A/N: Hey guys! I'm back! *waves*

So...there's not much to say except thank you all for the wonderful support. Whether it be by leaving a review or following or favoriting, this story has become another surprise hit. Once again, I'm completely blown away by everyone's kindness.

And I haven't abandoned this fic. RL and work are getting crazy hectic so updates will be whenever I have the time.

Enjoy the chapter! :)

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Stohess - present day

The sun beamed down over the ruined remains of downtown Stohess keeping a watchful eye on the citizens as they tried to adjust living in a war zone.

Clean up crews commissioned by the King were hard at work clearing out what they could by horse and cart. The stench of crushed corpses mingled with the raw smell of shattered stone and upturned dirt, creating an unpleasant environment for any who dared to venture out of their homes in the wake of Eren and Annie's colossal battle.

In the middle of the bustle, Sierra race-walked through the streets, trying to outrun the painful swell of feelings a decade of military service had suppressed.

This is a dream right? I did not just see my long lost brother wearing a Police uniform. Married. With kids. He was a slacker in school. She knew for a fact only the top ten made it to the Military Police but even fewer were hand-picked by the King to serve at the royal palace and other high ranking dignitaries. How the hell did he make the ROYAL GUARD of all branches?!

A man carrying a sack of debris bumped into her shoulder without apologizing but she didn't feel the impact. She was too deep in thought that she didn't notice the dirty look he shot her way.

And the onslaught was far from over.

Dad...she swallowed a sudden lump that started ballooning in the back of her scarred throat without permission. Dad's...dead.

She couldn't believe it. Merrick Wolf had been the strongest man she'd ever known. It was unlike him to give up on life without a valid reason. But then again, searching for his only daughter and not finding her alive within a reasonable amount of time would drain the hope of even the strongest person's will.

A hazy image of her eight-year-old self sitting on the wooden bench of his merchant vessel sailing towards the Interior swam up through the depths of her desensitized psyche. If I recall correctly, Sierra mused, dodging another rescue worker instinctively, he was sailing to the Orvud District to deliver a shipment of silks and foodstocks.

She'd never been out on one of his trips before and remembered begging him to take her on a supply run. It took a while, but he finally relented. He always did in the end. I suppose I was daddy's little girl back then.

The weather had been fair and comfortable the entire trip. She loved the salty smell of the river wending lazily through the Walled City, the aromas of foreign foods wafting out of open windows of the fancy homes they slipped past. Orvud was definitely wealthier than Trost being closer to the palace and appeared to have the latest in everything.

Clothes.

Weapons.

Houses.

Hell, even the carriages were all snazzy compared to the rest of the population's. Especially the rickety carts and wooden log carriers found in the poorest districts like Shiganshina-

Not realizing her feet had carried her back to the military section of the city, Sierra continued down the cut stone path arms folded. Fiery hair curtained her face from prying eyes as she slowed her pace, determined to get some semblance of composure. If Levi was anywhere in the area, she figured she'd check his temporary housing first to see if he was in his room. If not, she'd head over to HQ.

Upon crossing the open courtyard leading to the entrance of the building she grasped the knob in a callused palm and swung the door wide.

Distracted she didn't see the person exiting until she collided with an extremely solid torso, eliciting a sharp grunt from her throat.

A strong hand steadied her by the elbow so she wouldn't fall. Angry she'd been caught off guard, Sierra straightened her spine with a snap-

Only to meet the stunning teal green gaze of none other than the titan boy, Eren Jaeger himself.

"Major Sierra?" Shock morphed into concern in an instant, his protective instincts kicking in at the sight of his superior's ashen face. "Did I hurt you?" When she didn't answer right away his concern spiked. What happened? She looks pale as a ghost. So he changed tacks when she neither cried from slamming into him almost full force nor answered his question.

"Thank God you're alive! I was worried something bad happened to you and Commander Hange-"

Sierra snapped back into the present by jerking her elbow out of the young man's steadying grip, holding her upright like she was no more than a stack of books threatening to topple over. Kid's stronger than he looks. Feels like he's chiseled from stone. No. Forget stone. It felt like living steel.

"Whaddya talkin' about? Of course I'm alive kid. Why wouldn't I be?" Her expression softened slightly at Eren's worry. "Seriously though. I'm fine. Smooth them brows out or ya gonna leave trenches. I was really deep in thought, is all." Hah. He's got NO idea.

Suddenly remembering his manners, Eren backed up a step and saluted.

"Please excuse me for grabbing you in such a forward manner, Miss Sierra." When she raised a slim eyebrow he swallowed and hastily attempted to backpedal.

"I-I meant sorry Major Wolf-"

To his surprise the scary woman waved it off, an amused twist curving her harsh mouth. "Stop spluttering Eren. I like yer ballsy approach to titans. Most cadets-and by that I mean 99 percent of the fresh meat that rolls through-either piss themselves or freeze in fear. Not you. Oh and drop yer hand already."

Eren obeyed wondering where this was leading. His curiousity would soon begin to be satisfied when she motioned with her hand down the empty hall.

"Walk with me kid."

He fell into the leisurely pace she set. In spite of him having four inches on her, she seemed to have no trouble matching his longer stride.

"So where's your bodyguards?"

Eren slid a cautious glance toward his superior before returning his focus to the front. "Mikasa and Armin were summoned for questioning twenty minutes ago. I'm going to be debriefed last since I had the most contact with the...prisoner."

Sierra grunted as their boots clacked over the hallway's polished surface. He's not using Leonhart's name. Good.

"So, if ya don't mind me askin'...what happened after you went to inspect the wall?"

She shrugged, keeping her tone even and face closed. "I'll let you know when we've got more details nailed down. For now, it's an open case. We haven't even put the investigation party together yet to explore where those titans came from, but you can bet me and the hag are gonna be all over this and then some."

Her mouth closed like a box after she said this and Eren sensed that was all she was willing to discuss over the matter. There were way too many unknowns in play and a premature announcement would cause mass panic and chaos with the rest of the cattle.

As if I care what happens to a bunch of fat slobs and their corrupt leaders.

Before he could ask another question, Sierra beat him to the punch.

"Anyway, forget about that. Let's talk about yer little demolition derby with Leonhart a few days ago. Tell me exactly when you began to suspect her and go from there."

Eren swallowed, throat suddenly drier than a bone. Dread seeped into his veins. If I tell her, will she turn away? He took a deep breath to fortify himself, internally prepared to accept the older woman's scorn and rejection. For some reason, that hurt more than he was willing to admit. Man up Eren. Just do it.

"I never suspected Annie was a traitor until after the 57th Expedition, Major." Eren clenched his fists, the horror from that mission threatening to shatter his mental composure. "And that was only due to Armin's process of elimination. No one really knew until we entered the Forest of Giant Trees what Commander Erwin's true objective was. He concealed it from everyone except from the survivors from 5 years ago when Shiganshina fell. Even the Levi Squad was totally in the dark."

Sierra grunted as she began to piece the puzzle together. Suddenly Levi's insistence that Erwin grant her forced leave a month before they departed for Shiganshina was starting to make more sense. He was protecting me. From this. From death. But why? Why would he do such a thing?

"The second she screamed...that's when the mission fell apart. No. It went wrong the moment we hit open ground. She-" Eren swallowed, nails digging into his palms, dangerously close to drawing blood. "She ambushed the right flank. Brought other titans with her, like she was some kind of commander or something. It was bad. I-we couldn't do anything except push forward. Captain Levi trusted Erwin. So did Commander Hange. But it didn't work. She got away. Killed my friends. Fellow soldiers sacrificed their lives...and for what? Even now, what has any of this accomplished? The one thing I truly figured out about Annie was that she only came alive when she was showing off her fighting skills. Other than that, she's a complete mystery. One that we may never solve now that she's crystallized herself."

Like a damned coward. Sierra thought pursing her lips, remembering Kirstein's impassionate hammering on the shifter's impenetrable cocoon. Screaming for answers, for the girl to face the consequences of her actions. French was right on the money.

"That don't matter now." To his surprise she merely shrugged a severely toned shoulder that held raw, deceptive power. Unfazed by all the death and destruction Annie had forced his hand to commit. "Ya subdued her. She can't continue killing or cause more damage."

"Doesn't that bother you?" When she flicked deadened silver orbs to meet his expressive teal ones Eren found he had to look away. His body trembled and he felt the nagging disgust at turning into the monster he swore with bloodied hands and tears streaming that he'd wipe off the face of the earth. "I-I could hurt you Major Sierra!" Mikasa's crescent-shaped scar near her eye haunted the young man. It was a constant reminder that if he wasn't careful, he could accidentally kill one of his friends. "Even if it wasn't my intention...I'm still struggling to get the hang of my combat form and-and if I did-" He trailed off into a breathy whisper. "I wouldn't be able to forgive myself."

And Levi would straight up kill me.

Sierra stopped walking and raised a brow. The setting sun's rays streamed through a series of cut-glass windows bathing the hallway in a soft, rosy light.

"Then it's a good thing I'm an expert at dodging. And I wanna see it up close and personal when Hange runs her tests. So prepare yerself kid."

Eren stared at her a full five seconds mouth slightly agape before relaxing the tense slope of his shoulders.

She wasn't afraid of him.

So there was only one question left to ask. Taking a chance, Eren decided to jump straight in before he lost his courage.

"Um, Major?"

Silver orbs shifted slightly in his direction.

"When we're not on duty or in the field, may I, uh..." He chewed on his bottom lip, feeling foolish for even asking such a personal favor. "May I call you Miss Sierra?"

Sierra felt something long dead stir in her soul at the young man's request. It had been ages since someone asked permission for something like a simple courtesy that she pursed her lips in an attempt to suppress a lump forming in her throat. Get it together Wolf. It's just a title.

Apparently Eren mistook her silence as a negative because he shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Sorry. That was uncalled for. I really shouldn't have-"

"I'll think about it."

Teal eyes blinked. Wait a sec, did she...?

"Come again ma'am?"

Sierra blamed the sudden throb of humanity desperately pushing against the calloused wall of anger and hatred lining her heart for her response. So she covered by giving a sarcastic retort.

"Did I stutter Jaeger? Don't make me repeat it."

Eren lowered his head, letting his shaggy hair fall over his face, trying to hide the smile spreading over his chiseled face. It wasn't a definite yes or no, but a maybe. He could work with that, for the time being.

But the Major's sharp eyes missed nothing and she swatted him on the back of the head. An action that if she'd been a peer, would've been forbidden had Mikasa been present.

Good thing she was on the same level as Hange then.

"Stop it kid. Yer makin' it look like ya won some big damn prize."

The moment was ruined when Eren picked up a set of running footsteps rapidly approach their position with his enhanced hearing the same time Sierra did.

A tall lean man with a runner's build and a thick head of chestnut hair barreled around the corner of the great hallway. The pair were instantly on alert, staring at the stranger bearing the Wings insignia on his rumpled uniform jacket.

"Are-are you Major Sierra Wolf?"

The shorter woman squared her shoulders.

"Yeah. What's the mat-"

"Please ma'am there's no time to explain!" Sweat ran in rivulets down his neck, staining the front of his grey shirt. "Squad Leader Hange needs Cadet Jaeger at the wall immediately! Those titans...th-they're back-!"

"Then what're we standing here for?" Eren growled, teal eyes darkening with anger and bloodlust. "Let's go already!"

"Don't need ta tell me that kid." Sierra gave the younger man a push and he took off, racing pell-mell toward the wall making sure the Major could keep up with his longer stride. As the trio ran, Sierra thought about about-facing and double-timing it in the direction of the military quarters to see Levi before plunging into hell. But she had a feeling this was the start of their true mission. Silver eyes slid closed for a beat before they flew open, hardened into wintry chips.

If they came back alive, Levi was the first person she wanted to see.

...

Back in his room Levi was taking advantage of the rare quiet time. Seated at his desk reading a book he was grateful that he could get off his broken leg, which had started to throb unmercifully when he hobbled from the mess hall to his officers quarters.

And he was engaged in the paperback in front of him, not waiting for a progress report on the breach in Wall Sina, thank you very much.

Nope. The knot in his stomach wasn't due to stress or worry over a sharp-tongued, ill-tempered young woman who probably gave him a run for his money in the profanity department.

And his injury wasn't helping his darkening mood.

A knock sounded at the door, followed by a male voice.

"Captain Levi. It's Cadet Evan Frei. I'm here to make a report."

The short man grunted, running a hand through his messy undercut.

"Get in here and make it quick Cadet."

Frei wasted no time entering Levi's domain, remaining close to the open door as he saluted.

"Commander Hange just sent for Cadet Jaeger to come help with the titan problem, sir. The rest of the 104th are gathering as we speak. He should arrive at the wall within ten minutes. And Commander Erwin is preparing to send small teams out to inspect the Wall for a breach-"

Levi came to a snap decision.

"Get down there and assist Erwin."

Frei blinked and leaned over. Unsure if he heard correctly.

"Sir?"

Irritation flashed in Levi's cold grey eyes.

"Well don't just stand there, you idiot. Get moving." When he saw the kid standing around like a fool, mouth gaping Levi shot Frei a death glare that would freeze hell over. "Oi dumbass! If you ain't gone within the next two seconds, you'll be stuck on cleaning duty until you're fifty."

Frei gulped at the sinister aura emanating from the vaunted titan killer. "Yessir! On my way!" He stumbled backward on rubber legs nearly tripping in his haste to obey.

Once he could no longer hear the Runner's frantic footsteps beating a hasty retreat Levi pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to ward off an imaginary headache.

If four-eyes was calling all hands-on deck, the situation on the Rose side of Wall Sina was more serious than he anticipated. The worst part?

His leg injury wouldn't allow him to participate in the upcoming battle.

Great. Just great. The one time I'm needed and I can't do a damn thing about it.

And that meant the she-wolf would be caught in the crossfire right alongside the 104th Cadet Class. Which he was expected to accompany soon per Erwin's orders.

Frustrated, he punched the solid wood surface of the desk, scattering papers all over the floor.

"Dammit!" He cursed, clenching his teeth in helpless fury. "Damn this cocksucking mission to hell!"

TBC...

Muahaha! Evil cliffie is evil, but things are finally starting to heat up and we're getting closer to Castle Utgard and all the fun times that go with it, lol. Again, big hugs and cyber cookies for the 99 faves, 154 likes and 63 lovely reviewers who make this fic possible and fuel me when I'm low on creative gas. You guys rock! :)