Author's note~ sorry this took so long to post but I'm back to posting hope you enjoy~ TJ

When I woke up the next day to silence I was a little concerned. The last time we had done one of these missions the change was instant and there were celebrations ringing through these halls, but today... nothing but a chilling silence. "Did we mess something up?" I asked myself.

"I don't know," Levi mumbled. He was already awake sitting up. "I woke up an hour ago and wanted to go see why it was so quiet but I was just hoping no one was awake yet. I haven't brought myself to check." His voice slowly drifted off as he looked towards the door.

"Well let's go check together," I said standing up and reaching my hand out, and helping him off the bed.

I was worried that we would hear nothing but bad news, but whether there is good news, bad news, or no news waiting for us we have to hear it eventually. I took a deep calming breath and I could hear Levi do the same as we walked out of our room and to the common area.

People were just sitting around quietly almost as if they were waiting. I saw Pixis sitting at a table and decided he might be the best person to ask to figure out what is going on.

"So?" I asked getting his attention, "What happened?"

"Well," he sighed. Oh, great bad news. "We don't know yet." Oh... not bad news.

"Why?" That's quite confusing normally we would know something by now.

"Molbit, and mom haven't come back yet with the information. They are fine they've been doing normal check-ins so they are okay, but apparently, they are having trouble gathering the information," he explained. I'm glad he clarified that they were okay because before he did I felt my heart drop and I could tell Levi was also scared until he said that.

"Okay, so that's why everyone looks like they're waiting," I said mostly to myself.

"Auruo is also trying to get in touch with some other groups to get some information but so far we don't know enough to brief anyone. It's not as simple as grabbing a newspaper this time apparently."

"Alright, well I guess we'll just sit and wait too," I said excusing us and heading over to take a seat at a nearby table. I saw Jean and Marco head in and we flagged them down and had them sit down with us. We explained what Pixis had told us to fill them in. We were just sitting and waiting.

"Patience isn't my strong suit," Jean groaned.

"We know," I sighed. "Believe me it isn't mine either, but what other choice do we have?" I asked. I saw a devious smile pop onto his face and leaned in so he could whisper to me.

Levi smacked him upside the head and I backed up not wanting to get whacked too. "Knock it off you two that's a dumb idea and you will get caught." Levi rolled his eyes before looking at Marco.

Jean's eyes begged him not to rat him out but Levi ignored him. "Your dumbass boyfriend was about to convince my dumbass boyfriend to sneak out with him and gather the information themselves.

Marco raised an eyebrow and looked at Jean. "Can you not be reckless and stupid for five minutes," Marco rolled his eyes scolding him.

"Sorry, I'll behave," he mumbled, rubbing the back of his head.

"As for you," Levi said, whacking me upside the head.

"What did I do?" I asked, rubbing at the back of my head.

"You encouraged him," he said, raising an eyebrow knowing that I was probably going to agree to his plan.

I just folded my arms and pouted before glaring at Jean. "You got me in trouble," I whispered.

"Your boyfriend ratted me out to my boyfriend shit head," he whispered back.

Levi and Marco just rolled their eyes at our horrible whispering. I'm surprised they didn't stop us from bitching at each other for the next hour, then again they probably enjoyed the entertainment.

After Mom, Molbit, and Auruo had come back with their information everyone's eyes were on them as they pulled Pixis out of the room. They delivered the information to him so he could deliver it to the rest of us. We knew we would have to wait so they could get any duplicate data sorted out as well as any outliers.

The next thirty minutes were agonizing; everyone went dead silent and just stared at the door waiting for Pixis to return. "No matter what news comes from this it will all be okay," Levi whispered to me. I guess he felt how nervous I was. I couldn't help but notice that he also sounded like he was trying to convince himself.

The second Pixis walked in everyone's eyes perked up. I could see everyone nervously shifting around as they sat up. "Okay, sorry that took so long," Pixis said walking in and standing towards the middle of the room so everyone could hear him. "So the reason it took so long to get this information was because they were censoring the media. A lot of different newspapers or even journalists have been told they aren't allowed to report on it, and if they are they are to say that the cursed have begun brainwashing people and to pay no mind to the outburst."

Does that mean they are catching on or are they just trying to cover their own ass? I looked at Levi who just gave me a shrug. Hopefully, Pixis can answer that.

"Fortunately for us, most people don't believe them especially not after her speech. The fact that it was televised made it spread like wildfire. Bringing up the fact that people are going missing has caused more riots to break out but these riots are different. Any person who seems along is instantly pulled into a group; small groups of people are being pulled into bigger groups. When guards start to try and pull people out they all link arms and the huge groups will circle around them to make sure no one can get dragged out. They are learning. People have started making wooden shields and standing on the outer edges to make sure that the people behind them are safe."

"Oh I forgot to add something," mom said looking over at Pixis who nodded and let her continue. "Since people who wear masks are seen to be exiles the rioters have started to wear them so no one knows who is an exile and who is just a civilian." She said happily before sitting back down and letting Pixis continue.

"Despite this, some more people have gone missing. Mostly prominent people who have been leading the riots, a few have died in "accidental" circumstances," he sighed. "However, some more people in the government have started speaking out after seeing the two speak out they have resigned and come forward some of them even joining the movement."

I looked to Levi with one thought in my head. We need to get our story out there. There is no doubt in my mind that this will fuel the fire and bring more people to our side.

"We will talk about this later," Levi whispered before looking back to Pixis. Something's off. He knows something. The way he dismissed that, he wouldn't even look me in the eyes. What's going on. He just gestured for me to look back at Pixis.

Pixis finished going over some more of the smaller stuff, but I found it harder to pay attention. My eyes kept looking back at Levi who refused to look me in the eyes.

When Pixis finished he looked towards me and Levi. I watched as Levi made a face at him before he patted me on the shoulder and started walking. I got up and followed him. Levi led me into Pixis's office and we took a seat. Before I could ask him what the hell was going on Pixis came in.

"It's time," Levi said looking at Pixis.

"Time for what?" I asked looking between the two. Usually, Levi and I leave everyone out of our silent conversations, but it feels so weird being on the other side of that. Is this how everyone else feels when we do this?

"Well," Pixis said sitting down, "I thought I would have more time before doing this," he cleared his throat. "About your plan."

"If you're going to try and talk me out of it-."

"Not at all," he cut me off. "Actually I think you're right, I think the only way for them to truly sympathize with us is that they need to humanize us first, however, I did want to change the plan a little."

"How so?" I couldn't help but be skeptical about this. They were acting very suspicious.

"Well, hear me out." That's never a good sign. That means I'm going to say something you don't like. That's what I say before I propose a reckless plan. "Levi and I were talking-."

"Don't bring me into this," he mumbled. Great, it really is something bad. Levi doesn't want me to be mad at him.

"We decided that I should be the one to tell them my story, and everyone else's who are comfortable with me telling them."

"So why do you get to-."

"Eren," Levi cut me off. "He won't be going alone," he said, putting a hand on my shoulder. "We will be going with him, but I agreed with him because if you think of it his story is more convincing. People are sappy for a hero story and Pixis's story fits that. Took in all of his students like his own and protected them for years keeping them safe. They would eat that shit up."

I sat back and looked between the two of them. "But that's exactly why Pixis can't go. We aren't sure if this is a trap or not. If we lose Pixis, if this whole team loses Pixis we will crumble."

"No, they would be fine," Pixis said, clearing his throat getting our attention, "I would make sure Shadis and Nanaba are more than ready to take over."

"You've talked to them?" I asked.

"Not yet."

Levi's face went pale and he sat back in the chair. "What's wrong?" I asked.

His eyes shot back up to us, "no one is allowed to tell mom what we are doing."

My eyes went wide as I realized. This is practically a suicide mission. Mom would flip shit if she found out we were planning this let alone talking about us all dying. "Agreed," I said quietly.

Pixis looked down at the desk obviously he felt conflicted about this but he too quietly mumbled, "agreed." we all sat back for a moment before Pixis spoke back up. "Well, I think the only people we can tell about this are Shadis and Nanaba."

"Erwin and Hanji too," Levi said quickly. "We need someone to portal us in and out, and if shit goes sideways we need our medic."

"Fair enough," PIxis nodded.

"Everyone else is to be left in the dark. Agreed?"

"Agreed." They both replied.