SPOILER ALERTS!


Mikasa strolled comfortably through the woods. Weeds stained her pants as they brushed up against her. The occasional dead leaf wafted past her shoulder on its descent. It was past high noon and the sun had migrated. The time coupled with the shade of the green canopy placed the weather somewhere in the neighborhood of pleasant.

It was nice to get out of there for a little while when she still had time to feel alive. So much of her life was dominated by death and destruction; crumbled buildings and human remains. As she took in the scenery, she was reminded of her parents. That was a whole other lifetime away now. She was intrigued by the beauty and cruelty of the world they lived in. They all fought for survival but not many had won.

She pondered what Erwin had said earlier. I suspect you already know who we're looking for. She understood what he meant. If she set aside her emotions and examined the situation with untainted logic then a name immediately came to mind. It made sense when you looked at the evidence. There was certainly some correlation between facial structures albeit tentative. There was also something more that was harder to put one's finger on. There was a certain attitude about this female beast; an arrogance. Mikasa shook her head. She wasn't used to thinking about the personality of Titans. Maybe Hange was rubbing off on her?

That crazy brunette's face when Sonny and Bean were killed had been nothing to laugh at. All the cadets had their gear examined immediately for any evidence of their involvement. There was something important there. Mikasa knew there was a reason why she remembered that day so vividly.

She picked up a stick absentmindedly and dragged it behind her. They had been gathering firewood on the day it all began. Eren was napping so it was actually peaceful for a while. Maybe if Mikasa concentrated she could leave now and return to then. The flowers had been so beautiful. They glimmered in the sunlight. It was too colorful to look at. Purples, yellows and pinks all ran together. They headed home after Eren had his episode and started crying.

Mikasa thought his father should give him a checkup. As usual, Eren rejected the notion of accepting anyone's help. "Don't be stupid! I can't tell him!" He had barked at her as their feet clip-clopped along the cobblestone. Honestly she was tired of his whole act. Feigning strength never brings about anything positive in the long run. She would never deny his strength of character. It was one of the traits she loved so dearly about him. Even when he was crippled by defective gear, he was not deterred from his goal. Physically he left something to be desired. She wished that he would lean on her more. She had always been head and shoulders above him. This was a simple fact. When bullies pursued Armin, she was the one who frightened them back to where they came. She took down so many Titans to keep them all from an early death. It was not just for his sake, she accepted selfishly but for hers. Staying together was all that remained of any importance.

It was painful to constantly have this ache inside of her and this fear that at any moment you might you lose your family. She shuddered. There was already so much fatality in such a young life. Her mother's face flashed before her eyes. The path Mikasa was idly traveling had gradually become more rugged. The slope increased. There were more rocks that she had to sidestep. Her mother's eyes had been so full of love when she awkwardly dodged Mikasa's procreation question. Now they were empty and would stay that way as they rotted out of her maternal skull.

There was a small beetle making its way to the grass. She didn't see him. Her mother's blood slowly dispersed across the floor of their home and pooled at her feet. Her bare skin was marked by murder. In an instant Mikasa lost her footing before nimbly catching herself. There was a tiny crunch that no one heard. It happened again. Mikasa took the stick in both hands and snapped it. She sent it sailing into the underbrush with only a thin fibrous thread keeping it from becoming two instead of one.

The trail widened onto flat soft ground. It was a small pond. It was not nearly large enough to be lake let alone an ocean. It was still beautiful to her. She hadn't seen many sites like this one in recent years. She wiped some dirt off her hands and wandered over to the little shoreline. Her boots left large and deep foot prints and mud clung to them. She bent over to dip a finger in. It was chilly but not biting. She squatted and submerged both hands. She scooped up some water and tossed it on her flushed face. It was such a relief on a day like today.

She was beginning to really relax when she heard a slight cough behind her. She leapt to her feet and spun around in attack mode. She was prepared for whatever the forest and its inhabitants might throw at her. This time a battle wasn't called for. Her curious eyes met the contemplative gaze of Levi.

"I didn't expect to see you here" He observed but took no steps toward her. She nodded and looked at the ground. She still wasn't comfortable around this man whom Eren regarded so highly.

"I could say the same of you." He merely nodded and hobbled over to a large boulder that he rested his weight on.

"I could explain myself but I think we're here for the same reason." Mikasa returned his nod. "Please don't let me chase you off." He cautioned.

She smirked slightly. "I am not afraid of you."

"Oh really?" He joked. His voice dropped and became gravelly. "I can be quite terrifying."

Mikasa didn't say anything but she did steal another slant in his direction. Some time passed this way with only the sounds of nature floating between them. For lack of anything to converse about she picked up a stone and tried to skip it across the surface. Plunk. It went in ungracefully. Levi chortled from his spot. He came to stand beside her. "Like this, he said patiently." He picked up another stone which was flatter and smoother than hers. With an expert flick of his wrist the stone kissed the water three times before finally sliding under. "You need to place your index finger along the edge. Hold the flat sides like this." He demonstrated. "Adjust your stance so you're closer to the water. This is especially true for you since you're so tall."

"Is it that I'm tall or that you're very short?" Mikasa muttered, forgetting herself. She froze. Did I say that out loud? Levi did not respond so maybe he hadn't heard her? Or was that a smirk?

"When you're ready throw as fast as you can without losing form."

Levi fetched another rock for her and placed it in her palm. His fingers grazed by hers as he loosened his grip. Mikasa focused and tried to stand the way he showed her. Levi cleared his throat.

"Don't"

"Huh?"

"You're very thoughtful. I could tell that just by looking at you. Sometimes you need to take action even if it is wrong." Before he reached the end of his sentence Mikasa had let loose. She did it like she was flicking away a fly. It sailed through the air before making its descent into the ripples below. Levi nodded and made an imperceptible grin. "Better." Mikasa looked at him. She was going to say something. She was sure she would.

"Mikasa!" The voice was like a bullet shattering a ceramic bowl. "Oh...I-I am sorry. I-I thought that you would be alone." Armin composed himself and did a salute. "Captain." He stood at firm attention.

Levi shrugged it off. "I was just leaving. You may have your privacy." He cast a knowing look "I am sure you have much to discuss. Please go find Erwin when you're ready to finish that thought."

Mikasa fought to keep from scowling. Why was he suddenly being so cryptic? She was beginning to truly resent the political side of military life. Everyone was always keeping things from them and playing games with their lives instead of just saying what they meant. Levi simply limped away from her. Armin was frozen, baffled, and watched him go. "Never mind." Mikasa stated plainly. "What is it?" Armin did a double take and jogged over.

"I have something I need to tell you. It's of the utmost importance."

"Just come out with it already" She didn't intend to be so curt but she wasn't in the mood for any beating around the bush.

"I know who the female Titan is." Armin blurted. Mikasa's eyes widened.

The diminutive flame flickered and cast shadows across the dark room. A bulbous drop of wax rolled down the candle. Eren was becoming restless. He and Levi had been waiting for some time. His superior was also watching the stairs in between sips of tea. Levi was dressed in comfortable clothes. Eren was not. He sat up straight while Levi lounged and made several attempts to keep his mind occupied but to no avail. He even started counting the bricks in the wall.

"What's keeping Erwin and the others?" Levi wondered aloud while taking another glance up the stone steps. "They'll let the Military Police beat them here. I'll bet his constipation is acting up again." Eren glanced at the captain in surprise. It was a little strange to hear him speak so casually.

"Captain, you're quite talkative today." Levi ruminated on this silently. He conjectured that he should be more grim this evening considering recent events. However, as ghastly as it was, tragedy had become commonplace in their lives. Loss was just another comrade to them. His afternoon walk had done him some good. It was rare to comfortably share silence with another.

"Don't be stupid. I've always been talkative." He shifted his weight and hurt himself in the process. "Damn" He swore as his eyes narrowed in annoyance. Eren stared at his hands. His guilt ran so deep that he swore he was experiencing sympathy pains in his own leg. There was something he had wanted to say earlier but Erwin's presence kept him silent.

"I'm sorry. If I hadn't screwed up that time, you wouldn't be…" His voice trailed off as he grew emotional. The last thing he needed was to create a scene when he was about to be invited into a crucial meeting.

"You've been told before. No one knows how things will turn out." Eren didn't say anything. As much as he tried to internalize the lessons of his mentors, some personality traits cannot simply be changed at the drop of a hat. His musing was interrupted by a chorus of footsteps cascading down the stairs. Eren stood.

"Sorry I'm late." Erwin lead the procession. Eren studied them each in turn. Mikasa was serious. Armin was determined yet slightly shifty. Jean's eyes were glazed over and he looked like he was in shock. He was oddly pale. Oh well, they didn't have time to worry about whatever minor crisis he was experiencing.

"Not at all" Levi stated by way of greeting.

Eren was befuddled "Why're you guys? Uh... Umm..." Erwin didn't waste any time.

"We found someone we believe is the female Titan." Eren inhaled sharply. Levi set down his cup but he lacked the shock Eren had demonstrated. "This time we'll capture her without fail." Chairs scuffed against the ground as everyone took their seats. Armin went to work distributing papers he had been clutching to his chest. These were their marching orders no doubt. Once everyone was reviewing a copy, Erwin began to elucidate.

"We'll carry out the operation the day after next as we pass through Stohess District on our way to our appearance in the capital. It'll be our first and only opportunity. If we fail, Eren will be handed over to the authorities, making it difficult to pursue the ones who are plotting to destroy the wall. It could even increase the likelihood of humankind's annihilation. We will stake everything on this operation." When he said this he cast a knowing glance in Eren's direction. His eyes were loaded with meaning. Eren reflected on their prior chat. This was Erwin's gambit. Only this game had much higher stakes. "The operation will go like this. Eren will act as the decoy as we're passing through Stohess District…" Mikasa stretched her legs underneath the table and struck something firm. Levi grunted. Oops. She chastised herself and looked at him apologetically, not wanting to interrupt. Levi made a vague shape with his mouth, excusing her. "…But in the unlikely chance she turns into a Titan before that, we'll have to rely on you, Eren." Eren's pupils swam but he gave the most confident nod he could manage.

"Yes, sir! Are we certain that our target is in Stohess District?"

"Yes. Our target is a member of the Military Police."

What? "The Military Police?" It was no secret that these individuals were often corrupt and the ladder to success they climbed was crooked at best. This seemed like a stretch though.

"Armin is the one who figured it out…" Mikasa watched on silently. Levi peered at her inquisitively then looked away as if he had found some answers in the creases of her face.

"What?! J-just a minute. Annie is the female Titan? Why? Why do you think that, Armin?" Eren turned to address the blonde. Armin responded matter-of-factly.

"The female Titan recognized your face from the beginning. And she responded to my reference. It was something only our fellow cadets would understand. And even more convincing is that Annie is suspected in killing the two Titan test subjects, Sonny and Bean."

Eren did his best to digest this but it was a bitter tonic to swallow. "How do you know that?"

"Killing the Titans required high-level technique, so she would have used her own 3D device which she was familiar with."

"Right," Eren confirmed. "That's why they did the inspection. Annie should have been found out if she was responsible." Armin was prepared for this point to arise.

"Annie submitted Marco's for inspection. That was how she avoided scrutiny."

"Huh!" Eren blurted with exasperation.

"I know it is not pleasant to think about. I do not relish the idea myself but we need to face the truth and handle it."

"How is Marco involved?" Eren floundered. His hand tightened into a fist on the table.

"How can you be so blind?" Mikasa retorted. Eren looked up at her suddenly. He was insulted but she ignored it. She could handle that. She needed to make him listen even though he would not like a word they had to say.

Armin continued "That was definitely…"

Levi was heard from for the first time "Hey kid, we get that part. Don't you have any other reasons?"

Armin conceded. "I don't."

Mikasa interjected. "The Titan looks like Annie. I was right there. I saw everything." She turned to Eren "So did you."

Eren jumped out of his seat. He had been there but his transformation induced amnesia still held its death grip on the information he was seeking. "What're you talking about?! That's not enough to…"

Levi interrupted again "So…we don't have proof, but we're still going to do it."

Eren struggled to find the words he wanted without sounding whiny. "You don't have proof? What's with that?! Why are we doing this? What if we are wrong? What if she is innocent?" He could not bear the thought of blood being spilled over mistakes. Not again. Mikasa seemed unconcerned.

"If it is not Annie, she will be cleared."

Armin was a bit more sensitive. "If that is the case then I feel sorry for Annie. But if we do nothing then you will be the central government's scapegoat."

Eren continued to grow more and more upset. Mikasa posed a simple question. "Eren, now that you have a name, doesn't it all make sense?"

I suspect you already know who we're looking for. You just need to realize that. He felt like he had been shocked. It was coming back to him in intense flashbacks. He was in the woods again. He was a Titan. The female Titan was right there in front of him. Her fists guarded her face. He saw Annie beside the Titan. As they each raised a leg to attack, he saw the two images merge. They overlapped perfectly.

"You realize it, right?" Sometimes accepting the truth is harder than reaching for a memory.


Message from writer:

***Hello, I want to thank you for taking the time to read this. I also want to apologize for having abandoned it for so long. School/work/personal matters have gotten in the way. None of those things have done any good for my writer's block.

When I have a break from school my intention is to plot out where exactly I'm going with this (a story without direction is no story at all. I'm going to revise my first two chapters so they'll hopefully flow a little better. I am also going to be slightly less canon. Not OOC but I've found I'm trying so hard to stick to the story that it's stifling my creativity. After the incident with the female titan is resolved I'm spinning off into my own direction.

If you haven't completely lost interest in this by now please bare with me and I will be providing more chapters as soon as I can. I just feel it's better to take longer than just post complete crap for the sake of getting something out there.***