- Will you join the Survey Corps?

The answer was hard to escape from Levi's lips and it tasted bitter in his throat, everyone knew the Survey Corps was suicide, but if he had to decide to end with his life right now or delay it for a little bit. The answer was hard to take but he knew what it would be.

- Y-yes!

The hand that forced his face into the puddle of dirty, stinky water released his hair and Levi felt humiliated. There, standing on his knees, face soaked in that smelly water, in front of his comrades, but he had chosen to live one more day and it paid for all this.

At the Survey Corp's base, Levi received clean clothes, a soft bed and a warm meal, something he hadn't have in years, if he had had it at all. He was going to share the same dorm with his comrade Farlan but Izabela stayed in the female's dorm.

Even if he would die tomorrow, outside the walls, he would have a good night before facing the unknown, he would have lived some hours of comfort that seemed so far away from him.

A man, dressed with the Survey Corp's jacket showed on the doorframe of his dorm. He was a messenger.

- Levi, go to the shower and wear clean clothes, when you're done, I'll take you to Captain Erwin's office. He wants to see you.

What that jerk would say to him now? Humiliate him even more? Make him feel grateful to be able to live a little bit more? He would never do that. He had accepted fate, but wouldn't be grateful to that. He had just made a choice, a choice that was the lesser of two evils.

The sensation of hot water pouring on Levi's head and shoulders and sliding thru his body felt amazing. The feeling of being clean, the soft touch of the lavender on his skin, the fresh smell of it was heavens for Levi. He had never felt so happy in his life as he was in the shower. A real shower. For a moment, it didn't matter the deal he had just made, or the talk that waited for him in Erwin's office, or for how long he would survive. He would be glad if he could feel that sensation again. Was like if the pouring water could even wash all the bad memories and all his sins away from him. He even smiled.

He walked fast following the messenger. The cold air from outside the shower room hitting his warm skin and drying his wet hair with a cold blow. The chilling sensation against his body reminded him of reality.

- Come in! – Was the response from inside the door when the messenger knocked it twice.

The two men stepped into Erwin's office. It wasn't big or luxurious. But was cozy and warm inside, lighted with many candles and with good quality furniture. Besides Erwin's big desk and chair, there was a rug, a couch and a coffee table. Surely the Survey Corps didn't receive much resources from the estate but for Levi, it was enough and much more than he had even seem in the underground city.

- Thank you, officer. You may leave us now.

With a nod, the main left Levi in the center of the room.

Erwin's clear eyes laid upon Levi for a moment before his strong voice make a comment about his appearance.

- You barely look like the man who lived in the underground city some hours ago. It seems a shower and clean clothes can do miracles, don't you think?

Levi kept his eyes on Erwin's without speaking a single word about it.

Erwin got up from his chair and walked around his desk, always keeping his calm eyes upon Levi.

- You know we live tomorrow at dawn for an expedition. I expect you to follow my rules and don't try anything smart with your companions. If you try to escape and run away from my squad, I warn you: you can't come back. If you do, I have soldiers in the wall just waiting to shoot you if you cross the wall without my order. And if you run to the woods, it's needless to say you will the snack of some titan as faster than you can imagine.

Again, no words came out of Levi's mouth.

Erwin calmly sat on top of his desk, right in front of Levi in order to have eye contact and be at the same height as Levi.

- It would be a shame to lose you, especially when you have skills with the 3D maneuver gear that are different from my men's. I would like them to observe you using it and learn from it. But if you betray me, killing you is a sacrifice I am willing to do. I need to trust you won't deserve us.

Levi said nothing.

- So, the question here is: can I trust you, Levi?

As no words answered the question, Erwin got up from his desk and patiently walked across the room, locking his door with his key and then placing it into his pocket.

- I see you need to learn some respect and obedience to your superiors. Answer me!
For the first time Levi spoke since he had entered the room:

- Seems you left me no other choice.

As soon as his words left his lips, a strong hand slapped his face with a strong hit.

The surprise and the difference of heights made Levi's feet lose balance and stumble a bit to the side as Erwin stood beside him, his face calm but serious as he still held his hand in the air as he spoke:

- Again, not the answer I want. I'll ask again and I hope you answer it with more respect, otherwise I won't be so nice this time. Can I trust you, Levi?

Levi's black eyes looked angrily at Erwin's light blue peaceful eyes, getting his balance back.

- Screw you – he said with a cold voice before being hit again, but this time by a strong fist.

Levi fell on the floor. The man beside him was much taller and way stronger than him. He was only a very thin and short guy who was probably like this due to his malnutrition since he was a little boy. He had no chance against Erwin, he knew it. But he wouldn't give up without a struggle and give this man something to brag about.

- I sure can endure it all night, but can you, Levi? Again, the question is: Can I trust you?

- Go fuck yourself, you psycho!

- Wrong answer again.

With the same calm but serious face, a knee met Levi's stomach making him fall on his own knees on the office's rug. He had barely recovered from the punch, a tread of blood on the corner of his lip and now an excruciating pain in his stomach that took his air out of his lungs with the impact.

Erwin slowly walked towards the couch and sat there, looking at Levi and waiting until he could catch his breath again.

As Levi stopped coughing and gasping for air, he cursed between clenched teeth.
- Sick bastard!

- Yes, I am. But now, the answer: Can I trust you, Levi?

A moment of silence passed while the small figure slowly got back on his feet and said spoke with a cold and emotionless voice: - Y-yes.

- Yes what, Levi? – Erwin's serious voice asked.

- Y-yes…s-sir. You can trust me.

- Very well. Now I feel I can trust you. Come here.

Trembling a bit and walking slowly due to the pain that was taking a lot of time to start vanishing, Levi walked towards Erwin's couch.

The candle lights flickered on Erwin's still face, giving it a motion it didn't had at all.

- You had just learned about trust. Now, you got to learn about obeying. And I have the whole night for it.