55.
—
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE — Posses and Outlaws
~§~
...
-Stohess District, Wall Sina-
"Thanks for the help, you guys. It really means a lot." Rosalie murmurs as she swiftly accepts the packages of field rations and stuffs them into her satchel.
Mille waves her off. "Anytime…" She replies, looking away from the brunette to send Fabien a meaningful look.
Fabien purses his lips, returning the look with a pointed stare.
Watching the silent interaction as it plays out, Rosalie glances between the two curiously. "What…? What is it?"
Mille swats at Fabien's arm, gesturing wildly, and Liam snorts at the affronted expression the red-headed male gives her.
Huffing, Fabien grumbles something under his breath and turns to face Rosalie fully; fidgeting in place and ruffling his hair as he answers. "We just… We were wondering— I mean, you don't have to answer! We totally get it if you can't say anything, but—"
"They want to know if the rumors are true." Liam cuts in bluntly, ignoring his two companions when they look at him abashed. "Did the Scouts really kill Dimo Reeves?"
"Liam!" Mille hisses, clutching the boy's arm as she gave it a firm shake.
"What?" Liam snips; tone dry and expression neutral— save for the mischievous gleam in his blue eyes. "You two were too chicken shit to do it… By the Walls, Fabien looked like he was gonna melt into a puddle with all of the sweating he was doing."
Fabien squawks indignantly at the call out.
Face red with embarrassment, Mille frowns up at him. "Y-You can't just—! Have some tact!"
"It's okay." Rosalie laughs, smiling softly when they all look at her. Then in a quieter voice, she adds, "As for your question… No, the Survey Corps had nothing to do with what happened in Trost. Dimo Reeves was actually helping us out, believe it or not."
"Well, what about what happened inside Wall Rose? Is it true that Reiner and Bertolt…?" Fabien asks, trailing off when the brunette solemnly nods her head.
"They said that there were three. Who was the third?" Liam questions.
"Ymir." Rosalie replies as she meets his gaze and the three gasp in surprise.
"All three from the 104th Southern Cadet Corps, huh?" Liam muses with a humorless huff.
Rosalie nods and looks down at her boots. "That's not all. For some reason, they're still keeping this quiet, but Annie was the Female Titan."
"No way…!" Mille exclaims, just as wide-eyed as the two males beside her.
"Don't tell anyone." Rosalie warns lowly, looking up to glance around the area for anything suspicious. "It's not safe anymore… To know things. The MP's First Interior Squad is ensuring that much." She adds, and the trio nod in understanding.
The brunette then opens her mouth to say more but freezes as a hand seizes her right bicep in a firm grip. And the only thing stopping her from dislocating the arm it belonged to, is the familiar voice that murmurs in her ear.
"Relax, it's just me."
Turning her head, Rosalie meets Jean's gaze and sighs heavily out of annoyance. "Keep sneaking up on me like that and you're gonna lose a limb."
Despite their current situation, Jean chortles; wryly amused. "Duly noted." He sneers playfully, sending the three Garrison Soldiers an acknowledging nod as he continues to speak. "Are you done here…? We've got to meet up with Mikasa and Armin at the docks. We can't spend too much time in the city."
Rosalie hums and nods. "Just finishing up." She replies, also turning her head to look at the trio. "We gotta go… Stay safe, you three."
"Don't be strangers!" Fabien replies with a wolfish grin. "Also, make sure to invite us to the wedding!"
Jean and Rosalie blanch as laughter follows the taunt; their faces flushed with bashful embarrassment.
"C'mon, not you guys, too!"
...
...
-Unspecified Location; Wall Rose Territory-
Rosalie lowers her hood as she steps into the clearing— in which they had set up a temporary camp— and gives Jean a small, appreciative smile when he takes her satchel from her in a show of chivalry.
"Captain, we brought the supplies." He informs as he sets the items down with the rest of their gear.
"The Military Police were also handing out these." Armin adds, giving Levi a small stack of loose-leaf papers that he procured while in the city. "If this is true, the Scouts will be disbanded… I heard that they'll be hunting for us tonight. They're also putting guards on all of the vital roads, and it's impossible to get through without a pass."
Levi silently sifts through the pages, unsurprised to discover that they all were wanted posters with crudely drawn depictions of the Scouts currently on the run. Each one is labeled with supposed crimes and a promised reward should they be captured alive.
When he says nothing, Armin speaks up a second time. "Captain, what now?"
Mikasa fidgets. "If we don't hurry, Eren—!"
"Calm down. They're using a wagon. It'll take at least a day to reach Reiss' territory." Levi interjects, pausing momentarily as he comes across the bounty calling for his own arrest; feeling a small tinge of amusement at the misleading sketch of his likeness. "We'll use that time to come up with a plan."
It's then that Sasha straightens from her lounging position; eyes wide and alert and posture stiff as she cranes her head to listen for something. "Captain, I hear footsteps!"
Connie immediately cups his ears in hopes of better hearing.
Everyone pauses, watching, waiting with bated breath as Sasha continues to peer into the dense foliage. "They're coming this way…" She adds after a minute passes, her voice quieter than before.
...
...
-Unspecified Location; Wall Rose Territory-
Feeling as if they had been walking in circles due to the unchanging scenery, Hitch Dreyse looks around, her head practically on a swivel as her eyes narrow with annoyance.
Finally, after a few more paces, she turns to her companion— Marlo Freudenberg— who walked to her right. "Hey, don't you think we're a bit far out?"
In his usual stubborn fashion, Marlo shakes his head. "No point in searching if we're not spread out." He replies curtly, not sparing her a glance as he continues walking.
Hitch falters behind somewhat, rolling her eyes, scoffing at his straitlaced behavior. "Why did I get stuck with you…?" She groans to the sky childishly. However, an opportunity had now presented itself to tease the boy, and she wasn't one to pass up the chance.
Trotting forward, she falls in step with the taller male and leans forward to catch his gaze; a wry smile on her face. "Wait, Marlo… You just wanted alone time with me, didn't you?"
"Hitch…" Marlo begins with an irked sigh, stopping to face her fully. "I'm sorry, but you're not my first choice either."
"Oh, is that right? Well, good for you."
Marlo rolls his eyes at her retort and begins to move forward once more, forcing her to begrudgingly follow along.
"…"
Silence forms between the two as they fall back to their previous routine of searching. Although, it doesn't last long as Marlo is the one who disturbs the quietude next by seeking Hitch's opinion on the questions plaguing his mind.
"Don't you think it's odd…? Why would the Scouts kill a civilian and run for the hills? They're the same group that's always risking their lives for the sake of humanity."
While Hitch is also slightly bothered by the notion, she doesn't allow it to show. Brushing the thought aside, she instead scowls up at the boy in disbelief. "I can't believe you…! Did you forget?!" She asks rhetorically, continuing when he stays quiet. "Remember what they did to Stohess District? How they turned it into a battleground? All of those corpses we had to carry…? And how Annie's still missing?"
Hitch then shakes her head, forcing the swell of emotion down at the thought of her old bunkmate. She wouldn't cry for Annie, and she certainly wouldn't cry in front of Marlo. "All of her stuff is still in my room…and it's annoying."
Marlo sighs. He knew she had valid reasoning for disliking the Survey Corps, but he wouldn't— couldn't— allow it to negate everything the regiment did that was good. "I know that… But they also uncovered the Titan that was in hiding and somehow managed to capture it. D'you think any other regiment could do that…? If the Scouts get disbanded like this, humanity can't—"
Before he could continue, Hitch shushes him harshly as she aims her rifle and glares off into the thick brush ahead. Her sudden shift in attitude has Marlo immediately doing the same.
"Quiet. I hear water…" Hitch murmurs.
The two fall silent then, waiting with bated breath as they listened for movement in the underbrush.
A twig snaps followed by the sound of something being submerged and filled with water— most likely a canteen.
There's a slight shuffle; footsteps on sand and gravel. Leaves crunch and mud squelches under newly added weight, and the gurgling sound returns.
Marlo and Hitch share a look, the grip on their rifles tightening in anticipation. Nodding to one another, they start forward.
Pushing through the underbrush, the duo come across a cloaked figure kneeling by a small brook. And based on the multiple canisters at their side, they knew the stranger wasn't only gathering water for themself.
Marlo takes a small step forward, rifle aimed. "Don't move…! Show us your hands and slowly turn this way!" He orders sternly, watching cautiously as the figure raises their arms into the air before leisurely rising.
"You must be a Scout." He states as the stranger turns to face them fully, revealing a short, blond-haired male with bright blue eyes.
Sending Hitch a brief but pointed glance— who steps forward in response— Marlo turns his attention back to the unknown male. "Just like that. Now, listen to me and do as I sa—!"
It's at this moment that a soft whirring sound is heard. However, before the two MP's could react, two cloaked figures jump down from the trees above and quickly corner them from behind.
They hold their blades up to Marlo and Hitch's throats, and the silent threat is enough to discourage any thoughts of fighting back.
Dutiful of the unspoken request, Marlo and Hitch meekly raise their arms— and guns— up in surrender.
"That's right… Hand over your weapons to the one in front." The one detaining Marlo— an older male based on the sound of his voice— orders gruffly.
Immediately, both comply and hold out their rifles.
"And not a word, right?" The blond from before murmurs as he takes the guns. His tone almost taunting as he surmised what would've been Marlo's next order.
Maneuver Gear whirs, twigs snap, and bushes rustle as more sets of footsteps approach. And the sound has the blond directing his gaze to something off to the side.
Movement unfolds from all angles then.
Marlo and Hitch tense further, breaking out in a cold sweat as fear writhed and coiled in their guts. And the two MP's have a hard time centering their focus on one person alone as more Scouts emerge from the surrounding foliage.
...
...
-Unspecified Location; Wall Rose Territory-
Rosalie unfastens the last buckle of the female MP's gear and lightly tosses it next to that of her companions. She then takes a step back and gives the two a once-over with her eyes before turning to Levi.
"That's all they got on 'em." She informs, stepping aside as Armin and Mikasa approach to bind the duo's hands.
Levi hums but doesn't say anything in response— opting to instead stare at the two kneeling MP's thoughtfully. '…Disguise as Military Police to get by the guards…then figure out where Eren was taken by snooping around. To think we'd have no better option… We just don't have time— We've got no choice but to do or die.'
Jean, whilst searching through the duo's effects, comes across two small booklets containing the MP's identification papers as well as their orders.
"Captain…!" He beckons, waving the two items in the air lackadaisically as he walks over to hand them off to the shorter male.
Levi takes them without further preamble and stands, beginning to circle the two as he skimmed through the booklets. "Now then. Stohess District Military Police; Private Marlo Freudenberg… Same assignment, Private Hitch Dreyse…"
Trailing off, Levi stares at the back of their heads appraisingly and draws a blade. "As for how we'll dispose of you—"
Hitch, with as much movement as she's allowed, whirls around to look up at him from over her shoulder; a sneer on her face. "Because of you guys, over one-hundred people from Stohess District were killed!"
"Hey…!" Marlo hisses in warning, sending his blonde companion a pointed look telling her to knock it off.
Hitch doesn't seem to care. "You people—! You might think that you're all heroes of justice, but the victims and their families were dropped straight into hell!"
"Yeah. I know." Levi replies dryly.
Hitch huffs and looks at the two standing directly in front of her. "You there…! You're from the Southern Cadet Corps, yeah? Just like Annie Leonhart. Were you friends of hers?"
Rosalie and Jean share a glance but say nothing in response.
Hitch lowers her gaze to the ground, and for a moment her disposition is defeated and sad. "No… I doubt she had any friends, being as gloomy and aloof as she was. It's like she was a kid that was afraid of other people… I never got the chance to know anything about her."
Her expression hardens then, and she turns her glare to Levi. "And the reason they still haven't found her is because she was pulverized by a Titan into a puddle of jelly!"
Levi stares cooly at her for a moment. "No. It's because the Titan in hiding was Annie Leonhart, herself."
In unison, Hitch and Marlo gasp as their pained expressions fall flat. Their faces waxen; pallid as the blood seems to drain from their cheeks.
Jaw clenching in the face of their obvious despair, Levi looks away. "Dammit…! It makes me sick. Nobody knows a damn thing about this world— Not us, or anyone else. All except those bastards at the center of it all."
When his words are met with silence, he sighs heavily and looks back down at the bound duo. "We'll release you both as soon as we get out of here."
Despite the relieving assurance of their survival, Marlo and Hitch were unable to process anything past the truth behind Annie's disappearance.
"Annie was…" Hitch whimpers, completely distraught by the information.
Marlo grits his teeth and turns to Levi, determined. "Captain Levi! Please, let me help you…! I don't think what you guys are doing is wrong! If I can help correct this world's injustice, I'll do whatever it takes!"
"What's with this guy?" Levi grunts, giving the boy a strange look— which earns himself an amused snort from Rosalie in response.
Marlo, however, was perturbed; nor was he disheartened. "I beg of you, Captain Levi!"
"Not a chance." Levi instantly dismisses. "I can't tell how prepared you are about making an enemy of the government." He adds after taking note of Marlo's budding disappointment.
He then walks forward, sheathing his blade as he addresses his group. "Let's go…! Sasha, tie them up somewhere nearby."
At the order, Sasha turns from where she was keeping watch and immediately begins to cross the stream, using the largest stones as her footholds. "Yes, Sir!"
The rest scramble to gather their gear and supplies but are quick to fall in line behind their Captain. However, they all pause when they notice Jean's inaction.
"Captain." He calls, prompting Levi to look back at him. "Please, let me do it."
Levi stares at him for a moment, seeming to evaluate the boy's motives before sighing tiredly. "Knock yourself out."
Jean nods and turns to the two MP's, deftly avoiding Rosalie's questioning gaze as he orders the two MP's to stand up.
"Rosalie, let's go…!"
"R-Right!"
...
...
-Unspecified Location; Wall Rose Territory-
"Settle down. He'll be back any minute."
Rosalie's fidgety pacing comes to a pause when faced with Levi's growing agitation. Turning her head, she sends him a look once their gazes lock but doesn't rebuff his words; eventually doing as told with a reluctant huff.
The minutes seem to pass exceedingly slowly after that, however, the group is quick to react to the sound of approaching footsteps. And it's only when Jean appears through the shrubbery with Marlo and Hitch in tow, that their alarm slowly diminishes.
"I told you to tie them up." Levi dully drawls, almost as if he expected this as he eyes the trio with little emotion.
Jean, although a bit sheepish about not following a direct order, stands firm under the older male's scrutiny. "I really believe they can help us, Sir." He reasons, briefly glancing at the weary duo behind him. "We can trust them."
"What makes you think that?" Levi inquires, although his question is aimed toward the two MP's rather than his subordinate.
Marlo steps forward then, chin leveled and shoulders squared determinedly. "We'll show you where the easiest checkpoints to pass through are." He informs before sharing a resolute glance with the girl beside him. "We want to help."
Hitch nods along in silent agreement.
Levi stares at them long and hard for a moment, and the two fidget under his steady gaze as he seemingly weighs the odds to himself. Finally, he stands and heaves a heavy sigh filled with annoyed acceptance. "Alright… Get your gear, we're leaving immediately."
The relief that Marlo and Hitch feel is almost palpable as both relax at his acquiescence. Broad grins split their faces and the two appear eager to please as they scramble to gather their once-discarded gear.
Levi shakes his head at the sight.
As this happens, Jean ambles across the small clearing they all stood in and silently joins Rosalie's side.
The brunette in question turns to face him and opens her mouth to speak, however, her words leave her as she takes note of the slowly forming bruise on his cheekbone. "What happened to your face, Jean-bo?" She quietly questions as she reaches up and gently holds his chin between her thumb and pointer finger, turning his head to the side for a better look. "You've got a bruise forming."
Jean waves off her concern and moves her hand. "It's nothing… If anything, I partially deserved it."
Unimpressed with his attempt at redirecting the subject, Rosalie narrows her eyes. "Which one did it?" She asks him firmly; tone taking on a more hostile edge as she glances over at the two MP's— who watched the interaction from afar with failing subtlety. "Was it the one with the bowl cut? It was, wasn't it? He looks like the shifty sort…"
Jean chokes back his laughter, deciding to refrain from telling her otherwise. "Seriously, Rosie, don't worry about it."
"But—"
Afraid she'd eventually take a more physical approach to getting the answer she wanted, Jean strengthens his hold on her hand by intertwining their fingers— as if the action would be enough to cement her by his side. "Please?"
Glancing down at their now clasped hands, Rosalie flushes bashfully at the gesture and averts her gaze; grumbling under her breath all the while as she relaxes her stance. "…Fine."
Endeared by the reaction, Jean grins boyishly. "Yeah…?" He prods teasingly, locking their fingers in place when she tries to pull away in her growing embarrassment.
"Yeah, whatever…!" Rosalie grunts, unable to bite back the grin beginning to tug at her lips. "I'll drop it, okay? Now, le'me go…" She grumbles, although her demand has little bite to it— seeing as it was merely a halfhearted attempt to save face.
Knowing this, Jean hums in response but makes no attempt in doing so. He then captures her other hand with his free one and tugs her a step closer, bowing his head to meet her gaze earnestly. "Thank you."
Rosalie considers him thoughtfully for a moment before sighing softly. However, before he could question it, she's rocking forward on the balls of her feet, tiptoeing as she plants a feather-light kiss on the bruised skin of his cheek. "That oughta do it…" She mumbles shyly against his skin before retreating.
This time, it was Jean's turn to be embarrassed. Clearing his throat, he looks away, his cheeks a bright red. "Idiot…" He grunts; smiling to himself when she laughs.
~§~