"You wanted to see me?"
Jason stood next to one of the couches placed in Erwin's makeshift office. The Commander was currently writing on a parchment of paper. His quill scratched the surface furiously.
"Commander?" Jason raised his voice once more.
The Commander kept writing. Jason stayed silent, deciding to wait patiently for the man to respond. He turned his attention to the room.
A large window was placed behind the commander's desk. A mellow light entered the room, coloring the office in an orange tinge. Bookshelves lined the walls, however they were mostly empty. Despite this being Erwin's main office within the castle in Wall Sina, it looked barely used. Everything except the couches and desk were covered in a light layer of dust.
"I ask the cleaning staff not to worry about this room too much." The Commander began, "As I am not usually here, there is no need for them to waste their time cleaning it."
Jason's gaze shifted to the Commander. His face was as neutral as ever.
"My office in Trost on the other hand needs to be cleaned everyday. I imagine the cleaning staff there is never pleased with the mess I give them." He chuckled at the thought.
Jason gave a neutral expression. "You asked to see me?"
The Commander used his only arm to open a drawer in his desk, "Yes. There is something I need to ask you." He pulled out more parchment paper and placed it in front of him.
"Do you still wish to be a member of the scouts?"
Jason's eyes widened.
The man began writing again, "My decision to let you join was purely tactical. I was not sure who you were, and I did not want you in the hands of the interior."
A strange silence filled the air. Then after a minute or two, the man shifted his attention to the demigod, "However, after these past events, my suspicions of you have been proven false." The man put his quill down, "If you wish, we can provide you with a steed and enough food to travel for a month. I'll have Moblit get…"
"Wait." The words came out before he could stop them, "Are you kicking me out? Is it because of my insubordination?"
Erwin raised a thick eyebrow, "No, I am not 'kicking you out'. I am simply analyzing the situation. I made you join for selfish purposes, and you do not work well with others. I assumed you would have preferred to act on your own." The man put his quill down, "Do you not wish to leave?"
"I do but…" Jason trailed off, not knowing what to say. Here the man was giving him a way out, and Jason was hesitating.
A minute of silence passed before the Commander spoke again. "From here on our mission will be to plug the holes in Wall Maria. But before we head back to humanity's first setback, we must prepare for the battle ahead. I have no doubt that those wishing to capture Eren will be at Shiganshina. And we have no measures ready to counter their strange abilities."
Jason gripped his fist, "You're saying it's going to be a while before you even get to explore past Wall Maria."
"Yes. At least a year."
The room was silent. A year? He didn't have that kind of time. What if Percy reached this world's ocean before he did? Jason needed to get home as soon as he could. He didn't understand half of what was going on. He didn't work well with the scouts. He…
I think about what they dedicated their hearts to. Hange's words echoed through his head. Then a cascade of recent memories hit the boy.
Why did you become a soldier?
We have to see who'll win in a fight!
Eat this Jason.
I don't like your attitude!
It's our turn to protect you.
Erwin Smith cleared his throat, grabbing the boy's attention.
"Do you still wish to be a member of the scouts?" He asked.
Jason stared at the Commander.
"I…"
Levi waited outside the office door. He never thought he would be outside waiting for Erwin to finish a meeting. But this meeting he wasn't a part of would determine the future of his squad. So he waited.
The corridor was quiet. The buildings within Wall Sina were always lavish. But the castle was on a whole different level. Black and white marble tiles covered the floors. White pillars separated two story windows that lined up the wall. The windows filled the hallway with a lazy afternoon light.
The light reminded him of Kenny. His disfigured face coughing up blood. Levi's last moments with… his uncle. He still couldn't believe what Kenny had told him. But he wasn't the lying type.
He had given Erwin the syringe. The Commander had said they would discuss what they would do with the item after the coronation. However, Levi wanted nothing to do with it. It was the last thing Kenny gave him. And Kenny had left.
He stood there waiting.
He heard creeks from the doors hinges. Levi turned towards the cracked door. "Thank you for understanding Commander." a voice said. Jason Grace closed the door behind him and audibly sighed.
His slinged arm contrasted poorly against their professional military uniform. Despite his injuries, the boy had insisted on being at the coronation ceremony. Levi remembered him standing tall next to the others.
Jason opened his eyes and noticed Levi. He flinched, "You're still here?"
"Yes." Levi got straight to the point, "What did you decide?"
"I thought this was a confidential meeting."
"It isn't when it concerns my squad. What did you decide?"
Jason held his forehead with his free hand, "Gods you're worse than Reyna." He mumbled to himself, "I decided to…"
Jason stopped himself, switching his attention to something behind Levi. The echoey footsteps reached Levi's ears before the voices did.
Eren's voice came first, "If it's not a real grudge, just forget it."
"If I can't do this, how can I call myself Queen?" Was Historia's reply.
"Hell yeah Historia. That's the spirit!" Jean said a little too enthusiastically.
Levi turned around to face his squad. They were all wearing their military uniform from the coronation. Sasha and Connie were smiling nervously. Mikasa had a neutral face. Armin was popping his head over Erens shoulder. Eren and Jean kept their attention on Historia.
The newly crowned Queen had a face filled with fear. The only one not in military garb, her white undergarments shook with her shoulders. She took a couple of deep breaths. Then she gave a war cry.
Levi, seeing the punch coming from a mile away, turned to the side. He barely felt her fist on his arm. The others behind her yelled in elation.
He stared at her. She chuckled nervously, taking a couple of steps back. Her face filled with false confidence, she exclaimed, "How'd you like that?! I'm the Queen! If you got a problem…"
Levi closed his eyes, and chuckled softly. He heard all of them gasp. When he opened his eyes, he said, "Thank you… All of you."
The last thing Levi expected to hear after he said that was laughter.
The sound came from behind him. Everyone shifted their attention to Jason. He said the following through barrels of laughter, "Who… pfft… who's… whose bright idea was this? Mikasa?"
The others all looked at her. Mikasa's face flushed. He laughed harder this time pointing at the others, "This was the best thing you… hahaha… that you could come up with?!" The laughing wouldn't stop.
"Captain," an upset Jean began, "Do we have permission now?"
Levi, realizing he had the answer to his previous query, nodded.
Jason kept laughing, however he noticed the others glaring at him.
"What…?"
"Jason Grace." Connie began, "You have yet to experience the initiation ceremony of the Levi Squad."
Eren knitted his eyebrows in confusion. Armin put a hand on his face. Mikasa let out a smirk.
"Due to recent events," Sasha continued, "we weren't able to perform this ceremony."
"However," Jean finished, "Now that you are fully healed, we will be able to perform the ceremony to its fullest."
Levi couldn't help smirking.
Jason's laughter ceased, "What are you guys talking about? My arm is still in a sling. And what initiation ceremony? We all joined Levi's squad at the same time!"
Connie, Sasha, and Jean all went for something in their coats. The boys pulled out long wooden sticks. Sasha pulled out an arrow.
Levi saw Jason take a step back. He noticed Levi's smirk. "Oh! Of course this was your idea!"
"I'm sorry Jason." Jean menacingly tapped his stick against his empty hand, "I'm afraid this was our idea."
Jason's eyes widened. His legs, on the other hand, weren't slow on the uptake.
The boy ran to the safety of the empty hallway behind him.
"He's running away!" Sasha yelled.
"Get him!" Connie cried.
Historia, Eren and Armin began laughing. Mikasa let a smile slip.
All three ran past Levi, chasing their new recruit.
"Juno's feathers, you guys are fast!" Jason cursed down the hallway.
Levi chuckled again. It looked like the boy of lightning would stay in his squad a little while longer.