Hello! It's friday again! And here's another update. Wee chonkier than usual.

Warning for next week, I SHOULD be okay to upload but I'm getting a flight that afternoon and due to me being a total basket-case about flights, I may be too distracted. The week after that the 29th, I won't be uploading as I'll still be on my holiday. Just plenty of fore-warning!

Back at Scouts HQ there was a strange energy filling the building. Rumour had reached HQ, and in my, the Commander and my Captain's wake questions were whispered and Scouts nudged each other, pointing out that some of us had returned. The others were waiting for us at an Inn on the main road, we were just here to grab some personal affects for our stay at the old HQ. It seemed the best idea to keep Eren away from too many prying eyes. The Commander wouldn't be joining us at the new/old HQ for a few weeks, but he had returned with us so he could get started on preparations for the upcoming mission. It was potentially going to be a total mess. Not only would we be going with the unknown element of Eren, but also a fresh batch of new recruits. They would be skilled, but it was experience where they would lack. And that was where most Scouts either sank or swam.

"Collect your things and gather Petras too, I'll meet you by the waggon in a half hour." My Captain's words drew me out of my train of thought. "You good?"

"Yeah, just getting lost in my thoughts. Sorry, sir. See you in a half hour." I nodded and headed for Petra's room first.

She hadn't asked for much; a few civilian clothing options, her diary and some stationary for writing letters home. I packed the small bag and headed for my own quarters, keeping my head down as I went past the other Scouts in the hallway. I wasn't to tell them anything. In due time the Commander would be explaining what was going on, but in this delicate transition stage, we didn't want too much information floating around. Beyond that, I had a theory that the Commander wasn't sure who to trust.

Thunder rolled overhead, and rain began to fall. Hopefully it didn't get any heavier, or we'd be delayed till morning. I quickened my pace and got to my own room, gathering some clothes, my ribbon from Keza and a couple books in case there was some downtime. It wasn't clear how much use I would be on this old base, mainly being required for keeping tabs on Eren. But also I already knew certain details, so me being there spared anyone else being clued in. Convenient.

I fastened the pack and ensured my window was locked tight, only then noting how much harder the rain had started to fall. Damn. But it wasn't my call on whether we would be heading out tonight or not. So I would wait by the entrance anyway, the wagon being only a few paces beyond. But as I reached for my door a sharp knock stalled my hand on the handle. Ah.

"Sanshi? You in there?"

I opened the door to my Captain, stepping aside when he motioned to enter. "Rain's caught up with us. We'll have to stay here tonight and head back for the Inn first light. The rest of the Squad will be able to handle Jaeger I'm sure."

"Agreed." I set the pack down, closed the door and leaned against it. "So, as we have a little time… Can I ask you something?"

"Of course. Closed door, remember." He raised a brow. "Unless I can't tell you, or don't know, but you can ask me."

"Right." I smiled and went to perch on my bed, having been in formal mode with him for a few days by that point. In here he was Levi, not my Captain. Probably. Unless I needed him to be my Captain instead. "I was just wondering, what constitutes Eren needing… 'put down'."

The wording was vile, but it was the words I had read on the documentation.

Levi perched against my desk, arms folded as he considered his words. Some may have found the silence dismissive, like a refusal. But I knew he was just figuring out how best to respond, which probably meant that it wasn't an answer I was going to like.

I braced for the worst. When it came down to it, as much as I liked Eren, I had to keep in mind that he was an unknown at this point. Perhaps even to himself. If he posed a danger, we had to deal with that.

Levi sighed. "In all honesty, it's a grey area. We'll be training him in his Titan form if we can, so him being changed isn't the line he has to cross. And if he's aggressive at first, we will at least attempt to give him a grace period to regain composure, considering what went down in Trost with that Ackerman girl. But if he outright hurts one of us? Then it's going to quickly become a case of stopping him. We have been trying to consider ways of removing him from his Titan form in a non-lethal manner though."

I perked up at that point. "So it might not mean he has to be outright murdered?"

"Maybe. Hanji is still working on that." He gave me a strange look, almost one of concern, but there was an edge there. Kind of like suspicion. "Do you think you could do it? If pressed?"

My lips pursed tightly. Me being able to kill people was hardly the concern, I had shown my hand in that area. No, the issue was that Eren was someone I clearly held in high regard. And he was a kid. Sentimentality was hardly my strong suit, at least I didn't like to think it was, but I was protective. Levi knew that, hence his concern.

I swallowed. "In all honesty, it's a grey area."

He smirked. "Well played."

I huffed a laugh. "I'm only half joking. If he hurt one of the squad? I'm not going to know how I'll feel until it happens. Will my protectiveness of you guys take over from my concern of Eren? I dunno. Maybe I can find a middle ground? Am I allowed that?"

"If at all possible, yes." He came over and sat beside me on the bed. "I know I said it in the courtroom, that there could be no middle ground, but you know how much the Scouts value life. We're hardly going to throw away such a potentially useful asset. No doubt, as annoying as it is, it'll come down to what we figure out in the moment."

I clasped my hands tightly. "So me not knowing… is okay?"

"Has to be. When do the Scouts know anything for fucking sure?" He leaned back and propped himself up on his elbows, eyes glancing around my room. "Glad to see it's this tidy as a standard, brat."

I smirked. "What, you thought I tidied it special that day you had to bring me in and bind me to my bed?"

"Could have been a fluke." His eyes lingered on the ribbon wrapped around my wrist. "It seemed like you and your friend Keza were getting along fine, even though it's been a while?"

"Yeah. Like not a day had passed." I leaned back too and raised my wrist. "Maybe some bonds can endure that time apart, you know? Nice thought at least."

"Mm. Were you worried she might not want to make contact?"

"I had no idea." I hung my head back. "People wanting to be around me is something I still have to take a second to actually believe sometimes, being called a useless rat for my early years didn't exactly do my self-esteem any good." I snorted. "Keza never had any time for those doubts though. I'm here, ain't I Numbnuts? Believe that and we're good."

"Sounds like a good friend."

"The best." I peeked in his direction, finding him still staring at the ribbon. "What about your friends? The ones who's patches you've kept?"

His eyes flitted up to mine, a new edge having appeared. Wariness. "What about them?"

"What were they like?" It wasn't clear to me how much I was allowed to ask or not, but from what he said before I was willing to at least take the chance and find out.

It took him a moment to respond. But I sensed no refusal in that moment, just the quiet contemplation of my Captain as he rifled through emotions and figured out where he was landing.

After that moment he almost smiled. "Farlan was an arrogant pain in the ass sometimes, and at other times an overly cautious worried mother-hen. Isabel… She was a ball of energy. Nothing was beyond the scope, everything had to be at least tried before she gave up on it. Thankfully that included me."

I brushed my fingers against his. "I'm sorry you lost them."

He shrugged. "We've all lost things, Robyn. Just means we have to appreciate what we still have instead." He slumped against the mattress properly. "Like tonight I'll definitely appreciate having a decent bed to sleep in. I have no idea what shitty supplies were left in that old building, we might be sleeping on little more than hay mats up there."

It was a decent transition to changing the subject, so I'd take the bait.

"Mm, guessing the plumbing might be just as… interesting?"

"Indeed. I'll get Eld and Gunter to focus on that when we get up there, they're both pretty good with that stuff. Moblit too."

"Moblit? Oh, Hanji's guy, right." I yawned and laid back as well. "Kinda glad we're not going to be pressing on tonight, to be honest."

"Mm. Now that I've stopped moving, I have to agree..." He murmured, sounding half-asleep already. We hadn't even had dinner, or changed out of our uniform. But I couldn't fight the weight of my eyelids, listening to his deep breathing as I slipped into a peaceful sleep.

Knock. Knock.

I jolted awake, as did Levi beside me. We'd fallen asleep right there, feet still on the floor, both lying across the middle of my bed, like a couple of kids too knackered from playing. I hauled myself upright and smoothed myself down, shaking my head to clear the fog as I approached the door.

"Coming, two seconds!"

Levi sat up and grumbled to himself, leaning on his knees and apparently getting no further. I opened the door and angled myself in the way of him being spotted.

The Commander dipped his head. "I concluded you may have passed out once you realised the rain was delaying progress, I've had food brought to my office for you and the Captain, can you find him for me?" He raised a brow and glanced beyond me for a mere moment.

And my Captain said the Commander didn't know anything for certain. Pah. As if.

I nodded. "Yes, sir. We'll be there shortly, thank you, sir."

"Sanshi." He dipped his head again and went back along the corridor.

I closed the door and put my head against it. "You're wrong about the Commander by the way."

"I may have told you a small white lie." Levi snorted, now standing behind me so that when I turned he had me trapped against the door. "But he truly doesn't care."

"All right, but… Levi?"

"Mm?" He leaned in and I pressed a finger to his lips. He stopped immediately, watching me closely.

"White or not, I don't want lies. Okay?"

He blinked and straightened up, thankfully taking my tone seriously. He took my hand when it lowered from his lips. "All right, I… I apologise. I figured it was better than making you worry."

"Appreciated, but I'd always prefer the truth. Even if it's gonna sting."

He nodded and gently let go of my hand. "I'll keep that in mind."

"Thank you." I pecked him on the cheek and checked my uniform was fine before opening the door and heading out. "And now that I think about it, I'm fucking hungry."

"Mm." He closed the door behind him and marched alongside me. "I forgot to mention earlier, but it was a genuine uh… misstep. Not hiding it." He frowned, clearly a little unsure of himself after my small bop on his nose about the white lies. Turns out he could be a little awkward sometimes too.

"All right, what is it?"

"Sente's trial is next week."

"Oh."

"They finally got a date while all that Trost stuff was going down."

"Ah, good. Glad to hear it, even if it only means he's being moved off this base for a little while." I shook my head, hating that the little snake was still writhing around somewhere on these grounds. "Thanks for telling me, with everything else going on, I'd kind of forgotten about the shithead."

"Good. He's not worth the time for thinking."

I smiled softly and then gave a knock on the Commander's door. He called for us to enter and gestured to the two seats in front of his desk, where a small array of food was laid out.

As usual he was pouring over documents. "I took the liberty of sending confirmation to the Inn of the situation, I didn't want Ral or someone else wandering through the darkness looking for you in case you had been caught unawares of the weather."

"Appreciated." Captain Levi sat and poured tea into three cups, placing a few bits of food on his plate as well. "Think it'll clear by dawn?"

"It's a decent wind going on, so I would hope so, yes. A moment to breathe is probably good for everyone involved. No doubt Jaeger is as anxious as he can be about the whole thing. His freedom entirely depends on his ability to serve on this mission."

I gathered my own bits of food. "Does he automatically go to the MPs if we fail?"

"That's a bridge to cross later." The Commander smiled and sat back, clasping his hands over his chest. No doubt he had a few more plans up his sleeves. He wouldn't give Eren up without a fight – even if the basis of that was fascination over affection. "I wanted to thank you, Sanshi."

"What for, sir?"

"For allowing us to lay the groundwork with Jaeger. I realise it must have looked a little comical to you in that room after the trial, but we do wish to proceed in a certain manner with him. You can of course act normally, he already knows you, but we… Well it seemed prudent to–"

"It's all right, sir. I appreciate the explanation though, I can see that there's no outright deception intended, simply some boundaries."

He gave a small nod. "As ever your astuteness is appreciated."

I took a bite of my sandwich. "I just know how to start a decent con, sir. Dunno if that's astuteness or what, but sure."

"Indeed…"

Captain Levi snorted and shook his head. What I lacked in decorum I made up for in personality, surely? I bloody hoped so at least.

Some commotion in the corridor made us all glance to the door. Presumably just some rowdy cadets. But then it continued. I slowly rose from my seat; it could just be some newbies kicking off, or someone having had a nightmare when taking an early nap. It could be anything. Yet something had the hairs on the back of my neck twinging.

I approached the door and cracked it open, a few cadets were running to and fro, seemingly searching for something. Or someone. I gestured for one of them to come closer.

He gave a salute. "Yes, miss?"

"What's going on?"

"Uh, it would appear Miss that Cadet Sente has uh…" He winced. "Escaped."

I sighed and put my head against the doorframe. "Well that's just fantastic."

"I-Indeed, Miss. We're looking for him, but the darkness and the rain is making it difficult."

"All right, thank you for the information. I'll inform the Commander. Go about your business."

He hurried away and I closed the door, looking to the two men and finding them already discussing how to proceed, having heard everything clearly. So much for a little downtime. It was probably a good thing I had grabbed a nap while I could. Had Jack somehow found out about me and Levi's return? And so he had broken out to have a go at me? Or was it the Commander maybe? Then again, he may have only been told about his trial today, and this escape might have nothing to do with us being away or back at all. Total coincidence.

"Sanshi," the Commander waved me over and I obeyed. "Captain Levi will head out with the others to track down Sente, I suggest you remain here with me in case he intends to enact revenge on you in some manner."

Some manner. A good way of putting 'bending me over and–' Stop it.

I stood behind my chair. "May I speak freely, sir?"

"Proceed."

"He could be after you as well."

"Indeed, seems less likely, but yes. So we shall remain here and the Captain will report back after an initial check of the grounds. If Sente has any sense he will be seeking refuge in the trees until the rain passes."

"Then I doubt that's what he's done." I sat down and cracked my neck. "Considering he has about as much sense as a donkey."

"Now, now." The Commander tsked. "Let us not be insulting to our friendly mules."

Oh, I was getting a sneak peek at the sassy side to the Commander? My, my, I must have been making my way into the inner circle. But jokes aside, I had a point to make.

"Sir, I really don't think us both being in one place is a good move. I'll go help out in the infirmary or something for the time being, you can go searching in the meantime."

Levi frowned. "Why the infirmary?"

"Exactly. It's a random choice, not one Sente would think of. With any luck this escape has nothing to do with us being back on base anyway, Captain. Probably the idiot freaking out about his trial more than anything else."

The Commander nodded. "Indeed, I'm not sure anyone else knew of our return in time to mention it to him, even if they would. All right. We can go search, and we'll regroup in the infirmary once checks have been made. Stay alert, Sanshi."

"Always do, sir. And likewise to you. If Sente doesn't know about me and the Captain being back on base, then this escape is either him running, or him coming for you. He would always assume you're around." We all headed for the office door.

"I'm glad to know you have such a strategic mind, Sanshi, truly. But I also wonder what you had to endure in younger life in order to think in such a manner."

I snorted. "Sir, you do realise your brain is far more in that column than mine?"

"Perhaps, but I do have a few years on you."

"Not as many as some might assume."

We all headed out, them headed to the patrols, me for the infirmary. Hopefully they found Jack face down in a muddy puddle, having fallen and hit his head on a particularly pointy rock. But that would be a bit too easy.

Once in the infirmary, I asked the nurses to put me to work. At first they had offered me a bed to sit in and wait everything out, but I had to keep moving. I was a ball of nervous energy, fizzing over. They gave me work; changing beds, refilling water by people's beds, ensuring the medicines were all stocked up and such. It was methodical, careful, and distracting.

By the time another patrol went past the windows, one story down, it had already been two hours. Still no sign of Jack Sente the magnanimous moron.

A nurse came over as I was folding sheets, she offered me a steaming mug of tea. "Drink, Sanshi?"

"Thanks, that's perfect." I took it and breathed deep, a gentle herb blend with just a touch of honey. The sweetness would help my nerves no doubt. "How's everything looking?"

"We're about as organised as we possibly could be." She chuckled. "I think once you're done with those sheets, short of you starting to scrub down the walls themselves, you may have to take me up on that offer of simply sitting down. I'm sure either the Captain or the Commander will be here soon with word. That foolish boy won't be able to stay hidden all night."

I had officially run out of things to do.

I sipped the tea and looked around the pristine infirmary. "Don't you guys have any books or something? Anything, even a medical journal would do."

"We have a small stack in the office, yes. Whenever the Commander finds a double of a book, or Miss Hanji ends up falling asleep with one in her hands, we tend to keep track of them here. Feel free to peruse." She dipped her head and walked away, seeing to patients with those kind eyes and warm smiles. The Scouts were plenty lauded by some folks, but thankfully our medical staff got all the good and none of the bad. No civilian, even if they didn't like the Scouts, belittled the work of a nurse. Or if they did, they were quickly identified as an asshole.

I snooped through the office collection and eventually found one that caught my eye. Small, old by the looks of the cracked leather, with lettering that I couldn't quite make out. I also struggled to guess whether this would be from the Commander's ongoing collection, or Hanji's. They both sought to understand our world, and as much as their methods differed in action, in reading, there was likely a lot of overlap. Mainly due to a lack of material.

The pages were brittle and the lettering archaic. I had no idea where such an old text would have come from, most of the earlier ones were banned for their 'unsubstantiated' intel. Basically it questioned shit and that wasn't liked by higher ups. I turned the page and found a drawing of a woman, a very large woman. Perhaps it was a female titan of some kind? The detail was amazing; she stood atop a hill with her long flowing hair radiating out of her like sun rays. Weird. It was almost like this Titan was being worshipped.

A clack sounded against the window.

I lowered my drink and peered, seeing nothing beyond the glass, but of course it was so dark by now it would be hard to see anything at all. It might have just been debris though.

"Is everything all right, Cadet Sanshi?" The nurse approached, hands clasped, brow worried.

"Just occurred to me..." I sipped my drink and set it down on the windowsill as another clack sounded. "Do we have any weapons in here?"

"Oh… Uhm… In terms of actual knives and such, no, though I'm sure you could get creative with a bed-pan."

"Damn right I could. I'm gonna check that window."

"Be careful."

I plucked up a candlestick holder in place of a bed-pan, knowing full well it could still do damage if lodged in the right spot. It was cold in my hand and as I reached for the window, I turned it in my palm. Come on, Jack. Don't be a dumbass. Leave this be. I opened the latch. The window shuddered with the rain and wind. The hinges creaked.

Nothing there.

We were only one floor up, so it wasn't exactly impossible for Sente to have scrambled up that far. Still, nothing seemed to be outside except noisy weather. I closed it again and redid the latch, letting the nurse carry on with her rounds while I returned to admiring that book.

When I returned to the office to find another text I could actually read, gasps rang up throughout the infirmary. Shit. I'd celebrated too soon. I set the book down and snuck back to the office door.

Crash.

Thunk.

Sente stood at the head of the aisle between beds, dripping rain all over the floor, blood running over his knuckles, and down his temple. Clearly he'd already been in a few scraps. He looked deranged.

Oh goody…

Dun dun duuuuun... Sente is BACK IN THE BUILDING. Haha, hope you enjoyed! Thanks for reading, following, faving and leaving reviews when you can. Appreciated! Cya, maybe, next week ^-^