Armin was sweating and breathing hard by the time he arrived to the door of Captain Levi's private room. He knocked loudly and waited, getting no response. He knocked again desperately, trying the knob after a second. The door was locked and he couldn't hear anything from the other side either.

He was starting to panic. Where? Where could he be?

...Eren's room!

God damn it. The blond heaved a frustrated sigh at running up the stairs for nothing; only to have to run back down again. If he weren't so worried, he'd be pretty annoyed but now he only turned around, taking the stairs two at a time until he reached the bottom floor. It was probably a safety hazard and Mikasa would scold him if she knew; but she didn't so Armin could only mentally apologize to his friend.

He banged loudly on the door leading to the basement only to give them a fair warning before bursting in. When he finally caught his balance at the bottom and looked up, he momentarily forgot why he was even there.

Never in his life had he seen a picture this bizarre. Eren was perched on his bed, completely stiff, and staring at his hands. The Captain was sitting criss-crossed on Eren's table trying to look nonchalant but firmly staring out the tiny window close to the ceiling that you couldn't see anything from. Both of their faces were flaming red.

Armin blinked a few times taking in the scene before he violently shook his head to focus on the problem at hand. He made a mental note to ask Eren what this was about another day.

"Eren, Captain, there's a problem."

Finally the two of them startled and looked at him, as if only now noticing he was there. However, as soon as Armin's words sunk in, they both straightened up and Levi jumped off the table with his typical unreadable expression back in place. "What is it, Armin?"

The beta, finally catching his breath, stood at attention with a salute, "Commander Nile Dawk arrived a short while ago and he wanted to speak with Commander Erwin."

Levi and Eren exchanged a quick look before focusing back on the blond. "Did he say why he was here?" Levi questioned warily.

Armin shook his head before replying, "Commander Erwin dismissed me before speaking with him so I don't know."

"Okay, well, let's not jump into conclusions but let's better be careful until he leaves. I'm going to check out the situation and I'll stay in my room tonight." He turned to Eren, "You stay here and don't wander anywhere."

"Yes sir," the omega replied immediately, not a trace of doubt in his voice.

Levi nodded and took off, leaving the two friends alone.

They were silent for a minute, each stuck in their own thoughts. Finally the blond sighed, "I should probably go as well. It's getting late anyway and you need to sleep after today. You've gotta be exhausted"

Eren nodded silently in answer so Armin took it as his cue to leave. He was almost at the stairs when he looked back and said in a gentle voice, "Don't worry too much. I probably just overreacted and it's something completely unrelated."

His friend smiled. "Yeah, probably."

Armin smiled back, mumbling a good night but before he could even reach the door, Eren's voice stopped him again. "How did you know about this anyway?"

Armin froze. He could lie and say he ran into Nile Dawk when he arrived, but than Eren would question why he was just wandering about so late. He was a terrible liar, too. And now he was thinking for too long and such an innocent explanation wouldn't explain that.

He didn't look at Eren when he admitted, "I had something to talk about with the Commander."

He could picture the confusion spreading over Eren's face perfectly. "Like what?"

Armin sighed, before answering in a pleading voice, "Please, don't ask, Eren. You will know when the timing is right."

"You're going to keep secrets from me?" Eren sounded hurt but Armin could only look at him with raised eyebrows shifting his gaze to pointedly stare at the omegas stomach.

Eren shifted uncomfortably, dropping his gaze guiltily. "Point taken. But... is it something bad?"

Armin looked away again. "Could be. But it's still not certain. We don't have enough information."

"You will tell us as soon as you can, right?"

Armin smiled. "Of course." He hoped he sounded convincing enough. Of course he would tell Eren as soon as he could but that didn't mean he wouldn't find out probably long after Mikasa and Levi would. Eren wasn't good at controlling his emotions, anger especially, and it was likely he would confront anyone he was told to be suspicious before any solid plan of action was formed.

A controlled exhale of, "Okay," was Eren's only response so Armin started up the stairs again. Right before he closed the door after him, he heard Eren call after him, "Good night!"

He returned the sentiment, hoping this particular crisis was averted for now.

Stalking through the hallways Levi wondered how to go about this. If Nile was here because of them – or even just because of Eren and Eren only, Hanji needed to know, too. Even though they had no real idea what was going on, they had to prepare for the worst of possibilities. If her false report got busted, she had to make sure any evidence against them was well out of sight. And use all the time they could get her to come up with a cover story.

So first stop was Hanji's lab.

Then... Then he'd see.

"So Nile, to what do we owe the pleasure at this late hour no less?"

Nile rolled his eyes before dropping tiredly into one of the chairs in front of Erwin's desk. "If I'm being honest, I'm not even sure myself anymore." Erwin raised his eyebrows at the unexpected answer as he watched Nile rub at his eyes in obvious irritation. "Do you have anything to drink? Something strong, preferably."

Erwin regarded the other for a few seconds before rising to his feet and walking over to a small cabinet in the corner of his office without a word. He took out a bottle of alcohol and two glasses before returning to his desk, pouring them both a shot.

Nile thanked him before grabbing one of the glasses and taking a grateful sip.

The blond alpha seated himself back in his own chair. "So what exactly is going on?"

Nile stared into his glass for a long time before saying anything. "Did you request for some soldiers' personal files about a week ago?"

Erwin frowned. Why was that the problem? "Yes, why?"

Nile sighed heavily. "Because today, just as I was about to leave my office for the day, some guy from the First Military Police Brigade came in with an official order from the king to immediately go and find out why – by 'any means necessary'. What the hell did you do now Erwin?"

Silence settled in the office for a long while as the two Commanders stared at each other.

After long minutes Erwin took a thoughtful sip of his best liquor. "This time I honestly have no idea."

Nile groaned. "Oh, great. At least tell me what, who and why so I have at least something to give them."

"Well, I only did a standard background check on the new members of Squad Levi. They are to work closely with Eren Jaeger after all. Nothing that should concern the First Brigade or even the normal Military police, much less the King himself."

"Well apparently it does, in some way," Nile growled, gulping down what was left in his glass, gesturing for Erwin to pour him a new shot.

Erwin quickly finished his drink as well so he could refill both their glasses. "I didn't find anything that connected to the government in any way or form during my investigation. But between you and me, with this questioning they've only aroused my curiosity to look into it deeper," Erwin said with a wry smile.

"For your own good, don't," replied Nile drily.

Erwin chuckled. "I don't think I could even if I wanted to now."

"It's not that you couldn't, it's only that it probably wouldn't end well for you or the Survey corps in general."

"Yeah... Nile, do you at least know which one of those kids is the one who caused this?"

Nile shook his head. "No idea. I didn't even know you were forming a new Special operations squad until now."

Erwin shrugged. "We couldn't very well leave Eren with only Levi to protect him."

The policeman scowled. "You mean leave him unsupervised, no?"

The blond smiled knowingly. "Eren really doesn't need supervising. What he does need, though, is protection since there are a lot of people who'd rather see him dead and we can't afford to lose him. Even you know that, don't you?"

"Why the hell should I agree with you?" Nile's scowl deepened. "I'd rather see him locked up to be studied than running around."

"That's still him being alive," Erwin pointed out. "But Nile, I think you know how important Eren is. Not the Commander of the Military Police but Nile Dawk knows that Eren's power is necessary in this war."

"Why would I think that."

Erwin reclined in his chair, taking a few seconds to weight his next words, "How long have we known each other?"

The dark haired alpha snorted. "Too long."

Erwin smirked in return. "I have to say I agree. But that also means I know you quite well by now and I regret to say you are pretty readable."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Nile protested loudly. The alcohol was starting to get to him.

"During the trial with Eren, did you really believe all the stuff you were saying?"

The other quickly deflated, glaring daggers at his old friend. But he didn't say anything so Erwin continued, "You are not stupid Nile. And at one point you did want to join the Corps with me. I can't help but believe you weren't as against handing Eren over as you wanted everyone to believe."

Heavy silence settled over the room once again, only interrupted by the men sipping from their glasses occasionally.

It was a long time until Nile confirmed Erwin's observations. "You're damn creepy when you do this people reading shit, you know that, Erwin? I always hated this about you; ever since I met you. And it's not like you're always right either." He drank most of his glass at once before glaring at Erwin who was looking all too smug. It pissed Nile off even more but he couldn't be bothered to do anything about it. "But if you absolutely must know, I was following orders. The First Brigade wanted Eren and they gave me all the documents, ready with all the important information and arguments brought to attention. They told me to do everything I could to win the trial. Didn't explain why. I didn't even know what I was arguing for."

Nile sounded bitter, yet resigned. Like he got used to following orders he couldn't understand long ago.

"Do you know-"

Nile glared at Erwin as he interrupted him, "No, Erwin, I don't know. I don't want to know. I learned that if people ask too many questions, if they know too much, if they pry too much," he looked Erwin straight in the eyes, the unvoiced implication of who exactly he was talking about right now left hanging between them, "they don't end well."

Erwin was silent for a second, narrowing his eyes at the other. "And you have too much to lose now to wonder about where the truth is."

"Yes," Nile shot back immediately, unashamed. "My family is my greatest accomplishment and I refuse to take any risks."

"But I am different from you." Nile snorted in ironic amusement but Erwin ignored him. "I could never abandon humanity for something selfish like love."

"Obviously. I could never understand you, choosing titans over Marie, over happiness. But I wouldn't be so sure which one of us is the more selfish one. At least I know I am selfish and realize full well what I am protecting."

Neither of their expressions changed the least bit as the tension noticeably raised between the two; things that had been left unsaid for too long, old wounds and rivalry only adding to the heavy atmosphere quickly spreading around them.

Just when it seemed something was going to snap any second, the dark haired alpha got up, putting his glass away with surprising fineness. His voice betrayed his calm demeanor, however, as it was obviously strained with held back emotions. "So I gather you only did standard background investigation on people who are to be entrusted with keeping Eren Jaeger in check. You didn't find anything suspicious nor do you expect any more investigation to be necessary. Thank you for your kind cooperation, Commander Smith. I will leave in the morning."

Erwin rose to his feet as well, nodding at his Police counterpart. "Yes, of course. You can always count on my cooperation, Commander Dawk. Your room for the night should be prepared by now. Shall I show you the way?"

The tension was slowly dissolving as Nile rolled his eyes. "I think I can find the only guest room you have here, Erwin. The last room on the top floor, right?"

Erwin nodded again, small smile finding its way back to his lips. "Yes. I'll send someone to get you in the morning when breakfast is ready."

"Thanks," Nile mumbled, striding over to the door. "Good night, Smith."

"Good night, Nile."

They nodded at each other before the dark haired man opened the door to leave only to reveal Captain Levi in all his unaffected glory, leaning against the wall right opposite him.

Nile startled slightly, staring at Levi questioningly. The other only shrugged. "Heard the government's puppy was here so I decided to see it for myself."

Erwin shot Levi a warning look from inside his office over Nile's shoulder as the man glared.

"Captain Levi."

"Commander Dawk," responded Levi in mock respectful tone with an overly enthusiastic salute.

Nile narrowed his eyes but didn't comment while Erwin had to resist the urge to groan and rub his face in frustration. Levi really was the last person to be of help the situation. Why did he always make it a point to make his, and by extension the whole Corps' relationship with the Military police even worse than it already was? It was only giving Erwin a headache.

Luckily, Nile apparently wasn't in the mood to confront Levi so he only sent him another glare, which Levi met with his bored stare, and headed for the stairs to finally retire for the night.

As soon as his steps faded in the distance, Levi strode into Erwin's office purposefully, shutting the door behind him. "Why is he here?" he barked immediately.

Erwin sighed at his Captain's aggression that was no doubt fueled by protectiveness and in large by his categorical dislike of the Military police. He refilled the two glasses still standing on his table gesturing for Levi to have a drink.

The shorter complied, though not before carefully ridding the glass of any remains of its previous user with his handkerchief. "So?"

"There is apparently someone in your new squad who is in some way connected to the king."

Levi's eyebrows shot up at record speed.

Erwin shrugged. "I'm as clueless as you are. Why would someone connected to the king be in the Survey Corps? However, the First Military police brigade sent Nile to question me about my background checks on your squad."

The small alpha frowned in confusion. "Wait, what brigade?"

"I'm not surprised you don't know; not many people do. The First Military Police Brigade is like a secret squad serving directly under the king. There are special rules applying to them and no one really knows what they do."

Levi's eyebrows rose even higher, if that was possible. "So they can do whatever the fuck they want and no one can say shit, and even the fucking Military police Commander has to listen to them like he's nothing but their dog?"

Erwin took a long sip from his glass before looking Levi in the eyes. "That's pretty much it, yes."

"So I really have some real big-shot spoilt brat in my squad?"

The blond rubbed his chin in thought. "I wouldn't be so sure. To me it seems more like someone whose existence they are desperately trying to hide."

"And we don't know why or who it is."

"Exactly."

"Great." Levi downed his glass in one shot.

Before Levi left not long after, Erwin couldn't help but beg of him, "Levi, Nile's leaving right after breakfast tomorrow. Please, behave until he's gone and don't provoke him. No more of that stuff like what you said to him a while ago."

Levi smirked at his friend. "I can certainly try but I can't guarantee anything. He's just asking for it with his face only."

Now Erwin really groaned.

He took a minute to get his bearings back after he heard the door shut after the Captain but then he opened one of his drawers heavily, pulling out all the nine files he hid before Nile came in. Spreading the papers in front of himself he stared at the photos attached to each file, particularly at six of them.

"So which one of you is the fourth one?"

A/N: The fact that I managed to write and edit this chapter, all today, I consider kind of a miracle. And it definitely happened only thanks to The Love of My Life, The Light in My Darkest Days, who managed to cheer me up after I felt pretty terrible most of yesterday. (Read: I felt like shit yesterday but my dog had to take a bath for medical reasons and he was so freaking cute in his suffering I couldn't keep feeling like shit. Where would people be without their pets?)