, within seconds. His buddy followed soon afterward, but not before making a comment on how the 'prince' had taken them down.

Eren just rolled his eyes and stepped over the MPs, noting that he would have to make some useless, yet mandatory statement about the abuse of power later in the day. Eren's hand settled on the cold, metal knob, his throat choking up with worries.

Just remember, Eren, he thought to himself, Annie probably called you here for her own reasons. Don't get your hopes up.

With a hand shaking with the power of an earthquake, Eren had pushed the door open, harder than he anticipated. His emerald eyes were closed once he felt the cool breeze hit his face, afraid of what he might see. Eren eventually mustered the strength to open his eyes, and felt his breath hitch in his throat. Sitting up in her bed, staring back was Annie. Her hair had been tied up into her trademark bun, her icy blue eyes grazed his, and a small smile graced her lips.

"Hello, Eren."

+++++

"I almost didn't recognize you."

"Hmmm?"

Annie just stared at Eren, the latter feeling a deep, riveting feeling in his gut. He couldn't help but feel a tad disappointed when Annie said that. Did he look bad? Was his hair smelling weird? Who didn't love the smell of cinnamon? Well, Eren is biased when it comes to cinnamon. But enough of that!!

"You look... different," she replied, tilting her head at an angle so she could inspect him.

"Oh," he sputtered out, feeling suprised, "Not bad, I hope."

"Not at all," Annie quickly replied, her eyes widening at the double meaning of her words, "You look perfectly fine. Just... different. You look like a grownup now."

"I've noticed," Eren said, smiling a little, "I feel old every time I look in the mirror."

"Don't," Annie replied, a small smile gracing her lips, "I really like it. The goatee and mustache look good on you. And long hair suits you."

In any other romance story, one would smile from ear to ear upon hearing their crush complimenting them. This wasn't like any other romance story. Eren's smile remained the way it was. Well, his half-smile. Though he was more than happy that she was here, up and moving, out of that damn crystal, that didn't stop the reminders of her actions. That didn't stop the questions that kept wandering in and out of his mind. His mouth shaped itself into a perfect O, the words crawling up this throat.

"You don't have to tell me anything," Annie said out of nowhere, causing Eren to close his mouth shut.

"Hmmm?" What on Earth was she talking about?

"I know that you know," Annie simply replied, "About Eldia, Marley, Ymir Fritz, everything."

It was as if a bolt of lightning had come down and struck Eren right in the chest. How could she have known? Wasn't she asleep in there? But then again, there were all of those times people would go to her crystal. However, they all shouted at her and accused her of being a murderer forever. But not Eren. Throughout the four years, Annie (though in a comatose) had been his confidant. He would tell her everything about their findings, his joys, his sorrows, and the occasional rant about Hange and her continuous work for him. But she couldn't have heard him... could she?

"I wasn't necessarily asleep in there," Annie replied, as if she heard every single one of his inner thoughts, "It was like being blind and immobile. I couldn't see or move, but I could hear everything. You were the loudest. Perhaps it was because you were the kindest."

Eren's heart broke at that. He couldn't imagine what it was like to go through what she did, both metaphorical and literal. After all, he didn't know much about her, but he knew that she was, is, a good person.

"Annie..."

"And I heard you when you were all in the room with me, as well," Annie interrupted, her eyes looking like they were shimmering with... something, "I heard everything you said."

"Huh?" Eren almost jumped at that. So she heard all of the horrid things Jean said? She heard him cry like a baby for her to be his friend? Eren shoved his head into his hands, biting his tongue. He could feel his cheeks sting with red-hot embarrassment, spreading to his ears. 

"Don't be ashamed," Annie quickly replied. 

Eren tensed up when something soft proceeded to pry his hands away from his face. They felt like pillows, they felt like something trustworthy, they felt like they belonged to someone who was willing to hold him if anything went wrong. Annie's hands were something else. Eren stared up at her, only to be shocked by the sight that lay in front of him. He now knew why something was shimmering in her eyes. Annie's cheeks were now littered with little waterfalls, stinging her eyes red and her cheeks wet.

"I-I-I know," she sobbed, her voice breaking with each syllable, "That I c-can n-never a-a-atone f-f-for the th-th-things I d-did. I kn-know I can't bring back all of the people I've taken aw-away. The people of Shiganshina District, your mother, Marco, the soldiers from 57th Expedition, the people of Stohess. I kn-know that I can never atone for them. B-b-but I hate living like this!!! I hate feeling so alone everytime I see a group of friends. I hate being reminded of all of the things I've done. But you understood me!! You... still... somewhat accept me. So please!!! I want to take up your offer. I want to be your friend."

Eren wanted to tell her everything. He wanted to hold her, tell her that he wanted nothing more than for her to be his friend, but he remained in his seat, his mouth open and his eyes wide. This let Annie let out loud sobs, and more tears fell from the corners of her eyes. 

Please don't cry, Eren thought, Don't you know how my heart breaks when you cry?

"I'm so sorry!!" Annie wailed, "It was dumb of me to-"

Annie never got to finish her sentence. At that moment, she felt herself get pushed into something strong and sturdy. She felt something else wrap themselves around her body, pushing her closer to the former thing. Eren held Annie in his arms, one hand around her waist and the other cradling her head. He sat on her bed, his chin nestled on top of her scalp. She could hear his heartbeat as she leaned in, weakly bringing her arms up to wrap them around him.

"Thank you, thank you," she muttered, forcing out a large, fat sigh of relief and happiness. 

"No," he replied, smiling, "Thank you."

A/N:

I know it seems like they're rushing it, but I promise you, they are simply friends for now. The romance will come much later, and I will try to make it sweeter. 

Happy reading!!

-TheBookGuardian290