"What does the H stand for?", Mr. Arlet asked in a husky voice as he examined the letter more carefully. Petra shifted uncomfortably in the leather seats that were rougher than they appeared. "It stands for Henkō," she answered and then added hesitantly, "you speak Japanese right?" Arlet slamed the letter down on the desk making Petra jump a bit. "Yes, and I'm damn aware of what Henkō means and I'm positive I know this "Henkō's" motives as well," he gritted through his teeth.

Mr. Arlet stood abruptly with a bilious facial expression. He looked ready to face anything and that made Petra nervous. However, she did not allow his poise to destroy her equanimity. She needed to be just as self-confident as him. If she is not careful he could see through her and that would danger many things, including her life. She rose to her feet diligently with her head held high, ignoring her shaking hands and her doubt. She trusted in Levi and even if she only had this small part to play, this small part that could potentially end her life, or grow into an even bigger role, she knew he was fighting for the right reasons. Even if she could only help in the smallest way possible, she wanted to know that if anything happened to her, it was not in vain.

She swallowed before speaking to make sure her voice would not crack. "He requested a meeting with you, are you going to attend it?", she asked nimbly. "Yes. That's what were doing. You're coming with me," he commanded. Petra did not bother to argue. She nodded slightly and waited for him to strut out of the office to follow marginally behind.


It was an incredible dangerous, yet amazingly not stupid plan. Of course, once Eren was explained to why they needed him, he immediately agreed to help. They needed Eren to act as a decoy. He was to act as Levi, or more specifically "Henkō", a name they have decided to use instead of Levi. It's a pretty simple task, only answer the questions Armin gave Eren the answers to and try to avoid any in depth answers.

Levi questioned Eren's ability to pull this off, but Eren was the only idiot who would agree to something like this. Also the only idiot they could trust. Levi did not really know nor trust many people. Especially the sad saps that lived down here, they'd sell out a fellow citizen for a chocolate chip cookie. Even the ones who lived by the words "snitches get stitches".

Though as much as Levi hated to admit it he trusted Eren to not mess this up, at least not too badly. We are talking about Eren, the kid that lets his fist talk for him, the kid who does not know the definition of conversation. If all goes well, Eren lives. It's highly likely he will no matter what ends up happening. That kid has the spirit of an angry lion. Killing him is intricate and Levi would know, he has tried plenty of times.

There was one problem however, Eren's sister. As formally introduced before she is over protective of her younger brother, Eren. With reason of course, you would be too if the brother you loved so much was constantly getting into unnecessary trouble with people who can and will smear his brains all over the walls. "Eren this is dangerous. It's going to end badly knowing you," Mikasa complained against Eren's involvement in the plan. "Mikasa stop worrying so much, you're getting wrinkles," Eren replied while poking Mikasa's creased forehead. Mikasa swatted his hand away and glared at him. "I'm with Mikasa, Eren," Armin opined. Everyone looked over at Armin in puzzlement due to the fact that he requested Eren in the first place. "If you aren't okay with this, you don't have to do it," Armin added.

"Yeah right, if I don't who will?", Eren asked even though he knew there wasn't anyone else. He only said it to make his point and it was obvious that it was made when Armin remained silent. He saw from the corner of his eye Mikasa ready to call herself in his place, but with a glare to the side she stayed quite. "I just- this a lot to ask of you, Eren. You always end up doing things for me, but I never get to return the favor," Armin said in defeat. Eren's eyes softened at Armin. He knew that Armin felt responsible every time Eren got hurt defending him from street thugs and bullies.

Actually that's how they meet, Armin getting harassed by a gang in an empty musty alleyway. It was around 10 years ago, when they were 11 years old. Eren could tell that from the way Armin was dressed he was not from Disno. You could tell right off the bat that he was a higher up. Dressed way to fancy to even be considered from one of the highest districts in the lower areas. It was the reason he was being harassed by a gang in the first place, what kind of person would come down here dressed like that and not expect to be jumped?

At first, Eren was hesitant in saving a higher-up. After all, it was their fault that they all lived such a shitty life down here. At least that's what Eren always heard the adults mutter under their breathes. They complained that while higher-ups enjoyed their games of "golf", the poor suffered in their shadow and had to leech of the "garbage" the higher-ups did not have any more use for. It was a sad pathetic life that was lead down here and it was all their fault. Why should Eren risk his life saving someone who has never done anything but make others suffer?

At least that's what Eren would have liked to have said that to himself in order to not have to get involved with a gang, but it was a lie. The boy was 11, getting pummeled by older kids, most likely lost, and frightened. Besides, he couldn't blame the entire battered economy on a kid his own age. That would be a cowardly low blow and a stupid assumption. It would be erroneous to leave the boy behind and have god knows what happen to him.

Eren decided that saving the boy was in order. He jumped in yelling at the older kids to leave the boy alone. This earned several appalled glances his way, including the boy he was saving. Apparently he was not expecting anyone to come save him, but taking a closer look you'd realize that no, it wasn't that. It was more like afraid that he would involve someone else in his predicament, causing someone else to get hurt. This expression the boy wore gave Eren a boost of energy like he has never felt before, he felt that he had to save him no matter what.

Grabbing a hand full of rocks, he started tossing them at the gang members. He wasn't strong enough to fight them off by hand, so he settled for distracting them long enough to let the boy get away. "Run!", he ordered the blue eyed boy when their grip on him loosened. The boy meekly nodded and ran towards Eren. Eren held out his hand for the boy to grab and the boy obediently took hold of it. Eren lead since he could draw a map of these streets blindfolded, he was aware of all the alleyways and where they lead. They ran and ran until' they were positive the older boys had given up the chase.

It was after that day they formed a strong bond like no other. They became best friends, talked about everything to nothing, shared secrets, and even shared the same dream. Eren showed Armin how to dress properly for visits down here, but it never really made gangs stop picking on him. He was an easy target, but Eren was always there to protect him. No matter how sizable the gang was he was always Armin's hero, much to Armin's distaste. Armin appreciated it greatly, but he hated how Eren would end up with deep scars on his behalf. Eren would always laugh Armin's concern off, saying something along the lines of "I won't let those punkass motherfuckers think they could just pick on you because your small", in which Armin would react to with a growl at the mention of his small demeanor. Eren laughs loudly at his reaction and Armin can't hold a smile back for much longer after. It was usually left at that, Armin did not push the subject farther knowing he wouldn't be able to get anywhere with Eren, but Eren knew Armin's guilt grew every rescue.

A panicked whisper brought Eren back to reality, "There coming," Armin said with wide eyes. Levi and Mikasa remained passive, but Levi firmly informed Eren not to "fuck it up". Levi grabbed Armin's arm and pulled him along to their hiding spot with Mikasa in tow. She glanced back worriedly at Eren, but did not say or do anything. Instead she turned away and hurried her pace. Eren smiled slightly at the obvious trust Mikasa just placed on him. It was the first time she has ever let Eren do something without breathing down his neck and he appreciated it greatly.

Eren drew his attention at the approaching figures. The thundering footsteps grew louder and louder by the second. Squinting he was able to make out the uniform that only soldiers wore, his breath hitched. He would be a liar if he said he wasn't nervous. He has never been so close to so many soldiers before. The last time he had seen soldiers was in last years "rehabilitation" day. Supposedly it was a day were the extremely poor and the addicts were taken in to "heal" or "to be put back on track", but those people who were taken never came back. In that day that occurred only once a year, a couple of soldiers from up top come down below, but never so many as he was currently seeing right now.

If Eren's math abilities are to be trusted, then there were currently 30 soldiers marching in two separate parallel lines. Why so many, Eren thought to himself in confusion, they are aware that it's only one person? It was odd, but Eren didn't question it aloud because even if they could hear his question over the booming sound of footsteps, he was aware that the soldiers wouldn't answer him. As the marching came to a halt and both lengthy lines of soldiers turned simultaneously to face each other, he noticed a tall handsome blonde man and a petite girl striding down the space between the soldiers. Eren waited patiently until' they both reached him, even if it wasn't his kind of thing.

"I didn't expect such a big audience," Eren sneered. The man did not appear to find the comedy in his jest. He examined Eren from head to toe with a disgusted grimace. "Your Henkō?", the man said in disbelief. "Don't judge a book by its cover," Eren retaliated. The man once again failed to see the humor. Eren recomposed himself, realizing he needed to approach this differently. "Alright no jokes, got it. let's just negotiate," Eren said seriously this time, but the man chuckled. What the fuck, Eren was puzzled and slightly horrified, either this man was on drugs or just utterly insane."We aren't negotiating," the man stated.

Eren furrowed his eyebrows, the man's words only served to confuse him further. The man sighed deeply at realizing he would have to explain it to the boy. "We are putting you under arrest," the man drawled. Eren's eyes grew wide as he processed the gravity of his situation. The man smiled widely at Eren's reaction."Oh my dear naive boy, did you really think calling an audience with me was wise? Did you think I would simply submit to you because you have my boy? Where ever you have him, we'll find him, even if we have to tear the lower districts apart," The man said gleefully.

"And if we can't, we have a number of ways to break you," the man said as he patted Eren's cheek. Eren stepped back to make a run for it, but the soldiers had already surrounded him. It was too late to run, "I'm so fucking screwed," Eren cursed loudly.