Chpt 1: What Lies Beneath The Veil

Petra was proud of her girls. Even though the café was a little short-handed today with Ymir and Sasha out of commission due to the flu, the rest were covering their duties like it was a piece of cake with strawberries on top; their special today. As usual, it's a full house. Their daily specials never fails to attract new customers and their regulars are die-hard fans of them; there are occasions where customers queue up at dawn or even the night before, just to ensure they will be able to snag some before it got sold out.

Sweets for my Sweet – This little café had started off as a small shop, tucked away in a corner of Sina's developing town but word of their mouth-watering desserts and excellent service got out and here they are, five years later, in a two storey building with over two dozen capable employees.

SFMS's menu is not the only attraction they have to offer. There is an elevated corner – Swing Me – where instead of the usual four-legged wooden chairs, there are swings; not the dingy, rusty kind but one out of a fairy tale. The seat itself is made of veneer wood with a small backrest and the ropes are pale yellow intertwined with (fake) vines. Even though you couldn't swing it like a normal swing, people still enjoy sitting there, basking in the sunlight during afternoons, surrounded by beautiful albeit fake shrubs and savouring the heavenly coffee brewed by lovely Petra.

Busy as always, Petra was behind the counter working her magic when she heard a commotion. Asking Annie who was approaching, she said someone has been trying to hit on Krista for the past fifteen minutes. Petra scowled, part of her feeling a mix of gladness and what-a-waste that Ymir was absent but mostly pissed because she knows where this is going to lead. Stepping out and asking Annie to take over for a while, she headed over to her sweetest and tiniest waitress.

Placing her hand gently on Krista's shoulder, Petra told her she is needed in the kitchen urgently. Grateful for the rescue, Krista scurried off into the kitchen; most probably to vent her anger by kicking discarded carton boxes and swearing a great deal.

Turning her attention to the customers whom Krista was trying to serve, she greeted, "Good afternoon, sirs. May I assist you with your order?"

The blondie made a tch sound and picked up the extra menu while his dark-haired buddy who was playing with it before decided to look through it thoroughly this time.

You assholes have been here for the past fifteen minutes and you only look through the menu now?! Good thing I don't mix personal and business, otherwise…..

Petra was about to drop her service smile when blondie gruffed out, "Black with two sugar."

"Very well. What about you sir?" She turned to the brunette who can't seem to make up his mind.

"I can't decide. Do you have any recommendations?"

"If you would like something sweet, our daily special – Sweetie Shortcake – is still available." She points to a picture of it. "We also have chocolate custard cake and mango pudding, two of our best-sellers. If sweets are not to your liking, we do have lemon meringue pie and chocolate soufflé made of seventy percent dark cocoa."

"I'll take the shortcake." He closed the menu.

"Sheesh Bert, sweets? Really?"

"I had too much coffee in the morning and I reek of caffeine now. I need something sweet to balance it out."

Blondie rested his big head on his palm and faced the window, muttering, "Says the guy who inhales ten cups of it every day."

Petra collected the menus and assured them with a smile that their orders will be served shortly. She headed to the kitchen to find Krista who was still releasing her anger. "Just what did they do? I've never seen you react this way when guys hit on you last time." Petra leaned against the wall, amused because Krista's acting is world-class.

"THAT FUCKER TRIED TO FEEL ME UP!" She screamed

Petra's brow twitched because one, how dare that punk tried to molest her girl, and two, Krista's shouting could be heard from the café.

"WHY CAN'T WE FIGHT BACK NOW?!"

"Because you will get your revenge tonight. Now, go serve them with a smile and I will try not to spit into that shit's coffee." Petra turned, signalling the end of their conversation and that it's time to put up their front again.

Sure enough, Krista was pumped up and rearing to go by nightfall. Dressed in her normal garments which consisted of an all-black outfit save for a light blue inner top, she slung her weapon bag over her shoulder. Behind her, Nanaba tucked her choice of weapon into the holster located at the small of her back and a couple of spares in her boots.

"Ready?"

"Since this afternoon." Krista gritted her teeth.

"Be careful you two. Nanaba, you're in charge. If anything happens, just fire a cracker." Hanji cackled at her own joke.

"And alert the horde? No thanks." Turning to Krista, Nanaba told her to get a move on it, saying something along the lines of wanting to get some sleep tonight, complaining about shitty clients commenting on her eye bags and redundant stuff.

Choosing a spot shrouded in darkness, Krista geared up her newest baby; an Erma SR-100 sniper rifle. Gifted to her on her 18th birthday by her family, she longed for the day to put this darling in action. Not only will Krista get to play with it tonight; this part of town will be the perfect playground to test out her new weapon. Her previous night scope malfunctioned after Sasha used it on one mission – to which Hanji banned Sasha from eating any potatoes for two weeks – so she couldn't join them on night missions.

While Krista was readying her darling for her revenge, Nanaba was standing guard outside at the door, feeling bored because tonight's not her night; but that doesn't mean she is letting her guard down. She could feel her muscles tensing up for any probable situations, running all sorts of images on how the night might end even though her brain was shutting down because she will not let anyone die on her watch.

"Sorry" Krista said softly.

"For?"

"Hanji made you tag along. I would've been fine on my own, you know?"

"Don't say stupid stuff." Nanaba left it at that. Krista knew Nanaba meant no harm because she was the first person to offer her salvation when she was at the deepest, darkest point of her life. Not only did Nanaba saved her; she gave her a new life; Krista entered her family; and Nanaba didn't stop there. She guided her through their daily operations to habits, secret missions to lifestyle, Krista is forever indebted to Nanaba.

Peering through her scope, seeking out the blood she craves to spill all over the ground which was once flooded with tears of the defeated, Krista is now in 'Historia' mode, as they dubbed it. The lively, cheery Krista everybody dotes on and wants to keep her all to themselves and her hidden true self; the side of her that grew up without love and outcasted by her true family.

Like a hawk, Historia had no problem seeking out her prey through her scope. If only that giant isn't in the way...

She wouldn't risk a shot to anyone who had the unfortunate luck of being with Reiner; also known as The Armoured One. He's always part of the vanguard whenever he appears in their fights because his sheer build never fails to intimidate the newbies during their inauguration.

Tch, Krista clicked her tongue at the memory.

"At least render him unable to fight for an extended period of time if you are unable to take him out for good; I know you wouldn't listen to me even if I told you to give up if it isn't a clean shot." Nanaba advised without turning to look at Historia to know her hesitance.

"Damn right you are."

Adjusting her barrel, Historia kissed her rifle and whispered, "Welcome to the family." and pulled the trigger.

A/N 1: Many lovely thanks to dearest pammazola for proofreading this (´ ▽｀).。ｏ

A/N 2: This is a multi-chapter fanfiction, mostly focused on Rivetra. Depending on how the story develops, other pairings may surface (But don't get your hopes up).