Enjoy!

Amongst the canopy, with our teas finished and our hearts full, gradually me and Levi came back down to reality. We had never really not been, but now, in the moonlight, we had both agreed that our engagement was back on. We both had our sights set on that horizon, on the future.

That would help as we now had to deal with the present.

I handed our mugs back to the mess-tent and once again joined him on the moonlit branch, my hand grazing his. "Time to go see how the Commander is getting on with our guest?"

"Sure thing." He nodded and moved, falling into step with me. This tent, along with the food tent were on branches able to be simply stepped between, connected easily to the tent where Valerie was being held. We walked side by side. "Like I said, me and Hanji stopped when you left, so we didn't make much more headway at all. Hopefully this time we get further... But if she brings that shit up again, I'm sorry. You can leave whenever you need to. Just don't let her under your skin"

"I won't, Levi. I promise." I thought back on the first 'interview'. "So what got you so tense before? I know you're mad at Eren but it seemed like you might also be tense due to our prisoner? Just memories or…?"

Levi sipped, his eyes casting around every now and then. There was definitely something off.

I tried again. "Levi?"

"Remember I mentioned my theories on her having backup?"

My mouth went dry. My own eyes cast around, as though Valarie's henchmen would be somehow sat casually amongst us. Ridiculous. Then Sarah's.. Sandra… whatever that cadet's name was, the face flashed into my mind. Paranoia was threatening to take hold.

I took his free hand with mine. "Any reason in particular you think that?"

"A hunch. But she seems too far up the food chain to be abandoned when her plans go awry." He squeezed my hand gently. "And considering the fact we have already found some fanatical brats here anyway..."

"We should keep a close eye." I agreed, and he nodded, brow still furrowed.

"I saw this kind of shit in the Underground of course, but up here? I struggle to get how they can warp their heads that much... well... without the more pressing techniques." He rumbled without a flinch despite the fact I'm sure horrific images just came back to him. That right there. That was why I was glad Eren still reacted openly. Not only could we all read when he needed help, but it meant he didn't feel the need to hide. It wasn't that Levi didn't trust me with his pain, he didn't trust the world. It was sad. It was horrific.

As we headed back I noted Eren's tent opening gently swaying in the breeze. Uh oh. Maybe he had decided to go get those answers right away. Levi wouldn't like it, but really he couldn't complain much either; he told Eren to get on with things. Ahead of us, Hanji's voice warbled within the tent, sounding angry. We sped up. As we came in, Eren appeared through from Valarie's makeshift cell's door-flap with Hanji dragging him. Armin followed soon after.

Hanji shoved Eren away, him stumbling close to me and Levi. She glared. "For the third fucking time, that's enough Eren, go and rest. Consider that a direct order."

He shook his head, looking desperate.

Armin approached with his diplomacy face on. "Commander please excuse us, Eren just–"

"The time for you giving him excuses is over, Artlet." Hanji shook her head. "He can damn well explain his behaviour alone, or just do as told."

"Commander, please." Eren said, lighting fresh irritation in Hanji's face as her order continued to be ignored in favour of blabbering. "What if that woman knows more about my Father's work? About Marley?"

"Why would sh–"

"I dunno! But it's not like we can ask my father anything more, is it?"

Levi stepped forward. "And why the hell would we let you do the questioning?"

"Keep fighting, wasn't that what you said, sir?" Eren asked, and at first I thought he was sassing the Captain, but no. He was genuinely looking for a way to make amends. With actions. Not words.

Valerie might simply enjoy the opportunity to twist the knife for Eren. To taunt him. But then again, if distracted by her own greedy need for that cruelty, she might let something slip. If she really was Vincent's sister – doubtful beyond anything, I know – she was from Marley.

I stepped forward. "It's worth trying."

Hanji raised a brow and I beckoned her closer.

I kept my voice low, beckoning the others closer too. "Give Eren this chance. She'll no doubt want to be torment him a bit. But keep that in mind, Eren. Whatever she says to you, just try to stay calm. She might use the truth to wound you but lies are her speciality."

Levi didn't look pleased, but clearly he was giving me some trust here as he didn't say anything. We stayed put and Eren smoothed himself down, heading back towards the partition. I followed. No doubt that would only further excite her sick need to harm.

Her eyes crinkled with a sneer as I stepped into view, the others close behind. "Dearest Robyn, how wonderful to see you again. Here I was thinking–"

"Shut it you pompous hagshite." I groaned and enjoyed the irritation flicker over her features. Small victories. "This is Eren Jaeger, you may also know his work as the Rogue Titan? Or maybe the Marlean name, the Attack Titan?"

As I tilted my head, the words sinking into her, realisation melted over her expression and she spluttered into terror soon after. Shifters were scum, wasn't that what she said? Something to that effect at least. Not so haughty about it with one if the room I guess. Her eyes landed on Armin and went wider.

I grinned. "Ah yes, this is Armin Artlet. The Colossal."

"You're mad!" She spoke thinly, voice raked in fear. "You have them just wandering about amongst you? They could kill us a–"

"Did you know my Father in Marley?" Eren dove right in.

I failed to read her expression, but there was at least a hint of fear. Perhaps too scared to lie? One could only hope. But evidently, beyond the pompous attitude, there was genuine terror there. She hated Shifters, and she clearly knew very little about them.

Still she held her head high. "Know Grisha Jaeger? Why the hell does that matter?" She snarled. "He's dead you fools!"

And clearly, she expected that to cause a reaction. Did the White Cloaks not know we were aware of Grisha's fate?

Eren clenched his hands tightly. "Well aware. That isn't what I asked though."

She sneered, pulling on her ropes. "You know? You know and yet you stand here amongst us humans with your head held up? How dare you. How dare any of you look at him, at that blonde boy, as anything more than villains."

I blinked. "Our definition of 'Villain' clearly differs. Answer hi–"

"You know you're a murderer? How's that feel boy?" She squirmed in her chains. "Does it take away from all those heroic things you've done in that ghastly form? Does it haunt you?"

"Shut up. That was his choice, not mine." Eren eyes gleamed, but thankfully only with tears, not with his power. "I was a child when my Father forced this shit into my life. The last thing I'm going to do is let you or anyone else make me feel bad for that. Now answer me, did you know him in–"

"All you Shifters. You cannibalistic monsters! And you, the blonde one, Artlet was it? The Colossal? My, my what power and wasn't it a comrade you had to eat? A friend?"

Armin stared at her wide-eyed, but as I stepped forward, wanting to stop this horribleness, Armin shook his head and stepped forward instead. Levi went still, his eyes fixed on the blonde cadet. I wasn't sure what had happened during my time with Reiss, when the cadets had had to work alongside my Captain solo, without me as a buffer, but I had always sensed something had shifted between Levi and Armin. Not that Levi suddenly held the boy in high regard, but he definitely respected him more.

I simply knew how devastating Armin could be, when pushed to it, so I braced for the worst.

He stood over her and leaned in a little. "Madam, it wasn't a comrade. It was an enemy. One who pretended to be my comrade, one I had reason to hesitate over killing, sure, but certainly not one I regret. Now that hesitation is presumably something you're wishing to lean on, to monopolise? Hm?"

She stared at him, leaning back a little.

He stepped closer. "Consider this then. I do not consider you a comrade, I barely consider you an enemy. That would be giving you far too much credit. No, you're a vile waste of air on this world. One that really should have been drowned at birth, but alas, here we are, having to listen to your vile words and nonsense. So either answer my friend, or allow us to set you free on the plains and hunt you down, like the cannibalistic monsters we are."

She was shivering. "You're insane."

"Probably. Guess that's what happens when you're breaking your back, spilling your own blood, and all for the sake of humanity. Only to find out spineless wretches like you have been undermining that effort all along. Very vexing indeed."

She was as pale as milk. "You're awful."

"Mm, I suppose the likes of you required that." He nodded and stepped back, dipping his head to us, briefly touching Eren's shoulder on the way past.

I sincerely hoped I never gave Armin reason to give me a verbal dress-down.

She looked amongst us all. "And you call the Titan's beasts? They give us the means to live on, to be immortal. And what do you do? You kill people, string them up, persecute them simply for trying to keep the cycle whole. Experts in murder."

Levi snorted. "Seems you lot are experts yourselves, experts at underestimating people."

"You serve beside beasts."

"Enough." I stepped forward and turned to the rest of them. "Let her rot for a bit, we're not getting anywhere but more horrible circles."

Valerie snorted. "Don't pretend it doesn't change how you look at them. Knowing what they did to get their pow–"

"It doesn't." I looked over my shoulder at her. "They're not the ones who actively participated in my torture and set their dogs on a prisoner whilst making the man who loves her watch. That is a real beast."

She recoiled. Eyes were on me, eyes that didn't know the full story, but didn't need to.

"None of us are innocent, Valerie, but you're the lowest. And only now do I have to wonder at the potential truth of you being my father's sister. He was a pro at sickening cruelty and demented self praise. Runs in the family, does it?"

I ushered them all out of there. Eren still looked downtrodden, but I gave him a small reassuring smile. He had planted a seed. She might use those questions as bargaining chips later on, thinking she could get one over on us. Maybe. It was at least a good try.

Hanji was massaging her temples. "And here was me thinking it would just be a fun jaunt to the Ocean and home again for celebrations with the Queen."

Levi smirked. "Never that simple, Glasses."

Both Armin and Eren headed back to Eren's tent, and while Armin looked like he was helping Eren more than anything else, I had to wonder what was going on inside that brilliant mind. He had guilt. I knew he did. Not for having eaten Bertholdt, no. That boy had it coming. He was sickening in all honesty, didn't accept any responsibility, and would have gladly wiped us all off the map for the sake of his precious Marley. No, Armin's guilt was based in him being here instead of Erwin, amongst other things. But I also knew he, like Eren, could tap into the memories of those they had consumed to become Shifters. Had he seen Bertholdt's death through that lens, witnessing his own Pure Titan bear down on Bertholdt without mercy? Maybe. But he held his cards closer to his chest than ever, and I had to respect that. We all had our own ways of coping.

Hanji cracked her back and groaned. "Bloody mess that it is. She's a vile piece of shit, no mistaking it… But on that note, I have to agree with your theory, Levi."

I looked between them. "Which one? The one about Valerie having friends coming to help her?"

Hanji nodded. "Indeed. Seems like we should set up some watches, to either hinder them, or give them more than they bargained for."

Her and Levi shared a look.

I pulled my cloak close. "Alright then… Tonight we catch some rats."

The sun set, the lanterns were lit and cadets milled about the tents while dinner was served and patrols double checked the area. We had still only seen one regular Titan in the area, and it had been walking towards the walls, ignoring our thicket entirely. A small one. It would likely be got by the trap on Maria before the end of tomorrow. Maybe they would be reborn into our civilians within the year. I hoped they didn't remember any of it. I hoped they found peace.

Weird to think that I was suddenly feeling compassion towards a Titan.

Then again, I suppose it's more that I'm feeling compassion towards the person inside.

The last light of day faded, and less cadets were moving around as they sought their bunks, quiet settling on the camp. It wouldn't be for some time yet. If it happened at all. But in my gut the confidence in Levi's theory brewed. Valerie's people would try to save her. Even if she had buggered up whatever mission she had been on, it seemed unlikely she had come alone. The woman had never been alone during our captivity, always some cronie or thug to help.

We settled inside the tent, beyond the partition. Valerie was gagged for the night, unable to give warning if anyone did come sniffing about. Hanji had gone to stay in her own tent, and the two cadets at the front of Valeries were under strict orders to look ahead, to not bother looking back. Rookie mistake – but one we figured White Cloaks might be arrogant enough to believe of young Scouts. So hopefully they would try sneaking in the back, and then we could pounce. They slip in the back? We're right here, waiting for them.

Levi handed me the flask of tea and poured myself a cup. We were in for a long night, potentially. The tea gently steamed as we sat, ready. Her stare burned over at us but neither of us reacted. I had my gear on, and with every soft clank of the blades as I shifted my weight I felt thirstier. And that had nothing to do with the tea.

"All good, Sanshi?" Levi murmured, bringing me back. I blinked, not having realised how my gaze had shifted to focus on our prisoner, glaring hard.

"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir." I took a long sip. "How long has it been now?"

"About an hour since lights out was called."

I nodded and tried to focus, but being so close to her was making my skin feel tight, my hands kept trembling. Being so close to her was harder than I had realised. Levi seemed fine. Then again, he was even better at masking than I was. Me? I kept feeling that bloodlust bubbling up my throat. It kept weighing down my arms and legs, burning there, willing them to move, pounce, strike. To grab her, pin her and make her feel even a moment of the pain she had made me endure. Of what she had inflicted on Levi.

How many times had she ordered her men to lash me for no reason, how many pints of my blood had she frivolously thrown to the stone floor for the sheer fun of it. Really she was getting off lightly. For now at least. There was no telling what Hanji might allow me and Levi to do to the wench once we had sucked her dry of information. After that? The Commander wouldn't likely give a hoot.

Another hour at least passed. We drank more tea and played a quiet game of cards – yes we were still alert, but really it's hard to stay focused on spotting the absence of something indefinitely. You need something to do.

A gentle snore rose from Valerie. Either she had really slipped off to dreamland, or it was an attempt to make us relaxed. I could have been giving her too much credit though. When I looked to Levi, to resume the game, I found him glaring over at her. His eyes burned. His jaw was so tight a vein pulsed along his neck. I nudged his knee with mine. He blinked and came back to himself, nodding to me.

I was about to ask if he needed to take a moment on the other side of the partition when a rustle outside silenced me.

Then came another.

I sat bolt upright and placed a hand on the cold hilt of my blades, the metal smooth. I held my breath. Levi had a hand on my shoulder, but I heard the slight clack of his own blade being readied. I glanced at Valarie but she hadn't reacted, still 'sleeping'. A shadow moved behind her and I nodded to Levi, just how we thought – they planned to cut a hole in the tent and drag her backwards. Presumably hoping to avoid confrontation entirely. Cowards.

Without a single noise between us, Levi and I approached. A sharp blade sliced through the tent fabric, only the smallest of crackles as the fibres were cut. We exchanged an impressed, though amused, look. The gentle 'snores' from our prisoner conveniently covered the to and fro of the knife. Had we not been so alert and expectant we could have easily missed this whole thing. They were arrogant bastards, but they had some skill. The hole was almost big enough. Levi got ready to grab the 'rescuer' and drag them inside while I would dart through the newly made flap to deal with the others, raising the alarm if need be. We had discussed this earlier and agreed it would be likely to only be a party of two as that would avoid a noticeable number when sneaking through the compound. If there were more, we had our own back-up to call on.

The knife receded.

I rolled my shoulders as Levi readied himself, a pair of hands slowly reached for our sleeping beauty. Just a little more. They reached until their head popped in. Oh dear. We moved. Not a peep escaped them. For that half a split second I registered the abstract horror on the man's face before Levi hauled him inside and I dived back out.

In one fluid movement I lunged at the second figure, colliding and pinning them to the rough bark of the branch. I pinned his legs down with mine, the momentum whacking the back of his head off the wood, removing the hood. Meanwhile I checked all around. No one else. Just the two of them. Perfect. I looked back to my prey, his hood long gone. I face. Shit. Oh shit. Recognition. Memories. Fear. They sliced down my spine to burn dully between my legs. Sh-shit no. Anyone but him. My mouth was dry despite my want to scream. My hands shook as I held the bastard down. The struggle continued inside for a few moments before my Captain clicked his tongue and chains clanked into place. But I couldn't move. I could barely think. Pain. Panic. Darkness. Vulnerability. Memories choked me while terror drowned me.

It was one of those animals.

In front of me.

Real.

Tangible.

But still straight out of a nightmare.

Pain. It sliced into my side, waking me from my frozen terror. I gripped tighter around the throat. His stubble made my palms itch, his struggles almost dismounted me at first, but they weakened as my fear curdled into anger. The hard bark was so easily mistaken for cold stone. I swallowed as bile rose in my throat, eyes burning with tears as I stared. He was trying to speak. Greasy lips gasped as his complexion purpled. His hands kept trying to get purchase, hitting the wound he had managed to make, but his strength was gone. Unlike then. Those hands, hands that hold you down and make you submit.

A strange sob ripped from me, rattling as the tears fell. "I told you you'd better kill me..."

My voice was broken by the need to shriek in the continuing fear that is turning my veins to ice. Good god please make this end, make the death of this fucking animal stop it all in its tracks? The shame, the guilt, the nightmares, the sense of forever being unclean. D-Dammit make it stop?

"You got yours, Sanshi?" I vaguely heard from the tent before a shuffling noise, panicked words and forceful hands wrangling me back.

In my haze of fury I tried to get back there, but the wind left me as the pain in my side flared, sending me to my knees. Ow. And yet all I could see were those eyes, watery and staring, haunting me despite the fact I was sure I was awake.

"Make... make it stop..." I murmured to nothing and no one, nails digging into the wood.

"Robyn? Robyn, can you hear me?"

I could hear Levi, but it was as if my body was being smothered in that mud, turning it all to echoing mumbling. I couldn't move. Another sob escaped me. I shuddered. Of all the possible reactions to seeing one of those bastards again, I couldn't deny that this was one I had contemplated, but not for long, I had the delusion that I would be strong enough to face him with dignity. Apparently not.

"Come on Robyn, please. I need to get you to Hanji. Look at me."

I blinked, Levi's worried pleading breaking through the fog.

My lips trembled. "H-Help."

"Can you stand?" He spoke gently, treating me like glass. Perhaps I was more delicate than I liked to think. Then again, that was alright. I could be delicate with Levi.

I nodded and got to my feet, his wince making me look down to see what he was so worried about. Oh. It had all been such a haze. That pinch of pain at my side. Right. A small blade handle stuck out of my belly.

"Oh..." I murmured, hand going to pull it free until Levi grabbed my wrist.

"It's the only thing stopping you from bleeding out right now, just take it slow, okay? Lean on me." He offered an arm and I glanced to where a couple cadets had taken over for now. I held on and we started towards another tent. Right. Tents. The Scouts, my family. That's where I was, not in a dirty cell, not…

"Thanks..." I whispered, focusing on one foot in front of the other, the odd tugging sensation on my side making me feel queasy.

Levi squeezed my hand. "I think I know the answer but... I have to ask Robyn. Is he one of the ones that–"

"Yes."

"Okay, well no, not okay. Shit. Alright, he's in chains now, he can't hurt you any more."

Levi helped me back to our tent, carrying most of my weight and avoiding jostling the blade too much. Adrenaline seeped away from me, the pain prickling into place instead. But that paled to the fact I had been next to that animal again. So close. And I'd frozen up, he could have killed me. A little less luck and this blade would have hit something vital. I shivered. Levi held me a little tighter, helping me into the tent that had been set up for us. He eased me onto the small cot bed and laid me down, not letting go of my hand. Then again, I wasn't going to let him.

He knelt by me. "The medic will be along soon, how's the pain?"

"Can I hurt him?" I whispered, and for a moment I wasn't sure Levi had heard me, but then he leaned in slowly and gave me a gentle kiss on the head.

"As far as I'm concerned Robyn, you can tear that piece of shit apart. I only got you away from him because I saw your injury, and I know we have to question him still."

I didn't know if it would really make me feel any better. My hurting that animal didn't stop what he had done, didn't change it, didn't lessen it. But I guess in my own twisted little way, it might make the scales feel more balanced.

It wasn't long before the medic came and patched me up. It was so strange, so much was going on in my mind, but due to the careful nature of our 'mission' tonight, there was no hubbub going on outside. Quiet. I just concentrated on my breathing while I was examined – the damage was minimal thankfully, and with some stitching, I was on the mend. But I would need to continue the journey in a wagon. Apparently my favourite form of travel. Regardless, I was glad I could continue the journey.

In the time it took for me to be looked over, the rest had all been sorted out. Organised. As if it was just a messy desk or something. I began shivering. A small group would be assigned to another wagon on our journey, the other wagon would carry Valerie and her lackeys. Contained. Guarded. And we would continue to the sea. Apparently, according to the medic, Valerie had almost become catatonic once the would-be rescue had failed. I guess all her bravery was based on not being with us for long. Now she had no back-up. Now she might actually have to face some consequences.

To think of them all sat there contemplating the consequences, it was satisfying. So bold in the shadows. So sneering as they loomed over me in those dark rooms. I hoped they felt the fear. I hoped it choked them to the point they couldn't even whimper. Feel it to your bones. My whole body filled with that want for revenge, that thirst to spill their shitty blood and make them know even an ounce of the pain they had caused me and Levi. But I also had to keep in mind that I wasn't an animal like them, we had information to learn from them, we had protocols. I was a soldier as well as their victim.

Understandably that night, what little was left of it, I didn't sleep much. But I wasn't going to be riding anyway, it didn't matter. So I went to my wagon in the morning and stayed out of the way of those able to actually help. I kept Hanji's list and ticked things off as they were announced as packed. That was something at least.

In my wagon I had the company of supplies and the bound up tents, my own space cushioned by some blankets. Thankfully Eren hadn't sustained any injury due to my own, the connection having not sparked that time. Clearly this thing was inconsistent. He had no idea what had happened in the morning, sat having some tea with Mikasa and Armin when Levi had delivered the news – I'd been stabbed and confronted by the men that had attacked me. And he then calmed them down afterwards. Still, it was good to know the connection hadn't become a constant. That was way too much pressure to live under. Hurting myself wasn't ideal, but knowing that possibly hurting myself might mean hurting Eren? That would be hard to bear.

Not to mention what it might mean for Eren's timer.

He had maybe eight or so years left to live, if the Ymir's curse mentioned in Grisha's memories were to be believed. And I know I wasn't the only one that had wondered if this connection between me and Eren could go the other way. If Eren died, would I? But it continued to throw up inconsistencies and strange loopholes. So we couldn't assume anything. I wasn't sure if that was entirely better or not. Vincent had clearly managed to tap into some strange power of this world, but not wholly, not properly. Shitty Father and shitty scientist alike. Then again, it wasn't feeling like science anymore, was it? It had this different feel to it. Like some ancient power, or… Magic. I rolled my eyes at myself and focused on my list. It was all such a mess. Such a–

"Hey," Levi tapped my hand as it lay in my lap. I jolted. When had he appeared? I blinked at him and a knowing smirk fell across his lips. "Didn't hear a damn word, did you?"

"Sorry." I shook my head. "I was miles off. We nearly ready to go?"

"Making final checks now, yeah. I was just checking you were comfortable and this was all tied down properly. Don't need you being crushed by a bunch of bed rolls."

"I'm good."

"Alright, Glasses thinks we're maybe a few hours still off the coast but we'll try to keep you posted. Get some rest, okay? I've double checked Valerie too, she's tied up tight along with those bastards." He sighed and leaned in to give me a gentle kiss, tucking my hair back after, lingering for a few more moments, his eyes scanning me for something. Did he find it? "Ready to see the ocean?"

"Absolutely." I leaned into his touch and smiled. "Let's go find a new horizon."

Ta dah! Cya next time!