Saph's PoV

With Suzu's head in my lap, I carded my fingers through his brown curls. My arms hurt from the motion, but the dull ache didn't distract me from removing the dried blood and dirt stuck to each strand. Tracing the now mature features appearing on his once childlike face, the realization that he wasn't the same helpless boy who disappeared, twisted at my heart. A bit of fuzz hinted at the ability to grow a beard like our father. Something I wouldn't have believed possible until my own eyes took it in. For the first time in six years, little Suzu tucked against my side. Contentment would have filled my weary body if our situation wasn't so dire.

"Where have you been?" I asked, tears dripping down and landing on his sullen face.

Suzu's eyelashes fluttered feeling the foreign wetness. "Hmmm?"

Quivering with excitement, I carefully maneuvered him so he could sit up. "Hey, Suzu," I greeted him warmly, not knowing exactly what to say. How do I convey this happiness?

"Saph?" Suzu tried to turn and face me. "Ouch!"

"It's okay. It's okay. I'm right here," I gently rubbed his back. "I missed you so much, Suz." Sobbing, my body shook as I tried to contain the churning emotions that made my mouth dry. Wrapping my arms around his injured body, I hugged him close. "Where have you been? What happened? I have so many questions to ask you!" Nuzzling his neck, I took in the comforting scent of my brother that still hadn't changed even with the passing of years. My nose comfortingly pressed against his pulse, I took in the fact that my brother was alive and well. "You don't have to say anything if you don't want to," I murmured.

Suzu's head lolled, finally finding a resting place on my shoulder. Hands, legs, and feet all tanned since I last saw him. At least we weren't Underground anymore. Once we escaped, everything would be fine. We would be happy.

"I followed you that day," Suzu whispered, he reached down to grasp my fingers with his own like he used to when he got scared. "Kenny beating you up, I saw that. It made me so mad, watching you get hurt like that, so I attacked him. Of course Kenny kicked the shit out of me without much effort, but last minute he told me he had some use for me." Suzu didn't continue, snuggling closer, I could tell that something about the last statement meant a bad memory for him. "What about you? How did you get out of that hell hole?"

Croaking out some laughs, I winced at the sharp pain. "You wouldn't believe what happened that led me to this moment."

"I really doubt it's that crazy, Sis," Suzu remarked. "Come on, I wanna hear it. As long as it won't hurt you to tell me of course."

Warmth surged hearing those comforting words coming from his bloodied lips. My brother, always the one who worried over me, even though I'm the older one. "Let's see here. After searching everywhere in the Underground for you without finding any clues, I decided that I'd work hard to come to the surface."

"Kenny only stayed there for a day after capturing me, with those wounds, you wouldn't have been able to do anything, Saph."

Swallowing hard, my nails slightly dug into his palm. "A good amount of time passed before I stumbled upon an unusual sight, three people who weren't a part of the military but each had 3DM gear, so of course I thought to myself that I should steal it."

"Did you?"

"Hahaha... no. Would've been killed if my ears hadn't picked up a secret meeting going on. Someone with power wanted Erwin Smith dead and some documents he had, and the messenger told these three people that Erwin Smith wanted them to join his Survey Corps because of their skills. Using this info, and lying some, I blackmailed them into letting me join them on their mission."

"You joined the Survey Corps? Did you meet any of the people Mom and Dad used to talk about? Wait! You fought Titans?"

"One question at a time please! Yes, I did join the Survey Corps. Now let me finish my story real quick and then I'll answer whatever you want." I mused Suzu's hair with my free hand, not wanting to let go of the one he held. "Anyways, we joined the Survey Corps. Turned out, Erwin knew about the plan all along. Two of the people got eaten by Titans on the expedition, we decided to end it for once and all. He used our little scheme to incriminate the nobel even more."

"What a sneaky bastard!"

"Isn't he?" I exclaimed without meaning too. "I don't like being around that guy."

"So did you stay?" Suzu mumbled.

Gingerly guiding the two of us to the bed of straw, I lied the both of us down. "If you want to sleep just say so."

Yawning, it took a minute before Suzu responded. "Keep telling your story. If I fall asleep we can always finish it when I wake up."

"If you say so. I did stay in the Survey Corps with that other person from the Underground. Guess who he is? Humanity's Strongest Soldier. Corporal Levi. Don't know if I turned out to be lucky or unlucky in that aspect. I'm the vice captain for the Special Operations Squad, only underneath a few people in the Survey Corps. That's right, Suzu. Your sister has definitely made her way in this world, besides the fact that I can die any moment fighting Titans."

Suzu glanced at me after hearing me mention Levi. Watching my movements, I finished, uncomfortable with the scrutiny. "I've heard of him."

"Well I'm sure you have since Kenny is his uncle and everything."

"You know about that?"

Nodding, the face of the man I slept with to gain that information popped into my head. Repressing a shudder, I curled into a ball. "Sure do. I once threatened him with a knife because I heard the two of them were related and that the Ripper had raised him."

"Does Levi know?" Suzu murmured into my skin, his warm presence comforting after all these years of searching for it.

"What do you mean?" I questioned softly, not daring to break his pondering mood.

"Kenny told me that he never told Levi that they were related."

Surprised, I bit my lip as I wondered what exactly I said when I confronted him. "I'm actually not sure if I mentioned that part?"

Suzu seemed to be much more awake now. "What is he like? I've only heard Kenny mention him once or twice. But I have heard many rumors."

"He isn't what you would expect with that title of his. Like he's super short. Almost a foot shorter than me. He also obsessively cleans everything, and I mean everything. Levi almost never jokes around, he's super blunt and gruff, but when he does? It's all poop jokes! Everyone built him up to be this superhuman that fights Titans better than anyone else when he's really not. He acts like a grumpy old man most of the time."

Suzu gave out a great belt of laughter that quickly turned into a groan when the movement pulled at his injuries. "You must really like him, Saph. You going to end up like Mom and Dad? Two kids safely living in the town while the two of you fight Titans?"

"Me and Levi aren't like that, Suzu. He's my superior and I respect him, but I'm done with the military when we get out of here. Having searched for you for so many years, and finally finding you, I don't think I can imagine another second without you. So, I'll quit the Survey Corps because you are too important for me to lose again," whimpering the last part out, I kept my tears at bay as I kissed his forehead. "I love you so much, Suzu."

Snuggling himself closer, Suzu gave me a bright smile. "I love you too, Saph."

"I spent a lot of money digging up information to find you, but I have enough tucked away that we can start a life in the city. We could get a small home, find a couple jobs, and make an honest living. We could live. We could be happy." I muttered softly into his sweaty hair. Suzu gave a soft exhale from his nostrils that worried me slightly, I peered over to see him slightly drifting off with a slight smile on his more mature face. I felt a small bit of delight at putting that easy smile on. After all these years, me being his big sis would never change.

"Go to sleep. I'll watch out for Kenny."

His eyes fluttered slightly in a dreary attempt to stay awake. "He probably won't come today."

"How do you know?"

He pulled me in closert, 'till our noses lightly touched. "Just trust me." He warm breath wafted across my cheek.

With the weight of having to find my brother finally off my shoulders, curling up next to him to take a nap sounded perfect. The dried blood made my scarce clothing uncomfortable, straw poked at my exposed skin, and the threat of Kenny torturing either me or my brother hung in the air, but the sleep I got that night could never be rivaled.

The distinct 'clank' of a metal door slamming shut woke me and Suzu from our blissful sleep. I shot to my feet defensively, years of living on the street and fighting honing my instincts. Suzu followed me up, not far behind. "Who are you?" I spat venomously, baring my teeth at the strange girl putting a tray containing two plates of food inside the cell. I didn't bother trying to hide the growl that rasped it's way out of my parched throat. My arms stretched in front of Suzu protectively. I'll be damned if they take Suzu, they'd have to kill me first.

"Kenny's too busy to bother with either of you today," she nonchalantly said to the room. "Tomorrow will be a different story." She acted like we weren't even a real threat to her. That really pissed me off, the dismissal.

"Neither of us are in any shape to deal with your sick, twisted torture techniques." I slightly moved closer to Suzu, ready to push him out of the way if needed. I didn't want it to come to that, but I would gladly offer myself up before I let this bitch or Kenny get their hands on him.

"It won't have to come to that if you just tell us what we want to know..."

My nose wrinkled in disgust, I contemplate throwing the piss bucket at her. Kenny could easily retaliate, but this bitch? I could take her down easily, especially with Suzu on my side. But if I did that, she might bring Kenny down here. "So you can dispose of us once we tell you? Not a fucking chance."

Shrugging her shoulders, the teen girl left the vicinity in silence. The door closed with a resounding 'clank', sealing us inside. If she told the truth, Suzu and I will be left undisturbed for another day.

Kneeling down, I prodded at the food and smelled it before deeming it relatively safe. Truthfully, the food didn't differ that much from what we got at the military base, but the lack of laughter and camaraderie made the tasteless meal harder to swallow.

I scraped most of my food onto the other plate and handed it over to Suzu. "Here you go, you need to keep up your strength." Seeing that him about to object to getting a bigger meal, I interrupted him with a raised hand. "Don't, Suzu. You're a growing boy."

We ate without talking, hands sticky with whatever we shoved down our gullets. I licked the remains off my grimy fingers, nothing would go to waste. The desperation reminded me of when I lived back in the Underground. Uncertain as to when the next meal would come around led to hoarding and violence. At least back at the military base, our water wasn't controlled by other people. Constant thirst itself leads to incessant suffering with little escape. Dehydration kept a person weak. So in order to keep up my strength, I drank the contents of the dirty container provided in the room (keeping in mind that Suzu would need water regularly). However, I almost accidentally spat it out when I saw that Suzu had taken off his shirt. "What are you doing?"

"You should wear it," he said, holding the worn fabric out to me. "I ate half of your food, now let me do this for you." Frayed and covered in holes, some of the parts threadbare, but the piece still had more coverage than my own outfit.

My black shorts were still holding up pretty well since all the access Kenny wanted with my legs already laid bare. Straw and dirt stuck to the cuts striping my tan flesh. My top, however, was in worse shape. Tatters held together by a few strings made up my once whole black tank top. The swells of my breast were almost completely uncovered, and if the stinging sensation on my back belied anything, most of the wounds from the whip weren't covered up."

"Are you uncomfortable with the small lumps of fat on my chest? Modesty isn't a priority, and we've seen each other naked before." I tried to casually play off his concern.

Suzu sighed, almost rolling his brown eyes at me (he might have grown in some ways but he was still a obstinate child). "It's not that. I'm just afraid someone might get some... ideas... with you looking so... vulnerable. Most guys here aren't ones you'd feel safe leaving a breathing girl around." Suzu looked distinctly uncomfortable talking to me about being a woman around skeevy men, like I haven't lived in the Underground my entire life or been in the military. It would have been endearing to see the flush of embarrassment on his much older face if I was in a better mood, but it just reminded me of our shitty situation.

"Doubt anything will happen…" I mumbled, Suzu looked at me in desperation. "But if it means that you'll worry less, I'll take it." Throwing the shirt over my head, I took a moment to breathe in the scent of Suzu.

"Are you sniffing it?" Suzu sounded slightly amused.

My head popped out of the opening. "I'm trying not to since all I can smell is sweat. Ewww."

I giggled as Suzu reached over and began to tug on the garment. "If you're going to be a rude, I'm taking it back." We began to playfully wrestle, the movements hurt but I felt a sense of nostalgia so warm flowing in my bones that I didn't stop. Tickling his side, I snorted as he thrashed around helplessly. No matter how many years pass, I'll always get the upperhand on him. "We should probably be conserving our energy," he panted out, struggling to remove my wiggling fingers.

Collapsing beside him, I heaved for breath. "Yeah, torture can take a lot out of you."

"Have you told them anything?" He sounded curious but no less concerned for my wellbeing, how cute.

Facing Suzu, I smiled gently at him. "Not a thing. I did yell at them to give you back to me."

Suzu's eyebrows rose, "most people cower when an angry Kenny is in front of them, not make demands."

"I've been looking for you for almost seven years. Kenny wanting to get intel the difficult way wasn't going to stop me." Pain couldn't be a for foreign concept for me since I've already walked through hell and back to find Suzu. What was a little more torture?

"And now you've found me." Suzu sounded proud.

"That I did, my little brother. All that's left is to get out of here." I gave a furtive glance around the dank cell.

Resting his head on his arms, Suzu glanced around the desolate cell. "That might be a little difficult. Kenny's killed hundreds of people. He might be the most powerful human being within the three Walls. There might not be a way for us to get past him. What if you just tell him what he wants to know? Try to strike a deal or something? There isn't a point in keeping the information if the two of us are dead."

Drawing closer to Suzu, I cradled him, warmth spread within my chest. "I'm not going to lose you ever again, Suzu. The information I possess is the only thing keeping us alive."

"What do they want to know?" Suzu probed me, his voice soft. "They spent all these resources and time to get you. I mean, Saph, you must have some idea how dangerous the knowledge could be."

Contemplating whether I should tell him or not, I scanned outside the jail for any intruders that could overhear the conversation. "Just some stuff. Brutus and Agni were both of my informants, but one left me and the other betrayed me."

"Why did Agni leave?" Suzu leaned closer to me, eyes bright and eager.

"Said the information became too dangerous to get for her. I guess when you're the best in the business you can be a bit pickier with who your customers are." I shrugged in a con-committal motion.

"Did you tell anyone any of it? Maybe someone will come save us?" Suzu brightened at that prospect. "Then we won't have to attack Kenny ourselves!"

The chances of Levi putting in the effort to track me down and find me were close to none. I doubted he considered us anything more than acquaintances at best, so the notion that he's frantically scouring the land for me almost made me laugh out loud. "I've told Levi. I brought him with me to visit Brutus a few times, and I told him what Agni gave me."

"Like what? Do you think he'll come?" Suzu looked happy, like a little bruised puppy-dog.

Sighing, I figured that crushing Suzu's hopes wouldn't do either of us much good at the moment. "He could. I mean he does have a lot of power in the Survey Corps with his position, but he'd have to put all the details together and figure out where we are. Unless he told Erwin or someone else what might have happened to me." Mulling over the idea, I let it sit as I addressed Suzu's other question. "Agni mostly just told me about Kenny and how he's working under the Reiss family now. I guess the reason I got involved in this mess in the first place is because Kenny kidnapped you. I thought of kidnapping the illegitimate daughter of Rod Reiss to see if I could use her as a bargaining chip. Since she got sent away, I doubted they valued her that much to begin with."

"Why is Kenny working under Reiss?"

Licking my lips, I puzzled over the missing pieces to the overall picture. "I believe you would have a better idea of that than me. He seemed to be murdering most of the noble and royal family before suddenly switching over to being on their side. Is he protecting Rod Reiss' daughter now? If they wanted her to live they wouldn't have put her in the Survey Corps."

"Do you know what she looks like? What training group she is in?" Suzu asked, a desperate tone taking over.

"No?" I trailed off, confused by his sudden burst of energy.

Sitting up suddenly, Suzu scratched the back of his neck. "That's all?"

"All that I can recall. Let's take a nap. We can come up with a plan when we wake up since I'm tuckered out." So much thinking and discussing with various wounds marred on me led to a quick depletion of energy. "You need to take a break too. Those bruises must mean you're pretty sore at the moment."

"Actually, they are pretty superficial." Suzu glanced down at himself, poking at a rather large and painful looking bruise without so much as a flinch. I did it for him, my whole body jerking away from his.

Suzu's nonchalant tone made me perk up. "What do you mean?"

"Just as I said. They weren't made to do any damage to me, but to make you think I'm trustworthy. Of course if I came in seemingly perfectly fed and taken care of, you would've been a little suspicious." He took on a matter-of-fact tone. Much like the tone somebody would use when discussing the weather.

Easing down to sit on the bed, I considered my now teen brother sitting in front of me. Him being shirtless meant that I could clearly see the marks dotting his body. What he implied… what he said was impossible. Leaning over, I gripped his pants in my closed fist as I desperately tried to keep my rising fear under control. "Why do you need to seem trustworthy, Suzu? You're my brother, of course I trust you. You're the only person in the world that I can trust. We're going to be together, Suzu. Right? Right?" I felt the sick chruning in my gut as the fear rose like bitter acid in the back of my throat. Dangerously close to throwing up on myself, I gritted my teeth.

Shaking off my grasp, he stood up. A cold demeanor had over taken the playful one that he'd portrayed moments ago.

I gasped slightly, "No Suzu… how could you do this… to your own sister?" I felt the tears prick at my eyes, threatening to fall. I forced them away, I'd rather be eaten by a fucking titan before I gave them the satisfaction of seeing me cry like a child.

"You're not the only one who can create a convincing facade. You sure were quick to spill everything, big sis. Kenny imagined that it'd take a few days at least, but nope. You held no reservation towards believing me the second I got thrown in here. Did you? I'm almost a little disappointed..." Suzu sneered. The facial expression morphed him into a Suzu that I didn't know.

Stunned at the events that were happening too fast for my mind to make out, I choked out a sob. Mind racing all that came up blurred as I scrambled towards reality. My body trembled as I curled up. I forced back a sob that threatened to retch itself from my unwilling throat. This wasn't my Suzu.

"Ethell! Get me out of here!" I flinched when Suzu yelled outside the cell.

The girl from before came hurrying in. Her stern expression had now morphed into a more frantic one. "Did she tell you?"

"Of course. I wouldn't be yelling at you otherwise," Suzu said, quite irritated.

Huffing at his annoyance, the aforementioned Ethell put the key in and opened the door wide enough for him to squeeze past like she thought I might try to escape. Pulling out a small gun, she aimed it at my head. "Guess she's not needed now."

Despair weighed me down, I almost wanted her to pull the trigger. To end everything. But I couldn't. Suzu couldn't be doing this to me. He just couldn't. My baby brother had to be at my side. He was supposed to be at my side, never leaving me by myself. Convinced that this was some sort of fever dream that my mind cruelly created, I pleaded for anyone listening that when I awoke, Suzu would be safely tucked against my side. But the heavy pain in my heart let me know that this harsh real existed and wouldn't go away any time soon. Surrendering, I waited for the sound that would end my pitiful existence.

"Wait," Suzu interrupted, lowering her gun away from me. "Let's see what Kenny says when he gets back."

Trying to catch his eye, I just needed an indicator that this happened to be some sort of game, a trick. All I got was Suzu turning his back to me and walking away with the girl out the door.

Once the door clicked shut, I began to wail. I banged my fist against the stone walls. "Suzu. Suzu! Suzu! Please don't do this! I love you!"

Sorry about the super duper late update guys. I've been traveling, and this chapter turned out to be way longer than I first expected it to be. I have already sent the 32nd chapter to my wonderful beta, TheeWiccaChick (who was awesome in helping out with this one), so the wait shouldn't be as long for the next chapter. Anyways, thanks for all the support you guys, even with me being absent for most of the month, you readers were just wonderful. Hopefully, I won't go anywhere that doesn't have a good connection with wifi anytime soon. I hope everyone has enjoyed this chapter, and please leave a review on your way out!