A/N: I DO NOT OWN THE LAST OF US OR ANY PART OF THE NAUGHTY DOG FRANCHISE OR ATTACK ON TITAN. THIS IS SIMPLY FAN WORK.
Petra sighed as she stared at the afternoon sky. "Now what happens? We still have to get our gear back, don't we?"
Levi had his head turned to the opening of the alleyway, with his infamous scowl painted onto his face. He then slung the rifle around his shoulder, draping his cloak over it.
"If the Shift members have our gear, what are we supposed to do? Explain it to them?"
"Hmph. Maybe they'll laugh themselves to death and we can steal it all back."
Petra frowned, adjusting her cloak. "Well then… I guess we gotta start looking for a Shift member… they're all in Trost though, so that would certainly be a bother."
"Not all of them are there."
Petra lashed her head towards the street and saw a hooded, brawny young man approaching them. He too was covered with a green cloak, pressing against his bleeding side with one hand and holding a crumpled piece of paper with the other. There was a silver ring on one of his middle fingers, but it was doused with dried blood.
"And who are you," Levi demanded as he slipped his thumb underneath the sling of his rifle.
Petra added while cocking her rifle, "If you're with Kenny Ackerman, it would be best if you back away now."
"Relax. I'm not your enemy." The young man said. He tossed the crumpled piece of paper towards Levi who simply watched it land at his feet. He picked it up, unraveling it from its bunched state. On the crinkled paper, the word "WANTED" was written in bold, black letters. Directly underneath was a faded picture of the man that stood before them: "Reiner Braun. Although I probably didn't need to tell you that myself. It's right in front of you after all."
"Leader of the Shift?" Levi read. He narrowed his eyes and then crumpled the small wanted poster back into a wad. "Why're you here."
"I could ask you the same thing."
"None of your business."
Petra eyed the blood at Reiner's side and lowered her rifle.
"Where's Kenny Ackerman?" Reiner asked. "I saw him come over here."
"He ran away," Levi answered.
The hooded, blond man groaned. "…I needed to talk to him."
"You can talk to us."
Reiner raised a brow.
"That 3DM gear he gave you wasn't his to sell or yours to keep. And I want it all back."
Reiner grimaced at the notion. "…I paid for that gear. If you want them back, then do a favor for me first."
Levi clenched his hands into fists.
Dissatisfied with how things are beginning to unfold, Petra sighed, reaching into her back pocket, "How many ration cards do you need?"
Reiner chuckled. "I don't need any. What I need is something smuggled out of this town. If you do that for me, then you can have your gear back."
"But how do we know you got them?!" Petra retorted. "There are only a few of you left after all!"
"You're right."
Suddenly, an explosion sounded about five miles away and was followed by a small tremor. They each watched a trail of nearby smoke ascend into the air, anticipating another explosion. Luckily, there was none.
Reiner spoke quickly, "I gotta get out of here." Levi and Petra's eyes returned to him. "It's your choice: help me out or never see your gear again. I'll even show you the gear as soon as we regroup."
Petra turned to Levi, wanting an answer.
Flustered at their situation, Levi growled, "Let's go then."
The three snuck freely into empty buildings, avoiding rooftops and the watchful eye of soldiers. They traveled east, away from the Trost gate; all the while, they never caught sight of Kenny Ackerman or any of his thugs – it was as if he had completely fled the town. They all disapproved of the thought, but finding him was no longer a priority of theirs. Regrouping at a safe house without being spotted was now at the top of their list.
They saw countless soldiers scaling the rooftops to tend to the nearby explosions in Trost, but the three skulked about, right under their noses. The soldiers continuously barked orders - specifically about conducting a search for the Shift members that attacked. Supposedly, the Shift members created explosions and destroyed buildings without actually coming out into the open to pursue this operation of theirs. Several theories spoke about how the members simply used timed explosives; how they managed to do so was still a mystery due to the level of engineering society had behind the walls. Other theories included suicide bombers, but if that were the case, there would have been witnesses to testify with it.
The commanders and captains were beyond angry, but such is the life within any military. Frustration and failure: completely normal.
As the three traveled east and into the country side of things, they found a large red stable in the distance. When they finally arrived in front of it, Reiner unlatched the doors.
"The thing I need smuggled is in here." Reiner's words began to sound strained.
Petra noticed it straightaway. "Reiner, maybe you should-"
Suddenly, his head began to pulsate, and his vision faded quickly. Leaned against the doors to push them open but, soon after, collapsed onto his knees. Blood dripped from his side and onto the dirt ground; although a sight like that was not new to Levi or Petra at all.
The two followed him inside with Petra immediately rushing to his aid. She knelt down beside him and placed her hands on his shoulders. "Easy, now-"
"What happened?!" an angry young man interrupted.
The trio looked in front of them, seeing a brown-haired teenager with bright green eyes. He wore a faded tan shirt and beige pants and certainly was not happy with whom he greeted at the doors.
Levi stared icily at Reiner. "You're recruiting child soldiers into your ranks?"
Reiner shook his head. "I'm not." Petra helped him stand and leaned him against the wall of the stable. He exhaled in pain: "He's not one of us. Trust me."
He saw Eren's concerned face and assured him, "I'm fine. I got us help. But I can't come with you."
Levi and Petra eyed the boy up and down. He's younger and taller than us.
"Reiner, I'm staying here," the boy grumbled. "I don't even know who they are-!"
"Eren."
The boy held his tongue.
"…We won't get a second chance."
Petra stepped in between the two and pointed at the boy. "Are we smuggling him?"
Reiner nodded.
No one was satisfied with his answer.
"Listen. There's a crew of Shift members that will meet you near northwest side of Wall Rose. At Castle Utgard."
"That's not exactly close, Reiner," Levi quipped.
"I know you and Petra have traveled farther."
Levi's lips curved downward. "And how do you know that."
"I was told about it before."
Levi and Petra looked at each other, knowing that what Reiner had said was true. Levi had traveled all the way through the Underground City. However, Petra's distance was not precisely known. All the same, she too traveled a great distance before meeting him, and the center of their distances combined was located over in Trost.
"This is the plan: you hand him off, come back, and the gear is all yours. I'll even hand over some rifle ammo for you two."
"And where exactly is our gear, Reiner." Levi closed the stable doors behind him, unhappy with his client's demands. "Unless you show us where the gear is, we're not smuggling anything."
Reiner sighed and looked down at his blood-stained shirt. "Follow me, verify the gear, and then I can get all this stitched up. But Eren stays here."
The boy's brow wrinkled.
"I want Petra to watch over him. Levi and I will go to the Shift camp."
Flabbergasted, Petra groaned loudly, "Huh?!"
"Reiner, wait." Eren began, "How do you even know these two? You never mentioned anything about them to me."
"I was close with an acquaintance of his." Reiner glanced at Levi. "Erwin, was it?"
Levi rolled his eyes.
"He said that I could rely on Levi to get a job done."
Petra pursed her lips together, contemplating the entire situation. Traveling to Wall Rose and back? Crossing district lines, avoiding government eyes and Titans to boot – all for the sake of getting their precious maneuver gear returned to them?
"I don't really like how this all looks…" She was sullen.
Levi thought it over quickly, overcome by an eagerness to retrieve their maneuver gear. The faster they could obtain their maneuver gear, the faster they could scrounge up supplies and even leave the trashy town they were in. The job would spell danger, of course, but it was nothing he and Petra could not handle. They have had each other's backs for years – another dangerous job for the both of them would not make a difference. The question was, however, would this job be the one that tests all of their survival skills and ultimately decides their fate?
They would be facing Titan country after all - Wall Maria was notorious for keeping Titans nearby; and slaying Titans was virtually impossible without the use of maneuver gear. Would sneaking around them be enough?
He refused to put Petra in danger such as that; but then again, if they survived this, they could leave together and find peace in a better district or a better town at the very least. They were tired of living a life where all they could do was steal and lie to the authorities around them - especially Levi.
And just then, he had a plan.
When he finally reached a verdict, he spoke directly to Petra, "Take him back to our safe house and wait for me there. Understand?"
She looked at him with confusion. "But… Levi-"
"He's nothing to be worried about." She tossed her gaze towards Eren then back at Levi. He continued, "It would even be better for you. You'll blend in with the crowd just fine with him at your side. With the exception of the rifle hiding underneath your cloak."
Unhappy with Levi's choice, she sighed heavily. Nonetheless, she trusted him. She believed that he knew what he was doing. Not all decisions had to feel "outstanding" at the end of the day. She had faith that what they were about to embark on would surely be worth it even though it would probably feel like hell to go through.
Eren turned towards Reiner, awaiting an answer.
"Go with her," Reiner ordered.
Eren swallowed hard.
But just who are these people? He asked himself.