Chapter Ten
"So, you mean the rightful heir to the throne is Historia?!" Armin asks voice shaking in disbelief. Levi continues watching him quietly as the Section Commander nods in response.
"That's right." She continues. "And based on that knowledge, we're assuming that she and Eren have been taken to Lord Reiss." Moblit Berner holds the strikingly lifelike sketch he had drawn based on Djel Sannes' descriptions.
"That's him." He informs the group.
"So, that's why they wanted her?" Jean asks completely thunderstruck. "But what could they possibly have planned for her?"
"Whatever it is, it can't be good so we're not sticking around to find out," Levi replies with a determined frown.
"Moblit and I will return to Trost to report this to Commander Ervin. He'll know what to do," Section Commander Zoe says adjusting her glasses as she and her companion move towards the dungeon. "First we'll try to secure the prisoners. Won't do to have them running around loose once we're gone."
Levi quietly follows them down towards the dungeon pausing outside Djel Sannes' interrogation room as Moblit enters to release him from his binds.
"It's exactly as I'd feared."
"What's exactly as you'd feared?" Levi asks arching an eyebrow. Reddish-brown eyes meet steely-blue as the eccentric titan-lover lets out a tired sigh.
"Before Pastor Nick was killed, Commander Ervin had asked me a very unusual question—was I willing to abandon my oath to the King if it meant protecting the future of humanity."
"What's so unusual about that?" Levi scoffs with a dismissive shrug. "We've been fighting the government at every turn since Eren's ability became public knowledge."
"True, but there was something in his eyes and the tone of his voice that suggested this was a step further towards outright revolution. A coup d'état if you will."
"I think deep down inside, we all suspected that it would come to this," Levi agreed quietly. "Ever since that day when I first saw Eren emerge from his titan form I knew that things would never be the same again. And good riddance, if you ask me. If the powers that be stubbornly insist on clinging to power by feeding us shit and keeping us in the dark, then we'll break free and supplant them."
"But once they're gone, who do we replace them with?" She muses. "It's not like the people will just calmly stand back and allow us to overturn hundreds of years of peaceful rule. Besides, there's really no way of proving Sannes' claim that the Reisses are the true descendants of Kings."
"None that we know of." Levi corrects. "If we somehow manage to pull this coup off, I think it's obvious what needs to happen."
"Historia Reiss is enthroned as the rightful queen." The Captain nods in response. "What an awful lot to ask of that poor girl. What an awful burden to bear on her small shoulders."
"Tough shit." Captain Levi turns to shoot his colleague a pointed glare. "She must bear it for the sake of our comrades. For the sake of humanity's future and peace within these walls."
"But is she really up for it?" The Section commander wonders stroking her chin with a contemplative frown. "Can she really rally the people to our cause whilst maintaining peace? Are we so desperate that we're willing to cast kids into the lion's den?"
"She'd be better of living out the rest of her life in obscurity as Christa Lenz." The diminutive Ackerman agrees. "I don't doubt that she could do it—live the normal life she's always wanted. Fall in love, get married, have babies and become a simple housewife traipsing barefoot through some quaint cottage, fanning the stove with a content smile. You know a simple life. A happy life. For most people that's fine—it's all they need. For her, it's a waste…of talent. Of potential. She might not look it now but she was born to be a leader. She was born to do this. Anything less would diminish her and deprive humanity. She can pine all she wants for a simple, happy life, but some people aren't meant to be happy….they're meant to be great."
"Well, when you put it like that..." Section Commander Zoe sighs, pausing to clean her glasses.
"So, what now?"
"Well, I already know what Commander Ervin's going to say and what you're already planning on doing." Section Commander Zoe sighs. "But isn't it a little too soon? Their nerves are all shot to hell and you look like you're going to drop dead at any moment."
"I'll live." Levi shrugs dismissively. "And so will they. They're stronger than they look. Every single one of them."
"You think they're ready for the truth then?" She asks arching an eyebrow.
"We can't very well lead them into battle blindly," he replies. "They have to know just how big the stakes are if they're supposed to give it their all. This isn't like fighting titans. Our enemies know every trick we know and have far superior weapons, knowledge, and experience, not to mention the freedom and authority of the government behind them. If we're going to survive, everyone must fully commit to the cause. Right here and right now."
"Alright." She sighs. "Just…give me a moment to secure these two. I'll be up to explain things shortly." Levi nods and leaves returning to the chamber to rejoin the shell-shocked cadets milling aimlessly about. Feeling their gazes shift towards him, he moves to the far wall, settling down silently and closing his eyes as he tries to collect his thoughts.
Historia stares innocently up at him, sweat dripping freely from her blonde brows drawn closely together in exhaustion as her breasts heave with the force of her breathing, small hands clinging to her tiny waist for dear life as she straightens up. He blinks down at her with a confused frown, pausing to glance back at the rapidly retreating backs of the other cadets jogging up the hill ahead of them. The gentle trickling of water punctuated the harsh rhythms of the blonde's labored breaths as she struggles to catch up to him. He reaches out to pull her up to his side, earning a grateful smile from the weary cadet. Her lips move as she points towards something behind her, beyond his line of sight.
"What is it?" He grumbles squinting slightly as he cranes his neck to see what she was pointing at.
"I was just asking if you knew how to swim." She repeats tilting her head ever so slightly to the side with a curious smile.
"Poorly," he replies not bothering to hide his irritation as he turns to leave. "Need a break?" When she shakes her head he turns around and continues. "Come on. We have to catch up with the others."
"Actually, Captain," she huffs clutching her stomach as she waves her hand weakly at him. "I think I need a quick breather."
"What for?" He snaps. "This is the exact same trail we jogged yesterday. So why all the theatrics today?" He presses crossing his arms irritably as he studies her flushed features expectantly.
She opens and closes her mouth twice as if meaning to say something before deciding against it and shaking her head. Straightening up as he relieves her of her rucksack, she manages to mutter a word of thanks as he turns to set off again. It takes him several moments before he realizes that he can no longer hear her raspy breaths and exhausted huffs.
"Reiss?" He blinks turning to scan the clearing around him. His blood runs cold as a deafening splash reaches him. Racing towards the source of the noise, he finds the blond's shoes scattered along the riverbank with no sign of her.
"C-Captain L-Levi!" Tiny fingers flail madly in the churning waters as the powerful current sweeps her further and further away from him. Without pausing to think, he takes off after her, stripping off his clothes before diving into the water with a mighty breath. Adrenaline spurs him forward as he paddles his way towards her limp form, securing his hands tightly beneath her armpits before steering them back into calmer waters.
He hauls her unto the riverbank with some difficulty, resting his weight against his hands as turns to inspect her. Her head lulls to the side as water leaks from her partially-pursed lips. Biting back an exasperated curse, he kneels beside her, pausing to scan the clearing for any sign of the other cadets. Their comrades have long gone, oblivious to their plight as they blindly continued the exercise he had assigned them.
"Hey, Historia?" He calls slapping the side of her cheeks sharply to rouse her. A gargling sound builds at the back of her throat forcing him to shift her unto her back. "Shit." He pauses once more to tap her shoulder. When she doesn't respond, he adjusts her head, parting her lips to open up her airway.
Leaning his ear against her chest, he listens carefully for any signs of breathing. Hearing none, he immediately moves, planting his hands at the center of her chest and pushing down hard before leaning over to pinch her nose and place his mouth over hers to pump two quick breaths into her. He repeats the cycle until she suddenly coughs up water, sputtering and gasping to the side as he rubs soothing circles along her back.
"Are you alright?" He asks gently lifting a hand to check her temperature when he notices her flushed features.
"C-Captain," she rasps weakly collapsing against his chest. He scoops her into his arms and rises to his feet. The booming rumble of thunder precedes the torrential downpour that batters the forest, forcing him to retreat beneath a hollow tree trunk. Gently setting her down on the grass beside him, he hastily digs out a traveling raincoat which he wraps around her before erecting a tent and setting up a sleeping bag inside.
He scoops her into his arms once more and retreats beneath the tent with her before depositing her into the sleeping bag as he debates whether or not to strip her of her wet clothes. His mind is made up by the feverish tremble of her shoulders and the deep flush of her cheeks. After securing her within the sleeping bag, he crawls outside to retrieve his clothes and her shoes before returning to the tree trunk to hang them.
"I suppose, it can't be helped." He grumbles as he strips off his underwear, gently depositing it with the rest of their clothes before climbing into the sleeping bag to warm her trembling form with his body heat.
"Captain?" The blond gently shakes his shoulders, rousing him from his fitful nap.
"H-Historia?" He mumbles foolishly.
"No, sir." The blond blushes slightly as the Captain takes in the even bangs framing the speaker's rather effeminate features.
"Armin." He mutters apologetically, wiping his eyes groggily as he sits up. The other cadets are watching him with identical looks of concern as he rises to his feet. He notices Jean and Connie approach him hesitantly, arms poised around his diminutive form protectively. "What's wrong?"
"With all due respect sir you look awful," Mikasa informs him bluntly eliciting stunned gasps from the other cadets who turn to watch him warily. "You should try to catch some sleep, sir."
"Where the fuck is that Four-Eyed Freak?" He mutters darkly moving past them. Climbing slowly down the stairs with a bored scowl, he freezes when several chairs are abruptly sent flying into the air, clattering noisily to the ground. The Section Commander stumbles gracelessly into view, fists clenched as she releases an exasperated cry through grit teeth. She pauses as he shoots her a quizzical look.
"Sorry," she mutters pausing briefly to adjust her glasses. "I made a mess. There was a cockroach."
"I see." He turns around quietly. "It's about time you fill them in."
"Oh, yeah…I should."
"Listen up kiddos," he announces as he returns to the chamber. "Section Commander Zoe is going to debrief you on the Intel we've gathered so far."
"Eren will be eaten?!" Armin gasps once she is done informing them of her theory and Eren's note. Levi calmly studies Mikasa as the Section Commander apprises the group of the government's plan to steal Eren's titan-controlling ability. When the younger Ackerman finally decides that she has heard enough and moves to storm off in search of her friend, Levi is right there to rein her in.
"Calm down." His hands grab hold of her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks. "Even if you go on a rampage, they're not just going to return Eren back to us. Our best option now is to head for the lands of Lord Reiss. We have to be quick, but smart. Get ready to leave at once! Springer, Braus I want every piece of shit equipment we have at our disposal packed and ready to move out within the hour." The pair of cadets jumps to salute him before departing to do as he had ordered. "We'll only have one shot at this. So let's make it count. Armin," the blond straightens up as his Captain turns to face him. "I want a list of everything we learned from our skirmish with the military police in Trost."
"Sir, yes sir!" Arlert salutes. Levi turns to follow Section Commander Zoe as they descend the stairs.
"I'll report everything we've learned to Commander Ervin. Our report is long overdue. We can meet up on Reiss' land. Meet us at the designated spot."
"Right. Good luck."
The longing in her gaze is as plain as the sapphire hue of her irises when he awakens to find her watching him with a loving smile. Her long lashes flutter shyly when their eyes meet as a blush tints her cheeks. His eyes narrow slowly as he feels small fingers ghosting over his naked flesh beneath the sleeping bag.
"What time is it?" He wonders rolling over unto his back, squinting slightly up at the harsh early morning glare of the rising sun streaming in through the gap in the tree trunk as he shifts into a sitting position. "How long have we been here?"
"Sorry. You looked so beautiful sleeping…I didn't want to wake you up." She replies quietly rising to join him. His gaze trails the sleeping bag covers as they fall off her shoulders, exposing her full, perky breasts. "Were you dreaming about something? Were you dreaming about me?"
"Why the fuck would I dream about you?" He mutters irritably rising to his feet.
"Because I always dream about you," she replies with a small shrug of her shoulders.
"We should start heading back before the others come looking for us if they haven't started already." He concludes ducking out of the tent. "Get dressed." He feels her watching him quietly as he moves about gathering their clothes from the makeshift clothesline before holding out her own stack of clothes. When she doesn't accept it, he dumps it unto the sleeping bag beside her, settling down to finish changing.
"You didn't answer my question." She purrs coyly, crawling to press her puffy nipples suggestively against his back as he slides his dark slacks over his firm buttocks. Her slender hands snake over his shoulders possessively, small fingers ghosting over his skin once more as she trails soft, open kisses along the column of his neck.
"Historia…" he trails off, arresting her hands' movements with his larger, stronger hands. She slides unto his lap, eyes wide and hopeful earning a stern glare from him. "What are you doing?"
"Last night. Was the best moment of my life," She declares breathlessly, pressing an index finger unto his lips. "I can't remember the last time I ever slept so peacefully. You have no idea how happy I was to wake up beside you, wrapped snugly in your powerful strong arms while I watched you sleep. I wanted to die right then, Captain Levi. I was so happy—the happiest I have ever been in my life—I didn't want it to end."
"You were burning up." He sighs as he extricates himself from her to finish dressing. She blinks silently at him, tilting her head ever so slightly as she considers him. "You had a fever and there was no other way of keeping you warm."
"But we were naked, in bed together," she insists, light blue eyes gleaming in determination.
"Nothing happened. I assure you," he responds dully. "Our clothes were wet and you were already feverish so I had to strip down and lie beside you to keep you warm."
"I don't believe you." Tears of anger and desperation sting her eyes as she grabs hold of his shirt.
"It doesn't matter what you choose to believe or not. Facts are facts. Either take it or leave it."
"You felt something," she whispers, small shoulders trembling with the weight of his rejection as she hugs her hands to her naked body. "I know you did. Even now, glaring at me with those cold, calculating eyes. You're fighting it desperately trying to chase me away and keep me at bay."
"You're in denial," he surmises coolly, turning to walk away. Her grip on his sleeve tightens, forcing him to face her with an irritated frown. "Let go." She shakes her head, stubbornly clinging on to him for dear life as tears stream down her cheeks. Releasing a low, hollow breath, he turns to face her with a bemused frown.
"I'm sorry but I just…I just can't do that." She mumbles as their eyes meet once more.
"Why not?" He asks simply watching her.
"Because I'm in love with you!" She cries out clasping his hands in hers as she guides it towards her bare bosom. At first, he resists, pulling back slightly until he confirms that she merely intends to have him feel her heartbeat. His eyes widen ever so slightly as he feels the erratic pounding beneath her breast. "That's what happens whenever you're nearby."
"That can't be healthy." He states quietly as she finally releases him.
"Neither is shutting people out, Captain."
"Why me?" He asks. "Why must it be me? Why does it have to be me?"
"I don't know." She admits, sad tears streaming down her eyes gently as she stubbornly squeezes them shut. "We don't choose the people we fall in love with, remember?!"
"What you're in love with is an illusion. A piece of fiction created by a lovesick girl with far too much time on her hands than I could have ever imagined."
"How would you know? You haven't even read the diary!" She shoots back defiantly.
"Captain." Armin Arlert is holding out a folded piece of paper with an expectant look. "I'm done with the list that you asked for."
"The list of everything we know about the anti-personnel gear?" Captain Levi asks arching an eyebrow as he accepts the document and unfolds it, briefly scanning it before returning it to the blond.
"Is that what we're calling it?" Sasha muses.
"Good work," Levi says as Armin awkwardly accepts the paper with a puzzled look. "Jean, Connie, we'll need some supplies. Take Armin with you and make sure you remain as inconspicuous as possible." He digs out a coin purse which he carefully hands to Jean Kirchstein. Captain Levi lowers his gaze as he hastily scribbles down a quick list of items before handing it to the group. "Sasha, Mikasa and I will hold down the fort. Good luck."
"Is it wise to send them back into town after everything that happened?" Mikasa wonders shifting slightly to cast him a confused look.
"Where else will they get supplies from?" He asks with an expectant arch of his eyebrow. "Our enemy's territory is vast and unfamiliar. We must be prepared when we go in. There's no telling what we'll have at our disposal once we arrive at Eren and Historia's location. We need to be ready."
"Why did you ask Armin to make a list of what we know about the enemy's gear?" Mikasa asks.
"Because I wanted to distract him from the trauma of his first kill." The Captain shrugs.
"I see." Sasha states. "Well, it seems to be working splendidly. He's been so focused on the tasks you assigned him that he hasn't had time to wallow in self-pity."
"And also because he's a far superior strategist than I could ever hope to be." Mikasa nods quietly in agreement.
The others return a few hours later laden with news and supplies from the city. The Captain traces a route through the map of Lord Reiss' land as he listens patiently to Armin's report. When the blond is done speaking, he finally lowers the wanted paper to address them.
"If we don't hurry, Eren will be—"
"Calm down," he urges Mikasa with a stern sigh. "They're using a wagon. Judging by the map, it will take them a day to reach Reiss' territory. That gives us enough time to come up with a plan while playing catch up."
But we need more information. Far more information than what we've managed to gather now. We still have no idea where exactly Lord Reiss' men are taking Eren and Historia. There has to be an exact location where they intend to summon the titan to devour Eren. Preferably a secluded spot, deep within Reiss' territory and away from prying eyes. It'd have to be a spot that's easily defensible and hard to infiltrate.
"Captain, I hear footsteps and voices!" Sasha Braus warns prompting Connie Springer to cup his ears with a comically dim expression as he strains to listen for any signs of approaching intruders.
"It's me," Captain Levi announces prompting Jean and Sasha to lower their weapons as he drags the limp form of a smug military police officer behind him.
"Captain, he's with—" Armin gasps when he notices the patch on the man's uniform.
"The Interior Police," Levi finishes dumping his captive unceremoniously at his teammates' feet. "And I've got a few questions for him." From the corner of his eyes, he observes the disturbed frowns weighing Armin, Jean and Sasha's brows but pretends not to have noticed as he secures the man's binds before hauling him further away from the destroyed checkpoint station."Let's move," he barks over his shoulder spurring the cadets to follow him as he walks deeper and deeper into the woods.
Silence accompanies them for the longest time as the sinking sun finally disappears beneath the western horizon, plunging them into a moonlit darkness as they finally reach a secured area. Ordering his team to erect a perimeter, the Captain drags his quarry further along, sparing his young subordinates any further trauma.
"Stop it…." the officer pleads weakly as he recovers from a vicious kick to the side of his already bleeding head.
"If you want it to stop, then talk," Levi states matter-of-factly, resting his hand on his hip as he glares down at the man. "Where are Eren and Historia being taken?"
He squats low enough as the man struggles to catch his breath.
"Big man," the officer scoffs. "Beating up on recruits who barely know how to wipe their own asses. Did you feel like some sort of tough guy doing that?"
"You shouldn't be so hard on yourself. Besides aren't you a little too old to be a recruit?" The Captain sneers sticking his foot into the officer's mouth with enough force to dislodge two teeth. Behind him, he hears a few of the cadets cringe and feels the tension radiating from their bodies as he digs his foot deeper and deeper into the choking man's mouth. The man claws and gargles desperately at the diminutive Ackerman's boot. "If you're not going to say anything useful, I guess I'll just have to plug this fucking hole in your ugly face. Now, where are Eren and Christa being taken?"
He withdraws his foot, watching the battered officer gasp gratefully with deep gurgling breaths.
"No way!" The officer barks defiantly glaring down at his blood-soaked palm. "You fucking cockroaches had better flee while you have the chance. Go and hide and cover yourselves with mud and shit as you await your faith within these cramped walls. If you don't turn yourselves in, every last scout we captured will get the noose! Starting with that invalid you call a Commander!"
Malice flashes dangerously in Levi's grayish-blue eyes as he snatches the blabbering officer's hand, twisting it painfully behind his back with enough force to dislocate his shoulder with a sharp, sickening crunch.
"Tsk, shut up!" Levi snaps with a contemptuously bored tone as he tightens his grip around the screaming man's broken hand. "Keep stalling and rip it clean off the socket. Some scouts' lives are more valuable than others. Which is why I'm here wasting my time torturing a spineless heap of shit like you. Now, for the last time, tell me where Eren and Christa are or I'll gut you like the worthless swine you are!"
"I don't know!" The man sobs hysterically twisting around to face the Captain. "I wasn't allowed to know! Kenny Ackerman is a very cautious man!"
"Ackerman?" Levi repeats, his voice dangerously low. Behind him, Mikasa starts ever so slightly but remains quiet. "I know of Kenny the Ripper. Is that really his last name?"
"It is…"
"I see. Seems he's still very much in the habit of withholding important information," Levi muses with an irritated frown. "Regardless, even a shit-for-brains no-nothing like you must have picked up some useful information by associating with him and his crew. You'd best try to remember before I—"
"God, please don't!" The man wails, trying desperately to rip his hand from the Captain's viselike grip.
"Oh? Looks like you still have plenty other bones for me to crush."
"You're…insane!" The man sobs.
"Perfectly sound analysis but I was hoping you would delve a little deeper." The Captain's eyes are drawn into deadly slits as his grip tightens considerably. Sasha Braus abruptly aims her arrow in the distance, temporarily distracting the Captain as she calls out.
"Someone's approaching from that direction!"
Digging his knee into the sobbing prisoner's back, Levi Ackerman leans forward planting him face first into the grass with an irritated growl as Mikasa unsheathes her blades, retreating behind a tree. Armin and Connie fall forward, landing on their stomachs, rifles in hand as Jean ducks behind a tree with his own rifle poised to shoot.
"I saw more than one!" Sasha warns, voice low and hoarse as she secures a target.
"I told you, Captain." The military policeman gloats triumphantly as Levi presses him flat against the earth. "It's over. You scouts lost a long time ago. This is the end of the wretched Scout Regiment."
"Do you want me to knock more of your wretched teeth out? Huh, shit-for-brains?" Levi growls under his breath, digging his knee painfully into the bleeding man's side as he squints at the pair of cloaked figures approaching their location.
Judging by their movements, they've clearly already seen us. So why haven't they fired or charged us already?
The cloaked figures abruptly stop a safe distance away lowering their weapons followed by their hoods to reveal Moblit Berner and Section Commander Hange Zoe. Relief floods the Captain's features as he rises to greet their comrades.
"You fucking morons, are you trying to get killed?" He barks.
"Sorry, we didn't mean to sneak up on you like that. We just thought you'd heard us earlier," Moblit apologizes as the Section Commander hands the Captain a newspaper article clipping.
"You guys might want to sit down for this." She says with a soft sigh. Moments later the group erupts into thunderous cheers and hollers at the news of the successful coup d'état and the clearance of their names. Levi Ackerman rereads the newspaper clipping not daring to believe his eyes and ears as relief floods his trembling hands.
"Looks like his gamble ended up paying off," he muses rising to his feet as the Section Commander approaches him.
"Yeah," she sighs. "But it wasn't just Commander Ervin. This victory was only possible through the sacrifices and choices of countless people."
"I couldn't agree more." He hands the newspaper clipping back to her as he turns to face her. "Sorry I couldn't protect the three soldiers you entrusted me with." She shakes her head with an understanding smile, prompting him to turn away in discomfort. "Still, part of the Interior Police are tucked away somewhere with Eren and Historia and we have no way of locating them. If we don't find them soon…"
"I might be able to help with that," Section Commander Zoe says lifting a dark hardcover book.
Author's Note: I apologize that the last two chapters have been nothing more than filler recaps of the anime episodes. I guess I got a little carried away reliving some of Captain Levi's badassery. I tried to take more creative license with the events portrayed in this chapter whilst remaining somewhat faithful to the anime's story.
Disclaimer: portions of Captain Levi's discussion with Hange about Historia becoming queen were stolen almost verbatim from Cyrus Bean's monologue in Season 1 episode 7 of the TV show Scandal titled "Grant for the People." The dream scene with Historia passing out and falling into the river was largely inspired by a similar scene in the anime Berserk when Guts pulls Casca from a river.
Thanks for the constructive criticism and kind words. I try to incorporate your comments and suggestions into the chapters. Hopefully, that shows and makes the story all that more enjoyable for you. When I originally started this fanfic, I only envisioned it lasting for 10 chapters. I'd be lying if I said that I had anticipated the outpouring of support this fic has received given the unusual pairing. Thank you all for reading, liking, following and most importantly reviewing. I couldn't have gotten this far without you.