Surprise! Extra update! ^-^ Enjoy!

LEVI POV

They were making good progress. He knew that, he believed that, but he still hated every second they weren't moving. The only thing stopping him from losing his mind was that Kenny's lackeys had taken Robyn alive. They needed her alive for something. He hated to think what, but at least that meant she wasn't dead. There was hope. There was a chance.

As they approached the Reiss family lands, Levi took his turn in the back of a wagon. They had a couple of hours to go until they reached the right spot, and the others were on lookout. Hanji had been at it all day, but finally persuaded him to rest a little. To be at his best in order to save Robyn. He sat in the bottom of the wagon and listened to the rumble of wheels. They would be there as soon as possible. They had a plan. They would get them back.

He closed his eyes and drifted.

The first time he saw her, it had been her first day at Scouts HQ. Petra as well. From the same class, they stood with salutes in place while Erwin did his big welcome for the new troops. Levi had never understood the ceremony of it, but went alongside all the same. He played the part. And Erwin promised him a fresh quota of the good tea supply if he did. The brats stood in their lines. Salutes in place. As green as could be, not one of them understood what they were going to encounter out there, on the plains of Maria.

And then he saw a flicker of flame.

Or what he thought was flame.

He blinked and peered again, finding it to be a shock of bright auburn hair, shifting in the breeze. It should have been tied back. He should have been barking orders as such. But instead he stared. She stood a head shorter than most of those around her, she looked a little older than some of them too – a woman instead of a girl – but what really caught his eye beyond her hair, was her eyes. They looked golden from that angle, staring ahead. Determined. Some of the cadets looked scared, others looked bored of the ongoing speech, but she was focused on something. It intrigued him, and she only did more so from then on.

The next time he saw her, she was in the sparring ring with Gunter. They danced around each other, and she dodged his big meaty swings of those hammer-hard fists. She was flighty, but keen. Every time she jabbed, and caught Gunter's side, it was clear he had been hit. Like he received a kick from a horse. And all the while, she grinned.

The first time he spoke to her, her straps had been done incorrectly. He played the part. He barked his orders, demeaned her attempts at wearing the uniform and made sure everyone got a good show. But she didn't cow down before him. She didn't even look away or blush. She set her jaw, clenched her hands and raised her chin. She took it. He wasn't sure she had even blinked. He half expected her to kick him in the nuts.

Noise and colour rushed past him, her laughter merging with her chuckles, her rolled eyes flashing before him and then the warm red of her hair swathed his mind. Beautiful. Astonishing.

The scene shifted again, to the city streets as they had tried to evade Kenny and his cronies. She had flown so well. At first, when Nifa shoved Robyn aside, he feared Robyn would be left to twitch against the cobbles. Unable to stop herself from falling. But no. She recovered, skimmed the ground and started flying. Brilliant as always. Her blades gleamed in the sunlight and she out-manoeuvred her pursuers at every turn. They got desperate when they drugged her. She could have easily fallen back out of the cart instead. They had to go with a last stitch effort to contain her, to stop her.

And now they had her. And the dream continued with him endlessly running along behind the cart. Watching her get smaller. The distance grow. The flicker of her hair fade.

Keep going, Big Bro!

Don't stop now, Levi, you idiot!

He woke with a start.

He blinked. The sky had dimmed outside, the wagon was still rumbling along. He had dozed off.

He adjusted his position and hugged himself tightly. "Just hold on Robyn… Hold on…"

ROBYN POV

Historia was still trying to wrap her head around it all, I think. No wonder. I couldn't blame her, my own mind continued to reel, and it was impossible to say what Eren was going through. Occasionally he sobbed. Or he mumbled against his gag. No doubt bargaining for it all to be forgotten again, for him to have remained ignorant of the truth. But it was there now. He knew. I knew. The Reiss bastard in front of us knew. Eren had eaten his father, Grisha Jaeger. His father took him into the woods, turned him into a pure titan, and forced the power of a Shifter onto Eren's shoulders. That was how the Shifter power was passed from person to person. It was sick. But I guess we really shouldn't have been expecting anything else from this world.

Commotion had started somewhere far off in the cave. I couldn't make out specific voices, but I had the vague hope I had heard Jean, and maybe Hanji. They had found us. I think. Please. Please let them get here in time, get Eren out, peel me off the fucking floor, take us home. Please. But then Kenny left to assist with the defence effort and my heart sank. How many more allies were we going to lose for this? Levi. Do you know Kenny's here? Will he catch you off guard and blow your head off like he did to Nifa? No. No of course you won't be 'off guard'. You know this world better than anyone, better than me certainly. Make the old bastard pay.

Reiss put a hand on Historia's shoulder, like a puppeteer threading his latest doll. I couldn't stand it. She had to choose for herself, but she was being clouded by his manipulations. And don't get me wrong. It wasn't her fault. He knew exactly what he was doing, and playing the part perfectly. But she also had to realise that herself. Me saying it wouldn't help, nor would Eren, because it would just seem like more people trying to take control. She had to find that truth herself. On her own.

"My dear…" He started, that voice sickly with it's soothing. "If you are too frightened right now, that is fine, you are not being forced into this."

The first Fatherly thing he'd said, I think. But then his beady eyes settled on me. Why the hell was he looking at me like that? Like you look at the alternative option on a menu, sizing it up. I shrunk back. Oh gods… No…

Reiss continued, still staring at me. "We have other means of taking back the power for the time being. To keep it safe from being misused by those not worthy to wield it. We can take it back from Jaeger." Reiss gestured towards me, Historia's eyes landed heavy on my own. "The Sanshi child can take it on for us, do not fear, we will be able to control her during her transformation."

Will you fuck.

I glared and bared my teeth around the gag Kenny had shoved back into place before he left; I wasn't about to be their plaything. Or their placeholder. At least not without one hell of a fight first. If they turned me into a fucking Titan I would tear them all to pieces. Not only for using me, but for making me eat Eren. How dare they use our lives like fodder. He deserved more than this. We both did. It had been a long road for me to know that, to admit and acknowledge my own worth, but damn it I had. My life was worthwhile. I was loved, and did love.

Reiss produced a syringe.

Shit.

He was really going to do it? He was going to steal my life from me, turn me into the ultimate puppet. And for what? For Historia to work up the nerve to then kill me later. Like I was some kind of empty jar to be popped in a fucking pantry.

He stepped closer.

My nerve faltered and I tried to think of what to say, of how to reach Historia. Surely she wasn't okay with this? This whole thing was insane.

He approached.

I wriggled and shook my head, tears brimming my eyes. Don't do this. Please. Stop this!

Our allies were definitely in the cavern, still a fair way away, but within earshot. Levi. Would he see me transform? Would I accidentally kill him too? Shit, I'm so sorry. Please don't let me hurt them, any of them, but least of all him.

Reiss knelt before me and pushed my sleeve up.

I snarled at him, writhed as much as I could, shook my head; but I was just flailing helplessly. Eren bellowed from his perch, unable to do a damn thing but watch. Look away Eren, I don't want you to see this. Fuck, don't watch me devour you.

"How will you be able to control her?" Historia asked, voice far away like she was dazed or something. Overwhelmed sweetheart? Well go ahead and guess how I'm feeling.

Reiss tested the syringe, the purple liquid spluttered in the cool air, steaming on contact. That couldn't be good, what the hell was it going to do to my insides? Didn't really matter if I became a Titan though. But how would it work with whatever it was that Vincent did to me, that allows me to heal? It wouldn't be good would it? No. No of course it wouldn't. Damn it. I can't get free, my wrists ache as I rub the skin raw in my struggles.

Reiss paused, looking over his shoulder to his daughter. "It is the purpose of the Sanshi bloodline. Though they are betrayers, the foundation of that line still holds true. They were always meant to serve the royal line, to be our servants and attend to our every whim. It is why they exist. You will know everything once you take on the power yourself my dear, when you are ready."

"But why can't you take it–"

"I cannot." Reiss pushed the point of the syringe into my skin.

No, I don't want this; I don't want to be their puppet, to hurt Eren, to be taken away from the Scouts. I want my life to be that, mine. My choices. My dreams. Fuck it if that's selfish, but in that moment it's all I can think. Don't take it away. The possibilities. The love. Don't do it!

Kenny reappeared, looking bloodied but far too alive for my liking. What did that mean for the others? Were they wiped out? Please no. Please. I tried to look, to see what the hell he had left in his wake. But the pillars were in the way. Levi? Hanji? Are you still there, still fighting?

Finally the gag fell loose.

I looked at Reiss, tears pouring down my face. "Please, stop! I'm not some fucking puppet you can just–"

"This will have to do for the time being."

He pressed down.

The liquid sunk into my system.

"No! I–ghn!"

Fire. It drowned me; flooding my veins, swamping my senses, smothering my body. No. Not again. Again? My head snapped back, voice cracked as I howled. My body arched against the crystal ground, bones aching as my muscles convulsed. Did everyone feel like this when they were injected? Screams ripped out of my lungs. Why did it have to burn so much? Was it the last few shreds of free will being ripped from me? Or perhaps my sentience. My eyes rolled back, mind dizzied by the heat. It was like the fever after the Female Titan attack, only bloodloss wasn't making me pass out, or numb to it. I'm there, stewing in it. Boiling alive.

"C'mon, fuckin' change already!" Kenny barked, kicking my leg.

"She is fighting the change, almost like she is refusing it."

"Injuries set it off, right?" Kenny snorted, and before his benefactor could answer him, white hot pain penetrated my leg. He shot me, didn't he? I shrieked, voice raw before I vomited against the flooring, gasping against the smothering fever. "Stop fighting it you dumbass. You'll just die instead."

I appreciated the faith in my stubbornness, but I had nothing consciously to do with this. My body simply didn't want it, apparently. But hey, they didn't need to know that…

"Better that… Th-Than being your p-puppet." I panted, jolting again as the heat somehow increased and my body spasmed all over. "Fuck!"

"Perhaps she is unable to take it on. Our associates did warn they might need to alter it for her specifically… Her Sanshi blood too sullied by her mothers common legacy."

"Fuck… You!" I snarled at Reiss and then looked to Historia, meeting her wide, frightened eyes with my own.

Because there was no pretending otherwise. I was terrified. Of this change, or what the serum was going to do to my body. How much will be left of me for Levi to scrape off the floor? All decorum and sass was put aside. All I was, was a helpless child squirming against the floor. No strength. No clever plan. Just my sheer will to keep living.

I gagged, but forced the words out. "Historia… You really w-want the approval of a man that u-uses people like this? I… Nngh! I know fuck all about you Christa, Historia, whatever your fucking name is…" I whimpered. "But at least choose for yourself. Don't… D-Don't let these old shits determine your life for you. As soon as you're no longer useful, they'll turn on y-you… You know they w-will–gah!" Red streaked through the next slop of vomit that choked me. That couldn't be good. My vision swam. "Just live your life…" I wheezed, head slumping against the crystal flooring, shivering setting into my bones. "Just… Just be… y-you…"

She looked scared at least. Unsure. Whether I had reached her or not, I couldn't be sure. And with every second, my grasp on reality was slipping, interrupted by the searing pain.

The fire peaked and my body began to go numb, my voice screeching out of me until finally something gave way. I went limp. My voice wheezed to a reedy whine. What had given way? A bone? A muscle? My ability to take the pain? My mind? I couldn't be sure. I stared up at Historia, and then looked to Eren as he strained against the chains. He yelled against his gag. Struggling. Fighting. Good on you, Eren, keep going…

I dragged the soured air into my lungs, the one thing I could still do.

But I'm sorry kid. I can't help you.

I-I can't even help myself.

LEVI POV

Move dammit. Move. Get to them, save them, find her and fucking save her.

Everytime he heard her scream from afar it sounded more desperate, more panicked. Robyn didn't give into that kind of fear, not without a damned good reason. What the hell were they doing to her through there? Whatever it was, he would make them pay tenfold. It could be some form of torture. He had no idea. But it was tearing her apart, whatever it was.

"I'm gonna get you out, Robyn. Just hold on." He muttered under his breath, weaving in and out, dodging swipes from Kenny's lackeys and smoke from his own team.

For the most part, the cadets were doing well. They followed orders and worked as a team, the only casualty so far was Hanji. Wrong end of a gear anchor, but she would make it. She had to. No way she would be taken down by a bunch of thugs. There were too many Titans still to study.

Eventually they got through the numbers, but then a damn net blocked their way. These cronies of Kenny were well prepared at least. Levi shouldn't have expected anything less. For all his bullshit, Kenny knew how to pull off a job. And how to escape. The cavern continued on, that much was clear. But for how far? Were there tunnels? Had the bastards scurried off somewhere else? They had to get past, regardless.

Light erupted ahead.

It filled the cavern, blinding them all for a moment. But as the pressure and steam made it hard to move, it also sent damage fracturing throughout the cavern walls and ceiling. Was that a way through? Perfect. They had a way past the netting. They had to get to them. But Hanji also had to be taken to safety. Levi barked his orders and scrambled through with the remaining team.

Beyond the ongoing transformation of whoever the hell it was, Levi spotted Jaeger tied to some kind of crystal podium, helpless. A place to start at least. Was that Historia up there too? Maybe. It was hard to see, hard to breathe as the transformation continued – slower than any other he had seen before. But perhaps Eren, or Historia would know where Robyn was being kept. So far, there was no sign. And Levi refused to believe it was her transformation – she had the healing of a Titan, but had thus far shown no ability to shift. That didn't seem likely to change. Unless that was what all the screaming was about…

Levi raced up there and took over from Historia in trying to undo the locks, only then noting how Jaeger was babbling about being sorry, about leaving him there, about deserving to die. What the hell had happened? The boy was a maniac, sure, but never so despairing.

They didn't have time for such things anyway.

"Pull yourself together Jaeger, we need you focused so we can–"

"Sir! Please! She's down there still, somewhere!"

The first lock finally came undone. Levi handed the key to Kirtschtein. "Robyn?"

"Yes! Th-They tried to make her shift, gave her some kind of injection, a serum I think. Her system didn't take it though, like usually, she was incompatible or something. Please! It got so hot, so dizzying."

He spoke like he had experienced it himself…

Levi gritted his teeth. "Where?"

"She's just down those steps. She went so still, sir, so fucking still…"

Levi ran.

With the other cadets there to take care of Jaeger and Historia, he could take the chance on her still being alive. He dove down the stairs and skidded at the bottom, eyes blearing against the heat and light. If it wasn't Robyn, and Historia was up on the plinth with Eren, it had to be Reiss that had transformed instead. Clearly something had gone wrong, no other transformation had gone this way.

"Robyn?" Levi yelled, but his voice didn't manage to rise above the raucous din.

His hair whipped around in the fiery wind and his skin prickled against the heat. Where was she? He shielded his eyes and kept going, the steam making it hard to even breathe. If she had been down there for any length of time, she would be in bad shape – not even beginning to take into account what the serum was doing to her body.

And then his foot slipped slightly.

He looked down. A chill ran through his body, despite the immense heat. Blood. Or rather, vomit streaked in great swathes of blood. And just beyond, red hair, splayed against the crystal. Robyn. He lunged over, she laid there as if asleep, except for the jolts running through her body. Her eyes flickered open occasionally to show them rolled back to white. Her skin was pasty, slicked in sweat, lips almost blue as she twitched. What the hell had Reiss done?

"Robyn?" He called, trying to get any kind of response, but she didn't wake. Her pulse was flighty and unsteady, her breathing quick and shallow. He scooped her into his arms, but still nothing. She was entirely limp, out cold. Blistering littered her cheekbones and brow from the heat, her arms similarly burned, and her clothing singed.

Another wave of heat blasted out, him turning to try and shield her from it. They couldn't stay there. She was clinging onto life as always, still fighting like always. So the last thing he would do, would be to let her perish so pointlessly. He held her closer. She was like ice. As if she had been dead for hours. But she was breathing, or wheezing at least.

"C'mon Brat, hold on just a little longer." He ran back up the stairs as the cadets huddled by the back wall where they were pinned.

Levi stumbled over, noting their worried expressions as they saw the state of Robyn. Jaeger especially, even as he sat there slumped and despairing, took in the sight of Robyn and looked heartbroken. It made sense, she had looked after them at their training camp, she had continued to do so in the mountains as Jaeger trained. A bond had formed between them all. Now she looked halfway dead. And why? Well he had no idea. Probably something to do with her bastard of a father. Why was it they were all doomed by the sins of those that came before?

And then something changed in Jaeger.

Determination lit his expression. Clasping a small glass vial, he charged along the podium, screeching. At first Levi assumed the boy had simply gone mad. Desperation had dragged him over the edge into some kind of manic last stitch attempt to be the hero. But then he saw Jaeger drink from the vial, and then there was another burst of light as the brat transformed.

Well that was one way to do it…

Hope you enjoyed! Cya!