Kaya hadn't stopped since she had begun working with the engineers - they needed her inhuman strength to move wings and all heavy materials. Her Kagune also came in handy when lifting some of the workers up to reach area's they would usually need ladders for. On the whole, they were initially scared to utilise her ability, but eventually loosened up

"Can you pass that fuel tank over?" One of the mechanics asked, preparing to add the finishing touches to the flying boat.

"Got it." Kaya replied and she walked over and picked it up with her bare hands. On a normal occasion, she would just use her Kagune, but it's sharp edges could possible destroy the metal and even cause them to lose the fuel. Hence, the ghoul took precautions. "Where'd you want it?" She questioned the man.

"Just hold it under the wing." He ordered as he began to forge it with the plane.

Kaya followed the commands of the mechanics, knowing that she would eventually have to regroup with the scouts and form a plan. As soon as she had competed her task, she abandoned her post and put her ODM gear back on. It felt natural and in place, in a way, Kaya felt lost without the familiarity of it.

"Kaya." Hange approached her, linking their arm in hers, being too cheerful for Kaya's liking.

"Hange?" The ghoul tilted her head as she was ushered away. "What's up?" She wondered, compliantly being dragged towards an unknown destination.

Hange simply hummed, continuing to lead the Lieutenant. "He's so stubborn, I don't know how you deal with it." They stated, coming to a stop behind some of the storage crates. "Won't let me help him even though he knows he needs it."

The ghoul let her eyes travel to the man sat on the crates, his hands holding his ODM straps and slightly trembling. Sighing, she knelt down and started to tie them. She couldn't help but respect how hard he was trying to prove he was well enough to fight, but still, he could always have asked her.

"I don't need help." Levi scoffed, though he didn't attempt to stop her from completing the buckles and straps. "I was doing just fine."

The ghoul would have normally laughed, but given the severity of the situation, she simply hummed. "I know." She acknowledged as she finished the last strap. "I just couldn't keep my hands off you." She chuckled. "You always do look good in your scouts uniform, shame you don't have a cape with you."

Hange laughed awkwardly watching the interaction. "Usually I'd leave you to it, but we're on a tight schedule." They commented, ruining the moment. Kaya looked at them and smiled, getting back to her feet before offering her hand to Levi. The captain looked at the offering and hesitated.

"Come on, don't you want to hold your future wife's hand?" She teased, despite her obvious flirtatious tone, he reluctantly grabbed her hand and allowed her to help him once again. "Oh, don't look at me like that. You know you love me."

"Must be Stockholm syndrome." He replied jokingly, Kaya smirked, still holding onto his injured hands gently. She knew her own strength, and although she liked to display it, she knew he was injured.

"Yeah yeah. Just wait until we retire, you'll never get rid of me."

"How will I cope?"

"You're humanities strongest, you'll find a way."

Hange's eye quickly shot from Kaya to Levi as they playfully bickered, they knew it was their way of calming each other down, however, Kaya's words stuck out. The commander knew that their friends were in love with one another, and they had been witness to them acting as a couple before. Yet, seeing it in such dire conditions made them realise something.

"Future wife?" Hange interrupted, causing the two to look at them confused. Truth be told, they hadn't meant to let it slip, Hange just happened to be there. "Levi, did you... no, it must have been Kaya." They thought about it for a while, eventually giving in and asking. "Which one of you proposed?"

Smiling, Kaya pointed at an annoyed Levi, they were bound to receive an array of questions, so she made sure he'd get to brute of them. "Levi." She informed, expecting to get asked questions that never arrived.

Instead, Hange wiped a tear from their eye and smiled. "I'm glad." They replied, heart beginning to race. Kaya could tell something was off, she just couldn't put her finger on it.

"Why the tears?" Levi asked, seeing the commander dab their eye again.

"Oh, I'm just thinking." They brushed off, heart quickening - indicating a lie. Gently, the ghoul squeezed Levi's hand, silently implying that something was definitely wrong.

"You know you can tell us anything, right?" Kaya pried, trying to unravel the commanders facade. "We're friends."

Slowly, realising that they couldn't hide much from Kaya, Hange answered. "Do you think that our comrades are watching over us? Do you think they'd be proud of what we're doing?"

Levi sighed, he'd heard that speech before, and he didn't like the ending. "Enough of that talk, you're starting to sound just like him." He scolded, remembering a conversation he didn't enjoy. It always made his mind wander back to the corpses that the survey corps racked up, there were too many of them to count.

"I don't think everyone's going to survive this time." They said, voice tainted with sadness. "I don't think I'm going to..." Trailing off, the two knew what they were referring to.

"Don't think that way." The ghoul interrupted, not wanting Hange's words to resemble the truth. "You're going to make it back, you always do-" Kaya's words drowned out as she felt something, it was a familiar feeling under her feet. Ever so slightly, the ground shook in rhythmic patterns, like the pitter-patter of raindrops on a rooftop. Something was definitely wrong.

"You okay?" Levi noticed her distraction, causing the ghoul to finally piece the puzzle together.

"Shit." Her eyes widened quickly, everyone could tell she was overly panicked. "The rumbling, it's here!" She informed them, watching everyone's determined faces cloud with fear.

Hange was first to move, their position of commander meant that they had to stay calm and collected - no matter what. Quickly, they relayed the message to the engineers and their allies, while Kaya took a few deep breathes. Her senses were running wild, she'd never felt so overwhelmed before - concentration was slowly becoming out of reach.

One moment, she could hear the quickened heart rates of her worried friends, the next, she could feel the ground thud with thousands of giant footsteps. She noticed the sound of water splashing, the sounds of heavy breathing, and could even faintly smell...

"I smell blood." Kaya revealed, confused as to why she could smell a wound. As far as she was aware, no one was injured - other than Levi, but his wounds had been stitched up, she would have noticed sooner if it were him. Levi raised his injured hand, he clearly looked unimpressed. "No, not you." She shut down as she followed her nose, her partner following swiftly behind her.

The two of them searched for the source, until they eventually halted at the flying boat. Kaya abruptly stopped, she could sense someone watching them. In anticipation, her eyes reverted back to red hues and lingered on one of the storage crates.

"I know you're there." She said loudly, alerting the others that something was wrong. The engineers stopped their work, observing the confrontation while Kaya held her ground expectantly. "Come out now and I might let you live." She offered the intruder, who finally gave in.

He emerged, dripping wet and a coating of blood on his uniform - his state was so chaotic that Kaya failed to notice the gun in his hand until it was too late. Although he was on the verge of death, Floch's resolve allowed him to lay one final burden upon the scouts. His bullets ricocheted from the metallic canisters of the flying boat before Kaya jumped in front of it and activated her kagune.

Her body shielded the ship, but she knew it was far too late - the damage had already been done. Within an instant, she tossed one of her ODM blades in Floch's direction. It impaled his torso with precision and rendered him immobile on the ground.

He choked on his own blood as the scouts began to surround him. "Hange!" Onyankopon yelled panicked. "He hit the ship! We won't be able to-"

"We can make it!" Another engineer interrupted, explaining his plan to fix the ship while the others listened intently. However, the human senses of the scouts caught up to Kaya's, all of them could feel the footsteps of the rumbling.

Panic overcame any logic in the room, everyone's calmness had become rushed and clumsy. "Don't..." Floch croaked out, causing both Kaya and Hange to kneel by his side. "Please, don't do it."

"We're here Floch." Hange assured him while he lay there motionless.

"Everyone on our island will be killed." He stuttered, oblivious to the shock plastered on the two's faces. "Only our devil can save us. Our only hope."

Kaya was shaken by his words, she'd never thought much of Floch, in her eyes, he'd always been a coward. However, despite his goal being different to hers, he was strong. He'd held onto their boat, bleeding and half dead, and completely ruined their plans. The ghoul only wished he was on their side.

"You've done your duty Floch." Kaya rested her hand on his shoulder. "You can rest now. You've won." It was a complete lie, the scouts weren't going to give up. However, Floch didn't need to know that - he could die in peace, knowing he'd saved Paradis. He'd earned it after all.

Th red haired man smiled slightly before closing his eyes, his heart began to slow down until it reached a complete stop. "Is he?" Hange wondered, not wanting to leave his side until they were sure he was gone. Kaya nodded as she got back to her feet. "We can't protect them all, but we sure as hell can try. Even if we fail today, then maybe someday." The commander said to themself.

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Authors note

I was planning on doing the sad scene this chapter but figured I should probably do it next time because then I can describe it more thoroughly.

Anyhoo - I have a new cover that I'll add at some point. It matches my other aot ones.