Lizzy hadn’t been worried in the slightest. Charlotte often left and didn’t come back until a couple of nights later. There had once been a time when she had been gone for a week and came back without any visible wounds. But when Charlotte came into the musty house drenched in blood and looked worse for wear, Lizzy rushed forward.

“Ne-san… ne-san… ne-san!” Charlotte yelled, trying to calm her sister down.

Lizzy’s hands were shaking as they hovered over the wound on her sister’s head, her breathing turning raspy and her mouth opening and closing like a fish. Charlotte was surprised at how shocked Lizzy was and grasped her hand tightly. She forced her to meet her gaze and after a stern stare, Charlotte’s face broke into a grin.

“I’m fine,” Charlotte said firmly.

Lizzy sagged in relief and exasperation.

“Heehee,” Charlotte beamed.

Lizzy cracked a smirk and shoved her imoto playfully.

“Hey,” Charlotte said, striping her clothes off. “Play for me today.”

Lizzy tensed and bit her bottom lip like she always does when she’s unsure of herself. Charlotte grabbed a bucket and a fresh pair of clothes, a towel tied around her. When she saw the look on her sister’s face she clapped her hands together like she was praying and bowed her head.

“Please, ne-san,” she begged. “I haven’t heard you play for so long.”

Lizzy sighed and ran a hand through her hair. Charlotte took that as a yes and brightened.

“Arigatou!” she sprinted to the back door. “Be right back.”

Charlotte had found the underground spring a year ago when she had been exploring the underground. It wasn’t a particularly large waterfall, but it was spacious enough for a kid her size to fit and get a good wash down. This was what she did after washing most of the blood away with her bucket. Sitting on an eroded smooth stone underneath the shower of water butt naked with her towel thrown to the side and the bucket collecting small trickles of water from a little stream a few inches away.

Charlotte winced as she ran a hand through her hair, trying to speed the process up. She looked at her fingers and saw that they looked almost gruesome. She tsked. She won’t be able to work for a while. A few more minutes passed and Charlotte was beginning to get cold. Heaving herself up, she dried herself off with her towel, clothed herself, and set to work scrubbing the dried blood out of her clothes.

While she was scouring the shirt, crouched down at the base of the river and her towel around her neck, she thought back to Kenny and his kids.

What the hell were they going to do with 3D gear? Are they preparing for when the Titans broke through the wall?

Charlotte scoffed. “Right, like a titan could ever reach Wall Sina.”

She beat the shirt with a stout bat and breathed onto her fingers as the chill was getting to her muscles. A tinge of pain and the bat flew out of her hand. She cradled her shoulder and closed her eyes, waiting for the pain to subside. Exhaling slowly, an image of that black haired, hormonal teenager flashed through her mind. A tick mark appeared on her head and decided that her shirt wasn’t getting any cleaner. She wringed it out and snapped it to let the excess water fly out. Storing the small bat like object beneath a rock to be used later, Charlotte picked up the bucket—now filled to the brim of water— and headed back to her house.

Careful not to let the water slosh around, Charlotte walked slowly back. She had bandaged her head like she had before and it also worked to keep her bangs out of her face. She found it quite comfortable. She lifted a side of the towel and wiped the bottom of her nose where some dew drops had accumulated. Her breath was visible every time she let out air and her damp hair was threatening to freeze with frost.

She dumped the water into a barrel and rubbed her frozen hands to keep the blood circulating. She heard a noise and ran to the back door and barged into the room. Her sister was playing a beautiful violin, glistening a warm brown and a brilliant black, almost glowing like it was happy to be played again. But nothing was as beautiful as the person playing the instrument.

Charlotte’s cheeks hurt as her mouth spread into a genuine smile. Lizzy had her eyes closed and was unaware that Charlotte had joined her again. She was joining the music. Every note, every string. It was sucking her in, wrapping its tender arms around her, keeping her safe. Charlotte stared. She hadn’t missed the sound of the violin, although it was stunning, what she was truly asking for when she insisted that Lizzy take up the instrument again was for her ne-san to be happy again.

She could never get tired of how her face lit up and how all the stress dissipated as her hands moved gracefully, pulling and sliding the bow through the strings.  

Lizzy was black-haired, it parted in the middle and she had bangs on either side. Freckles sprinkled over the apples of her cheeks and her big almond eyes filled with kindness and deep compassion. She was around twenty, neither of them knew their exact ages, but they at least knew they had a seven year difference. A scar adorned her right cheek and her hands were dry and rough, emblems of a hard working author and a dedicated musician.

Charlotte huffed out an exhilarated breath and sprinted to the room she and her sister shared. Tearing open a loose floorboard, she grabbed her own possession and ran to join her sister. Lizzy was waiting patiently, she chuckled at the childish anticipation that she hadn’t seen in her sister in so long.

Ready? Lizzy mouthed.

Charlotte nodded enthusiastically and brought the wind instrument up to her mouth.

The tones of the ocarina began the song, the violin joining in gracefully after a few notes.

Afterwards, at a hearty dinner of fruits and vegetables, Charlotte brought out the money and told her sister about how her book was going to be published. The house was the hearth of the underground that night

_

Hanji was suddenly distracted by something and Charles gave her a questioning look. Levi had followed the crystallized girl underground and Erwin had been taken to interrogation, leaving her and Hanji to take care of the problems in that area.

“What is it, Hanji?” Charles asked.

“Mikasa?” she muttered, then her eyes widened, her mouth hanging open.

“Hey?!” a soldier yelled fear and uncertainty causing it to crack.

Another pointed a shaking hand. “Isn’t that—“

Charles whipped around and she took a step back, taking a rattling breath.

“A titan?!” a soldier screamed. “Why’s there a titan inside the wall?”

“Impossible…” Charles whispered under her breath.

A million thoughts ran through her head. The first and the last echoing through her head. Shit and our ancestors have a lot of explaining to do.

“Hanji-san!” a Scouting Legion soldier jogged over. “Your orders!?”

Charles watched Hanji staring at the titan in pure horror, seeing the calculations and the educational assumptions pass through her eyes. When she was about to shake her companion out of her reverie, Charles was shoved aside by an old man in an ostentatious robe. He slammed a hand on Hanji’s shoulder and Hanji turned to confront him, clearly shocked.

“Pastor Nick?” Hanji said, dazed.

The Pastor panted. “Do not let… do not let daylight shine on that titan.”

Charles’ eyes narrowed.

“You must block the light with something… anything.”

“Eh?” Hanji couldn’t grasp what he was saying.

“You have got to hurry!” the Pastor almost pleaded.

Charles let her emotions out and all eyes were drawn to her like a gravitational pull. She drew in a deep breath and swung her arm out.

“Squads 12 and 14 get a large tarp from the store houses and squads 7 and 10 get me some rope! Mikasa!” Charles’ voice thundered and Mikasa’s eyes landed on the woman. “Get away from there! Your scent will only aggravate it further!”

She saw Mikasa fly down to join Eren on the ground and grabbed the rope and the tarp from the approaching men. Charlotte used her teeth and tied the rope to the sides and corners of the tarp swiftly. She was only half aware that Hanji had broken out of her overall shock and began yelling out her own orders.

Soon after, they were standing on the wall, the tarp successfully blocking the sun from the titan.

“Charles,” Hanji said.

Charles looked over at her, pausing in her un-relentless glowering at the Pastor. Charles noticed an emotion in her friend’s eyes that she had never seen before.

“Go inform Erwin about this,” Hanji ordered.

“Understood,” Charles saluted. Technically speaking, she was of a lower rank than Hanji, even if they never acted like subordinate and superior that often.

“But,” Charles reached down and grabbed both of Hanji’s hands. Hanji’s lips parted in surprise. “Don’t forget.”

Hanji gave her a confused look. Charles gave her a bright closed eyed grin and Hanji didn’t know how to react.

“You’re a human,” Charles said, letting go of Hanji’s hands.

Hanji couldn’t form words and she lost her chance to say anything when Charles jumped off the wall and using her 3D gear flew toward the city.

Hanji closed her mouth and shook her head. She smirked. So, what you’re implying is that it’s okay to be scared? It’s because I’m human that I’m scared? You sensitive little brat.

_

Three Years After the Night Charles and Levi Officially Met

Charlotte was strolling through the underground. The bag of food slung over her shoulder like any other day. She had acquired a cleaner shirt and she had grown a couple of inches. They, as in her and her sister, were still living in the underground because they needed to save enough money to buy a house aboveground. And that goal wasn’t far off. Lizzy’s book was steadily getting more attention and profits were slowly but surely coming in.

She had once caught their publisher ripping them off and gave him a good beating to make a point. She was just lucky that the man hadn’t called the Military Police on her.

That day, she had a particular spring in her step. She had a specific fruit in her hands that she had been waiting for the market to occupy for as long as her patience could handle. She smiled down at the golden apple in complete joy. Lizzy would be so happy.

Somebody bumped into her and a frightening moment passed when she fumbled with the yellow apple. She sighed when it was safe and tightly held in her hands. She frowned down at it. It had cost so much that if that one got ruined, she would leave a huge dent in their house savings if she were to buy another to replace it.

“Oi, brat.”

Charlotte’s eyes enlarged and she snapped around. She had to look up to see into those steely grey eyes and she noticed that the teen had grown quite a lot in size but was still below average for a man his age. She stumbled backward and held the apple close to her chest to protect it.

Levi’s eyes went to the apple and then to her face uncaringly. “It’s been a while.”

Charlotte looked at him…. Staring… and then, suddenly… sighed, making a tick mark appear on Levi’s forehead.

“Don’t look at me and sigh!” Levi snarled.

Charlotte glanced at him. “I was hoping I’d never be cursed to see your face ever again but I guess the universe just hates me.”

Levi rolled his eyes. Charlotte glared at him.

“You’re not here to take my apple are you?”

“I couldn’t care less about your apple,” Levi said, looking around. “I’ve been separated from my friends and I just happened to stumble into you looking for them.”

Charlotte blinked.

“What?” he hissed.

“Never thought you’d be a person to consider anybody friends. Or have anybody to call friends for that matter.”

Levi didn’t bother responding, still searching.

Charlotte saw that he was wearing the 3D gear that she had stolen for them years back and felt a bit angered. She had heard the rumors, constantly, to her annoyance. Kenny had left a while back and the three kids had turned into the flying thugs of the underground, having military police on their trail almost every day. Whenever that would happen and Charlotte found herself unfortunately outside at that moment, she would avert her eyes and pretend they didn’t exist. Oh, the irony.

The fact was, she didn’t like being the person who had assisted them in acquiring the special equipment. It irritated her beyond belief.

Charlotte mentally sighed, beginning to walk away. A hand landed on her shoulder.

“Wait—“

She slapped it off and jumped back to create some space between him and her. He had touched her on her left shoulder, the one he had essentially mutilated on that night. Seeing the spark of animalistic instinct to defend, Levi lowered his hand and changed gears.

“The truth is, we were looking for you,” Levi said. “We wanted you to join us—“

“Not interested,” Charles said immediately.

Levi’s mouth creased into a frown, his eyes landed on her shoulder and she immediately shifted her position. “You’re scared of me.”

It wasn’t a question and Charlotte's eyes twitched at the words that she knew only to be true.

“Don’t be ridiculous and come closer,” Levi said, waving his hand in a ‘come here’ motion.

“Like hell!” Charles yelled comically.

There was a shout and the whizz of gas and Charlotte glanced behind her and didn’t notice that Levi took two long strides closer to her. He picked her up bridle style in one smooth motion.

“Eh..?” Charlotte said, her face in complete distress as she realized her predicament.

“Hold on unless you want to die,” Levi said curtly and his wires flew out.

“EH?!” Charlotte shouted as they flew into the air. “Let me go, bastard!”

She heard the smirk in his voice. “You sure you want me to do that?”

Charlotte slowly looked down to see them at least a hundred feet up in the air. She shrieked and wrapped her arms around his neck. Levi choked.

“You’re cutting off my oxygen,” he said hoarsely.

“Good! Crawl into a hole and die!”

“I die, you die.”

Charlotte hesitated before loosening her hold.

“For a guy, you’re really meek,” Levi said under his breath.

“Shut it.”

Slowly, they lost the military police and Levi landed on a rooftop. Charlotte jumped out of his arms and stumbled back, giving him a disgusted glare.

“Don’t tell me you swing that way,” she prompted.

“No way in hell,” Levi said passively. “I just took advantage of the situation.”

“Well now I feel even more violated. Don’t rape me please,” Charlotte pleaded unconvincingly, preoccupied with looking around. “Where in titan’s ass are we?”

“Short term memory much?”

“Not as short as you.”

Levi glared icily.

Charles lifted his hands up in surrender. “Come on. You set yourself up for that one.”

“You’re shorter,” Levi pointed out.

“Hey, I’m younger. I haven’t had my growth spurt yet.”

Levi ignored him. “This is my house. Come inside.”

“Why should I?” Charlotte’s eyes blazed.

Levi held out a hand and Charlotte’s eyes widened. She searched her pockets and confirmed that what was in that jerk’s hand was her own golden apple. She made a snatch for it but Levi moved at the last second.

“Give it back!” Charles said, her face squished as Levi kept her at bay with his palm.

“Only if you agree to come inside and talk, brat.”

“Because calling me a brat will convince me!”

Charlotte tried again and again to get the apple but every time she ended up either on the ground or shoved lightly away. Levi used all her movements and strength to his advantage. Pushing slightly to divert her course or tripping her when her stance was just right.

The only reason Charles gave up was when she was dangerously close to the edge of the roof and was beginning to fall backwards when Levi grabbed hold of the front of her shirt. He had an infuriatingly smug look on his face. He raised the apple and shook it mockingly.

“You coming in?” he asked, still holding her off the edge of the roof.

Charlotte gritted her teeth. Levi frowned again.

“Are you seriously still being stubborn?”

Charlotte didn’t speak, didn’t meet his eyes. Levi jerked her backwards and she clung to his arm to keep from falling. When she realized it had only been a jest, she glowered at the guy.

He arched an eyebrow.

“Fine,” Charlotte hissed through her teeth.

Levi shoved her back on the roof and Charlotte smoothed out the wrinkles his grip had created on her shirt. Levi was amused by the pout he was wearing.

Go and get buried in stuffed bunnies, bastard. Charlotte thought, sticking out her tongue when he had turned around.