The cool night air swirled around Lando as he took in a deep breath, feeling the chill of the evening settle over him. He focused on the Marleyan pistol in his hands, his fingers tightening around the grip, the weight of it grounding him in the moment. The uneven ground beneath his boots pressed against his feet as the distant rustling of the wilderness whispered through the trees. The air was crisp, sharp, every movement in the night amplified in the quiet.
"Eren needs us for something," Floch said, his voice low but steady.
Lando's eyes never left the pistol. His grip adjusted slightly, feeling the smooth metal beneath his fingers. "Why?" he asked, his voice calm, almost detached.
"Yelena will reveal Zeke's true plan to Eren," Floch explained.
Lando's gaze flickered briefly to Floch, then back to the weapon in his hands. "Perfect opportunity to tell him everything," he murmured, his tone flat.
The two of them moved in silence, their steps measured, soft against the rough terrain. The moonlight filtered through the sparse trees, casting long shadows across their path. The night felt like it was holding its breath, waiting for something to break the stillness. The wind whispered through the branches, but even that seemed far away.
"I will meet with her in a hallway in five minutes," Eren's voice cut through the silence as they approached him. "You two will hide behind a wall and listen in."
Lando gave a short nod, his face still unreadable. Floch was already moving, his footsteps silent, as they fell into line behind Eren. The corridor ahead was dimly lit, the stone walls rough-hewn and weathered. The sound of their footsteps barely echoed on the stone floor, muffled by the years of dust and age in the old hallways.
As they approached the turn, Eren stopped. The dim light from a far-off lantern barely illuminated the path ahead. Yelena stood just around the corner, waiting, her posture stiff but expectant. Without a word, Lando and Floch crouched low, slipping into the shadows behind a nearby wall, their eyes fixed on the scene unfolding in front of them.
For a long moment, the air was still, no sound but the rustle of their movements. Eren and Yelena exchanged a few quiet words before Yelena's voice broke the tension.
"Eren, the only way to save both the world and Eldia is the Euthanization plan," she said. Her voice was steady, but there was an undertone of heaviness in the way she spoke, as if the weight of the words themselves was a burden. "Seeing this through is the only way. I've distributed the wines injected with the spinal fluid to the military's top brass who'd hinder our reforms. Zeke trusts you. So please trust Zeke."
Lando's thoughts flickered in the quiet, his gaze not leaving the scene in front of him. So, you only turn into a Titan when Zeke screams like he did during the Wall Maria attack, he thought. The words hung in his mind for a moment, a distant echo.
"I will," Eren replied quietly, his voice firm with resolve, and with that, he turned, disappearing around the corner.
Lando and Floch exchanged a glance, their eyes meeting briefly before they followed Eren down the corridor. The walls were a mixture of rough stone and ancient mortar, faint cracks and imperfections marking the years that had passed since the last repairs. Their footsteps were soft on the stone, the air heavy with the faint smell of dust and age.
They arrived at a small, unremarkable supply room, its door creaking as Eren pushed it open. Inside, a single lantern flickered weakly in the corner, casting uneven light across the shelves and crates that filled the room. The low ceiling made the space feel cramped, the air thick with the scent of wood and dust.
Eren lit the lantern, his movements precise and deliberate. The small flame cast long shadows across the room, illuminating the crates in odd angles. Lando and Floch took seats on makeshift arrangements, the crates cold and uncomfortable beneath them. The room felt heavier now, the air charged with unspoken tension.
"I'll pretend to follow Zeke's plan. You two should as well," Eren said, his voice low and steady as he looked at them both, waiting for their reaction.
Floch leaned forward, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What will you do by doing that?" he asked, his voice cautious, probing.
Eren paused, his eyes distant, staring into the lantern's light for a moment before answering. He spoke in low tones, explaining his intentions to use the Rumbling to destroy Marley, to eliminate the threat to Eldia. The air in the room seemed to grow even heavier, the weight of his words sinking into the silence.
Lando's gaze never shifted as he listened, his expression unreadable. "Wouldn't some Eldians resist?" he asked, his voice calm but with an edge of concern.
Eren's response was slow, deliberate. "Maybe," he said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "If they do, you and Floch will deal with it."
Floch blinked, his expression betraying disbelief. "How?" he asked, his voice almost a whisper.
Eren shrugged nonchalantly, the action almost dismissive. "You guys will figure it out yourselves," he said, his tone flat, carrying the weight of finality. "When the time comes."
The room fell silent after that, the faint crackle of the lantern the only sound as the three of them sat in stillness. Lando's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze fixed on the flame as it flickered in the lantern. The uncertainty hung in the air, but it was laced with a sense of inevitability, like the calm before a storm.
"I won't be able to do it," Lando said after a long pause, his voice quiet but firm. His eyes moved from the lantern to meet Eren's, then Floch's. "But I won't stop you either. There's no way that my dad will destroy the world even if it's for our greater good."
Floch's jaw tightened, his expression hardening as he looked at Lando. "Are you really gonna put one life in front of every life in Eldia?" he spat, his voice sharp with bitterness.
Lando's gaze was steady, unwavering. "That one life is worth thousands. If anything happens to my dad, I will kill you both. I know you understand, Eren. Leave us alone."
The room felt smaller now, as if the air itself had condensed around them. Eren stood still, his face impassive, the faint light from the lantern casting shadows across his features. When he spoke, his voice was calm, but there was a hint of finality in it. "I'll leave you and Captain Levi alone if it means you won't stand against us."
Lando pushed himself off the crate, his movements slow but deliberate. His eyes met Eren's briefly before flicking to Floch. "Deal."
He turned towards the door, the heavy wooden frame creaking as he reached for the handle. The cold air from the hallway outside washed over him as the door creaked open, a fleeting glow spilling into the room. Lando paused for a moment, glancing back over his shoulder.
"It may not seem like it, but I hope you guys succeed," he said, his voice carrying the faintest trace of uncertainty. He stepped through the door and closed it behind him, the click of the lock echoing in the stillness.
The night air was crisp as Lando left the building, the cool breeze sweeping through the streets. The shadows stretched long across the ground, and the quiet seemed almost oppressive, every thought in his head amplified in the stillness. He walked alone, the only sound his footsteps echoing in the empty streets.
His mind replayed everything that had been said in that room. He agreed with all of it, he could see the logic behind it. He even would've supported it, if he were a few years younger. But that was before his father came into the picture. Before Levi.
Lando's hands were tucked into his pockets as he walked, his eyes focused on the ground ahead. His thoughts raced, but he kept them to himself, letting the silence of the night settle around him. It didn't matter now. What mattered was the weight of the decision he had made.
"What are you doing out here, brat?" A familiar voice broke through the quiet.
Lando didn't flinch, his gaze never leaving the path ahead. "Always count on you for a warm welcome. Why are you out here?" he asked.
"Well, I had a question for you, but I couldn't find you anywhere. Where were you, anyway?" Levi's voice was steady, but there was a hint of curiosity underneath.
"Aim training with the new weapons we got," Lando answered without looking at him, his tone casual.
"At night?" Levi asked, his voice skeptical, eyebrow raised.
"Doodled a bit. Was just trying to pass the time," Lando shrugged, keeping his face neutral.
"Why not do it in the barracks?" Levi pressed, a questioning note in his voice.
"Too many people. You seem a little skeptical," Lando said, glancing at him briefly.
"Little bit," Levi muttered, his eyes narrowing slightly as he watched Lando.
The air between them felt heavier now, but Lando spoke, his voice serious. "If you had two choices to pick from—one that you agreed with, but someone important to you would stand against you for that decision, and the other that you didn't agree with, but the person you would be on the same side with—what would you pick?"
Levi gave him a confused look, then smirked. "You… having relationship problems?"
"No… dad… no," Lando said, shaking his head, trying to clear the thought. "I don't meet new people."
Levi seemed to consider for a moment, then spoke in his usual calm tone. "Well… I would pick the one I didn't agree with, to be on the same side with the important person."
Lando looked at him for a moment, then nodded, his steps slowing. "Same decision I made." He walked past Levi, not waiting for a reply.
"Do you know what the Scouts are doing next?" Lando asked, his voice low as they walked in silence.
"Hange decided we're going on a trip to see Marley. Try to show that we're not devils," Levi answered, his voice steady, though there was a note of doubt beneath it.
Lando kicked a stone down the path, watching it roll away into the dark. "I'm skeptical if they'll ever see us differently."
"We're gonna try at least," Levi replied, his tone firm, though the uncertainty was still there.
Lando gave Levi a quick, sharp punch on the back, breaking the tension briefly.
Levi didn't react immediately, his gaze narrowing. "What was that for?"
"Guess I'm just bored," Lando said, his voice neutral as he shrugged.
Levi studied him, his expression unreadable. "You looking to get yourself killed?"
Lando kept his hands in his pockets, his voice steady. "Not today."
Before Lando could react further, Levi swept his legs out from under him, sending him to the ground with a sharp thud. Lando pushed himself up, brushing off his coat. "You went full force."
Levi's eyes were cold, his voice sharp. "Spoiled brat."
Lando pushed himself to his feet, shaking off the fall. "Yeah, yeah. Love you too."