One bite of an apple guarantees longevity and youth, something that even the gods desired. That was a common line August Idun Pearl's brother always told her. In front of the porch, one very old apple tree rooted itself and its branches perfectly grew and filled up the blinding sun that sets every day in the same spot. The tree truly looked like it could bear golden fruits that the gods ate, with the sun rays shooting out from behind, like a halo. As she reminisced about the past, she dropped her notepad and tucked her pen away. She smiled brightly and graciously thanked the boy who looked at her warily. Unfortunately for her, she wasn't out in a wide pasture with one apple tree and a peaceful scenery. She was in the underground cells where it was damp and musky, with clear mould growing from every corner of the cobblestone walls. Don't be mistaken though, August was a law abiding citizen-for the most part- and she was interrogating a not-so-law abiding citizen. Not that anyone else, but the lunatic Survey Corps, would call him a citizen.
"You really don't know anything, huh?" She beamed as the boy, not hiding the mockery in her tone. A hand patted her on the shoulder firmly, signalling that it was time for her to back down. "August. That's enough. He cannot say more than what he knows; we have no choice but to believe in him. Plus, there's no time." Hange smiled at the shorter girl. August frustratingly twisted a strand of hair and Mike bent down a little, sniffing the air before straightening. "Not the conversation you were going for?"
"It's already the day of the trial. If I don't get a detailed autobiography from him now and he somehow ends up having his head with the wallists and the body with the military police I'd be going bald from stress. It's not everyday you get to hear a fascinating life story and not a-bland-typical-life-in-walls propaganda." August pouted her head as Hange suddenly grabbed the prison's bars and examined Eren closely,with madness and curiosity in her eyes. Then her face slowly spread to a smile as she began to speak to their prisoner. "So you're Eren, huh? Are you okay, anything new? Sorry to keep you waiting but you can finally come out now! But you'll have to wear these..." She pulled out handcuffs and August unlocked the door.
"Well, write your own autobiography and I'm sure you will find what you're looking for. A small midget fighting against the towering Titans with her best friend- a genius, an 'adorable' fellow squad leader, a pet dog, and a blonde eccentric." Hange lovingly pets the midget on the head, in which the girl slapped the hand away in irritation. "Are you making fun of me right now, Squad Leader Hange? If I were to write anything interesting it would be titled 'Entering the Mind of a Titan: Hange Zoe.'"
"Make fun of you? Never!" Hange grinned as she and Mike cuffed the boys' hands. Mike took the key and placed it into his pocket as the group slowly walked up the stairs and into a tunnel with a metallic panel above them, hinting that they were underground as the buildings were built on top of them. He twitched his nose as he looked over at the woman with glasses, repeating her words: "A dog?" The girls shrugged it off, starting with Hange introducing herself to their captive. "I'm Hange Zoe, a Survey Corps squad leader. Over there are also two very capable leaders. That one is Mike Zacharius. He has the habit of smelling people he just met, then smirking. I don't think it has any real significance. After all he's good enough to receive a squad of his own. And the other one is August Idun Pearl. She has quite the unusual hair colour doesn't she? Bright red like an apple. She isn't live bait if that's what you're thinking, she also has her own squad."
August's hands flew up to her head, in a feeble attempt to hide her hair in embarrassment. "It's not that bait looking right? Titans don't discriminate against hair colours...right?"
"I mean, you've been grabbed by the hair several times before you chopped it off. But if one red ant out of a gazillion neutral looking ones climbed out of their nest, I wonder which one I will eat first."
"Speaking of eating ants, I heard they are a good and affordable source of protein." August tapped her chin in thought while Hange blinked then apologized to Eren. They reached a wooden door with minor detailing, much faster than they had anticipated. "Oh, sorry! Too much chit-chat. We're already here. Don't worry, it's actually better to go without much information." Eren looked at her with confusion in his eyes before two guards took over the Survey Corps members' positions to escort the boy. "I know it's selfish of us...but we have no choice to believe in you." Hange grabbed the handles of the door and August beamed as she waved goodbye. "Good luck!" Then they closed the door.
As the guards guided him to the center of the military court, August and the others made their way to their positions in the audience, a balcony overseeing the court. They were all serious and silent until Levi started talking against their opponents.
"'You talk a lot, pig'? That's the first thing he says?" August smothered her laugh while Mike snorted to the side. It was characteristically fitting of the man but it was entertaining given the present situation. Not everyone had the guts to degrade and blatantly insult another in the military court. Even the merchant and Wallist were only bickering and didn't go as far as to dehumanize the other. Other than Eren himself being the target of dehumanization. Understandably, the boy is either a Titan-transforming human or a human-shifting Titan. Nothing human at all. But he's beginning to rant and getting slightly arrogant, which was very human-like. August was extremely excited to write a novel based on Eren. An inhuman like creature with very human actions, what a fascinating topic. It was extremely unfortunate for the excited August to watch Levi deliver violent blows to her interviewee. Especially since his first blow knocked out a tooth. As Levi continued to brutally destroy Eren physically, August rocked back and forth impatiently. She sighed and rested her elbow against the railing.
"He couldn't even try to be gentler?"
"That was horrible...are you still feeling any pain?" Hange grinned, contrary to whatever concern her words had. August carefully used a cotton swab to clean his open wounds with alcohol while expressing her condolences. "I hope you understand that we have no ill feelings for you. It's just that we needed that to happen in order for you to be turned over to us."
"But thanks to that, we had you turned over to us. The pain you endured allowed me to play my cards at the right moment. You have my respect. Eren, I look forward to working with you." Erwin crouched down in front of him, with a kind smile on his face, as he offered his hand for a handshake. Eren was stunned but enthusiastically shook Erwin's hand. His eyes sparkled and touched as he replied with a strong: "Yes sir!"
August sighed and lifted her first aid kit, putting it aside for now. She watched Levi sit himself down next to Eren and the boy flinched in fear. Levi rested his arm on the couch and turned towards the kid, asking him a question. "Hey Eren, do you resent me?"
"N-no, I understand why it was necessary..." Eren stuttered. August shook her head disapprovingly at Levi as she petted Eren's head. "Even so, you took it a little far. It's fortunate for us that he didn't wet himself upon you talking to him. You even knocked out a tooth." Hange nodded her head furiously as she unfolded a piece of napkin with Eren's tooth in it.
"Don't pick that up, that's so gross." Levi scowled in obvious disgust. August nodded at Hange mischievously, who purposely wriggled the tooth in front of him, trying to piss him off even further. Levi then directed his displeased glower at August who simply whistled and looked away.
"Don't be like that, even this is an important sample."
"Better here than to be dissected with a group of people like her."
"I'm not the same as them. Hey hey, Eren! Let me see the inside of your mouth." Hange smiled excitedly as the boy hesitantly did as he was told so. Her mouth then dropped open in surprise.
"It already grew back."