I do not own Shingeki no Kyojin

She learned forth in her saddle, hips rolling in time to the rocking motions of her horse.

A few seconds out into the vast, clear space gave her enough time to collect her bearings and reins. Once getting a grip on the physical problem, she brought her horse's erratic movements into a slower pace, causing the legs to take smoother, slower strides yet not breaking the momentum. Throwing a glance back at headquarters, she tried to process Mike's words.

"Rivaille is going to kill you..."

She threw her trust into Mike, knowing that he was reliable, but the thought of Rivaille even being told to do such a thing was beyond her comprehension. The urgency in Mike's face, the fact that he and Petra supplied her with gas tanks, and the need to flee on horseback; this wasn't an elaborate prank. Mike wouldn't waste time like this, even she found it to be distasteful.

Rivaille wouldn't be the type to play at all. He would do whatever Erwin told him but, when it would come to Eren, his own judgement would take control; other than that particular exception, Rivaille would follow orders down to the last dot.

Her mind wrapped itself so easily in the confusion. Executions were carried out for traitors, Hanji knew she wasn't a traitor of any kind. Sure, she would openly admit for her enthusiasm for researching Titans, she perfectly knew it was out of the ordinary and that it completely voids all traditional viewpoints soldiers have. However, because of her insight, much more discoveries were made.

"...military order..."

All of these discovers benefited mankind and, to some small degree, lowered the casualties by just two percent. Her tactical skills, her knowledge, her experience, she was worth as much as Rivaille despite not being as strong as him; there was a large gap between them but she knew she was a valued individual. She wouldn't have been made Squad Leader if she showed less of what she does.

"They can't throw me away like this," she exhaled as she entered the main street. It was large enough for her to race through. The clattering sound of horseshoes hitting the pavement was a warning for all to move out of the way.

It simply didn't add up to her.

She had no idea why they would prosecute her. Her mind was telling to her to seek out Rivaille but instincts told her to run, to hide, to wait for Mike and maybe Petra.

She trusted Rivaille all her life, ever since that day her offered her solace when he gave her a hand in her time of need. Her mind shook the thought out of her, why was she remembering that sort of thing now, of all times? Kicking at her horse's sides, she lowered one hand and placed pressure on the bit so that her horse swerved right at a corner.

"...get out of here, now..."

There were shortcuts throughout the city, she was aware of them. She was coming up on a canal, it was short but deep; if Rivaille were truly after she, she would have to throw him off her tracks. With the amount of ruckus she caused going down the main road, he would follow if he ever caught on. Perhaps if they come into contact, she would hold him off.

That's why Mike gave me gas tanks...he gave me a fighting chance.

Knowing Rivaille, she would never stand up long enough against him but she needed to know. She needed to know why Rivaille, if all people, would be the one to kill her. She was deadly with her blade, a bit reckless, but she knew how to hold off on her own. Thoughts traced to Mike perhaps expediting her execution, he could be leading her to a trap at the Flora.

Soldiers may be waiting there to apprehend Hanji in case Rivaille failed to finish the job.

She prepared for her horse to leap over the waterway. She was closing in, fast, and so she pressed her chest against the mane, propping herself into a good position. Her heart flew as her sorrel did as well, spending a few seconds in the air before clamoring on the other side. without missing a step, she raced on, heading West once again.

"What did I do wrong?" She asked aloud, still hunched in her seat. She glanced up as one hand reached into her coat pocket. She pulled out her goggles and quickly replaced her glasses, stowing the delicate lenses away into her pocket. Normally she'd leave it behind but she hadn't been given a chance to change into anything; she was lucky her goggles were on her jacket at the time.

Gathering the reins again, she sped faster. Taking to the rooftops would make her noticeable, she reasoned she'll only use her Gear when she comes into conflict. She glanced all around, making sure that he wouldn't drop in from above.

He was crafty when it came to hunting prey.

She galloped down the side street, then merged into the main road to hopefully catch the next side street. She wanted to avoid any usual routes Rivaille knew about.

Family was not an option. She didn't know who they were, much less even if she had any at all. Years of her life were dedicated to the military, it was all she knew; she had given up that search for family long ago. As she dashed through an alley, she saw children in rags trying to catch sight of her; the mere image of them stalled her mind for a moment.

Back then, she only knew the comfort of the streets.

-...-

Rivaille followed the commotion the rose from the streets. Some of the townspeople, noticing his rush, pointed in the direction where another rider was going helter-skelter on her horse. He went on, taking the hints eagerly and kicking sharply at the barrel. He slightly stood in the stirrups when running in a line but then took a deep seat when he turned corners.

Knowing her, she may be taking the side roads and then weaving in and out of the main street in an attempt to avoid him. He had seen Hanji's distinct patten of riding before, out in the wilderness, it shouldn't be to hard to predict her. After going through a side street where people have thinned out and few gave hints, he took the the main road, bringing his horse into a canter.

Just as he had thought, Hanji appeared from the left side with her head looking over her shoulder as though she were distracted. With feverish haste, he kicked at his horse, breaking it into a gallop.

At the sound of the gallop, Hanji's head turned; a look of shock was splayed on her face. She had only left the stables a few minutes ago, it wasn't difficult to catch up to her. Hanji leaned in her saddle, he saw her pick up speed, prompting him to do so as well. Within a matter of seconds, due to his lighter weight, his horse was able to catch up to hers by its right flank.

She made a sharp turn to the left, going towards the large canal where the cable-boats were, she began to follow the edge. He lost ground when he did that but his steed quickly caught on. Soon, they were at neck to neck.

They didn't look at one another for a moment, it was like a silent race. They were both determined to speak yet one had an obligation to kill the other. It went on for half a mile before Hanji shouted after the hooves,"Well, are you going to do it or are we just going to race!?"

Upon hearing her, his response was to bring out the handle for one sword. She gave a nod, understanding that he had the intent on killing her.

Wrapping the reins on the horn of her saddle, she thrust her legs back and behind the cantle. She squatted over as her horse continued to run. Rivaille glared at her, she was warned by Mike yet she portrayed it as a game. He brought his handle to a blade and unsheathed one.

He tried to lash out at her and missed as she had drawn out her own handles and fired hooks to a tower that they were coming up at. She hopped off the rump of her horse and swung into momentum. Rivaille quickly caught on and fired his own hooks, spending what he had left of his gas. Surely she had more than him, he had to do this quickly.

As he flew off of his own horse and pursued her, he felt a wave of reluctance wash over him.

The moment he became airborne, second thoughts (ones that never came to him) had taken a hold of his mind.

Mike was right. There was no evidence to prove she could shift into being a Titan, there was no proof except for the fact that she was running from him. He couldn't blame her, it's understandable to flee when you're given a warning of a terrible fate. At least she would go down in a fight rather than the usual cloak and dagger method that he so often used.

Hanji wasn't the first or last person he had to execute. There had been moments when sacrifice was needed and he obliged without fail.

To him...killing her was unnecessary.

To him, in his heart, he didn't want to kill her but at the same time, he'd rather have it be him than anyone or any Titan do so.

Wait, is this a sign of possession?

As he sprinted over the rooftops, he took note that he was only at a half supply of gas left. Hanji was probably given more for supply, she was at the advantage. It would explain why she kept her distance rather than engage him in a fight. She was aware that he had gone out for training and, with the rush to catch her, somehow neglected to refill his supply.

It would only be a matter of minutes before he would run low. Clearly she wasn't stupid, she never was, she was sharp and calculating.

"Hanji!" He shouted.

She glanced over her shoulder for a brief moment but continued to run, shooting her hooks again to cross over the main road. He followed close enough to catch the whiff of the steam coming from her fan. She hadn't drawn her blades yet, clearly a sign of confidence in which she would drag him into a chase.

"You can't run from me!"

It was a useless bluff.

Hanji didn't answer back, she kept her sight straight ahead as she whirled around a tower, her Gear taking in more gas. Rivaille noticed the large amount of consumption it took for her but he did the same thing anyway. When they had rotated around the tower, he felt both tanks to be significantly lighter.

Shit...

Gripping the handles taut, he tore after her, this time, he could have touched her Gear sheathes if he wanted to.

Within a split second, she dove into an empty alley and began to run down on the street on foot. Lips twitching in annoyance, he shot his hooks at an overpass and swung down, quickly coming at her heel with his blades still out and ready. Her long legs kicked the ground, carrying her as fast as she could. He sprinted closely, his took a swift swing.

He barely missed by a hair as she suddenly shot her hooks at the end of the alley where a great wall stood over them.

Rivaille tried to send out his hooks once again but, to his annoyance, his gas was empty.

Hanji, as she had planned so deviously, heard the empty clicks coming from Rivaille. She stopped midway and then perched herself against the wall with one hook holding to the roof while the other retracted.

"Well, guess you can't run after me with two empty tanks," Hanji told him from above. She was only ten meters up. She gave a smile to him, much to his confusion. At least she wanted to hear him say his piece. There would be no way in hell that she would pick a fight with him, she knew she could be outmatched by mankind's strongest soldier.

Propping a wrist over his hip, she clucked her tongue.

"Y'know, I was doing an experiment on Eren's blood. I thought I reached a breakthrough until Mike came in, told me you were trying to kill me. Can you believe that? I don't see why, I mean, I don't have the time to be a traitor!" She chuckled. "C'mon..."

She extended her cable so that she could walk vertically down the wall. Rivaille stepped closer and she stopped just five meters over him. Her smile faded away, it was replaced with a frown; those usually bright eyes, so full of life and wonder, had dulled with worry and a foreign look of fear.

"...is this true?"

Her voice was soft, he returned it with his own gentle response.

"Yes, it is."

Rivaille lowered his blades to look less threatening. At least he had to let her come close enough. The sign of him relaxing was a silent permission for her to draw close, going so far as to be at ground level. She retracted her hook.

"Why?" She asked, voice cracked. Tears hadn't shown yet.

"You're under the suspicion that you're a Titan-sifter," he answered with a hollow, definite tone. He gripped the blades tighter and then brought them up, forcing her to hurl herself to the side. She caught herself by her knees and one hand while the other whipped into her side to load a blade to her handle. As she knelt before him, he quickly advanced on her, stating the usual words meant for a traitor,"Squad Leader Hanji Zoe, by the decree of the military, you are hereby to be executed under the suspicion of concealing your identity as a Titan-shifter, thus-"

"Suspicion!?" She shouted as he swung his blade down at her.

She blocked it and launched herself further away, he continued on,"Thus you are an enemy to mankind."

"I dedicate myself to our cause day and night!" Hanji threw at him in rage. Rather than put up the offensive, she defended herself as she got to her feet. She backed away as he came close, his swords striking powerfully at hers. "You can't just do this!"

As long as she continued to keep clear, Rivaille wouldn't be able to have a clean cut to finish her. An order was an order, he wasn't going to go soft on her despite the reluctance that embodied itself and grew within his hands. The feelings of this being wrong, he had to channel it elsewhere. In a flurry, he steps grew fast, as did his swings.

Hanji was barely able to keep up. At one point, he managed to shatter both her blades simultaneously.

"Rivaille!" She protested as she shook to load a new pair for defense. She had her gas tanks and sheathe full but he wasn't going to let her have the advantage to utilize either of them.

His movements, quick and unpredictable, forced her to grew slightly weary; he could see her movements slacking little by little. His right blade came at her from the side, she couldn't block it on time but it grazed her cheek before hitting the blade in her other hand.

She pleaded with a dry voice,"Stop!"

Her feet paused for a split second. He took the chance to deliver a lower cut from below, her arm crossed over to block that as well. With both hands occupied, she was locked in place.

Unlike her, he was able to untangle his blades, causing her own to split apart and manage to snap under pressure.

Without the protection of her blades, she let out a deafening shriek of his name,"RIVAILLE!"

But he pressed on, squatting briefly to give a low sweep of his leg to bring her down to her back. Once she had been brought to the floor, he lunged after her, eyes wide and set to kill.

"STOP!" She cried out as he straddled her. Her eyes were full of terror, now at the verge of tears from the pain of betrayal and utter confusion. Rivaille pushed away the expression but his own heart tore at the sight her defenseless and at the brink of losing her mind. He didn't want to kill her and yet here he was, raising, not one, but both of his blades clapped together.

He paused to look at her face.

Upon locking gazes with her, he thrust both his swords downwards.