Chapter 25: Separated

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~(Y/N)~

Immediately after Levi had found me, I was sent off with the Garrison to search wall Rose for any other holes and report them. Not even a few hours after the battle with Annie had wall Rose been compromised, but the thing I noticed was that there were no titans along the southern area of the wall. To think if this is where there was a hole in this area it'd be filled with titans.

Riding on horseback behind the man named Hannes and two other men, we road alongside the wall in search for an opening. I wondered why they stuck me with them, I guess the Garrison could use an extra hand.... By the time the sun had set we were back up on the wall keeping an eye for anything unusual.

~Levi~

On our way to Ehrmich District, on the wagon, I sat beside Pastor Nick. On the other side of him was Hanji. Then, across from us sat Armin, Eren, and Mikasa, since finding out that wall Rose had been breached we were on our way so they could start investigating.

I had been tense since (Y/N) left with the Hannes and his group, there they would do a thorough sweep around the wall in search of the possible breached area. If there were any titans, I hoped she hadn't been devoured by one.

It didn't take long for us to reach Ehrmich, once we passed through the gate we quickly headed to a nearby stable. When we stopped all six of us got off the wagon. Walking alongside Pastor Nick, I looked over at Hanji who simply nodded, signaling for me to go give Nick a dose of reality. "Come with me," I mutter to Nick.

When we reached a dark doorway Nick stepped out in front of me. There he stood on a ledge looking out at the many refugees who were evacuating due to the breach. I kick his lower back pushing him forward. "Keep moving," I order.

The man stared out in horror, the reaction we had been aiming for in hopes to get information out of him about the titans inside the wall. "W-what is this?" he asks.

"What did you expect? This is what happens when the walls give." I groan. Children could be heard sobbing for their parents. Men and women too could be heard sobbing knowing that their homes were no longer safe and that they'd be forced to move and struggle to survive. Pastor Nick started to move as if he was going into the crowd to run away.

Tightly grabbing his shoulder I pull him back. "Where the hell do you think you're going?" I growl.

Nick remained silent as he watched the many faces pass by. "The reality looks different from the pretty illusion you pictured, doesn't it? Take a good look, these are the faces of people who have lost their homes... they're feeling very anxious and insecure right now... but suppose your wishes come true and wall Rose is filled with Titans... the last expression on their faces won't be this. The end will be the same... for everyone." I claim.

After he got a good enough look, I took him back in hopes he'd spill it to everyone. Walking behind him we ascended the stairs. With arms crossed we re-entered the stables and made our way over to Hanji who was standing beside Moblit and Eren. In Hanji's hands was a clipboard.

Her head turned slightly as she told Moblit something. Running over to us she stopped just in front of Nick. "So? You ready to tell us?" Hanji asks.

Darting my eyes up at Nick I watched his head dip down as he let out a saddened sigh. "Oh god damn it! We don't have time for this! People's lives are on the line!" Hanji shouts in frustration.

"I do apologize... I wish I could say... truth is none of us can... however, I can give you a name of the person who can tell you these secrets." Nick mutters.

"So you're going to put the responsibility on someone else just to protect your organization huh?" Hanji asks in a calmer tone. Nick nodded his head.

"Five years ago... the person had been dragged into a conflict with her relatives which resulted in them having to hide and use a new name... this girl does not know anything yet but, she has the right to speak publicly about whatever wall secrets that are known to her." The pastor explains.

~(Y/N)~

With Sasha, we both entered the stables of Ehrmich. She had something important to give to Hanji and I went along with her to regroup with Hanji and the others. Walking in I could see everyone standing around as Pastor Nick spoke. Hanji looked around confused while Eren and the others looked kinda shocked. "We gotta go then!" Eren says as he turns running right into Sasha, she falls to the ground.

"What are you two doing here?" Eren asks.

Sasha who was still sitting on the ground swiftly snatched the letter and offered it to Hanij. "Commander Erwin entrusted me to deliver this message to you Section Commander!" she announces.

Hanji took the paper from her and thanked her. As they walked past her, Levi came up to me, it had been since earlier today I had seen him. Sasha followed them to a different room, and while on my way I was stopped by Levi.

Looking back in confusion he led me somewhere away from where I needed to be. Oh no... I need to go and stay with Hanji. Although my mind was telling me to go, my heart kept me from running off. I followed Levi to a dark corner, there no one could see us, it was as if he and I were teenagers finding a private place to make out. Taking me into his arms he looked at me seriously.

"L-Levi- now is not the time-

"I know, I know... but I wanted to see you before you go again," he says, his left hand cupping my cheek. Placing my hand over his I try to pull his hand away from my face.

"Levi... we can't- I can't-

My eyes darted away from his as the heat in my face began to rise. My heart was pounding in my chest so loud, then I felt his hand pull my face closer. "Look at me," he mutters. Doing as told I dart my eyes over to him, he had a serious expression while his eyes shifted over my face studying every detail while he had me close.

"I-I have to go-

He pecked my lips quickly before pulling away. Covering my mouth I took a large step back and glared at him in embarrassment. His other hand held my wrist keeping me from running away... which I desperately wanted, so I wouldn't be tempted. "Don't tell me you don't like it... because if you didn't you would've slapped me by now or worse... I-I may not be the greatest person...but I still have a heart-

"This isn't the time to be talking about how we feel... come back to reality Levi, before you get yourself killed worrying about me... we have a much bigger problem than where we stand," I tell him, my expression stern and slightly annoyed.

Levi's other hand covered his mouth as he wiped his lips, and then he nodded in agreement. "You're right... we can figure out our relationship later," he mutters.

I looked to the side with a disappointed expression. What relationship? It'd only last until I have to go... "I think we should strictly keep our relationship business only... we can't afford the devastation if one of us goes missing or worse," I mutter.

My eyes slowly shifted over to Levi who wore an unflattering frown. He didn't like that I was trying to make our- whatever this was not exist. Ripping my hand from his grip I fix my jacket. "I-I'll see you in there... Captain." I say before bowing my head slightly. Even in my heart, it felt wrong calling him captain... everything I had said felt utterly wrong in every way.

Walking away I left him there, meeting with the others I stood beside Hanji who looked at Annie's full background check that had just come in. "Among the trainees of the 104th trainee squad, there are two more people originating from the same area as Annie," Hanji says. Turning my head I find Levi entering, his expression was his typical stoic expression, and he completely avoids eye contact. Of course, he's mad... Letting out a sigh I turn away and pay attention to Hanji.

"Reiner Braun, and Bertholdt Hoover." Hanji then announces.

Eren looked at Hanji with complete shock. "Wait what?" he asks.

"W-well, we have to take into consideration that due to the incident 5 years ago all the family register documents are more than a little sloppy and kinda sketchy... it took them long enough just to find it in all the poorly organized data," Hanji explains.

Peeking over Hanji's shoulder I stood between her and Moblit. "According to this, during the 57th expedition, the two I mentioned were both in the group that was told that Eren was in the right flank... and Annie attacked the right flank as well," Hanji states.

Looking up at the three of them they all seemed shocked to hear that Reiner and Bertholdt were working alongside the female titan. "What was their relationship in their trainee days?" Hanji then asks.

My eyes shift over to them. "I knew that Reiner and Bertholdt were from the same village but they didn't seem close to Annie at all." Armin states.

"Yeah.. Annie hardly talked to anyone." Eren then says.

I looked to Mikasa who also shook her head. "I don't remember them talking as well," she says.

"Still, I think doubting them is low, Reiner was like a brother to us, and Bertholdt wasn't all that talkative either, I can't really believe that they'd deceive people," Eren says.

"I agree, I fought the female titan with Reiner and Jean... Reiner was nearly brushed to death-" Armin stops as something comes to a realization. Eren turned slightly over to Armin who had a shocked look on his face, worse than the one before.

"What is it?" Eren asks.

"Reiner managed to get away... but after that, Annie changed course and ran right to where Eren was... I did mention out loud that Eren could have been around the back of the center formation... but Annie wasn't close enough to hear it." Armin explains.

"What does this have to do with-

"Did Reiner show any interest in Eren's whereabouts?" Hanji interrupts. Armin looked to be in deep thought, trying to remember what happened that day, not that anyone would want to remember it.

"He did ask... and I voiced my guess," Armin says, his expression turned to slight guilt.

"There is more, the female titan looked at her hand right after Reiner cut through.. I think there might've been letters carved into her palm... by Reiner's blade." Armin suggests.

Eren flashed a hurt glare at Armin. "H-how can you even say that?!" he snaps.

"Eren!" I call, in a scolding tone, his head snapped in my direction before looking to the floor with a saddened expression.

"Alright everyone listen up, if we find Reiner and Bertholdt, act normally so they won't know we suspect them... and do not mention anything about Annie, regardless if they are Annie's partners or not we play this safe," Hanji announces.

Everyone nodded their heads in agreement with the plan. And now, we head to wall Rose, and investigate this whole conflict. Hanji turned to me and smiled slightly. "Come with me," she says. Walking with her we both passed by Levi, glancing for only a second I could see him already staring back at me, darting my eyes away I looked to the back of Hanji's head.

In another room by ourselves, she turned to me. "Is there anything you know? Anything can help," she says.

"The only thing I ever found on those two were their birthdays and the village they were from," I explain.

"Hopefully they don't turn out to be what we think." she sighs.

I nod my head. "I really wish I was more helpful," I say feeling guilty.

"Is your memory slowly fading? Or?"

I nodded my head immediately. "It's slow but I know I've been forgetting things," I tell her.

She looked puzzled as to what we do now that my memory was slowly fading. My nightmares were also slowly becoming less frequent. "We may have to find a way to get you back earlier... if we don't do something you could end up not remembering where you're from," she says.

Nodding my head in agreement I let out a sigh. I'll do more research when we have time... but right now there is just so much going on. From that, we set off to wall Rose on horseback through the darkness of night.

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