Hiya folks, Happy New Year!

LEVI POV

He should have seen it coming. That much was clear as he held back Ackerman from chasing any further, from getting herself needlessly killed. Nifa dead. The whole of Hanji's team dead. Half the town torn up in bullets and carnage, and now only settling dust to show for their efforts. Jaeger, gone. Historia, gone. And now? Robyn too. He had thought she would get the drop on the driver, and she was about to, already swinging her blade when the damn dart hit her neck. They'd been waiting for that chance, like they never intended to really hurt Robyn. Like they needed her for something. It turned his stomach, it made him want to give chase and tear them all apart, but he knew that wouldn't help. No. For now they had to think, to plan, to find a way to get them all back. Alive.

As soon as she fell to her knees he knew it was over. Even so, he tried to grab her on the way past, when getting hold of Artlet and Kirschtein. But she was completely out of it, no strength left in her body at all. Her eyes had been open, but dazed, her brow furrowed as she presumably tried to act. Tried to keep fighting. All he could hope was that the bastards weren't toying with her too much. Or that she wasn't tormenting herself too much for being caught. Jaeger would do his best to watch out for her. Like she would for him. Historia… He wasn't sure how she would act. The girl had been hard to read all along. It wasn't often he met someone as good at masks as himself.

First things first though, he had to help the cadets through this newest shift in their world. Between him and Robyn, violence against people and from them was a given. They knew that life, they expected it. Blood and pain was just something they understood. But the kids didn't know that life, they fought the monsters beyond the walls, not next fucking door. It was a whole new angle of shit to contend with. And all they had to help them, was Levi. He felt a swell of pity for the lot of them.

As they regrouped, hid, and sat in that dingy warehouse he could hear them all sinking. Artlet especially. He had killed someone in order to save Kirschtein – whilst Levi saw that as commendable, the cadet was clearly traumatised. As the light of day dimmed, so did their outlook.

Robyn was so much better at that part. She knew how to reach people, to soothe them and to make them see their own worth. All Levi knew was brutal truth. It was what had always pulled him through, and if it didn't, he was usually helped by others. Hanji. Erwin. And of course, Robyn. But himself? He'd never quite managed that side of things. Had he?

Artlet kept questioning how easily he had pulled the trigger. Why it had been him to shoot first instead of the woman threatening Kirschtein. On and on, the kid was going in circles. He had to be stopped. They didn't have time to crumble or doubt, not when they were being hunted like dogs. And Levi didn't feel like losing someone else. Especially not someone so capable.

Artlet stared into the middle distance. "I'm a… A…"

"Killer." Levi met those watering eyes head on. "And now that your hands have been soaked in blood, the person you once were is gone for good."

Ackerman bristled, because of course she did. As good a fighter as she was, she lacked the ability to see the bigger picture. Especially when it came to her friends. Her closest friends worst of all.

She glared. "Why would you say that?"

Levi continued. "But you shouldn't regret it for one second. Because if you chose to keep your hands clean, Jean would be a corpse in a cart right now." He stared down Artlet's unsure eyes, not letting the boy waver for a moment. It was important for the boy to understand. For someone so bright, so cunning when it came to strategy, clearly he hadn't wrapped his head around the idea of murder. In some ways that was good. Currently, it could be disastrous. "I'll tell you why you pulled the trigger. Because your comrade was about to die. Armin, everyone on our squad survived today because you got blood on your hands. Thank you."

Only then did the boy react. His expression softened and he looked down.

"Captain Levi." Kirschtein piped up next, guilt radiating off him. "I thought it was wrong for us to be fighting other humans, sir. I thought it was wrong that you ordered us to do it. I mean… We became soldiers to protect people. But now, I see that I was in the wrong, sir. Next time I swear I'll shoot."

And there the kid got it incorrect. It wasn't a case of being right or wrong, sometimes it came down to simply being alive. Robyn knew that. At least, Levi hoped she did.

"I never said anything about what was right or wrong. My moral high ground's shot to hell. I have no idea who's in the right at this point."

Their world had always been tricky, always been cruel, but now it was far more muddied than before. The Underground was the place Levi considered it human against human, and the upper grounds was where the fight was brought against the Titans. But that had been naive, hadn't it? It was human vs human anywhere and everywhere. Life against life. Erwin had always known that, hadn't he? Since his father died at the hands of MPs, that man had known the enemy was as much within as it was without. Was that a blessing or a curse? Probably both.

Levi knew his words weren't what the kids had wanted to hear. But it was all that he had to offer. The brutal truth.

Beyond the need to help the kids, they also had to make progress.

Levi stood. "But anyway… I think it's time we saw what our guest has to say."

Dimo Reeves, head of the Reeves Company. A prominent merchant that Ackerman had encountered during the Trost upheaval, and the man responsible for Trost having got back onto its feet so quickly after the second breach. If he was taken out of the situation by vengeful MPs, angry that they had failed in their work, many Civilians wouldn't make it to the other side of winter. Without his company, people suffered. Levi had no affection for merchants, but he could respect the good work the man had done.

"So you gonna just take it?" Levi offered, tilting his head at the man's determined face. He would be key to finding Eren, Historia and Robyn. But there was no reason to believe the man would care about their lives – so Levi would appeal to the man caring about his own, his son and maybe the people of Trost he had lived alongside for so long. "Or do you fancy joining the fight to take some of these bastards down?"

ROBYN POV

Well this isn't good.

When I woke it was dark outside, a gag was in my mouth, and my hands were bound behind my back. My body slowly began to regain feeling, and only the small spot where the dart had struck still hurt. Well, my neck wasn't exactly pleased about my sleeping position, and my wrists burned against the restraints. But otherwise, perfectly comfortable. It didn't seem like I had been beaten yet, nor were any of my clothes out of place. Good so far. My eyes adjusted to the gloom. Beside me was the curled up figure of Eren, laying on his side, still sleeping. No doubt they had given him a bigger dose, wanting to keep the Shifter sedated. Across from him lay the small blonde bundle that was Historia.

But why the hell was I here?

"Historia?" I tried to say, but the gag made it awkward and muffled.

She blinked and looked at me with those big blue eyes. She frowned. "Better stay quiet, I dunno when they'll come back or what they're actually going to do. I… We… I'm sorry."

And then she turned over. Whether it was because she didn't know what else she could do, or what else she would want to do, I had no idea. Regardless, I had her back turned to me, and only the night sky to keep me company. Shit. Where were the others? Had the lackeys left them alone once they got us? Or was Levi lying somewhere bloodied up? Were Mikasa and Armin being held somewhere? Had Jean gotten through okay? Dammit. I closed my eyes and tried to think, but the drugs were still in my system, and there was no telling how long it had been since I drank or ate.

I must have dozed off.

When I opened my eyes again, it was the same room, but we weren't alone anymore. Reiss sat there hugging Historia tightly. Her big blue eyes stared ahead in total bewilderment. A sinking feeling tugged on my gut. I knew that look. I'd worn it myself a few times when Vincent had been in a strangely good mood, or struck the right balance of 'drunk'. That small sliver of hope. Maybe he can love me, maybe I can belong somewhere. Affection was one hell of a drug. Shit. I stayed quiet, silently wishing that she wouldn't be fooled. But also being unable to blame her if she was. Had Vincent done such a thing, at one point, I'd have melted as well. He loves me, he really loves me? Daddy? Finally, I wasn't a rat, but his daughter.

It was a sickening cycle, but I could see it playing out. Poor girl. Poor stupid girl.

And then I was dragged back under when a small pain pricked the side of my neck.

Bloody hell. They do know I will eventually need to eat, pee and drink something right?

Then again, they might not be concerned about me living through this.

After all, I still have no idea why the hell I'm even here…

He was panicking. The frenzied air made me nervous, kept me close to shadows and near something to hide behind. Mother kept John outside. There were chores to be done out there and in here, but I could dodge Father easier by myself. Mother didn't like it, but I asked her to focus on John. We could at least save him some pain. She always gave me a funny look when I said that. I didn't know whether it was pride or disappointment. Either way, she usually agreed.

Jars rattled in the basement. Was he looking for something? A visitor had come in late last night – I'd already been in bed, and I didn't hear mother's voice, so she must have already been in bed as well. The man with the smelly cigars? Or one of those robed men? Whoever it had been, they had Father uneasy.

"They can't do this to me, damn it!" A chair was thrown, smashing against the stairs before his feet pounded up, headed for the door to the kitchen.

I hopped down from cleaning dishes, only a metre away from the door itself, and tried to hide under the kitchen table. But he was too quick. The door whacked off the wall, leaving a large dent. His eyes bored into me, my hand stretched towards a chair, about to pull it aside so I could hide beneath the table. That look of his was dangerous. It could lead to days on the table.

I backed away. He stalked forwards.

"They're getting impatient, rat. Do you know what that means?"

I shook my head.

He grabbed my wrist, holding so tight. "It means I need to show them results or they bring those fucking walls down." He dragged me towards the basement. "I won't risk open war. Fuck that. Those idiots don't appreciate what it is I'm trying to do here, trying to avoid happening. Idiots. Fools. C'mere, get on the table."

"B-But Daddy they've not healed from las–"

He slapped me across the face with the back of his hand, the cold wedding ring scraping along my cheek. "We don't have time, aren't you listening? No, of course not. Why would you?"

He pushed me to lie, face down, and tightened the straps. He pulled my top up and traced the marks from yesterday, still tender to the touch, making me squirm.

"Theory isn't enough for them anymore. I need a partial transformation at least, or… O-Or some kind of evidence of the condition. Damn it. I can't give myself away though. What the hell do they want… Mm… Maybe that could work."

He started cutting.

I screamed, wailing as he carved into me, but so much deeper than usual. He stuffed a rag into my mouth and continued. It tasted of a sharp chemical, and stank of booze. Blood ran down my sides, puddling over the table, pattering against the cold stonework below.

Then he stopped. Ice was pressed to my back and he stepped towards the fire, to the table where he kept the big metal dishes and chemicals. He began mixing. Something was in one of the dishes. I tried to look, to see, to try and understand what this new torture was for. And I saw a hunk of meat. About the size of my thumb. Had he taken that from my back? But why?

He glanced over his shoulder and grinned. "Independent of you, without your damn spinal chord and nerves to interrupt the reaction, perhaps it'll work. Don't you think, Rat?"

I mumbled against the rag, vision swimming as the blood continued to trickle, albeit at a slower pace. He chuckled and went back to work. Chemicals came and went, his mutterings fluttered like birds. Some strange phrase he always said. And then there was a spark. And a rush of steamy air.

"Damn… I'm so damned close…" He came over and shoved the dish up to my face.

It stank. Like an unwashed body or cooked meat that had already gone bad. I blinked. The dish was now full, the flesh overflowing inside, far beyond the size of my thumb, more like half my torso. I blinked again. How had he done that? He can't have cut more, I'd have felt it. I frowned. He undid the straps and took my hand, pressing it to the flesh. It felt weird. Like wax. And it was warm. Too warm. Like it had a fever of some kind. It was sort of see-through as well, the firelight dancing through it, highlighting patterns that kind of looked like veins on a leaf.

"Don't you see? It's all possible. My entire plan can work, if you would just let it, you damned Paradis rat."

Para-dee?

What was he saying?

He sighed and set the dish aside, pressing the ice harder. "But at least I can show that ungrateful bastard what it's all going towards. He can take that back and buy me more time. Their fucking shifters aren't needed here, not yet. They'll just make more mess."

I drifted, wincing as another needle pierced my skin.

"As usual rat, forget. Just forget all this potential and go back to being dumb. It's easier. It's so much fucking easier."

"Para…dee…"

"Fucking cattle."

Paradee. What the hell was that supposed to mean? But that had definitely been what he said. And he had definitely managed to make my flesh transform when it was separate from me. Not that I understood what the hell my spinal cord had to do with anything. Shit. The hell was it all for? Shifters. He had said that, hadn't he? Had he known? Did he somehow know the Colossal, Armoured and Female would come? Shit it was insane. Could I turn? Was that what he was testing?

I blinked. Wake up. Think. Try to make sense of it.

As my eyes fluttered open, it took a few moments to convince myself I wasn't still dreaming. Not that this place looked like my basement. Had that been my dream? It was already so foggy again. Still, it was hard to grasp what I was even looking at. A cavern, I think. But it seemed entirely made of crystal, and it glowed somehow. I saw no lanterns, but the place was lit up like midday. But we were definitely underground. I tried to move, but I was still bound up like a damn piece of meat.

People were talking nearby.

I swallowed hard and took some long breaths. The drugs dulled, my mind feeling less soupy with every breath. Cold. It was very cold down here, wherever the hell we were. But I still didn't seem to have been injured in any way and my uniform remained untouched. I was just being carried around like some oversized accessory.

"Let me show you Historia… Same as we shall show him…"

Reiss. That was his voice, all posh and calculating as always. The hell was he talking about now? I followed the voice and blinked hard. Eren? He was on top of some kind of plinth, chained with his arms spread wide, no shirt and a bar between his teeth. What was going on? Reiss was up there too, with Historia, her wearing some weird white robe. They approached Eren. They held their hands out.

"Let us see his father's sin…"

What?

They touched Eren's back, and his eyes went wide, and vacant. Small whimpers escaped him, and jolts ran through his body. What were they doing to him? I tried to speak, but my throat was so dry I just coughed uselessly. Their eyes were closed. Historia's brow puckered in thought. Were they seeing something? Yes, Reiss said 'see'. Somehow they were watching something, peering into Eren's mind? Maybe. It made no sense, but then again, neither did a glowing crystal cave. Or shifters. Or Titans. None of it made sense, it never had.

Steps approached and a boot nudged my back. "Welcome back to the wakin' world, missy."

Really? Of all the people I could have looming over me right now, I have the human shitpile that is Kenny? And just when I thought this day couldn't get worse.

I rolled and looked up at him impassively.

He drew on his cigar and dipped his head. "Good to see you too. I did warn ya, didn't I? But you Scouts gotta go stickin' your noses in, then again, on top of that you're a damn Sanshi. You were always doomed."

I rolled my eyes and coughed again. He knelt and produced a water skin, holding it out with a raised brow. Obviously, I didn't trust it for a second. I leaned back and looked him over. Kenny snorted and opened the skin, pouring a little out in front of me. Water, from the looks of it. He then took a swig and gave an over-the-top 'ah', afterwards. Fine. I needed something, my head was pounding from dehydration. I nodded and tried to sit up a little.

He tugged the gag free, held the waterskin to my lips, lightly gripping my jaw with his other hand, grinning as I sipped. "Reckon that runt is losing his damn mind lookin' for ya, huh?"

"They'll be searching for Eren and Historia as well." I croaked, sipping again and then wriggling free of his grip. "Levi isn't some love-sick puppy."

"Y'say that, but you didn't see the way he was lookin' at you." Kenny stood again and chewed the cigar. "The runt cares too much about folks, it's always been his problem. Nearly died hanging about when his mother died."

"He was a child. What was he meant to do? Up and leave the second she was gone? He likely didn't even comprehend she was dead." I snarled. "Callous shithead."

"Nosy wench." He took off his hat and smoothed back his hair. "You were always so damn timid when you were little. Hiding behind your mother's skirts, or stayin' out the way. What changed, hm?"

"Turns out bastards step on you whether you're in their way or not. Might as well be as in the way as fucking possible." I looked towards the plinth again, the three of them still locked in whatever the hell they were doing. "Any idea what that's about?"

"And I'd tell you, why?"

"Boredom?" I shrugged. "And I'm pretty fucked, weak from exhaustion and lack of food, not to mention my arms will be buggered from being tied back like this for however long it's been. I'm about as much of a risk as a fish out of water."

Kenny chuckled. "Nice try, sweetheart. But you ain't got me fooled. You're dangerous on your worst day, and I don't reckon you're even halfway to that yet."

Damn. And here was me banking on him being another stupid man willing to underestimate me. I laid back and looked up at the glowing ceiling. "What're you doing here, then? This some big ticket item for you? Some big reward?"

"The biggest."He tossed the dead cigar and then placed his boot on my leg, pressing down as he leaned on his knee. Ow. But I kept my expression blank. He grinned. "I'm payin' my dues like anyone else. Chasing my dreams. Figured a bright-eyed Scout like you would be able to understand that."

I gritted my teeth as my leg ached under the pressure. "Kenny the Ripper has dreams? Colour me disgusted."

"You get that sharp tongue from your mother, y'know?" He laughed, a strange twinkle in his eyes. "She always had something to say when I came calling, didn't like me being anywhere near her precious little girl."

"I wonder why." I spat, looking to the plinth as Eren gasped and the other two finally lowered their hands.

Eren's eyes were wide still, but now they filled with tears and spilled. His voice choked out of him, and he hung his head as if despairing. What the hell had he seen? What had they done to him?

"Eren!" I called, but then Kenny's boot landed on my throat and I gagged.

Those big green eyes landed on me and he gave another whine against the bar between his teeth. Like he was begging for something. Or apologising? I couldn't tell. But the ache in my heart made me want to go to him, to help him, to simply hold him. My vision swam as the air was denied.

Smoke, fresh, smothered me. "You stay quiet, little Sanshi rat. Got it? Speak when spoken to and all that."

Kenny removed his boot. I concentrated on breathing. I'd play along if it meant I could keep breathing, and for the time being I couldn't communicate with Eren anyway. I had to be careful. To play this smart. No doubt Levi and the others were tracking us down, trying to get to us. Buy enough time and they would get here. They might be able to save at least one of us, if not all.

Reiss descended the plinth with Historia close behind. "So you see my dear, Eren's father stole the power from us. The Founding Titan had been in our family for generations. It is our right. And he stole that, before killing everyone in the room."

Historia was staring at the ground, pale, wide eyed.

Reiss continued. "But we now have a chance to take it back. Because we have him. The one Grisha Jaeger gave that power to, his son."

Historia clasped her hands tightly. "I don't think I understand how they pass along the power though." She looked back up to Eren, his head still hung, his tears flowing freely. "How does he have it?"

"Because his Father made him take it. Eren Jaeger was turned into a pure Titan and he ate his Father, a Shifter."

I jolted. What? That… That was how the Shifter powers passed on? I looked up to Eren again and he was sobbing, shaking his head, trembling all over. His father hadn't been seen since Shiganshina fell. We all assumed he had ran off somewhere. But no… He had been dead? Eaten by Eren? Because Grisha Jaeger forced him to transform? Shit. Shit this world was too much. Eren. You poor kid.

Kenny snorted. "Well shit…"

"So now…" Historia's eyes shone. "We take it back by…"

I shivered. Eren was chained up, he wouldn't be able to run, to flee or hide. They were going to consume him? Steal the power that Grisha had taken. This 'Founding' Titan, whatever the hell that meant. Right? Was I thinking of that correctly? I couldn't be. It couldn't be right. I wasn't about to watch Eren being eaten alive, was I? These tired eyes of mine had seen a lot of shit over the years, but I don't know that they could endure that. My mind would snap.

Reiss produced a bag. "We take it back by force. We take back what Grisha Jaeger stole, and wrongly gave to Eren. The boy cannot be allowed to continue as he has. Bearing both the Founding Titan, and the Attack variant as well, is too much for someone of their bloodline. It should be in royal hands. Our hands. Your hands."

Historia staggered. "M-My hands?"

I laid my head on the ground. Reiss was going to persuade Historia to eat Eren. To kill him. To steal back some fucking Shifter power, but for what? If the Reiss family had held the power of a Titan, they hadn't used it. We'd never heard of shifters before those that attacked us appeared. And the Reiss family did nothing. They watched Maria fall, Shiganshina burn, all of it. They did nothing.

Levi… Hurry…

Cheers for reading ^-^