...Chapter Four: Small Acts Of Defiance...
For the first time since yesterday morning, Levi thought on the switch from his normal behavior, to that of now. For one thing, just earlier that day, he'd been completely spaced while staring at clouds. And though he was loathe to admit, the Commander was right. He disliked most people on default, but he didn't hate them. First Lieutenant Nieves was a special case, and he wanted to know why.
He walked in front of the large group returning to the treeline, where a line of targets, each with a cluster of knives in the bulls eye, now stood to replace the ring from that morning. Simple enough.
"As you may have guessed," began Captain Jarvi from beside Levi, who began to follow the taller man with his eyes, careful not to turn his body. "The rest of today's training will be target practice. Sounds simple, right?" he asked, a hint of humor in his tone. The lower ranking officers were slowly getting used to having such a calm and kind commanding officer, but some still saw it as odd. Levi was one of them. This was the military, for heaven's sake, not a bed and breakfast.
"Aiming a knife is very different from aiming a gun, and Warrant Officer Audric Durant will be showing you the basics. Now, please form lines of... Yes, Cadet?" Lauri's eyes were set on the horse-faced Cadet that Levi frequently saw Eren argue with, and the brat had raised a hand, expression one of deep confusion.
"I'm sorry for interrupting, sir, but what does this training regime hope to accomplish?" He didn't look sorry in the least, in Levi's honest opinion.
Lauri smiled, ever patient, and nodded slowly. "I was waiting for that question. To be frank with you, it's to judge your personal strengths. We plan to hold three trails, one of which is already over. The sparring, to determine your hand to hand. Second, the one we are about to begin, is aim. And the last will be military tactics. Along with finding your strengths, we will figure out your weaknesses of the three." He paused, holding Jean's gaze. "We will first re-hone your strengths, then train you in the skills you aren't as fine tuned in."
"Creating perfect soldiers..." And there was that obnoxiously deep voice, speaking from Levi's left. He lazily turned his head to meet Amaya's eyes. He didn't know when she got there, and he didn't care. But how did he not hear her steps?
He huffed, turning back to the targets where the first group were collecting their knives. "And why would you care about the Survey Corps having better soldiers?"
Levi could practically hear her rolling her eyes. "I care about all the branches. And your Corps is our best bet in getting out of these stupid walls."
The first projectiles hit the targets. "The fuck? Why would an MP want to leave the walls? You sure you're all there in the head?"
"Nope!" Amaya popped the second syllable. "And I've been told I'm rather like a cat. Hate to be contained."
Well, that's one thing we have in common, he thought. He began to say something biting about her hygiene compared to that of a cat's, but it was cut off when the pounding of approaching hoof beats reached the trees. Every eye turned to the road leading to the HQ, a nervous muttering beginning when the patch on the single visitor's cloak was visible.
Military Police.
"Were you... Expecting a late arrival?" Levi worried about the answer.
"Not that I'm aware of..."
The combined group waited in a tense silence as the new MP drew closer, the members of Amaya's Brigade sharing odd glances and shrugging in confusion. Even Lauri, the highest ranking officer and therefore the one who should receive news first, seemed bewildered. The visitor took his sweet time reaching them, and then dismounting. His shit-eating smirk conveyed that he thought himself better than anyone before him, and he sauntered up to the Commander with an envelope in hand.
"Sergeant Kline, sir, with news from the capitol." The fact that he didn't salute set Levi's teeth on edge, and the low growl from his left told him Amaya felt the same. "If you and the Captains Levi and Jarvi would follow me?"
"Why the hell should we?" Levi spat, his eyes darkening.
Kline turned to him and had the audacity to look bored. "This is something that involves all of you. It's best you're present."
"If that will be all," Erwin cut in, "my office would be the best place to discuss this." He kept his expression carefully blank and waved the other three back to HQ.
Amaya sighed as they left, "Then I guess I'll be taking over here-"
"On second thought..." called Kline, smirking at the small woman, "I believe Lieutenant Nieves should be there as well."
Levi nearly snorted. Of course the shitty midget had to follow along. He watched her expression rapidly change from confusion, to anger, then suspicion, before settling on disinterest. Levi could tell it was forced, but said nothing as she trudged behind them after whispering something to Second Lieutenant Yenin. The trip to Erwin's office was as silent as the dead, and so tense one could probably cut the air with a knife.
The normally spacious office felt cramped, like the walls were closing in on the bringer of ill news, not that Levi would object. Said MP had instantly claimed one of the two chairs on the near side of Erwin's desk, and Levi was quick to sit in the other. Amaya and Lauri stood at attention on either side of the door, and Erwin slowly sank into his own chair and folded his hands on his desk. "Now, Sergeant Kline, if you would be so kind as to tell us this... News."
There was that stupid smirk again. "Just don't shoot the messenger," Kline said as he began to tear open the envelope.
"I make no such promises," Levi said, staring straight ahead.
Kline paused, and Levi felt a tinge of sick enjoyment at the way his hands shook for a moment. "A-anyway. This reads, 'Based on the events of the failed 57th expedition outside the walls, by order of the king, the Titan shifter Eren Yeager is to be sent to the capitol district of Stohess, to be handed over to the Military Police Commander Nile Dok. His fate will be decided by a court of Military Police. The Commander and Captain of the Survey Corps will be placed under arrest and accompany him. They will be court marshaled for their crimes. The Brigade led by Captain Jarvi are to return to the capitol with them, and are to resume to their duties there upon return.'"
With one last smirk, Kline folded the letter and handed it to Erwin, who glanced over it before placing it down on his desk. "I'll be honest, I was expecting this eventually."
Kline nodded, standing, "Well, if that's all... Nieves, Jarvi, you have your orders-"
"And if we refuse?" The room went still, the men staring blankly at Amaya who glared at Kline. "And that's Ma'am to you." Levi's hackles rose at the icy tone of her voice, the temperature of the room seemingly dropping.
"Well, uh... Ma'am, you'll be arrested along with them, and it's likely a trail for treason will take place." For the second time since his arrival, Kline looked nervous. Good, thought Levi. Let him squirm. "I think I should be going now..."
"Yes, I think you should," Erwin, crossed one ankle over the opposite knee, staring coldly at the visitor. Kline nearly bolted from the room, but the dark atmosphere didn't lift. The Commander rested his head in one palm while the others waited, and when he finally wiped his forehead they were almost leaning forward to hear him. "I also think it's time to use that plan..."
"Uh... What plan... Sir?" Lauri asked, brow pulling together and eyes darkening.
The Commander sighed. "Hange, Cadets Ackerman, Yeager, and Arlet, get in here!"
I met Hange's eyes as she strode in, silently begging for an explanation, but she just shrugged and smiled. Hange claimed the chair next to Captain Levi, and as Armin closed the door, Lauri and I moved closer to the desk with Eren and Mikasa. The Commander continued to stare at his folded hands, and Lauri and I were getting antsy.
"Sir... What plan?" I repeated, honestly fearing the answer.
"We believe..." the Commander began, tenting his fingers and staring at us over them, "that we know who the Female Titan is."
The silence following his statement was deafening, stifling. Almost accusing on Lauri's end. Seeing no one else wanting to take the initiative, I again spoke, "And who might that be, sir?" Anyone whose name he answered with would probably be unfamiliar to me. At least, so I hoped.
The Commander moved his chair back to stand, but never quite got up. Instead, he leaned back and rested his chin in a palm. "That, as you can imagine, is not an easy question to answer. I'll stop now, and allow Cadet Arlet to speak."
Armin squirmed, obviously not liking being put on the spot. "Well... I began to suspect her when I saw her turn in Marco Bott's ODMG for inspection, instead of her own. Then, there was," he gulped, eyes tight, "There was the first encounter with the Female Titan, when she lifted my hood. She looked like someone I knew from training." He paused again, fists clenching. "And lastly, her fighting style, even in Titan form, is very unique."
"You're telling us all this," said Lauri, looking uncharacteristically annoyed, "but you won't tell us who it is."
I glared at him, and he backed down a tad. "While I agree with Captain Jarvi, I know there must be a reason for you not outright telling us. But please, who is it?"
Armin sighed, slumping a bit. Mikasa rested a hand on his arm in an attempt to comfort him, while Eren looked as confused as I felt. Finally, Armin spoke again, "I believe the Female Titan is really Cadet Annie Leonhart."
"Ha!" Lauri shouted, whether in disbelief or amusement, I couldn't tell. "That's a real big accusation, Cadet."
"No, it makes sense."
All eyes turned back to me, and Eren's were horrified. "How can you say that?!" he demanded of me. "She'd our friend, a comrade!"
"Remember what I told you and Captain Levi earlier, Eren? Humans are the real monsters of this world, and you can't trust them blindly." It was a rather jaded opinion, I knew that well, but it was the truth in this situation. After living and working in the underbelly of society for so long, it was my only way of thinking. But these, Scouts, rookies, hadn't yet seen the horrors that a human could create. But I served in the Military Police. I saw the lowliest shit on earth, and it was the humans we had sworn to serve."
The rest of the discussion was hushed, almost hurried, as Commander Erwin told us the plan of tricking the other MP's with a decoy while Eren and his friends lured Annie away from the main streets. We were released to tell our other Brigade leader and to pack what little belongings we had brought with us. He didn't take the news well, to put it mildly.
"What the fuck are you two talking about?!" he shouted, and I slapped the back of his head. We were in my borrowed room, but walls had ears.
"I'm sorry, I really am." Lauri said in a vain attempt to calm him down some.
"These are no small acts of defiance you're talking about," Dmitri continued, on his feet with hands outstretched, pleading with us, "this is treason."
"We know," I said, leaning against the wall, "but it's our only option." After saying this, I ushered them out to pack their own bags, and rushed to do the same. It wasn't until an unfamiliar shirt fell off a hanger that I began to pay attention to what I was doing. I leaned to pick it up, and the material was soft, well loved. I got curious, and sniffed the faint floral scent wafting from it. I instantly regretted it.
Roses. Petra's favorite.
I'd been given her room.
The realization struck me like a ton of bricks, and the tears from the news of her passing were back in full force. I slid down the wall, the button up still clutched in my grasp as sob after aching sob left my chest. She was too kind, too pure, and that had cursed her to die young. And I was too blunt and brash, so I would probably live to see all my friends die along with her.
This chapter is a bit short, I know, and I apologize for that. But the main plot is beginning to roll. A big, heartfelt thank you as always to my wonderful beta, Frantastic1993~!
Disclaimer: I do not or claim to own Attack on Titan/ Shingeki no Kyojin.