Warning:this chapter contains mentions of prostitution, heavy neglect and domestic abuse, and mentions of motor handicap and drug use. I don't own Shingeki no Kyojin, and am using the universe and characters from the franchise for a non-commercial work of fanfiction. I don't own the story cover either, which is also being used non-commercially.

"What is the meaning of this?"

He tugged at her arm a little more, but she wouldn't budge.

"Come on, babe, we're bringing you to a new place. You'll get a better pay and everything, even your own room if you're lucky. And it's only over in the next town, don't worry about…"

But she had twisted his elbow around in such a way that he had to let go, and she tore into him with her icicle gaze.

"You're selling me to your brother, aren't you? He doesn't have enough girls, and we don't bring in enough cash. I knew it. I'm not living under the same roof as that abusive bastard. I'm leaving."

She turned on her heels and strode off to get some clothes. She could hear her boss smirk from behind her, before calling out:

"You belong in a brothel, babe! You can't make your own as a kid out there, you'll be arrested or enrolled or raped or something!"

She didn't care anymore, even if she did have a roof and good food here.

"The streets are tough in December, and I'm definitely not paying you if you're leaving me like that without notice!"

The other girls had peeked their heads out of some of the rooms, curious of the ruckus that was uncommon at such an hour. The short blonde didn't spare them a glance, simply pulling on a long-sleeved shirt and her coat, then shoving all her other belongings in her suitcase.

"ANNABEL!"

She looked around, and saw the door blocked by her hulky boss. She quickly closed the plastic case, getting up slowly, the handle held tightly in her white-knuckled hand.

"I won't let you go without a fight."

"Fair enough."

To all the people looking in on the scene, it would have seemed that she had simply brushed past the man. But when she did so, he went flying as if he were nothing more than a sackful of feathers, and slammed into the opposite wall. He slid down the cement, leaving a bright red trail of blood from where his head had hit the artificial stone, hard. He was knocked out cold.

A deathly silence and the stares of a dozen terrified young girls followed Annie out, the only sound being the clicking of her four-inch heels on the dirty floorboards.

This time, she was going to kill him. He was certain of it. He hid behind the bathroom door, silently praying for her to not find him. It was the only place that could hide him entirely, and that in her crazed state, she might not look for him. He could hear her stumble around, calling for him in a sickly-sweet voice that she only took when she really, really wanted to hurt him.

He shivered, the pad of her feet getting closer, her whispered threats slowly becoming distinguishable words.

"I love you, sweetie, my sparrow, you fucking freak of nature."

His heart was hammering against his chest, and only the certainty that flight was not an option kept him put. When the handle to the bathroom door clicked, he was tempted to pick up the cheap plastic toilet seat and use it as a weapon, if he must, but he didn't in the end. He was too weak to fight back anyway.

"Aww, there you were, my beautiful son. Don't be shy, come closer."

But she already was close. Too close. He looked down at her, his back pressed against the wall, staring at the broken glass wine-bottle she held in her left hand. This was not good.

"Don't be afraid, Bertie-Wirtie, you only RUINED MY WHOLE FUCKING LIFE!"

DUCK.

His inner voice saved his life that day. The piece of glass was as sharp as a razor, and instead of biting deeply into his jugular as it had first intended to, it only went through skin and flesh without hitting anything major.

The woman screamed in frustration, and he made a snap decision, listening to his inner voice that had been such a good advisor.

RUN.

And he did. Feet pounding as heavily as his pulse, he ran. He skidded out the apartment door, his mother hot on his heels. He took the stairs, jumping down them four at a time, holding a hand to his wound and feeling dizzy from exhaustion already. Despite being a head shorter than he was, she had several pounds and much more energy to her advantage. When he finally got to the ground floor, he could feel her hot breath on the back of his neck, she was so close. He managed to slam the main building's door in her face at the last minute though, snow coming up to his ankles and numbing his toes nearly instantly. He ran without stopping, until he could run no more. It was only once he had stopped panting, doubled over and with sweat and blood pouring off of him, that he realised that he didn't recognise this place at all.

He was lost, barefoot, and alone in the middle of harsh, cold December.

Just as expected, his brother was yet again hunched over his screen. Colourful lights played out across his face, reflected on his waxy skin from the screen. The blond looked at him for maybe half a minute, but in that time his older sibling hadn't blinked once. His eyes were slightly bloodshot, and some smell mixed with the incense in the air that definitely wasn't some healing drug.

"I'm leaving."

He nodded in answer to that, but nothing more. Sighing, the younger of the two men made his way across the room, his heavy boots crushing a syringe and a game box as he went.

When he got close enough to his brother, he wrenched his shoulders around, pulling him away from the mouse and the keyboard. His reaction, or lack of, scared him. If he had done that a few months ago, he would have been given an angry look, maybe even a smack, but his eyes remained blank and unfocused.

"I'm leaving, and when I get back, I want you to have recovered and started walking again. Can you do that?"

He looked down at his lower limbs, one flesh, one metal, and for a first time in a while, a spark of recognition ignited in his eyes. It was the only acknowledgement that he got before they turned back to being as opaque as his mind, but maybe there had been something there. Maybe it was the beginning of the healing process.

That was partly why he was going: to not, yet again, be disappointed by the lies he told himself every single time a ray of hope shined through the solid grey clouds. Maybe, once he had grown into his manhood, he would come back to see his brother healthy and full of life again. Or dead, after years of wasting away. It was either to be one or the other.

He walked out of the room without looking back. He put on his coat and his scarf, picked up a heavy leather shoulder-bag that held everything he would need, then walked out the door, and unbeknownst to him, never to go through it again.

The Walled Kingdom used to be contained by the largest Holy Wall, raised against attacks from the barbarian lands outside. It has now been over 2000 years since all the lands outside of them have been conquered, forming the One Land of the Kingdom. The capital of the One Kingdom is named Sina, and is contained in the innermost Holy Wall. It is the largest city in the One Land of the Kingdom, and is the most advanced in all domains.

-Standard Elementary School History Manual

Why, hello there!

Yes, this is an author's note, if you're wondering why I've suddenly gone all un-angsty. So, yeah, I know, I've got two other huge chaptered fics to finish (including another SnK one. Go check out "Die Ironie des Krieges" if you like WW2 drama/angst!), but I decided to put this one out as a taster. Depending on the feedback, I might put this one before the other SnK fic, or not, who knows! This is also a backlash to the writing of "Lone Wolves, Metal Horses" (probably not published at the time you're reading this), which takes place only in one place. I don't like that. I love the open country, travelling, and all that stuff, and a story that only takes place in one room bores me out of my mind (for that reason, I don't really like plays either).

Anyway, this is going to be more or less plotless, and will contain far more romance than I usually like to incorporate into my fics. If you know of the series, this'll be a little like +Anima (plot and atmosphere-wise, that is. No, Annie won't be growing wings any time soon), but more grungy and definitely not very family-friendly. But you know me, no grapefruit! Maybe not even kisses. Nuh-huh. ("But how is that possible when this fic is tagged as romance, Oakwood?" I can hear you cry, but you just wait and see. And remember what the other genre tag is, although, I guess that if you're not already reading this on AO3, you can pop over there and spoil yourself rotten with the very detailed tags that'll be posted there.)

At the end of each chapter, I'll be including a little extract from a text from this universe, usually to explain something going on in the chapter, but also to give you a better insight on this f*d-up world I created.

Anyways, I'll stop spoiling the whole story for you. And this fic actually has a soundtrack! You'll be introduced to it soon enough, don't worry. ;)

Have a good day, and don't forget to comment! It'll guide me for further updates.