---Bree's POV---
After dealing with the corporal, Elizabeth and I were slammed with chores, while Nicole got completely off the hook. Elizabeth was ordered to clean the library all by herself while I did the same to the WHOLE CORRIDOR. This was one of the most used corridors, so there was dirt and dust everywhere. I just began when someone tapped my shoulder. Tensing, I shift toward the source of the disturbance.
It was Marco. He had a big, dumb smile on his face that went perfectly with those freckles of his. "Hey, thought you could use the help. Cleaning the whole corridor, yes?"
"Y-yea. Corporal Shorty thought it would be punishment enough. Not that I care, I mean, Nicole got off the hook freely, and Elizabeth and I are stuck with chores."
"Uh-huh. Okay, and how did she get off with not chores? Does the corporal have a thing for her?"
My face went blood red as I thought about Nicole being with the corporal. I soon laughed my head off. "A-are you serious?! She is WAY too good for him, not to mention, she pranks him all the time, like everyone else."
"Yea, you're right. Even though Nicole is annoying, she's too good, and slightly a little too loud for him."
We both let out a fit of laughter that echoed down the corridor. Marco's smile seemed to have doubled in size and began looking around. "Come on, if we're going to crack dumb jokes, let's at least finish this corridor."
"Yea, I kinda wanna see how Elizabeth is doing. I mean, she has to clean the whole library. I feel bad for her."
"Why? She'll have Armin to help her if he doesn't turn into a blushing mess that doesn't know how to talk right."
"Wait, are you saying...Armin likes Elizabeth or something?" His hands immediately flew to his mouth and clamped over it as he began to rant inaudible phrases. "H-hey...You weren't supposed to tell anyone, were you?"
          His hands dropped to his sides as his back hit the wall. "Yea. He told me, as well as a few others. But being me, I get comfortable around people and it just slips out."
"Hey, it's fine. I'm sure it'll work out. But, I've got two other people I need hooked up. I mean, we all know they like each other, but stay separate. It drives me mad. I mean, that doofus likes her so much, that he put flowers in front of her door on Valentine's Day, but she, was used to be given stuff without reason, kept it. Not even--"
"So, who are we talking about?"
"Eren and Nicole! They would look so cute together, it just depends on how she'll react. I've noticed she has a bad rep with guys."
"Heh, you're telling me. I bet--" There was a very loud crash outside, followed by frantic wails from Hanji.
"NICOLE!"
I dropped everything and ran out toward the courtyard. Marco suddenly grabbed me in his arms. "What about Nicole?!"
"She's doing an experiment with Hanji and Eren! She could be killed!" Tears streamed down my cheeks as I freed myself from his grip and ran toward the noises.
        All my mind could think of was the worst. Her body pinned up against the wall by his giant hand. Her being trapped in his grip as he lifts her to his mouth. Her...
        I was torn from my thoughts as i saw the heap of steam emitting from the courtyard. Hanji was screaming at people to keep their distance, saying that they could possibly injure Nicole because her location was unknown amongst the steam.
Then another rumble came from the steam, which was followed by a geyser of steam shooting above the rest. I couldn't stand there anymore. I pulled out my swords and ran straight towards it, only to be halted by two very annoyed male voices.
"Cadet Smith, what do you think you're doing?! Do you want to get yourself killed?!"
I turned towards the corporal and commander and saluted. "Sirs, I don't care if I die if it means saving more people from a fatal future. I don't care what you say to stop me, my friend is in there with Eren, who we know can lose himself. If we leave her, she could die! You know how valuable her skills are, even though she scored lower than me, she has talent with blades that even YOU don't have!"
"You've seen her scores, yes? No one has that kind of speed, on even Elizabeth, and she's the smallest here! Not to mention, you know all those pranks, bonfires, and just all around fun? Nicole did all that!       
"She may not be the most nice to be around, but she has kept this place happier than it was! I know it's Eren in there, and even though we know he'd never intentionally hurt his comrades, there is always that chance!
"I'm not loosing her because you think that just because it's Eren's in there somewhere, she won't end up DEAD! How can you put show much faith in something that dangerous?!"
But as those words left my lips, I saw two figures exiting the steam. Tears were running down my face like a river. No one spoke, though I could feel the fear in the air. Everyone stepped back as the figures grew closer, except me and Elizabeth, who ran up to me seconds before. As the figures got closer, my grip on my blades grew tighter.
Then they emerged. Eren, his gear gone, and he looked like he just saw his world break in half. He was walking forward, looking straight ahead, while holding an unconscious Nicole bridal style. Blood was splattered on her neck, but she was breathing. Her hair fell all over her face, and her limbs were all sprawled out.
I lost all feeling in my legs when I saw them. Nicole was so alive all the time, even in sleep, so this hurt on a whole new level. Elizabeth broke down to tears, but Eren gave us no passing glance as he stepped towards the building.
Hanji and the other superiors ran up to them. But Eren's eyes never left Nicole's for some reason. Hanji looked so happy to see him alive, but when her eyes fell to Nicole, like all the others, it seemed that they couldn't breath anymore.

---Elizabeth's POV---
I couldn't get through my head what I was seeing. Nicole, the girl who always had our back through thick and thin. But now she was unconscious, once full of life, now covered in her own blood. Her happy smile, that dumbly evil laugh of hers was all but gone, replaced by the coldest, most emotionless face I've ever seen.
        Even the superiors were shocked. Bree wouldn't stop staring, and all my body would let me do is stand there, watching Eren carry her as if she was just another dead body to burn.
        Once the superiors ran over to us, Hanji squealed to see Eren okay, but was soon replaced by loud sobs when her glasses-covered eyes landed Nicole. She then grabbed her hair and started yelling like the time Sonny and Bean were slaughtered.
"NICOLE! I'm so sorry, if I'd known this was going to backfire, and you'd be like this, I-I would've never let you do this. Please--"
        She stopped when a soft sound left Nicole, like a weak moan of pain. I looked over at Bree, whose tears had covered her whole face. Her blades were still in her hands, which her knuckles were as white as her uniform shirt. I tried to say something, but it was as though a rope was tied around my throat.
        Then commander Erwin pushed passed everyone. Nobody saluted, only covered their faces, trying to hide the tears for a girl whom they've never talked too. Once he got through everyone, being followed by all the others, my legs caved. Once I hit the dirt, I curled up and started repeating the same phrase over and over.
"Please live. Please live. Please live. Please live. Please live. Please live. Please live..."
        Then the door opened and Eren, with Nicole in tow went inside, heading for the infirmary no doubt. I got from my position, only to see the faces of everyone. Armin was in complete shock, even Mikasa looked down. Jean looked as though he'd been stabbed, while Marco's eyes were everywhere, trying to avoid crying. Trying to avoid Bree's eyes no doubt.
        Hanji was on her knees still yelling angrily, while the commander looked like he lost his best friend. The corporal actually had emotion on his face, and a tear he was fighting in his eyes. I couldn't see them like this. It was Nicole's job to lighten everyone's mood with her dumb, but beautiful singing. I looked to Bree for help, but she seemed as down and out as me. Not thinking, one of Nicole's favorite songs came out of my lips as people began to shift uneasily.
"I love town world, I love a country girl, I love a Friday night, man, I love this life...! Sound of an old dirt road rolling through my mind, man I love, man I love LIFE!"
        Knowing that it really wouldn't do any good, I shut up and hid behind Bree, like I wasn't even there. The last thing I wanted was to be looked at by the corporal. Man, I wish I had guts like Nicole...

---Nicole's POV---
        All I saw were birds flying overhead as Eren in his titan body loomed in front of me. His happy emerald eyes, now filled with sudden hatred towards me. Hanji was nowhere, and it was up to me to stop him, no matter the cost.
I had once been asked, 'if it meant saving more lives than you know, would you give your heart, and all you are to humanity?' My answer: yes, I will slaughter every titan that crosses my path until no more walk this earth. I may be reckless, and sometimes impulsive, but this is what I need to do. I will stop you, even if it puts me in harms way.
Even though you are my friend, you have let yourself fall to the titan form you are. The corporal had warned me, no, ordered me not to do this, but I must. He doesn't realize it yet, but just because you are this titan in front of me, just because you lose yourself, doesn't mean you can't find yourself again. I'll make sure of that.
I shot awake to the sound of yelling outside my door. I was in the infirmary, with bandages wrapped around my neck and back. Did I really take that hard of a fall?
I jolted out of bed, still in my uniform, but tried not to disturb the person outside my door. It was a familiar chocolate haired friend of mine, who seemed to be yelling at himself. I know it wasn't your fault, Eren. I jumped up and tried to knock some sense into you, only to get hit by your fist for being too slow. It's...My...Fault...Not yours...

---Eren's POV---
        "I should've never done that to you. I should've known you'd get hurt. It's my fault! You were just doing your job, but I had to go and lose myself and try to kill you! Hanji wasn't there either, so what were you going to do? You tried to reason with me, only to get it through my skull as my fist hit you square in the back."
        No matter how many times I went over it in my head, nothing ever got through. She had tried to get it in my head but wasn't nearly fast enough. Now she was sitting in a chair, secretly listening to me yell at myself.
"You know, yelling at yourself behind a wall is still yelling. It's just the truth."
        I jumped only to see that evilly happy girl staring at me in concern. "If you want to talk--"
"N-no. It's okay Nicole. I'm fine."
"I find that as believable as Hanji in a dress. Now sit, dumbass."
"Aw, come now Nicole, you don't need too--"
"Eren, we need to talk about that, as well as something else. You may think it's your fault, but truthfully it was mine. I didn't follow protocol. I did what I felt was right at that moment. Please--"
"Nicole, I won't let you blame your--"
"Oi brat, get to your chores." The one and only corporal had to make an appearance. His eyes locked on me with some sort of anger. We stared at each other for a long moment, until a feminine voice broke it.
"You know what, I'll go. I got to get cleaned up and my horse needs a run," Nicole suddenly states and stands. "I don't want to get in the middle of your little fighting either. Its obvious you both want to chat, so I'll be off."
She starts walking out when Levi's hand grabs hers. She stares daggers at him, and yanks free only to nearly fall flat against the wall from the pain of the gashes on her back. Both of us took a step toward her, only for Bree and Elizabeth walk down the hall. They stop dead to see us walking towards their beloved friend.
        Elizabeth jumps and runs to her rescue, only to get stopped by Bree as she whispers something in her ear. And evil grin appears on both their faces as they turn on their heels and leg it. Fear and anger was written on her face as her very angry voice pounded through the hall. "GET BACK HERE! BOTH OF YOU!!"
She turns to face us, those blue-ish brown eyes, now filled with all sorts of mixed emotions, were locking with both of ours.
"I need some space. I just can't take it anymore."  Her face was unnaturally pale, and it was as if no heat was coming from her. She stood firm, but it seemed like she would fall over any second.
And with that, she was just gone. Her hair falling behind her, body still tense from the wounds. She still had her bloody uniform on, before I could run after her, the very pissed corporal caught my attention.
"What. The. Hell. Happened?"
"I lost myself. She tried to talk to me, and all I did was try and kill her."
"So, it's your fault then?" His grey eyes narrowed on me as if I'd turned into a titan without permission.
"Y-yes sir. It was entirely my fault. I lost myself, and she got stuck in the crossfire."
"Jaeger, I'll say this once and only once. Stay away from her."
"S-sir?!"
"You heard me. I never want to see you near her again."
"You may be the corporal, but you have no control over her. If she wants to be around me, she can."
"How dare you think--"
"That is enough. I'm gone for three minutes, and you're at eachother's throats?!" It was Nicole. She was back in a clean uniform and her gear was newly polished.
"N-Nicole! It's not--"
"I don't care anymore. Just know, if I see anymore bickering, you'll both regret every second of it. I mean it." Her words were like ice, no feeling at all.
"But, I hope you know I'll be with the Special Operations Squad for this next mission, as well as Bree and Ellie (That was her nickname). Erwin thought I had enough skill, as well as to keep you two from killing each other beforehand. Bree and Ellie are only coming to make sure I don't get hurt like that again."
"And when was this?"
"About three minutes ago. Told me that this would decide Eren's fate, as well as find a unknown that you superiors have been after. Mind filling me in one that?"
"Tch, I knew he'd let it slide to you. Oh well, but you know we have cadets to train tomorrow, yes?"
"Yes," She rolled her eyes, and propped herself against the wall, being cautious with her back. "I'm fully aware of their presence in this mission. I'm also fully aware that this won't be an easy plan to follow. Shiganshina is pretty far from here, not to mention there has been a spike in titan spottings in the south."
Then with her statement said, she jumps up and walks off. This was going to be a rough month. Nicole is pissed with us, the corporal is pissed with me, and everyone else is still freaking out about what happened two hours ago.