[ I do not own attack on titan, only Alia ]

this is a shorter chapter - just wanted to put the situation where she joins the Scouts in place

ALIA POV

Alia couldn't believe her escape plan just failed. It was the first time in years -if ever, as she always had managed to avoid the worst when people tried to harm her in the past.

All because of that short guy.. And yes, she was slightly shorter than him, but compared to the average man, he was so short. Yet so deadly.

She shivered. What now?

Her head was still hurting from the blows she had received on the roof. And to be fair, everything else hurt. She hadn't eaten nor slept in days, and started to feel so weak that she couldn't hold her own head. She let it hang behind, her body almost falling from the chair - but the chains around her arms kept her tight on it.

"Don't you try to escape from here again", a man growled as he hit her face again.

Her vision was still blurred due to the hits she had received, here and just before on the rooftops, and it was difficult to form coherent thoughts. Her cheek already felt tender, and tears and blood was dripping on her chin. If she could see her pathetic self, she knew it wouldn't be pretty. Some bruises already appeared on her face, hips and legs.

The man pulled her by the hair and whispered in her ear. He seemed to enjoy the situation. He was no different from many men from the underground; his actions were just limited thanks to the military structure which banned any extreme treatments.

"I want you to say 'yes, sir, I will not'"

Alia closed her eyes. She hated it when people pulled her hair. She fantasised about pulling back his hair and do worse things to him -slicing his throat, making him beg for mercy -

At her silence, the man lifted his hand again, pulling her hair even harsher and she cried out of pain but -boom- the door flew opened. A tall, handsome blond man appeared. Behind him was the dangerous short man with eyes of steal.

"Enough. We need her conscious so we can speak to her", the blond man spoke.

"She disobeyed me. She needs to learn what happens when she does", the man snapped.

"Oi. No one cares about you brat." the short man said in a bored tone, his eyes then shifting to hers.

Alia shivered. This wasn't good. She had no sleep, no energy, was outnumbered, chained up, in the middle of a fucking fortress. And that short guy definitely looked like even the most lethal thug in the Underground would be no match to him. She saw his strength -and how he moved. That guy was a pro.

The strength of her gang, the Underground Roses, was teamwork -sisterhood. The girls sticked together at all times and they all completed each over cleverly.

Here, there were none of the Roses around.

How would this end?

"I am Erwin, and this is Levi", the blond man said with a smile, walking up closer to her.

Her throat was dry. She barely let out a sound -

"What do you want from me?" she barked as anger spread through her. She was criminal, yes, and she has killed and stolen, yes - but it was all for saving girls, women, children. The Underground was like that. You had to fight. You had to kill. You could however pick a side, and she had chosen the good one.

Why was she here, and not these rapist thugs?

Levi came closer, about to do or say something, but Erwin put his hand on his shoulder and stopped him.

"You're angry." he simply said.

Tears reached her eyes and she looked up to Erwin, rage warming up her body.

"I have done your fucking policing job down there, I have saved countless lives from the hands of psychopathic criminal, rapists and thugs, and it is me you're detaining? ME?"

Alia glared at the vicious military man who hit her and pulled her hair earlier and she let out a lifeless laugh.

"Look, boy, if you're too scared to go do your job in the Underground, don't stop those who do"

The man was about to lay a hand on her but Levi glared at him and he looked like a scared five years old. Alia smirked. At least she herself didn't wear that look when she was under threat.

Pathetic.

"Calm down brat."

Levi stared at her and she was surprised. He didn't look at her like he did on the roof. There was slightly... less disgust. Very slightly.

"I understand your sentiment."

"No you don't", Alia snapped at Erwin.

Suddenly, a hit flew in her face, and she gasped of surprise - turned out Levi wasn't feeling more gentle after all. The hit wasn't as strong as the military man's though. Maybe she misjudged him? He could be weaker than what she had observed earlier?

"Oi, we don't have all day. You fucking listen to Commander Erwin and don't you interrupt"

Blood all over her face, Alia nodded and locked her eyes on the floor. If she just had to listen, better to know what they had to say to her.

It was strange, because so far, this didn't look like an interrogation.

"and you, get the fuck out there" Levi ordered to the military man who hurried out instantly.

"I have read all about your accomplishments, and heard of your talents. Alia Viessman. " Erwin said as the door closed. " You are the leader of the Underground's Dark Roses, an all-female gang who fight for freeing women and girls out of trafficking and prostitution. You train them, teach them how to defend themselves, and give them the skills which make them able to enter in the workforce or in profitable illegal activities - and therefore, they can earn money themselves and don't need to depend on a violent man."

Alia stayed silent, her eyes stayed on the floor but her vision was blurry - tears, sweat and blood were dripping all over her face.

"Your father taught you how to fight since you were very young. Which served you well when you got in the hands of your uncle. When he sold you off to a brothel, legend says you escape within the hour and killed those who harmed, or tried to harm you. For a thirteen years old, that I have to say, that is very impressive."

"What do you want."

"- Don't." Erwin groaned as Levi was about to make her keep her mouth shut.

"I do understand why you are angry, and why you want to go back to the Underground. I do understand the situation. I really do."

Confused about his kindness and the fact that he evidently seemed to understand that she was not the bad guy, Alia looked up at him, trying to read the situation. Could it be that he'd help her escape?

No, something wasn't right.

"How... Do know these things... " she whispered, her jaw and head hurting. "Who... t-told you..?"

"One of your girls. I've promised her a citizenship on the surface." Alia's look darkened "Don't worry, it was still difficult to make her cooperate", Erwin added. "She only told me how to find you after we proved to her that the intention was not to kill you."

Alia chuckled.

"Right. So.. I think I'm repeating myself, but what do you fucking w-"

"Levi, don't." Erwin said again himself, an amused smile in his face.

He then crouched, placed a knee on the floor and put his face closer to her.

"You can be even more useful to humanity with us. Join the Survey Corps. Help us fight the Titans. Help us discover the truth." Erwin proposed with a smile.

Alia didn't see this coming. Shocked, she looked at Erwin, then Levi, and back at Erwin.

"Someone else can do it! Anyone! But no one else but me can take care of my girls!"

"You are mistaken, Ms Viessman. We can."

"What, you're going to raid all abusive homes and brothels and get up to the surface hundreds of women?"

Erwin sighed.

"sadly, this is not something we can do, no."

"Then no, you can't."

"But neither can you. You have not raided all abusive homes and brothels, and these hundreds of women are not here, on the surface. You have given better opportunities so a dozen of women a year, though, and this is something we can help with in a similar fashion."

Alia let a silence sink in. What was the real situation?

"I don't understand. What are my choices in there?"

"You come with us, or you rot in cell in here for the rest of your life."Levi said harshly.

Alia's heart raced and she felt like passing out. So this was it.

"... But if you do come with us, we can help your mind be at ease and continue your mission to free those women. I could grant citizenship to a dozen of the Underground Roses' members a year. I believe this is a generous exchange."

Alia closed her eyes and tried to gather thoughts.

"This isn't really a choice, then, is it"

Erwin smiled.

"I believe we did go through two separate choices, Mr Viessman."

Exhausted, feeling like her mind was separate from her body and timespace, Alia felt her heavy head hang behind the chair, her body trembling and her voice shaking.

"I'll... j-join you..."

She realised that her life would change, drastically. Images of her girls feeling betrayed that she didn't come back to the headquarters flew within her mind.

No matter what Erwin said, no, she hadn't had a choice. Unless if she later escaped and forced upon them her choice.

She'll have to make a plan.

"You will join Levi's squad, and -"

"and if you try to escape. You're fucked."

"... - and I hope that you will find a new home with us.", Erwin finished, ignoring Levi.