Chapter 4: Year 850 | Stohess District - Present Day
"How poor are they that have not patience!
What wound did ever heal but by degrees?"
- William Shakespeare [Othello]
Mitras' Underground
"What do you want now Nile, didn't I just see your ugly mug a month ago," you asked, leaning back and propping your feet on your desk.
"Charming," he replied, dropping into the seat across from you. "Is that how you speak to a superior officer?"
You glanced around the office that had once belonged to Major Atwood and smiled, thinking of all the times you'd sassed the man.
"Historically, yes," you replied. "Now are you going to tell me why you're here?"
"We just received word that the Scouts returned from their expedition with Yeager. They reentered Karanes District two days ago," he replied. That got your attention. Dropping your feet from the desk, you leaned towards him anxiously.
"And? Did something happen? You wouldn't be here if everything went according to Erwin's plan," you demanded. "Erwin, Levi, are they—"
"They both made it back," Nile cut you off. "But the Scouts suffered heavy losses. Levi was injured—"
"Injured?" your stomach churned uncomfortably. You hadn't heard of Levi being injured in the six years he'd been a part of the Regiment. It had been the one excuse you'd given yourself for not worrying about him in the years you'd been ignoring each other. "How badly?"
"I don't know, we've only received the preliminary report so far. It said they were attacked by a female titan who displayed remarkable signs of intelligence," Nile said. Memories of maimed and limbless bodies flooded your mind, and you shook your head to clear it. No use worrying over worst case scenarios now. Standing up, you looked at Nile seriously.
"Requesting permission to travel to Karanes," you said.
"Denied, Major."
"But—"
"Sit down, Smith," Nile snapped at you. You dropped into your chair immediately, glaring at him. "Don't give me that look. I denied your request because I need you to come to Stohess with me."
"Stohess?"
"Yes, we'll be meeting the Scouts there to take custody of Eren Yeager. I need you there to keep Erwin in check."
"Because that worked so well last time," you said under your breath.
"You're still my best bet at making sure he doesn't try anything stupid. The trial is one thing, but if Erwin refuses to hand Yeager over to us now, he'll be court martialed, and the Scouts will be disbanded," Nile told you. "After this last expedition, they might well be disbanded anyway."
You drummed your fingers on the desk as you thought this over. Would your brother refuse to hand the kid over? If he was going to put up a fight, his plan would be figured out long before you and Nile got to Stohess. At that point, you doubted anyone could stop Erwin. Your brother was almost a force of nature in that respect.
"When are we leaving?" you asked, deciding not to voice your concerns to Nile. You wanted to go to Stohess and see whether they were both alright.
"As soon as possible," Nile replied.
"Well, let me grab my shit."
…
…
Stohess District
Your body felt strangely heavy from the 3DMG. While you used your gear more than most other MPs due to your work in the Underground and the effort you put into your training sessions, the weight was still odd. You didn't live in the gear the way the Scouts did. As you walked through Stohess, your rifle slung over your shoulder, you couldn't help a deep sense of foreboding. You knew Erwin wasn't one to give in without a fight. You'd watched from afar as his willingness to sacrifice others increase over the years as his desire to prove your father's theories about humans outside the walls turned from dream to obsession. That obsession would never be realized if the Scouts were disbanded. If Erwin was going to do something, Stohess was their last chance before the MPs claimed custody of the boy.
"Don't forget what you're here to do," Nile said, setting a hand on your shoulder.
"I'm here to make sure my brother and Levi are alright, Nile," you told him pointedly.
"And it's up to you to make sure they stay that way," he responded, his implication clear enough. Dropping his hand, he stepped forward with the other troops towards the Scouts' carriages.
You felt a guilty twinge in your gut as you watched him go. He and Erwin had trained together, and when you'd joined the MPs, Erwin had tasked Nile with looking out for you. In practice, Nile had been more of a brother to you than Erwin had over the years—at least you saw him more. But Erwin was blood. He was the last family you had. If it came down to siding between him and Nile, you were pretty certain who you'd pick.
Shaking your head, you quickly scanned the carriages. You didn't see Erwin yet, but standing off to the side was the familiar figure of a certain grouchy Captain. He was dressed in civilian clothes today—a dark crisp suit that made him look even more severe than usual.
Your legs were carrying you towards him before your mind had given them permission. Whoever had first said that absence makes the heart grow fonder must have been on to something—after four years of not speaking together it had only taken one meeting with him to reignite your concern for the man. That or it had been long enough to cool the stinging anger from your last fight. Your heart was beating rapidly as you strode purposefully in his direction. He looked up at you, his cold eyes capturing yours. You knew the expression. He was hurting; physically or emotionally, you weren't sure. Probably both.
"Are you alright?" You asked, reaching towards his forehead.
"Tch. I'm not your fucking child," he smacked your hand away.
"You're whatever I goddamn say you are," you huffed.
Stepping in close, you pushed his hair out of his eyes, feeling his forehead for fever. Dropping your hands to his cheeks, you leaned down to bring your face closer to his, looking seriously at his face to check the size of his pupils. A slight flush crossed his normally pallid face, and Levi shoved you away.
"Get out of my face," he snarled at you.
"Well, I guess you're not that hurt if you can still get that angry," you said, blowing a strand of hair out of your face. You smiled fully this time, obvious relief sweeping over you. Levi swallowed hard and narrowed his eyes.
"What the hell is wrong with you," he snapped irritably. You shrugged.
"Nile told me you were injured. I wanted to check for myself."
He looked away from you, his dark hair falling back into his eyes.
"It was my leg you idiot."
He stumbled in surprise when you dropped to your knees, running your fingers beneath the cuff of his pants. Before he could think about what he was doing, he'd grabbed a fistful of your hair, craning your head back to look up at him. Dropping his face towards yours, he narrowed his eyes at you. The position was a familiar one, it brought up memories of the early years. Though the rapid beating of your heart against your ribcage spoke volumes about how different it was to be held in this position by a much older, much stronger Levi.
"Oi, pig, I said what the hell is wrong with you," he reiterated. Far from being put off, you smirked at him, your fingers grazing across the skin of his ankle. He felt goosebumps run up his leg, and it did nothing to improve his mood.
"Hmm, it does feel swollen," you said before shrugging. "I was just worried. No need to get all flustered."
"Tch." Levi pulled you back by your hair until you were no longer in contact with his leg before releasing you. "Get off, dumbass."
Standing up, you brushed dirt off the knees of your uniform.
"I forgot how shy you are," you mumbled under your breath.
"What was that?" he asked, his eyes narrowed to dangerous proportions.
"Nothing," you said innocently.
He didn't believe you for a second.
"But you were injured," you pressed.
"Hn," he made a noncommittal noise, crossing his arms and looking away. "It's nothing serious—twisted something. Just can't use my gear for a week or so."
"I'm glad you're okay," you said, giving him a sincere smile before your face grew serious. "I saw the casualty list… your team…."
Levi's whole body stiffened at your words, and his face went carefully blank. He looked away from you towards the wall that separated Stohess district from the rest of Sina.
"What about them," he asked impassively—he didn't want to do this now, there was too much to stay focused on. Levi didn't think it was possible for his body to become more rigid—but this was disproved when he felt your fingers cautiously graze his own. He swallowed, careful not to look at you.
"I'm so sorry," you said, your fingertips lingering on the back of his hand. Why, even after all this time, was the simple act of reaching out and entwining your fingers with his own so damn hard? Maybe it was precisely because of all this time and especially the unresolved baggage the two of you were carrying around.
Levi's jaw clenched. You didn't say anything, but, really, that was what he needed right now. The heaviness in his chest that he'd been carrying since the expedition lightened the barest amount.
"You can't have come all the way here just to piss me off," he said as your fingers reluctantly slid away from his own.
"As good of a reason as that is… no," you smiled. "I came as part of your escort."
Most people wouldn't notice the minute twitch of Levi's eyebrow, but after knowing him for so long, you zeroed in on the expression immediately. He was concerned about you being here.
"What?" You asked, eyes narrowing. "Is there something I should be worrying about… or someone?"
"Tch," was his noncommittal response.
"Hmm," you breathed skeptically. "Speaking of my brother—"
"We weren't speaking of your brother," he replied. You gave him a disbelieving look but didn't argue the point.
"Where is he anyway," you finished. "Is he busy ordering around the rest of his pawns now that his queen's been taken?"
"He's taking a shit," Levi replied peevishly, clearly irritated about being compared to that specific chess piece. You rolled your eyes.
"Keep talking so romantically Levi, and I won't be able to control myself around you," you said in a sarcastically lusty voice, parting your lips and looking at him through half-lidded eyes. He gave you a disgusted look in return.
"If you could try to contain yourself for my sake," Erwin's voice interrupted you. "I'd appreciate it."
"Erwin," you smiled, looking him over. He opened his arms to you, and you were surprised by the gesture. When was the last time the two of you had embraced? Hesitantly, you stepped forward and allowed yourself to be enfolded into his arms. You couldn't help wondering what this hug had been calculated to do, but the tension slowly left you at his comforting touch. Hugging Erwin was like hugging a slightly less hairy bear—he was just that large.
"I'm glad you're safe," you said, your eyes closing as he held you. "And I'm sorry that the expedition didn't go according to plan."
"Everything is a gamble," he replied, finally releasing you. The foreboding you'd been feeling all morning returned at these words.
"Time to get moving," Nile shouted from the front of the carriages.
"Will you be riding with us," Erwin asked as he turned towards his carriage.
"Can't with these damn things on," you gestured to your 3DMG. "I'll be right outside if you need anything though."
Nodding, he stepped up into the carriage, quickly followed by Levi. Without thinking, you offered your hand to help him up. You were more surprised when he actually took it. His leg must have been bothering him more than he let on if he was willing to accept your help. The moment of tingling warmth that spread up your arm at his touch was over as soon as it began.
When you turned away, your eyes met Nile's, and a silent understanding passed between you two: they were up to something—stay alert.
…
Levi crossed his arms over his chest as he sat in the stuffy carriage. His head was tilted towards the window, impassive eyes watching as you jogged along with the escort column. He could feel Erwin's eyes on him but didn't look back at the man.
"I didn't expect Nile to drag her into this," Levi said at length.
"Did you not?" Erwin asked. "Nile's an able strategist, he knows his opponents and how to move his pieces to oppose them."
"Can't be that smart. You didn't seem at all bothered to see her here," he replied, eyes finally settling on Erwin accusingly. His commander smiled.
"I didn't say that I was the opponent Nile had in mind for her," he said. Levi's lips pressed together in irritation.
"Tch. Even more of a wasted effort then."
"I'm not so sure about that. You almost gave away the game before it began. She can read you too well," he said, blue eyes piercing. Levi glared back at the man; he hadn't realized Erwin had overheard that part of your conversation.
"Don't reprimand me for giving more of a damn about her safety than you do."
"I trust my sister to look after herself," Erwin said simply, glancing out the window at you. "If everything goes according to plan, she'll have never been in danger."
The explosion that went off in that moment rocked their carriage. Levi threw his hand out to keep himself for sliding across the seat.
"You were saying," he asked darkly?
…
"What happened? Escort squad, have a look, we'll hold this position," Nile shouted to the troops on the roof. They raced off in their 3DMGs.
"Commander," you said, stepping towards him. "That sounded like our reports of—"
"I know," he cut you off, looking worriedly toward the rear of Stohess District where a plume of smoke was wafting into the sky.
"Nile," Erwin shouted, stepping from the carriage. "Send every soldier we've got. You need to consider this a titan appearance."
You felt your breath catch in your throat at this statement. A titan? In Wall Sina?
"What're you talking about? This is Wall Sina! There's no way a titan could appear here," Nile replied, voicing your thoughts aloud. Your eyes moved to the other carriage just as a lanky boy leaped out and tried to shove his way past the guard. The guard immediately tried to block him.
"Halt. Hold it right there, Yeager."
"I'm done with this disguise," the boy said, pulling a dark wig from his head. "Don't ever call me that name again, moron! Commander! I'm coming with you!"
Your eyes narrowed at your brother at this revelation. Did that mean the titan in Stohess was Yeager? But that didn't make any sense.
"Your enthusiasm is good, but don't forget about trying to stay alive," Levi told the boy before he saluted and ran off.
"What? Erwin, what the hell's going on," Nile tried again, as a soldier brought Erwin his 3DMG, and the commander began putting it on. It was clear that Erwin had not been caught unaware by this turn of events. Had he somehow been planning this? But why? Your question was answered moments later by Erwin's command to the soldiers around him
"Every soldier who can move, follow me! We'll rendezvous with the squad assigned to capture the female titan," he shouted.
You felt your stomach drop. Wasn't the female titan the one that had decimated the Scouts on their most recent expedition? Was she another human like Yeager who could turn into a titan? Did this mean they had intentionally lured her into revealing herself here in the middle of a residential District? Glancing at Nile, you saw the same realization in his eyes as rage flooded his face.
"Erwin, wait!" Nile shouted, leveling his rifle at Erwin. His fellow officers did the same. Your heart raced at the sight of weapons being pointed at your brother, but he didn't even flinch. "What you're doing is clear… It's treason against the monarchy!"
"Wait just a second, Nile," you said, trying to keep your voice calm.
"Nile, is your brain as thin as the hair on your head?" Levi asked from his place behind Erwin. "You don't even get what's happening, do you?"
"Take off the gear before I shoot you," Nile shouted. You quickly stepped between Nile and your brother, setting your hand on the barrel of his gun.
"Calm down and think for a second Nile," you said.
"Get out of the way, Smith, or I'll consider you an accomplice," he snapped.
"Listen, I'm pissed off too, but shooting him is not going to make anything better. And if there is a titan in Stohess, we're going to need Erwin," you pressed. Another loud bang went off from the same area as the first one, and the sounds of screaming—both human and inhuman—wafted towards your group.
Nile slowly lowered his rifle, looking in the direction of the noise.
"We'll wait for the report," he said.
It wasn't long before the soldiers he'd sent to scout out the situation returned and filled you all in on what was happening.
"Titans are attacking each other?" Nile asked, aghast at the thought.
"Yes, the damage done to the city is unimaginable. Scores of civilians and soldiers have been killed or wounded," one soldier reported. Nile's fury was quick to return, but you felt numb.
"Erwin, is this the result of your doing," he asked?
"It is. I acted entirely on my own authority. I offer no excuses," he replied evenly without even the slightest sign of remorse. You didn't resist when Nile shoved you out of the way and grabbed Erwin by the front of his shirt.
"You had to have known what this plan of yours would've caused in the middle of a city! Why? Why did you do it," he yelled.
"For humankind's victory."
"Don't give me that. You're a traitor," Nile said, letting go of his shirt and pointing his rife at his face. "None of the higher ups will complain if I execute you right now!"
"Nile, please," you said quietly, trying to step between the pair again. But this time, Erwin set a hand on your shoulder, keeping you from coming any closer. You looked up at your brother's calm face, panic beginning to set in, but he continued to stare at Nile. Watching two of the people dearest to you face off was a living nightmare.
"If you wish," was his simple response. "But you'll be in charge afterward. Do not let the female titan escape. Peer is in charge of troop deployment. Beirer is in charge of provisions. Work with them and do whatever it takes—"
"W-wait, stop. Do you really think this is for humanity's sake?"
"I have faith it will serve as a step forward," Erwin said. Nile gritted his teeth and lowered his rifle. The look of disgust on his face more than evident.
"Everyone lower your guns. Cuff him," he instructed, and a soldier ran forward to follow his orders. "Deploy all troops and focus on aiding and evacuating the citizens. Erwin, I'll let the court of law decide how to execute you."
"I'll gladly accept that, once everything is over," Erwin agreed as you began to run in the direction of the fighting. "Levi, stay put, a pointless death wouldn't suit you."
"No, I doubt it would," Levi replied, his eyes meeting yours as you ran past him. "Any more than it suits anyone else."
For the next hour you didn't have time to think about your brother. All you could focus on was evacuating citizens in and around where the titans were brawling. The monstrous beasts were continuing to cause more carnage and all soldiers—including the Scouts—were now staying well clear of them. It had been years since you'd seen a titan. Since the attempt to reclaim Wall Maria four years ago. You recalled being almost as disgusted with Erwin then as you were now. The difference was that at that time the government had been the ones to send the populace to their deaths while Erwin was just making the most of the situation. This time, he'd been the one to give the orders that caused civilians to die.
By the time it was over, corpses and blood littered the streets of the once peaceful District. You'd moved crying children and shell-shocked adults to emergency triage shelters. You knew the lives of those who lived here would never be the same again. And based on the angry shouting coming from one of the Scouts as he smashed his blade repeatedly into a large crystal cocoon, their deaths had been for nothing.
The most terrifying discovery of the day, however, occurred after the battle concluded. When a portion of damaged wall crumbled away to reveal the face of a titan.
…
…
If you'd thought that Erwin might show remorse for the deaths his orders caused at his trial, you had been badly mistaken. Standing in the corner of the room, you felt your fists shaking with anger. Levi was looking at you out of the corner of his eye, but you didn't care. You had seen the look he'd given Erwin after the battle—you knew his loyalty to your brother had been hanging by a thread then too. But Levi had always been more versed in the ways of shedding blood than you and was quicker to understand and move past it.
"Erwin, we have a number of questions regarding this latest operation. If you believed you knew the target's identity, why did you not ask the military police for assistance," the District judge asked him.
"Sir. Given the likelihood that the female titan has inside accomplices, it was necessary to involve only those above suspicion," he answered. You felt a knife twist somewhere in your gut at these words.
"But how do you justify the damage caused to Stohess as a result of that?"
"Our ineptitude is to blame, I offer my sincerest apologies."
"Apologies won't fix this."
"Had we left her unchecked, the wall would've been destroyed eventually. The ensuing destruction would've been far worse," Erwin replied. You snorted derisively, and Erwin's eyes flicked to yours for a moment before returning to the judge. He knew your opinion on arguing over theoreticals rather than staying rooted in real consequences.
"I see. So do you have any proof that this devastating operation of yours has helped prevent the downfall of humankind? I find it unlikely you'll get anything out of Annie Leonhart now."
"Indeed, I doubt we will," Erwin agreed.
"In other words, it was all for nothing."
"For nothing?" Erwin asked, as though this thought had never occurred to him. "I believe humankind has gained great potential for survival. There was a time when we never even imagined humans becoming titans. Compared to then, capturing a member of the enemy is an enormous step forward. Yes. There are more out there. And we will go after every last one. This time, it is our turn to launch an attack on the titans within our walls."
Silence fell in the room at this ringing pronouncement. Erwin's implication was clear. They could have him executed, but the enemy was already here, and if he wasn't around to deal with them, they'd have to do it on their own. Did they have someone better to lead this attack? It was an even more poignant question given the fact that they now knew there were titans literally inside the walls themselves. The mysteries of the titans that humanity had ignored for so long were suddenly pressing in upon them all. Were Erwin and the Scouting Regiment capable of deciphering them?
The judge sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose and setting down his papers.
"The court will take a short recess while we deliberate," he said, and you filed from the room with the others. Levi walked at your side, silent as ever, lost in thoughts of his own. It wasn't long before your brother caught up to the pair of you.
"I'm not sure they were convinced," Levi told him blandly. Erwin shrugged.
"We'll see soon enough, but I think my chances are good," Erwin replied, his tone unworried. It pissed you off.
"Erwin…" you began, and his blue eyes flicked to yours, his expression more guarded. He could clearly tell how angry you were. "I understand why you couldn't trust the Military Police, but couldn't you have trusted me? I could have had people in place to start evacuating civilians as soon as things went south. We could have saved a lot of lives that way."
Erwin stared at you for a long moment before replying. When he spoke, the tension in his voice was obvious.
"There wasn't time to get word to you in the Underground, let alone to wait for your response," he replied. "Over the past eighteen years you've effectively maneuvered yourself into a position where you're of absolutely no use to anyone."
The ringing crack of your knuckles impacting Erwin's jaw caused several heads to turn in your direction. But before anyone could react, you'd turned on your heel and stormed away. Erwin lifted a hand to rub his face, and it came away bloody from where his lip had split against his teeth.
"Be glad she was the one to hit you," Levi said to his Commander, his eyes steely. "I would have broken your shitty jaw."
Erwin smiled ruefully at this while Levi turned to follow you.
It didn't take him long to find you. You'd moved out to the courtyard to get some fresh air, eyes fixed on the deep colors of the clouds as the sun disappeared behind Stohess' damaged walls. You were leaning against a stone railing, hands set against its smooth surface. Levi stood beside you quietly, pulling a handkerchief out of his suit jacket and offering it to you. You gave him a confused look.
"I'm not crying, pipsqueak," you said irritably.
"For your hand, idiot," he replied. "There's blood on it. It's disgusting."
"Oh… thanks," you said lamely, accepting the cloth and wiping off your quickly bruising knuckles. "If you came to tell me I shouldn't have hit him, you can save your breath."
"Tch," Levi breathed derisively. "If you hadn't done it, I would have."
"Why," you asked, rounding on him. "Didn't you say basically the same thing four years ago? That I should give up and leave? That I was wasting my life down there? That titans were the real threat we should be facing?"
"I shouldn't have said those things," he replied, watching clouds change colors. Your fists clenched, and you turned back to the sunset, setting your hand beside his on the railing. "I should have told you to do whatever the hell you wanted to do."
"I said some pretty stupid things too," you replied. He glanced at you out of the corner of his eye. "That you were the one who was running away..."
"That shitty line supposed to be an apology," he asked? You grinned and chuckled.
"I guess I still haven't learned how to do that."
Turning to him, your face grew serious. He tilted his head up at you, the dark circles under his eyes even more pronounced in the uncertain light.
"Levi, I—"
Before you could continue, the ringing of alarm bells began, and a cry went up that froze the blood in both your veins.
"The titans have breached Wall Rose! Wall Rose has fallen!"
AN: I love AOT for how complex the characters are. Erwin's questionable morality is one of my favorite parts of the series. Nile Dok is also super underrated in my opinion. Hope you're enjoying. Do you have a favorite moment so far?