LLL- Excuse grammar errors since editing isn't my forte. I finish all of my chapters at like 12 AM. No one wants to edit at 12AM. i want to sleep. Anyways, this story has a special place in my heart.
I got my 100th review on this story today. Thank you. Strawberry234. And also to people who review regularly. You guys motivate me sooooo much. Frantastic1993, Idontknowitslate, Skye, Maxine, Laura and all of the guests. As well as everyone else. You all have a place in my heart. Enjoy this chapter. There are more exciting ones to come in the near future.
Outside, the sun is shining and tall buildings decorate the district. Eren looks around in awe. This is nothing that he's ever seen before. The people are dressed like him with bright colors but somehow they look more rich. The females have large poofy dresses and the men wear dazzling suits with tall hats.
Eren looks around frantically, carrying Levi's weight. That when something covers his eyes. He raises an eyebrow. "What are you doing?"
"Haven't I told you never to look at the people."
"Right," Eren nods. "But I can't help it. Is this really what people within the inner walls are like? Are they even aware that there are titans ready to make lunch out of them?"
"You need to remember the reason people tend to escape to the inner walls in the first place. It isn't simply to get away from the titans but to ignore their existence. These people want nothing more than to live peaceful ignorant lives like the cattle they are."
"It must be nice," Eren huffs.
"You say that but it still pisses you off. You can't stand the very look of it."
"I'm biting my tongue so quit putting salt in the wound."
"Only if you agree to slow down your pace before you break my damn leg."
Eren jolts at the comment. He hadn't even realized how fast he was walking while carrying his partner. "Sorry."
Reiner and Bertoldt walk behind them like parents. "Where did Armin go?" Bertoldt asks.
Reiner shrugs. "He said he was going to go check the area. I assume that means he went to make sure we have clearance to get on the wall and down to the district."
"Should we have packed food?"
"The ride won't be that long."
"Should we have told Erwin that we were leaving?"
"What are you being so uptight for?"
Bertoldt sighs. "I don't know. I just have a bad feeling about this."
This makes Reiner raise an eyebrow and become more alert. He's not sure what it is but Bertoldt's intuition has never been wrong. It's these mere 'feelings' that he has that has gotten them out of so much trouble in the past. Despite this he sighs. "I'm sure everything will be fine."
The group draw a little attention from the locals but its only trivial things such as which merchant they attained their shoes from. Or how daring their hairstyle was. Or why there were two dashing Military Police gentlemen escorting them around.
It isn't until they get closer to the wall that things begin to look more familiar. Soldiers stand around and talk while others jog to an assignment. People from within Wall Rose sit against buildings in tattered clothes. They appear to be hungry and sad. There are children and elders, glancing up at them with sorrowed and begging expressions. Eren wants to help them with every fiber in his body but he can't. These are people from outside of wall Sina that are being denied entry into the districts because of things such as a shortage in food, water, and space. Or so they say.
Eren averts his eyes to the front and he sees Armin walking towards them. The high class clothes he wears really suits him well. Better than it does Eren or Levi. His hair has even grown a bit longer. These are simple details that Eren is just noticing that he probably should have caught his attention sooner. He stops in front of them. "Ok. They have a carriage set up but it's not designed for speed so we might get there a little later than you guys are used to. It'll be around noon and there's a possibility that the horses will need to rest so we might stay over there for the night. Are you guys OK with that?"
Bertoldt is the only person with a delayed answered. Armin takes note of this but doesn't speak on it right away. "Reiner, take Eren and Levi to the carriage. Bertoldt, can you come with me to get the final clearances."
"Yes."
"Well lets go on."
The three walk a few blocks further until the carriage is clearly in view. It isn't what Eren is used to. The ones in both the Military Police and Scouting Legion are made to move quickly, change direction in short notice, and withstand weather. This carriage looks like it wasn't even meant to leave the confines of Wall Sina.
The wheels are smaller, the actual carriage is lined with trim and even the horses look smaller. Not to mention there are only two.
"What the hell is this?" Levi grunts.
"I… don't know," Reiner mumbles.
"Where is Armin?" The captain's annoyance has peaked and they haven't even left the walls yet.
A Military Police soldier walks towards them. "Are you the group who will be traveling outside today?"
"Why don't we have a terrain carriage?" Levi asks.
The man smirks. "You're from the Scouting Legion, right?" His nice tone has suddenly turned into that of a smug bitch. "I'm afraid this is the only carriage you are allowed."
"We'd get there faster if we just rode a horse."
"Would you prefer to walk?"
Levi squeezes Eren's arm, his nails digging well into the skin. All the shifter can do is place a comforting hand atop his.
"Excuse me." A voice calls from behind the three. Armin walks to them and in front of the soldier. "I apologize for what he said."
"You don't even know what I said." Levi growls.
"Sorry, force of habit. Thank you for providing the carriage. Is everything in place?"
"Yes." The tone of the soldier's voice has changed again, but now it's a little too friendly. His eyes scan Armin up and down. "But I don't think I can give word to someone so…. Unofficial."
"I'm a member of the Scouting Legion and supported by the Military Police." Armin holds up a badge that Eren has never seen before. "If you don't believe me ask your commander but technically speaking, I'm a higher rank than you."
"Understood. Your hair is so well kept I could have mistaken you for a female." he nods with a sly smile. "Roger Adkins." He holds out his hand. "It's a pleasure." Levi's death grip returns.
Armin shakes the man's hand. "Armin Arlert. Same."
"I believe I have heard that name before. If you're new to the…."
"I'm sorry, but we are on a tight schedule." Just as Armin is about the walk away the man grabs his wrist. In that split second, Levi's foot finds its way so deep into the soldier's groin that the two become one. Roger releases a squeal 6 octaves higher than his actual voice and falls to the ground.
Armin cringes and glares at Levi.
Levi's expression stays unchanged. "What?"
"Get in the carriage!"
He shrugs and the three walk towards the door. Levi turns. "Oh, one more thing."
"What!"
"Cut your fucking hair." With that they enter the carriage while Armin takes the time to give the poor Military Police soldier aid.
Reiner has been suppressing a desperate laugh the entire time. "Why did you do that?" He says, one tear rolling down his cheek from the energy it takes not to fall into hysteria.
"Just being proactive."
"I saw it too Levi," Eren says, taking a seat next to him, "but I feel as if you could have handled the situation a little…. better so to speak."
"That was better."
Armin hops inside, immediately giving Levi the evil glare. This doesn't phase him at all. "I'll speak with you later."
"Good," he shrugs. "We'll talk while I cut your hair. I think you…." Eren rolls up the thick fabric of Levi's tight trousers with difficulty. "What are you doing?"
"You kicked him with your bad leg and you put more weight one me when you walked. I'm surveying the damage."
"Get off of me." Levi kicks away but flinches slightly. Eren gives him a knowing glance and he doesn't struggle. Eren rubs the side of Levi's leg, the back and then the ankle. He can't get the pants to go any higher than his knee.
"How does it look?" Armin asks. "Not like he doesn't deserve whatever's wrong!"
"Is that anger I'm sensing?" Levi asks.
"Damn right it is."
"I'm proud of you." Levi sports a cunning smile to the blond boy before the pain makes itself known in is leg.
He cringes and Eren nods. "It looks like you dislocated your knee. You didn't feel that!?"
"Pain is mental."
"But a dislocated knee is physical!" Eren exhales. "Just don't move it. We can try to put it back in when we stop."
"I can put it back in now." Levi bends down but Eren stops him.
"No you can't. Your leg is fractured in about 4 different places. If you try to do it yourself you might break it."
"Since when did you become a doctor?"
"Since you couldn't stop being so reckless." Eren doesn't make eye contact with Levi and suddenly the mood has changed. "I was there for a long time. I didn't see anyone I knew and for a long time they imprisoned me so I just read books. Books were rare in shiganshina. There was actually a rumor that they were forbidden but the Military Police have tons. I read a lot on health and the human body. I taught myself basic facts. Did you know the human body has 206 bones, 103 on each side. In all honesty it was their method to make sure I stayed sane between the tests. "
No one really has anything to say to this and the carriage begins to rock as it moves. Reiner's attention leaps. "Where is Bertoldt?"
"He's going to follow behind us," Armin tells us.
"Why?"
"The Military Police trust us less than they trust titans. They didn't give us a better carriage to prevent us from knocking out the driver and taking this one off course. Plus this only fits four people. Bertoldt feels uneasy about us going so he's keeping a safe distance behind us to ensure that the Military Police don't try anything slick. Keep in mind. In this carriage is humanities strongest and two of the shifter titans, all injured. Quite frankly, they'd be crazy not to take this shot."
"If they want to attack us then I need to be dead." Levi sighs, relaxing in his seat.
"I think you displayed that quite well at the gate thank you very much."
Reiner lets out a deep breath and Armin places a hand on his leg. "Bertoldt will be fine. He can handle something this simple." Armin reaches in his pocket and hands Reiner something.
"What's this?"
"A biscuit. Bertoldt said they calm you down."
Levi huffs. "What are you a dog?"
"You can't walk…."
"Keep talking and neither will you."
"Levi," Armin calls. "I get a strange feeling that it isn't physically possible for you to talk to anyone without getting in an argument."
"Conversation otherwise is no fun and pointless."
"Can't argue with him there," Reiner agree.
"I didn't ask for your opinion, brat."
"One day I'm going to kill you."
"You just keep telling yourself that."
"Please control your shrimp," Reiner says, addressing Eren.
"You're responsible for the destruction of Wall Maria, falling of shiganshina and the death of my mother. I don't give two fucks what he says to you. Just be happy I haven't killed you yet."
"Point taken. If It means anything now, I'm sorry."
"It doesn't."
"Didn't think so. But forgiveness or not, we're going to work with you guys and be your protection. We've abandoned the assignment."
"What assignment?"
"It's nothing. Just know you don't have to worry about it now."
"That doesn't make me not worry. What if there are other titans trying to complete this assignment?"
"There aren't the only Shifters are Annie, Bertoldt, Ymir and I. Ymir wasn't even on the assignment. I'm not even entirely sure of her origins."
"And what if humans try to complete this assignment?"
"Although a human would have to be completely twisted, I don't think its possible. The only one crazy enough to try it was Ava."
Eren looks down at Levi, cautious of the name being mentioned, but he sees that the Lance is fast asleep.
"How did he fall asleep so quickly in this rocking deathtrap they call transportation?" Reiner asks
"He doesn't get much sleep at night," Armin adds in. "He tends to stay awake. I can't tell if it's from pain or nightmares. One way or another he's up all night. I check in on Eren and Levi three times a night just to ensure their ribs haven't collapsed on their lungs. Levi is awake every time."
"But he looks fine in the morning," Eren breaths, suddenly concerned.
"Because he doesn't want you to worry."
"Finding out this way isn't the most satisfying thing."
"Sorry," Armin smiles. "I probably wasn't supposed to tell you."
Eren sighs. "It's fine."
The two stay silent for the rest of the ride, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Sleep would be the best option but Reiner can't seem to do that since he's worrying about Bertoldt. Armin's head has been wrapped around the topic of Ava since Reiner mentioned it and Eren is focused on Levi, making sure he isn't too uncomfortable.
When the carriage stops the group steps out. They have traveled about 60 miles and the sun is well into the sky.
The driver looks back at them. "This is literally as far as I can take you."
Armin fans himself, his cheeks a deep shade of red. "It's scorching out here in these clothes." He reaches for the top button of his shirt.
"If you undo even one of those buttons I will make sure you never strip again," Levi growls.
"Yes dad."
Eren is the only person whose attention isn't on Armin's overheating body.
Before them the entire town in shambles. Buildings are crushed and the ground is cracked. Standing at the point he's at he can see through the entire district to the wall, not a single building getting in his way.
His breathing had stopped some time ago when he set eyes on the catastrophy. He falls to his knees in sorrow and Levi also falls over, not expecting the action.
"Eren. Eren snap out of it!" Levi shakes him.
Armin runs to his side. Eren opens his mouth, just barely getting words out through his shock. "I….did this?"
"Well, you did 1/3 of it. Reiner and Bertoldt were the other 2/3."
"It looks…. Like titans breached the wall."
"Well," Reiner adds. "You did blow a huge hole through the gate so…."
"I put a hole in wall rose?" He begins to hyperventilate. "How could I let this happen?"
Armin attempts to calm him. "It's not your fault. The herb…"
"I should have killed myself the second I started having trouble containing…"
Before he can finish that sentence Levi slaps him across the face. "After all the shit that's happened to me, to you, you're still talking like that. You're not killing yourself. If you think you're going to get away from me that easy you can think again."
Eren smiles at this. "Right. I'm sorry. Now kiss me so I can know you're not messing with me." Just before their lips touch, Armin's calls them.
"You guys." There is an alertness in his voice. They look at him and see that she's starting off into the town. "There's no one here…"
"Yeah. I'd think that's a good thing." Reiner mumbles.
"Use your brain for a second. There are supposed to be people here rebuilding, including Jean, Sasha and Connie but there is no one here at all."
They take another glance at the district and they get his point. It's extremely quiet.
Reiner looks around. "Where's Bertoldt? Armin!"
"I'm not going to lie to you. He should have been here by now. He wasn't that far behind." At that thought, the horse start running with the Military Police soldier at the reins. Armin chases after the carriage but isn't able to catch it.
"I got him."
"Don't," Eren says.
"We're just going to let him get away?"
"We can't risk you passing out right now. We have the possibility of getting the horses but they won't be of any use. We're all injured and we need to find the others."
Armin rubs his head of sweat. "It was just as Bertoldt thought. This is a trap."
Eren looks off into the district. "Our lives are in danger at every corner we turn now."
"Well what are we waiting for?" Levi shrugs. "Lets go get our squad."
LLL- story so long... i'll get on with it i promise.