Chapter 4

Thundering in his head and ears. Relentless, constant thundering. His other senses slowly started to come back, the feeling of great danger ran through him like a shock, and his self-control immediately slammed into place, letting no sign of his slow awakening show to the outside.

He was uncomfortable all over, and when the pulsing pain in his head slowly disengaged from the thundering in his ears, and he realized that the shocks through his body came from under him, he knew what that meant. He was on a horse! He kept his eyes shut and suppressed letting out a growl when he felt the arm across his stomach that held him in place. Even worse, his back was pressed against another person. Berthold, Reiner or Eren! The fuckers had actually kidnapped him, him, their superior officer! The sheer act of betrayal still hurt like a fresh wound.

Levi kept himself from crunching his teeth together. He remained limp as he realized that he was kept awkwardly on a horse in front of someone on a saddle that was clearly not made to be occupied by two people. To his annoyance he realized that his hands were bound in front of him. That made escaping even more difficult. He slowly opened his eyes. He could only see meadows behind the head of a horse, and his periphery was blocked by fabric. He recognized the color and the material. The bastards had put him in a survey corps cloak, most likely to hide his face and his bound hands from others. They had to be out of Stohess for quite a while, judging from the soreness of Levi's body.

He couldn't see a horse in front of him, but he could hear one to his left. So, one of the traitors had stayed behind in Stohess, most likely coming up with some lame ass excuse why the rest disappeared. There was no chance Erwin would believe anything about Levi's whereabouts, the Commander knew that his second in command would never do anything rash without informing him. He just hoped that whoever of the fuckers stayed behind would be captured without many casualties.

At least he only had to deal with two people. No, soldiers, he corrected himself. Soldiers, that were Titan Shifters on top of all.
He moved his left leg about half an inch. At least the Shifters were not the brightest, the dagger that he still felt in his boot confirmed that they hadn't searched him for any more weapons.

His eyes shifted downwards for a moment, not moving his head to still appear unconscious, but he could only see the green survey corps cloak. Levi remembered that he hadn't had his 3DMG on before, because his ankle was not yet healed, and he had planned to only do paperwork. He cursed himself for it. Without it, he had absolutely no chance against two Titan shifters. Maybe if he could get his hands on one of the horses –

His thoughts were cut short by a tightening of the arm around his waist. A low voice behind and slightly above him murmured. "I know you're awake, your breathing changed, so stop pretending. You can't escape. You're outnumbered, and although you are humanities strongest soldier, without your gear, you are no match against us."

It was Reiner behind him. It annoyed him to no end that he had come to the same hopeless conclusion that Levi himself had mere seconds before. Since he didn't have to pretend anymore, he pulled the cowl of his cloak back and turned his head towards the other horse that he heard and realized that it was Berthold riding it.

"Let go of me, you filthy traitor," Levi grabbed the horse's mane with his bound hands and shoved himself to the front of the saddle, bringing as much distance as possible between him and Reiner. It wasn't much. But at least the Titan shifter loosened his grip as he realized that Levi wouldn't fall off the horse. Levi inwardly scoffed. As if he needed help to stay in the saddle. Sure, it was uncomfortable as shit without stirrups, but everything was better than the close contact to the despicable shit behind him.

When he found a bearable position, he asked the question that had been on his tongue ever since he woke up.

"Where is Eren?" Because Levi desperately wanted to kill, no strangulate slowly or do something even worse to the traitor.

The man behind him just sighed. "It does hardly matter now, does it? But as you see, he's not coming with us."

That didn't answer anything, but at least he didn't outrightly refuse to reply. Levi decided to push forward.

"How long have you worked together with him?" And Levi really needed the answer to that one, for a small part of him still hoped that Eren hadn't worked with them for long. It was a trifle, but it would still mean that Levi's judgement wasn't as badly compromised as he feared it was.

Regrettably, the Titan shifter knew exactly what was going on in his head. He chuckled softly.

"You'd like me to say that we just started our cooperation shortly, don't you? But that's not true, we worked together ever since we met each other in the Training Corps and realized we were all shifters."

So Eren knew about his shifting abilities, he just acted as if it had been something new. Most likely the story about his mother was invented, too. Levi ground his teeth together. Damn him, he had lost his squad to protect the little shit, had risked his life to save him from Annie, and all for nothing. His grip on the horse's mane tightened. All the loss and sorrow. His squad could still be alive if he hadn't decided to take Eren under his wing. Once again, his standpoint to never have regrets wavered. He quickly thought of something else because that thought would lead down a dark spiral of self-reproach and this was certainly not the right time for it. What about Mikasa and Armin? Were they on Eren's side? They had to be, they always stuck together and Levi couldn't imagine Eren keeping such a big secret from them.

But that didn't make sense. It was still bothering him. Could he trust Reiner to tell the truth? Discouraging someone was a viable option if you wanted to interrogate someone, Levi knew that from experience. Was the shifter beginning to get to him? Or did Levi just cling too much to the hope that his judgement hadn't been wrong still?
He wouldn't get an answer to that yet. But there was another question that he badly needed an answer to.

"So, what the hell did you kidnap me for? I doubt it's because of the good company," he snorted.

"No, you just fit best into the laundry bag," Levi could hear the smirk in the voice behind him, and with horror, the pictures shortly before he lost consciousness came back. Those fuckers had had the audacity to carry him around the base in a laundry bag. He'd kill them for it, as well as to make sure that nobody would ever hear the story. If Erwin or god forbid Hanji got wind of it, he would never hear the end of it.

"Where are we going?" Levi decided to ignore and press on. They were heading to the east, and Levi had the assumption that they would head towards Karanese, to get outside of wall Rose, but he wanted confirmation.

"You'll see when we get there," Reiner's non-answers annoyed Levi to no end, so he fell into silence. Berthold to their left had obviously seen them speak but didn't draw nearer to partake in their conversation. The tall boy was wearing 3DMG and Levi immediately thought of some way he could get his hands on it, but it was hopeless. They were two, and they were Titan shifters, for fuck's sake. Even if he blindsided one of them, he would never have the time to undo the straps and put them on himself.

Levi could see Wall Rose in the distance, they were not travelling on the main road, obviously to not run into too many other people. But if Levi was right, there was a small town that had an outpost of the Garrison attached not far away. The outpost was just for storing goods on the way from one wall to the other, but the cannon and railway system needed constant maintenance, and the chances of there being a squad of Garrison Soldiers were not too bad. If he reached them he might get a set of gear or could at least alarm someone of the situation.

Levi decided to make his move now, his situation was shit and his chances were tiny at best, but he wouldn't get anything better, so he would raise them hell for capturing him like that.

He dug his bound hands deep into the horse's mane, shifting more of his weight on his hands. Berthold had fallen a bit further to the side and Levi, in one fluid movement, put his whole weight on his hands, shoved his upper body forward to get more room between him and Reiner, and kicked both of his feet back with as much strength as he could muster. And that was a lot.

His injured foot protested angrily as it collided with Reiner's massive chest, but the shifter was caught completely by surprise and had nothing to hold on to. With an almost comical grab in the air, the blonde flew backwards off the horse. Levi thanked all the gods that the horse was a stolen Survey Corps horse and was therefore used to losing a rider in the middle of a fight.

Levi fell into the saddle himself, cursing for a moment that he was too short to reach the stirrups, but pressed his thighs into the horse's flank, spurring it on.

Behind him, he heard the thump of a body, followed by angry curses. Berthold had slowed down, obviously torn between helping Reiner and going after Levi. That fortunately gave Levi a head start. Now he would have to reach the outpost and hope that someone was there. He really needed a set of 3DMG.

Reiner must have dismissed Berthold, for the tall shifter now galloped towards Levi. If they tried to stay inconspicuous they wouldn't risk shifting. Levi relied on that. On the other hand, should they shift they might easily recapture him, but they would certainly be spotted by someone. No way Titans inside the wall near a village wouldn't draw any attention. Just as the thought passed him, he heard a loud crack behind him and his hair was blown forward in a hot gush of wind. Shit!

The horse neighed in panic and Levi clutched at the animal's mane to not get discharged by the writhing animal. He managed to stay in the saddle, and the horse moved on, it's instinct to get away from the Titan bigger than the wish to get rid of its rider.

Levi risked a look back. Berthold was still on the chase, but he didn't draw nearer yet. However further back, enveloped by steam, stood a massive hulk of a Titan. It was not that impressive in sheer size, it measured around fifteen meters, but its human physicality and raw muscles, just like the ones of his human counterpart, spoke of pure strength.

Levi had only heard stories of the armoured Titan breaking straight through the inner gate in Shiganshina, but seeing Reiner's Titan, he believed it without a doubt. Levi would have given anything to have his 3DMG on right now, he'd like nothing more than give the abomination behind him the fight of his life and find the weakness between the golden armoured plates he was wearing.

He looked forward again. The town was not very far, but with the Titan behind him, he might cause a massacre if he rode straight into it. He didn't want to risk that. It would have to suffice to gallop near the town and alert someone, so word would spread out and the right people – the Scouts – would be alarmed. Levi would instead head for Karanese. Karanese was about two hours from where he was, but as a border city, there would be enough defenses and stationed soldiers to have a good chance against the Titan. Annie's Titan had just been as fast as the Survey Corps horses and Levi doubted that Reiner's Titan with his heavy armour plates would be any faster. Levi's horse would hold out, it was a reliable Survey Corps horse.

He changed direction a bit and risked another look behind. He shouldn't have done it.

The armoured Titan hadn't moved yet, but he had gone into a sprinter's stance. Despite the distance, Levi felt the ground thunder as the Titan started his run. Plates of armour landed on the grass and Levi realized that Reiner had shed parts of his armour to be faster. And fast he was. Much faster than Annie's Titan had been. He was already closing in on Berthold. If Reiner could keep this speed up, Levi had no chance. He looked around once again, but there were only plain meadows, nothing to hide or get away. Even if he changed course now, he wouldn't reach the town before the Titan would get to him.

For a second Levi pondered if he should slice his horse's throat with the dagger he still carried in his boot, to slow their progress down by shortening them of one mount. But he couldn't bring himself to kill the poor animal. Instead he applied even more pressure with his thighs, however the horse couldn't go any faster, it was already giving everything it had. It wanted to get away from the Titan as much as Levi.

When the thundering steps reached him, he pressed his body as closely to the horse as he could, counting on Reiner not wanting to injure the animal. A hard thrust at his neck and upper body drove the air out of his lungs and he gasped for breath as and he saw the horse run away under him. He was lifted into the air by fingers that surprisingly delicately had taken him up by the clothes on his back. Before he could do anything to free himself, another hand clasped his body, not helping at all with his breathing issues. He tried to wriggle out, but he knew that it was hopeless. When the giant hand tightened in warning, he ceased his struggles, looking up at the angled face of the armoured Titan. Despite his knowledge of the limited facial expressions of Titans, Levi could swear that he had a damn angered look on his face. And the steam coming out of his mouth as the plates shifted to reveal the orifice didn't help at all.

The Titan's other hand came back towards Levi and that was when fear hit him. He was completely helpless and trapped in the hand of a giant Titan - an intelligent Titan no less – who he just majorly pissed off with his escape attempt. He had no time to contemplate further when the big thumb and index finger grabbed his arms, which were still bound together. The Titan slowly moved his hands apart, and Levi cried out when his body was stretched to the maximum in the unrelenting grasp.

Would the Titan really tear him apart? Had the risk of keeping him become bigger than the benefits they might get of his capture? Levi's joints creaked when the strain became even stronger. He didn't want to die like that, in a disgusting bloody mess, but there was nothing he could do. He screamed when his right shoulder popped from its socket with a sick sound and an incredible amount of pain. Reiner continued tearing and Levi nearly passed out with the pain straining his arm even further. He only slightly registered the second pop when his other arm was also dislocated, the pain washing over him in dull apathy. He just hoped to fall unconscious before he died, he didn't want to see his limbs getting torn apart.

The next thing he registered was a hit to his back, and since that didn't make sense, his mind and eyes slowly focused again, hindered by the still massive pain in his arms.

Levi blinked a few times – was that moisture in his eyes? – and realized he was sprawled on the grass, obviously still alive. He slowly sat up without using his uselessly dangling arms, and his mind was still trying to grasp the concept of him still being alive.

"Stop. Don't move any further." The voice, and more importantly the blade that hovered in front of his face, finally brought him back to reality.

Berthold had caught Levi's horse and was now obviously guarding him. The Captain looked to the side and saw Reiner's Titan kneel on the grass a few meters to his right, steam billowing around it. Reiner had already disengaged and climbed effortlessly down, making Levi wonder what the hell Eren was doing wrong, the boy was always half dead coming out of his Titan.

Reiner approached them, and he looked majorly pissed. Levi knew exactly who the anger would be directed at, and he slammed his unimpressed façade in place, letting none of his discomfort show.

Reiner reached the two and Levi was greeted with a kick to his stomach, sprawling him on his back once again and reigniting the angry pain in his arms. Levi couldn't even bring up his arms to protect his body, they would just spasm uselessly and hurt like a bitch. However, Reiner didn't attack him any further.

"You damn idiot. You think your little stunt had any chance of success? Now we have to move even faster!" The last sentence was directed at Levi and Berthold, but before Berthold could say something, Levi responded.

"As long as I held you up, I count it as a success." His voice was raspier than he'd like, and he and Reiner stared at each other angrily, none of them wanting to be the first to look away.

Berthold cleaned his throat and put his sword back into the sheath releasing it from the 3DMG-handle. "We should keep going, somebody might have seen the steam."

Reiner grunted in answer, but his angry gaze didn't leave Levi. He hated the helpless position on his back, but without being able to use his arms, he couldn't do much.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Berthold produce something shining from the damned duffel bag that he was still carrying.

"We can't ride through the gate with him like that, he will do everything to expose us."

Reiner grunted again in agreement, and when Berthold stepped towards Levi, he saw that the evening light reflected off a syringe in his hand. Levi's breaths grew heavier, throat constricting. If they drugged him he wouldn't be able to do anything. He desperately searched for a way to escape it, but he only came up with one dumb idea.

He would strike for the syringe with his feet, trying to destroy it. Berthold reached the range of his legs, but the shifter was even taller than Erwin, so his chances were very slim. Just when he was about to strike, a boot slammed down on his legs. Reiner had seen through him and thwarted his shit plan. Berthold had meanwhile kneeled down to his left, and every squirming in the world couldn't bring Levi out of the syringe's reach. Berthold held his head in place and a sharp pain followed by dull pressure was at his neck. Levi silently cursed the shifters and his own inability to escape the fuckers when a strange warmth spread through him, numbing everything out and finally plunging him in darkness again.

AN: Oh no, poor Levi. So, finally another Chapter. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and followed this story, you really keep me motivated!