Levi
A warm hand was caressing his hair.
Fingers combed the dark strands, gently brushing the scalp. His eyes were closed, but still there was light bright enough to shine through his eyelids. Levi opened his eyes and saw a woman's smiling face staring at him. She had long black hair that ran down her shoulders. She kept stroking his hair.
"Hello, love. Did you sleep well?" Kuchel asked, squinting her eyes slightly in the sunlight. They were in the park. Walkers were wandering slowly around them, some people, like them, rested on the grass. The day was warm. Kuchel was sitting on a blanket and Levi must have fallen asleep on her lap. He got up and stretched.
He looked at his mother, who was still smiling fondly at him. She reached over to the basket and took out a small box. Inside were sandwiches and fruits that she had prepared for a picnic. Levi immediately felt his stomach rumble.
He reached that way...
…and opened his eyes.
Levi sat up and rubbed his hand over his tired face. He looked out the window, where it was already getting bright. Most of the night he turned from side to side, only fell asleep in the morning.
He had the same dream again. It repeated itself from time to time and it contained the same details. It was a memory of one sunny day he spent with his mother when he was a kid, before she fell ill.
Levi went to the shower, dressed quickly and went to work.
During the day, he checked several times the cell phone he was using to communicate with Eren.
For couple of weeks he had been feeling real frustration because he had no contact with the boy. Eren didn't reply to any of his messages. He also didn't show up at the last two meetings that Levi had set, although he had promised not long ago that it would be enough to tell him the time and place. Ackerman ended up waiting almost an hour each time, sitting in the car in an abandoned parking lot. Eren didn't appoint any other date or place for the meeting.
Levi had no idea what was causing Eren's absence and silence. He just hoped the boy was okay and that Grisha didn't know anything about their cooperation. The most annoying thing about this situation was that he had no other way of contacting the boy. He had to wait for a message from him.
Ackerman's eyes narrowed suddenly as Reiner entered the room where he was sitting with Nanaba and Gengar. The detective nodded at them, then began looking for something among the neatly stacked folders.
Levi pursed his lips. He couldn't help but feel the annoyance on the thought that Braun had access to all their documents and files. Well, almost all of them. He and Shadis have kept the identity of their informant to themselves for now, just in case. The fewer people knew about Eren, the better.
Levi got up from the desk and walked over to the room that served as the kitchen. He wanted to make tea to cheer himself up. Just then, he felt the phone in his pocket vibrate and make a soft beep, notifying the arrival of a message.
A message from Eren!
Ackerman quickly pulled out his cell phone. He was so excited he almost dropped it. He stared tense at the display.
"Today, 20. C.W."
Levi felt his heart settle. So, apparently everything was fine. The boy wanted to meet with him at the same place they had met that one time, outside the city, in an old car workshop. The detective wondered if Eren had any new information for him.
The boy's message reassured him a little, but the strange unease he had been feeling recently didn't want to leave him.
Reiner
He shouldn't be here.
The thought rattled in his head as he rushed through the contents of a briefcase he'd gotten after a break-in into Shadis's office. It wasn't easy, he'd been trying to do it for the past few weeks, but he finally succeed. Well, almost.
He felt a trickle of sweat streaming down his forehead. In his left hand he was holding a flashlight, the shaking light of which fell on other documents. He saw the search warrant for Xavier's apartment, the arrest warrant for Zeke, the report of the interrogation of both men… Writings that were of no value to him. How was it possible that Shadis and Ackerman were hiding the identity of the informant so well?
Ant then, suddenly, Reiner found it.
He widened his eyes, gasping for a moment. He was sure his eyes were playing tricks on him. How was this possible? Did someone make a mistake?
"Eren Yaeger".
It couldn't be true. Grisha's son conspiring against his father? Or was it some sort of Grisha's plan? Was the boy playing two fronts, delivering information back to his father?
Reiner didn't know Eren, and he had no idea if the boy was capable of it. The man came to the conclusion it was rather unlikely. The boy was too young to play such a dangerous game, to be the double agent. Besides, if that were the case, Grisha wouldn't be so keen on discovering the identity of the informant.
Braun suddenly jumped in place. He heard a sound from the hall, that had to be the door opening. Anyone else working the night shift?
He quickly put the briefcase back in its place, then left Shadis's office. With trembling hands he closed the door with the key, and after a while he started down the dark corridor. He almost bumped into a tall figure that sprouted around the corner.
"Reiner! You scared me!" The handsome brunet called, placing his hand on his chest. "You're taking your overtime seriously, aren't you?".
"Yeah... But I've finished for now".
"And I have to write two reports" The man smiled, then stepped around him and headed towards the administration department. "Hang in there, buddy".
"You too, Marco".
Reiner started walking, trying to step slowly and not look suspicious. His heart was still racing and he could feel sweat on his forehead.
He didn't even want to imagine what he would have to do if Marco saw him leaving Shadis's office at such a time.
Braun said goodbye to the two officers sitting behind the glass in the reception area. They ignored him, too busy fixing the sudden failure of the surveillance system. That was Grisha's work. The man was to provide him with a clean area so that he could easily visit the commander's office.
As he got into his car, he immediately felt the vibration of the phone. It was Zeke, of course. Reiner reluctantly answered the call.
"Sooo?" Yaeger wanted to know.
Reiner opened his mouth.
The words were already prepared, he felt their weight on his tongue, he felt the load they would bring into the world. If he would speak, it will be irreversible. He wanted to throw the words out of his mouth, but his body rebelled against him. He heard his own voice, saying:
"Unfortunately, I still don't know anything, although I searched everything. They hide well all valuable information".
He heard Zeke curse violently.
"Keep trying".
"How do I..."
"That's not my concern. I have to finish".
Yaeger hung up. Reiner put the phone in his pocket and looked straight ahead. He didn't know why, but suddenly a strange hope appeared in his heart.
If Eren was actually acting against Grisha, maybe there was a chance to take the Yaegers down…? Even if it was only a shadow of a chance, it was enough for him. He needed to know more. He absolutely had to meet with Eren.
Ymir
The woman hurried into her apartment, not caring about taking off her shoes. She was supposed to meet with Historia in half an hour, and she still had to pack all her belongings in the car. Actually, it wasn't much… She decided to leave furniture and some of the equipment in place. She didn't need most of this things. She certainly won't be missing the strange picture with geometric figures, which she still didn't know how to interpret.
She smiled at the thought that she and Historia had made such a bold move. For a long time she dreamed about running away, but it was only the conversation with the girl that prompted her to act. She couldn't believe that she had found someone who agreed to such a plan, and moreover, who proposed it.
The light turned on itself, Ymir was about to move towards the suitcases that were standing on the other side of the room. Suddenly the woman's eyes widened.
Several men were standing in the dining area. Among them she recognized Porco and Marcel, who were looking at her with grim smiles.
"Are you going somewhere?" The older Gaillard wanted to know. "We have a meeting with the boss today. We came to give you a lift, but then we saw this stuff. How about we drop you off at the airport?".
Ymir cursed mentally. What a strange feeling… For the first time in her life, she was speechless.
Levi
He arrived at the meeting point a bit earlier. Due to the fact that it was raining outside, Levi drove his motorcycle inside an abandoned, wide-open car workshop. The temperature had dropped a little, so he put a leather jacket over his shoulders. Underneath, he was dressed in a gray button-down shirt. He took off the helmet, then leaned against his motorcycle, stamping his foot nervously.
Eren was late, which didn't bode well. This would be his third absence.
Minutes passed like hours. Levi was slowly starting to think that the boy wouldn't be coming to the meeting again, when suddenly he heard a distinctive sound. Oncoming car. Ackerman noticed lights sliding on the ground just outside the workshop entrance until they froze in place. The car stopped. Levi waited for the lights to disappear and for Eren to turn off the engine, but for some reason he didn't. The boy entered the workshop, leaving the car running. Levi frowned slightly. What's that supposed to mean? They haven't seen each other that long and he only came for a while?
Levi kept his arms crossed over his chest, but at the sight of the boy, he straightened up and lowered his arms around his body.
"Finally!" Ackerman called, stepping a little closer to Eren. "What's the matter with you lately? You don't show up at the meetings, you don't inform me... Does Grisha know something?".
Eren looked at Levi heavily. Only then did Levi peer at the boy closely. He hadn't seen Eren in a couple of weeks, and he had an impression as if Yaeger had changed in some way. Eren certainly looked different. He wore an elegant black shirt with gold ornaments, the sleeves of which were rolled up to the elbows, and dark pants with a leather belt. His hair was loose and slightly damp from the rain. But the biggest change was visible in his eyes, they seemed tired and emotionless, as if they were covered with a strange shadow. It was quite peculiar, because the last time Levi looked into those eyes, he had seen sincere affection in them, or so he thought.
Not that he wanted Eren to look at him again in the same way he did the last time… It was just that empty, colorless gaze bothered him.
The boy parted his mouth and said:
"I just came here to tell you personally that we have to end our cooperation".
Levi widened his eyes. It took him a moment to realize the meaning of Eren's words.
"What are you talking about?".
"I can't be your informant anymore. Thanks for everything, but we have to end this".
"What? And what are you going to do now?".
"It's not your concern. I just wanted you to know this. We can't see each other anymore. Anyway... It's best if you drop the case".
Levi shook his head. He didn't believe what he was hearing.
"Did Grisha say something to you? Did he threaten someone? Or did he do something to Armin or Mikasa?".
Eren sighed softly.
"It doesn't really matter, really. I wanted to help you guys, I really did, but now I've changed my mind. I need to focus on something else".
Eren tried to turn around, but Levi quickly walked over to him and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt.
"I don't believe you, stop with this fucking nonsense! You know that we can't do it without you. We need you. I thought we were friends" Levi felt his voice crack a little, so he quickly added: "Tell me what exactly is going on, and I'll help you. So, what happened?".
"Levi..." Eren shook his head and fixed his heavy gaze on the man. "It's my decision. Accept it. Leave me alone and don't contact me again".
The boy reached into his pocket.
It suddenly occurred to Levi that, at the very beginning of this relationship, such a gesture on Eren's part would immediately cause him a defensive reaction. However, he trusted this boy enough that he didn't expect any attack from him. He thought about how much had changed since the night Eren had broken into his house for the first time… They couldn't waste everything they'd built together over time.
Eren took from his pocket the cellphone Levi had given him. Ackerman's eyes widened as he saw the boy dropped the phone to the ground, then stepped on it with his shoe to crash it. Apparently he was serious.
Yaeger moved to leave again, but Levi blocked his way. His eyes narrowed dangerously. He seemed to be on the verge of patience.
"Grisha offered you some deal, right? Or are you just switching sides again? Do you want to blow off everything that we've achieved so far? Wake up, man!".
"Get out of my way, please".
"You want Mike's death to be wasted?" Levi asked. Eren's eyes widened and he froze. Levi took it as a small victory. He couldn't bear to see no emotion in boy's gaze, so he tried his best to elicit any reaction. Even if it meant hurting him. That's why he continued: "You want everything that happened to Erwin and Hanji won't matter anymore?".
"It's not like that..." Eren squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, then looked back at Levi, but the detective seemed to be more and more furious and let that rage broke free. He wanted to infect the boy with that rage, he wanted to see in his green eyes at least a hint of some real feeling. Even if it would be hate.
"And you obviously don't care about Armin and Mikasa if you want to let them continue to live in such a dangerous world".
Levi saw a painful expression cross Eren's face. He knew he had hit a sore spot, but he had no choice. Apparently something was wrong and he had to make the boy change his mind.
"What do you think will happen to them next? That they'll be safe by Grisha's side?" Levi raised his voice. "You said you'd do anything for them. You're backing out now?".
"It's not only about them..." Eren said quietly, not looking at the detective, but Levi didn't seem to hear him at all. Nor did he fully understand what the boy meant.
"If you think they're safe with Grisha, then you are really dumber than I thought! " Ackerman's voice was full with agitation. "I thought that I was dealing with a grown-up, intelligent man, but now I can see that you're just a stupid, selfish, spoiled shithead, who doesn't care about his friends and is no different from his own father...".
Levi saw Eren's face tighten, and the boy's hands clenched with all their strength. One of his fists suddenly stroke towards the detective's face, punching him on the cheek and almost knocking him off his feet. Ackerman leaned his hand against the wall to keep from losing his balance. He could feel his heart racing and the adrenaline pumping through his veins. He wanted to make Eren mad? Well, he succeeded.
He looked at Yaeger and finally saw a real ocean of emotions in his eyes. Anger, agitation and shame mingled with the care and understanding Levi needed so much. The means weren't fair, but the goal was right. He couldn't just let Eren go. He had to find out what was going on here.
He saw the boy stepped back and shook his head. He looked terrified of what he had just done.
"Levi, I'm sorry... I... I didn't want to..."
Levi decided to extend the scene.
"Don't hold back, come on!" He called, taking a step towards the boy and gently nudging his shoulders, trying to provoke him. Levi's cheek was throbbing with pain, but he didn't care. "Is this all you got?".
He stared militantly at Eren, expecting another blow. He was surprised when he noticed in the boy's gaze a strange humility and sadness. Yaeger looked as if something had snapped inside him. As if he gave up. Levi considered his next words as Eren suddenly took a step forward.
This time, however, Eren didn't haul off to hit his face. Although, he held out both his hands in that direction. He touched Levi's face, lifting it slightly upwards. Levi widened his eyes, completely paralyzed, as he felt Eren's lips finding his mouth and pressing against them in a tender kiss.
The world stopped, time froze. Levi had the impression that any sound, any smell had ceased to reach him, he had hardly felt any external stimuli. All he could feel was the presence of a tall young man standing next to him, kissing his lips. The kiss was very gentle, as if Eren didn't want to startle him. It felt more like an apology, or... a farewell? Levi felt a pain in his chest at the thought.
After a moment the boy moved away a little to look at Levi from up close. They stared at each other for a couple of seconds, exchanging silent glances, trying to read the unspoken in the other eyes.
Finally, as if on cue, Eren pulled Levi closer to him. Ackerman reached out and wrapped his arms around the boy's neck. This time it was his lips that pressed to Eren's, kissing them with affection. They hugged each other tightly, their bodies pressed against each other. Levi deepened the kiss after a while, finding Eren's tongue and forced it for the passionate dance. Their breaths mixed with each other, soft sighs came from their mouths. Eren returned the passion of the kiss, greedily tasting the detective's lips, not even giving him a moment to rest. Levi, in turn, wove his impatient fingers into the long brown strands, amazed at how soft they were.
Levi suddenly felt Eren's body pressing harder against him. The boy pushed him against the wall, throwing the man's leather jacket off his shoulders, which fell to the floor. Eren ran his hands over the detective's back, then put his fingers on Levi's hips and pulled the man closer. The boy slipped his knee between the man's legs, and that made Ackerman sigh softly into Eren's mouth. Then Levi felt the boy's fingers reach up to his shirt, unbuttoning it from the bottom and lifting the fabric up. Cool hands touched his belly and traveled lower.
Levi widened his eyes. He suddenly moved away from Eren's mouth, he came back to reality. What on earth was he doing...? Was he really kissing Eren as if he had lost all control? Did he really want to go even further?
He grabbed the boy's wrists, pulling his hands away from him. The desire and tenderness that took control over his body, terrified him. These feelings were too sudden, too intense. He needed a moment to analyze the situation, to make sure if he wasn't making a mistake.
He had no idea what the boy must've seen in his eyes that moment. Eren suddenly stepped away. He lifted the corners of his mouth gently, in a very sad smile. This sight was supposed to haunt Levi for a long time.
Eren gave him one last look, then turned around and walked briskly out into the pouring rain without looking back.
Ackerman stood there, completely motionless, his brain working frantically. Bloody hell. He couldn't keep up with information processing, it was just too much. First, Eren informing him that he is ending cooperation with them. Then, Eren punching him in the face, then suddenly kissing him. And finally... He, embracing Eren and kissing him back.
Why did he do it? Why did he kiss him, too?
Levi frowned. Was it possible that he had feelings for Eren? The detective was leaning against the cold wall, staring ahead with wide eyes. He could still feel the pressure of Eren's lips on his mouth.
Eren.
No. The reason wasn't important. He could contemplate about this issue another time. Maybe he did have feelings for Eren. Maybe he confused it with a sense of responsibility, a feeling of concern. Maybe he didn't want to get involved in this relationship because he cared too much about the boy and didn't want to hurt him. Maybe he was keeping him at bay on purpose, because with each meeting he saw more and more affection in Eren's eyes.
It didn't matter now. Now that he had kissed him, he couldn't let him go. They had to figure it out together. Levi's gaze went to the crushed cell phone. At the same moment he heard the engine growling.
Fuck.
"Eren!".
Levi rushed toward the garage exit. He fell outside, intense drops hit his face. His shirt got soaked almost immediately, but he didn't care. The darkness and heavy rain made it difficult for him to see. At last he saw a familiar car disappeared around a bend.
"Eren, stop! Wait!".
Ackerman's eyes widened and his mouth opened again, but the scream died on his lips. He headed back to the garage in no time, running towards his motorcycle. He completely ignored the leather jacket that was still on the ground. He started the vehicle and pulled out of the garage.
The world passed before his eyes at a dizzying pace, but he looked out for only one thing. As he stopped at the intersection, he looked around with a lost expression on his face.
It was too late.
He had no idea which way Eren drove away. Besides, chasing a boy so close to the city was dangerous. If someone would see them talking to each other, it might not end well. On the other hand... The whole situation seemed to be a bad ending, so could it get any worse?
Levi's body shivered. Well, his shirt had soaked, he left his jacket at the workshop. Reluctantly, he turned the motorcycle around and headed back to the same place he was a moment ago. He parked in front of the garage and quickly went inside to scoop his jacket off the floor. He looked around the abandoned, gloomy room.
Knowing that a moment ago he and Eren had been exchanging passionate kisses here felt like a thought from another world. Did it even happen? He looked down at his half unbuttoned shirt. Besides, he could still feel the almost physical pressure of Eren's lips against his mouth, the touch of boy's warm hands on his body. He could feel his heart beating rapidly. Yes, it was a real memory. But what did it matter now, when Eren had decided to leave them?
Levi threw his jacket over his shoulders and then left the workshop. He was about to get on the motorcycle, when he suddenly noticed something that caught his attention. A small item lying in a puddle. The man bent to pick it up. He widened his eyes, seeing the familiar pendant.
It was a gift for Eren they had bought him for his birthday. Medallion with two-colored wings. Did the object somehow fell from Yaeger's neck? Or did the boy throw it out on purpose, to completely cut himself off from them?
Levi's fingers tightened on the cold object. The detective felt like the chill take over his entire body.
Grisha
His footsteps echoed loudly in the silence around him. It was late, and it was already dark outside. It meant the time was right. When he stood at the very top of the stairs, he touched the cool, smooth railing with his hand. Kruger, who was following him, stopped suddenly.
"You forgot something?" The Owl asked in a low tone.
They were alone. Those he was going to meet were waiting for him in his cabinet. It was a significant moment, Grisha wanted to savor it. So he ran his hand over the light marble, admiring its delicate texture.
He liked to notice such details every day, to catch a glipse of them in every moment. Thanks to this, life gained a different dimension, and his memories had their own taste, their smell, their touch.
"No" Grisha replied, then looked at Kruger and smiled slightly. "Let's go".
The men went downstairs, then headed to the cabinet that served as the conference room. Everyone he had invited here that evening was already seated at the wide table. Well, almost everyone. Xavier was absent, unfortunately. Ymir wasn't here either. He ordered to put the woman in a different place. He wanted to deal with this problem later.
Grisha looked at the faces he saw around him.
Gaillard brothers. They were not very smart, but it was enough to pay them properly and they obeyed every order. They weren't attached to anyone, although they got on well with both Eren and Zeke, they were of the same generation after all. They shouldn't be causing him any trouble.
Pieck. The woman stared back at him fearlessly, though her eyelids felt heavy. She was a good and loyal employee, and a great shooter. But he knew he had to be careful with her. At times he saw the hesitation in her eyes, especially after the last actions they pulled against the police. Apparently, her code of ethics was in conflict with his recent decisions.
Annie. The blonde stared at him with indifferent eyes. The slight frown signified exhaustion, and it could also be related to her recent indisposition. He was satisfied with her services though, so he gave her time to recover. Her father still owed him a large sum, which meant that the girl would work for him for some time. The question was what would happen when the debt was paid. He was pleased to hear about her friendship with Arlert. He could use this knowledge in the future.
Kruger. The man was standing against the wall, looking like a still statue. He was a faithful and extremely prescient man with whom they had many memories. They started the drug business together, and Kruger repeatedly provided him with protection at the worst times. Although Grisha relied on him and consulted the man on almost every decision, he didn't trust him completely. He enjoyed Kruger's friendship and dedication, but in the back of his head it was always the thought that one day he would have to find someone else for this role. There would be time for that.
Grisha's eyes fell on his older son.
Zeke. The man was sitting sprawled in the chair, one leg crossed over the other. Casual and laid-back as always. Grisha despised his flaws as much as he appreciated his virtues. Zeke was impulsive, sometimes he made ill-considered decisions, and for some reason he only had eyes for Eren. Grisha, however, had his own ways of using his older son's qualities. He knew how to use them to his advantage. He had many plans for Zeke, and he hoped his son would continue to be faithful by his side. Well, maybe he was a little too much strict with him at times, but that was the only way to create an almost perfect soldier. A soldier who, when the time comes, would be left alone on the sinking ship while Grisha uses the lifeboat to evacuate.
That was the plan, but only as a last resort.
Grisha looked into the eyes of the person sitting to his left.
Mikasa. The girl looked back at him with a slight apprehension, but her chin was raised high. There had been no fear in her eyes for some time. He was aware of the change that had taken place in her. He also had to admit that the girl was really beautiful. Taking her to business meetings was really a good idea. He still remembered the delighted glances of the men (whom he despised, but he craved for their attention), when he introduced them to his young, cute ward. He wasn't sure yet whether he would be able to make the girl the perfect accomplice, or whether the threats would be more effective. Fortunately, Mikasa was already on the hook. Her relationship with Kirschtein could be very useful.
Grisha looked at her a little longer than at the others. Memories of the first time he saw her flashed back to him - a trembling little child, tucked under the bed, eyes full of tears. He took her hand and led her out of the apartment where his people were cleaning up. Well, he always taught his employees to clean up after themselves.
He stared into Mikasa's blue eyes, wondering what the girl would do if she found out that he was responsible for the death of her parents. It fascinated him, and he wanted to tell her the truth one day. It had to wait.
Grisha finally looked at the last person. The boy was sitting to his right, in a completely new spot. As Yaeger entered the room, he noticed that the others were a little surprised by the sudden change.
Eren never sat on his father right side. This time, not only did he occupy this honorable place, but what's more, there was a change in his appearance. It was most noticeable in his eyes, which seemed to be darker. The boy's eyes looked at reality with a new, unusual confidence. Eren wore a black shirt with gold ornaments, the collar of which was up. He tied his hair back, accentuating the thinness of his face. The silver pendant Grisha had seen around his son's neck for some time, was gone.
The man finally broke the silence.
"Thank you for this late meeting. I know you are tired, but it won't take long. I just want to calm you down. All our problems should be solved soon. Although, actually…" Grisha looked at his younger son. "Eren, maybe you want to give some good news?".
The boy nodded without a trace of stage fright. Until recently, at such moments, the young man's face showed hesitation and nervousness, as if assuming responsibility frightened him. This time his facial muscles were relaxed, and a soft smile appeared on his lips.
Eren rose from his seat and looked at the faces of the people gathered in the office. He looked at each of them with the same, chilled and slightly indifferent expression on his face. It was not without surprise that Grisha saw that Eren looked at Mikasa in the same way. Yaeger saw the girl's face turn pale. He resisted the urge to burst out laughing.
The boy leaned lazily on the wooden table.
"Father and I agreed on our next steps. You'll get specific guidelines in the coming days" Eren said in a low, calm voice. His tone was deep, mature, devoid of youthful uncertainty. "In short: me and Zeke will go to Marley to support our associates on the spot. We will suspend our production for a short time, until the situation with the police calms down. As for the Tyburs, we managed to negotiate a meeting on neutral grounds with them. I'll take care of it myself. Besides…" The boy suddenly looked directly at Mikasa, but his gaze was still devoid of deeper emotions. "Mikasa will move to Carla for this time, she'll help my mother to manage the hotel. Since you've been spending time in such places lately, you'll definitely get used to it quickly".
Mikasa suddenly blushed. Grisha didn't know if it was due to a feeling of shame or the shock that Eren made a biting remark to her, when she didn't expect it in the first place.
The boy continued his speech.
"Armin will continue his work, but apart from him, we found two other... specialists. We have to protect ourselves in case any of them get compromised. Besides…" Eren's eyes narrowed slightly. "We will suspend any field operations for a while. I convinced my father to wait until the situation calmed down. We cannot risk more arrests. Let the police think we're scared and helpless".
Grisha nodded as if to confirm his son's words. Suddenly, he too rose from his seat. He reached out and put his hand on Eren's shoulder.
"Eren will be my right-hand man from now on. You can congratulate him after the meeting. I'm glad you finally decided to fully commit, son. I suggest that we make a toast".
The oldest Yaeger nodded to Kruger, who walked over to the bar and opened the champagne. The glasses were handed and soon filled. Grisha and Eren were the first to drink to seal their family alliance.
Yaeger noticed some surprised looks. Only Zeke was smiling broadly, obviously pleased with this turn of events. The greatest shock was visible on Mikasa's face, the girl was staring at Eren with wide eyes. The boy, however, didn't even look at her. He was talking to Zeke, discussing their joint trip to Marley.
Grisha raised his glass to his lips. A cool, sparkling drink filled his mouth. He heard the soft conversations around him, merry snorts. He wanted to remember the taste of the drink, the sounds of the surroundings, the smell of changes floating in the air, so that he could then recall this moment with all the details, as was his habit.
Despite some recent setbacks, the future had never looked brighter.
The real success was just about to come.
THE END OF PART I
Part II of "On The Other Side" will return in a few weeks
(thank you all for your comments, favs and all the support)