Tears of joy,

And tears of sadness

Both present.

Justified,

As emotions become fueled,

By the circumstances.

~Leona J. Atkinson

A chill ran through my body accompanying the ugly symphony of pain that seems to be playing throughout the entirety of my body. I heard voices, but I couldn't quite make them out. I tried to move a little and flinched at the excruciating pain in my right arm. The clinking sound of chains and the solid metal around my ankles and wrists startled me a bit when I moved. Where am I? I opened my eyes, and I realized I could only see out of my left eye. With that in mind, I sat up slowly whimpering in pain and looked over to see bars. I'm in a jail cell? I looked out to see a guy in a military police uniform with a bowl cut and a jutted out nose. He looked at me in shock when he noticed I was awake.

"Excuse me," I croaked, my voice weak from disuse, "What's going on? Where am I?" He looked at me through narrowed eyes.

"You're in the custody of the military police for trying to use the 11th staircase to come to the surface without permission. The only reason you're not dead is because you said something about being the relative of an officer. That makes your case have to be handled by Supreme Commander Zachary himself," the guy scoffed like it was the biggest inconvenience in the world. Okay. This guy was already getting on my nerves, but he was also my best chance at information, so I had to be civil.

"Okay. How long have I been here?" I looked at my body and realized that all my wounds have been treated, though the bandages look like they hadn't been changed in some time, "And who are you?"

Bowl-cut sighed in annoyance, "You've been out for a week. Your court date is actually in about 2 hours. Since you've woken up, we want to get this over with as quickly as possible. And my name is Marlowe Freudenberg." I nodded and decided to let it go. My throat was hurting terribly, and this guy clearly didn't want to deal with some lowlife from the underground. If only he knew... And with that thought, I laid back down and drifted back into sleep.

I was awoken to the sound of the cell door being opened, and being yanked up from the slab that I was using as a bed in my cell. I cried out in pain as I felt one of the wounds in my left leg reopen, and I was slung to the ground and handcuffed. I looked up to see Marlowe behind me with an annoyed look on his face. I didn't even ask what was going on. We were going to see what my future held at this court proceeding with Commander Zachary. This would either go really well or I was completely screwed. Maybe if Erwin is there I will have a chance at getting out of this alive, not that he's ever come through for me when it matters in the last 6 years.

The walk to the courtroom was short. I was told to keep my head down until Commander Zachary addressed me directly, and I did so as I was led to the center of the room and a metal beam was put through my handcuffs, locking me in place. Every inch of my body screamed out in excruciating pain, but my expression remained stoic as my eyes stayed focused on the ground. At this point, I was pretty sure I was blind in my right eye or it was just swollen shut, so I went ahead and let my now shoulder length hair cover that eye. I already looked weak and pathetic enough without people thinking I was even more helpless than I appeared. I heard lots of murmurs and side conversations among the people in the courtroom until Finally, it ceased, meaning Supreme Commander Zachary had entered the room. My assumptions were confirmed when I heard him call the court session to order.

-Levi's POV-

Looking out the window of the carriage on the way to the capital was one of the only ways to kill time, as I dreaded going to this stupid city. Erwin had come into my office this morning saying we had to head to Wall Sina for an emergency court proceeding. He seemed a little shaken up which was completely unlike him, but I didn't care. I was just irritated because now I'll be behind on work that I already needed to catch up on while simultaneously preparing for next month's expedition. We were nearing the capital when Erwin finally broke the silence.

"Levi, this court case is unprecedented, and I need you to support me no matter what I say during the court case," Erwin said calmly looking at me with ever serious expression in his eyes.

"What else would I do," I answered in my usual bored tone. This guy acts like I haven't followed him through all kinds of hell. I know court cases suck, but how bad could this one be...?

-Time Skip to Court Case: Still Levi's POV-

Erwin and I entered the courtroom and sat in the spot allocated for members of the Survey Corps. He and I were the only two in attendance for this court case, but it seemed as though the Military Police had packed their allotted space in the courtroom. I mean it's not like those lazy dumbasses were good for much more than taking up space. We had been there for about 5 minutes when the doors opened and the person who I can only assume is the one who is on trial was escorted in.

I was slightly shocked, and I heard Erwin take in a quick breath. It was a girl who had been beaten beyond any sort of recognition. The only part of her that seemed to be somewhat clean was the beige ripped shirt and nearly destroyed brown shorts they had her in. It was all quite revealing, proving that the military police did not believe this girl was in need of any source of decency. She had bandages all over her arms and legs, but the bandages were soaked through with blood and clearly needed to be changed. She looked disgusting. What looked like some kind of dark copper hair was matted to her head with dirt and blood, and I heard a slight whimper as the Military police escorts locked her into place. The girl stayed with her head down.

After a few minutes, Supreme Commander Zachary entered the courtroom and everyone of us greeted him with a salute. He then turned to the girl in the center of the room.

"The prisoner for whom this trial has been called to order for is on trial for attempting to use the 11th staircase of the underground without paying the proper fee. Normally, I would not even waste my time with a case like this; however, Cadet Marlowe Freudenberg, the soldier who apprehended the prisoner, as well as several other witnesses, reported that the prisoner has claimed to the be the younger sister of an officer of the Survey Corps, making this a possible military issue," Commander Zachary began the court proceedings and then directed his attention to the girl, "Prisoner, what is your name? Introduce yourself and explain why you aren't wasting my time by making this a military issue." Zachary was clearly irritated, and I didn't blame him. This whole thing seemed like a serious waste of everyone's time.

To my surprise, this girl who barely looked strong enough to stand, looked up at Zachary without flinching, and then looked around the room before seeming to lock eyes with Erwin. When I looked at him, he was clearly in shock for a moment before quickly composing himself. Then the girl answered, her voice calm, low, and clearly hoarse from disuse.

"My sincerest apologies, Supreme Commander Zachary. I would grant you with a proper salute, but my current bindings do not allow that. My name is Cadet Trainee Emmryn Smith, younger sister of Captain Erwin Smith of the Survey Corps," she answered. I had to force myself to remain stoic despite my shock at this revelation. Erwin never mentioned having a sister. Why the hell had she been in the Underground?

-Emmryn's POV-

I could hear the gasps throughout the room as I revealed myself to be the sister of Captain Erwin Smith. I simply ignored them and looked at Zachary who seemed shocked by my answer before composing himself and correcting me, "It's Commander Erwin now." Now, it was my turn to be shocked. What happened to Shadis? I mean the guy definitely had some screws loose, but I think everyone in the Survey Corp has to. I looked at my brother who just gave me a small nod. It was then I noticed that the area for the Survey Corps was empty except for my brother, and this short black-haired guy with a bored expression on his face. Who the hell is he? Zachary then also turned his attention to Erwin.

"Commander Erwin Smith, can you confirm that this is in fact your younger sister? And if so, how do you explain her being in the Underground?" Supreme Commander Zachary interrogated. I sighed to myself. My brother didn't have time to know how I ended up in the underground or what had taken place there, so I was quite shocked when he answered correctly.

"Supreme Commander Zachary, Emmryn Smith is indeed my full-blooded younger sister. She had finished a year in Cadet training for the military at age 16 when she was apparently targeted by a gang from the Underground who was intent on getting revenge against the military for causing issues with their illegal operations. She was drugged, kidnapped, and taken to the Underground, assuming to be dead after we refused their demands for her return," Erwin answered evenly. I sighed inwardly once again. That's my brother for you. Always focused on the military and the good of humanity above all else. Some things never change. My somewhat upsetting thoughts were interrupted by the leader of the military police.

"Supreme Commander Zachary, it does not matter who this criminal is related to. She broke the law and should be punished. She's been corrupted by that scum living in the Underground. She should be punished and sent back where she cannot cause any harm to the citizens above ground," the man I knew to be Nile Doc said. He and Erwin used to be friends. Wow, he turned into a prick. I couldn't keep my mouth shut this time.

"Are you fucking kidding me, Nile?" I said quietly but clearly seething, "I was kidnapped due to the military's inability to protect its recruits from common thugs, forced to do unspeakable things against my will just to survive for 6 fucking years, manage to escape after being tortured with an inch of my life, just for you to say I should be punished for that. How the fuck does that make sense?" I heard gasps and saw Commander Zachary looking at me with disdain and some amount of... pity? Normally, I would be more careful with my words, but I was in excruciating pain and in complete shock at the stupidity that seemed to be filling the courtroom.

"Cadet Trainee Smith, you will not speak that way towards a Commander and you will not use that sort of language in my courtroom. Understand?" He commanded firmly. I nodded, losing a lot of my fire before turning to the asshole who caused it.

"I apologize, Commander Dok," I said through gritted teeth, "I simply ask that you think about what you are saying before making assumptions. I am a citizen of the above ground. Therefore, I have every right to be here." Dok looked at me with disdain before ignoring me completely. Zachary distracted us both by clearing his throat.

"Cadet Trainee Smith, I have made a decision that will give you a way to pay for your crimes without jail time or being sent back to the Underground should the branch of the military in question agree to it," Commander Zackley said calmly before looking over to my brother and the ebony-haired man and continuing, "Cadet Trainee Smith, you shall join the Survey Corps under the direct supervision of Captain Levi until you have proven yourself worthy of becoming a full-fledged Scout. If you survive 3 expeditions, then you will be absolved of all crimes. Commander Erwin is that acceptable to you?" My eyes widened as I looked at older brothers with pleading eyes that just this once, he would look after me too instead of just focusing on humanity. The courtroom was still, and I didn't realize I was holding my breath until my brother finally answered.

"Yes sir. Commander Zachary, the scouts will gladly welcome Cadet Trainee Smith into our ranks." And with that I was able to take a deeper breath than I had in years.

Song: Control by Halsey

Edited: 03/23/2020