Double chapters as an apology. Sorry again.

"Jean!"

There was a trigger pulled. But unexpectedly, it was from Armin.

The blonde took out his gun just in time and shot the woman. She collapsed onto Jean, her blood scattered on his clothes.

"Jean, are you alright?" - Mikasa arrived and pulled the corpse away from Jean.

"I think I am." - Jean checked his body for wounds but there weren't.

Armin, however, was still shaking while holding the gun. First time he killed someone after all.

"Armin it's alright. You saved Jean, ok?" - Mikasa took his hands to calm him down "I would do the same."

"Thanks Mikasa..."

"Keep on riding the carriage. I'll stay around." - She smiled at him, a smile that was like sunshine after a rain.

"A little more and we're out of the city." - Armin shouted, trying to get his mind of his first murder.

Jean realized, even a guy like Armin would kill somebody for the sake of his friends. Why couldn't he? If the situation changed, if it was Armin that the woman aimed for, would Jean be able to kill her?

The answer, in fact, was pretty simple. In this chaos, it was neither right nor wrong. You just followed your heart and protected the ones that are important to you.

"Jean, next time, shoot! Don't hesitate." - Mikasa said, and cold-bloodedly threw the corpse of the woman off the carriage before flying up with her 3DMG.

The chase kept on going as more people died, to the point the alive ones of the Military Police were too afraid to keep chasing.

"Levi, are we there yet?" - Mikasa asked.

"Yeah. Look like they had stopped chasing." - Levi looked around, finding Petra in a corner.

"Here!" - Petra shouted, pointing at an empty cable. There was no one around.

The squad stopped. Sasha and Connie lured the horses in, Armin and Jean got off the carriage.

"Where are Nifa and -" - Petra stopped her question half way as realizing the look on Levi's face "Oh...they..."

"Kaney killed them." - Levi looked down, remembering the dead of his comrades.

"That man again..."

"Petra-san, are you sure this place is safe?" - Mikasa decided to break the tension between the two adults.

"Yes. This is an abandoned area of the town. But we can't stay too long, they'll figure it out eventually."

"Let's get inside." - Levi said.

After having eaten the breads Petra prepared, the squad sat down together thinking of a new plan.

Meanwhile, Petra also tried to treat Levi's wounds, especially the one on his face.

"The coffins should have arrived now." - Armin talked first.

"What should we do? We had lost the trace." - Connie commented.

"Kids, rest. We'll think about it tomorrow. You all must be tired, no plans are gonna come up." - Petra said, as she knew Levi must think the same.

"Okay then..." - Sasha said before lying down and decided to sleep.

Jean and Connie found their own spots to sleep as well. Mikasa went outside. Noticing something was strange about her, Armin followed, leaving Levi and Petra alone.

"Don't blame yourself, Levi." - She read his mind again.

"It's my fault."

"You can't predict that Kaney was going to show up."

"How will I tell Hanji about this?"

"She'll understand. Levi, you're the one that suffers the most from this. Stop blaming yourself."

"People think I'm a heartless monster. My squad must have thought the same after what I did to Historia."

"You don't show your emotions. You always keep such a strong face, that's why they misunderstood."

She reached out and touched the scar on his face. He grabbed her hand and pulled it away.

"It's disgusting. Don't touch it." - He said.

"It's not."

"I must look very shitty right now."

"No you don't. Or maybe it's just me, because in my eyes, you always look good."

"Seriously Petra, you can find a better man than me. Someone without a scar on his face."

"Nah, you're the only one I love, I'm not letting you go."

She gathered all of her courage and kissed him quickly on the lips.

"Goodnight, Levi."

"Goodnight."

Outside, Mikasa sat with Armin. They looked at the dark sky for a while before starting to talk.

"Must be tough for you...to kill someone."

"I can't believe it myself. The only thought in my mind back then was I have to save Jean."

"You did the right thing... I noticed. You were throwing up earlier, right?"

"I... Do you feel like this before, Mikasa? The first time to ..."

"Actually...no. I've told you. I grabbed my knife and stabbed that man with no emotions.."

"I can't stop thinking about it."

"Think like this. What would happen if you didn't pull the trigger? I would do the same."

"If I didn't shoot her..."

"Anyway, any plans?" - She decided to distract him from his first murder " I can't let Eren stay in that filthy place forever."

"Nothing on my mind yet."

"I see... I really miss him... I would go to any length to get him back."

"Any length?"

"Yeah... I... I've never felt this way about anyone before. The need to protect him, to be with him. I'm hopelessly in love with him."

"... He's always by my side. He stands up for me since we first met. I want to save him too."

"Well, we should head back. Levi wanted a meeting. Maybe he could think of a way to save Eren."

The two kids came back, joining the circle around the campfire.

"Armin, gotten better?" - Levi asked.

"I don't think so, sir." - Armin answered with a shaking voice "I...I killed a human."

"So what? You dirtied your hand for the first time. That's all."

"It's true...my hands...they are dirty now."

"Levi. Don't be mean!" - Petra grabbed the hem of his shirt.

"There was one thing I don't understand. She already aimed her gun at Jean. Why did I still shoot before her?" - Armin looked down at the ground, thinking back of the image of the blood splitting out of her head because of him.

"She...hesitated." - Jean said.

"I see. So even she is more like a human than me."

"Hesitation is her own stupid choice. You don't go on a mission with hesitation on your mind." - Mikasa commented coldly.

"But Armin. Thanks to your dirtying your hands, Jean is sitting with us right now." - Levi looked at the two boys "You killed somebody to protect your friends."

"Levi... I've always thought your ways of doing things are wrong. But... I realized. I just...wanted it to be wrong. I refused to face the reality. But I get it now." - Jean spoke up.

"It's your choice. I'm not forcing you to understand my ways."

"And I understand it now."

"Good then. Ready for our next move. We're getting back Eren and Historia."

"Hey there. Your breakfast." - Valeria went inside the basement with two plates of food "How was your sleep last night?"

"You don't need to pretend to be nice to us." - Eren clearly didn't like her.

"I'm not pretending. I like kids, that's all."

"Then why are you working for that guy?"

"I got abused by my old boss. I escaped and was left starved on the street. He saved me."

"So you return his favor by doing dirty works for him? Do you know by helping him, you make other people starve? You're a selfish bitch."

"Maybe I am." - She didn't lose her temper at his words at all "Now eat, you want to live, right?"

He stopped talking and let her feed him. Yes he needed to live. Then he would get his revenge on her, on Reiss and Kaney.

"Historia, you should eat too." - Valeria turned to the little girl and gave her the food "I've heard about your story. I'm sorry for your lost."

"Why my mother was treated horribly, but you..."

"I was like your mother at first as well. But I helped him with his business, so they slowly accepted me, or to be more correct, they became afraid of me."

"So it was because my mother wasn't as tough as you."

"People were harsher in the past. Beside, I don't have any kids. I believed your mother loved you as well, any mothers would love their child."

"Not mine."

"Maybe you just don't know." - She smiled kindly "Right, I'm going out today, to find Mikasa Ackerman."

"She's not gonna accept the offer." - Eren cut in.

"What if I say I may harm you?"

"My body can regenerate."

"Doesn't mean you won't feel painful. Torturing is actually better than killing. But don't worry, I won't hurt kids, I just need Mikasa to believe I will."

"I'll say it again. No way in hell she's gonna accept."

"We'll see, cutie. Anyway, if Kaney did anything to you, call me, I'll save you." - She winked and left.

"That woman is crazy." - Eren sighed.

"Squad we had letters from Erwin. Mikasa there is a letter assigned for you."

Levi gave Mikasa her envelope, then opened his own "Erwin is giving his position to Hanji. He had to take the responsibility for Reebs' dead."

"That's crazy. The Military Police can't do nothing except blaming the Survey Corps." - Petra, though was a kind gentle girl, still could not accept this non-sense.

"What should we do now?" - Connie asked.

"He wants us to stay still at this moment. The dead of too many Military Police is causing an uproar right now." - Levi continued reading.

"We'll move to a new location tomorrow." - Petra added "If possible we should go around town to gather information about Reiss."

"Hey I'm back." - Valeria waved at Eren and Historia "Historia, your dad had finished his business in the capital so he'll be back soon."

"I don't care." - Historia said with a cold tone.

"I have a present for you too, Eren."

"What's now, old lady?" - He grunted, gosh he was tired of her cheerful attitude.

"I did the impossible. Come in." - She looked at door and shouted.

A figure came in, causing shocks to both Eren and Historia.

"Mikasa?!" - Eren couldn't believe his own eyes.

"I sneaked a letter in for her when a guy transferred letters from Erwin to Levi. Look like she accepted my offer." - Valeria smirked.

"Mikasa is this part of a plan? Would Levi show up any moment? Tell me this is a plan!"

"I'm sorry Eren. I came here alone. Nobody knows."

"Mikasa! You can't do this! You can't betray the Survey Corps!"

"I want to know more about my last name. Kaney might be my only relative left. I..."

"I'm disappointed in you, Mikasa."

"Stop yelling at her, Eren. I also said I would torture you." - Valeria tried to calm him down, holding his shoulders.

"Keep your filthy hands away from me!" - He shook her off.

"Bad kids need to be taught." - Valeria stared at him before slapping him right in the face.

"Eren!" - Mikasa shouted, running towards the two of them.

"You stay away as well! You betrayer!" - Eren looked at Mikasa angrily.

Valeria slapped him the second time, then took Mikasa's hand "Let's go. Kaney is waiting for you."

"But Eren-" - Mikasa mumbled.

"Leave him be."

The two women left before Eren could say anything more.

"Calm down Eren." - Historia, who had been silent the whole time, spoke up.

"Save that for yourself. You're gonna have a "talk" with Reiss."

"Kaney, this is Mikasa Ackerman. Mikasa, this is Kaney Ackerman." - Valeria introduced.

"Oh. We do have some commons in our look." - Kaney shook her hands.

"She'll be joining our crew. Train her well." - Valeria said.

"How could we trust her? What if she's a spy?"

"My guts never failed me. You know that, right? Have I ever been wrong following my intuition?"

"Not yet, I suppose."

"Then I'll leave Mikasa in your hands. I'll go pick up Reiss." - Valeria waved and left.

"Why I've never heard about you?" - Mikasa finally spoke up and asked Kaney.

"I cut ties with my family since I was a teenager. They don't allow me to do things my ways."

"You mean killing?"

"Yeah, probably. Anyway, my training will be tough. You'd better be ready. I have high hopes for you."

"Ok. But... can you tell me more about our last name? I really want to know."

"There aren't any special secrets but I'll fill you in with what I know. What's your dad's name again?"

"Jack Ackerman."

"Oh the guy that married a woman from the East."

"Yeah."

"No matter why you have black eyes and hair. Come on, let's go. I'll introduce you the newest 3DMG."

"Newest?"

"New and better."

Meanwhile, Valeria ran to the front gate, welcoming the man entering.

"Reiss." - She called out.

"How is Historia? It was such an urgent working problem that I didn't get to talk to her the other day."

"She's fine. But the titan boy isn't. I and Kaney managed to get one of his friends work for us. He's pissed. He may ruin the mood if you want to talk to Historia."

"So...should I change his room? Keep him separately?"

"That actually sounds ... good."

"I'll tell the guards about it."

"I'll go and inform Historia about your returning." - She led him to his room then walked off.

She headed to the basement. As soon as she stepped in, she was glare intensely by the two kids.

"Stop glaring at me. Seriously it's scary." - She sighed "Historia, your dad had come back, he'll come as soon as possible."

"I don't need him to." - The girl grunted.

"Well you're locked here. You have to even if you don't want." - Valeria smiled, rubbed Historia's head, but looking at Eren "They want to talk alone. So you will be moved."

"Be moved? What am I, a package?" - He spoke sarcastically.

"Probably." - Valeria didn't back down.

"I hate you, to my core."

"If you hate me, how about thinking of a plan to get out instead of chitchating here? Or you're not smart enough to?"

"Bitch. I'll get out eventually."

"Well both of you getting out would be impossible. Maybe...just one." - She thought to herself but saying it outloud.

"What did you just say?" - Eren wasn't sure about her last words.

"Nothing." - She dodged the question "Anyway, Historia, be a good girl to your dad, ok? Don't be aggressive to him."

Valeria patted Historia's back quickly before stepping back. As she reached the door, she spoke to thin air "Most of the guards will gather here." and left without further explanation.

"What did she mean by saying that?" - Eren grunted.

"Maybe she warned that we can't escape." - Historia answered.

"I'll pay her back for everything for sure."

"She said both of us can't escape, right?"

"Yeah? Why you asked?"

"Eren, I had a plan."

More chapters at weekend, I hope.