Amnesia
Hanji’s ecstatic shouts were enough to know what was going on as Mikasa followed the rest of her squad through the dungeon. The steam coming from the room they headed towards only confirmed her suspicion. They entered the room and saw Annie sitting amidst ropes and pieces of the crystal, which were slowly evaporating.
“Don’t draw your weapons!” Hanji said, holding their hands up. They approached Annie and spoke in a soft voice, “Hi there, Annie. How are you feeling?”
Annie raised her head, looking at Hanji with a sleepy gaze. “Who’s Annie?”
Hanji furrowed their brows. “You are Annie. Annie Leonhardt, the female titan.”
“What’s a titan?” those words left everyone in the room confused. “Who are you? Where am I?” Annie started to look around. “Who are all of you people?”
“You don’t know? You don’t remember?”
“I…” Annie paused. “I remember nothing.”
Hanji stood up hands covering their face as they groaned. “This can’t be! Why did she have to forget everything?”
“Hanji!” Mikasa stepped forward. “She could be lying.” She kneeled in front of Annie and glared at her, but instead of meeting the challenge, Annie quickly averted her eyes.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what I did for you to be this angry with me, but I’m sorry.”
“Look at me.” Mikasa ordered. Annie obeyed, curling to a ball as she met Mikasa’s glare. “Do you really not know who I am?” Annie shook her head. Mikasa sighed and softened her gaze, the Annie she knew would never act this weak. “Is there absolutely nothing you know about me?”
Annie shifted uncomfortably. “Um… you’re pretty.” She muttered, barely loud enough for Mikasa to hear.
“What?” she stared at the faint blush on Annie’s cheeks for a moment, then stood up and spoke to Hanji, “Eren has lost his memory about his transformation before. I think something similar must’ve happened to her.”
Hanji nodded. “Alright then, we’ll take her outside and see what happens.” Everyone tensed at their words, but they just smiled and helped Annie to her feet, leading her the way out. Mikasa fell into step next to her, observing how she acted. Annie’s hands weren’t bound, and her ring was still on her finger. As they came out to the level floor, they entered the room where Eren and Levi were waiting. Naturally, they were surprised to see Annie freely walk with them.
“Hanji. What is the meaning of this?” Levi demanded.
“Well, it seems like she lost her memory.” They turned their attention to Eren. “Come Eren, let’s go outside.”
“Huh? Um, sure.” He said, confused as to what was going on. Mikasa still kept close watch over Annie, but the girl barely even looked at Eren. Rather than that, she gazed up at the blue sky, a soft smile on her lips. They had arrived at the center of the courtyard, and Eren finally spoke up. “So, Hanji, why are we here? And why is Annie with us?”
“Well, like I said, it seems she lost her memory. She didn’t even know her own name. So I figured that if we gave her the perfect opportunity to capture you, we’d know for sure if she’s lost her memory.” They gestured to Annie, who didn’t seem to be following the conversation.
Eren approached her, getting her attention with an awkward wave. “So you really don’t remember anything?” she shook her head. “Then you don’t know what your mission is anymore?”
“No.” she looked around, most of the people around her seemed hostile. “Did I fail? Is that why you all are angry with me?”
A moment passed in which everyone stared at her in shock, then Levi stepped up, grabbing her by her collar. “Don’t fuck with me! Because of you all those people died. You don’t get to walk away with the excuse of not remembering it.”
Instead of fighting him of like Mikasa expected her to, Annie tried to make herself small, eyes darting to the other people, looking for an ally. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened, but I’m sure I didn’t want anyone to die, I’m sorry.” She sounded like she was on the verge of tears.
Hanji stepped in. “Levi, let’s stop. She really doesn’t seem to remember. We should try observing her a little more before we decide on any actions.”
“Do you actually have shit for brains? She’s just acting, and once we let our guard down, she’ll finish the job.” He shook Annie as he spoke, and now tears really rolled down the girl’s cheeks.
Mikasa stepped in, she could not believe Annie was such a good actor. “Levi, let it be. For now, we should decide what we’re going to do.” With a displeased grunt he let her go, and Annie surprised them all by grabbing on to Mikasa’s jacket and burying her face in her shoulder. “Annie?”
“Well then.” Hanji clapped their hands. “I guess it’s decided. Mikasa will look after her.”
“What?” While she put Eren’s wellbeing before anyone else’s, it wasn’t like she really hated Annie. They used to be pretty good friends, after all. But having to look after her was a completely different matter.
“If it wasn’t for you we wouldn’t have captured her in the first place. And it seems like she would cause the least trouble when she’s near you.” Mikasa nodded, it wasn’t like she could go against her superiors.
Several hours later, Mikasa sat on the edge of her bed, looking at Annie who sat on the chair. For now, they were to share the room. She had to observe Annie for any signs of her memory returning, and make reports about her every day. After having settled in, silence hung between them. When Annie started toying with the ring on her finger, Mikasa’s eyes went wide. “Annie, that ring-”
Annie looked up. “Sorry, is it yours?”
“What makes you think it’s mine?”
“I just feel like someone important gave it to me.” She took off the ring and placed it on the desk next to her. “I really don’t remember anything, but I guess my feelings for things and people are still the same.”
“Then, how do you feel about me?” Mikasa asked.
“Like you’re a good friend. Which is really weird because I don’t know anything about you.”
That surprised Mikasa, sure they used to be friends, but Annie had always been quiet, and after they found out she was the female titan, she thought it had all been an act. “And what about Eren?”
“Um… conflicted, I think? Like I need him for something but I feel sorry for it at the same time?” Mikasa nodded, pondering over her answer. After a moment Annie spoke up again, “Say, what happened? They said something about a mission and were angry at me for it, but I have no idea what it is about. It must’ve been really important if they get so angry at me for failing.”
Mikasa just stared at her. Annie thought she was on a mission for them? If she played it right they might gat Annie to be an ally even after her memory returned. The chance was small considering how far she had been willing to go for her mission, but she had to try. Still, with her memory gone, she seemed like a different person. “Why didn’t you defend yourself when Levi grabbed your collar?” she asked.
“I don’t know how?”
Mikasa stared at her for several minutes, unsure if she had heard her right. “But… you are better than anyone else at hand to hand combat. Even I never could beat you.”
“Well, maybe if I was in a fight I might remember the moves, who knows. But that guy, Levi, he kind of scared me.” Mikasa had never expected her to be so open about her feelings, but it made her job easier. Still, it was odd to say the least. She walked over to where the blonde sat, looking into her eyes. Annie gazed up at her, her eyes nowhere near as cold as they used to be. “Is there something?” she asked.
“No.” Mikasa replied. “It’s just curious how different you are now. You’re not hiding behind a mask like you used to.”
Annie chuckled. “It’s not like I have anything to hide anyway. I just figured talking with you might help me remember. You are my friend after all.” When the only reply she got from Mikasa was the knotting of her brow, she sighed. “I must’ve really messed up on that mission if you’re being like this.”
“You betrayed us.” Mikasa said, not sure how much was okay to say.
Annie stood and said, “I would never betray you.” She cast her eyes downward. “I mean, I don’t think I would.”
“And yet you did.” Mikasa said coldly. “You said your feelings still are the same. So you must have some idea as to why you did that. Is there any feeling that might explain it?”
Annie was quiet for a while, then spoke quietly. “Homesick. Somehow wanting to go home conflicts with wanting to stay here with you.”
Mikasa didn’t know how to reply. Right from the moment she escaped from the crystal, Annie had shown nothing but affection towards her. If capturing Eren and climbing the wall had to do with her going home, then that must’ve been a very difficult decision for her to make. “I never knew I meant so much to you. But that doesn’t mean I can just forgive you for what you’ve done.”
Annie placed a hand on her shoulder, locking eyes with her. “Then I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.” Mikasa believed her, how could she not, seeing all the emotion her gaze held.