*

Running my fingers through my damp hair, after a quick shower, I've heard that Eren had finally woken up which was relieving seen, it's been about a day since he passed out. The state he was in, was pure disgusting to see. I'm just thankful that without his abilities, he would've been dead a long time ago. Walking upstairs to the loft, where a few more beds were I could hear everyone's voices muffled behind the door.

Knocking gently, I welcome myself in to see Eren looking rather confused.

"Look who's up," I smile warmly, walking over I ruffle his hair. "Good to have ya back, kiddo."

He laughs nervously, "T-Thanks, Corporal,"

Noticing the small crowd within the room, I noticed Historia, Mikasa, Levi and Hanji already at his aid. Couldn't blame Hanji, but that being said we've only come to the conclusion on the main issue. He was only able to transform three days, before passing out. No wonder it takes a toll on him, having to try mastering a large titan form compared to his smaller frame.

I sat down beside Levi at the foot of Eren's bed, leaning subtly against Levi to face the young boy.

Hanji lifts the clipboard we sketched out, shifting their glasses with speculations all over the papers messily.

"Well.........the first titan was fifteen metre class......" Hanji informs him. "The same size as the ones you've made appear in the past. We soon gave you simple orders at first, like to raise your foot or wave your arms.....you seemed fully conscious, and followed any orders, no matter who gave them to you. Akira already predicted this, but we tried to have you speak, but it didn't seem to work."

Eren turns to me, "Your mouth doesn't seem to be structured for speech," I add, while he goes silent taking the pro's and cons to this experimentation.

Hanji clears her throat, "Next, we had you perform tasks using logs and rope," they continue. "You were able to do fairly detailed jobs. You could probably build a castle as a titan quite easily....but after an hour or so passed we saw a change. It was when you were writing in the ground in order to communicate to us....you had been writing 'i don't know how to harden my ability....then all of a sudden you inexplicably write 'what my father did to me'..."

"What?"

"After that your writing became jumbled that we couldn't read what it said," Hanji continues on. "You looked lik you were in pain....do you remember anything about it at all?"

All attention shifts to see Eren's wide, as if his memory was wiped.

He lowers his eyes hesistantly, "I don't........."

"....after that, you writhed around for about thirty minutes, then you exited your titan assuming it was of your own choice," Hanji says, ignoring Eren's utter confusion. "We could tell then that your memory was cloud, and that you were only half-conscious....after you rested for half an hour, you tried turning into a titan once more. You weren't able to harden yourself the second time, either....and you appeared as a thirteen metre class titan."

Sighing heavily, my hand rests between the crook of my neck and shoulder giving it a small crack for relief.

"However we tried to run the earlier intelligence tests again, but couldn't," Hanji went on. "None of our orders reached you and you seemed to be incredibly hungry. You ate the house you built earlier. You ran wild for a little longer, then seemed to run out of energy as you turned back to human. We had to help you get out of your titan. You rested for another thirty minutes, then tried to turn into a titan for a third time......that time your titan was less than ten metres tall....it was so incomplete that you couldn't stand on your own......it was even more fused with your body, and tearing you out was a lot of work........"

Eren grits his teeth with frustration, "...so at the very least this means we won't be able to start immediately on the operation.....to retake Wall Maria.." eyes harden in response, hands balling into fists at the sheets. "...all because I couldn't harden my titan body."

Levi shifts to face him, "That's exactly right," he replies, rather bluntly. "It was a real disappointment to us...and everyone's been miserable today because of it. We can't let any more time go to waste. What's next? Titans might rise up out of the ground. Maybe......they'll come raining down from the sky....and humanity's still a pack of toothless prey animals. In any case, we're in a shitty situation."

Mikasa grunts in annoyance, "Eren did everything he could,"

"I know that," Levi sharply replies, but he was growing rather impatient. "But so what? Why does it matter that he tried his best? Right now, he can't close that hole!"

"But blaming Eren for that--" Mikasa spoke up.

"Hold on, I'm just being an asshole....i'm not blaming him," Levi cuts her off. "Going over our shortcomings and bitching about our situation is an important ritual. Take a whiff....inside these walls, the air's always stunk like trash. It's been that way for over a hundred or so years. We've always lived in shit. That's our situation."

Sighing heavily whether to stop wasting our time with arguing, and coming with a plan B for our next action to take, Levi continues on.

"I didn't.....notice it until a few years ago," He starts. "After all, I've sucked in this stink since the day I was born. I saw it as normal......but the air I breathed outside the walls was different. Yes, life out there is hell....but it's got something the walls don't....freedom. Out there, I finally saw what I'd been missing--"

"....in other words, what Levi's trying to say is...." Hanji cuts him off. "....we learned that you can't harden your titan body...and that's a success."

I hum in agreement, "We've learnt and got a rough idea on your versatility and limitations, so that gives an idea then to follow something that gives us false hope," I add softly, trying to assure Eren nothing is completely his fault.......however we might have to pay the price setting off that smoke signal...."

Eren nods understanding what Hanji, and Levi were trying to say.

Slowly I notice the young boy was trying to register everything we've done the past twenty four hours, when suddenly he grips his head painfully. He grinds his teeth together, when Mikasa races to his side to aid him.

"You're still weak, don't push yourself," She warns him.

"Ah......yeah....."

Turning to Hanji I gave her a sharp nod, knowing we have nothing else to cover seen Eren was still recovering.

"As to where we go from here....." I spoke up softly, with thought. "Now that we know that you can't harden your titan.....so our next step is pretty clear. We'll have to go after the wallists and everyone around them."

Hanji nods in agreement, folding her arms with a narrowed expression.

"They seem to know something about the origin of the walls made out of hardened titans," She says confidently. "They might know how they were made....or in other words, something about titan hardening.......now that Erwin's in the Royal Capital.....he should know something about why the Reiss family....and not the ruler of humanity, the King.....are the ones allowed to learn those secrets."

*

NEXT DAY

My eyes harden the moment I've summarised the letter in hand, while Nifa stood before Levi and I. The silence was rather heavy with the new information, but I couldn't question it til later. Right now, we have the kids with us and two to specifically protect from the government.

"Well, shit," I utter out, with a troubled sigh.

Well, that didn't give us much time to think a plan or strategy, but then again this is the MP's we're dealing with. It was close to sunset already, but time was wasting away as it was.

"What is it?" Connie questions.

"What's going on?"

Levi turns to everyone within the room, "Get your gear, now!" He orders sharply. "We're leaving.......make it look like we were never here."

Everyone were in confusion, but never questioned it after by Levi's tone. Judging by the situation, we need to be at least a few steps ahead of the Mp's. I'm not gonna let them take anyone from here, because we need to know the truth. Whether they won't allow it, we must try something to push forward to our goal for humanity.

Swiftly everyone dove into action, collecting everything we ever brought with us and geared up. Although it wasn't much, we had to leave no trace. Collecting my cloak, and drape it around my shoulders clipping it on, before grasping my rifle at the corner of my room I shared with Levi. He does the same, hearing a heavy sigh draw from his lips.

"Dammit, shit's going down whether we like it or not," He curses, making me scoff lightly at the irony of it all.

My eyes flicker to see his face slight contorted, with irritation.

"Well, you did say, we live in a shit world," I retort quietly, while checking my rifle was on safety. With a soft click and shift, it was soon locked onto safety. Making sure it was also loaded with enough ammo inside, he kisses my cheek gently causes warmth to rise to the surface of my cheeks.

"You make it better," He admits quietly, before storming out of the room.

Heading down the hallway, I soon processed what he just said now, as I lower my rifle while turning the corner to head outside behind him. I couldn't help but to muster a smile, feeling my heart swell in response. Of all places to say that, is when we're in the tightest situations.

"Goddammit," I mutter under my breath, before preparing to leave the area.

*

Glancing down from the top of the mountain nearby, my eyes rest down upon the small house being kicked down and circled by the Mps. The sun was almost setting at the edge of the mountains, as the orange, pinkish hue dusts across the valley. Thankfully it was slightly light allowing us to see clearly, especially in case any followers might be watching.

My heart was racing, just in relief that we made it out in time.

"That was close," Connie comments quietly. "What if they had caught us? Would they rip our nails off?"

"How did Commander Erwin know they were headed here?" Armin questions, turning to Levi and I standing nearby.

"The government's passed down some new orders, there's been a freeze on all Scout activity outside the wall," I inform him, glancing back to the young boy. "We're to hand over Eren and Historia."

Everyone gasps from the sudden new order, given it was common sense after all. With Pastor Nick's death, and new information being leaked. It seems the government is really tightening our getaways, no matter where we went. Guess the truth is so important, they're willing to do anything at this point.

"Corporal, Captain.....I didn't have time to tell you," Nifa spoke up. "But....some Mp's came for the Commander right after I left him."

My expression subtly changes, repulsed to say the least.

"What? Like he's some kind of criminal?" Hanji questions rhetorically.

"They're bringing this fight out into the open," Levi simply states. "No more working from the shadows."

Hanji's turns to Levi and I, "They're going to protect the walls' secrets at any cost," she says, but held a worrisome expression. "But why? And what exactly are they after Eren and Historia for? They don't want them dead, so what are they planning?"

"Who knows? But they want these two," Levi gestures to both Eren and Historia. "..and they're not being subtle about it. Which makes lingering here dangerous. We'll move Eren and Historia to Trost."

Everyone within Hanji's squad seemed surprised by Levi's suggestion, but I even chimed in with choice.

Moblit furrowed his eyebrows, "We're taking them to the same district, where Pastor Nick was just murdered?"

"Heading towards the interior would be worse," Levi reasons bluntly. "With Trost in a panic, it should be easy to slip in.....and if things do go all to hell, we can use these in the city."

We both peel our cloaks slightly open, revealing our ODM gear already strapped on in case for anything. Especially being more sufficient in our situation, which we quickly told the kids to put on at last minute.

"That true," Armin says, taking in the consideration of his choice of words. It was definitely noticeable that some of the young ones were nervous, but I don't blame them in the position we're in.

My eyes harden, "We don't know the identity of our enemy yet," Levi admits, which as I said before 'we're fighting aimlessly'. "I have an idea of how we can change that.......Hanji, I'll need you to lend me some of your squad."

She nods, "No problem," before sinking into thought for a moment. "All right, I'm going after Commander Erwin. Moblit's with me. The rest of you will go with Levi and Akira."

"Roger!"

As Hanji was about to mount their house, Eren calls out to her with sudden haste before pulling something from his pocket. "Here," passing Hanji a slip of paper, stepping back to give the Section Commander room to Mount. "I remembered a conversation between Ymir and Bertholdt. I know the Corporal was able to witness it, but I managed to write down for you. It all there."

Hanji tucks into a pocket, "Thank you," before mounting her horse. "I'll take a look at it later.......and Akira?"

Lifting my head I noticed Hanji was rather hesitant for a moment, like something was weighing on their mind for a while.

"Hmmm?"

Her lips part for a split second, before shaking her head with a small smile. "Don't worry, take care of yourself and the kids....?"

Nodding with a determined expression, she clicks her teeth and set off with Moblit away from where we stood. Adjusting my cloak, a small electrifying jolt ran up my spine, causing me to grimace subtly. My hand nestled behind my nape, grasping at the sudden shiver that ran down me.

Shit, this is different.......but, what was that?

"Let's move, or we'll be caught very soon," Levi orders, breaking me out of my thoughts.

"Yessir!"

*

IN TROST

Stepping forward into Trost a few minutes ago, made me realise how long we've walked since we've escaped the Mp's. Yet, my head was amped up, with many assumptions running through my mind. However we made it quite early in the morning, that I was even surprised Trost had woken up earlier than normal.

Though it was once comfortable to do anything within the district, the streets somehow felt different the further we walked down. Levi's steps were sync with mine, however we tried to keep some distance not to capture attention. Except, we're in a district that has been suffering with the famine and also reationalising with what they had left. It still surprised me, that it was busy within Trost.

Being both public to the people before, we're easily recognised by now.

"Try not to walk clustered together," Levi says, warningly. "We'll stand out...Eren and Historia, just act normal."

The group slightly shifts apart subtly, putting some space between ourselves while they casually gaze around at the amount of people. My arm brushes up against Levi's arm, causing me to pull away for a moment. For some reason I didn't want to seem unprofessional right now, but also to Levi's privacy and space as well. Somehow I felt a gentle tug against my sleeve, before he grasps my hand into his.

His calloused fingers graze gently against my palm, before interlacing my fingers in his with a gentle reassuring squeeze.

He tugs me closer to his side causing me to feel rather shy about it, even though I should be more confident. I guess I've been quite out of it, since that unsettling jolt ran down my body last night. For some reason I can recall that happening as a child, when my mother told me something similar to that feeling. I know I've had many encounters to death's door, but this one seemed unprecedented.

"Why's the royal flag hanging everywhere?" I hear Connie question, in a hush tone not far from me.

"Today must be the anniversary of the King's coronation," Sasha pipes up, but quietly in surprise. "Once a year they hand out extra rations to celebrate it."

"Oh," Connie simply replies, unfazed. We soon slowly passed by a plaza where I noticed a large crowd of chattering people have gathered. Yet, there that stood on the top of the platform were two Military Policemen, calling out to everyone with an order.

"May I have your attention, please?!" They announce. "King Fritz has heard of the hardships in Trost. He is donating the royal family's reserves....Form a line! There's plenty to go around!"

I click my tongue with irritation, hating the fact they're just trying to grasp the people's favour for the King. I, Myself, wasn't keen on the royal government, never have been from the very start. We don't have a good line of history-- Well, that I know of. I couldn't explain why I disliked them, it just was my natural reaction.

Pausing in my steps with the others, we turn to the platform to the MPs.

"Seriously, I'm not sure whether to congratulate them for being generous," clenching my jaw with bitterness in my tone, while side-glancing their way. "Or they're being so stupid in baiting those poor people when they're just at their vulnerable time, seriously,......they're just a bunch of asses."

Levi hums in agreement, squeezing my hand softly.

"All that food and he's just giving it away?" Sasha breathes out.

"It's not as if he needs it all," Levi retorts quietly. "Easier to control people when they're not starving."

Nudging everyone to keep moving on, I started to feel eyes already on us. Minding our own business for the time being, I noticed the streets started to look more grim and more chilling. I know people are at the brink of financial collapse, and even with the famine going on, but it still dawned me that people can still get quite violent if they don't have their way.

Walking through the bustling of people, I felt myself being tugged closer as my shoulder bumps into his.

Quietly apologising, my eyes kept further head to be on my guard. Further we continued on, noticing the aura was soon changing to something familiar. It pained me to see it this way, but I couldn't do anything at the moment to fix it. While we all still remained at a safe distance with one another, I noticed a few rugged people glancing our way.

"Hey!" A voice calls out of nowhere, causing my shoulders to tense up out of instinct, feeling Levi's hand tighten. "Aren't you Levi?"

Levi raises his head, "Hmm?"

Pausing in our steps before the two larger men, the kids halt behind us while I narrowed my eyes towards them. By their tone, I didn't quite like how this was gonna play out between us both. Levi tugs me behind subtly, as if he shields me from their prying eyes from them.

"It is!"

"I've seen him before, too!"

"That's Levi, humanity's strongest soldier!!!!"

My heart grew heavy the more this was drawing attention upon us, while my eyes calmly meet theirs. They all have us surrounded, while my instincts were on high alert all at once not feeling safe. Suddenly a larger, brawny man has towered over my smaller frame who seemed rather rundown.

They don't seem to notice me yet.......

"Hey, he's small--"

"Enough," I seethe through my teeth, while my eyes steadily meet theirs. "Just let us pass."

One of the men seemed to snap in realisation on my identity, before his eyes heavily rake over my body as if I was some prey. He grins rather sheepishly,