Author's notes: The usual disclaimer. I don't own Shingeki no Kyojin. The characters just like to vacation in my imagination from time to time. If you feel so inclined please submit feedback.

Chapter 4

As Erwin predicted the base was as still as a church until late afternoon. But Erwin didn't have the luxury of sleeping late that morning. He and the other captains had a meeting with Commander Shardis to go over findings from the mission outside the wall. These meetings were a necessary evil of being a leader. In his folder Erwin carried three letters to be delivered later to family members. The commander had to sign off on them.

Erwin entered the conference room. As usual he was the first to arrive. Four of the six captains made it back home. Another round of promotions would come soon. It would probably after they cleaned out the previous captains' rooms and delivered the belongings to their families. Erwin volunteered for that task. It was the least he could do after all the trouble he caused his peers. He organized his papers so he would be ready when the meeting started.

Moments later the other three captains took their seats followed by the Commander Shardis. To the rest of the world the commander was the iron fist that kept the Survey Corps alive. But to his loyal soldiers he was a broken man who was slowly falling under the pressure of being Humanity's Hope. Public opinion and dwindling enrollment weighed heavy in Commander Shardis' eyes. Our job is not for the weak-hearted, the commander once told Erwin. Not only must you be willing to die for humanity's sake but have enough fight in you to live. It was a heavy burden to bear for one person to bear. Another thing that gave Commander Shardis dark circles beneath is eyes were all it took to cover the expenses of the unpopular branch of the military. Unlike the Garrison and the Military Police a majority of the funds used for their missions outside the walls were donated by private funds. That meant that Commander Shardis spend more time in Sina than he could commanding the Survey Corps. And sadly, because Commander Shardis didn't have a head to the ins and outs of politics it took him twice as long to gain the money needed for a single mission.

This was where Erwin's specific set of skills were needed. From the first time Erwin accompanied the commander to the capital he was able to move smoothly through the dangerous political circles. If Erwin weren't such an honorable man he could have pushed Commander Shardis out of his post without much fuss No one faulted Commander Shardis; especially not his soldiers. He was the first one to launch when the titans approached. He also took it the hardest when he lost men and there was nothing he could do about it. . It was well known around the Survey Corps that on more than one occasion Erwin had to force the commander to his apartments after night at the tavern. Just as often he would have to clean Commander Shardis up the following morning.

"All of the notices will be delivered with the exception of two," said Commander Shardis. "Erwin do you have addresses for the two from the underground?" The first meetings after a mission were always somber. The names of their comrades became scribbles on a page. Human lives became items on a checklist.

"I will take care of them sir," Erwin said taking the form letters. He would speak with Levi about any family they had but Erwin was sure that he would just be giving the papers to Levi.

"Speaking of the underground," continued the commander. "I understand there was a situation outside the tavern the last night."

"It was nothing of concern sir," said Erwin. "Just a minor scuffle."

"With some thugs?" offered Marshall. Out of his peers Erwin disliked Marshall the most. The man craved power above everything else; including the lives of his subordinates.

"Drunkards," Erwin corrected.

"Do you think Levi will stay with his companions gone?" asked Commander Shardis.

000

…Something worth protecting…..

Levi opened his eyes. He was surprised that his head only throbbed at the level of a dull ache. He was right, Levi thought. He closed his gray eyes and thought about last night.

"You need to go to the infirmary," Erwin insisted once they returned to base. Levi was a little roughed up but he'd taken worse beatings in the past.

"I'm going to bed," he heard Mike say. "Have fun with your project."

"Good night Mike," Erwin responded. Levi kept walking. "I'm not finished speaking with you Levi."

"I don't care," Levi sighed. He turned around to look at Captain Erwin. "I am leaving tomorrow anyway. Why do I need to go to the infirmary?" The expression on Erwin's face changed from frustration to thoughtful.

"Do you really want to go back underground with open cuts?" Erwin said finally. He focused on the smaller man's face. He could almost see the words processing behind the dark gray eyes.

"Fine," Levi sighed tired from more than just the fight. "Where is this place?" Erwin turned and smiled. At least Levi wasn't completely stone headed.

This was the first time Levi went to anything like a hospital. The closest thing to a doctor they had in the underground was Old Martha. You had to bring your own supplies and HOPE that she was sober. When they walked through the infirmary doors the first thing Levi noticed was that it smelled…clean. Everything was white and organized. Levi had to take a step back to burn the experience into his memory.

Erwin waved him over to one of the metal beds. He kicked over one of the step stools before Levi approached in an attempt to take care of the shorter man's need. Levi slowly stepped on the stool to sit on the bed. Erwin turned around to the table.

"What are you doing?" Levi asked. Erwin turned around with bandages and a bottle of alcohol in hand.

"Basic medic training," said Erwin. He poured some of the alcohol onto the cloth. "This may sting." He lightly touched the cloth to one of the cuts on Levi's forehead.

"Bitch," Levi hissed. "Why are you doing this? Won't Mike get jealous? Or is it okay since I am your project? Shit." Erwin pressed the cloth to another cut.

"Speaking of Mike," said Erwin. "I understand that you said some inappropriate things to him today?"

Levi tsked.

"I believe you have the wrong understanding of Mike. He and I do not 'fuck' to use your word. Mike is actually dating a nice young lady." Levi bit his bottom lip. "Please refrain from making such comments to our comrades."

"What about you?" Levi blurted. "Some pretty little thing and brat waiting on you?"

Erwin scoffed. "In this line of work a family life is at the bottom of my priority list."

Levi frowned and decided to change topics. "Why did you join the Survey Corps?"

"Who were those men chasing you?"

Levi tsked. "Answer my question first."

Erwin opened his mouth to speak.

"And don't tell me fucking humanity," Levi added quickly.

Erwin smiled. "It is a long story ." He paused as he applied bandages to Levi's forehead. "The stories told in school didn't make sense so I started asking questions." A sadness touched Erwin's eyes. "Like, why can't we go outside the walls?"

"Because of the titans idiot," Levi said with sarcasm in his tone. Erwin frowned.

"Open your shirt."

Levi took his time opening his shirt. More cuts and a few bruises marred the pale flesh. There were traces of scars longed healed. Small pink nipples added a hint of color to the canvas of his chest. Waves of muscles earned through numerous fights were the landscape of strength. Erwin paused for a moment to look at the cuts.

"Finish your story," said Levi. Erwin applied more alcohol to the cloth before speaking.

"I found something worth protecting."

"Something worth protecting?" Levi repeated.

"Do you remember that feeling when we exited the wall. The feeling of that anything is possible."

Levi burst into laughter. The beer was still in his system and such stupidity made him smile. "You're such a sap." Erwin placed the cloth on one of the more wicked cuts. "Shit!"

"I told you my story," said Erwin. "Now, who were those men?"

Levi released a sigh. All amusement wiped from his face. "They work for a guy I knew." Erwin stiffened.

"Are you in danger?" he asked.

Levi scoffed confidently. "Not from them."

"Do you still plan on leaving tomorrow?"

Levi bit down on his tongue. Erwin continued speaking.

"No deals, no grand speech," said Erwin. "I am asking you to stay."

"For humanity?"

"For me," said Erwin. He placed the last bandage on Levi's chest. Levi looked up at him for a few moments. The two gazed at each other and for once Levi wasn't defiant or bored or angry. He just looked at the man who for some reason wanted him, an underground rat, to stay around.

…something worth protecting… The words swam in Levi's thoughts.

"Think about it," said Erwin. "All finished. Oh wait." Erwin turned around and reached for a glass bottle. He dropped two white pills in his hand before passing them to Levi. Erwin walked away to another table.

"What the hell is this?" Levi muttered. He made a point to not take anything that he didn't know. There were too many drugs floating around in the underground. He also had too many 'friends' who liked to slip other 'friends' stuff without them knowing. Erwin returned with two glasses of water. He handed one to Levi who took it. Levi watched Erwin take two more pills and pop them into his mouth. When Erwin realized that Levi hadn't swallowed the pills he stopped drinking his water.

"It is for your head," said Erwin laughed softly. "Believe me you will wish you took them in the morning. I am actually surprised there are any left with as much as everyone drank tonight." Levi looked at the pills.

"It is just for headaches, nothing else," Erwin said as if reading Levi's mind. Levi scanned Erwin's blue eyes for a lie. Finally he put the two pills into his mouth. Worst case scenario he would be reunited with Farlan and Isabel.

The bell tolled on the base signaling that lunch would be served soon in the cafeteria. Levi sat up in his bunk. He slid around to put his feet on the floor. The wood felt good. Underground, he would have never put his bare feet on the floor. No matter how much Levi cleaned their humble home was filthy. He looked up to see his spare uniform hanging neatly.

000

"Erwin, what are your plans for him now?" asked Commander Shardis. "If he stays we need to assign him to a squad."

"It is his pet project," said Marshal. "He should keep him with all his other misfits. I don't want that hoodlum interfering with my squad."

"That hoodlum killed at least ten titans," said Wayne. Marshall snorted.

"I was actually going to request that Levi join my squad," said Erwin. "I also wanted to recommend Mike for captain. He has shown great—."

"We just cremated them," muttered Marshal. The commander looked from Marshal to the other captains.

"Are there any other candidates for captain?" asks Commander Shardis.

"Evan has also shown great potential sir," said Wayne. Discussion quickly turned away from Erwin and his project on to other things. For that he was grateful.

It was rare that he and his peers saw eye to eye. He couldn't count how many petitions Marshal submitted to have him removed from his post. There were many rumors that floated around not only Survey Corps but other branches of the military about Captain Erwin Smith. One of those was that Erwin was up to replace the commander. If he lived that long.

000

Erwin was happy to get out of that meeting. Those were always the hardest. Mike met him at his quarters. As captain, he didn't have to stay in the barracks and was assigned a private room that his office.

"I recommended you for captain," he told him when he set down his folder. "Of course Marshal hated it." Erwin said with a sigh. He rubbed his thumb and forefinger on the bridge of his nose.

"What does he have against you?" asked Mike. Erwin shook his head.

"Is Levi still around?"

"He wasn't in the barracks," said Mike. Erwin rubbed the bridge of his nose again. Worst case scenario he could have the military police pick him up. Or he could black mail the young man. There were at least three warrants out for Levi.

"Let's go get something to eat," said Erwin. Would Erwin be willing to sacrifice the little trust he had developed with Levi to force him to stay? Also the underground was a black hole. It would be feasible that Levi had enough connections to help him disappear if needed. Erwin wondered if he needed to start making a backup plan in case young man ran.

"Oh look," Mike said. He pointed to one of the tables. Eating by himself sat Levi. A smile spread on Erwin's face. Erwin hurried through the line for his food then made a beeline to the table. Erwin set his tray across from Levi. The dark haired man looked up annoyed.

"Good afternoon Levi. I am pleasantly surprised to see you."

Levi scoffed. "Don't flatter yourself. I am only here until I find something else."

"Underground?" Erwin whispered.

"I'm not going back there," Levi said softly. Erwin bit his tongue to keep from questioning the smaller man. Erwin waited to see if Levi was going to say something else. Levi returned to eating his soup.

"Commander Shardis restructured the squads without leaders. Until further notice you will be reporting to me."

Levi looked up from his food. "Because I am your project?"

"Because your skills are best suited for my squad."

"What is so special about your squad?"

"My squad is comprised of seasoned titan killers. For lack of a better word, we clean up messes," Erwin said proudly. Levi looked down at his bowl.

"So you want me there because I am killer?"

"Among other things," replied Erwin. "You have proven leadership ability. You could be a fine officer one day."

"Don't mock me," Levi said. He picked up his bowl and stood up. Levi knew bullshit when he heard it. He walked away from the table. If he weren't so pissed he wouldn't have just tossed his dirty bowl with the other dishes.