Chapter Eight: Coming to an Agreement

After the introductions, they all took their seats with Morrigan choosing to sit on her heels in her given chair, arms draped over her knees while a certain clean freak scoffed, glaring at her while reclined in his own seat, arms crossed with an ankle over his knee,

"Miss Allaway, we have two reputable sources who can confirm your story about your mother. Erwin, who seems to be your father, and Dot Pyxis who has a close relationship with your grandparents, and who knew your mother throughout her childhood and cadet training." Commander-In -Chief Zackly began, and her intense stare made even him squirm slightly in his own skin.

"And for these events that happened I can only express my severe condolences." The white-haired man said, and her eyes scanned his face scrutinizingly for she couldn't help but sense there was a "but…" coming.

"But… your arrival and the means of which you chose to announce have caused somewhat of… a ruckus if you will. You see, there is a lot of stir among the Garrison regiment about the men you injured-" he began, and she stifled the urge to roll her eyes at him.

"I didn't kill them, did I?" She asked, and they all blinked at her.

"Well, no, but-"

"I could have killed them." She said point-blank, and they gaped at her in shock.

It was then she told them of the bandits, of the way the men had spoken about her, touched her, about how they cornered her like a frightened rabbit.

She told them the entire truth, with no sugar-coating or deception and they all looked at her with solemn looks upon their faces. Even Levi seemed perturbed, avoiding her eyes.

"I sentenced those men to death to save my own life to stand here before you today.

I did what I had to do on that tower, and I did what I had to do on that wall to get the results that I needed." She continued, and the men looked at each other warily, yet not dissuaded.

"I came to you all with nothing other than my true, genuine self. I could have lied to you all and deceived my way through the walls to find my father…. But I didn't. Because I don't think my mother would have liked that, and aside from the fact that that woman is the only thing in our world that I fear, that's also not the kind of person she raised. A feral and reckless one, yes. But not a deceitful scoundrel."

The group of military officials all shared glances, pondering what the girl had said before she continued.

"If you are debating whether or not I should be allowed to stay behind the walls, I cannot give you any reason other than I think I could be a very good asset, and it would be best if I were an ally to the people of the walls." She said calmly, her voice diplomatic.

"As opposed to what?" Levi shot back, and his glare was as searching as hers was, but she refused to let it crawl under her skin, meeting his gaze with a challenging one of her own, though her voice raised none..

"I think you've seen what I can do to the titans without the use of your ridiculous looking ODM gear. I imagine that if you were to try and kill me or try and lock me up somewhere….. ,I wouldn't go down without a fight. And a show to go with. Who was faster today, Levi? You with your ODM gear or the teenager with a bullet lodged in her leg?" Her voice was still light and diplomatic, but the words settled on the men's shoulders with a cold chill. A chill that fell upon all but Levi, who was quietly seething with rage, the urge to scream at the girl almost unbearable- though what would he say?

She was right, thinking back on how she had tackled those titans down, and how she had disappeared through the Trost district like a blur. it was almost like she was sent specifically for them.(...lol.)

While she had been getting cleaned and stitched up, they had debriefed and written their reports on what had happened at the wall while informing the CIC, and even he had to agree that she was a tool they needed greatly; despite the drama she caused and would likely continue to bring. But was the cost worth the reward?

"We will have a trial in two month's time." The Commander-in-Chief states, and they all turn to Zackly in shock.

"During that time you will join the Cadet Corps as a late recruit. We will make a decision based upon whether or not you are able to make a lasting, good impression upon the people." He states, and Morrigan cannot help but begrudgingly admit that the plan is sound, and smart. Though some of the others disagreed, Erwin most heavily, standing from his seat and nearly shouting that she was his daughter, and her mother was a citizen therefore her place within the walls was her right; while Levi proclaimed that she was far too feral and disrespectful to be allowed into the Cadet corps, and Hange stated that the time before trial was too short.

Morrigan disagreed with their protests, though. Her spot shouldn't be guaranteed, and yeah she had a bit of a mouth on her… but she knew when to shut up. She spent her whole life working for her place in the world, she had no qualms continuing to do so.

She stands and they all go silent as she does, her eyes making contact with Darius's, slate grey irises contemplating; examining the options set before her with a scrutinizing and judgemental stare, before her tall frame leans in, over the table and extending an arm, all watching as Zackly takes it, shaking on a deal that would shape of Morrigans' life for the foreseeable future.

"Alright old man, I'll play your game." She responds, and Erwin gapes at her in horror, watching as the teen shook on a deal he felt she wasn't taking seriously enough.
"It's not a game, Morrigan! It's your life!" He exclaims, and she shifts her gaze back to her father, and he wondered when it would stop being unsettling, staring into his own eyes like this.

"Like you said. It's my life. The decision is mine. I didn't just come here looking for you, Smith. I came here looking for people. And I'll be damned if I don't accept even a little time to appreciate what has been withheld from me for so long."

Her voice and words were matter-of-fact, and she flashed them all a wry smirk.

"And I've never been one to turn down a challenge."

And with that, they agreed that she would start three weeks from then, the two month timer starting from her first day at the corps, allowing her time to recover and gain some weight, for her body was thin in a way that worried Erwin greatly. He remembered her mother having a strong, full physique, not these almost bony wrists and taut musculature. Though he thought about how strong she would be at full health, if she could take out three mid-sized titans with nothing but sheer rage and willpower in her current state.

The men got up as if to conclude the meeting, and the teen released a sound of protest, but Hange laid a hand upon their shoulder, causing her to jump.

"You need to rest, you'll have more answers once that's happened." They explained, and Morrigan begrudgingly agreed, dragging her feet to the door.

Even Levi felt some level of concern as they all followed her and Hange out, practically able to see the teen fraying at the edges as events of past and present slowly began to catch up with her.

Her eyes were getting low, and the bags beneath them were an almost bruised purple color, her skin sallow as she likely hadn't eaten much aside from jerky and grass for gods knew how long.

They couldn't take her to the mess hall, so Hange led her to an empty room across the hall from theirs, with the almost exact same layout save for the bathroom having a shower, not a bath.

The rooms were small, just barely enough space for a desk with a chair, double bed, and a bedside table. On the desk sat a kerosene lamp, a pad and paper, and a pitcher and glass of water which she drank from readily, savoring the fact that she no longer had to ration it day by day any longer, at least for now.

Hange soon came back with bread, some hard cheeses, some fruits and vegetables, and was about to leave when Morrigan requested they stay. The section leader watched as Morrigan sat upon the bed for the first time, and the pure amazement that crossed the young woman's face as she felt it.

"Is this what a mattress feels like? My mother said that they weren't that comfortable, but when you've slept on piles of leaves your entire life…" she said in wonder, falling back and listening to Hange's chuckle.

"I agree with your mother, but I see where you're coming from." They stated, plucking a grape off the tray and tossing it at the reclining teen, who blinked at the fruit hitting her forehead, before reaching over and popping the errant fruit into her mouth, eyes widening at the snap of the skin and rush of flavor in her mouth.

"Oh, these are yummy!" She exclaims, and for the first time Hange gets a glimpse of who this teen could have been if she hadn't started out on the wrong side of the walls. A first glimpse of the innocence it was clear the girl kept wrapped in thorn bushes to protect.

And as soon as it was there, it was gone in a blink, Morrigan returning back to her snarky, steely-stared self as she asked if Levi appreciated his muck-covered cloak back.

"I think he said something about burning it." Hange replied, snacking on a few grapes of their own as well as they sat in the desk chair, straddling it backwards.

They got to know each other a bit, Hange learning that Morrigan knew how to play the lyre and whistle like half the native bird population, and Morrigan learned that Hange studied titans- something that Morrigan was quite interested in. She readily offered to help, and as they were planning on times where she could, she felt her eyes getting lower and lower, her lids fighting against sleep as she tried to maintain the conversation, until Hange stopped talking and instead stared at the now-sleeping teen with a soft, admiring smile.

Gone was the furrowed brow and biting wit, and the serious shadow that seemed to follow the girl around like a plague. Now, here, her face was smooth, save for small nicks across her cheeks and a long scar across her nose, which did nothing to hide the innocence that sleep allowed to show through. It was now that she finally looked like the child she was supposed to be, and Hange felt something pang in their stomach that felt something akin to grief. It was horrible this poor girl had her childhood stripped from her, and now the military was trying to find a way to take it away all over again.

Hange picked up the now essentially empty tray save for cheese rinds and grape stems, setting it on the table and jostling the girl slightly, waking her a bit.

"I'm gonna take your boots off, kid." They say, and the girl mumbles an incoherent response, letting the actions take place with little struggle or help which causes Hange to laugh. The squad leader covers the teen up, lighting the kerosene lamp as the sun begins to set; and heading for the door. As they move to close it on their way out, a soft voice stops them.

"Hange?" The girl says, and they pop their head back in, brows raised.

"Yeah?"

"...thank you." It sounds almost… timid, the blankets pulled up to the girls' nose, eyes barely peeking out from above.

"For what?" They asked in confusion, and Morrigan could almost imagine a question mark over their head.

"... for not being a monster."

The words shocked Hanje, their jaw dropping slightly, before a smile came to their lips as they looked at the girl with a softness to their eyes.

"Any time, Morrigan."

The door shut softly, and Morrigan allowed herself to fully relax for the first time in…. well, it might actually have been the first time. A lot of firsts, she was going to experience she realized.

But she was too tired to think about firsts, and she quickly passed over into that deep, black unconsciousness that comes when one is finally able to relax after a lifetime of holding their breath.