• Third Person's POV •

Jade and Eren were sitting side-by-side while waiting for further instructions. Armin was off planning with the strategists, and Mikasa was sharpening her blades somewhere farther off.

It was perfectly silent to them, with Jade fiddling around with a spare belt within her pocket, and Eren awkwardly twiddling his thumbs. As they waited, the tension growing between them, Eren prodded her shoulder with a finger, earning her attention. Surprised, she pocketed the spare belt. "What is it?" she asked calmly.

She seemed too quiet.

Eren fidgeted with the key around his neck, slightly uncomfortable. "Are you alright?"

Looking up, Jade tucked her bangs behind the disc of her ear—she was careful not to cut herself on the razor blade edge of her ears. "Why do you ask?"

Using his fingernail, he tapped the metal attached to the sides of her head. "I'd think anyone who had this much happening to them at once wouldn't be handling it as well as you seem to be," the 5th Ranker explained, creases forming between his brows. "Tell me what's wrong."

"Heh...It's nothing, I promise," Jade replied, giving him a seemingly honest smile. "I'm just running through the plan in my head."

Eren pursed his lips together. "Alright."

There was another long, awkward pause in between the two of them. Despite having a strange bond, they didn't talk with each other all that often while training. Everyone had their own little groups. Eren had Armin and Mikasa. Reiner had Bertolt. Connie had Sasha. Krista had Ymir. Jean had Marco. And Annie had Jade on occasion. But Annie and Jade were the main loners, despite the fact that Jade was friends with Eren, Armin, and Mikasa.

"Hey, Jade?" Eren spoke up again.

"Yeah?"

He sighed. "I...had an idea. Not sure if it'll work, though."

Jade blinked. "What sort of idea is it?"

Leaning back, the 5th Ranker stretched his arms. "Remember how you removed those huge arm things you had? Maybe you can try that with your ears, and it'll work?"

The 12th snapped her fingers. "Smart!" she cried, before pressing her index and middle finger to the smooth material that cloaked her ears. She let that same greediness from before cloud her heart, and Eren froze up.

Her left eye flashed green for a brief second. It was a rich emerald green, almost as shiny as her polished works. But her original color of sapphire blue remained in the right eye. Eren decided to keep his mouth shut as he watched the metal covering of her ears vanished into nothing.

It was silent for what felt like forever. Jade moved her hands, and her lips parted in awe. She heard the very gentlest of breezes against her skin as she adjusted the position of the limb. The crinkle of cloth rubbing on cloth as her elbow bent. She heard the pitter-patter of her heart fluttering against her rib cage and every huff of air that passed through her nose.

Eren's lips moved, forming words when Jade suddenly let out a terrifying scream. Her range of hearing instantly shot out to unbelievable lengths. She heard the cries of the soldiers below and their heavy breathing. Sweat was dripping from her temples at an unnatural rate, and the pounding of her heart began to overwhelm her. It boomed in her ears over and over, like someone had taken a drum and hit it furiously.

"J-Jade!?" Eren was stiff with surprise as the girl suddenly hunched over and screamed in feral pain. Her eye was practically glowing green at this point, making her look like a monstrous hybrid of sorts. "Jade, put those ears back on!"

She clearly couldn't hear him, but after a few minutes, her screaming had turned into quiet sobbing. "Put the guards back on, Jade."

Slowly but surely, the girl listened to him and molding her hands back over her ears. The disc came in, and her blades followed after one-by-one. Finally, she wiped her tears off her face and looked up at Eren.

As soon as she registered his worry-stricken expression, she snorted. "Pfft..." she covered her mouth with one hand, looking like she was fighting back a laugh. Eren gave her a bewildered look next. "Ahahahaha...!" She held her stomach and began giggling. "Y-your face—ha ha ha...!"

Eren was confused for a good long minute. He was finding it hard to believe that this girl had been screeching out with all of her lung power just a minute ago. But as she kept laughing and snorting, hunched over while hiding her face, it became infectious. He swore there was a glimmer of tears on her cheeks, but it was hard to tell.

Finally, he joined in with her laughter. If she was okay enough to laugh, she was okay enough. Now filled with relief that she was okay, he hugged her and joined in with her joy. When they calmed down, Eren released her. "You sure you're okay?"

Flashing him the most radiant of smiles, she winked. "Yep. Now that I know that my hearing's too good for its own good, I'll try and find something to work as a substitute for these 'earmuffs'."

"Earmuff is too cute of a word for those things." The 5th Ranker eyed them warily as the blades finished growing. They flashed threateningly, and they almost looked like crystals for a minute before becoming fully opaque and silver in color.

"Fine, what do you recommend?" Jade flicked her hair from her face, but it slid back into place.

Eren—humorously—exasperatedly threw his arms into the air. "I don't know. But earmuffs is the wrong word for those things. Trust me."

The two of them talked, sharing ideas until Mikasa and Armin approached them and joined in the conversation. Jade's heart clenched, and she didn't need her new hearing to know that it was singing out painfully for lying to Eren's face. 'He shouldn't worry.'

• Jade Covert's POV •

Commander Pixis ordered that Eren, Mikasa, and Armin should head out earlier than myself since they had a much longer way to go. In the meantime, I was repairing my leg with the materials that Rico brought back. She clearly improvised on some, but it worked enough for me to make the clicking stop.

As I turned my wrench over a few bolts to keep some gears in place over the leather straps, a figure approached me. He had a bald head, wrinkled corners of his eyes, and a well-trimmed grey mustache that perched on his upper lips. I wanted to salute to the Commander, but I found myself just bowing to him since I was midway through fixing up my leg. "Hello, sir. What can I do for you?"

The man chuckled. "You can speak honestly with me for a start," he said, making my fingers clench around the handle of my tool.

"W...what are you talking about, Commander?" I tore my eyes away from my work for a brief second to look at him properly. "I've been fully honest about my Titan capabilities. There's no way I could carry that boulder with the lack of musculature for those kinds of things. My Titan can only run and kill."

"Hmph, it can run well?" Pixis seemed mildly impressed before his face became serious again. "It's ironic that the cripple of this situation is the fastest one around. And, speaking of your leg..." His eyes narrowed, making the wrinkles at the edges to fold in over themselves. "The lack of honesty I speak of is the lie you told me about it."

I pinched my lips together, unsure of why he said this. I didn't lie. But I didn't say the whole truth. In my defense, I told him as much. "My leg really was crushed by rubble, sir. That was by no means a lie."

"Then why were you so fidgety when you spoke about it, and why are you fidgety now?" He gestured my hands, and I realized they were playing with a special gear I asked Rico to bring for me.

"Is it wrong for me to feel uncomfortable when I talk or think about what happened to me, sir?" I challenged him. He appeared surprised but puffed a breath of air out instead as he sat next to me and rested his chin in his right palm.

"It isn't wrong at all, soldier," he eventually said. "Yet, I feel like you're hiding something from me. This mission won't work unless you trust me enough to tell me your full story."

"Sir, I'm sorry to tell you this, but I won't tell you," I sighed, getting back to work by putting the gear I was previously fidgeting with into its proper place on the inner part of my calf. "It's my burden to deal with, and it's nothing important to what's happening now. It's just my own personal life, that's all."

"And your personal life is important in this instance," Pixis replied smoothly. "Because you, soldier, are the one person who I can't seem to understand in the entire mission."

I blinked and stopped in my work, my hand paused in halfway reaching for the oil can to properly oil the gears. "Wh-what do you mean by that, sir?"

"When I told you about that legend from before, you had a reaction similar to Eren's," the old man explained, twisting one end of his mustache in thought. "However, you are clearly different from Eren in many aspects. For example, his conduct and temperament remain relatively the same wherever he is. You, however, broke down in tears before when you accepted the mission, and you openly laughed with Eren when he tried my whiskey."

I raised an eyebrow. "Is it wrong for me to have those kinds of emotions, sir?" I asked him, tightening the leather around the bottom of my foot. "It's not like I'm some sort of emotionless rock or something."

"However," Pixis retorted. "you react very differently with things than I'd expect."

My cheeks puffed out as I hid a snort with my hand. "Sir, I think anyone would laugh at Eren if he did that sort of thing..." My stomach was tight as I held in my giggles.

The Commander chuckled. "That was quite funny," he agreed. "But that's not my point. Unlike almost every other person I've met in this environment, your actions all seem to be driven away from yourself."

My brows knitted together in confusion. "How do you mean, sir?"

"For example, your reluctance to tell me the full story of how you became so horribly crippled is likely a defense mechanism for other people," the old man told me. "You don't want them to help you shoulder your burdens, and yet you seem to like taking the burdens of other people and placing it on your own back to carry. You say you yourself don't want to talk about it, but in reality, you don't want them to even think about it. You think of yourself as a burden. If people worry, you do everything you can to make them stop."

"Sir, it's because...well..." I locked my jaw. "I'd rather it be myself who undergoes suffering instead of others. They are all valuable to the human race and its victory. Seeing someone in pain is just..." My hands tightened into fists as I put down my wrench. "It hurts me, too."

When I felt a hand on my shoulder, I jumped slightly. But it was just the Commander with a reassuring smile on his face. "I'm going to say what I think your personality is, and correct me at the end if you think I'm wrong. Alright, Jade?"

Blinking, I nodded my consent. "Yes, sir."

He pulled the end of his mustache again before he pulled out the metal flask from inside his jacket. "You, my dear, are someone who does everything she can to help people. You wear a mask of joy to deflect worry away from yourself. You break down when you think that you're unable to help anybody. You become angry when people become too selfish. And you enter a dejected state when you think about those you couldn't or didn't help."

I stared at the ground. "Give me proof of how you deduced those traits, sir."

He took a swig of his whiskey. "Your fake face of joy was easy. Eren was clearly worried about you when you removed those ears of yours, so you laughed it off like it was funny once they got back," he provided perfect evidence. "Your breakdown was easy to figure out as well. You kept on looking at the soldiers on the inside of Wall Maria, and that alone seemed to make you cry harder. You might not have noticed, but I did."

I blushed. It was embarrassing, the way he talked about my personality like that. I picked up my rag for polishing and began to rub away at the small patches of dirt that seeped into the joints.

"Your anger was a bit more difficult to discern, but my proof for that deduction is how you reacted when some of the soldiers in the whole group stated that they would rather be at home instead of fighting for our cause. You kept glaring at them over the wall, so that's my proof. It's not the best kind, but it fits to an extent."

"Hmm..." I scratched my head and looked around for my gloves as the Commander continued.

"And, finally, my last piece of evidence towards your dejectedness is when I told that legend."

My eyes widened, and my muscles became tight within seconds.

"You became more cynical, rude, and shut off when I told that legend," Pixis explained, using movements with his hands to illustrate what he meant. "You kept trying to change the topic. And you had a look of hurt in your eyes. You were thinking of your family, weren't you."

I squeezed my eyes shut. "Y-yeah..." My voice broke in the middle as I thought of the person who told me those stories. "My brother, Joseph, died for the Survey Corps when I was around seven years old. He left and never came back. He visited us from time to time, but then he just...stopped. Then Mommy, she...told me he was dead. She was sobbing the whole time, and she had an arm cradled to her chest. She went missing soon after that. And Daddy just...tried to be strong in front of me. But he would cry at night when he thought I was asleep." I felt tears of my own well up from within my lids, and I wheezed out a small laugh. "Heh...I don't even know why I'm telling you this, Commander. This must be the biggest waste of your time, spending it with me."

He patted me on the back as I wiped the tears from my cheeks. "It isn't, because now I can understand you and people like you," he comforted me. I'd never really told anyone about my family situation. Mikasa, Eren, and Armin knew it quite well, but no one else in the 104th Corps knew about how my family was a broken mess.

"There aren't many people like me," I responded, erecting my back before stretching out my arms. "Most people still know what it feels like to be whole. I've been broken for years."

The Commander then stood up while hiding his flask. "Jade," he said. "You are, by far, the most selfless person I've ever met. Don't ever lose that. But don't let it control you, either."

For the hundredth time that day, I narrowed my eyes in confusion. "'Control me'...?"

"You risk yourself constantly and recklessly for other people," Pixis spoke with a slight edge to his voice. "Now that you have a very high value to mankind with your ability, you need to learn to put yourself first."

"I won't," I shot back instantly, tugging my fingerless gloves on. His eyes widened. "I'm sorry for my disrespect, sir, but I've always put myself at a low value. Every person down there waiting to start this suicide mission has something to contribute. Like a pile of sand. If you take one or two grains off, it might not seem like a big deal. But take away a hundred, and there's a dent. They make up that pile, and with each of these missions, that pile is starting to grow short. When I place myself at a lower value than them, I'm protecting those steppings stones you people use everywhere."

For the first time, I saw a rude frown on Pixis' face. He clearly didn't like being called wrong. But he didn't say anything. "I will get your escort for your drop-off point, alright, Recruit Covert?"

"Yes, sir!" I saluted.

I waited patiently and fiddled with my rag. I'd polished my leg to the point where it would blind anybody if I walked into the sunlight. But I kept rubbing at the gears, tightening the leather straps occasionally to make sure each shred of metal was in their proper place.

I tuned my hearing on the soldiers nearby. Despite the faint ringing in my eardrums, I could still hear everything I needed to hear. "...what a freak. She just starts screaming and crying out of nowhere."

"I heard she's not even doing anything important in the mission to seal Trost!" another one added. "And they expect us to rely on her! A cripple! Hah! What a joke."

I sighed, and stood up to test out my mechanical leg to be sure I didn't make the straps too tight when I heard a voice call across the open space. "Jade!"

I looked up to see a familiar face. A smile touched my lips and waved back with an eagerness only a child could have. "Mr Hannes!" Next to the Squad Leader was the Commander, who was pulling at his mustache while frowning at me.

Mr. Hannes moved forward and wrapped his arms around me. "It's nice to see you again, Jade," he laughed.

"Hehe, likewise!" I grinned, returning the gesture gratefully. When we separated, I fixed my gaze on the Commander. "Sir, how did you know that this man knew me?"

Pixis smirked and adjusted his jacket. "You see, soldier, he always talked about a beautiful cripple he knew who was in the 104th Training Corps that he knew from Shiganshina District," the old man explained, nudging Mr. Hannes with his elbow. "Not only are you one of two women in the 104th Corps who came from Shiganshina, but you are also well-known as the only cripple in said Training Corps."

I blushed, but immediately composed myself as I tightened my ponytail. "So, is Squad Leader Hannes the one who will be escorting me to my drop off point, sir?"

"Yes, soldier," Pixis replied with a wave of his hand. "And, he is to stay with you even after your transformation in the case of an accident of any kind."

"Understood, sir," I saluted, placing a fist over my heart. "I will not let you down, sir, and I swear to you, I will prove to you that my selflessness is a trait that will never be a double-edged blade."

Pixis' eyes flashed menacingly. "You may leave now, Miss Covert," the old man said, with a subtle hiss underlying the tone of his voice. He turned on his heel and moved back to speak with other higher-ups. I touched my bangs as I wondered; how on Earth did I have the courage to speak to the most powerful man of the Southern Region in that sort of manner?

I must have been stuck in thought for a while because I jumped when I felt a hand squeeze my shoulder gently. "Ready to go, Jade?"

I stared into the Squad Leader's concerned eyes for a minute before nodding and smiling. "Yep. Just don't slow me down, you old coot." I jabbed him in the chest mockingly, smirking as I flicked my bangs out of my eyes.

"Is that a challenge, Miss Covert?" Mr. Hannes raised an eyebrow.

I twisted my dial to 'RUN' right away. "Pretty much." Laughing, he followed after me at a steady pace.

When we arrived at the drop-off point, I looked at Mr. Hannes. "Well...this our stop," I said, slightly breathless. The Wall was very long, so running along it wasn't exactly fun anymore. The sense of mysticality still surrounded it, but my other senses were overflowing with adrenaline.

Mr. Hannes patted my shoulder. "Jade," he told me in a serious tone, earning a curious look from me. "Whatever you do, if there's a chance you might die, leave. No one here wants you dead."

I scoffed. "Give me a better reason," I snarled. "Nearly everyone on that Wall said they wanted me to throw myself off and die instead of help them. I'm weak. Who would trust a cripple when they can trust themselves more?"

I heard the Squad Leader sigh. "Jade, how's this for a reason; Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and any friends you might have made while you trained still want you alive because that's the selfish side of them. I want you alive, because I'm selfish and I like having you around. Besides, no one's been running secret beer errands for me lately."

Playfully, he elbowed me in the ribs, causing me to giggle before I felt more tears in my eyes. "Thanks, Mr. Hannes. I'm sorry I was such a disappointment."

Before my resolve crumbled, I made a running start and flung myself off the Wall. My hands moved to the blades along my ears and felt the sharp material slice my flesh wide open. I felt it cut through my bones like nothing and watched lightning fly and crackle in the air. My lungs clenched, and before I hit the ground, flesh suddenly coated me and my vision darkened.

• Third Person's POV •

Hannes started as the brunette dived off the Wall with squeezed shut eyelids. He watched lightning extend and fork away from her small form. But it grew exponentially, creating a Titan of fourteen meters high. Metal scored her ears, similar to the human Jade.

There was no mouth on this beast, making it terrifying in its own right. Sunken-in eyes of sapphire color darted around, searching and scavenging the area for her prey. "So that's...Jade as a...as a Titan..." Even though he knew it was the girl he saved years ago, he was still daunted at the sight of her.

The Bladed Titan, however, didn't mind the horrified stare of her savior as she suddenly grew out blades from the tops of her forearms down past her wrists until they almost touched the ground below her.

Her eyes flashed green for a brief second.

Her blades collided together, nearly cracking under the force Jade put them under.

Hannes screamed, convulsing in pain as his ears tried to bleed to desperately block out the godforsaken noise that came from her murderous weapons.