Hey! Another Friday, another update! Enjoy!

The days began to merge. Simple tasks, tests, cleaning and cooking. It was almost like the old days on the HQ grounds, in between missions, when the biggest task ahead was preparing for our next ride beyond the walls. And now? Now we had enemies within and without. Levi and Hanji would have to head back into town any day. Information was needed, and they had to check on Erwin. I of course wanted information on Keza as well. She had been stubborn in staying with Erwin, but if the MPs were planning on moving soon, she would need to leave. That, or risk being left behind entirely. And I didn't want that. She shouldn't be left alone to fend for herself. She had already helped the Scouts in so many ways.

One evening, as we all sat having dinner together, I noticed Armin playing with his food. Or rather, pushing it around the plate. I didn't notice anyone else having an issue, so it didn't seem to be a problem with the meal. If I had to guess, he had theories bubbling. Him and Hanji were our current brainboxes, but he had to stop at some point. Or else he'd burn out.

"Everything all right, Armin?"

He jolted and nearly dropped his spoon, looking at me with wide eyes. "Uh what… sorry."

"You're off your food." I smiled, dipping my bread in the gravy.

He looked down at his almost full plate. "Oh… Right, apologies. It's great. Sorry I…"

Levi rolled his eyes. "Stop stammering. Take a breath, spit it out."

I kicked him lightly under the table, but my Captain didn't respond, just continued to eat.

Armin blushed and set his spoon down. "I was thinking about the Reiss family."

Historia shrunk in on herself.

Armin continued. "I realise we don't know a lot about them, so I was trying to figure out ways in which they might have been using their influence, without being overt about it."

Levi stopped eating. "Any theories so far?"

"A couple." Armin frowned down at his plate again. "Small ways in which they could impress their influence, but not be noticed by the general populace. After all, the average person doesn't really think about who's supplying their meat or general food, right? Or who maintains the local church."

I set my bread down. "Makes sense…"

"The church seemed the most likely. Gather devoted people, or at least those more inclined to that kind of thinking, and work from there. Even just being a part of a congregation can allow someone to have influence, right?"

"I suppose." My stomach clenched, never sitting easy when the subject of the church arose. "Are you aiming somewhere specific, Armin?"

"Well, what about the nunnery's? They're not as outlandish as the Wallists, not taken nearly as much notice of, but they're everywhere. In the background."

"Mm. Maybe." I sipped my water, doing my best not to remember the cries of the children. The past began to seep into my mind, like wine spilled across a tablecloth. "You think we should do some digging, next time we're in town near a Nunnery?"

"Perhaps. Couldn't hurt, right?"

"Right." I nodded, dropping my gaze when he looked my way. Levi's foot nudged mine, and when I glanced at him I gave a small shake of my head. I could explain later. My past with the nuns wasn't going to be relevant to this conversation.

Hanji pushed her empty plate aside. "Robyn you're white as a sheet!"

"Just tired."

"Well maybe get some rest tonight, instead of fucking, eh?" She laughed, and the kids all went bright pink and stared at their plates. She got up from her seat. "I'll be headed for town with Moblit. Are you joining, Levi?"

"Not this time. Erwin said to not linger too often. So I'll stay here and help with the Brats. Can you check in on him, though?"

"Of course. Need to check those MPs aren't taking advantage of the situation."

I snorted, like there was any chance that they weren't. For once the MPs were being seen as something more than the nit-picking Unicorn bastards that they were. Because we were the bad guys. According to the papers. I doubted Nile had stopped grinning the entire time. Or, he was genuinely worried about his old comrade in Erwin. I knew they had trained together. But how far that loyalty meant wasn't so clear.

I suppose, as with most things, only time would tell.

Shame I hate waiting.

We finished eating and saw Hanji off, she would get back to town quick enough, and under darkness was less likely to be spotted and have her route back-tracked by an unwanted visitor. As for us, we prepared for another night in the cabin. Patrols went out, the stables were checked, and I did the checks on the house with Levi, making sure all the windows were secure. So far we hadn't seen any sign of a lingering MP. But rather than comforting me, in all honesty it made me more nervous. It had gone too well.

The night passed peacefully, and as I woke to the sound of birdsong, with Levi's arm draped over me, I took a second to convince myself it was all right to enjoy such things. Peace. Quiet. Safety. It was all right to appreciate them without it automatically jinxing them. Right? Though even as I said it, the cynical side of my brain recoiled. I leaned back into Levi's hold, his arm tightening around me on sheer instinct. Whenever the other shoe did drop, I could look back on these moments. That was their worth. Their treasure.

We had slowed down the process on Eren's Titan shifting. Clearly his body wasn't handling the extra strain as well as we hoped, and there was no point in pushing him to the point of actually breaking. He moved carefully. His complexion was still a bit pasty for my liking as well. But he didn't complain. Of course he didn't. Stubborn kid. But between me, Mikasa and Armin, Eren wasn't able to escape the care of at least one of us at any point in the day. He didn't like it. But I think his body would appreciate it in the long run.

It had always frustrated me whenever my mother would fuss. I'd have some new bruise or a new set of cuts from Vincent's work – but there was laundry to be done, cooking sorted, cleaning to be finished. And she couldn't do it all alone. And someone had to look after John. But she would shoo me away, tuck me up in bed, kiss my hair.

Be still. Rest. Let me be your mother, hm, Little Bird?

She'd occasionally concede enough to let me sit out with her and John if it was a nice day, the picnic blanket scratchy beneath us, the flowing white sheets crisp around us. John would play with his toys, simple wooden things he had inherited from me. I would pick daisies and sip the honeyed tea Mother had made. Golden afternoons. I suppose those were also moments I could look back on in trying times. Turn my past into something more wholesome to revisit. Rather than smoke to escape.

"Robyn?"

I blinked, having been staring off out of the window by the sink, my hands submerged in lukewarm soapy water. How long had I zoned out? I shook myself free of the past, and turned to Armin, his bright eyes concerned.

I smiled. "Sorry, I was away with the fairies. Everything okay?"

"Think so, we just got word from Connie that Hanji's been spotted heading back along the road." He glanced towards the door. "She was meant to be away for longer, wasn't she?"

"Mm." I dried my hands and emptied the sink. "All right, don't panic, just go see where Eren is. She would have given some kind of signal if she was being followed. It might just be a quick update, or some new order from the Commander."

"Yeah." Armin didn't sound convinced, and in all honesty, I wasn't either. He paused for a moment and looked back at me, standing in the kitchen doorway. "Was it a nice memory? It looked nice."

I blinked. "Uh… Y-Yeah, it was."

"Good. Sometimes seems like none of us have those anymore."

I frowned and reached out to him, putting a hand on his shoulders. Where so much weight already lingered, pressing down on him. "Surely there's times from your childhood with Eren and Mikasa you can look back on fondly? Or your grandfather?"

He looked down for a moment and thought. There was always a clear distinction with Armin, for when he was listening, or thinking, or ignoring you due to an inability to answer. This was the thinking quiet.

Eventually he came back up with a small smile in place. "You're right. Sorry, I suppose that was a bit defeatist of me."

"It's easy to get hung up on the negatives." I squeezed his shoulder. "Don't think on it. I'm happy to remind you of the brighter times when needed. Part of being a friend, hm?"

He smiled and nodded. "Quite right."

For some reason it had become very important to me to make it clear that while we were a unit, a squad, we could also be friends. Sure, it made the losses harder to take. But in such times like these, with human turning on human, I wanted these kids to also have human connection. To not just see people as "comrades" or "enemies.". Pinpointing when that had entered my mind was difficult. But sod it. If I could do anything for these kids, it would be helping them maintain a semblance of humanity.

Tension draped over the cabin. Why had Hanji already returned? What had happened? Were we about to be under attack? Did we have to flee further afield?

We all gathered in the main room, sitting at the table or lingering at the edges. Levi lingered. I sat, knee bouncing as we heard Hanji and her team tying up their horses. It could just be routine. It could be that she got sick of the city early this time. It could be anything.

And yet I knew it would be bad.

Ice had already begun to creep into my gut before she came in with that ashen complexion and sombre expression. We ushered her into a seat.

"Pastor Nick is dead."

The news landed heavy, and we stared at her. He had hardly been our favourite person, but he had been helpful. Eventually. A good lead into things, and a connection to the Wallists. But the past tense lingered over his name now. But why?

I laid a hand on top of hers. We were listening.

She drew a long breath. "I guess they decided he had talked to us too much, or assumed he had. Or the risk wasn't worth leaving him alive… something. But not only that, he was tortured."

Levi stood straight. "You saw the body up close?"

"Not for long, but the fingernails on one of his hands were gone."

The kids all shuddered. A small part of me wondered if they should be hearing this kind of thing, but then the other part of me smacked that away. They had to know. They had to be informed. We couldn't protect them from everything, and if we were separated, they had to know what they were up against. I hated it. But they weren't kids anymore. They hadn't been since Maria fell, I guess.

"So… Now what?" Jean asked, looking out the window.

"Now, we have to get moving. They won't be far behind. If they knew about Nick, they likely know about here." Hanji sighed and put her head in her hands. "This is quickly becoming messy. I should head back to town but–"

"We need to stay hidden." Levi nodded and looked around the room, barking orders, reminding them to make it look like we had never been here. We had to vanish. Cease to exist.

I jumped into action as well, clearing me and Levi's room as best I could, trying not to think about Keza. Had she been taken as well? Would she be questioned? Tortured? I shivered and shook my head. She wouldn't have gotten involved without knowing the risks. And she had lived within the interior for far longer, dealt in secrets for years. She knew how this shady world worked. Far better than us lot in all likeliness. She would be fine.

She had to be fine.

Maybe she would be waiting to meet up with us somewhere. Hanji would know. But there was so many other things to be getting on with, I would have to ask later. If I got the chance. The room was clear, time to check everything else.

Levi came into the room first though, and closed the door. Everyone else was rushing around, but he just stared at me hard for a moment, before stepping forward, cupping my face and kissing me. I had no idea what was going through his head, but of course I reciprocated.

After a moment he broke it and put his forehead to mine. "Keza is downstairs."

I jolted. "What? I thought she'd still be in town."

"She came with Hanji after… Well…" He looked to the side, struggling with his words in that way he did when giving me bad news. Keza. Bad news. I dashed out of the room and down the stairs, finding Keza in the kitchen area, sat at the counter. She looked small. Bundled in a blanket, she flinched when I came into the room. Her hair was scraped back, dress plain. A bruise lingered on her jaw. As soon as she realised it was me, a smile broke free on her lips, and her eyes shone.

She sniffed. "Hey, Numbnuts. Thought I'd stick with you guys for a while."

"Keza…" I went over, gently cupping the non-bruised side of her face. "What the hell happened."

"Turns out they weren't keen on me visiting, Erwin." She leaned into my touch. "Didn't look like they were even feeding him to be honest, so I had to do something. He kept telling me to stay away, couple times I think he nearly ordered it. Thought better of it though." She winced and put a hand to her stomach. I hoped it was just bruising. "So they figured I might know information. After they arrested Erwin, they set to work on me. Turns out their question masters are plenty prone to persuasion though, just had to flutter my lashes and got the bastard unconscious with a headbutt."

"That's my girl."

She smirked. "Yeah. Wriggled free, grabbed the keys, scarpered straight for Hanji. She threw me in the back of a waggon and we headed here. And now I'm just a black and blue mess."

"We'll look after you."

"Gotta look after yourselves first." She frowned. "Those MP shitheads are going to be on their way here. I'll head back to the waggon once people start clearing out. Just felt like a change of pace from splinters in my arse."

I kissed her head and held her carefully close. "I'd say sorry but…"

"I'd tell you to shove it back where it came from. This was my choice, no one forced me to be involved. Now go on, get packed up. You're as much at risk as Eren and that blonde girl."

"How'd you figure?"

"They were asking about your shithead of a father again." She sighed, weary to the bone. "I have no idea why they're so interested in his crap, but they are. They really are."

"I'll be careful."

"Be more than that." She hummed, pulling me close for another moment before giving me a light shove back towards the door.

I turned away and headed to make more preparations. My mind reeled. They had gone for Keza, hurt her, questioned her, beat her like some dog in the street you caught in the bins. My blood boiled. How dare they? The Commander would be livid. Did he know yet? I deeply pitied whoever it was that had laid a hand on Keza – between the Commander and myself, they'd be pulp.

"We make for the spot on the cliffs." Levi barked as he came downstairs, gear on, doing up his cape. "Stay to the shadows, do not be seen, do not engage unless you have to. Understood?"

Agreement rippled from all corners of the cabin, it being stripped of any evidence of our presence.

Levi fixed his gaze on me. "Understood?"

"Yes, sir." I dipped my head and looked to Keza, about to offer helping her when Levi stepped into my eye line.

"I'll escort Keza. I need you focused on yourself, Sanshi. You're a target apparently. That puts you at extra risk. Get your gear sorted."

I wanted to argue of course. Keza was my friend, my family, there was no way I was going to be anywhere but at her side during this fight. But his words were absolute. No wiggle room. He was talking to me as a soldier, not Robyn.

He stepped closer, no doubt he could see all this written on my face. "That's an order, Sanshi."

I looked to Keza and she nodded, smiling softly. It wasn't like I couldn't trust Levi to look out for her. But it felt wrong. I swallowed hard. "Y-Yes, sir."

He put his hand on my arm and squeezed gently, eyes searching mine. "And now I need your word, as Robyn, not Sanshi. Do not get involved, stay hidden. This isn't the time for heroics, its–"

"Time to run." I nodded, eyes dipping as the want to promise brimmed my tongue but something held it back. In theory, of course. In practise? There was no way I could guarantee being able to turn away from someone in need, simply because I might be a target of the MPs.

"Robyn," he was pleading, voice quiet, almost a whisper. "Please."

I closed my eyes. "I–"

"We gotta move!" Hanji yelled, bursting into the room. "C'mon shift it!"

I lunged over to Keza, held her close and kissed her head. She squeezed my hands and then shoved me off. I touched Levi's hand on the way past. And then I made for the back door. My own route agreed weeks ago, much like everyone else. They all converged on the point above the cliffs, and no one would be left behind unless there was nothing else for it. But no one's path followed another. Scatter and hide. That was the plan. But as I left, I could feel Levi's gaze on my back. I hadn't promised. So there was no word to be broken, but there was also plenty for him to worry over and doubt. I wouldn't be reckless. Just like I had to hope he wouldn't. But if it came to it, if I saw one of our cadets in trouble, there was no telling what I'd do. Not even I knew that.

The last of the days light was fading. Twilight swamped the sky, staining the clouds in deep pinks and reds, the shadows long and lingering. Plenty spaces to disappear into. Others left at the same time as me, draped in their capes. I knew Eren was in this area, as well as Armin and Jean. But otherwise, I just had to trust they knew their paths. Come on guys. We'd done so well to stay hidden, let's not fall at this hurdle. Not when we had prior warning.

I ran into the treeline and kept as low as possible.

The quiet was comforting, but it also made me feel utterly alone.

And then when it was broken by shouting, I longed for the quiet again.

Damn it.

The shouting grew louder. It was confused, like they were searching for people. At least that meant they hadn't found the cadets. I'd hold onto that hope for now. That or I just freeze and think of their faces. So young. So vacant. So dea– Stop it. Keep moving.

Gunfire.

Had they spotted someone? Or were they just trying to spook us? I paused by a tree, pressed up against the bark, breaths coming thin and fast against the evening's chill. Damn. How close were they? How many were they? Shit. Focus. Get ot the cliffs. I was halfway. Just keep going.

I skidded to a halt. The clunk of a gun sounded nearby. Was that someone ahead of me, or to the right? My heart thundered, eyes itching against the deepening gloom. Did they already have some of us? Shit. What if they took Eren? Could he fight them off? He'd had some time to recover recently, maybe he would be okay. I clenched my jaw. No. He would be fine, he was a kid, sure, but he was also a capable soldier. Plus, in a pinch, Eren could transform. The team would look after him. I trusted them. But right now, I had to be quick, and if that gun was anywhere near, I had to go up. I fired and flew further into the woods, but then there's another wire being set off just behind me. Is it an MP? They're hardly known for gear use, but if they're coming to hunt Scouts specifically it would only make sense. Unless it's one of us. Jean, Armin or even Eren. But even if not, I'm ready for a fight.

The wire of my follower hits just shy of mine. No Scout would do such a dumb manoeuvre. This wasn't Jean, Armin or Eren. That was an MP trying to scare me. They couldn't follow me to the meet up, it would put everyone at risk. I had to take them on here, before they realised where I was headed. But if I went too deep in the trees in the other direction, it'd be a game of cat and mouse all night. My claws were ready to deal with the pest now.

With a burst from my tanks I swung up and back, turning on them in a single movement. My foot is primed for pinning them down but they were closer than I thought. Damn. I'm sent slamming into the branch instead. Crap. Better equipped to this kind of fighting that I expected. I grabbed at the branch desperately, but instead I'm left dangling, dazed and confused. My head was ringing. My attacker landed below. A blade was drawn.

"Fucking monster."

I loosed my wire and blocked the attack with my blades, sparks revealing beady eyes wide with shock. "Who's the monster?"

"Little bitch, just die already." We struggled with blades locked. "They want to use you but screw this, you need ended."

I sunk low. "Who wants to use me? And why me? The hell do you think you know about me?"

"I can handle you no matter what form you plan to be in. And if you were gonna change, you'd have done it by now. They always said he never managed it." He snarled, stepping back, freeing his blade from mine.

So they knew about the fact I could heal, but it also seemed like they thought I was a full shifter. I'm not. Nothing so useful. Fine. Assume what you like, idiots. Clearly he was scared, he was shivering despite it being only a little chilly.

I slowly raised my hand to my mouth. "You sure?"

He paused.

Gotcha.

He talked brave, but that military police heart was just as corrupted and weak as the rest. I bared my teeth and make to sink them into my hand, eyes wide in forced rage. Although I doubted I managed to look as deranged as Eren, the boy had a gift for it.

"Wait!" The MP shouted, his outstretched hand giving a tell-tale shake before he grimaced and looked me up and down. "Bloods of father and mother."

I blinked.

He blinked.

I tilted my head. "What the hell does that mean?"

He glared. "Nothing. Fuckin' knew it wouldn't work. Idiots."

"Uhuh… Look, walk away and forget you saw me, if I see one of you disgusting cloak-and-dagger bastards come into these woods I will not hesitate, and then I will change. And then we'll see how strong those blades are." My voice was hoarse with nerves, but he seemed convinced.

But he didn't move.

I rolled my eyes. "What's it to be scumbag? Convenient amnesia? Or a nasty end? Either is fine by me." I did my best growl, and he staggered, losing his footing, flailing manically. I grabbed his collar, threw him against the branch and held my blade to his throat.

"I'll stay quiet, d-don't kill me!" His eyes welled with tears as my blade twitched against his skin.

After all we had faced as a species, still we hunted each other like dogs? My heart ached as I considered our mounting enemies: the inane bastards outside the walls, and their miniature counterparts within the walls. Those of us left were a rare species. But then again, did I even count anymore? The rage broiled within me. Bloodlust rang in my ears, fuelled by my outrage. It only made me want it more, as it continued to scare me. That was Vincent. 100%. No other way about it, the hatred within me stank of his influence. But even knowing that, it didn't make sense. This man, with no honour or care for whom he hurt still lived, while so many good soldiers had perished. He snivelled now, face gleaming with sweat and tears as he mumbled for my mercy. But beforehand he had been a cold killer. A monster, he called me, so what did that make him? Why was he still breathing when Isa, Neran, Kila and Jaren, had all died in the muck? Petra. Oluo. Eld. Gunter. The world hadn't been fair to them, it hadn't shown them mercy; so why should I show him any?

Because we're meant to be better than them.

It was easy to see Petra's sad smile. She'd be furious with the man, spitting venom and glaring all barrels. But she wouldn't be violent. Maybe a slap. But that was it. Because she was good, she was meant to be here, meant to still be fighting.

Cold all over, hands going numb as my heart ached, I let go. "Get the fuck out of here."

He gulped and held a hand to his throat. "You didn't…"

"Go." I snapped, blade rattling as the cold sunk into my nerves. "Maybe make some better fucking life decisions."

"Likewise."

The light gleamed against his knife. One slash. Aimed at my neck, trying to open me like a cheap bottle of wine. But I'm too used to being double-crossed. Too expectant of human fuckery. I stepped back, kicked out, and drove the blade home, right through his withered black heart.

"Guess it's like you said…" I hissed through clenched teeth, tears falling. "I'm a fucking monster. Why didn't you just walk away?"

Look what you made me do, little rat.

Shit. Vincent wins again.

I dropped the body and sheathed my bloodied blades, hands shaking and vision swimming in the pointless tears. Damn it. Stop. He was going to kill me, he wanted my death. I was defending myself. And yet my heart is pounding, my lips wobble, my mind scattered.

I sagged to my knees and held my head, wanting to scream at the world, to tear it all down, crumble it to dust and sift till I found something worth salvaging. I had a handful of people, my comrades who each would risk everything for the other. But there's so few of them among the piles of meaningless ash. So few good people left, and yet I sat there, simply hoping they made it to another day.

And then I heard it.

Nothing.

The silence was far more frightening than any gunfire could be.

I got moving, tears drying as I flew.

"What a fucking mess." I hissed

This world was cruel.

I landed in the clearing, and found it empty. Maybe the others were just delayed, having to hide. There was no reason to assume they had met their own attackers and not been so lucky. No. Other than Eren and Historia there weren't other targets. Right? Right?

"Robyn!" Eren's voice peeled into the dimming evening and he landed beside me. He had some bad bruising on his temple. It was already fading of course, but the fact it had been visible at all tended to indicate someone had almost split his skull open.

"Eren what the hell–"

"Did you have a guy following you? Thought I heard some commotion." He blinked, eyes looking a little dazed, pupils blown. "I think the others had to scatter a bit. But I saw Jean, and he seemed okay."

"Good. Sit down will you? You look ready to fall over." I put my hand on his shoulder, he was wavering. "Kid, seriously."

He nodded and went onto one knee. "S-Sure. It's fine, it'll heal."

"Of course it will, doesn't mean you can't take some breaths."

"Mm." He winced and put a hand to the fading mark. "What about your guy?"

"Uh yeah… He's been dealt with." I adjusted my blades, far too aware of how much they would need cleaned. Unlike Titan blood, human's blood didn't evaporate conveniently.

He glanced back. "Bet he had it coming."

As much as I could appreciate the faith, I didn't like the absolute acceptance of me having murdered someone from the kid. Then again, I guess I did it to Vincent, didn't I? Bad habit I was creating. Then again, how could I hope to protect Eren from anything like this? I couldn't. The kid had seen his own mother eaten alive. He knew the world's cruelty better than most.

"Eren we should still check you over, that could be a concuss–"

A twig snapped. We weren't alone. If it was one of us, they would have just made themselves known. I stepped in front of Eren, and for my trouble got a dagger thrown into my shoulder.

"Fuck!" I clasped it, not removing it but holding it steady. "Eren, stay behind me."

"But I can–"

"Kid, let me do this. Stay back. Now then, whoever you are, come out you fuckin' coward!"

"Move Sanshi." A voice barked from the gloom. "You're on our list, but I ain't interested in your scrawny ass. I just want that thing put down."

"Then you're going through me." I snarled, drawing my blade again, it still rubied by his comrade. "See this? That's what happened to the last Unicorn I danced with. Fancy being my next partner?"

"You killed Steeg?"

"No idea." I brandished the blade. "He was too busy trying to kill me to tell me his name. Sloppy fighter though. That help identify him?"

"Bitch!"

They rushed forward, clumsy and slow. Idiot. Grief did wonders.

I stepped aside, and even with my daggered shoulder, managed to parry his awkward slashing motion. At least Steeg had a little finesse. Any second our comrades would appear. Eren slumped, looking up with wide eyes as I danced with the MP, keeping myself between the two of them. There was no way I was losing someone else. Not to an idiot like this.

"This doesn't have to be messy." The MP panted, red faced already. "Just hand that freak over."

"This doesn't have to be messy." I snarled. "Just surrender."

He lunged, I dodged and kicked his knee. Crunch. Knee-cap dislodged, and he was down, howling. I grabbed his jacket collar and rammed it into his mouth, drowning his cries, smothering the noise. He gargled and whimpered, but as I pressed my boot to his throat, he was soon snoozing.

"How you doing, Eren?" I gasped, keeping my boot in place as I looked over my shoulder, finding him upright but wavering. "Kid?"

"Good. F-Fine." He pursed his lips and shivered. "He was going to kill me, wasn't he? Freak, he said… I…"

"Hey. He's just an ignorant MP bastard. Don't listen to his filth."

Eren nodded and looked down, tips of his ears going red.

As the quiet took over again, the fear crept back in. And there was no adrenaline to hide behind anymore. It was always there, just waiting. Shivering took my frame as I removed my boot from the MP's throat and stepped back, letting myself sink to my knees, holding my shoulder, the blade occasionally shifting, scraping on my nerves.

Footsteps charged over to us. I flinched, but it was Hanji and the others. Friends. Allies. The danger had passed for now.

Then there's a hand grabbing the front of my cloak, wrenching me upright. Levi. I looked into steel eyes, wide with fear – despite how everyone else would only see fury.

I maintained eye contact. Everyone stared, I could feel it.

But he was beyond caring. "You fucking promised!"

"No I didn't. For precisely this reason."

"How am I meant to trust you, brat?"

"I guess you can't." I spoke between my teeth. "Are you seriously expecting me to believe that had that MP bastard been running at me you wouldn't have done something to help? That you'd have stayed hidden if you were a target?"

"Yes, I expect that, dammit."

"Then I'm calling bullshit." I shoved him back, standing up unsteadily as my shoulder pulsed in pain. He finally looked there, his grey eyes flashing back to mine.

A groan came from Eren, and I turned away from Levi to go to the kids side.

"R-Rob—" He cringed as his eyes flashed a brighter green, breathing hard.

I shushed him, and held his shoulders. He was fighting the need to change so hard. He had trusted me so completely. Nice to know someone still could.

"Just rest Eren, they're gone. We're safe."

For now.

Distant shouts rose up from the cabin. They would be tearing the place apart no doubt, still waiting on reports from their forest troops.

Eren looked towards the sounds and shuddered.

I held onto his wrists. "C'mon Eren, trust me, you can do that can't you?"

"Yes… I'm sorry."

"It's fine, just take deep breaths." I glanced around, and noticed the distance the others were keeping.

"Sanshi, stand back." Levi snapped.

"No."

"He could turn at any second, get back."

"Thank you for pointing out the obvious, now let me help him through this."

"Stand back Cadet Sanshi, now." He ordered. I turned and give a forced salute. Before turning back to Eren, and holding onto his hand, squeezing. "That was an order."

"One I'm electing to ignore. Sir."

"Don't you think for one second this is okay because—"

"It doesn't matter than I've fucked you Levi." I looked back at him. "I'm not expecting to get away with this because I love you, or you love me. If you were the Commander or even the King himself, right now I'd be ignoring all of you. So court-marshall me, beat the shit out of me for disobeying, but don't think I'll be taking that order. This man needs help, he's a Titan shifter yes, he can take a ridiculous amount of punishment, correct. But that doesn't mean he should have to."

I turned back to Eren and locked eyes on his. He looked at me with a twinge of guilt, but I just smiled. Levi had to know that despite the fact I loved him dearly, and would gladly swap my life for his, he wasn't the only one I cared for. He did know that. I knew he did. But he was afraid and lashing out. I just wasn't about to pretend that was okay.

Slowly Eren's face relaxed, and his eyes dulled.

I breathed out. Everyone did. The danger had passed, Eren had kept control.

Hanji cleared her throat. "Well done, Robyn. I'll… I'll get a wagon for Eren. Moblit, can you tend to her shoulder?"

"Of course."

But Keza had the medical kit in her hands already. "You lot get ready to move out or whatever, I can tend to Numbnuts here."

I peeked to where Levi was stood, staring at the ground with his jaw clenched tight. My blood was all over the grass. Bright against the dull green. His hand shook for a second, but then he tensed his fist before his hand went slack. He busied himself with the horses. No glances in my direction. He had to cool down. We both did.

Keza applied pressure to my shoulder, dragging my attention back to her. She smirked. "Good on you. Glad to know you've not gone soft just because of those three little words."

"As if." I murmured, gritting my teeth as the pain nipped and she removed the blade. "You'd kick my arse if I did."

"Damn right. But he'll come round, just a scared little boy."

I smiled softly. "Yeah, I figured as much."

"Never seen him that rattled, have you?"

I shrugged. But no, I hadn't. I think I really frightened him. This whole situation we were in had everyone on edge. Even Levi. He knew how to plan against Titans, but this? We were in a whole new kind of shitshow.

"We'll have to talk." I sighed. "He'll be going in circles of guilt over that. Idiot that he is."

"Mm, perhaps. You have any trouble of your own in the woods?"

"Nothing I couldn't handle."

She held the bandage to my shoulder, eyes meeting mine with a sorrowful understanding. "If it's you or them, you have to choose you. Hear me? They're the ones attacking first."

I swallowed. "That's what I keep telling myself. I just wish it didn't feel quite so fucking close to… T-To…"

"You're not becoming him."

My mouth closed slowly. How did she always know?

She wound the bandages and tied them off carefully. "Things are only going to be weirder from here, Numbnuts. We can't go indulging in this kinda doubt, you hear me? These bastards are out to kill us. You're not even human in their eyes. Sanshi rat, was what they kept saying, like you're something lesser. It's sickening. And you do not owe them the time of day."

I let her pull me into a hug as the last of the day's light disappeared. "I'm so scared, Keza."

"Me too, Robyn, me fucking too. But we'll get through. All of us."

"Together."

"Exactly. And you'll make up with Shorty, don't worry."

I sat back and laughed breathlessly. "Yeah, you think so?"

"Mm, no one can stay angry at you too long, love. Your tits are far too fantastic."

Thanks for reading, cya soon!