Choices
Armin, Annie, Levi and Mikasa arrived at Marley and were received with honors by the government. Armin presented to the officials the Paradis gift of a telegraph as a sign of collaboration between the nations, promising a rapid advancement for Marley.
Armin and Mikasa were requested to immediately start business; they were accompanied by Annie, who had the habit to sneak herself in Armin's meetings.
Armin: Captain, you'll be fine on your own?
Levi: Yes Armin, I can walk fine now… I'll go home.
Annie: Not going to visit your children?
Levi: Tsk, they'll probably be at my house already.
Annie: Can't wait to see them huh captain?
Levi getting angry: Annie…. You are pushing it.
Annie: Haha, sorry captain… It was good to see you… you should visit more.
Armin: Yes captain, we are having a dinner later with Connie and Jean… you can come if you want…
Levi: No thanks, that's enough reconnection to the past. Maybe in a year.
Mikasa: Captain…
Levi approaches Mikasa and gives her a slight punch in her arm: Stay strong Mikasa.
Mikasa smiles at him: See you later… captain.
After a while, Levi had arrived at his home, which was spotless and extremely clean, even if it had been several weeks since he had been in it. He saw that his kitchen was filled with all kinds of different teas and a brand-new tea set. He was pretty moved by this.
Suddenly his door slams open. Gabi and Falco enter panting and sweating.
Gabi and Falco at the same time: MISTER LEVI!
Gabi runs and hugs Levi crying: We have missed you! We were so worried about you… we heard you were in another battle!
Levi getting annoyed: Let go of me…
Gabi jumps away from Levi and blushes: Sorry… got carried away…
Falco tearing up: Were you hurt Mister Levi?
Levi: No, I'm fine.
Gabi notices Levi's knee brace: Mister Levi what is that on your leg!?
Falco is impressed and starts to examine the brace: Wow… look at this! You can move your leg perfectly fine!
Levi: Yes… you no longer have to take care of me...
Gabi and Falco look saddened.
Falco: Oh…
Gabi: Well… that's what you always wanted…
Levi is thinking very hard if he should say what he is thinking…
Levi: But… I would like for you to still come here… I need your help with something …
Gabi and Falco brighten up and both say: REALLY!?
Gabi is extremely excited: OH MISTER LEVI!
Falco giddily says: What do you need our help with?
Levi: I… want to… write a book, about the heroes who saved Paradis from the titans… since you are both so smart and learned… I guess you can make it easier for me… care to help?
Gabi and Falco are both crying.
Gabi: You...sniff... really think of us that way?
Falco: I've never felt so proud…
Levi: You are making me regret this…
Gabi and Falco compose themselves immediately
Gabi: So mister Levi… where do we start?
Afternoon
After a day of negotiations, Armin and Mikasa were able to rest. Mikasa was invited to stay with Armin and Annie at the Leonhart's home for the remainder of her stay.
Armin: Mikasa, I have never seen anyone go through negotiations so fast, it was incredible.
Mikasa: How come? Most of the subjects were yes or no questions…
Annie: Well, nobody just answers yes or no and be done with it… but I guess you showed those people just how easy things can be. They were pretty astonished by the whole thing… it was quite funny.
Mikasa: Should I stop being that way?
Armin OH PLEASE DON'T STOP! If you keep that pace, we will be done in just a few days.
Annie: And we will have more time for our drinking binge. Keep it up Mikasa.
Armin: Annie please…
Mikasa: Ok, I'll try to go faster then…
Armin is disturbed by Mikasa's answer
Annie feels satisfied: Well, we should be getting ready for dinner don't we?
After a while Annie, Armin and Mikasa head towards a restaurant at the center of the city, where Connie and Jean were already waiting.
Connie: GUYS! You are finally here! We really needed you back Armin, Pieck was driving us insane.
Mikasa: Hey guys…
Jean: Hello...
Jean is unusually quiet with an emotionless gesture on his face… Pieck is by his side
Armin: Hi guys! and Pieck! How come you are here? You don't usually like to go to these things with us.
Pieck: Oh… we'll come to that in a minute hehe
Annie notices Jean has a dead look on his eyes; Connie is looking at him concerned and Pieck has a sly smile on her face.
Annie: What the hell is going on? why are you all so weird?
Jean in a monotonous tone: I'm... marrying Pieck.
Armin and Annie: WHAT?! Mikasa is unaffected by the news.
Connie: Told you she was driving us crazy…
Pieck hugging Jean: That's right… I'm going to be Jean's bride… I told you I would do it Annie.
Annie: Jean doesn't look too excited… Are you blackmailing him or something?
Pieck with a satisfied smile on her face: Nope! Just making sure he keeps his promises.
Armin: What? What does that mean?
Connie: I'll explain. During all this time Pieck has been flooding me and Jean with work and pressuring us like a tyrant... So yesterday Jean exploded and threw a fit at the office, started to throw things… and an letter opener stabbed Pieck in the chest.
Jean felt so guilty that he said he would do anything so she would forgive him… she said that he has to marry her. We both protested and said that wasn't fair, so she said to us:
Connie imitating Pieck: Jean can get out of his promise… if any of you beat me at a game of Poker.
Annie: Oh.
Connie: Jean, as cocky as he is, accepted the challenge and well… this is the result…
Jean keeping the same monotonous and dead expression: I had an unbeatable hand…
Annie: You sure are an idiot Jean… everyone knows Pieck is the absolute master at Poker, nobody dares to play with her.
Connie: The minute Jean lost the game, Pieck ran on all fours like a crazy person to tell her family and everyone she knew.
I was freaked out about how fast she was…. When you guys arrived today, she gave the captain of the ship a letter to every member of Jean's family inviting them to the wedding… so there is pretty much nothing Jean can do about it now…
Armin shocked: You sure are scary Pieck…
Annie muttering to herself: maybe I should do something like that…
Armin panicking: WHAT?
Annie blushing: What? I didn't say anything…
Mikasa: Well, I'm happy for Jean, weren't you always dreaming about marrying a black-haired girl?
Pieck excited: REALLY? OH! You see! This is meant to be! She gives Jean a kiss in his cheek
Jean heart breaks after seeing Mikasa smiling at the scene and drops his head on the table.
Armin: Did anyone else heard a glass break or something?
Some days later
Mikasa and Armin had finished the negotiations with great results for the establishment of relations between Paradis and Marley… but completely failed to produce evidence or clues about Kaspar Ackerman's plans and motivations.
The Marley government explained that the Rohr's came to the nation more than a century ago along side the Tybur's and had their full protection, and rapidly gained influence because of the enormous wealth they possessed, their origins were never an issue that needed to be addressed, so Marley never knew that they were truly Ackermans, it was a secret that the Tybur's took to the grave.
The ministers refused Armin's request to suspend all business transactions between the government and the Rohr's industries, as they were the main source of income for the nation, but agreed to give control of the state to Kaspar's financial manager, a man called Iro Angayu, a southern Marleyan from the annexed nations.
Evening – Annie's home
After resting for a while, Annie and Mikasa are getting ready to begin their drinking binge, while Armin looks at them concerned...
Annie: Well Mikasa. Ready to get drunk?
Mikasa with a determined look: Yes
Annie: That's the spirit! Come on Armin, we are going.
Armin annoyed: Annie… I've already told you. I'm not going.
Annie: Pff… you are so boring Armin, are you seriously letting us, two attractive young women, go to a bar alone? What if we get assaulted by drunks?
Armin: Annie… it's much more likely that the two of you end up killing someone there than for what you said to happen…
Annie angry: FINE. Let's go Mikasa.
Mikasa: Bye Armin.
Armin: Bye... please be careful.
Annie while walking away: Maybe I'll LET someone take advantage of me… maybe you will care then!
Armin distressed: HEY! Annie!
Both Mikasa and Annie keep walking away, while Armin is seeing them at the door, very distressed.
Mikasa: Annie… that was unnecessary.
Annie: Yeah… I guess so... I'll apologize tomorrow. I'll let him suffer for tonight.
Mikasa: You really are too confusing… no wonder it took so long for you to get together.
Annie in a sarcastic tone: Are YOU really saying that to me Mikasa?
Mikasa annoyed: Well at least I always knew what I wanted.
Annie: Pff... it seems the men we chose sure are a pair of idiots right? Sigh… What a nuisance.
Mikasa and Annie arrive at a fancy looking bar, filled with men and women alike. Annie is a regular at the place.
Annie: Hey Hans!
Hans the bartender: Miss Leonhart! Long time no see! Where have you been!
Annie: Busy my friend with important business. I'm here to celebrate with my friend here, so bring me the strong stuff!
Hans: Right away Miss Leonhart!
Mikasa: Annie… are you a drunk?
Annie: What?! No… I just... need to cool off… some days of the week… that's all.
Unknowing to Annie and Mikasa, some men in one of the tables were checking them out since they entered. A very drunk man approaches Mikasa.
Drunk man: Hey there cutie… you don't look from around here… and look, you must be cold – he grabs her scarf – want someone to warm you up?
Mikasa slowly twists her head with an insanely terrifying look in her eyes. She punches the drunk so hard that he was sent flying out the window, landing in the street half dead. The men that were with the drunk start to approach Annie and Mikasa.
Annie gets up: Listen up fuckers, if any man here is looking to hit on ANY of the women in here, you can expect to look just like that sad piece of shit on the street!
Mikasa keeping the same horrifying look stares at the men at the bar while adjusting her scarf.
All the man in the bar run out, leaving only the woman who are confused and excited.
The bartender was approaching Annie to speak to her, but before he could say anything, Mikasa stood up, took a bunch of gold coins from her pocket and put them in the bar.
Mikasa: Here... this should cover the damages and for me to buy this place for today. You are only serving the women, and give them whatever they want.
The bartender is ecstatic: Oh my! Sure thing lady! Whatever you say!
The women at the bar approach Mikasa extremely happy: Thank you so much lady! - You are my hero! – You are so pretty!
Annie surprised: Well you sure are loaded Mikasa!
Mikasa: I don't have a lot of expenses... as I do most of the work at the estate myself... besides... we gave some peace to the women in here...
Annie: Don't you get tired of saving the day all the time?
Mikasa: No, because I'm strong…
Annie interrupting her: Yeah, yeah... I've heard that speech before. You won't be so strong after you have taken a shot of THIS! Annie makes Mikasa drink a full glass of vodka…
Two hours later
The women at the bar are already drunk, some are dancing and laughing, others are vomiting, and others have passed out.
Meanwhile Annie and Mikasa are both extremely drunk…
Annie: Is he ever going to ask me to marry him? Maybe I should do something like Pieck did…
Mikasa: You have to be patient Annie… Armin has no experience with this…
Annie: You can say that again… you know I had to be the one to bring the subject up so he could finally ask me to date him? What a weakling…
Mikasa is irritated: Why are you with him? All this time you have just been complaining about him…
Annie blushing: Well… yeah... not everything is bad...I like how sweet he is… and smart… he is… totally different from me… I like to feel like I can protect him… And I... also... feel safe with him...
Annie is getting very red: I... miss him... when I'm not with him... I've never felt like that...
Mikasa: So you love him...
Annie extremely red: I… think so…
Mikasa: Do you see yourself having children with him?
Annie boiling red: What the hell Mikasa!? We are not even married!
Mikasa: Oh… I thought you had already considered that, as you have been together for a while now. It wouldn't be strange if you got pregnant soon.
Annie gushes blood from her nose: MIKASA! What kind of talk is that for a virgin!
Mikasa puzzled: But I'm not a virgin...
Annie extremely shocked: WHAAAAAAT!? You… have… done it?!
Mikasa still puzzled: I lived alone with Eren in the paths for a very long time… like a married couple... is it really that surprising?
Annie with blood flowing constantly from her nose: I guess not... so... h…how was it?
Mikasa playfully asks: How was what?
Annie with a bloodied tissue covering her nose: WHAT YOU MEAN WHAT? You know!... The… DON'T MAKE ME SAY IT!
Mikasa is having too much fun teasing Annie: I don't know what you mean…
Annie with a bunch of bloodied tissues next to her: STOP JOKING MIKASA! H…How was it… with Eren?
Mikasa covering her face with her scarf: It… was indescribable… I felt… completely loved…
Annie completely red with a pile of tissues next to her: Oh...um... do... you... miss it?
Mikasa very blushed: Well… not so much the act itself… but the connection I felt with Eren… I could feel his love… all over my body…
Annie with a mountain of bloodied tissues next to her: I…I see….
Mikasa: Armin loves you Annie... and you love him too... You should try it. It will change everything. It might compel Armin to ask you to marry him sooner...
Annie gets up with a fountain of blood coming out of her nose: HANS! BRING ME A BUNCH OF COLD BEERS AND ICE RIGHT NOW!
An hour later
Mikasa leaves the bar carrying Annie in her back, who is passed out drunk.
Annie: uh… Armin… I love you… don't make me... wait... uhhhhh...
Mikasa is smiling all the way to Annie's home.
Armin opening the door: Oh.. not again…
Mikasa entering: She is fine Armin just completely drunk… she lost a lot of blood too.
Armin worried: What?! Why?
Mikasa: Girl problems
Armin feeling awkward: Oh... ok… let's get her to her room then.
Mikasa gently puts Annie in her bed.
Armin: I'm so sorry about this Mikasa.
Mikasa giving Annie a loving smile: No… It has been the most fun I've had in years…. Thank you, Annie.
Mikasa softly caresses Annie's head and leaves.
Armin: you should rest Mikasa, tomorrow I'm taking you to visit the East Hizuru ruins… it's quite a long trip, so you should be rested.
Mikasa starts to get anxious: Yeah… thanks Armin…
The next day
Annie had a terrible hangover so she stayed at her home resting. Meanwhile Armin and Mikasa left in a motorized carriage early in the morning towards the East Hizuru Ruins, with Armin serving as Mikasa's tour guide for the whole trip.
Mikasa could not really pay attention to what Armin was saying to her… her mind was filled with doubts and thoughts about if she should go through with her intention of searching for the source… as they were getting closer… she started to get more nervous.
A few hours later, the carriage was getting closer to the Hizuru ruins... a militray complex was starting to get visible at the distance...
Armin: Mikasa look over there, it's the East military Station. It used to be one of the most heavily protected and staffed stations, but nowadays it works just with a skeleton crew.
Mikasa got extremely anxious, but thought to herself: I came this far… I have to try at least…
Mikasa: Armin… could we stop there for a while? I... need to stretch my legs…
The military aide of Armin: Actually minister, that would be a good idea, we need to check the station for status report.
Armin: Oh... ok then, sure. But try to not get too far away Mikasa. The woods over there are quite large and confusing, you could get lost. Stay close ok?
Mikasa: All right…
Armin and his aide are checking the station, meanwhile Mikasa heads for the woods, feeling extremely nervous and scared.
As she entered the woods, she felt a very slight jolt of electricity in her body…
A few minutes passed and Mikasa, as if she knew where she was going, reached the site of some destroyed ruins: there were just a bunch of rocks of what used to be a preserved historical site.
There still were the footprints of the Rumbling Colossal Titans at the site. The feeling of that place was very ominous and eerie.
Mikasa noticed the largest structure of the ruins… a bunch of large boulders placed around a strange pond… she approached the pond.
It was surrounded by some very old wood and strangely shaped plants. The pond seemed like it had nothing unusual. The only thing she could see was her own reflection… but felt compelled to touch the water… she reaches and puts her hand on the surface of the pond…
Levi at Liberio, as he was with Gabi doing research for his book, suddenly stops… he felt a strange and very slight jolt of electricity all over his body…
Gabi: What is it Mister Levi?
Levi: I… don't know…nothing… I guess.
Kaspar, at his jail cell in Paradis, feels the same jolt of electricity and smiles:
The seeds of the future… have been planted…
Armin, while working in the Military Station, hears a sound he has not heard in years… he feels like his soul is leaving his body…
Armin terrified: No… it… can't be…
A shriek-like sounding thunder had struck the woods...
