Warning: Sex scenes (slightly more detailed than my usual) around a sixth of the way through the story, but not the actual end because there's something else there you won't wanna miss. And I swear, the sex is integral to the plot!

And now, the exciting conclusion, not only to this retelling of Lost Girl's, but also all the building up to the violence. This is it folks, final non-Titan killing chapter! From here on out we'll have proper Titan on Titan violence, Adam Smasher on Everyone violence (that sounds wrong), and a smorgasbord of colourful kills and fights headed our way!

But before we get to that, please enjoy Annie and Armin kicking ass.

Scout HQ, In The Forests Outside The Perimeter

If Adam believed in higher powers of any sort, he'd almost think that the universe was out to get him. Maybe deservedly so, but still, he liked to think that he could go five fucking minutes without some new thing coming along to ruin his day. No politics or red tape, no handholding or coddling, no inane and banal questions… basically, no shenanigans. Just one day of bliss, maybe spruce it up with some productive killing, that's all he asked for.

But no, that wasn't in the cards. The severity of the annoyances differed, but they were there, and they came in numbers. Like last night, first thing he gets when he walked through the door to HQ…

"…Where'd this pig come from?" Adam observed the porker who was happily nomming away at a husk of corn, alongside a gathering of Reiner, Reggie, and Ymir, all sitting on the ground next to a small campfire, corn being cooked in a pot. Of all the things Adam had thought he'd encounter on his way inside to get his armour back on (the shirt and shorts had been fun, but he was feeling underdressed here), that hadn't been on the list.

Ymir bite into a cob, juices running down her chin, and she gestured with her head to her non-edible (by traditional human standards) companions. "What, you've never seen Wilbur before? He was Eren's practice dummy for learning how to pick up people not long ago."

"Poor fella." Reiner offered his sympathy.

Ymir snickered. "The Marigold's took him back to their farm to get rid of his shakes from Eren's handling of him, then once he got a clean bill of health, brought him back here. Along with their blessing for my best friend Reggie here to chop off his head and let us enjoy ourselves, as it should be!"

Adam took another look at the very much alive pig, it's belly so large it was almost touching the ground. "I take it some assmbley is required for the enjoyment part?"

Reiner nodded. "Apparently the fresher the kill the better the meat, least that's what Mr. Marigold was saying. He and Mrs. Marigold handed me an axe, and after visiting Reggie for a bit they said their goodbyes."

"Where's the- ah, there it is." Reggie helpfully lifted it up for Adam to see. "Well, certainly looks like a full meal for at least ten, maybe twenty people. So stretch that out and you could give everyone at least a taste. Guess that earns your food a last meal of its own."

"Actually… we were thinking pig might not be on the menu today." Reggie avoided making eye contact, instead content to ask Reiner if he'd like another serving of corn. "Or… for the foreseeable future."

"…"

"If you think about it, it's really more of a "Successfully taking back the Walls" kind of meal."

"The sheer level of disgust I feel for you right now is staggering." Adam said, bluntly.

"You can't even eat meat, what are you upset about?" Reiner came to Reggie's defense.

"If I had to guess, it's you guys getting attached to our food. What's next, you gonna sob over the fish we're lucky enough to catch from the lake?" Ymir smirked.

"We offered you the axe to do the job yourself, don't go acting like you're any better." Reggie retorted. "The second you looked into those piggy eyes, you lost your nerve."

"Hey, I just don't want Wilbur to suffer! My twig arms wouldn't deliver a clean chop!"

"Uh huh."

"…Anyways, what does it matter? So we didn't get to pig out on the pig. It's still a fine day, good food, camaraderie…" At that moment Wilbur walked over to Ymir, having finished his din-dins, and affectionately rubbed his head against her. The freckled girl smiled, and wrapped her arms around her not dinners neck, offering up scratches. "…Everyone's having a great day."

"…I've got Braindance data to go over. Good luck keeping that thing alive with the resident foodie on the prowl." Adam shook his head, wanting to escape this moment of stupidity.

"You mean Sasha Braus?" Reggie asked. "She's been giggling to herself for the better part of three hours now, and that's after she snapped out of her… I want to say food coma?" The veteran Scout looked to Reiner and Ymir who seems to agree with that answer.

"Food coma?"

"She came out of her Braindance looking like she'd had the best sex of her life, and there's literally only one thing that would have her looking that." Ymir helpfully informed Adam. "Tell you now, it ain't sex."

"And I'll tell you now, team huddle is in an hour. Find the others and regroup by the main gate, we're going over what you'll be learning tomorrow." Adam commanded in his no-nonsense tone of voice, ready to use the final hours of the day on something productive.

Ymir separated herself from Wilbur and stood up, saluting dutifully. "Sir, yes sir! Ilse Langnar and Jean Kirstein went to the library less than an hour ago, while Krista Lenz is standing guard near the Braindances despite Captain Mike and Lieutenant Nanaba being the ones officially assigned to that role! Personally, I think she was waiting there for you, though that's just an assumption on my part!"

"Wow, look at you, all prime and proper at the drop of a hat." Reiner chuckled. "Careful Ymir, you almost sounded like an actual soldier there."

Ymir casually flipped Reiner off with the hand that was behind her back.

"Enough. Ymir, go get Langnar and Kirstein. I'll get Lenz. Remember, one hour."

"Yes sir!"

With that, Ymir scampered off, tossing her finished corn cob to Wilbur, the pig happily munching on it.

"As you were." Adam nodded to Reiner and Reggie, and yes, even the pig. Let them stew on if he was being humorous or saw Wilbur on the same level as all the other meat around here, maybe they'd be motivated to prove him wrong. As he marched off, he picked up on Reggie asking Reiner, "So, what we were talking about… really? You don't think it's too much?"

"Getting a pig tattoo just in case something bad happens so you can be identified? Nah, that's just forward thinking. I mean it sounds a bit defeatist if that's the only reason, so maybe make it stylish and big as hell so you don't regret it when you live to a hundred."

Adam was pretty sure that wasn't how it works in regards to regret, but the idea for identification was sound. So many times he had a body that was missing a head, or even most of it's torso, a tattoo was a godsend when the DNA scanner wasn't available.

Exiting that little distraction, a minor 1 on the scale of irritants that went up to 10, Adam had been free to get some actual work done. Go over the Braindance data, cursory as it would be least Adam wanted to see which of the Scout's had awakened something in themselves (he did not), and see who had logged out early or not. From there, he could see who'd be up for Braindance training, out of 300 soldiers, 150 who would be going out on the Expedition, he had to prep 30 of them to use more advanced technologies, primarily focusing on comm's units (fucking King).

That had been his original goal, until he'd pulled the Braindance data…

"Smasher." Mike and Nanaba both saluted, in that unique hand over their heart way of theirs, which Adam appreciated. Krista did as well, but she seemed… hesitant about it?

Interesting attitude to have towards your new boss, but what did Adam know?

"At ease." He waved off, then made to link up to the headsets. The data was immediately downloaded, and was already sorting itself out based on the perimeters he'd set up. "Right, you can stash these away somewhere secure until Erwin decides how we're going to use them. Or don't, leave them out for a thief to take and me to track down, could be fun."

"Using your signal tracking, yes?" Nanaba asked. "I'd actually like to see that in action, if we could get a quick demonstration tomorrow? Could be a useful ability out there."

"Run out wherever you like with a Braindance then, and I'll come to you. Make sure to hide real good so there's no doubt."

"Promise you actually will come and just won't leave me wherever I end up?"

"Drat, you caught me." Adam inwardly smirked, and Nanaba outwardly. "Right, got about an hour before I have to regroup with my squad. Lenz, follow me."

"Actually, before we go to the main gate… could we talk somewhere private?" The petite blonde asked, looking more nervous than any of the other times Adam had seen her looking nervous. And that was a lot.

"Something you want to tell me?"

"Yes, please. I think you'll want to hear this right away."

"Well unfortunately I need to sort through some data right now. See what Braindances you and everyone else was experiencing."

The look Krista had right now, it was veeeeeeeery similar to when his barely a teen nephew had been shown how browsing history was accessed.

"You… you can do that?" Krista squeaked out.

"I can." Adam turned to the other two, who remarkably were not acting squeamish upon hearing this reveal. "If there's anything you want me not to learn about you, speak now, or forever hold your peace."

"Horseless chariot riding, falling through the sky, a buffet or two, and skiing." Mike replied, not at all worried. "There was a beautiful woman in one of the chariots, but she was clothed… barely."

"And I went for a walk in space." Nanaba offered. "Seeing our world from up there… it was incredible."

"See it from the moon or just above planet from a station?"

"Both. The station ended in the person actually jumping and falling down to Earth… is that really how you came to us?"

Adam nodded, making a note he should save the memory to give a faster explanation of how he came to be here, get people to understand faster. And now, for the obvious person who was severely regretting her choices… "Let me guess. Sex?"

"No!" Krista denied. "I didn't look up… that stuff. I just… look, just…just let me explain."

Adam tilted his head. "Alright, now I'm curious. Let's get walking, while I prioritize your Braindance here…"

He'd taken about fifteen steps, before he'd come to a sudden halt, and turned around to look at the guilty party. She was about five feet away, having anticipated he'd stop so abruptly.

"…You absolute twit."

Adam sighed, stimulants relaxing his brain. On a scale of annoyances, it had fluctuated all over the place, what with his quick interrogation of her. Started out as a 6 (finding his private files, one's he hadn't known Arasaka had been recording, definitely not thrilled), then slowly went down to 5 (Krista explaining it was an accident and she wouldn't pry) then up to 7 (Krista clearly not stopping and specifically going for more of his private moments AND having pretty much done nothing BUT pry), and then an 8 (she was a presumptuous little tart, she really was), before back down to 6 again.

It was only by the grace of him not wanting to deal with any more pains in the ass for the day he delayed Krista's interrogation til tomorrow, give her a chance to properly explain herself. A "bonding exercise," she'd tried to sell it. "Convincing him not to toss her over the Wall," he called it.

Well, tomorrow was now today. And wouldn't you know it, yet more annoyances. This one, it was definitely a 9.

"What happened to him?" Adam titled his head at was once a man, but was now more of tragic reminder how under-equipped these people were. Legless, headless, and missing a hand, it was as good a display of Titan supremacy as anything else.

"One Lieutenant Biggles, formerly of the Garrison Regiment, having tragically perished in service to his people." Hange replied, peering down the neck hole of the corpse on her mobile lab, a.k.a the cart for transporting bodies they'd intercepted on the way to Garrison HQ. "You can thank Moblit here for checking in with the Garrison keeping watch at Karanese, he just saw this lovely specimen being wrapped up for a private burning. And was able to bribe the driver here to come to us first."

"Only for another two hours." Said driver spoke up, while staring at Adam with clear fascination. "Bodies got enough flies and rot, just lucky the Titans didn't seem fit to eat the whole body, otherwise they'd have torched him on the spot."

"Does it really make a difference if he burns now or five minutes from now?" Adam asked.

"Didn't you hear me? I said two hours." The driver held up two fingers. "And yes, it does. This one gets an actual speech from the Commander about dying for the King, for the people. The fire is a real show instead of just being set alight and done with, one more loser amongst the rest. I suppose for this poor fool, it's the least his ghost can expect."

"If you say so." Adam shrugged. "Alright, I'm hearing the why we have a body, but not the what happened to get us this body. Anyone want to fill me in?"

"Titans got him." Levi replied. "They were about to send us an official report, a bit late, before Moblit came by them. According to this," Levi held up said report, "Biggles here moved to prevent the Titans from retrieving their armour, in the dead of night with zero visibility. Failing that, he at least wanted to confirm the Titans were in fact mobile at night, and actually stealing back the armour plating left behind by their dead brethren."

"Did he?"

"Did he what?"

"Prevent them from taking back their armour?" Adam had a pretty good idea, but he still needed to hear it. "Don't tell me we just suffered another set back here."

"Alright, I won't tell you. But I'm thinking it very loudly." Levi's face said it all. "At the very least they didn't touch that giant hammer KIPO made for Eren, so there's that… Fucking pieces of shit, there's abnormal, and then there's whatever the hell this is."

"We saw the damn things all geared up, you didn't think if they could put it on they wouldn't come by to do so again?" Adam snarked.

"No, I didn't. Because that… that was still normal, somewhat. I figured the Armoured or the Colossal did the actual gearing up of those Titans, and set them on their way. For the normal ones to have done it… that's just impossible."

"Not anymore it seems. Fuckers are learning, next thing you know they'll be making battering rams to break down the gates."

The driver of the cart went white as a sheet, and Moblit coughed loudly. "I think I should mention we haven't actually confirmed what killed this man."

Both Levi and Adam peered at Moblit, then at Hange, who was still grinning and fiddling around with the corpse, taking in the sight of the missing hand.

"…You trying to say a bear got to him or something?" Adam genuinely asked. It could happen, a stupid accident like that, but it didn't explain the missing armour.

"If there was a whole sleuth of them tamed, and someone tied ropes to them…"

"Please be real here Hange." Levi begged.

"I am." Hange dropped the arm they held, and looked to Adam and Levi. Without breaking eye contact, they kicked the cart in such a way the body came tumbling off, rolling on the ground til it was face up. Er, belly up.

"OYE! Respect for the dead!" The driver screeched, already making it disembark, only held back by Moblit who begged his indulgence.

"Adam, if you would be so kind, could you bring your foot down where poor Mr. Biggles head would have been? Please try to avoid making contact with his remains if you can, but do give us a good stomp!" Hange drummed their fingers together, trying to hold back their findings.

'…Fuck it. Let's see where they're going with this.' With that, Adam raised his foot and brought it down, in an all too familiar manner that had seen so much meat's heads squished like melons.

"Perfect! Now please just hold it there while Moblit- ah, thank you Moblit." Hange grinned as a sketch book was handed over, the excitable Section Commander peering at it, then at Adam's foot. "…Tell me Adam, have you ever killed a man in such a way?"

"Multiple times."

"Does a blood splatter typically occur?"

"Yes."

"Similar to this?"

One flipping over of the sketchbook, and a very detailed drawing of Biggles resting place (complete with an eyeball that had popped out and had been pecked at by a small bird, thanks Moblit) with footprint outlined in blood.

"…Yeah, it's occasionally been that bloody. Sometimes more, sometimes less."

Hange seemed to shiver, and either out of respect for the dead or wanting to avoid spoiling the surprise, they refrained from squealing in delight. "And that armour we left outside? You would be able to move it yourself? From dusk to dawn, that would be enough time?"

Adam nodded. "Multiple trips, wouldn't get too far, and cutting it close, but yeah, I could. Move it all away from the village to a hiding spot about a mile away."

"We'll take a look about a mile around then, but I doubt we'll be that lucky." Hange clapped their hands. "…Gentlemen, you all might want to take a seat. I think we may just have to consider we have other outsiders in our midst."

And just like that, Adam was lying his ass off again, while trying to make sense of this himself.

A sword came down right at him, and Adam deflected it with ease with his own borrowed ODM blade, not putting his full strength behind it, but still sending his attacker backwards. Said attacker landed on their feet, sliding back, their blades coming up in a defensive position.

"Good form, nice recovery." Adam observed, as Jean circled around, trying to draw his attention while Ymir and Ilse came down from behind. Without taking his eyes off Jean, Adam leaped back so the two overshot, then reached forward to yank Ymir back by her jacket.

"Urk!" The freckled girl choked out as she was forcefully pulled back, and sent rolling on the ground with a light toss. Give Jean credit, the failed surprise attack did not deter him, as he and Ilse engaged in a pincer maneuver.

Give Krista credit too, as she didn't abandon her part to go check up on her girlfriend. The blonde stayed where she was, hiding in the trees, waiting for the moment to come down and land a surgical strike.

Adam paid her little mind, in fact he paid all his sparing partners little mind, as he ran over this morning's events.

Losing a treasure trove worth of resources, all the possibilities of weaponry, gadgetry, and softening of the blow of the King's decree, all of it gone. That had been bad enough, but then there was the possibility that the dead Garrison soldier had been killed by something other than a Titan.

Something strong enough to tear a man to pieces, and lift up metal that weighed in the tons.

Something human sized.

'And what does that mean? Is this world actually more like mine than I assumed? Could my lies actually be closer to the truth? Good news then that Titans don't rule the world, maybe. But then, why the Walls? And why have a cyborg come here?' Adam poured over in his head, utterly lost. To spend the whole morning going over the possibilities with Hange (never mind it was just a theory but one Adam was really considering), and Adam could only say he firmly believed he was the only outsider here. If anyone else had come around, he didn't know them.

He said, but… KIPO. She was still in space, not just down here. Her station, the inventory…

'…I swear to god, if she tore a hole in the station and some of her stock fell down here…' Wouldn't that be lovely, the people of this planet stumbling upon some of the deadliest technologies known to man by accident.

More sword strikes, as Ymir recovered and now Adam was parrying three blades with his one, like the world's most intricate dance number with him at the centre.

'Course it could have just been sent down here on purpose. Scouts sent out to find me, it has been two years since contact. And KIPO is… she does take the initiative.'

That still didn't answer why, if it was KIPO at work here, whatever it was she'd chosen had absconded with the armour, which implied it was the one to make those armoured Titans in the first place.

A snapping of a tree branch, and Adam looked up, just in time to see Krista coming down. In the time it took for her blades to reach him, Adam threw his own directly in the ground before Ilse, causing the woman to halt least she bisect herself, then grabbed both Jean and Ymir's swords as they too made to impale him. Yanking them both forward as if they weighed nothing, Adam used their blades to intercept Krista's perfectly, maneuvering them so that Krista continued to be precariously balanced above him, while the unlucky Scout's dangled like rag dolls.

"And time." Adam gave a light lift to throw Krista off of him, then released his makeshift weapons, allowing Ymir to catch the blonde in her arms. "Savour this while you can because my standards are low, this being your first day working together, but good work, all of you. You almost, almost, pulled a win."

"Bullshit, we did pull a win." Ymir retorted, still holding Krista in her arms. "You said you'd fight us a man, and yet here you are grabbing swords with your bare hands at the last minute because Krista was about to tag you. That's a… what was it… a red card! I'm pulling out a red card!"

"You do that." Adam waved off Ymir's half-hearted protests, more in favour of assessing his squad. "Well, you all certainly work well together. One hour to come up with a strategy, having to fight a person and not a Titan, and said person outclasses you in every conceivable way… I can work with this."

"It's his back-handed compliments that really let you know he's impressed." Jean rolled his eyes to Ilse, who laughed.

"If he ever comes out and admits he cares about us, that's when you know we're dealing with an imposter. Or the world is ending, either one." Ilse giggled.

"If the peanut gallery can save the quips until after I'm out of earshot, pay attention." Adam ordered. "And let her down already, I need you focused."

"Awwww…" Ymir pouted, but did as ordered. All four stood to attention, as Adam observed them, before noting a foreign substance, and dug out an acorn that had landed in his shoulder pauldrons, rubbing it between his fingers.

"…Tomorrow, we're resuming live practice against Eren Jaeger's Titan again. It's two days of fighting him as a regular Titan, then three as an Abnormal, then after that… after that he goes all out. You'll have to score a hit on him as he tries his hardest to tag you, with the strength and speed some of you may have glimpsed a few days ago." Adam informed all of them, still holding the acorn.

To their credit, they didn't lose feeling in their legs or show any signs of fear, but there were questions.

"This is in preparation for the Expedtion, sir?"

"It is. Erwin hasn't given me the final details yet, but it's a safe bet we will be up against an absolute swarm of Titans, of all sizes and behaviours, and you'll have to actually put the effort in for staying alive." Adam answered Jean. All the Scout's had been informed of the King's decision this morning, and though Erwin had managed to pretty it up while still giving the facts of the matter, morale had still taken a hit.

Not Adam's squad though, he'd given them the details a full twelve hours ahead of time, let them get their disappointment out of the way that much sooner.

"You'll still have enough firepower to make a dent in their numbers though, right?" Ymir asked, hopeful.

"That's covered, don't worry. Would have liked to get some additional gear made beforehand, Hange had ideas, but even without I'm mission ready. But there's still only one of me and one of Eren, and we're actually going to be a good distance from the Walls this time. Plenty of Titans between us and our destination."

"Which is?"

"Still being worked out. Erwin's looking at the maps, and once Armin and KIPO come back, we'll sort it out. Until then, I want you to be prepared, overly prepared if need be, so that means taking on Eren at his best so you'll be prepared for the Titans at their worst."

"Awwwwwww." Krista held her hands together and looked at Adam like he was the sweetest thing ever.

"Save it, this is a matter of pride. Shorty made a comment about how I'd lose you all on my first day, so I aim to prove him wrong. If you die it looks bad for me."

"Love you too big guy." Ymir blew a kiss, and laughed as an acorn bonked her in the forehead.

"…I suppose if you all do last long enough to witness your Maria being retaken, then it's just a short trip to the outside world after that." Adam noted. "As my squad, I'd feel obligated to reward such efforts. Consider that a further incentive, if you weren't motivated enough already. I'll personally take you with me."

"See, what did I say? World is ending." Ilse chuckled. "That certainly is a fine incentive. Anywhere in particular you were hoping to show us?"

"Well, I gave it a lot of thought," Adam turned off his optics glow as he looked to the sky, rubbing his chin for effect, the very image of a man in thought, "And you know what? There's no finer place in the world than Marley for your first introduction to another country."

Ymir's rubbing of her forehead ceased, while hidden behind her hands, her eyes went wide and horrified.

"Marley?" Jean asked. "Where's that?"

"A good distance away from my home, so appreciate the fact I'd actually take the time to show it to you." Adam semi-lied. "I figured you'd want to take it easy, meet people who aren't that different from you, technology or behaviour wise. Sure they've got running water in all their buildings, and horseless chariots, and no Titans in sight, but other than that it's really just like entering Wall Sina."

"Sounds a little boring if you put it like that." Jean said. "I mean, after my Braindances, I'd kinda want to experience something like Night City for myself."

"Yeah, what Jean said." Ymir laughed, a little too forcefully. "Come on man, you can't just give us a taste of steak and then offer us up fish instead. You want to motivate us, promise us the top of the mountain, not just a couple steps up it's backside!"

"…Tortured as that metaphor was, I think Ymir has a point." Ilse offered. "Don't you think we can handle a little bit… more? I'd like to experience one of those flying machines for real, a plane or a hovercraft, either one."

"Yeah, you see? Does Marley have planes or hoover rafts?" Ymir rhetorically asked.

"Hovercraft. Only for the sky tours, but considering none of you are pilots that's probably for the best." Adam lied, noting how Ymir stiffened up. "Tell you what, if you aren't satisfied with Marley, and you don't appear to them like a group of ignorant hicks, I'll take you to Night City then."

"Fantastic! Isn't that great Ymir!" Krista grabbed her girlfriends arm and jumped for joy.

"Y-yeah. Just… so great." Ymir grinned, and even her poker face couldn't hide the hint of pain behind it. Before Krista ceased her bouncing and noticed thought, Ymir shook her head, facing Adam. "Ah, hey… this Marley, when uh… when was the last time you went there?"

"…Hard to say. Probably… last twenty years, definitely stopped by there in that time." Adam continued his deceit.

"And there were no Titans?"

"Like I said, I've never encountered them before coming here…"

Something seemed to cross Ymir's face, but before she could speak up, Adam continued.

"But who knows? Maybe they were hiding them behind the Walls."

Ymir's eyes went wide again.

She wasn't the only one.

"Walls?" Ilse asked, surprised. "Are you saying…?"

"Not like yours. Barely three stories tall, at best. And I'd say it barely covers a district, but still, maybe you'd find it strangely comforting, another wall out in the world." Adam shrugged.

"But you never went in?"

"Nah. Needed to put on a silly little armband, and the colours clashed with my eyes." Adam quipped, while keeping each and very one of his crew in sight. "But if you're willing, feel free to put one on and pop on in."

Ilse seemed very intrigued, Jean looked bored, Krista looked delighted, and Ymir…

To everyone else, she'd look uninterested. But that slight clenching of her jaw, the way her neck muscles bobbed…

She was trying to hold it in.

'Either she's horrified her ditz of a girlfriend said something she shouldn't have, or… Marley isn't a very nice place.' Adam debated. 'Krista doesn't seem stressed, but then again, she could just be a better actor…'

The blonde in question looked to Ymir, and seeming to sense something was wrong, asked in a concerned but obnoxiously bubbly tone if the freckled girl needed a back rub, a hug, or some juice.

'…The jury's still out. Either way, definitely getting some kind of ball rolling. Second rate telling of Marley, offering to take people there, that's doing something… enough to get our obvious Titan in hiding to make a mistake? Doubt she'll panic and transform, she's been hidden for five years, but maybe she'll try and sneak out-'

!EMERGENCY CALL! !EMERGENCY CALL! !EMERGENCY CALL!

"…Would you excuse me for a second?" Adam held up a finger, as his eyes flashed a blinding red. "I have a call coming in."

'And no doubt, another annoyance coming to ruin my day.'

Going by his track record, Adam wouldn't be surprised if this was rated a solid 10.

Stohess District, South Acchen Street

Lying on the floor of Kemper Boltz's apartment, which was now lying on the floor of the apartment below it, Annie groaned. She opened her eyes, staring up at the disintegrating flesh of her almost gone Titan arm, rapidly evaporating into steam. Hopefully that had been enough to either halt the attack completely, or at least buy time while Annie came up with a better counterattack.

Her mind spinning, she got to work recalling the last minute or so. 'Summoned just an arm, but the floor couldn't handle that, probably didn't help the bullets were chewing it up too. Floor gave out, and I was dangling for a second there, which was pulling my arm out of my socket thanks to the angle and trying to keep Armin from falling- Armin!'

Annie tried to sit up, to look for him, only to find herself unable to do so as a weight was on her chest. She brought her thankfully unpinned arms to shove it off, only to see it was the very boy she was looking for!

Right, she had held Armin with her free hand, had tried to anyway. But it had been awkward on her body with her Titan limb, so she'd been forced to disconnect (gravity and the weight helping with that), and they'd fallen the short distance to the ground, Annie twisting to take the impact and shield Armin with her own form. Painful, but nothing she couldn't manage even without her Titan healing.

The same couldn't be said for Armin though. He was unmoving, unresponsive… but he was breathing, his chest moving up and down, she could feel his hearbeat!

Carefully, she slide him off her, cradling him as she inspected his body for injuries. The bullets would have struck him from behind, she turned him over on his side and patted his back, checking for any signs of blood or holes in the texture of his suit.

Additional signs of blood. The back of his head… there was still a very clear red spot there, dead center.

Annie's mind was going a mile a minute, a genuine feeling of anguish rising up in her so strong not even she, with her legendary control could hide it.

'No… no no no… don't… don't let it be like this.' Annie silently begged, as she brought a hand closer to Armin's head, fingers trembling, ready to part his hair and see what she didn't want to see…

'Please… don't take Armin away from me.'

She'd just made contact, moving his hair in time to glimpse the sight of metal amidst flesh…

When Armin sharply inhaled.

"Oooooooooh… damn it that hurts!" His voice came out, and he exhaled slowly, making to rotate back on his back, only to meet resistance. "Uhh?" A turning of his head, to glimpse Annie in the corner of his eye. "Annie! Are you okay?! What happened!"

Annie blinked, staring at the boy who she held on his side in her arms, being more concerned for her then himself despite the fact he had been shot in the head!

"Annie?" Armin repeated. "…Are you okay?"

"Don't move." Annie steadied herself, forcing Armin to move so his back with her, and resumed her inspection of his head.

"Wha- wait, Annie, what are you doing?"

"Inspecting your injuries. You suffered a wound to your head, I need to assess the damage."

'It's far less than you fear, Annie Leonhart. Practically nothing, thanks to my efforts.' A jolt, both through Annie and Armin, as KIPO's voice rang in one's ear and one's mind. 'But please, do take a look to reassure yourself, though some expediency would be appreciated, Armin is a tad sore right now.'

Annie did just that. She parted Armin's sticky hair, her own fingers getting more flecks of red on them in addition to the one hand that was coated, and peered through. What greeted her was a a patch of bald skin, unblemished, unharmed, albeit looking a bit out of place surrounded by Armin's hair.

"…How?" Annie questioned.

'Well, the initial attack was nullified thanks to the upgrades I provided to Armin's skeleton, as you saw, his entire bone structure was reinforced with a durable alloy. It is nowhere near the level of Adam Smasher's armour, but provides suitable protection all the same.' KIPO began. 'That is to say, his brain and bone structure are protected. The flesh is sadly still human, I didn't have the resources, nor permission, to replace it with RealSkinn. So, I had to rely on Specter, using the nanites to remove any foreign objects, and speed up Armin's healing process. For a small wound like this, it was a simple matter, no need for transfusions of any kind.'

"…What about his other injuries?" Annie asked, as she guided Armin back down to the floor, his blue eyes shining and gazing up at hers. 'He looks fine… is it really that simple?'

'Aside from some bruising which I have Specter cycling through to heal up, Armin is intact.' KIPO explained. 'The perks of his Arasaka uniform, completely bulletproof! A technology that was inspired by… actually, maybe I shouldn't say, Adam has been quite clear on any references to that topic, personal prejudice against one of those involved.'

"Oh, is that because of the actor that resembles that person he hates, Mr. SilverWOOF!" Armin began to question, only to find the breath being squeezed out of him.

'He's okay… he's really okay!' Annie cried with relief in her mind, and maybe a tear or two escaped her, she didn't care. Armin was safe, he was safe and alive in her arms!… He was safe.

She felt his arms come to wrap around her as well, offering a comforting squeeze. Annie appreciated that, she really needed a hug right now.

'…I hate to ruin the moment, I really do! But Armin is experiencing pain throughout his body, and your actions are aggravating his injuries Annie. Please, if you could refrain for approximately twenty five seconds, and perhaps permit Armin access to the coderoin that fell down with us?'

It really was saying something that KIPO was being the more logical one right now. Annie reluctantly separated herself from Armin, though he was quick to assure her it hadn't hurt when she hugged him, even if his face couldn't quite hide a wince. Burying her desire to hold him again, Annie focused on KIPO's words.

It didn't take her long to spot the coderoin KIPO had mentioned. So many of the tablets had rained down from the remains of Kemper's room, to Annie's surprise. They'd done a thorough inspection, where-?

'The bed.' Annie spotted it, bullet holes in the frame under the mattress, where a ruined secret storage area produced a few more samples of the drug. 'Judging by the amount scattered on the ground, and the fact more keeps coming out, it's a safe bet we found out what illegal activities Kemper's involved in.'

Annie reached out and plucked one pill out of many from the pile scattered.

"…I don't want to make any assumptions, but is it safe to say Kemper is…"

"A drug dealer or a smuggler. Either way, this is enough to put him away for years, provided he's alive." Annie answered Armin, before turning to face him. "…Do you really need this?"

"I'm probably not in as much pain as I should be, but I did just get shot a lot." Armin replied. "KIPO says the morphine in there should help, and she'll keep any side-effects or addictions from happening."

"…Okay." Annie nodded, and handed the tablet to Armin. She'd trust his science, his technology, would keep protecting him.

Armin swallow the tablet, a bit difficult without liquid, but he managed. Almost all at once his body relaxed, the pain of his injuries and bruises fading away. While that happened, Annie permitted herself a moment to glance at the hole in the ceiling, a hole that extended to the ceiling above. The bite marks on her hand had disappeared already, but her Titan arm…

'It's gone, but it's going to take a miracle for Armin not to draw the correct conclusion from this.' Annie wanted to curse, but held her tongue. It had been a desperate situation, and even if it had just been her life that was in danger, Annie likely would have done the same thing, Titan healing could only do so much against a hail of never ending bullets.

'Enough flintlocks and muskets to replicate being under fire from a machine gun turret. Go from a missing persons case to pissing off an entire army of thugs with more firepower than the Military Police. Assuming I wasn't lucky and squashed all of them. Though that'll probably just be the final nail in the coffin.' Annie surmised, and silently prepared herself as best she could for what was going to come next. Which was no doubt her revealing everything to Armin (or asking him to trust her to reveal everything later), and taking him away from here earlier than expected.

But who knows, maybe that bullet to Armin's head had scrambled his brain in such a way he wouldn't figure it out. Fingers crossed.

"Okay… okay, I'm feeling better now." Armin rotated his neck and rubbed his shoulder. "…Yep, that did it. I'm back to a hundred percent."

"You're sure?" Annie deemed to lean in and inspect Armin once again. She didn't doubt KIPO had taken care of his injuries, but there was the chance…

Armin seemed to follow, as he wiggled his fingers (and toes under his shoes), then checked that he had both ears. "…Got all my bits." He sighed with relief. "And how about you? Are you okay?"

"Didn't get hit." Annie replied honestly. "Hate to say it, but you took every bullet."

"Oh good, that's a relief." Armin smiled, then backtracked at Annie's expression. "Not that I want to get shot again! I'm just glad you're safe!"

A hand resting on his head and ruffling his hair was his reward. "I know what you meant. I'm just… thank you, for caring about me so much."

"Hey, I'm the one with the bullet proof suit. If I had known we'd end up getting shot at, I would have made you one. Sorry for hogging it."

"It's fine, it served it's purpose. Hopefully the only time today that'll happen."

"You think so?"

"Only one way to find out." Annie turned to face the front door, just under the bit of ceiling still hanging from the second floor. "I haven't heard any activity outside, so maybe our attackers are confident we're dead, or that they made too much noise to risk hanging around to check." 'Though most likely they're dead or frightened off.'

"Yeah, they probably think the explosion that took out the roof did us in." Armin took a look at the sky, transitioning from a blue to red. "…Wow, someone really wants to kill us. Any chance this is completely unrelated to Carly?"

"There is, but it's slim." Annie made to stand next to the door, and attempted to peek out. Subtly, she reached into her coat breast pocket and retrieved her ring, not willing to get caught off guard again. "Can you get an eye in the sky?"

"No problem." Armin raised a hand and Specter raced to the heavens. "…There's not a lot around here, but… KIPO says she could make something to help us escape if-"

A sudden knocking on the door, and Annie jumped back to place Armin behind her in a heartbeat, her ring on her thumb just waiting to pop out its blade. She'd throw Armin to cover, kick open the door and transform outside if need be, but best to let the enemy talk, buy some time. If KIPO could map out their positions, maybe Annie could salvage this.

"I'm kicking open the door, then I'm stepping back." A female voice called out. "I'm unarmed, and I'm alone. Come on out if you're alive, and make it quick, the floor looks unstable from the outside."

Annie had only just pulled Armin to the side when indeed, the door was kicked open. Or more rather, kicked off its hinges and sent flying to the opposite end of the room! Even Annie couldn't hide her eyes going wide, did that monster Lynn follow them?!

But true to the voices word, the sound of feet stepping back occurred, and Annie peeked over the edge to spot a blonde woman backing away to stand by the building across from them.

"…How's that eye?"

"All clear. Just Caven over there, and the old man we passed by. All the neighbours are hiding in their homes, too scared to come out."

"Caven?"

"She's a Military Police officer, she was sent to observe Adam, Eren, and I for our quick operation outside the gates."

"No chance she's on the take?"

"Doesn't seem like it, and not according to Reiner. She's supposed to be one of the best, and she's been with the MP's for over twenty years. The King himself sent her, if that helps."

Annie honestly wasn't sure if that did, considering what the King was like, but if it was just her out there, then there really was no reason to stay here in this crumbling room.

Besides, Annie could take her.

The two blondes stepped out, only to stop as the third approached them, arms at her sides and a more emotionless mask than Annie could ever pull off on her face.

It took Annie and Armin a bit by surprise when Caven made to salute them.

"Traute Caven, Military Police, First Interior, Section Commander." She recited. "Annie Leonhart, Armin Arlert, it looks like you've stumbled into my investigation. Care to tell me why you're in the neighbourhood being shot at by my suspect?"

Roughly Ten Minutes Later

"So, your search for Carly Stratmann lead you here?" Caven observed the destroyed apartments.

"It did. We got a tip about her boyfriend who lives… lived up there." Annie pointed. "We had hoped he could tell us where she's been, maybe even find her here. But as you can see…"

"You were attacked by a firearm from the outside." Caven finished. "Weren't expecting that I take it?"

"No ma'am." Annie confirmed. "I thought it had been a whole regiment opening fire on us, but… you say it was one man?"

"I do." Caven gestured for Annie and Armin to follow, as she walked over to the building across from the apartment, which had a huge hole in it from the roof to the ground floor, like the whole thing had collapsed.

'Or some great weight had been brought down on it.' Armin observed. 'What the hell happened out here?'

"See this?" Caven's voice interrupted Armin's thoughts, and he was greeted with the sight of the older woman crouching down to scoop up… something's in her hand. She stood up, and presented her findings to the others. "This is my reason for being here."

Armin blinked, his shock at the damage to the building replaced by newfound shock at what Caven was holding.

"…Bullet casings."

"I see your time with Adam Smasher has made you more than familiar." Caven noted. "How about you? Ever see something like this?"

Annie shook her head. "Haven't had the pleasure."

"Until now. During the clean up at Trost, these were found all over the ground. Some closer to this size, others larger." Caven tossed the casings up and down in her palm. "When the three Regiments got a good look at Adam Smasher's weapon, they were amazed at the design, at how it could fire so many bullets at once without needing to reload, at how the bullets were shaped, presumably for better penetration and accuracy."

'Right on all counts.' KIPO gave a thumb's up, while simultaneously scanning the casings in Caven's hand. 'Hmmm, 5.45×39mm cartridge. Primarily used in the AK weapons family. The head stamp is slightly different, but other than that it's a perfect match.'

"Of course, such a thing is forbidden within our Wall's. Only by the grace of the King is Adam Smasher permitted to keep it." Caven continued, having no reaction to Armin's eyes lighting up. "So it was quite concerning when we received reports that somehow, someone has made an attempt to copy Smasher's weapon."

"!"

Armin's eyes went wide, and even Annie looked shocked. She began to press Caven for details while Armin's mind was racing.

'Someone… someone is trying to make weapons like Adam's? But… it hasn't even been a month! And to do it so close to the King's eye?' Armin was trying to fathom how that was possible. Either some kind of prodigal genius with a knack for engineering had fallen in with the wrong crowd, or an incredibly powerful organization with connections was making a move. Or both!

'…Or…maybe the King-'

'PRIORITY CALL COMING IN. PRIORITY CALL BEING ANSWERED.'

'Armin what in the actual hell is going on?' Adam's unimpressed and annoyed voice rang through Armin's mind, effectively cancelling out any potentially treasonous thoughts.

'Adam?'

'You were expecting someone different?'

'Uh, no. I wasn't expecting anyone at all…'

'Really? After getting shot and KIPO practically blubbering to me how you suffered a boo boo, you didn't think I'd call to find how that happened?' The cyborg snarked.

'KIPO was "blubbering?"' Armin frowned, and blinked in an effort to will KIPO to appear before him again. 'Ah, there she is.' 'Are you sure you're not exaggerating a bit about KIPO-'

One quick burst of data containing a very awkward audio file found itself interrupting Armin.

'…Oh wow, she really was.' Armin looked to KIPO, who was smiling like nothing had happened. 'But you were so calm and collected taking care of me?'

'I was indeed, I am nothing if not professional and efficient in all my tasks.' KIPO offered a tiny bow. 'However, I did need to spread myself thin again, just a bit, to open a secure line with Adam. That unfortunately weakened my emotional barriers, just a tad. I believe you could compare it to… appearing cool on the outside, but internally freaking the hell out, pardon my language.'

'And those internal feelings clogged up my audio receptors, thanks for that. So I'll ask again. What, and this better have a good answer, the hell is going on?' Adam interjected. 'Seriously, I can't leave you alone for five minutes in the nice part of town? I thought you were going to show Resting Bitch Face a good time, how the fuck did you screw up a date so bad you got shot?'

'!' Armin suddenly found himself shaking, actually shaking as a feeling he rarely felt rose up inside him for the second time that day, and before he knew what he was doing, 'You take that back right now!'

'…'

'…'

'…What was that?' Adam's voice finally breached the silence that seemed to go on forever but really had only lasted thirty seconds.

He did not sound happy.

'Oh shit.' Armin cursed, but it was too late to back out now, and what kind of a boyfriend would he be if he didn't defend Annie's honour?

'I said… apologize for calling Annie a bitch.'

'Technically you asked Adam to retract his insensitive comment.'

'Not now KIPO.'

Caven watched as the single greatest threat to the King's plan paced back and forth rubbing the sweat from his brow as he was engaged in a private conversation. His glowing blue eyes were magnificently lit up, giving him an otherworldly appearance, and his ruffled but intact black and red suit conveyed a sense of power.

'It would be so much easier if we took him now.' Caven noted, her analytical mind running through several key points in the plan where Armin Arlert alone would be a factor that could unravel everything. Removing him from the board would only be beneficial, harvesting the rest of Specter and acquiring the actual copy of KIPO instead of the auto program they currently had an added bonus.

But no, Rod Reiss had been clear. 'They both have to participate in the 57th Expedition. Armin will be the lure to draw the Female out, so that she might begin her work for us.'

Right, the Female's work. Where she would maim and slaughter the Scout's so that they might better serve the King. Couldn't just do that by dangling Eren the Attack and Founding Titan, not anymore apparently. No, they had to risk Armin, risk him being taken from them by either capture or death.

"Just a reminder the King gave Armin a free pass in regards to having heretical dealings." Annie remarked, causing Caven to turn her head and face off Annie in an impassivity contest. "…In case you were feeling the urge to arrest him."

"I wasn't. The King has given his decree, and I intend to abide by it."

"Good to know."

She wasn't outright threatening Caven, but Kenny's right hand could see, the Female's Inheritor was ready to go on the offensive at a moment's notice. Possibly because she wasn't sure her arm had disintegrated before Caven had arrived, but the older blonde suspected Annie Leonhart was always like this, trained to be like this. Her body had settled into a stance able to transition into a full combat one in a heartbeat, and she had deliberately positioned herself to stand far enough from Armin a full transformation wouldn't fry him.

Traute Caven wouldn't be so lucky. Course the Marley Warrior would most likely engage as a human first, she was still loyal to the mission, but after the first minute she'd realize she was outclassed and bring out her trump card.

But that was fine, a sharp straight jab that would flatten the girl's equally sharp nose to disorient her, and a neck snap that would twist her head 180 degrees to incapacitate her completely. Even if she hadn't mastered shifting her consciousness throughout the rest of her body, such a "wound" wouldn't be fatal for Annie Leonhart.

'After that a simple throat punch for Armin before he can trigger the A.I.'s defences, and this right here to incapacitate said A.I.' Caven held up a hand to observe the black ring that graced her middle finger, a small red ruby in the centre. It, along with a detailed set of instructions for today, had been Caven's gift from the King's Advisor, solely for this purpose. 'I know I should stop questioning how he knows these things will happen exactly as he says they will, but even so…'

"…Nice ring you have there." Caven noted, while still looking at her own. "A family heirloom or a gift?"

The Enemy of Paradis blinked, not expecting that, before noting her ring on her thumb. "…Family heirloom."

"There a story behind it?"

"Not that I'm aware of."

"Should ask your parents if you can. Might be an interesting one, judging by that little blade in it." Caven casually intoned, not even pausing at Annie's flinch. "I'd guess it used to be coated with poison, then delivered when shaking someone's hand."

To her credit, the tiny blonde collected herself, popping open the blade to stare at it in what passed for Annie Leonhart being intrigued. "Huh…I was wondering what this was for. I've been using it as a letter opener."

"Careful you don't cut yourself. Might have some dried poison on it, enough it might make you sick." Caven delivered her last subtle jab, her messing with another Warrior done for the day.

Just in time too, as Armin Arlert's eyes returned to normal, and he exhaled so hard he fell on his backside. Annie was at his side in an instant, crouched down to hold him steady. "Problems?"

"Amazingly no. Just had a lengthy conversation with Adam about what's happening, he got an alert I was…" Armin trailed off, gesturing to the back of his head.

"Surprised he cares."

"He does. In his own way for his own reasons, but he does." Armin partially defended Night City's Boogeyman. "Convinced him we've got this well in hand-"

"Do we?"

"I like to think so. Unless getting nearly shredded by who knows how many bullets and explosion is enough to scare you away?" Armin smiled, a sweet smile that had the Female sigh, but she didn't argue. "Yeah, I thought that would just annoy you."

"Is this your idea of sweet talking me?"

"Yes. Is it working?"

Tucking her hair behind her ear and looking away was Annie's answer.

'I wonder who'll be more broken by the other's death?' Caven couldn't help but ponder, as Armin stood up to formally address her.

"Section Commander Traute Caven, might I ask, is it possible our two investigations are connected?"

"I was discussing that possibility with your associate just a moment ago, you must have been distracted." Caven gestured to her eyes. At Armin's own widening, she held up a hand. "I'm not entirely clear on how that works, but we have noticed it, and gleamed just enough to vaguely understand it, Armin Arlert. You haven't escaped the King's eyes, specially not this close to his home."

That seemed to placate the boy, as he looked less spooked now. "…If you or the King would like to fully understand…"

"That's kind of you, but no, we prefer such things be contained until they can be released from our Walls for good." Caven lied. "Let's get back to our investigation, shall we? You are looking for Carly Stratmann, and your lead's home was observed by the criminal I'm pursuing, who attacked you. The fact he went so far as to use explosives after firing his forbidden weapon, he's clearly not concerned about secrecy or catching anyone in the crossfire."

Annie's eyes only slightly widened as Caven supplied the out to keep her cover safe. Armin for his part, observed both smashed roofs with some scrutiny.

"…Your suspect, is it safe to assume he was perched up there?" Annie spoke, pointing up to the roof she'd brought down in an effort to squash Lou. At Caven's nod, she adopted a mask of inquiry, staring at the wreckage as if trying to make a deduction. "…If an explosive detonated here too… an accident?"

"You think he triggered a second explosion by mistake in his efforts to kill you?" Caven provided, more for Armin's ears than Annie's. "That would fall in with the personality profile I've constructed. Reckless, brazen, and uncaring of the consequences all fit, it would make sense he has less than safe means of handling dangerous materials."

"I can see why you'd want to catch him. That is, unless he blew himself up?"

"It's possible. There's a chance we might find his remains in this debris. I'll put the word out to have some MP's drop by and sift through this, but in the mean time we shouldn't take the chance he's alive and fleeing the sc-"

"I can check." Armin spoke up, cutting Caven off. "If you don't min- I mean, if you can forgive me using heretic methods, we can quickly check for any signs of a body."

'Bingo.' Caven subtly tapped the ring on her finger. "…My only objective is to stop this one heretic. I have no interest in pursuing another."

Armin nodded, and holding up a hand, a quick burst of Specter came out. The shimmering cloud swept forward, prodding every inch of debris and wreckage, supposedly looking for signs of a body.

Of course Armin wasn't just doing that. No doubt, he couldn't help but feel the sight before him was disturbing familiar, and if the A.I. in his head had her way, she'd no doubt come to the conclusion a Titan was the cause of this mess.

Leading to the next conclusion, that Annie was also a Titan Shifter.

'But, if she concludes this was in fact NOT the work of a Titan…' Caven trailed off, as her ring had released it's contents as soon as Armin had sent out Specter. One single nanite, from the recovered mess of Adam Smasher's landing two years prior, programmed to return to the larger cluster automatically.

Carrying on board a special payload, courtesy of the Advisor.

"A little something to make x into z, and 1 into 7." He'd said. Caven hadn't really understood that part, but what she did understand was this would cover up Annie's little mishap here.

Still, she couldn't help but feel a bit anxious, waiting for Armin's verdict. Annie seemed cool as a cucumber, but that ring was still on her thumb… Caven watched as Armin's eyes lit up, he frowned, his furrowed brows crinkled before smoothing as his eyes widened. Frantic eye movement as he… yes, he was seeking confirmation. A little bit more as no doubt he was assured by KIPO she was correct, and now…

"There is no body." Armin concluded. "Some trace amounts of DNA but nothing to get a sample from, nothing to track down."

"What about the explosion?" Annie asked, trying not to appear too eager. "Any clues what we could expect, if he has more?"

"Standard gunpowder. Probably custom bombs, using hollowed out cannonballs with fuses." Armin looked back to the remains of Kemper's apartment. "Our suspect must have quite the pitching arm, to make a throw like that."

"Indeed. Here's hoping he lost his entire stock, make our lives easier." Caven stepped forward, noting Leonhart relaxing her hand, eager to get this underway and secure the perfect counter to Marley already. "Here's what I propose. The shortest route to the nearest exit of this neighbourhood lies in this direction." Caven gestured in the direction Annie and Armin had originally come. "I'll see if any witnesses saw a man fleeing the scene, maybe he even hailed a carriage to make a quick getaway. Regardless, just knowing what he looks like and what direction he went will be helpful."

"But what about Carly?" Armin asked.

"We find my suspect, chances are we'll find her. For now, try to see if you stumble across any more clues with those… whatever they were."

"Nanites." Annie supplied. "They're called nanites."

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that." With that Caven began to march off-

"Oh, what's this! I say, my hearing just popped back, didn't realize I had company!" Caven halted, actually having forgotten another was present, turning to stare at a lame cripple, evidently blind from his milky white eyes what with him facing the wrong direction.

That, and the fact he was less than a foot away from where Annie's Titan arm had come down. The cracked stone signalled he was this close to being a stain on the ground.

Armin didn't seem to notice that, more focused on the blind man. Turning around, he politely asked, "Caven, ma'am? Might I make a request?"

Meanwhile, Back At Scout HQ

Adam ended the call, a silent resolve to cuff Armin on the back of the head his last thought before he turned back to his squad.

"Everything okay chief?" Ymir pipped up.

"Never better. Just checking in with Armin, making sure he's getting everything in order before he leaves Stohess tomorrow morning."

"Oh, did he remember to buy us all those donuts he mentioned?" Krista clapped her hands in giddiness. "I hope he didn't forget, Pieck told me they are divine!"

"Huh? How did she get to try them?" Jean asked, confused on this tidbit of info his girlfriend has neglected to share with him.

"Charmed a coworker in the postal service, just came from Orvud and they met up at a rest stop."

"Lucky her, I still haven't managed to taste one." Ilse mock sulked. "Not sure which would be easier, actually waiting for a call to the Interior to sample a bite, or fighting like hell to get to the outside and try my luck there."

"I heard they sometimes have jams inside of the bread, can you imagine?" Krista grinned. "Oh Adam, could you call Armin back to see if he could-"

"As much as I would love to entertain this discussion of confectionary delights, and be reduced to a phone booth, maybe you could all pretend to be actual soldiers?" Adam's voice sucked all the whimsy and goofing around out of the atmosphere. "Save this crap on your own time, right now we're on my time, and the hour is still good for more-"

"HEY JEAN! JEEEEEEEEAAAAANNNNN!" Connie Springer's unpleasantly loud voice interrupted and derailed Adam's attempts to get back on track, and the called out Scout hurried to answer before Adam fired a missile in the loud mouth's direction on principle.

"WHAT IS IT?" Jean yelled in the general direction of Connie's voice.

"YOU'RE NEEDED BACK AT BASE!"

"WHAT FOR?"

"YOUR MOM SENT PIE!"

"…WHAT?"

"PIE! SHE HAD EREN'S UNCLE OR SOMETHING BRING IT OVER, FIGURE WE SHOULD LET YOU GET THE FIRST SLICE BEFORE WE TAKE OUR SHARE!"

"SHARE? IT'S MY PIE!"

"COME ON MAN, DON'T BE STINGY! IT'S HARD ENOUGH KEEPING SASHA OFF OF IT, YOU GOTTA REWARD OUR PATIENCE!"

"THAT'S NOT-…FINE! I'LL BE RIGHT OVER!" Jean gave in, scowling as he heard Connie's victory cheer.

"GREAT! NOW I WAS THINKING SASHA AND ME DESERVE A SLICE EACH, BUT EREN SAW IT TOO SO HE'LL WANT A PIECE, SO THAT'LL LEAV-

One quick pop and whirr of machinery, and Adam fired three shots in the direction of Connie's voice from his mini-gun.

"HOLY FUCK!" Three simultaneous voices cried out, Jean, Ymir, and Connie's. Ilse and Krista were too shocked to speak.

"What the fuck man?!" Ymir asked, horrified. "You just killed Connie!"

"Relax, I shot near him, not at him." Adam retracted his weapon. "He's probably fine."

"Probably?!"

"Well there is the faint hope a bullet ricocheted off a rock, then another rock, then clipped a passing by bird, then finally got him."

"…Fuck, you are an asshole." Ymir managed to choke out.

"I have literally made no effort to hide that. Alright, new plan. Jean, go fetch your treat, and keep it to yourself, it's now being shared with the team. Said team, go get your ODM gear fuelled up."

"…What are we doing?" Ilse dared to ask.

"We're going for a walk. Figure the Wall's would be good for that." And with that, Adam stomped off, leaving the others to process their leaders commands, and follow them.

To their relief, Connie was, in fact, not dead.

Back In Stohess

"Did you forget we are pursuing an attempted murderer?" Annie can't keep the annoyance out of her voice, as she followed Armin back to the apartment. She honestly knew what he was doing, going by the freshly made sandwich in his hands, but she still wanted to hear him explain it.

Why? Possibly to deride him for it, but also to understand it.

"It'll just take a moment. We can spare that, right?"

"Our ride might be getting anxious. Our suspect might be getting away."

"Caven's holding our driver in place, and she has those witnesses she collected to ask for statements." Armin reasoned, recalling how Annie's victims had babbled upon seeing her again. They'd been mighty quick to talk upon Caven promising to protect them from the petite blonde. "I'll be quick, I swear. Just going to hand it to him and we'll be off."

"It's not your speed in feeding beggars I'm concerned about, Armin." Annie sighed. When Armin didn't make another comment, she resigned herself to this detour.

The blind man was still there, sitting in his poor excuse for transportation and still smiling like an idiot. He perked up, and took a cautious sniff as the duo approached.

"Now unless some folks were thinking of playing a cruel joke, might it just be this is my lucky day?"

"It is." Armin smiled, as he crouched down and reached for one of the blind beggars hands, gently placing the sandwich in his dirty palm. "Here, this is for you. From the corner store, right?"

"Oh blessed be!" The beggar laughed. "Thank you kind sir! You and your friend there are good people, let me tell you!" His free hand clasped Armin's shoulder in a surge of emotion. "It's moments like this that gives a man hope. Yes sir, hope to carry him through the day."

"That is does." Armin clasped the hand on his shoulder with his own. "Hope it's as good as you remember, I asked for all the trimmings."

"Well why not stay and find out? Let me give you a full review so you can remember to get one for yourself next time!"

Annie stepped forward, wanting to get moving already. "I think we'll pass. Come on Armin, your good deed is done for the-"

"There were four of them."

Annie halted in her tracks, and looked down. Suddenly, the beggar was looking less looney, and more sophisticated. Beside him, Armin looked up, clearly just as surprised.

"What did you say?" Annie asked.

"From the apartment. The one you went into. Four people came out. First it was two, then later it was two more, then all four walked out at once. Just yesterday that happened."

Annie frowned, and crouched down. She gazed right into those unblinking milky whites, trying to see if she was being conned.

"Look all you like darling. These eyes of mine will still be useless."

"Then how?"

"Let me eat this while it's still warm, and I'll tell you."

Annie's frown deepened, but one glance to Armin who made it clear he wasn't leaving, and she looked around for a comfy spot to sit while the man enjoyed his first real meal.

The man ate with gusto, but also care, clearly wanting to savour this. He gave thanks for including the cheese, specifically had to mention that, before he finally finished. Licking his lips and fingers to get some more flavour out, he sat back with a content sigh.

"Most folks forget the cheese. Really makes the difference, let me tell you."

"I'll be sure to remember that. Now, about the four men?" Armin inquired from his side.

"Three men. They all spoke at one point or another so it was easier to tell, and it was definitely a woman I heard being escorted out of that apartment."

"Escorted?" Annie asked.

"She was walking with them, but her steps were those of someone who was forced to come along. Slow, resigned, not like the others who knew where they were going, they had their destination set."

Annie looked to Armin, no need for silent comm's unit here.

'Carly Stratmann.'

"Any idea what that destination could be?" Armin tried, not really expecting anything but hey, surprises were happening today.

"Went that direction." A finger pointing down the way they just came. "One of em smelled of tobacco, and he was dressed fancy. Or at least his shoes were, they made a very different sound from his buddies."

"Anything else you can remember about them?"

"Loud. Bunch of chatterboxes, a pair of them, one of which couldn't shut up about how he was hoping to use his new gun." The beggar recalled. "…Oh, and he made a joke, or he tried to. Something about "Their golden goose was about to be stuffed with a golden goose, sounds tasty!" Careful with that one, doesn't seem like the kind to hesitate before he shoots."

'Do they ever?' Annie pushed herself up. "…Thanks for the info."

"Thanks for the sandwich. Here's hoping something brings you out these parts again, I wouldn't say no to another lunch."

"If I am out here, I'll be sure to drop by." It could happen, she might just get bored and take up another assignment. "Let's go Armin."

Armin nodded, then hesitated. He looked back to the beggar, who was just smiled at nothing. His hand drifted towards his coin pouch in his jacket…

"Already told you friend, money just brings me problems, not solutions." The beggar spoke up. "Can't tell them coins apart, can't trust myself to make it to any commerce of trade to exchange them, and I can't believe I won't be beaten into the ground for them. But thank you for the thought, truly."

A wrinkly hand patted Armin's shoulder again, smiling. "Ask your friend, she knows what I'm talking about." The grin directed towards Annie, she could see the missing front teeth so clearly.

"…Let's go Armin." Annie insisted, and marched off. Armin did follow, but only after a moment more of him talking to the beggar, even whispering in his ear. Whatever he said, the beggar nodded eagerly, which seemed to please Armin. He got up, and hurried to catch up to Annie.

"So, what now?" Armin asked.

"Well, we know Carly was here, and she was alive but apparently a prisoner." Annie brought out her notebook, and began to write all the additional details the blind beggar had given her. "Three men were escorting her, one of them is most likely our shooter, and something about a golden goose…" She closed the book, and nodded. "We might just close this case tonight after all."

"You really think so?"

"Have to coordinate with Caven, but yes, I do." Annie confirmed.

"…Should we get back up?"

"What for?" Annie genuinely asked, and only got more confused at Armin's incredulous expression. "…Oh… No, we can handle it."

"You're not worried at all our attacker made more guns like the one he shot us with with?"

A frown came across Annie's face, in anger at the reminder someone had only moment's ago almost taken Armin away from her! She could feel her ring digging into her index finger from clenching her fist so hard. When she got her hands on that man…

Taking a deep breath, and returning her expression to it's blank slate, she shook her head.

"He can have a hundred of them, and it wouldn't even the odds." Annie declared. "Don't worry, you can sit back while I take care of it. Maybe you can distract Caven too, make sure she doesn't get in the way."

"Yeah, not happening." Armin declared. Before Annie could even begin to make Armin wilt under her gaze he hastily explained. "Annie, I can fight too, in case you forgot all those sparring sessions KIPO out my body through. I've got a bullet proof suit and technology that can help, you really think I'd just stand by and let you do all the work?"

Annie wanted to say "Yes, she very much did," but her desire to protect Armin lost out to the knowledge he wouldn't let this go, wouldn't let her take all the risk (minimal as it was, for her) by herself.

"Alright, but you follow my lead. You'll scope out the place like you did spotting Caven, and if I say for example you'd be better waiting outside the back to make sure they don't escape, you don't argue. Clear?" Annie drilled a finger into Armin's coat to make her point clear, this was not negotiable.

"Of course. Just as long as you promise not to take on all the danger yourself, then order me, and KIPO, as you see fit." Armin agreed.

"…Can I count on you to keep him safe?" Annie asked, not Armin, but his tag along.

'Of course. We won't be caught off guard again, I assure you.' To illustrate her point, Armin suddenly threw out a flurry of rapid punches, all stopping just a centimetre away from Annie's torso and face, before ending in a fighting stance. 'Let's go bust this case wide open!' KIPO chirped.

That earned a nod of acknowledgement, and with that, Annie made to reunite with Caven. Annie couldn't get a good read on her character, so it was up in the air if she'd follow this lead immediately, call for backup, or take over entirely and order Annie and Armin back to HQ.

Hopefully it wouldn't be the last one. If she was going to silence the one witness to her Titanization, she'd rather not have to put more effort into it than necessary.

Wald lit a cigarette, taking a deep breath of rich tobacco. His fine white suit was as sharp as ever, his hat was placed neatly on the table at his side, and not a hair was out of place on his head, he was the embodiment of calm and collected.

And yet on the inside, he really wanted to reach over and strangle Lou so hard the young punk's neck would break. Around them, their fellow gang members were watching Wald's mini-interrogation with bated breath and keen interest. Wald would prefer they keep an eye on the door as he suspected Lou had just doomed them all, but seeing how he hadn't been tailed, he figured they had time. Time to hear Lou's panicked babbling that only barley became coherent speech after a solid drink.

The fool still hadn't let go of that blasted gun he'd "found," and was clutching onto it like a lifeline. Nobody wanted to risk taking it away from him in such an agitated state, as there was no way to know if he still had bullets to spare.

'Never should have let him keep that thing, it was bound to bring the MP's down on us sooner or later.' Wald prided himself on being able to sift through Lou's recant to get the facts: two MP's had gone to Kemper's, Lou had opened fire and thought he killed them, but they managed to counter attack, somehow, and Lou had come running home.

Wald would pointedly ignore any talk of monsters and divine punishment (he told Lou not to engage in their own product), and settle for seeing if Lou was a lost cause or not.

"An eye on the place. Do you remember me saying that Lou? "Mr. Stratmann will be getting suspicious we haven't come back with any news about his daughter, and if he hires anyone worth a damn they'll follow the same leads we did. Hence, they'll find out about Carly and Kemper. You stay behind and keep an eye on the place." Wald took another puff, as Lou sat across from him, clutching that weapon of his close to his chest with his eyes darting every which way. "I know for a fact you heard me on that last part, I had you say it back to me. I even provided visual aid."

Wald's placed his thumb and forefinger under and over his right eye, and parted the lid so the red was quite prominently displayed. Lou didn't respond, he just looked back from the door to the roof, mostly the roof, his finger unknowingly hovering over the trigger this entire time.

'Good thing we didn't let him reload.' Wald took one final puff, then with style and grace, dropped his cigarette and snubbed it out with a great BANG, his foot grinding it into the wooden floor. That seemed to snap Lou out of his terror, least for the moment, as he made eye contact for the first time since he'd burst through the doors.

"So, Lou. Why would yo-"

"Where are the rest of my fucking bullets?!" Lou suddenly burst out.

Wald sighed. Just when he thought he could have a civil chat here. "Lou, please, focus."

"Fuck man, just… fuck, we got to run! We've got to take the bitch and find a new place to hide, like the fucking Underground! It won't be able to find us there! Where is she?!"

"Carly is upstairs with Kemper who's trying to convince her this arrangement is merely temporary." Wald answered, while gesturing to two of his goons to come over. If Lou made a scene it was liable to cause problems, best that they restrained him least he do anything rash. If they moved fast enough, they might get it away from him.

"Well go get her! If that thing finds me we're all fucking dead, ya here?!"

"The MP's won't find us, unless you continue to make a racket and draw them to us."

"Fuck the MP's! Haven't you been listening to me?!"

'Alright, he's clearly a lost cause.' Wald sighed, and donned his hat, the signal. He really hated to do this, but Lou was now becoming a liability. It would be quick, his men knew how to snap a neck without their victim realizing it, and at least Lou wouldn't face the indignity of being tossed in the waste disposal vats. They'd leave his body somewhere near one of their competitors, some phooey evidence, and whoever Lou had shot at would go off the trail. Long enough this extortion scheme Kemper had proposed could finally happen.

Still, might as well send Lou out a bit better than this.

"Smoke?" Wald withdrew another cigarette, one of his hand rolled's that he was very particular about, crafted with care.

Three things happened at once.

One, Lou went slack jawed, disbelief clear on his features. With his present state of mind, he was more liable to smack the cigarette out of Wald's hands, but maybe he'd take it to get a sense of calm.

Two, one of the goons hands twitched, ready to reach forward and end Lou on the spot. Depending on what Lou did, he'd hold off for a moment, but only that.

Three, someone knocked on front door.

"OH SHIT!" Lou shrieked like a little girl, and scrambled for the stairs, hiding to the second floor with a speed that only someone with ODM gear could pull off.

"…Someone want to see who that is?" Wald sighed. Most likely someone they'd have to kill, but could be just a neighbour coming to complain about the noise, Walls knows Wald would. Evening sun still out or not, the Golden Goose wasn't this rowdy even during happy hour.

That was about to change very soon.

KIPO had been wondering for some time now, having observed the likes of Mikasa Ackerman, Levi {Last Name Unknown}, Annie Leonhart, Lynn Bozado, and now, Traute Caven, if perhaps this world's genetic abnormalities were not limited to just the Titans.

With her nanites spread throughout the less than stellar dining establishment The Golden Goose, KIPO observed as two blonde women walked right up to the front door, the larger of which kicked it down, and proceeded to throughly demolish the mini army of thugs inside.

First point went to Traute, whose act of kicking the door down had flattened the poor soul who deemed to answer their knocking. His muffled screams and frantic spasms to escape had ended with her stepping in the door, knocking him out.

Annie quickly took the lead though, taking a running leap and some parkour to land right in the middle of the bars patrons. Their shock still hadn't worn off, leaving Annie free to deliver several well placed kicks to their backs, knees, and heads that had three crumbling to the floor.

Caven calmly walked up the stairs to join her on the main floor, seemingly unconcerned. Her expression didn't change for a second, even someone regained their sense and rushed her, she just delivered a punch that sent them flying into the drink counter.

A quick check… yep, still 100% human. Just one with an unusual muscle to fat ratio in her body, Miss Caven clearly took care of herself. Another goon made to smash her over the head with a bottle, an uppercut that had him briefly flying straight up in the air was his reward.

Caven grabbing his ankles while he was in midair and using him and his momentum as a living club on her next three opponents, that was his punishment.

"KIPO, any sign of Carly?" Annie's voice broke KIPO's observations, without breaking stride as she delivered a sweeping quick and a follow up of punches on her floored opponent.

'A girl is located on the second floor, she appears unharmed and unrestrained, but the frantic individual I observed fleeing upstairs has burst in and is engaged in a heated conversation with her guard…Ah, the name Kemper was just uttered, I do believe we found Carly's boyfriend!'

"Keep an eye on them, make sure no one leaves." Annie ordered. She dodged to the right as a cleaver came down, then again as it quickly came back up. Ah, this one she might have to put in the effort…

'KIPO, can you give me the layout of Carly's room and floor? Are there any other ways in?' Armin's voice popped in.

"Armin, you said-"Annie's voice cut in, not even sweating as she struck out her foot and dislocated cleaver holder's knee, then grabbed the flat end of the blade while he was still holding it to press it against it's wielder's own throat. The man felt it pressing against his throat, just nicking the skin, and he looked at Annie with fear in his eyes.

'I promise Annie, I'm not going in unprepared. Trust me, I've got this.'

'He really does Annie. There are no less than 78 variations of ways this could go down, and everyone of them ends in success.' KIPO slightly exaggerated. Best not mention some scenarios KIPO had run ended in Carly's death.

"…Alright. I'm trusting you two, don't make me regret it." Annie spoke over the comm's and aloud to her defeated opponents confusion. She simply stared down at him, then released the cleaver, the man slumping to the ground and looking up, defeated.

He didn't make any attempts to continue the fight.

KIPO admired Annie's form and mercy, then proceeded to guide Armin as he made it to the second story window, courtesy of the parkour she downloaded into him. Carefully, he made his way to Carly's room, where the frantic individual, now identified as "Lou" by Kemper, ran to a nearby closest to pull out a lockbox, attempting to insert a key.

'…Armin, I think I may have identified our shooter. And I think I may be of help, if you would permit me to use all of Specter for approximately thirty seconds?' KIPO brought up a quick 3D map of the building in Armin's retina, and illustrated what she had in mind.

Armin looked it over, and nodded. 'Sounds good, do it. I'll go by the door, to pull Carly to safety. Annie, get ready, KIPO's bringing the roof down. Try to stand clear of the bar.'

'Roger that.' Annie brought her foot straight up in a strike that had her next opponent go flying in an arch over a finely dressed man in a white suit, who hadn't deemed to move from his spot. It was only when Annie stared him down that he got out of his chair, and shuffled his coat off, draping it over his former seat.

"If I may ask, do what business do I owe the pleasure?" The man took off his hat and placed it on the table by his seat, miraculously still intact. He slowly walked very to the bar, keeping Annie in sight with his one eye.

"Carly Stratmann, and the attempted murder of two soldiers of the Walls." Annie replied. She casually jerked a thumb over her shoulder, as Caven forcibly pushed one, two, three thugs into each other and out the window! "She's here about some idiot breaking the one rule the Walls enforces in the Kings backyard. Which relates to the attempted murder charge, by the way."

"Knew we should have made Lou chuck that stupid thing as soon as he showed it to us." The man sighed, as he reached behind the bar to withdraw a bottle. A bottle, and a flintlock hanging under the counter, which KIPO helpfully pointed out to Annie. She positioned herself near a table, ready to use it as a projectile and shield if need be.

Above, KIPO was already hard at work, Specter flying out of Armin's arms en masse, and making for the floorboards under Lou and Kemper's feet, disintegrating the wood. Carly was thankfully not being held by either of them, but she was close enough she might risk falling through the fresh holes KIPO was about to make.

Fortunately, Armin would be able to prevent that from happening. And even if he didn't, her fall would be reasonably cushioned by the unconscious bodies, so success either way!

'Get ready Annie, I'm about to finish in thirty…twenty-nine…' KIPO warned, while simultaneously informing Armin when he should burst through the door.

Below, the man in the suit had just withdrawn the bottle and poured a drink, offering it to Annie and Caven in an attempt to buy time, casually introducing himself as Wald to imply he wasn't worried about his whole operation coming down. Around him, what thugs he had left standing or conscious pulled themselves over in an attempt to imply strength.

"I don't suppose you ladies would be willing to listen to reason, and accept what's happened as an unfortunate accident?" Wald asked, offering the drink with one hand and reaching behind the counter again with his other. Judging from the knife in his pocket, he intended to shoot one then rush the other. "I'd be more than willing to let you take the girl, who's here under her own power mind, and promise you won't see Lou again. Matter of fact I was just about to enforce his early retirement."

"Unfortunately, that's not how things work." Caven stepped forward, only to halt as she noticed Annie wasn't doing the same. She halted her advance, and stepped back to stand side by side with the smaller blonde.

KIPO was impressed, was this human instinct? She really couldn't fathom such a thing, but it always intrigued her!

"Please, consider my offer here. You ladies are formidable, that's very apparent. But you have to see you're outnumbered, and as you know, we possess a powerful weapon." Wald prattled on. "One last chance. Leave now with the girl, and let's end this unpleasantness. Otherwise, I can't guarantee-"

'Ah, I misjudged the wood used here.' KIPO's voice rang in both Annie's and Armin's ears. 'Armin, step through now. Annie brace yourself.'

The floor above Wald came crashing down, and all that it had been supporting came down with it. A bed, a dresser, and two men with a combined weight of 400 pounds between them.

…Correction, one man came down. Lou had managed to stop his descent, and was scrambling to climb back up.

Armin had Carly around the waist and was pulling her away from the newly made floor, the light brown haired girl trying to understand what just happened as she was saved by a knight in an Arasaka patented bullet proof suit. Below, multiple groans of pain rang below, a quick scan revealed no casualties, but some of the bars patrons might find themselves in recovery for a few months. Wald himself had been launched forward, miraculously, only to be intercepted by a clothesline from Caven, spinning around her arm and being dropped on his face.

Annie ignored all of this. Her eyes locked on Lou, who picked up his AK ('Ah, it was a 74 with an extended magazine drum, just like I suspected. Very curious how this individual made an exact match of a firearm from back home, must investigate further…'), took one look at the furious blonde staring up at him, and bolted through the window.

'He won't get far.' KIPO reported in Annie's ear. 'I placed a bit of Specter on his clothes, we can pursue him after we've restrained-'

Annie took a running leap, using the pile of lumber and bodies as momentum to spring to the second floor, and pursued.

'…Of course, he's a dangerous individual and should be stopped before he can harm others, also a good call. Take a left at this rooftop.' KIPO provided aide, while simultaneously observing the destruction she'd caused. It was hardly the same as that e̶x̵p̸l̷o̴s̴i̵o̷n̴ that L̴o̴u̶ caused, but it was…

But it was…

…

It was just fine.

Lou scrambled up the next roof, and slide down to take a leap onto the next house, nearly spraining his ankle and dropping his gun. Behind him, he could hear that fucking MP in pursuit, the bitch just wouldn't give it up!

"Fuck, fuck, fuck it!" A quick turn and throwing caution to the wind, Lou turned and unloaded a quick burst, alerting dozens of people below but he didn't care, he just had to get away! The bitch took cover before he'd even pulled the trigger, and Lou was faced with the choice to keep firing and eventually get her, or save his precious ammo and make a break for it.

Lou chose the later. He had the element of surprise and a total unknown in his hands, little MP wouldn't know he could keep pumping bullets out and would be too scared to check. Slowly backing up, Lou chanced a look behind him to gauge the next roof was a short hop away, before turning his head and HOLY FUCK SHE WAS ON HIM!

A flying double kick that connected with Lou's chest sent him flying, thankfully to the other roof and not to the street three stories down. Lou was less thankful for the simultaneous pain that was causing him to curl up and recline, making for an interesting impression of a flopping fish.

The sound of boots hitting the roof alerted Lou to his attacker having joined him up here, and he forced himself to roll over and stand up.

"Fuck! Got hit in the front, and landed on my back! This is a pain sandwich!" Lou bit out, trying to steady himself but falling over multiple times.

Annie said nothing, but a multitude of thoughts were going through her mind right now. Ideally, pushing him off the roof would be the quickest and cleanest solution, the perp slipped and fell, Annie's hands would be clean, and her cover safe. However, Annie still desired to inflict a world of hurt on this miserable bastard who'd hurt Armin, and his bruised and broken body might stir up an investigation…

'It'll be fine. He was tougher than he looked and resisted arrest, I had to put him down. Plenty of time before the Expedition, I can-'

A sudden call came through her earpiece, and Annie found herself pressing it to receive the call before she could stop herself.

'Annie?' Armin's voice broke through the dark thoughts Annie had been thinking, and like a switch she suddenly wasn't so preoccupied with making Lou a smear on the architecture. 'Annie, are you okay? Do you need back up?'

"…I'm alright Armin." Annie sighed, in appreciation. He really had an affect on her. "I've got the fleeing suspect, I'll be bringing him in."

Armin couldn't hide the relief in his voice. 'Oh good, that's good. Well, we're pretty much all finished up here, but there's a lot of bodies to bring in. Any chance you could commandeer a cart to bring them to HQ? If you have the time, that is.'

Annie peeked over the side of the roof, where several people were staring up at her. "…I might have something. Be back in a few minutes."

'Alright then, see you soon! Love you!'

'!'

Annie's eyes went wide, and she suddenly felt like she was flying. Unbeknownst to her, as Armin had panicked and cut off the call, the boy who'd just delivered those words was a blushing panicking mess. It was very amusing to Carly Stratmann, whom he was interviewing about her involvement in the coderoin.

'…Oh, Armin.' Annie sighed, and allowed a smile to grace her face. It stayed there, even as Lou loudly proclaimed his victory with his backup pistol.

A pistol that was suddenly intercepted by a girl two thirds Lou's size, her hand crushing Lou's and suspending it between them.

"Hey, what the- lemme go!"

"You're lucky."

"Huh?!" Lou spat out, only to flinch back at the ice cold stare Annie was giving him.

"I came up here specifically to kill you. Partially to shut you up, but mostly because you hurt someone whose very special to me."

"The fu- I don't give a fuck, let go of my-ARGH! FUCK!" Lou suddenly found himself interrupted as a fist smashed in his nose before he even knew what happened, and was using his free hand to stop the bleeding.

"Quiet, this is important." Annie ordered, not at all concerned at Lou retaliating, she'd intercept any of his attacks. "You see, that someone isn't like me. He's kind, and patient, and a good person. He's not like us, he would get upset if someone died. If anyone died."

Annie sighed, and released Lou's hand, gun still clutched in his fingers. "…I'm going to have to hurt him. Have to kill people he'll actually care about. Not intentionally, but it's going to happen. He's going to hate me, he'll despise me, and even though I'm doing it for him…" Annie took a sharp breath, and exhaled. "…But I know he'll forgive me. I know… I know he will… Still, it's going to be… unpleasant, when it happens."

Annie crouched down, as Lou peeked through his fingers up at her. "What I'm trying to say is, that someone is why I'm not going to kill you. I want to avoid upsetting him for as long as possible. As a good girlfriend should, don't you think?"

Annie stepped back, standing two feet away as Lou shakily got to his feet, having only caught every tenth word of what she was saying. His fingers gripped his gun, and Annie could tell he was about to do something stupid.

"Oh, and if you could not tell anyone about you saw at Kemper's apartment, that would be great."

Lou's eyes widened and he raised his gun in terror and panic.

BANG!

"Are you really okay with this?" Armin couldn't help but ask the admittedly very charming and VERY friendly girl hanging off him (she'd been very grateful to him preventing her nasty fall, and possibly worse). Carly Stratmann had given herself up and confessed to everything, admitting she was the creator of coderoin, that her boyfriend had kidnapped her to extort her father, and (out of earshot of Caven who was busy dumping trussed up unconscious body after unconscious body into the streets), that her father had been distributing coderoin to keep himself afloat after Maria fell.

She'd done it all to help her dad, unable to watch him suffer. But she'd done so under the strict condition he wouldn't sell their product in Stohess, but when she'd seen it that day…

Anyways, she'd given a full confession, and was now waiting for Armin's very scary girlfriend to arrive to take her away.

"It is what it is." Carly's smile didn't break, as she stood side by side with Armin, her arms linked around his, practically leaning on his shoulder. "I always figured one day this would catch up to me. Got that from my dad, he always said to accept defeat with grace."

"…Is it really that easy?" Armin asked, not peeling Carly off but clearly trying to keep his head a respectable distance, least he receive anymore unwanted kisses. "I mean, you could be going to jail. Three years is the sentence for possession of coderoin, but you actually invented it…"

"Awww, don't tell me you're concerned with a lowly criminal like me?" Carly giggled. At Armin's morose expression, she smiled and gave his arm a squeeze. "I made my choices Armin, and I accept the consequences. Not that I wouldn't be thrilled to receive a lucky break, but judging by the way your girlfriends glaring at me…"

Armin looked up, relief on his face at seeing Annie driving a cart towards them, one big enough it could transport the entire haul of the Golden Goose.

Annie for her part, lost her scowl upon seeing Armin so happy to see her. She turned to face Caven, both of them impassive and professional.

"The one who got away?"

"Your suspect, and he's right here." Annie gestured with her thumb behind her. Caven peered over the cart to indeed see Lou, passed out and an absolute mess.

"…I see he's missing an ear?" Caven noted.

"He had a pistol on him, and he tried to resist arrest." Annie replied. "It was an unfortunate misfire."

Lou screamed bloody murder as he clutched the right side of his head, blood splurting out from where the bullet had torn through his skin. He kept screaming right up until Annie knocked him on his ass and shoved his own pistol in his mouth. Through tears of pain and fear, he stared into her cold blue eyes.

"Listen to me, very carefully. You won't tell anyone what you witnessed at Kemper's place. You won't come after me, or anyone you saw tonight. If I hear that you were talking, or I see you again…" Her fingers tightened on the trigger, just a fraction of a millimetre and it would go off!, "…Bang."

Lou couldn't take it, his eyes rolled up in the back of his head and he was out like a light.

Annie stood up, then pocketed the pistol. Hoisting Lou over her shoulder, she made her way to the edge of the roof, peering down.

Yep, the cabbage delivery cart was still there.

"I've got his weapons too. The one he used to shoot at me and Armin with, and this." Annie held up the two shot pistol. "He's definitely your guy. Sorry, but the rifle got damaged, fell off the roof."

"That's fine." Caven took the pistol out of Annie's hand, before sparing a glance at Lou. "Long as we have him and his guns, we can check if he made anymore, and keep the rest off the streets. Good work Leonhart, I'll be sure to pass this on to my superiors, you might be in line for a promotion already."

"Thank you, ma'am." Annie hoped off the cart, already making a beeline for Armin, before pausing. "Ah, one thing. Will need to reimburse a cabbage delivery man whose cart was unfortunately smashed in the pursuit of Lou here. And return this to the flower delivery shop, Fran's Fragrances."

"Noted." Caven replied as she casually picked up a fully grown man and dumped him in the cart like a sack of potatoes. "I believe Armin is detaining your missing person over there, feel free to interview her at your leisure."

Good enough for Annie, she was fast approaching the pair at a speed that had Carly actually take a half step back.

"…Well, in case there was any doubt," Carly extended a hand to Annie, "Carly Stratmann. I believe my father asked you to look for me?"

"He did." Annie took the offered hand. "My partner and I have spent the better part of the day looking for you. I trust you'll be open to questioning?"

"Naturally. Like I told your fine friend here, I intend to cooperate completely… My, firm handshake you've there." Carly's smile didn't change, but it was clear Annie was putting the squeeze on her hand.

Armin hurried to separate himself from Carly and gently massaged Annie's hand, already foreseeing a repeat of Hitch's unfortunate first encounter with the somewhat jealous blonde. "Miss Carly here has some interesting things to tell us, and it might be better out of earshot of Miss Caven."

Annie released her prisoner, watching in satisfaction as Carly waved her grabby paw to get some feeling back in it. "Is that so?"

"It is." Carly still smiled, and annoyingly made to return to Armin's side. "I was hoping my tale of woe would maybe convince him to let me go, or better yet, run off with me, seeing as he's such a strong dependable man who knows a thing or two about handling less than pleasant women."

The results were immediate, before Annie could even kill Carly with her looks alone, Armin had spun around to block their mission objective from view, and was offering all the donuts he could afford to placate his girlfriend.

An uproarious laugh thundered behind Armin, and the boy found his shoulders being clasped from behind. "Don't worry honey, I'm just teasing. I can see you've got someone real special here, don't go thinking I'll be getting in the way of that." Carly winked at Annie, before leaning her head on Armin's shoulder. "But really, I leave my fate entirely up to the two of you. I've learned to just accept where the winds take me, what happens, happens."

"Is that why you got mad at Pit Redoz?" Annie inquired.

"Hmm?"

"Your friends. They said you got mad seeing coderoin. Doesn't sound very accepting to me."

For the first time this entire night, Carly actually looked sad. "…Well, I'm only human."

"…You really didn't want coderoin to be distributed here?" Armin asked.

"I know what I was doing was wrong, and hurting people. But as long as I didn't see it, I could pretend it wasn't that bad."

"And yet you still did it." Annie stated.

"Like I said, for my father. He was so broken after Maria fell, but he still gave everything to get me through University, even as the wolves were knocking at his door. I thought if I could help him…" Carly actually looked upset. "Well, we've all had foolish dreams, haven't we?"

The two blondes stared at her, before Armin turned to stare at Annie, who closed her eyes to avoid seeing his pitying gaze.

"Armin…" Annie groaned.

Military Police HQ

"KIPO, are you there?" Annie called out, as she filed her report and wrote the pass to Wall Rose.

'I am indeed. How may I be of service, Annie Leonhart?'

"Can you zap Carly if she's making any moves on Armin?"

'I can take over his body briefly and deliver a strike to her neck that will render her unconscious, but Armin will have to allow that. I am truly sorry.'

"It's fine." To Annie's surprise, she meant it. Even as Armin guilted her into fudging this report so Carly could walk free (Carly's pleas and reasonings doing nothing to affect her decision), Annie didn't really hate the idea of the girl walking free. She swore she'd give up the drug making business, and would disappear. Annie didn't really care, but Armin did, and that was enough.

Caven was a bit of a hurdle, honestly Annie doubted the woman bought their cock and bull story, but she had nearly fifteen goons to interrogate, one of them apparently an actual heretic, so she'd let them go, trusting Annie to bring the Stratmann case to a close.

What a case it had been. Even without including Carly's involvement, there was still much Annie subtracted from the report. Her Titanization obviously, but also Armin being shot and healing, and Lou's weapon (might have to investigate that later).

Thinking about Armin…

"KIPO, thank you."

'Pardon?'

"For keeping Armin safe. I… thank you." Annie hoped the A.I. could tell she was being sincere. "Thank you for protecting him."

'…You are quite welcome Annie Leonhart.' KIPO sounded like she wanted to cheer but was holding herself back, which had Annie ready to yank the comms unit out at the first sign of high pitched squeeing. 'And thank you, for doing such a splendid job showing Armin a good time. His heart rate and vitals show he thoroughly enjoyed today, in it's entirety.'

Annie wanted to question that, a little, but she held her tongue. "You really care about his well-being?"

'Naturally. He has been the most ideal host, and has worked hard. He deserves to be rewarded for his efforts, don't you agree?'

"Yeah, I do." Annie stamped the pass. "…I know Armin said you… go away, when we get together at night. But on the off chance that isn't true… kindly vacate the area, at least for tonight." With that, Annie removed the comm's unit, and pocketed it in her coat pocket. She strode out, now under a fully night sky, where Armin and Carly were waiting by the building just outside the gates. To her surprise, they had limeade and… donuts?

"A token of my appreciation, for doing all thi- yipe!" Carly squeaked as Annie snatched the bag and devoured its contents, which Armin couldn't help but laugh.

"Sorry, guess I didn't paint a clear enough picture." Armin offered a limeade to Annie to wash the powdered treats down. The blonde took the drink, stifling a burp from eating so fast.

"…Well, you two definitely are perfect for each other. Maybe I'll get lucky and find a love like this out there…" Carly smiled, looking to the direction of Wall Rose's gates.

Armin smiled, but then looked saddened. "Do you… do you want us to say anything to your father?"

"No." Carly answered immediately. "And please, don't tell him where I've gone. If I see him again… I'll be tempted to help him again."

"If that happens, I'm arresting you, and him." Annie wanted, reaching into her pocket to pull out the pass. "Stay out of trouble."

Carly beamed, and took the pass from Annie's fingers, no resistance. "Thank you. And thank you sweetie, for letting me say goodbye to my friends." A pat on Armin's cheek and a blown kiss that had the blonde blushing, before the Stratmann heiress gathered her meager possessions and took off. "If either of you are running around Wall Rose and we see each other, don't be a stranger!" Carly called over her shoulder.

Armin waved goodbye. He couldn't help but be worried for Carly, even if she seemed self-sufficient and self-assured. Life could be hard in Wall Rose, and to never see her father again… "Do you think we did the right th-"

An arm suddenly blocked his view, as Annie's palm slammed into the wall beside Armin, cutting off his view and thoughts of Carly. Trailing her arm with his eyes, Armin gazed in Annie's eyes. Her expression was neutral as always, but her eyes…

Her eyes were hungry.

Armin was really feeling like a rabbit cornered by a wolf right now, especially as Annie moved to bring her other arm up and pin him in place, both hands on either side of his head. He was both excited, and terrified.

"I think I love you." Annie whispered, staring straight into his eyes. "…No, that's not right. I do love you. I love you, Armin."

A hand left the wall to gently lay a palm on his cheek, cradling it, holding him. An expression of fondness, of adoration, was just starting to grace Annie's features.

"You…you're special to me Armin, in ways no one else has ever been. When I thought you died today, I felt… I felt like I'd lost everything. When I saw you were okay, it felt like the world had life again." Annie actually smiled, and it was such a pretty smile. "Really know how to toy with a girl's feelings, Armin."

Armin felt his legs turning to jelly, just from the way she said his name! It was only through great mental strength and hating he'd hurt Annie even involuntarily he was able to from a coherent response. "I'm sorry I put you through that."

"It's okay." Annie said with complete sincerity. "It helped me realize my feelings for you. Before, I honestly couldn't say, I literally have no idea what's it's like to love someone. But now… now I do. For a good while now, sorry it's taken me so long."

"Hey, apologizing for something you have no control over is my thing." Armin joked. "Feelings are complicated and messy, it's not like there's a manual on how to understand them faster. I'd be happy to wait until you were sure."

"Oh? So you'd have been fine waiting another three years for me to figure this out?"

"Okay, I lied, I've actually been tearing my hair out waiting to hear you say these wo-…wait, another three years?" Armin interrupted his witty retort at the implication Annie had liked him that way for so long, basically ever since they met!

"Don't act so surprised." Annie leaned in, and planted a quick kiss in his lips. "What with all your nice little favours and being pleasant company throughout the Cadets. Smooth Armin, real smooth."

"Ah… I swear that wasn't some master plan of mine to seduce you, my intentions were entirely pure in the name of friendship." Armin explained lamely.

"And I love you for it." Annie held Armin's chin in her hand. "I love you. Do you love me?"

"More than anything." Armin replied, without hesitation. His reward was another kiss, this time open mouthed and feeling Annie's tongue wrestling with his. A hand cradled the back of his head as his arms embraced her, and the two blondes moaned into each other. More and more passionate kisses happened, until finally they parted slightly out of breath, but bursting with energy.

"Ah… ha…" Armin swallowed, and caught his breath. "Oh wow…I feel like I could-"

"Let's go."

"Huh?" Armin barely registered what Annie said before her hand grabbed his and yanked him in the direction of the MP HQ. "Whoa, wait! Where are we going?"

"Your room, obviously. Tell KIPO to go away for the night or go to sleep or whatever it is she does." Annie commanded, as she all but dragged Armin behind her. "We're going to take our clothes off, we're going to get in your bed, and we are going to fuck each other senseless."

She looked behind her, and was greeted with the sight of Armin both blushing, and going from shocked to looking very, very eager. For her part, she had what Armin would describe as the perfect smile.

"Tonight, let me have you, all of you. And you can have all of me."

To anyone trying to get to sleep in the Military Police Headquarters of Stohess this very night, their slumber would briefly be interrupted by the sound of stomping feet running through the halls, first all the way to the men's sleeping quarters, then almost immediately to the women's.

"Can't believe they already cleared out my room and quarantined it off." Armin groaned while Annie fished around for her room key. "You think they tossed my books out on the street or had the decency to lock it away?"

"I'm sure Marco or one of the others saw and intercepted them." Annie replied honestly.

"Yeah, they probably did. Still, sorry we can't use my room for… this." Armin tried hard not to blush, but it was really hard! Tonight Annie and he were going to…

Armin gazed at Annie, who even in the dark of the night looked so beautiful, so perfect. This whole day he'd been witness to how amazing she was, how powerful and graceful and just… her.

'I must have died and this is an afterlife of some sort.' Armin smiled. 'There's no way I actually have someone so perfect having fallen for me.'

Success finally came to Annie as she found her prize, and in less than a second she had the door open and was pulling Armin through with her.

She only came to a stop for a second, Armin almost running into her, upon seeing Hitch having just changed into her night gown.

"…Oh, did we have a good time after all?" Hitch grinned, once her shock at seeing Annie dragging an actual boy into their dorm faded away. "Well, I can certainly give you guys ten minutes, maybe thirty if you pay me, but I'll need a quick change of clothes to-"

"Leave."

"…Beg pardon?"

"Now." Annie commanded, and before Hitch could even reply, the mousey haired girl found herself scooped up, and unceremoniously dumped outside her room, the door slamming shut before her butt hit the ground.

"JERKS!" Hitch bellowed, scrambling to her feet and raising a fist to bash on the door!

…It was only her fantastic self-preservation instincts that halted her hand a mere centimetre from the door, and had Hitch muttering under her breath as she walked off, hoping to find someone she could bunk with.

"Frigging bitch. See if I do anything nice for you again, why I oughta…"

"Something wrong?"

"GAH!" Hitch actually jumped, spooked by Marlowe's sudden presence. "Ah, geez, don't scare me like that!"

"I'm standing right in front of you, you were approaching me head on." The bowl cut boy remarked. "…A bit underdressed to be wandering the halls Hitch."

"Oh, you noticed?" Hitch grumped. "Annie kicked me out so she can have a good time, and now I don't have a place to sleep!"

"Oh, is that all?"

"Is tha- I. Need. My. Sleep. Marlowe!"

"I realize that. Come on." Marlowe turned, gesturing for Hitch to follow. "My roommate is out for the night, so you can use his. I promise I'll give you as much privacy as I can."

"…Wait, really?"

"I mean, if you're uncomfortable with it I guess I could find a bench downstairs, maybe in the records room…"

"Oh, no, you don't have to put yourself out like that." Hitch skipped over to catch up to Marlowe, her feelings of gratitude settling in with her subtle feelings of fondness for her friend. "I… I don't mind sharing a room."

A small sigh of relief escaped Marlowe's mouth. "Alright then. Glad I could help."

"I really appreciate it." Hitch beamed, and ever so slightly inched closer to Marlowe, just an inch separating their shoulders. An inch, and Hitch's thinnest sleepwear and Marlowe's leather uniform jacket. "…Really, really appreciate it."

"…Oh?" Marlowe turned his head to face her, and was blessed with Hitch's most adorable smile.

Hitch for her part, was seeing Marlowe in a new light. 'Was he always this handsome? I mean, yeah, I thought he was kind of cute even if he did have a stick up his butt, and his haircut… actually, I'm kind of digging it, it works for him, in a dork sort of way…'

…Maybe if Marlowe continued to be a perfect gentleman, Hitch just might reward him proper by letting him take her out on a date.

"…Well, if you really do appreciate it, maybe you could do something for me?"

Hitch tripped. She didn't register she had, didn't even curse, she just went down to face plant with the floor. Or she would have, had Marlowe not caught her.

"Whoa there! Are you okay?"

"Huh?… Oh… No, no I'm fine." Hitch tried to collect herself, not expecting Marlowe to be… well, to be so bold!

'Have I gotten the wrong idea about him all this time? Are we really skipping dinner and the foreplay to just get to it? Is Marlowe… is he really… No! Bad Marlowe! Bad! You take a girl out to dinner first, shower her with gifts! Then maybe I deem you worthy company and reward you for your efforts! You don't just… just…ask for that!'

"-'re here."

"What?" Hitch exited her silent chastisement of Marlowe to notice they were standing outside a door.

"My room. We're here." Marlowe repeated, making to open the door, then hesitated. "…Look, about you doing something for me… I won't kick you out or anything like that if you say no, believe me. I just thought, we have a good hour before we need to sleep, we should be a little productive. I think with the two of us, it might even be fun."

And just like that, Hitch's chastisement faded away in favour of Marlowe being seen as the adorable dork he was.

"…Ah, what the hell?" Hitch grinned. "First time for everything, right? Hope you have stamina, because I don't slow down for anything!"

Marlowe blinked, surprised. "Um, okay. I didn't expect you to be so enthusiastic about this?"

"Why not? You should give yourself a bit of credit Freudenberg, you can get a girl motivated." Hitch clapped her hands. "So come on, enough with the hold up, let's get down and dirty!"

Marlowe chuckled. "If you insist, let's do it!"

With that, he opened the door!

Revealing the piles upon piles of paperwork within.

"…What the fuck?" Was all Hitch could say, staring at one particular pile that actually touched the ceiling!

"Yeah, it is a lot. But as you said, it's time to get down and dirty!" Marlowe clapped Hitch on the back.

"…Wait, what the fuck!?" Hitch gapped, taking a leap away from Marlowe (and the door) to end up surrounded by five separate piles of paperwork.

Almost immediately she took another leap back to end up back to Marlowe's chest, his arms catching her.

"Ah! Get it away from me! It's evil!" Hitch hissed like she was some undead terror confronted by a holy symbol. She turned around to glare up at Marlowe, who was looking a tad confused. Through gritted teeth, she forced out, "Marlowe… am I correct in assuming the something I can do for you… is helping with the paperwork?"

"…Um, yes? I thought that was obvious?"

"Obvious?! THAT was obvious!?" Hitch grabbed Marlowe by his collar and brought him down to her level. "I thought you said we were going to be productive!"

"And we are! With the two of us we can get half this room cleared out!" Marlowe replied, making to take Hitch's hands off of him. "Honestly, what else could we be doing?"

Hitch just stared in disbelief, as her half naked self was seriously asked that question.

"…Annie, you"re going to pay for this!"

"Did you hear something?" Armin managed to ask as Annie's lips drifted slightly to the right, kissing the edge of his mouth instead of all of it.

"No." Annie mumbled against his skin, her hands simultaneously working on removing Armin's suit. She tried simply tearing it off, KIPO could fix it later, but the material was evidently made to resist horny girlfriends as well as bullets, so she had been forced to take it off properly.

It probably would have gone a lot easier if she focused solely on that instead of exploring Armin's mouth with her tongue, but Annie was nothing if not determined, and a multi-tasker as of this second.

Her efforts were rewarded with the front of Armin's suit finally coming undone, and her nimble hands made for his suit shirt underneath, only for Armin's to intercept.

"Ah, Annie, I- AH! Annie! I'll do it, I'll do it!" Armin squeaked as Annie found a particular sensitive spot near his ear, nibbling on the lobe. She didn't let go, hanging there as Armin giggled and managed to shrug out of his suit jacket, and then his suit shirt. "Okay, okay, that's done."

"Hmmmmmm." Annie hummed, blowing a puff of wind that had Armin shrieking again, only for Annie to gasp as Armin retaliated with kisses along her neck.

Every kiss made Annie crave his touch over more of her body, and before Armin could plant another on her collar bone, she pushed him back so hard he landed on the bottom bunk bed. He had only just sat up when a Military Police jacket and white hoodie went flying through the air to land on the top bunk.

Followed by a boot, then another, and finally a pair of white pants.

Armin had to swallow his saliva, as Annie in nothing but her underwear stood before him, illuminated by the moonlight, confident and alluring with a smile that promised… everything. Not just cuddling in bed tonight, but the both of them experiencing each others bodies that they'd both dreamed about for weeks now.

"…Oh Walls…" Armin hurried to get his shoes off, then reached to undo his pants.

Annie's smile grew just a bit at that, and she confidently walked over to him. The sway in her step, the fact she never broke eye contact… he really felt like a mouse cornered by a cat. Or a soldier desperately trying to refill their ODM tanks as a Titan approached them, the rush of fear and adrenaline was VERY similar!

She stopped right in front of him, her chest thrust out and engulfing his face. Armin had to remember to breath, his pants around his ankles, so overcome by her scent, she smelled so good…

Annie peered down with love and desire in her eyes, as she trapped Armin with her breasts. She still recalled that first night they'd braved sleeping together in their underwear, and she'd delighted in ogling his form as he ogled hers. It had been a fun little game they'd played where they'd kept a conversation going while trying to maintain eye contact, and while Annie definitely felt she had the advantage, she definitely had been taking in her fair share of Armin's body.

Seeing that he actually had abs, and even getting to feel them with his permission (he was ticklish, she liked that), was an unexpected delight.

Seeing the bulge in his underwear, that had her using all her legendary control to rein herself in so that night would still just be cuddling.

But that no longer applied tonight.

Reaching back behind her, Annie made to undo the clasp of her bra. She had just pulled the fabric away from her back when Armin's hands caught hers. Surprised, but curious, Annie surrendered as his fingers maneuvered around hers, finding the clasp and with surprising quickness, unhooked the article of clothing.

Armin pulled his face away from her chest, her bra caught in his teeth as he looked up with a grin. Seeing her unasked question, he tapped the side of his head, his eyes briefly flaring up.

"…Oh, you little cheater." Annie smirked.

"Hey, I always plan ahead." Armin dropped the bra in his hand and tossed it up to land on the top bunk, riding this high of confidence. "If… when we ever got to this part of being a couple, I wanted to have some idea of what I'm doing. Make it a good first time for us."

"By casually cheating on me?"

"What?!"

Annie's smirk was particularly wicked, as she raised a foot to push Armin on his back. "How else am I supposed to take that Armin? You went to your friend in your head, a girl, and she gave you experience. Did she stand there as you practiced taking off her bra, teach you how to be such a good kisser? Oh, I can just imagine those lonely nights without me in the Scout's, but at least she's there to give you some good dreams, right?"

"No, that absolutely does not happen!"

"But the other things I mentioned did? Oh Armin, you heart breaker…" Annie hugged herself in fake pain.

"…Annie, that's not funny."

"Who says it is?" Annie moved forward, crawling over Armin. She looked down at him, her flushed face staring into his, their blushes equally red. "Don't think I haven't noticed how popular you are with so many girls, Arlert."

"Huh?" Was Armin's eloquent reply to that remark.

"Hitch was putting the moves on you day one, KIPO won't shut up about how wonderful a host you are, and just today Carly was all over you." Annie huffed, then with a smile, sat back to rest her butt on Armin's stomach. She actually giggled at Armin's "WOOF!" at the action. "Really Armin, you're such a bad boy toying with my heart like that." She raised her ass off his abs, then made to sit back further down, gently this time, landing comfortably on Amrin's crotch. Perfectly too, as she felt his clothed erection straining through both their underwear in between her cheeks. Experimentally, she clenched, and was rewarded with Armin gasping and placing his hands on her sides.

If he was trying to get her off him, he'd have to try harder. Annie wiggled her sizeable ass and delighted in how Armin spasmed underneath her.

"Really Armin, you're so cruel. Toying with me, teasing me, stringing me along like I'm just some sort of plaything…" More and more her rump toyed with Armin's manhood like a cat would a mouse, and more she felt it harden. The thought that it actually might tear through his underwear both amused and excited her, before Annie decided she'd bullied Armin enough. Rising up (and amusingly, Armin's groin up rose with her for a half-second, her buttjob having buried his dick deep in her rump, before he dropped back down), she leaned in to stare into Armin's eyes, almost nose to nose with him.

"I think you better make it up to me, like a good boyfriend should."

Armin blinked, rapidly, as enough of his blood managed to escape his crotch and return to his brain that he could form a coherent thought. Staring up at Annie, seeing her so confident after dominating him like that…

It made him want to turn the tables on her so badly!

"…Well, like I said, I wanted to make this a good first time for us." Armin hooked his thumbs under the fabric hugging Annie's hips, and slide down under her, his body going right between her arched legs. Looking underneath then behind her in a mixture of confusion and curiosity, Annie raised one leg after the other to allow Armin to take her underwear off, then made to sit on the bed with her bare bum, legs spread and feet on the floor, resting on her elbows. Armin briefly disappeared from view, then just as quickly reappeared, tossing the last preservations of modesty they wore up on the top bunk. Placing his hands on her thighs, only a slight moment of hesitation before bringing his face in to her waiting, very much aroused entrance.

'…Wait…is he…is he really going to…!' A soft blow followed by a kiss on her arousal was her answer, and Annie had to fight a noise that threatened to escape her.

Armin smiled, pleased to see Annie had enjoyed that, before a cheeky thought came to him. "Oh, how could I?…."

Annie's head snapped up, or rather down, as she looked between her legs to see Armin softly rubbing her thighs, but nothing more.

"To think I was just about to use what KIPO taught me. All that studying and research I learnt from her, thinking it was so innocent and harmless…" Armin paused to kiss Annie's thigh, very much near where he'd last planted a smooch. "But then you showed me how wrong it really was."

Annie frowned, as she could see where Armin was going with this. "Armin…" She warned.

"You were right. All this experience I have, I shouldn't use any of it on you." Another kiss, farther down her leg, away from where Annie wanted his mouth to be so badly right now! "Nope, I should have KIPO erase my memories of all files marked "Show Annie the best night of her life," and not use any shortcu-"

Armin found his latest taunt cut short as Annie's powerful thighs came together to smoosh his head in between them, crushing his skull. A soft squeeze, but a powerful one, as he was utterly trapped and forced to stare down Annie's form right into her beautiful blue eyes.

Annoyed, blue eyes.

"Armin."

"Yesh?" He managed to squeeze out through his smushed lips.

"Too much confidence can be a bad thing." Annie added a little squeeze to emphasize her point. "Too much teasing… it can kill the mood."

Armin wisely did not point out Annie had done far MORE teasing to him. He did mumble an affirmative agreeing with her though, which she seemed to appreciate.

"I'm going to give you ten seconds to use that mouth of yours to convince me not to kick you." Annie didn't clarify whether it would be outside and naked, or just straight up a good ol foot to his face. "Starting… now."

She gave one last squeeze, then released her annoyingly adorable prisoner. Bracing herself, she did her best to muffle her screams as Armin dug right in.

"Someone please kill me…" Hitch moaned, as she filed away one more form to put away in the complete pile. Compared to Marlowe's it was pitifully small, but then again Marlowe was a freak who'd rather put business before pleasure so that was to be expected.

"Come on Hitch, you've almost got the requisition forms out of the way." Marlowe patted Hitch's back. "After that, we can start on… oh, wait, no. Hitch, these are part of the special request action accounts, I'm afraid you'll have to add an amendment to explain you using a ink instead of a stencil…"

"ARGH!" Hitch screamed to the heavens.

Annie gasped out, and clenched the sheets to steady herself as Armin made her absolute putty in his hands, his tongue having finished teasing her and was now savouring the main course.

She couldn't think, she couldn't stop the sounds of pleasure escaping her, she couldn't do anything as Armin toyed with her mercilessly. The only thing she could do was ride out the storm, as she tried to fight the climax as long as possible.

Eventually, with one last lick that did her in, Annie came with a sharp cry, as her womanhood attempted to drown Armin in her juices. He pulled his head back to just avoid the majority drowning him, and wiped his chin, clearly pleased with himself as Annie panted. He made to crawl above her, his erection poking her multiple times as Armin looked down, like a conqueror.

"So, think I'm a good boyfriend now?"

That was absolutely the wrong thing to say. Or, maybe the perfect thing to say. With a speed and quickness of someone who was instantly revitalized, Annie flipped the two of them around so Armin was pinned under her again!

Armin blinked, suddenly staring up at Annie and feeling the bed against his back.

"…What just happened?"

"You talk too much." Annie gave a kiss to his brow, smiling as she traced her hand down his face, before positioning herself over his raging erection. Staring down at him, looking at her bewildered, transfixed… she envisioned herself in her Titan form, looking down at Armin who'd be as helpless as a mouse. A small tiny thing, so vulnerable, so cute as she'd reach forward and pick him up, carry him up high, maybe stroke his back to calm him down.

She wouldn't hurt him. She'd protect him. Armin, her sweet little Armin, he was hers and hers alone. Just as she was his.

Gentle hands touched her thighs, resistance to her plunging down right then and there with all her might. It didn't ruin the mood, with his cute expression looking up at her, with concern for her.

(He really should be concerned for himself, Annie wasn't sure he'd be able to walk after she was done.)

"Annie, wait, just… are you sure?"

"Really asking me this now?" Annie gently pulled one hand off her hip, and guided it to her left breast, letting Armin feel her heartbeat, hoping that was enough of an answer. "If you're worried I'll get knocked up, don't. My family doesn't get pregnant easily, and it's not my time."

'Thank you Pieck for going on about that trick actually working.'

"I just-"

"Shhhhhhhh…" Annie shushed him, a finger on his lips. "Armin, I'm sure. Now, are you ready?"

Armin gulped, but nodded, guiding her so he was waiting at her entrance, primed and raring to go. He'd taken his hands off her hips to rest on her rump and oh god her ass!… Armin must have imagined touching it dozens of times, and its softness exceeded his most daring of daydreams. Before he knew it, he'd started gingerly fondling, and his erection only got harder, amazingly! It had the perfect amount of give, soft enough to sink his fingers into, but just enough taut resistance to give each handful weight. If he had any reservations left, they were truly and utterly crushed. "Alright, I'll juUUUUUST!"

Armin was cut off as Annie sank down with all the strength her tiny body possessed, and rode him like a horse!

"You are the single most infuriating boneheaded man I've ever met in my entire life!" Hitch declared as if she were making a morning announcement to the entire population of Stohess, or at least the Military Police HQ.

"Me? You are the laziest good for nothing I've ever had the misfortune of working with!" Marlowe shot back. "I came to this place with dreams of shaping it up, but you shattered those dreams in just one week of working with you!"

"Yeah?! Well you've killed my dreams, and my hopes too! I am a broken shell of a woman now, and it's all your fault!" Hitch grabbed the nearest stack of paper work to wack Marlowe on the arm. "You insufferable workaholic, this is why it's a chore to be your friend!"

"It's not fun for me either, having to pick up after you every day!" Marlowe intercepted Hitch's next attack to grab the papers in her hand, and begin a game of tug and war. "Always slacking off!"

"Always ditching us for work!"

"Chasing after every boy in Stohess!"

"Finding this crap more appealing than me!"

"Have beauty and brains but only uses one of them!"

"Stupid work ethic and morals!"

"Why can't you just do your damn job!"

"Why can't you have fun once in your goddamn life!"

And, simultaneously, as the remarkably strong paper was finally starting to tear, they both cried out, "I hate working with you!"

Riiiiiiip!

They both stumbled backwards, and Hitch unfortunately found her bare foot slipping on a piece of paper that had her falling backwards, letting out a cry as she flailed her arms helplessly. It was only Marlowe's quick reflexes that he was able to catch her, pulling her up by her arm and ensnaring her around the waist.

"…Are you okay?" Marlowe asked the girl who was recovering from her quick scare there.

"Y-yeah." Hitch exhaled, before looking up into Marlowe's concerned face.

Maybe it was the high emotions running through her, through them, maybe it was her initial assessment of Marlowe coming back to mind with this little cat, or maybe it was just plain sexual frustration…

But Hitch grabbed Marlowe by the collar, and this time, it wasn't to scream into his face.

She kissed him. Full force, experience overpowering Marlowe in a matter of seconds, he was helpless as her mouth dominated his.

Yes, utterly helpless. He couldn't do a thing against her, nope. Couldn't break this off even if he wanted to.

None of your business if he wanted to.

She broke off the kiss with a wet POP, and watched as Marlowe slowly remembered how to breath.

Then take her by the shoulders and resume the kiss of his own accord. It was hard to tell whose legs gave out first, but soon they were on the ground, scattering pages everywhere.

Suffice to say, the paperwork would need to be disposed of later.

Two sweaty and very satisfied blondes collapsed on the bed together, Armin finding his face engulfed by Annie's breasts before she eventually rolled on her side, taking Armin with her as they were both joined together still. That had been… better than either of them were expecting.

Credit to Armin, he hadn't let Annie do all the work. That analytical mind of his never stopping even during utterly mind blowing sex, he'd thrusted up as she came down, finding a rhythm to elevate the pleasure. Finding the angles to thrust at that made Annie utter noises of pleasure the most, it was both a battle for dominance and the want to make their first time unforgettable.

They came, once, twice, three times before finally their bodies had given out. As soon as they caught their breath and realized they were very much eager for more, it was one more roll in the hay! The first time Annie was almost worried she'd cut herself and would involuntarily transform, the feeling of being filled by Armin was both painful and pleasurable. Thoughts of her giant body exploding the room and coming down to crush Armin were quickly dismissed, as she realized she could crush him just as easily right now, her fit and trained body raring to sink Armin into the mattress!

She hadn't quite managed that, or even broken the bed, though the frame did have a few cracks in it she'd notice before she left Stohess for good.

Two more times of mind numbing ecstasy had claimed them, and now they were both enjoying post coital bliss, and each other's warmth against the cold night air.

"So… was this good?" Armin managed to get out, and Annie wanted to snort, his confidence was fading already?

She managed to shift forwards so her forehead was touching his. "This was good Armin. Great, even."

"So you forgive me for getting lessons from KIPO?"

A roll of her eyes, evidently that was all it took to restore his confidence. 'Can't have that.' She mentally smirked, as she flexed her muscles around her crotch, earning a squeak from Armin. "Don't push it."

"Sorry, sorry." Armin laughed, and Annie actually smiled at that, her expression tender as the boy she loved looked so happy next to her. It was almost enough to ward off the feeling of sleep threatening to claim her, but unfortunately the days activities capped off by them fucking their brains out had taken it's toll. A yawn escaped Armin, and it passed over onto Annie.

Deciding now was as good a time as any, Annie separated the two of them, the noise that followed actually comparable to pulling her arm out of her Titan limb earlier today. A warm sensation pooled around her crotch, but she didn't care. She shuffled closer to wrap her arms around Armin, and rest her head on the croak of his neck.

"…Hey Annie?"

"Hmmm?"

"Thanks for the perfect date."

A fluttering feeling filled Annie's chest, and she offered a nuzzle of Armin's neck followed by a kiss. "Thanks for not dying."

A chuckle from Armin, and a peck to her nose. "See you in the morning."

With that, the two of them drifted off to sleep, both having pleasant dreams involving the other.

Wall Rose

A Titan that had taken to "sleeping" too close to the Wall found it's nape, and the rest of it's body, destroyed with a single missile.

"Can you afford to do that?" Jean asked, as Adam's launcher retreated back into its resting place on the cyborg's back. "I mean, thanks for giving us one less Titan, but with the King's order, and the scrap from the armour gone…"

"I have all our existing material accounted for and assigned to each tool and weapon it'll be used for, including my ammunition restock. A few missiles being fired won't screw us over." Adam reassured the boy. "Course that's assuming the Expedition works as intended and I'm able to get a continuous resupply while neck deep in enemy territory."

"If I may ask, did Erwin give any hint what the plan is regarding that?" Ilse questioned, observing the dead Titan that had melted down to its bones in a wonderful blazing fire.

"Just the broad strokes." Adam halted in his tracks, and all of his squad stopped with him. They followed his arm as he pointed to the vast expanse of Maria's land, shrouded in darkness and just waiting for them to enter it again. "Out there, somewhere, is a spot we can actually afford to stay put, according to your Commander. From there, Eren and I will pick off any Titans that come to us, while you hang back ideally, possibly even coming down to score an easy kill if provided an opening."

"…Huh. That actually sounds… well, I don't want to jinx us and say like a walk in the park, but…" Jean looked to the others, who nodded in agreement.

"Certainly sounds that way, doesn't it?" Adam lowered his arm. "The least riskiest mission the Scouts will face with the most reward. The only real danger is Armin will need to leave this safe zone to acquire new material for me with Specter, and Eren is on a time limit, two transformations at two hours each. Unless we think we can stay the night for him to regain his energy, that'll probably be it."

"Four hours… can your bullets last four hours?" Krista asked, trying to picture it.

"Depends on how many Titans arrive in however large their groups, and if they really will focus on you instead of me."

"Our valued jobs as bait." Ymir nodded. "Well that was our role anyway being in your squad, so really we'll have a leg up on everyone else."

"Indeed. I want you to know if any of you manage to get eaten despite how much I've stacked the deck in your favour, I will be upset." Adam turned to face them. "You've shown me you can fight this enemy, can survive them. I trust even with your faith in me and Eren, you won't be taking stupid risks or get overconfident. Just act like you normally do, and we'll walk in and out of those gates together."

"…Holy shit, could it actually be that easy?" Jean had to say out loud, this seriously sounded doable! Like he could actually leave on his first Expedtion and come back feeling like a winner!

"It could, provided the Colossal or Armoured don't show up."

A feeling like cold water drenching them fell over all the non-cybernetic individuals on the Wall.

"Way to build us up only to tear us down, sir." Ymir ground out, even her good mood having taken a hit.

"You had to suspect there was a possibility of running into them." Adam replied. "Erwin's not going to outright say it, even as Eren ramps up his fighting for the mock battles, but that is what's on the horizon. Remember how I said he was going to go all out? That's to prepare you for fighting people like him, human's in Titan form."

"Oh fuck…" Jean swore, and the sentiment was shared by all.

"If it helps, the current strategy is mostly fleeing to safety if not luring the enemy to me or Eren." Adam offered. "The few reports on the Armoured state it was immune to cannon fire, so safe bet your ODM blades won't fare much better. And the Colossal… well, do any of you see yourselves winning against it?"

"…No, but-"

"But nothing. A pointless death is a pointless death, and up against two unknowns like these, that's all you'd get, a pointless death." Adam cut Ilse off. "Maybe if you had your backs against the literal Wall and didn't have two Titan killers on your team you'd have no choice. But you have a choice, an order, from me, to not engage any human Titans. Understand?"

"Yeah yeah, we understand." Ymir nodded. "Sorry guys, guess we'll have to be content with trying to live another day instead of going out in a blaze of glory, sucks I know."

"Hate to say it, but do listen to Ymir." Adam ordered. "Armoured, Colossal, leave them to me, got it?"

"Yes sir."

"Louder."

"Yes sir!"

"Good." Adam replied, convinced he had made his point. "Well, that's all I had to share for tonight, unless anyone wants to enter a debate about our enemies motivations and morality? Jean here had the most interesting questions about how someone with power like Eren's could willingly let people get eaten by the Titans."

"…I think we'd all just like to get to sleep instead." Krista tried.

"Really? Not even if I say whoever gives me the best idea as to the why gets out of training tomorrow? Ymir, you sure you don't want to try?"

The freckled girl laughed. "As much as I'm sure I could come up with an answer nobody would ever think up themselves, I think I'll take a good night of sleep instead."

"Same. Though if nobody comes up with any other answers, does that mean I win by default?" Jean asked, hopeful.

"Technically you didn't give an answer last time, Adam did." Ilse reminded him.

"Thank you Ilse, nice try Jean." Adam offered a single chuckle. "Tomorrow morning at first light, you are in for the training course from hell."

"Oh goodie, Shadis all over again." Jean groaned, which got him a snicker from Ymir and a pat on the back from Ilse. All three of them began the walk back to the gates of Karanese, where they could pick up a horse each and ride back to HQ.

They didn't notice until they'd descended that Krista hadn't come with them.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Krista apologized while pleading in a perfect dogeza position.

"Give me one good reason not to crush your head like a melon." Adam asked while raising a foot for emphasis. "And don't say because everyone will try to arrest me or kill me or I'll have to do community service at least, because I'm still more than willing to go through with this."

"…"

"Well?"

"I'm trying!" Krista screeched, only to meep as Adam brought his foot down less than a inch away from her noggin.

"Try harder." Adam pulled back his foot to stand up straight again. "I don't take well to people peeking into my personal life, Lenz. You crossed a line, and I know for a fact you're now aware how I react when people cross a line with me."

"It was an honest mistake! A harmless one!" Krista looked up, using all her acting ability to appear as apologetic, meek, and "not worth killing over this!" as possible, even as she rose to her knees. "I really just wanted to see you in action, try to learn from you, but when I stumbled across that memory of your family, I just…"

"…What? Wanted to see how to better get on my good side? Suck up even more for some reason?"

"…Yes." Krista answered, honestly. "That's exactly what I wanted. I wanted to get to know the real you. I wanted… to get close to you."

A hand reaching for her caused Krista to "Yipe!" in surprise as she suddenly found herself being hoisted by her ODM gear belt, and soon dangling off the edge of the Wall, right over Wall Maria's territory. She brought her hands down to clutch at Adam's wrist, mostly for support, as this position was more uncomfortable than frightening, for the moment. Once she was steady, she stared down the outstretched arm into Adam's optics.

"What is wrong with you? I'm seriously asking, are you an idiot? Thrill-seeker? You're as close to me as you could possibly get without being smushed against my torso, and you want more?" Adam shook Krista, half expecting candy or drugs or something to fall out of her that would help explain this perky nut job. "Why? I know you're not stupid despite your demeanour, but dare I ask are you hoping I'll be your brave knight in shining armour to protect the little Princess?"

"Not… exactly…" Krista uttered while being shook. "I mostly… wanted… to be your friend!"

"Okay, now I know you're touched in the head."

"I'm serious! I… could be… one… if… you gave me… a chance!"

"I don't have friends. Just people in my vicinity who haven't died yet." Adam mercifully ended his shaking, and Krista only took three seconds to stop her wooziness before continuing to plead her case.

"That's not true, I saw, you've had lot's of friends! Like Miss Michiko Arasaka, or Elika, Lugo and Griggs, and-"

"Literally all dead… well Michiko is alive and I never confirmed Elika but they may as well be dead." Adam stated, bringing in Krista so close she was actively leaning away from his head as he stared up at her. "And the reason I could be friends with them was because they were all useful, they had something to offer me. I don't link up with dead weight."

"That's not true!" Krista denied. "I saw it, Project Snow Bear! You didn't have to help that girl, but you did!"

Adam internally frowned, his grip on Krista's belt tightened, as one memory came back to him…

"Why didn't you tell me?" Adam looked through the operating room window, watching as a licensed Arasaka surgeon put Naser under, while simultaneously her assistants brought out their tools.

Tools, and a brand new cyberarm.

A child sized cyberarm.

"You were away on work, and I didn't want to distract you at a crucial time." Annie replied, squeezing her bear as she watched. "I left instructions with your new handler to pass my message along when you weren't busy. And to not be in the same room just in case."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence. I don't fly off the handle at every upsetting thing."

"I know you don't, but just in case…" Annie barely even twitched as the bone saw was starting up, beginning to break skin. "…Lucy is inconsolable. I told her it wasn't her fault, that Stuart and I love her, that Naser loves her, he'll forgive her… but she can't stop crying."

"She will. It'll take some time, but once she sees he's alright, that'll probably help." Adam looked to his sister, before giving a command to blur the windows. She had no obligation to watch this. "You said they were playing?"

"Playing Cyberpunks. Coming up with cool attack names and dramatic battles. Lucy likes to play as you, by the way." Annie tried to peer through the glass still, but upon realizing it was pointless and that her brother was blocking her attempts to unblur the window, she relented and turned to face him fully. "I'm a little fuzzy on the whole story, but from what Lucy was able to tell me, they were jumping off the roof to land on the adjacent apartment, catching "bad guys.""

'Fuck, that's a five story drop…' Naser was honestly lucky he had only destroyed his left arm. "And Lucy?"

"She made it. She turned around expecting to see Naser behind her, only to hear screaming from below. Neighbours screaming, Naser luckily passed out."

"Lucky." Adam nodded.

"…Am I a bad mom?"

"No."

"But I-"

"Did absolutely nothing wrong." Adam cut in before his little sister could feel worse than she already was. "You raised them right, you've always taken care of them, they're good kids… but you can't be there all the time. You can't prepare for every stupid thing they'll do, they're kids with kid brains who ignore common sense. This was just the worst case of that happening, but it wasn't because of you."

Annie blinked, then nodded, raising a hand to wipe away the tears that had escaped. "…Thank you, Adam."

"Just giving you the facts." Adam lightly patted her head.

"I know, but thanks." Annie took a breath, calming herself. "…Stuart and Lucy are at the food court. I think she'd like to see you, maybe you could give her a similar pep talk?"

"Bring her to the staff room on the fourth floor, it'll afford us privacy." Adam suggested.

"Can do." Annie turned one last time to try and catch a glimpse of her son, before accepting she'd have to wait until the surgery was done and made for the elevator, Adam in tow. "Sorry again for having you come out here."

"Hey, family's important. And I needed an Arasaka hospital anyway, so it actually worked out getting the call when I did, she was ready to be transferred."

"You brought her here?" Annie was surprised, surely there were closer medical facilities. She pressed the button to call a lift.

Adam picked up on his sisters line of thought. "Under advisement of my handler and the therapist he consulted with, there's going to be a need for psychological care, the kind for children. This place just so happens to provide that where none of the others do, so long flight aside, nobody is going to raise any eyebrows I chose this place to store her."

"Hope that didn't affect her chances at recovery at all…" Annie raised an eyebrow, hoping her brother hadn't been selfish here.

"Like I said, she was ready to be transferred. Had her scrubbed out, stabilized, and given continuous care on the plane." The elevator pinged, and both Smasher siblings stepped in. Adam made to press for the ground floor, before pausing. "…You want to see her? Half her face fell off and her legs are stroganoff, but she'll still pull through if the doctors conclude she's as valuable as assessed."

'Might give you a better piece of mind regarding your boy.' Adam thought.

Annie only hesitated for a second, before nodding, her curiosity overtaking her. Adam pressed the button for the emergency treatment center, sending a quick ping to Stuart they were taking a detour, and the two were off to see Arasaka's newest plaything. The sole survivor of a nuclear attack, out of 51,784 thousand civilians and personal, all equipped with a variety of state of the art cybernetics and radiation scrubbers.

All of them, except for the survivor.

The Smasher siblings exited the lift with Adam taking lead, down a hallway with doctors and medical personal all fluttering about. So many test cases to both make better and learn from, as was the Arasaka way, securing a benefit was top priority.

They came before a sealed off room, and waited as Adam's clearance granted them passage. Entering to approach a different glass barrier, they were met with the site of one expensive hospital bed, it's occupant hooked up to dozens of tubes and wires with several mechanical arms hanging overhead, already hard at work to save what organic matter was salvageable.

With luck, Adam wouldn't be looking at his next understudy.

"Here she is. The sole survivor of the Berlin bombing. Likes her mom's cooking and snow bears. Names Julia."

"Last name?"

"Haven't found it yet. Town records were fried, and any copies were wiped out in the blast." Adam replied. "Found her while touring the blast zone. Brass wanted data on the one's responsible, they didn't think anyone had made it."

"Not even the soldiers at the edge of the blast zone?"

"Their radiation scrubbers crapped out and they died hours later. Got them all scanned so take a look to see what went wrong if you like."

"And the ones who set off the bomb?"

"Found two of them, hiding in the ash, equipped with DaiOni's." Adam replied like it was no big deal, even if he'd spent 90% of his ammo bringing the fucker's down. "Got flakes of what used to be people in all my joints, it was a real dust storm fighting them."

"Got vids?"

"Of course. Gave the second one a send off line, just for you. "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, I've utterly destroyed you, so die you must.""

"…Perfect." Annie actually grinned, her brother's coolness temporarily overcoming her. "So then, how did you find…Julia, was it?"

"Was heading out with the second's DaiOni when I stumbled across her. She was sitting in what I presume used to be her house, carving up what was left of her legs and eating slices of it."

The way he said it so casually, one would think Adam lacked tact. They'd be right, but fortunately Smasher's were just like that.

Annie stepped up on her tippy toes in an effort to glimpse what was left of Julia's legs. "Shock, perhaps?"

"Probably. From what she was muttering, she seemed to think she was eating her mom's roast beef, and not her charcoal limbs. Limbs still attached to her, I should mention, she was a real mess." Adam didn't spare the gorey details. "Honestly only noticed her because of her singing, thought it was glitch but no, there she was. She saw me, and seemed to think I was a bear? "Mr. Black Bear!" she says, asking if I'm here to celebrate her birthday with her. That was when she smiled and the chunk of her face fell off."

"And she's still alive…" Annie pressed her forehead agains the glass. "…You said she's all ganic, no chrome?"

"That's right." He had indeed shared that before Annie had gotten to mentioning Naser, it was honestly amazing. "The working theory is her parent's scrubbers managed to absorb a good chunk of the blast, and even after they died it was still scrubbing the radiation as long as it could, shielding her for a time. Even so, she should have been dead long before I met her, and even as I brought her back to base I was expecting a melted puddle to be all that was left."

Adam made to pat his sisters back. "But against all odd's, this sorry sack of meat is still alive. If she can do that, then Naser's certainly going to pull thro-"

"I want to see her." Annie stated, bear squeezed so tight in her arms Adam was concerned she'd pop the head off.

"…Why?"

"I don't know." Annie replied honestly, then repeated, "I want to see her. Her test results, the doctors she has, what's in store for her, … I want to see her."

"…Is this a long term thing or a brief fling of fancy?" Adam asked for clarification, already set to grant this request but curious how much he!d have to pull rank.

"Long term." Annie turned to face Adam, and he could see in this black orbs of her eyes she had something in mind. "It's… mostly professional, absolutely in Arasaka's interests."

"Percentage wise?"

"60… no, 65%!" Annie declared confidently. Then immediately wilted without Adam doing a thing. "Okay, 54%, but that's still more than half?"

"Uh huh." Adam delivered, dead pan. "And your personal interests?"

Annie smiled, and looked at her bear, turning it around to peer into it's single remaining eye.

"Well, I just thought, wouldn't it be nice if Naser had a playmate while he was here?"

"That moment was beneficial. And private, you are not doing yourself any favours." Adam warned.

"…Fine." Krista nodded, her eyes narrowed, and for a moment Adam thought he saw something that was… well, less annoying, somehow. "Then you want me to be beneficial first? Then I'll be beneficial."

"…Really?" Adam could not hide how little he thought of that idea. "And how is that? What can you possibly have to offer me?"

"Make me like Armin." Krista declared, hands splayed out, as if awaiting a great beam of light to engulf her and take her to the heavens. "That's it. That's what I can offer."

'…Nope, she's an idiot.' Adam was seriously reassessing if the blonde in his hand would actually make it through the Expedition. He was actually starting to miss Armin! "Clearly you haven't been paying attention. Armin being my handler is NOT a positive for me."

"But he is useful to you. He can make you weapons, ammo, and fix you up. He's a liability, if he dies you're in troubl- I mean, you'll have more work cut out for you. So make me like him, and I can double your chances!"

"…Wow, you are feeling brazen today."

"Come on, it makes sense!" Krista insisted. "I'll be even better, I won't do… whatever it is Armin did to stop you! I'll just go zzzzzzsssssss on things!"

"Don't make sound effects, you're terrible at it." Adam stated. "And no, the position of ball and chain around my ankle has been filled. And even if Armin dies, I'm going to try and intercept KIPO so she doesn't assign a new one, put Specter under my heel."

"…Then what about…what about resources?"

"What about resources? We're lacking, but we're scavenging to just barely meet an acceptable quota." Adam repeated what he felt he'd already clearly stated. "What, do you have a pile of jewelry tucked away you'd be willing to throw into the grinder?"

"Yes." Krista immediately answered. "Or, at least I think I do? Look, can you put me down so I can explain, please? I really want to help here!"

'Oh, so close to her asking me to let her go…' Adam lamented the missed opportunity, peering down at the darkness bellow. '…Could still hop down and put her under duress for the rest of this conversation… no, no, you're just being petty Adam. Let Lenz talk, THEN you install a healthy dose of fear so she snaps out of… whatever she's trying to pull here.'

Adam guided Krista down, making sure she was steady on her feet, before releasing her. She cautiously looked around, before peering over the Wall down into Maria's territory, seeming to consider something. Shaking her head, taking a deep breath, and whispering "Sorry Ymir," Krista Lenz declared,

"My name… is Historia Reiss. I'm the daughter of Rod Reiss, a noble." The newly identified Historia declared, and with it, that something Adam had seen earlier enveloped her whole body, booting "Krista" off a cliff. "The name, the identity of Krista Lenz is a lie to protect myself and my family. My father, he has a great deal of power within these Walls, and is extremely wealthy. He can get you what you need, enough to meet your quota and more!"

She made this proclamation without hesitation, without looking away.

Adam was, naturally, skeptical.

"Kindly explain how exactly you think that'll work out." Adam drawled. "From what Erwin's told me, nobodies taken him up on his offer to supply him in exchange for dibs on whatever recovered land they choose in Maria."

"That's true, but that was before you killed over a hundred Titans without a single casualty!" Historia proclaimed, not beamed, but proclaimed. "That had to make some people reconsider, actually think taking back Maria was a possibility. If we pull off just one more feat like that, one more win, then we can send out the offers again!"

"Alright, that sounds like something feasible." Adam granted her that. "But it's still just speculation, and I don't see how you're helping here?"

"I can help because we need someone who'll risk the King's wrath." Historia replied. "If anyone does this, agrees to help, that will be as good as defying King Fritz. People who do that… well, it typically doesn't end well for them."

"But your father would?"

"He's chafed under the King's rule for years, having all this power but barely able to do anything with it. He has the land, the wealth, the connections, but it's nothing against the three armies of the Walls, and the will of the people." Historia clenched her fist. "I know he's desired more, who wouldn't? If he was shown he could have it, have all he asked for…"

"By being shown a force greater than the Titans that could ensure his protection?"

Historia nodded. "We deliver a letter personally, show you're real, and he'll have no choice but to believe."

"Alright, let's go get him."

"Eh?" Historia's expression briefly morphed back to one more reminiscent of Krista at that, before she registered what Adam said as he started to march off. "W-wait! Hold on a second!"

"What's the matter? We'll just pop in right now and deliver the good news." Adam replied over his shoulder.

"He lives in the North, it'd take half a day to reach him and it's already night!"

"Alright, tomorrow morning then, first light."

"That's not- stop for a second!" Historia gave a burst of speed to stop in front of Adam, arm's stretched out. "Just wait! It's not that simple!"

Adam did stop, and waited for Historia to continue. She took several deep breaths, and was evidently considering her words.

"I'm… I'm not exactly… welcome, back home."

'Had a feeling. Rich family drama is the same everywhere it seems.' Adam doubted this Reiss family could hold a candle to the Arasaka's internal drama, but if he had to go out on a limb… "Bastard child?"

The blonde actually flinched, looking up at Adam with wide eyes. "How did you-"

"Safest bet. Most estranged children from supposedly powerful families usually strike out on their own, who needs luxury and never having to worry about going hungry? They'd make their own fortune, create a gang, or live a simple life with someone they met on the street." Adam listed off. "The very last thing they do is join the army, and certainly not an army with a casualty rate of… what was it again, 80%?"

"60%, from the last four years."

"Yeah, you're an unwanted bastard. Sent out here hoping you'll die."

Whether it was him getting so accurate or reminding her of her status, Historia definitely took a hit from that, visibly flinching and looking downcast. But she quickly recovered, looking at Adam with steel in her eyes.

"…Even so, I'm still a Reiss, and I haven't died. And I'm on a first name basis with the legendary Titan Smasher, that alone will cause my father to overlook any problems about my birth. He'll meet with us, he'll accept our offer, and we'll be equipped to finish off all the Titans good and proper!"

"You can guarantee that?"

"I can. Just get us through the Expedition, one last hurdle, and I'll take care of the rest. I'll make my father meet with us."

"And we can't go before the Expedition because…"

"It's not enough to take back a district or hold the line at the gates." Historia answered. "If we're going to show we can take back Maria, we need to prove we can survive out there, in the Titans territory. We need to prove we can overcome what the King cannot."

…

'Well, she spins a decent yarn at least.' Adam gave his review of Historia's lies.

She was good, really good, probably came with the territory of having forged a fake persona all these years. Adam didn't doubt a good portion of what the petite girl in front of him had said was true (he was going to cross reference this Reiss family later), but she was definitely mixing in lies as well.

'Definitely not being honest about her dad being so keen to sell out to us, she's just blowing hot air. But him being powerful… she believes that at least.' Adam picked apart her story. 'He could very well have all I need to finish off the Titans, but that bit about needing to wait until after the Expedition… she's trying to buy time, she has no idea how to contact him or get him onboard. Classic welsher trying to stiff me, hoping something unexpected will happen so I won't come calling for payment.'

Normally, Adam would thump such an obvious scammer on the head so hard their noggin exploded and he could go on with his day. Normally.

"…And what do you get out of this?"

Historia blinked, apparently not expecting that. "…Pardon?"

"Offering up your dad- no, your wealth like this, it can't be for free. So what exactly do you want? Why, again, are you trying to get on my good side?"

Historia maintained eye contact with Adam for a moment, before turning around and walking a short distance, looking to the starry sky.

"Can't a girl just want to live?" She asked, the heavens or Adam, it was hard to say. "You were right, my family wants me gone. All the way out here on the edge of what's left of our territory isn't enough for them, they want me gone gone. And I don't want to die, so I'll give them the next best thing. I'll go, and keep going where they can't find me. The sooner, the better."

Hisotria turned to Adam, and smiled for the first time since she'd revealed her true self. "Sorry if I was a little impatient, but you were absolutely a god send for making that possible.

"You want to get out of here?"

"And never look back. I want to leave, and be free of the Reiss name. After I use it to help you, of course. Help clear the way so I can just walk out the gate."

'Of course.' Adam sarcastically thought.

"Sorry if I was annoying, but I honestly feel being as close to you as possible is the safer solution, and helping you kill all the Titans that much quicker however I can is purely beneficial."

"Starting to wonder if you'll actually be able to meet with your father to do any of that."

"He will." Historia replied, not too fast but not too slow, the perfect response time for a lie. "I'll make it happen."

'Back to the buying time part of this farce…' Adam was honestly curious what she had planned. Was she going to let the chips fall where they may, or was she actually going to try something?

And did Adam have anything to lose by letting this play out?

'…Ah what the hell, literally have no better ideas without having to wage a miniature war within the Walls, why not let her try and surprise me?' Adam gave in. He honestly doubted this… let's call it an investment, would pay off, but who knows? On the one hand, it could turn out she had nothing and delivered nothing, okay, ditch her or kill her.

But if she did deliver something, then the simple act of not killing her and letting Historia run free would prove beneficial.

'You gotta weigh the pros and cons, that's just good business sense.' Lugo's voice rang in Adam's mind.

"Alright then." Adam stepped forward, and got down on one knee. "Let's make this official."

There it was, Krista Lenz poking through again. "Eh, what? What's… what's going on?"

"Making a contract between us." Adam stated. "On the promise of payment, I'll take on the job of ensuring your safety."

"Payment?" The blonde suddenly lost all hope in her eyes, seems she couldn't conceive daddy lending her money. "I don't-"

"The resources you're promising are the payment." Adam clarified. "In exchange for giving me all that I need to make it possible, I will wipe out the Titans and ensure your safety. A Titan-less world for you to live in. Shake on it?"

A cold mechanical hand extended, and Historia managed to run through this declaration from him quickly enough Adam wasn't holding it out long. She just started to reach for his hand, then stopped.

"Ymir."

"Hmm?"

"Ymir's safety." Historia stated. "Can you ensure hers too?"

'Probably not, as she's almost certainly an enemy in disguise.' "That costs extra." Adam stated, pulling his hand back to rest on his knee, ready to give a reasonable fib, and endure the pleading that was coming. "I already see myself in the red no matter how I work this, so unless you have an actual money to pay my ludicrous rates-"

"Then just her."

"…Pardon?"

"Ymir. Wipe out all the Titans, and ensure her safety, in exchange for everything my family has to offer." Historia stepped forward, and extended a hand. "That's the job, that's the contract."

"…You sure about this?" Adam couldn't say he was surprised, literally day one since he'd met the girl it had all been about the brunette, but considering how passionately she'd stated her desires to live and leave…

"I've stayed alive this long, I can put in the effort to make it to the finish line on my own. You just have to keep me alive through the Expedition so I can actually meet my father, but that's it. I want you to keep Ymir safe first and foremost, is that a problem?"

'…Well, considering I very much doubt you'll deliver on your end, it's really not a problem for me to agree to this while I'm actively planning for her transformation.' Adam carefully shook Historia's. He was a lot of things, and professional was one of them. Never let it be said Adam didn't honour his contracts, unless in the case of failure to pay or double crosses.

In this case, Adam would now endeavour to KEEP Ymir alive. He could probably argue for Ymir's safety to Erwin, once he brought her in. Possibly sooner, if his taunting had taken hold…

"Alright then." Historia smiled, unaware of Adam's true thoughts on the matter, evidently feeling very relieved with how this night had turned out. "…Now that that's out of the way… since I am helping you out still, being beneficial…"

"…Yes?"

"Well, any chance my original plan of being your friend could still happen?" Historia asked, hopefully.

"…I think I liked you better as Krista. At least then I know you were intentionally trying to be annoying."

Historia actually looked hurt at that (indeed, she would ask Ymir and the others later if they thought her Krista persona was annoying, and if Adam was just being the eternal grump he normally was), but carried on. "I'm serious! I just shared with you my deepest darkest secret, my family, that means… that means you can trust me with the same. If you want to talk about anything, like your family…"

"I literally was about to crush your head and toss you off the Walls over that, you really want to bring that up?" Adam stood up to his full height, but the blonde didn't waver.

"…If you want to talk, or just vent to someone… I'm here." Historia stated.

'The audacity, the sheer fucking audacity…' Adam wasn't even mad, just… impressed, he guessed, at this pint sized meat really pushing her luck tonight. Contract or no, she couldn't possibly think that was the perfect safety net.

"…Actually, I do have something to share." Adam found himself talking, the desire to mess with Historia his main motivation, but also wanting to actually share something that had been bothering him. It was a little thing, pointless really, so he hadn't brought it up to KIPO. But someone who couldn't possibly do anything with this information, maybe they'd be the perfect recipient for it.

Consider it a test run for Historia keeping her mouth shut.

"Yes?" Historia stepped up, ready and willing to listen, ignoring the voice that warned her she might be stepping into range of Adam's swiping range.

"I sometimes think I died. This is my personal hell or ironic punishment, and I'm being tested in some bizarre afterlife. Technology is practically non-existent, the greatest enemy is giant walking piles of meat, and there's little ironic reminders of my life back home. Only one oriental in the all the Walls instead of being my bosses, my handler is almost an exact match for my brother in law, and the girl he's cozying up to has my sisters name but her killers face. That one really has me wondering if I actually did kick the bucket finally, and this is all one big test or subtle fuckery before my soul is torn to pieces."

"…"

"…Or you know, life is just weird like that."

Krist- No, Historia Reiss departed with a leap off the Wall and the sound of her wires firing, either to have a pleasant sleep or toss and turn over what Adam just said. It had been… something, that maybe she could build off. Or just nonsense and she had her work cut out for her, either one. Adam watched her go, before turning around to stare out into the black expanse of Wall Maria once again.

'A contract on top of a contract that coincides with a mission's objectives. This place is starting to feel like home.' Adam thought with amusement. 'Course, that's assuming she actually can deliver the goods and isn't just making false promises hoping she'll have an opportunity to flee before I can collect.'

Honestly Adam had misgivings Historia was as useful as she claimed to be. He didn't doubt she was from a powerful family, she had been genuine about that, but for this family to be able to provide what he needed when the King said no? Unless she was hoping Adam would protect them while they committed treason? Honestly if that was the plan he didn't necessarily hate it, dumping the grunt work on him notwithstanding, Adam was tittering on the edge of overthrowing the monarchy. It was only the absolute tediousness of that idea and Erwin's promises the Expedition would be a step forward regardless of the outcome that was staying his hand.

Still, maybe he'd check to see if anyone in the Scout's was up for a little coup? He understood they had loyalty to their leaders, society and stability and all that crap. But maybe he'd graced them with enough examples of how much easier fighting the Titans could be they'd entertain the idea. At least, give him an idea of how replacing the old sleepy eyed prick in the throne would go. Just a thought.

A boot making contact with the rails that was too deliberate not to be an announcement ended Adam's train of thought. 'Ah, so she isn't just eavesdropping. Have I stirred the pot enough to have some fun tonight, or is she going to play the game some more?'

"Finally decided to step out from your hiding spot?"

"Mostly because my legs were starting to cramp. Those buckles start to chaff after a while, you know?… Or not, on account of you being you." Ymir replied with a small smile, not even pausing as she strode up to him. "Let me guess, you knew I was there the whole time?"

"I can hear a pin drop in Stohess from here, yeah, I knew."

"Then can I assume dangling Krista above off the edge like that was for my benefit?"

"A bit. I was wondering what you were playing at hiding there, so I thought I'd try and coax you out a little. Also, to test if you'd disregard all sense and reason if she was in danger, can't have a liability on the team."

"I'm still on the team?" Ymir blinked, surprised.

"There a reason you wouldn't be?"

"…I don't know. I honestly don't know." Ymir chuckled. "…You… you haven't been subtle, you know that, right? Like shit, the only thing missing was you going "Boy, it's real good there are no other Titans amongst us, Ymir. I'd certainly be worried if there was more to worry about than the Armour and Colossal, Ymir. Hey Ymir, can you Ymir for a Ymir while I Ymir your Ymir, Ymir." Ymir snorted, having amused herself with her deliberately bad impersonation of Adam.

Only for her breath to hitch and her smile to fade, a sliver of water starting to pool up at the corners of her eye.

'…Goddammit, and I was hoping this would turn into something fun.' Adam let the wave of familiar disappointment wash over him, not even bothering to entertain the thought Ymir was a bipolar killer or about to state she was regretful he had to die.

"You know, I thought I'd be braver right now." Ymir laughed. "I thought…maybe I could be cool right now. I had this whole speech prepared, I had a note written for Krista, and I even had-"

"Would you like to take a seat?"

"-epted my dea-…huh?" Ymir's pity party ended upon being interrupted.

"Over there." Adam pointed behind him, where one of the slight rises of the the Wall waited, a good spot to sit down and kick one's feet up. "You look like you're going to break down any moment now, and I'm not a good shoulder to cry on. So let's take a load off, and you collect yourself."

"…This isn't so you can more easily kill me?"

"I could kill you right now no problem." A quick burst of his Sandevistan, and he was suddenly behind her, his hands on her shoulder and leaning in to speak into her ear in a tone that would have anyone else lose bladder control. "Really, it's not a problem for me, no matter what trick you have up your sleeve."

"…I guess not, huh." Ymir slowly walked forward and set herself down right next to the tracks, utterly resigned. She only perked up a bit when Adam made to sit on the opposite side of the tracks, amazingly not cracking any of the stone under his metal posterior. He rested his arms atop his legs, but that was it, no attempts to speak.

Seeing that, Ymir dared to think maybe tonight wasn't her last night alive. Wiping her eyes, and willing herself back under control, she broke the silence.

"…How long have you known?"

"Two days after we went outside and had our little field trip. The brass have you pegged because they have an eye witness, and shared their suspicions with me."

The freckled girl frowned, evidently trying to think about who could have possibly seen her transform. 'If she were like me I'd assume she'd be thinking "Who could possibly have seen me transform and lived to tell about it?" But I'm going to guess that's not the case.'

"Daz?"

"Hmm?"

"Daz." Ymir repeated, turning to look at Adam for confirmation. "He's your eye witness, right? Saw me transform that one time and couldn't fight his loyalty to his people over his gratitude towards me.

"No, but maybe we should send out a feeler for him? That sounds interesting." Adam replied.

Ymir frowned again. "Really? Cause if it's not him then…" Her voice trailed off, as whatever thought she had she evidently didn't want to voice aloud.

"Can I ask you something?" Adam spoke up, then barged ahead without waiting. "Is Krista in on this?"

"No!" Ymir held up her hands, as if she was trying to ward off an animal. "She is completely innocent, she has nothing to do with this, it's all just me, and my wrapping her up in this mess that she knows nothing about."

"That sounded a little rehearsed."

"It was." Ymir admitted, completely serious, looking away to kick out her feet and groan to the stars. "I've been waiting for this day for nearly three years now, I've had a speech prepared to precisely explain what's going on so nobody gets caught in the crossfire, everyone is focused on me and me alone. Nobody is gonna think "Hey, that adorable blonde with the most perfect smile is in cahoots with that monster, let's kill her too!", and take a swing at her."

"So she's not a Titan too?"

"Nope. She's from the Wall's, and if that's the case there's no way she can be a Titan, trust me."

"Trust…" Adam let the word hang, and Ymir sighed, rotating to look at the cyborg with a hand on her knee.

"Please trust me? I like to think my coming out earns me some points in that regards."

"It's good start, but that really depends on how the rest of this conversation goes." Adam turned to face Ymir, staring her down whilst towering over her. "…What are you hoping will come from this? Trying to recruit me? Make a deal? Confess your sins?"

"…Yes?" Ymir scratched the back of her head. "Honestly, I'm really just hoping I'll get to keep living, living here, that'd be ideal, really. Failing that, a guarantee for Krista's safet- oh, don't give me that, you had to know I'd ask!" The brunette glared as Adam looked to the sky in what would have been the eye roll of a lifetime had he the proper optics. "…But yeah, I guess in a way, I'll be doing all three."

"You're battering information for safety?"

"Information, and myself, all of myself." Ymir stated. "I'm offering my services as one more Titan to help take back Wall Maria, one more heavy hitter to take the heat off everybody else. And all I ask in return is I'll get to keep living here, fair trade right?"

It certainly did. Almost sounded like too good an offer, but hey, Adam was willing to entertain the thought this development wouldn't screw him over. "Let's start with the obvious question, why now?"

"Uh, because you were hounding me and making it pretty clear you knew?" Ymir couldn't help but look at Adam like he was an idiot.

"Let me try that again. Are you and enemy or an ally of the Wall's?"

"I'm not their enemy. Not anyone's enemy." Ymir answered immediately.

"So why didn't you transform at any point like Eren to help kill the Titans? Make your life and everyone else's easier?"

"Because I didn't want to be killed on sight by people who'd see me as the very same monster they've been fighting their whole lives? Or by say, some outsider who stumbled in and almost killed Eren after he saved Trost?" Ymir pointed out, and Adam had to give her that one, memories of his first day coming to him.

"Okay, I can see your point."

"Right? And believe me, I've thought about spilling the beans, but every way I imagined it it just went badly. More time passing and me hiding this secret, not a great look."

"But now that you are "spilling the beans," you tell me?"

"I'm banking on the "I don't care" part of your asshole routine to apathetically listen to what I have to say, and maybe be my buffer so I can get to make my case to the people who'll want to hear this next. Speaking of, can I make a request?" Ymir held up her hand. At Adam's nod, she continued. "A lot of what I have to say, the answers to the maaaaaany questions you have, the Commander's gonna want to hear it, it really is gonna affect him and the people here the most. I'd like to have to avoid repeating myself because there's a LOT I'll have to go through."

"So you are going to talk to the Commander?"

"Have to. This is too big for just you to know. As much as I'd like to only have to tell you, convince you to convince Erwin and whoever else at least suspects I'm totally not a Titan, just regular old Ymir, who'll get to live her life free of responsibility and worry… I can't do that." Ymir sighed. "These people… they really have no idea what's coming. They're good honest people, and I… I can't sit by and let them die."

"And here I thought you realized your strengths and being a persuasive talker wasn't one of them."

"Neither is being an indifferent asshole with incredible power at my fingertips, that's your specialty. And fuck you, I'm great at talking, and getting people to do what I want." Ymir chuckled.

"…Alright, getting back on track." Adam circled the conversation back. "What can you tell me that won't bear repeating? How about which Titan are you? It better be Armoured, because if it's Colossal I don't see the runt not lopping your head off."

"Neither, I'm the Jaw." Ymir placed her thumbs and forefingers on the sides of her mouth and made a bitting motion. "This sorta leans into stuff Erwin's going to want to hear, but to clarify, there's only nine of us, humans who can turn into Titans and turn back. And I think there's… definitely not more than six of us here."

"Where is here, anyway?"

"Hold up, I've got a question to ask you." Ymir peered at Adam, as if she could make out his inner thoughts from the emotionless metal mask that was his face. "…Have you ever been to Marley?"

"No."

"Knew it." Ymir gave one long exhale, weather or relief or disappointment, Adam couldn't say. "There was just no way. No way you could know nothing about the Titans and have been there, it's just impossible… hey, so were you-"

"Thought you had a question."

"…This is the bonus round!" Ymir exclaimed, annoyed at Adam's interruption. "Were you lying about taking us to Marley?"

"Yep, that was to mess with you, see how you reacted." Adam admitted. "Call it a hunch, but I'm taking it Marley's not on your travel destinations?"

"Damn right it's not." Ymir nodded. "I don't know how you don't know, unless you're really Eldian yourself and that last chunk of you got it's memories erased with everyone else here-"

"Wait, that is what happened here?" Adam interrupted, one of the many theories he'd had suddenly being brought up and seemingly correct.

"…Seriously, we should go see the boss man. There's a LOT to go through."

"You did say that."

"Because it's true."

Adam stared down the most annoying member of his squad, now revealed to probably be the most important. Or second most, honestly if Historia's claims were as true as she claimed, then Adam had struck gold here! And all it took was him curling his natural instinct for violence!

'There's still time. I could force her to change into a monster and fight me to the death, right now… Ah, who am I kidding, this is a net gain. Intel, a monster on your side instead of just fighting against you, which you can do at your leisure as part of training, and all it took was you using your words instead of your bullets.' Adam justified to himself. 'Still, can't help but feel if anyone from Night City saw me now, my rep would be in the gutter.'

"…You'll be placed in an underground cell, to keep you from transforming." Adam began.

"In case this is a clever ploy to take out the Survey Corp's leaders in a surprise attack, yeah, I get it."

"I'll have my weapons trained on you, so even if you somehow can transform in such a tight space, you'll be ground hamburger before you can do anything."

"Pretty sure I can't, but good to know."

"You might not walk out alive."

"Will you at least keep me alive long enough to say my piece?"

"Yes."

"Then it's all good, provided you can guarantee Krista's safety. Ilse and Jean too, if you can manage, and everyone else if you-"

"I get it, you don't want anyone to die." Adam simulated an eye roll again. "All my luck, I get the pacifist Titan."

"Hey, I'm going to fight, honest!… I mean, if this goes well."

"Well, no time like the present to find out." Adam made to stand up, and only hesitated for a moment before he offered a hand. "Out of curiosity, how did you think this meeting would go?"

"You'd blow my head off the second I admitted I was a Titan." Ymir answered immediately. "Honestly, still not convinced I didn't die and this is a cruel afterlife, the kind where it's exactly the same as the real world but with bad lighting."

"Right, you used your Braindance to check out some film clips." Adam hoisted her to her feet, (ignoring how he'd shared a similar thought with Historia less than ten minutes ago) and began the walk to the drop off point, Ymir at his side. "Looking for spiritual enlightenment?"

"Yeah, but all it did was make me ponder death and how final it was." Ymir slumped. "I blame that and you for making me so uncool about the prospect of dying."

"My sincerest apologies."

That just got a tongue sticking out at him, but Adam was willing to let it slide. He could always yank it out of her Titan mouth later.

They continued like that in relative silence, til at last they were just a straight shot away from HQ. Down below, Ymir would have had a horse waiting for her, but upon deciding to go back for Krista she'd asked Jean to take it with him, declaring she'd walk home.

"…Just so you know, I do remember our first meeting." Adam offered.

"Huh?" Ymir looked to Adam, confused.

"Trost. You didn't even blink as I smashed that Titans head in with the town bell, and were cracking wise immediately. It really cemented my impression of you as a pain in the ass."

Ymir couldn't help it, she grinned in fondness at the memory. "Oh yeah… man, things seemed so much simpler back then, just a couple of weeks ago…"

"Indeed." Adam couldn't help but agree, longing for the days he thought this was an elaborate testing site, as he pulled out his knife. "So, up for giving me a glimpse of your Titan?"

Stohess, Military Police HQ, The Following Morning

"We should really apologize to Hitch."

"Hmmmmmmm." Annie hummed as she pulled Armin in closer, drawing in the warmth of his bare naked body against her own exposed form. Lying here, in this bed with him, she honestly couldn't recall being more happy.

"Probably should get my things soon too."

"Later."

"Oh, and I do have something to give to you before you see Mr. Stratmann-"

A hand came up to clamp Armin's mouth closed, and the boy was greeted with his love's half open eyes peering into his.

"You talk too much." Annie said, amusement clear in her tone and the smile on her face.

For his part, Armin smiled back, mostly with his eyes. He reached up to pull Annie's hand away, offering a quick kiss to her knuckles. "You know, I think I recall you saying that to me in the Cadets a few times."

"I did, because you do." Annie lightly wiggled her hand to free it, then made to stroke Armin's locks, still silky smooth despite everything they'd done last night. "Don't go thinking you have to work on that. It's honestly one of my favourite things about you."

"Even now?" Armin grinned, teasingly.

"Even now, only because I know you're messing with me."

"You got me." Armin laughed, and made to press a kiss to the most incredible girl he knew's brow. "Though I was being sort of serious. I'm going to be picked up in an hour, so we should probably get dressed."

Annie's frowned with disappointment at that, but realized Armin was right. As fun as it would be to have one last quick romp before he left, Armin should probably get to enjoy hot running water and food that was favourable instead of just nutritious.

The thought it might be the last time either of them would get to enjoy such things was quickly snuffed out. 'Hot running water won't be a problem in our new home, and we can enjoy good food with my Warrior salary, so Liberio won't be a total miserable experience for you Armin.' Annie reasoned, as she made to get some loose clothing from her closet, Armin lying on the edge of the bed, admiring her. 'I promise, I'll make it a home for you.'

Course she didn't say any of that out loud. What she did say was, "If we've only got an hour left, we should save some time and shower together."

Cue Armin slipping off the bed and landing with a startled cry. He quickly recovered and directed an accusing glare at Annie's back, who deliberately made a show of bending over and picking up a loose nightgown, and a pair of pants from one of Hitch's past conquests. Turning around, she casually tossed them to Armin.

"…Well?" She intoned as she donned the nightgown.

Any witty banter or accusation of Annie deliberately messing with him died in Armin's throat at the thought of doing such a bold act. Putting on the pants, grabbing some towels, the two of them made for the showers.

Only to bump into a giggling Hitch and Marlowe on their way there, dripping wet and making their way to the boys dorms.

"Come on, we're going to get caught!" Hitch couldn't stop laughing, tugging Marlowe behind her, wearing nothing but a towel.

"I just… you missed a spot." Marlowe snickered, pointing at Hitch's left shoulder, his own towel wrapped around his waist.

"Correction, you missed a spot, Mr. Law and Order." Hitch corrected, laughing as they rounded a corner and took the steps two at a time.

They hadn't even noticed Annie and Armin.

"…Does Hitch have a tatoo?" Armin wondered, noting the black ink he'd seen on Hitch's shoulder where Marlowe had pointed. Annie didn't deem it an important enough question to answer, and kept on walking for the showers.

Luck was on the pairs side as the showers were empty, so Annie wouldn't have to forcibly kick anyone else out as per her usual negotiating tact. Stripping down, she made for the nearest shower, beckoning Armin to join her.

It was honestly cute how he hid his privates, as if Annie hadn't both seen and gotten throughly acquainted with them. Evidently his confidence from last night had faded. Annie had no such problems, letting her bare self be in full display, turning on the water. After determine the stream was pleasantly warm and not scalding, she reached for Armin's hands. He squeaked, but Annie gently pried them away, them pulled him in the water with her, not stopping until their chests smooshed against each other.

She could almost feel their heartbeats resonating in sync. Holding his hands like this, it almost looked like they'd begin a dance.

"…So," Annie released Armin's hand to reach for the nearest bar of soap, and offered it to him, "KIPO give you any tips on how to scrub a girl down?"

That seemed to get Armin's confidence back, as he laughed and took the bar, lathering it up in his hands. "Funny enough, that wasn't one of the things she taught me."

"Oh dear. Do be gentle with me." Annie replied with her signature deadpan look, which only seemed to make Armin laugh more as he started to massage her shoulders, her arms, her breasts…

Credit was where credit was due, even with Annie spinning around to back Armin right up agains the shower wall, her ass perfectly eclipsing his erection, he still didn't give in and rut again right there.

He saved it for when they were back in their room. He could eat breakfast on the road.

Turns out Armin could eat breakfast at his own pace while eating for pick up, thanks to the ever helpful Marco Bodt.

"From me, to all the guys, and as many Scouts as you can give one too." The freckled boy offered with a grin, the entire baked goods section of the local donut shop packed up and ready to go at the front gate, along with Armin's things.

"…You are a godsend, Marco." Armin replied, eyes shimmering.

"Make sure to let Jean know that, yeah?" Marco laughed. "Go on an enjoy breakfast, I'll hold the fort here in case anyone gets any ideas."

A not so subtle look directed at Annie, who returned the look at Marco with her typical expression, but one that conveyed, "Try and stop me, it's your funeral."

Marco stood his ground, and it was only the tugging on her arm by Armin that had Annie relent and follow him to the mess hall. There, Armin got to enjoy eating with his friends in the Military Police one last time.

"Goodbye and good riddance."

"Hmm? What was that Bertolt?" Armin genuinely asked.

"I said, "Ready to risk your life for a pittance?"" The taller boy replied smoothly, no sign of the intense hate he was feeling for Armin to be seen.

"…Sure, I guess?" Armin answered, confused. "…Huh. Now that you mention it, I actually stopped thinking this was going to be dangerous, and I literally hoped on Eren's shoulder a few days ago… does that mean I'm well adjusted already or messed up in the head?"

"Definitely the later." Hitch snorted, while she opened her mouth to receive a strawberry Marlowe was feeding to her. "These past two weeks your best friend is a Titan, you get magic, get stuck with Adam, and get Annie as a girlfriend… you cracked bucko, and you didn't even realize it."

Annie chose not to ask Hitch why Armin and her becoming a couple would lead to his mental deterioration, and deemed instead to copy the newly formed lovey dovey couple instead. Picking out a strawberry from her pancakes, she took Armin's jaw in her hand and turned him towards her. "Here. Eat." Popping his mouth open and delivering the treat, she withdrew her fingers, satisfied.

The entire table stared at her.

"All the grace and sense of a warthog, I swear…" Boris muttered under his breath.

Armin, for his part, merely smiled as he chewed, then stabbed a raspberry with his fork to return the favour. "Say awww…"

A sudden bump from Bertolt caused Armin to drop his fork, and the third placed graduate of the 104th was rising from his seat.

"Excuse me I… I have to get going."

The table's occupants followed him as he all but sprinted for the door, some confused, others knowing.

"Is he okay?" Armin asked with concern.

Annie shrugged. She figured Bertolt was more than likely going to grill her later about her relationship with Armin (she'd had to convince him once already she hadn't turned traitor) and would have to endure his annoying interrogation, but right now she didn't care. She was about to be Arminless for two weeks, she'd take every moment she could get.

"So… ready and raring to work with ol bucket head again, are we?" Hitch broke the awkward silence.

Armin paused in his pouring a fresh glass of orange juice at that, thoughts of his last call with Adam going through his mind…

Yesterday, After Lou's Attack On Kemper's Place

'Armin, I want you to think very carefully right now.' Adam's voice rang in Armin's mind with the deceptively calm tone of someone who was absolutely furious but was hiding it well. 'Do you believe I let anyone back talk to me, about anything?'

'I do not.' Armin answered.

'Do you think Cyberdyne will save you?'

'Nope.'

'Do you want to withdraw your previous statement?'

'No.'

'…You willing to die on this hill?'

'I'd rather not. But I…,' Armin took a deep breath, and braced himself. 'But I can't just let you call Annie that, and not fight back. What kind of a person would I be if I didn't defend her?'

'A much more tolerable one.' Adam declared, before sighing. '… In light of your service and the fact you haven't annoyed me deliberately in weeks, and with the promise I will make your life HELL catching you up to Scout standards when you arrive… I… apologize for insulting your girlfriend.'

'Her name's Annie.'

'Annie…' There was no mistaking how painful it was for Adam to say that, if he was organic he'd be clenching his jaw. 'I apologize for insulting Annie.'

'Thank you Adam.' Armin allowed himself a smile of pride, whilst Adam couldn't see it.

'Make your peace with god.' Adam declared. 'Try not to meet him before you get to me, understand?'

'Yes sir.'

'And KIPO?'

'Yes Adam?' The A.I. chimed in having been addressed.

'Prep Armin for taking a hit from Gorilla Arms.' With that, the cyborg signed off.

"…Yep, raring…" Armin chuckled in a way that was obviously fake.

Everyone was curious about that, but seeing how Armin was running out of time before the carriage arrived, they chose to focus on other topics. A delightful smorgasbord of well wishes and letting Armin know he was welcome in Stohess any time.

Soon it was time for him to depart, and Annie saw him to the gate, where a Scout driven carriage was waiting. Marco was already hard at work loading everything up, leaving Armin free to say goodbye properly.

"Here. For when you meet Mr. Stratmann." Armin produced a small half sphere like device in his palm, no bigger than his eye. "Press in the center of it, there's an audio file you'll want to listen to first. Privately, it's… well, I leave it up to you."

Annie took the device and pocketed it. "You left something behind in his house, didn't you? When KIPO was fluttering about?"

"Nice, you've really caught on to how she works." Armin beamed, and Annie basked in the praise. "It's just under the table, where we sat. Feel free to keep it, might help with some later cases, it's really easy to use."

"If it's not broken by the time we see each other again, take that as me having figured it out. Or just retiring from cases like this entirely." Annie shrugged. "…Don't suppose I can call you with the thing you left in Stratmann's house?"

"Sorry, the distance will be too great." Armin apologized. "But there's still letters! Pieck is doing the mail run, if you see her I'm sure she'd make a priority delivery!"

"…It'll have to do." Annie sighed, before stepping forward to wrap,her arms around Armin, and he her. "Stay alive. Stay safe. I know that's an oxymoron in the Scout's, but… just try not to do anything stupid, alright? Don't pull an Eren."

"Ouch. You know I have to stick up for my best friend, right?"

"Fine, don't pull a Connie."

"Still kinda mean."

"You'll get over it." Annie shifted her head around to kiss Armin on the lips. He returned the kiss, and it was one more moment that Annie would cherish forever.

One more moment that spurred her on to complete her mission.

As Armin bade her goodbye and loaded himself up (after giving his most sincere thanks to Marco for all he'd done), Annie clenched a fist in resolve.

'I'm going home.' Annie repeated in her mind, waving goodbye to Armin as he disappeared past the gates, his own form leaning outside a window to keep her in sight for as long as possible. A part of her wanted to pull him back towards her right now, but she contented herself knowing it would only be two weeks before they'd meet again.

'I'm going home… and you're coming with me." Annie allowed one smile that Armin wouldn't see to grace her face.

Then it was gone, and she was back to being a Warrior again.

Lou jerked awake, feeling like he'd had a horse dancing on his head, and a chicken gone straight up his ass to dance in his stomach. His hand brushed against the side of his head, and HOLY FUCK HE WAS MISSING HIS RIGHT EAR!

'Right… that FUCKING BITCH!' Lou looked around the large balcony he was on, as if the cause of his disfigurement and ass whooping would be in sight, eager to get payback! He'd kill her, he'd kill her, he'd fucking kill her!

…From a distance, of course.

Fortu- unfortunately, the evil blonde blue eyed bitch was nowhere in sight.

What was in sight was a MOTHERFUCKING TITAN! It's face was RIGHT THERE, staring at him with a godawful grin!

"Ah, good, I see the two of you are awake." A little fat man that Lou could see squealing like a piggie way too easily stood in front of the fucking monster, never mind it had a collar on, his back to it like it wouldn't just take the tiniest bit of effort to chomp down and gobble him up! The piggie had blue disinterested eyes that Lou could see saw him as trash, well he wouldn't be seeing much when Lou-

Wait, two?

Lou looked to his right as in his favour he'd glossed over the person who was right there, seeing as they didn't have blonde hair.

Wait… no fucking way, the Carly bitch? She was sitting on the ground same as Lou, and she was putting on that same brave front she'd done the whole time in the hideout. She only glanced at Lou, before sitting up on her knees and looking all respectful and shit.

"…I swear, my father had nothing to do with-" She tried to begin, only to clam up when the man held up a hand.

"Calm yourself, Miss Stratmann. I didn't bring you here to condemn you for your product. Quite the contrary, your coderoin might very well be what saves the Walls."

Lou couldn't even take satisfaction in Carly looking dumbfounded by that, because he was equally confused. He'd heard all the sales pitches one could imagine, hell he'd given plenty of his own! But drugs saving the Walls?

'This guys insane… obviously, he's got a Titan. Wait…'

"WAS THAT YOU?!"

"Me?" The man didn't even blink, merely turned his head to stare at Lou.

"At the apartments, that arm! That was your monster here, wasn't it!? You sent it to get me!"

"Ah, so you did make her acquaintance again. Quite remarkable you experienced such a miracle in your lifetime, and lived to tell about it." Was it Lou's imagination, or did this guy actually sound… impressed? "To think had you ever succeeded in killing her, so many Scout's would have lived… it really is a mess if Annie Leonhart dies too soon, yes."

"Annie?" Carly bitch spoke up, and Lou was glad she'd directed the fat bastard's eyes away from him. "What's she got to do with this?"

"Oh, she didn't tell you? Your almost saviour is a Titan."

Both Carly and Lou both thought the same thought, but only one of them gave voice to it.

"Bullshit." Carly declared, wide eyed.

The actual Titan in the room shifted it's gaze to the girl, and Carly flinched. It's exposed gums glistened in this… fuck, where were they? It looked like the Underground crossed with a… Lou wanted to say a church? The high ceiling that was way up there and the giant cavern, somehow it felt like the cathedral's Lou had sometimes wandered into. One giant building to take up a whole area, it went on forever where Lou could see things happening that he didn't know what they were…

"I promise, all will be revealed, as you two are now part of something truly special." The man stepped forward, and got on one knee as he offered a hand to Carly. "You just so happen to be in luck, I'm expecting a one of a kind desert to arrive. Once you've had ice cream, you'll never be able to go without."

The Titan opened it's mouth, and with that grin, it almost looked like it was silently laughing.

Maybe Lou should push him towards its grinning face. Yeah, he'd shove him then scramble like mad, find an exit to this freaky church and get the hell out of-

"My King, Kenny has returned, and he says he comes baring gifts."

All thoughts of escape ended as sheer perfection graced Lou's presence.

He had never been one to believe in love at first sight… well, no, when he'd gotten his gun, the one that fired a lot of bullets, he'd felt something like that. But never for a person, not even the various whores and hookers he shagged, he hadn't felt love, just lust.

But this woman… nay, this GODDESS… she was perfection! Tall, but not too tall! Mature! Fit! Blonde! Blue eyes! And her figure, oh god it was… Lou honestly couldn't remember how to breath!

The goddess, for her part, looked at Lou with a frown. "Should we not get that looked at?" She pointed, and Lou's heart sank, the way she talked as if he was a thing- "I stopped the bleeding, but it's still an open wound."

'?….. Oh right, my ear!' Lou realized, then perked up as that meant this goddess was worried about him! Lou couldn't help it, he scrambled to his feet and approached her. She looked at him, with those magnificent blue eyes past that amazing chest Lou just wanted to bury his face in, stopping just an inch away from her.

"…Hey."

An eyebrow raised was all Lou received, and he wanted to kick himself! 'Hey? HEY?! The fuck is that?! Come on man, why are you acting like a school boy?! Show her your moves, buy her a drink! No, jewelry! Women love jewelry! You can get her something nice if you-'

A hand came down on his scraggy hair, and all thoughts Lou had disappeared like a puff of smoke, as the goddess was petting him!

"Hey." She said, offering a little scratch behind his remaining ear, which Lou leaned in to.

"…My name's Lou."

"Traute Caven."

'Oh shit, she's got a first AND last name? Awesome!' Lou hineslty wasn't surprised, a classy gal like this, course she had it all!

"So uh… what's all this about?" Lou tried to lean his head in more, tried to land on those magnificent pillows without being caught…

…Only to make contact, as Caven guided him in. Her hand was still petting his good side, meaning she had taken his bloody wound on herself. And didn't seem to care.

'Oh wow, it's like floating on a pair of clouds…' Lou found himself snuggling his face in, very unconcerned with literally everything outside of this. It was only because he very much cared about Caven here, stroking him, embracing him, that he paid attention to her beautiful voice.

"The man you were no doubt wanting to push into that Titan there is Rod Reiss, the True King of the Walls. He's making an army, and he want's you to be a part of it." Caven recited for all to hear, as she pet Lou like he was a particularly smelly dog. "Miss Stratmann there he needs for her chemistry expertise, to supply the army."

"You give drugs to your soldiers? Cool." Lou mumbled into Caven's breasts, suddenly feeling like he could sleep right here, standing up in a standing woman's chest who was not a prostitute. "So what's that got to do with me?"

"We're going to pull out your brain and put it into that thing right there." Caven shifted Lou's head a little (he wanted to protest but she was just so gentle with him), to direct his head away from the fleshy Titan and instead stare at a metal one.

That was the only way Lou could describe it, one giant ass metal skull face staring at Lou (well not really as it didn't have eyes, it was a skull), on the opposite end. Presumably there was a giant ass metal body below the neckline, Lou couldn't see it right now.

'Wait, what was that about my brain?' Lou wanted to ask aloud, but Caven's soothing, cold, deadpan emotionless voice just erased any protests or concerns for his welfare.

"It's called a Cyberskeleton. It's got tremendous power and is capable of putting the one who took your ear, and all her friends, in their place. After she's done her work for us, you're going to kill her, and anyone else we point you towards. Sound good?"

Lou tried to process this, using all the mental power his brain possessed, to filter through what Traute was saying, and make sense of it.

"…Awesome!" Lou grinned.

Yeah, he couldn't see any downside to this. After all, they could just put his brain back after he was done, right?

Watching all this, Carly couldn't tell if she should be horrified, terrified, flabbergasted, or amused. Still, she didn't scream or show how scared she really was, so that was something.

"I sense you may have some doubts, and questions." Rod Reiss placed a hand on Carly's shoulder. "Please, ask what's in your mind, there are no secrets here, I assure you."

"…I just have one question. Am I going to die?" Carly looked at the small portly man, who shook his head.

"No, but you will be transformed. The work you're going to be doing, it's impossible to complete with you in your present condition." Rod gently stroked her hair, before patting her back. "But I promise, once the transformation has occurred, you will feel… free. Don't take my word for it, we have a few volunteers who can attest to it. Isn't that right, Captain Weilman?"

Carly turned to follow Rod's shift in gaze over her shoulder, only to come face to face with a man who was missing the top part of his face, seven blinking lights staring right at her.

Now, Carly did scream.

And thus Ymir's charade has come to a close. The time for her to step up and use her power has come. Will she still be able to secure a future for herself and Historia? We'll have to wait and see.

To clarify, we will NOT be getting a two week training montage or showing where Adam and Ymir go from here, we are skipping ahead two week's to begin the real meat of this story I've been building up to since Trost, the 57th Expedition! Thank you to all my reader's who've stuck with me this far, I promise all this build up will have been worth it!

For the bit about the girl Julia, got inspired after reading a VERY depressing one shot horror manga, titled Atatakai Yuki, take a gander if you dare but I warn you, it's exactly as Adam described. As I felt I was neglecting mentioning Naser, Annie's other kid, I thought I could share another fucked up moment from the Smasher family, though this one does get better.

I apologize for failing to get this out before August ended, I blame my trying to cram everything into one giant chapter so we can kick off the 57th already, but also being sidetracked by the release of Armored Core 6. Addictively fun (albeit with it's frustrating boss fights you will look up how to beat) and got some inspiration for this story from it, so we'll call it research.