I own nothing, except my OC of course. I just wanted to write a story that follows MOST of the Attack on Titan universe from the point of someone who could make quite a difference, should he choose to. This will be an adventure/Romance story, with my OC being paired with the mysterious Annie Leonhardt. There will be a few points of view from the cadets of the 104th in here of course, but they will not be huge parts as this is my first time writing. I've read all the manga to chapter 91, so beware there will be spoilers to those who haven't read it to that point. Reviews are welcomed and encouraged. There will be some changes that many will not expect, and nor do I intend to make my character a Mary Sue, but merely a vital part of the story. Let us begin.

PS. Alright, this is a second author's note since this is now going on Ao3. I've gone over and revised the chapter as best i could, and also expanded it as well. I will be doing this with all stories that I post on Ao3 before I also put the revised chapters on Fanfiction where I do most of my writing as well. Here's to you all taking the journey this story will present should you follow!

Shinganshina, year 845. Early morning.

'Ah, the wind.'

He loved the way it felton his skin, especially on his wings. The feeling of being able to escape anything, to fight anything, to be above his problems... like it always had. 'It makes me feel free.' he thought, humorless in his musings. But He would never be free, not really. Not from the Walls that surround him, from the mission his parents destined onto him, his past.

And certainly not from them.

"Them" being the Titans, massive unsatisfiable humanoid creatures with no motivation other than to consume human flesh. They wandered around mindlessly outside of the three walls humanity had constructed in order to survive. No one knew of their origins, or so it seemed to most of humanity inside the walls. But some did know where they came from, the "king" himself, the silent bastard. Those deluded people of the wall cult who knew of the real mystery of the Walls they worshipped like gods, but chose to keep humanity blind...and finally, his parents.

James held back his emotions, 'not now, I'll be seeing them soon enough'. He hasn't spoken to them since they told him what they wanted him to to do, what they wanted him to become. Something a child shouldn't be forced to become, and yet, in this cruel world, did. "Become a warrior, a savior to our people, and the innocent in the walls. You must James, because You are the answer. You can change all of it." And on that day, nearly 2 years ago, he had run from them, his parents and his younger sister, Eve. He just couldn't handle it. His mind, though exceptionally bright, understood the weight of what his parents had taught him all these years, and yet...refused to accept it. He never wanted the weight of the world on his back, even today he still didn't. But he was wiser now, those 2 years had worked both miracles and horrors on him.

He understands now, that he had been somewhat selfish, but he knows what he needs to do now. For all the good it did him, he reminded himself of what his mission was. And who he had forced it upon. He had hated himself afterwards, for abandoning them, for leaving her behind. He knew she would probably be given his mission in his absence. He knew and stayed away, so he had forced that upon her like his parents had done to him. Because He was just too fucking afraid to go back. 'But no more' he thought. I'm going to do it, I can't let her hold the burden my weight any longer. She's too innocent, she doesn't deserve to be put through that'.

He had reached the top of the wall by then, just near the joining of the city of Shinganshina to Wall Maria. A massive 17 meter tall, with strange scaly skin like armor, but still humanish in shape form crouched upon the wall. It was near dawn, so the shade helped hide his huge body. He could see the sun rising in the distance, but at the rate it was going compared to him, he had nothing to worry about. But anyone who could come close would see the details: the long but muscular arms, strong legs with toes that ended in large talons, Scaled spikes jutted out from his skin at his elbows, and along his back in two rows along his spine. His wings tucked into his arms, almost as if they didn't exist. Which when he needed to fight in hand to hand, didn't. It let him keep them hidden as a trump card in a fight or desperate situation if need be. Though he's only fought mindless titans which didn't require them, and his parents who already knew how to counter them being used.

The strangest part about this odd creature, was it's head. It looked like a humans in general shape but lacked real lips, so it appeared quite predatory. His teeth, which interlocked were shaped in a cone like fashion lined top and bottom on his fearsome maw. They were sharp, but more meant for crushing and holding onto whatever had the misfortune of winding up between his Jaws than tearing, although tbey did a great job at that too. He didn't have hair, per say, but a mane of small fleshy appendages like dreadlocks, that covered from his nape. They hung loosely around him but also could move as if they had a mind of their own at times, like snakes. It depends on whatever mood he was in, but they weren't a distraction in the least since they were a part of him. His eyes were also unique, a pair of vertical slit pupil eyes like a serpents, bright electric blue with tinges of green at the edges. He scanned the area for any of the Garrison,(the wall guards) or any inhabitants of his home town. 'Nothing, this'll be easier than I thought.' James thought before making his next move towards his home.

With one final sweep of the surrounding area with his piercing eyes, James extended his wings and dove off slow and quiet as he could for a being his size. He flew silently towards the bottom, landing with the grace of an angel in the midst of a cluster of trees which blocked him from being seen by anyone. Though the scene before him was calm, relaxing even, it did little to calm his nerves. He shed himself from his Titan form's nape, watching it already burn away into nothing before setting out. He pulled his ripped cloak he's been using to keep warm up to cover his head, to hide himself from any who may have been near the forest. He made his way towards the town having to pass under the inner gate first which was open at this time of say for merchants and the like going about their daily lives. Remembering the shops, the markets in which he visited with his family to buy food and supplies, he began to refamiliarize himself with the area. After all he's been gone for two years, and many things can happen in that time. 'Still, home hasn't changed much has it?'. He walked for nearly another 3 blocks, passing by mothers with their children, father's laboring and carrying crates before he finally saw it.

A large house for the city, for sure, but still somewhat rundown despite James knowing the inside was much tidier. Some small broken trees stood out front, reminders of the fighters that lived inside. A large garden and yard, where he had leaned to fight. He hadn't ever been told why, but had obeyed his parents words. "One day, we will tell you son, we promise. But until then, please just listen to us. You will thank us". In retrospect, they were right, but they had assumed he would be thankful on the day they told him, not two years after. And now the moment has come...it was time to see them again.

He knocked on the door, 3 small hits. Though they were quiet, he knew they would hear him. After all they were early risers, and since he was raised under their roof so was he. As he heard footsteps approach the door, he cleared his mind for whoever he was about to see first. The door opened, and a man appeared in the crack of the door. He had slightly black hair, but really it was dark brown. Lines on his face that told of many years of hard work, and pain. But his eyes stayed the same, though muted a bit. The same piercing Yellow-brown eyes, that could stare directly into one's soul should ever meet. Or at least, that's the aura he always felt seeing them while growing up. They looked at him with confusion, and he had not known why at first.

'My hood', he realized after a moment. Slowly, to not startle his own father, he drew it down with both hands, before looking up. He saw the eyes widen, pupils opening with a rush of emotions, life itself seemed to flow into them. The man froze, opening the door with a slightly crazed fashion, before embracing his son, one he thought he had pushed away, who he had thought hated him. He actually came back. He held him there for another minute, shaking a little, before he could hear his wife's voice calling him.

"John? Are you alright, who's at the do-" before she stopped, taking in the sight before her. She stood for a moment in shock as well before her eyes began to water, as she realized her son, her little James had come back. She rushed forward and grabbed him into a fierce hug. Her eyes closed, her head buried into his other shoulder, she wept with tears of joy. "You're back..." heard his mother whisper as she choked back happy cries.

James heard a sweet voice, one that could sound happy no matter the situation. "James?" He looked up and saw Eve, she had grown nearly 4 inches form the last time he had seen her at 4'4. Her curly hair, once so short, now reached halfway down her arms. She looked stronger than he had last seen, meaning his fears were real. 'She did take my place, I made her into this. Oh god, she must hate me for this. I forced-'

But as James looked on, he saw no hatred, no disgust, no contempt. Quite the opposite, in fact. Her eyes were shining like it was her birthday, like she had been granted the best wish she could have asked for. And he knew why: He had returned to them. He began to make a watert smile of his own before his mother, Selene spoke to him. "Come James, lets talk inside." Nodding his bead slowly, James walked in with his mother leading him while his father closed the door first bedore following too.

For a few hours now, they had talked to each other, James listening and once or twice asking a small but important question. How things had changed in his absence. He was told of how Eve became a warrior in training, nearly as good as he had been before he left. James tried and tried again to apologise to her, for forcing her into this life choice. But surprisingly, she told him of how she had been inspired by him. She wanted to become a warrior not only to protect those inside the walls by her own choice, but to find him and bring him back home.

He was rather touched at the dedication in which she spoke, it reminded him of how he had felt when he first started training. James thought to himself, 'This wasn't what I prepared for, but I'll welcome it. It's almost what I wish it could have been like. It was happiness, it was family, it was...

But it was not meant to last...

CRAAAAACCCC-BOOOOM!!!!

A massive explosion made them all fall forward from their seats, and some of the furniture shifted a few inches from their original spots. They all got up and looked outside, confused as to what had shattered their heartwarming reunion in such a shocking way. The family stepped outside and saw donzens of other people looking shocked and rustled, but noticed a great deal of them were staring up at something, towards the outside of the district. And there it stood, a massive hand gripping the top of Wall Maria, red and skinless. A head looked over the top of the wall, which stood at 50 meters high, which means the being looming over them was at least 60 if it was visiboe to them. A Titan, skinless , a look of guilt on its face. A monster that reminded the Draekon family of their purpose, their mission.

The very thing they became, that they fought, stood before them. It seemes to look down and hunch forward, and the Draekons all realized it was bringing its foot back. A massive BOOM sent chunks and debris crashing in all directions, including the home James just returned to. He grabbed his sister and pulled her close, dashing to the ground before a chunk of the wall crashed into his home with enough force to cause more stone and earth to rise.

Dirt and dust had been thrown into the air, and as it cleared, James froze at what be saw where his home used to be. Lying underneath the rubble, with bloodied faces, were his parents. His father looked at him, sadly, but with the air of it being akin to that of a family member not visiting for a planned dinner instead of being at death's door. His eyes told him what he had to do, what he had been afraid of as a child. "Be the one who can change all this, James...take care of her...please that's all I ask. Your mission is...*cough*...second, only to her. Keep her safe, You need each other...I'm sorry son, I failed to act.."

James frantically spoke to hus dying father, refusing to believe that he couldn't do anything "No I failed, Dad let me help you! I can...I can-!" But his father closed his tired eyes slowly, for the last time. James couldnt move, but remembers his other parent was still alive and he vould try to save her. His mother was crushed underneath rubble as well, but with a broken yet determined face, pulled him close with a shaking hand. "James, my little James...I'm sorry. For all of it, the pain, the training, the responsibility...but there's one last thing I must tell you, but you will hate me for it." James quietly told her "never", because no mstter how much hr hated what they've done, they were still his parents.

"You know our secret, but you must not tell anyone else, ever. They'll hate you, despite everything you do for them, there will be those who don't want to understand. They'll try to kill you, because they fear you. And I know..." She winced as gasped in pain, her hand tightening around his own as she gasped, trying to catch her breath before continuing. "...that it will be too much for you to face on your own. But We are always on your side James...always..on...al-"

Her voice became more and more quiet until it went absolutely silent, and James mother knew no more.