Chapter seven

The day of the expedition Clare and Hange chittered away like schoolkids about to visit a bakery for free cake. Levi shook his head and faced forward. They along with the rest of the Survey Corps were lined up to go beyond the gates. Beside him John let out a loud yawn. Levi tsked. If anyone should be yawning, it should be me, he thought. John's snores sounded like he was sawing logs all night. The big oaf gave Levi a sleepy grin. Levi snapped his gaze forward. A large hand clamped down on his shoulder.

"Don't be like that roomie," said John. "We are about to go outside the wall." Levi gripped the man's wrist in a tight grip before throwing it away. In another life, the thug would have sliced that hand off. Maybe I am getting soft, he thought. Erwin would probably be mad if I messed up his formation.

"Is he being a sourpuss?" Hange chimed in. "How can you not be excited to see the real world?"

"We live in the real world," said Levi. He reached down to stroke Ember's mane. "I'm just not lying to myself about possibly getting eaten." If he wasn't in such a bad mood, he might admit that he was excited to breath in clean air. One of the rookies gasped behind them. It was Clare's turn to chime in."

"Hush Levi," she whispered. "You're scaring the children." She wagged her finger at Levi. To the rookies, she offered a kind smile and said. "It's not as depressing as he makes it sound. A titans gotta get through us first before they have a chance at you." The others nodded. Only Levi tsked facing forward.

"Saying something like that is just as bad," he whispered. Levi turned his attention to their surroundings.

The column seemed thicker than it was last year. Back then, he could easily see his target through the crowd. The only way he would be able to see Erwin this time was if it stood up on his horse and that wasn't happening. After a few annoying seconds, Levi gave up and turned his attention to the crowd. If what the others told him were true, there was always a high turnout when the gate opened. Probably to get a breath of air free from the stink of people, Levi thought. Looking around at the bystanders he could see what could see as hope in the people's eyes. It was the kind of hope that hid away even though you knew that nothing good could possibly happen. For a moment, Levi wondered what his eyes looked like in that moment. What do my eyes say in this moment? Am I hopeful? Bitter?

He noticed that there were few children when they lined up. Probably overprotective parents who didn't want their brats to see a possibility outside of these sticking walls. Even if it was a possibility covered in in blood….

Levi didn't have long to think about it before Shardis called his troops into action. Erwin sent the other half of his squad as advanced guard to clear away any titans the Garrison couldn't take out with their cannons so the front gate could be opened. This task was just as dangerous as being a long-range scout. Not only did they have to worry about the titans but also cannons exploding over their heads while they worked. If they did their mission correctly the column would survive and they would stay behind to guard their comrades back in safely.

When Shardis called for the gate to be opened the hair on the back of Levi's neck prickled. Clean air, Open land. Everything would be amazing if not for those fucking titans. Soon the world became a blur of horses clomping on packed earth. They rode into the blinding sunlight with the faith that Sonia and the other did their job.

"Oh shit!" One of the rookies yelled behind them. A flash of smoke buzzed over their heads as one of the advanced guard took out a titan on its way to lunch. Levi smirked. This time last year he was that rookie. He remembered hissing at Isabel to focus. They had a job to do… He shook his head of the past all that was behind him now. Levi was considered a veteran now. One of the unwritten rules of the Survey Corp was to protect the future. Each of them were ready to lay down their lives for Humanity. Even Levi knew he was just one more stepping stone to Humanity's freedom, but the only that this puzzle could be complete was if there was someone to finish it. Last year he was so blinded by his own bloodlust to see how some of the other seasoned soldiers sacrificed their lives for him and his friends. Now it was his turn.

"Eyes forward!" yelled Clare.

"Yes maam!" the rookie replied. Levi looked over his shoulder at the gaggle of newbies. They were barely old enough to shave let alone risk their lives outside the walls. He was getting used to the innocent expression of surface people. Most of them didn't grow up with the same hardships he had so they weren't jaded to the rest of the world. For some reason, he thought of Isabel. Levi tightened his grip on his reins. He would gladly offer his light to protect the innocent awe he saw in those rookies' eyes.

Kenny was getting damn tired of waking up in pain. He felt like he had sandbags over his eyes. He felt like a sausage with the filling squeezed out. What the hell, he thought. Where am I? He membered the bitch shooting at him. Some big ass arm… It hurt to open his eyes. A blurry blonde haired figure slowly came into view. Reiss! Kenny struggled to move. Broken ribs kept him flat on his back. The pain was nothing compared to the knowledge that he failed.

"Oh, you are finally awake, Mr. Ackerman." A polished male voice pulled Kenny to consciousness.

"I hope you will forgive me for my fervor. I hadn't anticipated your strike." The king of Sina stood over the bed looking down at him with an even stare. Kenny couldn't take it. He snapped up like a rabid dog, going for the jugular. Pain wouldn't keep him from his goal but the leather straps at his wrists slammed him back to the mattress. Kenny released a sigh.

"Thank you," Kenny groaned between ragged breathes. He could at least take pride that his target hadn't seen Kenny coming. Uri Reiss looked down at the broken man. A soft chuckle passed his lips. Kenny heard the splash of water to his right. A few seconds later a cool rag was placed on his forehead.

"I guess my words could be a complement. Unfortunately, I broke your legs while defending myself." King Uri threw back the blankets to revel the wooden splints that kept Kenny's legs together. Instead of his regular clothes, Kenny wore white soft cotton pajamas. The cloth was tightly woven, not like the cheap stuff he grew up with.

"Well, shit," Kenny said looking down at his legs. This would be a first. He never had to escape with two broken legs before and from the King's house no less. And whatever the king had to take away this pain also had him floating on a cloud.

"Shit indeed, Mr. Ackerman," continued Uri. He replaced the blanket and sat on the edge of the bed. "Your current situation only delays our second matter." The former king of the underground raised an eyebrow. "You see Mr. Ackerman, you killed one of my best guards. Such a discrepancy must be rectified." Uri gave the dark-haired man a moment to respond. Kenny gave him a blank stare. It was hard for him to believe that a rich stiff would care about losing one of his lackeys. "You, will be taking Thomas's place."

Kenny snorted.

"I just tried to kill you,"

"And failed," continued Uri. "But I do believe you are capable of keeping others from killing me."

"Why the fuck would I do that?"

"Because you have no other choice," said Uri. "Since you know who I am, you know there is no place you can hide within these walls that I can't find you." Kenny tsked. He turned his head away from the blond man. Just like a Reiss, Kenny thought. This man would just use him up until he got tired of him then kill him like he did Kenny's parents.

"Knowing your family's lineage," Uri continued

"What about the bitch? I'm sure she has something to say about it."

"Commander Gibson has been informed of the change," Uri said evenly. Kenny turned his head to look at his new captor.

"Just like that," Kenny said. Jenna Gibson never let things go so easily. Well, the bitch had been on her best behavior since they came to this place.

"Why yes," said Uri. "She is sending your things to my estate. Until then, you will wear my old clothes." Kenny looked down to see he was dressed in a set of the softest pajamas to ever touch his skin. "I'm sure you don't mind," Uri continued. "Seeing as you will not be moving very much for the time being."

It wasn't long before they reached open land. Beyond the noise of the walls just sweet silence. In the stillness, Shardis' bark rang clear signaling them to fan out. Clare's squad fanned away from the rest of the column.

"Ready your flares, Clare yelled. They pulled out the flare gun ready a red flare. Only Clare put a black cartridge. She would signal for an abnormal. Levi took a deep breath. Fucking finally, he thought. Clean air…Grass instead of filth. Flowers instead of people. He could see the allure of the outside world. Levi felt the ground rumble before he saw it. The titan walked on all fours like an animal. Each time its fists hit the ground it made the living play things bounce.

"We got company," said Levi.

"Five-meter titan!" Hange yelled shooting off a red flare. John shot for he and Levi. Soon red flares shot to their left. When they reached the center, a green flare shot changing the direction of the column.

"Shit," John said as he raised his flare gun. The beast ignored the plume of smoke as expected. Levi looked to his left as more rea flare filled the sky. The far guard kept going forward until a line of green signaled the way. Their job was to make sure all the other scouts were on their way before they ran. Levi kept his eyes on the crawling titan. Something didn't feel right. The monster appeared to be thinking? Could titans think?

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