Chapter 25:

Isabel chose to excuse herself after meeting up with Levi. Her stomach growled, and she realized she hadn't eaten anything since breakfast that morning. She wandered around until she found the mess hall. She easily spotted Charlotte, who had quite the presence among her peers.

"Macallister! The maniac who had the gall to join our crew!" Charlotte cried, flinging herself away from her friends to meet Isabel.

"Hey, Char. Save any food for me?"

"Ellis is over there guarding it like a hawk. I tried to snag a couple of bites of bread, but he wouldn't let me. Said I had more than enough to eat already." Charlotte rolled her eyes.

"Alright then. I'll go eat before anyone else tries to take my food." Isabel chucked and made her way over to Ellis, who was eating a slice of bread. She slid into the seat next to him.

"How come you aren't sitting over with Char and the other recruits?" Isabel asked.

"Kinda needed some time to myself. It's been an overwhelming day." Ellis said, taking another bite out of his dinner.

"Tell me about it," Isabel muttered.

"So, are you gonna keep it a secret, or are you gonna tell me where you disappeared to earlier?" Ellis raised an eyebrow at her.

"It's not much to tell." Isabel lied.

"Mhm." Ellis rolled his eyes. "And I'm Commander Erwin. C'mon Isabel, I know when you lie. You don't disappear without a good reason, especially when you have a moment to celebrate your hard work with your friends."

"There are just a few Scouts I wanted to see again. I met them back in the day."

"Oh yeah? Family?" Ellis asked.

"You could say that," Isabel answered.

Ellis nodded, taking a bite of the coveted meat that everyone was talking about. "Who'd you get to see?"

Isabel sighed. She wasn't going to get out of this one. "Section Commander Hange Zoe and Captain Levi."

Ellis choked on his food, coughing up a storm. "I'm sorry…you're joking, right?"

"I'm as serious as Wall Maria getting breached."

"You know the Captain Levi? Humanity's Strongest Soldier?"

"Yep."

Ellis stared at her with wide eyes, his mouth agape. "And you never managed to mention this?"

Isabel shrugged. "I didn't think it was necessary."

"NECESSARY?" Ellis exclaimed. People gave him strange looks and he quickly lowered his voice. "Isabel, you know Levi Ackerman. That man is a legend. A myth. He's killed the most titans out of anyone in the Scout Regiment. How could you think that isn't necessary to tell?"

Isabel scoffed. "Well if you really wanted to know, I didn't want to be known as the girl who knows Captain Levi. I wanted to prove myself through my skills, not through my social ties. And I think I did a great job at that." She crossed her arms.

"Of course you did. You're the best in the class. I guess it's no wonder. He probably trained you."

"I became top of my class all by myself, Ellis. I haven't seen the man in years. I worked for that spot. I earned that spot. My scores and my decisions have nothing to do with Levi Ackerman." Isabel snapped.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry," Ellis said, putting his hands up in surrender. "I just thought…it might've been nice if you had mentioned it to me."

"I don't like sharing it with everyone. I want people to like me for me."

Ellis nodded. "Okay. I understand."

"And you better not tell Char. She'll flip and tell everyone else in the Regiment."

"I won't. I promise." Ellis said, crossing his heart with his finger.

"Thanks, Ellis."

"No problem, Macallister."

Levi stormed into Erwin's office, making the commander jolt up in alarm.

"Why on Earth didn't you tell me she was in the Training Regiment?" Levi growled.

Erwin smirked. "Oh? So you finally found out, did you?"

"Don't give me that smug look. You knew all along and you did nothing. How could you do this to me? To Hange? To HER?"

"Levi, please calm down." Erwin folded his hands on his desk.

"Calm down? I need answers, Erwin. NOW." Levi curled his lip at the commander.

Erwin took a deep breath. "I can understand why you would be upset."

"Oh gee, what would give that away?" Levi scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"But I have my reasons. Same as everything else I do." Erwin said, ignoring the childish behavior of the usually stoic captain.

"Oh, I'd sure like to hear your excuse this time." Levi narrowed his eyes.

Erwin took a sip of his water before speaking. "I've been keeping an eye on Isabel since she was transferred to live with the Macallister's. Nile was made aware of the situation, and soldiers just happened upon Isabel as she was at the park, walking to school, et cetera."

"That's not creepy at all," Levi muttered.

Erwin took another deep breath, trying to maintain his composure. "Once I found out that Isabel had joined the Training Corps, I thought it best if she was not made aware to those who knew her. It would be a distraction…a hindrance to our progress."

"A hindrance?" Levi's temper rose. "She's a kid, Erwin. My kid. You have no right-"

"She is not your kid, Levi. She hasn't been for ten years. She's a grown woman now. Her presence was something that needed to be handled delicately. Not only for our sakes but for hers as well. She was training to become an amazing soldier, and having ghosts of the past enter her life again would alter her progress. I didn't want her mind to be torn while enduring training."

"I…I guess that makes sense."

"I'm not heartless, Levi. I'm a realist. We've all missed her, but we have a job to do. We must rid the world of titans, and her job is to train to prepare herself for battle. Your paths had no reason to cross until now."

"It still would have been nice to know," Levi muttered.

"I understand, Levi, but I do not regret my actions."

"About her placement…"

"I am not placing her with you, Levi. At least, not at first. New trainees do not usually enter the Special Operations squad until they prove themselves. The 104th was an exception. She will start out in a lower rank, although she is a prodigy."

"I understand." Levi stared at his shoes, assessing the condition of the floor. It needed a thorough sweep.

"Levi," Erwin started.

"What?"

Levi met Erwin's bright blue eyes, and a smile etched onto the commander's face. "She's going to be okay. I promise."

"Understood."

Erwin nodded and looked back at the paperwork in front of him. "If that is all, you are dismissed, Captain."

Levi nodded and walked out of the office, resisting the urge to slam the door behind him.