Lyla looked out the window from her desk in her Captain's office. How did she end up like this? She remembered the events from two days ago.

"Captain! I must go!"

"No, you're staying in HQ. You're not doing anything in that state."

"But Captain, I'm in good condition."

"No, you're in a better condition but not 'good'."

"I must know what's going on! I can't just stay here twiddling my thumbs."

Levi gave out a sigh and said, "Fine, you're to accompany me with Erwin in the carriage as my Second in Command."

"Uh… Pardon, sir?" Lyla asked in confusion.

"Did I not make myself clear? You're coming with me as my Second in Command. Congratulations, you just got a promotion." Levi added sarcastically. Lyla stood there in shock then said,

"But sir, I don't think I'm the right person to…With all due respect sir I think things like this shouldn't be decided in haste."

"I'm not deciding in haste. I've been thinking about this for some time." Levi then turned around showing that the conversation was over. Lyla opened her mouth but closed it with a salute,

"Sir," and then she went out of the office.

After being promoted she was called by the Captain to assist him with paperwork.

Lyla glanced at the Captain. The evening sun was setting and the rays of sunlight fell upon him through the large glass window. Lyla couldn't help but notice how perfect he looked.

'Really if it wasn't for his poor manners he would be a perfect pick for a husband.' Lyla thought to herself. But she knew that there were plenty of women who flung themselves at Levi's feet despite his flaws. Lyla imagined a woman smiling by Levi's side. She would be tall, slender, graceful and beautiful. They would be married happily. Lyla wrinkled her nose, not liking the idea though she didn't know why. The Captain seemed to notice this.

"What's with the face?" He snapped. Lyla looked at him startled.

"Nothing sir,"

"Tsk, go get tea."

"Yes, sir." Lyla stood up to prepare the tea. Another thing from his love for cleanliness, Lyla realized that her Captain was a tea mania, almost an addict. He always made sure there was a stock of tea. Lyla brewed the tea carefully as she knew that her Captain came quite picky when it came to tea. Really her tea brewing skills improved these past two days along with her paperwork. She set the cup of tea in front of her Captain. He took a sip and nodded in approval. Lyla poured herself a cup and sat at her desk, drinking her tea. She looked at the Captain who was reading a document while sipping his tea. He had this peculiar way of holding his cup by the rim but Lyla did not ask, afraid there might be a too personal reason behind it.

After clearing the cups Levi said, "You heard about the mission, is that correct?"

"Yes sir," Lyla answered.

After the expedition, Erwin and the rest who were in charge were summoned by the Imperial Court. Eren was decided to be handed to the MP's after the expedition turned out a failure. Lyla gritted her teeth. There was no way the MP's would keep Eren alive.

As a solution to this Commander Erwin devised a plan which would cause the death of many innocent citizens. Lyla didn't like the idea of this mission but she couldn't think of a different way. If they somehow succeed in catching Annie the higher-ups would certainly approve.

"As I said before, you're accompanying me in the carriage," Levi said.

"Yes, sir." Another thought lay heavily in Lyla's head.

"Are you really okay sir?" Lyla suddenly asked. The Captain just looked at her. Lyla continued, "For me as Second in Command. I'm sure there're more experienced soldiers who would gladly join the Special Operation Squad as Captain's Second in Command sir. While I am honored to hold such a duty I cannot think of me as an ideal choice. Although I do have experience in the field I don't think that I'm the one-"

"Are you questioning my decision?" Levi cut through. Lyla's eyes grew wide.

"No sir, I'm just concerned that I might not be doing the job properly. I do ask advice from Moblit time to time but," she stopped for a moment, "I don't know if I'm doing right, that's all sir. Even the paperwork I do looks sloppy and-"

"You're not bad," Levi cut in again.

So that's where she was when she wasn't to be seen. She was seeing Moblit. Levi's face crumpled at the thought of Lyla being with another man without his acknowledgment. The idea disturbed him more than he liked. He looked at Lyla.

She was actually doing pretty good considering the fact that she didn't have a senior member to fill in the details and teach her the work. Sometimes she would add foot notes to his work that were surprisingly helpful and if she felt bold enough she even made suggestions which saved Levi much needed time. Though the stoic captain would never admit it, Lyla was doing an excellent job. Levi scribbled a note and handed it to Lyla.

"Go give this to Hange, don't linger there," He didn't like the idea of Lyla getting all friendly with Moblit but he dare not say this. "After that, you can retire for the day."

"Yes, sir." Lyla took the note and left.

...


The eccentric brunette greeted Lyla with her usual zeal.

"Welcome Lyla, stay for dinner!"

"I'm sorry Squad Leader but I only came here to give this to you and I must report back. Though thank you for your concern sir."

"Awe, too bad. Looks like Levi isn't letting you go," Hange said with a sly smile but Lyla didn't understand the meaning of it.

Moblit escorted Lyla to the doors and asked.

"How's your work as a Second in Command?"

"I'm managing sir. Though I think I'm better at wielding a sword than a pen sir."

Moblit chuckled at this and said, "You don't have to address me like that. Call me Moblit. And feel free to ask me should you have any questions."

"Thank you si- Moblit." Lyla hastily corrected as she mounted her horse. "You're very kind."

Lyla stopped at the medical center to get a check-up before returning.

When Lyla got back she reported to her Captain and retired for the night. After all, the mission was to take place tomorrow and she needed rest. Not that she would get much since nightmares seemed to occasionally haunt her sleep.


...

The next day Lyla boarded the carriage with her Captain and Commander.

"I heard you had a promotion. Congratulations Ms. Peltner," Erwin said with a smile.

"Thank you, sir," Lyla replied.

Lyla steadily gazed at her Commander. This whole plan was a crazy thing to do. But if she knew one thing about Commander Erwin, it was the fact that he loved to gamble. And that he would give up almost anything to achieve his goal, even if it meant giving up his humanity.

'But really will the disguise hold out? Jean looks nothing like Eren with his horse-like face,' Lyla thought to herself.

Soon enough there was a crash and Lyla could see the head of the Female Titan. Her heart ached as she saw the titan again. Oh, how she wanted revenge.

"Calm down." She heard a monotonous voice say. "You'll draw blood."

Lyla hadn't noticed that she was fisting her hand till her knuckles turned white. She opened her hand and indeed there were angry marks in her palm where her nails imbedded themselves. Lyla repeated opening and closing her hand a few times then looked out the window again in search of Eren but couldn't find him.

"Don't tell me he couldn't turn into a titan…" Lyla muttered under her breath.

"That would truly be a nightmare," Levi said. But soon enough they heard Eren's roar and the carriage door opened, revealing a very angry looking Nile Dok. All three of them stepped out.

"There's a titan," Erwin said matter-of-factly and as if on cue a soldier brought him his gear. But the MP's pointed several guns at them. Jean, who was clearly fed up at this point ran up to the Commander.

"Permission to leave sir!" He asked. Erwin looked at him and said, "Permission granted."

The MP's looked bewildered at the fact that Eren Jaeger, wasn't actually Eren Jaeger at all.

"You did this." Commander Dok said. It wasn't a question. It was a statement. Erwin didn't deny.

"Why?"

"For the victory of humanity."

"The thing you did is clearly high treason. I can execute you now and have no questions made!"

"Then shoot me." Erwin said calmly, "But carry out the plan afterward." Erwin started to explain who was in charge and who was responsible for supplies until Nile cut in.

"Wait a minute. Don't tell me you really think this is for humanity!?"

Erwin's face was serious. Lyla looked around. People were running in terror and buildings were getting crushed. It reminded her a lot about that day in Shiganshina, except there were no titans gobbling up humans.

"All soldiers escort the citizens to safety!" Commander Dok shouted.

"You stay put Levi. You don't like meaningless deaths. That goes for you too Ms. Peltner," Erwin said. Levi nodded.

"No, I don't. Either it is my death or me being the cause of it for others."

Lyla spoke to the Captain quietly.

"She would want to go to an open space and the nearest spot is the Village Square."

Both of them knew that 'she' meant the Female Titan. The Captain nodded and went inside the carriage. Lyla followed close and after a minute or two, the Commander was back in as well with handcuffs around his wrists. Soon the carriage headed for the Village Square.


When they arrived Lyla saw Eren pull out of the titan and Annie wrapped in some kind of crystal. Jean was trying to crack the crystal but with no success. Lyla stepped out of the carriage and ran to the scene. She looked at Annie who looked like she was sleeping.

"What's the meaning of this Annie?" Lyla shouted. She thought she finally would have some answers and now this had to happen. She shoved Jean aside.

"Move," Lyla started striking the crystal with her blade but of course it was the blade that got shattered instead of the crystal. Lyla didn't care. She needed answers and answers she shall have. She struck the crystal with more force and this time she was able to make a dent. Pieces of crystals flew and one cut her cheek but she didn't care. Lyla kept trying to break through.

Levi got off the carriage as well. He observed Annie and his subordinate who was trying to break the crystal. He then walked past Erwin who was scanning the situation.

"Can't say the operation 'succeeded'."

"No, but at least the Survey Corps neck is saved, barely," Erwin says in a stoic manner.

Levi clicks his tongue and walks back to the Lyla. He gently, but firmly takes hold of her arm and calls,

"Lyla," Lyla turned her head when she heard her Captain call her.

"Enough, let's go." she followed him and realized that there was a titan face in the walls. She stared at it in shock, "What's that…!?"

"It seems that Annie dug into the walls and revealed a little secret."

Just then a pastor came running frantically, "Don't let the sun get to the titan!" He exclaimed.

"And he looks like he knows something," Lyla whispered.

"Well, four-eyes will take care of that," Levi replied as he made his way to the carriage. Lyla followed suite. Erwin didn't accompany them back as he was taken in a separate carriage to the Imperial Court.

Levi looked at Lyla and said, "Tsk, you're bleeding."

Lyla touched her face and saw a smear of red on her fingers.

"A piece of crystal cut me, sir,"

Levi again clicked his tongue and produced a handkerchief from his pocket. He gently wiped the blood.

"Hold the handkerchief there," he ordered.

When they got back to the old HQ Levi immediately dragged Lyla into his room and patched her up.

"There. Now don't do any more foolish things. That's an order brat. Remember that you're recovering from an injury," Levi said sternly. Lyla nodded with a salute.

"Now clean up and come to my office. There's work to do."

"Yes, sir."