1st POV

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848 was truly an eventful year.

The survival exercise went without a hitch at first. Except for Jean's attempts to flirt with me that enraged Jaegerbomb. He still tried to catch this lizard for, this time, impressing me. However Eren prevented it, aaand this resulted in more bickering. Poor Marco was on the verge of breaking down at this rate.

When we arrived in the forest, just for the fun of it, I decided to follow Historia in the clearing and to get kidnapped with her. Yeah, I wanted to keep her company.

After getting 'apprehended', the bandits went after the rest of my friends. But when the others heard that I was going to be sold, something they hadn't said in canon for Historia on the spot, as they would've just released her en route, Eren and Jean almost lost it. I gave them a 'Don't do anything rash' look, and got thrown into the chart.

The bandits paused in a clearing in the distance, confident that nothing would happen to them. Some of them looked at me with greed, surely thinking that they were in for a lot of money because of me being rare.

'Yeh, y'all never saw a black person, and the first time you see one, you think of selling them? This isn't even surprising anymore.'

Historia gave me a worried look to which I replied with a reassuring smile. 'Everything will be okay.' understanding what I was getting at, she nodded quietly not really convinced. Knowing the gang, their plan to rescue us was already set on.

Once I heard commotions in the chart behind us, I quickly removed my ties. Only Historia noticed as the guy charged to guard us was trying to shoot the two hotheads and therefore didn't see me. He failed the first time around, courtesy of mister rock who shook the chart and before he could try again, I high kicked the shit outta him, which knocked him out cold, leaving a bewildered Historia looking at me. I quickly released her before grabbing the rifle, aiming at the chief.

"Stop the cart, or I'll blow your head off," He gritted his teeth, seeing that he was in a tight spot. Before he could do anything however, Eren and Jean cut the ropes leading the horses.

I whined "fuck you guys, seriously?" before quickly catching Historia in my arms, to protect her from the damn accident that was about to happen. The horses zoomed like sonic and the chief tried to stop the Cart. However, it toppled to the side while I tightly held the blonde in my arms, taking the brunt of the shock.

After the impact, dust covered the area entirely. I grunted because DAMN THIS WAS INTENSE AS HELL and looked at the small blonde in my arms, who was shaking in fright.

"You alright..? Anything out of place..?" I looked for any signs of injuries on her as she looked at me with wide eyes.

"N-no... But you...you protected me...!" she hurriedly did the same for me which made me release a soft chuckle. "Why...?" I blinked at the sudden question. "Why did you put yourself in danger for...For me.." Ahh self-hatred, I know this feeling very well...

I caught a horrified look on her face as she stared at my belly but before I could ask her what was going on, I felt something approaching us. I quickly pushed the smallest one out of the way so that she wouldn't be the hostage. 'Which means it will be me...Hooray.'

The dust from the crash slowly cleared out. When my friends came to see what was happening, their eyes almost came out of their sockets when they saw me, a dagger near my throat and a 'BLANK?!' look on. I would've laughed at their faces if it wouldn't result in them thinking I had messed up my head.

The chief held me tightly against him with a panicked expression on. "STAY BACK! DROP YOUR WEAPONS OR I'LL SLICE HER THROAT!!" he shouted near my ear.

'Goddammit can't you be any louder?' I sarcastically thought. I saw the torn expression of Eren and Jean as they gritted their teeth in anguish. Historia still looked horrified at my form.

'Isn't she feeling it ?!' The blonde had her hand on her mouth, a distraught expression on.

'Told y'all not to do anything rash.' I sigh while the guy tries desperately to buy time. The look of relief on Armin's face tells me that backups are here.

As they removed their gears, the chief spoke to himself.

"Shit this ain't funny..." oh the monologing. "I can't believe I'm doing this...I survived the titan invasion, but I can't grow shit in this wasteland." I'm offended. "And to think, I always told my daughter to not be a burden for the others.."

From the corner of my eye, I could see Historia's shift of expression. Sighing, 'guess it's time.' I grabbed his hand with the weapon, to his shock, And threw him above my shoulder. He landed heavily on the ground, air knocked out of him.

Several gasps could be heard while I removed dust from my hands. "Yup, think about it again, because you're currently being one for us, who didn't do anything to you." I huffed.

"COLITH!!" The gang cried out in relief...relief that quickly transformed into horrified gasps.

I just blinked in the direction of their gazes, following it to my... Oh. That was what Historia was staring at. A big wooden shard was impaling the right side of my belly.

Huh... That's why it felt wet... Twas my blood oooh...' I casually removed it to the horror of everyone in the vicinity as more blood sprouted from the wound. Horrified shrieks resounded from my group while Annie and Mikasa quickly surrounded me in panic.

"YOU CAN'T JUST CASUALLY RIP OFF A SHARD FROM A WOUND, COLITH!!" Armin cried in alarm as the others quickly nodded, bolting to my side.

Yikes he ain't wrong, even if I don't really feel anything from the wound, they still think of me as a normal human... 'Guess I should fake it lol.'

On cue, I toppled backward, feigning blood loss. Mikasa quickly caught me, a panic-filled look in her eyes, and placed my head on her lap while Sasha and Connie were running and shouting like headless chickens.

"SHE'S GONNA DIE, SHE'S GONNA DIE! DO SOMETHING CONNIE!!!" Sasha shook the smaller boy like a plum tree while he too was screaming.

"WHAT THE HELL!? I'M NO DOCTOR YOU IDIOT! YOU DO SOMETHING, YOU POTATO EATER!!" He freed himself from the panicking girl, and they proceed to run around, to Jean's annoyance.

"NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR THIS YOU MORONS!!" he finally snapped.

"You guys...should probably tie...the chief up..", I panted. Marco quickly did what I requested while Mina hurriedly came to apply pressure on my wound -not that it could kill me- and Armin tried to keep me awake by patting my cheek.

"I'm gonna end him..", Eren and Jean snarled, readying their blades while Annie and Mikasa both agreed for the first time to the hotheads' words.

"Please don't.." I immediately coughed. Armin was still franticly patting my cheek. "Would you stop that, Min? I'm awake." The boy begrudgingly stopped but held my left hand tightly since he was scared for my health.

'Oh boi I already feel bad about this..'

"Please save your energy, Colith.." Mina said as Marco quickly gave her a set of bandages. "C-Can I...?" Granting her permission, she quickly got to work.

Historia neared me, tears falling from her baby blue eyes. She kneeled beside me and held tightly the other available hand.

"Shush, why the long face? It's not like...I plan on dying, or something..."

And I feel bad for faking it actually.

'Yo they actually love me wow...'

"Don't feel bad, Krista, I did it because I wanted to protect you!", I grinned painfully.

She slowly nodded and I patted her head. "Plus I promised someone that I would protect her future wife if she wasn't there.." I teased, letting out a small laugh when she blushed. Eren and Jean were glaring at the chief's tied-up form, making sure that the guy could not escape.

After Mina was done, Mikasa and Annie helped me to my feet. In the meantime, the other group arrived with their horses, had a scare when they saw my bloody form but I quickly reassured them, not that it actually worked since they all surrounded me in worry. Even Ymir, and that's something.

Later on, the Military police picked up the bandits, and the incident came to a close without any casualties, only wounded people, aka me and some of the bandits.

When we got back, they all took turns to help me while I was 'recovering', especially my Beans, Historia, and surprisingly, Ymir. 'Guess the fact I protected the love of her life helped lmao.'

Had to pass an entire month in bed because I didn't want to be discovered. It's not like I could go from nearly 'dying' to be in perfect health the next day.

Honestly, It was a year full of twists. That said, the main cast became super protective of me, as if I was entirely made out of glass. It was flattering, really, But as soon as the slightest thing happened to me, panic ensued. Arrrgh I finally understand how Eren feels with Mikasa always on his back, except this time there are MORE people on mine. JEEZUS I still have one year before the chaos starts the next.