Squad Levi

Inside a room, light diffused through a large wooden window at the end of it. Its rays graced the empty cups on the meeting - a reminder of how agonizing long the session had gone on for.

"Argh, it's so hard trying to stay awake." Eren fought against his rebellious eyelids that seemed bent on dropping.

He had lost count of how many times he had collapsed against his chair, only to be awoken by that very action as well.

"With it, that concludes today's meeting." Erwin let out a loud yawn as he stretched his hands. "All of you may leave."

Finally!

Eren's ears felt like he had heard the sweetest music as he scurried off towards freedom after giving a salute.

Just as he was about to grasp it...

"Eren." Erwin locked down the anxious figure trying to get away. "I need you to stay behind for a while longer."

Eren could feel his droopy eyelids crying out for murder.

He lumbered towards the chair where he was sitting previously and sagged on it, a glazed look on his eyes. Sleep would elude him yet again.

Every footstep he heard felt like an eternity.

*thud*

Finally, the door was shut.

"So, what is it, Erwin?" He shot a stare at the man sitting right across him through his bloodshot eyes.

"Did you get rejected by Mikasa?"

"W-W-What!"Eren's neck and ears turned scarlet like a sunburn.

"Relax, I was just pulling your leg. You looked like you had walked right out of a shower of poop."A big goofy grin pulled at Erwin's mouth."It seems like you are awake now."

Eren gave a defeated stare as he slumped back in his seat.

"Alright alright, I'll stop with the teasing. Time to get straight to the point then."Erwin's hands on the table formed into a steeple,"Eren."

"Who do you think … is the real enemy?"

"Real enemy?" Eren scratched his chin. Wasn't it the titans?

"The two titans that we managed to capture alive were killed."

"Plus, think about it. You were able to transform into a titan."Erwin gazed at him."And the Armored and Colossal Titan are intelligent beings."

"You don't mean-"Stumbling backward, Eren nearly fell off his chair.

"Yes, there are humans who are plotting the destruction of these walls."

"But, WHY!!"Eren's body shook as his fingers curled into tight fists.

All that was left of humanity was already trapped within these walls, why would they want to make it worse?

"We don't know as well."

"That is why we will use the upcoming expedition, to drag them out into the light."Erwin posed a finger under his chin."But for that, I will need you to act as bait."

"You will temporarily be relieved of your appointment as a squad leader and join Levi's team. I can't think of anybody more capable than them to protect you."Erwin chuckled."Although I doubt the famous Flash Blade himself would need it anyway."

"No Erwin. that's not it."A sensation of coldness started to lap around his heart.

"Wouldn't a lot of people die?"

"How could you just order them to their DEATHS!"Eren's voice slashed like a sharpened scimitar. Springing out of his chair, he slid everything off onto the floor with one brutal sweep of his arm. Both of his hands were shaking as he clutched tightly at Erwin's shoulders across the table.

Erwin bowed his head, seemingly in great pain.

"ERWIN!"Eren's voice was raised even further as he tightened his fingers, sinking them even further in.

"ANSWER ME!"He shook the man before him violently."ERWIN SMITH!"

Raising his head, Erwin's pupils flared with determination as he stared at him."Eren."

"Listen well. Especially since you are an officer of the Survey Corps." He gripped the arms that were pressing against him and pushed them away. Wrenching free of Eren's grip, he inched his face closer to him. Erwin's gaze was fixated on him now.

"Someone who can't sacrifice anything … will never be able to change anything."

...

=====

Inside the room of an old castle that lay in the middle of a forest.

A group of people was meeting there. The thick layers of dust that coated the table and shelves had long been purged, along with the awful stink that came from a nearby litter box. The place was now tidy and polished, an aroma drifted in occasionally from the surrounding trees - as a gentle breeze that blew carried them through the open windows.

"With that, I welcome you to the Special Operations Squad. Officer Eren Yeager." A short guy with an expressionless face stretched his hand towards him.

Levi's squad had just finished introducing themselves to Eren and were now welcoming him as part of their team. They had been previously assigned to escort and protect him during the mission to retake Trost.

"Thanks." Eren took his hand, giving a firm handshake.

So this is the man known as humanity's strongest soldier… Captain Levi. Eren squinted his eyes as he observed the man before him.

If he didn't meet him in person before, he would really have believed that Levi was a God and not a mortal. The exploits that he heard him accomplish were simply beyond human logic.

Levi didn't seem to strike him as a very amicable person at first glance. There was a cold air around him. The dark circles under his eyes only seemed to make him more intimidating.

His black hair was let loose at the sides of his face, exposing a neat center parting, making the undercut curtain hairstyle he had look stylish.

But the most distinctive feature about him was how short he was. How did he even get on his horse?

"Our training will start at 10 am sharp tomorrow. Don't be late, Yeager ." Levi strolled out of the room.

"And don't forget to clean your room". He added."Thoroughly ."

The sound of a door being closed could be heard right after.

"That's Levi Heichou for you! So cool~" Eren could hear Petra exclaiming as her skin glowed.

She had cookie brown eyes and custard yellow hair, coupled with a more light-hearted personality than the rest, giving off an amicable air.

"Right right Eren! Don't you think so too?"Petra enthusiastically asked, as her gleaming eyes turned towards him.

"Well, I'm not su-"

"You silly girl, just confess to him already."A voice interrupted.

Looking over his shoulder, Eren saw Oluo taking a gulp of beer as he shot Petra a teasing look.

Oluo looked like he was the oldest out of all of them, with some wrinkles showing on his face already. Coincidentally or not, his hairstyle also was strangely similar to Levi's.

"Haha! Oluo is right, Petra, we all know about it already. Just how long are you going to keep everyone waiting ?" Gunther urged.

"Don't let us down." Eld closed one of his eyes and gave a thumbs up."We're all waiting for the wedding invitation."

"Come on! You're all reading too much into this." Tingling heat appeared to sweep across Petra's face.

"Really?" Oluo replied, his voice strangely similar to Levi's.

"Hey… if you are trying to imitate the captain, seriously, just stop."Petra's eyes squinted as she crossed her arms. "You're nothing alike at all."

"Tch. What are you even talking about?"

"You know what I'm referring to, Oluo"

"What?"

"Stop lying."

"I'm not."

Petra's eyes narrowed."Then why were you snooping around in Levi's room the other day when he wasn't around?"

The room turned silent as gasps of air could be heard.

"O-OI! I-I can expla-"Oluo's voice started to waver as his gaze darted around.

"Still trying to deny it? I even saw you tailing him as he went to the barber."Petra placed a palm to her face as she shook her head ."I honestly didn't know you were that kind of person."

"No wonder his haircut looked so similar to the captain's," Eld whispered to Gunther as both of them shot Oluo an incredulous look.

"H-Hey? Petra, I'm straight!"

"Oh~ , sooo that's the real reason why you're always imitating him." Running her fingers through her hair, she flicked them a little and gave Oluo a salacious wink ."You're trying to impress me … right?"

Oluo spat out the beer in his mouth as his whole body crumpled against the wall. He dropped the cup of alcohol he was holding as well, causing it to spill all around him. The just-cleaned floor was now dirty again.

"Looks I found out your secret~" Petra's mouth curved upwards, the corner of her eyes crinkling.

"P-Petra y-you." Oluo's mouth was gaping open like a fish on a hook.

"PFFFFF."Eren clamped his lips as he turned away for a moment to collect himself.

This guy. He was at a loss for words to describe him now.

Petra wagged her finger as she shook her head."Sorry, but I'm not interested in an old goat like you."

"I-I-I-"

"You should go visit the market in the morning more often."She stuck out her tongue cheekily before facing the door."I'm sure you could turn the heads of some of the housewives there."

"Teehee~".

"M-me a-an o-old g-goat?" A devastated Oluo was left behind as Petra skipped out of the room.

"Petra's acting really strange."Gunther rubbed his chin.

"Yea. Must be because the captain praised her earlier when introducing Eren to us."Eld nodded. "Didn't you notice how her eyes have been sparkling since then?"

"Seriously?"

Eld held both his hands behind his head, as he rested against the wall."She's fallen completely head over heels for Levi."

Meanwhile, Eren was observing the figure before him. Oluo was lying on the floor, with beer spilled all around him. He was in such a sorry state right now.

"Tch."Eren heard dissatisfaction ringing in Oluo's voice as he seemed to notice him holding back his laughter.

"Flash Blade … Eren. Just because you've stopped an aberrant horde and fought the armored titan, don't think you're a hotshot."Oluo peered his nose down at him as he stood up, straightening his uniform."Do you know why the walls were built?"

"To protect us from the titans?" Eren shrugged his shoulders. Why was this guy asking something so obvious? Did he lose his mind after being rejected by Petra?

"Huh, you actually got the wrong answer? Well, it's not surprising, you aren't even close to my level." Oluo smirked."No, it's to protect the titans from Captain Lev-"

….

He just bit his tongue.

=====

Beneath the glowing moon, torches dotted across a gravelly patch of bare ground ringed by trees and bushes. Lines of people stood at attention as a certain person was talking.

"Those of you who join will participate in an expedition two to three weeks from now. For which the predicted mortality rate is 30 percent."

"If you are still willing to endanger your lives with us. Remain here."

"Please ask yourself."Erwin paused, taking in a deep breath."Are you capable of offering your lives for humanity?."

"That's all. Those of you who wish to enlist somewhere else may leave." Erwin concluded his speech with a cold, stony glare. However, beneath the facade lay a greater meaning.

Ever since the battle at Trost, he had stationed the entire strength of Survey Corps there, afraid that the Armoured and Colossal Titan would launch another attack.

However, that did not happen, causing him to suspect this may have to do with Eren's transformation into a titan.

He was certain that whoever these people may be, their objective would definitely involve the destruction of the walls. But with Eren around, he could always plug up any gap that was created.

'Eren is not only an obstacle to their plan but a treasure trove of information for us.'

'If my suspicions are correct, the attackers who snuck in during the Fall of Shiganshina should be in this batch of recruits.' His keen eyes scanned the crowd before him that had started to disperse. 'Provided that they decided to join the training in the same year.'

Furthermore, the current batch of graduating cadets, the 104th Cadet Corps, was also stationed at Trost as well when the attack happened. A coincidence? Most likely not.

'Now… I wonder if you will take the bait I am dangling right before you?'

A smile crept up Erwin's face as he continued to observe the cadets who had remained behind, brave enough to join the Survey Corps. His face lit up when he identified a short, blonde-haired cadet amongst them.

Armin Arlet. It looked like the Survey Corps had gained another talent.

"To those of you who stayed behind, you have my deepest respect."

"This is a true salute!"Clenching his right fist, he thumped it against his chest.

He would prove one day that his father had always been right.

"Offer up your hearts!"Erwin roared."For humanity!"

A/N: Abt 2.2k words .1st chapter of the week! The next one will be a few days later. The current schedule is about 2 per week, with one on weekends depending on time.