A/N- I am so sorry for the delay but I think I'm burning out a little on this story. I know I said I would only update one story at a time and I'll try to hold to that, but I might need to step back for bit to get my head strait again. I may finish a few one-shots I started but never finished to try and get in the groove again, I won't start another major story though, at most it would be a short story, no more then tree chapters.

Also, until the app gets fixed, all line brakes will be substituted with -x-

Happy Reading Everyone.

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Wings of Freedom

Chapter 28

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It was a relatively pleasant day as the sun shined down on the citizens of the wall, or more specifically the nobles who went about their business with little care for the goings on of the outer walls or the suffering of the soldiers who lay down their lives for them.

A particularly unpleasant noble, Lord Wald, was currently stuffing his face with delicacies and whine while "playing" a game of chess with the Commander of the Garson Regiment "my my, sometimes I worry for our safety while playing chess with you. To think that our defense is being headed by a man who has yet to defeat me in chess even once" the lord laughed through a mouth full of food to his opponent, who simply rubbed his bald head with a goofy grin "indeed, clearly your mind is far superior to mine lord Wald" Commander Dot Pyxis replied simply, causing the lord to laugh.

On the inside the Commander was torn between frustration and laughter. Dealing with Lord Wald was quite demeaning and irritating at times, but the ease with which he was manipulated was also amusing beyond all reason. Lord Wald's stupidity was a double edged sword it would seem, both providing entertainment to the powerful mind that was Pyxis but also a never ending string of self imposed embarrassment and boredom.

Oh well. If continuing as he was would help ensure his men had better standing and were more prepared for when the Titan's made their next move, then so be it. Pyxis would endure whatever necessary to ensure Humanity's victory against the Titans, no matter how small or demeaning.

"Gah!"

Pyxis was broken from his musings by Lord Wald grunting in pain as he dropped his goblet of whine and gripped his head "are you alright Lord Wald?" Pyxis asked with mostly faked concern, as some servants came to his aid. Wald waved them off however as he sat back in his chair and took a breath "I'm fine, it's just this damned headache again. I've been getting them a lot recently for some reason" he answered.

Pyxis was intrigued. He wasn't so much concerned for Wald but more excited to have something to brake up the monotony of intentionally loosing at chess for the umpteenth time. Don't get the wrong idea, he by no means wished ill of the Lord sitting before him, but he also didn't feel much sympathy for Wald, given his general pompous nature and disregard for the lives of those under, and sometimes even above him.

But most importantly, it was because Wald wasn't the only one having these headaches. Pyxis had noticed the occasional servant attempting to hide it but mostly he had seen it in other visiting lords. Even Pyxis had felt a small migraine pestering him since arriving here through it had faded after the first few days. Pyxis hummed as he pondered this "interesting, do you know the cause of these headaches?" he asked as Wald recovered and allowed a servant over to clean up his spilt whine "no, they started up a few days ago and have persisted with no reason!" Wald said irritably "Lord Wald" the servant greeted, having finished cleaning and offering a fresh goblet.

Wald was surprised by the swiftness of his servant "my you are fast" he said while accepting the whine, his irritation apparently placated for the moment "just doing my job my lord" the well dressed and blond haired servant replied politely and moved with extreme efficiency, as if he'd been doing it all his life.

Pyxis hummed as he watched the servant quickly dismiss himself "ha, if only all my other servants were so efficient" Wald commented off-handedly before taking a long sip of his whine.

Pyxis only grunted in acknowledgment as he stared after the servant as he left. The dull façade he kept, broken by the calculating gleam in his eye as the gears in his mind feverishly turned in delight at actually being used.

Pyxis coughed into his hand as he stood up "forgive me Lord Wald, but I'm afraid the call of nature beckons me" he said and Wald laughed in response "my, it seams you can't hold your whine very well. Or perhaps I have partaken too much in it to notice" Wald joked "perhaps Lord Wald, perhaps" Pyxis responded as he made his way out of the room.

Pyxis did not make his way to the washroom though. Instead he walked the halls and servant's quarters with a keen eye and questions. The servants were quick and happy to answer, they always liked it when the Commander came to visit, he was kind to them and Lord Wald was always in a better mood with Pyxis around. They also sympathized with him for having to deal with Lord Wald and act the buffoon.

Eventually, Pyxis found his target. The blond servant that had earned Wald's praise "why hello young man, I must say I'm impressed with your work ethic" Pyxis greeted and the servant turned from his work with mild surprises and allowing Pyxis to get a good look at him.

The lad was in his teenaged years with a long skinny face and well kept blond hair that clearly didn't agree with being combed back, as evidenced by a few flyaway hairs that he quickly forced back down. The most surprising feature had to be the eyepatch over his right side with a deep scar sticking out and running down towards his neck and chest.

The servant gave a quick bow "thank you Commander Pyxis" he replied and Pyxis quirked an eyebrow as he picked up traces of an accent he wasn't familiar with "you know, I've visited Lord Wald many times and have gotten to know his staff well, and I've never seen you before Mr.?" Pyxis said with what would have been seen by most as polite curiosity but with a challenge hidden underneath. A challenge that the servant noticed and answered "Brom sir, and I just started here a few days ago, filling in for one of the servants who took ill" he replied with a smile, but Pyxis saw the equally challenging gleam in the servant's eye.

Pyxis felt an odd combination of emotions as the two stared each other down with what everyone else would see as friendly smiles. On one hand, Pyxis felt concerned. An unknown individual or group had apparently infiltrated a Lords manner for unknown reasons, and while most might think it preposterous do to this Brom's age, the military of the walls was recruiting teens themselves so it wasn't out of the question. And then there was Lord Wald himself, who was by no means a critically important individual in the government and military structure, in fact he was quite clueless in most regards when it came to actual government and the military, but his desire to feel more important then he was, caused him to drag other, more important individuals to his manner, such as Pyxis himself.

Of corse this all could have been Pyxis' over active imagination running wild do to the perpetual boredom of dealing with Lord Wald. It was a very loose theory that had lead Pyxis to pursue the boy after all, and the Commander had considered this. But that possibility flew out the window for Pyxis when this Brom character had recognized and met his challenge and that was what concerned him the most. Whoever this boy was, he was capable enough to recognize Pyxis' threat and abilities and yet was confident enough to reveal that he did, which meant one thing.

He wanted Pyxis to know about him.

And yet, as the two continued to stare each other down, trying to dissect each other's motives, Pyxis couldn't help but feel elation at the game of mental chess they were playing. Real chess, not the phony imitation he played with Wald.

But that still left the question of why. Who was this boy and why was he here, what were his methods and why would he intentionally reveal himself to one of the highest ranking members of the military?

As these questions flew through the Commander's mind, he noticed that Brom was still giving him a challenging stare "if I may sir, I don't envy you, your job. Fighting a losing battle for so long. I'm a sore looser myself, how is it you endure it?" he asked while eagerly watching Pyxis to gage his response.

Pyxis measured his answer carefully as he seamed to stare into the boy's soul "to be honest, I'm a bit of a sore looser at heart myself. And in light of that…" he paused to lean in as a dark air surrounded him "…I would just like you to know, I will do everything in my power to win. If someone endangers the people I've sworn to protect and stands in the way of Humanity's victory against the Titans…then I will not hesitate to cut them down along with them" Pyxis answered while pouring as much of his intimidating presence into his words as possible.

Intimation wasn't usually Pyxis' style, but this wasn't a typical situation. And yet the boy in front of him didn't so much as flinch. In fact he did something the Commander never expected.

The boy smirked "good" he whispered so low only Pyxis could hear it and the small migraine that Pyxis didn't realize he was experiencing subsided.

The Commander stood up strait again as he looked the boy in front of him up and down, desperately trying to make since of him as his satisfied smirk persisted "these people are lucky to have you Commander Pyxis. Perhaps we'll have the pleasure of working together in the future" he said with a conviction in his voice that struck a cord in the Commander "is that so?" he asked and the boy gave a genuine smile and his whole demeanor changed. And for a brief moment, Pyxis didn't see a servant boy, but a warrior. A man who would fight and if necessary, die for his beliefs. Not the mask he'd been wearing around Lord Wald and his guests, or even around Pyxis until now "we both have the same goal after all…even if we face different enemies" he replied while whispering the last part.

Pyxis was quiet for a moment as he measured to man before him. He thought himself a good judge of character and he got the feeling that this boy was worthy of respect at the least, but the Commander was still a little weary.

The boy noticed this and gave another smirk "Eka eddyr aí fricai" he whispered and Pyxis might have given him a funny look if it wasn't for the feelings that suddenly flooded him.

He could trust this boy.

Of corse the thought that he was being influenced somehow, possibly through some kind of hypnosis or drug, immediately crossed Pyxis' mind, but in his heart he knew, through whatever method the boy had used, he knew he could trust him.

And so, taking a deep breath, Pyxis decided to take a leap of faith. The boy was right after all, they were loosing and Pyxis hated loosing. Plus he was no fool. He knew his government was rotten, even if he didn't understand how deep it went. Perhaps this boy, this wild card, was the chance and hope they needed "well, I suppose only time will tell, and I look forward to seeing if you hold true to what you say" he said as he backed away to allow the boy to continue on.

The boy smiled "and I look forward to proving it to you Commander. I'll see you again soon" he said and gave the Military's salute to Pyxis before taking his leave.

The Commander pondered his decision and the possible ramifications of it as he watched the boy leave, his mask of a humble but efficient servant firmly back in place I hope you prove me right, or else this gamble could coast us Pyxis though.

"Commander are you alright?" one of Pyxis' men asked as he approached the man and he quickly shook himself free of his thoughts "yes quite fine" he said to the man before turning back to where the boy had left "did you get a good look at that lad I just spoke to?" he asked with a slightly serious undertone that his subordinate recognized, causing him to straighten up "yes sir" he replied crisply "good, remember it and look up any information you can on anyone named Brom, but don't give anyone reason to suspect him" Pyxis ordered "yes sir" his man replied while giving a salute "if I may sir, do you consider him a potential threat?" He asked and Pyxis hummed in contemplation "no, but better safe then sorry as they say" he said before dismissing his subordinate with a wave and beginning his trek back to Lord Wald and another game of chess.

However, Pyxis felt oddly reinvigorated by the little exchange he'd had with the mysterious boy as he returned, the dust having been cleared from his brain. He still had a multitude of questions yet to be answered but he had to admit it excited him a little. He would probably tell Erwin about this as soon as he got the chance. He was one of the only people Pyxis trusted with this kind of information and the only one who wouldn't chew him out for making such a gamble. Plus he was the only other person he knew that was mentally equipped for this kind of mystery.

Still, in spite of all his questions and worries, Pyxis felt in better spirits as he returned to Lord Wald. Perhaps he would have a little fun and make the Lord work a little for his victory this time.

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A/N- "Eka eddyr aí fricai" - "I am a friend"