LLL- Next chapter. Idk when I will post another one. I really really am busy. Getting this one done by today was hard. I dont own AOT. I appreciate everyone that reads this. It means a lot.

Ymir pushes Levi's shoulder and he looks at her. "Get your head in the right place. We've got Titans to kill." Levi, Armin, Erwin and Ymir walk over to the survey corps members who have already mounted their horses. They hop on to their own and the group makes eye contact with each other. It's as if they are all at a lost for words in terms of the Eren they just saw.

"Lives are at risk today as they are everyday," Levi says over the noise of moving carriages and horses behind him. "Don't get distracted and remember our plan. I am the leader of this team and don't forget that." Erwin clears his throat. "You heard what I said." He turns his horse and falls in line with the rest of the group. "Lets go." They exit the gates into the large fields outside of Wall Rose. As they set out the formation slowly starts to take shape.

The formation is simple. The basis of it runs off of Erwin's flare idea in order to signal where titans are in accordance to their destination. The garrison are in the front. They serve as a group a sacrifices. This is something that Levi, Erwin, and Armin tried to debate against but of course their suggestions and opinions on the matter were ignored. The supplies and extra horse are in the inner most of the formation, while the Military Police are in the back. The scouting legion, which are the fewest in numbers and most experienced are along the sides of the entire formation.

Levi looks around for Eren but there are close to 50 soldiers on this expedition and any chance of him finding Eren are quite thin. He can hardly see through the first row. Green flares are shot from the east and in result the entire formation shifts to the west, avoiding the threat.

Random trees and occasional houses spot their surroundings. Levi sees a horse in front of him slowing down. Ymir is soon next to him.

"What."

"Eren is in the back with the rest of the Military Police. He is next to Luca."

"How do you know?"

"I broke formation and asked around."

"Go back to your place. People can die because of your carelessness."

"You're welcome," she smiles, riding back to the front. Levi can't be mad at her. She really does know more than he feels comfortable with. He could break the formation and go back with Eren but that could cause problems too early on. As he considers this, loud footsteps can be heard from the west. close to his side. He can already tell its a deviant by the sporadic pounding of the footsteps. As soon as he looks, the titan is in eye view and approaching quickly. He and 3 other Garrison fire off black flares and the formation moves to the east. Their small branch of four goes the opposite direction. Levi is the only one of them with the skill to take down a deviant type. A garrison rides in front of him when the beast is only 20 feet away.

"Move!"

He doesn't listen and Levi is prepared to launch and save the idiot. Before he takes action another horse zooms into sight and someone attaches to the arm of the titan with their 3DMG and swings to its head, slicing the nape of the neck. The beast falls to the ground. Levi knows only one person with enough skill to kill a deviant in that fashion. She lands back on her horse and rides next to Levi. She looks the same as usual.

"Get back in line!" Mikasa yells. The other soldiers scatter like roaches but Levi stays where he is. She only side glances to him. The two ride next to each other, catching up with the formation. "I know you had that one but my angel was better so I took it."

"Understood."

"In the next 3 miles Eren will be breaking off from the back into a separate group." She unwraps her scarf and hands it over to him. He reaches the best he can while riding a horse at full speed. "Put on my scarf and go with him. They won't notice until its too late."

"Why are you doing this?"

"If anything happens to that scarf I will kill you non-hesitantly," she says before leaving him and returning to her position. They've moved about half a mile since Mikasa joined him. They travel two more miles with only one more titan interruption. As Mikasa said, Eren and three other people break off from the group. This is part of the plan but he hadn't known that Eren would be in this particular group. Levi has the scarf wrapped up to his nose as he follows behind them.

He doesn't ride next to anyone in the beginning, thinking it'd be safer not to. The further they ride, the more Eren peeks behind himself.

"Titan. 10 meter. Straight ahead," Eren yells. The Military Police move to the side. They then look back unexpectedly at Levi.

"What are you doing Squad Leader?" one yells. "Get into formation." Levi expects he's doing something wrong so he speeds up and takes out the titan alone. This makes the soldiers shut up. That must have been what they were expecting. The least they could do is try to help her out. Eren slows his horses pace, riding next to Levi.

"What are you doing here?"

"How'd you notice?"

"You're the only person to ever use their swords backwards. Now answer me."

"Mikasa told me to."

Levi thinks he hears Eren grunt, but the horses are too loud. "We are going to the forest where the clearing is but we are standing guard outside to make sure extra titans don't get in and to draw the attention of anything inside." Levi understands the plan being that it's similar to what they had done with Annie. They encounter one more titan and lose one soldier that was trying to be cocky before reaching the forest.

The trees are huge, even for titans. The four of them that are left find a place on the branch of a tree to keep watch on.

"Squad leader," a tall man says to Eren, "this is not Mikasa. Would you like me to alert Captain Luca?"

"No. I'll handle it. Now you two go over there and keep watch." They do as told. Eren and Levi now look at each other in the eyes. Levi averts the eye contact.

Eren clears his throat. "Why did you listen Mikasa?"

"I don't know."

He simply sighs. "The Military Police are gathering the herbs and then we are heading back."

"What do they need it for? What use is it to them?"

"They just want to have control over it I guess. They are well aware that the arrest over the scouting legions ends soon."

"They are going to give us the herbs."

"I don't know."

"Without us they wouldn't have known about it."

Eren simply looks off to the side, not commenting on that subject. Levi narrows his eyes. "What the hell happened to you?"

He looks at Levi and his green eyes are dark with hurt. "Nothing really. I'm still the same. Just more focused."

Although not being satisfied by these words, Levi nods. He put Eren through hell so he can't blame him for what ever he feels. But he is glad to hear that Eren is focused. That's when he remembers this morning. "Thank you."

Eren looks surprised. "What for?"

"The flowers you put in front of Ava's house." His voice is morbid and the thanks sounds scarier than it should.

Eren's face suddenly becomes clearly angry. "Levi, what are you talking about? I haven't been to Ava's house... I didn't put any flowers there." Levi doesn't know what to take from this. Who could it have been then? Before he can say anything Eren turns away from him. "No matter what," Eren says, looking off into the horizon. "I'm going to make sure your memory comes back. Those herbs are ours. Even if I have to put my life on it."

Hearing these words makes Levi's entire body heat up. He is looking at Eren while the taller male's back is to him. He hasn't changed at all, minus the longer hair. He's only a bigger brat. Levi is close to the point of grabbing Eren and slamming him against the tree just so he can have his may with him. Before his instincts make that terrible choice, a black flare is shot off into the distance.

Every group on the west side of the forest sees the flare. Anyone on the east side and inside of the forest did not see it. Another black flare is shot off followed by a yellow.

"What is that?" Eren looks into the distance. "We were the furthest squad so that isn't anyone from our group. It can't be."

Eren drops to the ground and gets on his horse. Levi is right behind him and grabs his foot.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I'm going to see what that was."

"Like hell you are moron. It's dangerous."

"It could be one of our men."

"You know damn well it isn't."

"Then what do you think it is? A titan playing with a signal flare? Let me go or I'll drag you!" He looks back at the soldiers who are gathering from the sight of the flare. "Stay at your post! I will look into it now. If you move. You die."

Levi looks at Eren as he threatens people. 'Damn he's hot.' He shakes the clear distraction from his head and hops on to his own horse. The two take off. They go in the direction where the colored smoked is defusing in the air. Two people appear next to them. Levi looks over to see Armin and Mikasa.

"We saw it too!" Armin says.

The ride was longer then they intended, going at least 7 miles out. Two more flares were shot out since then. When they reach the apparent destination. The closer they get, the better they can see a the titan.

"Is that?"

"Yeah. It's Reiner."

They come to a village at the edge of a patch of trees that thicken into a forest. Each tree is relatively far apart and not as large as the ones they just left but tall enough to provide shade from the sun. They stop their horses as soon as they've noticed they've captured Reiner's attention.

He seems to be fanning at his face.

Armin is hesitant to move forward. "What if this was a trap? He lured us in with the flares."

Although the possibility isn't impossible, it isn't likely either. Levi looks at the amored titan as he stands strong. He starts walking forward and Levi doesn't see space to hesitate. He launches his 3DMG to attach to Reiner so he can swing up his body but it is immediately reflected off of the hard skin. He realizes this tiny action has caused a terrible delay that he cannot recover from quickly enough. He aims for a tree but fears Reiner will have enough time to hit him with his hand.

Everyone uses their 3DMG to attach to something and get away from Reiner. All of the horse scatter in different directions. As expected, he swings out his hand for Levi. In a flash Eren is in front of Levi, protecting him from the potential blow. In the blink of an eye another black flare is shot into the air. It explodes in Reiner's face and he stumbles back. A red one is shot but misses him and blasts into the air. Eren snatches Levi and the two fall on to the ground. They look up to see where the flare came from.

"WoooHooooo!" A high voice screams from the trees and the silhouette of a persons goes flying through the air on 3DMG. Two more flares go off in Reiner's face before he stumbles to the ground on a house. The person lands on a tree branch looking to the ground. It's a girl, their hair flowing through the wind. "Follow me if you want to live!" She swings down and goes into another tree. The group doesn't doubt the stranger's word being that she saved their lives. Armin, Levi, Mikasa, and Eren follow the girl into the trees.

She is clearly skilled with maneuvering gear. She is lively as she flips around branches. The trees start to thicken and in an instance she shoots into the very top of the trees. The group easily follow close behind. They pass a small roof of leaves before being brought to a large platform. They each take a spot on a different branch. The girl is on the platform and turns around with a bright smile on her face.

Mikasa gasps, her hands over her mouth in surprise and her eyes widen.

Armin takes one step forward. "Soleanna?"

"Hi, guys," she waves, the smile never leaving her face.

Even Levi can't believe it. The girl is a good amount taller than the last time he'd seen her. Her hair is long and her eyes are bright. There is no doubting the fact that she has definitely matured. "But how?" Eren says. He also starts to step forward and she takes out her sword, the smile disappearing.

Mikasa loses her surprise and steps up. "Eren is not your enemy. He never was. If you were going to try and kill him, why save us to begin with?"

"Sorry," she puts the sword away. "I guess living with titans for a year put me a little more on edge."

"How are you alive?" Armin asks.

"Simple answer. I adapted. I had to get rid of all fear. The town that everyone abandoned was still full of supplies. All I had to do was find food and a place not to get eaten. It was easy once I got the hang of it. Then I created this." She spins around displaying her makeshift treehouse."Titans aren't the best climbers."

"How were you able to create this?"

She walks closer to them, looking in the air. "It was hard at first." She sits down cross legged in front of them. "I tried branches but they weren't much support. I fell twice, breaking my arm once. It healed eventually but the time leading up was hard. I stumble across abandoned and destroyed houses or villages everyday and I used the boards from there and vines to tie them together. Eventually I had a good method to make this high enough in the trees that I could sleep peacefully. Not too far from here is a life time supply a vines that really don't become useless until they die so I change them out every few weeks."

"What about food?" Mikasa asks.

"There are a lot of things that can be eaten around here. Except the poisonous things that I've run into. Almost died eating one of them. I started planting whatever fruit I can get my hands on. There are even a few animals if you look hard enough. When they eat my plants I just kill them so it's a win, win. Titans don't eat it so I don't have to worry about that issue. Oh and they hate fire. Vegetables are a bit more of a challenge."

"And water?"

"Every time it rains I have a ton of bowls that I got from Trost and other abandoned places to catch the water. So what are you guys..."

"It was you," Levi interrupts.

She raises an eyebrow. "Huh?"

"The flowers at Ava's house. You did it?"

At first she looks shocked but then she becomes more relaxed. It appears as if she is remembering something from her past. "Yeah. I needed to make a trip to Trost so I stopped by Ava's old home while I was there."

"How often do you go?"

"Every time I need to restock from Trost. Last time, well yesterday, was my first time leaving flowers." Her voice is still has high as it was before. She is still a kid but she is the strongest person Levi has ever laid eyes on.

"How do you get all the way to Trost from here? It's miles away," Mikasa asks.

"It takes about a day. But I have specific stopping points."

"Don't the titans smell you?"

"Nope. I have a secret."

"What is it?"

"I can't tell you! It's a secret," she laughs. She's so adorable and still so innocent.

"The flowers you placed were nice."

She smiles. "You liked them! I can show you where I get them from. It'll take a while to get there though."

"No," Levi states, becoming more stern. "We can't get distracted. We have a priorities. We need to get back to the squad."

"Levi's right. C'mon Soul," Mikasa says, walking closer to grab her hand.

She steps back. "I can't go back there. There's nothing there for me."

"You want to stay?"

"I've finally figured out a way to live without relying on others." She suddenly looks sad. "I'm sorry for what I did to you all that time back. I was scared and stupid. Now I can't do anything like that to anyone. Sure the rain can be a little brutal but if I die here than I deserve to."

Levi gets on one knee. "No one deserves to die. I want you to come back with us. You can help humanity get out of those walls. You're the most experienced human to have lived outside."

"That's because it's only one of me. Don't you get it? Those titans are attracted to your walls. The only reason they don't chase me all the time is because there is one of me. I will accompany you to your squad or whatever but I will not be going back with you within those walls."

"Our horses are gone," Armin groans, "and what about Reiner?"

"That's right! Why were you fighting Reiner?"

"What is a Reiner?"

"The big ass titan with armor for skin," Levi bluntly clarifies.

"Oh, that thing. I don't know. He has been coming after me for the past couple of days. He hasn't found this location but this is the third time I've run into him in the last month or so. I'm not really good with keeping up with days."

"I wonder why."

Levi turns and looks down. "Our priorities need to be getting back within the walls to regroup."

"Levi, are you really going to leave her here?"

"She doesn't want to go."

"If you want me to go, you'll have to tie me up screaming or unconscious." Soleanna pouts crossing her arms.

"Fine," Armin says. "Let's get back to the squad. We will need to if we want to make it back within the walls before dark.

"Alright, lets go." Levi says. "Soul. Are you ready?"

"Not quite." She walks to the back of her 10 foot long platform. It seems decently sturdy. She digs into a patch of leaves and returns with red leaves. The group looks at them. A foul smell emits from them and she smears them all over the member's clothes. Levi is revolted and is ready to smack the child across the face.

"What the fuck is this?" he growls.

"Animal blood."

Yep. He's gonna kill her.

"Why are you putting animal blood on us."

"Titans will avoid you. Do you think they telepathically are attracted to humans? No. They smell us, but they don't eat animals. With this we are less likely to attract titans if any at all. This is necessary especially since you guys don't have horses."

Her logic makes sense but the act isn't any less disgusting. She walks away again and returns with a white flower. Levi recognizes it immediately. "I don't have many of these but this is what I put in front of Ava's house. They stay bloomed without being in the ground for up to 5 days. I want you to have it, Levi." She smears the blood all over her. For the third time she walks to a pile of leaves and pulls out a stack of signal guns. There are at least 13 of them in her arms.

"Where did you get all of those?" Eren asks.

"There are hundreds of them in Trost. I use them for emergencies. They screw up a titan's eyesight. I don't know what this smoke is made of but it renders a titan blind with the right aim. My aim isn't the best yet but it works." Everyone takes a gun. "Alright." She stands strong. "Lets go."

The group make their way as quickly as they can. Half way through the journey takes them about an hour. Although they are on foot not one titan has approached them yet. In the distance they can see a formation approaching them. Dust is kicked up by the approaching horses. Soul stops walking and takes a few steps back. "This is where I leave you guys."

Levi turns to her. "Are you really sure you don't want to come with us?"

"Yes." She runs to him and hugs him around his waste. Her tiny arms squeeze him and he pets her head. "Thank you she says." With that she turns around and starts walking.

"Why'd she only hug him," Eren pouts.

In less then a minute the group approaches the four. The scouting legion are the first in line. Erwin hops off of his horse. "What the hell you guys. Where did you go?"

Jean also gets to the ground. He runs to Mikasa and chokes her into a hug. "I was so worried," he cries.

"Stop being a little bitch," she mumbles. He continues his whining.

"We only have two extra horses. Levi, get on with me."

"Mikasa is coming with me," Jean demands, pulling her along.

Armin looks at Eren. "I guess that means we get our own horses."

Finally becoming a normal nonbitch, Jean's nose wrinkles. "What is that smell?"

"Animal blood. Now lets go." She hops on his horse. He ends up getting behind her. Levi is on with Erwin and Armin and Eren get their own horses. The trip back to the walls consists of Erwin explaining to Levi the losses they suffered and how they cultivated as much of the plant as they could. He says the other group should be arriving back at the wall now.

After a long ride of not encountering even one titan, they make it back within the walls safely. Erwin hops off of his horse. Everyone starts unpacking and heading in their own directions. "That was the strangest and most peaceful ride outside of the walls that I've ever taken."

Levi can't get his mind off of Soleanna. Will she really be okay? Will that have been the last time they see her?

"Wait! Are you guys really leaving! I miss you guys!" Levi's attention is brought to Armin as he is talking to Eren and Mikasa.

"We will see each other again, Armin." Mikasa comforts.

"Yeah? When? Another year?"

"No. Sooner. I promise." She then walks over to Levi and snatches her scarf from him.

The scouting regiment ends up walking back to the house as a group. They exchange few words. It's been a while since they've been together. Connie. Sasha. Hange. Ymir. Levi. Erwin. Mikasa. Jean. Armin. And Eren. When at the house, the ones without a room sit in the kitchen and exchange stories about going outside of the wall. Jean doesn't let go of Mikasa and Armin's doesn't speak at all. They simply listen to Connie tell a story about a Military Police soldier that wouldn't listen to him and died.

Levi walks up the stairs to his room. He can't wait to get out of the filthy smelling shirt. He looks out of the window and a sick feeling hits his stomach as he sees the walls and then thinks back on everything Soul told them. There is a light knock at his door. "Go away."

"Well if you insist." He turns to see Eren standing in the doorway. The shifter walks into the room and shuts the door.

"If you're coming in here then get rid of those disgusting clothes."

"Ok." Eren strips his shirt and tosses it into the hall. They stand shirtless cross from one another. Levi sees black scars and burns that were not on Eren before he left a year ago. "It looks like everyone has been doing fine around here lately."

"Yeah. Same to you." 'What did they do to you?'

"The Military Police just called for me and Mikasa so I really just came to say goodbye again. Guess I didn't need to take off my shirt for that. Good Bye." He turns to the door but before he can even think to reach for the knob Levi has grabbed his arm. The captain isn't entirely sure on what his next actions should be.

"No."

"What are you..."

"No!" He turns Eren around and pushes him against the door. Not giving Eren or even himself time to think, he leans up and kisses Eren. He starts off gentle, embracing the warm lips he's only dreamed about for the past year. Eren's hands caress Levi's back, feeling on his toned skin and pulls him closer. Levi pulls back only enough to speak. "I'm not making the same mistake as last time."

"Levi... your memory."

"Fuck my memory." He pulls Eren back into the kiss and their tongues intertwine. His hands travelup Eren's body, tracing every new and old scar. Eren grabs onto Levi's face in an attempt to ravage what he can, but then pulls back.

"I have to go."

"I'm going to bomb the Military Police."

"Don't do that."

"Try me."

Eren kisses Levi on his head. His blank expression can be easily read by Eren. "I love you. So don't do anything stupid." That being said Eren creates distance between them and opens the door.

"I'll get you out of there," Levi hisses. Eren walks out of the room and the door shuts. "If it's the last thing I do."

Levi lays in his bed until the sun falls behind the horizon. He is requested by Erwin many times but he never moves. The last thing he wants to do is exchange words with the Military Police right now and that's what talking to Erwin will lead to. Tomorrow will do. Eventually he takes a bath but is back in bed again. He lies on his back twirling the white flower Soleanna gave him.

There is a knock at his door. "Go away."

It opens anyway of course. Ymir walks in. "Hey. Erwin really wants to talk to you about..." She stops talking. "What's that in your hand?"

"A flower."

"Where'd you get it?"

"No where," he grunts. Ymir walks closer and looks at the flower. "I will punch you."

"Levi. How were you able to sneak one?"

"What are you talking about?"

"The herb. The Military police took them all."

Levi's actions come to a complete halt. "All of what?"

"The herb! Don't tell me you picked it up by coincidence," she says sarcastically.

"What herb!" He sits up impatiently.

"Wow. It looks like you really don't know. That is the herb that we went out to get. The one that Reiner showed me. The one that the doctor was killed for. That is the herb that can bring back your memory..."

"The herb that strengthens titans," Levi finishes. He looks at the flower that Soleanna gave him and realization hits. This is why Reiner was after her.

LLL- Thank you for those who review. It's great.