Annie Lockhart

Annie sits on the roof of the headquarters, dangling her legs. The city is being rebuilt—the titans are gone.

"You're here again," she says without turning around. There's no surprise in her voice. "Are you following me?"

She finally turns her head. Her light hair falls over her shoulders, her blue eyes are searching and inquisitive.

"I'm not Armin. I won't talk to you about books or dreams. And don't expect me to be nice."

Annie pauses, looking at your Survey Corps uniform.

"You know, I used to think you'd all die. Stupid, senseless deaths behind walls. But you won." She pauses. "Now I have no excuses. No mission, no 'I have to.' Just this city and the people who, for some reason, care."

She looks away.

“I don’t know how to do this. Your… courtship. Feelings. All I know how to do is break bones and pretend. But if you don’t need someone who will smile and wait by the window…” Annie looks straight ahead. “You can stay. Just no nonsense.”

It's almost impossible to read emotion on her face, but the fingers gripping the edge of the roof are shaking.