Hello! So, I thought I should mention it sooner than later: but I haven't read the manga for Attack on Titan/SnK. I have only watched the anime, so my knowledge of the characters as well as the plot is confined to only what is explored in the anime. That being said, I have tried my utmost to keep all the characters in-character (feedback is appreciated greatly!). Thanks again, as always, to everyone who has followed, favorited, and reviewed! The support as far has been unbelievable, you're all amazing. Seriously, you have no idea how much it means to me! Thank you all so, so, so much, and without further ado, here is the latest installation :)

Chapter Four

Levi was fast.

He began the fight before Kira had even gotten her footing, flying forward in a green blur. His cape whipped around him as he shot towards her, one sword in front of him and one behind before he suddenly became a human tornado of limbs and weaponry. His blades caught Kira easily, knocking her backwards with a series of bloody cuts.

Her eyes widened and she struggled to regain herself as he tore into her, his sword whirling faster than her trained eyes could keep up with. She shook with fear, suddenly overcome, ready for death at the blade of his sword… No. Not again. Kira steeled herself and thrust her sword forward, hitting his with a resounding clang. He leapt backward immediately and Kira followed, her body finally engaging as it had been trained to. She pushed her weight onto her good leg, parrying the blows Levi delivered, sloppily. Cuts were still appearing, blood dripping down from her and blurring her vision.

Injured, caught off guard, Kira was on the defensive and she was still being brutalized. She lunged forward herself, her hands suddenly moving quickly, her blade whizzing through the air. Their swords hit with a clash of metal on metal before they both leapt backwards, their movements mirroring one another as though they had been trained by the same sword master. Levi came at her again, his swords moving with ineffable speed – but now Kira could see it. She parried him, snaps of metal and sparks flying as he hit her sword each time with both of his.

Levi got another jab dangerously close to her good leg, only being diverted by Kira's sword. She then saw the opening as she jerked her weapon back, whirling around and slamming her sword against Levi's ribs. The sword cut with a sickening slice before Levi darted away, glaring down at the blood on his uniform.

His eyes flashed back up to her own and then Kira knew she was done for: perhaps she had held her own for a few minutes, but it was over now. Levi suddenly had her by the throat, his fingers tightening as his sword knocked hers clean out of her hand.

Kira closed her eyes, cursing herself. She hadn't been bested by anyone, not for years… But this man, this damn Captain had beaten her only in a few minutes. She opened her eyes once more: looking desolate, defeated, and not wholly alive. Levi dropped her in disgust, scowling back down at the red that had dripped through the whole in his shirt. "Repulsive," he said, taking a napkin out of his pocket and wiping at the stain.

Kira lifted herself off the ground slowly, before she bowed her head to the man in front of her. It was a gesture of respect, a gesture she often refused to make to anyone, especially from inside the Walls. Those damn military pets deserved none of her respect, but this Captain was truly far, far beyond any of her skill. He had put her in her place.

"Fine," she let out, her spirit gone out of her. "I will enlist. I will become useful. It's my duty, isn't it?" She glared at the ground. "It was you, wasn't it? You saved me that day. I owe you a debt."

At the thought, Kira could feel her insides curl and her outsides cringe. She owed a debt to one within the Walls, one of those she despised. And to pay the debt? It would cost her freedom.

The pair had made it back to camp after Levi had forced Kira back on her horse, urging her forward despite her aching and injured body. Kira only tried to struggle onward, overwhelmed with the desolate and hollow feeling of defeat combined with the throbbing pain of her leg. She had pushed herself too far and now she would pay for it, dearly.

While it was still dark out, the entire camp had awoken to frenzy when Eld Jinn had discovered that his charge had disappeared in the night. The squad had met Kira and Levi as they returned, Eld with his muscular arms crossed haughtily over his chest. Kira had glanced over at him only to find him glaring, clearly indignant that she had slipped out without him noticing. Levi had dismounted and spoke a few whispered words into the redhead Petra's ears before he returned to his tent. Everything was in motion again after that, many going back into their tents for some much-needed rest.

"That wasn't very smart." It was Petra who spoke, not looking up as she tended to Kira's wounds by the fire. "Trying to ride off with this torn up leg." The woman said nothing of Kira's other cuts and bruises, not asking anything of whatever had happened between her and Levi.

"I didn't have a choice," Kira said stiffly, turning to look out at the dark landscape before her. A huge expanse of land, overrun by Titans, but her home nevertheless…

"Once I'm done dressing it, it will still be weeks before it's healed. I think I can fix something up to make sure you can still ride in it, but you shouldn't put any more strain on it than absolutely necessary."

Kira just glared at the crackling fire in front of them, her eyes grazing over the boot of one very silent Eld Jinn. He had yet to return to his tent, but he had thankfully stopped glaring at Kira for the moment.

"Should have just killed me," Kira muttered, gritting her teeth.

"Some do think that." That was Eld this time, his voice deep and low. "But others wanted to give you a chance. We're all fighting the same war."

Kira felt a stab of guilt at that: she knew that Eld was one of those who had wanted to give her a chance, but… A chance at what? A life in a cage?

"Any human who wants to fight is useful," Petra said, unbelievable kindness in her eyes. Was it even possible that there were still people with so much hope out there? Kira raised her eyes to look at her for just a moment before she lowered them again.

"I don't deserve this kindness," she muttered.

"You saved my life."

"You don't owe me anything," Kira said, shaking her head. "It was just… It was just instinct."

"Well, so is my kindness then. Just instinct," Petra said, a smile dancing on her lips.

Kira just shook her head again. "I'm not a soldier. I'm not going to be able to help you. I'm a rogue. I don't take orders." At the last sentence, her eyes lit up with that old fire for just a moment before it flickered out once more.

Petra finished wrapping Kira's leg gingerly before she stood up and jumped into her tent for a just a moment. After some careful rummaging, the woman came back out with a few folded articles in her hands. She gently handed the pile to Kira, ignoring the look of disdain that was shot her way.

"I knew a soldier who didn't take orders once," Petra said, looking towards Eld this time. "And we really needed that soldier."

Eld gave Petra a knowing look and then turned to Kira, nodding. "She's right."

Kira ignored the look the two shared, trying to focus on something else besides her inevitable enlistment in the military. She only looked down at the pile in her hands, bile rising up in her throat as she realized that she was holding a Scouts uniform.

"It should fit," Petra said, nodding towards her. "We're around the same height. Having those boots should help keep your leg from moving the wrong way while you're riding."

"Thank… You," Kira managed to get out, though her voice was strained. If Petra noticed, she certainly didn't let on.

"You can change in my tent," she said, ushering Kira up. Clearly the woman wouldn't take no for an answer, not that it mattered at this point. She owed a debt now and she would most undoubtedly pay it.

Kira hobbled up and dragged her sore body over to the tent. She had to admit, whatever salve Petra had applied to her leg had already made her feel much better. Kira dropped the garments on the ground after she zipped the tent closed, staring at them with wide green eyes. Just a day ago, Kira would have never imagined she could have gotten herself into such an inescapable predicament.

The thought of uniforms made Kira unreasonably angry, but her own clothes were cut and torn all over: proving to be little more than useless at the moment. She changed as quickly as one could manage with such a mangled body. The only thing that still lay on the ground was that damn green cape: a symbol of everything Kira hated. Did she really need to wave around their banner for all to see? Here she was, Kira Zeffren, prisoner/newest recruit of the Scouts. In a furious rush, Kira tied the cape the cape on herself and tried her best to forget it was even there at all.

She limped out of the tent, her eyes on the ground as she made her way back to the campfire. Kira could feel Petra and Eld's eyes on her, staring at her remade self and thinking that perhaps the rogue could be made into a soldier after all. Stranger things had happened. Kira, on the other hand, couldn't get past the damn green cape that fell over her shoulders. She wanted to rip it off. And then throw it in the fire.

"Good, it fits," Petra said, nodding in approval.

More than a bit snugly around the hips, but, yes Kira had managed to get it on.

"We don't have an extra 3DMG lying around, so we'll have to get you fit with one when we get back."

"She'll get one when she's sent to cadet training!" This voice was new, but Kira didn't even have to jerk up her head to match the condescending drawl with its owner. That strange man from earlier, Oluo, she believed, had stuck his head outside of his own tent. Clearly, he had been eavesdropping on their entire conversation. "Do you really think some rogue is going to be part of the Special Operations Squad without even going through training?"

Kira did nothing besides sent a flat glare the man's way, but he ignored her. "Even after training, she won't make this squad… She's just a little girl who got lucky. We're helping her. Taking her in." Then he turned to her, still wearing that same smug expression Kira so wanted to slap right off his face. "You know, I've killed almost fifty Titans… So don't be scared out here."

Kira could not even come up with a retort to the ridiculous drabble coming out of his mouth. Her, scared? Before she could continue on the rant in her mind, Eld just smirked. "That's funny, coming from the guy who cried and peed himself on his first expedition…"

Oluo's face blanched. "That's a lie! I would have never! You're thinking of someone else!" Before he could protest any further, Oluo's face contorted in pain and he clapped a hand over his mouth. He let out a few mangled words that sounded something like he had… Bit his own tongue? Kira just stared.

"Maybe if you wouldn't talk so fast, you wouldn't bite your tongue!" Petra scolded, shaking her head. "Not to mention, trying to scare her… Look, you ought to stop imitating Captain Levi, you're nothing like him."

Oluo tried to protest, but his bleeding mouth thankfully stopped him from arguing with her. Kira only shook her head as he ducked back into his own tent, muttering under her breath. "I don't care how many Titan's he's killed…"

"Don't mind him," Petra said. "You should get some sleep."

Kira nodded, glancing towards Eld's tent but not moving at all. She wasn't quite sure she would be allowed to sleep in her former quarters considering what had happened last time. "Go on," Eld said, motioning for her to go first.

"I don't think so."

Kira knew this voice too. Harsh, deadpan, radiating power and authority – it was unmistakable. Captain Levi stood outside his own tent, his arms folded tightly across his chest. Kira just jutted out her jaw.

"After what happened last time, this little shit needs someone more watchful."

Kira widened her eyes at that, still not meeting his gaze. She had done it this time, hadn't she? Even when she had been with her old group Kira had caused trouble, but this was beyond any small misstep she hadn't taken before.

Kira was going to pay.

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! I hope to keep these chapters coming out on a semi-regular basis, but I say that as someone with a very hectic schedule. Hopefully I am up to the task! Anyway, as always, if you enjoyed, I would be absolutely and positively joyous if you left a review for me! Happy reading, and until next time,

Miss E. TG. Shire