Same Night.
Hange couldn't believe it. Nails torn off. Body, knocked on the floor. Blood had already started drying off on the wooden floor. It looked like he had been beaten. No- tortured. Somebody had tortured him. Still, the door was guarded, not by Survey Corps soldiers, but two of the Military Police. And not just any.
"Hey! Messing with our crime scene, Scout?! Don't ger any closer. This isn't your jurisdiction. Assemble robbery-murder. There has been a string of them lately,"
Hange gritted her teeth. "I'm not buying it! His nails were drawn out!" She growled, taking a step forward only for the MP to grasp her by the shirt and threaten her.
"Which unit are you in?!" The soldier said leaning close.
Moblit's hand caught the soldier's wrist tight enough to make the man wince. No one was allowed to treat Hange like that. He wouldn't allow it. "This is Section Commander Hange, 4th Squad. And I'm Excel Moblit Berner," just before the soldier let out a wince, Moblit released his wrist that he was sure he bruised well enough.
"Knowing your whole branch smells garbage, being high-ranked doesn't make you smell any sweeter," The soldier said. "Listen, that man wasn't killed by a titan. One person killed another. This isn't Scout business!"
"You're with the first interior squad," Hange said and by the way they both tensed up, she could tell she was right.
Moblit raised an eyebrow. "Funny. What are the Capital's MPs doing down here in Trost?"
"What's so strange about it?! Somebody has to get the real work done while you people run around playing soldier,"
"Yes… you're completely right!" Hange started and Moblit raised an eyebrow. He could tell she was putting up an act. "I see now I'm worthless compared to you! Simply being in your presence is an honour. Allow me to shake your hand!" Hange grabbed the man's hand and suddenly her assumptions were proven correct. The flesh of the knuckles was torn. These were the men who had beaten Pastor Nick to death. "Alright. You said it was a robbery? Poor Nick. I didn't realise he even had anything that was worth stealing,"
"Of course, he did! Everyone knows the church makes out all its little trinkets out of iron,"
"Huh?! Are you saying Nick was affiliated with the Order of the Walls?!" Hange cried out. Of course, she knew that already. She was only making sure.
"What are you playing at?!"
"He was a friend of mine, that's why I rushed down here. Except, I thought he was a craftsman. Making chairs or something. I even put that to his application to board here…" she started rubbing on the torn flesh of his knuckles, hard enough to hurt.
"Let go!"
"…still," She ignored him. Bastard. "I suppose this is a reminder that we don't really know people as well as we think we do,"
"Enough! Let go!" The man pulled his hand away and Hange got back to pretending.
"Whoah! Of course! Sorry! Well then, I wish you luck with the investigation. When you catch the culprit, will you tell them something for me? You may feel that what you did to him was justified, perhaps even righteous. Well, I don't give a single shit what your motivation was. I promise you, I will personally see to it that you are tortured, and the horrors visited upon you will be greater than anything my friend suffered. Yes! Far greater,"
Moblit was sure, she had scared the shit out of them. He smirked.
"Pass that along. We'll leave you to it," Hange finished before she turned around and started walking away with Moblit following closely from behind. She was suspecting them, wasn't she? Why else would the Interior Squad leave the Capital to come down here, if it wasn't for silencing the people who could compromise their secrets?
"The Pastor. You think they killed him?" Moblit asked once he made sure they were further away from the other two as they started walking down the hall.
"Yes," Hange answered. "I do. That man's name was Djel Sannes. The skin on his fist was split open. Nick was tortured by the Interior Military Police, and then murdered,"
Hange's fists were clenched. Her nerves almost burned in anger. Of course, this was the reason pastor Nick was trying his best to keep quiet. He knew they were coming to kill him. Hange had that look in her eyes that Moblit instantly recognised. It was the one of pure anger. She'd get that look before she'd do unspeakable things.
She groaned and she tried to turn around and get back to those men. Give them a piece of the pain that they had brought to Pastor Nick. The only man who had given them a clue and tried to help them. If there was something that she hated the most it was injustice. But Moblit grabbed her. His hands slipped around her tightly keeping her in place.
"Hange, you're not thinking straight!" Moblit cried out, still, she didn't calm. Her hands smacked across his chest.
"Let me go!" Hange growled.
"You can't harm Interior Police Officers out here in the open. It will be considered an act of treason and you'll be hanged. I can't allow this, Hange!" Moblit cried out. His arms tightened around her. Just the thought of something happening to her set a shiver of terror down his spine. He couldn't allow this.
Hange had to restrain herself. Moblit was right. They would get those two in their custody and she would get to torture them as much as she would want. Not here. Not now. She sighed and she pressed her forehead against his chest, shutting her tired eyes.
"You're right," Hange admitted and she listened to him as he let out a sigh of relief. Moblit always kept her from doing impulsive, stupid things like that. What was she going to do without him? She pulled her head to look up at him. "We need to inform Nat and Levi,"
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The next morning, Levi had everybody gathered in the dining table and he asked for Historia to tell them her story. Erwin was right -as always- it was not a happy childhood. Still, Nathalie was there, seated beside her, to hold her hand and pull her into a comforting hug when Historia was done telling them her story. Historia was stiff at first, she did not hug her back, but she eventually gave in, burying her face in Nathalie's shoulder and allowing herself to accept the warmth and comfort of Nathalie's hand as it brushed gently on her back and in her golden hair.
Historia never had that before. She never had somebody to pull her into a hug and caress her back and make her feel comfort. Her mother had pushed her away and it had made her happy because it was the first time she had acknowledged her. If only you had never been born. Her mother's last, poisonous words to her. Her own mother wishing she wasn't alive. It all hurt so damn much, Historia hadn't even realised she was wetting Nathalie's shirt with her tears. Her fingers clutched around Nathalie who just kept stroking her hair.
"It's alright. You have us now," Nathalie said reassuringly as she pressed a kiss on Historia's temple and she pulled back to wipe her tears with the back of her fingers.
Historia nodded, cracking a weak smile. "Yeah,"
"Hey," Eren's hand found Historia's shoulder drawing her attention. He gave her a smile. "We're all here for you. Besides, we've all had our fair share of tragic backstories in here,"
Connie chuckled. "Yeah,"
"Except maybe Jean," Eren said turned at Jean and Jean glared at him.
"Hey!"
"The only tragic thing about Jean is his face," Eren said with a sly smile.
"And omelettes. Don't forget the omelettes!" Sasha added.
Jean groaned in irritation. "You guys-!"
"Stop bullying Jean," Nathalie rolled her eyes. She did not get the omelette reference, but she mentally noted to herself to ask the kids about it later. Her hand found Jean's hair and started messing them slightly. He was sitting beside her. "What's wrong with his face? He's a tall, handsome young man,"
Levi raised an eyebrow. Tall, huh? Everybody started laughing. Jean smacked Nathalie's hand off his hair and he turned shooting her a glare. "Will you stop doing that?!" Nathalie just gave him a smile that spelled nope.
Before Levi had the chance to make his brats shut up, the door snapped open and Hange walked in with Moblit and another member of her squad. Everybody stopped fooling around and they stood up.
"I have bad news," Hange said as the three of them walked in and the kids gathered around them. Nathalie and Levi stood up, all looking at Hange waiting for whatever she had to say. "I'm sorry… Pastor Nick… he was murdered, today in the Trost barracks. I figured the church would want to get their hands on Nick when they figured he's been cooperating with the Scouts. That's why I hid his identity and had him stay in the barracks. I never imagined they would use soldiers to kill him," Hange sat down in a chair and her hand reached for her forehead. "It's my fault,"
Nathalie's hand found her friend's shoulder. "It's alright. You couldn't have known that the MPs would get there,"
"They'll try to silence everyone who knows," Levi said. "They made an attempt on Nat's life last night,"
Everybody's eyes widened.
"What?!" Jean cried out.
"Are you okay?!" Sasha cried out turning at Nathalie.
"You're not hurt, are you?!" Connie cried out.
Eren gritted his teeth. Fists clenched. "Those bastards!"
"When did this happen?!" Historia asked.
"I don't understand. Armin and I have been keeping watch outside all night," Mikasa said.
"It wasn't here. The MPs attacked me whilst I was running tests in the Survey Corps HQ labs," Nathalie explained.
Hange gritted her teeth, frustrated. "Those bastards got the gal to attack a Survey Corps Lieutenant in the very Survey Corps Headquarters,"
"They don't give a shit, at this point," Levi sipped on his tea.
"I never finished running those tests. I need questions answered. I can't figure out how to turn titans back into humans if I can't get my hands on lab equipment," Nathalie said. Her fingers fisted. It was true. She was just so, so close to figuring this out, but she was stopped, and that was exactly what they wanted to do. The city wasn't safe for her. No District was safe now.
"Make a list of things that you need. Moblit and I will ride back in Trost and bring them to you," Hange suggested and Nathalie nodded.
"Captain Levi, sir!" The door slammed open and Nifa walked in. It was the redhead girl from Hange's squad and she rushed towards the head of the table where Levi was sitting. "I've got a message for you from Commander Erwin," She handed the letter to Levi and he started reading it. "I went to inform him about Pastor Nick, but he gave me this and sent me off,"
Levi's eyes squinted. Fingers clenched around the paper. "Get your gear, now! We're leaving," He stood up. "Make it look like we were never here,"
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It was by dusk when they had abandoned the HQ and the Levi Squad was now on top of the hill right above it, only to see the MPs barging in and looking for them. Erwin was right. They had come searching for Eren, Historia and Nathalie.
"That was close," Connie said. Eyes wide in terror. "What if they had caught us? Would they torture us too?"
Nathalie passed her rifle around her arm, and she placed a hand on Connie's shoulder. "The Captain and I would never let this happen," She reassured him.
"How did Commander Erwin know they were headed here?" Armin asked turning at Levi.
"The government's passed down some new orders. There's been a freeze on all Scout activity outside the wall," Levi said. It was all going precisely as Erwin had planned. "We're to hand over Eren, Historia and Nathalie," Everybody gasped.
"Captain, I didn't have time to tell you," Nifa said. "But some MPs came for the Commander right after I left him,"
Nathalie's eyes widened. Hange's fists clenched. "What?! Like he's some kind of criminal?!" She cried out.
"We're the ones risking our lives daily, for them, and they treat us like this," Nathalie groaned, kicking angrily on the grass beneath their feet.
"They're bringing this fight out into the open. No more working through the shadows," Levi said.
"They're going to protect the walls' secrets at any cost," Hange said.
"We keep Eren and Historia safe until Erwin's plan is through," Nathalie said.
Hange nodded but she sighed. She turned at Nathalie. "I can understand why they're after you, but I don't understand why they're after Eren and Historia. It's clear they don't want them dead, so what are they planning?"
"Who knows. But they want these two and they're not being subtle about it," Levi said. "They want Nathalie dead. That's clear. She knows too much. She's too dangerous to be left alive," He was in no way going to let this happen. "Lingering here is dangerous. We move Eren, Historia and Nathalie back in Trost,"
Oh no. Nathalie knew exactly what he had in mind. He wanted to set a bait just lure the real enemy out and figure out their identity. It was risky. No- it was risky as hell. But they didn't really know who they were up against. Was it the MPs? Or someone working with the MPs?
"We're taking them to the same District where Pastor Nick was just murdered?" Moblit asked confusedly.
"Heading toward the Interior would be worse. With Trost in a panic it should be easy to slip in. And if things do go to hell," Levi pushed his cloak aside revealing the ODM beneath. "we can use these in the City,"
"That's true," Armin said.
"We don't know the identity of our enemy yet. I have an idea of how we can change that," Levi said, proving Nathalie's assumptions correct. He really was planning on setting a bait. "Hange, I need you to lend me some of your squad,"
"No problem," Hange nodded. "I'm going after Commander Erwin," Hange turned at Nathalie. "You still got the samples?" Nathalie nodded. "Give them to me. I'll keep them safe till the plan is carried out,"
It was a good idea. Nathalie trusted that Hange could put these somewhere safe. She reached for her bag beneath her cloak and she took it off of her shoulders handing it to Hange. "Whatever you do, do not mix the titan spinal fluid with human blood," Nathalie instructed.
Hange nodded. "Alright," She turned at the other members of her squad who were standing beside her. "Moblit, with me. The rest of you will go with Levi," Hange said before she and Moblit turned around and mounted their horses.
"Roger!"
"Nathalie," Eren said, drawing her attention. He had a piece of paper in his hands. "I have the conversation between Ymir and Berthold that you asked for,"
Nathalie nodded as she took the paper. "Thank you, Eren," She headed towards Hange and she handed it to her. "It's not safe with me. I'll leave this up to you," Nathalie said and Hange took the paper stuffing it in her pocket.
Hange looked down at Nathalie, as she grasped the reins of her horse. "Don't die," Hange said and Nathalie chuckled.
"I'll try my best," Nathalie said and Hange returned the smile, before she kicked her horse and she urged it to start riding away, with Moblit riding beside her on his own.
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They camped out in the woods for the night. They should be able to hide there decently. The three members from Hange's squad offered to keep watch for the night and the kids laid down their sleeping bags and they were already snoring. Nathalie just looked at the kids. The rifle was still in her hand, ready to shoot at anything or anyone that would threaten them, but she could tell it was quiet, and late in the night. Something told her they were safe for now.
It came sudden. Nathalie's eyes widened when the realisation hit her. She wanted to puke. She had no time to figure out why. She jumped on her feet. A hand clamped around her lips till she ran to a nearby river in the woods. She dropped on her knees and she allowed herself to vomit. Fingers fisted around the grass beneath her. Her body tensed. After she had emptied her stomach and washed her mouth with the water that she had in her pouch, Nathalie stood there and tried to think.
What the hell? She wiped her mouth with the back of her sleeve. Could it be the crackers? She knew they were probably far beyond their expiration date, but still, they didn't have anything else to eat at the moment, and going to the City for supplies was a risk that they didn't want to take yet. Nathalie stood back on her feet and tried to forget about this. Probably the crackers. Or at least, she wanted to believe that it wasn't anything worse than food poisoning.
Nathalie stood up on wobbly legs. She felt tired. No- she felt exhausted. She couldn't remember doing something particularly tiring today. Could I be- No. Nathalie shook her head and she returned back to camp. She sat back down around her kids and shot the thought away immediately. Her back rested against the bark of a tree. She let her head roll back tiredly. She pulled off her glasses and she let them hung from the rope around her neck. There was no use. It was too dark to see anyway. Still, the moonlight stole in through the trees, and it wasn't totally dark.
"You should sleep," Levi approached her.
He wasn't planning on taking off his ODM and she was still wearing it too. Somebody could attack them at any moment and Nathalie's life was in danger. He couldn't rest. He couldn't close his eyes at all. He sat beside her on the soft grass. The tree trunk was large enough for both of them to rest against it.
"And what about you?" Nathalie asked. A warm arm slipped around her waist and brought her close. She rested her cheek on his shoulder. Her nose nuzzled in his neck. Levi pressed his own cheek on top of her head. He buried his nose in her hair and breathed her in. Instant relief washed over him from just holding her.
"I keep you and our brats safe," He said reassuringly.
Her hand found his chest and rested there. She felt his warm lips as he pressed a kiss on her temple and his other hand tightened around her slightly. Just knowing that he was there was enough to allow herself to close her eyes and slip into the sweet unconsciousness of sleep. It should be infuriating her, knowing that she was so easily handing him her life on a silver platter. Still, he was the only one she could ever trust that much.
He really was all that she ever wanted. Smart, kind and reliable. Sometimes she was convinced she knew him better than she knew herself. Goodness, she loved him. She loved this man too much for her own good. She felt so safe there, in his hug that slightly tightened. She buried her face in his chest. A hand was thrown around his belly. She closed her tired eyes and she remembered herself falling asleep with a smile on her lips.