Another Friday another update! Enjoy!

ROBYN POV

In one week, it would have been six months.

We'd had no word, no sign. It was as if Lev–as if he had ceased to exist, and even within the regiment his memory seemed to fade. There were new recruits that had never seen him in person, never spoken to him. They only knew the name, not the man. I did my best not to blame them. It wasn't their fault. But the idea of the world so quickly dismissing his legacy simply because he was no longer spilling his blood for it, made me sick. At least within the veteran group, those of us who had survived Maria, they kept his memory going. They spoke fondly of him. They encouraged each other to redo cleaning if it wasn't up to the Captain's standard. They were kind. But I knew they were starting to doubt. Past tense would slip into place. Doubt did that. It dragged a memory closer to that six foot depth day by day.

In one week it will have been six months.

Nothing.

How was that possible?

Keza no longer stayed at the HQ. With her help I had managed to not totally freeze myself off from everyone, though admittedly I did turn in earlier these days and didn't indulge in Hanji's homebrew. It wasn't worth the risk. No doubt as soon as I tipped from tipsy to drunk I'd fall into a whole other kind of pit. The shadows lurked, waiting for those quiet moments, the lonely moments. When the torches had been doused and everyone else was asleep, when there was no more work to be done, and no more conversation to hide behind. Then they swarmed.

Nightmares came as memories. A mix of the battlefield, of those small snippets I recalled from captivity, and of that happy morning before all of this, wrapped in sheets with him, smiling as I wore the ring he gave me. We were engaged. We were making plans. We had hope. And that sweetness, that tender loving happiness, it stung worse than anything else. No blade could cut that deep. And so I woke every night, mid-scream, covered in cold sweat, gasping as my heart tried its best to simply tear itself apart and be done with this pain.

The worst part was that we didn't even know why he had been taken. I had been for the phrasing, we knew that, this damned key that Vincent had locked in my brain. The means of turning me into a puppet for whatever damned reason. Presumably connected to my pseudo Titan abilities, but otherwise we knew nothing. But how was my Captain connected to that? Other than being with me? I wanted answers. Because the endless questions only made everything else worse.

Hanji lowered the parchment; my proposal scribbled across in an official request to leave and head for the Underground. In search of Kenny.

She blinked at me. "No."

I swallowed the want to immediately rant at her, and instead gave a crisp salute. "Commander Hanji, I truly believe this mission will unearth some vital information concerning our current situation–"

"And could easily just get you killed. Kenny the ripper is not someone you just go wandering about searching for." Hanji stood, pinning the proposal beneath her hands as she braced against her desk. "Why do you think he'll even be findable? We've heard nothing of him since Levi saw him scooped off by that White Cloak weirdo after the crystal cavern. You have no idea–"

"Where to start, correct." I nodded, clenching my hand so tight my nails bit into my palm, but it was better than letting my voice waver. "But it's somewhere to start. General enquiries are getting us nowhere, and even if Kenny isn't in the Underground itself, he may well still have contacts down there."

"That will report your location and probably just get you taken again."

"Has anyone come looking for me?" I lowered my hand from the salute. "No. I've served whatever shit purpose they had for me. There's been nothing for nearly six months, it's time to start finding answers. Or is it that you think you already have the answer?"

She leaned back. "Don't you dare suggest I've given up."

"No? Then let me go and investigate, let me go find him."

"You're too–"

"Valuable? For what? We're no longer fighting the Titans like we used to, we're clearing Maria for re-habitation. Sure I can kill a bunch of them, but any Scout can. We're searching for the enemy shifters in the cities. We're training new recruits. This can be done by anyone. I am not vital, and in all honesty I don't need to be." I went round the desk and clasped her hands tightly. "Hanji, this isn't a suicide mission, this isn't me being reckless, this is me having a gut feeling and wanting to follow it."

She looked at our hands. "You swear?"

"I swear. This is how I think I can help, genuinely."

"And you really think the Underground is going to have some answers?"

"At least the direction to start looking for them, maybe. I won't go alone, if that's what you want. I can take a team, or a buddy, or whatever. But this is what I need to do… Otherwise I'm just treading water and I can't do that endlessly." I held her hands tighter for a second, blinking back the tears. "I'm holding on as best I can here, but I need to know what's happened."

"And if it's not the answer you want?" Hanji breathed, glancing to her desk drawer. I frowned and let go of her hands, allowing her to unlock the drawer and bring out a familiar small leather pouch. One that held all those promises. The idea of a future. My body froze. My heart clenched so tight the air was robbed from my lungs. She opened the pouch and revealed the simple ring, the beautiful ring, the symbol of everything that I'd lost. "Keza found this while we were looking for answers. I've kept it safe since. Robyn… Why didn't you tell any of us?"

"What difference would it have made?" I croaked, voice wheezing past the vice grip my heart had on my chest. The shadows wriggled at the corners of my mind. "He asked. I said yes. We had hopes for the future and then that future got fucked… It doesn't… It's not…"

"It does matter. It is important." Hanji smiled softly, putting the pouch back and closing the drawer. "Y'know why that's in my desk? So close to hand?"

I pursed my lips.

She smiled broader. "Because it gives me hope. I knew Levi when he was fresh out of the Underground, when he didn't trust anyone up here on the surface. And now? Now he's proposing to you, making plans for the future, believing there's something other than duty out there. And if a cynical bastard like that, can get through to a cynical wench like you? It's got to mean we've been doing something right. You will get to wear this, if I can do anything to help that."

Tears spilled down my cheeks and she pulled me close.

I clung to her. "I miss him so fucking much."

"We all do, kiddo. But I know, your heart has taken far too many beatings lately." She then stood back and cupped my face. "You really think you'll be able to find trace of Kenny down there?"

I nodded and sniffed.

She smiled. "All right, but you're taking a team."

LEVI POV

Sanshi was the Female Titan – not Leonhart.

Sanshi killed his team – not Leonhart.

He hated Sanshi – not Leonhart.

He wanted to kill Sanshi – not Leonhart.

Sanshi had convinced the rest of the Survey Corps that she was their ally, all the while framing Leonhart and planning countless Scouts deaths. Sanshi had to be stopped. None of them knew what was coming, how she would destroy them all. Vincent had been the spark, the start to it, and she was his weapon. His ticking time bomb. Hanji couldn't see it, Jaeger neither. None of them. They saw her pretty face, her bright eyes, her joyful smile, and they thought they saw an ally. A fierce ally that would lay down her life for them. An ally who adored them like family, because she had never known a full one of her own. Lies. False. Untrue. She weaved lies like a spider did web.

He dreamed of it, the way she cowered under his questions, but rebutted the truth. The way she sauntered into his office and seduced him, the way she used every bit of her beauty and brains to wile him under her spell. He didn't go to her to feel, like he had though. No. He fell into her trap. It had been planned from day one. She killed Vincent to convince them all of her conviction. Her trauma. But he was simply a willing sacrifice. Part of the plan.

Levi vomited again, his system still needed cleaned out from all the poison Sanshi had left behind. His mind occasionally clinging to those ideas of hopeful nonsense. Now all shredded by the truth. She was false, wrong, spiteful, evil. She had to be taken down. He had to save them all. He had to make it worthwhile that he survived while Isabel and Farlan fell, while they stared up blankly at the rain, and he had so foolishly wasted so much time in Sanshi's bed. In her arms. Under her sadistic spell.

But soon it would all come crashing down around her. The Scouts would be saved. Humanity would once again have a chance. She wouldn't break them with her false stories of other settlements and other walled cities. Madness. Her and Vincent had done their work, that couldn't be denied. Falsifying that journal and also Jaeger's fathers too. Sneaky bastards. Sanshi scum.

He had to stop it.

She had to die.

And Levi would be the one to kill her.

ROBYN POV

Turns out, the Underground feels very different when not walking around with my Captain. Dressed in mainly civilian garb, with our gear tucked under cloaks, I walked alongside Mikasa, Jean and Sasha. Eren and Armin had wanted to come, to help me and my search, but it was too risky. I was already a known target, but it didn't seem like much of a stretch to consider that they would be high on the list as well, the Attack Titan and the Colossal. So they stayed at HQ, pouting.

Hanji still hadn't been pleased about me going, and Keza had been furious in her response letter, but I think they also both knew this had to happen. I couldn't wait. I couldn't just make assumptions when the sands ran out. I needed to know. Be it good news or bad. I needed something tangible or I was never going to be able to look ahead, I'd be stuck inside this for the rest of my life. However long or short it turned out to be.

Jean's keen eyes continued to scan the surrounding area, every alley and darkened corner studied meticulously. Gone was the arrogant kid with something to prove. Now he was a proper soldier. He knew his strengths, his weaknesses, and he acted accordingly. An eye for detail, that was one of his strengths, as well as strategy.

He clicked his tongue. "Any idea on how to get in direct contact with this Kenny guy?"

"Walking about the place is a big part of it." I replied, our voices kept low to avoid too many people overhearing. Mikasa, Jean and Sasha all glanced at me in confusion. I shrugged. "Kenny has eyes and ears all over this place. Me and Le… The Captain. We were only here for a few hours before Kenny turned up with something to say about it. I'm hoping for the same this time."

Mikasa pulled her cloak close. "And if they do try to take you, you remember the plan?"

"Run like hell for the sun wells, yeah, I know. No bravado here, promise." I smirked, wishing the trembles would stop running down my spine at the mere thought of my captivity.

What actually happened to me was still unclear. It hadn't been good, the scars along my back were testament to that, along with everything else. But not knowing that, on top of the rest of the mystery, made me tremble every time. How low had they brought me? Had they broken me? What had I screamed into the darkness and sobbed onto their floors?

Sasha breathed deep. "At least it smells like they have some decent food down here. Historia's really been pulling through on those reforms, huh?"

"We can grab food as we go, Sasha, I don't intend to starve you."

"Glad to hear it!" She chirped, and I could only guess she was making a mental list of the grilled meats she hoped to find.

The streets were busy, but not crowded. Eyes followed us, but no one bid us welcome like they had when I was walking with my Captain. Instead, we were studied. Newcomers. Not common. And an unknown face was likely considered a big threat in this sort of town. But I didn't back down from the stares. I met them and held them firm until we passed by, or the other person looked away. My purpose outweighed any anxiety. Answers. I would find them here. I had to.

As we paused by a stall to get Sasha some roasted meat, I took note of the way every other corner had a figure leaning against it. Not subtle. But hopefully with us having such tight tabs kept on us, Kenny was on his way. Or a representative at least.

But then things got real quiet. A step sounded behind me.

Oh no you fucking don't.

I ducked, spun and as soon as I saw that long coat and glow of a cigar I lunged, tackling him to the ground. We rolled. He struck me with his elbow, cracking down against my spine. But I just jabbed him in the ribs and got to my feet. He panted. I panted. My team stood at the mouth of the alley, confused, but still checking the surrounding area. Good work guys. I always knew Kenny, or his counterparts, would suddenly appear. Him cordially visiting me and my Captain last time was an outlier situation. Usually he wanted an ambush scenario to play off. At least, that was what my Captain had told me after the fact.

Still, I could be a little proud of myself for getting the first hit in. Even if the old bastard did now look slightly patronising with that smirk as he wiped the blood from his split lip. I drew blood from the stone, shocking.

"Thought I had the jump on ya, Sanshi."

"You thought wrong." I brushed myself down and checked with the team, but the area was otherwise secure. So I nodded at Kenny. "Been a while."

"Heh, last time I saw ya in that crystal place, blood was spewin' outta that smart mouth and you'd gone all glassy-eyed. Very pretty."

"You also shot me in the leg. Let's not forget." I tapped the spot where I still bore a scar. He glanced and huffed a small laugh. "But I'm not here about any of that shit. Not important."

He laughed loudly, only just getting hold of his cigar in time. "Oh, is that so little lady? Got bigger fish to fry than the man that nearly killed ya? My, my, I ain't used to being so sidelined."

"You didn't nearly kill me. I'm a Sanshi, remember?" I tilted my head. "We're hard to kill."

He sobered. "Fair point. Did think it was pretty fuckin' bold of ya to waltz in here, but then again I guess I shouldn't be expectin' anythin' else from Vincent nut-job Sanshi's spawn, eh?"

"Guess not."

"Hm," he peered at me, one half of his face deeply scarred, and I could only imagine the scarring reached along one side of his head as well, but the hat hid a lot. "So c'mon. The hell you doin' down here, Sanshi? Reckoned you'd be hiding under a rock somewhere after them cloaks got ya."

"And yet here I am." I looked him over. "See you're not donned in a white robe, not a member yet? Surprising considering they saved you outside the crystal cave."

He snorted and drew on his cigar. "Saving ain't what I'd call it. Scumbags."

"No? What would you call it then?"

He briefly removed the hat to smooth back what remained of his hair. I was right, the scarring was extensive. He must have been in very bad shape when he was taken away. Then again, my Captain had made it sound like Kenny was on the brink of death, so that wasn't much of a surprise. Kenny clicked his tongue. "Seems they thought I mighta known about that pesky phrasing of yours."

"Ah." I tensed. "And do you?"

"Now wouldn't ya like to know?"

"Mm, well it seems unlikely to be true." I tilted my head at his glare. "If you did, why would they have been badgering me about it when they took me? Then again, I guess they can't just take your word for it, can they? Not a lowlife like you."

Mikasa's eyes darted around, as did Jean's. They would see an ambush coming no doubt, and Sasha had better instincts for hunting than anyone else in the regiment. If there was a trap about to be sprung, she'd be able to give warning. I trusted them entirely. So I felt alright with pushing a few of the old bastard's buttons. No they hadn't predicted his appearance, but Kenny was basically Lev–my Captain but without the decency. So that was just to be expected.

Kenny grinned, the end of the cigar glowing. He didn't take the bait.

I continued. "Wondered if you knew they'd taken him." I avoided the name, it was like razors on my tongue to say it, because it felt like burying him deeper every time I did.

Kenny's eyes flashed with something I couldn't quite read. "The runt was warned."

"Warned?"

Kenny leaned close and blew smoke into my face. "I told him to stay the hell away from a Sanshi, didn't I? Or were you too busy tryin' to pretend you weren't ridin' his dick to listen?"

I swallowed hard. "There has to be another reason he's been taken."

"Oh? And how'd you figure that?"

"I'm not there anymore, and he is."

"Unless he's six feet in the ground."

So cold. So deadpan. Yet that tiny twitch to one of his eyes told another story.

"And you don't mind that?" I kept my voice as even as possible. "You're okay with them doing that to him? Your own nephew?"

"My sister made her choice. That runt made his. Now you gotta make yours." He stepped forward, the others tensed, but I didn't move a muscle. Another puff of rancid smoke in my face, followed by a chuckle. "They ain't ever gonna stop until you lot is crumbled. They do not like what you're doin'."

"What's that?" I blinked. "Taking back Wall Maria? Peeling back the lies on the Titans? What, Kenny? Feel like giving me any damn specifics?"

"Where's the fun in that?" He snorted. "Watching you scramble is way more fun."

"Fine. At least I know it's the Scouts they're pissed at, not just my dumbass lineage."

He glared a little harder. I don't think he meant to give that away. Whoops.

I dipped my head. "But if you really have no idea where he is, I guess we're done her–"

He gripped the front of my cape, lifting me onto my tip-toes. "Quit your digging, girl."

"Why? Am I close?" My heart hammered in my ears – for one thing, it wasn't lost on me that this was Kenny the Ripper, and for another, I had the sense that I might be hitting some nerves. So I might be close. Perhaps I could still save my Captain?

"You stay outta this. You're the one that went and made him a damn target, now you're gonna get him killed by makin' it all not worth the trouble. You want that? You wanna see him dead-eyed, nothing but a feast for the flies?"

I shivered. "I want to save him not k–"

"Then give them the damn phrase. Give them the key, let them win and give us all a fightin' chance." He tossed me away, though I managed to stay upright. "Ya hear me Sanshi?"

I swallowed hard. "I don't have it. I really don't."

He snorted. "Then keep looking. Just like I will, just like they will."

"Why is controlling me so damn important to them?"

He lit a fresh cigar and shook his head. "It ain't you, it's what you can do. Thanks to that crazy bastard that raised ya. But that's all you're getting from me, girlie. So go on, get the hell out of this place. I ain't gonna have anyone hold back next time you come snoopin'."

I backed away, towards my team, dipping my head. As much as I would have loved to continue to stand there sassing the man, I wasn't about to allow myself to be captured again. Or to enter a fight needlessly. I took my team and we made for the exit. Folks still looked at us, eying us as we made our way through the streets. But we just kept going. I knew the team wanted to know what had happened – I couldn't be sure they heard much at all of what was said – but they would have to wait. Right now I had too much noise in my head.

He was alive. Kenny spoke about him as if he was alive. Like it was still possible for him to be killed, so that had to mean for the time being he wasn't dead.

But now, do I stop looking in case it just got my captain killed?

Did I keep digging in case Kenny was lying, trying to put me off the scent?

Did I have any idea what I'm doing?

And beyond that, was the implications of what Vincent's work might mean, and how it might impact the bigger picture. It wasn't about me personally. That was a comfort and an insult at the same time. I wasn't important, Vincen't work was. So it wasn't that I'd pissed off the wrong people, it was that I'd been condemned all those years before, strapped to a damn wooden table, against my own will. I was still his victim. And now, everyone else might be too? I couldn't be sure how his work could be used to hurt others, but it hardly seemed likely that the White Cloaks had good intentions.

Sunlight pooled at my feet, and I stalled on the stairs back to the surface. Jean laid a hand on my arm and gave a small squeeze. I attempted a smile. It hadn't been the gold mine of answers I'd hoped for, but at least we had a few new snippets of information. We also knew Kenny was alive. If… When we got my Captain back, perhaps that would be useful information. Maybe.

We returned to our own world, the sunshine bright and the streets pleasantly bustling. Someone went past, wide-eyed and grinning. Then another and another. Mikasa called out to them to ask what was going on, a kind of frenzied air beginning to ripple through the town. The woman stopped and looked at us like we were insane.

She laughed. "They just announced it, where were you? Maria is free of Titans!"

Relief.

It washed over me, making me stagger a little. Likewise my team. We had done it; resealed the wall and gotten rid of the Titans. Humanity had Maria back. Less food issues, less space problems. More potential for a future. But then, as the wave continued on, it left a coldness in its wake. My Captain should have been present for that moment. A lot of people should have been. My Captain. Erwin. Petra. Oluo. Eld. Gunter. Isabel. Farlan. Moblit. Marco. Nanaba. So many. I braced against my knees and breathed for a second, while Jean hugged Sasha and Mikasa clutched her scarf close. Maria. We had really retaken it, and the land was really free from the enemy. We could rebuild. We could take back a little of what the Marleans had stolen.

L… L… L-Levi…

You have to see this.

You have to.

Just… Hold on?

Dun dun duuuuun and there we have it. Thanks for reading!

darkangelvslightangel: Aw I'm glad it managed to make an impact! Thanks for letting me know! ^-^ appreciated!