I do not own Shingeki no Kyojin
Inspired by Musashi's LeviHan doujin "Flap Your Wings" (remove the underscores):
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"We lost our good names, our friends, our home, all because of their fears, We're unfettered by our burdens as soldiers now, yet we no longer bear the Wings of Freedom."
A/N: The doujinshi this is based off of had a great potential if the artist continued it, I really wanted to know more of what happened and why Rivaille was instructed to kill Hanji. I was disappointed when it was only cut short so I thought I could try and write it out here, along with bringing in a whole, new plot to follow it. I hope you all enjoy this. It'll be a heavy LeviHan later on as I will try not to rush this (it's more for plot, really). Hints of other shippings will be made.
Also, I will refer to the 3DMG as simply "Gear". This story will branch off of the end Chapter 20 (episode 15) after the murder of Bean and Sawney and also the tribunal for Eren. It occurs right before the Recon Corps is deployed outside the Karanese district. Story is set in the Karanese.
Warnings: This is considered an AU, multiple characters will be OOC (this will be my interpretation of how they are going to react to certain situations), later sexual situations, graphic situations, psychological torture
Leave a Review~! It keeps me going~!
The fourth day of the fourth month of the year.
At 1600, Rivaille was called to Commander Erwin Smith's office after finishing up today's instructions for training the newest members.
Obedient and punctual, he was there on the dot not a second too late nor too early. His waist was slightly sore from taking a kick from a young Scout, while he may be strong and aware of his surroundings, he was still human and still flawed. A boot print from this his white shirt, irking him beyond belief but a summons was a summons, he would have to attend to that later.
The Commander's office was spacious like any other high-ranking authority yet he kept things simple by keeping a desk and chain situated over a red carpet on the stone floor. The carpet was lengthy and led from the double doors to the edge of the oak borders. Rivaille had been here many times, only for reports and assignments; grave matters would be done in person, outside of the office, when guards were not there to hear Erwin speak.
As he strode into the office, his Gear resting at his sides, he saw that Erwin was sitting there, hands folded and eyes narrowing as though he were contemplating on how to comprehend something. Rivaille stopped a few feet away and was about to address him but then Erwin cut in, keeping him from uttering anything.
"The information passed to me has lead to the suspicion that one of our own is a Titan-shifter, much like Eren. With the amount of knowledge she posses (unlike the boy), she is a danger to mankind and, should she give it to the wrong hands, our efforts will be for nothing; thus, she must be eliminated. I won't give you any more details about this task because there are none to give other than what I just told you."
Rivaille quietly stared at him, letting the words sink in. He grew slightly worried when Erwin's eyes suddenly flicked up to meet his gaze.
They were grim and hardened, as if they were naturally like that years before joining the military. He had only seen that look when they lose a close man, which was quite often in their line of work, but it was the solemn emotions within them that struck Rivaille in the most breaking way.
"This is an order," he began slowly, he took in a small breath of air to prepare himself. He then paused as though he had second thoughts about giving the order, but it was only brief, for he firmly continued,"Lance Corporal Rivaille-"
His full title was never spoken, not ever, not even by Erwin, unless he was called by the lower-ranking soldiers and citizens. Sure, Corporal was a name often spoken, Rivaille was used as well, but not in the same combination. His eyes widened at the sudden demand for attention but he regained composure. Unfortunately, his recollection was shattered by the following words, three words that he never imagined to be said.
"-kill Hanji Zoe."
He took a single step back as though the order were the foot of a titan slamming into the ground, sending thunder to the earth and causing all those around him to tremble. The guards that stood at either side of Erwin were just as surprised and shocked as Rivaille. This sort of mission - no, this sort of issue was meant to be spoken in privacy.
He tried to regain his bearings but instead, positioned himself to form the salute; he had to do something. His a fist over his heart, he obediently told him,"It will be done."
Erwin gave a curt nod. "You are dismissed."
-...-
Mike Zacharias had just emerged from the basement of their headquarters. He was asked by Hanji to deliver several documents to Erwin. As he had turned the corner, he ran into Rivaille who, strangely enough, had shoulders hunched tightly. When the shorter man stopped, Mike spoke with a slight smile to try and liven him up; he took notice of the footprint on his shirt. "Hanji stepped on you?"
"No, but I need to find her. I have to kill her."
That smile was still there but Rivaille saw it fading quickly. "Well, whatever she done, it shouldn't warrant her death. Then again, I'm talking to you-"
Rivaille cut in. "There's only a suspicion that she's a titan."
It wouldn't take an idiot to put two and two together. The sight of Rivaille's tense movements and stiff speech were alerting as much as they were startling. It's the sort of feeling you get when you want to be done with something as soon as possible. Mike wasn't going to let Rivaille go without having questions answered. He knew better than to reach out to his shoulder.
"I won't believe it," Mike stubbornly told him, papers swishing down in disbelief. Rivaille wasn't a man to speak many words but when he does, they are straight to the point, never dancing between lines of a subject.
Rivaille brushed by him, making his way to the hallway that lead to the basement where the labs were, where Mike had seen Hanji testing a new solution, something about blood; Petra was with her, assisting her.
As Rivaille took brisk strides across the room, Mike turned and shouted again,"I won't believe it! Hanji being suspected as a Titan? A charge of suspicion? An order of elimination?" But the man worth a hundred soldiers wouldn't listen as he continued to walk. "There's no proof! You're just going to let them throw her away like this?! Don't fuck with me, this is bullshit!"
The man halted a few yards away in the quiet hall.
Once he had gained his ear, Mike stepped closer, calmly telling him with earnest,"This situation is suspicious all on its own. You immediately took this as the truth. How long have you known her? Five years? Six?...why are you-"
"It's an order," Rivaille replied simply but his voice was laced in darkness. "It was the military's decision. I have to kill Hanji."
He was aware that both Hanji and Rivaille were close, he even aware that they possibly may have feelings for one another that goes deeper than mutual. To a degree of how far their bond goes, Mike knew not but, in their lives, they knew that there should never be an attachment formed too deeply. It was not his part to know about their relations yet they were all comrades, brothers and sisters in arms as he saw them all; surely Rivaille would have a consciousness to not follow this order through.
There was something between the two that he, and many others, took notice but they respected them enough to not ask of them what it was.
Mike was a faithful soldier through and through and, being in the Recon Corps, he knew that sacrifices were necessary for all of mankind. If he, himself, were placed in Rivaille's position, he truly couldn't bring himself to do this. The whole situation was completely and utterly wrong, there had to be more explanations to this vague order. His mind raced as he held the papers tighter in his hand. Before Rivaille took another step, Mike blurted out,"She's not in her lab."
Rivaille glared over his shoulder.
It was a lie. Rivaille was given the order to kill, no one else. Interference would be nothing as Mike had nothing personal to do about the order itself. There were times when the trust and life of a comrade are held above authority; only in battle did this happen, only now will it ever happen. Mike gathered his wits and relayed false information,"She got injured from shattered glass, had to get stitches at the hospital wing."
Whether Rivaille appreciated or resented the advise, he gave a nod and turned the other way. Mike knew Rivaille trusted him well enough to follow his words.
