Hello! So... This is a rather chonky chapter! Just kinda worked out that way. I could've split it but... bugger it, have some extra.

Fair warning, after the 4th of November I will be away on a long trip for 3 weeks. I MAY upload during that time, but I will not guarantee it. If I don't, the blank spot will be from the 5th of Nov till I then hopefully get back to uploading on the 2nd of December. Just to warn you! Might upload, likely not, as I'll be chilling on my travels.

Well they couldn't claim to not know the danger now at least…

Stohess sat in ruins. The Female Titan, Annie Leonhart, was encased in crystal. Eren was recovering. And the rest of us were reeling at what had almost been revealed within the wall, while our Commander was dragged into a council meeting to explain his actions. Would he be arrested? And beyond that, there was colossal Titans inside the walls. Probably hundreds of them. Who the fuck cared about a council meeting?! My feet wouldn't stop fidgeting as we sat outside that small room, vaguely hearing the bureaucratic rumblings of those tiny men. Merchants, politicians, small minds only thinking of profit. I shook my head. Maybe not. Maybe some of them had been woken up when Maria fell, maybe. I could hope. I guess.

What a fucking mess…

The meeting continued. The council members were getting heated, their outrage and panic getting worse as the meeting continued. No doubt the Commander's cool composure was unnerving to them. And in the face of so much upheaval, I could understand that. A lot had happened. A lot had changed. The interior civilians likely thought of Titans as some detached threat, a story of some kind. They had no tangible grasp on the threat. Until now. Beyond that, the council now had to contend with the fact they couldn't rely on the interior people's apathy. They hadn't that luxury anymore. It was hard to be apathetic about the beasts that had demolished your house and crushed your children.

The queasiness had subsided at last, my stomach finally stopped churning. We were all being told to hush up about the Titans in the wall, to not cause panic and distrust. I jolted. I put my hand over my mouth. Titans in the wall. What? Like that was to be expected or something. And yet it felt familiar. I closed my eyes and put my head in my hands, raking back into the past. Find it. Why did I know this? When had Vincent talked about this? When had I known? And why the hell had I forgotten? Find it. Find it. But there wasn't anything else to grab hold of. No voices. No images. Just the notion of don't let the sunshine hit its dead eyes. Just like that priest had been wailing about.

Why had I known the same information as a Wallist?

Keza wasn't allowed within the army compound for the time being, but she had stayed with Hanji and the priest. Mainly to stop Hanji butchering the man, I think. Perhaps the priest was one of Keza's clients? Or she knew him in some other way. Regardless, she had offered to babysit, and no one saw a reason why not to. She could be trusted, and right now we needed all the help we could get.

"Robyn?"

I jolted at the sound of Armin's voice, nearly falling off my seat before he clasped my shoulder and steadied me. Jean was a few paces behind him, giving me a soft smile. I must have looked a mess.

"Sorry boys, did you need something?" I stood up and brushed myself down. "The Commander and the Captain are still in the meeting with the council so–"

"It's fine, it was you we wanted to check in with anyway."

"Right, how can I help?"

Jean smirked. "Not what we meant. Just came from Eren's room and we wondered how everyone else was getting on. You didn't try and jump into the fight or anything did you?"

"Nah, I behaved." I sighed, my injuries from the Female Titan mission still aching. I nodded along the corridor, away from the meeting room. "Take a walk with me?"

"Gladly." Armin smiled and we walked out into the courtyard. The afternoon light was wearing on, skies would soon turn pink. Another day of madness. "Have you heard what's been done with Annie?"

"The Female Titan, you mean." I watched how they both flinched and I couldn't help but sigh a little at them. "You knew her as a cadet, I get the bond that creates between people, but she wasn't who she presented herself as."

Armin nodded. "O-Of course. I just wish we'd been able to talk to her more, to know why–"

"Can't say it would change much."

Armin looked unconvinced, while Jean was just nodding and looking to the side – in agreement but now happy about it. No one beyond Wall Cina could really claim to have had an easy life by this point, but I got the feeling neither of them had ever really been betrayed by people before. Not on this scale anyway. It was easy for me to lose sight of the fact that not everyone knew or believed people to be fundamentally bastards, until proven otherwise.

"Look guys… I don't mean to be harsh, but can you honestly think of any reason that would justify the Scouts she butchered on the mission, and now the civilians as well? All to kidnap Eren."

Their eyes met the floor.

I sighed. "I'm not scolding you or anything, I just don't want you hoping for some kind of favourable resolution to this. It's only going to get more ugly."

Jean frowned. "How?"

I shrugged. "Not sure, but it almost always does when–"

WHAM!

A member of the garrison smashed into me, sending us both toppling to the ground in groaning heaps. What the hell? That's not going to help my healing. I was helped to my feet by Armin, while Jean helped the human canon ball to his feet.

He struggled free though and kept running.

"Oi! Where the hell's the fire?"

He looked back briefly. "Wall Rose has been breached!"

My hand, which had been reaching after him, lingered mid-air, now shaking and clenching into a fist. Jean and Armin went still. Anyone else that had heard in the courtyard either froze up or looked to each other in panic. Wall Rose. Breached. Titans pouring into cities, consuming people building by building. Desolation. Broken homes. Abandoned teddy bears. Not again. Please no, not again, not when we were just starting to learn, starting to make headway. Please.

"Get your gear on." I breathed, eyes glued to the now flung open meeting door. My heart climbed my throat. "Boys. Now."

They both jolted.

I swallowed hard. "Gear up. Until we know what's happening we assume the worst. Get going!"

They jumped into action and rushed away, leaving me there in my broken state, unable to do much more than bark orders. The council members began to appear, most of them looking lost, while the Commander and my Captain appeared looking driven and ready to act. But Levi couldn't fight yet. Not in his condition. They both nodded to me and so I fell into step beside my Captain, well aware of that slight limp still in his stride, as well as my own mobility issues. Neither of us were going to be of much help if this was true. But then again, when push came to shove, we might have to fight. That or lay down and die, and neither of us were going to do that.

The skies began to darken.

Levi tapped his foot impatiently, and the Commander paced the small room we had been given to await further information. The want to act was there of course, but what could we do without knowing more? There was no point in thinning out our soldier numbers by blindly sending them all over the place. We needed information in order to plan. No doubt the Commander had several options running around his mind, depending on what the initial reports said as soon as they were given. Not that this did much to avoid me losing my mind in the meantime.

What had happened to the rest of the 104th? They were within the Wall Rose plains. Would Mike be able to keep them safe? And himself? I felt sick to my stomach at not being there to help. Then again, had I stayed with them, I would have been dead weight if they had to make a speedy get-away.

Finally we got the go ahead to head as far as Ehrmich, as that land had been decreed as safe. Squads had been sent out further to check the walls, looping round to eventually meet one another, or the carnage. I just hoped they were able to get onto the walls when that happened. There was no point in dying in the dark, squealing at the deaf night sky. I helped get supplies into the wagons, and then ensured Eren was safely on board along with Mikasa and Armin. We would be keeping a close eye on Eren for the time being. A breach could mean the Female Titan was indeed working with the other two and they had now begun to make their play. It could be that all three were after Eren in the end. Or, they were rivals somehow. It was all so unclear. But what we did know, was that we had to stick together.

And for now, that included the priest and Keza. It felt bizarre to be including civilians in this mess, but he might have important information concerning the hidden Titans, and I didn't fancy leaving Keza to the mercy of Garrison or MPs should shit go down.

I sat at the front with Moblit, glad to at least be on the move, but finding myself reeling as Armin and Hanji discussed theories and confirmations. The walls were potentially filled with Titans. How? When? Why the hell did no one know about this? We had only been within the walls for a hundred years right? Surely some folks had grandparents who had known folks around at that point? It made no sense. A secret that big wouldn't be kept. Not by sheer 'don't go blabbing'. My head swum with the possibilities. And that creeping nausea of familiar information was rising up the back of my throat again. What a day.

"This asshole knew?" Eren demanded, the priest of the Walls sat there looking oh-so-solemnly down at his lap. Not a word came out of him. And yet something was familiar about his damned face. Why was it I felt so close to this information?

His eyes caught mine and he looked away immediately, knuckles going pale.

I turned in my seat and glared. "You know me?"

His lips pursed tight.

The rest of the wagon looked to me with question. I sighed. "Look I had that weird sense of de ja vu about the wall, right? And now this ass seems vaguely familiar and he can't look at me without looking ready to shit himself."

"You thought you might know about the walls?" Armin asked and I shook my head.

"No it was more… When we saw her making for the walls… I got all queasy like when we were on the mission."

The priest looked affronted. "You mean to insinuate your heathen father–" he stopped himself and looked down again, jaw tight and knuckles so pale I thought they might split.

I clambered from my seat, back into the wagon.

"Oi." Levi barked. "You'll split a damn stitch, sit down."

"Numbnuts…" Keza scolded, glaring.

I gripped the Priest's collar. "What the fuck do you know about Vincent Sanshi's shitty work? C'mon. Spit it out. He didn't have a damned religious bone in his body, so why would you know about him?"

"Please." He garbled. "I cannot say!"

"Can't or won't?"

"Please!"

"Fuck sake." I chucked him back into his seat. "Useless shit. Pray to this, wail at that, but when you could actually help achieve something, suddenly you wanna shut up? Nice."

"It is bigger than what I want."

"Mm, but not your own self-importance." I hissed, clambering back into my seat and breathing deep through my nose, the queasiness rearing its head again, making my spine tremble.

Levi leaned close to me and spoke into my ear. "Watch it, Brat, you're still recovering. Don't think I didn't see that waver. One way or another we'll get the information, right now I just need you to keep your cool."

I swallowed. "Do my best, sir."

A click sounded and I peered round to see the glint of a gun in Levi's hand, pointed at our priest companion. My Captain's eyes were cold. "Beyond anything else, there's more than one way to get at the truth."

The kids were all shocked silent, and I had to admit it had been a while since I had seen this side to my Captain. In a strange way, it was gratifying to see it again. Nothing could stop him when he was like that. Keza looked mildly impressed.

He continued. "Granted I may not be in top form at the moment myself, but it doesn't take much strength to squeeze a trigger. That said, I'm genuinely hoping we don't have to blow a hole in you to settle this. How about you?"

"Threatening him doesn't work, Levi. Trust me on that." Hanji sighed, and despite not having seen it myself, I had heard a few reports on how she had dangled the man off the wall by the scruff of his collar. My badass scientist. But still, if a plummet of the wall didn't shake the man's resolve, I doubted even seeing the state of the people of Rose would move him. Bastards could be stubborn like that. But then Hanji made another point and I felt sick to my stomach all over again. "Makes me wonder though… If he's unwilling to talk, what in heaven's name is he putting before the fate of humanity?"

I swallowed hard. "Better be good. Then again, we might not be alive long enough to know about it."

"A cheery thought." Levi sighed, leaning close to me again. "You look pale, do you need to sit back here, lie down even?"

"I'm always pale."

"You know what I mean, Brat. Seriously, you look ill."

"I'm fine." I waved him off despite how the pain had been bubbling behind my eyes for the past ten minutes. It was just an information overload. That was all. I was fine. We certainly didn't have time for me to be anything else. Keza ran her hand up and down my back, and it helped a little.

The skies continued to darken and the torchlight did less and less to bite back the night.

Hanji kept staring at her shiny rock, and yet more revelations came pouring out into the open. I leaned forward and put my head in my hands as the information slid into place. Bit by bit. More and more. So not only were the walls filled with Titans, they had been made by Titans? With Titan skin? Shit on a stick this made no sense. Why would Titans be protecting us from other Titans? Then again… My gaze landed on Eren. We already had a Titan working with us against the other ones, right? My head swum.

"So I could… Patch the hole in Rose?" Eren breathed after Hanji posed the possibility, making my whole body shiver. Not in revulsion, no. But in worry. So much pressure on Eren, who thus far had struggled to even transform, let alone use some kind of skin hardening ability. One we hadn't seen other than on the Female Titan. Things were moving so fast. And if we managed that? Maria was in sight. Fucking hell. It was hard to keep track of what was good news, bad news and simply new news.

"We're coming up on the town." Moblit announced and true enough the torches lining the gate reached high on the upcoming wall.

Were we safe? Was anyone safe?

Refugees poured through the town; families carrying their lives in their hands, children looking exhausted as they clung to their parents, young couples staggering along as their lives were thrown into total chaos. And Levi made the priest watch. Good. I didn't have the stomach to put in the hard knocks right now. But he did. Levi turned the screw like a pro, and the priest was wavering. That much was clear. It was hard to see his dirty work up close, clearly. A bastard with a conscience? Bad combo. For him.

While he and Levi took the scenic route, we all got supplies off wagons and sorted ourselves for the continuing journey. It wasn't clear to me how far me and Levi would be going or not. I wanted to be involved. My home was under threat. But I didn't know how much use I would be. At least Eren seemed to be able to handle a horse now, and just in time. Levi and the priest had returned, the priest looking suitably crestfallen.

Hanji's eyes lit up and she marched over. "So! Seen the light by any chance?"

I can't say his expression gave me much hope.

He closed his eyes and sighed. "Alas, I have no choice. Neither myself, nor the others who believe are at liberty to divulge the truth."

"Fat lot of help you are!" Hanji bellowed, looking ready to knock the man out.

"I'd offer my help if I could."

My snort was perhaps a little on the loud side.

He frowned. "But a duty as great as this is beyond me. The Order of the Walls abides by the sacred will. Our faith commands us to obey."

"Whose sacred will?" Hanji frowned, and I felt a chill run down my back. Was someone actually in charge of the Wallists? Beyond their ridiculous religious notions?

"I can't answer that. But what I can do is provide you with a name. An individual the sacred will in its divine wisdom instructed us to monitor."

"Monitor?" Hanji's nose wrinkled and she glanced at me. I shook my head. Sure the priest guy had known my face and seemed to have knowledge of Vincent's shitty work, but he had seemed rather confused to see me there at all. If it was me being monitored they would have known my location and rank surely.

The priest continued. "It's a person you know–"

"Just fucking spit it out!" I snarled.

"Someone who enlisted with the Scout regiment as of this year."

What the hell was it with the 104th and being wrapped up in this bigger picture shit? They were getting as bad as me.

The priest swallowed hard. "A child by the name of Christa Lenz."

I blinked. "What, the little blonde one who could barely ride a horse when I came to camp?"

Mikasa, Armin and Eren nodded. I had to admit, as much as I considered every able bodied Scout important, the girl had rather slipped my mind. She was just… in the background. But supposedly she knew big secrets about the walls? She was somehow connected to this 'divine will' or whatever the fuck that priest said? This class was getting odder by the moment.

The priest then turned to me. "As for you, I have no idea how your abomination of a father got so far in his work, I truly do not. But you should stay silent on the subject."

Got so far. So they knew about it; but how much? Did they know how he used my mother, how he beat me and strapped me to that damned basement table? Did they know how he took blood from my baby brother? My head swam with the idea that they had known and done nothing. Every night, as a child, I had longed for someone to realise what was happening. For someone to know. And they had? And did nothing. My own firsthand experience with Wallist scum had never been particularly pleasant, but this was a new low. I swallowed hard, another surge of nausea gripping me as my vision doubled. Regardless, I wasn't about to be scolded by this idiot.

"Easily done, I know bloody nothing about it, other than what he etched onto my fucking back." I looked the priest up and down, stepping forward unsteadily.

Levi stepped closer. "Sanshi settle down, you look like you need to–"

"So you lot knew about that as well?" I talked right through my Captain, his concern being appreciated but not welcomed at that moment. I marched up to the priest, his trembling so much more apparent up close. Pathetic. "You knew he was delving into sadistic shit and using his daughter for a workman's bench? His wife as a punching bag? His son as a blood bank–"

"He was told to desist all research." The priest looked to the side.

My blood boiled.

Your work has no place within these walls. You shall desist these actions Mr Sanshi.

My work is all about these walls you halfwit, now get the fuck out of my house.

I shook my head free of the whispering memories. "Oh he was told was he? Gosh. Well then, you clearly did all you could fucking do didn't you. Thank you so much for your invaluable contribution then. Sorry I ever doubted you and your pious bullshit!"

"Young lady, desist. Your familial matters were not the church's concern."

"Not your concern? But his research was? Why? How much did you know about the research and all it entailed? Did you also know about the abuse? About th-the deranged ways he tormented his entire family for this d-damn science?" I wobbled on the spot, finding it harder to catch a damn breath.

We shall not discuss this further, sir. Cease your actions or you shall be–

What? Stopped? By you lot and your Wall obsessed nonsense? You know it's all bullshit as much as I do, and if you don't want me blowing the whole thing open, you'll find that fucking door and see yourself through it.

"Damned is a good word for it." The priest wrinkled his nose at me and my hands clenched.

"Son of a bitch, you lot could have helped. You could have saved them… you… could of… of…" My tongue felt heavy. I tried to swipe for the pious arsehole, but I barely lifted my arm. I slumped to the side before being grabbed mid-fall by someone and lowered to the ground. Probably my Captain. I couldn't see straight at all, the world was a mess of movement and colour so I closed my eyes and just tried to breathe, but it was all so foggy, so warm.

"Sanshi? Sanshi, can you hear me?"

"Levi tilt her head in case she vomits, Eren pass me that blanket."

What the hell was happening to me?

The last of the light faded, as I felt a blanket being wrapped around my body that was being lifted somewhere. Levi. It was you carrying me, wasn't it? Felt like you. Strong and safe. I needed that, as my mind sunk into a space of chilled panic. Familiar. Like when I was a child. When I couldn't do a damn thing but sit there and watch…

A man in white robes stood at the door when I opened it, expecting the butcher or perhaps even the baker. Mother had been asking for some fresh rolls for the weekend this morning. But no. It wasn't either of them. The robed man looked down at me in the same way Dad did when he was drinking, like I was the dog muck stuck on the bottom of his shoe.

"Is your father home, child?"

"He-He's downstairs, sir. But he doesn't like to be disturb–"

"Who the fuck is it?" Dad roared, suddenly behind me, slapping me out of the way as he took over the threshold. He blocked out the sunshine from outside. "And you are? The fuck're you talking to the rat about?"

"I am here from the Order of the Walls, Mr Sanshi. We have heard talk of your work from our… circles. You have connections to the nobles, yes, but we are blessed by the sacred will. And they know of your… origins. And we have come with a request for you to cease all investigations you may have underway."

"Investigations? Origins? Get the hells out of here you little imp. You Wallists are all just a bunch of nutters wanking off to stonework night and day."

The robed man glared. "Your work has no place within these walls. You shall desist these actions Mr Sanshi. Leave. Take your family if you must, but get out."

"My work is all about these walls you halfwit, now get the fuck out of my house."

Their angry words continued, ramping up and up. Gestures towards me were had, hard glances by both the robed man and Dad, neither looking at me as more than the dirty rat. What had I done to annoy both of them? I had never even seen this robed man before. How could I have annoyed him already?

The robed man sighed. "We shall not discuss this further, sir. Cease your actions or you shall be–"

"What? Stopped? By you lot and your Wall obsessed nonsense? You know it's all bullshit as much as I do, and if you don't want me blowing the whole thing open, you'll find that fucking door and see your through it." And he slammed the door in the man's face. For a moment he stood there, panting, fists by his sides.

I held my breath. Maybe if I was quiet enough he wouldn't remember I was there.

"Damn morons… Now I gotta dose you up again. C'mon. Basement."

"But Daddy, I–"

"Basement!" He bellowed, kicking me. "Can't have you blabbing this shit to any other rats now can I? Time to take your damn medicine and forget."

I tripped and fell down the stairs, my cries only seeming to make him chuckle before he slammed the door behind us and his footsteps slowly followed me down...

My eyes opened. A material ceiling was above me, a tent of some kind? I blinked. No, I was moving, it was a wagon. Where the hell was I? My head was thumping, but at least my body didn't feel filled with lead anymore. I sat up slow and sipped the water that had been left beside me. No one else was around, and there was light peeking over the horizon behind the wagon. Were we on the move with Hanji's group? Or headed somewhere else? Shit, had Levi gone as well? I was going to persuade him to stay, but if he's already–

"Trust you to wake up when I go up front for an update." Levi grumbled as he stepped into the back of the wagon, having presumably been talking to the driver.

I turned too quickly and stars sparkled before my eyes. My skin was a little clammy as I put my hand to my forehead, and Levi steadied me by the shoulders.

"Careful, or you'll fall like a damn sack of potatoes again."

"I passed out, then? Dammit." I patted his hands and he released me. "Sorry, just came over me when that shithead priest started babbling."

He nodded. "You'd been pale the whole journey, probably didn't help the situation. Told you to rest, Brat."

"Better sit down yourself, sir." I looked at his injured ankle pointedly and he did so, holding his hands palm forward in surrender. "Is your leg feeling any–"

"I'm not the one who passed out mid-conversation. How're you feeling now?"

So it was still sore. Good to know. I sighed. "My head's sore but otherwise just a bit foggy. I'm sorry for the dramatics."

"You just need to rest more, dumbass."

"Oh shush." I snorted. "I think… I think it's some kind of reaction I have to remembering things. It was similar to when I recalled that argument Vincent had with that Kenny guy. I got a splitting headache and was all queasy afterwards. Very similar."

Levi's eyes narrowed. "So what did you recall this time?"

"Something about a Wallist turning up at my house. And… Well maybe an explanation as to why I've got so many fucking blank spots in my memory." I sipped the water again and leaned against his legs, him being sat on the seats while I stayed on the wagon floor. "I think he drugged me, I think that's how he made me forget shit he didn't want others knowing about his work."

"Drugged? Did he say what he was using?"

"No, that would have been too bloody convenient of the bastard." I sighed and began to braid my hair. "He called it 'dosing', and it seemed like it happened pretty regularly."

"Somehow he keeps getting worse. Was there anything else?"

"The Wallist said something about Vincent's 'origins'. I dunno why they'd give a shit about lineage, but it was definitely said with some weird weight behind it." I shook my head. "Otherwise just angry words and a pathetic man kicking his child around. Nothing new there."

Levi was quiet for a few moments, then he leaned forward and nudged me with his knee. "All right, if you feel another one of those episodes coming on, say so. Sit the fuck down as well. You nearly slammed your head against a crate. Hanji was panicking."

I snorted. "I do know how to end a dull conversation, don't I?"

"You rattled that priest, I know you did. He's still not said anything beyond that blonde kid's name, but he was definitely a couple shades paler after you had your say." He placed a blanket round my shoulders. "So much so that he's in another wagon with Erwin, instead of riding in here."

"Huh? Oh right, where're we going? What about Hanji and the others?"

Uneasiness washed over him and he lowered himself to sit with me, an arm looping round my waist to hold me close. I was glad of the warmth, but unsure if it was for me or him.

"Hanji and the others rode out about an hour before us, headed for Utgard castle, they should get there about dawn. Hopefully they can find out what the hell has been going on with the rest of the 104th and the others. Nanaba and Mike don't usually go this long without a direct report, it's weird."

I nodded. Both of them were very careful about paperwork, and keeping people informed. They were big worriers themselves and never wanted the rest of us fretting over them.

Levi held me a little tighter. "And there's… Well, there's something else."

I swallowed. "Oh goody."

It was a good thing I was already sitting down, put it that way. Not only was the 104th also housing a long lost royal connection in Christa Lenz, but apparently there was potentially the answer to our Colossal and Armoured questions. Still only a theory, but a damn compelling one. It seemed the Female Titan was indeed pally with those two, and were perhaps part of the same group, same class even. I felt like my body had been filled with ice. Bertholdt Hoover and Reiner Braun? They both seemed so… Well, Bertholdt hadn't seemed like much at all, except being very tall and rather sweaty. Reiner was fine. He was quite a nice chap actually; always friendly and good for a dose of decent small talk. Helped his classmates even. How could he be the Armoured? It was only a theory at that point of course, but considering the rest of the class, I felt the certainty of it sinking into my gut.

And if it was true, our friends were potentially going to fight them. Without us.

How many of them would even return?

"So… S-So us and the Commander, where're we headed?"

"Trost. He needs to talk to Pixis, get a better handle on the whole shitty situation."

The wheels were still turning of course. It was gratifying to know how well things could run without both me and Levi in the active picture; if we were ever taken out on the field, things would roll along without us. I had always known that, but this was a rare opportunity to see it first hand. Beyond that, it also made me feel absolutely tiny. And useless.

I took Levi's hand in my own and held tight. "So… assuming Commander Erwin wants to ride out with more supplies and numbers to meet with Hanji somewhere, please tell me we have some way of being useful in the meantime?"

He smirked and leaned in to kiss my cheek. "Can't stay still, hm?"

"No chance."

"How about we find out what the hell is going on first, then we act accordingly? I have a couple of ideas where we could be useful, but there's not much point planning when we have no idea where we might be flung to next. Can't stand being on the sidelines like this, but at least we still know what's happening."

I put my head against his shoulder, and for a little while we just sat in the quiet, the rumbling of the wagon and occasional flick of reins the only noise to be heard. The light continued to bleed over the horizon, and a new day dawned. What the hell would this one bring? It seemed mad to consider that it was only yesterday that we fought the Female Titan in Stohess. My mind drifted to the long months at base when the snows came in, and winter locked us inside. Sometimes it drove me mad. Other times it was oddly comforting. To be so safe and secure, so solid in a place I felt like was my home. I laced my fingers with Levi's and wondered what a winter with him now might be like. It likely would have been wonderful. Slow mornings lying in bed, a fire crackling nearby and fresh tea steaming. But that concept felt like a lifetime away, when one day could entirely turn the world on its head.

"We'll get through." He muttered, squeezing my hand.

I squeezed back. "Fucking right we will."

Within the next few minutes, buildings began to roll past and soon enough we were passing through into Trost once again. I shivered. The last time we were here was when we found out about Eren. How had so much changed again since that time? I was helped out of the wagon by Levi and we rejoined Keza and our esteemed Priest shithead in the other wagon, his eyes downcast as Levi sat next to him and I sat opposite with Keza.

Soldiers milled around, getting supplies together while the Commander headed to the top of the wall to find Pixis. I squinted, but I couldn't see any sign of the old man up there. Unless of course he had fallen asleep there after one too many nightcaps again. Eren's boulder sat against the wall, impressive as ever, but admittedly a lot more comforting if we knew there weren't Titans on this side already. The town had been well tended to in our absence, and while it still wasn't fully populated again, it had begun to look more inhabitable.

Keza kept staring at the boulder once I told her the story. She was taking everything on like a champ, like I knew she would, but even she could be rattled. I held her hand. She held back tight.

"Numbnuts, your world is mad."

"Don't I know it…"

It was only after a little while that I realised there were MPs around as well. So far out? I blinked and took note of their determined faces, their smirks, their sneers. They were having fun. This was exciting for them. I swallowed hard and kept my eyes down, not wanting to cause a scene by blowing my top at them. The priest continued to be solemn in the cart, so not much of a distraction there. And then the MPs began to complain about a lack of things to do. Like it being peaceful here was some kind of inconvenience to them. I gritted my teeth. The bastards had never fought a Titan, had they? Never seen one consume a comrade whole, or worse, piece by piece.

"Ignore them." Levi's foot nudged mine. "We'll be moving on soon enough I'm sur–"

"Hey Levi!" One of the MPs bellowed, and my eyes flashed over to him with a glare. Where the hell was the 'Captain'? Sure he was in civilian clothing but those bastards should still respect his rank. The idiot continued. "Where ya hiding all the Titans?"

My Captain drew a deep breath and slowly turned to the gaggle of morons, nonchalant in his posture, all cool and calm. I expected them to be eviscerated.

"Problem?" Levi drawled. "You seem eager to be eaten alive, Soldier."

The men began to sweat.

Levi continued. "Huh… Sorry we couldn't make that happen for you today. Plenty of opportunities outside the walls if you're lookin', lots of scouting expeditions." I couldn't see his face, but I imagined the dead pan stoic stare that would be branded into the back of their eyelids easily enough. "I'd be more than happy for the help. We could all fight Titans together."

And the snakes coiled back into their shadows.

"Well uh…" One of them squeaked. "Y'know there's our work in the interior so…"

Keza chuckled. "Oh Shorty, you got them good. I love a man with sass–"

"Hey!" A cadet bellowed. "The advance squad is back!"

"Finally." Levi sighed, turning back to me. "We can stop playing with the idiots and find out some real intel."

We all gathered around the returned troops, one of whom was Sasha I think, from the 104th class. Her and her comrade were panting hard, gulping at water. They must have ridden full pelt to get back to us as soon as possible. The breach. Or rather, the lack of one. It made no sense though, how could Titans have been spotted within Rose if there was no breach to be found? Occasionally the beasts managed to clamber a couple of feet into trees, but they had actual handholds, and the beasts never lasted very long before falling back down. There was no way they could climb the walls. So how?

The cadet gulped his water and looked at Pixis imploringly. "But sir, a situation has developed. We came across another group on our way back. It was the Scouting group led by section commander Hanji."

A group gasp went around and my heart kicked up a gear.

They were out there, fighting the Colossal and the Armoured? I was glad to already be sitting down, because my legs felt like they were suddenly filled with water. Would any of them survive? Would Eren be taken? No. No, Hanji, Mike and Nanaba wouldn't allow it. None of them would.

As the Commander and his gathered troops were raised onto the walls, ready to ride as quickly as possible towards Hanji and the others, I felt utterly useless. There was no point in either me or my Captain joining them, we couldn't be effective in our current states, but it was still frustrating. The Scouts needed us. And yet…

Levi sighed as the last sounds of hoofbeats faded to nothing. "All right, now we find something worthwhile to do. That or I'm going insane."

"Such as…?"

He thought for a moment. "We dig into this connection between Vincent and shifters."

"You think we'll really find something?"

Keza frowned. "Digging into Vincent is never good."

"Agreed." Levi nodded. "But right now we can't afford the luxury of being choosy about information. It's worth a shot. Especially if it also helps us avoid these episodes affecting Robyn. Don't you think?"

Keza smirked. "Clever, playing on my affection for her. Well if you two are going digging for all that, how about I keep the Priest company? I have connections, I can keep him tucked away if need be."

"Perfect." Levi leaned forward. "The priest is kept safe with Keza, and you and me Robyn, we head for the Underground."

I frowned. "Underground? Why?"

"For one thing, I want to find out how and if Kenny is connected to this. Beyond that, it's the best lead I can actually think to follow other than you having to try and scrape past whatever drugs Vincent used on your memory."

I looked to the Priest and shifted uneasily. "Planning on behaving and staying where you're put? Keza here doesn't take kindly to folks misbehaving."

He once again pursed his lips. "My order will likely assume I have talked to you all openly, I am rather left at an impasse. I shall do as told."

"Good. All right then, we make for the Underground." I gestured for some cadets to come over and take care of our priestly guest and Keza. It would be a big win if we could welcome everyone home with some solid new intel. I held Keza close and she held me back. We would see each other again soon.

And we left.

Our wagon rattled along the road. I could imagine the dust clouds of the Scout party, of our comrades riding into a fresh unknown danger. They would get to them as soon as possible. But in that kind of battle, minutes counted, seconds even. It would be hours before they got there. What would they find? Who would they find?

"Focus on what we can control here." Levi murmured, his arm wrapping around my middle as the horses followed the road. "You'll drive yourself mad doing anything else."

I leaned against him. "I'm terrified."

"Likewise."

"You don't seem it."

"I'm good at pretending, remember?" He kissed my head.

His calmness was as impressive as it was maddening. But even with everything going on, he was looking after me. Tending to me. Not just because of my little episodes either. Right now there was no danger, I was fine. But still he held me so tenderly. I needed to tell him, didn't I? I love you. Such a small phrase and yet… Yet it barbed my throat.

He sighed. "Let's get this job done and see what tomorrow brings, all right?"

"Sounds like a plan."

I tried, I really did, but he did occasionally have to remind me not to gnaw off my bottom lip.

Ta dah! Onto the underground we go! Hope you're enjoying! This site has gone so quiet!

Reminder: Likely some gaps in uploading after the 4th of November until the 2nd of December. Then normal service should resume!