When I grow up I want to be clear-eyed.
"I see. Another failure, then. If the plan would have worked out, we could have plugged the hole in Shiganshina District in less than a day."
Erwin was standing in his room, accompanied by Elizabeth and Levi seated at the table.
Or rather, Levi was sitting in the chair while Elizabeth was pulled into his arms, sitting on the Captain's legs with him gently squeezing her from her belly.
Shortly before they had talked to the Commander about the experiment on Elizabeth, about the doubts that had struck her during the discoveries of Hange and Erwin could only agree with those doubts.
Yet this time Levi saw true and pure sorrow on her face.
He too had grown fond of Elizabeth in the end, not in the same way he did but still cared about her and was sorry to know that she might have been turned into a titan and then killed by them.
He never wanted to kill her.
"It's because we lack information. Might be a different story if there was a book about the hardening ability. But we have Christa. No, Historia Reiss. Maybe we learn about the wall through her?" Levi asked moving his thumb on the woman's side in circular motions.
"I read the entire report about her upbringing. She was Lord Reiss's illegitimate daughter and it's by no means a happy story. But the real mystery is why a mere regional lord would know the secret of the wall."
Elizabeth listened carefully to Erwin's words, the same doubts they both shared, but she felt there was much more. While it seemed that everything revolved only around the legitimacy of the throne, the blonde felt that Historia could only be a small pawn in that big chessboard.
With those thoughts in her mind, Elizabeth did not notice that Levi was coming behind her.
"Hey, are you okay?" he asked, causing her to wake up and shake her head, turning away from the wall she had enchanted against to look at him. A much better view, she had to admit...
"Yes. I was thinking about something..."
"About...?" he asked approaching her, who immediately changed her expression. If she first seemed thoughtful, now her eyes showed something else.
"The guys are all downstairs, busy with cleaning." she murmured approaching him completely, feline and mischievous, placing her hands on his shoulders and bringing their mouths closer.
"And...?"
"And it gives me the opportunity to do this..."
Levi thought she would kiss him, but she smiled and went down with her hands to undo the button of his trousers, quickly lowering it just enough to free his erection, awake from the moment he saw that look alighting her with everything but good intentions.
He couldn't take his eyes off her. He watched her get down on her knees and lean with her hands on his hips to hold up and then take his member between her lips.
He was forced to swallow and catch his breath, unable to take his gaze away from the sight she was in front of him. And then the feeling she was causing him was something indescribable.
He was perfectly aware that any of the boys could have come up to ask for something or communicate news but he didn't give a damn at all.
Everything ceased to exist when he entered that special bubble just for him and Elizabeth.
She ran her tongue along his length, testing it and stroking it with her lips, faster and deeper.
With his hand he went to sink his fingers into her dark blond hair, helping her in her movements but always careful not to force her too much. He stroked the back of her neck, letting her know that she was doing a great job without moaning, which was best to avoid considering they weren't completely alone.
And in the end he couldn't help himself anymore.
"Elizabeth." he murmured in a low, husky and sensual voice, to make her understand that he had reached his climax and was about to come. She didn't pull away, giving him a chance to cum right into her mouth and swallowing his cum.
That thing surprised him every time. And turned him on, sure, but mostly it left him amazed.
He heard many men talk, complaining that their women didn't do this particular thing and he never gave it any weight; but now he could admit to himself that they were right, this was damn inviting, it made him feel good.
She stood up after cleaning him carefully and gave him a little kiss on the neck while he still caught his breath from his orgasm.
Sure, now they would have to leave that room and join the rest of the young team downstairs... but he couldn't do it without first returning the favor.
"I figured the Church would want to deal with Nick since he was cooperating with the Scouts. That's why I hid his identity and had him stay in the barracks, but to think they would use soldiers to kill him... I was too careless. It's entirely my fault." stated Hange sitting in an armchair near the table, where instead all the others were sitting, staring down and feeling guilty.
Elizabeth didn't really expect that news. When her friend arrived in a hurry she knew something was wrong and that look from her made her even more sorry. In the end it wasn't her fault but she still believed it...
"The Military Police... Did they torture Minister Nick just to find out what information he spilled to us?" Armin asked as confirmation, somewhat shocked by such cruelty. That boy made a great tenderness to the Vice Captain, he was incredibly intelligent but still had to figure out how to defend himself from the world and create armor, on the contrary instead of Eren who was so brave and daring but lacked self-control.
"Most likely. But it was the interior Military Police, which means there's something more behind it." observed Levi sitting next to Elizabeth, looking at her for a moment before turning to Hange. "So, how many nails did Nick have ripped off? You saw, right? How many?"
"I only caught a glimpse of him but all the nails that I could see."
"Mh... apparently our dear reverend kept his mouth shut..." remarked the blonde, moving her head with an eloquent nod, and Levi agreed.
"People that talk, talk after one. If they don't peeling more won't make a difference. Minister Nick... I thought he was an idiot, but he didn't turn away from what he believed, all the way till the end."
But looking at the squad leader, the Vice Captain saw her tremble and barely clench her nails against the arm of the chair. The priest had never been particularly nice but he did not deserve such a death anyway.
"Yet there is something that does not come back to me. They were so convinced that he had revealed something to us, but are they so afraid of us that they take it out on him instead of silencing us? Unless Eren is involved. If they silence us, they have to do it to him too. And I don't think they want him dead."
Elizabeth's words were not fully understood by everyone, evident from the fact that some looked at each other as if asking for explanations. This explanation was given by the captain himself.
"In other words, they have no idea we've caught wind of the Reiss family, though, someone in the government is up to no good and their eyes are fixed on us."
One thing that was now evident to everyone was the way in which those two were related: they understood each other on the fly in a few moments.
With a light knock on the door, Nifa walked in, taking with her a paper which she immediately delivered to Levi.
"Captain Levi, a message from Commander Erwin. I went to tell him about Minister Nick and he sent me off with this."
Levi read it quickly but carefully, without missing a single passage.
As soon as he finished, still keeping all his cold calm, he gave the order.
"Everyone, out. We leave now. Leave no trace we were here."
The group left the house with speed, just before the Military Police Brigade arrived and kicked in the door to enter.
They watched the scene from afar, only because Elizabeth wanted to see. There was something wrong with her and the other two superiors had indulged her doubts, remaining in that point quite hidden from prying eyes.
"This is not how the Military Police works." commented the Vice Captain in a low voice, without anyone being able to understand his words.
"What?" asked Eren, confused. She shook her head in response.
"Ah... nothing."
"If we hadn't left right then, what would've happened to us?"
Connor was pretty scared that he'd managed to escape with only a few minutes to spare. And Armin was of the same opinion, even though he didn't fully understand the timing.
"But why? What would make Commander Erwin...?"
"New orders came from the government… There's been a freeze on all Scout Regiment activity outside the wall. They're telling us to hand over Eren and Historia." Levi answered, thus also revealing the contents of the letter.
"By the way, right after he gave me the message the Military Police came for him."
"They are treating him like some sort of criminal!"
At Nifa's words, Hange warmed up, already tense about the priest's incident and now on the verge of exploding with anger and frustration. "I wonder, though, why they're not looking for Elizabeth too... as much as I don't mind knowing you're safe it's kind of weird."
"I'm not offended, don't worry. In fact, I was thinking about it too and the only possible conclusion is that Erwin cleaned me up when he said that I had pointed out the dangers of capturing Annie."
"The Commander is still him, he has the last word on everything. Maybe you're right, but I know you enough to see you don't believe it." Levi then noted, turning to his woman. And he was right, Elizabeth didn't believe it at all. There was something wrong with every single aspect of it and not understanding it was making her nervous.
"Someone's not working from the shadows anymore. They're moving for all eyes to see."
Levi kept to look at Elizabeth who seemed completely estranged from their conversation continuing to look at the Military Police Brigade rummaging around that house for the slightest evidence of their presence.
"To go that far to protect the wall's secrets... what's more, why do they want us to hand over Eren and Historia?" Hange asked, snapping something in the Vice Captain.
"I was right. They don't want to kill them, they want them both alive ... "
"Anyways, it's clear the enemy is after there two. Loitering around here is dangerous. We're moving her and Eren to Trost District." Levi added, arousing Moblit's curiosity.
"Why? That's the same place Minister Nick was killed."
"It's worse to head towards the interior. With Trost in a panic it should be easy to slip in. and if somehow it comes down to it, we can use these in the city." Levi answered, placing his hand on the 3DMG. "Plus, not knowing the enemy puts us in a tough spot. We need to find out who's behind this. Hange, lend me some of your squad."
"Of course. All right, I'm going after Erwin. Moblit's with me, the rest of you will follow Levi."
"Hange, here." Eren stopped her as she was about to mount her horse and handed her a folded piece of paper. "I remembered a conversation between Ymir and Berthold. Didn't get time to tell you, but it's here."
"All right Eren, I'll take a look at it later."
Hange and Moblit mounted and rode in the designated direction while Elizabeth watched them for a few moments. It was up to them to reach Trost with two wanted squads and a terrible reputation on their shoulders. Not to mention that she had a terrible presentiment about what the Military Police was doing.
A short time later they all arrived in Trost, dressing up, away from prying eyes, so as not to be recognized as soldiers of the Survey Corps.
The city was festive, there was an air of laughter and joy and part of the population was all poured into the streets to praise the Military Police.
Elizabeth held back a scornful grin only because she was too focused on what she was doing, which was helping Armin and Jean with their disguises.
Levi had suggested having them disguise again and hide Eren and Historia in a wagon so that no one could see and kidnap them.
They had to be very careful and they knew it well.
Elizabeth and Levi were left completely alone handling the young recruits but they had to admit it was less tiring than they expected. Except for that particular moment when Jean was seriously going to blow Elizabeth's nerves in front of the rest of the team.
"Do I really have to do it?" the young man asked, bringing his head back to avoid putting the dark wig on him.
"Oh come on, I'm not asking you for the greatest effort of your life." Elizabeth replied impatiently. She was very close to bursting and she really didn't know how long she would still hold out, but she could foresee it wouldn't be a very long time.
"But do I have to do that idiot myself?"
And in fact the Vice Captain could not stand anymore, too stressed and with too much weight on her shoulders to have to manage even a kid who didn't want to carry out a very simple order.
"Yes, you have to. It's an order!" she exclaimed, raising her voice and with a look so frightening that she made Jean swallow in terror.
"Yes."
Jean finally had the wig put on while Eren leaned slightly towards Armin to whisper to him, hoping the blonde wouldn't hear him.
"I said she's scary..."
Levi, who was close enough to hear, unlike Elizabeth, licked his lips trying to hold back a satisfied grin.
"And I complained that you never get me anywhere." Elizabeth whispered close to Levi, briefly leaning on his arm so as not to arouse the slightest suspicion in the people around them.
The Captain looked at her for a second, giving her a half smile before returning serious and alert.
"Don't stay too close or you'll attract attention. Eren and Historia walk normally."
Everyone listened attentively to Levi's order, then looked around to examine the event that was taking place in the city that day.
"Why are there so many royal banners here?"
"Oh! Today must be the anniversary of the King's coronation. Once a year, they hand out a haul of rations... What a King! He sure is generous!"
While Elizabeth considered Connor's question more than fair, she, at the same time, found Sasha's answer far too naive. Or maybe it was she who had grown accustomed to never trusting anyone...
"And them a bunch of idiots."
"He's got more than he knows what to do with. People are weak, especially when baited with food." then commented Levi, who did not believe in King Fritz's kindness in opening his food reserves to feed the people. This was a studied move with a very specific purpose behind it.
Elizabeth was of the same opinion. It was too strange for the King to make such a move just when he learned of the existence of the legitimate heir to the throne.
They wanted Historia and the favoritism of the people, nothing more.
The reflexes of Levi and Elizabeth, at the same moment, detected a chariot racing in their direction, right in the center of the group they had improvised.
"Watch out!"
"Behind us!"
The wagon passed and the men on the other side lifted two young men: a blond girl and a brown-hair boy.
What they didn't know was that those two were just transvestites.
The Vice Captain turned to Mikasa, nodding to give her the signal to go behind them and check the situation.
The Captain and his Vice left the other two on the ground, with specific orders to check the wagon where Eren and Historia were and, then, going up to the nearest roof waiting for Mikasa with the information he needed.
"Try not to overdo it." she murmured referring to his leg that still did not seem completely healed from the incident against the female titan.
"You didn't tell me the other night." he whispered in a low voice and with a mischievous tone in his voice, smiling slightly.
"Stupid. I'm serious."
"Don't worry... I see you perplexed."
Elizabeth seemed to think about it for a few moments but in the end she decided to tell him everything, it was only her assumptions but it was worth externalizing them to try just to figure it out.
"I have a strange feeling. There is something that I don't seem to understand. I do not think that only the Military Police Brigade is involved. There's more we don't know."
"Your instincts are infallible, but I've noticed that too. The food reserves, the manifestation. Acting today is rather suspicious." he commented, agreeing with her and further increasing that thought in her head.
Mikasa joined them at that moment, crouching beside them but on the opposite side of the roof.
"How is going inside?" the Captain asked.
"If we don't hurry, they'll see through Armin's disguise. Besides, I'm sorry for him."
Elizabeth clearly saw Mikasa lower her head, honest about her feelings.
"I see."
"How is your leg?" the young woman then asked the Captain. He looked at her for a moment and found that she was referring to that single gesture of having brushed his thigh to check its state.
"Thanks to Elizabeth I can move well enough. More importantly, these kidnappers... they're nothing but amateurs. Why would they be using guys like this?"
"Maybe they're cheaper. Yet it reminds me of the style of a certain person..."
Levi's change of speech also led Elizabeth to make her own conjectures. That course of action reminded her terribly of the time she was being kept in that underground laboratory, controlled by two complete inept. That look would not have been able to hide it even if she was committed and if Mikasa did not understand it, because she did not know, Levi caught every facet of it and clearly remembered the moment in which he had feared losing her, when that brat entered his office to bring him the news.
Yet he found it too difficult for Kenny to work with or for the Military Police. Not him...
That he had used them was feasible, but collaborating... that was beyond his imagination.
"You can handle the rest on your own. Liz and I are heading for Eren. Once you've dealt with the trash, come and meet up with us." Levi ordered, determined to take Elizabeth away to keep her mind busy and focus on her mission rather than her memories.
"Yes."
Levi and Elizabeth activated their 3DMG to reach another roof, above which Nifa was intent on observing the progress of the mission, as she had been ordered.
"Captain... Vice Captain."
"Well...?" Levi asked, leaning against the dead fireplace.
"The road is crowded but nothing unusual. It's not much farther to Commander Pixis'. How's the body double mission?"
"A success."
"And yet, you two don't look that happy..."
Nifa's remark made Levi uneasy, with Elizabeth's words still in mind. She too had thought of him...
"No..."
"Captain, the wagon's almost moving again."
Elizabeth didn't know what to say. She just crouched to the left of her man, with his hand pointing right in her direction, a particular gesture he made whenever she was beside him but they were still in danger. His way of telling her that he continued to protect her.
"Nifa, have you heard about Kenny the Ripper?"
Levi did not turn to Elizabeth, but she still understood that the speech was just a way to tell her that he was thinking the same thing.
"The mass-murderer in the capital? The one that slit the throats of over 100 Military Police? That's just an urban legend from years ago, right?"
"He's real and the stories are true. I lived with him for a while when I was a kid. And Liz also got to know him unfortunately. "
"What? Why would you even say that? This isn't the time to be making jokes."
Levi didn't answer and the half-smile on Nifa's gaze faded completely, realizing that there was much more to what they wanted to tell her and that, despite the strangeness of that statement, he wasn't kidding.
"So it wasn't just me..." Elizabeth murmured with her voice and head down, noticing Levi clenching his fist in front of her, helpless.
So caught up in their thoughts and looking from only one side of the roof that they didn't notice a person behind them until he was the one who got noticed.
The man pointed the gun in their direction, firing a shot with an amused grin on his face, which widened considerably as he not only recognized Levi and Elizabeth, but also saw him pull the blonde against himself by the arm to avoid the shot.
But that shot wasn't aimed at either of them and they knew it.
What struck him most was seeing how Levi moved to protect her, even though he was aware that she was relatively safe from that bullet.
"Nifa!" Levi exclaimed as he saw the blow go straight to the other one's face, making her roll off the roof now lifeless.
"Look at you. I see you well Elizabeth; you kicked me pretty hard that day uh, brat." exclaimed the newcomer, finishing up climbing and moving forward to get close to them.
"Don't you dare to touch her!" Levi hissed menacingly, putting his arm in front of the woman. He didn't need to protect her and he knew it but the knowledge of what had happened to her in that laboratory still made his blood boil.
"Hey Levi, you grown any yet? It don't look like you changed at all!" he commented in response with enough information to know what to do and where to take him.
And just as he had arrived, knowing that the Captain of the Survey Corps would follow him, he activated his device and jumped from one roof to another in a specific direction.
"Kenny!"