Brianne is a third year, and it is now her responsibility as Number One of her year to show the first years how to fight. She and Curtis Channing, Number Two, demonstrate the basics and all the first years are amazed when Brianne kicks Curtis' butt. She smiles and helps Curtis onto his feet, and the first year's chief instructor asks them the same question Alfred asked 2 years ago to his first years: if anyone is brave enough to go up against Number One, Brianne. No one raises their hand, and after a while a girl with large glasses raises her hand. She hops onto the ground, and Brianne knows this will be too easy seeing how scrawny this little girl is.
Brianne: What's your name, kid?
Hange: (a bit intimidated) Hange Zoe.
Brianne: (smirks) Alright, let's see you put up a good fight.
It's too easy for Brianne, and everyone gapes as Brianne makes Hange fall on her knees. Brianne helps Hange back onto her feet, and Hange looks at Brianne with awe at how fast and strong she is. She doesn't look like she'd be that good a fighter from her physical stature, being short and thin. The only bad-ass part about Brianne is the diagonal scar over her eye covered by a black eye patch, but it just makes her look scary and slightly villainous.
Brianne and Erwin, who is now a 5th year, team up with Hange Zoe to teach her a few basics. Brianne does most of the talking and demonstrating while Erwin watches from the back, chiming in every time Brianne forgets a little detail or two. During the past 2 years, Erwin and Brianne have hung out every single night after dinner to chill and talk about their past, their training, and tips on the physical and mental aspects of being a fighter. Erwin does most of the mentoring, but Brianne has her moments that humble Erwin.
Brianne has grown the wisdom to be wise, and Erwin is proud of how quickly Brianne has grown in her thinking skills. She's had to learn a few things through the Military training the hard way, such as the fact that previous training doesn't give you all the necessary skills to become a great soldier and leader. In the beginning, it was very tough for Brianne to socialize well with anyone in her year because of her fiery and aggressive personality. She used to be brash and blunt, but the biggest offset about Brianne's personality was when she played the ball-game with the peach basket. That was when the demon came out in Brianne, and no one wanted to not be on her team. She talks too much trash, often jeering at her one-on-one defender, and her words tend to have the effect of getting inside her defender's head. Brianne's defenders need great will power and a strong mentality to not allow Brianne's words into their heads, otherwise they will react badly to Brianne's favor. Brianne came off as a big asshole, and only her close friends of Edgar Stiles, Chloe Brien, Tony Dale, Chase Edmunds, Curtis Channing, Nadia Yasso, Cherrie Walker, Porter Cole, and Kate Morgan understand and accept Brianne as a girl who is an ambitious, unique individual. They can see that Brianne only strives to further excel in what she excels at, and her ambition drives them all to better themselves too.
Though Brianne still doesn't have the power to be as strong as Levi, she still strives to exceed and learn as much as she can to be the best fighter to have lived within the Walls. When it's night and Brianne watches the Capital as the Nightman, her alias given to her by the people of the Capital, she often visits Levi, Farlan, and Isabel at their home to see how they're doing. As always, her 3 friends are surviving well, which is as expected for Brianne. She's so used to them faring well that she doesn't worry about her friends anymore, especially since she was very worried for their well-being after Kenny's absence...
To determine the ranking orders of each mid-year, there are fighting tournaments held between the 20 trainees. These 20 trainees of Brianne Turgard, Edgar Stile, Chloe Brien, Tony Dale, Tina May, Miles Press, Missy Sedler, Chase Edmund, Curtis Channing, Nadia Yasso, Cherrie Walker, Larry Mosser, Sean Hill, Janis Silver, Lana Walsh, Charlie Glay, Porter Cole, Katy Morgan, Audrey Lanes, and Wayne Potter are the last ones left of their squad year because everyone else left. These 20 have been through it all together the past 2 and a half years physically and emotionally.
Brianne and Chase are the last ones standing in the final tournament, ready to claim the name Number One. Brianne has been Number One since everyone's first two years, and it is her pride and joy. Brianne and Chase enter the boxing ring, ready to box each other for the title of Number One for this mid-year. The moment Brianne and Chase step into the ring, her trash-talking immediately begins.
Brianne: I can't believe you beat Curtis. You don't belong here, man. Get out while you can.
Curtis: I'm gonna kick your ass, Bri. Just watch.
Brianne: (scoffs) I'm gonna knock you out on the 8th round. Watch.
It's 7 rounds in, and it's clear Brianne will be Number One for the fifth time in a row. It's a very bloody battle, Curtis and Brianne both beat up badly. As Curtis leans forward for a jab, Brianne pulls away to the side and knocks Curtis in the head. Curtis falls to his side on the floor, and Alfred claims Brianne as Number One for the 5th time in a row.
During Brianne and Erwin's chats at night, they often come upon the topic of what lies outside the Wall. They first passed the line of talking about their past, their parents' death, and what their parents have died for. Erwin and Brianne came to the conclusion together that Erwin's father's theory about what the government did to the first generation is true: he brainwashed the first generation into forgetting about their life before the Wall. This is because it is strange that none of the first generation remember their lives before the Wall was built when, most certainly, they should have. Then after more talking they came to the conclusion that there must be others outside the Wall, people who must be living like them away from the Titans...Erwin and Brianne look at one another under the bright full moon and stars. They're sitting in the middle of the barren field that's for running laps.
Brianne: You really think there could be other people living outside these Walls?
Erwin: Yes, I believe it. I believe there are other people out there. That's why I'm going to join the Scouts Regiment. I'll be able to travel outside of these Walls and maybe find some life out there.
Brianne: You know that about 90% of the Scout Regiment die their first year in.
Erwin: I know. But I'm not afraid. I know I'll make it.
Brianne: (smiles) That's pretty brave of you. I'd never join the Scout Regiment but not cus I'm scared or anything. I think the real problem lies from within the Walls. Why try to fix the bad things out there when we should be starting internally?
Erwin: (looks at Brianne) What do you mean?
Brianne: I'm going to be an MP, and I'm going to purge the government from the inside-out.
Erwin: (scoffs) That's a little ambitious, don't you think?
Brianne: Look who's talking. Talking about life outside the Walls and going to live to see the day you'll meet someone from outside.
Erwin: Mine is just a dream, a hope that we're not the only ones in this world. But yours is about revenge. Purging the government? I mean...that doesn't seem very realistic, not with the way things work in here.
Brianne is offended by Erwin's comparison of his bright, optimistic future with Brianne's dark, pessimistic future.
Erwin: Revenge won't help you with anything. It'll only lead you to your downfall.
Brianne: (scoffs) Like you'd know. Aren't you even angry about what the government did to our parents?
Erwin: Of course I am. There's not a day that goes by when I don't think about what happened to my father. But I've accepted the fact that there's nothing I could've done to save my father, there's nothing I can do even now. I've embraced the idea to prove my father's theory right, that there must be something outside these Walls. My father is gone, and I must move on to live my life. So should you.
Brianne: I do accept that my parents are gone, and I have moved on.
Erwin: No, you haven't. Clearly, you haven't moved on.
Brianne: (hurt) Who are you to judge me like that?
Erwin: Someone who's been through what you've been through. And someone who knows revenge is never the answer, it never will be.
Brianne: (fuming) Whatever. You know what, I need to get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow.
Erwin: Alright.
Erwin calmly watches Brianne storming off to her cabin. He feels bad for telling Brianne what he truly feels about her future plans of revenge, but he just wants Brianne to live her own life. He knows that if she obsesses about revenge, it's not healthy for her. Erwin wishes Brianne can channel her anger into something else the way he's channeled his anger to prove his father's theory right. Erwin knows that if Brianne can do that, she'll be able to achieve so much more greater things than trying to unrealistically purge the tainted-beyond-the-point-of-no-return government they live under.
Brianne changes into her survival suit and equips herself with all her weapons. She puts the mask over her face, and she sneaks out of the Military training grounds. She perches herself on top of the church bell tower, and she looks down upon the streets of the Capital as the Nightman, the watchful guardian and night crusader who fights crime. Over the past 2 and a half years, the Nightman has been able to strike fear into every single petty criminal's hearts. The criminals fear the Nightman, and crime has considerably dropped within the Capital even at nighttime. Brianne is proud that she's been able to clean up the filthy streets of the Capital per her father's wish in his will, and she hopes that her father is proud of the work she's put into the Capital.
After a long watch, Brianne decides to visit Levi, Farlan, and Isabel. They're in their abandoned home, and Brianne plops on the couch as she throws her mask to the ground.
Farlan: Long night?
Brianne: Yeah.
Levi: What's on your mind, kid?
Brianne: It's just...something Erwin and I were talking about. He thinks there are people who live outside the Walls.
Levi, Farlan, and Isabel snort at Brianne's statement.
Isabel: You're joking, right?
Brianne: (shakes head) No. I mean...I can see why he thinks that, but he scoffed at me when I tell him I want to purge the government.
Levi scoffs at Brianne's comment. Brianne glares at Levi, knowing that Levi has always thought the same thing and has told her on many occasions to not try to change the government for it is far beyond repair.
Levi: You already know my take on it.
Brianne: Why don't you believe I can do it?
Levi: Because, kid, you're just one person trying to take down an entire government.
Brianne: And you think that's harder to do than to find a community out there beyond the Walls?
Levi: At least that's more credible than what you want to do. There could definitely be a chance that there are others who live out there. Maybe they're living behind walls like ours, or maybe they live differently than we do. But it's a more credible desire than to purge our government.
Brianne: Why don't you ever take my side?
Levi: (smirks) Cus you don't ever make sense to me. Sometimes, you're very irrational and act on your feelings too much. That was always your weakness, and it still is. You're too emotional and too sensitive. You still need to learn how to stop and analyze the situation rather than just react by your feelings.
Brianne: (frowns) Well, at least I've gotten a little better than long time ago, right?
Farlan: You can say that again.
Brianne smiles weakly, knowing that that truly is her weakness, acting on her emotions rather than logic. She knows that it's something she still needs to work on, but it's too hard for her because she's still so young and hormonal that trying to think logically is more difficult than to just react out her emotions.
The next day, Brianne and Erwin take their separate day-of-the-year to visit their parents' cemetery. Brianne walks to her parents' grave and she puts down two roses on their tombstone. After a few seconds of silence, she walks away with her heart weighing heavily. She despises how she needs a time-limit to pay her parents' respect at their gravestones. She wishes she could spend the entire day at her parents' grave, but she knows it cannot be unless she wants to become vulnerable to the MP.
Brianne is out at night as Nightman, and she watches the streets. She wonders what Erwin might be doing because they take their day-of-the-year together. Last year, Brianne visited Erwin's parents' grave with him and then they spent the entire day together. This year, however, Brianne doesn't do that because she and Erwin ended on a bad note the night before. She doesn't know whether she should visit Erwin at his parents' grave, and she decides to not go in the end.
As Brianne is perched on top of the church bell tower, she hears a woman scream at the top of her lungs. Brianne travels from roof to roof to the source of the sound. It's a woman in the alleyway, and Brianne is too late. A gunshot rings in the air, and Brianne arrives at the murder scene. A man stands there with a wallet spread out on the floor, and he has a rifle in his hands. She knows that he must've gotten the rifle from an MP because the MP are in charge of all the guns. She's also noticed that rifles on the streets have been constantly on the rise, which could mean only one thing. The MP are selling their guns for a major profit because they're the only ones who are allowed guns on the street.
The man quickly shoots at Brianne, and she kicks the gun out of his hand before he can fire off his last bullet. The man fights back as he pulls out a knife and swings to cut Brianne. Erwin heard the multiple gunshots from his home, and he decides to go check out what that was about. He wants to make sure that everything is alright because he also heard a woman's scream. Erwin leaves his home with a kitchen knife in his hands and he makes his way through the street. He comes upon the Nightman fighting off the man trying to stab the Nightman.
Brianne is clearly kicking the man's ass, and she catches a glimpse of Erwin in her eye. She is caught off guard, and she makes a mistake. The man swings his arm and slashes deeply in Brianne's left arm. Brianne gets angry quickly and with her ballistic staff she knocks the man out unconscious with a great and powerful swing.
Erwin: Are you okay?
Erwin refers to the slash across Brianne's arm. He can see the Nightman bleeding tremendously from this wound, and he takes a step forward towards Brianne. She quickly swings onto a roof and runs away as fast as she can. She notices Erwin running after her on the street, and she uses her grappling guns to get away faster, afraid what Erwin would think if he ever found out she was Nightman. Brianne is way ahead of Erwin, and she thinks he's not chasing after her anymore. Erwin stops running and closes his eyes, listening to the sound of the grappling gun make its way around the rooftops of the Capital. He sees the pathway in his head from listening to the zig-zagging of the grappling gun, and he hears the grappling gun stop. He assumes the Nightman stopped somewhere that's safe to him. Erwin immediately makes a run for it following the pathway in his head he made up according to the sound of the grappling gun's moving directions.
Erwin arrives at an abandoned building that's very raggedy as if it'll break down any minute. He slowly and cautiously approaches this building, and he hears voices inside.
Farlan: Ah shit, Bri. Why do you always come back bloody?
Brianne: I made a stupid mistake.
Farlan: Clearly!
Levi: Move your hand so I can see.
Brianne groans as she lets go of her arm, and Levi, Farlan, and Isabel groan at the gruesome sight. Levi gets his needle and yarn, and he begins to stitch the deep gash.
Levi: Izzie, keep watch.
Erwin quickly hides in the shadows, and he sees a girl pop her head out the window to see if there is anyone nearby. Erwin can hear Brianne inside groaning in pain as Levi stitches up her arm. Farlan stitches up Brianne's suit while Levi stitches up Brianne's arm.
Brianne: Ow! Be careful!
Levi: You need to learn a lesson, kid. Stop getting hurt and kick the guy's ass in the first few seconds.
Farlan: Yeah, you like to take your time to wear down your opponent, but fighting in the ring and fighting on the streets are completely different.
Brianne: I know that!
Levi: And yet you never learn.
Brianne huffs and puffs as Levi continues stitching up her arm.
Isabel: So, how'd you make the mistake?
Brianne: ...I saw someone I knew.
Isabel: Who?
Brianne: Erwin.
Erwin freezes outside, now knowing one hundred percent that the Nightman is actually Brianne Turgard. He's completely mortified by this new knowledge, and he sits down so that he can compose himself.
Levi: Do you think he followed you here?
Brianne: No way. I used my grappling gun to get away. There's no way he could've caught up to me.
Farlan: Alright, your suit's patched up.
Brianne: Thanks, Farlan.
Levi finishes cleaning up Brianne's arm, and she plops down on the cushion right next to Levi's.
Brianne: Thanks you guys for helping me.
Farlan: No problem, Bri.
Levi: All's clear, right?
Isabel: Yeah. Nothing's out there.
Levi: Then let's all get some sleep.
Isabel blows out the candle, and Levi plops on his cushion. Brianne rolls on her side to look at Levi. He glances at Brianne looking at him.
Levi: What?
Brianne: Nothing. I just really miss hanging out like long time ago, like the good old days.
Levi: We coulda had more, but you decided to leave us.
Brianne just smiles, and she wraps her arms around Levi and hugs him like a teddy bear.
Brianne: (closes her eyes with a smile) Goodnight, Levi.
Levi: Goodnight, kid.
After a long day of training on the Military training ground, Brianne doesn't go to the field tonight to meet Erwin after dinner, so he decides to visit her in her shack. He wants to have a word with her, going in with a plan to confront Brianne about being the Nightman. He knocks on her door, and no one answers.
Erwin: Brianne, open the door. I know you're in there. Your candlelight is on.
Brianne: J-Just hold on.
Erwin patiently waits for Brianne to open the door. She's in her long-sleeved pajamas.
Brianne: Uh, sorry I didn't show up. I just wasn't feeling well-
Erwin grabs Brianne's left arm and pushes the sleeve up. He sees a freshly stitched gash on her arm, and he looks at Brianne in disbelief.
Erwin: You're the Nightman, aren't you?
Brianne's mouth drops, and Erwin already knows it's true without her having to speak a word.
Erwin: You're the Nightman. It was you this entire time...
Brianne pushes Erwin's hand off her arm, and she rolls her sleeve back down. She pulls Erwin into her shack so that they can talk together without anyone seeing.
Brianne: Don't tell anyone, please.
Erwin: Why do you do this? Why...why are you the Nightman?
Brianne: ...it's my way of honoring my father. He told me to invest in the Capital, to never let it fail anyone the way it failed my family.
Erwin doesn't have words. He's standing there absorbing the fact that Brianne is the Nightman though he knew it since last night. Just Brianne admitting that she is makes Erwin all the more fazed.
Brianne: (shrugs) Besides, I like the nickname Nightman better than Scarface.
Erwin looks at Brianne, and he wants to laugh at her dry comment but is unable to. He notices her arm sleeve dotted with blood.
Erwin: You need to clean it. It's bleeding again.
Brianne looks at her arm sleeve, and Erwin sits her down on her bed. He washes Brianne's wound for her as they both sit at the edge of her bed.
Erwin: So it was you who saved me 2 years ago, right? That one night when I was ganged up on.
Brianne: Yeah.
Erwin: Is that why you got training from Teddy Cain?
Brianne: Yeah.
Erwin: How do you do it every night?
Brianne: I just...do...it's something I need to do.
Erwin: (chortles) I admit you have so much ambition, Brianne. Too much for just one person.
Brianne: (sheepish) Thanks...but you promise you won't tell anyone, right?
Erwin: Of course I'd never tell anyone. Do you know what would happen to you if people knew your real identity?
Brianne: ...no...what would happen?
Erwin: Criminals will find where you live, and they'll try to kill you for what you've done to their reputation. You've kept the Capital clean for 2 years, and you've done it at a great price. You've single-handedly made the entire crime organization weak and laughable, and if they ever found out who you are and where you live they'll kill you.
Brianne: They can try.
Erwin looks at Brianne and smiles at her daring comment. Brianne smiles too seeing Erwin smile.
Erwin: Do you want to take a walk with me?
Brianne nods, and she and Erwin walk out of her cabin to the field. It's a warm night in the late spring/early summer, and the moon shines with a light that's bright and mellow. Erwin holds Brianne's hand as they walk, and Brianne turns bright red and hot as she holds Erwin's hand. They arrive at the empty field, and they sit down together as usual.
Erwin: Is that why you want to be an MP? So you can stay here and continue being the Nightman?
Brianne: (nods) Yeah.
Erwin: How long do you plan on being the Nightman?
Brianne: For as long as I can, for as long as I need to be I guess.
Erwin: Doesn't being the Nightman take over your life?
Brianne: What do you mean?
Erwin: I mean...the Nightman is what you are. And it seems like being the Nightman is a big part of your life. You do it every night, and it takes great determination and will-power to have kept it going this long.
Brianne: Like you always say, I have a lot of ambition.
Erwin: Yes well...I hope you'll never be consumed by this persona of yours. You never know what kind of dangers you'll come across as a vigilante fighting against crime organizations.
Brianne: Hey, you don't have to worry about me. I can hold my own.
Erwin: Yeah, but you should know your limits.
Brianne: (holds her head up high, proud) Nightman has no limits.
Erwin: (worried) But Brianne Turgard does.
Brianne: Well, I can't afford to know them, at least not anytime soon.
Erwin is quiet and he seems very worried about Brianne. Erwin walks Brianne back to her cabin, and Brianne looks back at Erwin when she's standing at the front of her door.
Brianne: Sorry for being an asshole the day before yesterday, Erwin. I know you were just trying to be honest, and I just...(shrugs) shouldn't have been so angry.
Erwin: It's fine. I hope you know that I care about you, and I want to see you become the best you can be.
Brianne: (sheepish) You sound like you're saying goodbye or something.
Erwin: (smiles) I suppose I should be saying goodnight.
Brianne smiles weakly looking up at Erwin.
Erwin: I'll see you tomorrow.
Brianne: Alright, goodnight.
Erwin: (nods) Goodnight.
Erwin walks off, and Brianne runs after him.
Brianne: Hey Erwin.
Erwin turns around, and Brianne kisses him on his lips. Erwin is shocked at her sudden gesture, and he looks into Brianne's eyes as she slowly leans away from the kiss. She smiles sheepishly, and he's just stunned that he experienced his first kiss so suddenly. Erwin watches Brianne walk back to her cabin, and when she turns back to close the door she looks at Erwin still standing there staring at her. Brianne waves goodbye shyly, and Erwin watches her close her door.