My bloodied shirt was replaced with a clean one so as to not draw suspicion to myself when I went out.

It wasn't that much of a long walk from Montagne's house to Levi's, which on one hand was good since I didn't have to strain myself too much to go search for the kid but bad on the other hand because then, if anyone tried to find us, they might even stumble across the house we were in by accident.

Reiner wasn't on site as I slowly walked towards our house, careful to not cross eyes with any of the strange men who now paced around inside it. Through the windows, they were visible, walking back and forth, seemingly bored out of their minds. Where the fuck was that idiot kid?!

"Psst! Pssssst!", a sharp hiss came from a nearby alley but I didn't immediately turn to enter it; it could be a trap. "Martha, it's me! Reiner!", another hissed whisper came from the same place.

"Reiner?..", carefully, I walked into the alley, looking around to find the source of the voice. "Where are you? I can't see you."

"Up here, mam.", he answered. He'd climbed a small indent in the wall and was now sitting on a veranda. "I had to hide here, some weirdos kicked in our front door.", he noted, as if it was something unexpected.

"Come down here now! We have work to do.", I could feel anger well up in me but a level head was the only thing between freedom and imprisonment or worse.

"What? You're not seriously suggesting we go face to face with them...!", he jumped onto the ground with a loud thud. "Where's the captain, anyways?"

"Safe, I'll explain later. We have to focus. I'm far too injured to go inside the house but you should be able to get in and out without too much fuss."

"What? Are you insane?! Have you seen the size of those freaks?! All I have is this tiny knife, how am I supposed to defend myself?"

"Oy...!", what an insolent kid. I could barely contain a growl when I said this but, when our eyes crossed and, seeing his mildly fearful expression, my posture softened a bit. "Listen Reiner, I'll create a distraction outside. I've been counting them as they pass near the windows and there's only two of them, you should be fine if you're silent in there."

"What's so important that we have to go in there now? Can't it wait until they leave?"

"No, it can't. Because they won't leave so soon and we need things from the house. I know it's dangerous but you're really the only able person at the moment. I'm only here because of some weird drugs I was given. We don't have time for this. Let's go now."

"If I die...-"

"Don't be ridiculous, you're a strong man, I'll be waiting just around that curb. When you get what I asked, meet me there. Now, for the things you need to get: the medicine bag Hange gave us, the money stashed under the ashes of the fireplace and the envelope that my friends handed to us, the one that says we're allowed to leave this place. Got it?"

"Yeah."

"Say it back to me."

"Money, envelope and medicine. Got it, Martha."

"Good, now wait for my signal before you try to get in."

"Okay, mam.", we walked towards opposite sides of the building, Reiner standing near the back, that had a series of rooftops that lead to a window in a back room and I, standing a few meters from the stairway that lead to the front door. How should I lure them out...? The men seemed bored out of their minds so it shouldn't take much for them to abandon duty.

Around me, there weren't many people and certainly not anyone I could ask for help in this situation. But, there were a few kids playing around with slingshots... Maybe if I staged something with that... I worked in picking up tiny stones so I could used them as bait for the men.

"Hey, little guy wanna trade that slingshot?", I asked, kneeling next to one of the kids playing.

"I dunno... Whatchu wanna trade for?", he awkwardly asked back, eyed the floor.

"Hm...", what did I even have on me worthy of trade? These kids would be demanding so it couldn't be some random stone from the ground. I ran my hands over all pockets existing in my pants and felt nothing. "Well guys.. I don't think I have anything to trade for right now... Maybe some other time..", the children carried on playing like nothing had happened, but I couldn't just give up like that, I had to do something, Reiner was waiting with eyes fixed on me and the effect of the medicine Montagne had given me was wearing off. I had to improvise my own slingshot.

Tearing off a section of the new shirt, I folded it and placed one of the pebbles inside. After spinning it a good amount, I let go, seeing the projectile flying and miss the door by a large amount. However, it had worked and, after a few more tries, I successfully landed about five shots, enough so that one of the men came outside to see what was happening.

Unable to locate what had caused the knocks on the door, the man yelled something inside and pulled out a cigarette, lighting it and sitting down on the top steps. One man down, one man to go. I fired a couple more pebbles, being careful to not reveal my position and, when the man outside stood up, looking around, I managed to hit his head with one, quickly hiding after.

It made me feel terrible, seeing him run down the stairs, screaming at the kids, who had done nothing wrong, thinking they were the ones who'd hit him multiple times in the head. All the screaming alerted the other man inside the house and he also walked out of the house, screaming at the other to get back in.

It was at this point, that I signaled Reiner to enter. Now, I could only wait, as the pain in my back and chest and everywhere else was returning in waves, making my limbs pulsate occasionally with lashings of pain. As accorded, I stood near the curb that lead to Montagne's house, waiting for the kid.

About five minutes or less later, the two men were returning, one of them visibly beaten up for whatever reason. Why wasn't Reiner out yet? Did something happen? I could barely formulate these thoughts before I saw his strong figure jump out of the back window, land on one of the roofs and sliding onto the ground, running full speed towards where I was.

A third man came running from inside the house, yelling at the other two and pointing at Reiner. There was no time, we had to bolt asap. I didn't wait for him to reach me completely before I started running, since I knew that in my current state I was only slowing down.

"Martha...!", Reiner panted behind me. "You said there were only two! I almost got stabbed to death!", we kept running until we reached a set of small winding corridors, one of then ultimately leading to Montagne's house. I wasn't entirely sure anymore but took a guess and we picked one. I was never so grateful in my life for a lucky guess.

I recognized the single door and knocked quickly, my whole body shaking from the adrenaline. MY vision was tunneling, which I knew wasn't a very good sign and the panting made the pain much more excruciating than before. Even Reiner seemed to notice my frail state, offering a shoulder for me to lean on. We were taken in and as I passed the front door, everything went pitch black.

I woke up several hours later, as Montagne told me she was glad that we'd managed to get back there safely. As she brought some water and bread, I asked her if she could answer a few questions, to which she agreed.

"I know that you owed the captain but... I mean, you're risking your life for us here. And you don't even know Reiner and I, why are you doing this?", it just seemed a bit too good to be true.

"So no one can do anything out of the kindness in their heart?", she asked back and, seeing my silence 'oh..', she let out a chuckle. "Nah, I'm not that kind. You see, it's not really a secret, not to me at least, but despite Levi having sort of a bad reputation down here, he had and, from what I've heard about his life outside, still has his heart in the right place.", she paused for a moment. Heart in the right place?... Yeah.. sometimes, tops. "When I was younger, I was sold to a money lender by my step father and Levi helped me escape that old man. The life I have now, I owe to him."

"Oh... I see.. He can be a pain sometimes but... I guess I like him, he's saved me in the past as well...", while I was feeling better than before, a drowsy feeling kept my body heavy and stopped me from even sitting upright; it was probably some of Hange's medicine.

"You seem very fond of Levi..." she noted with a smile, before smirking and letting out a small chuckle. "Is it mutual?"

"Huuh? What...? What is mutual...?"

"Your feelings."

"What? What feelings? No one has feelings...", what was the woman going on about? Feelings? For the captain? No such thing existed...

"Relax, it was just a question. You don't need to answer it if you don't want to. But... if that red face is anything to go by...", she got up and started to leave.

"Red face...? My face isn't red...", and, if it wasn't at that moment, it quickly became crimson, when I felt gooey ointment on my neck and shoulders and remembered what had happened in that alley.

About an hour of rolling around in bed, too tired to get up but too awake to sleep later, I got up and put on fresh clothes Montagne had set out for me to wear (I'd have to repay her in full for all this generosity later) e sought Reiner, to continue our chat of earlier.

"Martha! You're up! I'm so glad you're okay, you were hurt pretty bad. Mrs Montagne and I were just making dinner for all but you don't need to do anything, I'll work instead.", Reiner chirped in his already manly voice, happily peeling off some vegetables.

"Braun...", I couldn't lose control, after all, I was a guest in a stranger's house. However, this happy facade really got on my nerves, for some reason. "Don't think being all smiley will soften me down. Not this time."

"Mam... I-"

"Save it. If we weren't here, you'd be getting serious punishment. I'm only holding back out of respect for our hostess."

"And I appreciate it greatly, Martha. Violence has no place inside this house.", the woman added, picking up the pot full of cut vegetables and filling it with water. "But, if you need a bit more privacy, I have a back room I don't really use. I'll handle myself here alone, don't mind it."

"Are you certain?", I asked. As much as I needed to speak to the kid, leaving all the work to Montagne seemed a bit too much. But, as she nodded again and insisted we go, I let Reiner walk in front of me and enter the room first.

Closing the door behind me, I could feel some anger bubble up but it was manageable. He'd be properly punished when we got back home by Erwin himself, I presumed, so there shouldn't be any problems.

"Do you have any idea of what you did?", I asked coldly.

"I wasn't at my designated location..", he answered faintly.

"Do you understand the consequences of your actions?"

"I-"

"Did you even care to consider that by leaving that place before we instructed to do so could've cost us gravely?"

"I-"

"Just spit it out, Braun!", I let out a small impatient yelp but immediately regained my composure.

"I'm sorry, mam... It won't happen again.."

"Damn fucking right it won't happen ever again, Braun. This is the second time you've run off without permission.", yelling wouldn't solve anything but I couldn't help but massage my temples with a hand, trying to think of what to do with such a kid. "Reiner, this is the last time I'll say this but, pull of once more stunt like this... And I'll have to deal with you severely. Enough is enough. The captain and I almost died; this isn't training anymore, you can't do whatever you want. The people out there aren't mindless titans; they're breathing humans like us, who can easily catch us in our states. You're not to leave this house until you're instructed to do so, understood?"

"Yes, mam."

"Good. Now get out of here before I lose my temper.", he quickly left the room, to help the woman, I assumed. The only thing I had to do now was check on the captain. I hadn't even seen him since I'd dropped him off there and left to find the kid.

Leaving the back room, I walked toward's Levi's room, where the door was closed. He hadn't woken up yet, Montagne told me when I asked about it. Why wasn't he waking up? Were his injuries that serious...? After knocking twice on the door, I decided to enter regardless. He was laying in bed peacefully sleeping, chest rising and falling in a slow fluid movement. The red spots on his neck had faded to a light purple in some areas. A hot shiver ran down my spine, remembering the captain's avid hands running through my body, before I shut down that same thought, focusing on him. I sat on the side of the bed, looking at his calm expression.

Why wasn't he waking up? So many hours had passed since he'd gotten help but not once had he opened his eyes yet. Could he have a fever? Maybe the fall had injured him and given him something of the sort so, extending my hand, I placed one of my palms on his forehead and the other on mine. Weird... he seems normal...

Before I could take my hand away, my wrist was grabbed and pulled roughly, causing me to lose balance and fall on the man laying down. Levi sat up and kept me firmly in place, looking into my eyes but with a dangerous expression in them.

"Who are you? Where the shit am I?", he asked forcefully, his face close enough to mine that I heard his startled breath and its warmth touched my own skin.

"S-sir...?", had he lost his memory? "It's me, Martha...", after a second of us in that position, his expression softened a bit and he sighed.

"It's you.", he lingered still for a moment, his eyes scouring mine and dipping down my face onto my lips for a brief moment, which made the already tight knot in my stomach tighten a bit more, and then he released me. "How long have I been here?", he turned away, combing through his hair with slim fingers.

"A few hours... How are you feeling? You were hurt pretty badly...", the fast beating of my heart still wasn't slowing down but I did my best to keep a cool tone; it would be beyond embarrassing if the captain even mentioned anything about what had happened between us.

"I feel fine...", he answered, looking back at me out the corner of his eye. "Wait...", he looked back at me, zeroing in on my neck and frowning to an extent that was barely noticeable. "What's this?", he asked, finger poking the tender flesh and making the skin burn underneath his touch.

"Excuse me...", I shifted, removing his hand, it was making it hard for me to even think of what to say. "What are you referring to?

"This. These... bite marks...", he leaned in closer to take a better look but he was now so close I could smell the still faint scent of pine he used as cologne. He didn't... remember?.. A part of me was more than relieved that I'd never have to think about that scene again but another... was disappointed.

"Oh... It was-", quick, think of a good lie "When we were fighting, some guy tried to subdue me like this but I managed to break free-", and a series of other lies, just to not have to tell him, he'd done them to me to save our asses.

"I see...", he answered, thinking. "We have to hurry and get back on our feet, lingering in one spot makes us sitting ducks and we're not properly rich to afford body guards."

"I understand but you had a pretty big fall, you should rest a couple more hours."

"I don't have time for that, we need to- ugh", he quickly exhaled when he tried to get up, only to be caught by me and put back in bed again. "Very well, I'll stay here but ask Montagne for maps of the city."

"I will sir. Anything else?", I was already preparing to leave when he looked at me very seriously.

"What were you doing with your hands before I grabbed you...?"

"I was checking your temperature, sir."

"So, how is it?"

"Normal... I guess...", what's his point? "I thought you might have a fever."

"Do I?"

"No... I just said you didn't. But if you want... I can check again..."

"Forget it. Any news from the brat?"

"I went to get him earlier, sir. He's helping Montagne with dinner."

"Call him in when you leave."

"Sure. You should rest for now, captain. I'll leave you alone.", I left without saying anything else and when I saw Reiner I relayed what Levi had said.