Hello again lovelies, please enjoy this new chapter! I do not own AOT, only my own OC's. I also double-checked in the Manga, Hanji's name is spelt Hanji not Hange, so I've changed it.

Also just so everyone knows, how Erwin died is similar to how he dies in the manga, however, Moblit doesn't die, and Mike is still alive, be prepared for a flashback later on as it will explain what happened during the 'Return to Shinganshina Arc' battle.

Edith Murphy: Well I'm glad you stuck around to change your mind!

Chapter 4 – Patience

Looking back up to Erwin's face, I smiled, allowing Jean and Chloe to push me away, they stood beside me. "So, why were you laughing earlier?" Jean whispered, he hadn't turned to look at me, so he had noticed I thought he is a lot smarter than I suspected.

"You're a lot smarter than I thought you were." I chuckled, Jean blushed slightly at that, while Chloe giggled "I could hear Commander Erwin and Captain Levi's conversation, and before you ask how, my hearing is a lot better than an average humans hearing."

He looked at me then. "How- "

"I don't know exactly." I stated, "For as long as I can remember, my senses have always been better than other peoples."

"What other senses are better?" Chloe asked, she was curious as well.

"My hearing is the main one." I began, we were now heading down the stairwell towards what I gathered was the dungeon cells, "My eyesight makes things brighter than things are, so it helps during any night rendezvous I may have. Taste – well I don't know, I've never really been able test that as well, researchers have told me my taste-buds are like a cat rather than a human, don't ask me how they know that, I didn't ask." They laughed at that, but didn't question my taste any further. "Touch, again, not something I've been able to fully test, apart from the fact I can feel vibrations or sensations that others can't. Smell, well, that is definitely stronger than others, for example," I sniffed the damp air of the fast approaching cell. "There is someone else down here – a male, about your age Jean but," I sniffed the air heavily. "I tell a lie, two males' one female, the males are… not…" I paused "Titans?" such a familiar smell "Titan shifters?" Jean stopped walking, looking directly at me. "I've been around long enough to know the smell Jean, Titans have a distinct smell, as do humans. Titan shifters, well, they sort of smell like a human but there is like a spicy twinge at the end."

"Spicy twinge?" Chloe questioned

"Everyone has a personal smell." I stated "It's how animals know their homes and owners. But every human has an essence that is the same." They seemed puzzled, so I continued. "Think of the human smell like a peach – stay with me Jean." Catching his face of utter confusion "think of the outer skin as one type of smell, that would be the shampoo or soap you use, the inside of the peach is your natural smell, body odour of you will." We reached the bottom of the steps, both Chloe and Jean we're absorbed in our conversation, and hadn't really taken in their surroundings. "now at the core, the very centre of a human smell is the general smell all humans have. Well Titans have just the base smell, all personal scents are gone, so they kind of leave an almost raw taste in your mouth. Titan shifters, well, they smell human but that raw, spicy smell similar so a Titan's is there." I smiled at the look of awe on the two youngsters faces. "Are you going to put me in a cell? I can still answer your questions."

Both Cadets began to blush, realising how they had completely forgotten why they were even down here in the first place. Chloe took my satchel from me, hanging it up out of the way of all the cells, luckily, I wasn't wearing anything that required me taking the handcuffs off, but I had noticed how neither even suggested the removal of my mask. They continued to ask questions on my senses and how they reacted compared to theirs, not that I minded, but I didn't want them getting into trouble. "Aren't you forgetting something you two?" I asked

They turned to each other, confused by my sudden change of subject. "My mask." I chuckled "Here," lifting my hands up to my face I removed the object. "It's better that you take it, I don't want you guys getting into trouble." Eyes wide, completely still, they stared at me. "What?"

Shaking herself Chloe reached out and took the mask from me. "Is it bad that I expected you to be deformed under that?"

I laughed "Never heard that before, then again, nobody's had the balls to say that to my face before." She flushed at that "Don't be embarrassed." I laughed again, louder this time. "You two are so…" cute I thought, it's probably best if I don't say that out loud.

Jean seemed to read my mind. "Ha-ha, I am not cute Vera, I'm a guy."

"Guys can be cute." Chloe added

"Don't you start, you're supposed to be on my side." He replied

"Why? I'm simply defending the idea guys can be cute Jean, it's not impossible." Chloe smirked and Jean being suborn held her gaze. They stood there, staring at each other I coughed loudly one a full two minutes had passed.

"As much as I'd like to watch you two gaze lovingly into each other's eyes, I think you need to get me in a cell first." Both blushing like mad, they lead me down towards the very end of the cell. Turning slightly, I looked into the cell that held the three inside.

The two boys were handcuffed and chained to the cell walls, while the young girl had curled into herself, she looked at me briefly and then looked away, deciding then and that I wasn't worth her acknowledgement. She had short midnight black hair and grey eyes that seemed almost sliver, I flicked my sight to the two boys – one had thick blonde hair, he sat almost in a trance staring at the floor, his striking blue eyes could most definitely rival Commander Erwin's own, though his seemed duller, sadder that the now alive Erwin – then there was the other boy – he was much taller than the other two, that was obvious, dark brown hair messily framed his rather confused expression as he stared at us, but his eyes, they held my attention without question.

Such forest green eyes, that had a spark I had only seen in fresh cadets, but something told me he was far from new, under all that fire was something I wished I hadn't picked up on;

Hopelessness.

For 'Humanity's Hope' he seemed to have none himself, that concerned me beyond what I could have expected. How could such a young and fiery individual look so empty? I nudged Jean, and flicked my eyes towards the young brunette, he seemed to grasp my question – as expected – and looked at the Cadet in question.

After placing me in a cell, and Chloe apologising about not knowing whether to take off my handcuffs, I laughed. "Honestly Chloe, I'll keep them on. Better than you in trouble for removing them."

"But Vera-" She pouted

"Don't 'but Vera' me young lady, leave them on."

Sighing she nodded sadly and waved as she walked away from my cell. I watched as Jean approached the Trio's cell. "Oi Eren. Just to let you know, the Commander is alive."

"What the fuck horse face, that's a low joke, even for you!" a voice hissed back, I could only guess that was Eren.

"How is that possible, he suffered so many injuries, he was dead Jean." Another male voice came from the cell – must've been blondie.

"You can thank Vera for that." He flicked his head in my direction, as a gesture of who he was talking about. "We don't know yet Armin. No one knows how she did it, they're still trying to figure that out, but he's alive, I'm sure you'll get to see for yourself soon." He seemed to pause before continuing "Mikasa? I didn't save your ass just for you to get all down and depressed now. Pull yourself together." I smiled at that, I swear teenagers are too transparent.

"So why is she locked down here Jean? If she's done what your suggesting shouldn't she be given the hero treatment?" Armin asked

"Well, when you decide to straight up murder an MP for shit's and giggles, you can imagine what kind of people could get rubbed the wrong way." I piped up, finding my own joke funny. "Besides, I broke into your HQ, I doubt I'd be given a medal of honour for that either."

"You broke in?!" Eren yelled

"Yes. For future reference though Eren, don't shout in a dungeon, it echoes way too much for you to do that." When no reply came, I spoke again. "Now Jean, I can almost hear that shit-eating grin of yours, you and Chloe need to go before you get into trouble, you can speak to Eren and the others tomorrow." Sighing Jean nodded and said goodbye to the trio, then turned to my cell, Chloe following right behind him, I had almost forgotten she was there. "Goodnight both of you, get some rest you'll have a busy day tomorrow." I smiled walking towards the bed in the centre of my cell.

"Yeah." Jean sighed

"Goodnight Vera, sweet dreams." Chloe smiled widely, they both walked away from the cell and up the set of stairs, not moments later the door opened, closed again and locked behind them.

I took in my surroundings a lot more now my eyes had fully adjusted to the dim lighting near the cells. The cell had not been used for a while it seemed, with the almost non-existent bed sheets puffed dust that filed my nostrils once I sat on it. There was no window, so no light helped lift the dark, dank room, deciding not to dwell on the very little in the room I sighed, laying back on the bed, facing upwards, I thought back to my bed back home; it seemed so long since the last time I'd slept in that bed – or slept at all for that matter. I had expected the trio to talk amongst themselves at least, but not a single word was spoken, normally I would have appreciated the silence, but this time I didn't, I had to remind myself to keep quiet, it's not up to me to get them talking.

Hours passed by slowly, and slight snoring could be heard just from the cell holding the three, knowing sleep wouldn't be coming for me, I thought back to today's events.

Lily was dead, that was the first thing that came to mind, Lieutenant Adam had taken her body to bury her among our own, and all this started after a gunshot to the side, puncturing a lung, I then proceeded to do the exact same to that MP fucktard that shot her, he was part of a group called 'Son or Artemis', okay so think– being the son of whomever Artemis means they idolise he or she like they have some type of influence, though the group is unfamiliar, the name 'Artemis' is a very old name, but who for? Why was it important to them, something like a God maybe? Are they heretics similar to the Wall Cultists that have such a strong influence nowadays? I sighed, and rubbed my forehead I need to find out any information of this Artemis character, that will help narrow things down. But for now, all I know is they are a group with enough money to pay people not among the group to kill others and enough power to have people like the MP scumbags to be involved already. I doubt there are going to be any books on Artemis if they are some type of deity, she's part of a time before the walls that's for sure if they are a God of some description, which means any knowledge will be more than likely be on the black market, the Underground maybe? There is a possibility that some contacts down there have some forbidden books they would be willing to part with. But if I have figured this much out surely others have as well, would Erwin and Hanji figure as much as I have out? Would Beth and Adams figure anything out? I sighed again, getting up from the so-called bed I decided exercise would keep me distracted, however I'm limited due to my surrounding's and handcuffs. Choosing push-ups first I began.

I was in the middle of squatting, when I heard the basement door unlock and open, several sets of footsteps headed to Eren's cell, electing to ignore the interruption I finished up on my squats and returned to the bar that hung off the ceiling, lifting my own bodyweight repeatedly a few times, I heard someone behind me cough, stopping and jumping down, I turned to see a tall woman looking down at me.

Somewhat spiky brown hair was sticking out of a ponytail while her glasses were firmly placed on her face. Her brown eyes sparkled when I turned fully towards her "Good Morning!" She sung loudly "Sorry for making you wait, you caused quite a ruckus last night you see!" She pulled up a chair sat beside my cell and sat enthusiastically – if that is even possible – "So, let's start with introductions. I'm Zoe Hanji, what's your name friend?"

I just stared at her. This was the person her researchers ranted and raved about? I suppose it made sense, Hannah and the other researchers were all slightly crazy, but Hanji was on another level. I laughed, she seemed surprised by my sudden laughter. "My apologies Miss. Hanji, I'm not laughing at you, when a comrade of mine talked about you, they made you out to be a stoic war-hardened Soldier." She laughed at that "It's a pleasure to meet you Miss. Hanji, my name is Vera."

"Just Hanji is fine, it's nice to meet you Vera. Sorry we couldn't give you a warmer welcome, but breaking into HQ doesn't sit well with a lot of cadets."

I chuckled "So they weren't bothered by how I murdered the MP, or how I dealt with their Captain? How odd."

She giggled "Well, word is you cheated while fighting against shorty, as for the murder of the MP, the Commander has informed the Cadets you were justified in what you did, though I would love to know how you beat Humanity's strongest soldier so easily."

I turned to her fully after that, eyebrow raised. "'So easily' huh? Hardly. He should've won, but I suppose I won by sheer luck."

"By 'sheer luck huh? How so?" Hanji mused, her eyes flicked to her side. "No one just beats Captain Levi by luck you know."

I sighed "It's not an insult to him, quite the opposite actually, I know he's strong, he should have beaten me, but he underestimated me, while I however, knew roughly what to expect from him, besides." I paused taking a step closer, Hanji twitched in her seat, and flicked her eyes to her side again. A young man behind her, seemed on edge; his pupils dilating, hands sweaty and shaking. Hanji may have very little 'tells', but this kid had a shit-tonne of them to make up for it.

She was hiding something, most likely someone, considering how she kept looking to her left like that, the closer I got to her, the more she did it. I sniffed the air, but it was difficult, Titan shifters and sweaty teens were easier to smell, but whomever stood there was completely calm, that left only a handful of options. Levi? Erwin? I thought. No, he wouldn't be here yet. But to keep so calm under such circumstances, definitely a veteran.

I decided to take a step back to see the reaction, they seemed to calm once I sat on the end of the bed. Far enough away to see them visibly relax, but close enough to gauge reactions from them. "So, how is the Commander? I noticed his arm had grown back." She seemed surprised by my change of subject, almost suspicious. "Relax Squad Leader, I'm only asking out of curiosity, I'm not planning anything with ill-intent." She squinted, not quite sure how I'd so easily read her, she was unable to see my face it seemed, considering how she was not really looking in one place, was it really that dimly-lit down here? They might have to change that, considering that they planned to keep me here. Why didn't they get more torches if they couldn't see? "May I walk forward Hanji? It seems that you can't see me very well, wouldn't it be better if you had more light? After-all, we are underground, not much light." Her eyes widened at my statement.

And then it clicked, they did it on purpose. They were definitely hiding something, and hoped that the dim light would give them an advantage over me, it hadn't of course, but nice try. "I see, A for effort I must say, but dim-lighting won't do you any favours I'm afraid, I'm fully aware that there is another hiding away from my cell Hanji." I chucked as the faces of the notorious Scout Regiment seem to pale. "So," I clapped, making them jump "If I guess who it is, will you answer my question?"

Hanji seemed completely thrown by my words, her mouth was slightly agape, behind her, the young boy seemed almost scared of me, that did bother me, but it was to be expected these people didn't know me like my comrades did; they trusted me, they followed me; Beth, Adams, Hannah, Lily-

Will.

I sighed, he was going to be furious with me. Again.

"Look, I'll answer any questions I can, but please don't look at me like that, kiddo. I can't hurt you in here." I spoke gently to the boy behind Hanji, he seemed surprised that I spoke to him, obviously used to going unnoticed. "What's your name?" I asked

He seemed hesitant to say anything to me, after a tense silence, I sighed again. I give up, I thought If they're not even going to give me their bloody names then there is literally no point in playing nice, they seem more determined to keep me in the dark then get answers out of me, that suits me just fine, but I don't fancy staying this this place any longer than needed, surely they can see I don't intend to do any harm for fuck sake, why are we dancing around each other like this?

"You're a member of The Grey Wolves, aren't you?" He blurted, I blinked surprised, so they know of us.

"I am."

"I've heard some rather disturbing stories about them." He continued "You guys rule the Underground, don't you? You've helped so many, but you've also killed many, MP's and civilians alike. And your Commander is supposed to be ruthless, bloodthirsty and cunning. I apologise for being so forward but it seems almost hypocritical so say you 'mean no harm' when your past dictates otherwise, I won't give you my name, because I refuse to think you as an ally, even if you have helped us greatly." He finished, glaring in my direction, Hanji seemed surprised by his outburst, she was looking at him, though I couldn't see her expression, from how he seemed guilty and embarrassed by his outburst, I imagined her to be disappointed somewhat.

Bloodthirsty huh, I thought, I suppose when I was younger, but my predecessor wasn't like that, what kind of bullshit have the MP's been spoon-feeding people over the years? I scratched my head.

The air seemed tense again, waiting for me to snap maybe? "Pfft." I giggled, I couldn't help it, their expressions were too much. "I wasn't expecting that from you kiddo, you strike me as the silent type, colour me impressed Mr. Moblit Berner." He paled, eyes wide, now if he was scared before, he looked as if he was going to shit himself now. "Relax Mr. Berner, I can only imagine what you have read in the reports that will oppose us. We're not saints, and I'll never make out that our organisation makes the right decisions, we've made choices, just like you have, for what we believe in especially, not necessarily for the good of humanity, but the choices we've made have affected it. The Underground is an example of hardworking comrades of mine wanting such a place to be better than it was, and we're getting there, it's still not perfect, but I doubt anything is, as for being hypocritical, well, like I said before, of course you would think that way, you're a smart boy and know that my organisation is dangerous, but you seem to be oblivious of something, so I'll tell you." I stood, walking straight towards to cell bars, I grabbed onto the bar that separated us. "This world is not something that can be painted the colour of either good or bad. Every person is neutral until the choices they make say otherwise, and still, that depends on your definition of what is right and wrong, you forget that your definition of such things is not exactly the same as mine." Letting go of the bars, I chucked "After all, you say we're bloodthirsty and cunning as if they're wrong, but you forget that you thirst for the blood of Titans regularly, and will you deny that any of you lack the cunning that is similar to us? Quite shameful. After all," I laughed "It's quite cunning of you all to try to hide one of your own to gauge my reactions, don't you think Mike?" I smiled, a sigh emitted from the cell beside mine, there stood Mike leaning crookedly on the wall. Mike was too tall for my liking, to look up to him meant almost facing completely upwards. "It's been quite a while, you've somehow gotten taller." I laughed

Mike's mouth twitched slightly, only to return to a stoic mask he always wore. "You haven't changed after all this time, not even an inch, since we last spoke."

Not particularly amused by the height comment, I grinned "Ha-ha very funny Mike, still using that nose of yours I see. Very good."

He sniffed, as if to personify that large, glorious nose of his. "Of course, for the good of Humanity." I chuckled at that, I wasn't surprised Mike was here, I'd had spy's report regularly on the Scouts, especially during the whole 'treason' thing, I didn't believe it personally, neither did any of my own. As is turns out, it was all a ploy to destroy the only regiment that was capable of fucking up the fake royal family, which I was not against in the slightest, the whole Reiss family needed taking down several pegs.

"I see." I scoffed "So, what exactly was the plan? Keep me locked up until I spilled precious secrets? Or maybe you want to see how long until I eventually snapped? Surely you told them you knew me Mike."

"I did, I told them how we met, which was… interesting. If I'd known beforehand that you were part of The Grey Wolves I would have-"

"Would've what Mike? Arrested me?" I snorted "How cute. If I remember correctly Mike, last time we fought you had some rather painful bruises and broken bones."

He paused "I've gotten stronger since then."

"I don't doubt that for a second." I replied earnestly "But I've improved since then too, I wonder… maybe a rematch is in order." I smirked.

Mike seemed to find it an interesting idea, his eyes lit up slightly at the thought of us sparing again, not that it wasn't reciprocated. The idea of both of us fighting again exited me, Hanji breaking up our reunion coughed and stood from her chair, I turned to face her, one eyebrow raised, she seemed thrilled, judging by the slight blush on her face and glint in her eye. "As much as I want to see that," Hanji stated, gushing "Which I really, really do… I still have so questions for you Vera."

"I'll answer whatever I can."

"Right." She paused, raising her hand to rest on her chin "The Grey Wolves, how long have they been working on the Serum?"

"It was around the time when we lost wall Maria. The head researcher had been working alongside others with Titan experimentation, at the time she was trying to understand what exactly is a Titan's body made from, as its sheer density and strength contradicts its mass entirely, saying that, it's what started her theory that the Titans were man-made creations. She did a lot of research on the biological occurrences both the similarities and differences between Titans and Humans." I continued to tell some of the discoveries that the scientists had made, I'll leave out Will I thought they don't need to know about him right now or at all if I can help it, I refuse to allow him involvement in the Scouts.

"You know a lot about the science, I'm surprised." Hanji sighed, then her eyes widened "I mean- I didn't mean- aw shit sorry Vera, I didn't mean the insult you."

I couldn't help it, I burst out in a fit of laughter. I doubled over, holding my sides. "It's fine, I took no offence, I'm glad to have surprised you." I wiped the last of my tears from my eyes. "So, any more questions?"

"Tonnes, but I think you've said plenty, what about this book?" she held up the book I had placed alongside the box that held the needle. "All this information, in this one book, how did your researchers find all of this out?"

"Though the newest set of researchers are the ones this created the Serum, they weren't the only ones that were considering such things. Decades of knowledge is within that book, my predecessor constantly looked for answers, and when she found them, she had a way of getting what she wanted, she had managed to convince a Titan shifter of their knowledge and handed it straight over to those she trusted, myself included."

"Your Predecessor? How high ranking are you within The Grey Wolves?"

I chuckled "The highest." The look on her face made me laugh again. "I'm the Commander of the Grey Wolves. Commander Jude," I bowed "At your service."