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TW: violence - If you're not comfortable with mentions of violence and violent behavior - please, consider skipping this chapter
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- Hmm, well, good afternoon, Y/N.
- «G-gentlemen», Y/N got scared. She did her best to hide the remaining plans in her bag as discreetly as possible.
- So, Lord Reiss was right. This morning we received news from him that you studied in the cadet corps with his daughter. And he suggested that as a result you chose the Survey corps, because you didn't get into the top ten. And there you are, little scout. Stealing for the commander, aren't you?
- I... it's just natural curiosity, sir. You must understand that young girls like me can be promiscuous.
Y/N played with them as best she could. Years of life in the palace taught her a couple of phrases. But the royal guards knew perfectly well who she was and what she was doing here. They began to slowly approach the girl.
- Eh, Y/N, what a pity... Such a beautiful, smart girl, and chose the Survey corps. What a pity it'll be to see your neck break on the chopping block.
- «We'll see about that», Y/N said with confidence in her voice and sharply pulled out a knife, directing the blade towards the guards.
- «Ahaha, what can you do with that toothpick against the two of us», said one of the guards, also pulling out their sheath blade, which was twice the size of Y/N's knife.
They began to circle the table on both sides, blocking Y/N's escape route. There was a malicious smirk on their faces. Y/N quickly assessed the situation. «He's right, my chances against two are low, but if I do it right, if I let them think that they've already won, then...»
The guards came almost close to Y/N, as she decided the only remaining step - she jumped onto the table and headed towards the door, but the guards grabbed her by the hands and pressed her to the stone floor with all their strength. She hit her head hard, causing everything to blur in her eyes for a moment. The knife fell from her hand.
- Did you really think it would work? I thought you were smart, but you're just...
Before he could finish his sentence, Y/N jerked as hard as she could to kick the table, causing it to almost flip over. This threw the guards into confusion, and they both loosened their grip for a moment, giving Y/N time. She grabbed the arm of the guard holding her to her right and twisted it with all her might. Knowledge of medicine and the structure of the body helped her in this: she knew perfectly well what to do - how to create unbearable pain with minimal effort. She twisted his right arm.
- AA, MOTHERFU...
He pulled away from her, holding on to his arm. His comrade wasted no time pressing his blade against her throat.
- «What are you thinking?» the guard said to her. «Hey, how are you? What did she do?» he turned to his colleague.
- She twisted my arm, little bastard. Damn, it hurts as fuck, everything is...
Y/N twitched again, risking her neck, but she succeeded. The guard whose arm she twisted didn't draw his blade earlier, allowing Y/N to grab it. She yanked the blade sharply from its scabbard, and without thinking, plunged it into the second guard, who was still pinning her to the floor. However, it cost her blood - as she moved, the blade pressed against her neck bled her. It hurt, but not critical.
- WHAT THE...
Blood flowed from the second guard's mouth. «Damn, I must have touched some important organs. I didn't mean to... Damn...»
Y/N pushed him away to get up. But the guard didn't give up and with all his strength slashed her arm, tearing the leather jacket and shirt that were on Y/N.
- «Ah...», she grabbed the cut, and in parallel with her foot knocked out the blade from the guard's hands. He sank to the floor, and his friend began to rise. Y/N raised her knife, and pointing it at the second guard said:
- «I would sit here if I were you. Or do you want not to have a choice like him?» Y/N pointed her eyes at the bleeding guard.
- Do you really think that only we know about you? They're looking for you all over the palace, Y/N...
Y/N just smirked and walked away from the palace. Her eyes were still hazy from the headbutt and the adrenaline and the thought of what she'd done. Her neck and arm continued to bleed. She quickly ran around the palace, periodically looking around so as not to run into the royal guards again. She did an excellent job, in given her condition, but just before the exit, she was noticed.
- IT'S HER! CATCH UP HER!
Y/N knew she couldn't go home. She was grateful to herself that after she realized what kind of person Lord Reiss was, she changed all the locks in the apartment, and also asked the concierge not to let anyone into her apartment without her permission. She knew that she was at risk that they would search her house, but she hoped that the king's people understood that there was nothing to look for there - Y/N carried everything she needed with her.
She ran through the streets of the city. She had to get to the stables, but they were chasing her. At one point, she felt herself losing consciousness. She turned from the crowded street into an alley and settled near the wall. Something was pounding in her head, her vision was almost gone. The blood didn't stop. She pulled off her jacket and, cutting off the sleeves, tied one over the wound on her arm and the other around her neck. «Until I get to the horse, that's the only option. There I have everything I need for bandaging. And there's water and herbs to bring myself back to senses»
She closed her eyes, trying to focus on her surroundings. She could hear the noise of the city, it was noon, people were going to lunch, the streets were quite crowded, which was an advantage for Y/N. She didn't hear the noise of the chase. «Probably they have already moved on. Or thought I went home. Although, I don't think they're such fools and thought that I would actually return home after this...»
She slowly got up, trying not to provoke her body, and headed towards the stables, all the time looking around. She reached the stables an hour later, constantly changing direction, taking detours. As she climbed onto the horse, she realized how tired she was. Her head still gave out, and she hardly felt her right hand. «I must go. I'll deal with this later, now the main thing is to get out of here»
At the exit from the city, as usual, she was asked for documents. She showed them, and, surprisingly, everything went as usual. «Apparently, local officers aren't aware yet»
As soon as she left the gate, she heard:
- How dare you let her out! CATCH HER!
Y/N realized that she was found. She set the horse on the road as quickly as possible. She didn't know which way she was going. Everything swam before her eyes. «I just need to leave. Break away from them, so, they forget about me...» Her breathing quickened, the bandage fell off her arm, reopening the wound, but Y/N didn't even notice. She rode like this for several hours without stopping.
Realizing that she was no longer being followed, she slowed down. Taking a deep breath, she gathered her strength and reached for her hiking bag. Taking out a jar of herbal solution, she inhaled the aroma of the herbs with all her might. Everything cleared up in her head. She felt better, but she continued to breathe for a while. While she came to her senses, she surveyed her surroundings. She needed to move towards Lord Reiss's private lands, where Hange, Levi and the others were located according to the commander. «I need to get to them before they take any action. My information may help them, but I will not be of any use. I think I've lost a lot of blood, the wound on my arm is pretty deep, and my neck doesn't look any better either. The main thing is that the arteries and veins aren't affected, I'll live» She looked terrible: all her pants were covered in dust after she fought with the guards in the secret section, her boots were covered in mud from running through alleys and streets. She was left without a jacket, she was only wearing a shirt, which was covered in blood, on one sleeve there was a large hole in the place where a guard slashed it with a blade. She had a traveling coat with which she covered all this disgrace, but it was thin and didn't really help to keep warm. She loosened her ponytail as she drove out of town, trying to cover her tired face. She thought that she had turned very pale because of the lack of blood in her body.
After drinking some water and recovering a bit, Y/N directed the horse towards the lands of Lord Reiss. On the road, she, in parallel, looking at the stolen drawings, trying to form some thoughts in her head, which was still dizzy. She thought about what happened to her. «Hopefully Dr. Carvert will help these two, I didn't want to do this but I had no choice. This's also a kind of war. Either me or them. The commander believes in me. I can't let him and my comrades down»
The sun has set. Y/N was already in the lands of Lord Reiss, she slowed down a bit, looking for any traces of scouts. She did her best not to pass out on the spot. «When I find them, I'll tend to my wounds, but I can't relax just yet» Now she was driving through a field surrounded by forest on all sides. In the distance, she saw a small light in the forest. She didn't know who it could be. It could have been the local guards... She moved slowly towards the light, but still kept at a safe distance.
- STOP!
Y/N nearly fell off her horse. A man with a torch in his hands approached her.
- Y/N..? What are you doing here? And... what the hell happened to you?
- Levi, how glad I am to see you... I've been looking for you for so long. Hange is here? I have something for them, I.... hmm...
- You're obviously not okay. Come on, you need to sit down.
Levi walked back, and Y/N sent the horse after him. Y/N heard conversations from the direction they were heading.
- «We have guests», Levi said.
Hange was kneeling by the fire with Armin and Mikasa. A certain scheme was laid out between them - a plan that they developed. Jean and Connie stood close to the perimeter, surveying the surroundings, while Sasha peacefully dozed next to the fire. Everyone, except Sasha, turned towards Levi, from behind whom one could see the horse and...
- Y/N !!!! GOD, WHAT HAPPENED? HOW DID YOU GET THERE?
- Hange, please don't scream or I'll pass out. Give me a minute.
Levi helped Y/N get off the horse. There was concern in his eyes as he looked at the girl. She was covered in blood and dirt. Hange walked over to her, and they and Levi were now squatting beside her as she tried to figure out what to say.
Armin froze. He was afraid to see her like this. He couldn't move. He wanted to rush to her, to help her, but he couldn't. Everyone else also looked at what was happening and were in shock. They didn't expect to see Y/N at night in a dark forest, and even covered in blood and practically unconscious.
- Y/N, what happened? What are you doing here?
- «Erwin sent me away. And then... I was exposed. The way out wasn't easy», Y/N said, trying to put on something like a smile, although it was more of a painful grimace.
- You've lost a lot of blood and...
- I know, Levi, and I also think I have a concussion, but these're minor things. Give me my bag, I...
- Stop it. You need to rest...
- GIVE ME THE BAG, DAMN IT!
- Y/N, it seems you're forgetting...
After saying that, Y/N sighed and started to rise to her feet herself, pushing away Levi, who was against it. This behavior of hers confused him, usually no one would allow himself such a thing in relation to him. Hange was shocked, they didn't recognize Y/N. Even during her visit to the Capital, she noticed changes in her behavior that bothered her. But now...
Y/N wanted to give them everything she found, but she thought she couldn't, so, she first pulled out her jar of herbs and breathed in again, energized for a moment. She didn't care that everyone was looking at her. She didn't care. What she went through makes no sense if what she did it all for doesn't bring any benefit. She took out all the stolen papers and handed them to Hange.
- «I hope I was able to help, Hange. I hope I did well, as you wanted», Y/N said with the last of her strength.
After giving everything to Hange, she returned for her bag. «I need to make a bandaging, otherwise there will be an infection»
- Where did you get this?! How? Y/N?! This's indeed...
- Stole it. I promised to find out more, so, I found out. Primary source, so to speak.
All the guys were still just watching what was going on between the three of them. Hange kept chattering, either from shock or from joy, which brought them the papers brought by Y/N. Levi looked at Y/N uneasily, waiting for her to pass out of her injuries to help her. And Y/N did some manipulations with the last of her strength, looking as tired as possible, her actions looked like something automatic, unconscious.
Hange looked at Y/N with concern as she sank to the ground with her bag, then looked at Levi with a «look after her» look and headed back towards Armin and Mikasa.
- We have new information. Y/N brought us a plan of the underground chapel in which Eren and Historia are being held, as well as plans for the construction of the new ODM, which all members of the Anti-Personnel Control Squad are equipped with. Based on them, we can...
- Hange, can I go away for a minute, please?
Armin didn't take his eyes off Y/N. She slowly rummaged through her bag, blinking constantly, trying to stay conscious. «I'll help her»
- «Yes...» Hange noticed Armin's gaze. «Go on, we already decided the main thing anyway, so...»
Without listening to them, Armin went to Y/N. He walked past Captain Levi, who silently nodded in his direction, approving his actions, and then moved towards Hange and Mikasa. Armin knelt down beside her and gently took her hands.
- Let me help you...
Y/N froze at his careful touch. She looked up at him: there were tears and quiet sadness in his eyes. It was hard for Armin to see her like this. He lowered her hands into her lap and took the bag she was rummaging through. He took out dressing bandages, some jars. He looked at her. «She has changed. Has changed a lot. And it's only been two weeks... God, Y/N, what happened to you... I'm sorry, I'm so sorry...» He could see that there was no emotion in her eyes. She seemed to put on a mask to play her part. And now she needed to become herself again, but she no longer understood who she was. Those two weeks changed them both. They were no longer children.
- Tell me what you need first...
Y/N took his hand and put it to her face, while closing her eyes. Armin's cheeks flushed at that, and his eyes fluttered open.
- «I miss you... I was so lonely...», Y/N whispered.
«She's clearly delirious. I need to figure out what's what», Y/N still held his hand on her cheek, muttering something under her breath, and Armin tried to remember how she treated his wounds. He decided to start with her hand. He tried to examine her wound with one hand. Mikasa approached them.
- «I think you'll need more hands», she whispered in his ear, which made him blush even more.
Y/N didn't notice that someone else appeared nearby. She finally let go of everything and was completely delirious, but still her hand found the strength to hold Armin's hand. His touch comforted her, gave her a sense of security.
- «Yes, she seems to be delirious. We need to treat her wound with this», he handed Mikasa a jar of a clear liquid that smelled rather disgusting.
- «We'll have to tear off the sleeve, otherwise there will be no sense in the bandage», Mikasa said, looking at Armin, looking for support in his eyes.
- Okay... I... I'll give her my jacket.
Mikasa nodded at him and, taking Y/N's knife that was still in the holster on her leg, carefully cut off her sleeve.
- Damn, this won't go away without a trace. She was slashed well. Give me a solution.
Armin handed Mikasa the solution. Tears formed in his eyes again at her words. His soul ached for Y/N. She had already let go of his hand, but he still continued to caress her cheek, comforting her. With his other hand, he took her hand, knowing that tending to the wound could hurt.
As Mikasa treated the wound, Y/N was unconsciously squeezing Armin's hand. After treating the wound on her arm, Mikasa began to treat Y/N's neck.
- Armin, you need to lift her head, otherwise I won't get it.
- Okay...
Armin freed his hands and stood up. He took her head with both hands and lifted it up, exposing her neck for Mikasa to tend to the wound. He looked at her tired face, stroking her temples. «Hold on, Y/N, everything will be fine. Now we're together. I'm so sorry that this happened to you... And what happened...»
- Done, let her rest.
- «I'll sit with her for a bit», Armin said as he sat down next to the peacefully sleeping Y/N. «But if you need me, I'll come back to you»
Mikasa looked at him softly. She saw the worry in her friend's eyes, but she also saw the trepidation he had for Y/N. For some reason, she remembered the days when they were alone and didn't know where Eren was, and thought that Y/N was dead. She remembered the state Armin was in. Broken, lost all hope. She was glad at the thought that her friend had found himself a person whom he wanted to take care of and who would take care of him. Watching Y/N and Armin peacefully sit side by side, Y/N resting her head on his shoulder and he holding her hand trying to give her a sense of security, she thought of Eren. She missed him. She wanted him back. She was worried that it would be too late.
***
Y/N woke up from the noise of a moving carriages and screams. She slowly opened her eyes, still slightly dizzy from the concussion. She hardly remembered how she ended up here, the last thing she remembered was how she sat down with a bag on the ground, and then... She remembered only the feeling of warmth, someone calmed her, massaged her temples... Suddenly she realized that someone was nearby there is. She raised her head and realized that she had been sleeping on Armin's shoulder all this time. He, too, was dozing, his head resting on the tree behind them. He still held her hand tightly, intertwining their fingers. Y/N's face flushed, and then she realized that they weren't alone.
The fire had already been extinguished, they were in complete darkness. It was still night. Everyone was busy with something, Y/N couldn't understand what was going on.
- «Armin», she whispered softly in his ear, «Armin, wake up!»
He opened his eyes.
- Y/N! How are you?
Realizing he was still holding her hand, he gently released it and looked away from her, blushing.
- Still a little floating before my eyes, but a little sleep did me good. Did you bandage me? Thanks.
- Mikasa did most of the work. You... you didn't let me, sort of.
- Why?
- You... sort of hugged my arm. I think you were already unconscious and it was just delirium from blood loss, nothing to worry about.
They both looked in different directions, blushing a lot at the awkwardness of the situation.
- Woke up at last! Armin, we have to go.
Armin got to his feet and followed the others.
- Jean, how long are we... I slept?
- A couple of hours, I think it's past midnight now. About an hour ago, people from Anti-Personnel Control Squad began to flock here. We're planning...
- «It's all because of me, I'm sorry», Y/N whispered.
- Y/N, what are you talking about?
- There's probably no time now to explain everything, but they're here because Lord Reiss and the people in the palace are aware of what I stole and to whom I was heading when I left the Capital. So, they sent everyone from the Anti-Personnel Control Squad here...
- I knew you were the source in the palace! I told you guys.
- «Sasha, be quiet, otherwise they'll notice us», Mikasa told her. «Y/N, how are you? Lately you weren't yourself...»
- «A lot has happened, Mikasa...», she closed her eyes as she collected her thoughts.
She began to stand up, but still had difficulty keeping her balance. Armin grabbed her arm and helped her up.
- Where... where are Levi and Hange? I need to talk to them, it's important. This... concerns Commander Erwin.
- «They went to check the situation. When they return, we plan to take action», Jean answered her. «Y/N, we all understand that this is none of our business, but can you tell us what is the matter? What happened to you?»
- Jean, can't you see the state she's in? Are you...
- «Armin, it's okay», Y/N put a hand on his shoulder, comforting him. «I think I owe everyone a bit of an explanation»