HI! So I've been getting some reviews (WHICH I LOVE READING, KEEP THEM COMING). I've also noticed each new chap being read by a solid chunk of people, meaning that you beautiful readers are actually keeping up with the story :) Thank you so much, it makes me super happy :D Just wanted to let you know that you readers play a special part in keeping my creativity alive in this boring life of mine haha. As always, enjoy!

I was a nervous wreck. I had turned up an hour early to the training forest, where Levi had prepared a re-testing for me. Since I had been out of the forests for weeks, it was completely plausible that I lost my touch and throwing me back into the Expedition coming up without any re-training would be suicide.

"Hazura."

I leapt up at the sound and turned to see Levi emerging from the training grounds. His sleeves had been rolled up to the elbows and his hair was slightly disheveled, which was unusual if he wasn't cleaning.

Urgh, cleaning. I crinkled my nose at the thought. That was one thing I didn't miss.

"Ackerman." I replied and approached him.

"You can't start for another half hour at least. Don't you have better things to do?"

I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms, my old attitude leaking back.

"In case you forgot, I'm not in any unit yet. And because I'm not in a unit yet, I don't have any work to do."

"Why don't you just go play with those MP friends of yours, Hazura? Your cup of tea will go cold."

I rolled my eyes and gave Steve a pointed look as he approached us from the west.

"For your information, I didn't play as an MP, contrary to what you might think."

Steve shot me the stink eye, resentment flowing freely from him. "Oh, my apologies. You didn't play. You were just living the life, weren't you? Sharing little pieces of some fancy pastry?"

I gritted my teeth, my hands curled into fists and my feet began stalking towards him.

"I'll give you a piece of my mind if you don't shut the f-"

"Hazura." Levi calmly stretched out his arm stopping me from further advancing. However, that didn't stop me from glaring daggers at my old comrade.

"Steve." Jack had come up from somewhere behind and placed a firm grip on Steve's shoulder, slowly pulling him back to the forest. "Drop it."

"But Jack, she-"

The older man gave him a look. "Drop it."

With one last glare, Steve turned on his heel and reeled away from sight, into the foliage. I sighed and crossed my arms again, stepping away from Levi's arm, my grip turning my knuckles white.

"I guess it was just wishful thinking that things could go back to the way they were." I glanced over at Jack, who silently stood by Levi's side. "Aren't you mad at me too?"

"I'm sure you had your reasons. If being with you in the same squad was real, then there's no way you would have voluntarily chose to do it. The truth can set you free." Jack simply replied.

"Or it can make and break you." I murmured. "You really are too wise for your age. It scares me sometimes."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"How are plans going, Jack?" Levi flicked his head over to the training forest.

"Things are running smoothly. A few more adjustments and we should be done within the next 30 minutes or so. I should get back to my place. I saw Steve running off and of course, he was here."

Levi nodded in acknowledgement and Jack headed back to the trees.

"This cannot be a normal run if you have to prepare for hours." I glanced into the green wall of bush and leaves, getting slightly worried.

"In case you haven't noticed, you aren't exactly a normal soldier. Also, there's some tension I need to get rid of within the group regarding you coming back into our ranks."

"So basically, I have to prove myself that I'm able to jump back into the Special Ops. Fair."

"Just try not to seriously hurt anyone." With that warning, Levi spun around and disappeared into the trees.

"Right." I huffed before pausing as the words sunk in. Seriously hurt anyone?

Did he just imply that I was against humans?

"Wait a minute!"

"They're ready."

I straightened from my stretches and noticed Levi was back into his usual uniform, grasping two blades.

"Wait, they?"

"Let's go." And he reeled himself out of sight. I cursed, pulled out two blades myself and followed after him.

"Can you at least tell me what I need to do?"

"That's for you to figure out." A burst of gas suddenly erupted into my face, forcing my eyes to shut. I coughed in irritation.

"Damn it Levi, I'm right-" my eyes opened again but Levi was gone. "-behind…you."

Then a slight movement to my right caught my eye and I trusted my instinct, heading towards it. As the leaves parted, a wooden titan swung my way. Its jelly-like neck glinted at me. Easy.

I frowned. Too easy.

I did a quick glance but nothing suspicious stood out and so I flew towards it, blades ready.

"No you don't."

At that, I swung out my left blade and it clanged against another sword. My eyes travelled up the arm…and into the narrowed eyes of Steve.

"Tch." I clicked my tongue and shoved myself away from him, planting my feet against a nearby tree. "What do you want, Steve? It better be reasonable because I am already this close to punching you in the face."

"So much for taking her by surprise." Interrupted a female voice.

The sound of reeling came from up higher and I looked up to see Soph, crouching above me. She gave a curt salute, hitting her chest with a fist.

"Morning, Rina."

"Morning…" now I was slightly confused. "What was that about taking me by surprise?"

Soph smiled. "Now I can't tell you that."

My brain whirled as I took in the information that I had. Steve and Soph had appeared when I went in for a slice of Titan neck. So the objective had to be taking down the fake Titans. Steve had stopped me and Soph mentioned that that should have been a surprise attack. So they must be here to stop me. My eyes flickered around again and it was then that I noticed a huge clue. A thin brown rope had been tied to the waists of each Ops member. The other end had been to the shoulder of the wooden Titan.

Almost like…arms.

I chuckled. "Whose idea was it to turn you guys into Titan arms?"

There was a pause as Steve and Soph realised their secret was up.

"It was Brian's. Although Steve was particularly enthusiastic about it." Soph blabbed instantly, shrugging.

"I see." I nodded and leapt off the branch abruptly, soaring towards the neck.

Soph reacted first, leaping after me. Steve followed after, closing in on me from the other side. Making a split decision, I released my line and gravity took me down. Soph shot above me, her brown rope trailing behind her. Before I could drop further, I reached up with my right blade and swiped, the rope splitting easily.

"You sly…" she murmured, smiling. I winked and quickly attached myself back to the Titan, gassing myself upwards. As I landed on the shoulder, Steve stood right on top of the jelly mass. He flexed his fingers around his blades.

"You're not going to get this Titan so easily. You'll have to go through me."

I sighed and began walking slowly towards him.

"What's your deal, Steve? I understand that you're mad and confused but do you really have to be such an asshole? Just talk to me."

"Did you leave because you hated us?"

I blinked at the sudden accusation. "No."

"Did you leave because you hated Levi?"

"No."

"Why did you leave then?"

I made a face. "I can't tell you that."

"Then whatever made you leave, was it worth it?" chipped in Soph, knowing I wasn't going to reveal to them my actual reason.

"Yes."

"Then…was it supposed to be a permanent leave?" By now Steve's voice had faltered.

I had reached Steve by now and he turned away from me, his hands now tight fists around his blades. My eyes zoomed in on his brown rope, which was now in my reach. I slipped my sword underneath and grabbed the other side of the rope.

"Permanent? No." I answered.

With that, Steve whirled around too late as I pulled the rope taunt and sliced through it. I gave him a sheepish grin. His face fell.

"Was that all an act?"

I took a stance and quickly cut out a chuck of the jelly.

"No. It was never supposed to be a permanent move."

Leaving him to dwell on that and Soph to crack up laughing at his less-than-impressive defence, I jumped off and onto the next Titan I could find.