The four days leading up to the mission passed quickly. No one told Eren that they were going to be leaving. Armin came back the day they were scheduled to leave for the mission. Everyone was walking around finishing their last minute preparations, and getting their horses ready to leave. Eren sat at the table, head swiveling to watch everyone, confused.

"Daddy," Eren said. "Are you leaving?"

"Yes, Eren," Levi said. He stopped walking, placed what was in his hands on the table, and picked Eren up. "I'm going to be gone for a while. We all are. But Armin is going to stay here and watch you."

"I don't want you to go!" Eren cried out, throwing his arms around Levi's neck. "Take me with you!"

Levi shook his head. "I can't. It's too dangerous," Levi said. "I'll be home as soon as I can. Promise me you'll be good for Armin."

Eren unwrapped his arms from Levi's neck, sniffling, and held out his pinky finger. Levi wrapped his pinky around Eren's and the promise was sealed. Eren placed his arms around Levi's neck again, and hugged him tightly. Levi hugged Eren back and then set him down on the ground.

"I love you, Daddy," Eren said. Levi nodded and ruffled Eren's hair. He picked his things back up once more and headed out to his horse.

"Why don't you say it back?" Erwin asked, walking besides Levi.

"You know perfectly well why I don't," Levi said. "The way I love him is different." Erwin nodded and they got to their horses. Levi packed the things onto his horse. Erwin wanted to talk more about Levi's feelings about Eren, but knew that the time to do that was not now. He needed to do that when they weren't getting ready for a mission, and when someone wouldn't walk in on the conversation. Which was likely to happen any minute now.

"Alright!" Erwin called out. Everyone within the stables stopped what they were doing and listened to what Erwin was about to say. "We are going to go meet up with the rest of the Scouting Legion, and then you will get in formation!"

"Yes, Sir!" The squad called out.

"Armin!" Levi called out as he exited the stables. "Protect Eren at all costs. And Eren, remember our promise."

Both Eren and Armin nodded. They stood outside and watched as their squad started to become spots in the distance. Levi glanced back one last time and saw the little boy waving goodbye. Then they were out of sight.

"Will Daddy be okay, Ar-chan?" Eren asked.

"Your Daddy is the strongest around," Armin said. He didn't say exactly whether or not Levi would be okay, because in the Scouting Legion, you don't promise anything like that. You can't promise anything like that.

Eren nodded and went back inside.

Erwin, Levi, and his squad got to the rest of the scouts quickly. And soon after that, the gates were opening and they were heading out beyond the walls. A few hours later Levi turned his head and looked back at the wall. His brows came together in concentration.

"Forget something?" Erwin asked. He was looking at Levi, who was riding right next to him.

"No," Levi distractedly.

"What's wrong?" Erwin asked.

"I have a bad feeling," Levi said.

"Like what?" Erwin asked.

"I don't know," Levi said. He shook his head and looked forward. "I'm just being paranoid."

No matter the amount of self reassuring he gave himself, Levi couldn't shake the feeling. He couldn't wait for the mission to be over so that way he could get home.

"We will be back in a few minutes Levi," Erwin said. "You've been distracted the whole trip."

"I can't get rid of this feeling," Levi confessed.

"Okay," Erwin said. "As soon as we get inside the walls, you and your squad take off. Go back to your headquarters, and see that everything is okay. I'll follow after a few moments."

Levi nodded and stared at the wall. As soon as they were through he broke away from the formation and pushed his horse to go faster. The rest if his squad saw and followed him without any questions. Levi got off his horse before it even stopped moving, and headed towards the door. He stopped in his tracks, and his heart stopped at what he saw.

The door was broken, and wood was scattered everywhere.

"Search the perimeter!" Levi instantly ordered. "Mikasa! You're with me. Come inside and search in there. Everyone be on the look out for Armin or Eren. If you find anyone, take them down. Do not kill them. Restrain their arms so they can't kill themselves, or get themselves free. Hurry!"

Everyone silently took off in their own directions. Mikasa and Levi slowly entered the building. The first thing they both saw was a stranger on the floor in a pool of his own blood. They walked through the place, seeing the signs that a fight had occurred. The place was a mess. Papers were scattered and dishes were broken. blood droplets covered parts of the floor.

After a few moments they all met up back at the door.

"Did any of you find anything?" Levi asked, hoping for some sort of clue.

"No, you?" Jean asked.

"A few dead bodies," Levi said. "It looked as if they had been shot. What I'm hoping is that Armin gained a gun from one of them and got himself and Eren out. Now we have the issue of figuring out where they are."

"Where who are?" Erwin asked, coming up behind the group. He saw Levi's face and instantly knew something was wrong.

"Armin and Eren are missing," Levi said. "They were ambushed, and there's no sign of them anywhere." Erwin started trying to think of a way that they would be able to find the two.

"Mikasa, you know Armin the best," Erwin said. "Is there anywhere he would have gone to?"

Mikasa shook her head. "He was more predictable when we were kids, but now," Mikasa trailed off, shaking her head again.

"Are you sure they weren't captured?" Erwin asked. He hated to ask it, but it was a question that needed to be stated.

"As of right now I'm going to believe that they are okay," Levi said. "Go in pairs, search the city. Mikasa and Jean, go west. Connie and Sasha, go East. Erwin and I will go North." Everyone nodded and followed Levi's instructions.

"How do you know they are in the City?" Erwin asked as they rode.

"I don't think they are," Levi said. He turned his horse and headed south.

"Then why did you have us going that way?" Erwin asked.

"Because, if Armin and Eren weren't captured, people would be looking for them. They would want to find them just as bad as we do," Levi said. "They would know that we would have some idea as to how they would think. They would hear our plan, and then try to beat us to them. By saying a place opposite of where they were, it would throw them off the trail." Erwin looked over and saw the determination on Levi's face. He knew that Levi would do anything to get those two back home safely.

"Why do you think they headed south?" Erwin asked Levi a bit later.

"Armin's smart," Levi said. "He wouldn't go towards the city. He would run into people and if he was injured, it would result in a scene. He wouldn't risk that. He headed south and found a place to hide."

"Okay," Erwin said, trusting Levi's judgement. "We need to stop for a moment. Give the horses a break. They've been running all day. They need some food and water. There's a building there. We can stop and rest up there." Levi nodded reluctantly.

When they got there they got off their horses and walked towards the building. When they got close they heard the sound of footsteps come from inside and the door knob rattled. They pushed their backs against each side of the door and prepared themselves as the door opened.

A/N: Sorry about the long wait guys! I got really busy with school. Anyways, thank you to all who are reading and enjoying this. Oh, I won't be posting another chapter until about February 23. I have a wonderful opportunity to go to Japan through my school band, and we leave in a few days. So, I think once I get back, I'll post two chapters to kinda make up for lost time.

And as always, I do not own Attack on Titan, nor the characters.