Old Scout HQ

Sierra shoved one of the old castle's heavy wood and cast steel front doors aside with a furious strength not expected from a person her size. Silver eyes simmered with barely suppressed fury. This was officially the worst day of her life. Erwin wasn't in his tower office. No one was home.

To make matters worse Evan Frei had been the one to greet her when she rode full speed into the castle's courtyard. And tried to stop her from barging into the building to conduct a brief but thorough search for the Survey Corps leader. Tried and failed miserably.

"Major..." he started, resisting the urge to start fiddling with his jacket hem. "I'm really sorry, but the Commander-"

"-isn't here. Tell me something I don't know already kid," the short woman growled as moonlight reflected in her arctic silver eyes, frosting them white. The effect was unnerving as it was hauntingly beautiful. Frei briefly wondered if anyone told her how stunning her eyes were. If he was a bolder man, he might've said so...but the truth was he preferred a gentler, more feminine woman. This one was too wild and fierce for his liking although he had an inkling certain men in Erwin's inner circle would be drawn to her. Captain Levi in particular stood out. The hardened veteran enjoyed strength. He was fiercer than winter and tougher than steel. She'd probably fit right in.

Unaware of Frei's musings, Sierra moved toward one of the hitching posts where Slate stood patiently with one ear cocked in her direction. He whinned as she untied him pressing his muzzle into her shoulder affectionately.

Frei held his steed's reins, shoulder turned slightly so Major Wolf wouldn't see his white knuckles. Tired and worn out all he wanted was to crash in one of the castle's many bedrooms but then...Captain Levi would find out and he'd be forced to clean the place from top to bottom.

"Permission to speak freely, Major."

Sierra noted the Cadet trying to mask his fatigue by spacing his words out.

"What now, brat?"

He sucked in his breath. Wow. She sounded just like Captain Levi for a second. But unlike the late Mr. Oluo she didn't need to try very hard.

"I propose we spend the night and leave for Stohess first thing tomorrow. Besides," he shot a nervous glance over his shoulder at the darkened woods. "The Commander wouldn't be too happy if we got lost on the way ov-"

Sierra halted her spring up onto Slate's back. "Whoa kid. Back up a second. Stohess? As in Wall damned Sina?" What's Erwin doing THAT FAR in the Interior's house?

"Correct ma'am. At present he's conducting a high-stakes operation to capture a traitor that has infiltrated our ranks. If all goes well, we should be able to discern the identities of any insiders she might be working with. He's enlisted the most trusted available hands to participate since the target is a Titan shifter and extremely dangerous. However, the only one capable of capturing her is Eren Jaeger one of my fellow Cadets and a formidable shifter in his own right. Captain Levi is also there...but due to suffering a broken leg fighting the Female Titan in an earlier engagement, he's there to monitor Jaeger so he doesn't do something foolish."

Her mind whirred, trying to absorb these new bits of startling information. She heard stories of the Jaeger kid. Who hasn't? Ya hafta be deaf not to. Everyone within the military-as well as the mindless cows-were talking about this guy. She caught snatches of it from time to time when she passed by packed tables in the barracks main dining hall or the castle's on the rare occasion she bothered to visit.

"Man! I still can't believe the Jaeger kid actually sealed that hole in the Trost gate with that huge boulder!"

"Yeah we definitely sent a message. About time too. Humans retake land from the Titans for the first time in history. We finally got a win!"

"He's part Titan, and yet he only kills Titans. It's so wild!"

"We might actually have a shot of winning!"

But her curiosity drove her to ask the question anyway.

"Titan shifters?"

Frei kept his eyes straight ahead. "Too complicated to explain now ma'am, but I'm sure Commander Erwin will be more than happy to fill you in when we get to Stohess."

"Which, need I remind you, is a day and a half's ride through open terrain," she countered, debating whether or not they should stay overnight or brave close to 60 miles of level ground to Wall Sina during the day and maybe arrive on time to see the showdown. She pointed toward the castle. "Grab some spare gear and flares. We leave as soon as you get back."

The command snapped Frei out of his fatigued slump. He stared wide-eyed at her unyielding stance.

"A-Are you serious Major?"

She narrowed her eyes.

"50 laps around the premises says I'm dead serious brat-"

"Sorry sir-I mean, ma'am!" Dropping the reins, Frei beat a hasty retreat over the smooth stone path. "Extra supplies coming right up!"

She let out an exasperated chuff and turned her attention to the star-strewn sky. This simple staring at the stars became a habit of hers since escaping the Underground district. It wasn't something stupid and romantic like stargazing. No. It was a tool that helped keep her sane. Wide, open spaces soothed her in ways no human could ever hope to touch with words.

After all, she'd learned to loathe monsters the hard way, human and titan alike.

...

Stohess District, Wall Sina

Levi grimaced as he limped to his quarters set up in the Scouts' HQ they had behind Wall Sina dark thoughts swirling through his mind. Zingers of pain shot through his body in spite of his ankle and lower leg wrapped in a layer of cloth thanks to that traitor Annie Leonhart who-just two days ago-had been revealed by the Arlet brat to be the Female Titan.

The one who was directly responsible for countless deaths. She'd nearly decimated the Scouts in what had turned into of the bloodiest and most personally tragic expedition to date. The pitiful band of survivors who'd returned bloody, bruised and broken only referred to that failed mission as "The 57th". It didn't deserve the honor of being labeled an expedition. The ugly truth was, it devolved into one of the worst bloodbaths on record.

If they could summon the strength to talk about it at all. Most couldn't bring themselves to speak of the incident without breaking down in tears or clamming up in stony silence.

She was the one who caught everyone-including himself-off guard.

Who murdered his squad.

Who was after the Jaeger brat for some unknown purpose.

Who murdered the woman who loved him. God. Her old man's chatter returned to stab him in the heart with burning hot needles.

"As her father...I still think she's too young to be thinking of marriage..."

He released a heavy sigh, combing his fingers through his raven locks. Failing to keep the sharp throbbing of a broken heart under control.

Nope. He couldn't afford to go there.

He couldn't think about her soft crown of golden hair.

Or dwell on her wide variety of smiles.

Or her sparkling honey eyes brimming with life.

Or linger on how her very existence made the world they lived in less cruel and brightened his own.

Or think about how sweet her firm, silky skin tasted beneath his hungry lips and questing hands.

The nurse waiting on him wanted to fully immobilize the limb but he had flat out refused. Damn bitch. Once I get my hands on her, she's gonna regret crossing me and betraying humanity. But most of all, for killing her. The tiny speck of light that managed to penetrate the dark hole he called his life. More than once he wondered if he was cursed. Everyone he cared about wound up dead...

But that wasn't part of the plan. Not if they wanted to extract her true motives.

Levi's scowl deepened. Per Erwin's orders he was forbidden to engage with Leonhart.

"You're here to monitor Eren. Should he get out of hand, you're free to step in. But let him do the heavy lifting. I can't let you aggravate that injury. We need you in top shape. I have a feeling things are going to get worse before we make any more progress."

The short man reached his assigned quarters and pushed open the door, letting it thump closed. It was small and neat with a single bed and a table with a chair. White muslin curtains waved gently in the night breeze from the half open window overlooking the city. Removing his cravat Levi folded it in precise squares before setting it on the table. He draped his jacket and forest green cloak carefully over the chair's straight back making sure it hung just so, then sat on the edge of the bed. Cold grey eyes stared out over the sleeping city of Stohess. Come tomorrow the place would be in ruins if Leonhart wasn't captured in her human form.

Before going their separate ways in the foyer Erwin's parting words had him curious.

"Oh Levi. Before I forget, I dispatched one of my new runners to pick up a special guest. If all goes well, they'll be here in time for Leonhart's arrest. If not then they'll have to stand back and watch Eren go to work."

His boss' cryptic statement did nothing to ease his annoyance. Levi hated secrets.

Tch. I suppose I'll find out tomorrow who this 'special' guest is. Damn Erwin and his cloak and dagger tricks to hell. Sighing heavily, he unbuttoned his white shirt to the waist then rolled onto his stomach.

Strong fingers curled loosely around the knife he carried on his person at all times, tucked just out of sight under his pillow.

TBC...

A/N: Wow! 5 faves and 5 follows and 2 reviews in less than two days time. That's insane, considering this my first fic in this particular fandom. I'm truly grateful to Draegan88 and anon guest for the great feedback. :) Also since I realized Annie is being held underground in the old castle after her capture, this'll be before Eren's big city battle, so with luck Sierra might witness it firsthand.