Chapter two,

Heading back to Shiganshina.

''This idea somehow seems really stupid.'' Eren whispered, as he and Levi headed back towards the tunnel, early in the morning. Maybe it was the darkness, or perhaps it was a stroke of luck, but the Titans hadn't woken up when they had sneaked past them, waking up Eren had been a bigger task. ''What makes you say that right now?'' Levi asked, wondering whether Eren had grown wise enough to figure out that the devastation would tear at their emotional wounds. They really should've brought a larger group, but they had to be careful enough as it was. They weren't as popular within the walls as they used to be.

''People hate us right now. I'm a known Titan shifter, and you... you beheaded the king. Shiganshina isn't that close either, and chances are slim no one will regonize us. We can't sneak around all day, we have to eat at some point. We should have brought someone along, if only for fighting, or someone who could fetch some dinner.'' Eren whispered. ''You know, Eren has a point.'' he could imagine Armin telling him this.

''I'm pretty sure Erwin already thought off that, if you can come up with it. They need as many people as possible back there, in case the Titan's decide to attack. You're a Titan shifter, and I'm considered so-called humanity's strongest. I'm fairly certain that we'll make it there. But I agree we should lay low, for the time being. Maybe get some horses and a cloak somewhere.'' Levi said, looking around. This tunnel, he despised it. It had been their way out, and now, they headed back to where everything had occured. To the place where he had lost Armin.

''If you say so.'' Eren replied, but didn't sound confident. ''I hardly think they have time to chase us after the damage we've caused. If we don't walk around like we used to, and try to blend in, we should be able to at least get somewhat near Shiganshina. From there on, we'll have to improvise.'' Levi told him, as they continued walking. ''Not that you will mind that. You never stuck to a plan before.'' he added.

''Hey!'' Eren sounded offended, before thinking it over, ''It's because they take so long.'' he complained. ''They require patience. Something a five-year old wouldn't posses.'' Levi teased. Eren rolled his eyes, he was supposed to work together with Levi for this mission. If he started trouble here, surely they'd fail. He touched the key that hung around his neck. Maybe they'd be able to visit his father's basement if they reached Shiganshina.

''Can I ask something?'' he asked quietly, studying the key for a bit, before tucking it back. ''Depends what it's about.'' Levi replied, squinting his eyes, they were nearing the exit sooner then expected. Would there be guards waiting for them? Maybe they should get their blades ready. ''Armin really, really grew fond of you. How... did he... did he get his last words, or did he just... you know.'' Eren said, not sure how to formulate his question.

Levi gave him a look, before saying, ''If you want to know something, then speak up. Also, do you really have to ask this right now?'' ''I only want to know his last words. I'm his best friend, I think I should know what his last thoughts were. Whether he had got to see his dream.'' Eren said. 'We really did.' Levi looked as Armin stared fondly at the blue ocean. He had wondered how it was, to have your dreams realised. Only for Armin to ask if they could talk. Armin had prioritized telling him how much he loved him, and to take care of his friends. He should've seen it coming, the warmth Armin had been radiating back in the tunnel had been feverish. Abnormally high for a human.

''Heichou?'' Eren asked, making Levi look up. ''He told me to take care of you and Mikasa.'' he told Eren. ''Oh, I see.'' Eren nodded, it seemed like Armin to request that. ''Who is there?'' they heard someone ask, it was a feminine voice. 'Crap.' Levi thought, drawing his sword, signaling Eren to hide. The footsteps drew closer, the breathing growing heavier each time this person took a step. 'She sounds old.' Levi thought, before deciding to peek.

It indeed was an elderly woman, looking around her, in her hand a lantern that gave a dim light. 'It's a civillian. She could be injured. Maybe you should check on her.' Levi could imagine Armin saying this. He'd argue with it, but then Armin would just tell him it would be their duty, before heading over there himself. 'Stay here, and remain ready until I signal for you to come out.'' Levi told Eren, before putting his sword away, and heading over to the woman.

''Are you lost, ma'am?'' he asked, as he approached. ''Who... who are you?'' the woman asked, before holding the light closer, and her eyes widened. So did Levi's. ''You...'' the woman gasped, and Levi felt terribly sorry for her. It was the woman who had offered them shelter before this entire mess started. She had been awfully kind troughout the years, but loyal to the king as well. The king he had beheaded.

''Thank god you are safe.'' she said, as she smiled. Her words surprised Levi. ''Don't you be shy, you should follow me, and have some supper. Are you going to bring your friends again? Or, perhaps, have you reunited with your love interest. I'd be disappointed if you hadn't at least told your precious person how you felt.'' she continued to talk.

Eren, who had been listening from a distance, recognized the voice, got up, and walked over. ''Oh, it's you.'' the woman said, and Levi gave him an annoyed look. ''Are you okay, miss? What are you doing here?'' Eren asked. ''I've been around for a few days. After the devestation we've suffered, I didn't have the urge to head back to my place yet. I've been considering escape, and see what the outside is like. But my heart wants to remain here, where our king has been buried but a few days ago, god rest his dear soul.'' she said.

'Still as loyal. Would she remember us as the friendly visitors or the ones who killed her hero? She lost her daughter to us as well, what if she is luring us into a trap?' Levi wondered. ''I understand. My heart wanted to stay at home when it got destroyed too.'' Eren said, nodding in understanding. ''My daughter was the exact opposite. If she had the option, she would've taken her leave.'' The woman laughed sadly, before adding, ''We should head back to my place. I can make you some food, and get you shelter for the night. Were you headed somewhere special?''

Before Eren could open his mouth, Levi shook his head. ''Wandering around for now. The Survey did get disbanded.'' he told her, giving Eren a stern look. Before he knew her intentions to be hostile or not, they shouldn't tell her anything about what they were planning. ''That's right. I had almost forgotten about that. I can see why the decision has been made though. It would've been in the way of the newly appointed government, or so they claimed.'' the older woman said.

''Government?'' Eren asked, and Levi wondered what she meant. ''I'll explain it at my place, there are eyes and ears everywhere.'' she told them, before slowly walking towards the exit. She turned to see Levi and Eren weren't following her. ''Why are you still standing there?'' she asked. ''...We can't exactly go out in the open, unless it's night, and town is quiet. People aren't exactly fond of us any longer.'' Eren told her.

''I thought you said you had been wandering around until now. Oh well, wait here. I'll get a few cloaks, to cover your heads with. And then we get you some food, and shelter.'' she said, before taking her leave. Eren and Levi shared a look, before Eren asked, ''Why are you being so vague? She's a good person. She took care of us before this all happened.'' Eren said.

''She did. But she also was faithful to the king. She missed her daughters burial for an 'important' celebration day. And I beheaded said king. You are a titan-shifter, something the king despised. She may be kind, and have provided us shelter before, but I think her being here is suspicious. We should be careful.'' Levi told him. ''Oh, right. Kinda makes sense. Trusting strangers hasn't done me right in the past.'' Eren's eyes saddened, as he thought about Annie, Bertholdt and Reiner.

''You see my point. We should focus on the mission. If she's trustworthy, we should be able to ask her for horses. But if not, we'll have to fight our way out, and that didn't go so well last time.'' Levi said. ''Civillians, Levi. They matter too, no matter what they have done.'' Levi blinked a few times, before shaking his head. ''Something wrong, Heichou?'' Eren asked. ''No... It's nothing. Did you say something?'' Levi asked. ''How about civillians. We should still be careful, to cause as few casualties as possible.'' Eren said. ''Right'' Levi wasn't sure how to reply.

Back within the trees, Jean looked over at the ocean. ''The ocean! Did you know there is more water then there is earth. And yet, we're surrounded by walls and land. There is so much to explore!'' Jean sighed, Armin really, really wanted to see the ocean. And Marco... he had been curious about the ocean too, questioning Armin every time they had to maintain the 3DM Gear. ''Are you okay there, boy?'' he heard someone ask. He looked up to see commander Erwin. He stood up, as he saluted, ''Commander, nothing in particular, Sir.''

Erwin huffed. ''No need for those titles anymore, the Survey has been disbanded, remember. And I'm no fool, I can see it in your eyes.'' ''I can assure you, sir, if anyone is a fool, it'd be me.'' Jean said, dropping his arm. ''Why is that?'' Erwin asked. ''It doesn't matter anymore, Sir. If I keep thinking of that, we'll never achieve what that person wanted. I was thinking though, Eren and Levi are currently out there, attempting the impossible. If they don't return, what do we do?''

''We'll look for other ways out.'' Erwin said. ''How do you do that? Keeping hope, keep looking for ways out, even though barely a week ago, our lives got turned upside down. We don't even know what is going on in there, and what to do.'' Jean exclaimed. Erwin smiled mysteriously, before replying, ''I used to be like your fellow soldier, Armin, god rest his soul. Young, brave, but also unsure. I became the way I did, because of a certain someone I met.''

Sooner then they had anticipated, the lady indeed returned with cloaks. ''Here, cover your heads with them, and follow me. Don't make any eye contact.'' she warned them in a hushed voice, and Levi gave a nod in understanding. ''Follow me.'' she told them again, before leaving the tunnel. Eren's breath hitched as he looked about. ''I didn't thought it was this bad...'' he whispered to Levi.

Most buildings had been destroyed, and the remains of them covered most of the street. Some had even caved in upon each other. There were several men removing rubble, and rebuilding crucial parts. ''Even after five weeks, this is slow.'' Levi whispered back. ''Well, not everyone did survive. We suffered some losses, surely, more have lost their lives here.'' Eren said.

Levi was sure Armin would have been horrified, even if he had gotten to see his dream. He wondered how it would've been had things gone differently. Where exactly had they messed up, for this to happen. He saw a large group, listening with rapt attention to one man. He was wearing the same outfit as the wall-priest had during the trial of Bertholdt and Reiner.

That wall-priest had been difficult, and after Christa's outburst, he apprehended Ymir, Christa, Jean and Armin. ''What's going on over there?'' he heard Eren ask the lady. ''That's the daily priest giving the people the new laws, rules we must abide to. They do it several times a day, to make sure everyone knows. They are repeated each time we are required to go to church too.'' she said.

'They didn't have that much power before, to make laws.' Levi thought, and apparently the old lady could read his mind as she said, ''They co-operated with the military and the surviving guards to form the new government. Things sure have changed around here.'' ''I can see that.'' Levi replied, before somebody walked up to them. ''Hello there, making your way back? Have you heard the new laws yet? Wait, who are they?'' he asked.

''Visitors from wall Rose. They came here to see how we are faring, and offer help. They come around once every while since my daughter died, but must return before their parents miss them. I haven't heard the latest laws yet, but I plan to attend church tomorrow morning, so surely I'll get updated.'' she replied. ''Well, that seems right. Too bad they are heading back already. We're asked to rebuild parts of the wall tomorrow now that the castle and nearby churches are almost restored. Pretty soon they'll give us permission and tools for the homes as well, so that each surviving family can have a home again. Oh! And they did find someone from the Survey, so he'll get his just desserts this evening. I hope they get each bastard who did this us.'' the man said.

Eren and Levi shared a look. Neither of them had known there were still Surveyors in here. Eren nodded fiercely, as Levi asked, ''At what time will they punish the surveyor? Is it a public event?'' The man seemed to be taken aback by that. ''We lost someone precious because of what happened. If we could see justice served, it'd be a nice closure.'' Eren added.

''Oh, I see. Well, they do like making a show of it. It's in the square before the royal palace where the Reiss' lived before. Around eight, I think. it's likely not the bastard responsible for your grief, but still, I can see how this would give you closure. Maybe for you too Ma'am, since your daughter didn't survive their evil deeds either.'' the man said. ''No, there has been enough violence already, let's go home for now.'' she told Eren and Levi, who followed her.

''Good thinking.'' Levi told Eren, who replied, ''I learned from the best. Mikasa and Armin have shown me my entire life how to find explanations for the weirdest situations. They made things sound more reasonable.'' Eren said. Levi nodded, Armin had shown unusual insights before, even at the trial where he had requested for Bertholdt and Reiner to live and keep their posts in the Survey, claiming to have understood their vision.

They took their cloaks off when they arrived at the woman's house. ''Are you planning to go save that Surveyor tonight?'' the woman asked, who had been awfully quiet. Levi nodded, she deserved to know that much for not ratting them out in town, and getting them here. ''I see. I hope you won't make such a mess again. My daughter's possessions are up in the attic, maybe you could use some of those.'' she said.

''We'll return them if we can.'' Eren said, moved by her support. ''I no longer have any use for them, and I believe you do. I don't stand a chance anymore, but you might, and I honestly believe that whyever you came here, it must've been for good reasons. The king was a good man, but I don't like what the wall-priests are doing to society. It frightens me.'' she told them, as she sat down.

Among the trees, Erwin finished his story. ''I had no idea.'' Jean said. ''Most don't. Our relationship was not accepted, and therefore kept on the down-low. I regret not being more forward about it every single day, because she made my world.'' Erwin said. ''Hey, at least she knew and accepted it. I mean, I had someone I liked too, but when I did confess it, it was too late. By then, they were involved with someone else, and my beloved died the day after I confessed.'' Jean said.

''That's tragic. But, wherever this person may be, I'm sure you did exactly as she or he wanted to, and that's to carry on the mission. My girlfriend told me before she went on that mission that her greatest wish was freedom, among discovering what the world had to offer. If Eren and Levi do succeed within there, that's exactly what we'll do.'' Erwin said. ''Do you think they will, or do you think they could use an extra hand?'' Jean asked, making Erwin look sideways. ''Please let me join them, Sir.'' he requested.