That’s all she said about the signal at the time, and he hadn’t bothered to ask her about it. If she said he would know it when he saw it, then he would. When word of Gabi and Falco’s whereabouts surfaced and it had been announced that the Jaegerists were on the move, Pieck left to fulfill her duty while the other stayed behind, disguised in the military uniforms that the soldiers on Paradis wore, and waited for the signal. The others pressed Porco for details on the signal - when Pieck would give it and what it would be - but Porco didn’t answer. He didn’t know what it was then, and he still doesn’t know what it is now. If he knew, he wouldn’t be on edge like they are.

He tries his best not to shift around uncomfortably or appear suspicious, but it’s difficult when he’s wearing such a stiff and constricting uniform. But that’s just an excuse. Even if he were not wearing this awful coat, he’d still be anxious and uncomfortable as he waited for the signal. He hates this feeling of not knowing what will happen. He tries his best to stay calm, but he can feel his heart beating faster and faster with every second that passes. Even as he tries to blend in with the others, trying to blend in with the Jaegerists and barking at the Eldians as they are separated between those that have ingested Zeke’s spinal fluid and those that haven’t, but he’s distracted. His eyes constantly flicker between the Eldians being rounded up and the door where Pieck should be arriving. The others are also watching him, glancing over at him every once in a while, wondering if the signal will come soon, but he’s just as clueless as they are.

There’s a commotion at the front of the room, and Porco finally sees her. Like him, the others turn their head when they see her walk through the door. The Jaegerists watch her carefully, wondering how a warrior of Marley could have slipped in their midst without them noticing. Porco keeps his eyes fixated on Pieck as well, ignoring the whispers of others. He’s deaf to the comments about Pieck and her loyalty to Marley - whether she has joined the Jaegerists in their revolution or not - and he worries not about the handcuffs that are fastened on hers and Gabi’s wrists. She knows exactly what she’s doing, and he trusts her.

The others watch anxiously as Pieck ascends the stairs with Gabi, but Porco is calm now that she is within his sight. The guns pointed at her back don’t even bother him, and the appearance of Eren Jaeger, the one leading the way, does not bother him either. Although he wants nothing more than to follow her up the stairs and to the roof, he remains rooted to his spot because he knows his place is here. Carefully, he observes Pieck’s every movement - the way she walks, the expression on her face, the way she holds her head - searching for any sign of the signal she had said she would give him. When she stops near the top of the stairs, turning towards those that are watching down below, he feels his stomach tighten in anticipation.

“Let’s all get along,” she says. Pieck holds her hands above her head as she addresses the others. On her face is a smile, and the sight of it causes the others around Porco to tense up, but this isn’t the signal. He’ll know it when he sees it.

Pieck turns to continue up the stairs, and Porco can feel glances on his back as his comrades wonder why he had not transformed yet. Had they not been surrounded by Jaegerists, he’s sure someone would have taken him by the collar and shaken him by now. It’s not time yet though, he’s certain of that. She hadn’t given him the signal yet.

He concentrates on the conversation being held above them. It’s difficult when they reach the roof, but he can’t follow her up there lest he arouses suspicion. Porco does his best to approach the stairs without attracting attention. He only dares to stay at the foot of the stairs and pretends to observe the Eldians as the half infected with spinal fluid are carted away. His focus on the words that are being spoken on the roof. From where he stands, he cannot make out the words, but he can hear their voices.

It’s taking too long, he thinks. His peers think so too. He can tell by the impatient glances they cast as they look between him and the rooftop. The back of his neck prickles in anticipation, and he can feel beads of sweat dripping down his forehead. There is no guarantee that Pieck’s plan will go accordingly. A part of him wishes to strike now, but he knows the time is not right. When it’s the right time, Pieck will give the signal. He trusts her.

Then he hears it, Pieck’s voice ringing out clear as a bell out on the rooftop. It carries through the stairs below and echoes through the room. In response to Eren Jaeger’s question - Where is the enemy? - and her voice unwavering as she answers, “There.”

He moves without hesitation, using a dagger in his pocket to slash his hand. A bolt of lightning strikes and he feels the electricity coursing through his entire body as his Titan materializes around him. He doesn’t bother with stairs in his monstrous form. Instead, he leaps up, his jaw opening up to break through the stone ceiling. The stones crumble as he crashes upward through the roof, and the people down below scatter. He had approximated where Eren would be standing, and he sees the enemy in the corner of his eye as he clamps his jaws down on Eren’s body. Confident, Porco bites down, but he’s miscalculated. He’s only managed to remove Eren’s legs - not his nape as he had wanted - and there’s a flash of light as Eren transforms.

“Reinforcements are coming!” he hears Pieck say, and he sees that the Marley airships are sailing above them, ready to strike. When he glances back at Pieck, she is looking at him, the wrist that she has shackled to Gabi’s. “Porco!”

But like, it’s been 4 freaking years, and Annie is getting her own OVA! THAT’S also 2 EPISODES! IF ISA KILL’S ANNIE AND WE SEE THAT SHIT IN CH 100, THEN HER OVA DROPS ON THE 8TH? THAT WOULD BE AN ULTIMATE EVIL TROLL MOVE. 

AND! Bad writing. Now this is my opinion, I never believed Annie died in the crystal, I believed the crystal worked a lot like cryogenic ice, (kind of like Captain America?) so she’s safe in there, whether asleep or half-conscious. The way Isa set that up was for a purpose, so that Annie could be of use later on in the story. If she were freed from that crystal any earlier, I no doubt believe Trollyama would’ve killed her similarly to Bert. This is why I’m halfsies on Annie living, and Annie Dying. I don’t want to have TOO much hope, cuz’ it’ll fucking crush me if my favorite character I’ve grown so fond of over the past 4 years dies, and I’m sure it would a bunch of other Annie fans too. 

I say we hope for the best, but prepare for the worse. lol