"How have they not banned you yet?"

"You know what? I really don't know. I guess it's because I'm such a good customer!"

"Sasha, you eat so much more than twenty dollars of food whenever you're here. I'm not sure that qualifies as being a 'good customer' since they lose money every time you come here."

"Yeah, but you guys always come with me and there's no way you're eating your fill. I can't believe that we live together, Connie. You don't appreciate food enough."

"Dude, I appreciate food just fine!"

Eren watched the two of them argue good naturedly over the need to appreciate food. If there was anyone who could appreciate food it was Sasha. He could still remember the time that she had brought baked potatoes into Shadis' class. Her subsequent nickname of 'Potato Girl' only lasted until they found out that a) growing up, her father was too proud to accept food stamps and b) she was an expert marksman with a bow and had grown up hunting. The first bought her sympathy, the second made them fear her retribution. Eren could also say that he admired that she managed to attend college while continuing her hero work.

Mikasa hadn't even bothered applying to schools since she felt her calling was in protecting and defending the weak. Krista had dropped out halfway through her second year after having an extended identity crisis and as far as Eren knew, Ymir had never bothered with college either. Then again, all that he really knew about Ymir was that she and Krista had known each other since before Krista came to Trost and that while she could be bitchy and obnoxious, she was absolutely devoted to her 'goddess.' He and the others assumed that they were dating, but they never did anything like kissing in public and nobody bothered to ask; it didn't matter and it didn't change anything. Regardless of their relationship being romantic or platonic, they were joined at the hip.

"Guys, we haven't all hung out together – all of us – in over a month... I've missed you."

"Are you going to start crying and getting all mushy on us?"

"Shut up, Horseface!"

"Do we really have to do this every time? I just got back, can you two just calm down?"

"At least it's not as bad as the other night. Jesus, Eren... I haven't seen you flip out that badly since sophomore year. Are you okay? You said something about hero shit earlier?"

Oh fuck. Why did Connie have to remember that now?

Everyone turned to look at Mikasa.

"Oh no, don't look at me. This is entirely his mess."

"Seriously!?"

"Eren, please tell us. We might be able to help."

"Aww. Of course Freckled Jesus wants to help!" Ymir was smirking at him and threw her arm around Krista who shrugged her arm off and glared at her.

This is exactly why I didn't want this to come up with everyone here and especially not out in public. Who the hell knows who's hanging around right now? Either the Titans or the Military Police could have someone following me right now and just... great, now I'm getting all paranoid about everything.

"Hey, guys?" Eren spoke up and tried to grab everyone's attention. When he had it, he continued on in a lower voice. "I'll tell you what's going on, but it's kinda big and I really don't want to talk about it in public. When we get back to Connie and Sasha's place we can talk, but right now... I'd really prefer not to."

Great and now everyone is looking at me like I'm crazy.

"Eren... what the hell did you get yourself into?"

"Holy crap! Freckled Jesus cursed."

"Stop it, Ymir!"

They all started out of China Buffet together. Walking towards Connie's apartment, Ymir slung her arm over Krista's shoulders which Krista rolled her eyes at but left her arm there. Marco was talking with Sasha while Connie and Jean argued about a game called "Wall Attack" that he'd never heard of. Mikasa walked silently along side him, glancing at him every few moments trying to gauge how he was feeling.

"You don't need to tell them. They might be safer not knowing."

"Yeah, but if they don't know that something big is happening then they might get caught up in it without realizing it."

Mikasa sighed and shook her head.

"I'll trust you on this."

Eren was about to respond when his phone buzzed in his pocket.

[Asshole McFuckface:] Brat, if you're free tomorrow afternoon I'll teach you how to not die.

He grinned at the message, he'd forgotten about the name change for a moment.

[Eren:] yea. i'm off class at 2pm. that work?

[Asshole McFuckface:] Of course you wouldn't use proper capitalization.

[Eren:]sorry, but i'm not an old man.

He didn't get a response back after that.

He texted me first.

His grin got even wider.