Neither's pov, it's third person !
Note, I did say back in the first chapter that Keith had resigned. But for the sake of the story, I'll have to add him as an active member of the scouts.

—

Law was beginning to remind himself to smack Sabo on the head after his shenanigans.

The blonde decided to become rebellious against Levi.

It was because Levi has confiscated their hats as a way of punishment after Koby unexpectedly snitched on the two for stealing an apple from someone else's tree.

It's not Koby's fault, even Sabo surprisingly didn't blame him. (After all, the blonde favors Koby, coddling him with affection. It wasn't surprising that Sabo wouldn't bat an eye or blame the youngest for being snitched.)

It was Koby's habit to act accordingly based on his beliefs on being a good boy after all.

Sometimes, Levi might or might not have taken advantage of that trait by spoiling the boy and later on ask him who was at fault so he could confirm which one of the older kids are the culprits to such shenanigans.

Unfortunately for Sabo, he couldn't find his hat after a thorough search in the entire house and decided to run away as a way to retaliate, especially on the day while Levi had gone on another expedition with the other survey corps members.

However, the blonde had Law and Koby running after him, insisting him to come back home. But instead of being convinced, he forcefully dragged them along with him.

And they fucking ended up in shiganshina district.

"We're lost." Sabo calmly remarks.

Law decided to approach the boy from behind and give him a harsh smack on the head, earning a startled yelp. "What the fuck!?" Sabo hissed, hands instantly making their way to his head and his eyes flared up at Law, glaring angrily at the older.

"I should be asking that, you imbecile."

"What gave you the right to smack me after following me all the way here!?"

"Hey guys, l-let's all calm down!"

"You're the one who dragged us into your mess! We've strayed too far away from Trost district and Levi-ya's going to kill us! We're going to stand out so much in this!!" Law began to scratch the back of his head irritatedly.

"G-Guys please.." Koby managed to squeak out, yet he was getting nowhere with stopping the two.

"That hat was important to me!! Something I could get closer to remembering anything about my past! But noooo, he took it away! And I'm going to go crazy without it!" Law could see the second younger stomping his feet.

Gritting his teeth, the oldest pointed angrily at Sabo. "You think you're the only one!? I'm stuck running around in public WITHOUT my hat and I can't even complain! Unlike you, I have my morals. I don't run away just because my hat was taken away because some idiot decided to steal an apple!"

"..."

"That's already been discussed! And that's because you're so obedient second to Koby! Everything you two do is for that man's approval and shit!"

"It's not approval, it's showing gratitude for everything the man has done to us! And leave the youngest out of this, he's just a child!"

"And we aren't!?"

"You—" Law was about to yell once more when the bells of the shiganshina doors had started ringing for everyone in the district to hear, indicating its sign to opening the doors for the survey corps to let through.

Both children froze. The expedition has finished, and yet..

"Fuck, we're fucked, fucked, fucked! Quick, let's get out of here and get back home before Levi-ya—.."

Law stopped, making Sabo perk up at the abrupt stop in Law's sentences. "Where's Koby-ya..?"

"..." , "..."

Neither of them knew the answer. They were both busy in their argument that they failed to notice their youngest slipping out of their sight.

Their hearts instantly sank all the way down to their stomach at the thought of losing Koby in such a village. Worse, they don't even know if Koby had been abducted, kidnapped into someone else's home and would be forced to live with them, locked away from the outside world.

Or he might've ran away, having enough of the two.

Right now, they could care less about the thought of coming back home. Their priority is always about looking out for one another. The first time they got here it was the three of them, hand in hand, asleep on each side.

They were amnesiac but they knew their bond was somewhat special, it's as if they were closer, that they knew each other before. As the pinkette was confirmed the youngest, both of them knew they have to protect him. They all had to look out and protect one another.

Losing one of them was like losing a part of themselves.

"FUCK!" both children hollered in unison, startling a few adults and teenagers passing by. Their anger directed to neither of them, but to themselves.

-

The scouts have come to a stop as Moses's mother had walked out of the crowd standing from the sides calling out for her son.

The crowd watched as the survey corps all had grim expressions on their faces. Yet most of them started whispering about the income, because yes. Few of the soldiers have survived from the expedition, and after all that, they haven't even found anything to help humanity at all.

Levi, sitting on his horse with his cape hood covering his head, stared blankly at the woman crying as she was handed the only body part from Moses' corpse they had retrieved from the titans.

As they spoke, Levi had spared a glance around his surroundings, dull, but the skies weren't at least. He noticed two children — a girl and a boy with firewood collector on their backs watching with curiosity and shock.

Levi tsk'ed. Of course, being a survey scout isn't as easy as kids think.

Before returning his gaze back to his front however, he found a glimpse of blonde and black haired children running around through the alleys of the villages from the sides.

He knew his kids are home, safe and away from seeing the sight of their heroic idols in pathetic states after an expedition.

But Levi couldn't help hut notice the familiar curls of the blonde's hair. Or the undeniably sharp and unruly hair of the raven-haired one.

He had seen Law without his hat a few times. And that was only when his hat was dirty and needed a wash. The boy's hair was awfully spiked up, and Levi had inwardly admitted he's the only one with such a hairstyle it makes him stand out.

Well, to female individuals at least.

That made Levi understand why the boy actively decides to wear the hat everyday. Lest he just adores the hat that much to even bring it to bed, sleeping WITH the hat on.

Maybe seeing the blonde and black haired kids just reminded him of his children. They have been living together for three years after all.

Levi almost fell off his horse the moment the blonde returned from the alley, with his face shown directly at him.

What the fuck's Sabo doing here, moreover in shiganshina district!?

No no no no, if he's here, the other two might've been with him— Law! Yes, the raven-haired boy was obviously Law, who wouldn't have that awful hairstyle running around town?!

The man hadn't even noticed the scouts beginning to move until Hange came up from behind and patted Levi's shoulder silently as a signal, letting him know their movements.

Levi, to say the least was internally enraged.

He's going to have to have a much longer lecture prepared for the trio as soon as he finds those three.

-

What was Koby thinking..

He hated arguments, he hated it when he witnessed angry individuals fighting amongst themselves.

He hated it, he hated it, he hated to hear things all over around him, he hated that his senses were enhanced to the point he could hear everyone from around, even from afar!

But still, that doesn't excuse the fact he ran away from the two who he considered as his big brothers because of his own breakdown and got lost..

Koby flinched when the bells started to ring. That's right, the survey corps are home, their expedition has finished.

Levi is coming back home.

And Koby isn't there to welcome him home like he used to. No, the three of them aren't even home!

The boy clenched the hem of his clothes at the thought of Levi coming back home to find the house empty. Koby had already known a glimpse of Levi's past. The man had lost his friends, and he was all alone.

He already had caught Levi smiling a few times just from their interaction, and he wanted to keep it that way, pull the man from his grief and remind him he's no longer alone. The four of them had been acting like a family without even knowing it. And Koby was fully aware of it from the start.

He already sees themselves as family. He already sees Levi as a dad figure, and the other two as his older brothers.

Despite his amnesiac state, he couldn't deny that he longed for a family after all.

Koby couldn't even imagine the expression Levi would make after finding out that the kids he's watching over had disappeared from home.

Would he be angry? Worried? .. Both? The boy was in deep thoughts, not even bothering to bat an eye towards the passersby who stared at him with surprise.

He's a kid who came from Trost District after all. A kid, a boy whose clothing wear stands out differently in a poorer district like shiganshina.

Fine, he'll try to run around and hopefully run into one of the older two.

He just wants to go home..

.

He continued to run around town tirelessly. Koby had great stamina, oddly enough. It was already intact before Levi began training them so they could fend for themselves.

An hour has already passed, and yet no sign of any of his older brothers.

He knows they're around. He just can't pinpoint them. But if he tries harder, he's going to bump into them eventually.

He could hear boys yelling from the other side, and he ran over to see three boys bullying a blonde kid.

"That's why you resort to violence! Because you can't argue back!" The blonde kid in question began to yell back at him, and Koby tripped into their view in time for them to almost punch the blonde.

Four kids stared at him in disbelief. His hair was pink, which was rare for anyone else to have.

"Look what we have here now." One of the bullies chuckled, letting go of the blonde's collar of his shirt to approach Koby standing up from the ground.

Black eyes glance up to meet beige-colored eyes. He pointed at the boy with an angry glare. "Hey, I don't know what business you have with the other but please leave him alone."

They were silent, before the three older kids began laughing. "Oh no! Another kid decided to come for the heretic's aid! Hey kid, how old are you?"

Koby flinched slightly before looking away, his brave demeanor cracking and his cowardice returning. "N—Nine..?"

"Nine!!" The boy mocked, laughing as he grabbed Koby's hair and pulled it towards him, making the younger yelp in pain.

"A mere kid like you doesn't have the right to tell us what to do, you little punk! You think you're such a cool little bitty hero trying to save the day huh?!"

"Stop that! Leave him alone, he has nothing to do with this!! You're just stooping even further down for hurting a kid younger than us!" The blonde ran for the bully's arms, trying to argue as he grabs their arms to yank his grip away from hurting Koby.

"Enough! You should be thankful I'm sparing your smart ass, or I might've just beat you two up here!" The bully pushed the blonde off, making him tumble to the ground.

Koby watched in terror, he has nothing to do with situations such as these, and yet.. Why does he feel enraged to see others hurting the innocent ..?

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't even notice a fist coming his way. The boy punched Koby, earning a yelp of pain and his round glasses fell off of his head, catching his attention.

"M—My glasses!!" Koby squawked, horrified. Another one of the bullies used this advantage to head over, a mischievous idea popping into his mind.

His foot was meters away from stomping his glasses and crush it.

The blonde wasted no time grabbing the glasses from harm, surprising the rest of the bullies watching in anticipation to see the pinkette cry over an object he owns, and he gets punched by the stomach in result.

At that moment, Koby suddenly finds himself on the ground, his surroundings filled with barrels, boxes of supplies and bags of grains.

A muffled voice spoke. He couldn't understand at first, but he realized it was himself who was speaking.

".. never once thought about it..."

Is this perhaps a flashback? He was seeing his perspective in this state..

"Do you suppose I can do it, too?"

"Even if I'm prepared to die for it..?"

He spoke with uncertainty. He seemed rather more terrified in this state, and Koby doesn't understand. What was going on, what was happening?

Is he remembering something?

"Do you think.. Even I can join the marines?"

Marines.. Marines are usually soldiers that catches bad guys. Did he use to dream of becoming one? A past memory about the revelation of his dream?

"Yes!! Catching bad guys is my dream! It's been my dream ever since I was little! Do you think I can do it?!"

Koby blinked and he was back to reality. Where the bullies were punching the blonde for just trying to help protect his glasses.

"What the—" the bully that had yanked Koby's hair had been lifted off and was thrown to the ground by the pinkette.

Startled, the two other bullies had stopped teasing the blonde. The silence was deafenig between them, disbelief clouding their mind as they backed away from both the blonde and Koby.

How could a mere 9-year old fight back against their friend older than him?

Koby looked up at the other two, and they flinched at his gaze. His glare doesn't seem to hold the usual glare with contempt towards others.

It was a glare that held experience against worse situations.

"Scram." He ordered with authority lacing his voice. And as if on cue, they rushed for their friend, grabbing him by the arm and they ran away.

Koby's gaze relaxed, and his eyes softened before looking back at the blonde with his glasses in his palms.

His glasses seemed to be a little cracked, but that didn't stop Koby from holding onto it.

.

Koby had found out about the blonde's name. Armin Arlert, and once he had introduced himself, they started to talk. And not long, his friends approached them.

At first, they mistook the boy as someone who'd hurt Armin, at least the boy did. The girl with a scarf doesn't seem to see Koby as a threat, even grabbing the boy's collar of his shirt from punching the pinkette.

"Eren, it's fine, he helped me."

The boy introduced as Eren had stopped in his tracks and looked at Koby with incredulity. He couldn't believe a boy younger than Armin had helped him stand up against the older kids.

"Right." He responded nonchalantly, and Armin glared at him.

"What's going on..? Why were they bullying you in the first place?"

Koby finally spoke, and the three kids looked at him closely. His pink hair was the most eye-catching, his posture was timid but yet it was the same posture that had scared away the older kids.

The bruise on his face was evident, it was spotted next to his lips and it looked like it hurt.

Even Armin hadn't gotten punched that badly like that. Seeing those kids punching a kid younger than him had enraged him. They've gone too far.

Without giving Koby a solid answer, he ran past Eren and grabbed Koby, pulling him into his embrace. This of course startled the pinkette, and it was confusing his own friends why he had hugged a boy they've only met.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Koby could only stay silent, and hugged back, wrapping his arms around the older blonde.

"Koby-ya!!" An all-too familiar voice for Koby calls out frantically, and this makes all four kids perk up. Armin had let go on Koby gently, and the pinkette turned his heel around to meet Law's worried gaze and watch as his figure runs up to him. "Law!"

"You little-!" Law abruptly stopped talking the moment Koby ran into his arms and started crying. The raven-haired's anger dissipated, and worry grew further.

Tattooed hands ran up to the boy's hair, petting him as a way to comfort him. He ignored the surprised looks of the other three. His focus was solely on Koby.

Armin approached them. Once Law had left his focus on the pinkette and looked at the other, the boy bowed nervously. "I—I'm sorry. He.. He tried to help me. But, they.." Armin flinches as he meets the eyes of the older kid, unable to continue to speak.

Mikasa didn't bother getting angry at the older kid for glaring at Armin. She knew he was frustrated as already is.

After Koby had calmed down, Armin had talked to him for a few more minutes before they parted ways.

.

Sabo cracked his gloved knuckles in satisfaction, a sadistic smile etched on his lips as he stared down at the three kids that happen to be the same boys from earlier ago.

These boys had hurt his little blossom — which is a nickname he gave the younger other, they deserved their equal punishment, and Sabo was able to give it to them discreetly in the dark alleys.

Above his foot was the older bully that yanked Koby's hair. He had been brutally beat up to the point he passed out.

The other two were writhing on the ground in pain, crying their hearts out, tempting the blonde to just crush their faces right there.

Sabo bent down to meet fearful gazes and smiled sadistically at them, pressing a finger against his lips as a way to warn them about today.

"You three know what I mean right? I have no problems hunting you two down if this kind of revelation gets leaked around town." Sabo exclaimed with a smile, watching as the other two winced at the sight on his foot putting further pressure against their older friend's head.

"Bye bye, you shits."

.

"Oiiiiii!" Sabo waves his hand as he runs after Law, who carried Koby on his back delicately. "You found him!"

"Fortunately."

"I've learnt my lesson. I'm never going to look away from little blossom ever again." Sabo glanced at Koby's sleeping figure, arms wrapped around the older boy's neck.

Law cringed the moment Sabo had brought up the nickname. He turned to the blonde dead in the eye. "Stop with that nickname, it's horrendous."

Sabo just stuck out his tongue with contempt as a response.

".. So, what now?" Sabo walked beside Law, kicking a pebble off his way.

"The fuck do you mean 'what now'? Of course we're going home." This decoaration makes Sabo's face pale and pout. "No, I don't want to!"

"You don't have a choice. Let's go and hurry up before Levi-ya arrives home to find the house devoid of kids."

Sabo groaned, but Law had a point. They were to look out for each other, and running away was not an option if it meant he had to leave the other two behind.

He already knew that from the start.

Because despite his recklessness, the other two will follow him wherever he went. He knew that, he knew that..

Law began asking the rest of the passersby for directions to the gates of wall maria, and they happen to bump into one of the soldiers from the garrison regiment, the captain; Hannes.

The soldier, reeked of alcohol had already made a bad impression towards Law and Sabo unintentionally. Maybe because of his tendency to drink booze while patrolling the gates.

"Hey, can you please guide us to Wall of Maria..?" Law asks the private politely, who blinked in surprise at the sight of new kids who seemed to be nobles — according to how they dressed, and nodded slowly.

But Hannes's kindness was enough for the kids to trust in him and follow him. Law didn't seem to trust the rest of the privates staring at them in surprise and some of their gazes laced greed.

"Is it because we lived close to wall rose? Fucking greedy asses, I hope Levi beats them up." Sabo hissed to himself, unbeknownst that Hannes was listening.

"Hush. Be grateful we're being led back to the entrance of Wall Maria. Thank the kind soldier later or I'm going to throw you off the river." Law reprimands the other quietly, and Sabo huffed.

Hannes chuckled at the conversation the two were having. "Hey, now now, nobody's throwing anyone off the river. Where did you two get such attitudes?"

Both boys groaned before shrugging. "We're both amnesiac. We act based on what we usually act before we lost our memories. It's the least we can do if we want to regain them back."

Hannes blinked, before backing away from the conversation that seems to grow tense. "Oh, ah. Sorry." He apologizes before going silent.

However, curiosity got the better of him. "So, you two live in Wall Rose? That's pretty far for the three of you to get here without help."

Law shrugged nonchalantly and Sabo looked away. "This punk decided to run away from home."

"Hey!" Sabo hissed, face flushed in anger and they could hear Hannes laughing beside them. "Quite the rebellious type eh!? You kids are something else!"

"Thanks, I guess." Law mumbled, and Sabo rolls his eyes. "It's not a compliment, motherfucker."

"I could care less, you little shit."

Hannes coughed and looked at the two arguing children with incredulity. They did not just began to curse however they wanted and get away with it. What were their parents thinking??

"Hey, tone it down. You don't want your little brother to wake up don't you?"

And both boys did as told.

But, the silence was a little irritating. Their walk to the gates leading to Wall Maria was still a long way to go. Unless you have a carriage/horse.

"So, you kiddos. What are your names?"

Hannes asks. At first, the two were quiet, as if they contemplated telling their name to a random soldier helping them out. Finally, Law spoke up, followed by Sabo.

"Law,"

"Sabo."

Hannes nodded, taking notes of their names. He glanced back at the pinkette, awaiting for an introduction about him.

Catching on, Law cleared his throat. "He's Koby, the youngest out of us."

"Right. Thanks for telling me. I'm Hannes, one of the privates in the garrison regiment."

"Ah right. Nice to meet you, Hannes-ya."

"Garrison Regiment? The one where you're tasked to watch over the gates? Boring!" Sabo interjected, boredom expressed on his face.

"Show some respect, punk."

"Boo, for someone who desires to join the scout regiment, you're no fun."

Hannes paused on his tracks, causing the younger two to follow and stop, looking up at the soldier in front of them.

"You kids.. You're seriously going to join the scouts regiment..?" He asks warily, and Law caught on to the tone, before hoisting himself. "Yes. Got any problems?"

Hannes turned around, revealing his calm demeanor, but both Law and Sabo could see the horrified look in his eyes. "I advise you not to." He stated solemnly.

Sabo glared at the man while Law, unfazed as ever, stared blankly at him.

"Thanks for the advice, but no thanks. We already made up our minds. Don't know about Koby, but Law and I already decided to join the scout regiment. You know, to go out! See the outside world, feel the fresh air around the fields, see the ocean!!"

Sabo exclaims with eagerness, and Hannes doesn't know whether to take pride in someone having such a dream as high as these kids or grow worrisome at the fact the two had already decided to become scouts.

Hannes could only chuckle nervously. "Ocean? What's that?"

Sabo blinked, and suddenly wondered to himself why have he suddenly remembered desiring to venture outside the walls and return to the seas.

"Oh, err.. I don't know, haha why did I say that.." Sabo looked away, and Law could only observe the blonde as they continued walking. From there, nobody talked, not even Hannes has gathered enough courage to pique up another conversation.

"Here we are." Hannes finally spoke up after what seemed to be eternal silence between them, and the kids looked up to see the gates to the other side with incredulity, admiring the massive structure of the gates.

Taking a few steps inside, Law was about to urge Sabo to thank Hannes, when they froze evidently at the sight of a short soldier from the scouts regiment with his obvious cape of freedom approaching from the corner.

"L—Lev..—" "So, whose idea it was to run away from home?" The man glared at the two kids that flinched at the tone of his voice.

Sabo gulped, he didn't know it would take to this level to anger Levi completely.

"It was mine. And I got everyone in trouble." Law covered up for Sabo in an instant, and the blonde glanced up at him in disbelief. Levi raised an eyebrow, wondering why the oldest would take the blame for the youngest.

Hannes was perplexed to see the sight in front of him, a fellow soldier from the survey corps, scolding his three kids who ran away from home. Suppose they were family, but why did Hannes feel like he knew the shorter soldier?

"I doubt that." Levi responds, informing both kids he wasn't fazed with the lie. Not long, his gaze landed on Koby, who was asleep on Law's soldier and did not miss the bruise on his lip and the cracked glasses.

Someone had hurt one of his boys, and it was the youngest at that. This thought alone makes his blood boil. "What happened to Koby?" He asks with a stern tone this time, trying not to sound worried.

But, living with the Ackerman for three years has its perks for these kids. They knew whether their guardian is worried or not, or to read the rest of the man's expressions and understand them better than any of the others do.

"I don't know the details but he was bullied after trying to defend a kid." Law explains, but before he could continue, Sabo cuts in. "Look, can we discuss this later at home?"

"Some guts you have to say that after running away from home." Levi argues, before walking off to lead his horse into their view.

"Get on. But you're walking, Sabo."

The boy in question gaped. "What!? But—!" Law however, interjects

"He's tired, I'll walk instead. Sabo will carry Koby. Better?"

Levi rolls his eyes. "Do as you please, damned brats." He spoke before watching as Law handed their youngest to Sabo, holding onto Koby without a problem.

To say the least, the man was relieved his kids are fucking safe.

Law turns to Sabo, and stared at him with anticipation. However, the second youngest tilts his head in confusion, unable to determine what Law wanted from him.

"You're forgetting to thank Hannes-ya for helping us reach Wall Maria, punk. Go or we'll leave you behind."

The blonde groaned, but complied, turning his heel around and walk up to Hannes, who watched the blonde with an amused smile.

"Thank you, for helping us." Sabo struggled to say, even as far as looking away countless of times in embarrassment.

Of course he struggles to thank a single soldier whom he dissed and looked at him with hatred and disappointment. The man didn't seem like a responsible soldier, drinking irresponsibly during his duty.

Hannes chuckled and placed his hand on top of Sabo's head, ruffling it and let himself take in the fact the boy's hair was ridiculously soft like silk. "No problem, kiddo. I know a boy who acts like you, so this type of behaviour's nothing new to me."

Sabo scoffed as he adjusted Koby in his arms gently. Though, he was relieved he was tolerated. Hannes is kind after all, and maybe he might just like this man.

Law cleared his throat to grab their attention, and Sabo turned around to see Levi on his horse, then Law standing beside the animal, both staring at them.

After a brief goodbye between the two kids and the garrison soldier, Sabo mounted the horse effortlessly and they departed.

While Levi inwardly questions himself whether the irritated feeling bubbling in his chest was envy, or he was just irritated for no reason at all.

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Absolutely loathe my writing style.