You pulled down your hood, revealing your face to him. He is the only one in the entire Order to know what your face looks like.

"She stalked me down an alley," you replied, "I'll be blunt, you're lucky I didn't kill her." Lukas sighed, almost as if he knew this was going to happen.

"Please, accept my deepest apologies, My Goddess," he replied, bowing all the way at the waist. "I'll be sure to teach her respect."

"Is she here?" You asked, disregarding his bow.

"Her chambers are connected to mine," he replied, straightening up. "You don't need to speak with her. I can handle it, My Goddess." Your icy glare slid over him, and his eyes immediately moved down to the floor.

"Do not tell me when I can and cannot do," you said.

"Yes, I'm sorry, please forgive me." His head inclined in front of you.

"Just show me where she is."

~
As you and Lukas got to his door, you pulled your hood back up. He tentatively knocked on his door.

"Blaire, honey?" He called, "It's me and our Goddess." The door unlocked from the inside and it creaked open. Brown eyes curiously peeked out. When she saw you, the door swung open. She smiled brightly.

"Goddess!" She exclaimed. Lukas gently shushed her.

"Blaire, please, not so loud."

"Is there a chance that you're interested in learning how to use a gun?" You asked. She shyly looked up at you. You smirked beneath your mask. "I have a proposition for you."

~
You placed a large log on a cut stump, about fifty meters away from where Blaire stood. You adjusted the distorter in your mask while you walked back up to her.

"Here," you tossed one of your guns at her. She fumbled with it, almost dropping it to the ground.

"Tch, you're lucky I have the safety on," you said, watching her. "You would've shot your foot off."

"Sorry..." She said quietly, head lowering. You brought out your second gun.

"You see that tiny lever on the side? Near the slide?" You asked. She looked down at it and nodded. "Flip it down." She used her finger to move it.

"Good, you've removed the safety. Do yourself and I a favor, and keep your finger off the trigger."
She nodded. You walked behind her and crouched down, grabbing her arm with your free hand.

"Hold the gun with two hands," you instructed, properly placing the gun in her palms. "The recoil isn't bad, but with you being unaccustomed and... tiny... can't ever be too sure." Once you're sure she's in the right position, you slowly back away from her.

"This gun is heavy..." She whined, her arms beginning to shake.

"It's not that heavy," you protested, "Though I'm probably used to it." You looked at the log far away from you.

"Imagine you're the muzzle and aim yourself accordingly. A lot of times, people predict where the bullet may hit, based on where the muzzle is. Not to mention, wind can change its course." You raised your hood a little to feel for the light tousle of air, but none came. "You should be good. Carefully put your finger on the trigger and press it." She closed her one eye and stared down the log. Her finger did press the trigger, but the sudden blast and recoil made her arms fly away, the bullet not even coming close to the log. The gun flew out of her grasp and landed on the grass.

You let out a sigh, seeing her rub her shoulders.

"Did you dislocate it?" You asked. She felt around.

"No, I don't think so," she replied, "Man! Shooting is so much harder than I thought!" You walked over to your gun and picked it up, quickly placing them both back in their holsters.

"You're probably going to feel that tomorrow. We'll continue this another day." You walked away.

"Where are you going?" She called after you. You paused, but didn't turn to look at her.

"Just going to check in with someone, that's all."

"Ohh, okay! Have a safe trip, Goddess!"

~
You walked the town later in the evening, not as Red Ember, but as Y/n L/n. You wore the band around your arm that you took from an unsuspecting citizen. The sun was just about set below the horizon when you arrived at the hospital. There was a path, wide open, that led to the building. On the bench outside, you saw a wounded Eldian soldier sitting there.

Your eyes went to the small boy that was walking away from the hospital grounds. You took his place on the bench, next to the wounded soldier. It was silent between the two of you.

"It's been a while," you greeted, "How've you been?"

"There have been better times."

"Is everything in place?" Your voice lowered.

"Yes," he replied quietly, "Now all there is, is to wait for an opportunity."

"Have you seen them?"

"Only talked through letters. All of them seemingly have infiltrated."

"The last message Hanji and I exchanged was about a month ago. I figured they were busy." Your eyes glanced down his leg. Half of it was missing. "You've gotten better at controlling your healing." His eyes slowly looked down as well.

"I've had time."
You stood from the bench.

"Don't go rushing headlong into things," you advised to him. "That gets you into all sorts of trouble. Stick to the plan."

"Is there even a plan?"
You kept your gaze in front of you.

"A loose one," you replied, "Don't worry your hot-head over it. You'll know when the time is right." You turned and walked past the bench. You exited the hospital's property and turned down the road. Coming up the opposite of you, you saw Lukas.

"Goddess," he breathed, surprised to see you here. "What are you doing here?"

"Visiting someone I've known for a little," you replied seamlessly. "Why are you here?"

"I come here every other day to talk with the mentally impaired and ailed," he replied, "It makes my heart swell with such joy knowing our benevolent goddess is spreading her presence to everyone." You forced your face to remain neutral.

"Then you take your time with that. I will be going back to the Order," you replied, beginning to walk past you. He bowed at you.

"Of course! Have a safe trip, Goddess!"
You rolled your eyes once you past him.

'Don't do anything stupid, Eren.'

Ja ne!

{Ruby Red}