Jean woke up with a pained moan, his head throbbing as he sat up, realizing that he had been sleeping on the hard wooden floor. He winced from a sore back. "Why am I…on the floor?"

He stumbled as he rose, the memories flooding back to him. "Man…I was drunk…that's right. Connie and I had—Connie?" He gazed at his surroundings, realizing that he was the only one in the room—and that the window was wide open. It was hard to tell what time of the day it was in the underground, but he assumed from the lit lanterns up above the city that it was morning.

But what had happened to Connie?

Jean cautiously crept to peek over the window, sighing in relief to find that Connie wasn't passed out on the other side—unless he ran off?

Jean pushed the thought aside, his head aching far too much for him to worry. He shuffled out of the room as he gripped his aching skull. He heard voices from the kitchen, and he entered, surprised to see that Sasha and Mikasa were already at the table eating breakfast. Corporal Levi was asleep in the chair—and then he spotted Armin asleep on the couch, his lower half covered with a blanket. Jean raised an eyebrow. "Did—did I miss something?"

"Nothing at all." Mikasa reassured him. "You're just up really early, like Sasha and I."

Sasha nodded, her face stuffed with bread.

"Then why are Armin and the Corporal in here?"

Mikasa began cutting the bread Sasha had started attacking into halves. "I wouldn't know, Jean. But from the looks of it, they could have just wound up here at different times—maybe Armin was reading."

"He doesn't have a book." Sasha spoke through bread.

Mikasa sighed, "Then this might concern me…"

Jean rubbed his temples to soothe his head pains, and decided it best to change the subject before Mama Mikasa broke loose. "So, anyway, do you two know where Connie is?"

They shrugged, Sasha answering, "Maybe he switched rooms while you were asleep—or fell under the bed. Speaking of beds, were your beds as squeaky as ours?"

"I woke up on the floor…"

"Because you were being a drunken idiot…" Corporal Levi moaned, sitting up in his chair. "Why didn't you brats wake me or something?"

Sasha smirked. "Yeah right. No way we were going to try that."

"Tch. You were smart not too."

"Jean was drunk?" Mikasa huffed. "I guess that explains why Armin wound up in here—that also explains why Jean looks like death."

"I do not." Jean grumbled, "But I sure do feel like it."

"Speaking of dead things," Mikasa started, "Why were you sleeping in the kitchen, Corporal?"

Levi smirked at her comment. "I have my won business—but if you must know, Commander Erwin wanted to go over some files. By the time that was done I must have keeled over in this stupid chair."

Mikasa nodded thanks, and Corporal Levi rose from his chair to look out the window. "It's barely dawn. Why are you brats even up?"

Sasha shrugged, eating more bread. "It' 'ot 'ike 'e can 'ell the 'ime 'own 'ere' 'ike…" She swallowed, "Like you can."

Levi sighed, "I assume you're saying you can't tell time."

Sasha nodded as she shoved more bread into her mouth.

"Tch. Why didn't you just ask Arlert?"

Sasha swallowed in surprise. "Would he know?"

"Of course he'd know." Levi snapped. "If there's ever something that brat doesn't know we'll die that day. Now where did Hanji put my tea bags?" He started to open drawers irritably, "I can't start the day without tea…"

Jean shuffled towards the couch, plopping down on the extra space that Armin wasn't overtaking. He felt Armin move beside him, and the blonde sat up almost immediately. "Well look who it is…" Armin grunted, "Jean the idiot…"

"Well good morning to you too, sunshine." Jean snorted. "What's eating you?"

"You." Armin sighed. "You got yourself drunk and I had to flee out into—into here."

"Oh come on. I couldn't have been bad enough to scare you off."

Levi slammed a cabinet shut. "Tch. Yes you could have—even Braun looked alarmed at the state you were in. And to make it worse, you even started singing—Arlert do you know where Hanji put my tea bags?"

"Yeah…" Armin yawned. "There in the third cabinet on the right."

Levi opened it, grabbing of the tea bags with a smirk. "Like I said, brats, we'd all die."

Sasha chuckled in between bites of bread, Eren entering the room with a snort. "I thought I heard a horse's voice."

Jean glared. "Shut up Titan boy. Go choke on your breakfast."

"Go choke on your hay."

He sat down next to Sasha, Mikasa already shoving bread in his direction. Eren sighed, "Does anyone know what time it is?"

"Too early." Levi snorted. "I didn't sign up to be bombarded by brats. I regret not telling you how to tell time."

"It's by the brightness of the lanterns." Armin yawned, "But obviously if they're out it's night."

Levi nodded approval. "Maybe I can promote you Arlert, then retire early and just drink tea like some withered old man."

Jean crossed his arms. "Wait, why would Armin get promoted and not somebody else?"

"Ask me that again when you're not in the middle of a hangover, Kirchstein." Levi dropped the tea bag into the water he had just heated. "I really regret falling asleep in that chair. Maybe I can have you brats start cleaning—somebody go wake up Braun and Springer.

"Connie was drunk too." Jean chuckled, "He may not be much help."

Reiner entered the room then, a stumbling Connie following behind. "We're up already Corporal." Reiner said, "It only took us awhile because Connie tried to put his pants on over his head."

Jean and Eren erupted into snickers.

"Hey! I was just tired!" Connie said defensively. "You try getting dressed at the crack of dawn!"

Reiner rolled his eyes, "I had to help you...if I hadn't been in there you'd be waddling out with your arms in your pant legs."

Corporal Levi sipped his tea. "It's hardly dawn, Springer. But that's a ridiculous blunder all the same."

Jean smirked. "Aw, baby Connie couldn't even get dressed by himself."

"At least I don't neigh in my sleep!" Connie snapped.

Jean's eyes widened with fury. "You take that back, runt!"

"I'll take it back after you gallop off into the sunset with your horse brothers!"

Eren spluttered into his cup of water, laughing into his hand. Even Reiner was hiding chuckles. Jean clenched his fists. "I don't get why you all keep making horse jokes about me!"

Connie smirked, "Maybe if we didn't have to look at your horse face we wouldn't have to joke about it."

Jean simmered silently.

Armin rose from the couch, throwing his blanket over Jean's head. "There Connie. Now nobody has to look at him."

Levi spluttered into his tea, coughing as he nearly chocked on the contents. He banged a fist against his chest, Eren smirking in his direction. "Did somebody think that was funny?"

"Shut—" Levi coughed, "Shut up Jaeger before I make you clean the roof."

Mikasa shook her head. "He'd probably fall off while trying to climb onto it."

"I would not!" Eren protested, "And you did laugh, Corporal."

"Tch. You're mistaken, brat." Levi huffed. "Laughter is not in my vocabulary—but I will admit I do enjoy the better view."

Sasha giggled, Jean yanking the blanket off his face as Reiner and Connie started snickering. "It's not funny!" He leapt from the couch. "None of you make any sense. Armin, come on, I didn't make you that mad, did I?"

"I'm not mad, Jean." Armin sighed, "But am I slightly irritated? Yes."

Jean tossed the blanket onto the couch. "We only meant it as harmless fun, didn't we Connie?"

Connie nodded with a groan. "Yeah, but I still feel dead inside."

"You two were complete disasters." Levi snorted. "And you're all going to have to suffer because of that."

The Cadets groaned in unison.

Jean's face crossed with worry. "Um—does—does the Commander know what happened?"

"No." Levi sipped his tea. "At least, he doesn't for now. But if you decide to cross me, don't forget I could reveal what you two idiots did at any given time."

Connie and Jean both sighed with relief, and Corporal Levi continued. "Now eat something before I finish my tea and make you brats scrub the floor with your faces."

They all gathered around Mikasa as she handed out pieces of bread to them all. "Is there anything else in the supplies?" She asked.

Levi shrugged. "I doubt it. Our plan was to buy food while we were here, rather than have to drag any down here."

Jean tore into a piece of bread. "I 'ould 'o…" He swallowed. "I could go get some groceries! My mom used to have me do it all the time, so I know how to haggle."

"Same." Eren snorted. "Not about the haggling—but about the food buying."

"Alright." Levi snorted. "You two go then—Arlert, go with them. They'll get lost if they're by themselves."

Armin nodded. "I agree…I'll keep them in check."

"Wait, so is Armin our babysitter?!" Jean scoffed, then teased, "If—if anybody here is more like a baby, it's Armin."

Armin chuckled irritably, "Corporal Levi, can I kill him?"

"No—but if you want to cut off one of his limbs I'd be okay with it. There are some knives in that drawer over there. But afterward clean up the blood. I don't want it to be a mess in here when Commander Erwin comes back."

Eren held back a laugh, Armin unsure of how to respond.

Jean dropped his bread in horror. "Did you just give Armin permission to—to stab me?"

"Tch. Don't be a baby." Levi snorted. "Just get out and go buy the food."

"Did somebody say they were going to buy food?!" Hanji's voice called as she charged into the room. "Can I go?!"

Armin and Jean sighed in relief at the change of subject.

"No, you can't." Levi snapped at her. "We're supposed to go search the alleys for clues while they clean up the house—no—not all of them. Springer and Blouse will clean. Mikasa and Braun can search the other side of town."

Hanji frowned. "Okay, fine. I'll go search spooky corners with you. But do you know if Commander Erwin went to see those MP's yet?"

Levi eyed the window. "The Wagon's gone, so I'm assuming he left pretty early. I can't imagine why he'd want to. The last thing I'd want to see first thing in the morning is an MP."

Hanji snickered as she snatched a piece of bread from Sasha. "He probably wants to get it over with as soon as possible—that's what I'm assuming."

Sasha pouted shortly from her lack of bread, and then followed Connie to where Levi had put the cleaning supplies. Levi sipped the rest of tea. "Let me grab my cloak and we can be on our way—but for the brats that are going into town, listen to me."

Jean, Mikasa, Reiner, Eren, and Armin looked in his direction, and then he went on. "Nobody wander off. Stay with who you're designated partners are and keep an eye on each other. There's no telling who will try to take advantage of you out there. Understand, brats?"

Everyone nodded, Eren stifling a yawn. Levi tossed his empty teacup into the sink. "Good. Hanji, hand Arlert the money for food while I go get my hoodie."

"What?" Hanji dug into her bag. "I can't keep it?"

Levi walked off with a "Tch" as Hanji brought out the envelope that Commander Erwin had given to her. She handed it to Armin and winked teasingly. "Don't lose it."

Armin chuckled, "I won't—I just hope I don't lose Jean and Eren in the crowd."

Jean snorted, "Lose us? I have perfect sense of direction, Armin, don't you worry about it."

"Do you use your horse nose to sniff your way around?" Eren mocked.

"Shut up Jaeger!"

Armin sighed irritably.

Hanji smirked, "We could use some of the harnesses as leashes! Did we bring any?"

"H—Hanji!" Armin squeaked as Jean and Eren backed away from her. Hanji let loose a wild cackle. "I—I'm only joking kiddies! But I do suggest you all hold hands."

"No." Eren and Jean refused in unison.

Eren snorted, "How come it's only us you're tormenting? What about Mikasa and Reiner?"

"They already left." Levi's voice joined. He came out with his hoodie on, a scowl on his face. "I saw them through one of the windows. Can't blame them with loony fartface over here talking about leashes."

There was a thud from the other room, Levi shouting, "Springer if you're climbing on counter tops in there because you're too short to reach them go get a blasted stool or stand on Blause's shoulders!"

There was a squeak from Sasha, Connie screaming curses as another thud echoed soon after. Levi sighed, speaking sarcastically, "I like how he's too stubborn to get a stool…"

Hanji smirked, "I like how he went straight for Sasha—quite the Springer in her step!"

Armin held in a laugh, Hanji slapping her knee in delight. "Shorty, I'm so funny even Armin's laughing!"

"Stop making puns and go take a blasted stool to Springer before we leave, you crazed lunatic. Arlert and friends, go buy us food before I eat the dirt off the floor."

Hanji trotted off to get a stool, Armin and the others exiting the house. Jean groaned, "Which was do we even go? Isn't is too early to buy food?"

"No, they open really early, and I know the way." Armin answered, heading down the path. "But can you two please not bicker all the way there? I already have a headache thinking about it…"

Eren and Jean followed, Eren snorting in defense, "We don't bicker. If we do, it's all on Horse face."

"Stop calling me horse face!" Jean flicked Eren on the back of the head, Eren yelling, "Armin, tell him to stop! Tell him he' a jerk!"

"Tell Eren he's a jerk!"

Armin sighed heavily as they passed some shops. "How about both of you stop being jerks and shut up so we can get the groceries and leave. People are staring…"

Eren and Jean were quiet then, Armin letting out another sigh. "I'm going to go get some things from here." He pointed at one of the merchant's shops. "Stay together."

"But we all have to stay together!" Eren snapped. "Armin, you can't go without us."

"I can and I will—anything to get away from you two." He made way to leave when they each grabbed one of his arms. Armin snorted, "Oh sure…now you two work together…"

"You can't wander off." Jean snapped. "Not even for a second."

"Yeah," Eren agreed. "I'd never forgive myself if something happened—neither will Mikasa. We'll stop bickering, won't we Jean?"

Jean nodded. "We'll stop. We promise. Just please don't try to ditch us."

"Okay…" Armin agreed. "Sorry…you two were just really getting on my nerves—you still are."

"I guess I triggered that mood of your s from being an idiot last night…" Jean chuckled. Armin smiled lightly, "Yeah, you did. Now can we go buy the food now? I'm still not sure if the Corporal was serious or joking about eating the dirt."

Eren and Jean nodded, following Armin into the merchant's shop. A few women were looking at the vegetables, Armin heading straight for the breads and potatoes.

Jean laughed, picking up a nearby potato. "You think Sasha could eat all these if she really wanted to?"

Eren sniggered, "Probably. Maybe we should buy all of them and see how many she can scarf down. Armin, do we have a budget?"

"Yes—and stop touching all the produce in here." Armin snapped, heading off in another direction. Eren snorted in Jean's direction. "You put him a bad mood…"

"All he did was scold you for touching food." Jean picked up another potato and rolled it in his hands. "Don't be a baby, Jaeger."

"I'm not being a baby—and he almost wandered off because of you."

"Because of—" Jean stopped when he saw Armin glance in their direction, and he sighed, "We promised not to fight, okay. We probably shouldn't even stand by each other."

"Works for me." Eren snorted. He winced when something hit him on the head. "What's the big idea horse face? I thought we agreed to stop!"

"What are you talking—ow!" Jean winced, the sound of high-pitched laughter following. They both turned to see a few boys in the street, all in tattered clothes with their arms full of vegetables. One laughed, throwing a potato that Jean barely dodged. "Hey! Quit that, you brat!"

The boy laughed, the dirt on his face hiding most of his freckles. He tossed a potato in his hand and caught it. "Come make me horse face!" He threw another, Jean dodging again. Eren burst into laughter. "They—they called you horse face!"

"Shut up Jaeger!"

Eren kept laughing until another kid hit him in the face with a tomato. He nearly fell over from the impact, the red liquid dripping down his face. He grabbed the remains, tossing them to the ground. "Okay! That's it! Get back here you brats!"

"Eren don't!" Jean pleaded—but he was too late as Eren started chasing after the kids, the kids laughing and taunting him as he followed. Jean charged after him, trying to drag him back into the shop. "Eren their just ki—ow!" Another potato hit him, and this time in the abdomen, the kids all shouting, "Horse face! Horse face!"

A sea of vegetables pelted them, both of them blocking the impacts with their clenched fists. Jean snarled, "Okay! You kids better start running!"

The freckled kid leader stuck out his tongue, then he and his comrades broke into a run of laughter as Jean and Eren bolted after them. Armin was filling a basket with vegetables when he heard Eren scream, "I'll kill you! I'll kill all of you!"

Armin whipped around, his eyes widening at the sight of Jean and Eren running after some street kids—they bolted past a wagon, out of his sight, the yells already faded and gone. A woman snorted at the merchant. "Good riddance. I was afraid those kids would start throwing food at me!" She purchased her food and left in a huff.

Armin rolled his eyes. "So much for sticking together…" He dropped one final loaf into his basket and went to the merchant at the desk. He was older, with a white beard. The old man whistled, "Looks like a lot of food for someone your size."

"It's not just for me." Armin handed him payment, and the man took it eagerly, smirking, "Not jus you, huh? Are you talking about those friends of yours? The ones that went after those kids?"

Armin sighed, picking up his basket of groceries off the counter. "I'd rather not claim then, but yes…we were supposed to all stay in one place."

The man nodded. "That's what most people have been doin' ever since those thugs been actin' up. Even that women that was here had somebody waitin' for her. You can wait here until those friends of yours come back, if you want. I wouldn't mind the company."

"Thanks…but I should really go find them." Armin shrugged, "Who knows what kind of trouble they could get into."

The man chuckled, a slight cough following. "I could see them getting into trouble—those boys they were chasing all have older brothers—big ones. But really kid, you shouldn't be wandering around by yourself. I could come with ya if ya want."

"Um…" Armin raised an eyebrow. "No thanks. Really, it's fine. Besides, you've got your shop."

The old man nodded. "That I do—but alright. I get it. I get it. Nobody wants help from the sketchy old man. You're cautious; I'll give you that. But I really am harmless. I even have a trick leg—you could easily trip me if you needed to."

Armin smiled lightly, "Thanks for the confirmation, but I really would rather go by myeslef."

The old man sighed, "If you really insist on it, I guess I can't stop you. I really would hate something to happen to you—you seem like a bright kid. But if I really can't stop you from wandering around on your own, have at it."

"Thank you—and I do appreciate the offer."

"Yeah, yeah." The old man chuckled, "Just go find those friends of yours before those brothers do. Say, before you go, would you mind if I asked what your name was?"

"My name?" Armin bit his lip to think, then responded. "Armin."

The old man pointed at himself proudly. "I'm Daniel." He held out his hand. "People call me old man Dan for short."

Armin smirked, shaking his hand. "I'll just go with Daniel if that's okay."

"Perfectly fine with that."

"Arlert?" A familiar voice joined them, Armin surprised to see it was Commander Erwin, a few MPs following behind. Commander Erwin spoke again, "Arlert, what are you doing?"

Dan perked up. "Arlert? Is that your last name?"

"Uh—yes…"

"I know that name…from somewhere…"

"Arlert," Commander Erwin approached them. "What are you doing in her eby yourself? I thought we informed all of you to stay in groups."

"I was getting food with Jean and Eren…"

"And where are they?"

Dan answered for him. "Those two goofs? They ran off after some food throwing brats. Dunno where they'd be now."

Commander Erwin sighed irritably. "I'm sure wherever they are, they'll find trouble—but they're together?"

Armin nodded.

"Then we don't need to be too concerned. They can handle themselves—when they're not fighting that is. Anyway Arlert, I guess I'm walking back with you." He turned towards the MPs, "I'll need a few minutes."

"I'll walk him back if you like." One of the MPs offered. He was tall, and dark skinned; he seemed to be in his twenties.

Erwin thought about it, "Are you sure about that Williams?"

Williams nodded. "You're the one that has to be at the meeting. I'm just one of the escorts—I wouldn't mind."

"Would you be okay with that, Arlert?" The Commander asked.

"Huh? Oh. Whatever works for you, sir. I'll even go by myself if you—"

"No." Commander Erwin interrupted. "Williams will go with you. When you see Corporal Levi, tell him we're right on schedule."

"I will, sir."

Commander Erwin left with the other MPs, and Armin waved goodbye to Dan, who waved back with a grin. "Good luck on finding those friends, lad."

Williams approached. "Okay, kid, which way?"

"We're not too far from the place, but I'd like to try to find Jean and Eren…"

Williams looked to be in thought, and then shrugged. "I've got nothing better to do. Sure, we can go find them if that's where you want to go. Which way did they run off to?"

Armin pointed down the path. "Down there. They were chasing some kids."

Williams nodded. "Okay well, we've been here a few days in advance, and I think I've got a shortcut in mind if you're interested."

"Shortcut?" Armin raised an eyebrow. "It may be safer just to go down this way."

"True." Williams sighed, "But with all the wagons and the people it may take longer to find them."

Armin glanced at the morning crowd, and bit his lip. "I think we should just go down the path…"

Williams kept on, "If we zip through those alleyways we may find them on the other side. We saw some street kids down there on our second night here. That may be where your friends ended up—or will end up."

"Well I mean…I guess we can try it but…"

"Alright!" Williams grinned; "Follow me." He sped off past a crowd of people, into an alley. Armin followed reluctantly as the MP bolted down a darker path. "Uh—where are we even going?!"

"This way!"

Armin sighed.

Great he got the crazy Mp.

Armin followed, Williams exiting the alleyway to reveal another street, but less furnished and populated as the last. Armin heard some kids laughing, then Eren's voice. He couldn't make out what he was saying, but it was certainly Eren's.

Williams grinned smugly. "See? I told you. Nothing to worry abo—" There was a pained grunt from Williams, Armin whipping around to see a knife in his spine as Williams collapsed onto the ground. Armin dropped the groceries he had in his arms.

"Shit! Are you okay?!" Armin knelt down, shaking Williams's arm. "Hey! Hey!"

He heard a quiet moan, which showed he was alive, but if Armin didn't get somebody the man would be dead. He was about to stand when he heard the click of a gun, then a voice, "Don't get up."

Armin felt his heart racing as a man appeared from within the alley, his face covered by a black scarf—everything he wore was black. The man kicked Williams's side almost roughly, but this time a groan didn't come. The man huffed, "It looks like he's dead…Damn it."

Armin felt his stomach twist.

Dead?

Armin yelped when someone grabbed him from behind, a gun pressing against the back of his head. Another man's voice, a younger man, hissed, "If he's dead we'll just have to take this one."

The first man snorted, "You can't be serious, Davis. That one? He doesn't look like much."

"What else are we supposed to do, Jake?" The man gripping him spoke. "We have to bring somebody. And besides," He snickered, "This ones kind of cute…"

Armin felt a pinch in his side, and squirmed, "L—let go…"

"Oh he talks too!" Davis sneered, the barrel of his gun pressing harder against Armin's head. He could even feel the man's breath on his neck as he spoke, "But I wouldn't talk too loudly if I were you kid…" His hand then gripped Armin's throat. "Unless, you want your head blowing up."

Armin grabbed Davis's arm in an attempt to pry free, but he heard the man's finger on the trigger, and stopped. "Good boy…" Davis chuckled.

The man named Jake kicked Williams a second time. "He's certainly dead—you messed up, Davis."

"Tch. It's not my fault he moved. I was aiming for his shoulder."

Jake snorted. "I'm sure you were. But you're right about one thing. We can't go empty handed."

Davis smirked, "So we can take him, huh?"

Armin's eyes widened.

Crap. They were going to take him?

Armin heard the kids again, this time Jean's voice echoing faintly through the streets. They were close—but not close enough to help him. Armin knew he should have cried out—but there wasn't a way of doing so without being blown to bits.

The gun was no longer pressed against him—there was a blow to his head—and darkness consumed him.

(But not for long)

After what only seemed to be moments Armin felt himself waking, his head throbbing intensely. Even his vision was blurred. He tried to move, his wrists bound tightly. There was a slight jolt—they must have been in a wagon.

Damn it.

Everything was fuzzy, but it wasn't difficult to remember what was happening. He was being abducted, but was it by the people they were looking for?

There was another jolt and he let out a muffled wince—he was gagged as well. He heard a chuckle, and his vision cleared up to reveal a younger man, his eyes two different colors, and his hair buzzed. "Well, well…looks like somebody's waking up."

Armin recognized the voice—it was that man from earlier.

Davis.

Armin squirmed, Davis rising to speak through the wagon's curtain. "Hey, he's awake. Do you want me to do the thing?"

"I don't know…" He heard Jake gruff. "That was specifically made for that other man we were supposed to get. There's no telling how it will effect him."

Davis shrugged, "Well, let's find out. I'm doing it. After all, the boss never knew who are target was, right?"

"You know, that's so crazy, it just might work."

Davis laughed proudly, "I know right? He'll never know!"

Armin rolled his eyes.

Henchmen.

They were creepy, but they sounded like idiots.

Davis dragged over a suitcase, plopping down to kneel next to Armin. "Well kid, it's your lucky day—it's time for some medicine." He pulled a needle out of his case, smirking, "Now where do I want to stick it? Oh I know!" He grabbed Armin's arm. "How about on your pretty neck?"

Armin felt a panic rise in him, his yelp muffled. He tried to squirm out of Davis's grasp. The man yanked him close, the needle stinging as it went into his neck.

A sudden wave of dizziness came to him, and he saw panic in Davis's eyes. "Hey Jake, is he supposed to pass out?!"

He heard a gruff, "No, it's not supposed to do anything until the games. Why? Why? Is he blacking out?!"

"He's about to but…" His eyes widened further. "Jake!" Davis panicked, "He's disappearing! Crap, he's disappearing!"

Then the blackness returned.