The Adventures of Annieocchio: Part 9

Annie was feeling a mix of anxiety and annoyance as she was led to Hange’s lab.

She didn’t even bother trying to avoid knocking over the lamps with her nose.

It’s their fault anyways.

“Annie!” Hange said brightly. “It’s been a while.”

Annie merely shrugged. It had been about eight days since she had last seen Hange.

“You all can leave now.” Hange said dismissing the two scouts with a wave. “I am more than capable of handling Annie on my own, but I don’t think she will be giving me any trouble.”

The two exchanged glances and left.

“I hope the survey corps have been treating you and your comrades well…can I get you anything tea or coffee?”

“Coffee please.” Annie said quietly as she sat down. Despite Hange being the reason for her current predicament, she appreciated how much kindness Hange had shown her.

“It hasn’t been too bad, I mean it’s mostly chores from Captain Levi that keep us busy. But we get to eat in the dining hall and are kept in our cells all day.”

“I’ve told Levi not to go to harsh on you three.”

He still makes me dry socks on my nose. Annie thought bitterly.

Hange set the coffee cup down in front of Annie.

“Annie I’ve learned a lot about how this chemical agent works on your nose, and it has been very helpful iin coming up with more…humane interrogation methods.”

Humane my a**

But Annie had to it that things weren’t nearly as bad as she had imagined they would be when she was first taken into custody.

Hange took a sip of her coffee and let out a sigh.

“Unfortunately Erwin and I have ran into a bit of a disagreement.”

Here it comes…

“I used a bit of Titan fluid to make my concoction. And I know that you and Reiner’s Titan have certain hardening abilities.”

Hange pinched the bridge of her nose. “Annie, I need to take some samples from you and run a few tests. But I promise it will be painless, I have a local anesthetic and everything-“

“It’s fine”

Hange raised her eyebrows.

“You’re just…fine with it?”

“Hange I’m a prisoner of war, I don’t really have much say so.”

Hange opened her mouth to speak but closed it, not really being able to find the right words to say.

“I mean I know you guys could have been so much crueler to us, but…it’s not like I agreed to this.” Annie said pointing at her nose.

“I didn’t agree to be used as entertainment for the scouts, to become the female Titan, to come to this island, to spend my whole childhood learning how to be a a warrior.”

Annie started to cry. “I didn’t want any of this!”

“I…I wish my father had just left me where he found me. Maybe…maybe things would be different. I feel like I would be better off dead.”

Hange was quick to pull Annie into hug. Annie was no longer the female Titan, a warrior from some far nation. She was a scared and exhausted fifteen year old girl, who had never had any control over her own life.

“Annie…you aren’t better off dead. Everyone in this cruel world has a purpose. Their life has meaning, including yours.”

“Maybe your part, and my part in this life is to put an end to all of this. To make a new way forward for humanity.”

Annie silent sobbed into Hange’s shoulder. For the first time in her life, she knew what it felt like to have a mother.

*******************************************

“Annie!! Are you ok?” Bertholdt jumped up out of his chair as Annie ed them for dinner.

How did they know about my sobfest with Hange?

“Did they hurt you?” Bertholdt asked gently grabbing her shoulders. “Your nose is covered in bandages.”

Oh right, I let Hange take the samples she needed.

“It was better than how Marley’s military doctors treated us. I actually got an anesthetic this time. I didn’t feel anything, except for a pinch of the needle.”

Reiner let out a laugh. “Wow, they really do treat us well. when they set Bert’s broken arm?”

Bertholdt shuddered at the painful memory.

“Dr. Hadfield wasn’t that bad.” Annie said as she sat down.

“Yeah, when she could she would actually treat us like kids.” Bertholdt said. “Kinda kooky though.”

Annie and Reiner nodded in agreement.

“She kinda remind me of Hange a bit.” Annie said with a small chuckle.

“She doesn’t look like her too.” Reiner noted.

“You don’t think…” Annie trailed off.

The three of them sat for a moment.

“Naahhh” they all said in unison.

“So, your whole nose is numb?” Bertholdt asked changing the subject.

Annie nodded, she reached up and prodded at it gently. “Still mostly numb.”

“Like, I could punch you in the nose and you wouldn’t feel it?” Reiner asked.

“I guess so, but with how weak your punches are it wouldn’t hurt regardless.”

Bertholdt couldn’t help but laugh, causing the other two to in.

“I’m a lot stronger than I was three years ago. I placed higher than both of you in the training corps.”

Annie rolled her eyes. “Oh bite me Reiner.”

“Nah, that’s Bert’s job.”

Bertholdt nearly choked on his stew and Annie’s face turned pink.

“Oh please, you two are so into each other.”

Bertholdt started stammering turning a bright shade of pink as well.

“Well, Annie…am I wrong? Are you into Bertholdt?”

“This is childish.” She said avoiding eye with either one of them.

“Your nose isn’t growing.” Reiner teased.

“Fine! Yes I like Bertholdt ok…happy.”

Annie braced herself for more teasing from Reine but instead he had a genuine look of happiness on his face.

“I think that’s sweet, plus Bertholdt can stop pacing every night.”

“Reiner!”

Annie couldn’t help giggle. The mental image of Bertholdt fretting over her made her laugh.

“You still think I’m pretty even with my fishing pole of a nose.”

“Of course I do.”

Annie smiled. It was one of the first real smiles she had had in a while.

Reiner clapped his hands together. “Great! Now that we have that settled, maybe you guys can help me get Krista to notice me.”

Annie and Bertholdt busted out laughing.

Reiner frowned. “A lot of help you two are.”

The trio’s laughter echoed just outside of the dining hall where Levi and Hange were.

“What are you smiling about four eyes?” Levi asked.

“It’s just not often you hear laughter in the survey corps headquarters is all.”

****************************************

Annie was actually sleeping soundly when she was woken up by a violent rumbling sound.

“What the f*ck was that?” One of the guards asked.

“A storm?” The other one replied.

There was another thundering sound followed by what felt like a small earthquake.

“Earthquake?”

“No” Bertholdt said grimly. “Zeke has arrived.”