The Cleansing of Garrus

It didn't take too long for Garrus to get caught that night, luckily for Alan, he stayed in Mikasa's bed for a while before sneaking out, reluctant, but necessary, leaving her sleeping form in peace as the quilt covers her form, the exercise still fresh in their minds, sooner or later Alan mange to sneak back into the room without notice, Reiner have been awake and on lookout until he got back, his grin all to relevant before he could get back into bed, going into peaceful slumber.

Alan shaking his head at Reiner, 'he should have gone to sleep instead of being worried over him' before turning in himself, hearing the shouting outside in the distance.

Morning soon followed as a huge bang echoed in the barracks, people shooting up from their beds, alarmed, as orders issued, second day in something serious had happened because someone is not in a very good mood.

Mikasa woke up to see Captain Levi barging in, the women covering themselves with the bedding too shocked to breath or speak, Levi's eyes scanning towards the empty bed that belonged to Sasha's, 'she must have not came back last night' Mikasa can only think feeling a ping of guilt hitting her, but hiding it well to not draw attention to the uninvited guest entering their room watching Levi walking over to inspect the bed white gloves in hand as if not wanting to catch whatever he is seeing, only to rip the sheets off, his face formed in pure disgust as he scanned the rest of the remaining faces staring at him. Mikasa had a mind to beat him to a pulp for what he did to Eren and barging in like he owns the pace but refrained from doing so.

"Get dressed and strip those beds now" the captain can only say as the sheets in his hands outstretched further away muttering about something like filthy animals. The door closing behind allowing some form of privacy for the ladies holding onto their bedding. Mikasa quite thankful that she covered herself seeing how she is still fully naked underneath.

"Well I just lost the bet" Izzy piped up from above looking at the bare sheets that Sasha's bed used to be "to think that they have the nerve to do it in this room with all of us are sleeping" both Izzy shuddered at the thought and Mikasa's face brightened red at the thought.

Mikasa can only remember last night as Alan was on top of her as he pulled out denying her need to feel it yet again, amusing to see him rushing over to Sasha's empty bed do that without waking people up, even though sweat covered hers along with her own release. According to Alan, he is using Garrus as a scapegoat to hide their own activities, smart but risky and pretty disgusting since they are the ones to have the balls to do it right then and there and if Sasha would come back that night, she would, Mikasa shaking that horrible thought, thankfully Izzy and the other girl assumed it was Garrus and Sasha leaving no suspicion on Mikasa, assuming they thought Mikasa haven't even been to that stage yet. Alan must have been quiet about themselves, which Mikasa is thankful and heart touched that their privacy is just that, their privacy just between the two of them, sooner or later Armin and Eren would catch on, that would be an awkward conversation to say the least.

Izzy snapping her from her thoughts "You heard them last night, right, groaning and moaning, yuck?" shuddering at the thought as Izzy heard it all night, it was stifled moans but since she assumed it was Sasha she wouldn't be surprised.

Mikasa can hum in agreement, not trusting her own voice to give too much away to who it really was and the interrogation that would follow.

Garrus is not having a good day at all, of all times he decides to sneak Sasha out the barracks is the moment the damn midget is up and about on his midnight walks as some of the senior members would call it. Yeah, he may have cause a mess in the very hall he was walking into, but that doesn't mean he has to scrub every brick in said hallway, even though Sasha is having some form of punishment as well, scrubbing all the sheets from the barracks, apparently there was a massive mess on her own bed that was found by the midget, Garrus couldn't even remember doing it in the bed let alone getting in it, he's not stupid to fuck Sasha in the very room with Mikasa, Izzy and that black headed girl sleeping in there, besides Sasha would flat out refuse, she maybe a sore sight when she is eating but the woman have standards and knows the boundaries of privacy hence the sneaking out.

Racking though his brains trying to think when and how it could have happened, until he saw Alan walked pass with Bertholdt and Reiner as they finished their lecture they have to attend until something crossed Garrus's mind.

Wait, Alan and Mikasa. They are both together, Alan talked to Mikasa about them taking the next step, Garrus overheard where Sasha would be, which is the same room as Mikasa, so that would mean… Garrus stopped his scrubbing, eyes narrowing upon realisation.

That Son of a Bitch.

Whirling around to head to Alan's direction to give him a piece of his mind and fists until a threatening voice called from behind freezing him in place.

"You're not finished cleaning this hallway" Garrus turning around to see the very midget inspecting the hall, his eyes looking at the white marks on the wall, Garrus can say he's pretty proud of his ammunition, shame it didn't land on Sasha's back, may need to work on his aim. "You haven't even started on the mess you made" Levi nodding to the wall where he found them.

"You did ask for me to scrub the whole hallway" Garrus sarcastically, soon shutting up when Levi glared back darkly, not amused with his answering back.

"If you didn't fuck everywhere at any time you damn please you wouldn't be in this mess" Levi coldly spoke "if you were smart, you should have taken it out of the damn building and not a random hallway"

"Sorry I am not so backed up as you, midget" Garrus spat in return, saliva accidently spraying out, before a kick struck into his stomach, making Garrus flip in the air, landing on front, it feels like he's going to puke with the force that hit him and something heavy placed on top of his head.

"you got a shitty mouth, next time I crack that but I rather not have blood all over the place" Levi spoke his foot on top of Garrus's head "Your lucky I'm letting you clean the hallway and not the whole fucking barracks where all your shit might have contaminated with your junk"

Listening to the coughs and groans of the man under his foot, Levi allowed the words to sink in and the message all to clear, he wouldn't have kicked him if he didn't mouth off and insult his height and being disgusting, lifting his own foot off, walking away "You have an hour, I be back to inspect it"

Somewhere in the courtyard, a long line with white sheets hanging over with Sasha currently scrubbing the sheets dumped on her, one by one, that will be the last time she be having a tumble with Garrus for a while, twice they have been caught and twice she let her own primal instincts took over for her need to love the idiot. Yes, the adrenaline was a brilliant rush but getting caught when things gets even more saucy or at the end kills the moment by and worst of being caught by Captain Levi twice in two days.

Sasha have a feeling they been on his radar since they stepped foot into the HQ. Looking at all the sheets she have to scrub by hand, it will take forever to do, the Captain ordered her to do it on her own without asking for help.

Hearing a thud next to her side she saw another huge bucket of water with Mikasa, kneeling down. Blinking once or twice as Sasha's brain trying to register as she watch Mikasa grabbing one of the sheets that she recognised as hers and began scrubbing it, her face stoic.

"Mikasa, you know I have to do this all by myself" Sasha pined, appreciating the help but hate for Mikasa to get in trouble if the captain were to see her now.

"I decided to help you" Mikasa spoke her focus remained on the sheets as she effortlessly scrubbed to her satisfaction, starting with hers first to avoid Sasha catching on "Would hate for you to be here all day without being able to eat"

"Geez, Alan having some form of influence on you, usually you be around Eren or Alan and not leaving their side" Sasha bluntly spoke, her cheeks reddening at the thought of missing a meal and her words she just spoke, unaware that Mikasa stopped for a short moment to ponder on the words that have just been said, aware of some truth behind them.

"You maybe correct" Mikasa can only say, Alan's influence have impacted her greatly, being able to talk to people without the need to be around Eren, even Eren noticed this change and seem to enjoy the new Mikasa, as he wished she could do something without sticking to him like glue, yes she concerned for his safety, family are like that after all.

She even gotten bolder as she dallied with Alan with people in the same room, the guilt hitting her as Sasha took the blame for their own mess, not that she would admit it openly that will stay with her to the grave.

"Thanks for helping me, how's the training?" Sasha making conversation not wanting the whole scrubbing being done in total silence.

"Interesting, the ODM training is a lot more stricter and they test your awareness more frequently" Mikasa spoke, finding herself relaxed as she talked "This morning Alan seem to be even more elegant in his movements, whatever that Captain did to him yesterday, Alan train extremely hard" now hanging the sheets on the line provided to hang the sheets.

"Yeah, Garrus is scrubbing the hallway that we erm" Stopping mid-sentence, not wanting to say it out loud.

Seeing Mikasa's expression, Garrus may have made a bad reputation of himself as the guy who trains half naked. Sasha grimaced, underneath all that Sasha knew what he's like at his core, knowing him enough but not enough as Garrus's best friend Bruno and his deceased friends. But thinking of the good things about Garrus, made Sasha smile at the real Garrus underneath all that shit.

"He's not all bad, underneath all that sarcasm and vulgarity, he's a really nice guy and very sweet" Sasha dreamily thinking on the man who is currently scrubbing the hallway, cursing and grunting.

"You love him, don't you?" Mikasa asked, Sasha red brightened even more, as she fold a dry sheet off the line.

"Would you laugh if I say yes?" Sasha relaxing as Mikasa shook her head "He's the first person to not care about my accent, how he encourage me to embrace it and be myself, did you know that we hated each other to begin with?"

"Yes Sasha, I was there as he teased you with meat and called you shitbreath" Mikasa spoke without thinking, that day was amusing to say the least, no one ever expected for them to get together after how they fight and insult each other.

"Geez you guys still remember that, Well Garrus had a way with words, at first he be really mean but he share food when no one is looking with me of all people, I think Bruno knew he started to have feelings for me" Sasha continued with her story to how she fallen for Garrus "Did you know he's from a very rich family, the youngest of the three children, his father never gave him much attention, always focused on the eldest, the middle child married some noble woman in the interior, Garrus always tried to do the best for himself at such a young age and that scar across his nose was given to him by his father, he didn't get into too much detail about it, touchy subject"

Mikasa can remember Alan telling her how Garrus had what he call a potent mix of jealousy and daddy issues, Alan's way of explaining things are amusing but knowing now that Garrus's father gave him that scar, maybe there is a really good reason why he got those issues.

"So how did you fall for Alan? I always thought you be after Eren?" Sasha asked.

Mikasa stopped yet again, her thoughts back tracking to the day he caught her in mid-air, the first beat to her heart other than Eren. She could never explain it at first, she remembers how he wrapped her scarf around her neck, he even did it a few times with that big warm smile he gives her, she feel for him more when he just been himself, yet something is different with him, it's like he understood what is going through her, why she is, but when she decided to seal the deal with he kiss, something inside her just accepted it, her focus more on Alan then Eren.

"It just happened" Mikasa just said.

"Really? No sweet smile, no deep passion in the eyes" Sasha teased, her confirmation confirmed as Mikasa focused more intently on the sheets she's scrubbing "Non the less thanks for helping me" with that Mikasa only hummed in thanks as they continued until Mikasa spoke what's, upon her mind at that moment.

"There's something about him though, like he's two different people, like when he's angry or something threatens someone close, it's like he's a complete different person" Mikasa murmured, remembering Trost how he just took out titans with ease, how he's more cautious on getting hit and when it looks like he have been hit he moves himself from view.

"Wouldn't you if he was in danger, he cares and loves those close to him" Sasha chimed in, thinking how Garrus is like that or herself when Garrus fell from the wall.

"Yeah, perhaps your right" Mikasa muttered, silence reigning over the duo as they continued their task.

Nearby Levi was listening on their conversation, as he was about to inspect the sheets, he trusts his squad to keep an eye on Eren while he did his duties as a senior officer, allowing the help given freely, he walked away, intending to check on his squad first, then the mouthy brat.

"So, Alan, you got your head around that formation today?" Reiner asked, after their break they were in the lecture rooms as the senior members detailed out the planned formation of the long-range scouting formation given and detailed by Commander Erwin himself.

"We be practicing it tomorrow, interesting how it works, red flare for titan sighting, green flare for direction, black for abnormal" Alan mused, looking at the diagram in his diary, the instructor gave Alan credit for having two copies of the plan, even the detail down to the letter. "Still how would we know how the redirection works when it comes to reforming" Alan mused

"We find out in the training tomorrow" Bertholdt calmly spoke "I'm in the left flank near the centre" looking to Reiner and Alan to see where they are.

"I'm in the inner right flank" Reiner spoke, looking over to see where Alan is stationed at, his eyes widened "You're on the outer rim of the right flank? I thought only the most experienced be put there"

Concern etched over Reiner's face, Alan maybe the best he ever seen but being thrown out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Sensing the concern "Reiner, I be ok, if it helps I already been put in a squad with Mike Zacharias, Erwin's second and second strongest solder" Alan spoke "But he seem to sniff me a lot when I was introduced to him" remembering how the leader of squad mike (they really need to have better names for their squads) sniffed him, his eyes dawning on him as if he found a precious gem within a million rocks.

"He sniffed you?" Bertholdt asked, sceptical about it, which made both Reiner and Bertholdt laugh when Alan's made a serious look that speaks in volumes "Should Mikasa be worried?" adding the salt to the joke.

Alan laughed "I don't think Mikasa would take any notice"

Changing subject Reiner asked the question he wanted to ask, "So Alan, how was she?"

"How was she what?" Alan asked, playing dumb fully aware what Reiner is asking.

"Don't play dumb Alan, may work on Garrus but you can't with us two, we knew you longer than that" Reiner chortled.

"you should know Reiner; did you get some action with that cadet in training?" Alan twiddling his eyebrows towards Reiner, seeing his brother going pale, yes, he noticed, yes, he saw him but he didn't care, Reiner should have some happiness of his own even if it isn't serious.

Blubbering his own words Bertholdt looked to Reiner and Alan back and forth "What? When? How?" Reiner growing pale before forming his grin of his own being caught out, well he might as well divulge such information.

"That girl asked for help, so I helped her" Reiner spoke, Bertholdt stared incredulously before shaking his head smiling, least his two friends are having some form of happiness, before thinking to Annie.

"So, what happened to the lovely lady" Alan smiled until seeing Reiner's face formed a sad smile, oh.

"Same as everyone else" is all Reiner can say. Trost must be the shittiest day of their lives. No, they were doing their duty that day, with titans falling in it was inevitable.

"That's pretty shit, was it pity sex or thank you see you next week?" Alan teased, Reiner shooting him a glare.

"It's more like hey your cute want to do it type of thing and yes she is pretty but not as pretty as Christa" Reiner said his mind wondering to the blonde, both groaning.

"Bet she think less of you if she knew that you committed the deed" Alan spoke.

"She won't if you don't say anything" Reiner dared Alan, with the latter holding his hands up in defence.

"My lips are sealed Reiner, and to answer your question she was something" Alan said "It felt right, it felt like we were born to meet and it just happened, we clicked, it's something I can't explain" Alan spoke looking down, he couldn't help the feeling, even though the situation he's in, it could bring pain since the survey corps is not known for high life expectancy.

Reiner and Bertholdt can only pity Alan, they know he couldn't help feeling it what he's feeling but at the moment it put them in a predicament. The what if's hounding in their minds.

"We figure it out, who knows, you both survive in the end and we all be better off in the end" Bertholdt can only say, seeing his expression he wish he could help him, yet he couldn't, the world is just too cruel to allow it.

"Once we win, we can all go for drinks, you get married, have kids, hell you can name your first born after me" Reiner teased, Alan's mind drifting back to them as his demeanour changed and the thought of a child.

His face fell at the thought "It's not that easy" as the knife on the leg reminding him that nothing is easy.

"Of course, it is, you stick it in and let loose" Reiner joked, noticing the demeanour and attempt to stir it into humour for Alan's sake. "You want me to give you a demonstration on how it is done?"

Alan's face pulled a disgusted look as if not wanting to have the image in his head "I pass" is all he could say but laughed, at least his mind is far from where it shouldn't be, Reiner reasoned, he hate seeing him like this, when his moments of insecurities shown, the strongest soldier should always show a face of no fear, always sure what they are doing.

Bertholdt could only think of the future how they would have been, laughing, drinking and be who they are now, teasing Garrus, Connie, Jean. It is never easy.

"What's up Bert?" Alan asked, noticing his mood.

"Oh, nothing just thinking of the expedition in three weeks' time, time sure have gone quick or slow for some" all three humming in agreement. Reiner narrowing his eyes as if asking him not to dwell on it while checking on Alan's behaviour silently.

"Yeah, best we crack down and learn this if we were to survive" Reiner spoke relieving the air of any negative thoughts.

With that they head out to do some extra ODM training and equipment maintenance, knowing they are going to need that extra edge for tomorrows training.

To say the least it took Garrus an exact hour to actually get that hallway clean, hell he can eat off the damn floor if he wanted to, even just as he finished the midget came along, inspecting every, single, stone in that fucking hallway.

He never want to see this hallway ever again.

Garrus standing at attention keeping his mouth shut, learning from his mistake earlier, the memory of the pain still clear in his stomach.

Levi rubbed his fingers over the wall where the worst of the stains were, reaching up to eye level, inspecting his own fingers of any substances before turning his gaze back to Garrus.

"I'm satisfied" Levi hearing Garrus releasing the breath he held onto, if Levi were to be honest if he cleaned this wall he wouldn't care about the rest of the hallway but he wouldn't let him know that "If I catch you fucking and rubbing your filthy shit all over the place again, I will cut your dick off, understood?" Watching the kid pale giving a weak yes sir, amusing and satisfying, good maybe he will learn when and where, he doesn't care as long as he doesn't make a mess or catching the dirty shit again.

"you can go" Levi simply stated watching the guy run off as quickly he ever seen a guy can run, Is Levi really that intimidating? Doesn't matter, Levi is satisfied to see this hallway clean, giving an amused grunt before heading out to Eren and his squad are cooped up at.

Day have passed quickly as Garrus managed to get back into his room, bunking up with Bruno as his best friend shaking his head towards him. Garrus having an annoyed expression on his face.

"It looks like you went through a personal cleansing journey Garrus" Bruno twiddled his eyebrows "Did you find enlightenment?"

"Oh fuck off with that shit Bruno, if I have to hear cleaning one more time I piss on his door" Garrus grumbled, hearing Armin laugh on his bed, reading a book, deciding to turn the spotlight off him he turned to Armin, "What you reading their Genius?"

"Oh, just the formation we been taught today, I am amazed by the tactical advantage it held, raising life expectancy by ninety percent, meaning if a hundred scouts leave we have a good chance we only lose ten" Armin describing his thoughts running the math in his head as he calculated the genius behind the plan.

"Ten out of a hundred, good odds" Bruno mused "still Eren being on the right flank? Pretty exposed right"

"I thought that, but maybe the commander wanted Eren away from the centre because the centre being the most populated" Armin deduced aware of the abnormals and seeing Eren is needed to be protected at all costs perhaps he's not seeing the full picture yet, trying to figure the mind of the brilliance that is Commander Erwin.

"Still the chances of surviving this expedition is pretty good" Garrus chirped, positive on the matter "Still let's get some grub with our spirits high" there's nothing that can dampen his jovial mood after hearing some good news that would keep him alive.

Garrus's spirits made a one eighty degree turn when dinner was over, apparently he was ordered designated dish washer that night, his mood soured, he hates cleaning, he does not want to see a scrubbing brush ever again, having a sinking feeling the midget is doing it out of spite and requested Garrus does the dishes, again.

What's worse the said guy is sitting on one of the tables, with the group he's with, sipping out of his cup a weird way, who holds a cup like that Garrus can only scowl at him, Levi watching him intently as he casually listens to the conversation his elite squad is making.

"You ok Garrus?" Eren spoke, as he helped Garrus with the plates, apparently people ate a lot with the plates stacked high and dirty. Garrus could only think that half of it was Sasha's and Izzy's mess.

They need to reign in control of their eating habits and come one where the hell do they put it, Garrus dread the thought of cleaning the toilets after those women, shuddering at the thought, but his gaze returned to the Captain still watching him.

Garrus deadpanned back at Eren, they are not friends for the least, yet wherever the Midget and his fan club is Eren has to be there.

"Does he fancy me or something?" Garrus dryly spoke noticing how Levi never took his eyes off of him the whole time "It's like he's undressing me with his eyes"

Eren blinked once or twice, quickly glancing to the captain and back, unsure what to say. "I don't really know, although you did piss him off twice in two days this week"

"Not my fault he walks in on me at the most inconvenient time?" Garrus growled scrubbing the plates in water laid before them, then handing it to Eren to dry.

"Do you really need to say? Thanks to you he had us clean twice as hard before and after training" annoyed with Garrus's whining already "I mean he got me helping you"

"Oi, less talking, more working" Levi called out, Gunther, Oluo, Eld and Petra, shifted there posture a bit, while they talked about the formation tomorrow, yeah Levi is still pissed even though Garrus cleaned that hallway.

"Captain, maybe we should ease up on him, he did make that hallway spotless" Petra spoke up, hoping to ease the tension, only to receive a grunt from Levi, taking that as a sign that he would think about it.

"As we was saying, we be in diamond formation surrounding Eren, the captain taking the lead, Gunther and Petra take the rear, Oluo and me being on the side" Eld lectured "Tomorrow we have to make sure the training goes smoothly, as far as I hear the commander will have wooden titans positioned in random places"

"So keep your eye's sharp" Levi calmly stated "Treat this as an actual expedition as you always do, don't want us getting relaxed because they are not real titans" the rest agreeing, Levi squad are considered the best and only the best in the captains eyes and they can't get sloppy if they don't want to displease the captain.

"You two brats finished?" Levi announced, seeing a stack of clean plates, Levi could really see the shine, he may consider the mouthy kid a permanent cleaning job, might as well make the best of it before he snuffs it. Dismissing the mouthy brat.

"Get some shut eye, we be waking up at dawn" Levi ordered, he wants them to have a good breakfast before the rest come in the next morning.

It has nearly been a full week, as the recruits have been battered with information on the long range scouting formation, tomorrow they better memorise it for their lives depends on how well the recruits can do, they will never get a second chance if they fail on the actual expedition.

A/N: Next chapter will hopefully be the last chapter before the 187th expedition, unless Alan or the others decides to do something crazy *ahem* Garrus, anyways enjoy this chapter and give me your thoughts.

Myzor: Yes she would, but Alan know this so he leave out a few details for the sake of everyone, why wouldn't he want kids? well that would be explained way further into the story, may raise more questions than answers I'm afraid. But thank you for the review, hope your still enjoying the sstory still.

McBastable: Yes Garrus have the tendency to be caught and have his greatness shown to the world, yes it is quite hard to keep Levi as he is, hopefully people will let me know if I ever strayed, I prefer to have him as he is, no sappy stuff, full on badass, clean freak Levi. Thank you for the review, hope your still enjoying the story so far.