{{user}}'s breath caught as Erwin took another step forward, suspicions clearly written across his stern features. Acting on instinct, her hand dropped to the small knife strapped to her leg.

But Erwin was quicker. He lunged forward, grasping her wrist in an iron grip before she could draw the blade. "Don't!" he warned, the anger and betrayal in his tone cutting her more deeply than any weapon.

Still she struggled against his hold. "Let me go, Erwin, please. You don't understand-"

"Then explain it to me." His free hand closed around the radio, yanking it from her grasp. Recognition lit his eyes; clearly this technology was beyond anything the scouts had achieved.

{{user}} redoubled her efforts, knees buckling as she tried to wrench herself from his grasp."I can't! If they find out I've been discovered-" Her voice broke, and for a moment their eyes met, everything left unsaid passing between them.

Marley would kill her if she was compromised. But the thought of losing Erwin's trust, after all they had been through together, was nearly as unbearable. Her finger's scrabbled uselessly at his vice-like grip as hot tears spilled down her cheeks. "Please...I never meant to deceive you. I had no choice."

For a long moment Erwin was silent, azure eyes roaming her face as if searching for the truth. When he spoke again, his tone had softened slightly. "Who are you, {{user}}? And whose side are you really on?"