Attack on Titan: Another way.

Chapter seven.

Before anyone could move, the man restarted his attack. Once again firing at the group's captain in an attempt to add humanity's strongest to his kill list. Moving from the areas of cover to hiding in shadows, with every shot he fired along the way mere inches from striking Levi. To the point a bullet ended up grazing his left cheek, the dodge he carried out prior had failed in getting him completely to safety.

It at least stopped his brains from becoming a bloody mess on the floor.

But the dodge wasn't nearly enough to give Levi an edge. As while his team ran, or in Lucius' case limped, out of range, the man continued to move in and out of sight using the shadows as a masking camouflage. If it wasn't for the tell-tale flashes that filled the darkness every time he fired, the shots would have seemingly been fired out of thin air. It didn't help either that he moved with a strength and speed that almost rivalled the captain's.

Even when his only goal was to buy the group time to get outside, it was an uphill battle trying to manage the man's constant shift from offense to defence. Every strike he tried to make put him closer and closer to death. The constant flood of danger only put him further and further into the reality that blood would soon be spilled. The only question being whose blood hit the ground first.

"Looks like your instinct's still sharp, runt. I'm almost impressed." The man slyly said, though his sugar-coated insult did little to effect the captain.

'Just need to buy a few more seconds, then I'll have no choice but to bail.' Levi thought to himself, looking towards the window and door his comrades had used mere seconds earlier. 'All I can do is count on them putting enough distance between them and the building.'

They continued the skirmish, dodging shots and slashes as they each tried to land a blow on one another. For one of the first times in both their lives, they'd come against their greatest challenge yet. Fighting an enemy of equal strength.

It was anyone's guess who would end up winning.

His comrades didn't stick around to see the answer, though, as Lucius practically barged through the door and into the glaring sun. There wasn't time for admiring the morning view, though, as the interior first squad were guaranteed to be on their tails again; the moment the MP's caught wind they would be gone. Luckily though, Levi and Hanji had conceived the foresight to place a small cart by their exit, a single chestnut stallion at the helm while their new-found hostages were bound in the back.

Hanji took her place at the front, grabbing the horse's reins while the rest of the group took a seat. And without a word, started to set off towards the district city gate. Their best, and pretty much only option, was to retreat away from the city's hustle and bustle. Granted the area may have seemed like the perfect environment for ODM gear, but the same advantage could have been said for the first squad. And whatever... machines they were using on the scouts.

It chilled Lucius to the bone to think of humans killing other humans. For reasons he didn't entirely understand. For all he knew, the answer could have been everything and nothing. No... Probably not nothing. There had to be a reason why MP's kept shooting at him, it probably wasn't for any small grudge. He could tell that much. They'd been planning their little stunt, for a few days it had seemed. He couldn't ponder the question any further, though, as the same ear-splitting sound of a gunshot filled the air for what felt like the hundredth time that day.

Lucius felt like he'd end up going deaf by the end of the week.

Before any of them could gauge what was happening, a small group of MP's swooped in out of nowhere. A squad of five, all utilising the same gear that had already killed two of their own. A set of guns linked to a modified ODM set, near-useless for dealing with Titans. But for fighting humans behind city walls... It's like Christmas came early for them. (Do they have Christmas behind the walls?)

The group started to move in on the cart, alternating between firing off their hooks and taking pot-shots at the scouts. Luckily missing the group, but not by a large margin. It looked incredibly bleak for the group, with one teammate gearless and immobile for the most part still dressed in a hospital gown. And only one fighter available to fight back. It looked like the same scenario three weeks prior, except in that occurrence the roles had been reversed.

Sasha considered rushing the group, buying enough time for the group to escape. But soon dismissed the idea as she saw Lucius' condition. His blood-shot eyes and sweaty forehead setting off alarm bells in the red-head. If she left him, there would be no-one to protect him should an MP swoop in for the attack.

Without reaching a decision, though, one of the MP's saw an opportunity as he hit the gas on his gear, landing on the edge of the cart's rear with one of his pistols pointed straight towards the helpless brunette sat next to Sasha. She saw the murderous glare in his eyes, knowing full well what he was going to do. She didn't hesitate for a second, as she threw herself between her friend and the attacker. Ready to catch the bullet with her own body. As Lucius' breath caught in his throat.

Luckily for both of them, no-one took any damage. At least, almost no-one.

As before the MP could fire at the two sitting targets, he took a deep slash straight to his chest. Cutting into several internal organs through his skin and clothes, before he fell off the cart onto the street behind them. Staining the street red in several spots as he rolled across the cobble stones before coming to a stop. The pair's protector took a knee opposite the two inside the cart, looking back towards them. Her short raven hair flowing in the wind with her green cloak. Though her face was less of a marvel, as she bore an expression mixing together determination and annoyance. The chilling combination brought the hair on their necks against their shirts.

"Was there a reason you left me behind, or am I just bad company to you?" Mikasa asked the group, anger and spite filling her tone as she looked at them. Swords still drawn. Eyebrows turned down with a mouth shaped to a scowl. Terrifying the two, to the point Lucius almost thought he'd wet himself out of fear.

"W-we were... In a r-rush, and... F-forgot you were outs-side." Lucius stuttered out, knowing that to be on Mikasa's bad side meant you were in a very dangerous position. "S-sorry." Lucius apologised, hoping to whatever Gods watched over them would keep her from castrating him.

Luckily, fortune seemed to favour the fearful that day. As before she could react, the oh-so familiar sound of wires scraping metal filled the air as the MP's once again moved in on the scouts. Looking for a shot at the cart. One of the group either brave or stupid, decided to try rushing the group. Not realising how badly it had gone for his comrade. Mikasa shot a hook into his abdomen as he descended, and the man was dead before he even had time to scream.

She didn't wait for him to hit the ground, as the raven-headed demon moved towards the remaining members with fury in her eyes and death latching onto her mind like a parasite. Forcing the MP's to retreat, moving away from the attackers swings consequently avoiding the cart. Losing the objective in their minds was a pleasant alternative to whatever their enemy had in store for them.

The cart's passengers didn't wait to watch the ensuing bloodbath, turning a corner as Mikasa continued to move in on her enemies. Eventually moving out of sight, as the group turned to face the gate directly before them. It was a perfect beeline, the easiest route in all of the walls. For once, Lucius thought his luck was beginning to take a turn. But ironically, a problem popped up right as the nightmare was about to end.

That problem was a woman, with shoulder length grey hair and green eyes. Flying towards the group, darting between the buildings to reach them. What carried the big problem, though was the unicorn crest on her back. Taking the opportunity, she landed squarely on the cart in a crouch before rising fully to her feet. Her left pistol outstretched, aiming right at Hanji's skull. Ready to kill the scientist without a second thought.

In that moment, time seemed to stop for the group. As Hanji sat there, unaware of the woman pointing a gun right at her brain. Said woman looked at her target, a small satisfied smirk creeping onto her face. While her two comrades looked on, their throats holding a frozen silent scream. All Sasha could do was look on, frozen with fear that her friend wouldn't get to fight another day. Luckily though, at least one of her allies seemed to know what to do as he eyed his comrades scabbard with interest.

A feminine scream soon filled the air, as blood poured onto the cart floor. Luckily for the survey corps, it wasn't the blood of their section commander. As the standing woman was clutching at her left wrist, looking at where her hand had once been. Only to see a bloodied stump, and her severed hand on the floor. As when she'd been basking in the glory of her first kill, Lucius had removed one of Sasha's swords and used it to take her hand.

The MP screamed in excruciating pain. But at the very least, she didn't have to endure it for very long. As Lucius once again raised his comrade's sword, and detached her head at the shoulders. Ending her life, while what was her head fell off onto the street behind them. Soon followed by her head-less body.

As the adrenalin wore off, Lucius looked back to his blood-stained hands as his breathing accelerated. He'd never actually killed another human being before, as the incident in the hospital was merely an accident. But now he'd taken someone with an albeit dark future, and ended any hope of her advancing in life. He'd murdered someone, without a second thought.

He slumped down against the edge of the cart, dropping his comrade's sword against the wooden floor of the cart. Before burrowing his head into his knees. Unwilling to look at the bloodied remains of the woman's hand lying in the small pool of blood it had once carried. In that moment, Lucius wished with all his heart that he could just go back. Go back to when things were simple. Or simpler at least. Being a kid in shiganshina may have been like a bird living in a cage, with the peace of mind like livestock, but there was one truth in moments like that which shut out that comparison entirely.

Ignorance. Was. Bliss.

A/N:

I'm so, so sorry I uploaded late. My schedule started forming itself, to the point I didn't even know what was happening. My writing schedule cracked, along with so many other things. My sanity included. So I know I'm uploading a day late, but I'll try my best to make sure it doesn't happen again. I promise.

Again, I'm really sorry. :-(