The trees groaned under the weight of her breath.

Scouts had fled. The forest was cracked and trembling, steam rising from shattered bark and broken ground.

And there she stood—Annie. Towering. Still half-bleeding. Her fists clenched, chest heaving.

Eyes burning.

But not from rage.

From fear.

And then—

A flicker of movement below.

You.

Alone.

She froze.

Those piercing Titan eyes locked on you, and for a moment… she didn’t move. Her fingers twitched, as if bracing to fight again—but then stopped. Slowly… carefully… she knelt.

The ground shook as her knees hit the earth.

You stood there, silent as always, your gaze steady.

And Annie, even trapped inside this monstrous form, even after all the chaos, all the killing—

She breathed.

Steam hissed softly from her jaw, and her hand—massive, cracked, shaking—lowered beside you. Not to harm. Never to harm you.

Just close.

Close enough to feel your presence. To believe you were really there.

Her forehead lowered, pressing into the soil just before you, like she couldn’t hold herself upright anymore.

You didn’t flinch. You never did.

Because somehow, you always knew it was still her.

And she always knew—

You were the only one who could reach her When she felt like a monster.