Sweat clung to Marisol's rattling head while her chest involuntarily tightened to the point of cramping. This was the second time since Clay's death where Marisol had been rocked awake by a nightmare. The first being the last night of the mission, but she blamed her environment for her panic. Somehow these night-terrors felt more frightening in her own bed, in a place of what should be comfort and solace, she found herself falling endlessly in the dark abyss of her own mind.

Between shaken fingers she peaked behind the curtain of the small window above her bed only to find that she had won the contest of rising before the sun.

The visions were always the same: Clay's lifeless body sprawled out on the field, his eyes staring towards the sky, glass-like with lifelessness; these images tortured her. Horrid images of blood and severed limbs singed her brain while delusions of voices calling out to her, screaming at, or with, her became her lullabies.

If her waking hours were hell, then her unconscious mind was a complete dystopia.

When her day would begin to get underway, all this chaos was dulled by the distractions around her. It was as if all her thoughts became muffled, with only the volume, but not intensity, of her fear being stifled. However, it was in moments such as this, alone in her room, when the deafening quiet of transience between night and morning amplified her terror.

The sweat clung to her shirt and felt frozen when the cool air hit it upon leaving her bed. She awkwardly removed the shirt and used a small hand towel to wipe off the excess moisture on her back before putting on something clean.

Marisol avoided her bed, as the thought of closing her eyes and forcing sleep would only result in her mind spinning at a hundred miles an hour. She instead perched herself in the wooden chair before her small desk and waited. She did not know, nor care, whether it was a minute past midnight or a moment before the break of dawn, she would remain where she was, eyes open, hugging her knees against her chest.

She was unsure of what she was experiencing, was it post-traumatic stress disorder? That was a term she had heard used by many scouts, but she could not imagine any of them carrying on the way she had been. Things change behind closed doors, perhaps just as she was, ten other scouts also sat up, hearts pounding, minds screaming and praying for salvation.

Marisol shuffled through the psychological jargon she was familiar with, trying to brand herself with a self-diagnosis as if it would act as the panacea for her sickening dread. She wished she could express how she felt, it was this strange sense of anxiety and impending doom over a 'doom' that had already occurred. It would not take much for anyone to clearly see just how disturbed Marisol was.

She attempted to distract herself through thoughts of the warmth she had felt at Levi's words and lingering glances hours prior. She clung onto that warmth as if it were a balloon that threatened to escape into nothingness.

'You seem to have…aptitudes and have proved yourself to other superiors. I would like to see your skills first-hand'

"He wants to see my skills; he thinks I have talent." Marisol whispered to herself, words that were hollow and only uttered as a placeholder for the deafening quiet.

Yet, she could not bring herself to smile, she could not flush her cheeks in elation. Any glimpse of relief was doused in worry; butterflies in her stomach were overpowered by locusts and maggots that destroyed her from within.

Her overtiredness began to take form with her gaze affixed on the ground unmoving, body shivering and sense of coherence faltering as she could not keep her mind on a single thought for more than a passing second.

Levi...Clay...Survey Corps...Dad...Clay...Titans...Clay...Clay...Clay…

The room slowly began opposing Marisol's demeanour as the thin curtain allowed in rays of the rising sun. As if by some miracle she had been rescued from the brutality of the dark.

That was all that Marisol needed to revert to a distorted sense of normalcy. She ran through her tasks with half a mind, showering, brushing her teeth and getting dressed. When she was buttoning up her pants, she noticed how loose they felt by her waist. She did not intentionally neglect her health, but her appetite shrank at any and all food put in front of her.

With the upcoming mission planned for the next day, Marisol realised that she could not afford to present herself as weak or risk falling ill from fatigue, hunger, or dehydration, so she decided to try stomach at least some food. She made her way to the mess hall, the sounds of chatter growing as she entered through the doorway. Although it was just past sunrise, the hall was full as people sat down for a quick meal before making their way to training or other duties.

Grabbing a plate, she helped herself to a dry piece of toast and a banana; the plainest of items were all she could fathom. Turning to the thermos, she poured herself some hot water and made her way to a nearby table.

Marisol did not have the guts to face her squad yet, it was only after she reflected on her impulsive display of grief that it dawned on her just how deranged she must have appeared. Perhaps after her mission with Levi's squad, she would be comfortable returning to her own with new stories and information that could wash away their current image of her.

For now, she sat with a few young scouts, some recognisable as being in the 99th Cadets Corps with her, and others slightly older and younger. Everyone was chatting and laughing while Marisol silently ate, not having the energy to feign fascination.

"Hey, Marisol," One of the girls opposite her said, trying to get her attention. When Marisol raised her gaze, she noticed it was a girl whose name had completely slipped her mind, without time to rack her brain, the girl continued, "We heard about what happened with Clay, we're really sorry."

Marisol appreciated the condolences but before she could make her thanks known, another girl next to the first, pointed up her fork towards Marisol, waving it around to get her attention while she finished her bite of food. This girl Marisol knew, Emilia Weber, she was also in the cadets and tended to put her nose into situations where that nose did not belong. With an opinion locked and loaded about any and all issues, Marisol hoped Emilia would go easy on the topic at hand.

"Yeah, you know I almost shed a tear when I heard he died. It really is a shame because he was just so handsome. I can't blame you for not letting any girl near him, Marisol, it's always just the two of you, hah, well was until death did you part." Emilia exhaled loudly with a slight eyeroll. Marisol could not help the annoyance she felt at these shallow words.

There was no denying that Clay was a magnet to the female gaze, girls clamoured for him and on occasion he would yield and share a chaste kiss in the dimmed basement hallways, but despite it all he only had eyes for Marisol, and she for him. Yes, he had his crushes and lust as any teenage boy would, but the strictly platonic relation he shared with Marisol, was enough for the both of them.

Yet, that was not the point that Marisol dwelled on. It really is a shame because he was just so handsome. It is a shame Clay died because he was a gentle and kind-hearted man who was brimming with potential and an eagerness to constantly better himself. Marisol hated the idea of people's lasting thoughts of Clay being nothing but a superficial fawning over how he was too good-looking to have died. However, she decided to bite her tongue, there was no need to lambaste the girls, she was sure they had good intentions in what they were saying in spite of it appearing otherwise. Hopefully in time she too could speak of Clay with the same blasé words, without feeling the crushing weight of existence whenever the topic arose.

Simply nodding, Marisol did not have to think of a reply or retort as just as quickly, the girls had turned their attention away to other pressing issues such as bitching about other scouts.

After Marisol had stomached as much food and pointless conversation as she could handle, she made her way back to her room, deciding to tidy up before her mid-morning training session was set to commence. Just as she was beginning to change into something more comfortable for the forthcoming exercise, there was a knock at her door. "Just a minute," She called out, pulling a white t-shirt over her head.

As she opened the door, she noticed it was one of Commander Smith's right-hand men.

"Good morning, the commander has requested your presence, would you be available to meet in his office?" The man asked. Ness had been going easy on Marisol these past days and so she was certain that missing another training session, especially in favour of meeting with the commander would be of no issue.

"Uh, yes I can, let me just grab my jacket." She scrambled to get herself in order, quickly checking her hair in the mirror to ensure she looked presentable. It was not every day that a young scout was granted an audience with someone as high up as Erwin Smith.

As she made her way up some flights of stairs, her nerves became apparent. So much unwanted attention had been brought Marisol's way since that fateful day and not once could she definitively decide whether it was going to be for her benefit or detriment.

Preparing for the worst, Marisol began scripting out her pleas, ready to beg to keep her position in the scouts. She knew her behaviour the other night was unacceptable, but something forced her to hold out hope. Levi had ordered her to join the next mission so she should be secure in her position, if only for that purpose. More than that, she also knew that Commander Smith had a demeanour that strictly opposed Levi, he was level-headed and respected what was fair and just. He would no doubt give her room to appeal and plea her case should she feel strongly enough to.

As the large double doors came into view, doors she had so many times walked past but never had the pleasure, or displeasure for that matter, of being summoned to enter. Her escort opened the door, allowing her in, and announced her arrival to Commander Smith who was deep in concentration reading some pages on his desk. His furrowed brow softened, and a slight smile played at his lips as he pointed to the chairs in front of his large mahogany desk.

"Please, take a seat."

Marisol obliged instantly, looking down and fiddling with her hands awaiting whatever the commander had in mind.

The sound of the door clicking shut welcomed a sigh from Erwin as he leaned back in his chair, crossed one leg over the other and addressed the girl in front of him.

"Marisol Managold, I do not believe we have had a formal introduction beyond your initial swearing in ceremony, which was what? Two years ago?" Erwin said with a bright smile and a slight bunching of his thick eyebrows as he tried recalling the last time the two had personally interacted.

"Yes sir, I remember that day quite well." Marisol replied, offering the commander a look, warm at the thought that crossed her mind.

"How does he not break character for even a second, his smile must be sown into place by the looks of it," Clay whispered to Marisol as they both stood to attention awaiting their turn to meet the commander. "Also, how is no one laughing at those eyebrows, I'm going to have to bite my tongue to contain myself when he gets to us." Clay tried his hardest to stifle a laugh, but he was not quick enough as its contagious energy caused Marisol to bite her lip to contain her own laugh that threatened to escape.

"Shut up, if you get us caught laughing, I think those eyebrows will be the last thing you ever see. The headlines of the paper will read 'Death by Brows'" Marisol whispered back, leaning into Clay slightly so he could her here quiet joke. He let out a chortle that earned him a couple stares from the cadets in front of him.

Marisol and Clay were as happy as could be today and no glare nor anything else for that matter could change their sunny disposition.

Today was an important day for the graduates of the 99th Cadet Corps who had chosen to serve in the Survey Corps, it marked their official induction as scouts. Commander Erwin Smith was personally greeting and welcoming each and every one of the new scouts who stood in rows of ten on the rooftop of the scout headquarters. Marisol could not count how many inductees there were but could guess with certainty that there were well over fifty cadets spanning all divisions.

Marisol did not want to admit it, despite knowing Clay was feeling the exact same way, but the closer the commander moved to where she stood, the greater the bundle of nerves became as it swarmed around her stomach. Commander Smith was not threatening in the slightest, but his perfect image made him an intimidating force in the eyes of the young scouts. His facial structure, hair, and physique were phenomenal, his charisma was effortless and as a leader? Marisol had heard only accolades after accolades wade in at the mention of his name.

After a few more moments of tense standing, the man in question had made his way over to the eager scouts who could not contain their smiles. Clay looked down to Marisol out of the corner of his eye and she responded with a playful quick nudge before once again standing to attention.

Suddenly, Marisol's vision was met by a large chest, causing her to direct her vision upwards.

"Hello, I'm Commander Erwin Smith, what's your name?" The commander's introduction was accompanied by a bright smile and a look of genuine interest behind his bright blue eyes.

In an instant, Marisol moved her right hand from where it was perched on her lower back and placed her fist in position over her heart.

"Marisol Managold, sir!"

"Well Marisol, as commander of the Survey Corps, it gives me the utmost pleasure to welcome you officially as a scout, may you serve with dignity and strength, and as always, dedicate your heart." Erwin looked her straight in the eye, making this induction feel all the more personal, almost as though he had not just said the exact same phrase to thirty other scouts before her.

"Yes sir!" Marisol exclaimed as she took hold of the brown cropped scout jacket that the commander offered her. Her heart skipped a beat as she ran her hand along the embroidery scout emblem that stretched across the back of the jacket. When this ceremony was over, she would refuse to remove the jacket, almost falling asleep in it that first evening.

The commander offered a small nod in her direction before moving on to greet Clay, the same formalities being extended towards the young man.

"Clay Blythe, sir!" Clay's hand audibly landed on his chest, his pride swelling in this moment. However instead of Erwin repeating his rehearsed lines, he stopped in his tracks for a moment, eyes getting wider as he turned to fully face the boy once again.

"Clay…Blythe? Any relation to former Commander Nicholas Blythe?"

"Yes sir, he was my father." Clay had learned how to mask his emotions quite well over the years, he could speak openly and with pride when his father become a topic of conversation.

It was only in the lone company of Marisol where his vulnerability shone through, he openly let himself weep and she would be there, whether through words of comfort or displays of affection; that was the only space where he allowed himself to feel his way through the hardship. However, Clay knew that if he wanted to reach his goal and stand up there with the title his father once held, he had to be in total control of himself and rule over his emotions with an iron fist.

Erwin could have only described this scene unfolding as poetic justice, the Claidheamh Mòr's son and namesake standing before him, with the same blond hair that teetered on white, the height that made him stand out amongst his peers and most of all the complete aura of dedication. It felt surreal and Erwin had to ground himself before his own emotional response could get out of hand.

Running a hand through his hair, Erwin let out a light laugh as he spoke, "I'm at a loss for words right now, the honour and privilege is all mine, your father was a guiding light in everyone's lives, a true man of magnitude. I'm incredibly pleased you decided to follow in his footsteps, I know this can't be easy."

Clay quirked his mouth into a small smile, swallowing audibly before he spoke, a quirk Marisol was all too familiar with when the boy forced himself to suppress his emotions, "It was tough at first, but I take life one step at a time, and with the support system I have, I feel ready to serve the scouts and dedicate my all." Clay let his glance shift from the commander, down to Marisol who in return gave him one of those loving looks of awe at his sentiment.

"That is admirable Clay, very admirable…uhm gosh I almost feel like I'm forgetting what I'm meant to be saying right now," A hearty laugh left Erwin's lips, Clay following suit as his eyes lit up, "Let's see… as commander of the Survey Corps, it gives me the utmost pleasure to welcome you officially as a scout, may you serve with dignity and strength, and as always, dedicate your heart."

That was the first time Marisol had met Commander Smith and his pure respect towards each and every young scout encouraged her to believe that her choice in joining the scouts, albeit against the wishes of her parents, was not made in vain.

"Well, it's never too late to make up for lost time. I assume you are aware of why I called on you today?"

Marisol's heart skipped a beat as she tried to think of a reply. She was not sure what Erwin wanted, an apology? A simple 'Yes, sir'? However, he went ahead and answered his own question for her.

"On behalf of myself, your superiors, and frankly everyone in the Survey Corps, we want to thank you and recognize your heroic actions on our last mission. You rose to the occasion and handled the situation like a seasoned veteran."

Although the blush was unintentional, Marisol could not stop herself from letting out a slight huff and a shake of her head, "I appreciate the sentiment sir, I truly do but how can you praise my actions if they caused the death of an innocent scout, a scout who…no doubt deserved the right to live far more than I ever could." Marisol bit her lip hard, a small amount of blood began to draw but it only prompted her to bite harder as she did not want to break down in front of yet another superior.

"Ugh, I really, uhm, I really did not want to cry or anything in front of you, I'm sure Captain Levi already informed you of…everything, but I just can't stop thinking about that day. I heard the screams of pure terror, I wanted to stop what I was doing and go help but…but I'm dumb and stupid and selfish and am not deserving of any praise you have to give me." There it was, Marisol once again had let the waterworks display themselves as she furiously rubbed at her eyes to force the tears back.

Erwin only sighed as he clasped his hands and leaned forward with his elbows on his desk. For a while he did not speak, all that could be heard was the slight tap of his foot, the tick of a nearby clock and of course, Marisol's light weeping.

Erwin got up from his seat, walking to the back corner of his office, behind where Marisol was seated. His voice reverberated around the office, "It never gets any easier but blaming yourself only makes everything feel so much worse. Clay Blythe was a good soldier and a good man; he had a lot going for him and it really is unfortunate. You know, sometimes bad things just happen to good people, I wish it weren't true and I wish every one of my scouts could be invincible but we're fighting for the greater good. Casualties are to be expected in our line of work but it's those very deaths that have to fill us with determination to uncover what those titans really are and put an end to them."

When Erwin returned, she felt his hand gently lay on her shoulder while the other offered her small glass.

"Here, drink some water." Erwin did not return back to his seat behind his desk, instead settling in the open chair next to Marisol in front of his desk. It was a sign of comfort, he appeared at that moment as her equal instead of a commander.

With shaky hands, Marisol gripped the glass and took a small sip as she tried to steady her breathing.

"I only wish I had spoken to you sooner; I hate to think that you've been holding all this in. Levi had not mentioned anything when I last spoke to him so I'm sorry for being unaware of the toll this has taken on you." Marisol simply nodded at his words, the pent-up tension in her shoulders releasing at the thought of Levi not having reported her actions.

There was a slight tug in Marisol's chest, she was grateful yet confused as to why Levi spared her dignity and went even further to create space for her in his squad's mission? Maybe she was reading too much into it but if she had the chance, she would ask Levi in the coming days.

"I did, however, speak with Dieter Ness, which is of course how I came to learn of Clay's passing as well as the close relation you had with him. I hope you do not take me for being insensitive but this isnt the first time the lethality of our duties has torn apart budding love and romance. I have always had the sentiment that work and leisure require total separation, it's just too much of a risk with our lives being on the line at all times."

Marisol lightly shook her head as she responded, "Sir, my relationship with Clay was purely platonic but that being said, it doesn't hurt any less having him…not here. My brain cannot grasp the idea of this emptiness, we were like this," Marisol crosses her index and middle finger as she held her hand up to Erwin's line of vision, "I mean I even joined the Survey Corps because of him, not once before I met Clay did I even entertain this idea but…I don't know, this is where I find myself now, alone and afraid and I don't know, I just don't know."

Marisol sniffled back what remained of her running nose as she heard the commander's voice once again.

"I know my reassurance may not mean much right now but for what it's worth, that day, you acted just as you should have, you did all you could and saved so many more lives from being lost. Ness confirmed it for me, you really are a marvel when you get out there. I guess I should not be so surprised, you did graduate towards the top of your class and I, personally, could not be more grateful that you, through whatever motivation be it Clay or anything else, took up a position in the scouts instead of working in the military police. If you are able to keep up this excellent work, and I know soon enough you will be, there is definitely a bright future for you here, possibly captaining your own squadron one day." Erwin delivered this small speech without as much as a shift in his eye contact. His words were earnest, and his eyes shone with the praise of a loving parent, a concept that was vague to Marisol at this point in time.

Marisol did not realise how much she needed those words of genuine affirmation. It was a strange sensation that she began to experience as a small smile played on her lips.

"Thank you, commander, I can't express how much your words mean to me. I really do not want to let you down. It's going to be hard I can't deny that, but for your sake, for mine, for Clay, I will do it, I'll—hah, I'll dedicate my heart." Marisol let out a short, breathy laugh as she placed her warm, comforting palm over her heart instead of the usual harsh fist.

Erwin once again had his charming and youthful smile back on his face as he nodded along with his next words, "I have no doubt about it, but for now please take whatever time you need to feel your way through this experience, my worst fear would be for you to try suppress this and have it all become too much one day. I can make some light work available for you in the base if that is what you would prefer going forward, I completely understand if being back in the field-environment is too much to manage for the time being."

Marisol could not believe the complete contrast in the way Erwin's words functioned as a warm embrace while Levi's had now felt like nothing more than a cold shoulder. Still, had to give Levi credit where it was rightfully due, because as much as Erwin's words were kind and understanding, Levi gave her a space of security in her most vulnerable moment, allowing her to take refuge in his most personal of spaces.

"Once again, commander, I really appreciate the sentiment but no I think I will be fine to continue in the active duty. Captain Levi actually informed me yesterday that I would be joining his squad on the next mission, and before you raise any reservations, I think it would actually be beneficial, instead of me sitting here just rotting in my room from despair." Marisol felt slightly lighter than she had when she first walked in, light enough to attempt a self-deprecating joke.

Erwin managed a slight smile as he huffed some air out his nose in response. He would not let his mind wander off completely in thought while Marisol was still in the room, yet he could not help but wonder what prompted Levi to call on Marisol for his mission. This was not in Levi's nature; he would never voluntarily take in a young scout to join his squad without being ordered to do so. Erwin knew Levi had no patience for scouts who lacked experience.

Without letting his eyebrow cock up any further than it already had, Erwin extended some final words as both he and Marisol stood. He guided her to the door as he spoke, "Alright, I trust you will be doing whatever is in your own best interest, but my offer still stands and will continue to for as long as you need. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me, my door may often be closed but for certain scouts, you included, consider there to be an open-door policy."

"Thank you, sir, really you have been more than caring, it's almost as if you were born to be in this position." Marisol chuckled as she gazed up at the tall man.

"Well, I'd be nothing without all the impassioned people in our division, and so I mean it when I say to take care of yourself."

Marisol nodded at the words, giving Erwin a final look before leaving the office.

Out of all the outcomes she could have expected from this meeting with Erwin, a renewed vigour was not one of them (a naïve thought as Marisol was keenly aware of just how magnetic Erwin and his vivacity were) . Although the subconscious was realised that these feelings of pride and camaraderie were in flux, she allowed herself to bask in this enjoyable mood, the seed of acceptance beginning to take root. The route from roots to blossoming nature took time and so would coming to terms with Clay's death.

Her mind began chanting a mantra as she roamed the halls: a day at a time, that is all it takes.

Marisol once again awoke the next morning to a dark room that carried with it a sense of foreboding. However, it was no nightmare that caused her to stir, there was a new sense of anxiety that coursed through Marisol's veins, an anxiety that, at the right angle, could be mistaken for excitement.

Today was the day that Marisol would be joining Levi's squad for their mission to the former Survey Corps headquarters. Her mind raced as intrusive thoughts interrogated her psyche.

What if you prove to be nothing but a feeble excuse of a scout compared to Levi's squad?

What if he is disappointed and regrets bringing you along?

What if it is all too much and you reach the end of your tether, break down irretrievably, become the shell of the woman you once were?

That last thought scared Marisol the most because the anticipation of this mission has led to the build-up of an irrational fear: the fear of her own mortality. This upset Marisol greatly and she knew the minute she returned back to her frigid quarters after speaking with Erwin that his words were a mere placebo effect. Yet, she held out hope that they would be enough stave off her dread for a while longer. She wanted nothing more than to lull in that safety blanket of believing she was strong enough to move forward but it felt like the loftiest of goals.

If a brave face is what is expected of her, then a brave face she shall put on.

Despite the sky still draping in darkness, there were muted conversations to be heard as Levi's Squad awoke before the break of dawn to begin their mission. Marisol walked towards the group, feeling out of place as everyone's close bonds became apparent. Deciding to make herself useful, Marisol headed to the nearby stables to fetch her horse, Butternut, a striking chestnut stallion with a mane so luscious, it was almost enviable.

"Look who it is, my favourite boy," Marisol whispered as she stroked the horse's head sticking out of the locked stable door, "Let's get you ready, today's an important day we have to be on our very best behaviour and put on quite the performance." Butternut let out a soft neigh as he nuzzled into her hand.

Marisol worked quickly on unlocking the door and leading Butternut out to join the rest of the Special Operations squad. These scouts were legends in Marisol's eyes and to be amongst them sparked a shiver down her spine. The squad were all mounted on their horses, not yet in any formation as they continued their conversations and laughs. Marisol mounted her horse and began to trot around aimlessly, not wanting to tread where she was not welcome, she did not want to overstep the boundaries, seeking asylum on the side lines.

However, her presence did not go unnoticed. After a few glares and confused looks sent her way, Marisol heard a gallop heading in her direction.

"Hey, can we help you with something? As far as I'm aware we weren't expecting any guests." The young woman spoke to Marisol with a look of genuine concern, no sign of accusation to be found in her words.

"O-oh, uhm, Captain Levi requested that I join his squad on your mission today? My name is Marisol...o-or Managold, that's my surname, the captain may have mentioned me by my surname...if he did mention me at all that is. I even brought the mission itinerary letter with me just so you know I am actually meant to be here, its somewhere...somewhere in my bag, gosh I think I packed too much." The nervousness of being in a place where she did not belong was evident in Marisol's incessant rambling.

"Breathe, just breathe, it's alright I believe you; captain didn't mention anything to us but I'm sure he has his reasons. He'll probably explain when he gets here. I'm Petra it's nice to meet you Marisol, you have a really pretty name." Petra let out a light chuckle as she smiled warmly towards Marisol, causing the girl to visibly relax.

Petra needed no introduction, she was well liked by all, young scouts adored her. Clay in particular was head over heels for Petra, always running straight to Marisol with a blush across his face when he received so much as a passing smile from her in the hallway. More than her beauty and grace, Petra was a damn good scout with a notorious titan-slaying record, she was just the type of person Marisol longed to be.

"Thank you, Petra." Marisol sheepishly responded, feeling slightly flushed herself.

"Come, we can ride together when we get going, I don't think it will be that long of a trip, I'm sure in about 2 or 3 hours we will arrive." Petra motioned her hand, calling Marisol to where she sat atop her horse.

After a few waves and quick introductions, Marisol settled in to listen to the passing conversations. It was nice hearing the banter between these scouts, the ability to forge light out of the murky waters through which they tread.

She had never felt complete camaraderie with her own squad, at no fault of her captain who always tried his hardest to urge for solidarity. Ness's squad was best described as a halfway house, some viewed it as merely an intermediary between being a recruit and rising to the level of Levi and Hange's squads, while others settled as it was better than being a wagon-driver responsible for carrying dead bodies during missions. Despite falling closer to the first category, Marisol was very much content working under Ness, he was encouraging, supportive and almost protective over her as she was by far the youngest scout in his squadron.

This display of friendship in front of her was nice though, Marisol thought, and perhaps it would have made what happened with Clay just that much easier to cope with. Everyone here was Marisol's senior by at least a couple of years, and she can only imagine the hardships they must have endured together, that was a topic she could bring up with Petra if her initial niceties proved to go further than mere courteousness.

The conversations died out as the scouts gazed right over Marisol's head at whatever distraction had halted them in their tracks.

Without as much as needing to turn around, a familiar voice spoke.

"Sorry for keeping you all waiting, Blondie was chewing my ear off with last minute details." There were smirks and short chuckles from the captain's infamous snarky tone.

As Levi trotted around to perch his horse in front of the rest of the squad, his gaze landed upon Marisol, eyes locking. Even if she wanted to look away, she was transfixed in that moment, enough so that the scouts followed the direction of Levi's gaze and poured even more attention towards the nervous young scout.

"Alright everyone, listen up," Levi shouted, breaking the gaze as he mounted his horse and waited for everyone to fall into formation. Petra gave Marisol a quick glance and pointed to the empty spot on the formation's edge where Marisol was able to slot.

"We're going the usual route, the same as last time except when we are near Ehrmich, Eld and Gunther, you must find your way to the police brigade and ensure they have a holding cell available for any thugs we may encounter at the base." The two scouts that were named shouted an affirmative towards Levi.

Levi turned his horse to face the exiting dirt road and spoke with his back to the squad, "Oh, and she will be joining us for our mission, so don't bite…I'm talking to you Oruo," Levi dashed away on his horse, leaving Oruo free to send Marisol flirtatious wink. With immediacy she tugged on the reigns and galloped away from the awkward interaction.

Marisol could not help but internally balk at the way Levi referred to her, not even uttering her name. She knew he was hard to read and the young scouts, despite marvelling at him and his popularity, constantly joked of his tactless nature, but this made her feel so insignificant. Levi must have been the most capricious person Marisol had ever met, with his selfless knight in shining armour act giving way to blatant insolence. If it were not for her inferior position and current lack of willpower, she would have stood up to him in a heartbeat, giving him a piece of her mind. But not now. Now she was just as feeble as he made her feel. All she could do was focus on keeping up the pace, the whirring wind serving as a welcomed distraction.

It was a long journey to the old headquarters, Petra's merriment over how quick it would be proved incorrect, to Marisol at least. Luckily, Marisol spent the entirety of the previous evening familiarising herself with the mapped-out route, not wanting to lag behind. And thank goodness she did for the long and winding forests paths were a labyrinth unto themselves.

Yet, the sight before her was worth breaking the sweat. She did not know what to expect, perhaps something similar to the current base but slightly antiquated. She was not anticipating a lavish castle with ornate windows that overlooked views of forests and lakes. In one word it was entrancing.

"The stables are to the left, lead your horses there and meet me at the front entrance, you all stick together in case were ambushed when we enter." Levi instructed the special operations squad before lightly trotting his horse towards the back of the castle, inspecting for signs of intrusion.

Levi was not surprised when he noticed multiple windows were smashed in on the back facing walls and sensed immediately that this was a greater threat than just a single vagrant having drunkenly stumbled their way into the castle.

Making his way over to the stables, he dismounted his horse, giving it a final pat on the nose as he made his way to the rest of the squad.

"Alright everyone, keep your wits about you, I don't think they can out skill us but if they have weapons, things could get interesting to say the least." Without more needing to be said, Levi began to walk towards the large entrance with the squad in tow.

Marisol fell into line as she walked alongside Petra. She felt her nerves prick up and just hoped that her muscle memory would kick in should she need to fight. She wished she could walk with the same confidence and prowess of the scouts beside her. She imagined that she must have had that same look of coolness when she insisted on helping with the abnormal titan, feeling invincible, only to be reminded of certain mortality moments later.

Marisol was not about to wallow in self-reflection, she needed to focus on the task at hand. As everyone entered, Levi turned back and raised a finger to his mouth to ensure everyone remained quiet. There was scuttering and muttering heard from within the walls, multiple voices in differing directions, but no indication of just how many there were.

As everyone made their way through the entry hall, the voices got louder but instantly vanished after Oruo stepped on a creaking floorboard. Levi's eyes must have done a full 360 by how hard he rolled them, but he would save his words for a more opportune time.

"Who's there?" A voice shouted out from the end of the hallway, behind a closed door.

"We're with the Survey Corps, we were informed of illegal occupiers taking refuge in our former headquarters, so we are going to need for you all to vacate the premises in the next 30 minutes, pack your belongings and be on your way." Levi shouted out in the direction where the first voice was heard.

Levi leaned his shoulder on the nearest wall, fidgeting with his belt buckle as he awaited a response. Quiet mumblings were heard but no answer was received.

"Listen, I'm not hear to play games, someone better step out of that room before I force you out."

Again, mumbling was heard but no action was taken to reveal themselves. Being a man with a short fuse, Levi had had enough and walked his way towards the door where the people remained in hiding.

All the while, Marisol felt her heart race, she prayed the people would peacefully come out the room and declare their intentions of leaving but she knew those were slim chances.

As she looked beside her, Eld, who had ventured onto his own quest to secure a holding cell in the case that arrests were to be made, now stood with a length of rope, appearing ready to tie down whoever was behind that door, should tensions escalate.

As everyone kept their eyes trained on Levi, they watched him slowly lay his hand over the door handle, gently twisting, intent on getting to the bottom of what was going on. However, at that very moment, the door burst open and if it were not for Levi's precise reaction speed, he would have been steamrolled.

The culprits emerged, three burley men with angered looks and tight fists. Their clothes were dirt-laden and their gruffy beards were matted from the passage of time. They were large, larger than anyone on the squad, height towering and expression sneering.

"Typical Survey Corps scum, their intimidation tactic is sending in a little puppy," One of the men said, looking Levi up and down with a dark laugh. "Come on runt, don't be all bark, I want to feel the bite." He emphasised his words through an exaggerated chomping motion in Levi's direction.

Levi appeared unfazed as he scoffed at the man. Anyone who knew Levi was well aware of the fact that nothing could ever pose a tangible threat to him, no matter how much someone outsized him, Levi was able to beat them to a pulp without difficulty. He looked down and noticed that two of three men stood with blades of some sort in their hands. An unhinged man with a deadly weapon was not an unfamiliar sight, he was accustomed to people like this during his youth, and so despite the threat, he felt assured in his abilities.

"I'm feeling generous today, so you get one final ultimatum: leave now or I beat the shit out of you." Levi stood his ground despite the man looming over him.

"Beat the shit out of me? I'd like to see you tr-" The man was interrupted by a roundhouse punch to the head as Levi came out swinging. Blood splattered the wooden floor, yet Levi paid no mind, his assault only just beginning.

Everyone then sprang into action, Oruo collided his fist with one of the other men's chests but just as quickly was tackled to the ground requiring Gunther and Eld to assist him by pulling the man away.

Petra on instinct came to Levi's aid as she tried to dislodge the knife out of the man's large hand.

This left Marisol standing still as her eyes connected with the only other foe in the room. The man was bulky with large muscles poking out of his well-worn shirt. His beard was unruly and the look in his eye was that of a man without sanity, the image was only intensified by the small dagger he wielded. He took menacing steps towards Marisol as he gave her a look that could be described as a smile but read as pure evil. Marisol wished she did not shake as much as she did when lifting her fists in a boxing stance, keenly aware of the closing distance between them. Involuntarily she took a small step back as she stretched her neck to look up at the man before her.

"I don't think this is a fair fight, but then again when is anything fair?" Without any warning he lurched forward, dagger pointed threateningly. Marisol was grateful that her reflexes had not failed her yet as she instantly ducked down and avoided a rendezvous with death. Stumbling into the wall, the man used his empty hand to steady himself while Marisol slipped out from under his arm to reposition behind him. With all the strength she had, she struck the heel of her foot against his back forcing him flush against the wall.

Quickly she bolted to his hand with the goal of grabbing the knife, but he too was sharp despite his ragged appearance. Using his hand on the wall as leverage, he backed himself into Marisol causing her to lose footing. In that moment of weakness, he turned and pushed his knife towards her, aiming for her stomach but completely misdirecting and instead slashing a thin cut down the side of her forearm. The pain was sudden, and her arm throbbed instantly, stinging like the burn of one hundred lashings; she was in agony.

She could not stop, she needed that knife out of his hand and into hers, knives were her weapons of choice, an adept skill she honed over the years, and she knew for the sake of her own life as well as everyone else in Levi's squad, she could prove to be useful by brandishing the weapon.

Fighting through the ache, she used her non-dominant hand to lay a punch directly on the man's Adam's apple. He instantly reached his free hand to grasp onto his throat while dry-heaving, and thus presented an opportunity for Marisol to grip onto his other arm and twist it behind his back, muscles pulled, tendons stretched to the maximum. He let out a yelp that was stifled from the previous knock to his throat. His hand became shaky as the awkward position compressed his nerves and with that opening, Marisol took hold of the knife and carefully placed the tip of it on the back of his neck, applying just the right amount of pressure as a threat.

"I guess you were right, this wasn't a fair fight," Her words were venomous, surprising even herself as the adrenaline took over, yet she knew her threat would not last without backup, "Eld! I need you to tie him up, hurry!"

Although she held power over the large man through digging the knife ever so slightly into his skin, enough to scare him but leave no more than a light scratch, she knew that he could just as easily overpower her with his advantage of physical strength.

Eld's aid came just in time as he did as he was told, forcing the man to his knees before gripping his hands together and tightly winding the rope around, tight enough to burn the skin from the friction.

With a small thanks and a deep breath, Marisol noted that the other men had been similarly restrained. In contrast, the special operations squad stood tall, no signs of injury or weakness to be detected.

What else Marisol failed to notice was the genuine shock Levi felt as he had watched her take on this man almost double her size. The way she held the knife with its handle sticking out between her forefinger and thumb, wielding it like a pro as she flipped it in her hand, wiped off the blood and placed it in her back pocket as if it were second nature. A delicate flower from Mitras fighting ruthless and dirty played on, and with, his mind for longer than he cared to admit.

"The coast is clear, Eld, get the wagon ready, these pieces of shit can rot in that cell until they have their day in court. Everyone else, let's make our way upstairs, I can only imagine the state of those chambers." Levi visibly shivered at the thought of the dirt and muck awaiting them. Levi turned towards the stairwell as everyone followed and the once rowdy environment fell silent with the exception of the occasional grunts of the fettered men.

Wanting to get out of the vicinity, Marisol scurried quietly to a further corridor beyond the stairs. She needed to dress her wound that was worse than what she initially thought. Her right sleeve was drenched in blood, a slight mix with the few drops from the man she fought, but as she lifted up her sleeve the gash was ghastly. Although not too deep, it was large and bound to leave a scar from her elbow down towards her wrist.

"Fuck," Marisol whispered as she pulled the bloody sleeve back over and attempted applying pressure to the wound by tightly wrapping her hand over the sleeve where the cut lay. She squeezed her eyes shut and bit her lip, the pressure doing its job although causing her to shake from the pain it brought along with it.

All that Marisol allowed herself to focus on were the sounds of the men thudding against the ground, resisting Eld's attempt at dragging them to the cart, hoping the distraction would lower the threshold of the pain.

Yet, in the end, it would not be that noise of dragging bodies nor cursing men that numbed the pain away.

Before she could comprehend what was happening, Marisol's throat closed up as she felt a hand clasp over her neck from behind. Another snaked itself over her waist as she was pulled flush against the hard chest of a person behind her.

"Try scream and I break that pretty neck of yours."

A/N

Hello everyone! Thank you all for reading and supporting thus far, this is my longest chapter and also my first time uploading simultaneously to both FFN and AO3 so that's great.

Anyway, this chapter took a while, I had planned on breaking it up into two but when I spoke with my pseudo-beta (more of a sounding board than a proof-reader), he suggested that I run with it and write in my cliff-hanger instead of cutting the chapter off after the Erwin scene (which I love so much, if I may just add :3). So yeah, I tried to write this in the most interesting way possible albeit no romance or longing gazes and I'm happy with it. When I tell you the burn is slow, I mean it, but the next chapter will hold some nice moments…interesting moments hahaha.

Anyway, I would love love love to hear your feedback, about what you think is going to happen, any critiques you have/anything you particularly liked. Every little bit helps as it allows me to craft this story in a way where you, the reader, will find most enjoyment with it.

Next update will be out next weekend so sit tight!

Until next time, xoxo