Welcome to the new and improved version of TC! This story will be marginally different than its predecessor; a reconstruction, if you will, to tie in the events of this story and Nimbus, its sequel, more effectively. For more information, feel free to follow me on Tumblr, I'm K-lionheart.
Spoiler Warning: This story contains spoilers from the manga, however, I've written it in such a way that they're only visible if you squint. This is mostly the result of personal headcanons and predictions for the series. Still, there will be information that addresses the events in the manga so approach with caution.
Disclaimer: I don't own this series, just this story.
Thunder Clouds: Zerrissen
By
Midori Aoi
Summary:
Humanity survived and the Titans have been wiped out. All that remains is to repopulate. The Military, under the command of Supreme Commander Darius Zackley, has issued out a series of surveys to all factions of the military: The Military Police, the Garrison, and the Survey Corps. Each member must complete the survey in order to ensure maximum compatibility and best genetic results for future generations. The results may not be agreeable to all involved, however.
I
By Order
The day Erwin Smith turned twenty, it rained. Thick plumes of black thunderclouds covered the skies above in a rage of lightning, creating an icy deluge that washed away the pools of crimson deep into the wounds of the earth. He would not forget how his mouth had filled with bile and hatred on that day, his hands trembling over familiar, yet cold steal weapons. He would not forget the devastation of defeat, the merciless bite of an uncanny truth. He believed in the power of his blades. He believed in the advances humanity made to fight against the Titans and the threat of extinction. He believed it as strongly as he believed in the life coursing within his veins, in the Titan blood that scalded him, in the rivers that emptied from those he had known closely, warmly, and intimately.
For every day that passed since then, Erwin Smith committed his life to a single belief; that humanity was not meant to live in a cage. Every bond since then, every tactical choice, and every life lost since, Erwin used as kindling for that belief, throwing himself fully to make it burn, flourish, live. Any opportunity to know his enemy and every failure hence only fueled the desperation to make this belief a reality. Years passed and Erwin battled rivers, thunder clouds, and rain of all kinds.
Then, one day, a new cry echoed over the lands and deep within the walls. A cry so loud and deafening burst all around them and ripped through a young boy's throat and stunned everyone silent. It was a cry that began many, from shouts of fear and concern to wails of relief and of hope.
Erwin heard this cry, stood before the boy and questioned, saw a bloodlust and violence spark in this child's gaze, saw a spirit of flame and heat and power. Erwin heard his voice and heard his deepest desire and felt it quake within his chest. What fears and confusion and mistrust that had protected him for years against all enemies fell quickly to accept the boy. Years of ignorance and battle for knowledge finally placed an answer right at his feet, and Erwin would be a fool not to sweep it off the ground and use it to its fullest potential.
The Commander of the Thirteenth Legion and leader of the Survey Corps saw the seeds of freedom, of the future in the eyes of an angry, frightened, reckless fifteen-year-old boy.
The decision to bring him in so close was reckless, presumptuous even. He knew that making such a rash decision was sure to gain him unusual glances and worried attention. But, Eren Jaeger donned a mantle so naturally on his shoulders that it surprised Erwin, who had struggled to fit into it for years. Outside perspective is damned; he was not going to play it safe now. For two years since, Erwin sacrificed everything and anything that could be sacrificed for the sake of getting one more victory, and one more victory after that. He unleashed rivers and thunderclouds and rain of his own making, all for the opportunity to know, and understand, and finally conquer.
Two years and the Titans were finally defeated.
They had done it. He had done it.
Humanity was free…but at a cost.
There was always a cost. There would always be new shouts and cries that would change the symphony of their songs and dreams. A new cry had come.
This time, it seemed, that payment would not come with the spilling of blood. No, it came with swift and tall orders written in permanent ink. Such orders were written in impressive ways, simple and robust and promising security, safety, freedom from fear. What remained of the war-torn survivors saw such an order and bowed their heads, too tired and relieved to think of it other than a small cost to pay. Not Erwin. Erwin saw it plain and clear as the blood he had poured over his hands and burn his skin.
Humanity was finally free from the Titans.
And yet, centuries of living like cattle, and now they were being led by the neck into another cage. This new cry had rendered them all mute. Humanity would continue to pay with their obedience and their subservience.
"Erwin."
Commander Erwin stared at the document in his hands, limbs tight and eyebrows furrowed into a deep groove over his eyes. He should have seen this coming.
Straightening his shoulders, Erwin turned and faced his second in command, Hanji Zoe. Her eyes were shielded by a flash of light reflected off the surface of her spectacles and her lips were pulled into a tight line. The air between and around them was thick and stifling. Neither of them dared to breathe too hard, neither dared to lessen the blow. The feeling of "so close" was a weight on their lungs that weighed selfishly and shoved everything else through their fingers like sand.
"What news of the Queen?" Erwin's voice was collected, poised. Cold.
"Historia Reiss has been successfully extracted from the Capitol." The reply was firm, just as composed as his. Erwin took note when Hanji tilted her chin to fix him a look, saw a flicker of wryness ghost through her features,"Just in time as luck would have it."
He nodded slowly, Adam's apple bobbing up and down tensely against his throat. "Where is she now?"
"Levi's team has managed to get her as far as Trost for now. Considering what needs to be done to ensure her safety, I'm sure they're laying low and as far from the radar of the Zackley's spies." Hanji pursed her lips for a moment, her chestnut-colored eyes falling back over the document in Erwin's hands.
Softly, she added, "Is this really what we've come to?"
Erwin followed her gaze and swallowed once more. "One more price to pay," he replied smoothly, placing the document over his desk, fingers pressing over the surface of the wood. "We've survived this much after the Trials, we just have to keep doing so until the time is right."
"And when will that be, Erwin?" The words escaped Hanji's throat in a growl, the sound of her fist colliding harshly with his desk echoed loudly. Erwin did not flinch, but he met her gaze just as quickly. There was a fury in her eyes, a wild irritation that made the seriousness in her statement gleam like the edge of a knife.
"One more year? Two? How long do you expect us to bow our heads for the sake of—what does it say—of security? For how long do we have to keep sacrificing—" Hanji's words came to an abrupt stop, turning her chin away to gaze at anything but him.
Her wild, auburn hair fell like a curtain over her face, obscuring her profile and causing an unexpected lump of pain to form in Erwin's throat. He knew exactly what she meant. It was easy to see that the trembling in her balled fist wasn't out of noble outrage, but of something deeper. Hanji had always been able to feel so deeply. It was one of the reasons he trusted her above anyone else.
"Do you believe in me, Hanji Zoe?" he asked.
When she looked back up at him, the reticence in her gaze was gone. The pain, the anguish, the complete sense of being robbed of freedom once again filled her so openly that he worried she would break from the pressure. Instead, Hanji gave him a nod and pushed away from his desk, ready to fall silent. Erwin couldn't hold back from allowing his own emotions show then.
"We're not finished, Hanji," Erwin murmured, thick eyebrows furrowing over his azure eyes. "Not yet."
Hanji's face pinched for a fraction of a moment before she gave him another nod, her long bangs whipping over her face before she gave him an assured look. There would be no tears from her today.
"Very well, Commander," she said, smiling pithily at him. "I'll trust your judgement, as I always do."
With a salute, she did an about-face and marched off, footsteps clattering rhythmically and firmly on the wooden floor. Erwin watched as she walked, mouth setting into a thin line that shook slightly.
"Tell you what though, Erwin," she said with a final wave as she reached the door. "I hope you've got a good speech prepared, because there's no way in hell Levi's going to take this well."
A soft huff escaped through his nose, the image her comment painted bringing an unexpected mirth into his chest.
"Oh, he'll be furious." Erwin agreed with a rueful smile. Hanji let out a small snicker, but the sound was so empty, so sad that it hurt just as bad as her crying. With a final glance, she moved and walked out the door, leaving the Commander to sit in deafening silence.
March 854
The news spread out everywhere in a matter of days.
"It's bad enough they have to draft us and our kin into the military," a churlish voice erupted over a boisterous tavern hall. The chatter and outraged uproar fell to listen to the voice of a man with a stout body and hard expression. "We're being forced to breed, like—what—dogs? Are we hounds?"
A wave of disagreeing voices rose.
"Dogs bred for sport and enjoyment?!" the man exclaimed, the wave came stronger.
"This here Mandate is a load of bull if you ask me!" He roared and those who agreed joined their voices with him.
"No one is asking you," another voice rose and this time, it belonged to a smaller man, one with a tired expression and curled lip. "Or did you forget, Brom, how quickly we came to falling extinct?"
Brom's mouth parted with disdain, "That's only words in the newspapers, Tobias. You honestly believe everything you read?"
"Oho," challenged Tobias, crossing his arms and leaning on his chair. "You're one of those now? Words on newspapers? You're a dimwit, Brom, and if you aren't then you wouldn't forget the events of two years ago. Now, I'll speak my mind!" Tobias cried when another wave threatened to silence his voice. The wave crashed as the people around stopped to listen.
"Not all of you were in Mitras, and that is all well, but I was close enough to have seen them. I saw the many hordes of Titans of which the likes would've rendered you all scared like frightened rabbits. I saw the horizon burn with fires and felt the distant rumblings that shook the earth and tore Wall Sina down. This village survived on sheer luck alone, and the people that died were no simple amounts of lives that fell to sickness." Tobias paused to fix Brom a hard stare.
"Thousands died in that Conflict, Brom. Don't you pretend that didn't happen, because it did, and you spit on the dead for hoping to deny it!" Another wave rose and people began to stir and rise, Brom's face flushed pink with shame.
"I do not deny it!" He called, and the roar fell back down. "But we've always lost numbers because of the efforts made by the Corps and the Garrison on their crusades to battle the Titans. Now, they draft us unless we're with the Guild or Union, order us under pain of death to join and now they call for us not in committed families to relinquish ourselves to fill out these Survey of Compatibility for—and I may not be a scholar but I can read just fine—the assured survival of our species? What the hell does that even mean?!"
"And what about those of us under Oath?" Another man exclaimed fingers pale as he clenched his fingers around a necklace of gold and bearing the proud insignias of the walls. "Are we to become godless and abandon our callings to subject our bodies to this government's whims and fancies?!"
"You'd think that being in the military would be a noble pursuit," a woman spoke, sighing and taking a drink from a mug of ale. "This drafting is no better opportunity than to fatten us up and treat us like breeding animals."
"Be that as it may," Tobias spoke once more, his expression darkened. "We have no choice anymore. We risk extinction, does that not resound with you all?"
The voices rose and crowded over themselves, gathering more volume as opinions clashed and mentalities were questioned. Among the chaos of words and voices, a small group of cloaked individuals rose from a table and carefully stole away into the dying day, leaving without attracting attention or inquiry. If anyone noticed, they didn't bring it up. Given the topic of the night, it wasn't long before others joined the movement and left for their own homes.
The three cloaked individuals headed quickly and silently toward the nearby stables, securing their horses without a word and taking off with a few efficient signals and a fluid formation. Hooves echoed around the squad, until clouds choked the night sky and drenched them in moments.
Steam erupted from a horse's maw, the sound bursting and fading in the air as Captain Levi's steed pounded its hooves hard over the earth. Rain fell in icy torrents, slapping harshly against the short man's narrow stare and the skin stretched over a clenched jaw. He chanced a glance at the duo riding behind him, their faces scrunched up in exhaustion as they followed their Captain's increasingly fast pace.
"Captain!" The first spoke up and Levi didn't have to wait for long for her to speak. Sasha Braus's voice was seeking, pleading, for some kind of knowledge that would set her at ease. "Please, sir, why is this happening? Why now?"
"Is this because of the attempt on Historia's life?" Connie Springer asked a moment after. "Why would the government pass such a law, now?"
"I'm sure the answer is much more complicated than what I can say," was Levi's response. In the distance, rays of orange sunlight burst from behind the fading pulls of mist and flash rain clouds. "But we managed to save Historia, and that's what matters."
"Is it true that only people in the military will be the only ones to do this?" Sasha asked again and this time Levi could not answer. He knew she knew the answer and Sasha did not speak again until their horses took them closer to a familiar path. The path to the Survey Corps reestablished castle within the reconquered lands of Wall Maria.
When the trio finally arrived at the Castle, the tension among soldiers was stifling and difficult to process. The large gates of the fortress were already opened to permit the returning soldiers in. Cool spring breezes pulled at the large flags at the corners, the emblem of the Wings of Freedom shimmering beneath the late afternoon light.
"Captain Levi!" the voice boomed towards the soldiers once their horses slowed to a trot passed the entrance. A couple of young cadets approached Connie and Sasha's steeds, reaching hands to gather reigns to lead the animals to the stables. Levi rode on toward the stables himself, nodding to the Sergeant who had called his name.
"Connie, Sasha, report immediately to Keiji and get your equipment checked in." Levi ordered over his shoulder, meeting his subordinates waiting gazes with a firm stare. "Once you're done getting the shit off your boots, complete the reports of the mission to give to Erwin."
"Yes, sir." the two chorused before sliding off their saddles and taking off.
Levi turned just in time to see the sergeant stop feet away from him, a proud salute pounded into the man's chest. Levi nearly snorted. It was easy to spot the strain in the man's posture, just as easily as spotting grime on a pair of rusted swords.
"Miles," Levi greeted.
"Commander Erwin and Major Hanji Zoe are awaiting your presence in the Commander's Office," Sergeant Miles announced. A frown tugged over Levi's eyebrows before he gave the man a single nod and slid off his horse. He couldn't say he wasn't expecting this. Levi had been in the middle of the mission when the Mandate had been made public, there was no doubt this would be the topic of the conversation when he met both Erwin and Hanji.
Damn.
"Am I allowed at least to take a bath?" Levi inquired flatly. The sergeant floundered, mouth opening and closing as he tried to stammer out a concise reply. "Calm down, Miles. It was a joke."
"Oh, very good, sir…" Miles replied uneasily. The raven haired Captain was already taking long strides passed him as he headed toward the main doors of the Castle. He was feet away from the main doors when a young cadet rushed to his side, holding a series of cloths and towels in his arms. Levi accepted one of the rags with a flick of a wrist, already tugging off his drenched and dirtied cape to press into the young soldier's hands.
"How was the mission, sir?" The cadet asked, looking mighty nervous as Levi paused over the door to lean against the rain chilled stone. Levi gave a gruff noise as he busied himself with wiping mud and dirt from his shoes. "A success, then?"
"Yes," Levi replied before passing him the dirtied cloth. There was no lightness in Levi's voice despite the glad news. "It was a success. Take my cloak to my room, I'll take care of cleaning it."
"Yes, sir." The cadet scurried off with a quick salute.
When Levi entered past the doors, he was quick to ignore the glances and salutes of passing soldiers and staffs-people, yet he could not ignore the way the air tasted. This 'Mandate' had put the entire Castle into a spirit of profound unease. He could see it in the way soldiers would huddle to speak, pausing only to take orders to 'return to work' from Levi. He could see it in how expressions looked tight with distraught lines, the way eyes stared ahead in sunken stares and hollow gazes.
Marching toward Erwin's office was nearly nerve-wracking, the air was so tense. Levi was glad to escape the thicker parts of the atmosphere. It was not unlike returning from a failed expedition; in all honesty, Levi had believed that such a tension would not fall over their heads again.
He had been wrong.
"Come in," Erwin's voice was certain and strong after Levi's knuckles rapped over the door. Pushing through, the short man was faced with the solemn expressions of his superiors and long-time war partners.
Erwin stood just feet away from the nearest window, his arms at rest behind his back and making him appear as taut as a bowstring. Sunset fell into the room in harsh rays, casting contrasting shadows from Erwin's body to Hanji's tight figure leaning against the immense desk on other side of the room.
"Levi, welcome back."
"Yeah," Levi replied shortly, crossing his arms as soon as he was deep inside the office. "I would say it is nice to be back, but it looks like we've had our asses ripped in half out there." Erwin didn't look amused by the callous comment. Not like Levi expected him to. Glancing to the right, Levi noticed Hanji standing by, her chin dropped and gaze turned firmly away. Damn.
"You're aware of the latest law, I take it." Erwin proceeded, facing the two officers directly. Levi nodded.
"I only know the basic information. My squad heard the news when we stopped in Tapir for a quick weapons check."
Erwin's eyes flashed seriously, "Is Historia safe?"
"Jean and Armin are bringing her back as we speak. We had to split up some time after we escaped Mitras." Levi's eyes then narrowed, "Lucky for us we didn't encounter any of Zackley's spies on the way out. But, you probably guessed that already."
Erwin's face stiffened as he considered the information. Levi didn't have to search deep to know that he was right.
"Zackley would be a fool to attempt to kill off the Queen right now…" he said, azure eyes falling for a moment in consideration. "Timing was on our side this time."
There was a moment of silence, dragged on by a shared mulling of the new circumstance. In this silence, Levi's expression softened for a fraction.
"Hanji…" The woman glanced up from her stoic posture, glancing into his face with half-hearted curiosity. "What news of Eren?" the inquiry was a heavy one. Hanji's eyes slid shut as she sighed.
"No change," Hanji said grimly. "He continues to sleep although his vitals remain consistent. However, given how long it's been…"
"There's really only a matter of time," Levi concluded with a flat voice. Hanji's eyes sobered to one of a pained agreement. She gave a silent nod. With a sigh, Levi shifted his weight on his feet before looking back at Erwin.
"So, what's the plan?"
Erwin blinked curiously, "Plan?"
"With the Mandate," Levi said with a jerk of his chin. "Or, did you call me in to bounce off ideas?"
Erwin's lips parted, his face widening into a look of half-surprise. The man's blue eyes jumped toward Hanji's, mirroring a stunned reaction and even some hesitant approach swirled between them. The exchange was not missed on Levi, and the shorter man gave the two a glare that belied the uncertainty now spooling in his stomach.
"What?" he barked.
"Levi," Erwin began, taking a step toward the desk and dropping his arms to his sides. "We're agreed that we are to discuss this new law."
"Right…" Levi said slowly.
Erwin took in a breath, "But we are not fighting this."
Levi's eyebrows shot up to his hairline and his hands fell to his sides as he stared incredulously at the duo ahead of him. Levi glanced between the two of them before drawling, "This is a fucking joke, right?"
"We're not fighting this, Levi," Hanji intervened. "As much as I hate this sudden law… I agree with Erwin. There's no point in trying to turn it around."
"The fact is, this Mandate is a logical step," Erwin continued. "Consider where we are now since the events of the Final Conflict. Consider how we've had to pull Historia from the courts and bring her into hiding… We're not facing an enemy with swords anymore, Levi. This time we have no choice but to obey the Mandate… if we are to make sure that Humanity will survive."
A rare expression of shock flashed over Levi's unguarded face, making him look baffled as his narrow eyes jumped back and forth between Commander and Squad Leader. Suddenly, Levi's eyes went black with ire, his mouth slicing into a thin line of disdain before parting to expose teeth.
"Erwin, you better not be telling me that I am going to have to sire brats into this shitty world, because if you do I will shove my foot up your ass."
To his credit, Erwin didn't take Levi's vulgar words with an offense. Erwin's eyebrows dipped over his eyes, making the older man's face turn grave. "I'm afraid that we have no other choice."
"The fuck does that mean we have no other choice?" Levi snarled, hands clenching into fists. "You want to enslave what left of humanity to make sure we don't die off? Where did your balls go?"
Erwin straightened to his full height, eyes burning dark with fierce devotion. "What I want can't happen because we have lost that chance to a gamble, Levi. Believe me, when I say that if we are to survive from more than just extinction, we have to follow the mandate. We've long relinquished our capacity to think for the sake of individual being. The Titans may be gone but the enemy remains, and I'd like for my balls to no longer be in that bastard's grasp."
"So what," Levi snapped taking a few steps closer to seize him with a black glower. "We bow our heads and hoped we get scratched behind the ears? I did not watch good people die under my watch so that we end up falling behind with our tails between our fucking legs."
"It is the only option we have now," Erwin stated.
"Aside from what, Erwin?"
"Aside from losing everything we've fought for up until now!" the words fell like anvils on Levi and Hanji's ears, and they saw Erwin Smith nearly falter beneath them. The sight alone made what final arguments Levi had to disappear with a thick swallow.
"I would much rather ensure that Zackley thinks of us as his dogs than to find a reason to wipe us out completely. There is literally very little from keeping us from that fate, Levi. I will not risk losing that for a single moment of defiance."
The sunlight in the room faded slowly to a dim version of itself, shifting with the push of scattered clouds and the promise of more rain.
He was right. Levi knew this much. He knew that there was nothing they could do right now. They were being forced into a new cage… after they had sacrificed everything. It was then that Levi couldn't help but think that perhaps it was still a good thing that Eren was so far gone. He didn't know how Eren would react if he found out his sacrifice had been in vain.
"The people will look to us," Erwin said after a moment. "You especially, Levi. As Humanity's Strongest. Those that remain will look to you for strength, which is why we cannot pause now. You are no longer just the strongest, my friend. You are one of the very last."
In a final moment of disgust, Levi let out a frustrated scoff, turning away abruptly to stare off into a corner of the office. He was torn. Torn from stomping out from the office, jumping on his horse and riding off into unknown lands, and torn from turning and slamming his fist into Erwin's face. For years, he had trusted this man's judgement, as it had saved his life in several cases and in many crucial points. While many of Erwin's orders had been steep in the past, none could ever compare to this one.
With another breath, Levi whirled around, prepared to snap and spit something venomous through his teeth only to have the venom sour in his tongue. He had been prepared to see Erwin in his stoic posture, prepared to take angry words like a tested steel wall, instead he saw how Erwin's eyes fell over Hanji and how Hanji gazed back—the level of pain in their eyes could only work to silence Levi further.
Levi knew that there would be powerful repercussions to this new Mandate, knew that there would be many who would suffer (needlessly) because of it. It was in that moment, that the short man saw how much suffering this Mandate was causing.
He could see it in the way the tension between Erwin and Hanji hung suspended as they stared into each other's eyes, then fell when they forcefully turned their gazes away.
"This world is cruel, Levi."
The memory stabbed into his heart viciously, and Levi couldn't find it in him to feel any more anger to direct at anyone save himself. This Mandate meant something more personal as well…
If there was anything he could have done… it was too late now.
This world is cruel…
Hours later, Levi sat on the edge of his bed and fought the urge through tear through the moist towel over his shower drenched hair. In his hands, he held a copy of one of the very surveys that would be handed out when Erwin made the inevitable announcement. His gun-metal blue eyes could do nothing else but skim with practiced apathy over the letters, taking in the words and pretending they weren't stones being stacked into a very tall wall. Levi's fingers slid over the edges of the packet in his hands, turning page after page with half-hearted loathing and an insipid wish to toss the damn thing into an open flame.
Survey of Compatibility
By Order of the Supreme Commander, Darius Zackley, all capable soldiers and officers of Her Majesty's Military (retired or not) are hereby mandated to answer these questions to the truest of natures, in order to ensure maximum results. In the event of being already engaged in an intimate relationship (of the opposite sex) soldiers can be exempt from filling out the Survey of Compatibility if—and only if—they intend to file an Engagement Document (attached separately) specifying the desire to become unified to another capable soldier. Any use of the Engagement Document to defy, deceive, and/or avoid the laws of the Mandate will lead to immediate incarceration and/or execution.
All Surveys must be completed within a period of (six) weeks from the moment of receiving said documentation. Estimated time in resulting in a match is approx. 1-2 week(s).
Question 1…
Six weeks to complete this damn noose and an added week for pulling it on snug and taking the plunge…
Levi let out a soft snort as he thumbed through the list of extensive questions, noting how a military identification number was required above all else.
His hand stopped flicking through the pages when his eyes beheld the single form titled: The Engagement Document.
Tired and sunken gray eyes blinked slowly as they took in the script before falling over the first lines.
Please write in legible script the names of both soldiers entering this engagement…
His hand moved without warning, his finger sliding up on the edge of the paper. A hiss yanked through Levi's teeth when he felt the edge slice into the digit, tracing a thin line through the skin. A bead of crimson collected over the small cut, taunting Levi with its color and reminding him far too much of a familiar scarf and the eyes that belonged to its owner.
Sticking his finger through his teeth, Levi gave the small wound a fierce suck that made the bitter taste of iron burst over his tongue. Even long after the blood clotted the sting refused to ebb.
Levi tossed aside the packet of mechanical words and carefully worded warnings before sinking into his mattress. Lifting a war-calloused hand to his chest, the aging Captain rubbed at the space near the bottom of his left ribcage, lips curling at the pressure. It didn't matter how much time would pass, it seemed…
With a sigh, Levi pressed his fingers against his ribs once before dropping his hand toward his forehead.
So many people sacrificed, so many names that had been taken without remorse or hesitance…
And now he had no choice but to bow down to another pointed finger and a slap of dirt in his face. Once, Levi knew that all he needed to fight back was his own strength and abilities, but this was a new battle he did not know how to fight against. Not for the first time did Levi find himself brooding within the dark of his empty room, wondering if he should have just given in to the force that took so many of his friends. If he could have survived the force that took from him his heart, placed it in the hands of one woman who hid behind ice cold stares and a crimson cloth.
He wondered if things would be different now if he had never fallen in love with Mikasa Ackerman.
It took another two days before Jean and Armin arrived with Historia in tow, the latter hidden within a long green hood and cloak. The former Queen stared emptily into Captain Levi's face when he met the returned soldiers within a meeting room in the castle. Sasha and Connie had accompanied their Captain in meeting the newly returned trio, exchanging hugs and soft greetings that could have been warmer if the situation were different.
"Were you followed?" Levi asked once they had managed to sit down to talk about the mission report. Jean shook his head, eyebrows dipping over his eyes as he focused his attention on their leader.
"Armin rode with Historia to ensure she had protection, I rode some ways behind to make sure we weren't attracting stragglers. For the most part, the trip back was uneventful."
Levi's eyebrow arched, "For the most part?"
They fell silent, then. Levi didn't need to ask to clarify, the looks on their faces were not unlike the looks that all the soldiers in the castle now carried. With a heavy sigh, Levi leaned back on his chair and traced the tips of his fingers over the lip of his mug. "So, now you know what we have to do next."
"Captain," Armin spoke up, his voice raspy with exhaustion yet firm with conviction. "Does the Commander have any information on what can be done…about this Mandate?"
Levi shook his head, flicking a stray strand of black hair from his eyes. "No."
"What does that mean?" Connie asked, lurching forward on his seat and pressing his fists over the top of the table. "Are we not doing anything or are we waiting for a time to strike?"
A look of anticipation built and flushed through the group's expressions, each turning to face their leader with some array of hope, and varying levels of intensities. Levi took turns meeting their gazes, wishing to convey some kind of plan that would spare them this latest issue. But he knew there was nothing, so Levi shook his head.
"The only thing we are doing is doing as we are told."
No one seemed to have expected this and judging by how they stared at him, the group appeared to be waiting for him to announce it was just another joke. It was always hard to tell when the Captain was being funny… however, Levi made no such move to contradict his words with a candid jest and the atmosphere sobered before it could even hope to lighten up.
This time, Historia was the one who slammed her fists on the table, startling the group to look at her. Her expression was brutal and vicious, unwilling to sit back and take such an order.
"I will not believe Commander Erwin would expect us to roll over and expose ourselves like this. I will not, Captain. So long as I am alive there is always an opportunity to fight back."
"With who, your majesty?" Levi interrupted, meeting her gaze with flattened exasperation. "Your subjects? Those same loyal subjects that sat back and did nothing as attempt after attempt was made on your life?"
"Things were changing!" Historia insisted through clenched teeth, "People may have fought against me in the past, but I was making changes."
"Yeah, well, all those changes got us nowhere because last I checked Parliament wasn't exactly clambering up to defend you when Marquis Randolf called for that fucking vote," Connie spoke up, golden eyes narrowed angrily.
Historia blinked at him with surprise, her lips parting as if she had not expected him to speak up against her.
"Vote?" Armin inquired, looking as out of the loop as everyone else. Levi replied with a hand pressed against his eyes.
"It was a vote called during the Trials. None of you were there because it had been long after Erwin and the Corps had been acquitted from being involved in the failed coup. All I was told about it was that members of Parliament had come to a unanimous decision on whether or not it was safe now to expand outward."
"What was the decision?" Sasha asked.
Levi's hand trailed from his face, his expression sour, "That it wasn't."
"And when the matter of your leadership came up, no one said shit about how many things you were fixing as queen," Connie concluded bitterly. At Historia's stunned silence, Connie's eyes hardened.
"I was there, Historia. Commander Erwin told me to keep an eye out for you and to report back."
"The Trials have nothing to do with this, Connie!" she snapped back, seemingly regaining her voice. "That vote didn't call for a favor, it called for order!"
"Not according to everyone else," he muttered back. Historia bristled, pale hands clenching hard and Levi spotted the desire to lunge in her eyes before Connie did.
Levi interjected, "I have no doubt that you are still capable of changing everything." Historia turned to look at him, cherry lips thinning to a harsh line. "But the fact is, there are now those who believe the Monarchy is no longer relevant in this new world. Especially, after the whole Fake King shit went down."
Historia gave an impatient huff, "That's exactly why—"
"—Regardless of the memories in your blood or even your right to rule, you are still human." Levi cut in shortly. "We can't fight against these new laws with swords, Historia."
"So we will be fighting back?" Sasha piped in, her eyes wide with hope.
Levi met Sasha's gaze with a frown, "No. We won't."
"It's the best logical choice," Armin intervened, earning a series of shocked expressions from the others. His expression was narrowed in a pensive pinch, "I can understand why the Commander would make the choice to follow."
"Armin…?" Historia breathed, looking as though she had been slapped. That took Levi by surprise. Armin did not look at her, instead, he faced everyone else with that same look of determination that Erwin had when Levi had met with him.
"We are inches from extinction," Armin explained. "Yes, we have survived and the Titans are gone… but the events of the Final Conflict nearly wiped out mankind completely. There is only a fraction left of what we had before, and those who are strong enough to work are drafted into the military if they are not employed by the Merchant's Guild or the Farmer's Union…" He trailed off, allowing his words to sink in.
"At this point, we need stability, we need order. I believe this Mandate is evil, but I also believe it may be a necessary evil if we are to survive these next few years—if at all."
No one else said anything after Armin finished and all eyes fell over to the table. There was anger, there was disdain, and there was dejection… the level of heavy-heartedness was so strong that there would be very little that could break the tension. Levi dared not utter a word and it seemed they all would do the same until Historia rose to her feet without warning.
The sound of her chair scraping against the stone beneath made them all glance up toward her, and her expression was so calculatingly flat it made Levi's stomach clench uncertainly. With a final nod, Historia turned and stormed off, flaxen hair flying behind her in a fury. Armin shot to his feet as soon as she turned away, blue eyes crinkled and openly despairing, yet he remained still as he watched her go. When the door slammed shut behind her, Armin stared at the door, shoulders slumping.
"Armin," Jean spoke, voice soft with concern.
"It's nothing," Armin said before returning to his seat. Levi watched the exchange with an unreadable expression. After a rather awkward silence, Jean faced their Captain once again.
"Is Mikasa not joining us?" he sighed.
"She's watching over Eren," Sasha saved Levi from replying.
Jean turned to look at the girl before his lips thinned into a line. "Ah…" he muttered. "…Any news?"
"No," Levi answered, this time, returning his gaze over to his cup, tea lukewarm. "You're all dismissed. Erwin will be making the official announcement tomorrow, so get some rest."
"Sir." The group chorused before they began to file out of the room, leaving their Captain alone to his drink and to think about what was to come.
"Captain," Connie's voice came from behind the shorter man. Levi gave him a hum in response. "This is bullshit."
Leaning back on his chair, the Captain lifted his cup by the edges before taking in a long swig of bitter black tea. When he swallowed, he let out a soft sigh, "Yeah."
A few moments later the door slid shut, leaving Levi to sit in deafening silence.
Jean was concerned and for good reason. Despite knowing how much he probably should stay clear; the young soldier couldn't help but straighten his shoulders as he marched in the familiar direction of the medical wing. For a moment, his eyes wandered over the halls of the castle, remembering how filthy the stone had been when they had first arrived years ago.
The Survey Corps Castle in the lands near the edge of Wall Maria was much larger than its Wall Rose predecessor. Considering the fact that for a full century, they had been stationed closest to uncharted territory, the building was much more impressive. When they had first arrived, Jean had been pretty astounded by its size, taking note of Levi's nostalgic expression before he began shouting orders to clean. After that, Jean had vaguely remembered wishing the castle to shrink.
Once they had become more situated within its confines (and he had been told he would be able to have his own room), his opinion on the stronghold improved.
It had been impressive, yes, but also on the fact that despite the fortress being lost to Titan conquest for nearly ten years, its structural integrity remained intact. They had expected to find ruins, not a standing structure. A few towers had fallen here and there, but overall it had remained strong. Jean had been told some time after that it was due to the fact that Erwin Smith (after being recently made Commander) issued an order to all squads to abandon the Castle, and make haste toward the walls and ensure civilians were evacuated.
It had been a smart move in the end.
Since their success, the castle had been permitted a chance to be renovated and within months, the place was up and running like a smooth and well-oiled military engine.
Footsteps echoing around him, Jean eventually found his way within the sterilized smell that came from the Hospital Wing and medical offices.
"Hey, Jean," a soldier called, and Jean turned to face him with a small smile of acknowledgment.
"Alex," the taller soldier greeted. The teenage boy nodded back, black bowl-cut hair shifting over his ears at the movement, his gray eyes watched him through a half-lidded expression that hadn't done the kid any favors in making friends. "You're looking good."
"I take it the mission was a success," Alex inquired and he was taking a couple of steps away from a desk to fall in stride with Jean. "Which would be a huge cause for celebration if it wasn't for the Mandate."
Jean's lips twitched into a frown, "Yeah. But, I doubt we'd be celebrating even if the Mandate wasn't a thing. That's still classified information, dude. The mission, that is."
The wiry soldier shrugged, half-smiling, "I'm only as good as my team."
"Tell your team to stop snooping around," Jean exhaled with some mirth. "Is Major Hanji nearby?"
"She's in the lab," Alex replied, his footsteps slowing to a stop just as Jean began to turn down a separate hall. "Mikasa Ackerman is in there too…"
Jean gave him a nod before his expression turned somber, "Has she left the room at all?"
"Afraid not," Alex shook his head. "I've not been allowed to know much, but there haven't been any changes."
No surprise there. Jean lifted a hand to wave at the kid, disappointed. "Thanks, Al. I'll see you around."
It was easy to locate the lab, having made the trip countless times, Jean tried to keep his head objective the closer he approached the single door. Officially speaking, there was nothing but an officer's office and a testing lab in the room. On paper, it belonged to Hanji Zoe, and on paper, it just said it was her place to focus on work, which wasn't a lie, per se.
Few people were aware of the real secret behind the door because few people were allowed inside. The reason why Alex was aware was because of a mission his squad had been involved in several months ago. A mission that required the extraction of some very serious drugs and medicine and the boy had connections that benefitted them at the time. Those drugs saved Eren life and gained Alex Van Gocken Jean's trust and friendship.
Jean rapped his fist on the wood of the door, waiting for the inevitable order to approach and enter. Sure enough, he heard Hanji's voice through the wood.
"Who is it?"
"Senior Cadet Jean Kirschstein," Jean announced.
"Ah, come on in, Jean." The door gave a soft squeak as Jean pushed it open and he was met by Hanji's familiar smiling face. In her hands, she held a mug of something steaming and bitter smelling.
"Good to see you, Jean!" Hanji greeted jovially. "I trust the mission went well!"
"It did," Jean replied, but his eyes were already trailing in the direction of a long white fabric divider in the room. Sunlight from the windows behind it did enough to show the shadows behind the curtain and he could already spot Mikasa's familiar figure sitting not far away. "Historia is safe."
"Good, very good!" Hanji praised just as she swiveled on her chair and beckoned him forward. "I'm glad to hear that."
"Hanji," Jean began, cutting to the quick. "Are there any changes?"
Hanji's lips curled up in a solemn smile, her chin turning as she shook her head. "Eren sleeps, Jean. You could have just asked Armin after he left here too, he would've told you the same thing."
"I wanted to come here in person," Jean admitted. "See how he was for me."
"Well, I won't stop you," Hanji said with a wave. "I'm sure Mikasa will be happy to see you, too."
Jean gave the woman a somewhat uncertain nod before facing the divider more directly. In that entire time, Mikasa had made no move to react, Jean could only heave a sigh before he walked toward the curtain and pulled it back.
His eyes fell over Eren's body first—as they always did—and he felt his chest tighten painfully when he took note of his friend's physique. Eren had been slim back when they had first met, muscles thin and wiry with malnutrition, his cheek bones just barely protruding. Years of being well fed in the military gave him a healthier girth and glow about his cheeks. Now, after having been asleep for months…well it was fair to say that Eren didn't look so well.
Worse… he looked like he was just days from dying.
His skin hugged his bones tightly, and the short brown hair had grown to ragged strands that nearly touched his lips at the front. Mikasa had done a fair job in brushing the locks away from his face, but Jean wondered if that really made a difference. Beside the cot was a long metal pole that held up two bags of clear liquid, dual plastic cables conjoined from both to slide down toward the unconscious boy's arm. Medical tape covered the area the cables dug within his veins.
He remembered Armin explaining it was the only way they could get any nutrients into Eren's body, considering he hasn't shown signs of waking anytime soon.
"He's doing better," Mikasa's soft voice nearly startled Jean into looking at her, eyes taking in her cropped black hair, blood red muffler, simple civilians clothes resting over the slopes of her body.
"He looks better." Jean said, but the lie was as easy to catch as hers. Mikasa's head bobbed once before she turned in her seat to face Jean. Dark circles pressed beneath her eyes, making them appear sunken and tired. Jean felt his fists clench when she caught the indignation in his eyes and turned away. "You don't."
"I'm fine, Jean."
"When was the last time you slept?" he said sharply. "Or even ate, for that matter? Your clothes are practically hanging off your body."
"Are you going to start threatening me, too?" her voice was monotonous, uncaring.
"You're an idiot for not listening to Armin, of all people." Jean snapped. "I get that you feel responsible for Eren, but that doesn't mean you need to kill yourself in the process. You're lucky that the Captain's busy, otherwise I'd have him come here to drag you off."
He didn't miss the way her shoulders flinched at the mention of Levi, how her fingers knotted into the fabric of her skirt. "You know, I might just go bring him here anyway," Jean said coldly, already making up his mind in following through with his words. "You won't listen to anyone else anyway."
He felt her hand wrap around his wrist lightning fast, giving him a firm tug that ceased all another movement. Jean glanced back down, unable to see Mikasa's eyes through her dark fringe.
"Don't…" she said softly, her shoulders tight with anxious energy. "Don't call him here… I'm sorry, Jean."
A slow sigh blew out Jean's nostrils, making them flare as he felt his heart give. Mikasa let him go a moment later and she turned back to look at Eren's unmoving body.
"You know, we did pretty well out there without you," Jean said after another tense silence, his lips quirking up in a half-smile.
Mikasa glanced back at him, eyes blinking curiously. "I'm glad," she said. "Historia's safe, then?"
"Yeah," Jean said, this time with a little more vigor. "You should've seen Armin when he saw her. That kid's face lit up like a flare."
Mikasa's lips moved, shaping a small smile that gave Jean some hope. He had wondered if the old in-joke between them would be enough to give him a reaction—it was small, but it was enough for him. "You still think he has a crush on her?"
"No doubt about it now," Jean said, chuckling. "You and Connie owe me money."
Mikasa let out a half-snort, a weak sound that made Jean's smile falter a bit. "That wasn't the deal, Jean. She has to return his feelings, at the very least."
Jean's grin broadened. "Armin's charmed his way from getting us killed hundreds of times under dire circumstances, you think he can't charm the Queen of Humanity?"
"We'll see," Mikasa replied and for a moment, the atmosphere was a little lighter. The tall soldier said nothing after that, his eyes returning to look over Eren's sleeping face before feeling a more serious question sober in his chest. He probably knew better than to ask, but he also knew very well how she would react. It was a long shot.
"How much longer is this silence going to last between you and Levi, Mikasa?" Jean asked quietly.
Sure enough, whatever lightness there was in the air crashed to the ground. Gold eyes watching with rapt attention, Jean took in the way Mikasa stiffened, the way her jaw clenched tight beneath the crop of her hair. Without much warning, Mikasa stood up from her chair and turned toward the divider. She said nothing as she walked away, brushing past the divider and Jean's still figure. Her footsteps were the only sound that announced her exit, swiftly followed by the sound of the door sliding open then slamming shut.
"Probably not the best thing to bring up, Jean." Hanji sighed from the other side of the divider. Jean smirked softly.
"Probably not," he agreed as he took a step toward the chair and sat down with a sharp exhale. "But, it got her to go outside."
Hanji fell silent shortly after, unable to argue after that. It wasn't the first time Jean had done it and she doubted it would be the last.
Footsteps echoing in her ears, Mikasa tried to keep her mind blank. Trying to focus on the way the sunlight brightened the hallways but not the atmosphere. There was far too much heaviness in the air, dragging down at already tired faces and pulling at the patience of those who had been promised so much. She didn't really care much for where she was headed, just that she pulled herself away from those who knew her enough to approach her.
When Armin had appeared earlier, with his long blond hair pulled back out of his face and expression hard—no doubt that he had just gotten out of the meeting with the squad—he had only given her a small smile that didn't last. His sharp eyes had always picked at the details without mercy, gathering more of a story than words could string together.
"Mikasa, what are you doing here?"
"Nice to see you too, Armin."
He had not been happy at her dull attempt at humor and it had only been a matter of time before he glared down at the way her clothes hung over her skin—looser, no doubt—and noticing the bags of sleeplessness clinging to her eyes like morbid shadows. She didn't want to deal with Armin's expected speech/lecture on how she should be taking care of herself just as much as she's caring for Eren. It wasn't the first time that she's sat back in silence while Armin exhausted himself speaking, and before long, he would march off, frustrated and saddened that nothing has changed.
Of course, it wasn't just Armin that had noticed her extended silence, nor the fact that she no longer wished to join in missions while Eren remained unconscious. She couldn't count how many times Sasha had made sidelong glances and suggestions to do something else, or how Connie had pursed his lips whenever she showed up for their squad's weekly meeting, or how Jean's gaze darkened into a focused concern when she insisted everything was fine. What was worse, however… was the elephant in the room no one dared address.
Captain Levi had only spoken to her a few times since the Trials. Orders and inquiries of her training were the only things she heard from him now, and whenever he called her attention, she refused to meet his gaze. He didn't say anything. No one did. The tension, on the other hand, wouldn't stop screaming. The sooner she was away from him, Mikasa believed, the better.
For a while, Mikasa let her feet wander through the halls of the castle, taking in sights that were only familiar until this past year.
She never much cared for architecture, but with the sudden introduction of this "Mandate", it all became surprisingly more fascinating. Every face her eyes had fell upon bore the same look of exhaustion and sadness, of souls being stretched too thin for too long. It was all too funny. Not even a full week of that new ruling being established and already the Castle felt like a solemn war ground.
Had rebuilding cities and regaining territory, losing friends and family not been enough? Had risking their own lives to fight and defend and claim their right to survive – to live – not gotten them the break they all wanted, needed?
The world is cruel.
With every breath and step, she took, Mikasa knew that to be a fact that made every day boil the heritage and the memories in her blood stronger. But now… she felt worn. She was only nineteen and Mikasa felt as if she had aged decades since the moment she joined the Survey Corp along with Eren and Armin.
All the lives they had already given up. All the sacrifices they had made already…
Reiner… Bertholdt… Ymir…
They had once been her friends until so much had gotten screwed up. She considered them friends, people she could count to do the right thing, to help her protect Eren and fight. But things had changed and now they were dead.
The events of the final conflict had gone as they had expected. Chaos and rampant destruction had lasted long enough for Humanity to make a final cry in the dark, and when it all fell silent, they all beheld their victory and could not find it in them to cheer. There wasn't a person who was not left wounded from the remains… be it emotionally or otherwise. Mikasa remembered seeing Armin holding on to Historia, the once brave queen now reduced to a sobbing girl with broken legs and a shattered heart as she had been powerless to stop Ymir's death. Connie had stood by, his expression shadowed by grief as the two men said nothing while Historia wailed to the skies.
Hers were the only shouts that really pierced the atmosphere. Everyone else didn't have the capacity to grieve as she did.
Mikasa could still remember the heat of Eren's body like a fire on her palms. His flesh was steaming, his eyes closed and branded shut while their Captain stood on top of the corpse of the Beast. Of all the things Mikasa had ever seen, she could never forget how Levi had been the only person to remain with his head inclined upwards, cloak billowing with the wind. The sight alone had threatened to break her heart a thousand times.
As always… the result was far too much red than anyone was prepared for. And then… Levi flicked the swords in his hands and his eyes turned, fixing and finding hers with an innate magnetism that had always made her freeze, made her unable to look away. In that moment of steam and death, their eyes had connected and there were no words that needed to be said.
Heart squeezing, Mikasa stopped herself from remembering anymore. Every thought of Levi was hot poison in her veins. It burned her with harsher realities and the insistence on recalling broken promises and secrets that should have never been kept.
Her footsteps stopped echoing in her ears and Mikasa allowed her mind to return to the ground where she stood. When she realized where she was standing, she felt surprise jolt through her skin. She could not recall the route that took her here, standing in front of Commander Erwin's open door. She had no words to say nor excuse to give when the tall man turned from his place by the far window to look at her. His expression morphed into one that probably reflected her own.
There was a slim minute where the two of them said nothing but appraised one another.
"Mikasa?"
When he spoke it was with an expectant nod and when he did Mikasa felt her eyes move against her will. His right arm was a single stub of a limb that ended above where his elbow once was, her eyes blinked before searching for the missing part. She found the prosthetic on the desk, glistening metal laying innocently on the wood and documents and it was so strange that she wasn't sure whether or not to comment on it.
Erwin seemed to catch on to her attention. He broke his gaze away, yet he made no move to move or even hide his prosthetic. Instead, he motioned his other hand toward the pocket of his military issued jacket to tug something inside. Her eyes barely managed to catch the hint of a silver chain before it disappeared and he was moving his hand toward her in a beckoning gesture.
"Come in, Cadet Ackerman," he spoke and Mikasa found her feet carrying her in. She didn't have to ask, naturally grabbing the edge of the door before pulling it closed.
"Forgive me if I was…" Mikasa began as soon as their privacy was secured. Erwin's blue eyes met hers, curious. Mikasa paused, unsure how to finish her statement. So, she didn't. To her surprise, his expression lightened into that of a light smile.
"Would you like a cup of tea?"
The offer only added to her surprise for a brief moment before she nodded. It wasn't until they were moving towards the small couch set by his desk when Mikasa remembered why that silver chain had caught her attention. It was a fleeting memory, a time when she had seen it a few years ago and had asked Captain Levi about it.
His eyes had only looked away then, and he continued to walk in a direction Mikasa couldn't remember. Her feet had followed him, taking a step at his side almost naturally.
"You are not the only one who has lost someone dear to you, Mikasa." Levi sighed when they stopped at a familiar crossroads, and Mikasa felt her eyes fall to the ground, solemn. "Everyone has been affected, one way or another."
"Even the Commander?" Mikasa had asked, sheathing her swords in their respective place. She glanced up, meeting Levi's saddened eyes and the sight made every thought scramble from her mind.
"Everyone." Levi repeated, before swinging his cloak back on his shoulders and walking away.
Mikasa swallowed, throat tight with backed up emotions and too many words she could not settle coherently in her mind. It was to her relief that Commander Erwin did not press for conversation as she watched him pull another teacup and coaster from beneath the coffee table. There was no need for conversation and that was perfectly okay for her. Before long, Mikasa had accepted a cup and sat back on the couch, wondering exactly when all this had happened and if there had ever been hope for them to avoid it all.
Armin's appearance a short few hours since the squad's return had been as expected as the setting sun. Levi had been unsurprised when he appeared at his office, left his report, gave a quick salute, before checking on Mikasa. A simple matter of routine that was as ingrained as every timely cup of tea. They did not bother exchanging unnecessary words of greeting. It was a simple exchange of glances that said more than words could, before the boy was out his door and Levi was left to scour the information on the papers for anything odd or out of the ordinary.
In the time it took to read Armin's very specific and detailed report, both Jean and Connie appeared with theirs, and after some small talk about how the mission went, Levi was apt to note Jean's solemn expression. He did not need to ask. Jean always took on that expression after a conversation with Mikasa. Connie had lingered long after his comrade departed, unsure of what to do but press a salute to his chest and leave soon after.
The dregs of daylight are much like the tea leaves in Levi's cup after his third drink and, according to schedule, Armin showed up right on time for Levi to begin his fourth.
"Pass me the sugar," Levi said just as Armin started the verbal audit of his report. The young soldier was unperturbed by the command and did as ordered, reaching for the small container with the telltale marking of one of the Corps 'newest' supporting merchant associates.
"Flegel, certainly, spared no expense." Armin had said when Levi had first received his personal stash and kept it lovingly stocked. Levi had smirked in return, lifting a cup of tea to his lips and waiting for Armin to finish his briefing then.
Armin left the small box on his Captain's desk, launching into his vocal report without introduction. Levi listened half-heartedly, having already read what he now divulged. Nevertheless, Levi sat back and focused on scooping the sugar in his tea before taking a generous sip, glancing up to Armin as he spoke.
"…While there isn't a true reason to suspect, I wouldn't doubt that the Military Police had been expecting us to make a move." Armin's voice was certain, his eyes hardened into focused blue stones as he met his superior officer's narrow gaze. Captain Levi's eyes scoured briefly through his subordinate's written report before setting the documents down.
"And yet there was no increased security?" he asked, pointing out the curious line within the report. Levi raised a brow at Armin, fingers gripped around the rim of his cup.
Armin nodded, "As far as we noticed. The mission went surprisingly well."
Levi shrugged with one shoulder, lifting his cup to his lips, "The MP's are known to slack off on duty. How can you be certain that they may have known of our decision to retrieve Historia?"
"While our impression of the Military Police is not the best," Armin said. "It doesn't account for their complete disregard. Our recon was certain, sir. We watched and studied their rounds for several days as commanded, yet the day that we made our move to get Historia there were a considerable less amount of guards. It was as if they wanted us to take her then."
Levi didn't seem particularly impressed by the information, having already read it several times in Jean's and Connie's statements (Sasha had yet to turn hers in). "Perhaps you timed it when those guards were off taking a shit, thought about that?"
"Unlikely, sir," Armin replied, unmoved by the Captain's crass words. There was no need to explain further, Armin knew when the Captain had been convinced. Levi made no further crude remarks, taking a long sip of his tea before placing the cup back down on its coaster.
"So, it appears they knew of our plan to take Historia from the Capital and did nothing." Levi mused, shifting so that his back was pressed against the back of his chair. Armin said nothing. "Either they don't really care about her wellbeing or Zackley was expecting us to do this."
At this Armin's eyebrows rose, "Do you suspect someone in the Corps to be working for the Military Police?"
"A rat in our house," Levi replied with a half-shrug. "Or perhaps he had been expecting us to take the Queen back for some time. Either way, we're at a stalemate now."
"Shall I begin a private investigation?" Armin asked. Levi shook his head, knowing full well it was too late by now.
"Whatever information Zackley wanted to get from us, he's got it now. There'd be no point trying to find the people dug inside here. If anything, I've no doubt Erwin has been expecting to receive a few moles since the outside expeditions had been announced."
Armin's lips pulled into a thin line as his eyes narrowed into a pensive expression. "You don't think… Zackley may be aware of…"
Levi's eyes honed into a sharper stare, piercing into Armin's eyes with pronounced focus. "That information has been kept locked and tight. Unless you have any concerns…?"
Armin shook his head, "No. The squad is completely trustworthy. I was only worried for a moment. My mistake, Captain."
Captain Levi gave him a small nod, his expression lightening considerably. "Anything else?"
"In my Report, that is all," Armin stated, his arm rising to form a salute. He hesitated and the split moment was caught by Levi's observant gaze. Finally, Armin pressed his fist to his chest, resolute. "Thank you, sir."
"You're dismissed," Levi waved off. Armin turned swiftly on his heels, walking toward the door of the office. However, he didn't leave, his hand remained on the knob of the door, frozen. Levi rose a brow, waiting.
"I've done the research as you said, sir," Armin muttered, lowly yet clearly. Levi's shoulders tensed his body straightening.
"Well?" The Captain's voice was hard, patient, yet there was a definite undertone of urgency that made Armin's cautious treading into this private topic certain.
"I'm afraid I wasn't able to locate any information," he said, turning to look at the man over his shoulder. "There isn't any information concerning Mikasa's family… or yours, sir."
Levi slouched back on the chair, letting out a gruff sigh while his eyebrows knitted close together.
"Damn," he grunted.
"My belief is that any and all information concerning the main and secondary Ackerman clan is either highly classified or destroyed. It seems that the older Reiss family had made very strong efforts to keep that secret silent."
"Keep searching," Levi ordered, his fingers twitching over the rim of his tea cup. "It's all we can do at this point."
"Sir…" Armin began.
"That was an order, Armin." There was stony ire cracking deep inside the Captain's eyes, churning into a sure-fire determination that was almost frightening. "Keep searching."
Armin's eyes beheld the complete unmoving grit pulsing from his commanding officer's expression, knowing full well that any other protest would be met with a harder wall and, even more, belligerence. The younger soldier set his jaw, shoulders tightening into a strong stance before he gave Levi a nod.
People crave hope more than anything, Armin. That is why we must keep fighting for it.
"Yes, sir."
TBC
