AN: I apologize for this lack of a posting schedule but inspiration hasn't been around for a while. Anyways, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy.

Fuck, fuck, fuck! Just how long had I been asleep for?! The sun was already high in it's path, so probably noon was near by.

Rushing to get dressed had my pulling at the stitches again and eventually, I was forced to slow down the pace at which things were done. Looking out the window, Petra and the captain had the cadets running laps around the building.

It was odd, though… usually someone would've come to the room and scold me until I was out of bed. Hm… it was probably Erwin's doing.

"I thought you could use some rest this morning.", he answered, confirming my suspicions.

"You didn't have to. I'm much better now. Any news from Sina?"

"Actually yes. The letter arrived just this morning."

"So…?"

"You leave tomorrow. Honestly, it is truly convenient that your friends are so high up the hierarchy."

"Well..-", I couldn't help but to feel a bit smug, although I quickly dispelled that tone else Erwin could become irritated with the attitude. "They've always been intelligent, you know. Top scores. I'm not surprised at all."

"Either way, here's a copy of the letter. It had some personal matters related to you that they also discussed."

"And you read that as well?", I questioned, unconsciously raising an eyebrow. "Just give it to me. So that means Levi has to pick a cadet to join us today, have you mentioned this to him already?"

"Yes, as soon this arrived.", he passed me the folded piece of paper between two fingers.

"Wait… did you copy this by hand? You didn't need to."

"Don't think too much about it. Now, since you are up and ready to work, why not take the kids for a ride out? They need to get a better feel for the horses."

"Very well. Thanks Erwin. You always watch out for me.", a small smile formed on my lips as I exited his office.

He didn't answer but in reality, he didn't need to. There wasn't anything really to say. Reading the scribbled letter Amy and Shei had sent, I head to my office, where it would be safely locked inside a drawer.

Where anyone know of our mission, the intruders would soon catch up to it and things could go south fairly quick from there. As I locked the door behind me, the captain was passing by.

"Good morning, sir."

"Hardly morning anymore, lieutenant.", oh.. that's right. Erwin gave him my hours so figures he'd be pretty pissed about it.

"Thank you for covering for me this morning. It won't happen again.", while I was waiting some salted response or brute comment, he simply hummed in agreement, changing the subject quickly.

"Erwin talked to you?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Tonight after dinner, my office, I'll brief you on the details."

"Understood. Have you picked the cadet that's coming as well?"

"Not yet. Either, quit lounging around, the brats are waiting."

"Uh.. o-okay.", the harsh tone of that final comment while it didn't catch me by surprise still sounded a bit forced, compared to the overall mood of the chat.

"Your arm looks better-", he noted, as he was walking passed me. His voice trailed off before I could hear anything and, not wanting to keep the kids waiting, I rushed outside. The arm was indeed better; movements were much more fluid and I didn't wince constantly from it.

Dinner time came around quickly and after taking a seat in an empty table, I heard someone call out to me.

"Lieutenant?", the male voice came from behind. Jaeger, Mikasa and Armin had trays of food and looked expectantly at me.

"Yeah?", somewhere around the afternoon, I had to take another of those pills and the drousyness affected the speed of my movements. Chewing slowly on a piece of bread, my almost glassy eyes looked up to the three kids.

"Um.. I-I'm sorry for what happened.", he finally spat out. Poor kid, he was probably afraid of receiving another of Levi's beatings. Not that he'd been threatened since he got to the Corps but it wasn't something one could easily forget.

"Yes, I know. I'm fine, kid. Don't beat yourself up too much.", I dismissed the issue, hoping that they'd leave me at peace. A better idea would've been to just go ahead and sleep, skipping dinner altogether but since Levi wanted to have that meeting… best to not take any chances on missing it. "What? You want something?", the words blurted out before I knew I'd said them.

"Well… -", Armin's voice was shaking. I must've seemed irritated with their present. Not that that was completely false… "Today mam.. you did some really cool things with your horse… um..."

"We wanted to ask you who taught you that. Can you teach us?", Eren finally finished Arlert's sentence for him. A deep sight formed in the back of my throat but my hand gestured them to sit down.

"Very well… I'll tell you. I have a friend who..", the story went on, and eventually, there wasn't any more theoretical knowledge to share about horses. I'd been the first time someone had asked me to teach them horse riding skills but I guess it's part of a senior officer.

Pff, senior officer. The thought made me laugh. 5 years and already amongst the veterans… well, fuck, now it made me sad. No use in getting worked up about stuff like that was there?

"I'm here sir.", opening the door to the captain's office, I entered, closing it behind me. A large map was unravelled over his desk and, leaning in closer it wrote 'Underground District'.

"As you know,", the raven haired man began "I lived there for quite some time. That's the map of the place, you ought to study it."

"Already have, sir. Better be safe than sorry, right?", please, as if I'd let important things such as this pile up.

"Good.", he answered dryly.

"Have you picked the cadet that's going to join us, sir?"

"Not yet, I'll decide tonight. Tomorrow we go with regular clothes and get Shitty Glasses to give something like a first aid pouch. Erwin insisted that this is our top priority, since the Corps cannot operate with the money we have now. Don't overdo it, if your arm rips open there, it will probably get infected quickly.", he told me, head pointing at my left arm.

"Understood. I'll strive to not be a nuisance, sir.", an uncomfortable silence lingered in the air for a couple of seconds before my voice interrupted it. "Well, if we're done here, I'll go sleep. I mean, I'll talk to Hange first."

"Go then. See you tomorrow. First light, by the stables. Do not be late."

"Of course. Good night, sir."

Afterwards, I met with Hange in her own office, where she was busy torturing poor Moblit with some other story, seems like the guy couldn't take a break even at night… Kindly enough, she gave me a few herbs and other weird concoctions to treat any wound that could arise while we were down there.

And then, sleep came and another night went by.

At first light, I calmly headed towards the stables, not seeing anyone there yet. Taking out the horse I'd be doing the trip on and saddling it, attaching all the provisions needed to ensure a safe journey. It neighed softly as my hand rested over its neck, petting it slightly.

According to their letter, we'd most likely be leaving the horses with the girls until we finished the job and, although it left me a bit uneasy to leave our means of transportation and possibly escape with other people, I knew I could trust them.

Footsteps started getting louder around the corner of the stables, revealing a casually dressed Levi and a very drowsy looking Reiner.

"Good morning, sir. Hello Braun.", my soft voice barely disturbed the morning atmosphere of peace.

"Mornin'...", the blonde answered, yawning and stumbling to enter the stables.

"Hello, Martha.", the captain replied, following in Reiner's steps.

When all was ready, we began our journey, the boy riding behind us, barely keeping awake.

"Say captain..."

"Huh?", he grunted in response to me, not taking his eyes off the road.

"Did you drag Reiner out of his bed and on to the mission without explanation?"

"Yes. Didn't want the little shit to blabber to any other brats."

"That was rather evil, sir...", I couldn't contain the slight grin and chuckle that rumbled in the back of my throat, thinking about Levi kicking an unsuspecting Reiner out of his bed to go on a secret mission.

"Something I said funny, lieutenant?", the use of the formal title served as a warning sign that he was probably in a bad mood and it would be best not to push his patience.

"Not at all, sir. I'll go check up on him.", lowering the pace of the horse, it continued the way lined with Braun's.

"So, kid, how are you holding up?"

"I'm… fine...", he yawned, rubbing one of his eyes. "Where are we even going?"

"The Underground district."

"What, why?", his tone was surprised but also had something else I couldn't understand what was.

"Secret mission."

"What…? That's too much for my head… Fuck, I'm so tired."

"Language, boy."

"Ya know mam…. Something that would really wake me up would be a smoke right about now… You didn't happen to bring the ones you took from me did you?"

"I will remind you that we are working and cadets are not allowed to smoke."

"Oh come on… And here I thought you were one of the 'cool' officials… Guess you're just like the others..."

"Reiner Braun, are you trying to get on my bad side? Stop with that sass and know your place. Are we clear?"

"Yes… mam...", ugh, brats like that really got on my nerves…

"Say, lieutenant… You look pretty nice in that get up...", Reiner looked at me out the corner of his eye, smiling slightly. Really hugs your… figure.", hearing such a comment, brought a mix of slight embarrassment and anger. Pulling my hand back, I smacked his horse in the rear as hard as I could, causing it to start running out of control.

"That'll teach you, blabber mouth.", catching up to Levi, he sighed.

"What was that?"

"Cadet Braun, being punished."

"We can't afford attracting unwanted attentions, Krieger. What an idiotic thing to do.", he scoffed.

"He was acting cheeky with me, sir. I apologise, I may have overreacted, I'll go get him back.", noticing a slight glint in his eye, his expression still remained unchanged.

"Leave him. He has to know how to solve shit alone."

"Very well..."

Up ahead, he was waiting for us by the edge of the dirt road, chest heaving and cheeks flushed.

"Hey, why'd you do that for?!", he complained.

"Is there any problem, brat?", Levi asked him, stopping his horse in front of the other.

"N-no, sir...", he answered, clearly intimidated.

"Good, now let's continue the ride. Silently."

A couple of hours had passed, the only sound heard around us being the hooves thumping on the dirt as we rode calmly. At first, I didn't understand why we weren't hurrying and galloping towards Sina however, after a group of hunters passed by us and didn't even seem to notice who we were, I realised that maybe the captain was trying to avoid causing a commotion in nearby villages.

If three riders rushed around the secondary roads, risking injuring distracted hunters or any other person lingering around, rumours would spread and the people who'd been sabotaging us for the last weeks wouldn't take long to spring into action again. Despite never having been to the Underground District, I knew for a fact that it was an almost savage place. From what Ray had told me back in my Garrison days, she wouldn't have survived if it wasn't for Feng taking her in and caring for her. Well, it had to be done either way – the Corps needed the money and we would get it, by whatever means necessary.

"Levi?", my voice broke the calm lulling of hooves and called for the captain's attention.

"What?"

"How are we going to get the money? I mean… I know Erwin said to basically do whatever we needed to but… I just..-"

"What? You scared of something? We're not going to be stealing from old ladies so ease up. Some shitbag owes me money from back in the day. That's it. And it's captain to you."

"Sorry sir, I just figured that if we're undercover, treating each other by military ranks kind of defeats the purpose..."

"Eh, I guess you're right. You hear that, brat?", he raised his voice so that Reiner, riding behind could hear as well.

"Yes, sir! I mean, yes Levi.", he answered and the captain's eyebrow twitched ever so slightly as he heard his own name.

"Are you still mad at the kid?", a tinge of amusement lingered in my words but a glance from him quickly terminated the joke and silence ruled again.

Riding without talking was rather boring so, letting the captain pass me, my horse levelled with Reiner's again and I began explaining the basics of the mission. Might as well do it when there wasn't any danger of us being heard and there'd still be a few hours to reach the destination.

"So you and Berthold are pretty close, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I guess so. We did grew up in the same village."

"Oh, really? It must be nice to have a friend who've known for so long..", honestly… who am I to be here talking all nostalgic about friendship with a 15 year old. The things one does while grieving, I'll tell you.. it's not pretty to watch. And then, the dreaded question I'd been setting up myself for when stating that..

"Do you have anyone like that, Martha?"

"Well...", rummaging through my memories, at first nothing came up. No one was left. My best friends from the Garrison were all dead and so was the Gamma Squad.

"You did say we were gonna meet up with your friends.", he noted. That's right. We were. My best friends from the Trainee's Squad. I'd momentarily forgotten about them, even though we exchanged letters frequently and they knew what had happened to the kids and Nathan, Ray and Mathias. I wasn't as alone as I thought but there's only so much letters can do to cheer you up and keep you company.

"Yes, that's true. Sheila and Amy are good friends of mine. I'm glad I'll get to see them again soon."

"Enough with the chit chat you two.", Levi scolded, without looking back. "Look ahead, we've got company."

A wagon stretched across the road and a couple of men looked like they were guarding it, two of them on the ground in front of it. We approached slowly, not changing the pace the horses steadily kept, until the men were within earshot. As much as we'd like to keep things civil, Levi thought it would be best if we dismounted in case there was a need to fight.

"Let us pass.", Levi told one of them.

"You gotta pay the fee, mister."

"There is no tax on this road. Now let us pass.", this could turn out violent so, before the captain decided to lash out at the annoyance, I intervened.

"Who's in charge here?", I asked the same man.

"Me, missy.", a tall, tanned man with a slashed eyebrow answered. He was perched up on the wagon's rim, head resting on his palm.

"Well, sir, we don't want any trouble so, please just let us pass and we'll keep off your business.", a faint smile flourished my lips, in an attempt to soften up the situation.

"I'm sorry, but that won't do. If you don't want to pay, you'll have to suffer the consequences."

"We don't have time to deal with lowlifes like you. Now move that shit at once.", Levi replied to the man, who got visibly aggravated with the insult.

"Teach them a lesson boys.", without me noticing, they'd encircled the us and one of them spooked Reiner's horse, who got on its hind legs and pulled the kid in the process.

"Watch out!", I yelled, pulling him from underneath it, before the hooves could crush his body. It was obvious that these bandits wouldn't let us go through without a fight.

Before we knew it, they'd overpowered and caught us, more than half of the men holding captain Levi in place. I didn't understand why the captain was holding back so much. What could possibly be gained by us wasting more time there?!

"You sure put up quite a fight, mister...", the leader mocked. "For a man so small, that is..", he chuckled. Jumping down on the ground, he walked over to where I was being held, stopping right in front of me. "And you, missy. You don't look like much of a fighter but you can pack a punch, can'tcha?", his thumb and forefinger grabbed my chin, trying to make me look into his eyes but I refused, thrashing until he was forced to grip my jaw to stop me. "A bit too wild for my liking but.. I'll teach you how to be a proper wife."

"Pff, as if I want anything to do with a piece of shit like you..."

"Oh, I'm going to enjoy fucking you to submission...", he looked straight into my eyes and, being held firmly by two men, I was unable to resist when he turned my face to the side and dragged him foul smelling tongue across my cheek, leaving a wet trail that made my insides churn. "Tasty...", he added, and trying to release myself from the men, my eyes screwed shut, jaw cinching tighter with the struggle.

My ribs were burning with pain from the previous fight and tears kept pushing to roll down but I refused to cry. No way in fucking hell, I'd let any of those people watch me pathetically cry, no matter how hopeless I felt.

"What? Don't fancy me touching your lady, huuh?", the man turned to to face Levi, who kept his composed expression. He didn't answer, looking at him with his blank face, until the leader tired of it. "Suit yourself. Search their belongings."

They rummaged through our stuff and found the few coins Erwin had given us for the extra expenses of the trip and gave it to the leader, who counted them and laughed to himself, tying it to his belt, where a set of keys was also dangling.

"Tie those two up and take all the horses. This lovely lady, comes with me...", he grinned, signalling his lackeys to move. Was this it? Going on a mission and getting caught by bandits? Fucking outlaws? Risking our lives against the titans for this? These shitbags?

"You're disgusting...", I growled quietly.

"What did you say?", he asked, walking closer.

"I said: You're disgusting! And I spit on the ground you walk in!", the other men stood still, watching what his master would do as I spat on his shoes. From the corner of my eye, I saw them anxiously waiting for my punishment. The burning in my ribs ceased for the slip second the man's hand connected with my face. Fingers laced in my hair, pulling it tightly so that I'd stare at him. But there was no anger in his expression, only amusement.

"Deary… It's over. You're mine now. Give up.", letting go, my head fell, cheek pulsating from the punch. I tasted blood but luckily, no teeth had fallen out. "Packed their things in with the safe."

Something clicked and the once silent and calm captain was now a wild animal, thrashing about meticulously, the outlaws dropping like stones on the dirt road. I took the opportunity to free myself, as the men were distracted with Levi and Reiner. The startled men were easily subdued.

The only person left by now was the leader, who was preparing to make a run for it with a black metal box. My legs were moving on their own galloping after the tanned man, and throwing him onto the ground.

His punch still lingered in my jaw but what burned the most was the now dry patch of saliva he'd left. I'd never been so disgusted with myself than at that moment and all I could think of was him dragging his rough tongue on my face. He deserved to die slowly, that wretched being who thought about making me his slave, and I'd enjoy seeing him contorting in agony, whilst whimpering for forgiveness.

I only noticed his lifeless body beneath my foot after a few seconds. The sole of my boot was marked purple on his skin and his glassy eyes begged for mercy which I refused to show, absorbed in my hatred.

"I-I...I..." the words wouldn't come out. A lump formed in the back of my throat and my eyes swelled up with tears. I didn't mean to kill him, I killed titans, not people!

"Martha, are you oka-", Reiner rushed to me, but upon seeing the figure laying on the floor, he backed up a bit, waiting for my reply. "Is he… dead?"

We stood there in silence for a few moments. I wanted to answer him but that would confirm the event and I didn't want that. I didn't want to have killed someone. It was the second time I had taken a life from someone and this time I hadn't even been aware of it. A nod was sufficient for Reiner to understand what had happened and he left to help Levi while I was still incapable of moving.

"Quit slouching and give me a hand, Martha!", the captain's voice interrupted my thoughts and pulled me back into reality. Drying tears with my sleeve, I turned to face him and saw him clutching his hand.

"What happened, s-Levi?"

"What happened to you, is the fucker dead?", my stomach turned, hearing those words. The captains didn't disguise his hatred for the man.

"I'm alright. Yes… he is. Not, let me see your hand, please.", it was starting to swell up, and the wrist had popped of its place. He stood still, close to me, and the small heat that passed on from his hands to mine soothed me for some reason. "Are you ready? I need to pop this back in place.", when our eyes met, it felt like we were too close and a warm shiver ran down my spine, forcing my gaze onto the hand again to avoid it.

"Sure, go ahead."

After the ordeal, the hand was enveloped in bandages with one of Hange's ointments, and the safe the leader was trying to escape with was opened and all the money was emptied out into our saddlebags. It wasn't much but it was something.

"Are you okay?...", Reiner's voice was unusually soft. "You seemed pretty disturbed back there, with the guy, ya know?"

"Thank you for asking kid.", I smiled, lying. "I'm good.", cutting the conversation short, I sped up, pairing with the captain, wanting a quiet ride after all that.

"Here, wipe your face with it.", his hand offered me a handkerchief, which I gladly accepted, even though my cheek was already dry. No matter how much I tried, his lifeless body wouldn't leave my thoughts.

"Thanks, Levi… Um… why did it took you so long to act?", despite all, there was a tinge of resentment in me. My squad leader almost let me become a slave for no apparent reason and, although I was sure he'd have a very good one, there was still that little nugget, that torn that pricked me when I thought about it.

"Uh? It didn't. I wanted to see where he kept the money."

"Oh.", not a satisfying enough answer but fuck it.

"You don't have to feel bad for his death."

"I don't.", such a pitiful lie. Why did I even bother…

"You'll see that a lot in the Underground. Down there it's eat or be eaten. There's no room for compassion. If you're in a situation like that, do not hesitate."

"I won't...", had Levi killed many people when he lived there? Didn't it affect him anymore? He mourned his comrades silently but murdered without compassion…? I needed rest, something to clear my head.

"I'm sorry I didn't act sooner. Wasn't expecting that fucker to…-", he must've noticed he was talking out loud, given that his lips stopped moving and remained sealed even after questioning.

Up ahead, the road became broader as it joined the main one, revealing the enormous gate of Wall Sina.

"We're here.", I muttered, dreading the thought of leaving the sunlight for an unknown amount of time.