Chapter 18: Blood Is Thicker than Spinal Fluid

By now, Nora's eyes felt dry as sand from all the reading. The book titled 'Eldian Nobility and the Great Titan War' was the kind of doorstopper that surely was used for this exact purpose more often than for the one intended.

As expected, most of it was useless. Names over names over names that meant nothing to her, and the bulk of those family lines already extinct.

Occasionally, she'd jot down some names and info that seemed like it could potentially be of relevance, one day. Families that had followed King Fritz behind the Walls and a select few that had held one of the Nine Titans, at some point. Before everything went to shit and Marley claimed most of them, anyway. Aside from the Founder, the Attack Titan and the Warhammer were the notable exceptions. Where the first had been hiding, they knew from Eren, and the second was—perhaps because it was very powerful—still in the hands of the only free Eldian family existing; in this regard, the book told her nothing more than what they'd already learnt from Kiyomi Azumabito, who in turn had the information from Zeke.

Nora skipped forward to 'T' and read up on the Tyburs; so far, they had remained neutral when it came to this war. She started over in an alphabetical order, then, ploughing through page after page of names. There was no entry for the letter Q—a small victory. If she was lucky, the same might be the case for X and Y. Yawning, she turned the page for the umpteenth time—mind-numbingly bored, at this point—when the bold, black lettering of the heading jumped at her, jolting her wide awake.

So familiar, yet so utterly unexpected to find it in here.

Rosenberg.

There it was, a whole two pages. Could it be? Or was it just a weird coincidence; the same name, no connection? But as her eyes skimmed the text in a frenzy, her mind keeping right up, it became clear.

The Rosenbergs were of Eldian descent.

And that wasn't all of it.

She was already halfway out the door, the heavy volume tucked under her arm, when she remembered she'd forgotten about Levi, for a minute there. She ordered a recruit happening to come down the corridor to send Hange here—"If she isn't in her quarters, try the lab"—and went back in, all but bursting into the bathroom.

Levi was washing his hands, looking up at the sudden interruption with a disapproving frown.

"What's your deal? Did you want to watch me taking a dump, or what?"

"What do I care?" Nora replied, impatient. "I found something interesting. Hange is on her way."

The knock on the door to their office came no full minute later. Hange's dishevelled hair was down, not quite reaching to her shoulders, her bangs falling into her face. She wore her glasses, but not the eyepatch, and was in sleepwear; as rare a sight as her clouded, rust-coloured left eye with its fine, jagged tear across the pupil.

Nora was instantly filled with regret. "Bloody hell, I didn't know you'd gone to bed already. It's not that urgent."

"Ah, don't sweat it. I was only doing paperwork in bed, not sleeping. Plus, I'm curious." Straightaway, Hange plonked herself down on Levi's chair, unperturbed by his glare. "So, show me what you found."

###

"Buckle up, guys, we have a buttload to discuss."

Hange planted the book on the table with a resounding smack, flipping it open to where she had used a scrap of paper as a bookmark. As giddy as she felt impatient—the mixture welcome and so familiar—she launched right into her report, repeating what Nora had told her, before reading the essential passage aloud.

"Tracing back almost as far as the royal line, the Rosenbergs and the Fritz family kept an alliance based on mutual respect and tentative trust—as much as on fear; for it is said that the Rosenbergs were the only bloodline able to intervene in the king's absolute rule. Power and common goals were the other pillars supporting their mutually beneficial relationship. For centuries, the Rosenbergs held one of the Nine Titans themselves—the Female Titan—until the Great War wrested it from them. The only surviving member of the family retreated behind the Walls together with his king."

There was a brief silence while the nine gathered Scouts let the information sink in.

"'The only bloodline able to intervene in the king's absolute rule'?" Armin repeated, a thoughtful look in his sky-blue eyes. "I wonder what exactly that entails."

"A Marleyan titan biologist might be able to answer this, right?" Eren threw in, meeting first Hange's then Nora's gaze across the table, and added, very deliberately, "You know, one of those we might find in the Research Facility. Just another reason to plan an infiltration."

"Er, could be. Maybe." Nora seemed mildly surprised, but shrugged it off before Hange could say anything on the subject. Maybe her friend, too, was reluctant to pin her hopes on mere speculations. "But I think it's more likely that it simply refers to the Rosenbergs' immunity to the Founder's memory wiping, nothing more. Nothing we don't already know. Still, I thought it worth showing you."

"Of course," Hange said, nodding emphatically. "None of us would have guessed the Rosenbergs are Eldian—exactly because of their immunity." Considering both Levi and Mikasa, she added, "But then, the Ackermans are Eldian, too."

"But the Ackermans were a result of titan experiments, and not of nature," said Armin. "Also, there's the superhuman strength, and the fact that they can't be turned." Very much unlike Nora, he didn't need to add.

"Well…" Hange stared at her, making her fidget in her seat. She had never quite understood why Nora was so uncomfortable with any subject that was even a smidgen personal. Or with something as mundane as prolonged eye contact, for that matter; they were among close comrades here, right? She didn't have the time to care about Nora's mild distress right now, though. There were more important things to focus on; Hange hadn't been that curious in a while. It was due time for some experiments. "Who knows what our noble lady here has got in her."

Nora made her characteristic frowny-face again. It never failed to make Hange grin a little. It was quite cute, really, and whenever she told her best friend so, it got even better. Turned out, Nora very much didn't appreciate being called cute. Big surprise.

"I'm not a noble just because my father was," she said, displeased.

"No, you're something else," Hange told her. "And that's already been clear before we got this new bit of information."

Nora's heightened discomfort was evident as she searched Levi's gaze, who was sitting next to her as usual. Her expression bordered on imploring.

One eyebrow arched a fraction, he only said, "Don't look at me. I've always been telling you there's something wrong with your brain."

She gave him a dirty look; that particular one Hange secretly called Nora's Levi-scowl, seeing as she used it exclusively on him. To be fair, if you were crazy enough to go steady with Levi, you probably needed it—even if it was duly lacking in conviction.

"And much good it does me," Nora was saying. "It's not like Eren's gonna try and erase our memories, someday."

"Eren, no," Hange said, to their collective disconcertment. Who knew what would happen along the line in this war? If they lost Eren, things would go pear-shaped quick. But those were contemplations she'd already wasted far too much time and energy on, so she returned to the subject at hand. It might prove far more useful and promising. "Y'all know what this means, right? What we should do next?"

The entirety of Squad Levi blinked at her, questioning.

"Just spit it out, four-eyes," Levi drawled. Patience had never been one of his virtues. But it was just as well; Hange was used to having to explain her train of thought.

"The Rosenbergs had a shifter," she said. "And you are a shifter now, Nora. And the text implied there's some kind of interaction between the Rosenberg blood and the Royal Titan—at least that's how I'd like to interpret it." Hange paused, expectant, but this once, even her best friend didn't seem to know what she was getting at. "So, take Eren's hand," she urged.

Nora's brow creased. "What for? We've sparred more than enough times since I became the Colossal. In both titan and human form."

"Yes, but you haven't ever done so with intent, right?"

"Intent for what?"

"For…" Here, Hange hesitated, at a loss. "Well, that's the question. Something to happen?" Nora didn't seem convinced, so Hange said, "Just try it."

Shrugging, Nora complied, laying her right hand with her palm up on the table, looking at Eren expectantly.

But he hesitated, teal eyes flitting from Mikasa—watching and waiting with a serene expression—to Levi, looking at his captain with uncertainty. Concern, almost.

Oh, but he was adorable. Sometimes, Hange forgot how young they still were.

Nora hadn't missed Eren's gripes, either, by the looks of it. Levi appeared exactly as dour as usual, so nothing to worry there. Of course not.

"Sheesh, Eren." Nora rolled her eyes at her younger comrade, rapping the knuckles of her outstretched hand once against the table's surface. "Just take my bloody hand."

"We don't have the whole damn day," Levi added, folding his arms in front of his chest.

"Right. Yeah. Sorry." Eren gave an awkward little nod, pulling his seat closer to the table.

As did his squad mates, watching with a mix of apprehensiveness and curiosity. Hange stood, too jittery with anticipation to stay seated, bracing her hands on the table.

Eren's hands folded around Nora's. Seconds ticked by, both of them growing increasingly awkward—which even Hange could understand, this time, what with the intense eye contact and the hand-holding.

At last, Nora pulled back with a sigh. "This is useless."

"Yeah. Nothing," Eren said.

Now that had been anticlimactic. Hange's heart sank in disappointment. But she'd be damned if she gave up so easily; had she given up after one try, she would never have got anywhere with her research. That was just how science worked; hypotheses didn't just prove true on their own. Besides, she already had something else in mind.

"Did you try to focus?" she asked them anyway, just to be sure.

"Focus on what?" Nora asked back, raising her eyebrows.

"No idea, just on doing something?"

"Well, we know what we're sitting here for."

Hange nodded, eager to move on to the next step. "Maybe the royal blood is what's missing." And she announced, "It's time to visit Historia."

Nora gave her a look of incredulity. "You want to go all the way to the capital for something so vague, something that'll most likely lead nowhere?"

Clearly, she was having one of her more pessimistic days—but she did have a point. For this purpose alone, sacrificing days of their precious time wouldn't have been advisable.

"No," Hange cleared up. "We have to go anyway."

And she explained to them the other two reasons that made a trip from here at the southernmost part of Paradis all the way to Mitras necessary. For one, they'd retrieve the brand-new ODM gear; this revelation evoked general excitement around the table—except for Levi, of course. Hange fancied herself to know him as well as anyone could—with the exception of Nora, probably—but more often than not, it was flat-out impossible to get a read from his impassive expression.

"Afterwards, we'll stay in Shiganshina for a while with most of the Regiment in order to train with the new gear." With barely a break to catch a breath, Hange went right on to the second reason, nervosity now pinching her stomach. "That aside, I got news from Hizuru today."

###

"In two months, an international forum will be held in Liberio. About Eldian rights," Hange said. "We'll use the occasion for our second survey mission—provided the Assembly gives their approval." And before Nora could recover from the dull pang the announcement had dealt to her stomach, Hange continued, "This might just be what we need to really get the ball rolling concerning our negotiations with nations other than Hizuru. As you all know, what little we tentatively put out there, so far, didn't give us the results we hoped for; not only is the world apprehensive about us, at best, but they're also afraid of opposing Marley. However, there's a good chance we might get somewhere with someone after that forum. Maybe we'll be able to establish useful contacts, with Kiyomi Azumabito's help."

"So we're going to Liberio just to attend that forum?" Nora summarised with practicality she didn't quite feel.

"Yes. And I'll say it right away; we can't go near the facility this time, Nora. You and Levi have already scouted out what's possible from outside, and doing any more than that right before an international forum on Eldian rights would be risky, at best. Suicide, at worst."

Hange's features were set with seriousness, leaving no room for discussion or compromise. Nora had got to know that look on her best friend only since after she'd become the commander. It still felt like a contradiction, somehow.

"I know," Nora said nevertheless, because there was nothing she could disagree with. All around the table, the squad gave affirmative nods and murmurs. It wasn't necessary to explain that they could hardly knock on the front gate of the research facility, unprepared as they were, ask for a scientist well versed in titan biology, and take them on a two-weeks-long cruise back to Paradis. For a stay of an indefinite duration.

Plus, their last visit to the facility had put a little damper on her motivation in that regard.

So far, Nora—or any of her comrades—hadn't been able to come up with an infiltration plan, anyway. Without outside help, only gathering intel through spying was an option. And that would take weeks, if it even yielded the desired outcome, at all. Even watching the building twenty-four-seven wouldn't be enough to tell them the about the inside, about the Who and What and Where. They needed someone with insider knowledge. Ideally—because the information would be far more reliable, then—someone who also happened to be on their side.

They needed a fucking unicorn, in short. It was so far a stretch it skipped wishful thinking and went right into delusion territory. So, for now, they could only wait and see how the forum played out. Who knew; maybe they'd find their unicorn.

Either way, they would have to do something, eventually, be it spying or negotiating or fighting or more research or all of the above. Something that didn't take fifty years and a doomed royal family, and something that preferably didn't hinge entirely on Zeke, the man who had singlehandedly obliviated almost the entire Survey Corps.

And now she realised her thought process sounded a lot like Eren. But maybe that wasn't an entirely bad thing.

Hange must have read from Nora's body language that her assent was dejected, but genuine. With a hesitancy that didn't bode well, she began, "I don't like to ask, but… If we have to go to Mitras anyway, do you think another visit to your grandfather might be of use? If someone inside these Walls knows more about the Rosenbergs' traits and abilities, it's him."

Without any chance to get their hands on an experienced titan biologist, this was the only viable option in this matter—with all its downfalls and maybes. The mere thought made Nora's skin crawl, her insides churning in a mixture of anger and disgust. "I don't know. The one time I 'visited' him in prison, the arsehole wasn't all too keen on sharing our family background with me—seeing as I'm only a half-noble, filthy bastard. If he talks, then only after some… convincing. And we couldn't say for sure if he's lying."

The type of convincing she had in mind did nothing to settle her stomach, even though it was accompanied by a grim sense of… yes, satisfaction, admittedly. Less satisfactory was her assessment of Frank Rosenberg's character. He was no Djel Sannes. At the very least since the Uprising and since Historia was the only Reiss left, Frank Rosenberg was loyal to no one but himself.

"I have to give him that," Nora said, with her thoughts deep in her memory of the one time she had met her grandfather, "my impression was that the arrogant piece of shit is certainly cunning and strong-minded, if nothing else."

She frowned at her own words. Something was itching at the back of her brain.

"In that case, I'll leave the decision up to you," Hange was saying. "Personally, I think it would be worth a—"

Nora shot up from her seat.

Strong-minded. Arrogant and strong-minded.

"What is it?" Levi asked before Hange could, his sharp eyes searching her face.

"I just remembered something he said." The pitch of Nora's voice had climbed together with her pulse. "Weak-minded. He called the 'lowborn' Eldians weak-minded." Her comrades stared at her, uncomprehending. After the initial excitement abated, Nora reined her hopes and expectations back in. Putting too much stock in nothing but vague presumptions would do them no good. Still, she explained, "I'm far from sure that Frank Rosenberg meant anything more than we already know with that comment, but it struck me as odd, for a moment… I even asked, but he wouldn't elaborate. With his superiority complex, it seemed more like a throwaway sentence, and I was so focused on getting the information I needed right then…" Shit, she should have taken the time to needle him further; after all, he still had plenty of teeth left. But one was always wiser after the event.

Hange gave a faint shake of her head, wide-eyed. "It's a good thing you have such a retentive memory."

"The experience certainly left an impression," Nora said wryly. And not only on her, but also on his face, and that was some consolidation, at least.

She sighed. She knew what had to be done, and she knew it had to be her.

"Yeah, it's time for another family visit."

#

Levi waited until everyone else had left before he caught hold of her wrist, pushing on his feet to face her.

"I'll come with you," he told her sternly, leaving no room for objections, pre-empting them with, "And don't even try to fight me on this. I'm doing this as your superior. With both of us there, we're more likely to get the information we need out of him."

Nora took a few seconds to think this through, trying to consider all angles—as she had learnt from the man opposite her. Then, she breathed out a sigh of defeat. "Alright. Makes sense."

Levi's brows creased into an expression that was close to… baffled. A rare sight. "That was less of a pain in the ass than I expected."

"I'm not arguing with you just for the sake of arguing with you." At the doubtful look he gave her, she amended, "Usually." And now his doubt gave way to displeasure. "What? It's not exclusively my fault. You're stubborn and entertaining." She stepped into his space before he could respond and spoke into his ear, her voice lowered and throaty. "Plus, you're extra hot when you're angry." Her lips grazed the shell of his ear as they moved—and was it just her imagination, or did the slightest shudder run through him at the contact?

He pulled her flush against him by her hips—and dipped his head to press a soft kiss right below her jaw, making her skin tingle, from that spot all the way to her fingertips.

Then, Levi murmured, "And you've got more than just a few screws loose."

#

Like a caravan, Armin had said—whatever that was—looking over his shoulder at the long line of horses and wagons behind them as they rode along the nearly finished railway tracks. Not to forget the bunch of Marleyans accompanying the bulk of the Survey Corps. After all, who would watch them with the majority of the Regiment in Shiganshina? Also, they got sent where the work was—still on a voluntary basis, though. Except their alternatives were kind of shit; the ones who refused to cooperate in any form at all, instead insisting on calling them Island Devils, were still imprisoned. As for the rest, if they didn't want to pull their own weight, all they got was food and maybe a little extra for any information they provided.

So it came that most of the cooperating Marleyans chose to contribute. People needed to stay busy, as a rule.

That was something Nora could comprehend, be it with work or whatever else; if she didn't, her mind was simply… too loud.

Levi had once told her it was a shame that her titan regeneration did not extend to her brain. She had insulted him back, of course, but secretly, she had agreed.

After all, just because the damage was in her mind it wasn't any less real.

They'd likely stay busy for a while once they reached Shiganshina—and later, once the Special Ops squad and Hange reached the capital. For now, though, Nora had to suffice with starting a little quarrel with Levi, one of those where he got really creative with his insults and his biting sarcasm. It had happened organically, really, as it usually did.

But it wasn't half bad an occupation, either.