Indeed
"What do you mean I can't take a shit in the woods?"
A wonderful start to their eventful morning, ever since Matheus Dreiken visited and the mysterious spy skulking about their main headquarters, Erwin ordered both squad Frey and Levi into hiding, the main reason is to protect Eren Yeager, who Erwin still believes to be the key to everything, the key to the titans and the truth.
The building they resides within the woods was not ideal for a group of ten soldiers, being forced to cramp into the small house, what made it worse that it was filthy when they arrived, to everyone's predictions, Levi went on a cleaning spree and pushed those who are lacking behind or trod mud on his floor.
Garrus's outburst when Levi flat out refused Garrus request, was not a complete surprise.
Levi can only scowl at the man, glancing to Frey who just sat at the corner, reading a book.
The agreement that Frey would handle the brat and he would have no complaining with his cleaning ethics, much to the duress on Levi's patience when said brat took a shit that wasn't in the woods but actually took one on the path leading to the house they reside in.
They only stayed in hiding for TWO days and that mouthy brat stunk the whole house up because what people thought of treading through mud turned out to be his shit. Who takes a shit in front of the house, leave it there and watch everyone walk through it, leaving tracks through the house.
Frey trying to force his focus into the interesting book he is reading, but the intense murderous glare was too much to handle, forcing himself to look up.
"Dreiken, can it" Frey called out, turning the kids ire onto him "If you don't then you be scrubbing the path at the front"
"You want me to scrub the path? With what a bucket of water and a brush?" Garrus mocked, glancing outside, the stains of where is misdeeds lay, followed with a gravelly dirt path leading out the house towards the surrounding wooded area, hiding them in plain sight.
"If you don't shut up and do as your told" Levi growled, his patience growing very thin.
Bruno shook his head as Garrus is being well Garrus, noticing Izzy was leaving the room, deciding to follow, a thought came to his mind, he haven't properly asked Izzy about herself, as she seem to be quiet in their little group with the edition of Connie and Jean, quite chaotic.
Heading out to see the dense woods, a light brown path leads straight into it, Izzy long Golden-Brown hair wrapped in braided ponytail, looking into the woods.
"It is unwise to come out alone" Bruno suddenly spoke, startling the young girl, relaxing her posture once realizing who it was.
"I'm sorry, there is so much you can take when you have Garrus" Izzy motioning her hand to the cramped house where the argument can be heard still "Being Garrus"
Bruno chuckled "Indeed, he is something to get used to, yet one can train themselves to block out the nuisance"
"possibly the years of being his childhood friend gave you the experience to block him out" Izzy mused, quite interested in the man before her, during training where she is just one of the trainee's not so popular or skilled, but tend to enjoy watching the big shots be incredible.
Bruno hummed in agreement as his golden yellow eyes scoured the tree's watching the leaves gentle movement as they sway with the flow of the wind, Bruno seem to enjoy the calmness of nature around him instead of the busy streets he was raised in, perhaps when this is all over, he would find a plot of land like this one, build a house and live in it.
"Where were you raised Izzy?" remembering the reason why he have followed.
Izzy raised her eyebrow in question, they have not asked her that question even since Trost, they talk about everything but home, possibly Garrus forbid since it would involve his.
"In a village south of wall Rose, Hema, if I can remember right" Izzy, a sad smile forming as Bruno tilted his head in confusion, until realization that south of wall rose is titan territory.
"My apologises" Bruno spoke softly, Izzy just laughed.
"No need to be sorry for, you asked, I just answered" Izzy smiled "It was nice to speak or remember of home for a while"
"Indeed, home is where we were born and raised" Bruno accepting the thought "Farmers?"
"Yep" Izzy smile grew "We grew all sorts, from carrots to potatoes, grain for everyone's bread"
"We all have a job, everyone helped each other in a way, I remember helping mama bake her bread everyday" Izzy dreamed as the memory came "my father would come in after a long day in the fields and we just eat, talk, laugh"
Bruno listened, as Izzy talks about her village, how she named a calf, daisy, how she refused anyone from bringing the calf for slaughter because some noble merchant demanded it's meat, how she cried when her first animal friend was taken away, how she play with the other children in the fields, yet the smell of her mother's bread always brought up.
Yet Bruno never dared to ask of her parents, they may be alive or shared the fate of many when the walls fell, he will never ask, not wanting to ruin the peace Izzy is finding.
"Then the titans came" Izzy finished her happy memories "We heard the warning too late as my mama was snatched away, saving me from being snatched as well, few of my friends didn't make it"
Bruno listened as she laid herself bare, apparently Izzy have not spoken about what happened, thought of others.
"My father died shortly after in the attack to retake wall maria" Izzy finished, suddenly silent as her memories still within her mind the day she found out her father was one of those that have lost their lives.
"Why have you joined the military?" Bruno asked, rather than to assume the answer, he prefer to hear it from her voice, her emotions, as her eyes drifted to his, her brown eyes meeting his.
"To fight back" Izzy spoke "My father, my mother sacrificed themselves to protect my future, I rather fight than wait for it, unable to do anything" a fierce determination was noticeable in her voice.
Perhaps Bruno judged her wrongly thinking her as innocent as a whole, this new perspective have made her very interested in knowing her more, her fighting spirit is quite appealing, he respects that.
"A noble reason, one I would get behind" Bruno mused, as Izzy eyed him quizzically.
"Why do you speak like that?" Izzy questioned, she wanted to know why he spoke the way he does, despite hearing him differently in training, then again in training it sound forced.
Bruno paused for a moment before answering "I would not know, my father a blacksmith or weaponsmith as you would say, I have been speaking this way since the day I began to speak"
"there was a doctor, he had an aura of power, he have inspected my body, my heart, tests were ran" Bruno mused "Even asked about my parents origins, where they were raised, no answer was given to confirm my speech"
"Wow, even a doctor couldn't figure It out" Izzy chuckled making light of the situation, Bruno appreciated the gesture.
"Both my father and mother have to tolerate my way of speaking, until I grew bald, my father found it amusing, said it fitted my personality" Bruno highly praised the idea "I believe it's all in here" tapping his head "There are many questions still left in this world, why can it be cruel, or why can it be beautiful, why do we live the way we have, I soon believe in asking such questions, I live in the now, where everything matters, Garrus said this"
"Wait? Garrus?" Izzy laughed "He actually said those words?"
Bruno again chuckled "He may not seem like it but he is a practical and intelligent, he accepted me for me, Dorian and Marcus not so much, hence my force of their speech, yet you accepted it as well without question, until now?" Bruno smile no longer there, but out of curiosity.
Izzy blushed but did not grow agitated at the sudden change of mood "Perhaps I wish to hear it from you personally to understand properly"
Bruno smiled once again, hearing her words "Indeed"
"there's something I wanted to ask?" Izzy inquired, twiddling her thumbs as she did so, the blush forming brighter on her cheeks.
Bruno could not help finding it endearing, the woman reverted back to her innocent self in a matter of seconds, a woman of fierce determination, now shy and nervous. Yet he remained silent as he waited for the woman to speak her mind.
"Are you interested in someone?" Izzy spoke, Bruno blinked, is that a question in general or directed at her, if it was meant for her then it was very poorly worded, no specifics, another endearing part he found to her.
Bruno eyed her for a moment, stroking the dark black beard, growing on his face, for sixteen it had grown quite well, puberty have hit him hard, perhaps he could entertain and muse himself to Izzy's nervousness in lack of an answer.
"I am Indeed interested in someone" Bruno deliberately worded his answer to make it sound like it was in general, amusement crept the corner of his lips as the face fell for a moment, before chuckling.
Izzy blinked at the chuckling, has she got it all wrong? Was he toying with her feelings, embarrassment filled her stomach.
"I just kind of confessed to you and you're just laughing?" Izzy asked, trying to understand why feeling annoyed and embarressed.
Bruno raised his eye at the woman "You have worded your question in a way that It was for general conversation, if your very interested be more specific or direct"
Izzy thought back, munching on the question she made, comparing it to his answer, oh. He made a lesson and a point in the choices of words, her cheeks flushed more in embarrassment at his subtlety.
"Geez Bruno, you know it's rude to make a woman be embarrassed" Izzy now turning away, hiding the smile creeping on her face, pretending to be mad.
Bruno only huffed in amusement, not taking the bait "Perhaps, but at the moment, now is not the time to dwindle on such thoughts"
Izzy snapped back; did he just reject her?
Reading the situation Bruno placed his fingers on her lips "At this moment we need to remain focus, once this is all over then we shall be as one"
"But wouldn't you prefer to get this over with? Since this might be the last time we could confess again?" Izzy blurted out; Bruno frowned at the sudden rush.
"It is worth the wait; we do not see what the future holds, but know that I hold the same feelings for you" Bruno held her hands planting a small kiss on them, tenderly and gentle, as if something to cherish bit by bit.
Izzy heart melted as his affection, how his rough hands held onto hers, for someone so hard and rough, can have a gentle heart. Deciding that the wait will be worth it when they defeat the titans.
Bruno releasing them, looking back to the house, now silent, either Garrus have been made to shut up or a storm is brewing which would leave them all to the wrath of their respective leaders.
"We have spent enough time out here, let us return" Bruno smiled as Izzy followed, he own smile beaming, accepting to wait for now, peering inside to see Garrus on the floor unconscious, with Levi glaring at the rest of the unit.
"Thanks for this little shit, I be heading out, I want this place spotless, no dust, no shit" Levi growled Frey chuckling as he walked out taking Jean, Connie and Sasha with them to forage for some food, "You have one hour"
Levi then left in a greater foul mood then before, Eren sitting there sweating, apparently, he knew well enough to take the captain's threats seriously. Mikasa glared after the man, not too keen on the subtle threat in his tone, before seeing Eren, quickly grabbing a white cloth wrapping around his head before doing a serious dusting, not once but twice over, Mikasa watched with amusement, if Alan….. shaking the thought, he is not here anymore.
Garrus is not amused at the situation he is in, the midget kicked his gut, causing him to throw up his breakfast the second time, the pain was that intense he may or not have fainted, will he ever learn to keep his mouth shut? Not so much, now at the anger of those left behind Garrus opted to take a stroll, leaving Eren panicking, as Mikasa and Armin helped with the cleaning.
Bruno and Izzy seem to be in a good mood, Garrus can assume they hit it off, but Bruno is the type to wait after the shit they are in is over, Bruno is a good man and a good friend, Garrus hopes he makes it through and get some form of happiness.
A sudden rustle alerted him as Garrus raised his rifle, Captain Levi instructed if you idiots leave the house, bring a rifle, so Garrus did just that, if it's a robber shoot it, if it screams shoot it again, how Garrus didn't like the idea of killing a human, but apparently someone is out to get them and it is their job to protect the all might Eren suicidal bastard Yeager from anyone.
"Don't Shoot!" a voice Garrus recognised, as a man with his hands up, his hair black, neatly trimmed and swept over, a small stubble on his face, his eyes black.
Garrus gaped when he saw the emblem of the MP on the jacket "Rickard?"
"In the flesh little bro" Rickard smiled, lowering his arms, seeing Garrus lowering the rifle.
"What are you doing here?" Garrus questioned, finding it too convenient that a military police soldier walking in the woods.
Rickard looked over his shoulder, checking he wasn't followed "To find you and a Captain Levi, I heard about father" Garrus scowled "Not that I'm defending him, but lets say the shiner he had on his eye, brought more trouble than it was worth"
"Why do you want me and the midget?" Garrus questioned again, until seeing Rickard pulling out a letter out of his pocket.
"Let's say I share the views of Commander Erwin, I came to give this letter and a warning, I'm risking my neck to come here" Rickard spoke, looking around still, this is a dangerous situation as it is.
"There's killings inside wall Sina, those who silenced those seeking the truth" Rickard spoke.
"What truth?" Garrus asked, a sense of dread looming over him, as another rustle came along, their eyes diverted to see Hange merging from within, her focus on Rickard.
"Rickard Dreiken, been a while" Hange chipped, her usual happy demeanour present.
"Hange Zoe" Rickard nodded, handing the letter to her "Orders from Commander Erwin" Garrus observed her reaction turning serious, if Erwin is not here in person then something serious is going to happen that will affect the survey corps directly.
"Anything else Rickard?" Hange asked, wanting to see if Rickard had any more information that could give them the advantage.
"Only rumours, some not so good, the Military police are having serious troubles of our own" Rickard confided "There's someone out there, killing soldiers, observing our movements, we don't know who, but this person is extremely dangerous, best keep on your guard"
Hange nodded "We had someone observing us as well, thankfully no one killed"
"Perhaps you have a titan on your side, to stop them" Rickard spoke, as Hange laughed, agreeing to the statement, before turning to Garrus again.
"Christian is in the elite unit little brother" Rickard warned.
"As if I give a shit about that egotistical bastard" Garrus waved off, before taken aback with Garrus's glare.
"I'm not joking little brother, this elite unit is like a kill squad, watch your back" Rickard warned "I best head back before I be missed, I hope things go well for you and your regiment"
"You as well Rickard" Hange spoke, their farewell obvious, as Garrus watched his brother leave, if the situation was not so serious, they might have more time, but now something big is going to go down.
Hange reading the letter, her eye's widening turning to Garrus "We must get back to the house immediately" whirling around marching in full force.
Garrus followed suit, not liking what he is about to hear, when they have everyone at the house to hear what the Commander have to say through letter.
Inside wall Sina, the capital where royalty reside as the trade bustled, nobles and merchants alike conversing, an extravagant building where the Military police main headquarters reside, only the most elite and senior members of the MP guard the main city of the king, unbeknownst a silent warrior skulked it's district, a building not so far, but concealed to the public eye where the elite stayed, the commander ruled it with an iron fist, a shadow unit formed by the crown, Rodd Reiss.
A gargling of an elite soldier, the throat slit as the figure tossed his body aside, the room where the main commander resides in, the figure looking around, five, maybe six dead soldiers inside a room, Alan Braun sat in the main chair contemplating as the commander, an old looking man, balding, clean shaven gagged and bound terrified at the sight as the man eyed him, the knife in hand.
Looking around, not amused, with disgust, these soldiers are meant to be the best of the best, yet he cut them all like butter through bread, from what he gathered that there are two units that the real king Rodd Reiss have formed, the Elite unit lead by his dog, Kenny Ackerman, and the shadow unit, their main job is intelligence collecting, plans and contingences and silencing those behind the scenes, in the name of the protection of humanity.
It is a shame they did not have a plan for a dangerous Warrior such as him, Alan could have used the challenge.
Alan carefully read through the notes, apparently this Rodd even kept his notes in this huge wealth of information.
The grunting of the commander stirred his thoughts, the hood over his head, protecting his identity, somewhat, then again dead men are hardly good witnesses.
"I stay quiet for a moment" Alan warned as he shuffled though reports, notes alike "Doubt help will come, since I killed them all" motioning to the dead around them, outside the hallway the dead covered each inch of the way, Alan have been thorough, he had always been, it's not the first he did something like this, it will not be the last.
The commander sweat some more, before murmuring through the cloth, as if trying to say something, Alan contemplated again as he looked at the commander, then back to the notes, he is getting nowhere, trying to find the information he desires, standing up, towering over the commander, his eyes paralyzed with fear, before Alan removed the gag.
"please, I do anything, just spare my life" the commander pleaded, as the dark blues, stared down, no emotion on his interrogators face, it is like looking at Kenny Ackerman, how he just stares down his victims before killing them.
Alan knelt down, so their eyes are level "You will tell me where you keep your most secret information"
The commander hesitated, divulging that information would definitely kill him if the crown or Kenny finds out, before Alan watched, sensed the hesitancy before plunging a knife into the commander's leg.
The commander screamed as the blade went deep, gritting his teeth, hoping the pain will stop.
"Too slow" Alan calmly spoke, waiting for the answer again, only to hear whimpers, twisting the knife in the wound, screams echoed once more, before pulling out, blood spilling out.
"They… will kill… me, if I tell you where it is" the commander whimpered, disturbed how the warrior kept his usual calm, no anger etched on his face.
Alan sighed before looking at the man his eyes showing a glint of madness "There are fates worse then death, if you don't tell me I will just cut off your finger one by one, or maybe…" Alan sliced his own finger, keeping it in sight, as steam emerged, healing the little slice, Alan observing the sheer terror, as the commander paled even more than anyone can, through all his interrogations.
"Your… Your…" The commander stuttered, as Alan leaned his head, curious on the words the man would say "Your one of those from outside the walls"
Alan huffed in amusement, typical, he at least be imaginative about it, oh well, no more playing around.
Plunging the knife back into his other leg again, causing the bound man to scream in agony.
An hour went by the man, panted as sweat and blood, as Alan walked about, listening to the whimpers, listening to the silence, listening to his steps.
Clunk, clunk, clang, clunk.
Alan blinked before kicking the carpet underneath his foot, Alan laughed, how typical indeed that the secrets are hidden in the most convenient spot ever, a metal door, a safe size.
"You won't get in there; the true king has the key to that" The man sneered through his pants. Alan reached on the handle, before pulling out pins out of his pocket, testing the locks.
"You won't be able to pick lock it either, it will take you forever, no normal human can break through not even your titan strength" the man laughed, Alan calmly looked up, grabbing firm of the handle bars used to lift the safe open, giving a dangerous grin.
"Good thing I'm unique" before pulling the hinges off the floor safe, with all his strength. The man gaped in awe at the strength, unable to comprehend what he just witnessed. Alan picking up the books and all the contents within the small safe.
"What are you?" The commander, causing the killer to look up.
"I go by many names" Alan deciding to humour the man "Friend, betrayer, Heart, Warrior, subject of Rufus" before kneeling in front of the commander once more.
"To you, Death" before the commander could plead Alan slit his throat effortlessly as the blood gushed out, erupting from the mouth as well as Alan watched the man bled and choke on his own blood, before sitting back in the chair, legs on the table, reading the newly found contents in peace.
Alan mused if he should start a Coup.
Ignoring a part of himself disgusted at the death he had wrought, looking through plans, one caught his eye, an ambush in the making, when it will happen it would not say but it would be made in a district not too far from the Scouts headquarters. The secret entrance to the royal chamber, encased in blue titan crystals, in some random church, the coordinate, the Ackerman's, the true heritage of the titans, the king of the walls, how intriguing, finding the jackpot of information, knowing the enemy and how advance they are is one of the skills he learnt in his days as a warrior, pocketing crucial information into his inner pockets for protection.
Forming his own plan, too capture Eren Yeager, knowing she will be there, Alan frowned, he doesn't want to fight her, feeling that she doesn't as well, how would she take seeing him alive, he had to make it convincing enough to look like he died.
He had the urge to see her, when he observed Eren's titan experiments, even holding the coordinate, he couldn't transform twice or even use the power of the founding titan, Alan thought hard, on why he couldn't thinking back on the smiling titan, perhaps it's…. Something new dawned on him, the founding titan their target was suppose to be a royal family member, the king of the walls, Eren is no royal, then that means… Alan laughed at the sudden realisation, he would simply need to capture him without worrying about Eren using the power, because he couldn't not without a key ingredient. IF he could tell Reiner now…
Thinking to Reiner, he would understand soon enough, if he and Bertholdt made it to wall Maria, Zeke would inform them on the plan and why Alan had to do what he did.
For once Alan can thank his lineage and strength to transform a second time to get away from the titans chewing on his other titan form.
Noises, echoed through the halls, as shouts and screams of terror echoed in the buildings, looks like the Dog unit have arrived, Alan jumped out the open window behind the chair, free falling into the bushes, before blending in with the crowd before anyone noticed he was there at all.
A/N: Sorry for the wait, writer's block can be a bitch, yet once it falls into place, so worth the wait, I wanted to confirm Alan in the ambush chapter with Kenny Ackerman, but found it fitting, to show the warrior brutality side to him, give me your thoughts on it, anyways hope you enjoy this chapter and story :)
Myzor: Your feelings was correct, Mikasa will find out he's alive when they come face to face, how they react, we have to wait and see. thank you for the review :)
ERBREUSAUSAR: I like to keep the pace, rushing from big event to the other, ruins the flow and potential character development and your answer have been answered, Alan is being a warrior and using his skills he has been taught to use, why Reiner and Bertholdt wasn't in the know, simple answer, Zeke. Thank you for the review and enjoy this chapter.
Saintlygrim: Thank you for loving the chapters, the pace only happens when I got it all thought out and can easily bang them out, Writer's block happens when someone throws a stick in the gears, like how to proceed the story from there, would it make sense being in this chapter or paragraph, if the writing doesn't come to satisfaction, I end up deleteing chunks here and there and rewrite, just for the quality and if the story no longer makes sense or the mystery I try to create, the story falls flat, But thank you for enjoying the story so far :)