Both of you were arrested in the airship. The Survey Corps went ballistic when they realized you were the War Hammer. You were now an asset or an anomaly—nevertheless, it was better to know that a major Titan was on Paradis' side.

You sat numbly in the cabin as everything fell into place. You heard the gunshot. You heard Sasha's body drop. You were forced to listen to Armin and Mikasa sob over her body from the other room, their anguished cries echoing over the hum of the airship engine. You stared into space, hollow, as you relived the nightmares of nine long lives.

Your hair and clothes were still damp from the crystal-melt. The drops ran down your temple, filling in for your empty tears.

It had been Sasha who teased you when she found out you and Eren slept together. You had been laughing together in those camps, letting her poke your stomach and tickle you. Now, she was gone forever and you hadn't been there by her side. You had no idea how you managed to live with yourself, watching your friends die again and again when you were supposed to have the power to prevent it.

Zeke spoke to break the silence. Eren did not look at his brother but you knew he must be listening. To think three unpredictable Titan shifters were gathered in one cabin all at once—together, you would be deadly.

"Little maid," said Zeke. "You, an infiltrator from Paradis? I doubted you, but I never would have guessed that. I knew you were smart—makes me wonder what other tricks you have up your sleeve."

Eren eyed you. You kept many secrets. You hid them all well. It was strange how the only secret you couldn't keep was the amount of love you had for him deep inside.

"The Paths realm," you said mindlessly. "Time doesn't pass there. Everything is happening all at once—all of our Coordinates converging."

Zeke raised a brow. "Why share your studies now?"

"I don't know," you said, pausing. "Maybe there's something you can say about it. Help me, maybe. I felt connected to the Paths when I was in Titan form."

"All our Coordinates converge in the Paths," said Zeke. "Founder Ymir connects us all."

"Maybe it's not Founder Ymir," you said. You glanced at Eren. "Maybe it's the Founding Titan."

"Which is controlled by Founder Ymir. Everything she wants will happen because she owns the Paths. If she wants to change our biology, she can. If it's in her interest to not reform our bodies whenever we get injured, it's up to her."

"She can't do that without an order or a motive. Her desires created the Paths, but she has no free will to control it."

Both Zeke and Eren stared at you.

"How do you know that?" Eren asked sharply.

If it had been an earlier version of you, you would have panicked. Now, lying to cover the loops came to you easily.

"I was in the Paths, wasn't I?" you asked. It wasn't exactly a lie, anyway. "I see things too."

Knowledge. A mind that held exclusive information—especially about Founder Ymir and the Paths, both of which Eren and Zeke needed for their motives—was rare. That made you even more valuable than both Eren and Zeke thought. They did not know you knew their plans, but they were now aware that there were things you knew that they did not.

You pondered.

"The Paths realm..." you mused. "If it controls time... and everything happens all at the same time... then maybe it's not really a—mph."

The word you wanted to say was 'loop', but your mouth was wired shut. If she wants to change our biology, she can. Ymir must be altering you, controlling you, and sending you back in time every time you die because it could alter your Eldian blood. You had to go to the Paths realm somehow and demand answers that would break the loop and save everyone. Now that you were a Titan, that was your best shot.

But there was something. It was not Founder Ymir who controlled the Founding Titan. The person who had the Founding Titan was Eren.

Eren, who was looking at you with an unreadable expression. You couldn't stay away from him. You had to stay near, not that he would let you stray far especially since you were a shifter. As Zeke stated, you knew things others did not. But Eren didn't even know the time loop existed.

Plus, to enter the Paths realm, you had to touch Eren and Zeke simultaneously, since they had the Founder and royal blood respectively. You supposed you could try to cut Zeke and put some of his blood on a handkerchief, as what happened to Historia before, but it was unlikely as long as Levi kept guard. Zeke didn't trust you, so he wouldn't willingly give you a drop of blood either. If you attacked Zeke, Eren would question your motives, and you needed Eren.

A ground bump broke you out of your thoughts. The airship had landed back in Paradis. You knew you were to be arrested—thrown in the same prison a few cells away from Eren. The thought made you break out in a cold sweat for many reasons.

The cockpit door slid open. It was Hange, followed by a girl with pale blonde hair in a ponytail. Hange grimaced upon seeing you and Eren. Before, they had been amused when you two used to sneak around without telling anyone. Now they were anything but pleased.

The blonde girl beside Hange kept her eyes trained on the ground like she was nervous. She had no sharp features—her face was round and soft, which made her look like she belonged in an aristocracy in Mitras and not the military. You recognized her a few times in previous loops—she had been your classmate in the 104th and transferred to the Survey Corps from the Garrisons after the Battle of Shiganshina. You didn't have the time to look at her more because Hange spoke to you.

"I don't know why you did the things you did, [Name]," they said. "I understand the thirst for knowledge, but... you've gone too far this time. And Eren, while you placed your trust in the Scouts, we subsequently lost our trust in you."

You swallowed. You fought back any semblance of guilt.

The cabin opened and now the Scout cadets were urging you to submit yourself to trial for abandonment of duty.

The blonde girl was tasked to cuff Eren. She still didn't have the bravery to look either of you in the eyes as she kneeled to lock the handcuffs around his wrists.

You stared. "You're Gloria, right?"

"Grisell," she corrected, cheeks reddening with embarrassment at having you forget her name. Everything that was not important to you, like names of acquaintances, blended throughout the years. "I was your classmate."

You didn't say anything more. You didn't know why you spoke out of impulse. Being so far away from home for the past few months seemed to awaken every old passing thought you had.

Eren met your eyes and cocked his head to the side. "Shall we?"

The handcuffs clinked on both of your wrists. Heart beating, you nodded as you stepped off the airship and back onto Paradis, your only home.

-

Your heart didn't stop beating when you led Eren through the tunnel you created underground to escape from prison with the War Hammer, and neither did it stop beating when both of you ran off with his little lackeys. You loathed being associated with the Jaegerists, the dirty and ignorant idiots they were, but you had to enter the Paths by touching Eren and Zeke. It was the only way.

When you slept at night, in the cot next to him, you didn't know what to do with yourself. Should you feel bad for wanting to touch him? Should you tell Eren that you knew he wanted you to touch him, but he was unable to say it? You were a Titan. He needed you around. He must.

Taking the War Hammer Titan had to be the right choice this time. Eren now had no choice but to let you tag along and let you fight. That way, you would enter the Paths.

"Eren's really different now, isn't he?"

You had been watching Eren from afar when someone finally spoke to you. Grisell had snuck up on you, apparently interested in chatting. She had become a Jaegerist and now you could remember why the sight of her wearing the black uniform haunted you in the airship—you had personally killed her in the battle by the harbor, in the first loop and the seventh, against the Jaegerists. 

"Huh?"

"I mean, you remember that first day in the Cadet Corps, don't you? He's not like that anymore."

You nodded but you didn't understand what she was talking about. You'd lived through it nine times, minus the one where you didn't enter the military.

"Eren stood up against Jean and insisted that we'd all see the outside someday, and he'd slaughter all the oppressors from this world," she said. Her eyes glimmered. "I mean, he's always been inspiring."

He said Titans, not oppressors, you thought, scowling.

Upon seeing your displeased expression, she blushed and backtracked.

"It's not like that," she said. "I know you and Eren are close, no need to worry about me. He'd never look at me that way."

"Where did I say that?" you asked. Your scowl only deepened. "I was thinking about his speech from the first day of the Cadet Corps."

"Oh, well you did grab his hand back then and the both of you walked out so he could calm down... I guess it was cut short from your point of view. But it resonated with me for the longest time—Mina always thought I was silly for it until Eren changed her mind too, and I told her so."

You rolled your eyes. She was just like Floch and the other Jaegerists, mooning over Eren. Pathetic. The only reason why you were a 'Jaegerist' at all was because without him having the War Hammer Titan, he couldn't break out from that prison cell underground.

Now, Eren was going back to Shiganshina District and taking you with him. You had to ride a carriage just to get there. Inside, Eren was glancing at you as you stared out the window with a far-off look in your eyes.

"I can feel you staring," you said. "Why?"

"You should go back to Mikasa and Armin," he said plainly. The tip of his finger drew against your hand. "You shouldn't... you can't stay with me."

"Why?" you repeated, even though you knew the reason. Eren did not know you knew about the Rumbling. You just wanted to see if he'd tell you.

"You're putting yourself into unnecessary danger."

"I'm a Titan. I have to stay with you," you said. "The military won't let me back in after I left my post."

"The Survey Corps said they'd gladly take you back under my condition that you receive full immunity."

"Your condition?"

"They asked for my surrender and I said no. They asked if they could have you back as a Scout and I said that'd be suitable. You're better off with our friends than with me. They'll care for you."

"Until I die in about thirteen years," you quipped.

"Look, stop being so stubborn, alright?" he said, frowning. "It's for the best. I don't care if you want to research the Paths realm—I have a way to protect us all, a weapon that will make sure you don't need to worry about defending Paradis ever."

"And what's that?"

Eren's fist balled. "You'll hate me if I tell you."

"I'll find out anyway," you said. You raised a brow, daring to shove out the next sentence: "You just don't want me to hate you while I'm still alone with you."

Eren's gaze pierced into yours. His dark hair had been tied back into a bun, loose strands framing his annoyingly pretty boy face. You swallowed, willing yourself not to chew on your inner mouth. As he weighed your words, his irises darkened, like emotions clouding.

When he spoke, his voice dropped into a low timbre, reminding you of who was the one at mercy here.

"If that's the truth, what are you gonna do?"

The tension between you rose like air—hot, thick, electric. You weren't afraid of Eren, but he could be intimidating when he wanted to be; he was factually stronger than you now. Still, he was not the only one cursed with knowing the future and the weight of a world's destruction. You remained steadfast, unwavering.

"What did you want me to do?" you asked coolly.

Eren paused, scanning you like you were being unreal. You were stoking coal, waiting for the fire to burst and devour everything. You half-expected him to push you down on the chair and push his lips onto you—he had always been impulsive that way. And although he could continue his facade of being cold and heartless, or that you would bitch and moan about wanting to be in the same room as him when he wanted you to get out, Eren couldn't help being attracted to you.

"Save yourself," he said. "You can't keep sacrificing yourself for me when the answer is already in front of you."

You looked away. What was he trying to say?

"As long as I have the War Hammer while you have the Founder, I'm destined to enter the Paths," you said. "It's nothing like when I—if I had the Attack Titan or the Founder."

The slightest hint of desperation overwhelmed you, causing your voice to strain.

"You have to let me in, 'Ren," you said. "It's all I've got."

To save you.

Eren shook his head, just the slightest tilt. A few strands of his hair fell to his face and you had the strange urge to brush them back like you used to do to him as a child.

"It's not, [Name]," he said. "It's not."

He repeated the words, again and again. You still couldn't believe him. It would never be enough until you saw him safe.

-

Pieck pointed at you and Eren when asked where the enemy was.

Without Porco Galliard, Marley had no choice but to launch their surprise attack with Eren in his human form at a distance. Despite this, it did not matter—Eren was no coward who retreated. He would fight them regardless. He had three Titans at his disposal. Three, and you.

You grabbed Eren's arm as he watched the airships descend from the sky, formulating a plan where you would move in the moment he was surrounded. You had seen this scene countless times, watching your home district go to hell because of enemy planes. Now, you were indifferent to the subsequent terror it instilled; your only focus was to ensure that Eren and Zeke made contact. You had to be there when they did so you could enter the Paths realm.

As Eren transformed and went off to fight Reiner, who turned into the Armored Titan, you ran off from the headquarters and entered the battlefield. You weaved in and out of the maze of Shiganshina, tracing back to old paths where you and Eren would run around playing in as children, narrowly dodging the debris flying in all directions as the Titans fought. You crouched by an alleyway, not too far from the Titans.

Finally, when you could sense that the warplanes had come in along with the other enemy military, you bit down and transformed.

The crystal formed around your human body as you closed your eyes and felt your consciousness transfer through the cord and into the Titan. The War Hammer took a longer time to transform, so you were grateful as Eren defended your Titan from a machine gun spray.

Eren abandoned the Armored Titan as he charged to swing at enemy gunmen on top of a roof, sending their equipment into flames. They had tried to kill you, and for that, they would pay. You knew Eren had done that not because you were the Titan, but because the Titan was you.

You manifested into the milky-white giant, head-to-toe in thick armor, and let the war hammer weapon manifest in your hand. Using your powers, you went further as Eren did in a previous loop: you willed sharp spikes to jut from the ground, impaling the Armored Titan and caging you and Eren from the others. The earth rattled as you manipulated the ground, forming weaponry undefeatable.

Like in Liberio, you created a shield from your arm and held it up as the Cart Titan in the distance began to fire shots. Last time, it had hit the Attack Titan and Reiner tried to eat him. Now, Eren was protected, and you swung your war hammer like a golf club as you bashed the Armored Titan, careful not to kill Reiner inside. Every hit you inflicted upon him sent blood and chunks of his armor flying everywhere, cracking him like an egg.

The second Battle of Shiganshina was easier this time.

Last time, when it was only Eren fighting, he could only hold on his own as a Titan for so long. Now, he had you to back him up.

When the Beast Titan appeared to join the battle, the Cart Titan shot him the same as before. Only now, Eren could go to him without Eren leaving his Titan.

The only downside to the War Hammer Titan was that it ran out of steam easily. Knowing this, you willed every last bit of your power to form a crystalline tunnel that covered the road that lef Eren to Zeke, ensuring that no one could interfere or hurt him. It resembled a glittering hallway made of glass. The Marleyans shot and tried to bomb your creation, but like your armor, it held firm.

A crystal tunnel, sturdy enough to be a shield.

Your Titan had exhausted itself. As soon as the cover finished, it fell, crashing into a building and disintegrating with the dust.

You woke up in your crystal, eyes wide and coughing.

The crystal began to melt, covering you once again in that disgusting slimy wetness. It was like you had bathed in your own spit. Using what little strength you had, you forced your hands to move, beating on the crystal and wishing it would melt faster. It was like an ice cube that had not fully formed—tough on the outside but wet inside.

Finally, your fist broke through the glass, sending shards everywhere. You punched again and again till you broke free, not caring if your knuckles were bloody. You didn't have enough energy to regenerate fast, so you were forced to drag yourself out of the alleyway and hobble down the icy road you had formed.

You winced, your dampened weight holding you back. He couldn't touch Zeke yet. Eren had to wait for you. He had to. You had begged him to.

But Eren would never let you endanger yourself for him, especially when the Rumbling was within his reach. In the distance, you saw the Attack Titan on the ground, and he was emerging from the nape. His hair fell to his shoulders. When he saw you, weakened and shaking, he began to yell. 

"[Name], stay back!" he said, rasping. "Get away from the Wall, now!"

You didn't care. You gathered your strength and broke into a sprint, towards him. "Go to Zeke."

Around you, the world shook as the cover your Titan made was bombed repeatedly by the Marleyans. You could see their bullets hitting, and jumping from the high frequencies of their shrieks. It would not be long until the War Hammer's crystal shield shattered and you'd all be vulnerable again.

Eren met you in the middle, stopping you. You could both hear Zeke yelling above the noise too, telling Eren to just get to him already. But Eren grabbed you by the shoulders and looked you in the eye. His nails dug into your skin.

"Turn around and go to Armin and Mikasa," he said. There were Titan marks on both of your faces. "They will protect you. I swear. I'll win this war for you."

With that, he pressed his lips onto yours. Roughly. The kiss was desperate, his arms wrapping around you and squeezing like he wanted to memorize everything the way he did before, like this was the last time. The only time.

When he pulled away, you gripped his wrists. You ignored the explosions hitting the crystal all around you.

"If you love me as much as the way you kissed me," you said, "you'd let me in the Paths."

You were being manipulative, you knew. But you were desperate. You had to give it all you had. The crystal was starting to gain cracks from the repeated aim and it wouldn't be too long until it shattered.

"I know there's something you're hiding from me," said Eren, "that involves the Paths. I can't let you in if you stand in my way."

"Fine. There is something," you said fiercely. A loop. "But I can't tell you what it is. I won't try to stand in your way of the Rumbling."

His eyes widened. How did you know about that?

In the distance, a final bomb exploded. The crystal broke, shattering like glass.

Neither of you had a choice. Eren took you by the arm and began to run towards Zeke.

"There they are!" you heard a male voice, undeniably Commander Magath, scream. "The Founder and the War Hammer! Get them!"

Shots fired in your direction, narrowly missing. You were so close to Zeke now, his arm outstretched. You were so engrossed in the thought of finally entering the Paths realm at last as you ran with Eren, that you had forgotten all about Gabi and her aim.

In the distance, her shot fired. It hit Eren in the neck, severing his head, and it exploded in your face.

A ringing sound shrieked in your ears, cranked to the highest piercing frequency possible.

It barely missed your face, just as Eren's head, still connected to his spine, fell into Zeke's palm. Your hand was still connected to Eren's.

Time slowed down.

It was ugly.

The shrapnel dug into your pretty features, scraping across your face and marking burning cuts all over. Eren's blood splattered across your cheeks. You felt it pierce through your skull, impaling the soft of your brain. You didn't have time to yell out or scream in horror.

Eren's head fell into Zeke's palm. Your hand was still in Eren's.

You were dying, you knew. Even Titans could not survive brain injury. Your spine did not contain the Founding Titan, with the freakish centipede-like animal that could act as a defense—you were going to be dead. The loop was going to reset.

But you did learn things in Marley as a Titan—one of them being that the Paths followed no linear rule when it came to the passing of time. What could happen one second in the real world could be an eternity in the Paths.

The loop would reset. But not yet, when you were going to spend your last second alive in the real world inside the Paths.

One moment, you were in Shiganshina, with your head that had practically burst open.

Next, you were lying in an endless domain of sand.

Someone's hands were on you, caressing your cheeks, molding the features back into your face out of the sand you lay on like it was dirt. Dirt, forming your face like you had never been injured, like you had never died.

In the distance, you saw the glorious blue tree that connected your race as one—the Coordinate.

You opened your eyes to see Eren kneeling before you, sand between his hands. You didn't know why he was the one molding you back into place when it was supposed to be Founder Ymir's will. Eren was not the one who was supposed to be trapped in the Paths—it was Ymir, always Ymir the slave. So why was Eren the one fixing you now, bringing you back to life after death?

But, you remembered the nature of the realm itself. Time was not limited to the usual convention. Anything could happen at any time, multiple connections all converging into one. It's not just a loop. You were going to die, but that didn't limit you from entering the Paths. That would not prevent you from going back into the loop reset, either.

You were trapped in a limbo between life and death, and Eren was the center of it all.

"You have..."

Eren's voice was weaving in and out. At first, you were looking at him in the Paths as an adult, with his long hair and dark eyes, and the next, you were standing in your childhood home's garden, staring at his childhood self hanging out on the other side of the fence. You blinked, and you were lying on the sand again in the Paths. Convergence.

"...dirt on your face."

-

Chapter Notes: The next chapter is an interlude chapter. :) Thanks @m1lfl0vur for beta reading this!