Chapter 21

Erwin IV – The Bogey-Beast

"1st Expedition After Action Report."

"…Titans spotted 50 meters before the Forest of Giant Trees…"

"…20-meter class able to jump 10 meters high to grab prey…"

"−cage designed after a dog's muzzle, to incapacitate Titan's mouth"

"−extra gunpowder bags installed at different Titan heights"

"−explosion at the right height to bring maximum damage to Titan's nape−"

"−to decrease a soldier's chance of personal contact−"

"Forest of Giant Trees decimated along with 13 Titans."

The Commander reads the report for the fourth time that evening. He strokes his chin as he reads all over again, flipping through the pages. He wants to see what Sieglinde sees, what Levi sees, despite the chaos that happened after the expedition. The Captain had been very particular about defending his only squad member, and that counts for something for Erwin Smith, considering how indifferent the Captain with most people he makes contact with.

Flipping to the third page, Erwin feels the familiar tug at his heart. A dried tear blot stains the report:

"−Capt… L..vi act..d as bait f… …itans"

His heart feels heavier at this. Anyone else would have regretted scolding and humiliating her in front of the recruits, but not Erwin. No regrets, as he always tells his soldiers. And he would never let his brotherly affections get in the way of his being the Commander.

Someone knocks on his door.

"Commander Erwin?" Mike appears, opening the door wider. "I brought her as requested."

"Thank you." The Commander nods his thanks and clears a few reports from his desk. The Squad Leader pushes Sieglinde into the room and closes the door behind him. Erwin meets her eyes for a mere second, before gesturing over to the chair in front of him. "Vice Captain Smith, have a seat."

Sieglinde sits herself on the indicated spot, hands on her lap, eyes cast downwards. To Erwin, she comes here looking like a child with someone else's larger, baggy shirt and pants. Like a child called by a parent for another good scolding. However, they are not here for a family discussion. He is not here as a brother, he is here as a soldier, the Commander, and she is his soldier.

"I read the report you submitted three nights ago," he begins, sliding the report for her to see. He taps on the title and fixes her one of his cold, hard stares. "On the first expedition under my command, there were complications on your part. You elaborated them in your report, though I would like to hear more from you."

"Which part should I elaborate, Commander?" she asks in a milder tone.

"The traps. Hange proposed the plan to capture Titans, yet it was under your discretion how it was to be made and used." He knits his eyebrows together. "From what I can recall, the trap you made was faulty, which led you to improvise, which led to your injuries."

"It was a simple cage with a pulley mechanism at the top," she explains easily, as if telling someone about the weather. One of the things he admires about her is her enlightening people with her creations. "It was made with tempered steel to make it harder yet lighter, and Hange made the measurements and Moblit did the design. Once it falls over the Titan's head, there is an automatic locking mechanism under the chin and around the neck that keeps it secure altogether. An additional manual lock behind the head is added for contingencies."

"Contingencies?"

"In the event that the locks underneath would not work."

"And where did the fault lie that day?"

"The pulley was stuck," she answers. "I asked Captain Levi to keep the Titan in place so that I could drop the cage from above. I had to sacrifice the pulley and destroy it, thereby incapacitating the Titan's mouth."

"There was more than just that iron trap," Erwin presses. "What was the gunpowder for?"

She shrinks on her chair, shaking her head. "I'm sure I put everything in my report, Commander."

He hardens his voice against her. "I want to hear the words from you, Smith."

Blowing at her bangs, she relents, stealing a glance at him through her pale lashes. "I placed gunpowder bags all over the area, arranged them accordingly to Titan meters. Should a three-meter Titan appear, we could detonate the explosive exactly where their napes are, reducing the need for manpower."

"Still, you are speaking theoretically. You haven't really confirmed this strategy."

"I never had the chance." She shrugs. "There was a stampede of 13 Titans. There is no way we could detonate the explosive precisely where we want them to detonate, without more experiments. I relied on Captain Levi to detonate everything instead, damaging all Titans present."

"And in doing so, you also destroyed the supply base. It took many months under Commander Keith Shadis to establish and complete the base. All good work of our soldiers−gone in the flames."

"Yes, I know. I am sorry about that, Commander."

"A squad from the Garrison talked to me," he confides, sighing. "The forest was still burning at night." Sieglinde looks up at him, astonished. He nods in acknowledgement. "It's true. The explosion was so powerful that the forest kept burning for hours. I could imagine that the entire Forest of Giant Trees is burned down to the ground."

"Oh, no."

"Oh, yes." He frowns. "Not only did we lose the supply base, we also lost a good hiding spot for our future expeditions. We'd have to keep going through open fields and smaller forests the next time." He leans forward, resting his forearms on the desk and lacing his fingers together. "See now? This stunt of yours caused more harm than good. I know, I know−you only mean well for our soldiers. You don't want pointless deaths. You don't want tiptoeing on eggshells. But see what comes after? More troubles. You see one thing but never see beyond it. You always get things done but never clean up afterwards. Who does the cleaning up? Me, Mike, and Captain Levi."

"I'm… I'm sorry, Erwin…" She lowers her head, ashamed once more.

"Yes, I know, Signe." Oh, no. The Commander persona is slipping away. "But you know I am only telling this for your own good, right? So that next time, there would be no more risks of your getting hurt. I don't want to worry about you every expedition."

"I know." She sniffles and wipes at her eyes.

Oh, no. He didn't make her cry, did he? Suddenly, he feels like a twelve-year-old boy with a two-year-old baby sister who cries at every little thing. He couldn't go to the next room without having little pitter-patter of feet following him. He couldn't go out in town for errands without having to hold hands with a little girl. He couldn't leave for the Training Corps without her crying and begging for him to stay. Then he would be kneeling to meet her eye level and promise her that everything would be all right. He'd take her to the greenhouse behind for some flowers, or to the kitchen for some strawberry tarts.

Erwin softens. Really, he couldn't stand seeing her broken like this. "Here, now, Signe. Don't cry. I never meant for you to cry. I'm only scolding you because you're damned stubborn."

She nods, and he hopes she is taking his words to heart. "Am I forgiven now, Erwin?"

He chuckles. "Of course you are, Signe." Then he grounds his teeth a little. "However, here comes the harder part," he adds, fetching a new document from his right. He slides it over to her. "I once warned you about your dismissal from the Survey Corps."

Halfway through reading the file, she stops dead in her tracks. Blue eyes widen at him.

"Relax, Signe," he cuts her off, before tears start welling in her eyes again. "I'm not dismissing you, not in every sense of the word. Instead, I was in talks with Nile Dok. Do you remember him?"

She tilts her head a little. "Hm? Oh! Isn't he the one who snatched your girlfriend from you?"

His cheeks heat up from embarrassment. Of all things to remember about Nile, it has to be that one thing.

She curls her fist and punches her other palm. "What do you want me to do with him, Erwin? Do we finally get to retaliate after what he's done to you?"

"What? No!" He slaps his forehead, grumbling under his breath. "That was years ago. How could you still remember that? Besides, I was the one who gave up on the relationship." Well, this is awkward, talking to his little sister about his practically nonexistent love life. "Nile and Marie are married to each other now. I think they have children already."

"Oh, that's nice." Now she's beaming, all bright-eyed and smiling. Talk about mood swings. "That means we can find another girl for you."

"Maybe some other time," he says, then clears his throat. Back to business. Commander and Officer. Not brother and sister. "As I was saying, I was in talks with Nile Dok. He is now the Commander of the Military Police Brigade. A few days ago, he and his squads infiltrated an underground brothel that illegally sells drugs and weapons. A bit of human trafficking as well."

"Great." She slumps back on her chair, uncaring. "Where do I come in?"

"During the raid, the criminals ambushed their squad. It was an all-out fight between police and criminals. Many police officers died, most of them recruits fresh from the Training Corps."

Sieglinde purses her lips, letting the words sink into her.

"It was the first time in years since the Military Police tried to do some real work," Erwin continues. He is impressed that Nile, who had been his batch mate with Mike in the Training Corps, would actually try to mend the ways of the lazy and corrupt police officers. "The Royal Government discredited Nile on his first attempt at command. Now, he has asked me for some help."

"Help? What are you going to do? Show them how the Long Distance Scouting Formation works?"

"Better."

"Care to enlighten me, Commander?"

He smirks, devious as always. "I offered to send you to the Military Police." He has the pleasure to see Sieglinde taken aback, almost falling from her chair. "We both acknowledged that the officers, veterans and recruits alike, are lacking the skills to confront human enemies. And who better to teach and guide them in offense and defense if not you? A combat instructor through and through."

She narrows her eyes at him, unconvinced with his smile. "My hands are still full from our recruits here," she reminds him, as if he is forgetting. "I have to help Levi with the evaluation of the recruits for the completion of our Special Operations Squad. I have weapons to develop and upgrade in my workshop. And now you want to send me to Mitras to watch over more recruits? And my hands are not even healed yet!"

"Exactly." The smirk widens. "I am glad we're on the same page, Instructor."

"Why are you doing this?" she demands. "Is this your polite way of telling me that I'm dismissed from the Scouts, and from now on will suffer in the Military Police?"

"I already told you, I am not dismissing you. Think of this as a side mission. Nile needs to redeem himself in the face of the Royal Government. The first raid under his command landed him in a tight trouble. The only way now to save face is to train his soldiers and triumph in the next raid. Just like us, in the Survey Corps. We have to save face all the time we fail; else the Government will disband us."

"Why don't we murder everyone in the Government and set up more responsible people? Hm?"

"You might find that more difficult than training recruits."

"Not really." She scoffs. "A good sniper rifle and a perfect spot can do the trick."

"Are you even a good shot?" he wonders.

"We'll see." Sieglinde smirks, winking even. "When I try to snipe someone, we'll see if I'm any good."

"In any case, you will be sent to the Military Police as agreed," Erwin rules. His sister opens her mouth to protest, but he holds up his hand. His decisions are final. This, without Signe in the way, might be better for the Scouts. "Nile Dok will be responsible for your transferal from Wall Rose to Wall Sheena. He will provide for everything that you might need. He will also give me feedbacks of your performance and attitude. If I find something that discredits you further, Signe, you will not find yourself stuck with the MPs, but in the Garrison next time. Did I make myself clear?"

She deflates. The fight is out of her. She knows when she is defeated. "When will I leave?"

"You are scheduled to leave on the 11th, that is six days from now."

"Isn't that too soon?" She gasps. "What about our recruits here?"

"Levi will be supervising them," he assures her, noting the sadder flicker in her eyes. Is it because of leaving the recruits or leaving Levi behind? "He is in-charge of everything you might leave behind. So, I suggest that you clean up your workshop and everything else, before your departure."

"And when will I return to the Scouts?"

"You haven't even left yet."

"When will I return to the Scouts?"

"I will tell you once I've decided." He chooses to ignore her demanding tone.

She deflates even more. "Okay," she murmurs, bobbing her head. "Is this all you need from me, Commander?"

Erwin shakes his head. "To be honest, I want your opinion on something else."

He retrieves a map of the charted lands outside the Walls. It is the culmination of his predecessors, the earlier Commanders, of the lands they managed to discover after years of expeditions. As the current Commander, it is his duty to add another piece of land into the map, going further away from the Walls. He smooths the large map over the table and shows her the current lands.

Even without words, it seems Sieglinde already knows what he needs from her.

He needs a strategy how to go beyond the charted lands. He needs to establish another supply base apart from the ones they already established, and apart from the one they lost days before. He needs an opinion other than his own. More than those, despite everything else that happened, he still trusts her.

She pores over the map for a few moments, blue eyes narrowing and studying each points, each forests, and ancient castles.

Amused at her scouting, Erwin chuckles and leans his chin on his palm. She reminds him so much of his younger days, when he was but a student in their father's class, asking too many damned questions. He asked too many, but their father answered them at home, in the silence behind closed doors, where no one would be eavesdropping on them. If their father had lived to meet Signe, perhaps he'd quench her thirst for scouting, too. Become a better guardian angel than Erwin could ever be.

"That's interesting," Sieglinde murmurs as she finishes with the map.

"Anything you found worth noting?"

"Well… Yes and no."

He chuckles. "Care to elaborate please?"

She tucks her knees to her chest again. "Do you remember that bedtime story you always tell me, that one where the boy gets snatched up and left to wander alone in a labyrinth?"

"Of course," he says. It is one of his most favorite stories in his childhood days. "The story of the Bogey-Beast, right?" He grins as she shrinks smaller in her chair, blanching. "Where it comes from the shadows and snatches up kids, eats their faces, and takes their skins off?"

"Y-Yes…" She shifts, glaring at him for putting words to one of her greatest fears. "Anyway, I didn't mention it so you can gloat all about it. I mentioned it because, in the story, a boy is kidnapped and left to wander the labyrinth from dusk until dawn. If the monster gets him, then it's over. Long story short−he found a river that flows through the maze and followed it out."

"What does this have to do with the map?"

"Look here." She points to where the river that flows from Shiganshina ends abruptly. A river cut through the middle. Enlightened, Erwin starts to catch her train of thoughts. "We have maps and we include rivers in them, but do we really know the starting and ending points of rivers? Where do the rivers empty out? They are so long and winding, but we never know what the end of them is. Do you understand me?"

"You suggest following the rivers might lead us much further beyond the Walls?"

"It could lead us to the pot of gold for all I care."

"We can try this out." Yes, he could see her point, the logic of her reasoning. It would do well for the Scouts to follow the river. Easier to know which way is north and south. Better access for resources as well.

He rolls the map and puts it aside. He fixes her a mocking smile. "So, the Bogey-Beast, huh? I am surprised you remember that story after all these years."

"Stop it, Erwin!" she cries.

"What?" he drawls, amused as always. "You remember that it appears only at night, and kidnaps children it finds naughty, right? Eats up their faces, rips their fingernails, breaks their fingers and toes, and such?" His grin widens as his sister sinks smaller and smaller in the chair. "Oh! And I quite remember it can change forms, too. That's why they call it a beast: it can be a man or an animal. No one ever knows, because it's made from shadows and appears only at night−"

"Erwin! Stop saying the name!"

"Why?"

"If you say the name three times, then it will appear!"

"Who?" He taps his chin, innocent. "The Bogey-Beast?"

The door bursts open. Erwin flinches, eyes wide with a bit of fear. Sieglinde shrieks and jumps from the chair, grabs the nearest available weapon, and flings it to the door.

Captain Levi moves his head to the side, the ballpoint pen embedded deeply into the wall a few inches from his eyes. He stares at the pen for a while, then turns for the two pale siblings, the blood drained from their shocked faces.

"Great," Levi deadpans. "That's the second time you tried to kill me in five days."

"Levi!" Sieglinde exclaims, flushing with embarrassment. "I'm sorry! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, scrub," he throws at her with a pointed glare, then turns for the Commander. He slaps a pile of finished paperwork on the desk. "Here's the initial evaluation for the potential Special Ops Squad members."

"Thank you, Levi. You finished earlier than expected."

"I had help," says the Captain, looking at Sieglinde, who holds his gaze.

Erwin notices the sudden stillness and the change of ambiance in the room. He stares up at the two, who are both staring at each other. Levi's face is always devoid of emotions, but his sharp eyes hold something deep beneath them. And Signe−Erwin notes with a little frown−is blushing.

What the hell is happening?

Oh, but busy as he is, he is not so ignorant of his surroundings. He is the Commander. He knows what goes around with his soldiers. These two are no exceptions. In fact, these two are high on his list to watch over. He doesn't need to ask questions. Hange alone is enough for gossips.

He clears his throat. "Is there anything else, Captain?"

Levi blinks and wears his scowl again. "There's nothing more. I'm going." He walks back to the door and shuts it without another word of goodbye.

"Are you heading back to the workshop, Signe?" Erwin asks to draw her attention from the door.

"Hm? Oh, about that. I was thinking…"

"Yes?"

"Can I stay here for the night?"

"Why?" Yet he smirks. "Afraid of the Bogey-Beast?"

"S-Shut up. I can't sleep anywhere else. It's dark downstairs."

"Very well." Erwin shows her to the adjoining bedroom and lights a few scented candles for her. Sieglinde pounces on the mattress and buries her face in his pillows. He chuckles, sits on the edge, and pats her hair. She all but purrs at the attention. "About your transferal to the Military Police, try not to tell anyone until the eve of departure."

"Why not?"

"I wouldn't want unnecessary protests from the Squad Leaders, Hange mostly." He keeps combing through her hair, working through the tangles. Aside from Hange, Erwin knows someone else who might disagree with Sieglinde's abrupt departure. It would be troublesome to have the Captain raging in his office for days until the departure date. "Just don't tell anyone for now."

"If you say so," she mumbles.

"Before I forget−" He twists around for the drawer and pulls out a small box with a bowtie on top. "I have something for you." Sieglinde bounces on the bed and sits on a W-position. Erwin smiles softly and opens her palm. "Here. I didn't have the chance to give it to you after the expedition. Happy birthday, Signe."

"Thank you, Erwin!" She kisses him on the cheek and shakes the box. "What's inside?"

"Open it to find out."

She undoes the little bowtie and pries the lid open. All the while, Erwin watches her reaction to the silver hairpin with cornflowers at the top, and thin dangling silver chains of small blue butterflies and white seed pearls at the ends. That had cost him a bit of his salary, having been bought all the way from a jewelry company in the royal city. Money has never been a great concern of his, especially when his little sister is beaming at her present.

Erwin wounds his fingers through the silver hair and plants a chaste kiss on her forehead.

"Thank you," she whispers and rests her head on his shoulder. She nuzzles against him. "I love you, Erwin."

"And I love you," he answers. One of the rare times he tells her thus.

"I'm sleepy." She yawns and rubs at her eyes.

"Shall I tell you the story of the Bogey-Beast again? Or the White Lady of Utgard Castle?"

She slides down until she is resting her head on his lap, arms around his waist. "Tell me about the Warrior Princess Signy, who devoted her life into killing her father's murderers, then killed herself afterwards because her purpose in life is complete."

Now, this is his most favorite story.

"All right." He smiles. "Once, there was…"

Author's Notes: Listening to Under Pressure by Queen while updating this story because I'm in the middle of my job as I write this post-chapter note! I'm sweating like a sinner in a church and hoping my bosses don't catch me slacking. LMAO. I'm trying to update the story as often as I can so I can give you guys my very special Christmas gift. I'll try to get everything done so I can update around Christmas Day. Tbh, it's one of the most favorite chapters I've written so far.

What do you guys think or feel about Signe leaving the Scouts for the Military Police? Yay or nay? I feel like I already know Levi's answer to this.

I'm sorry that I have to make this extra quick (I don't want to be fired from work, XD), but I still want to make time and thank everyone who also made time and reviewed the last chapter: HangesDisguise, 1emoncakes, Valen Goncalvez, GraceAckerman05, Kagome Chronicles, Iri, Ponygyrl, Sugarin, Guest, bechilldarling, & Faye.

*HangesDisguise - What a sweet way to describe Signe! "Hot headed and bold", then "Shy and sweet", because she is! Even myself I didn't realize how Signe could be sweet at times. Haha!

*GraceAckerman05 - Aww, "little ball of fury" does sound better than "brat".

*Kagome Chronicles - Thank you very much! I'm relieved you think Signe and Levi together is natural. And always LMAO towards Hange. Erwin, on the other hand, might pull off a big brother vibe when he finds out what's been going on.

*Iri - That's true! Levi did kiss her back but Signe never acknowledged that! Thank you for your support towards them both and thank you for the lovely review!

*Ponygyrl - That's also true! Signe all but confessed that she does like Levi by low-key telling him that the contest prize bothered her! I do feel like Mike also low-key ships these two (just imagine him and Hange gossiping about it in the office or something, XD). Erwin, however, seems like a tough nut to crack (quite literally) so it may take longer for him to be comfortable with the idea for his sister to be with a high-ranking officer. Also, "If you hurt her I'll kill you and no one will be able to find your body" is hilarious to me!

*Sugarin - Thank you and I'm glad you stayed for the story! I do admit that Levi is a very difficult character to portray in almost all aspects, but I'm honored for the criticism! Now that you mentioned this story reaching the canon story, just thinking about it makes me excited!

*Faye - Aww, thank you very much! Signe would be happy to hear that from you!

I suppose this is all for now! I'll see you guys soon, on Christmas! Have an awesome weekend!