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Their wires whined as they lowered them to the ruined city below. Hanji, Levi, Eren and Mikasa were going to find Dr Jaeger's basement, they were going to find what the hell this had all been about. Hopefully. I cringed against the idea of it being another dead end. Please. The truth might hurt, but just give it to us. Haven't we given up enough in return? Haven't we lost enough? But of course on top of that, it would mean the Commander had been cruelly close to realising his dream when he died. When that truth was snatched from his sight.

I suppose even without that… It was still cruel. He was still gone. And now Keza was alone.

My eyes grew heavy, and I had to assume Hanji had given me something to help me sleep. I wasn't a good patient at the best of times, let alone in this situation.

I drifted…

"You have no idea what you're talking about, you stupid woman." Vincent snarled, slapping Mother across the face a third time, sending her toppling to the kitchen floor. "That rat's life isn't worth a damn, if she can't help me crack this fucking code. Do you even comprehend what I'm trying to do? How much I'm trying to save?"

Mother sobbed. "Of course I don't, you never tell me anything!"

"Because you'd spill it everywhere you stupid bitch. You chat about it with all your mindless pals, letting the royals fucking know, letting anyone and everyone know."

"I wouldn't!" She clasped the front of his shirt, on her knees, tears pouring down her bruised face. "All I want is to understand, damn it. Why does it have to be Robyn? Just use me. Use–"

"Can't exactly keep you hidden, can I? Idiot." He shoved her aside and strode back over to me, eyes as cold as ever, but for a brief moment he paused. Those eyes, usually so unfeeling. Or if feeling at all, filled only with hatred. They stared down at me. And for once, his brows pinched upwards. Concern? Worry? It made no sense to me. Like seeing rain go upwards instead of down.

He knelt in front of me, the sounds of Mother crying dimming behind him. His large callused hands cupped my face, his thumbs running under my teary eyes, a wobble almost taking to his lip. Still he stared.

"It's easier this way." His voice was soft, caring, like how other Father's spoke to their children when I was at my friend's houses. Love. Was that what I saw in his gaze? Is that what I heard in his voice? Or was I just hoping?

"Dad wha–"

"Come on." He glared, warmth vanished as he stood and dragged me along behind him. "I can't afford to waver now. Don't come to the basement, wench."

"N-No. Little Bird! I'm sorry!"

"Robyn?"

I blinked, the blue sky had clouded over a little. Some more birds skirted past. Who said my name? I tried to think, but my mind was still groggy with sleep.

"Robyn, are you all right?"

Armin. Of course, it was Armin's voice. I mumbled in response, trying to reach to rub my eyes, but my limbs felt so heavy still.

Armin, I assume, shuffled closer. "You'll still be uh… pretty groggy I assume. Looked like a nasty dream though. S-Sorry, I uh… I just…"

"S'fine." I cleared my throat, dragging myself back to the surface inch by inch. He sounded so timid, or rather, more timid than usual. Why? I blinked hard. Oh. Oh of course. I knew why. "Y'okay?"

I managed to turn my head towards him, and he was sat up, wrapped in a blanket, eyes cast over the horizon beyond Maria. His eyes had always been the colour of the sky, and they still were, but somehow they looked dimmer. Perhaps it was exhaustion. Or perhaps it was a side-effect of the transformation. Or… Perhaps it was guilt. I didn't think there needed to be any there, of course not, but he was the type to end up in that pit. He had been chosen. Did he even know it was a choice between him and the Commander, yet? I couldn't be sure. He hadn't been conscious when I was sedated.

He finally looked at me. "Do you think he chose, right?"

Wow. Straight in the deep end, huh? I suppose that made sense. No point buggering about the point when it was so final a decision. The Commander was dead. Armin was alive. And now we had the Colossal Titan on our team. This world really was insane, and only now was I starting to lose my breath when trying to keep up.

"I dunno that it's a case of wrong or right."

He huffed a bitter sounding laugh. "From anyone else I'd assume they were sparing my feelings, but from you I'll ask for a clarification."

At least he knew I wouldn't bullshit.

"Neither option was wrong, and neither option was right. When…" I cringed and put a hand to my ribs, taking a few slow breaths before continuing. "When choosing between one person's life and another's, there isn't ever going to be a clean-cut distinction. Especially with two people like you and Commander Erwin."

"H-How?"

"Because you both have so many strengths."

"I'd argue I have many more weaknesses."

"And I'll point out you didn't know the Commander as well as I did, or indeed, Captain Levi." I watched the words reaching Armin, and the moments he tried to refuse them. Not on purpose. But due to the sheer guilt radiating off him with every slow, measured breath. "Neither of you went out there today assuming you'd be given the serum, n-neither of you risked your lives with the assumption of being able to be brought back. So both of you were good candidates."

He looked down. "But he was our Commander."

"And the Scouts have had many before him, and we will have m-many after him." I winced and looked up at the sky, for once I had no no doubt over my words. "I don't know why Levi chose the way he chose, hell, he might not understand himself. But I know the Commander would respect it, regardless."

"Y-You think he'd be all right with losing his life for… for me?"

I shook my head. "Not in such clean cut terms, but… I truly believe that he gave that syringe to Levi, because he trusted his Captain's judgement. To me, that makes it above question. The man himself chose Levi to choose. And he did. So now, we simply move f-forward with that decision. You have a lot to give the world, Armin, but you d-don't..." I coughed. "You don't need to justify surviving either."

Now, that was a majorly hypocritical thing to say. I know. Hands up, I am fully aware. But fuck it. The boy clearly needed something to cling to. And the last thing I wanted was to see Armin Artlet sink. Not when he had been given a brand new chance to fly.

He looked down at himself and huffed another bitter laugh. "That one might take a little longer to sink in."

"Take the time, just… Just remember you can come to any of us if in need of reassurance." I smiled softly, not wavering for a second when he looked my way. His whole world had changed, his life would never quite be the same.

Beyond being alive while the Commander was dead, Armin also had to content with being the Colossal Titan. That was a major advantage to us, a big weapon on our team. And as much as Armin was vital to the Scouts, to Humanity as a whole, he hadn't really been a weapon before. At least, not in physical terms. He had always been a weapon in mindset, in cunning. Now, he was a sledgehammer in his own right. And now, we didn't have to fear the Colossal breaking through Rose for the enemy, because now, the Colossal was an ally.

Holy shit.

I don't think that had quite clicked in my brain until that moment, and a huge weight left my body. A laugh rose up my throat and bubbled from my lips, making me ache all over from the movement, but unable to be stopped. I could feel Amrin watching me. Perhaps he hadn't considered the full ramifications yet either. I had to tell him. This kind of relief was something everyone should know.

And indeed, when I said it, it made him bubble over with relief as well. Not in the same way, there was no laughter from him, instead a silent set of grateful tears that fell against his lap.

"Thanks for that, Robyn." He wiped his eyes and breathed a little easier. "That is a huge relief. I don't know that I was even aware of how much I was worrying over that until now."

"Imagine the relief for the civilians as well." I grinned.

He nodded, looking to the horizon. "I wonder if I'll still be allowed to go see the sea."

"Why wouldn't you be?"

"I'm not sure the government will be pleased about letting me roam around freely." He shivered, rubbing his wrists like there was already shackles in place.

I reached carefully and put my hand on his arm, he still felt feverish. "Hey now, this isn't the same government that freaked out over Eren, remember? We have Historia in power now. She won't cage you."

"Oh… Right, of course."

"Give yourself time to adjust, Armin. Your body has just been through literal hell. Between how you almost died, and then being transformed, you should take a few days."

He nodded again, closing his eyes. "I… I think I'm getting flashes of… Of Bertholdt's memories as well. I'm not sure but… I think that's what's happening."

"Shit, that doesn't sound pleasant."

He shrugged and scratched the back of his neck. "If it reveals anything about where they came from, it might prove useful at least."

Already he was trying to justify the fact he had survived. Already he was making plans on how to appease those that questioned and doubted Levi's decision. I had meant what I said – both Armin and Commander Erwin were good candidates for saving. And I knew my Captain would have his reasons for saving the former. But I did know that there would be questions back home. And if that ginger guy from the rooftop… Flock, was it? If his ongoing grimace was any indication, there would be plenty of people that weren't pleased.

But none of it seemed to matter in that moment.

We had come out of the other side. The Beast Titan had been chased off, we had resealed Maria, and we had liberated Shiganshina. For so long, this battle had loomed. For so long, the future had seemed so uncertain beyond that point. So at least for now. For whatever time we had before the others returned from the basement, I would enjoy this peace, this moment of reprise. The work could wait. The turmoil could wait. The fucking politics could wait. The main pain for me right now, atop the wall, with the blue sky above and possibilities abound, was Keza. My friend. We had lost a Commander, but she had lost her husband. Sure, they hadn't been together long. Levi and Hanji had known the man for longer. But it would be a different kind of hurt for her, and one she had seen coming a mile off. My friend. Alone again. Dammit.

"What do you think is in the basement?"

Armin dragged me back from my thoughts, and in all honesty, I was glad.

I blinked in the sunlight and let my head hang back. "You know… I'd never really stopped to consider it…"

"Really?" He laughed at me, sounding more calm by the moment.

The last of the fuzziness was falling away from my mind. "Yeah. I think I was so focused on us making it to Maria instead, that it sort of slipped my mind. That other goal… I had no room in my brain for it."

"I suppose that makes sense…" He hummed.

"What about you?"

"I was never sure."

I smiled. "You must have theorised though, it's you."

He chuckled. "I suppose you're right. Can't help myself sometimes."

"Good thing, too. Those theories of yours have saved our asses many times over."

"Mm, perhaps. I dunno… It was hard for me to wrap my head around the basement. Dr. Jaeger was always such a straight forward man in my memories. Eren's rather stoic and unfriendly father. Nothing extraordinary about him really, other than being a good doctor, but that was hardly something to make me suspect more of him… And then we find out he has some strange connection to Titans, or rather to shifters… It was hard to grasp in all honesty."

It made sense. To have grown up alongside Eren, to have only known his father as an everyday physician. It wasn't the sort of thing that gelled with our new reality. Then again, not a lot gelled with the consideration of the Titans. They were otherworldly. Surreal. Wherever they had come from, it would be bizarre. I just had to hope the universe balanced out a little bit by making their solution simple. Then again, who the hell was I kidding? These things were never simple. It seemed to be how Humanity paid for its many crimes. One hell of a headache, after another, and another.

"That's an odd looking Titan…" Armin murmured, peering towards the Horizon, beyond Maria.

Speaking of headaches.

A small, perhaps naive part of me, hoped that it might simply be an abnormal walking funny. But there was little reason for Armin to take note of that. We had seen all manner of abnormal on the fields. No. As I followed his gaze I felt cold, despite the sunshine washing over us both. It was indeed an odd Titan. Odd enough that my mind immediately wondered the word 'shifter'. It was about as tall as Eren's Titan, but leaner looking, like a razor. Sharp points gathered at its joints, making it look like it had been crafted from blades. And it shined. Like Annie's crystal. I shivered harder, recalling the impact of that hardened skin against my fragile body, the way my blood smeared against it, without her so much as glancing back. But it wasn't Annie. No way. It was dark hair spilling from the beast's head, its eyes too far away to spot the colour of, but I could feel them watching us. Despite not being able to take my eyes off it, I reached for my flare guns. They had to be somewhere near here. If the others weren't on their way back already, they might have to hurry. But why had this shifter not been with the others?

"Should we do a flare at all?" Armin whispered, as if the thing might overhear us. "If it hasn't spotted us, then we'd just be informing it of our position, right? A-And if it has seen us, then we're just confirming we have seen it."

"It knows." I gulped. "Can't you feel it staring?"

"Mm, you're right."

"I don't believe it's a coincidence either. It just happened to be in this area? Bullshit. It… I-It's either with the other Shifters, o-or it's on patrol for someone else."

"Breathe, Robyn."

"I will, once that things fucking g-gone."

The beast tilted its head and then threw it back, as if in laughter. Only then did the sunlight catch along its huge teeth, like blades in their own right. Fuck. It would tear through Scouts like they were dolls. And these days we were down to mainly rookies.

Finally I clasped the gun. Black smoke erupted into the air above us, streaking high, skimming the clouds from here. The beast's head tilted again. It turned and left. Perhaps fled? I couldn't be sure, it hardly looked like it was in a rush.

"There were no sparks, right? I didn't see a transformation flare." My hand trembled as I lowered the gun, my eyes prickled with fresh tears, and my heart was in my throat.

"None that I saw, they can't have shifted anywhere near here."

"So they have decent stamina." I tried to take in details, but it was hard through the haze of terror. The others would want details. I trembled all over, my body not wanting to move at all, it would have rather curled in on itself and hidden beneath my blanket. But I had to take notes. I had to tell the others as much as possible when they came back.

We had a new Shifter.

And I had no idea if it was friend or foe… But knowing our luck, probably foe.

LEVI POV - MEANWHILE…

On an unassuming street, in an unassuming part of town, there it was. Crushed beneath a huge boulder. No wonder Jaeger's mother hadn't managed to escape, the whole structure was demolished. Levi couldn't help but wonder if the basement would still even be intact. It would be the cruellest thing, wouldn't it? To have come so far, fought so hard, lost so much, and to not even make it into the basement. Then again, it would also help the ache in his chest over the fact Erwin had been that close to finally finding the truth. Unless the information in the basement wasn't even that. So many things remained uncertain. And as Levi glanced back towards the wall, where Robyn was resting with Artlet and the others, he took a deep breath. He would just have to do his best to hold onto the things that were certain. Robyn was alive. Levi was alive. They had the Colossal Titan on their side. The enemy shifters had been beaten back for now. Those things he knew, tangibly and certainly.

Now, he would contend with the uncertain.

Mercifully the basement was intact, only a little debris had covered it, and that was easily heaved out of the way. The door was intact and no flooding damage seemed to have occurred. The fires hadn't reached that far either. Small mercies. But then… Jaeger couldn't get the key to fit. There were many things Levi was willing to accept that day; his regiment had been pulled apart, they had lost veterans and rookies alike, Hanji was the new Commander, and Armin Artlet was the new Colossal Titan. But a locked door, after all this time? No.

He kicked it down.

And revealed a normal basement.

Levi stepped inside with the others and felt his temper begin to build in his chest, like a scream that needed released, or a flame requiring more oxygen in order to spark. Was it all just bullshit? Had the Dr just been insane? No. There had to be more to it. Amongst the normal medical journals and run-of-the-mill medical supplies, there had to be something. That, or Levi would lose what little grasp on patience he still had for this world. No, the doctor had to have known the information needed to be hidden. If he knew about the Titans, and the MPs ever caught wind of it, he would need somewhere totally secret to hide the information.

"Look for anything that could be a hidden compartment or something." He said, breaking through whatever worrying Jaeger had been in the middle of mumbling.

They searched high and low, meticulously. And with each passing minute without a discovery, Levi felt his hope fading. And then Ackerman found something. A drawer. Seemingly empty at first glance, but with some careful checking, a false bottom was revealed. Three books were nestled inside, carefully preserved to keep away damp and insects. Clearly, Dr Jeager had no intention of these being found, or damaged without his say so.

"All right…" Levi placed them onto the desk. "Let's find some fucking answers…"

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