If those aren't them, then it's safe to assume two things:
Two soldiers broke the order; or
There are traitors crawling in the Survey corps, as Hange said. Looks like there are more than one we'd have to catch at the end of this expedition.
I kept them in my periphery. In the layers of noise I can make out shouted conversations between... women.
Women. I gritted my teeth. That pitch and feisty, know-it-all manner of talking can only belong to someone I know. Funny, if a soldier would break the chain of command, there's at least one female person I know who will.
Phoebe Johnson.
So, is Phoebe a traitor?
"Phoebe— Levi's squad, they're right there!" Nanaba exclaimed. You glanced briefly at them, swearing the feel of a pair of eyes observing you at a distance. It didn't matter if Levi recognized you or Nanaba, what matters now is Petra and his squad.
"It's done!" You stated, tossing your tank and gear to Nanaba in exchange of your horse's reins.
"Take off the safety pin and the regulator and she's good to go!"
"Tell me when to shoot!"
Nanaba aimed it on the female titan, one eye closed to perfect the trajectory of the throw. Timing, weight, possible nuisances, air resistance, even the violent movement of the horses were some of the things that made the aim difficult.
Nanaba took a deep breath and you looked ahead, the barrels and barricades of Hange traps out of the female titan's sight. There were no screams left— no soldier left tailing the female titan, and Levi's squad were left to bait themselves before Erwin did what Annie never thought.
"FIRE!"
It was slow yet sudden, Erwin's roar shook the ground, and the lines were casted in a deafening series of explosions.
"Wait until they're done!" You told Nanaba, in which the warrior only nodded in response. You followed the direction she's looking, and understandably, Nanaba's silence was perfect to say it all.
In all her mystery and glory, the titan's magnificent form was caught in explosions of dangerous golden fireworks. Each strand of cable glistened against fire as they held her still. Her unmoving, eerie form made her look more like a statue tangled in a spider web rather than a killing machine.
How beautiful yet lethal.
Your breath quickened, your pulse raced and everyone's movements were slow. You took one big breath, one hand raised above your head, and it dropped at the same moment your voice thundered, livening the innards of the dreary forest.
"Now!"
Too fast when it happened, too slow when felt, the Nanaba aimed at her neck. The cable was shot in perfect straight. All focus was on that shot— a strange, unpredictable hook and line that appeared out of nowhere. You can feel countless shocked, wide-eyes gawking at your direction now, but you couldn't care. There was no time to care.
"Did we get it—"
BOOM!
With your gear gone and her neck exploded, the female titan's head fell, suspended on the glistening strings. And then the steam thickened, her once fleshy, athletic physique slowly deteriorated into smoke.
All that was left of the titan was its shifter encased safely in a crystal.
Annie may not have predicted the ambush, but this move you both just pulled might've been totally off her list. You expected her to pull back and flee, but she must've been so caught off guard, she never had one second to think of another way to escape.
She could never get out of that crystal for a very long time.
Silence plagued the scene, but it wasn't long until there was a single movement above the trees. Erwin Smith approached both of you. Miche by his side, the two scowling giants towered over your dirty, spent forms.
"You sabotaged the whole operation, Nanaba." Erwin stated in a low, whispery voice. Nanaba did not look up to the commander, or vouched for silent support from Miche, instead she looked straight ahead, subtle signs of pride that she did not feel sorry that she did what she had done.
"Our mission was to capture the titan who possibly bears a similar case to Eren."
"Yes sir!" She reported in a loud voice. "I am aware sir!"
"And you knowingly and willingly sabotaged the whole operation?"
"Sir yes sir!"
"That was me—"
"Miss Johnson has nothing to do with this sir! It was all this soldier sir!" What is Nanaba talking about? You snapped her a meaningful look, in which she responded with a small, very subtle smile.
What does that even mean?
"Sir, with all due respect, please listen to me first." You pleaded, looking up to silently fuming Erwin. "She's not alone— Annie Leonhart is not operating alone! She has—"
"Tell everyone to take the crystal and prepare to make our way back to the walls." Erwin ordered. His tone was curt and dismissive and his expression did not help either. There was no saying what the commander was thinking.
Riding home was no better, if not the worst. You and Nanaba were not allowed a horse and your stuff, starting from pockets to saddlebags were confiscated. You rode the cart together with the rest of the heavily injured soldiers. Nanaba was in visible discomfort.
"You okay?" You asked her, peering from below.
"You're no better. You should have a couple more hours before you're out and the crash is gonna be bad." She managed to say in between her controlled breathing.
"You can only use one shot or you're a goner." You mentally noted what she said.
"I don't get it— why would you lie to Erwin?" You muttered defensively, "You're risking an execution, Nanaba. It's not worth it— I'm not worth lying for."
She made one caress in the belly and you knew exactly why she did it.
"You want out." You quietly said.
"Most probably my punishment will be lowered to dismissal, Phoebe. Besides, I don't think Erwin will ever sign my resignation considering the legion's number. At least, not until my cape can't hide it no more." Nanaba responded dryly. It made you think of Erwin. He seemed gentle and nice and a proper gentleman whenever he talked to you. If anything, you kinda see him as a father figure or a friend with the same interests on things. But you can only say half-baked stuff to people you only met once or twice, right?
Maybe Erwin has more layers than he sells himself as.
"And that will be a great opportunity to give all my time caring for my son, isn't it?" Nanaba gave you a long, meaningful stare; her lips drew a small, teasing curl. Oh my go—
"You knew— you planned this?" You chortled in amazement. "You sicko! Did you know I'm going— what if something bad happened?"
"That was a factor." She chuckled, her cheeks tainted peach. "But for now, I'd rather stay in a cell than ride a horse again. I think he took it badly." Nanaba's smile turned to a wince.
"I can't ride a horse anymore, I might lose him."
"But how did you—" You paused, contemplating if it really is the right time to pose your questions. You sighed, resting your case. Now isn't the time to overthink.
Surely it was luck. It was sheer dumb luck. It was Nanaba's call to follow you, her call to help you prevent Levi squad from being killed. If she never showed up, you would've lost an arm or your life and still not get Levi's squad into safety.
If Nanaba didn't come with you, Levi would've grieved over his squads' death, and their loved ones would be so devastated that their pride and joy couldn't come home anymore.
If Nanaba didn't take the blame, she and the rest of Miche squad would be assigned to guard the 104, and they would've died together defending the young soldiers in the Utgard castle.
If she didn't show up, you would have to suffer throughout the night figuring out how to be in two places at the same time.
The ending would've been the same.
You need to do better. You can't rely on luck forever. One day, it'll run out at the time you need it the most and you can't do anything anymore.
But for now, you couldn't help it. Your chest felt full and warm, you wiped a tear as new strength ran in your veins, newfound confidence radiated in your determined, glassy eyes.
"Phoebe, hold the others! The titans are closing in on us!" Nanaba's clear yelling voice brought you back to the bumpy reality, making you jump to the task almost immediately.
"She's not alone?" Erwin Smith did not dilly-dally. You sat in front of him, the other squad leader surrounding you. His eyes darkened, his tone may be silent, but every syllable was full of authority.
"Annie Leonhart is operating with others? What are their goals? How did you know?"
You clutched the hem of your shirt, and even so, your fists shook and went pasty.
"Erwin, I think I should handle the questions? You can't give her a heart attack now, she just had her head stitched!" Hange barricaded themselves between you and the commander, an apologetic, uneasy smile plastered in their face. Erwin sighed after giving much thought and eventually gave in, waving his hand before sitting one thigh in a corner of his desk.
Hange approached you now, kneeling in front of you.
"Tell us who's Annie Leonhart operating with." It wasn't a question, it was a threat.
"Reiner Braun and Bertholdt Hoover." You stated.
"How are you sure?"
"I saw them stripped the deceased Private Marco Bodt of his gear and tried to feed him to the titans during the Trost breach. They failed. I'm also in the same batch as them, one-o'-four. They're always together."
"And they succeeded the second time— damn those brats , I bet they killed Sawney and Bean so we can't experiment on them..."
"Hold on," It was Levi's turn to ask the questions. He stayed silent all this time, just leaning in the far side of the room, but you can tell he was intently listening. He walked closer now, the thuds of his boots proved to be intimidating when you were sitting lowly on a chair. Your hands got clammy upon seeing him, and how pissed he looked.
"Then why were you in the forest? Moreover, why didn't you tell us before?"
LEVI ACKERMAN
"Hold on," I walked towards her, wanting to see her raw reaction. I can't decide her fate, but I can decide whether to trust her or not. After all, she played both sides of the coin before.
"Then why were you in the forest? Moreover, why didn't you tell us before?"
Her eyes slowly downcasted, her fingertip traced the shape of her thumb. It stayed that way for a few seconds, and I'm also losing my patience in waiting for her to construct a believable lie or better phrasing of the truth.
"Oi—"
She snapped her eyes up, now dark and resentful while she glared into mine.
"If I told you, I might never get the chance to go home." She gulped. Her jaw visibly clenched, "You'll keep me here and accuse me of treason or something— worse, your government would've tortured and killed me or take my stuff and I need them. Without them, without my portal, I can't go home."
"Then why were you in the forest?"
"We encountered her during the formation and I noticed she's different— intelligent . I thought she'd be like Eren and the commander would've wanted to know. I'm not aware you already laid out an ambush— believe me we were just there to report it." She looked at me straight in the eyes and told me she wasn't lying. From the point of a former thief, those bright, clear eyes told the truth.
But I had to make sure it wasn't my bias taking over.
I need to ask her another question.
"You had a weapon."
"It was a last minute bomb I made out of the cables from my gear and gas tank." She impatiently narrated that she almost rolled her eyes. My cheek soured and threatened to smile. Crafty. How cute of her.
"My point is, it wasn't pla—"
"You should get some rest now, Miss Johnson." Erwin's tone softened to resignation, in contrast to how heated he appeared just a few moments ago for the failed mission. But now he knows there were other two, I doubt he'll pass the opportunity to sweep them both off, especially when the targets are unaware that we now know their identities.
"What does that even mean?" She sneered, breaking the silence in the room, "'You can rest assured we'll arrest you tomorrow for knowing more than we do?'"
No one talked and it was awkward, but good thing, Hange saved the hopeless case by running their mouth.
"Um Phoebe," Hange approached unsurely, "Erwin means it, he believes you. You can trust him, but now, we want you to leave the room so we can verify their identities and plan their capture as soon as we can."
She stared wide-eyed at Erwin, then blinked a few times. She looked concerned, panicked especially when she glanced at Miche.
"B-But... what will happen to Nanaba?"
"She will be released later—"
"No." I felt my eyebrows up. She doesn't want Nanaba out of the cell? Why? "She— she should stay inside the cell because she... she uh... she's seriously injured and there's no more hospital bed available and she's not— there's no trial yet to prove that she did it willingly. She's brave, she's capable, and don't hang her, please ." She stressed. She was stressed.
"You don't have many people to spare, do you? Surely, you're not going to let one soldier go because she helped you reduce casualties and captured the shifter for you, right? Please don't send her to the gallows— please . " As the runt rambled on, so did Erwin's smile fucking widened, then he fucking chuckled.
"No one said anything about the gallows, Private. Are you implying that I should consider the gallows?" Erwin asked. She's rambling— you could tell she's not telling us everything.
"Oh god, no."
Erwin pressured her with the silence.
"I-I can't tell you sir—"
"Tell us what you can't tell us, Phoebe."
No, he was teasing her. That amused stare? Erwin was teasing her. Everyone knew at this point what's going on with Nanaba. Miche remained clueless, however.
And why did that damn old fart with his solid 60-40 gelled-up hair part too friendly with some female soldier? That's the same stare he uses chatting with women in taverns, when his hair's loose and on civilian clothing. Where does he think he is? A tavern, chatting up with some woman? Does a roughed up soldier bleeding from her temples look anything who's bussing tables?
And for Sina's ass, it's working hours.
"You should get your head re-stitched, Phoebe." Hange said. "But the treatment room's maxed out..."
"I can't." She glanced at Miche, "It's not titan related sir, so I doubt there is an official interest to know—"
"I decide which is official and which isn't." Erwin responded in his usual quiet, business-like tone.
"You should get that looked at—"
"I'll take her." I intervened, then they're all fixed at me.
"You guys do the planning. I'll catch up later. Is that alright with you, Erwin?" I didn't wait for Erwin's yes— I pushed Phoebe out of the room, closing the door behind us.
Now it's just us. I just remembered she's still angry at me.
Now this is awkward.
"There was no hurry." She muttered under her breath, but the assertive tone was still there. I scanned how spent she looked with her poorly bandaged head with matted blood in her temples, caked mud in her clothes and cuts from what I could tell was from horsing off grid.
She was also limping when she got here.
There might even be bigger problems once we clean off the dirt and changed her clothes.
"Did Erwin really mean to not arrest me?" She looked at me, all serious.
"Erwin may be hiding things but he's not a liar." I explained. I can see the slow release of her lungs after she looked right in my eyes, looking for signs that I was only making her feel better even when it's a lie.
I will never do that, not to her.
"Huh," She clicked her tongue, her heel turning away. "I don't know why I even asked you Maybe because it's coming from you, but everything you say as of the moment sounds like a lie to me." Then she limped ahead, and I followed her behind.
"My office's on the other side—"
"I'll just wait in the infirmary."
"You heard Hange, it's full capacity."
"I don't mind waiting," She responded, ending the conversation entirely the conversation. I let her walk away, allowing a few meters apart to compose my thoughts. I understand why she's being bitchy, but isn't it faster and more efficient to let me do it rather than waiting in line?
Is she that repulsed by me she'd rather croak?
"It'll take a two days before they get to you. The wound's gonna smell before they can do anything."
She acted as if she didn't hear me.
"Johnson."
Still limping away, but slower now.
Staggering, holding the rails—
"Phoebe."
"Leave me alo—"
Drops of blood trailed after her.
And before I could act, Phoebe falls.
It's me! Hi,
Nanaba lived, so this story might go a different direction from the manga/anime and in the last version of the fanfic. I get that some people might be offended because I'm literally attempting to present an alternative ending to a masterpiece... but I am not unsatisfied with how the author ended the story. I think the tragedy despite trying so hard makes it so beautiful and unforgettable to me.
It's vivid and relatable. Cathartic even.
And my love for the original content inspired me to search for a different ending. Not through Eren, Mikasa and Eren's point of view, but through a side canon character and told by someone who already knew their fate.
Also, thank you for waiting for this chapter. I'm working on Phoebe's appearance that's why it's taking quite a while.
Quick question too: How do you feel about a cheating LevixReader fanfic?
Thank you for reading, we'll have a whole Levi-MC scenes going on next and I hope you like this.
I'm the problem it's me,
sultryzucchini.