Eruri Week

Choice

Disclaimer: If I owned Attack on Titan, the arc would be going in a different direction lemme tell ya. The prompts were chosen by the official Eruri Week tumblr blog.

This is for Eruri Week 2014! These are all in canon verse, and this one takes place during ACWNR.

Day 1: Past/Memories

With his head shoved into the dirt and mud of the Underground, Levi could only glare up at his enemy. His hair was being pulled by the strong grip of the soldier behind him, but he was glaring up into the blue eyes of another man. The man orchestrating this entire event, the one who had the lives of his friends in his hands. The one he was going to kill.

"Fine." He growled. "I'll join you."

Weeks later, he was in the man's office. The choice was his: kill him now, or wait a little longer. He had yet to find the documents he was charged with obtaining. His mission was still the same, yet there was an added measure he wanted to personally see through. Now, it was just deciding how to go about both.

"They say you're better than most of the trainees who come through here." Erwin murmured, still looking down at his paperwork. It would be so easy, at least that's what he made it appear to be. Levi knew the situation was never what it seemed when it came to Erwin Smith.

"That's probably because I was trained to survive, and they weren't." Levi snorted, arms crossed over his chest and legs crossed at the knee as he sat in the chair directly in front of Erwin's desk. He had to act soon.

Erwin glanced up at him, those eyes searing, but expression calm. Unnerving. He always caught Levi off-guard with just one look. If only the man was a dumb brute like the others. If only he was incapable of his post, like the Military Police leaders, or even the Garrison. Those guys were so much easier to slip past, to defeat. But Erwin was no fool, and he was probably the best soldier in the entire operation. He could be the king, if given the chance.

Which meant Levi had to be careful. His enemy was intelligent, able to strategize and plan out way more steps than Levi could imagine. He had two ways to handle this kind of battle: beat him with sheer force, which was already proven to be against his favor, or join him. Technically speaking, Levi had already joined him.

However, there was another way to look at that phrasing. The phrase "keep your friends close, but your enemies closer" rang in his hand. He normally hated the approach he was now contemplating. How close could he get to the Commander?

As close as he would need.

Levi uncrossed his legs and stood. Those eyes followed him as he walked forward, around the desk, leaning against the wood as he eyed the paperwork. Was this close enough?

No.

"They keep you pretty busy." Levi murmured, glancing over the papers.

"I don't have the leisure to enjoy the benefits of my post." Erwin replied drily.

"It's a shame. A man like you could be destroyed by deskwork. You should be out there, leading your men."

"Oh, I am. You'll see on our next expedition."

Levi snorted again. "I doubt they let you see much action. I bet they keep you nice and safe, don't they, Commander?"

Erwin smiled wryly. "Do you think I'm not out there with my men, fighting side by side with them against the titans? How do you think I got this position?"

Levi's eyes widened slightly, changing his usual grim scowl into something more intense. "I have a few ideas." He was leaning closer. So close. How close would he be allowed to get?

"Oh?" Erwin was taunting him, he could see it in those eyes, the way his mouth curved slightly upward. A challenge.

No regrets. Levi thought as he closed the distance. He would worm his way into Erwin's bed, and from there, into the man's heart. Then he would be the victor. Then he would make Erwin hand over the documents, and his life along with them.

His choice didn't prepare him for the consequences, however. When his friends were lying dead around him, and Erwin was on his knees before him, he realized that the choice he made was wrong.

So he put his sword down and surrendered his body, heart, and soul to the Commander of the Scouting Legion.