#// a long overdue sketch of the ice queen herself

[alonggoodbye]

”shouldnt have been so wet and pathetic looking buddy. your own fault” - Julie @glacierfront

[lunarcrystal]

Jade & Sapphire: Sweets

 Rating: G                                                                                                            Pair: Annie Leonhart & Eren Yeager                                                        Words: 2,734

[Ao3]  [FF.Net]

Eren told himself that this was going to be a onetime thing; they go to the shop, she gets what she wants, they leave, she’s content with her box of goodies for the next two days, and he’s satisfied he managed to catch another glimpse of that rare smile from the lion-hearted girl. He never told her, but that was his secret price in exchange for covering half the cost of her expensive sweets.

Mostly because—Eren had never seen her get so starry eyed over anything, least of all, over a pastry. Her smile always took his breath away though—it was something quick, and beautiful, and fleeting—he’d have to paint the best picture in his head every night, to remember it. A small quirk at the corner of her lips, innocent—childlike, and happy. Her ice-like eyes—always downcast, and cold—would sparkle the way Armin’s would whenever he spoke of visiting the ocean.

It was quite a sight to behold—being that it was the Queen of frost and pain herself, Annie Leonhardt. He never knew that she harbored such a sweet tooth, he’d found that out about a week ago, Eren thought it was actually kind of cute, of course he would never tell her that. He preferred having legs to walk on, he did, however, ask her how she got to liking this particular pastry.

Eren recalled Annie telling him something about how her roommate ditched some overdue paper work, so she was left with the brunt of it—but she had, instead also ditched the same overdue paper work in favor of a much more interesting case, and the witness she’d been looking for had brought her a pastry called a dough knot.  

He scoffed and had told her it sounded just like her to slack off. Though Eren did wonder what the yearly salary was for Military Police Personnel. Probably a much higher percentage than the Survey Corp, that was for sure.

Sweets, cakes and pastries were a rare delicacy, and were considered a special commodity only among the rich. Seeing as how sugar canes were obnoxiously expensive, and taxed as well. Only the noble men, and women, and some high-end merchants who do their business in trade were able to purchase the sugar canes in bulk, and granulate it as an ingredient to use in dishes.

Sugar was like salt in terms of quality and appearance; but instead of that prickle dry taste of salt, it was a fine white sweet tasting powder. Eren had tried it once in his life—and honestly, it tasted disgusting to him. The sweetness made his tongue too tangy, and he had to drink several cups of water to wash the taste away. Sugar was obviously better when baked into treats; but that one experience with it made him picky. Besides it wasn’t as if he’d be wasting his hard-earned pay on expensive treats. So, it did surprise him that Annie would do so, in a heartbeat.

He had first thought she had scared the baker into giving her a discount. Threatening them with the idea that’d she crush their skull between her thighs if they don’t hand over the goods.  

The scene made him chuckle out loud.

“Something funny, Jaeger?”

Eren swiveled around, his chest nearly colliding with Annie’s long nose (because she’s too damned short), she stepped back, peering up at him with that bored expression of hers, arms folded, one perfect eyebrow raised.

“Well?”

Eren hesitated, then shrugged. “It’s nothin’, I just remembered something stupid I did once.”

Annie’s blue eyes shone like he had piqued her interest—but he knew that was not the case. “You must have a lot of those memories.”

Another shrug, “Yeah, but they’re the good kind.”

She was silent after that, casting an observant look—making the hairs at his nape stand because even her eyes send chills down his spine—then she focused elsewhere, and continued walking in the direction they were headed. It was their usual routine, traveling to the market square before dusk, to the bakery where they quickly became regulars at. It was considered one of the best in the Stohess District, owned by a wealthy elderly widow.

The first time Annie had dragged Eren to the fancy pastel colored shop; the old woman behind the counter nearly had her eyes pop out her large magnifying spectacles. At first Eren feared it was because she had recognized him from the sketches in the month old news articles—the boy who became a beast—but then she had grinned exuberantly at him, three of her teeth glinted bronze instead of white, and then she congratulated Annie on finding a rather handsome one.

Eren had been confused—and horribly flustered. But then the woman clarified—“Oh Such a lovely duet, I’ll be sure to include the newlywed discount on your next purchase.”—Eren’s jaw had hit the ground, but Annie was already picking out what type of frosting she wanted, that’s when he noticed the silver ring on her middle finger he’d never seen before.

So that was that, and here he was now, her supposed fiancé. He guessed it did benefit her, the discount was fifty percent off, that was a deal you could not even bargain a merchant with. Annie could buy a whole six of the dough knots in a box for some silvers. She’d clutch onto the little pink flowery accented box like her life depended on it. And then she would smile prettily, never directed at him though, just the thought of eating her favorite treats. It’d pass over quickly. But he’d tuck the image away for later.

“Today is the jelly dough knot special.” She said, without looking at him. Horse drawn carriages galloped passed them, Eren sub consciously tugged Annie closer to the side of the road. She didn’t shake his arm off her shoulders, so he held onto her a second longer. They were nearing the bakery, Annie was just keeping appearances up.

He scoffed, “It’s basically jam and bread.” She shook her head, and he chuckled, musing, “You’re eating jam and bread!”

“No.” She wriggled free from his arm, and he dropped it, looking away sheepishly, “It’s a cake, not bread, and the jelly is sweeter, it doesn’t have seeds in it.” She pointed out. Eren rolled his eyes, “Cake is technically bread, but baked differently.”

He heard a huff come from her, and then she tugged at his wrist, so he was forced to stop, looking down to face her threatening expression. “Never say that again.” Her eye’s flashed dangerously. Eren felt his stomach do a somersault. And because he was never one to back down—and because Annie was irritated, and she was deadly gorgeous when she was irritated—Eren leaned down, until their noses were an inch apart, he smiled when he saw her crystalline eyes widen for a fraction of a second.

“Dough makes bread, and cake. It’s the sugar you’re really craving.” He told her, and when he spoke he swore he saw her eyes flit down, as if to stare at his mouth, but maybe that was wishful thinking, as it was actually him that did the staring. Annie made a hmph noise and pushed passed him—a giddy feeling arose in his chest when he noticed the rosy hue that stained her nose and cheeks, she put her hood up to hide her face, claiming she was getting cold. Annie was a terrible liar.

By the time they reached the bakery, dusk was on their tails—shifting the fiery sunset into a cool indigo. The old woman was wiping down the counter with a wet rag when the chime announced two usual customers. She grinned toothily when she saw them, she always did.

“Good evenin’ young loves’, I was just getting ready to close up—“ She chirped, then slapped the wet rag into the bucket on the floor, “Aw, don’t give me those puppy dog looks, I’ve got your orders right in the back!” With that she hobbled into the little storage room.

Eren glanced at Annie from the corner of his eye, with her hood up he couldn’t tell if she was feeling excitement in that moment. She really was like a little kid, sometimes. She’d gasp whenever the old woman would bring out the treats, and even hum a small tune in her throat when he walked her back to the Military Police HQ, the pastries warm in her hands. No one would ever know of that, but him. In a way, it made him feel special, but also, strange. Because it was like opening another side of Annie she had locked away, buried, and forgotten.

That’s how he knew she was terrible at lying.

The old woman came back, carrying a steaming tray of round shaped pastries, glazed with vanilla frosting, the red jelly Annie had spoken of spilled from the overstuffed ones, Eren may not be a sweets kind of guy, but the delicious aroma that wafted over to him did make him drool a bit. He wiped it off hastily when he saw the old woman smirk his way.

“I hope you two young loves’ have a good one, and oh—“ The old woman snapped her fingers, half-way done with arranging the pastries into one of the intricate pink boxes.  “I almost forgot.” She wandered back into the storage, and minutes later, brought out what looked like two heart shaped cookies in plastic. Eren tilted his head, getting a closer look at the cookies, the hearts were frosted in different colors, one a dark blue lined with a white design, the other was two different shades of green.

Then he noticed the little designs that had been done on them. “This is,” Eren gawked, taking the blue cookie from her hands, “The wings of freedom.”

The old woman chuckled, patting his arm from across the counter, she offered Annie the green cookie, and glimpsing at hers, Eren could see the long thin horn of the MP’s unicorn sigil. The designs were delicately made, as if the old woman took extensive care not to spoil the image.

“It looks amazing.” Eren smiled, “Thank you.”

The old woman waved at him, “Bah! I made those in an hour, it’s nothin’ but I’m glad you like them hon’. I figured I’d show my respect to such a young couple who sacrifice their lives every day in the name of duty.” She gestured to the cookie in Eren’s hands, “One who fights for our freedom,” She said, then pointed to the second Annie held “and one who pledges our allegiance to the king.”

Eren turned to Annie was peeling back the plastic of her cookie, nibbling on the edge, she looked timid, small, almost cute. Eren nudged her with his elbow, “What do you think?”

“It’s good.” She bit into the baked cookie, a sound that was akin to a moan made its way out of her throat, Eren swallowed, his face warming up, and it wasn’t because of the steam. “It’s really good, I appreciate you baking these for us.”

The old woman smiled, it was not a joyous one this time, but one of melancholy, like she was reliving a sad memory. “Your welcome…You know, my husband was a member of the Survey Corp…” Her bespectacled eyes down cast to the jelly filled desserts, looking through them, not at them. “He was a lot like you know,” she focused on Eren, “Very energetic. Handsome, and strong. He was a light in my darkest days.”

The old woman was silent for a moment as she finished tying a string across the pink box, she rested both her palms, wrinkled and layered in a flour, on the counter when she was done. Eren felt it would be right of him to console her, but he was part of the Survey Corp now; he knew the toll of sacrifices that were made on each of their expeditions, even if he had just joined. They said It was for the greater future of humanity—especially since the fall of Wall Maria had pushed civilization to an even tighter boundary.

Her husband died seeking freedom, he could tell her that, but in his head, he would only hear the screams of a thousand people, blood raining from the skies, teeth sinking into limbs, tears and agony. So he said nothing, Eren was not such a good liar himself.

“He always told me, I had a pretty smile.” The old woman laughed, her three bronze teeth put on show, she handed Annie the pink box, and Annie in turn dropped the silvers into the old woman’s hand. “He said a smile like mine kept his demons away...” Annie thanked the old woman as she quietly reminisced about her late husband. Usually the old woman was chipper and bright whenever Eren and Annie stopped by her shop; some days though, she seemed to relapse into a memory that she’d retell in abstract images, vague run-on sentences through a nostalgic lens.

She snorted as she adjusted her foggy spectacles. “I had such bad teeth back then though, I thought I was the ugliest farm girl in Sina.” She shook her head, “But he—he said I was pretty, me, a girl with missing teeth. And I knew he was telling the truth.” The old woman leaned forward on her elbows, fixated on a space between Eren and Annie. “I knew because I saw it in his eyes…”

It was night by the time Eren bid the woman a good night and left the shop, Annie following in tow, the pink box in her arms—he felt heavy, strange. The old woman continued to reminisce about her husband even as she closed the shop behind them.

Eren peeked at Annie as they walked side by side in silence; she was resilient the entire way. Their next destination was the Military HQ, and then he’d have to go back to his horse he’d left in their stables and make the long trip back to Castle Utgard.

“So, you’re good now?” He raised an eyebrow, Annie tucked her hood down with one hand, and Eren was glad he could properly see her face again, even if the only source of light was from the dim moon up above. “That should last you a couple of days if you ration them.”

“Why didn’t you comfort her?”

Eren halted in his tracks, back rigid, and he turned to see Annie gazing up at him, sapphire eyes turned silver in the dark, she was curious, her head tilted questionably. Eren sighed, averting his eyes, “What could I have said to her?”

“I don’t know, but I figured you would’ve said something when she talked of the Survey Corp.”

“You know what happened to her husband,” Eren stepped closer to her, it was like the darkness was attempting to swallow Annie. “She knows what happened to him, why should I have to justify a soldier’s death like it meant something for the greater good of our future, I’m not stupid. He died horribly, he was eaten. What could I have said to her to gain her trust that he didn’t die for nothing?”

It was so dark, and the market square was another half mile away—no candle-lit lanterns hung on this side of the rode, so the stark the moon light casted a portion of Annie’s face in an ethereal glow, while the other portion was bathed in shadows—and when she smiled at him, it wasn’t like all the other innocent smiles he had glimpsed before. She looked menacing, like object of his nightmares. The pink box in her hands was the only bright thing on her.

“Now you’re seeing things my way.” She said, and turned her back to him. The chill that crept down his spine was different from all the other ones that he had felt before—it was the thrill of fear. He watched her back, the green unicorn sigil retreating further and further away from him. He admired Annie, he respected her, and silently pined for her, but she would always remain an enigma to him.

Eren huffed, slowly catching up to her. Unaware that would be the last smile he would ever see from her.