When I grow up I want to be convincing.
The journey to Stohess was fairly uneventful. Erwin remained silent and stern throughout its duration, pondering deeply what to say once before the King.
They just hoped that Eren was ready enough to do his duty by limiting the damage to a minimum.
The carriage stopped, blocked by the order of the Military Police, and the three guests of that carriage were made to get off.
Commander Nile Dawk stood in front of the small group belonging to the Survey Corps, stopping them from any action they could make.
Their order was to escort them in front of the King's presence but his intention was stopped by one of the Military Police who arrived in alarm and running.
"What happened? There seemed to be some sort of explosion and..." Nile exclaimed referring to a particular roar that had probably been heard throughout Stohess.
Elizabeth smiled upon hearing it, the plan had officially begun and, for that part at least, it was all under Hange's command.
"Nile!" Erwin called him, making the other turn in his direction. "Dispatch all your soldiers at once, we should assume a titan has appeared."
"What are you saying? This is Wall Sina, you know! It's impossible for a titan to appear here!" asked the other commander, confused and shocked by such news which, to his ears, claimed the impossible.
Another of the Military Police Brigade stopped a young man getting off the carriage in which the presence of the young man had been signaled with the ability to transform himself into a titan, and whoever got off had his face dropped so that it was not recognizable.
"Wait, don't move Jeager!"
"I've had enough of playing doppelganger. Don't ever call me that again, retard!" Jean exclaimed as he removed the wig from his head to show his real identity and ran up to his Commander. "Commander, let me go too."
"Get the equipment from the fourth unit."
"Received!"
"It's good to be enthusiastic but don't forget to guard your own life." Levi added in seeing all the ardor and desire Jean had to fight, which for many could prove fatal.
"Yes sir."
"What?" Nile asked again, observing the things that were happening before his eyes but without fully understanding them. "What's going on?"
But his words were not heard by anyone because another soldier approached Erwin with a suitcase, opening it in front of him to give him the contents, or the equipment that was immediately put on.
"Commander, I'm here."
"Much appreciated."
"Hey Erwin!" Nile tried again in vain.
Elizabeth felt a little sorry; he was an authoritarian man but no one was listening to him and no one cared what he had to say.
"Everyone that can move follow me. We'll join the female titan capture squad!"
"Erwin stop there!"
The only way Nile found to be heard and blocked the order given by Erwin was to point the rifle at him, supported by his team.
"What you're doing is outright treason against the monarchy."
"Nile, is your brain as lacking as that thin mustache of yours?" Levi asked, still turning his back to Erwin but turning just enough to turn his gaze towards the other Commander. "It seems you don't even understand what's going on."
"Remove your equipment Erwin." Nile hissed menacingly, aiming the rifle at Erwin's chest. A clear threat that did not have the desired effect in the least.
As the noises of what must have been the female titan began to show panic among the people, another noise caught everyone's attention, and Elizabeth's in particular.
A strong light, a flash aiming at a definite spot in Stohess, and Elizabeth's satisfied smile were enough for Nile to lose patience.
"What else happens now?"
Erwin continued to stare seriously at the other Commander, while Elizabeth beside him raised her chin proudly. That rifle scared neither of us.
Finally...
"There are titans fighting against each other, you say?" Nile exclaimed even more shocked than before to hear the report made by two soldiers.
"Yes, the damage to the town is unimaginable."
"A great number of civilian and military casualties have been confirmed."
On hearing those words the Military Commander raised his rifle once again, lowered only to listen to the two young men, in the direction of Erwin with a more threatening effect than before.
"Erwin is all of this your and Elizabeth doing?"
"That's right. Everything was set in motion solely at my command. We do not intend to make any excuses."
Upon hearing Erwin's response, calm, cold and stiff as he used to be, Nile was further irritated and grabbed him by the knot of his cloak.
"You should've been well aware of the consequences of carrying out such plan here! How could you do such a thing?!"
"It's all for the sake of mankind's victory." Erwin answered simply.
And Nile's gaze fell for a moment on what had been declared the second responsible for that situation: Elizabeth.
The Vice Captain seemed completely impassive to everything that was happening around her, she had guns aimed at and the order to shoot at a distance of a few words and yet she did not bat an eye, she continued to keep her cool.
"Don't screw with me!" Nile then exclaimed, recovering from his own consideration and aiming the rifle again. "You're a traitor! Even if I were to execute you now I doubt the top brass would disapprove. And the same goes for her after all the problems she caused the Military Police."
"Ah now is it my fault that they are unable to control their soldiers?" Elizabeth exclaimed bored.
The Military Police did not know what to answer and gritted his teeth in anger. He was on the edge of his nerves as those three seemed not to be interested in anything he had to say. No threat was enough.
"I wouldn't mind. However I'd be leaving everything in your hands. Don't let the female titan escape, no matter what. Paehl's in charge of troop deployment, Vyler's in charge of supplies. Cooperate with them and corner the female titan at the east wall." Erwin exclaimed continuing to keep his calm and smiling mentally as he saw the other Commander who was giving in and beginning to believe him.
"Wait... do you really believe this is for mankind's sake?"
"I'm convinced it's a step in the right direction."
Nile lowered the rifle, giving Erwin another look, then Levi. And finally to Elizabeth.
He remembered the trial that took place against her some time ago; then she was a girl with too much desire to do, in her eyes, without the slightest ability to keep her mouth shut. What he was facing now was a woman who knew how to remain calm in the face of every situation and clearly understood everything that was placed in front of her eyes.
"Lower those guns and put the handcuffs on them."
"Yes sir."
"Assemble all troops here and evacuate citizens." resumed the Commander of the Military Police, earning a glare from Levi. "Rescue operations take top priority!"
"Yes sir!"
"Erwin I'll let your execution be decided by due process of law."
"Once this is all over, gladly." Erwin answered as handcuffs were placed on both him and Elizabeth. But if he stayed silent, she couldn't help but shut up this time, in honor of the old days.
"I bet you couldn't wait to put the handcuffs on me, right?"
"Levi, you stay put. You dislike meaningless death, don't you?"
"Yeah that's right. Whether it's mine of others'." the Captain answered Erwin, then turning to Elizabeth who was incredibly calm. "Be good, you."
"When did I ever do it?"
The Military Police Brigade began guarding the two perpetrators, keeping their rifles pointed in case either of them had the unfortunate idea of escaping, and observing how Stohess was partially destroyed.
People were rescued but some corpses were found along the soldiers' path, corpses Elizabeth could not afford to observe.
Eren in his titan form was fighting the female titan as if they weren't that mighty size but cadets on the training ground.
Their team worked in collaboration with those of the Military Police who weren't frozen in fear but that titan was damn good and catching her wasn't easy.
Screams of terror rose into the air, along with dust, dirt, and anxiety.
This was their only chance to capture her alive or it would all be useless again and Elizabeth, this time, admitted no mistakes.
Standing on the bridge Elizabeth and Erwin watched the two titans continue to fight, while the blast that ensued caused their hair to stand up.
"One thing at a time Elizabeth." Erwin suddenly murmured loud enough for him alone to be heard amid the roar that the fight created.
Some houses were destroyed by their passage and more dust rose in the air making it difficult to observe that scene.
Elizabeth didn't turn to the Commander, she didn't need to.
Just when she was thinking that this time they should do everything right and even convince them to keep custody of the young titan, Erwin seemed to read her mind, finding exactly the words to say.
In this they were very similar, they always knew what to say.
"You know... when Hange introduced you to me I thought you were a powerful weapon to have in our ranks, I won't hide it from you. The fact that you accepted the Survey Corps filled me with satisfaction. But in the end you turned out to be so much more. You are shrewd, intelligent, your eye goes as far as no one dares to go. And so far I was the only one doing it. By now I know you well enough." he explained, managing to snatch a consistent half-smile in the corner of her raised mouth.
"Perhaps it is true." she conceded, turning to the Commander for a few moments. "Or maybe I've just become predictable."
"I think being with him has sweetened you."
The roars were so loud that neither Nile nor his team could hear them speak and their keeping their gaze fixed on the event just served to avoid being seen.
There hadn't even been a need to agree to do so.
"Take it back."
"But also empowered." Erwin then added looking at her for a moment out of the corner of his eye as the half smile disappeared. This was not the time to engage in such gestures or they would be discovered. Nile and his team were within walking distance of them in search of the right pretext to weigh down their mass of accusations. "And I'm paying you a compliment."
"Oh thanks."
Her hands shook.
Seeing her team in full action without being able to move was torture for her.
She wanted to wield her blade and take action, if only to move and be useful. But those handcuffs kept her from even thinking it.
It would have been extremely easy for her to take them off and go to fight, but she could not make any instinctive moves.
The fight moved further and the female titan threw himself against the wall not with the intent to break through it but to climb over it and that particular gesture did not escape anyone.
Elizabeth saw Hange's gaze from afar, who found her with her own, sharing her thoughts and asking for confirmation, which she got with a nod from the blonde.
That was a sensational discovery.
Eren managed to stop her, grabbing her by the legs and bringing her back into the city before she succeeded, aided by Mikasa who threw herself at the titan's hardened female fingers to slice them.
One move that no one expected was that of the young blonde, whom Elizabeth recognized as the most expressionless of all during Erwin's speech, locking herself in a cocoon made of the same hardening technique she had used on her titan body.
With that event they were able to confirm that the female titan was indeed Annie Leonhart.
The last gesture she tried to make was to take Eren with her, but Levi managed to save the day, freeing Eren from her titan body before she could do it with a single blow of the blade.
"Don't eat our valuable witness. You idiot!"
Yet, despite the seriousness of the situation, Elizabeth couldn't help but think about how much sexy Levi was in what he did.
After a moment of agitation that followed it all, the calm regained control of the situation and the labored breathing of the young soldiers could be heard clearly.
Eren was exhausted but in Mikasa's arms as Levi immediately turned his gaze to his Elizabeth.
Despite her inability to fight, she hadn't been involved in the fight in any way, and even though she was handcuffed she was alive and well. That was enough for him.
"Mission accomplished... wouldn't be appropriate, uh?"
"No. The Survey Corps can keep its head with this..." Erwin exclaimed with his head held high, despite Elizabeth's predictions of the damage all turned out to be correct. "...Though our chances are likely hanging by a thread. I hope you're right."
Elizabeth, beside him, continued to study Levi with her eyes. The wound in his leg was still present and the gesture he made was an additional strain on the muscle.
But it wasn't Levi's physique that was hurt, but his pride.
The hurt pride in seeing his woman in handcuffs without being able to do anything to stop it.
They had accomplished their part of the plan, the rest was up to her and Erwin now.
"Erwin, Elizabeth, we have quite a few concerns about the plan this time around. If you had a target confirmed why didn't you seek the Military Police Brigade's assistance?"
Erwin and Elizabeth were seated at a table in the center of the room where only they and the court martial were inside, a group of men chosen for the express purpose of judging the deeds of others.
"District Chief, there was a need to carry out the plan with only those who could prove that they're not one of the female titans' allies, who are known to be lurking about." Erwin answered continuing, for that endless day, to keep his calm and lucidity.
Everything had already been decided and he would give the pertinent explanations. Elizabeth would think about convincing them of their good faith in the end.
As she did when she played cards: give confidence to the opponent until you get to the end and knock him out with a single decisive move. Luck wanted the Vice Captain to be as good at scams as she was at using words.
"Then what are your thoughts on the damage Stohess District has suffered as a result?"
"Yes, Elizabeth made me notice them several times. But our abilities were simply lacking. I sincerely apologize."
"Do you think we want apologies?!" murmured one of the men seated at the long rectangular table.
The room was in dim light and gave an almost tranquil air, as if it were just a courtesy visit to a house that had not been entered for a long time.
"If we had left her be the walls would've been destroyed and the damage would likely have been far grater."
"I see. So, do you have some sort of proof that you prevented mankind's demise through this extremely costly plan?"
"I don't believe you can get anything out of Annie Leonhart as she is now."
"Indeed, I agree."
At Erwin's words everyone began to look at the two of the Survey Corps with a shocked air.
Elizabeth kept her gaze more rigid than she had, looking even more lethal. She noticed, at her entrance, a man in particular looking her up and down for her being so small and with too delicate features, but as soon as it all started the blonde's gaze froze completely making him shiver.
In that room it was cold just from the look she had.
A hunter waiting for his prey. She waited for the right moment, carefully examining the continuation of the interrogation to know what to say.
Study the opponent before acting.
"So, in other words this was all for nothing?"
"However I believe we've grasped a great potential with which to save mankind. Compared to the time when we couldn't even fathom humans transforming into titans we've come a long way by restraining one of out enemies. Yes, they're definitely out of there, let us bring all of them to their knees. All of the titans within the Walls. Now it's turn to advance upon them!"
And Erwin's words were the signal for Elizabeth to act. The men of the Court Martial seemed almost convinced by the Commander's words, but now it was her turn to deliver the coup de grace, just as she was given the floor.
She remained the second half of the mind that had given rise to that seemingly insane plan for them and she had the same right as Erwin to speak out about it.
"So far the Survey Corps has only suffered. Only since I joined have I counted twenty percent fewer soldiers than when Captain Levi joined. All these people have died to find out what lies behind the beings that hold us captive. Honestly, until recently, I felt their deaths had been in vain. We couldn't figure it out, we just killed them without knowing anything. Now we are aware that they are hiding among us, that they are manipulated by someone who has the sole purpose of exterminating us all. I ask you, sir: do you want to let him do it? Do you really want us all to be killed by something we don't even know the true nature of?"
The group of men looked at each other for a few moments, without needing to confer with each other to make a decision.
The summoning of the Survey Corps in the presence of the King was suspended indefinitely and his men were also entrusted with the surveillance of Annie Leonhart, locked up in the basement inside her cocoon.
That same evening, finally sheltered in their room, Elizabeth let herself be undressed slowly, while Levi kissed every inch of skin he could reach to celebrate the success of their summons.
She was still with him, in his arms, alive and happy.
"You know..." she murmured with shortness of breath from the kisses that had reached her neck, slowly driving her crazy. "When you saved Eren I couldn't help but think about how much sexy you were."
"Really?" he asked without taking his lips away from that particular spot behind her ear.
"Yes. Especially when you wield the blades. You have a look that drives me crazy."
"Then I'll fight more often if that's the result." he murmured taking her by the hips and sliding his hands down her thighs until he took her in his arms.
That evening he took her with particular fervor, eager to hear her moan and writhe in front of him, after having made her lean forward and push himself inside her from behind.
She responded to every move, moaning and meowing, demanding more and more.
Something more that he would never deny her.
He began to move his lips along the bare line of her back, increasing the angle of inclination and the depth of the thrusts until it took her breath away.
With one hand he encircled her breasts, pulling her up until her back touched his chest and then moving his hand up along her neck.
She arched her back again as she felt the thrusts getting faster, deeper and deeper until she reached that particular point that would make her give in instantly.
And after a few thrusts she came, holding him with her walls until he followed her, pouring into her, panting.
A kiss on the lips officially ended the intercourse, kisses that continued even after the two lay down, one in each other's arms.
After all, he would soon become her husband... they had so many things to celebrate that night.