I can't believe I'm already posting the 50th chapter AND on the two year anniversary of this fic! Maybe I'm not as hopeless as I thought I was *^*

I never say it enough, thank you to all those who have left reviews. It is always encouraging to receive feedback on one's work. I do apologize for not systematically replying to reviews, but know that I read (several times even) and appreciate every single one of them.

This being said, I hope you enjoy this 50th chapter!


Days became weeks in such peaceful monotony that Eren was starting to feel unsettled. His life had been many things but it had never been peaceful. And this made him glad, because this was dull. Sure, there had been training and the trainees finally choosing their affiliation – most having joined the Survey Corp – but still it was boring. So boring that he was almost grateful when Hanji roped him into visiting her 'pet' titans, Sawney and Bean.

It didn't take a genius to know that the scientist was obsessively passionate about titans. She had complained more than once that she could not conduct any experiment on Eren – who was, according to her, by far the most interesting specimen she had ever seen. Although she had been allowed a few tests on him, the line had been drawn at Eren attempting to transform a second time. For one thing, Eren's ability had been mostly kept a secret and it was preferable that the secrecy was not jeopardized by shifting attempts. For another thing, Levi had already made death-threats and Erwin appeared eager not to encourage the smaller man's murderous tendencies.

Due to this, Hanji has been unable to satisfy her overwhelming curiosity and to ease her frustrations Eren had agreed to sit through torturous descriptions of her research. The latest 'chat' they'd had had led to him accepting her invitation to meet her research subjects.

Sawney and Bean were a four-meter and a seven-meter class titans respectively and both had been captured during the retaking of Trost. There was surely a lot more Hanji had told him about them, but Eren had stopped listening quite a while ago, only maintaining the appearance of rapt attention while they walked towards the place where the Titans were being kept.

"Oh! You're going to love them!" Hanji exclaimed suddenly clapping her hands like an excited child.

Eren smiled, wisely keeping his doubts on the matter to himself.

Moblit – Hanji's second-in-command and unofficial baby-sitter – chose that moment to come charging towards them with a panicked expression.

"Squad Leader!" he yelled as he slowed down upon reaching them. "The titans…They've been killed?"

"WHAT?!" Hanji screeched, her excitement vanishing instantly.

She did not wait for any further explanation and took off in a run, leaving the two men to hurry after her. Grief gave the woman wings apparently and she quickly outran them. Eren could have caught up with her but he decided against it, preferring to run alongside Moblit who was visibly struggling to keep up already.

By the time they made it to the titans their corpses were already mostly gone into smoke. Hanji had dropped to her knees in front of one of them and was bawling, all the while angrily demanding an explanation.

Eren hung back while Moblit expertly managed his superior's tantrum. He couldn't say he was particularly sad for the titans, but Hanji's sadness did resonate in him. Anger at the people who had caused the scientist, whom he had come to regard as a friend, such sorrow. More than that, he understood this was not an innocent act. Someone had deliberately killed the creatures, which could only mean they intended to forcefully stop Hanji's research. The question was why?

There was no answer to that question that he could think of.

"Eren."

He turned, finding himself face to face with Levi's frown.

His raven haired childhood friend was accompanied by Erwin Smith, who Eren greeted with a stiff nod. He gave Mike Zacharius – who was hovering behind the other two – a much warmer greeting, which the man returned with a friendly smile.

"What happened?" Levi questioned, a trace of urgency in his voice.

Eren smiled grimly.

"Hanji's test subjects were killed." he said before adding. "And we all know what that means."

A pair of sharp gazes landed on him from the two taller men.

"What are you saying?" Mike sniffing at him as if trying to smell the answer.

Eren met Erwin's scrutinizing gaze and smirked.

"Surely, you both realize that the culprit was human?" he said, a hint of mockery just barely audible. "Not only that, but that person had to have access to the titans. If you think about it, this place is under constant surveillance, no random stranger would have been able to get close to Sawney and Bean. "

There was a flash of something in Erwin's blue eyes and Eren thought it almost looked like approval. It left him dubious. There was no love lost between him and the blonde Commander. He wouldn't have thought the man approved of anything he did. Maybe, I misread it, he reflected.

"Are you suggesting there is a traitor in the Corps?" Mike asked quietly, his brows pushed together in a concerned frown.

Eren's gaze shifted to Mike. He exchanged a quick glance with Levi before he gave his answer.

"I'm not suggesting anything." he told the man. "I'm telling you there's a traitor in the Survey Corp."

He turned his body away from the stunned squad leader a fraction, his lips stretching into a poisonous smile as his eyes landed on Erwin Smith once more.

"I wouldn't like to be in your shoes, Commander." he practically purred, his gaze glinting with dark mischief.

To his satisfaction he saw the man's jaw tense before he turned on his heels and marched off, Mike falling into step behind him.

His attention soon drifted to Levi, silent presence at his side. Silver eyes were fixed upon Hanji who was sobbing into Moblit's shirt. The man looked contemplative. There was no anger that Eren could detect his expression only revealing deep thoughts. Eren felt a sudden unexplainable surge of fondness for the man. He smiled and closed his eyes, letting the cacophony of agitation around him lull him into a blissful state.