Titan Hunt

The following morning dawned bright and warm. The base was alive with the sounds of people moving around and getting ready to ride out. Levi walked around, checking gear and making sure they had enough equipment to tie down and capture two titans. It was never easy, but he was confident in his team and did not expect too many problems. The group of titans was not too big and so it would be not too difficult to kill most and capture two. He pulled a face at himself, 'In theory anyway' he thought.

Eren was standing with Mikasa and Armin, talking quietly. Levi looked over and watched their intense whispered conversation for a while, but it did not have the time or the energy to wonder what it was about. Hange was walking next to Levi, happily chatting about what she had planned for the titans once they got them back to barracks. She seemed to be in a better mood this morning, so Levi was happy to let her babble on, not wanting a repeat of the mood swings from the day before. He was not sure but there seemed to be tension between Hange and Eren as he saw Eren throwing glances at Hange occasionally and he was sure he had seen Hange scowl in Eren's direction more than once. Whatever the problem was, they needed to pull themselves together.

Finally satisfied that everything was ready and in place, Levi gave the order to mount up and the team prepared to ride out. The atmosphere was tense, yet excited, as it always was prior to an expedition. They all knew the risks and had all seen people die but the adrenaline was flowing and for that moment at least, they felt invincible.

After a short ride, they reached the wooded area from the day before and dismounting they left their horses just inside the tree line. They made sure the horses were inside an area where the trees were closely packed together, hoping it would give them as much protection as was possible when outside the walls. With a nod, Levi raised his arm and signalled them to move up into the trees. As a unit, they glided through the trees towards the more open area where the titans had been the day before. Levi had worried that they would have moved on but, to his relief, they were still milling about and so at least they did not need to do exploring to find more. Levi stood on the same tree branch as he had the day before looking out. He was aware that someone had landed behind him and glanced backwards to see Hange looking over his shoulder.

"You in a better mood today?" he asked.

Hange shrugged, "Yeah, it feels like I am in a much better position today than I was yesterday."

She threw a glance over in Eren's direction and smirked. Levi was facing back towards the titans and was oblivious to the conflict going on between the two of them. Hange took the opportunity to lean forward across Levi's shoulder, her face close to his as she pointed at two of the titans, one big and one small.

"I want those two," she said.

Levi nodded and the message passed back amongst the squad that the two titans Hange had indicated were to be caught whilst the rest could be taken out, as quickly as possible. Before they had set off, Levi had given a briefing and the squad had been divided into killing teams and capturing teams. Levi, Hange, Eren, Mikasa and Armin were responsible for the capture with a couple of other members and the rest of the squad were tasked with killing the titans that remained. Levi hoped that they would be able to carry out the mission without having to rely on Eren taking on his titan form as that tended to draw attention to them but it was useful to have it as a backup should things go wrong.

As they stood watching, one of the larger titans turned its head and spotted them. It began to amble in their direction and so Levi gave the order to start. As one, the group launched themselves at the titans, the killing team hacking at the napes of the titans that needed to be culled. The capture group split into two teams, almost by habit. Levi and Hange going after the smaller one, leaving the larger one to Eren, Mikasa and Armin. The plan was that the more experienced pair would get the smaller titan tied down and then help with the larger one.

Levi and Hange flew towards the smaller titan. Eren was distracted slightly for a moment as he watched them. They worked well together, he had to admit, not talking just getting the job done. Mikasa saw him staring and shouted,

"Pull it together Eren, you are gonna get us killed daydreaming about lover boy!"

Eren scowled at her but realised she was right, and he focused more on the job in hand. The larger titan was not going to be a pushover. Already, it was making swipes with its arms that were coming very close to the cadets. Around them, they could hear the sound of fighting and the occasional grunt as someone got hit by a titan. All they could do was concentrate on their task and hope the others survived.

Behind them, Levi and Hange were on the smaller titan. They worked efficiently, Levi coming in from behind and slashing at the titan's legs.

"Not its tendons," Hange yelled "We need him to be able to walk!"

"I know what I am doing Four Eyes," Levi shouted back.

Hange smiled to herself thinking, 'Suck on it Eren, I have a nickname!"

As Levi, carefully but concisely cut the titans' legs, it began to lose its balance and fell forward and like a tree, toppled forward hitting the ground with a crash. In moments, Hange was there with the restraining ropes and joined by Levi then staked the titan to the ground. Levi looked around and whistled at one of the killing squads.

"Watch his one, we are going to help Eren and the others."

"Yes sir," the cadet replied.

Levi turned to see how Eren and the others were coping and it was not going as well as he had expected. Eren seemed lacklustre in his attacks, distracted almost. Levi looked for Hange who was walking around the fallen titan with a grin on her face.

"Come on Hange, we are not done yet! You can play with them later!"

Hange turned and looked towards where Eren, Mikasa and Armin were and raised an eyebrow slightly.

"What the hell are they doing? They are a right mess out there!" she said.

Levi didn't reply, he just ran and launched himself towards the titan. Hange sighed and followed. It seemed that Eren had realised that things were not going his way and he moved his hand towards his mouth.

"Noooo! Eren we have this and Levi and Hange are coming!" Mikasa shouted.

Eren did not listen, he wanted to prove to Levi he could do this without being rescued. Determined to succeed he bit down onto his hand, transforming into his titan form.

"Damn it" Mikasa shouted, "What are you doing!"

Eren, now larger than the titan they were fighting, moved to intercept it. Levi and Hange moving in to help. Eren moved his eyes and saw them coming from behind him and then something happened. His arm lashed out but it was not the other titan he hit. With a cry of pain, Hange flew backwards, slamming into a tree and falling to the ground.

Mikasa stared at Eren and screamed, "What the hell did you just do? That was Hange!"

Eren did not react, he just stared towards Hange's slumped form. Levi had watched in shock as Eren had hit Hange. From his angle he could not be sure if it had been an accident but something worried him that it had not been. Eren had turned his attention back to the titan and was wrestling it to the ground.

"Get it strapped down," Levi yelled at Mikasa and Armin "Use some of the others and then get Eren the hell out of there. He has some questions to answer."

With that Levi turned and flew to Hange's side, dread settling in his stomach. She was not moving and there was blood across her face.

"Don't be dead Shitty Glasses, don't be dead," Levi muttered, crouching by her side.

To his relief, Hange stirred and opened her eyes slightly, "I'm gonna kill that brat," was all she managed before she passed out again. Levi smiled slightly but the smile dropped as he turned to where Mikasa and Armin were now pulling Eren from the nape of his titan. Levi was more and more convinced that Eren had hit Hange on purpose. Questions needed to be asked ... and answered ...but first things first, they needed to get back behind the walls.

"Everyone get yourself together, we are heading back. Get Hange into a wagon, we move out in five!" Levi shouted.