Hey guys! I didn't have time to proofread this chapter much, so apologies if there are a lot off errors. Also I won't be also to upload next weekend. :) Also I probably made Levi a bit OOC at the end of the chapter. Sorry about that.
Chapter 9
It was the last two days of the month of training. Levi stood, leaning against a post and watching the criminals. It was the midday and lunch time, so all the trainees were eating and chatting. The Wings of Wrath sat separately from the rest of the soldiers, refusing to mingle. They're even tighter knit than when I left.
Levi wasn't sure if that was a good thing. It was true that the strongest part of the Survey Corps was that each subgroup trusted and relied on each other. However he had seen whole teams fall apart into useless inactive grief when a member died. It is good to care about others. But on the field when somebody dies you have to keep on fighting. Save the grief for later. And the Corporal sincerely doubted these teens would do that. If titans attacked and one of the gang died he had no idea how they would react.
"Are you actually concerned about them Levi?" Hanji had walked up beside him.
"Says the one who cares about titans' feelings." He shot back, though quickly realized his mistake as the statement could be interpreted as an affirmative. And, knowing Hanji, it will be.
"So you do care!" Predictable.
The friendly banter continued for a while, with Hanji teasing Levi repeatedly about being worried for the teens and the short man consistently denying the fact. The Corporal's replies were getting shorter each time, though his face betrayed his amusement, eyes twinkling in the light.
…
Armin watched the pair of soldiers. They should be more careful. Armin had always hated the idea of manipulating or forcing people. But he knew many gang members had no such principles. If it was any other group they had captured all the friendships here would already have been manipulated. I thought the Survey Corps better than this. It was so simple – a few threats when they escaped and the Corps would never bother them again. Maybe I will mention that to them before we leave tomorrow.
Armin smirked. It would be good to send a warning that the teens were less helpless than they seemed, even if he would never follow through on the threat hidden behind the advice. The whole month the trainers in the military had looked down upon the Wings, no matter how many times the gang members proved their skill. And the Wings' had a lot of pride. Well that is what we get for holding back.
…
Eren growled in frustration. He had never before thought Armin's ideas foolish but this one came close. We showed our abilities in the fight with Levi! Why do we need to hold back and act like weaklings now?
It would be good to settle back into the streets and the slums world of criminals. Eren was at home there. After so long in the rough, coarse atmosphere the false civility possessed by many of the military was foreign and unwelcome to the teen. I don't know if that is good or not. Eren mentally shrugged. I am how I am. If people want to get mad about it blame the lack of support for refugees after the titan attack.
On the subject of which Eren was glad Armin had told them there was a way out of this contract with the Survey Corps. He couldn't stand his friends being forced to help an organization. We would have probably been far more cooperative if they hadn't forced us. As it is, of course we are going to rebel.
…
Armin inspected thee weapons that the Wings had been given. It was after lunch, and the group had just been presented with the lightweight versions of the titan-killing swords that they would take back with them. The blades were still the same length – They need to be if we actually fight the giants with them – but were far more lightweight than the normal ones, not to mention thinner. Each member was also only equipped with two, instead of the military's standard four. The swords had no large metal casings, as that would stand out too much in the underground. How the teens sheathed and carried the swords was, apparently, their own problem.
The 3D gear was far more adapted and Armin couldn't help be impressed. It was not as bulky as the original version. The harness was also clear, not black, and could easily be hidden under clothes or by loose garments. The sides of the 3D gear were also made to wrap around the sides of a person's waist, making them easier to wear. Must have taken a while to adapt it that much, given all the military have the same version.
The part that Armin didn't like was the small amount of fuel the machines ran off of. We'll run out of that very quickly. As if reading him mind Levi spoke up.
"You will all be given one container of gas. More will be distributed if the Corps go out on a mission, but for now that should limit the amount you brats can use the gear."
Armin's eyes narrowed. We'll see about that.
…
At last it was the time for departure. Eren glanced at his friends. None of them had quite adapted to carrying the military's swords yet. Well not in a way that hides the fact that we have them. He still didn't understand why the Wings had to hide the fact that they had been taken by the Survey Corps. The while Underground will know by now. And sure, it might have hurt our reputation in the slums but how is that the soldiers' business?
"We'll send you a message anytime we go out on a mission. You will all be expected to respond to our headquarters. Let it be known that there will be sever consequences if you do not." Erwin was issuing the last set of instructions.
Eren had to force himself to not snap back. Don't you dear threaten us. The teen had had enough of holding back his emotions and anger around the arrogant Corps. The only thing that had kept him – and most of the Wings – obedient during their training was Armin's promise that he could pay back the Survey Corps.
You better have thought up something very good my friend.
…
Two hours later Armin stood, addressing the gang. Everybody was grinning. The blond strategist looked across at his brown-haired friend.
That good enough for you Eren?
…
Levi stared at the carnage. The whole training ground had been set alight. How the fools had kept the fire from spreading to the dormitories was a mystery, but the damage here was big enough to cost most or the Corps' funds to rebuild. The classrooms had all been scorched and the equipment inside them ruined, and multiple buildings had collapsed. The maneuver gear storage area had been ransacked. All the spare parts and gas containers for the special gang equipment taken. At least brats left the other equipment. All of the food storages had also been raided, with all of the easily portable goods taken.
The main trainer for the Wings had also found his uniform torn in two, as well as his money taken. I warned him that taunting them was a bad idea. The Corporal frowned. Careful Levi, you're not on supposed to be on the criminals' side here.
Erwin's office had been completely untouched, save of a note on the desk –
We'll help in our own way. Not yours.
-Wings of Wrath
Levi wrinkled his nose. Cliché and overly dramatic. Honestly Armin I thought you would to better than that.
