Five sets of eyes snapped to Mikasa as she re-entered the kitchen.

"So what did they say?" Jean's question came before she could even say a word.

"Well clearly they're going to help since they also have an interest in Eren not staying kidnapped. But they had a condition."

"What do they want from us?" Sasha gave Mikasa a puzzled look. "We don't have any resources that even approach what they have."

"They're taking point on the search and rescue. They said they'll keep us in the loop and include us but they're organizing everything."

"And if we don't want to?" Ymir's tone was defiant.

"I already told them we would. We don't have any other choice. If I had said no they would have gone and done whatever they're going to do and we wouldn't know a damn thing. This way we know what's going on." Mikasa paused for a moment. "I think they need the manpower too. Especially given what Dr. Scientist found while I was on the phone."

"Well what did they say?"

"Marco and Eren were kidnapped and pulled into an unmarked white van." She held up her hand to forestall any questions. "They only got a partial view of the plate number and they are right when they say that without a complete plate or any identifying marks it's going to be like finding a needle in a haystack. They've been missing for about forty-five minutes now and Dr. Scientist made the good point that if they're heading out of Trost…"

The entire room was silent as everyone thought about what that meant.

"So are they running even the partial plate? Is somebody looking at where they were taken from? Are they doing anything right now? Because I can think of more than a few things that they should be doing." Sasha's tone was frustrated and she was staring demandingly at Mikasa. "Did they say anything?"

"They said they'd call within the hour. They wanted to check on things before getting back to us I guess and it's not really worth staying on the phone while they run some searches."

"Well let me talk to them the next time they call. This is my specialty, tracking is what I do."

"I know Sasha." Mikasa snapped at her and everybody stood on edge for a moment before Mikasa let out a shaky breath and relaxed. "I'm sorry. I know you're trying to help. It's just that this is more stressful than I'm used to. Eren gets kidnapped more than either of us would like but it's never been like this before."

"So what now? We just wait for them to call?" Jean's voice was quiet as he slumped against the wall.

"Yeah. I don't this it's going to be too long."

They all stood in silence, absorbed in their own thoughts as they waited for the phone to ring.

It wasn't even a call that roused them from their positions.

[Hanji:] Corner of 10th and Spring. Thirty minutes.

It wasn't the most pleasant drive with all six of them piled into Jean's car. Ostensibly it sat five but was only comfortable with four; with six it was almost unbearable. The ride was made more unpleasant by the fact that they got stuck in traffic so what should have been just under half an hour ended up being forty minutes.

"Jean. Drive faster." Mikasa was practically growling at him as Jean gripped the steering wheel tightly, knuckles going white.

"I'm already going over the speed limit."

"I don't give a shit. We're already running late and every minute we spend not doing something productive is a minute that could be dedicated to finding Eren."

"You think I don't fucking know that already, Mikasa!? And don't forget that Marco's missing too okay!?" Jean's outburst was loud enough that everyone in the car cringed. Mikasa deflated slightly and turned to look out the window.

"I'm sorry. I forgot…" Jean tensed up and Mikasa paused. "I forgot how long you've known Marco."

"Let's just get this over with." His shoulders dropped as he relaxed slightly.

"Should we even be coming along? Jean and I aren't exactly heroes… we aren't even sidekicks."

"Hey Connie, you said it would be super cool to meet the Survey Corps. Well now you get to!" Sasha was beaming at him.

"Not like this th–"

"We're here! Now everybody get out so I can breathe again." Sasha interrupted Connie loudly and shoved at Ymir to open the door. Everyone stepped out and stretched as they walked the half-block to the corner.

"There's nobody around but I still feel awkward walking around with my regalia in broad daylight." Krista touched her tiara to straighten it. "At least I can fit the damn scepter and mask in my bag."

"Babe, you look gorgeous." Ymir draped her arm around Krista's shoulders who rolled her eyes and shrugged Ymir off. As they got to the corner they began to look around, trying to find something that might indicate where they were supposed to be going. Mikasa's phone chimed again.

[Hanji:] 1037 on 10th. Take the elevator to the third floor #3B

Mikasa gave her phone a disgruntled look before walking down the street looking for the correct building with everyone else in tow, grumbling to herself.

"Because it's not at all obvious that a large group of people are going to this location or that one of them is carrying a bow and another has a tiara on and a scepter sticking out of her bag. We'd only look normal on Halloween…"

"Hey, my bow and quiver aren't that obvious and okay yeah, Krista is wearing a tiara but I can't really see her scepter."

"My point is that if they're trying to do this without attracting any attention this doesn't make sense."

"Maybe they expected us to not meet with them all geared up?"

"I highly doubt that they're going to be unmasked so we aren't going to be either."

Sasha rolled her eyes at Mikasa's back as she entered the building first and Ymir scoffed as they walked through the unlocked main door and headed towards the elevator.

"Not very security-minded are they?" She looked at the elevator button as she pressed it. "They aren't even trying here, are they? How have they not been killed yet?"

"Ymir, they knew we were coming."

"Always so quick do defend others! Isn't Historia so very sweet and kind?"

"Shut up, Ymir." Krista swatted at Ymir with her scepter as she put her mask on. Mikasa pulled her scarf up further on her face and Sasha put her mask on as well and shifted her bow and quiver so that it sat more comfortably – and more prominently – on her back. Jean and Connie gave each other serious looks and shook hands and nodded at each other causing Sasha to start laughing.

"Are you forgetting why we're here?" Mikasa hissed her words through clenched teeth and glared over her scarf. Sasha immediately stopped laughing and leaned against the elevator wall.

The elevator dinged and the doors opened.

.

I'm pretty sure I mentioned this in chapter one, but there is character death in this fic and it happens in this arc. Also there will be blood and violence and I'll be bumping this to an M rating either the next chapter or the one after that even though nothing will really be happening for a bit longer. I just want to make sure y'all are aware of shit.