Carmen had been right, news did spread like wild fire, and political viewpoints differed depending on the whereabouts of civilians. Those in Sina all opposed keeping Eren Yeager, the titan, alive. However, people who had to evacuate their homes, all wanted him on their side, finding new hope in the strangest places. But at least things weren't violent, not yet.

"I have news from Captain Levi." Eld alerted the squad, who were idly sitting down and waiting for orders. "Eren Yeager has successfully been granted permission to join the special operations squad, starting immediately. Pack your things and get ready to move to a new location. Once packed, we'll regroup and transfer the titan to our new base. See to my horse." Eld read from the letter.

"That's bullshit! It took us months to get into Levi squad, and he does it in a few hours!" Oruo called out. "No good green horn."

"Yeah, took us a whole damn year." Gunther agreed. "I get he's a titan, but maybe he should join a lower ranked squad for newbies."

"That's not the case." Carmen interjected. "Think about it, he's a fucking titan. Therefore, if he transforms and tries to kill us, we'll be the most capable of taking him down."

"When you put it like that, it's a lot of pressure." Petra swirled her hair with her fingers, clearly nervous.

"Not really, we're trained for this." The assassin countered, easing the minds of her comrades. "Best get packed, I'm sure you're all eager to meet the kid."

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"An architectural marvel, don't you agree?" Oruo asked Eren, he'd been questioning and annoying him ever since the two met. Potentially because he was the youngest in the squad and needed to direct his anger somewhere. Plus, it helped reinforce his intellectual image that he was exactly like Captain Levi. "A proper royal residence once upon a time, and more recently, our headquarters. Fancy, yes, but absurdly unpractical once the scouts got into business. Much too far removed from either river or wall. This was the early days for us, you understand, hope soured high. Now, this opulent bobble is little more than a holding cell, the place where we store our newest toy." Oruo taunted, but Eren didn't find him as interesting as he thought, instead, the boy's eyes trailed to each of his guards. Specifically Captain Levi.

"Do not be deceived, green horn." Oruo got close to him.

"Excuse me?" Eren asked.

"Don't be expecting the royal treatment. Whether you're titan or human, don't imagine for a second we all share the good captains enthusiasm- augh!" Suddenly, the blonde scout bit his tongue and screamed in pain.

"You brought that upon yourself." Carmen said to him when the others trailed further ahead.

"It matters not, the impression I left was sure to differentiate my social status in the group." Oruo smiled.

"I'm sure it did. Instead of seeing you as a capable soldier, we now think you're a clumsy liability. Job well done." Carmen returned, though her jokes were still stiff. "A joke." Even if it sounded like a complete insult.

"It's what you get for flapping your jowls on horseback." Petra added to his humiliation.

"The rookie needed to know his place." Oruo replied. "I was just explaining that first impressions are important."

"Well, you certainly made an impression on him. No question there."

"Indeed so, our exchange went exactly as planned."

"What um, what happened to you, you never used to talk like this?" The strawberry blonde questioned, but Carmen already had her theories.

"He's trying to sound like Captain Levi, however, your terminology is far too complex. And you talk too much for your own good." The assassin summed up.

"You and Levi couldn't be less alike if you'd been born a separate species." Petra agreed.

"Hah, if you intend to hound me like a wife, Petra dear, there's rather more of me you need to be aquainted with before laying claim to the privilege." Oruo teased, not daring to mention Carmen, he'd made that mistake before, barely making it out with a black eye.

"You wish. I would tell you to bite your tongue, but you've got that covered. Next time, I hope you bleed out." Petra laughed at him.

"Ohohoho, me thinks the lady doth protest too much." The man smirked, irritating both the women beside him.

"If you keep talking to me like that, I'm going to show you what protest actually looks like." Petra threatened. "You'll help me, right?" She turned to Carmen, who shook her head.

"You can take him." Carmen assured and then abruptly turned around. Staring right back at her with a flustered gaze was Eren, she knew she was being watched, but he could have at least had the decency to make it less obvious he was staring. But ultimately, she knew she wasn't the only one his eyes had been attached to, he was analysing everyone, even Levi. He gathered intel on them all, but for what?

"This place is gone to hell." Gunther looked at the old castle.

"Yeah, it's been abandoned for years, I bet the insides are shambles." Eld agreed, unaware that Levi was creeping up behind him.

"In which case, we have a problem, don't we." Levi glared at the mess. "Best get a broom and get to work."

And just like that, the squad were cleaning. Again. It was becoming a habit, every new place they lived, Levi squad was always the ones nominated to clean, Carmen was sure that it was Levi's doing, he seemed like the type to be untrusting of others cleaning. Even though it was tiring, the group had found their strategy. Petra was on sweeping duty, Oruo and Levi dusted, Eld and Gunther focused on the exterior. Which left Carmen with the joy of cleaning the windows, inside and out. She couldn't complain though, because she enjoyed taking in the view whenever she cleaned, it was therapeutic.

When everyone had completed their own tasks, the squad gathered in the dining hall. It was getting late, and Petra had offered to make everyone tea, so they each accepted. But, their silence was a lot more profound than usual, with Eren around no one wanted to dive directly into their usual chitchat. Instead, they wanted to make an impression that would outshine Oruo's.

"It's safe to assume our standing orders will stretch into next week. Word through the grapevine is that we're gearing up for a big mission. Month from now." Eld explained. "One where a bunch of wet-behind-the-ears graduated are supposed to be our main backup."

"That can't be right, why do that?" Gunther asked. "The cadets have been through enough with the last titan attack, why supplement them to that kind of danger again?"

"You have to remember how many of those runts peed themselves." Oruo snickered, forgetting his first expedition, but Carmen kept quiet for now, she'd bring it up a better time.

"That can't be right." Petra wondered.

"There's probably a reason, we just can't see it yet." Carmen nodded her head, she tried to figure it out, but couldn't get there.

"Planning isn't my responsibility. But, it is Erwin's, you can bet that the man's obsessed over every angle." Levi stated.

"That's a truth. Especially given how unique the situation is. Consider how many people died on the path to taking back wall Maria." Eld began, but the assassin was quick to correct him.

"They didn't just die, they were sacrificed. Too many people, too little resources. Something had to give, and the government made their choice." She sipped her tea, not feeling the way it slightly burnt her tongue.

"Hm." Eld nodded. "Then help comes, in a way that we're not entirely sure how to deal with." He looked at Eren. "Most of us still find it hard to believe, so how does it work? This whole turing into a titan trick, really."

"Wish I could tell you, but the fact is, my memory's not clear. It's kinda like being in a trance. I do know the trigger seems to be hurting myself in some way, like biting my hand." Eren answered.

"You're not going to get anything out of him, apart from what the scribblers layer out in the report. Huh, not that you know who, won't have a go at it." Levi sipped his tea. "You'll be lucky to come out of it alive if that one lays into you. Course, it's only a matter of time."

"Who are you talking about!?" Eren was quick to ask, until a loud bang was heard against the door, followed by an 'ouch'.

Hange.

Carmen hadn't exactly warmed up to them, at all, but she did gain a slight tolerance, despite the constant physical contact they tried to initiate, their loudness, their enthusiasm, their lack of care, their... it didn't matter, there was a lot of qualities that Carmen wasn't fond of. But, she could tolerate them.

"I'm so sorry." Hange apologised as they entered the room. "Good evening Levi squad! How is castle life treating everyone?"

"You're too early." Levi replied, something Carmen could agree on, they could at least have waited for her to leave.

"Am I? Suppose I couldn't help myself." Hange reasoned.

"Section commander Hange?"

"Hello Eren, in the event you haven't pieced together, it's my job to spearhead the scouts research efforts. Easily put, I poke and prod our captured titan specimens. I'd very much like your help." Hange rambled on, Carmen had to get out of there, and fast.

"In what way? What would I have to do?" The titan shifter tilted his head.

"Join me of course! On a quest of scientific discovery!"

"Well, uh? I would, but I'm afraid it's not up to me. I'm under close restrictions by order of the higher ups."

"Levi, what's on the docket for him tomorrow?"

"Clearing out all the weeds." The captain said.

"Excellent. It's settled. Young man, tomorrow will be grand."

"Okay, but uh, what exactly will I be doing? Are you running experiments or something?"

"Idiot, shut up." Oruo warned, but Eren payed no notice, so everyone chugged the rest of their beverage, preparing to leave.

"Ah, I knew it, you possess a curious mind, don't you?"

As soon as Hange initiated that topic, everyone got to their feet. Like hell were they going to sit through another one of those scientific explanations, it was draining enough the first time. Carmen was lucky that she was trained to act in situations like that, because she couldn't feel her eyes get dry, she simply fell asleep with her eyes open, a gift few possessed.