Ymir
She brushed the ashes off her cigarette, then inhaled another puff of smoke. She stared fixedly at the windows of the place on the opposite side of the street. There weren't too many customers in the restaurant at this time, which shouldn't be surprising as the hour was late. From this distance, Ymir could see the waitresses bustling inside, but she was standing far enough away that she couldn't tell them apart. She chose this distance so that she herself would also not be noticed.
She didn't know what she was actually doing here.
Months had passed since her last meeting with Historia. She should let it go and leave the girl alone. She had gotten enough cash from Eren to get the fuck out of town and never come back here again. Ymir suspected Historia would be better off without her. She was too complicated, sarcastic and selfish to be in a permanent relationship. She doubted that she would be able to make the girl happy. Not after what has happened to her in the last few months…
Her mind needed a rest. In the last few days, since Eren had freed her, she had stayed in various motels. She didn't want to stay in any of them too long. Every night she woke up in a sweat, trembling with fear, not knowing where she was. She was afraid that she would wake up like this forever. The memory of the tiny cubicle in which she had spent several months haunted her, as was the awareness of how much time she had wasted working for a man she hated.
She also couldn't get used to the fact that her hands were free. She could still remember this feeling, that irritating pressure of metal on her wrists.
If she knew her mind was chaotic and she was completely useless, what was she doing here?
Ymir tossed her cigarette butt to the ground and stamped it with the toe of her shoe. She noticed the last customers starting to leave. After a short while, the employees also left the restaurant. The last and shortest girl was left alone to close the place. Ymir felt her heart beat faster. Funny, because she thought it was long dead.
Historia closed the door and turned on his heels. She wanted to go up the street towards her apartment, but suddenly stopped. She turned slowly towards Ymir who was standing on the other side of the alley. They stared at each other for a moment, Fritz wasn't sure Historia recognized her at all. On her first night at the hotel, she used the supplied scissors and cut her hair. Now it reached her chin. She wanted to take care of herself a little bit before coming here.
Reiss gave a slight twitch, then walked briskly toward Ymir. When she was only a few meters away, she started to run. She narrowed the distance between them to zero. She bumped into her, immediately wrapping her arms around Ymir and hugging her tightly, as if she didn't want to let her disappear or run away. Fritz felt the scent she missed so much, and only then did the tears appear under her lids.
Historia hugged her with all her might, almost painfully. Ymir felt the girl's heart beating in her chest like mad. It took a moment for Reiss to gently pull away to get a closer look at Ymir.
Tears of emotion glistened in her blue eyes. Historia looked like she didn't believe her senses. As if she were still afraid that Ymir would suddenly dissolve into thin air.
"Is this a dream?" The blonde wanted to know, still staring at the taller woman's face. She reached out and stroked Ymir's cheek.
Fritz's lips curled into a slight smile.
"If so, then I don't want to wake up," She replied, then leaned over and hugged Historia. She felt the blonde's arms hug her even tighter.
Levi
He braked a little too hard, making his motorcycle tires screech softly. Levi took his phone out of his pocket and launched an application which he always used to turn off the alarm and open the main gate.
A moment ago he was driving around the city aimlessly, unable to find a place for himself. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt such overwhelming panic and powerlessness. He had not expected the Yaeger case to be taken away from them just like that. He had no way of contacting Eren to warn him or simply asking what was happening to him. Besides, he was pretty sure that Eren and his friends could end up in custody, and if that happened, nothing would stop Grisha from getting justice on his own... All he had to do was to bribe someone, and his son would be stabbed in the hallway by another detainee, who for some reason will lose control of himself. Or at least that will be the official version.
Levi gritted his teeth, lost in dark thoughts as he watched the gate slowly open.
Suddenly his eyelids opened wide as he had an impression that someone had spoken his name.
Ackerman took his helmet off his head and looked around. It was then that he saw a lonely, dark silhouette standing on the other side of the street, which had not been there a moment ago. The man was lean, wearing a hooded sweatshirt that concealed his face.
"Levi."
The detective immobilized the motorcycle and put the helmet back on the seat. He moved quickly towards the familiar figure. He saw Armin's pale face and felt at the same time great relief and also an irritating, heavy anxiety, because the blond's gaze didn't herald anything good.
"Are you okay? What happened?" The detective wanted to know. "Where's the rest?"
"I preferred to come alone, I didn't want anyone to notice us... I'll take you to them. We must hurry."
"Okay. I'll leave the motorcycle and take the car."
"Levi..." Armin grabbed the detective by the arm. "We need some painkillers, gauze pads and bandages."
Ackerman knew he should move towards his house as soon as possible, but Armin's words made his body freeze in terror. He was afraid to ask what was the reason for this sudden need for medical supplies. Arlert didn't wait for this question, he explained it to the detective right away.
Levi listened to the boy with a flat expression on his face. Then he nodded and turned, hurrying toward the entrance. Suddenly, each step, each breath, each blink of an eyelid for some reason took a lot of effort from him.
Hanji
She brushed away a lock of hair that was falling over her forehead and studied herself in the mirror. A new silk nightgown fit snugly around her breasts and accentuated her waist. Hanji bought it for the evening she wanted to devote fully to Moblit. When she thought she looked attractive enough (despite the eye patch), she left the bathroom, immediately going into the bedroom. Moblit was just lighting candles, and when he saw her, he almost dropped one of them. Zoe laughed.
"Boy, don't burn my apartment," The woman with glasses made a joke, as she approached the man and pushed him onto the bed.
Moblit stared at her with delight, he was wearing only boxer shorts.
"You look amazing," The man confessed, looking at her face. "As always."
"You're so sweet," Hanji muttered, kissing him on the lips. "As I promised, I have a whole evening just for you. I'm not going anywhere tonight."
They kissed again and then rolled over, causing Berner to land at the top. Hanji hugged the man tighter, feeling the happiness filling her. They hadn't had much time for each other lately. They worked at different hours, which meant they passed each other almost every day. Once they finally met, Zoe's thoughts were elsewhere. She was worried about Eren and his friends all the time.
That evening, however, she promised Berner that they would spend time together, just the two of them, and that she wouldn't think about the investigation. At least, that was the plan.
So she froze when her work phone, lying on the nightstand, made a soft humming noise, signifying an incoming call. Hanji and Moblit exchanged looks.
"It can't be important..." Zoe said, then pressed their lips together again. They resumed the activity they had interrupted, began to caress their bodies again, but this time a different sound reached their ears. Hanji's personal cell phone was ringing.
Moblit sighed and rose to a seat.
"Pick up... Maybe there's a problem."
Hanji hesitated, but, seeing the man's disappointed expression, shook her head quickly.
"Nooo, it's definitely nothing like that. Today I'm only yours. Where were we?" Zoe asked with a smile, embracing her partner.
They exchanged smiles and hugged as they tried to rebuild the mood, but then something happened that neither of them had expected. They both twitched as they heard the doorbell coming from the hallway. Hanji and Moblit looked at each other in surprise.
"I'll see what's going on... Wait here," The woman said, reaching for her bathrobe and her phone. She saw a missed call from Levi. She frowned, then left the bedroom, headed for the exit. On the way, she took the gun out of her purse, wanting to be prepared for the worst. She looked through the peephole with concern, but when she saw the person standing in the stairwell, she opened the door without hesitation.
"Erwin didn't pick up my call as well, but your apartment was closer. I need your help," Levi muttered, immediately going inside. The woman stared at him in amazement. She felt her stomach twist with terror as she saw the man's pale face and his panicked gaze. Ackerman strode into the apartment, looking as if he didn't quite know where he was, seemed very lost. Zoe closed the door, then met his eyes, waiting for an explanation. "Actually... Eren and the others need our help. The agents wanted to take them to another location, and then… things got complicated. One agent was killed and Eren was injured."
Hanji froze completely as she heard her friend's voice crack. She couldn't remember seeing him like this ever before, so utterly distraught. Usually he was in control of his emotions, this time it was all written on his face. Ackerman continued:
"I have no idea where we could hide them... The hotels are out of question, so is my home. I'm afraid that the police will check us out, one by one. At work, everyone knows we've been deeply involved in this case… I don't know what to do, Han."
"Slow down… We'll figure it out, I'm sure," Zoe said, putting the gun down on the coffee table. Then she put her hand on Ackerman's shoulder, hoping she would at least reassure him with the gesture. "Maybe some anonymous motel outside the city? What do you think? Nobody would ask us anything..."
"Too much risk," Levi shook his head, looking annoyed. He shook her hand off his shoulder. "They'll definitely be talking about Eren and the rest on the local news, and if anyone recognizes them... Besides, Eren needs conditions under which he can recover quickly, if they are about to leave the country..."
"Hanji, maybe my summer cottage outside the city?" Moblit asked suddenly, looking at his partner.
Both Hanji and Levi twitched in surprise, only then spotted Berner, who appeared in the living room. The man, like Zoe, wore a bathrobe. Even if Levi guessed he interrupted something, he didn't seem to care at all. Ackerman raised his eyebrows, apparently immediately considering Berner's words in his mind.
"What do you mean?" Levi wanted to know.
"Moblit... Why were you eavesdropping?!" Hanji said indignantly, waving her arms. "It's top secret, you can't know anything..."
"It's about your friends, right? Those whom you have been helping for a while and who are being framed by someone?" Moblit looked at the two detectives with astonishing acuteness. After a moment he added, shifting his gaze to Hanji, "The ones you worry about all the time?"
"Moblit..." Hanji repeated his name, shaking her head, but Levi quickly cut her off.
"Wouldn't that be too big of a problem? They will now be officially wanted by the police. If it comes out, you could be in trouble," Ackerman said, his expression slightly worried, but his eyes suddenly filled with hope.
"If you'll be careful, I guess it should be alright," Berner replied with a shrug. "At least this is what I can do."
"Great. Will you take us there?" Levi asked, staring at Moblit impatiently. Hanji gave her friend a slightly irritated look, but even she had to admit that they had no choice.
"Not a problem. I just… I'll get dressed," Moblit replied, and then he started towards the bedroom. Only then did Ackerman shift his gaze to Zoe. He must have seen the consternation on her face.
"Sorry, Hanji, but we have no other option."
"I know... I just hope it doesn't get him into trouble."
Levi didn't answer, but Zoe took it calmly. As a matter of fact, no answer from Ackerman would diminish the anxiety in her heart right now.
Eren
He drifted on the surface of consciousness, unable to fully wake up. Every now and then a signal from the outside world reached him.
Someone was helping him to walk. Someone put him to bed and stroked his hair. Someone was holding his hand, and someone else was talking to him calmly and dealing with the excruciating pain in Eren's chest. The pain was like an amplitude, sometimes it disappeared completely, and sometimes it took on a completely new physical form, as if its limit was exceeded each time. Eren then moaned quietly in his sleep, unable to bear it, and felt his body burn, consumed by the fever.
He finally managed to silence his mind. His consciousness cut off as he fell into a deep sleep. Sometimes voices reached him, but he found it hard to understand the words they were saying, as if they were speaking in a foreign language.
"… The fever has dropped a little. Now he should get better..."
"... Are you sure Hanji won't be mad at us..."
"… It should be me, you idiot. You shouldn't cover me..."
"… Eren, come back to us. You will get as many pizzas as you want, just come back..."
He had no idea how long it had passed when he finally woke up. He opened his eyes very slowly and looked around the room. Almost immediately he felt the weight on the mattress next to him. He saw Armin's happy face staring at him.
"Eren! You woke up!" The boy exclaimed, grabbing his friend's hand and squeezing it tightly.
Eren blinked, remembering the recent events with difficulty. Well... He was injured, because he covered Armin with his body. Since he was in a strange room, and not in a hospital bed or solitary confinement in prison, it also meant that his friends had found a new hiding place.
Mikasa entered the room, followed closely by Jean. They both widened their eyes, staring at the conscious Eren. The girl quickly went to the bed and sat down next to the wounded man, tears appeared in her eyes. Jean, in turn, grinned and stood next to Mikasa, staring at Eren in relief.
"How are you?" The brunette wanted to know, looking at her friend with concern.
"I think I'm fine..." Eren replied, trying to get up, but his chest immediately burned with pain. Mikasa and Armin looked at him fearfully.
"I would advise you not to get up for now," Jean said quickly, crossing his arms in front of him. "The wound doesn't look bad, but it still needs time. You're lucky I got some professional equipment to take care of you."
"Where are we?" Eren asked, looking around the room. The room was a tiny bedroom with wooden walls. The boy, however, could not see any personal items. There was a desk against the wall and a bookshelf next to it.
"This is the summer house of Moblit, Hanji's boyfriend," Armin explained." Levi didn't know where to hide us, and that was the only option. Nobody should be looking for us here."
"Oh... Really? That's nice of him." Eren smiled slightly and immediately wondered if Levi had visited him while he slept. "How are they? Did I sleep long?"
"We brought you here two days ago. Levi, Hanji and Erwin provided us with everything we needed and also left us a cell phone so we could call them when needed. They still want to help us, despite what... what happened," Armin's voice broke as the events from two days ago flashed before his eyes.
Eren's fingers tightened on the quilt he was covered with. He remembered what had happened. The man who shot him wanted to attack them again, but Armin was faster. They managed to survive and escape, but had to pay the highest price. A man, an agent on duty, was killed by them.
"You think this is all Grisha's doing?" The boy suddenly asked. He could feel the worried eyes of his friends on him.
"I think a little bit, yeah, but… not everything," Jean spoke up. "I mean, I don't think he can predict the future that much."
Eren saw Armin frown and knew what he was going to say next.
"I think he predicted it all," Arlert muttered softly, adjusting his glasses. "He planned it. He knew that we would be afraid of possible arrest and we would do anything to escape. He might have suspected that we would attack these agents, but the result probably exceeded his wildest dreams."
"So? Are we officially wanted now?" Eren's eyes suddenly rounded. Armin nodded grimly. All four fell silent.
Yaeger thought to himself that this changes everything. Since they were currently wanted for murder and escape, detectives were putting themselves at risk of serious consequences by helping them. Eren didn't want Levi to get into trouble... but on the other hand, he wanted so badly to see him and talk to him.
"Enough of these. You should eat and then rest," Jean said. "Do you want something for your pain?"
Eren shook his head. Though he didn't refuse the bowl of soup his friends brought him after a while. The boy devoured the dish in a minute. Then they sat with him a little longer, keeping him company, and finally left him alone. Eren knew he wouldn't fall asleep anyway, but he actually needed a moment of solitude. He had to think about what he just heard.
Yaeger looked ahead, pondering the current situation. They didn't have many options right now. Grisha really drove them into a corner. They had to find a way out of Eldia, they couldn't hide in the country forever. But how were they supposed to do it? Especially now, when they were being wanted by the police…?
At one point, his eyelids began to weigh heavily on him. Eren closed his eyes only for a moment… but quickly fell into a dreamless sleep.
He woke up when it was dark outside. The darkness was lit by a small lamp on the bedside table next to his bed. Eren took this view calmly, and suddenly realized another thing. Someone was holding his hand.
He looked to the side, and then his heart leapt happily in his chest. Levi was sitting in a chair next to his bed, squeezing Eren's hand in his own. The detective was asleep, his head resting in a rather uncomfortable position on his shoulder. Eren had no idea what time it was, or how long Ackerman was here.
The boy moved slightly, wanting to sit up, but just then he felt a sudden twinge of pain where the bullet had struck him. It was enough for Levi to wake up. He opened his eyes wide and fixed them on Eren. Seeing that the boy was awake, the detective blinked in surprise, then squeezed his hand tightly.
"How are you feeling?" Ackerman blurted out, getting up from his chair and sitting on the bed next to Eren.
"Great," Yaeger replied, smiling broadly, with tenderness in his green eyes. Though the wound on his chest throbbed with pain, it didn't matter to him now. All that mattered was that Levi was here holding his hand. "I'm so glad you're here..."
The detective lifted the corners of his mouth slightly in a concerned smile.
"And I'm glad that nothing more serious happened to you. I'm so sorry…" Levi sighed softly and closed his eyes for a moment. As he opened them up, he glanced at Eren sadly. "All this shouldn't have happened. The police somehow found out about what you and Zeke did in Marley. That's why the intelligence got interested in you. I think Grisha gave them some information about it."
Eren nodded slowly.
"I'm sorry it ended like this... We didn't want to kill anyone. Armin had no choice. If it were only about me, I would agree to being arrested, but..."
"No. Stop it. You don't have to explain yourself. Anyway, I would have done the same, if you were in danger," Levi blurted out before he could bite his tongue. Eren raised his eyebrows gently at the words. Ackerman changed the subject quickly. "Jean said your wound is healing well and he will be able to remove the stitches in a few days. Then we will try to help you leave."
"Are you sure? Do Erwin and Hanji want this too?" Eren asked, squinting slightly. "I don't want any of you to get into trouble for helping us."
"Oh, shut up," Levi squeezed his hand tighter. "Grisha had a hand in it, Erwin and Hanji are also convinced of it. We will do everything to help you. We just need to be more careful than before."
Eren sighed heavily. He didn't like the fact that the detectives were taking such a risk for them... but he didn't want to part with Levi just yet. They had no choice but to continue using their help, but Levi was right: they had to be cautious.
Yaeger's gaze suddenly softened. He smiled charmingly and his eyes lit up.
"Will you kiss me?" He asked in a soft, sweet tone. He tilted his head to the side, staring at the detective expectantly.
Levi hesitated. He looked towards the closed door, then his gaze returned to Yaeger.
"I don't know if it's a good idea... Your friends are now preparing something for you to eat. I was supposed to watch over you, and I fell asleep by accident."
"Just one short kiss," Eren's tone was pleading and very suggestive at the same time. He lifted one corner of his mouth higher, never taking his green eyes off the detective's face. Levi finally capitulated.
"Fine, you win…" He whispered, then leaned over Eren. He stared into his eyes for a moment longer, drawing the moment longer and causing a mounting tension. He finally brought their lips together.
What was supposed to be a short kiss turned into a moment of tenderness and passion. Eren wrapped his arms around the man leaning over him, tasting his lips longingly, without taking a break, without taking a breath. Levi passionately reciprocated the kiss, apparently losing track of time himself and letting himself be carried away by the moment. It was only when they heard the distinctive sound signifying the opening of the door that they both froze.
"Hey, the pizza is ready and…" Armin announced, but stopped when he realized what he was witnessing. Levi immediately pulled away from Eren's mouth. He sat up straight and motionless, as if he had been shot by a stun gun. He blinked, his cheeks flushed, then got up from the bed and looked at Armin in absolute embarrassment.
"T-that's great! P-pizza..." Levi stuttered, then quickly headed for the door and left the room.
Armin looked at his friend, eyes widened and repentance appeared on his face.
"Gosh... Eren, sorry! I didn't want to interrupt.."
Yaeger laughed, immediately feeling his wound begin to throb with excruciating pain, but he couldn't help it.
"Relax…" He said, still chuckling and getting up on his elbows. "I never thought I'd see him so embarrassed... It was beautiful."
Armin smiled back.
"Can you get up? Would you like to eat with us?" His friend asked, and Eren nodded at him. So Arlert walked over to Yaeger and helped him get up. The boy was wearing only pants. There was a large bandage on his right arm and chest. Armin helped Eren put on a t-shirt, then they left the room together and walked down the stairs.
Eren looked around the living room, which was almost the entire ground floor. The place was cozy, its interior reminded Yaeger of a typical summer cottage. There was not much equipment here, only the most necessary things. Mikasa, Jean and Levi were already sitting at the round table. Ackerman at the sight of the two young men blushed again slightly at the memory of the awkward situation from a moment ago. Armin, however, acted as if nothing had happened. He helped Eren sit up, then sat down at the table himself. Everyone had a slice of pizza on their plates.
"The detectives bought us food for a couple of days," Armin explained, who was slowly chewing his meal. "I don't know how we will repay for all of this."
"Don't mention it," Levi fixed Arlert's gaze steadily, then looked at his slice of pizza, "It's not about an investigation anymore, we just want you all to be safe."
"Has Grisha finally made a move?" Eren wanted to know. He was holding a slice of pizza in his hand, but he hadn't tasted it yet. Yes, he was terribly hungry, but recent events made him lose his usually endless appetite. He was worried about the detectives, and he still felt the painful grip in his chest as he thought about Zeke.
Levi shook his head.
"He's still hiding. However, we got to all the places you indicated. One was set on fire, as was the laboratory in Krolva, while the other was completely deserted. Fortunately, the rest can serve as evidence in the case," Ackerman narrowed his eyes slightly before moving on. "All detained workers still only mention you, Zeke, Xavier and members of the Titan group. Grisha reportedly never set foot in any of these places. Moreover, in the documents we found, only Zeke or Mikasa is mentioned. No sign of Grisha."
"But you're still looking for him, aren't you?" Eren wanted to ask about it. He put his slice of pizza on his plate. Both he and Levi still didn't try their meal, too excited about the conversation. Jean cleared his throat softly, then pointed to Eren's plate.
"Can you finally start eating? I don't know how you want to get better."
"I know, I know..." Eren muttered, then quickly took a few bites and began to chew the treat slowly. He smiled briefly at Armin and Mikasa. "It tastes great."
"Yeah, we still have an arrest warrant for him. Even without hard evidence, he is still among the suspects. Even if he were just helping Zeke with the management of the business, he could still end in jail. Although we know perfectly well that this was not the case and that Grisha is the boss here..."
"What about Zeke?"
Eren's voice sounded overwhelmingly sad as he asked the question. Levi still hasn't taken an interest in the slice of pizza on his plate. He was looking at Eren, sympathy flashing in his gaze. For a moment he looked as if he didn't know exactly what words he should use. He glanced briefly at Jean, as if he feared the doctor would end this discussion suddenly.
"Your fingerprints were found on his body. They found them also on the gun he was shot with. In addition, a freight train driver reported to the police that two young men were fighting with each other on the tracks. And that the boy with long, dark hair was trying to get the other one under the train. I have no idea how they connected this one report with you, though I can guess."
Eren froze, widening his eyes as he stared at the detective in complete shock. He suspected that Grisha would try to involve him in this, but he did not think the man would provide the police with such evidence... The boy suddenly lost all his appetite. He could see the guilt show in Levi's gaze, but he was grateful that he told him the truth.
"Let's sum it up. Armin is wanted for the murder of an agent, I'm wanted for the murder of my brother... And what about Mikasa?"
- "For the complicity. Grisha's employees told us that you and Zeke were responsible for everything. Mikasa was helping to establish contacts," Levi replied calmly.
Eren shook his head in disbelief.
"What about all those meetings that Grisha was taking Mikasa to? All those people he paid..."
"We talked to some of them before the case was taken from us. Everyone has denied any participation. Now there is nothing we can do, officially I cannot pursue the Yaeger issue any further."
Eren sighed and then suddenly gripped by his arm, which pulsed with sudden pain. Armin held out his hand to him, Mikasa tensed slightly, and Levi turned pale.
"Calm down, Eren," Jean said, getting up from the table. "I'll give you something for the pain and something to calm you down, okay?"
"I am calm," The boy replied, looking at the doctor. "But fine, as you wish."
"We'll try to figure out how to get out of here in a couple of days, don't worry. You need to rest," Armin said in a soft, soothing tone. He put a hand on Eren's and squeezed it gently. "We've been through so much, we can't give up now."
"How do you want to get away from here when the police are looking for us?" Eren knew it sounded gloomy and not very optimistic, but there was nothing he could do about it. Besides, his wound was still throbbing with excruciating pain. "A miracle would have to happen."
"I'll think of something," Armin promised, giving his friend a serious look, then turned to Ackerman. "We'll figure it out together."
Levi nodded and looked at Eren. The boy looked back at the detective and calmed down a bit. He silently agreed that Armin was right: they had sacrificed too much to just give up. They had to find a solution at all costs.
Armin
It was almost eleven o'clock when his bedroom door opened. The cottage they were in had several tiny rooms upstairs, so Armin and Eren slept in separate rooms. Yaeger was able to recover in peace. The ground floor consisted of a showroom and a garage which now housed Hanji's car. In case of danger, they could use the car to escape. Detectives visited them every day, one by one, so as not to arouse suspicion. They had to wait a few more days for Eren to recover. The problem was that they didn't know what to do afterwards.
Armin blinked and saw his friend, whom he didn't expect to see on his feet at this late hour.
"Eren…" Arlert muttered, untangling himself from the sheets and reaching for the glasses he had left on the bedside table. "You should rest, what do you..."
"Do you still have contact with this man?" Eren asked as he sat down on the bed next to Armin and turned on the bedside lamp. Then he grabbed the blond by the shoulders and fixed him with an excited look.
"What man...?" Armin, awakened from sleep, didn't fully understand what was happening. He managed to reach his glasses and quickly put them on his nose. "What man, Eren?"
"The one who helped Annie escape. You said you found someone who helped her disappear. Do you still have contact with him?"
"No, but... I know who he is. I remember his name," Armin replied cautiously. He watched his friend attentively, pondering his question. "What are you thinking about, Eren?"
"This man is our only chance. There's no way we would leave the country on our own."
"But... Levi and the rest want to help us..."
"We can't put them at risk. I don't want them to lose their jobs, or worse, go to jail," Both Eren's voice and his eyes were hard, confident. "We have to deal with it ourselves."
"Eren..." Armin sighed softly. "This man values himself. If I remember correctly, he wants a hundred thousand of cash only for one person. I don't know if he wouldn't ask for more, since the police are looking for us. Where will we get so much money?"
The boy looked to the side.
"I don't know…"
Armin was sure he saw doubt and sudden hesitation in Eren's eyes, but the room was dim and he was tired. If he had looked closely, he would have noticed quite the opposite.
"Let's talk about it tomorrow, okay?" Armin muttered, then buried himself in the sheets again. "You need to rest. Let us handle this, okay?"
"Of course."
Armin felt Eren rise from the mattress. He heard his friend's soft footsteps, then the sound of the door closing.
Arlert began to fall asleep when suddenly he was awakened by a very strange sound. Someone started a car engine and pulled the vehicle out of the garage. The sound of the car began to fade away. Armin suddenly rose to seat. The other houses were quite a bit away, so it had to be Hanji's car...
The boy jumped out of bed as if he was being chased by a wraith. He burst out of the bedroom and ran quickly down the stairs. He could feel the cool floor beneath his bare feet. He opened the garage door and stopped short.
The garage was empty and its automatic door was still raised. After a while Armin heard footsteps behind him, Mikasa and Jean ran down the stairs and stood next to him.
"What happened? Where is Eren?" The girl wanted to know.
Armin shook his head. He looked at the two with horror in his eyes.
"I have no idea."
Eren
The first spot he checked was completely empty.
Eren struggled for a moment to dig a metal box out of the ground, but his efforts were in vain. The container was empty. The amount of cash he would usually collect from this particular hideout was far more than what they needed at that moment, so he would have been content with even a part of the find. Unfortunately, there was no trace of the cash.
He didn't hesitate and immediately went to the next place. Zeke showed him this spot a while ago and somewhat by accident. Not only did Grisha keep cash here, he sometimes stored additional weapons here as well.
Eren parked in front of a very inconspicuous lot. He left the car and walked hurriedly towards the small building, the bag over his shoulder. He also had pincers with him, which he had stolen from the garage of the summer house, so he quickly dealt with the heavy metal padlock. He put the tool in his back pocket and stepped inside. He paused in front of another door that was secured in a slightly different way. Eren saw a small screen to enter a code. Since the electricity was still working, maybe Grisha was still keeping some cash here…?
The boy typed in the code he remembered from his last visit, when he was here with Zeke. He felt a surge of dread as the device chimed loudly, announcing the wrong code. He had two more tries. Eren shook his head, trying to focus. He couldn't make a mistake again, their lives depended on it now. He lifted his finger and re-typed the code, switching the last two digits in order… and just then a green light appeared in front of him. The door opened.
Eren went inside. He walked down the little steps and turned on the light. A warehouse corridor appeared before his eyes. Each room was secured by a door that was opened from the bottom, locked with a padlock. Eren walked over to the third door and quickly dealt with the containment. He pulled the folding door upwards… and froze.
He saw a shameless, tall pile of cash piled up in the center of the small room. So Grisha hadn't taken the money out of here… or at least not yet.
Eren quickly walked over to this majestic-looking heap and began packing the cash into the bag he had with him. He took as much as they needed, then added a little more, just in case… and again, a little more. Then he spun on his heel and jogged out of the building. The wound on his shoulder began to tease him, but he chose to ignore it for now.
He went back to the car and got in, wanting to start the engine and drive right away, in case Grisha had any security system, informing him that someone had set a foot on his property. But then Eren hesitated. He could point this place to detectives so the police could connect this place with his father... But what if Grisha manages to confiscate the rest of the money during this time? Or, what if they will link this place with Zeke? Or even worse, with him?
What would hurt his father the most…?
Eren made up his mind. He ran out of the car and circled it to look in the trunk. As he thought, the spare gasoline container was in place. He grabbed it and started running towards the building. He re-entered the warehouse and walked over to the obscene pile of cash. He poured clear liquid over it, then began to back away, tracing a wet trail behind him. Then he tossed the empty container somewhere aside.
Something else occurred to him. He pulled the pliers out of his pocket and used them to open another door. He saw several barrels of chemicals. He pulled one of the barrels, and placed it next to the pile of money. He grabbed the gasoline canister and splashed the rest of the liquid on the barrel.
Satisfied with himself, he turned and ran up the steps again. He went back to the car and began searching the contents of the clipboard. He let out a cheerful cry as he found the lighter.
He got out of the car and wanted to head back inside the building, but then something hard hit him in the stomach. The stroke was so strong he ran out of breath.
Eren flew backward, landing on his back. He groaned in pain as the wound in his chest stung him with living fire. He looked up and went still. He saw his father's face above him. Kruger was standing nearby, with a crowbar in his hand.
Grisha narrowed his eyes and smiled wryly with undisguised satisfaction.
"Hello, son. Did you miss me?"