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The smell of mildew, the feeling of thick, inescapable smog billowing from rooftops and bottoming out on the cavern ceiling above. Keep your gaze ahead, Winnigan reminded herself. Don’t lose sight of father. We’ll be done in no time.It wasn’t Winnigan’s first time following her father down in the rotten underbelly of Paradis, but each visit was more disturbing than the last. Last time, two months prior, one of her father’s whores were found dead in the alley behind the family business, throat slit ear to ear. Twelve-year-old Winnigan shuddered at the memory. This time around, Lord Morgan had given her a small dagger in defense. It was dainty, with a pearlescent handle. Nothing more than a child’s toy, she had thought to herself, running her fingertip along the blade. Her skin remained intact.Bounding up the steps of their last residence for the night, Winnigan tailed her father into his office. His associates were already waiting: greasy, greedy men that licked their lips and flicked their eyes in her direction every time she accompanied her father for work. Her stomach turned. Her father, Lord Morgan, held a stare with his main associate, reaching into his pocket and procuring a fat money purse. Their eyes moved from Winnigan to the money, and back to Winnigan once again.“Winnie, dear,” Lord Morgan said calmly. “How about you stop by one of the shops outside and get these gentlemen a bottle of scotch?” He grabbed a handful of coins and pressed them into Winnigan’s palm, stare unbreaking. “Get yourself something to hold you over until we get home tonight. I need you at full attention for these business proceedings.”Despite the smothering dampness of the air outside, Winnigan took the deepest breath of relief as soon as the front door clicked behind her. Outside, the leeries began their evening routine, lowering the flame of the street lamps to mimic some semblance of night time. It was always dark in the Underground. Time ran together indefinitely, and the dimming of the street lamps was the best way of differentiating, allowing those who work to rest. However, the overcast shadows throughout the city opened a breeding ground for thieves, criminals, killers. Eyes trained on the shop down the street, dagger in hand, Winnigan rushed down the sidewalk.It was one of the nicer shops on this side of town, the smell of incense greeting Winnigan as she stepped through the threshold. She took her time, reading the labels of every bottle and running her fingertips along every ribbon and fabric on display. The shopkeeper, wary of a lone child possibly being a thief, exhaled a contented sigh upon seeing her spotless gown, ironed golden ringlets, and silk ribbons in her hair. She had the means to shop there.“’s there anything I can help you with, kid?”“I’m trying to buy some time, but you got scotch?”The shopkeeper grunted in response and pulled a glass bottle from the wall. “Ready whenever you are.”Settling on a small flask of cinnamon whiskey and a handful of caramels to mask the taste, Winnigan nodded in thanks as she pushed her money across the table. It was harder to buy alcohol as a kid above ground, but Winnigan had learned pretty quickly that no one down there gave a shit. She flicked the cap off as soon as she hit the street once again, downing the liquid fire in one gulp. Her throat burning, her head was fuzzy already as she popped the candy in her mouth. Gods bless, she mused. Good shit.Winnigan was too preoccupied in giggling through her drunkenness to realize it was that same associate of her father’s— the one licking his lips— who had supposedly been sent to receive her outside the front steps.“Hey, ‘Lovely, the evening employees are mingling with customers in the front lobby,” he explained, hands outstretched in apology. “Your daddy’s in some heated discussion, I’m out here to bring you through the back so you don’t have to see the happenings inside.” Hesitance sent to the wayside with her sobriety, little Winnigan nodded without a second thought, skipping back down the steps. She had seen the customers and workers before, not a favorable sight in the least.“I misjudged you, bro,” Winnigan giggled, grabbing onto the steady arm of her father’s associate as they walked side-by-side into the alleyway flush to the building. “But father was right! You are a gentleman!”The man smirked, raising a brow. “That so? Well, I think you’re pretty swell yourself, little lady.” He reached over, bouncing one of her ironed ringlets. Her smile faltered, but only for a moment. They were nearing the side door in the alley, and Winnigan eagerly pulled the brass rung screwed into the door. The door didn’t budge.“Oh, well, we’ll just have to go in the front,” Winnigan sighed. “Unless you’ve got a key.” She turned to face her companion. To her horror and fuzzy confusion, he had just completed unbuckling his belt. Tossing it onto the ground haphazardly, the man gave her his signature lick of his lips.“I’m glad you already broke into daddy’s booze,” he drawled, wrenching the bottle of scotch out of her trembling hands. “It’ll make things much easier for you.”Lip quivering, Winnigan tucked her leftover money into her corset, for the first time very glad her mother had cinched it so tightly. It always took Lady Morgan at *least* five minutes to free her of the brasserie, something she had insisted she didn’t even need yet. “I… I have no qualms with you,” she slurred. “We can take father’s extra money and get you a lady inside…”The man swiftly grabbed her waist, pulling her to his chest. “Oh shut up, kid,” he spat, pulling her face in and kissing her forcefully on the lips. “Those cunts don’t hold a candle to your topsider beauty.”Winnigan gagged involuntarily as she wrestled to get free from his grasp. She scratched, kicked, even landing blows in places a man would typically fall to his knees. As the kick hit it’s desired target, he toppled over her onto the dirty ground beneath them. “You bitch,” he hissed, hiking her skirt up to her waist.Suddenly, as she wrenched her eyes shut and scratched desperately at his face and eyes, the hearty thud of a blade meeting flesh graced her ears. The man sputtered, coughed, then gargled, before going limp over her prone body.“You alive down there?” An unfamiliar male voice quipped, and Winnigan finally opened her eyes to greet her savior. Some undergrounder kid, not more than five years older than her towered overhead, black undercut swept behind his ears in an attempt of looking presentable. Either way, he was unkempt, pale, and now coated in blood. As he pushed the man off of her, Winnigan realized that she, too, was drenched in crimson. Her father’s associate now laid face-up, eyes open in a blank stare to the cavern roof. A dagger, her dagger was lodged in his throat, hilt deep. She hadn’t even realized she dropped it.Sobered by the encounter, she took the stranger’s hand as he helped her onto her feet. Rotten bastard, he seethed, wiping his hands with a handkerchief from his pocket. “You’re clearly not from here. Go home.” He leaned down to the corpse beneath them, wrenching the bottle of scotch from his dead grasp. “Thanks for the booze,” he quipped.Frozen in place, her eyes shifted between the corpse and the boy, watching as he took off into the evening lamplight. “Thank you,” she whispered into the air. That son of a bitch took my scotch!
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“If you step one foot off of our estate and join the scouts , never dare return,” Winnigan’s father roared, as dusk settled on the horizon of Wall Sina.Winnigan hiked her skirts up to her knees as she prepared to mount her trusted steed, Dot. “If it meant dying a noble death as Pietro did, it’s worth my time.”“Don’t be ridiculous, Winnie,” her doting yet absentminded step-mother pleaded, clutching her husbands vest for dear life, knuckles white under her adornment of rings. “You just don’t want to get married!”Nudging Dot in the sides, the pale spotted horse began its trot to the front gate. “Two things can be unrelated, and still be true,” Winnigan said, more to herself than anything else.Down the cobbled streets of the innermost circle, the safest streets of Paradis, Winnigan raced to begin the training she had committed herself to since the death of her brother.…Nineteen felt old for a trainee, something Winnigan wasn’t sure was a good feeling. Recruits around her seemed to be as young as thirteen, an age when Winnigan was still captivated by fanciful dreams. Dreams of perhaps writing novels, joining the king’s court, among other things.So, she was reminded of the improbability of those old dreams as even in training, for a job so highly in demand, she barely made the cut.ODM gear seemed to be made for those only with great physical capabilities. Sure, Winnigan was coordinated enough to fly from structure to structure, yet she still lacked the core strength required to keep herself upright at all times. When practicing a stamina-based course, recruits as far as five years her junior left her in the dust. However, Winnigan excelled in all other studies. Anything to do with titan history, anatomy, as well as strategy came to her as easy as breathing. She supposed that’s why she hadn’t been ousted from training.That, and her inability to return home pushed her even further.Since Pietro’s passing, the inheritance of the family business rested on her shoulders. Winnigan had a second sibling, younger, a brother named Josef, a teenager much more inclined to shoulder the familial responsibility.Sex work came in more dignified forms within the walls, more civilized the closer you came to the center. Underground, however, brothels stretched far and wide. Women, mothers, daughters, wives: all using what they had to survive. The Morgan family fortune profited most off of such affairs, investing in brothel houses to facilitate their business. Inside Sina, they were considered consorts, concubines, whatever the nobles preferred. Escorts inside of Wall Rose, and nothing outside of Maria since the attack on Shiganshina years prior. Underground, they were prostitutes, whores. While consorts brought in the gold, the Underground brought in the millions. While such affairs provided a comfortable, even stuffy life, Winnigan dreaded the idea of that burden over her head for the rest of her life. Josef was much more fit, having accompanied their father all over Paradis to manage the trade since he was twelve. Winnigan was even younger the first time she followed their father, Lord Morgan, into the dark brothels beneath their city.Pietro’s death inspired her greatly, as he had left in the dark of night to join the scouts. Rumor had it that he had a lover waiting for him there, though he never disclosed his reasons to Winnigan or anyone else in the family, for that matter. The way he died, fighting for freedom, made Winnigan realize that in their own way, the Morgans were titans in their own way, feeding on the lifeblood of those desperate enough to sell themselves.Winnigan assumed her noble blood, and furthermore relation to the highly honored scout Pietro Morgan allowed all of the grace the military had allowed her.Of all of those in the 104th squadron for Winnigan to befriend, she had been chosen by the future Military Police. Reiner Braun and Annie Leonhart, specifically. She had been careful to disclose her intentions to anyone, since she knew her physical inability and mental superiority made her perfect MP material. Reiner, Annie, and Bertholdt must have realized this as well, since they took her under their wing without a second thought.“You’ve got an advantage in height compared to other chicks here,” Reiner assured her on the sparring field. “That’s where you need to put your stock in. When we start in just a minute, go for the things shorties like Annie or Krista can’t reach.”Winnigan could hear an annoyed scoff from Annie behind her, otherwise silently spectating. Reiner had made it his sole mission, or “senior project”, as he put it, to make a fighter out of Winnigan. As the bell sounded to begin the sparring match, Reiner allowed his opponent to make the first move. When Winnigan recoiled for a clear strike to the gut, Reiner tensed in the center to block the blow. Taking his advice, Winnigan used this small distraction to throw her right fist up into Reiner’s jaw, inches above everyone else.Thrown back by the momentum of Winnigan’s punch, Reiner barreled his bull-like figure into her, head-first. She allowed him to ram into her abdomen, using this oportunity to throw her arms around his neck and pull him to the ground. The two rolled in the dust, the only sound being the heavy breathing and grunting from the two fighters. Wind knocked out of her from the strike to the abdomen, Winnigan struggled to muster the strength to flip Reiner off the top, where he had her straddled at the waist firmly. The two held eye contact until Winnigan finally loosened her grip, laying her head on the ground and tapping out.“Not bad, Money-Clip,” Reiner complimented, his personal nickname for her still causing a twinge of embarrassment and a slight blush to her cheeks. “Annie, how long was that?”Annie checked her stopwatch expressionless. “A minute forty-five.”Reiner clicked his tongue and Winnigan sighed. “Better than last time! You really got me with that fake-out at the beginning.”Winnigan perked up, the corners of her mouth upturning into a proud smile. “Just actually tense your stomach if you’re gonna let me ram into it.”Winnigan sat and took notes as the three future MP’s practiced sparring. The thing about having a photographic memory and a liking to strategy, watching fights was just as beneficial to her learning as being in the fight herself. She sketched positioning, bullet points with observations she had made of both the victor and loser of each match.The Battle of Trost is when all of that note-taking came in handy.“Graduation isn’t even here yet, and we’re going to fucking die,” a recruit cried across from Winnigan as everyone suited up to join the fight. She had been separated from her inner circle, thrown into the fight with other acquaintances she had made in her time training. Sasha, Jean, and Connie. Sasha helped her tighten her straps with shaking hands, and Winnigan tried her best not to make eye contact. She identified Connie as the one who had just made the remark about graduation, and she watched pensively as he paced the building they were so hesitant to leave.Winnigan gave herself the role of defense as they approached the front lines, keeping a sharp eye for any incoming titan or flying debris. As smoke rose into the air to her left, she nudged Sasha, who yelped in response. “I think there’s a titan on the other edge of that building, nine-o’clock.”Jean whipped around. “My nine or *your* nine?” His gaze followed the line of sight that both Winnigan and Sasha were frozen on and he stumbled backward. Winnigan broke herself out of her trance and herded the group into a nearby alley as titan feet stomped from above, downing the buildings they had just been hiding out in. “Has… has anybody seen Marco?”Marco, assuredly Jean’s best friend was nowhere to be seen. Winnigan didn’t know this trio very well, and knew their missing friend even less.“I saw a lot of recruits booking it to the wall for safety,” Winnigan offered. “I’m sure he had the right idea that we didn’t think to do and got himself to safety.”“The wall sounds nice,” Sasha grumbled, gaze a hundred miles away.“Let’s get there then,” Connie said decidedly, peeking his head out of the alleyway to check the status on the titan. “It’s headed the other way. Let’s get out of here.”“The city is swarming with titans, how the hell are we supposed to do that?” Jean snarked, running his fingers through his hair.Winnigan cleared her throat and prepared her ODM guns to take flight. “There’s four of us. Let’s make a diamond formation, that way we have full vision on our surroundings. I can take the front peak, allow you guys a cushion of safety from the front. Two of you take the sides,” Sasha and Connie locked eyes and nodded. “And Jean, you take the back. You will likely have the best spot to spectate out of all of us.”“And what if they come from behind?” Jean whined.Winnigan patted her gas cans. “That’s why they’ve been training us to go fast.”As they took off across the rooftops, each recruit yelled to the group the positioning of each titan they saw, and the approximate distance between them. A great commotion and plumes of smoke came from the west, to which Winnigan yelled to her comrades: “let’s go the opposite fucking way of that!”So, as they neared the wall and prepared to scale it, they didn’t see the Abnormal titan at first. They didn’t see it come to the rescue, tearing apart the titans in it’s path.“Walls,” Sasha panted, grabbing Jean’s forearm to pull him onto the flat platform atop the wall. “This climbing shit is not for the weak. Anybody got a cracker or some jerky or something? I’m dying here.”The group didn’t respond. Winnigan and Connie watched the faraway action in frozen disbelief, and Jean was booking it to the group of soldiers he could see a quarter-mile away, likely searching for Marco.“Oh, fuck!” Sasha exclaimed, finally seeing the spectacle the others had been engrossed in. She clambered onto Winnigan, squeezing her waist and shaking once again. Winnigan winced, feeling the sore, deep blue bruise from Reiner the day prior. “The fuck is that?”“I don’t know,” Winnigan seethed, wrenching Sasha off of her body. “Let’s follow Jean. See where we’re needed.”Connie didn’t follow. He was still frozen in place, jaw agape. “Connie, come on!” Sasha bellowed, breaking into a jog in Jean’s direction.“Fuck, I’m joining the MP’s,” Connie whispered. “I don’t want to see a titan ever again.” He shook his head, breaking out of his stupor to follow the others.Though fear also gripped at Winnigan’s throat, her heart dropping as heavy as a millstone to her stomach, something clicked in her brain. Seeing what killed Pietro, finally, sparked a fuse that she hadn’t managed to light in training. A new flame, a new burning desire to become closer to her older brother than ever before. She broke into a full-speed run, jumping over the wall supports like hurdles, approaching the group of survivors at lightning speed.A familiar blonde ponytail came into view. “Annie,” Winnigan huffed. “Thank the gods.”“Where’s Jean?” Sasha asked, hands on her knees close behind.Annie shrugged. “Took off looking for Marco, they tried to stop him but he was pretty determined.”Sasha swore loudly, but not near as loud as Connie did when Sasha relayed the information when he finally caught up. “Are we gonna have to go find that jackass now?”Winnigan shook her head. “I wouldn’t if I were you. I’m staying here until given orders.” She turned to Annie and placed a firm hand on her shoulder. “Reiner and Bertholdt?”Annie sighed. “We got separated not too far back. They’re tough though, don’t worry too hard.”When Annie shrugged out of Winnigan’s grasp, she recoiled. “You’re bleeding.”Winnigan raised a brow and inspected her palm. Sure enough scrapes deep enough to draw blood adorned both hands. She’d hardly noticed from the adrenaline of trying to live. Must’ve came from the ODM gear, or maybe climbing the wall.“You shouldn’t go back out there like that,” Annie retorted, joining the main group of survivors and returning with a roll of white cotton bandages. “Here, I’ll wrap them and the two of us can run the perimeter of the wall and look for soldiers needing help getting to safety.” She poured the remaining water of her canteen over Winnigan’s open wounds, expressionless as always despite the muffled groan escaping Winnigan’s mouth. “Hold it together, Winnie. You’ve got it better than most soldiers I’d bet.”Annie cut the bandages with a sharp, spiked silver ring around her finger that Winnigan had seen plenty of times before. “Damn, that’s useful, you got any more of those?” Annie almost smirked in response.“It’s a village token. Real special where we’re from.”With that, the two disembarked in separate directions, Winnigan saluting the other soldiers with a bandaged fist as she sprinted by.Where she stood, the rubble below lacked any sign of life. Whatever titan situation happening on the other end of the city must have been starting to settle down, since ash plumed into the sky at a slower rate. Winnigan’s eyes trained on the base of the wall, certain she would find soldiers or civilians hiding out there.What she didn’t expect was to find Jean again, trying distractedly to scale the wall. His light brown, strawberry hair blew into his eyes, so he didn’t even see Winnigan attempting to give him a hand up until she called out to him. “Any luck with Marco?”Jean’s breath hitched as he was pulled onto the platform once again, of which Winnigan misunderstood as a grunt. “Sorry for the half-ass pull, I guess I skinned my hands out there—”“Marco’s dead,” Jean croaked, going limp in Winnigan’s arms. “He died out there and I don’t even know what happened. He was gone when I got there.”Winnigan was at a loss for words. She didn’t know Marco well, but she’d seen him almost daily. Losing someone she’d lived with during training was something she was unprepared for.“Are you injured?” Winnigan deflected, and Jean shook his head. “Okay. Well, if you want to come with me, I’m looking for people who need help and I’m hoping to figure out what the *fuck* is going on with that defected titan.”
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Eren Jaeger had been locked up and shipped out before Winnigan even got the opportunity to be clued in on the events in Trost. The entire 104th corps had taken a hit, survivors shaken from their first taste of action. On this, their day of graduation, Winnigan stood frozen in line as she heard her comrade Armin speaking in a hushed tone with Annie and Connie.“Jean really said that?”“Who cares?” Annie quipped, staring straight ahead. Winnigan searched her face for emotion and found none.“So you’re sticking with the MP’s? I’m starting to think I’ll go that way, too.” Connie offered from the other side of Armin.“Tell me something, if someone ordered you to die, would you do it?” Annie sighed, as Winnigan and the others whipped their heads around to face her.“What? Of course not,” Connie retorted. Armin and Winnigan shared a knowing look, before Annie continued.“Well, then my advice is to do what’s best for you.”When they were dismissed to go about the next steps of preparing for the graduation ceremony, Annie grabbed Winnigan’s arm and wrenched her into an empty hallway. In a flash, Annie had her pinned against a stone pillar. “What the fuck?” Winnigan cried out.“I should be asking that about you,” Annie hissed. “I saw that look you gave Armin. You’re joining the scouts, aren’t you?”Winnigan nodded. “That’s always been the plan, my— ”“You’ll die in seconds out there. Your fighting is subpar. Your reaction time is shit. That’s suicide.” Seeing the genuine fear struck across Winnigan’s face, Annie sighed and shoved off of her, pacing away with her head in her hands. “Not you, too. Trost even got Bertholdt and Reiner changing their minds.”"I don't care what you think, Annie," Winnigan suddenly spat, straightening her uniform jacket. "My brother died fighting titans, and I'll be damned if I don't follow in his footsteps." She pushed past Annie, who remained motionless in the hallway, her face unreadable as ever. It wasn’t unlike Annie to be cold, but the sudden outburst surprised even Winnigan herself.…Commander Erwin of the scouts, well known to Winnigan from word of mouth as well as letters from Pietro, was the first to address the graduates.“…We have lost sixty-percent in four years. That is a horrifying figure. One month from now, we will conduct a recon mission from outside the walls. Recruits from among your rank will be expected to take part. I estimate a third of them will die. After four years, most will be dead.”“Damn, this is what is supposed to convince you to join?” Annie grumbled. Winnigan shook her head and refrained from snapping again. Her gaze was trained ahead, on the light blond commander with eyes as cold as their icy blue hue.“Now having heard this dismal state of affairs, whoever still wishes to put their life on the line and join us, remain here. But first, ask yourself can you give your heart? Can you give everything for humanity?”“That is all. Those wanting to join other regiments are dismissed.” Did Pietro hear this same speech? Winnigan wondered nervously, fingers twitching at her sides. And he still chose this path? In her peripheral vision, Winnigan counted the other new scouts who weren’t scared off by the commander’s call to action. As expected, Armin and Mikasa were at attention. Of course, she had learned earlier in the day that Jean, Reiner, and Bertholdt would be going as well. Despite their previous quarrel just hours before, Winnigan felt a pang of guilt when realizing that Annie had left them behind.To her complete disbelief, however, Connie and Sasha stood shaking behind her. When Erwin exited stage left, Winnigan whipped around and enveloped Sasha in a deep hug. Tears that had been welling at her waterline broke free and Sasha broke down entirely in Winnigan’s arms.“Sasha!” Winnigan exclaimed. “I can’t believe you changed your mind.”“We’re doing this for Marco,” Connie replied solemnly. Winnigan’s head dipped low in understanding. Connie turned to Jean, whose face was stone. “You’ve got one hell of a way with words, man.”“I’m saying,” Sasha chuckled breathlessly, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. “Got me all prepared to ‘die for the cause’ and everything.”Connie scoffed. “Yeah, what the hell was that recruitment speech? Does he actually want soldiers?”Jean spoke up finally. “I think it was smart,” Winnigan made determined eye contact with Jean, before nodding. “I mean, would they rather have a bunch of soldiers who chicken out before the first expedition?”Winnigan cleared her throat. “Did you guys hear what he said about Eren’s basement?” Mikasa snapped to attention wordlessly. She stared daggers in to Winnigan. “That really didn’t have anything do with recruiting. It was obviously said purposefully, though.”“Yeah,” Armin piped up, his voice squeaking as it often did. “I noticed that, too. Almost like he was trying to catch the attention of specific people to make sure they join.”Winnigan never got to say goodbye to Annie before they departed for the Survey Corps headquarters. Reiner and Bertholdt had disappeared with her for just a little while, and Reiner later explained that the Military Police recruits headed straight for the Interior as soon as all of the recruiting speeches were complete.“Oh,” was Winnigan’s only response.“She told me to tell you bye for her,” Reiner said, slapping a firm grip onto Winnigan’s shoulder, rattling her small frame. “And that she’s sorry,” Winnigan whipped her head towards Reiner questioningly, her ponytail smacking Armin in the face in the process. “What?” Reiner chuckled, hands raised in defense. “I don’t know anything about your girl drama. I’m just the messenger.”The greenhorn women’s barracks were empty compared to the handful of new recruits. The space was built to hold at *least* twenty people. Sasha took the opportunity to push two of the twin cots together, while Mikasa shook her head in disdain. “Just as greedy in the bedroom as you are in the dining hall,” she joked, a rare occasion for the otherwise brooding teen.“What’s that supposed to mean?” Sasha crossed her arms proudly across her chest. “I’m going to need my beauty sleep if I’m gonna be kicking y’all’s asses in training tomorrow.”“Whatever,” groaned one of the other new recruits, Ymir, who Winnigan had never officially met before. “The only ass getting kicked is yours if one of the higher-ups see that.”A petite little blonde clung to Ymir’s arm, brows furrowed into a cute frown. Winnigan smirked to herself at the sight. When the blonde kicked Ymir in the shin, Winnigan could’ve sworn she saw Ymir blush.“Ymir! Leave Sasha alone!” The girl begged, giving Sasha an apologetic glance. In a hushed tone, she continued: “You wanted to make friends here, right?”Ymir scoffed. “You wanted me to make friends here, Krista.” The tall woman tossed her bag on the nearest cot, Krista following suit. Winnigan had already thrown her bag in the trunk at the foot of her bed and had kicked back against the headboard, spectating contentedly.“I swear to Sina,” Mikasa groaned, unraveling her red scarf from around her neck, folding it neatly and setting it on her pillow. “If you two girlfriends push your beds together, I will not only kick your asses, but end you both.”A devious glint flashed in Ymir’s warm, brown eyes. She grabbed Krista by the waist, pulling her into a deep, defiant kiss. Sasha gagged. Krista blabbered angered nonsense incessantly, complexion a deep red, before burying her head in her pillow.“What,” Ymir teased. “You got a problem with two women being in a relationship?”Sasha paled, recoiling slightly, before tossing a pillow in Ymir’s direction at full throttle. “Of course not! I really just don’t want to see or hear something I shouldn’t!”“What if I did?” Mikasa deadpanned. “Joking. I’m just fucking with you.”Sasha seemed to have missed the part of the conversation where everyone was playing around, because she once again came to her own defense. “If I had a problem, I would’ve done something about Winnigan making heart eyes at Annie every time she was within a half-mile radius of her!”Winnigan felt her cheeks blush in a sudden heat. Sure, in passing, she had thought of Annie in that way. But the mission always came first, and Annie didn’t seem like the type to reciprocate. It didn’t take long to get over her miniscule crush, or at least that was what Winnigan thought.“See?” Sasha shrieked desperately. “She’s not even denying it!”Mikasa blew out the various candles in the barrack, picking Sasha’s pillow up from the edge of Ymir’s bed and throwing it into Sasha’s face with perfect accuracy. “Can it, Sasha,” Mikasa spat, climbing into bed. “We’ve got a busy day tomorrow.”
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Winnigan’s mediocrity in hand-to-hand combat did not go unnoticed. As various Scouts led training according to their specialties, her wit was recognized, as well.Amidst one of Winnigan and Sasha’s better spars, a whistle blew from the edge of the courtyard. Winnigan loosened her headlock around Sasha’s neck, who crumpled to the ground with a comically high-pitched yelp. Scrambling to her feet, Sasha joined the other scout recruits in saluting to Section Commander Hange, who waved in greeting.“Morgan,” they called out, motioning Winnigan to come forward. “Commander Erwin is wanting to speak with you.”Collective gasps echoed through the courtyard. Of course, in the week they had spent on base, Erwin had been present in most group gatherings. However, he kept a watchful eye from above, like a god watching over his creation. He had yet to comment, yet to criticize, yet to instruct. So why is his first order of business talking to me?Erwin’s office was at the easternmost point of base. His dark oak desk matched that of his double doors, furniture, and bookshelves: a collection so grand it rivaled that of her own estate inside Wall Sina. Commander Erwin awaited at his desk already, deep in thought as he scoured over various maps and notes spread across the desk before him. He glanced up from his map, nodding to Captain Hange, who saluted and made her exit.“Winnigan Morgan, is it?” Erwin asked calmly.“Yes, Commander, sir!” Winnigan saluted, standing at attention for what felt like too long.Erwin shuffled his papers together, leafing through them and selecting a handful. “Please, sit. Your brother Pietro and I would spend a lot of time in here together, strategizing.”Winnigan’s heart leapt into her throat. The fact that the commander not only recognized her relation to a late scout, but also had known him personally nearly had Winnigan jumping for joy. Instead, she suppressed her grin and pulled her seat in closer to the desk.“He was quite the impressive scout,” Erwin smiled, pouring himself a cup of tea, offering her a cup with a motion of his hand. Winnigan curtly nodded and he obliged. “Scouts come and go like fruit flies. Unfortunately, I do not get to know the names or faces of most of them. Pietro, however, he was quite the strategist. We had many successful missions because of him.”Winnigan smiled softly, tears welling in her eyes. “I’m so glad to know this. We hardly heard from him when we left. That’s actually why I’m here.”Erwin placed his teacup down with a clink. “I figured as much.” Pulling a file from a folder on his desk, he slid it across the table, pointing to Winnigan’s name with an index finger. “Your marks in strategy and theory nearly excel Pietro’s even after his years of military experience. It’d be a damn shame to put your talent to waste.”Winnigan gasped, peering onto the file, which had both her and Pietro’s statistics compared against one another. “I… I’m not sure what to say, Commander.”Her eyes met his, a piercing sky blue, which bore an expression she couldn’t quite read. It seemed to be an even split between masked grief, and something on the absolute tip of his tongue that he bit back. How big of an impact did my brother leave here?“They’re big shoes to fill, it sounds like,” Winnigan mumbled sheepishly. She cleared her throat, straightening her shoulders. “And honestly, I thought I was called in here to be dismissed for my issues with training.” Erwin shrugged his shoulders with a click of his tongue in response. “But I’m here to… ‘dedicate my heart to the cause’ like you said, Commander.”Erwin smiled warmly. “Pietro was the same. If he were here today, he’d possibly even be my second-in-command. He wasn’t that well-versed in ODM, either. So, we sent him to our best to get him caught up to speed. So, as long as you’re wanting to fill Pietro’s shoes, you’ll be meeting with our Captain Levi starting tomorrow evening.”Winnigan had heard a lot of things about Captain Levi. He was cunning, curt, cruel, quiet. Some said he was god. The god of killing titans. Reiner had told her that he heard from older scouts that he could down an army of titans in one fell swoop. Rumor had it, he had a glowing, fiery glint in his eyes as he did so.The thought gave her chills.“I will be frank with you,” Erwin warned. “He is as cold as you have likely heard. He won’t share the same kindness and lenience that Section Commander Hange and myself have extended.”Winnigan nodded solemnly. “I understand, Commander.” She cocked her head to the side, eyes trained on Pietro’s file. “Did Captain Levi admire my brother, too?”“He did,” Erwin confirmed with the faintest hint of restraint. “Though, I would argue that I appreciated him more than Captain Levi did.”The vague answer raised more questions than Winnigan cared to ask. Those were answers she was determined to learn in time, as she improved and worked her way up.Before she departed, Erwin had one final statement in closing. “I’ve read some of your personal essays you’ve written as you’ve learned strategy, even when you were training before Trost. Be sure to return from this upcoming mission, Winnigan, because I believe the two of us could make a big difference in the name of humanity.”Winnigan’s heart soared.The new recruits had yet to meet Captain Levi, since he had been at an older scout base with Eren ever since Eren’s transformation. However, with the recon mission coming up, it was without doubt that the new recruits could benefit from Levi’s instruction. So, as Winnigan thanked the Commander for his graciousness, for the opportunity to connect with her late brother, and for a chance to prove herself, she nearly skipped giddily to the barracks where her comrades were already packing their things.“Are you anxious to see Eren tomorrow?” Sasha asked Mikasa, who wrapped her scarf around her neck expressionless.“Of course not, he’s tough,” she stated, though Winnigan could’ve sworn there was a crack of insincerity.Dot had made it through whatever training that horses endured to become steeds of the scouts. She was a sight for sore eyes when Winnigan made it to the stables, where Dot was already tacked and ready to go. Something about a taste from home sprung new tears in her eyes and she pressed her forehead into Dot’s, who whinnied contentedly in reply. “Looks like we were both good enough, girl,” Winnigan whispered. She remembered the contempt in her father’s eyes, the doubt and restrained fear in her mother’s. “We’ll show them.”Sasha visibly trembled on the ride to the castle where Levi Squad and Eren awaited. The reins shook in her hands, uncharacteristic for a girl raised by horse breeders.“We’re not going into the fray just yet,” Winnigan reassured her. “Nothing bad can happen to us right now.”“For once it’s not the titans I’m scared of,” Sasha muttered, loud enough to where hopefully only Winnigan could hear. “I’m scared to meet Captain Levi.”“Oh *whatever,* cadet!” Hange bellowed, jerking the reins to turn and face the two from ahead of the group. “Levi’s a five-foot-nothin’ ball of anger. He’s like a cranky old cat.”Ears of a bat, that one.The castle was in good shape, considering its age. Supposedly, it had been abandoned for years, but even the stone bricks on the exterior appeared to shine. Outside, Levi Squad swept cobblestone pathways and mucked horse stalls. To Winnigan’s right, Mikasa spotted Eren and broke into a sprint across the courtyard.“Eren! Are you alright? Did they hurt you?”“So much for not being anxious,” Sasha teased. Winnigan chuckled, dismounting Dot and leading her to a recently prepared stall. Dot nearly submerged her whole head in the water, lapping up water with a thirst comparable to a dog. Winnigan patted her on the head, running her fingers through a couple tangles in Dot’s mane.While some scouts were reunited with their friends, many of the new recruits were being introduced to the Levi Squad for the first time. A polite girl with a caramel bob named Petra, who just barely tolerated a pestering drunkard named Oluo. Levi’s second, Eld, introduced the final grumpy member, Gunther.“If you think he’s grumpy,” Eren said to the new arrivals with a grin. “Wait until you actually meet the Captain.” He glanced among his comrades with an absentminded grin. “Reiner, Bertholdt! What a surprise!” Eren clapped Reiner’s shoulder in friendly jest. “Jean, you too, huh? Does that mean Marco is here, too?”Silence.Whether the scout recruits admitted it or not, Marco’s death was miniscule in comparison to the loss to come. Scouts had been lambs to the slaughter for as long as anyone had known, even more so since Shiganshina. Marco’s loss only added to the dark storm cloud looming over them, their upcoming recon mission the foreboding thunderhead. As nervous as Winnigan was to meet Captain Levi, she was desperate to get to work with him. Anything to improve. Anything to stay alive.Section Commander Hange returned to the fold, clasping their hands together with a loud sigh. “Okay, recruits. Get settled into the barracks and prepare for dinner at sunset. Morgan,” they added. “The Captain wants you practicing before supper. He wants good light, and he doesn’t want you to lose your dinner while swirling up in the air. He’ll meet you in the back courtyard in about ten minutes or so.”The anxious nagging of exposure pulled at Winnigan’s stomach as she stalked to the back courtyard. She crossed her arms over her abdomen, sudden chills spreading goosebumps across her skin. This was humanity’s strongest soldier and she was about to humiliate herself before him with her lack of discipline and coordination. For a moment, she almost wished that Erwin had indeed dismissed her when he summoned her the day before.The tension didn’t cease when she heard the back door slam shut, or when light footsteps stalked across the porch. It didn’t even let up when she finally turned to face him and give him a stiff salute.Right then, as the porch elevated himself over her, with the sun hinting at a golden halo around his raven head, the tension reached a fever pitch as Winnigan realized that Captain Levi was no stranger.In fact, years ago, in the midst of blood and tears, they once shared a bottle of whiskey.“Are you going to say something, or just shake in your boots?” Captain Levi shook his head, tsking as he jumped off of the porch and landed with a quiet, agile thump. “There’s ODM gear in the shed over there, get geared up. We don’t have much time.”“Y-yes, Captain!” Winnigan stammered, giving a second salute, this one weaker than the last. She scurried to the shed that Levi had referred to. Just like the rest of the property, even this shed was spotless, something Winnigan was grateful for as she leaned against the door and slid to the ground, chest heaving.That face. I could never forget that face. That same undercut, though cleaner and more well kept since the last time she saw him, there was no mistaking it. Captain Levi had saved her life once, years ago, and saved her from trauma she otherwise would never have been able to stomach.She’d been beaten for losing the liquor, but just as quickly embraced and fussed over as her father assessed her injuries. That day, the business affairs were cut short as the two rushed back home, where her mother bathed her and hugged her tightly to her breast. The two promised that she would never set foot in the Underground again, at least until she was older. The promise lasted maybe a month at the most.Visits to the brothels never got easier. Contrarily, seeing what women were subjected to in the Underground made business affairs even harder to stomach. She’d lock herself in the office, the restroom, or in the carriage if she could. Then, she’d hyperventilate and pull at the clothes constricting her lungs until she had cried herself into a numb lull.Though Levi had once been her savior, even as a nameless street rat, the same innate fear pummeled her now as she unsteadily suited up.“We don’t have all day, kid,” Levi called from the outside. As Winnigan exited the shed, she realized with a startled jolt that Captain Levi had been leaning against the shed lazily. Without the extra inches the porch gave him, Winnigan towered over by several inches, somewhat soothing her nerves. I don’t think he got any taller since that day.Had Captain Levi recognized Winnigan as she did him, his demeanor never wavered. He scrutinized her gear, before pulling a handkerchief from his jacket and wiping the shiny metal of the ODM gear. “Damn brats were supposed to have these spotless.”“I- I’m sorry, sir.”“Tch. Not your fault. I’d bet we can blame Jaeger for that one.”Winnigan laughed breathlessly, trying her damndest to hold it together.“Morgan, is it? Pietro’s kid?”“His sister,” Winnigan corrected politely.Levi chuckled humorlessly, motioning her to follow him further into the courtyard. “Well, yeah, he wasn’t the type to be having kids and whatnot. He said he raised his brother and sister, though.”“Oh,” Winnigan replied. “I see.”Winnigan hadn’t the slightest as to what Levi meant by that.Levi reached into his jacket once more and procured Winnigan’s file, folded neatly with crisp corners despite having just been in a pocket. “Hange just gave this to me, it’s your stats and some instructions from Erwin. Looks like you suck major ass with gear, huh?”
Real professional.
“Not the talking type? Good. Saves me the trouble.” He paced about the courtyard, cocking his head in various directions with a wave of his hand. “The stone walls and trees around here will be good for practice. I understand you’ve used gear in Trost, where you had the city buildings on your side. I want to see how you handle trees.”Winnigan gulped, grasping the ODM triggers upon realizing Levi did not plan on offering any further instruction. The tree line before her loomed overhead, the sun just barely hidden behind their branches. The sky burned a blazing sunset orange, the trees quickly succumbing to shadow in enormous silhouettes. She glanced once more at Captain Levi from the corner of her eye, where he tapped his foot impatiently, arms crossed over his chest. Stop wasting his time.With an unstable pull of the trigger, grappling hooks sailed through the air and caught hold of the nearest trees, pulling Winnigan along like a fish on a line. Her body contorted in attempt to stabilize herself, and she just barely caught her footing as she landed atop a nearby branch, mere steps away from stumbling over the edge.Knowing that in the field she wouldn’t be awarded time to think as she did in these sessions with Levi, Winnigan quickly shot her hooks into the next tree, and then the next, with no clear destination in mind. The goal was to show her skill— or lack thereof— and strategy in unfamiliar terrain with no direct orders was not the most ideal situation.Deciding she had gone far enough, Winnigan turned on her heel to begin swinging back to base. Much to her surprise, however, Levi waited on a branch behind her.“I didn’t even hear you, Captain,” Winnigan gasped.“But walls, could I hear you,” Levi groaned, hopping effortlessly to the branch Winnigan stood on. The trees inside these walls were ancient, enormous, with more than enough strength for humans to rest upon. With agile, confident strides, Levi faced Winnigan with hardly enough space for Winnigan to breathe. Despite his small stature, his intimidation was unmatched. “Any titan within a kilometer of you would have eaten you already. You’d already be titan shit before any scouts caught up to you.”Winnigan’s head hung sheepishly, before she glanced up with an uncharacteristic smirk. “Caught up? So you’re saying I’m fast?”Levi scoffed and crossed his arms. “Fast for a dead woman.” Winnigan flinched. “Fly back to base. Try to actually watch your damn footing this time.”“Yes, Captain,” Winnigan saluted hesitantly. Her breath hitched and her hands trembled slightly as she overlooked the trail she had just blazed through the trees. Various snapped branches hung by miniscule fibers on trees, leaves scattered about the branches she had used for footholds. Droplets of sweat pooled at the nape of her neck before trickling down her spine, sending a chill through her. She glanced back at Levi once more, who watched indifferently.Then, she took the leap.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The sleeping arrangements were more cramped there than at the Scout Headquarters. While this castle was still expansive, it was undergoing major renovations due to the years of neglect. While the other new recruits settled into their shared dormitory, Winnigan massaged her sore legs in the hallway. The leather straps of her uniform were perhaps a notch too tight, and Captain Levi had worked her muscles hard. In pursuit of some relief before she undoubtedly hit the ground running the next day, Winnigan grabbed her nightclothes and followed Mikasa’s verbal directions to the bathing chambers.The bathhouse mirrored a time era from long ago. Large granite pillars held the vaulted ceiling above, where open vents opening to the sky allowed steam to funnel efficiently. Winnigan thanked her lucky stars for the luxury of the heated water and for the fact that the other scouts had bathed while she was out with Captain Levi and stripped her undergarments. Usually, in close quarters with other soldiers, Winnigan and others would keep their innermost layer of clothing on, but she was grateful for the opportunity to sink her naked body into the depths.Crudely constructed showers lined the furthest wall from the entrance, their pipes exposed outside of the stone wall. Small stone brick barriers lined the giant pool of water, allowing a small amount of privacy. Near the door, hooks and shelves housed her towel and nightgown. Around her wrist, Winnigan held a small mesh bag containing the military-issued soap bar she had unwrapped just moments before. She took her sweet time lathering her naked form, taking a moment to once again massage her sore body. Dipping her head under the water, Winnigan slicked her dirty-blonde hair behind her ears. The heated pool welcomed her and she allowed herself to immerse herself entirely below the surface.Walls knew when she would get the bathhouse to herself again before the upcoming mission. She took this time to reflect, taking Captain Levi’s instruction to heart. While her balance had previously consisted of trying to even out her lanky limbs as she sprawled through the air, the Captain had shown her how to tense her core, allowing the tensed muscles to solidify her stature. Multitasking between this new tactic and upholding her speed had drained her entirely, but once she mastered it, Winnigan knew her chances of surviving in the field increased. She wondered, had Pietro had the same issues she had?Levi knew Pietro. He made that clear from the start. The thought excited her, then overwhelmed her completely. These men in power: Levi, Erwin, they talked about Pietro like they knew him as a brother. But he was her brother, and she never knew him in the way they did. In a way, she felt grateful to discover this aspect of his life, but also, she felt robbed.Winnigan was chin-deep in the water, so lost in her own thoughts that she didn’t hear the bathhouse door creak open. She didn’t notice the Captain, hanging his towel on the first available hook. He, in turn, didn’t notice her belongings just five hooks down. But, as Levi crossed through field of vision between two waist-high privacy walls, Winnigan yelped into the water. He’d abandoned his clothing at the entrance, his muscled back sporting shimmering silver scars bouncing off of the moonlight grifting through the enormous overhead vent. Fearing the consequence of her being discovered, Winnigan slowly inched around the edge of the pool until her back faced the privacy wall closest to the Captain.So taken aback by the sight of Levi naked, Winnigan nearly pushed aside her nostalgic ideations. Instead, memories of her first interaction with the man flooded her mind.The fear of god within her. The stench of unbrushed teeth and unwashed body. The pressure of dead weight. The teenaged savior, extending a holy hand from above. The flood of relief for only a brief moment, before her precious booze had been swiped.Winnigan had grown much since then. After coming of age, her body had taken a feminine twist, giving her both chiseled curves and soft hills where she had lacked all those years ago. Her once light tawny curls had dulled. Even if she looked the same, would he have recognized her? There were countless girls for the saving Underground, and she was no more remarkable than the next.Levi, however, hadn’t changed at all.Well, perhaps he got manlier.Winnigan smacked herself internally for the dirty thought. Hiding from him in the baths was bad enough as it was, and steamy thoughts were no help whatsoever. Her hands clutched her chest, unsure if it was to slow her heartbeat, or to comfort her exposed body.As with everything Levi did, his movements were quick and concise. He wasted no time bathing as quickly as he could, stalking back towards the towel rack after the faucet squeaked shut. Winnigan might have squeaked slightly herself, upon seeing the Captain in ways she was never meant to see, but had slipped under the surface in a panic before she could allow herself to find out.After hearing a small noise and the splash of water, Levi scanned the bathhouse for another occupant. He sized up the nightgown hanging a few hooks down, smirking, before making his exit.…“You’re already better than yesterday, Morgan,” Levi mused. “Are you a quick learner, or just hungry?”Winnigan cracked a strained smile. The sun had barely peeked above the trees, and her legs already trembled. “Maybe I’m just ready to get out in action?” Winnigan responded, failing to hide her uncertainty.Levi shook his head. “That just proves you’re unprepared. No one is ready to go outside the walls for the first time.”Levi and Winnigan began to strip their gear. “Did Pietro die on his first mission?” She asked blatantly, after a long, stark silence.Levi's expression darkened as he finished coiling his wire. "No. He survived several expeditions before..." He trailed off, busying himself with inspecting the gear's mechanisms. “Why?”Winnigan shook her head with a shudder. “I don’t know. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up out of nowhere.” She hung her gear on it’s hook with a heavy clatter. “Am I dismissed to get breakfast?” Levi nodded curtly, his face stoic once more.Connie and Jean had just wrestled Winnigan’s plate out of Sasha’s white-knuckled hands as she strode into the dining hall. After a brief thanks, Winnigan quietly downed the eggs and grits on her plate. Levi wasn’t far behind her, joining Section Commander Hange at the head of the table.“Two private sessions with the Captain, how are you feeling?” Eren asked curiously.“Sore,” Winnigan replied. Jean chuckled mischievously. “I’d bet.”Eren smacked Jean upside the head. “Have some respect for the Captain!”Sasha threw down her fork, mouth full of grits. “Forget the Captain, don’t talk about Winnie like she’s some whore!”Winnigan blushed as her mind wandered to the previous night. Her eyes glued on his scars, trailing from his nape to the small of his back, and further…“Winnie?” Krista piped up, waving a hand in her face. “Everything alright?”“Alright, cadets!” Hange belted merrily, startling awake the sleepy scouts. “We train until two this afternoon, and get some rest before evening drills. Finish up your breakfast and meet me in the courtyard for further instructions!”Upon dismissal, the other new recruits left Winnigan alone at the table to finish her meal. As Hange passed, they clapped an open palm over Winnigan’s shoulder. “Morgan, Levi’s already run you ragged. I left some notes for you to review on your bunk before Erwin’s arrival later this week.”“Captain Hange,” Winnigan contested quietly. “I feel fine. Please allow me to train with the others.”Hange snorted and threw their head back with a hearty laugh. “Please, Winnie,” Winnigan snapped her head up in shock upon hearing her nickname. “Nobody feels okay after their first back to back training sessions with Levi. I saw you limping around this morning.”“But—”“We need you in pristine condition for the mission coming up. But, since you insist, you can read the notes in the courtyard and watch the other cadets… I suppose you’ll want to see what they’ll be dealing with anyway.”Huh? Winnigan rushed up to the scout barracks and grabbed the folder Captain Hange left on the foot of her bed. She quickly leafed through the pages, skimming for words that would clue in why exactly the Commander had singled her out, rather than Armin, who was just as good at strategizing and better in the field. Upon seeing the word ‘shifter’, she clutched the folder to her chest and rushed to the east courtyard to join the others.No amount of paperwork or forewarning could have prepared Winnigan for the sight before her, but a heads-up still would have been nice. Two titans, heavily chained from the neck down, laid on their stomachs before the greenhorn scouts. Winnigan could hear gags, someone possibly vomiting, and she wasn’t too convinced that she wouldn’t follow suit. She grabbed a wooden chair from the patio, dragging it into the courtyard, and took a seat from a safe distance.“Ah, Winnie, welcome back! You just missed my introduction of my kids, Sawney and Beane!” Hange hollered, arms flailing in the air with an excited greeting. The ‘kids’ watched their parent hungrily, eyes trained on their waving limbs. The scouts who had already stomached their shock laughed at Winnigan’s nickname. With a heated blush, Winnigan realized there were only more nicknames yet to come.As Hange rambled on about the pursuit of knowledge and the importance of scientific exploration, Winnigan opened the folder to get a good read of Erwin’s strategy for the upcoming mission. Since Eren’s sudden discovery, Erwin suspicioned that there would be more titan shifters among the military ranks. While he found them possible in any branch, Erwin planned to use this next mission to weed out any suspects within the scouts. It made sense; it would be foolish to assume Eren was the only titan shifter in existence. Furthermore, why wouldn’t they be military members? As Winnigan finished reading the report, her hazel eyes scanned her comrades, who for the most part practiced hand-to-hand, while the curious few deliberated with Hange over the two titan captives. At the end of the final page, a personalized, handwritten note was left for only Winnigan’s eyes:
I know you have your ideas. Be ready to share them.
— E
Erwin was right. Sure, she had suspicions. People who were difficult to be around, like Ymir or sometimes even Reiner, despite their friendship. They hadn’t spoken much since relocating to the castle and Winnigan finally got to see a taste of who Reiner was to the other scouts. Put shortly, an ass. But, if being an ass was the criteria, Levi was the number one suspect. Of course that couldn’t be the case, his hatred and disgust toward the titans was unrivaled. If Levi were to ever become a titan shifter for any reason, Winnigan found it plausible that he would simply just end his own life. Slaying titans was his pastime, after all. She absentmindedly rubbed her sore thighs, rolling her eyes upon recalling Jean’s snide comment earlier that morning.Flipping over the final page, the only paper with a blank side, Winnigan scrawled some potential names down with a charcoal pencil. She cringed when writing down the name of her own friend, Reiner Braun, but knew the importance of ruling no one out based off of friendship alone. As she drew a horizontal line across the center of the page, Winnigan prepared to write down some battle strategies she had daydreamed up, hoping to convey them at the meeting as well. Suddenly, a deep shadow overcast the page. Slowly turning over her shoulder, Winnigan met the slate eyes of none other than Captain Levi. Clearing her throat pointedly, she clutched the report to her chest. Surely, Levi was privy to the same information, but it was still a private matter.“Should you have that out around the other cadets, ‘Winnie?’” He antagonized with a slight hint of tease in his voice. She shuddered, a blush creeping into her face.“You heard Captain Hange?” she squeaked.“Who didn’t?” Levi countered. He pulled a chair from the deck down to join her. “I can tell you’re sore from the last twenty-four hours, so we’ll be starting up again as soon as the cadets are given a break before evening drills.”Winnigan’s jaw dropped involuntarily. “Why? Are you trying to run me into the ground before we even leave?”Levi smirked. “Maybe.”With a scoff, Winnigan crossed her arms over her chest, report still in her clutches. “So you just want me to die then.”Levi snorted. He shifted in his seat, opening up towards her. “Of course not! That’s why I’m running you ragged. No point in you dying on our first mission if Erwin’s right about your strategizing. Someone’s gonna have to replace him someday, and it sure as hell won’t be me. Four-Eyes is too batshit for the job, so it’s gotta be someone clever.”Her heart skipped a beat. Sure, scouts came and went so often that it was to be expected that anyone with potential be recognized. But she just joined weeks ago, for Sina’s sake. She didn’t respond, pulling out her page of makeshift strategies from Erwin’s report.“It was supposed to be Pietro Morgan,” Levi admitted. “But I’m sure you’ve deduced that already.”“I have,” Winnigan confirmed. “I can tell he was really important to you and Erwin.”Levi sighed, leaning back in his seat. He side-eyed Winnigan’s papers, but said nothing about the words she had just scrawled down. “He was important to the cause.”Winnigan whipped her head to the side, making direct eye contact with her superior. “There you go again! Deflecting! When is someone going to actually tell me something non-cryptic?”Levi stood, digging in his pocket, before pulling out a small embroidered cloth, pressing it into Winnigan’s lap. Wings of Freedom. Each silver and blue stitch pristine, spotless, detached from the jacket it once inhabited. “It’s Pietro’s,” Levi said monotonously. “Erwin thought you should have it.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
“I don’t know why we should care some fuckin’ titans are dead,” Jean scoffed, mouth full of breakfast. “That’s literally our job.”The scouts had awoken to the bloodcurdling cries of Captain Hange, wailing in the steaming remains of their ‘children’. They clutched what appeared to be a giant sternum to their chest, babbling on about not being there to protect them.“Not these titans, Jean,” Armin explained, exasperated. “Section Commander Hange had explicit permission to capture and study them to further our understanding, didn’t you pay attention?”“No,” Connie jabbed, sly smirk painted across his face. “He was too busy gawking at Mikasa.”While Jean and Eren duked it out right there across the breakfast table, Winnigan was detached. Pietro’s wings of freedom hadn’t left her hands since Levi had given it to her, and her mind hadn’t shut off, either. Why had Erwin held onto it after all this time, instead of delivering it to the Morgan estate? Typically, if anything could be salvaged from a casualty, it was returned to the family. Winnigan had been left to assume there was nothing to recover, since all her parents received was a vague report and condolences from Commander Erwin Smith. She figured his death had just been so gruesome, so unsightly, that it couldn’t be put in a letter. So, why did she receive his patch now, of all times? Erwin certainly did not benefit from having it for all this time, so the reasoning behind this circumstance was beyond her.And of course, there was the issue of Captain Levi’s ominousness. Not that it was a new issue, it just certainly did nothing to help the situation. To make matters worse, he had virtually ghosted her since that final interaction the day prior. Their evening session consisted of her running her ODM drills in silence, and she had received a message to the barracks later that night cancelling their morning meeting. And presently, at breakfast, the man was nowhere to be seen. A preparatory cup of tea— likely gifted by a new recruit trying to make nice— went cold in the empty seat next to Hange.Winnigan switched the patch to her off-hand and twirled her charcoal pencil between the fingers of her other hand. A page beneath her teacup, snagged from her journal upstairs, had various symbols and lines representing her own tentative battle plans. A strategy she had been cooking up ever since her training began, an idea she needed fully fleshed out before Erwin would arrive that evening. Hange explained that Levi had left long before dawn to accompany Erwin on his travels here, for his safety. Since taking on Eren, Erwin had made himself a target to the other military branches, and rumors had begun to surface of possible powers at play. On long journeys leading up to the following expeditions, Levi would protect Erwin at all costs.“You know, Levi once tried to kill Commander Erwin,” Hange said absentmindedly, undoubtedly unaware that they were partaking in gossip, possibly even sharing classified information. The scouts literally leaned into the edge of their seats, waiting expectantly for Hange to continue. Apparently, that’s all Hange had to say. They took a long sip of their green tea and whipped out a book to read.“Section Commander Hange?” Reiner urged from the end of the table. Winnigan’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t heard his voice since she first considered him a possible suspect of being a titan shifter, and guilt plucked at her heartstrings.“Oh!” Hange exclaimed. “Whoops! Yeah, someone had actually hired Levi in the Underground to take Erwin out! Clearly that didn’t work, seeing how those lovebirds are today.”“Lovebirds?” Reiner gagged, a couple confused exclamations and giggles echoing under him. “They’re gay?”“What is it with you guys and being grossed out by gay people?” Ymir teased. “First Sasha, and now you!”Sasha choked on her fried potatoes, sputtering and clawing at the table like a madwoman. Connie hesitantly patted her on the back. “I didn’t say that!” She exclaimed desperately. Hange only chuckled and shook their head.“Damn kids.”Winnigan felt an unexpected disappointment at the news. Obviously, seeing her nonexistent past with Annie, she had no issue with such ordeals. So why in the world did it matter to her over whether or not Captain Levi liked women?“But to answer your question, Cadet Braun, I was just making a joke. Levi’s too much of a hard ass to love anybody.”The dining hall erupted in laughter as breakfast came to a close. As each cadet grabbed their dishes, Winnigan circled the table to scoop up the neglected cup of tea in Levi’s usual seat. His absence to accompany Erwin explained Levi ghosting Winnigan on morning training. Winnigan realized this with deep relief, as she had been convinced their conversation about Pietro somehow managed to scare him off.As Winnigan approached the sink, where Armin and Jean were already diligently scrubbing dishes, Hange placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Morgan, I understand that Levi gave you the wings of freedom yesterday. Are you feeling alright?”Winnigan choked back tears she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding. Her hand instinctively covered her jacket pocket, keeping the last memento of her brother’s memory safe. “I just wish people would actually tell me what happened.”Hange sighed, patting Winnigan’s shoulder sympathetically. “Some of those stories are not mine to share, kid. Maybe if you help me deal with the new Sawney and Beane problem, I’ll have some time to tell you what I knew about him.”Winnigan’s smile lit up immediately. “For real? Absolutely!”For once someone didn’t keep her in the dark. For once someone who knew Pietro actually cared about Winnigan and her feelings. Sure, she had to work for it, but how was that any different than anything else?Hange smiled warmly, their glasses glinting in the morning light. "Meet me by the training grounds outside. We've got some investigating to do." As they walked away, Winnigan clutched Pietro's patch tighter, feeling for the first time since joining the Scouts that she might finally get some answers.The game plan was to begin within the ranks, looking for alibies, suspicious scouts, and figure out who exactly wasn’t in their beds in the early hours of the morning. Based off of Jean’s sentiments at breakfast, Winnigan feared finding a scout who actually wanted Sawney and Beane alive would be harder.She figured Armin would be a good place to start her search, given his keen eye and analytical mind. As she made her way across the training grounds, she spotted him engaged in conversation with Mikasa near the equipment shed. The morning sun cast long shadows across the courtyard as other scouts began filtering out for their daily duties. With Armin, there was no need to be conspicuous. They were on the same side, and Winnigan had a feeling that Hange had charged him with a similar mission.“Captain Hange’s having me help check ODM gear,” he explained outside of the equipment shed. Mikasa shared a cold glance with the two, turning on her heel to join the others with a curt nod. “Mikasa’s spending today eavesdropping.”The consensus was clear: no one wanted the titans to live. But deeper than that, the scouts understood the importance of their existence. Winnigan realized that her insight into who was or was not in the barracks the previous night was limited, seeing she’d been drilling with Levi past curfew. When she had showered and finally stumbled to bed, she had no reason to notice or care about anyone being absent.Armin's eyes lit up suddenly, an idea forming. "You know who might have noticed something? The guards on night patrol. They're required to log any movement they spot after curfew." Winnigan nodded eagerly – finally, a lead that could help narrow down their list of suspects.A tiresome grilling of the scouts on patrol that night, as well as a deep sweep of the ODM check out logs proved futile over the course of several hours. Of course whoever committed treason against the scouts wouldn’t advertise their use of the ODM gear. Winnigan shook her head with a scoff and went to consult Mikasa, who had just stepped aside from training to get a drink."Find anything interesting?" Winnigan asked, leaning against the water barrel. Mikasa took a long drink before responding, her dark eyes scanning the training grounds."Nothing concrete yet. Though I did notice Annie was acting strange earlier today - more withdrawn than usual. Could be nothing." She wiped her mouth with her sleeve and straightened up. "We should keep watching everyone closely."Winnigan shook her head in disbelief. “What do you mean, Annie? She’s with the MP’s, isn’t she?”Mikasa nodded in confirmation. “Hange and Armin are checking the ODM gear of all soldiers who use gear. That includes some of the MPs.”“And you went with them?” A twinge of hurt pulled at Winnigan’s heart. She never even got to say goodbye to Annie and was sour to miss the opportunity. Was Annie really acting strange, or was she just being herself?Mikasa's expression remained neutral, but her eyes held a hint of understanding. "She seemed... distracted. Kept looking over her shoulder like she was being watched. But you know Annie - she's always been hard to read."Winnigan kept her resolve. With tired resignation, she reminded herself that anyone could be a suspect, no matter how deeply Winnigan cared for them.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Erwin’s arrival came sooner than expected. Thus, the pre-expedition commenced. Among the attendees were the following leaders: Commander Erwin, Section Commander Hange, Captain Levi, and Section Commander Miche Zacharias, a sandy-blonde, brooding man with a wispy mustache. He towered over Captain Levi and both held the same cold composure. As for recruits, only Winnigan and Armin were in attendance. The tension in the war room was thick as the six stood around the round table, waiting for Erwin to take a seat.“Artlet, Morgan, I am glad you were able to join us,” Erwin said with a clearing of his throat, sinking into the high-backed chair at the apex of the table. Hange sat opposite of him, the others filling in between the two. Levi, at Erwin’s right hand, reminded Winnigan of a leashed guard dog. She stifled a rising giggle. “We’re here to overview some of our strategies for tomorrow. Then, I want the recruits to share their ideas.”Armin gave a resolute nod, failing to conceal a nervous gulp. Winnigan didn’t move.Erwin cleared his throat again, spreading out a large map across the table's surface. The parchment was marked with various symbols and lines, detailing the route they would take beyond Wall Rose. Winnigan's eyes traced the paths, her heart racing as she realized just how far they would venture into titan territory.The map was marked with red X's indicating known titan hotspots, and dotted lines showing alternative escape routes if things went south. Commander Erwin's finger traced along the main path, stopping at key points where they would need to establish supply stations. "Our primary objective," he began in his commanding tone, "is to establish a forward path through here," He tapped a spot roughly thirty kilometers beyond the wall with sketches of thick, giant trees.“We will begin at Karanes District and head due East to Shiganshina.”Armin gasped, but Morgan squeezed his hand from under the table to quiet him. There was no reason to show cowardice in front of the Commander.“Thanks to Eren Yeager’s titan, we were able to block the obstruction into Trost,” Erwin explained. “But we have lost our direct path to Shiganshina in the process. While this path is longer, it will buy us time and reclaim land we have since lost to the titans.”“I understand the importance of this mission, Commander,” Hange contested. “But is this really the best mission to send out droves of greenhorn recruits? Wouldn’t you think they would need more training? We could instead capture a new straggling titan to take back to my lab— ”Erwin jammed a pointed finger into the map, keeping his temper at bay. “Hange, enough experiments. We can reconsider that avenue once the killers of your last titans are caught. Besides,” Erwin sighed. “What I have just told you is simply an aspect of the true mission.”Silence befell the war room. Erwin used that silence to his advantage.“It would be lunacy to assume that Eren is the only titan shifter among us. Whoever infiltrated Shiganshina years ago will certainly be hell-bent on keeping us from reclaiming Wall Maria. So…?” Erwin asked pointedly.“We bring as many ranks as we can to weed out the enemies,” Armin realized. Erwin nodded intently. “We use the thick forest to our advantage so that titan shifters are easier to apprehend?”Hange clapped excitedly. “More titan shifters? Can I experiment on them?”Levi muttered obscenities under his breath and Miche kicked Hange under the table. Winnigan and Armin couldn’t help but laugh. As the situation died down, Armin continued:“Eren’s also got to be their biggest target. We need to conceal his location during this expedition.”“So the titan shifters could be spread out between all of us, and we can’t do anything to corral them together,” Winnigan argued, speaking up for the first time. “I agree that we need to keep Eren safe, but we could also use him as bait.”Erwin smiled. If it weren’t for his jolly demeanor, Winnigan could’ve sworn Erwin enjoyed endangering troops. “So, Winnigan, what do you propose placement-wise?”Winnigan ran her fingers nervously through her light, wavy hair. Her fingers snagged in tangles on the way through. Absentmindedly picking at the knots, she responded: “Place Eren with Captain Levi. He already trusts the Captain, and he’s also probably Eren’s best defense.”Levi smirked, an action that didn’t go unnoticed by Winnigan. “But,” she continued, grabbing handfuls of wooden figurines meant to represent the troops. “In the official map seen by the recruits here, we place Eren’s marker on the left side. With the troops joining tomorrow, we place him on the right. Meanwhile, we keep him center.”Erwin inhaled, eyebrows raised in surprised admiration. “So if a titan shifter appears on either side, we will know which squadron they came from?” Winnigan nodded. “Very good. In that case, we will position each of you throughout the formation so that we have eyes on all sides.” Erwin took the figurines Winnigan had placed on the map, rearranging them into a pyramidal shape. “Artlet on the back right, Morgan on the back left. Hange and Miche, you two can coordinate the best arrangements for your squads.”Erwin turned to his right, where Levi waited expectantly. “Follow Morgan’s instructions,” he ordered. Levi scoffed at the ridiculousness of a subordinate ordering him around… even if it was a good idea. “Keep Eren concealed with the Levi Squad in center.” Levi dipped his head in compliance, pushing away from the table.“I’ll go find the brat and tell him the plan.”“Don’t do that!” Armin protested, involuntarily pushing up from the table as well. Winnigan spectated in bewilderment at the interaction. “He’s a bad actor and a terrible liar! You’ve got to keep him in the dark with everyone else.”Erwin backed Armin’s request, Levi sighing once again at being bossed around by some teenagers. “Morgan, let’s run ODM drills again.”“I need her here,” Erwin interjected, reaching his hand across the table to pat the table in front of her. “The rest of you are dismissed.”As the soldiers shuffled out, Winnigan straightened herself in her seat. “Commander,” she cleared her throat. “I would like to thank you for getting me Pietro’s wings.”She fidgeted with the patch in her jacket pocket. Pulling it out, she smoothed it across the table. “I know you didn’t have to hold onto it.”Erwin sighed, shoulders relaxing as he hunched over the table casually, a sight Winnigan was shocked to witness. He balanced his chin on his forearm, his elbow propped flush against the table. “We had had a feeling that his letters home got intercepted, so it didn’t feel safe to send it home when he passed.”Winnigan was taken aback. She felt the blood leave her face, pale in the candlelight. “Pietro wrote home?”Erwin nodded solemnly. “Every single day. Seeing your reaction, I suppose our suspicions were right…” Winnigan watched him in silence as he reached across the table and grabbed the patch gently. “Though to be completely honest, I wasn’t ready to part with the patch, either. Since you’re here now— a decision Pietro hoped you would make— I figured it was time to move on from it.”His eyes watched Winnigan with sad reminiscence, almost like he could see Pietro through her. Tears ran down her cheeks, and she realized tears welled in the Commander’s eyes, too. Their sky blue had dulled into the deep blue of the night sky, the mistiness of tears becoming clouds in his vision. He hastily wiped his tears, offering the patch back to Winnigan.“How close were you?” Winnigan asked desperately, clambering out of her seat as Erwin rose to leave.“The bestest of friends.”“Like brothers?” She asked hopefully.“Not quite.”…It felt as though all and none of Winnigan’s questions had been answered all at once. She now knew why she had never heard from him again, but wondered why his letters had been intercepted. Pietro and their parents parted on sour terms, but surely they wouldn’t discard of his mail? Winnigan remembered Lady Morgan crying for weeks and how Lord Morgan refused to say his name. Why wouldn’t they let Pietro and Winnigan write to one another?The relationship between Pietro and the Commander was murky at best, but even still clearer than before. Pietro wasn’t in the Survey Corps for too long before he passed, so how did he work his way up so fast? How was he so close with Captain Levi, Hange, and especially Commander Erwin?Sleep evaded her like an enemy as she tossed and turned in the barracks that night. Winnigan knew how important sleep was, seeing how she could very well die when the sun rose. The plan was so convoluted, full of alternative motives and secrets she could only confide in Armin. He was snoring softly across the room, so that wasn’t an option. She rose from her bunk and grabbed her towel from her belongings, sneaking out of the barracks and to the bathhouse for one final shower before the expedition. As she stripped and sunk into the bath, she closed her eyes and relaxed for the first time that day. She dozed lazily, fighting the urge to sleep in the bath until sunrise. However, the chances of another soldier stumbling upon her in the morning was high, and that wasn’t a situation Winnigan wanted to deal with before her first nerve-wracking expedition. But surely, closing her eyes for a while longer wouldn’t hurt.That was until a loud clatter followed by a big splash awoke her suddenly. She jumped at the sound, now standing waist deep in the giant tub, scrambling to grab a floating bottle on the surface. That soap wasn’t hers… in an instant, Winnigan’s head whipped from side to side, frantically searching for the culprit. To her horror, Captain Levi leaned over the stone divider between the tub and showers. With a shriek, she chucked the bottle at him and ducked down to her neck in the water to cover herself.“If you’re going to keep perving on me while I shower, I suggest you get a better hiding spot,” Levi quipped, a hint of humor in his otherwise stoic expression.“How am I a perv?” Winnigan argued incredulously. “I was here first! You’re the one peering over at me while I’m all vulnerable in the bath!”Levi laughed openly for the first time in Winnigan’s recollection. “Right, you’re sneaking out here after curfew. You didn’t deliberately choose to come here during my designated time in the showers?”“Bullshit,” Winnigan seethed. “You can’t just claim a whole bathhouse to yourself. Plus,” she added indignantly. “Bathing helps me clear my head. I can’t do that if I’m surrounded by rambunctious soldiers.”“Exactly,” Levi teased. “So that’s why I got my own assigned bathing time after I was promoted to Captain.” He strode towards the exit, towel wrapped tightly around his hips, to Winnigan’s relief. “Now go to bed and get some rest before the expedition tomorrow. And,” Levi turned to face her one last time, smirking at her beet-red face. “Stay out of the bathhouse after midnight. I won’t hesitate to tell Commander Erwin next time.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The morning was quiet, but abuzz with anxious energy from the survey corps as they mounted their horses. Winnigan lowered her hood, preparing to tail the left flank as Commander Erwin instructed. Section Commander Hange’s squad was further ahead, tasked with trailblazing the eastern end of the path as they travelled south. Winnie’s squad— as Hange had so lovingly tokened— were to watch the rear and neutralize any titans closing in from behind. From those among Winnie Squad, Winnigan recognized Connie and Bertholdt. The rest were older, 103rd squadron and above.As they grew further and further away from Wall Rose, red flares soared through the sky.“Mission failed already?” Connie asked uneasily.“No,” Bertholdt reassured. “This early on in the mission, it just means there have been titans spotted.”One of the elder scouts shouted for Winnigan to prepare a red flare, as a ten-meter suddenly charged from the tree line to their left. Winnigan’s breath hitched in her throat, this being the first time she had seen a titan since Trost. Even then, she never really got too close. However, she didn’t hesitate. This was the job she had enlisted for, there was no point in going yellow-bellied now. Especially with the special orders from Commander Erwin. Winnigan pulled a red cartridge from the front saddlebag of Dot, sliding it into the flare gun that had been entrusted to her earlier that morning. Pointing at the sky, she pulled the trigger. The cracking boom of gunfire spooked Dot, causing her to pin her ears back and buck slightly.“Woah, girl,” Winnigan pleaded, patting Dot’s neck, heels digging into the stirrups. Luckily she had a history with Dot, so the horse eased and cantered towards the rest of the squad. Connie and Bertholdt continued ahead, the two elder scouts taking on the titan. They felled it with no issue, earning celebratory hollers from Connie and Bertholdt.“Keep it cool,” Winnigan barked, charging between the two boys, determined on getting out of the clearing before more titans could appear. As the other scouts fell back into formation, a distant boom cracked through the air, though leagues quieter than the one Winnigan incited with her flare. To their right, black smoke rose through the air.“Does that one mean ‘mission-failed?’” Connie cried out, exasperated.“No, Connie,” Winnigan winced, knowing the black flare had to be Armin’s squad. “Black means abnormal.”Connie gasped and Bertholdt dropped his gaze. Winnigan knew what he was thinking: Reiner was in that squad. Her stomach dropped at the thought of losing both Armin and Reiner on this mission.“We need to go help!” Connie exclaimed, yanking his reins to the right.“Connie, stop!” Bertholdt yelled, pulling his horse to circle around Connie and herd him back into formation. “We’re almost to the tree line. If they can’t handle it, someone closer can.”Connie nodded solemnly, allowing Bertholdt to push him back into formation. Then, as the tree line was finally in tangible view, the ground shook. Birds took to the air from the tree branches, escaping something. But, what? The abnormal, already?A toned, feminine titan entered the clearing from the direction of the black smoke. Without looking away, Winnigan felt around for the black flare tucked into her boot that Erwin had instructed to use should a titan-shifter infiltrate the ranks. Firing it into the air, she kicked Dot’s sides harshly, breaking into a full gallop. The other scouts followed behind, exclamations and obscenities filling the air.“We’ll try to intercept it,” one of the scouts barked, the two breaking from formation to attack the abnormal from both sides. Its moves were calculated, smooth. It knew what it was doing. The way it ran mimicked years of training. Winnigan’s stomach dropped at the thought of it being another military member. It had to be, right? How else would they know about this mission?Winnigan tried to exclaim a word of warning, but the scouts were already out of earshot. She could only watch in horror as the three of them charged ahead, as the titan covered it’s nape when one of the scouts took a swipe at it’s neck. With it’s other hand, the titan swatted the scout into the ground like a fly. He had hit the ground at full acceleration before Winnigan could even register what was happening. The other scout, attempting to fall back and circle back in, was absentmindedly kicked by the titan as it continued across the clearing. Even from that distance, Winnigan could’ve sworn she heard bones cracking.We didn’t even know their names, Winnigan realized, nausea and guilt overtaking her. As the titan grew closer, Winnigan prepared to deploy her gear. Human under the skin or not, Winnigan would give her life before she let another titan-shifter devastate the ranks. The wind blew sideways, throwing back her hood. The titan saw this, a glint of recognition in it’s pale blue eyes. Suddenly, it changed course, headed for the center ranks.“Fuck!” Winnigan yelled, teeth gritted. “She’s headed for Eren, we need to tail her.”“Are you crazy?” Bertholdt barked incredulously. “Winnie, that’s a suicide mission.”Winnigan whipped her head around to face Bertholdt, who trembled in his saddle. Connie didn’t look game, either. “I thought Eren was supposed to be on the right with Armin?” Connie asked.“No,” Winnigan sighed, as they entered the thick forest. Their horses slowed exponentially there. “He’s with Captain Levi. They’re going to need help.”With that, Winnigan took off for center formation, not bothering to check if Connie or Bertholdt followed. The path to the shifter was fairly simple, with fallen trees and enormous foot prints appearing in the muddy areas of the forest.“Who the hell are we dealing with, Dot?” Winnigan asked, twirling her fingers into Dot’s mane. “It’s definitely someone we know.”“You’re for sure she’s a shifter?” A voice called out from behind. Connie. He had followed after all. A quick sweep of their surroundings showed that Bertholdt had gone on without them. “I’m assuming it’s a she, did you see the knockers on that thing?”Winnigan somehow found it in her to laugh and roll her eyes. “Of course you’d notice,” she quipped. “But yeah, I did.”Hange’s secondary mission, preparing a trap for any titan shifter who infiltrated the mission, seemed to be in action. The female titan was further ahead, wrapped in the same metal wire used on the ODM grappling hooks. Soldiers surrounded her on all sides as she struggled with her restraints. As scouts swarmed from all sides to cut her down, her body hardened into a crystalline substance in the affected areas.“What the fuck?” Winnigan heard Connie retort. Suddenly, a loud cry filled the air. The sound of falling trees and clamoring surrounded on all sides. Like a dog whistle, the female titan managed to summon the nearby titans to her aide.“Fall back!” Erwin bellowed from somewhere. Troops didn’t hesitate to heed his orders, jumping onto their horses and following him back into the forest. From the apex of formation, he fired the final red flare.“Mission failed?” Connie whimpered.“Mission failed,” Winnie confirmed uneasily. She glanced back, allowing Connie to pass her and follow ahead. Where the female titan stood, Winnigan spotted Mikasa and Captain Levi fighting to retrieve something from her mouth. Eren.Between the two Ackermans, they were able to disable the female titan long enough to rescue Eren, though not without injury. Winnigan heard the loud crack of Levi’s leg, rendering himself useless as Mikasa flew away with Eren in tow.“Captain!” Winnigan hollered, no longer feeling threatened by the retreating titan. She extended a hand in invitation and Levi gratefully accepted, whizzing down from the tree tops to sit behind Winnigan atop of Dot. They fled the scene, catching up with the scouts who had made a quick job of collecting the dead. Among them were the remains of Levi Squad, cold and unblinking. Winnigan and Levi gaze silently as soldiers cover the corpses in canvas tarps. “Do you want to ride with them?” Winnigan asked gently, willing herself to ignore Levi’s tight grip around her waist.Levi tsked quietly in her ear, the fringe of his hair tickling her neck as he shook his head. “I’d just be dead weight.” His breath hitched in his throat at the dark and unintended pun. “Just get us home,” he pleaded in uncharacteristic softness. He gripped her waist tighter. She freed one hand from the reins and squeezed his left hand against her abdomen, feathering her thumb over his knuckles gently. Levi didn’t retaliate, only slumping further between her shoulder blades. Winnigan could’ve sworn he had dozed off after a while, because he didn’t immediately react when the survey corps signaled titans closing in from behind.“Captain?” Winnigan blurted desperately, charging Dot to pick up the pace. Levi sat up with a jolt, eyes scanning their surroundings. He noticed the cart of corpses falling behind the rest. “Hey,” he started, voice cracking. He cleared his throat before emphasizing: “Hey!” The scouts on the cart waited at attention for instructions. “Dump the bodies here, the cart is too heavy for the horses to keep up.”“But—” one began to protest.“Now!” Levi roared, his grip tensing around Winnigan. “Let them do their final duty to the cause. We’ve left more bodies behind than we can count. How are these ones special?” He bit his words, clearly not believing his own word. That was his squad. His friends.The scouts rolled the canvas tarps out with solemn hesitance, but it gave them the relief they needed to catch up with everyone else, the straggling titans shrinking from view. As they entered back into Wall Rose, the civilians surrounded on both sides of the street. An amalgamation of cheers, curses, and questions filled the air. An older man excitedly approached Levi, introducing himself as Mr. Ral, Petra’s father. He was grateful for Levi’s watchful and caring eye, but for some reason feeling the need to insist that Petra was too young to consider marriage. “She hasn’t even lived yet,” the man explained lightheartedly. Levi’s stoic expression and silence eventually ended the man’s ramblings, his face painted with confusion.Was Levi going to tell him? It didn’t look like it. “Petra was a valiant soldier, Mr. Ral,” Winnigan said softly as Dot kept her steady pace in the street. “She gave her heart to the cause, I consider myself blessed to have met her during my short time in the Survey Corps.”Mr. Ral kept pace with Dot for several silent strides. “… I see,” he said blankly. “Thank you for not harboring the truth from me,” Mr. Ral sounded genuine, but his gaze shot at Levi in anguish.Winnigan wanted to ask Levi why he allowed Mr. Ral to entertain his ramblings, as he would know more than anyone that it’s easier to just rip off the bandage. But, Levi hadn’t said a word since he ordered the disposal of Petra’s corpse. Winnigan wasn’t sure she wouldn’t be the same, had she been the one to make that call.At base, Commander Erwin allowed the survey corps a few hours to wash, address their injuries, and process the day’s events before reports were due. Winnigan slid off of Dot with a thud once she had arrived at Dot’s designated stall, but Levi didn’t move. He eyed his leg, the ground, and then Winnigan.“Need a hand?” She asked, extending her arms up to Levi as if he were a small child afraid to get down by himself. Levi took personal offense to this, attempting to swing his leg over the saddle with a defiant scoff.“As if.” He bit back a cry of pain as he tried to straighten his broken appendage and brace for the impact. Winnigan raised a brow, tapping her foot impatiently.“Wanna think about that again?” She stretched her raised arms in emphasis, allowing Levi to bite back his pride long enough to slide into her open arms. Winnigan was a few inches his superior, so she caught him with ease, his feet never touching the ground.“Morgan. Put me down now.”Winnigan gasped. “Oh! Right,” her hazel eyes swept the stable, looking for some sort of crutch to get him inside. “Are you opposed to hobbling around with a manure rake?”“Vehemently,” he sighed, reaching out to wrap his arm around Winnigan’s shoulder. “Just walk slow, hopefully all of the soldiers will be inside by now.”They hobbled together in silence, Winnigan supporting most of Levi's weight as they made their way to the infirmary. His fingers dug into her shoulder with each painful step, but she didn't mind. After everything they'd been through today, a little discomfort was nothing.Medics were all occupied with more severe patients, ones missing limbs and losing blood. Doctors weren’t scheduled for arrival for another few days, since the expedition wasn’t supposed to last less than a day. Able-bodied soldiers were sent in search of more medical help, while some stayed behind and assisted the medics. Armin was among them, having learned to stitch wounds during their time with the training corps. That left one other anatomy familiar soldier to assist Captain Levi, Section Commander Hange. They chomped at the bit excitedly as they cleared a cot for Levi.“Setting bones is my favorite! It’s quickly become my specialty,” they gloated, chest puffed out in pride.“I think we both know breaking bones is your specialty,” Captain Levi gritted, pulling his lame leg onto the cot. “Just let Morgan do it. No experience is better than whatever you consider medical expertise.”Hange scoffed. “Please, shortstack. I’ve improved so much since you broke your fibula a couple years back. Ooh, Winnie, your brother was there!”Winnigan’s face was alight in pleasant curiosity. Levi waved his hand to dismiss the statement, but Hange swatted him. “Levi and Pietro actually rolled off the top of HQ! They landed on Miche, god was he pissed.”Levi buried his face into a towel he snatched from the bedside, groaning loudly. “That sure put a quick end to their little escapades,” they mused. Attempting to pull down Levi’s pants to address the injury, Hange realized his leg was too swollen to work around. “Well, I’ll just have to cut these trousers. You’ve got another pair somewhere, don’t you?” Levi didn’t reply from under the towel.“Why were you and my brother rolling around on the roof?” Winnigan asked pointedly. The towel remained silent.“The Commander and Pietro had been fighting,” Hange explained nonchalantly, snipping away at Levi’s pants. “That was back when Levi ‘got around’ as some people put it. Levi and Pietro got a little carried away when Pietro realized Levi could keep his mind off of things.”“You fucked my brother?” Winnigan screamed, ripping the towel off of Levi’s blood-red face.The heads of the infirmary turned. New recruit and seasoned soldier alike spectated with an entertained curiosity.“I did not!” Levi clarified, shooting steel-grey daggers in Hange’s direction. “We fell off the roof before anything happened. We didn’t talk much after that.”Winnigan narrowed her eyes, sighing a discontented surrender before throwing the towel over Levi’s waist, figuring the exchange was enough embarrassment for him without adding him being in his underwear to the mix. To add insult to injury, Hange made a quiet remark about Levi’s previous encounters with another former scout as they set Levi’s broken tibia without warning. A string of curses ensued, some Winnigan realized she was unfamiliar with. Hange had other patients to see, more bones to set, so they patted Levi on the shoulder in parting. “I’m sorry about Petra, friend,” they said softly. Levi nodded.Winnigan made quick work of collecting items to make a splint. “You and Petra were getting married?” She was surprised that her stomach churned with slight envy at the question. She prayed it didn’t show.“No,” Levi said blandly, staring into space. “Unfortunately, she had a hard time accepting that we weren’t exclusive.” A twinge of regret in his voice mirrored his expression. “I don’t get attached.”Those final words were heavy. He was definitely talking about more than just romantic relationships.Erwin sauntered into the infirmary, an aura of urgency emanating from him. “Your leg is set, Levi? Good,” he patted Captain Levi in much the same way Hange just did, as well as offering Winnigan a quick smile. “Even better that you’re both here. Debriefing can wait, I have a mission for you both.”“Commander,” Winnigan protested, motioning to Levi, who slowly swung his legs off of the cot with a wince. “He’s in no shape to be in combat, are you serious?”“Quite,” Erwin dismissed, helping Levi to his feet. He offered him a cane from a nearby supply room. “Word was received while we were on the expedition that funding has been heavily pulled from the Survey Corps.”Levi hissed as he adjusted himself with the new cane. “What, why?”“Investors who are fonder of the Garrison regiment are quite unhappy that we have Cadet Jaeger,” Erwin sighed, pulling a letter from his pocket. “Word spread, and we got a new investor offering more than what the previous benefactors ever provided, but they gave us a deadline.” He handed the letter to Levi, who scoffed as he read. “They’re expecting Winnigan Morgan to meet with them at their establishment early tomorrow morning. If you leave now, you’ll have enough time to make it there.”“Why me?” Winnigan asked, reaching for the letter. Levi waved her off with a sigh. “And why Levi? He clearly should not be travelling in his condition.”Erwin turned to Winnigan, a faint, uncomfortable smile on his face. “The offer comes from the Morgan estate,” he explained. Winnigan paled. Her parents hated her for joining the scouts, just as much as they had hated Pietro. Why were they offering money now? “Lord Morgan requested you come to his current location urgently. Levi,” he said pointedly. “Must go, because I’m not sending you alone, and I am certainly not sending an unseasoned topsider to the Underground.”Winnigan finally wrestled the letter from Levi, searching the page for her father’s signature. Sure enough, Lord Morgan had signed off on the message, the address of their Underground office scrawled at the bottom.“And, Captain Levi,” Erwin added with a hearty laugh. “Be decent and put on some pants around the fairer sex, please.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
For the sake of the mission remaining brief, without further injury to Captain Levi’s leg, the two assumed the same position on horseback as they began their inward journey to Wall Sina. This would be Winnigan’s first time near home since she left for training, years ago; also, this was her first time in the Underground without her father since she first met Levi.Winnigan shifted uncomfortably in the saddle, hyper-aware of Levi's proximity as memories of their first encounter flooded back. The stench of the Underground, the terror of that night, and the strange mix of fear and gratitude she had felt toward the street thug who'd saved her – it all seemed like a lifetime ago. Yet here they were, heading back to where it all began, though this time she was no helpless noble's daughter and he was no common thief. He clearly had no recollection of the event, or at the very least hadn’t realized who he had saved that day. While an ache in her chest longed for her to reveal the truth, the mental fortitude of shame took precedence. Whether she was just a young child or not, the events of that day were not custom to make conversation of.The ride was mostly silent, save for a few exchanges of words pertaining to directions and plans for their mission. They were to remain on horseback until they reached Lord Morgan’s office, for the sake of Captain Levi’s leg. He assured her that the stone steps would be wide enough for Dot to comfortably descent upon arrival, but a flick of Dot’s ears suggested she didn’t agree.“Doesn’t sound like Dot likes your idea,” Winnigan mused.“It’s a horse,” Levi grumbled. “It doesn’t know what I’m saying.”Dot knickered in protest.The streets of Wall Sina were unusually quiet as they approached the entrance to the Underground. Guards stationed at the checkpoint eyed them suspiciously, their gazes lingering on Levi's ODM gear and military insignia. Winnigan produced the letter from her father, which seemed to satisfy their curiosity enough to wave them through without further questioning.As they descended the worn stone steps leading into the Underground, the familiar musty air hit Winnigan's nostrils. The darkness seemed to creep up around them, broken only by the scattered torches that lined the walls. She felt Levi tense slightly behind her, his grip on her waist tightening imperceptibly."You're quiet," she remarked, trying to break the heavy silence between them. "More than usual, I mean.""Tch." Levi's typical response was accompanied by a slight shift in his position. "The Underground has that effect. Brings back memories I'd rather forget."They passed through narrow alleyways, where shadowy figures ducked out of sight at their approach. The clip-clop of Dot's hooves echoed off the cavern walls, announcing their presence to anyone who cared to listen. Winnigan noticed how different the Underground looked from horseback – less threatening, somehow, though no less oppressive."Your father's office is in the merchant district," Levi stated flatly. "Near where the nobility used to conduct their... business." There was an edge to his voice that made Winnigan wonder if he knew more about her family's past dealings than he let on.The merchant district came into view, its buildings marginally better maintained than the surrounding areas. Here, at least, some attempt had been made to maintain a veneer of respectability. Elaborate storefronts, though dusty and worn, still bore traces of their former grandeur. Winnigan guided Dot toward a particular building, its facade marked by the Morgan family crest – a reminder of her father's determination to maintain his presence even in this godforsaken place."We should be careful," Levi murmured close to her ear, causing an involuntary shiver to run down her spine. "Your father may be offering funding, but the Underground hasn't changed. Everyone here has an angle."Winnigan nodded, knowing all too well the truth in his words. As they dismounted – or rather, as she helped Levi awkwardly dismount while trying to preserve what remained of his dignity – she couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched from the shadows.The Morgan Companionship Hotel, as the brothel was so scandalously named, was one of the nicest buildings on the block. The street lamps were brighter, the stone steps swept, and gruff guards stood outside. After Winnigan’s experience years ago, Lord Morgan tightened security. One could say whatever they wanted about Lord Morgan, but they couldn’t say he wasn’t receptive.Captain Levi eyed the brothel in a calculated manner, sizing up the security staff and overall grandeur of the property… all things considered. He scoffed, eyeing the cobblestone steps and patio. “This is quite possibly the cleanest brothel I’ve ever seen,” he said simply, sounding neither impressed or unimpressed. “The inside still remains to be seen.”Winnigan tried not to cringe at the thought of Captain Levi visiting brothels in the past. He had always been so clean-cut, so guarded. He didn’t seem the type to call upon a lady of the night. But, men did have their needs. If she learned one thing growing up in the family business, that was it. Section Commander Hange had mentioned that Levi had ‘got around’, as they put it, in a past tense. Perhaps he resorted to the sex business rather than create any more messy and brief affairs. She willed the thought of him pursuing Pietro from her mind. Not a good look, she sighed inwardly.“Will Dot be okay out here?” Winnigan questioned as she helped him hobble up the front steps.“Tch. The horse will be fine. There’s guards out here to keep watch.” In a considerate, uncharacteristic move, Levi leaned in to one of the guards towering over them. “If something happens to that horse while we’re inside, they will never find your body.”The guard gulped, intimidated by the small angry man before him. He nodded, recognizing the scout insignias and waving them inside. Levi sighed. “Great. That’s handled,” his eyes swept the interior, a brief sense of calm washing over his face. “And it’s clean in here, too. Kudos to your father for that.”A well-dressed attendant approached them, bowing slightly. "Miss Morgan, Captain, please follow me. Lord Morgan is expecting you in his office." The attendant's polite demeanor did little to ease the knot forming in Winnigan's stomach.As they followed the attendant up a carpeted staircase, Winnigan's hands began to tremble. She hadn't seen her father since she'd enlisted – since the explosive argument that ended with her storming out of the family estate. The weight of those years of silence pressed heavily on her shoulders.Levi must have noticed her distress. "Hey," he said quietly, his voice unusually gentle. "Remember who you are now. You're not just some noble's daughter anymore – you're a Scout. Whatever happens in there, you've earned your place."Winnigan glanced at him, surprised by the unexpected support. She managed a small nod, squaring her shoulders as they approached the heavy oak door of her father's office. The attendant knocked twice before opening it."Lord Morgan," the attendant announced. "Your daughter and Captain Levi have arrived."Though she couldn’t see through the doorway, she heard the hesitant rustling of papers and a quiet sigh. “Very well. They may come in.” To Winnigan’s utter shock, she felt a squeeze of her hand. Levi was quick, his hands back at his sides before she could even look at him.“You’ll do fine,” he whispered.Lord Morgan’s office was as haughty and pristine as Winnigan remembered. The ceiling was vaulted, with four wooden pillars in each corner of the room made of stripped, varnished tree trunks. The amount of wood imported from the forests outside the walls was astonishing. An enormous wooden desk with carved clawed feet supporting it sat in the center of the room, blocking the view of a stone fireplace. The fireplace was decoration of course, there were only so many fires that were allowed to burn in the Underground at all. Smoke inhalation was a nightmare in such a constricting hellscape. Lord Morgan, indistinguishably familiar, sat before them. He had aged greatly in the years between their last interaction, his beard grey. He had the distinctive chestnut hair only inherited by Winnigan’s youngest brother, as she and Pietro had been gifted with their mother’s blonde hair. There was a clear sadness in Lord Morgan’s eyes, no matter how well he held his composure otherwise.“Winnie,” he breathed, his eyes trained on her. It was as though Levi didn’t exist. Lord Morgan motioned for Winnigan to sit, but the two scouts remained standing. Seeing their hesitance, Lord Morgan pleaded: “Winnie, please, sit. I am no stranger, I am your father.”“My father left me years ago,” she gritted, but complied. Levi followed suit, crossing his injured leg over his knee as he adjusted to get comfortable. “And you demand to see me now? On the day of our expedition? Dangling the promise of funds over our heads?”Lord Morgan’s gaze dropped to the desk, where his bony, worn fingers interlaced. “I was hoping to catch you before you left,” he explained, hinting at what Winnigan had already assumed. He had beckoned her to keep her from embarking on the dangerous mission. “I understand your anger.”“Dozens of soldiers died today,” Winnigan spat, her contempt unveiled. Levi watched silently from the corner of his eye, holding his composure at the reminder. “Captain Levi’s entire squad was decimated. He’s severely injured. He abandoned his duty to allow himself to heal to make sure I didn’t get raped again coming here.” Winnigan hadn’t shared that sentiment with Levi, but it didn’t matter. Her words hit the mark she had aimed for. Tears welled in her father’s eyes instantly. “If you want to support me for whatever goddamned reason, even though you couldn’t support Pietro, you could have come to the military headquarters yourself. You could have sent the funds remotely. You could have summoned me to our home, damn it.” Tears threatened to spill over her cheeks as well. She crossed her arms over her chest, averting her gaze to the fanciful art installations on the wall.“I haven’t been home in a long time, Winnie,” Lord Morgan said solemnly. “Your mother and I separated shortly after you left.”Winnigan’s heart skipped a beat. “You’re divorced?” Her voice was low, barely holding the steadiness required to not betray her pain.“Separated,” he corrected. “Your mother couldn’t look at me after I sent you away in the way that I did.”“Neither of you have ever written,” Winnigan snapped pointedly.Lord Morgan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “As for me, I have no excuse. As for your mother, I imagine it’s easier for her to grieve your death now, rather than later. She nearly took her own life after Pietro.”“Which is also your fault.”Lord Morgan's face fell, the weight of his failures evident in the deep lines around his eyes. "I know," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I know I failed both of my children. I’m sure your mother has Josef on a short leash. I don’t blame her.”Levi spectated silently, knowing that now was not the time to suddenly become talkative. He knew how important this conversation was for the two, but he also knew that he would have to divert the topic to business should things get too out of hand.The tension in the room was palpable as silence stretched between father and daughter. Winnigan's hands were clenched in her lap, her knuckles white with suppressed emotion. Lord Morgan's shoulders had begun to sag, the weight of years of regret visible in his posture. Even Levi, typically stoic and unmoved, seemed to feel the heaviness of the moment.Dust motes danced in the weak light filtering through the office's small windows, a reminder of the perpetual gloom of the Underground. The plush carpet beneath their feet, the polished wood paneling, and the expensive furnishings seemed to mock the squalor that existed just outside these walls. It was a perfect metaphor for the divide between father and daughter – a gulf as vast as the one between the Underground and the world above.The clock on the wall ticked steadily, each second amplifying the unspoken words hanging in the air. Winnigan's military training was evident in her rigid posture, a stark contrast to the refined nobility she'd been raised to embody. Her father's eyes kept darting to the Scout Regiment wings on her jacket, a symbol of everything he'd tried to prevent her from becoming.“I just wish that someone, anyone would be transparent,” Winnigan said softly, in an unexpected admission of vulnerability. Levi’s head tipped towards her at this, and Lord Morgan’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t know why you hated Pietro so deeply. I don’t know why he joined the scouts. I don’t even know how he died,” she choked, pulling her brother’s patch from her pocket. Lord Morgan’s eyes widened at this, mouth slightly agape. “All I have is this… and I still don’t know why you summoned me here. Why give the scouts this money? You didn’t do it for Pietro.”Lord Morgan paused, his mouth puckering as he weighed his words. “I thought I hated your brother,” he admitted. Though painful to hear, Winnigan sighed in relief at the honesty. “For abandoning his duty to the family, but for something even heavier than that.” He squeezed his eyes shut, his breath shaky.“I am so ashamed,” he declared, fist slamming into the desk. “Your brother had found love, and it was not the kind that our house believes in. The Morgan family has never stood for a man loving another,” he gritted. “Another man. Truth be told, it’s unholy. It’s sickening.”Anger bubbled in Winnigan’s chest, but she held her tongue, knowing that should she lash out, Lord Morgan could shut down again. Then, she would never get her answers.“But what is holiness, what is God to losing your firstborn son?” Lord Morgan cried, a poorly contained sob escaping. “He detested me for our trade, I detested him for the embarrassment he brought the family. He planned to marry a scout. That’s when I told him that if he left for the scouts, he would be utterly alone… and not a day goes by where I don’t regret what I said. Had I loved him, accepted him, he would still be here today. You wouldn’t have chased after him. I wouldn’t lose both of my children to the titans.” He reached for Winnigan’s hand, a pleading look in his eyes. To everyone's surprise, including her own, Winnigan obliged; but, only for a moment. The unexpected contact was hard to process. Her hand returned to her lap, her gaze low. She glanced over to Levi, who nodded in solemn support.“If you’re funding the scouts, you’re keeping her safe?” Levi clarified with a raise of his brow, shifting the conversation for Winnigan’s sake.Lord Morgan sighed heavily, his fingers drumming against the polished surface of his desk. "I'm funding the scouts because I've learned what it means to lose everything that matters. If my money can help keep other parents from experiencing this pain – from experiencing what I did with Pietro – then perhaps I can begin to atone, and keep my baby girl alive."Levi and Lord Morgan continued on with the terms and contingencies of his financial support, allowing Winnigan a moment to compose herself. Rather than an evil lord, Winnigan saw her father: a broken man. He had lost his whole family. Pietro would never return, Winnigan was a soldier now, his wife and youngest son not wanting anything to do with him. That’s when she noticed, aside from the grandeur of the office, a bedroll and small collection of personal items were tucked away behind a couch lining the wall. Something about Lord Morgan’s desperation, his blatant honesty, budded unexpected forgiveness in Winnigan’s heart. Paperwork was signed, hands shook, and business concluded. The foreign forgiveness compelled Winnigan to give her father an assuring squeeze of the arm.“Please write, father,” she requested softly.Lord Morgan sighed in relief. “I will, Winnie.”As he showed them to the door of his office, he acknowledged the workers mingling with clients in the lobby. “The night activities have begun,” he explained, motioning to the hallway. “The side door will see you out safely.”Levi and Winnigan nodded curtly, walking in the direction they had been pointed. Levi limped heavily, but waved Winnigan off when she offered a hand. “Allow me some dignity around the ladies,” he joked.The side door led to the all-familiar alleyway that Winnigan dreaded seeing. However, as she stepped out, she felt a wave of relief wash over her. Lamplight kept the alleyway clear as day, the short passageway between buildings spotless and devoid of clutter. One of her father’s guards stood at attention at the entrance of the alleyway. He made sure it never happened again, she thought. To anyone else.“I killed a man for the very first time in this alley,” Levi muttered softly, the same weight of painful memories in his voice. Of course, Winnigan knew of this, but not that it was his first time. She was shocked at his admission of vulnerability and her heart soared with pride at the thought. She squeezed his shoulder in solidarity. “With all of the honesty inside, I figured it wouldn’t be fair to keep that to myself.”“I suppose not,” Winnigan agreed softly. “Thank you.”Dot was visibly happy to see them, stamping a hoof indignantly at the security guard who had taken it upon himself to hold her reins the entire time. Levi’s word wasn’t taken lightly here, nor above ground. The man definitely believed that had something happened to the horse, his life would end. Winnigan snickered at the thought.“Hello, horse,” Levi grumbled as Winnigan helped him into the saddle. He winced as he adjusted his broken leg, but made no vocal complaint. As Winnigan settled in front of him, she turned back and smiled.“Her name is Dot,” she reminded.“It’s just a horse,” Levi reminded in return, his stubborn humor eliciting a giggle from her. He smirked slightly, amused at her outburst. After a few minutes, ass they made their way to exit the Underground, Levi cleared his throat. “Uh, Winnie?” He tested the waters with the nickname. Winnigan didn’t protest. “You don’t have to tell me details, but I wanted to let you know… I’m glad I came with you. I would never let you get hurt, man or titan alike.”He heard Winnigan’s breath hitch, followed by a sigh. He couldn’t see her face, but her physical composure hinted at relief. “I know,” she said gratefully. “Someone kept me safe that day, too,” she confided. “I’ll never forget that.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
It was early morning when they resurfaced within Stohess. Neither scout had slept since before the mission the previous day, and though Levi seemed as alert as usual, Winnigan couldn’t help but droop her head in exhaustion.“We’re stopping here,” Levi decided, grabbing the reins from Winnigan’s loose grasp and steering from behind. “There’s lodging near the MP barracks here. No point in letting you pass out and fall off the horse on our journey back.”Winnigan nodded, but did not reply. She allowed Levi to go on ahead, opting to lean against Dot’s neck for support. Emotions of the last twenty-four hours had consumed her mind and drained the very last of her energy. She didn’t notice when they arrived at a hotel, or even notice that MP soldiers offered a hand in hitching their steed and helping them both off of the saddle. Winnigan just simply complied, sliding into the grasp of a very familiar blonde.“Annie?” She asked sluggishly. Sure enough, the girl whom Winnigan held dearly up until their tumultuous separation was guiding her inside the hotel.“Don’t get too excited,” Annie chided in her typical monotonous tone. Though, a saddened glimmer in her eye suggested slight humor. Winnigan rubbed her eyes, willing herself to wake properly.“Annie,” she exclaimed, finally returning the embrace Annie had initiated. “Oh my god, so much has happened.” Winnigan squeezed Annie tightly, to which Annie gasped and dropped her arms to her sides.“I am so sorry,” Winnigan apologized, holding Annie at arms length to get a good look at her. Not much had changed; she still kept her hair in a tight bun, still held a resting scowl, and her ice blue eyes still captivated her. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. “I hate that we got separated on bad terms. I am so, so sorry.”As Levi limped to the front room to book lodgings, Annie shrugged. “I shouldn’t have pushed you so hard,” she offered, though her face betrayed a devastated demeanor. “I didn’t want you to get hurt. You would’ve been safe here, with me.”“So many people died yesterday,” Winnigan breathed, to which Annie nodded.“I heard.”Captain Levi had secured bedroom keys, and cleared his throat between the two. “Sorry to interrupt, ladies, but there are two single beds calling Morgan and I’s names and I’d rather not stand on this bum leg longer than I have to.”With that, he turned on his good heel and started hobbling down the hallway on the first floor. Annie and Winnigan glanced at each other one last time, before Annie surprised Winnigan with another embrace. “The bar here in this tavern,” Annie said, motioning to a bar in the corner of the room. “A lot of the MP’s frequent it since it’s so close to our grounds. We’ll be here later tonight… if you’d like to join.”Winnigan nodded gratefully. “Hopefully we’ll still be here, I’d love to. Please excuse me, Annie, I need to make sure the Captain actually made it to the room.” With that, she turned in pursuit of her comrade. “Captain!” She hollered after him.Annie lingered in the lobby for a moment longer, allowing herself to release a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. Winnigan was safe and miraculously uninjured. She had the gods to thank for that.…The room was spacious, yet modest enough for a hotel so close to the royal capital. Two twin beds were separated by a single night stand, where Levi’s personal belongings were already set meticulously on the left side. The captain himself, however, was nowhere to be seen. Running water could be heard from the adjoining bathroom, where he undoubtedly was trying to wash away the last twenty four hours. Winnigan shut the bedroom door behind her, causing the running water to stop abruptly.“Is that you, Morgan?” Levi’s muffled voice asked behind the bathroom door.“Yes, Captain,” Winnigan responded, plopping herself onto her bed. The bathroom door creaked open slightly, Levi’s head poking out. He was miraculously dry for someone who was just in the shower.“I know I told you to stop perving on me in the shower,” he said, the tips of his ears tinged red. “But I have Titan and Underground germs all over me, and I can’t get into this shower with this damn leg.”Winnigan gulped, her face flushing red. “What are you needing help with?” She asked nervously.Levi scoffed. “Get your head out of the gutter. I can’t take this splint off, so I need you to help keep me upright.” Winnigan didn’t respond, her mouth slightly agape. “Cadet, all I need you to do is let me hold onto your arm through the shower curtain. You won’t see anything.” He hesitated, before adding: “Nothing you haven’t already seen.”“Captain!” Winnigan exclaimed, her hand flying to her mouth. She was sure she had turned blood red at this point. “You and I both know I didn’t know you were going to be in there.”Levi’s head bobbed side to side, as though weighing his options. “Perhaps, doesn’t change the fact I still caught your eyes on me. Now, get over it, I’ve only got so much strength in this one leg. I can’t keep standing in this doorway forever.” He pushed off the doorway, back into the shower, and Winnigan hesitantly followed suit. Luckily, he was already behind the curtain. Levi’s arm burst from the curtain, outstretched expectantly. When she grabbed hold, he braced against her and the water was turned back on. The absurdity of the situation made Winnigan giggle through the delirium of sleep deprivation.“If you breathe a word of this to the others, I’ll end you,” Levi said gruffly through the curtain.After a few minutes, the faucet turned off with a squeak. Winnigan passed a towel and some clothes through the curtain that had been left folded on the countertop. A series of grunting ensued, followed by a small crashing sound and a string of curses.“Everything okay?” Winnigan asked hesitantly. The curtain was thrown open and Levi hobbled forward, fully clothed, towel draped over his shoulder.“I’m fine, Morgan,” he said gruffly, limping heavily towards the bedroom. “Take a shower. You need sleep but I don’t want to smell you for the next few hours.”When Winnigan peered into the shower, she found the small bottles of soap strewn around. She concluded that to be the crashing sound, and that Levi must have dropped them but had been unable to pick them up himself. She smirked at the thought, placing them back in their rightful places.Feeling like death walking, with aching bones and sore muscles, Winnigan allowed herself to relax in the hot water. That’s when the mental fortitude finally broke free. Her shoulders and chest heaved as she leaned against the shower wall for support as the last twenty-four hours set in. She had watched dozens of scouts die on her very first mission outside of the walls. She encountered a titan shifter who ended lives without a second thought. She watched Levi’s entire squad get loaded up into a cart and then discarded like trash. Not to mention the whiplash of having to see her father in the Underground of all places. Her parents were now separated, and the difficult truth that the reason her beloved brother had been so hated just for loving another man was hard to swallow.Love was such a basic concept, something that should come easy and be celebrated as such. Had Winnigan known about Pietro, had her parents been honest, maybe things wouldn’t have ended how they did. Then, she shuddered at the thought of telling her parents about her feelings for both men and women. She never assumed it would be an issue, but clearly that was no longer the case.Did they marry? Winnigan wondered beneath the steady flow of warm water. Do I have a brother-in-law among the scouts? She knew the chances were high, and that her window of opportunity for more answers was closing. She washed quickly, realizing she had packed no other clothes besides a change of undergarments. There was no way she was going to climb into such a clean bed in such a filthy uniform, so she discarded the scout attire on a chair just outside the bathroom door and jumped into her bed, throwing the covers over her.Winnigan turned to face Levi, who had his back turned in his bed, preparing to ask the loaded question that he clearly knew the answer to. However, the steady rise and fall of his shoulders and soft snore proved her efforts in vain. The man must have finally crashed after the last day’s events, and as Winnigan got comfortable, she wasn’t far behind.A gentle shake roused Winnigan from her deep slumber. Her eyes fluttered open to find Levi sitting on the edge of her bed, his usual stoic expression softened by the dim evening light filtering through the window."Morgan," he said quietly, "it's nearly dusk. If you want to meet your MP friends at that bar, you should get up now."Winnigan groaned, pulling the blanket up to her chin. "Five more minutes, Captain," she mumbled, earning an exasperated sigh from Levi."I've already let you sleep longer than intended," he replied, standing with a slight wince. "Besides, you need to eat something. You haven't had a proper meal since before the expedition."The mention of food made Winnigan's stomach growl traitorously. She sat up, keeping the blanket wrapped around her shoulders, suddenly very aware that she was only in her undergarments. Levi seemed to notice her predicament."I had your uniform cleaned while you were sleeping," he said, gesturing to her neatly folded clothes on the chair. "The innkeeper's wife was kind enough to handle it." He turned his back to give her privacy, hobbling towards the door. "I'll wait in the hall. Don't take too long getting ready."The sudden kindness from Captain Levi was a shocking relief from the Captain Levi who had ran her into the ground leading up to the expedition. To be fair, his work had paid off. Their training was undoubtedly the reason she was still alive after facing the female titan.Sliding out of bed with a stretch, Winnigan quickly slid into her uniform and joined Levi in the hallway. He leaned against the wall, his injured leg outstretched. He didn’t look up when she approached, but they made their trek to the lobby in a comfortable silence.“We’ll eat, you can socialize, then I’d like to head back to HQ,” Levi ordered eventually, breaking the silence between the two. The rambunctious chatter from the MPs at the bar grew closer, and in moments Winnigan had already located Annie.“You won’t socialize?” Winnigan asked slyly.Levi scoffed. “Tch. Please, you should know by now that I would never.” Winnigan raised a brow, playfully pouting in his direction. “I’ll wait back in the room after I’ve eaten.”“You’re no fun,” Winnigan sighed. However, she didn’t press him further. He’d been through so much in the past day, losing people actually close to him, and Winnigan was shocked he was holding it together in the first place. His expression was stoic as ever, though she knew that had to be a defense. There was no way he was just ‘okay’ after all that had happened. She watched from across the bar as he ordered a plate of food, sat down, and put his head in his hands.“Anyone ever tell you staring is rude?” A monotonous yet playful female voice asked, Annie so close behind her that Winnigan could feel her breath. She whipped around, grinning to see Annie’s typical stern expression. In her hands, two shot glasses of whiskey were ready to go. “I know I don’t drink, but I think your surprise visit calls for celebration.”Winnigan accepted the glass with a smirk, downing it immediately, Annie following suit. She hissed at the burning sensation, even though she secretly loved it. She’d drank enough of the stuff over the years to stomach the burn without water to chase it.“Is that cinnamon?” Winnigan teased, knowing fully well that Annie had chosen the drink on purpose. Annie, who had been gulping down a glass of water, raised a pointed finger to indicate that she would speak in a moment. Setting both glasses down harshly on the bar-top, Annie actually laughed. “I didn’t know liquor got to your head that quick,” Winnigan mused.Annie motioned to the bartender for another round. “I’m more of a beer girl,” she said simply.“Oh, you should see her with vodka!” A voice exclaimed. Turning over her shoulder, Winnigan saw a young woman with light brown waves and honey-colored eyes. “My loser roommate had to be actually carried back to our room.”“Hitch,” Annie introduced. “Winnigan.”“A woman of many words,” Hitch teased. “Do you go by Winnie?”“Not really—”Annie downed another shot, handing another glass to Winnigan who didn’t hesitate to do the same. Throwing an arm around Winnigan’s shoulder, Annie pulled her close. “She hates it, so of course she’s Winnie.”Maybe it was the whiskey with no water, but Winnigan could have sworn it was opposite day. Her dad wanted to be in her life, Levi was kind, and Annie was affectionate. If only it were like this every day. Winnigan waved down the bartender, ordering more shots for herself. Ought to make the best of it.Winnigan stopped counting shots at number five, opting to hand the bartender a wad of cash and instructing to stop serving her once she ran out of funds. Just for the fun of it, she bought Annie a beer, whose typically sour eyes lit up with joy. She glanced over across the room to where Levi was eating, finding him already working on reports. Every now and then, he’d glance over, scrutinizing the scene in the way only Captain Levi could.“You’d think Annie’s a goody-two-shoes with how little she gets out, but no,” Hitch slurred, wrapping an arm around both women’s shoulders. “She skipped out on duties yesterday to go meet with a boy.”“What? Who?” Winnigan asked incredulously.Annie cleared her throat, a sudden wave of sobriety hitting her. “Hitch, not now,” she gritted.“That beefcake, Reiner,” Hitch teased. “You know him! He’s a scout!”The world danced around Winnigan’s vision as she downed another drink. “Impossible,” she mumbled, tripping over her syllables. She pointed a finger in the air, as if guiding herself through her words. “He was on the mission yesterday.”Annie coughed again, sipping some water. “I figured that out and decided to hit the town instead,” she explained. She ordered another beer. “I’ll just have to see him another time. And,” she added. “That makes us uneven now, Hitch. I’m not solving any more mysteries for you until you can actually cover for me.”Winnigan raised a brow. “Mysteries?”Hitch giggled. “We’d been passing around some missing persons case for a couple days now. Carly Streit-something, it was a total cold case. Annie had it solved by the end of the day. She’s so talented.” Hitch started rambling about other MP’s and their qualities, and Annie grabbed Winnigan’s arm and led her away. The room swam around her, the alcohol taking control.“It’s noisy in here,” Winnigan whined. “I wanna go outside.” She wiggled a brow at Annie playfully, who smirked in return.“Oh, yeah? You want us to go outside all by ourselves? Where no one can see us?”Winnigan downed the last of her whiskey before practically falling out the front door. Annie grabbed her arm, pulling her around the corner of the building, where not a second later, their lips collided.It was messy, it was hasty, it was hot. Annie grabbed Winnigan’s collar and shoved her into the bricks with a need so thick, the air was full of it. Winnigan’s hands roamed Annie desperately, her drunk mind undecided on where she should place her hands, eventually settled on her hips. One of Annie’s hands held Winnigan’s face with lust-filled strength, the other placed on the brick wall over Winnigan’s head. They broke apart for a moment, a trail of saliva connected between their lips. Annie wiped her mouth hastily, looking Winnigan over, who was flushed and gasping for air. “You want this?” She asked simply. Winnigan nodded, and Annie dove back in.Their tongues danced together in a heated frenzy, hands exploring with desperate need. The cool night air did nothing to quell the fire burning between them, and Winnigan's head spun from both the alcohol and Annie's intoxicating presence. When Annie’s tongue grazed Winnigan’s teeth, it suddenly became a fight for dominance, much like their spars back in training. Winnigan wrapped her arms around Annie’s neck, spinning her around and pinning her to the bricks instead.“Winnie,” Annie moaned into Winnigan’s mouth, gripping her intensely before taking control once again.The taste of cinnamon whiskey on Annie's tongue made Winnigan's head spin even more, their bodies pressed together in the dark alley. Time seemed to stop as they lost themselves in each other, until a distant sound of footsteps and voices from around the corner forced them to break apart. Annie quickly straightened her uniform, her usual stoic expression returning despite her flushed cheeks.“Walls. I came to find you since you hadn’t touched your food yet,” he groaned, leaning against the wall for support. He rubbed his leg, wincing. “We need to go before Commander Erwin sends a search party.” He nodded to Annie, seething. “Leonhart, you have my gratitude for getting my soldier off-task.”“My apologies, Captain Levi,” Annie attempted to sound professional, but her voice cracked. She turned to Winnigan, who was clearly still intoxicated despite the sobering moment. “Let’s get you inside.”Levi hobbled back to the table, seated himself, grumbling to himself as he waited expectantly for Winnigan to finally sit at her plate. Annie guided Winnigan to her seat, patting her back awkwardly. “I should go before I cause more trouble,” she muttered, before nodding to Levi. “Captain.”“Leonhart,” he nodded back, holding a deep stare. He cocked his head to the door. “You said you were leaving?”“Right.”Annie patted Winnigan’s back once more, turning to leave with the other Military Police wordlessly. Levi still had yet to speak to her since going back inside, opting to motion to her plate instead. Winnigan, obliviously drunk, grinned at him before digging into the cold plate of mashed potatoes and roasted chicken he had ordered for her earlier.Levi watched her eat in silence, his expression unreadable as ever. The alcohol made her movements clumsy, and she nearly knocked over her water glass twice. When she finally finished her meal, she looked up to find him still staring at her with that same intense gaze.“You’re lucky the bartender is going to help us get onto the horse,” he finally stated, giving her a quick once-over with his steel grey eyes. “Because I wouldn’t trust you to help me walk in your sorry state.”“Sorry…” Winnigan repeated the word, knowing she definitely needed to apologize for something, even if she hadn’t figured out what yet.“The bartender owes it to you anyway,” Levi continued, pointedly avoiding her attempt at an apology. “For not cutting you off sooner. I was too wrapped up in my reports, though I will argue in my defense that you as a soldier should know to hold your composure…” His eyes lingered on Winnigan, who looked dazed as she attempted to sip from her water glass and missed her mouth entirely. He sighed. “But, it’s been an extremely long two days for us both. I imagine surviving your first expedition before having a confrontation with your family in the Underground of all places calls for a drink. I certainly cannot judge.”His eyes fell to the table, where Winnigan’s hands trembled slightly. Still, she did not speak. He, in turn, continued his monologue, which he wasn’t entirely sure she could even understand. “There’s many ways to cope in this line of work. I choose not to regret the decisions that were made. You can’t change the past,” he thought of Petra’s corpse flying off of the cart. “But you can appreciate what you managed to save. We kept Eren from capture, we proved there was another titan shifter, and you made it out unscathed. We can be grateful for that. And, with no regrets, we can better understand the choices we will need to make in the future. You, on the other hand… if drinking and women help you cope, so be it.”Winnigan's head bobbed slightly as she processed his words, her intoxicated mind struggling to follow his meaning. She managed a small nod, though her glazed eyes betrayed her lack of comprehension. The silence stretched between them as Levi gathered their belongings, preparing for what would surely be an interesting journey back to headquarters.This time, Winnigan took the rear end of the saddle. Levi didn’t trust her with the reins, and he certainly didn’t trust that she could keep herself upright. As he used his good leg to kick Dot into a trot, Winnigan garbled nonsense from behind.“If you retch down my back,” Levi warned. “You’ll be running laps until you drop dead.”In response, Winnigan wrapped her arms tightly around Levi’s torso, cheek pressed between his shoulder blades. She made the occasional sound of discomfort, but stayed mostly quiet to Levi’s relief. His leg throbbed, his head pounded, and he wished more than anything to be back in his own chambers at base. The few hours of sleep he was afforded at the inn was helpful, but nothing to sneeze at in comparison to the rest Winnigan received.
He had awoken to her snores, which was an easy feat seeing that Levi slept lightly, but he was convinced she could have raised the dead with such racket. Longing for just another moment’s rest, he had buried his head into his pillow, but to no avail. He then attempted to cut the noise from it’s source by tossing the pillow at her face with lightning speed, but even that proved in vain. Levi finally accepted his fate, using the extra time he had to take her uniform to be cleaned. As he made his way towards the door, hobbling with record-breaking slowness, he glanced back over to the sleeping soldier. Her mouth hung wide open, a trail of drool gravitating onto the mattress. She must have thrashed about in her sleep, because her limbs were sprawled across the bed, the blanket tangled around her ankles. Her undergarments were exposed, showcasing a chest that heaved deeply with each ear-shattering snore.
While he found himself chuckling at the cacophony before him, he couldn’t help but feel a flush of embarrassment for catching himself staring while she was in such a vulnerable disposition. Sighing, he set down the soiled uniform and limped to the edge of the bed, untangling the sheets, and lightly covering her up once more.
The all-too-familiar snore vibrated into Levi’s back. He sighed in relief, realizing that she wouldn’t be vomiting up whiskey and chicken any time soon. As a precaution to keep her from sliding off the horse in her sleep, he gently tucked her wrists into the leather straps of his uniform, binding them together securely.“When I’m back on this damn leg and you’re not hungover,” he said, knowing she couldn’t hear him. “We are running drills until the sun comes up. That’s the only way you’re going to live this down.”…Winnigan awoke to the sounds of soldiers yelling. She blinked slowly, realizing they had already traversed back to base. The sun was just below the tree line, rising into the dawn of the second day since the expedition. Someone was asking if Winnigan was injured, to which Captain Levi dismissed with a wave: “If you count drunk to the point of incapacitation, yes.”Someone helped the two off of Dot, where Winnigan’s head spun as her feet hit the ground. The drunkenness was wearing off, but the hangover was just beginning. She raised her chin to look at the soldiers around her, which was a terrible idea. The world swam in her vision, the rising sunlight blinding her, and she doubled over to regurgitate the remains of the previous night’s festivities… onto Captain Levi’s feet. His boot and his splint were immediately soiled. She braced for the impact of his anger, but was met only with a sigh.“And here, I thought I was safe.”He hobbled off without another word. The other soldiers, of which Winnigan identified as Connie and Jean, led her inside.Connie and Jean helped Winnigan to their shared quarters, their footsteps echoing through the stone corridors of the barracks. Her head throbbed with each step, and the morning light streaming through the windows felt like daggers in her eyes. She could hear the whispers and snickers of other soldiers as they passed, no doubt already spreading rumors about her night with the Military Police."You really did it this time," Jean muttered, adjusting his grip on her arm as she stumbled. "Getting drunk with Annie Leonhart of all people. And in front of the Captain, too."So news travels fast. "Shut up, Jean," Winnigan groaned, pressing her palm against her forehead. "I don't need a lecture right now.""Hey, at least you made it back in one piece," Connie chimed in, trying to lighten the mood. "Though I bet Captain Levi's going to make you wish you hadn't once you're sobered up."They reached the door, and Winnigan fumbled with the handle before practically falling inside."Get some rest," Jean advised, his tone softening slightly. "You're going to need it. Word is you and Armin are needed for a meeting to discuss what happened on the expedition."Winnigan collapsed onto her bed, not bothering to remove her boots. The events of the past few days swirled in her mind – the expedition, the titans, her father, Annie's lips against hers in that dark alley. It all felt like a fever dream."Water and bread are by your bed," Connie called out as they left, closing the door behind them. "Try not to die before the meeting!"In the silence of her room, Winnigan pressed her face into her pillow, trying to block out the world. Her stomach churned with regret – not just from the alcohol, but from everything. She'd let her guard down, shown weakness, and worst of all, she'd embarrassed herself in front of Captain Levi. Again.As sleep began to claim her, she made a silent promise to herself: no more distractions, no more mistakes. She had to be better, stronger, more focused. The fate of humanity depended on soldiers who could keep their composure, and she was determined to be one of them – hangover be damned.Armin awoke her hours later, urging her to drink water and eat before attending their meeting. The attendees were nearly the same as before: Winnigan and Armin, Commander Erwin, Captain Levi, as well as section commanders Miche and Hange. Additionally, section commander Nanaba was here to sit in and provide her insight as well. The objective: narrow down suspects for the Female Titan.Winnigan approached the mirrors in the bathhouse, where many of her comrades lounged in the giant tub. She waved absentmindedly as she passed, mentally compiling the data she had accrued over the past several days. A few things were certain: this shifter was likely female, had to be military personnel, and would somehow benefit from Eren being gone. That immediately indicated the Garrison regiment, seeing how quickly they wanted to dispose of Eren, but the hypocrisy of the idea proved otherwise. Why would they use a titan to dispose of another titan?“As you know,” Commander Erwin began, as soon as the door had been locked and the soldiers were seated. “This last expedition had many facets to it. While our attempt to map a route to Shiganshina failed, we succeeded in proving there are more titan shifters within our ranks. These shifters, unlike Eren, are traitors, intending to destroy what the military has built.”“You could probably blame the same freak for the breach in Wall Maria in the first place,” Captain Levi muttered, fidgeting with the handle of his cane. Erwin nodded, taking a rolled parchment and unrolling it across the table. It contained hundreds of names, some of which had been crossed out.He gestured to the parchment grandly. “This, soldiers, is the most recent census of soldiers across all three regiments of the military. Hange?”In response, Hange dramatically heaved a large stack of files onto the table, landing with a thud that sent motes of dust flying in the air. Armin sneezed, and Levi sneered, pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiping down the area in front of him. “And this,” they said with glee, spreading the files before them. “This is all of the females, since I believe we’ve all come to the conclusion.”Armin inspected the long parchment, running a finger across a name that had been crossed out. “The strike through the names mean they’re deceased?” He asked quietly. Erwin nodded curtly.“We haven’t had the time to remove the deceased females from our files, so we will be cross-referencing as we go. This will be a tedious task, but between all of us, I believe—”“I suspect Annie Leonhart,” Armin squeaked, face contorted in disbelief at his own words. “I didn’t want to believe it, but it makes sense.”Winnigan gasped before she could even think to compose herself, earning a confused stare from the other soldiers in the war room. Armin held eye contact with her for a moment, scrutinizing her, before continuing: “Section Commander Hange had all ODM gear inspected after the deaths of Sawney and Beane. When I saw Annie, I realized the gear she presented was not her own.”Levi scoffed. “Not her own? And whose was it?”Armin gulped. “Marco Bott, sir.”Hange trailed their finger down a column of the census, pausing at a name stricken from the list. “Deceased,” they stated.Armin cleared his throat, clearly choked up with emotion. “I could have told you that, Section Commander,” though his words were harsh, they came from a place of sincerity. “He was in our squadron,” he motioned between Winnigan and himself for emphasis. “And died in Trost.”Winnigan put her head in her hands, sighing loudly. “Jean was the one who found him. His ODM gear was never recovered. He had been stranded without it.”Erwin nodded thoughtfully, motioning for Hange to write down the information. “And you say that this missing gear is what Annie Leonhart presented at the inspection? You know this, how?”“I got geared up with him every day for training, sir,” he reported dutifully. “He wasn’t the most graceful flier, either, sir. His gear had dents and scrapes that any of our friends could have recognized.”Hange pulled another notebook from their pocket, flipping through the pages wildly. “Annie Leonhart presented damaged gear, but it was not the gear used to kill Sawney and Beane,” Hange confirmed. “We will have to send someone to inspect her gear personally, in Stohess. Impromptu gear check that she cannot prepare for.”Section Commander Nanaba, who had been quiet up until this point, pulled Annie’s file from the stack. Winnigan’s heart raced, thinking about the night prior. Annie showed no sign of regret, no ounce of guilt. Could she really do this?“Well I’ll be,” Nanaba sighed, pulling Annie’s portrait from the file and slid it to the center of the table. The soldiers leaned in for a better view.“Looks just like the Female Titan,” Miche nodded.Armin touched the portrait softly, expression downcast. “The Female Titan pulled back my hood,” he admitted. “She had every opportunity to kill me, but spared me after seeing my face.”“Me too,” Winnigan said softly, hands clutching her sternum in a vain attempt to slow her racing heartbeat. “She spared me as well, but didn’t hesitate to kill the other members on my squad.”Miche shook his head in disdain. “Sure, she looks like the titan, like I said, but we’re basing this conclusion off of looks and some banged up gear? This wouldn’t hold up in court.”Erwin sighed, rolling up the census. “Section Commander Miche is right. We need something else.”Levi spoke up for the first time in ages, eyes trained on Winnigan. “Winnie,” he said gruffly. “You and Leonhart got pretty close last night,” Winnigan shot him a look. He raised his hands in defense. “I’m not accusing you of anything, I just want to know if she told you anything that could be of use.”Winnigan racked her brain, a difficult task with the pounding headache she had had since the previous night. Her memories were hazy. She remembered drinks, giggling, their encounter outside… and Levi’s interruption. Then, a conversation with Hitch came to mind.“Actually,” Winnigan said thoughtfully, chest burning at the thought of throwing Annie under the bus. However, Annie had already made herself look guilty on her own. There was no harm in sharing the truth, especially if it ended up keeping more people from dying by the Female Titan’s hands. “Her roommate said that she had to cover for Annie skipping duties the day of the expedition,” Winnigan sighed at the admission, pinching the bridge of her nose to alleviate the tension growing in her face and neck. “Because she planned to visit Reiner.”Reiner. Annie. Her friends.“They’re from the same village,” Armin added. “But Reiner knew about this expedition long before it took place. It wouldn’t make sense for the two of them to make plans during that.”Erwin raised a brow, glancing between Winnigan and Armin. “Do you suggest Reiner may be a part of this conspiracy?”Winnigan shook her head furiously, despite having written his name down amidst suspects days prior. “Annie’s mention of him is the only possible evidence of his involvement. She might have just used him as an excuse, since they’re childhood friends.”Armin nodded pensively, brows furrowed as he searched for words. “That might be true, because the Female Titan did attack Reiner, he was just able to cut himself free from her grasp.” He hesitated, closing his eyes. “But, after he got free, she changed direction. Almost as though he had told her something. Maybe about where Eren was placed?”“That’s just speculation,” Winnigan pointed, to which Armin shrugged.“Just going off what we have to work with.”Erwin cleared his throat, calling the soldiers back to attention. “It’s safe to say that Annie is a suspect in this affair,” he announced. “We will keep Reiner Braun under a watchful eye, but I do not find him to be a suspect at this time.”“So what do we do?” Winnigan asked, a twinge of desperation in her voice. She had just reconciled with Annie, even progressed the boundaries of their relationship. Winnigan wasn’t ready to lose that.Erwin grinned, giving a knowing look to the section commanders. “I’m glad you asked, Morgan. You see, the government isn’t very happy to learn that Eren transformed during our last expedition. They’ve court marshalled us to bring him in to be apprehended by the Garrison by the end of this weekend.”“No!” Armin exclaimed. “You can’t let them take him!”“I have no intention of doing so, Artlet,” Erwin reassured, a glint of kindness in his eyes. “But the Garrison doesn’t know that. Neither do the Military Police. I propose an idea that can confirm Leonhart’s identity as the Female Titan in a way that not only exposes her, but protects Eren in the process.”“And… what is that?” Levi asked, unamused.“We set a trap that the Female Titan is unable to escape,” Erwin drawled, a maniacal smile comparable to Hange’s painting his face. “And we set this plan in motion at sunrise.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Jean sneered at the other cadets as the pulled the ill-fitting wig over his head. “I look nothing like Eren!” He spat.“So keep your head down, Kirstein. And wipe that grimace off your long face, it doesn’t suit you,” Captain Levi practically shoved the cadet into the carriage, slamming the door shut after him. He turned to the other cadets, who fidgeted nervously. Meeting Winnigan’s hazel eyes, he cocked his head, motioning to her to have a private word.“Are you sure you’ll be able to lure her with Armin?” He asked quietly, doubt laced into his voice. “You two were awfully close the other night.”Winnigan winced at the thought of Captain Levi walking in on them both during the heated, intimate moment. Her stomach churned and her cheeks were red hot at the reminder. “I think the other night is the reason why I have to do this,” she grimaced, pulling her hair into a ponytail to release the heat radiating from her face and neck. “I’d argue I’m closer to her than the others in our ranks.”Captain Levi nodded in agreement, studying her slowly. “And you don’t want the military thinking you’re on her side,” Levi questioned, though it was more of a statement than anything. “Or you’ll be under their microscope until they can find a way to get rid of you.”The plan was to send Winnigan and Armin ahead, and seek Annie out in Stohess. The plan was to ask for her help under the guise of a false mission to free Eren from custody. Hopefully, then, they’d be able to lure her into the Underground, where she would be unable to transform and they would be able to make their arrest.Winnigan nodded solemnly, knowing the captain was right. Her relationship with Annie had complicated things, but it also made her the perfect person to help execute this plan. She just hoped she had the strength to face whatever came next."I'll do whatever it takes," she assured Levi, squaring her shoulders. "We can't let more people die because of the Female Titan."Levi studied her face for a moment longer before giving a curt nod. "Good. Remember, once you and Armin make contact with her, stick to the plan. No deviations, no matter what she says or does."The weight of his words settled heavily in Winnigan's chest. Just days ago, she'd been sharing drinks with Annie, laughing together, their faces close in the darkness. Now she was preparing to trap her. The cognitive dissonance made her head spin."What if she suspects something?" Winnigan asked, voicing the fear that had been gnawing at her since the meeting."Then we move to plan B," Levi replied grimly. "And pray we can contain a titan transformation in the middle of Stohess." He adjusted his cravat, a habit Winnigan had noticed he displayed when tense. "But let's hope it doesn't come to that. Your... connection with her might actually work in our favor. She trusts you."The words felt like a knife twisting in her gut. Annie's trust - that's exactly what they were counting on betraying. She also couldn’t help but notice Levi’s disdain for their relationship, though he had acted the same before they had identified her as the Female Titan. He clearly had no qualms with same-sex relationships— he’d advanced on her brother, after all— so what was the problem?“I’m sorry for making things difficult… the stuff from the other night, I mean,” Winnigan apologized sheepishly, a deep blush creeping up her face.Levi sighed, rolling his head back, eyes squeezed shut. “We can forget about that once she’s in custody,” he groaned. “I’ve made dumb decisions before, too.”…The streets of Stohess were eerily quiet as Winnigan and Armin made their way through the Military Police district. The morning sun cast long shadows between the buildings, making every alley seem deeper and darker than usual. Armin was fidgety, his expression grim. He made no effort to hide his fear."Are you ready for this?" Armin whispered, his blue eyes darting nervously around the empty streets.Winnigan's hand instinctively touched the ODM gear strapped to her thighs, concealed under the forest green scout cloak. "No," she admitted quietly. "But we don't have a choice."They rounded the corner toward the Military Police headquarters, where Annie would be starting her morning shift. Winnigan's heart hammered in her chest as she thought about their last encounter - the warmth of Annie's breath, the softness of her touch. Now here she was, leading her into a trap."Remember," Armin murmured, "we just need to convince her to help us get Eren to safety. Nothing more."Winnigan nodded, swallowing hard as the Military Police headquarters came into view. Through the morning bustle of civilians, she could make out a familiar figure in uniform standing guard at the entrance - a small, blonde woman with her hair tied up in its signature bun.Annie.“I’ll see if I can bring her into the alley,” Winnigan murmured, taking a deep breath and rolling her shoulders back. “Stay out of sight until then.”Winnigan approached Annie with measured steps, her heart thundering against her ribs. The blonde's ice-blue eyes locked onto her immediately, a flicker of something unreadable passing across her features. Was it guilt? Fear? Or something else entirely?"Annie," Winnigan called softly, close enough now that only Annie could hear. "I need to talk to you. It's important." She gestured toward the shadowy alley beside the headquarters.Annie hesitated, her gaze darting between Winnigan and her post. Finally, she nodded, following Winnigan into the narrow space between buildings. The morning sun barely reached here, casting Annie's face in shadow. Winnigan couldn't help but remember their last encounter - the warmth of Annie's lips so close to hers. Now, the space between them felt charged with a different kind of tension."What's this about?" Annie asked, her voice carrying that familiar detached tone, though Winnigan noticed her hands were twitching at her sides. Uneasily, she reached and took Winnigan’s hands in her own. “Is this about the other night? Forgive me, Winnie, if I overstepped—”Winnigan shook her head suddenly, not even knowing what to make of their last interaction in the first place. However, she didn’t pull away from Annie’s grasp. Her thumb absentmindedly caressed Annie’s knuckles, sliding over her village’s heirloom ring. “Not about the other night, Annie. We’re fine.” Before Winnigan could continue, Annie sighed in relief and pressed her forehead against Winnigan’s.“I am still so sorry,” Annie whispered, her expression torn. It was clear she harbored guilt of some kind, despite Winnigan’s reassurance. Though they had been this close physically only days prior, it felt different. Winnigan felt… disconnected. Whatever spark they had, whatever admiration Winnigan had held for Annie since training began years prior, was gone. Knowing she was without a doubt the one who had killed their comrades made Winnigan’s blood boil. She silently prayed that the red flush of anger in her cheeks could be mistaken for a lover’s blush. Annie gave her a once-over, smirking. “What’s with the outfit?”Winnigan broke contact, shaking her head slowly, neck bent, eyes glued to the cobblestone street. She lowered her hood, unbuttoning her cloak, revealing the ODM gear beneath. “It’s a disguise… we need help, it’s Eren.”Annie's eyes narrowed slightly, her posture tensing at the mention of Eren's name. "What about him?" she asked, her voice carefully neutral, though Winnigan could detect an undercurrent of wariness."The Military Police are planning to take him into custody," Winnigan explained, watching Annie's face carefully for any reaction. "We need your help to get him somewhere safe… Armin?”Armin appeared from where he had hidden in the shadows and Annie stiffened, eyes flicking between the two of them like a cornered, feral cat. “What is this?” She asked quietly, her fists clenching at her sides.“You’re our closest friend in the Military Police,” Armin explained, hands raised in surrender. “If he gets all the way into the Interior, they’ll kill him. He’s our best chance to beat the titans. This isn’t a mutiny, we have every intention of returning him… once he’s safe. View this as a few loyal scouts, staging a small peaceful protest.” Armin’s voice squeaked slightly, as it had been over the past several months as he matured. Between his voice, innocent blue eyes the size of dinner plates, and his soft features, he looked like a desperate child.“We just need to stall long enough to gather evidence to change the council’s ruling about Eren,” Winnigan added.Annie scoffed, crossing her arms across her chest. “I’m not going to commit treason,” she hissed. “I’m here for a comfortable life in the interior. I’m no rebel… and what evidence? How can you be so sure such evidence exists?”“We… we can’t say,” Armin murmured apprehensively.Annie sighed. “Sorry, Armin, Winnie, I’m going to have to decline.” She cocked her head to the side, as though weighing her options. “Though, I can pretend this conversation never happened. Good luck,” she turned to make her leave, but Winnigan quickly took hold of her wrist.“Please,” Winnigan breathed, desperation in her hazel eyes. Something in Annie softened, her icy expression melting ever so slightly. She glanced down at their connected hands, before meeting Winnigan’s gaze again. “I can’t do this without you, Annie. They’re going to kill him. They’re going to kill him simply because they don’t understand.”“Maybe it’s too late to change their minds,” Armin added, fists clenched. “But what if we can?”Something in Winnigan hoped and prayed that not only would Annie help, but that she would prove they were mistaken about her. Despite the surmounting evidence against her, it was hard to see that the beautiful blonde who cared about Winnigan so deeply as a murderer. Someone who had worked so hard teaching her to fight, attempting to protect Winnigan from joining the scouts, someone who had loved her so tenderly just nights before, couldn’t possibly be so cold-blooded.“Alright,” Annie relented with a sigh. “I’ll do what I can, but the moment I feel it’s gone too far, or if shit hits the fan, I’m out.”Armin grinned at Annie, and Winnigan planted a grateful kiss on her cheek. Annie blushed, squeezing Winnigan’s hand once more before burying her fists in her pockets. “So?” Annie asked, as they departed from the alley. “Let’s go.”The three met at the designated meeting point with Eren and Mikasa. The latter offered Annie a nod of thanks, while Eren remained silent until they began their journey through the military checkpoints. With Annie’s aid, they would be able to pass through without documentation.“Shocker the MP’s showed up to work today,” Eren grumbled, his voice the only sound in the street save for their boots clicking against the cobblestone. Mikasa shot him a warning glance. “We actually made it, I can’t believe it was so easy,” he added.“Hush,” Mikasa hissed. “Let’s just keep moving.”As per usual, Eren never quite knew when to shut his mouth. “Hopefully they haven’t noticed my stand-in yet, either. Jean won’t hold up under close scrutiny. After all, we look nothing alike.”The quirk of Annie’s brow and the quick glimmer of interest in her eyes went unnoticed to all, all except for Winnigan. Winnigan had kept tabs on Annie’s expressions through her peripherals, desperately reading her for clues as to what was to come.“It’s close enough!” Armin hissed. “You both have that same angry scowl, and the same boulder-sized chip on your shoulder.”“Well, yeah,” Eren relented, poorly masked offense in his voice. “But I don’t have his horse face!”“Hey,” Annie interjected in a surprising attempt to defuse the conversation. “If I had said no to helping you guys out, what was your plan B?”Winnigan sighed. “We were just going to blaze through on our gear. That’s why we have it.”Annie scoffed, turning to face Winnigan. “That’s stupid, Winnie… why wait until now to escape? You could have easily done so before reaching Stohess and saved yourself all of this trouble.”The scrutiny in Annie’s eyes and voice may have just seemed like innocent concern to anyone who may have overheard, but the suspicion didn’t go unnoticed by the four scouts. Winnigan gulped. Of course she would see right through us, she thought. She’s not stupid.“I figured we could use the city’s complex layout to get more time out of our body double ploy,” Armin attempted a quick save. “Of course, a head-on assault is ill-advised, so as long as the convoy acts like it’s following orders, then everyone keeps their defenses down.”“I see,” Annie responded after a long pause. “That’s a good plan.”Armin was smart, too. Annie may be clever, but between the wit of Armin, Erwin, and Winnie, Annie didn’t hold a candle. Despite her apprehension to join the scouts on this mission, she still did. Her mannerisms and comments gave away her guilt on it’s own, no confrontation needed. Winnie could feel the pit of guilt, fear, and impending doom in her stomach. It was only so long before all of this rose to the boiling point… boiling over, and taking walls knew how many people in it’s wake.The five walked in a tense silence as they reached their next checkpoint: a stairway to the Underground.“Here?” Annie asked, hesitance and fear poorly masked.“Yes, here,” Armin confirmed. “It’s the remains of an underground city they were making way back in the day.”Winnigan scoffed, peering into the all-too-familiar staircase that she had descended only days before. “Not just the remains, there’s a whole civilization down there.” The others glanced at one another, none choosing to respond.“It should lead us to the vicinity of the outer gate,” Armin finally spoke as they began to make their way down the steps. Only, Annie didn’t follow. She remained at the top of the staircase, glaring down at them with unveiled apprehension.Eren turned over his shoulder, realizing what Winnie had already deduced. “What, you’re not scared of the dark, are you?”Annie’s hands trembled at her sides. “So what? So what if I am? I wouldn’t expect a suicidal maniac like you to understand. You don’t understand what it’s like to be an ordinary girl, crippled with fear.” Annie’s lip quivered as she clutched her chest.“Annie,” Winnigan said softly, taking two steps back up the stairs, reaching out for Annie’s hand. She didn’t oblige. “Annie,” Winnie repeated. “You’re one of the bravest women I know, please help us. I’ve been down here before, I was down here just a few days ago… before you and I reunited at the bar. I will protect you. We just need you and your MP clearance to get us through.”Eren scoffed, turning back to the abyss below and beginning his descent. “Cut the crap, let’s go.” Armin and Mikasa followed suit, though Winnie hesitated, hand still outstretched.“No, I refuse. I’m too afraid. Above ground, I’ll help. Otherwise, the deal is off.”The scouts froze in their tracks, and even Winnigan faltered. She finally dropped her hand to her side, sighing a small huff of defeat. If she wouldn’t follow them into the Underground, where she wouldn’t be able to transform, there was no option but to battle it out on the surface. If she really was the Female Titan, now was the time to find out.“Stop being stubborn, damn it!” Eren yelled, turning back to Annie so harshly that his hood fell, revealing his identity to any passers by.“Be quiet, Eren, someone might hear you,” Mikasa hissed.“I’m sure it’s fine, Mikasa,” Annie said coldly, her stone-like demeanor returning. “It seems that for whatever reason, the streets have been deserted.” Her eyes bored into them, particularly into Winnie, who trembled slightly. Her teeth gritted as she struggled to hold her composure. Annie knew. She knew that behind every building, atop every rooftop, scouts awaited to engage. Annie’s eyes narrowed in anguish, making direct eye contact with Winnigan. “That hurts me. It really does, Winnie. The way you all look at me, right now. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you don’t trust me.”Her voice was laced with venom. The jig was up, the charade was over. There was no turning back now. Armin gripped their acoustic round in hand, his hands shaking. Winnigan didn’t break eye contact.“Say, Annie,” Armin said softly, his voice changing the subject, though his eyes betrayed his feelings. “What were you doing with Marco’s ODM gear?”Annie’s eyes shifted.“It had all the same dents and scrapes. See, I helped him with maintenance, so, I know you used it.”“Yes,” Annie admitted softly, refusing to meet their eyes. “I found it. I found it… and I took it.” Her eyes were glued to something in the distance, something the four scouts couldn’t see from their disadvantage in the stairwell.“So the two titans we had in custody, it was you who killed them,” Armin stated decisively.“No one knows,” Annie deflected, neither admitting guilt nor innocence. “But if you suspected all of this a month ago, why did you wait this long to say anything?”Fear and heartache burned in Winnigan’s chest. The woman she had taken so lovingly in the alleyway had been this cold-blooded all along. Who did she think she was? How could she be so tender one moment, yet so cold the next?“I didn’t want to believe that I was right, so I stayed quiet,” Armin admitted. Winnigan whipped around to meet his eyes, nodding in solidarity.“Annie… you’re important to me,” Winnigan said slowly. “I didn’t want to— I don’t want to believe it. But it doesn’t look good. I need you to prove him wrong.” She pleaded, desperation in her voice… in her eyes. But, Annie still wouldn’t meet her gaze. “Out in the field, you spared me. You spared Armin. You let us live when no other titan would do the same, yet you killed our comrades without thought.”The wind blew through the silent street. Annie stood unblinkingly, her hair whipping back and forth through the breeze. “Yes,” she whispered. “We’re here because I let you live.”Winnigan’s heart dropped into her stomach. Annie truly regretted sparing her life?“If I knew you would end up cornering me like this… why? Why didn’t I do anything then?” She antagonized herself, her gaze distant. There was a glint of grief in her expression, as though she was mourning their deaths before they even occurred.Eren rushed forward. “Annie, please!” He pleaded. “Just tell us this is some sort of stupid prank, it’s not too late!” The unexpected motion for peace from Eren threw Winnie off guard. “Come on, we’ll understand! Let’s talk! Prove us wrong by coming down these stairs!”Annie didn’t budge. “We both know I can’t do that. Like I already told you, I don’t have the constitution for it. I’m scared,” she insisted, though her calm and distant expression did nothing to back her claim.“Annie, please!” Winnigan begged, falling to her knees in the staircase.Armin pushed forward next, clutching his cloak. “Come on, it’s a matter of life and death!”“Enough,” Mikasa growled, shedding her cloak. She unsheathed her blades, pushing past Eren, Winnie, and Armin alike. “I’m not listening to another word of this. No point. I’m going to carve you up again, understand, titan?” The hiss of Mikasa’s anger pushed her forward, though still, Annie didn’t move. Instead, she laughed.She. Laughed.In fact, it was more than a laugh. She lost her composure in a way she hadn’t even done in the alleyway that night. Her body convulsed and her face blushed as she laughed to the point of tears. The four scouts froze, unsure of what was to come. Then, after one last glance at Winnie, she raised her hand to bite her finger.Then, the soldiers in hiding sprung into action. Her hands were immediately detained, a gag quickly tied between her teeth. As she was surrounded on all sides, the four scouts bounded up the stairs. Just as Winnie reached the top of the stairs, she caught a glimpse of that village ring Annie always wore, the spike exposed. Realization overtook her suddenly.“Wait, she—” Winnigan’s warning went unheard as Annie’s transformation blasted all of the soldiers in close-range. She went tumbling down the stairs, Mikasa and Eren catching her just in time. Golden light flooded their view, disconnecting them from the other soldiers nearby. Just as Winnigan got her bearings from her tumble, a giant hand plunged into the stairwell and grabbed hold of her.Annie. Her Annie, now a titan with Winnie in her grasp. Her arms were constricted at her sides, unable to reach her blades. She could barely see between Annie’s fingers, unable to see her surroundings… until Annie’s grip loosened slightly. Finally, Winnie could see… into the giant, cold, blue gaze of her former titan lover.“Annie!” Winnie exclaimed, clawing for release. “Please! Think this through!”Before Winnigan could reason with her, Annie’s giant thumb gently caressed the top of Winnigan’s head, before winding her arm back, and throwing Winnigan into the air at full speed.She flailed through the air, desperately grasping the handles of her ODM gear, muscle memory taking over as she fired the hooks into a nearby building. The familiar hiss of gas propelled her through the air, her body twisting gracefully to avoid debris from Annie's rampage. For a moment, she felt in control.Then came the sickening sound of metal grinding against metal. Her right wire mechanism seized, the gears within grinding to a halt. Winnigan's heart stopped as she lost all momentum, now plummeting through the air like a stone."No, no, no!" she screamed, frantically pulling at the jammed handles. The ground rushed up to meet her at terrifying speed. Just as she closed her eyes, bracing for impact, her body crashed onto something solid but yielding – the flimsy wooden roof of a carriage.The impact knocked the wind from her lungs. As she gasped for air, she rolled to the side and found herself staring into the stern faces of Commander Erwin and Captain Levi."Nice of you to drop in," Levi deadpanned, his expression unchanged despite the chaos around them. Before Winnie could even consider a response, the world spun as her vision went dark.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Of course Levi had to have a damn broken leg. Of course, Erwin was ready to sacrifice himself to the damn MP’s. The man always had a plan, and this time not even Levi seemed privy to what the next moves were. As the scouts moved to immobilize Annie and Erwin rattled away his philosophies with the Military Police, Levi stood watch over Winnie’s unconscious body.Winnigan flying through their roof was more than unexpected, to say the least. After her eyes rolled back into her head, Erwin and Levi made quick work to check her vitals. Her heartbeat was fast, but steady. As far as injuries went, she had just pummeled through a wooden roof at full speed from Walls’ knows where. She would be concussed, at the very least. Levi had flipped her onto her back and could see a few lacerations here and there, including one stretching the length of her right cheek, but the internal damage was yet to be seen.Before Erwin interacted with the MP’s, the two men had laid her out across Levi’s side of the carriage, which happened to be the side unaffected by the carnage that Morgan had caused. She appeared to be sleeping peacefully, which was honestly more convenient. If she was awake, he’d have to tend to her injuries. Then, he wouldn’t be able to keep watch over Erwin. If he couldn’t fight, he had to do something of use.“Stay there, brat,” he grumbled, knowing fully that his words fell on deaf ears.“Erwin! Your arrogance has brought Hell right to our door!” Nile Dawk, Commander of the Military Police and a man Levi had come to know as an ass over the years, trained his rifle in Erwin’s unfazed face.“I know,” Erwin responded simply. Levi watched him from the corner of his eye, torn halfway between being at Erwin’s right hand, and Winnie’s aid. “I acted entirely on my own authority. And, I offer no excuses.Nile trembled slightly, anger coursing through him as he fought to hold his composure. Shouldering his rifle, he opted to grabbing Erwin by the collar. “You knew what this would do to us, you son of a bitch!” He exclaimed. “You knew and our lives be damned! Why? Damn you, why?”“For humanity, for victory.”Erwin spoke in one of those voices that Levi had grown to tolerate over the years, the high and mighty tone that placed Erwin on a pedestal above all else. Every move of his was calculated, and sometimes heartless, despite the oh-so-noble cause. Levi bit back a scoff.Nile continued to berate Erwin, pointing the barrel of his rifle into Erwin’s face once again. Though he threatened his life, the sweat beading on Nile’s brow betrayed his intentions. He was too much of a coward to do it. For that reason, Levi didn’t even feel the need to step between the two.“Do as your conscience dictates,” Erwin replied calmly, unblinking. “My post is yours. The Female Titan must not escape. Deployment is through Peer, and Beirer is in command of provisions.” The blonde rattled off the responsibilities incessantly, without so much as a hint of fear in his voice. The more Erwin explained the duties Dawk would have to assume should Erwin be killed, Dawk’s demeanor faltered accordingly.“Shut up!” Nile finally ordered, trembling under the weight of the events transpiring around them. “Do you really think… that this is for the good of us all?” He gestured widely to the burning city of Stohess, which was in ruin not much unlike Shiganshina, and the other cities of Wall Maria. The distant sound of screams and gunshots reverberated through the otherwise empty streets. It was an eerie reminder of the attacks inside the walls just five years prior, a day that even had Levi shaking in his boots. If the Armored and Colossal were shifters just as Annie and Eren were, Annie clearly knew important information. Information Levi planned to get out of her, no matter the cost. That was a sentiment that Levi and Erwin shared, even if Erwin was willing to make greater sacrifices than he.“I have faith it’s a step forward,” Erwin replied.Nile sighed, squeezing his eyes shut tightly has he lowered his weapon in defeat. “Everyone, lower your rifles,” he ordered. “Place this man under arrest.”With a salute, the other MP’s surrounding Dawk obeyed his orders, as he made a motion to have all troops deployed to both evacuate civilians, and secure the Female Titan.“Erwin, I hereby wash my hands of you, and leave you to the high court,” Nile announced, the sweat beading his brow finally running tracks down the side of his narrow face.“I’ll accept their judgement. Thank you, Nile,” Erwin said with a nod, surrendering himself to the soldiers who put him in cuffs.Having grown impatient from the interaction and antsy from the sounds of battle and distress surrounding them, Levi finally had enough waiting around. Though he was in formal clothes, he strode over to the back of the carriage where his gear was securely hidden.“Levi,” Erwin ordered, as the police began to escort him away. “Stay put and watch over Cadet Morgan for now, a pointless death wouldn’t suit you. Besides, she’s in no condition to be left defenseless.”Levi hung his head, nodding reluctantly. He glanced back into the cabin of the carriage, where Winnigan hadn’t even so much as shifted in place. “No, I doubt it would,” he responded coldly, looking at the Commander over his shoulder. “Any more than it suits anyone else.”Levi leaned against the side of the carriage, his injured leg throbbing with each passing moment. His eyes never left Winnigan's unconscious form, studying the rise and fall of her chest to ensure she was still breathing. The cut on her cheek had finally stopped bleeding, but bruises were beginning to bloom across her visible skin."Tch." He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, carefully dabbing at the dried blood on her face. "What a mess you've gotten yourself into."Another crash in the distance made him tense, his hand instinctively moving to where his blades should be. But Erwin's orders echoed in his mind. Stay put. Watch over the cadet. He gritted his teeth in frustration, feeling utterly useless with his broken leg and babysitting duty.Winnigan stirred slightly, a small groan escaping her lips. Levi's attention snapped back to her, but she didn't wake. "At least one of us is getting some rest," he muttered, settling back against the carriage wall to continue his vigil. “Seems I’m taking care of you more often than not,” he grumbled to himself.Not far from here, perhaps a street or two over, was the same staircase that showed him the light of day for the first time. That same staircase sealed his fate, and sealed the graves of his closest friends. Then, just days prior, he returned to that same staircase with the cadet now unconscious under his watch. Though he did his best to appear aloof at all times, not even the stoic Levi Ackerman could miss the fear in Winnie’s eyes and voice when they went under the surface. This wasn’t the same fear of the unknown that any other cadet would have; those who grew up on the surface in villages and cities alike, their fear was unfounded.Winnigan’s was real. She had been there.Then, when they approached the brothel, it all made sense. Of course, Levi knew the Morgan fortune was built on escorts and brothels, but knowing how straight-laced Winnie and Pietro both were, he assumed these escorts were the exceptional few who led happy lives. As happy as a whore under the ground could be, anyway.Levi could argue he was as taken aback by the sight of Lord Morgan’s brothel. This place was not unfamiliar. Sure, his mother never worked there. He never lived there. But, as he got older, he had to find means of his own to survive. Kenny had taught him a great deal of how to fight, steal, cheat. He even taught him to kill. So, when casing a joint to loot, little Levi stumbled upon the most disgusting of men doing the most disgusting of things. To a child, no less.He was still a child himself, at the time. He had yet to meet Furlan and Isabel, the other two scrappy kids that he did his business with in his teen years. He had his own knife, tucked safely into his boot, but one glimmering on the cobblestone before him was readily available. He remembered the flash of anger, the flash of power that overtook him as he took a man’s life for the first time.Of course, no child is made to understand what it means to draw the last breath from another. So, before he could even think of what he had done, he saw the pricey bottle of liquor between the corpse and the child. If he didn’t end up drinking it, it’d be worth a couple days of fresh food.“Thanks for the booze,” he recalled yelling as he disappeared into the darkness of the Underground.As he got older, he used his power to keep his head above water. His strength was a weapon, one that many a merchant bartered for. Whether it be a safe walk home, a jealous lover’s revenge, or simply a lesson that needed taught, Levi was easy guns for hire.He wasn’t a young lad without charity, though. While some brothel owners and whoremasters sought him out to take care of unsavory customers who ‘spoiled the merchandise’, Levi often found himself gravitating around brothels on his own.Safely concealed in the shadows, he would watch for men who took more than they paid for. He’d converse with the ladies of the night regularly, taking note of the men they were wary of. Then, when he saw those men again, sometimes, they would disappear.If Kenny the Ripper was considered a serial killer, Levi could be, too. Of course he would be, he was raised by the Ripper, after all. Though he had channeled his anger into titans, Levi could’ve sworn he found himself gravitating towards his old ways as he watched Winnigan break under the heavy weight of the Underground and their memories. It was then, in her father’s office, seeing how little she truly knew of Pietro’s life… let alone his demise, that Levi vowed to stay by her side. While some stories were not his own to tell, he swore that when things finally calmed down, he’d be honest about what he knew. As someone who grew up knowing so little about his family and origins, it hurt to see one of his own cadets go through the exact same thing.Of course, clearly, he was protective over all of his cadets. She was no exception… even if there was a pull he could not quite explain.Another explosion rocked the streets of Stohess, drawing Levi's attention back to the present moment. His eyes darted between Winnigan's unconscious form and the chaos unfolding beyond their carriage. Despite his injury and orders to stay put, his muscles tensed instinctively, ready to defend his charge should any threat approach.“Winnie, I think our attention is needed elsewhere.” He knelt down to where she lay, patting her cheek firmly. No response. “Oi, Morgan,” he snapped, giving her a firmer smack across the face. She groaned slightly.“What time is it—” she slurred, attempting to prop herself up on her elbows. She winced, clutching her side.Levi scoffed. “Comical. You did a bit more than sleep in, we’ve nearly missed the whole battle thanks to you. How are your injuries?”Though he sounded cold, Winnigan could hear the concern laced into his words. She rubbed her eyes in a desperate attempt to get her bearings. “My head… it hurts. And everything’s spinning. And, my side hurts, and—”“You got anything that doesn’t hurt?” Levi asked dryly.Winnigan shook her head. “My feelings, if that’s what you were trying to do.”Levi chuckled despite himself, looking once again in the direction of the explosion. His face paled. “Winnie, she’s climbing the wall.”Winnigan tried her best to whip around and see what exactly Levi was speaking of, but the pain in her sides and her skull sent stars across her vision.“I have to go, Winnie, they need me.” Levi said gruffly. “You’re in no condition to move. Stay here, until someone comes back for you.” With that, he geared up as quickly as he could, before whizzing off on his gear to join the others, bum leg be damned.Before, Winnigan could even protest, the pain and dizziness of her concussion claimed her once more. Her thoughts weren’t adding up. Annie had just been here, but now, she was with Levi? Why was she in a busted carriage? Her final memories were of being in the Female Titan’s grasp— at Annie’s mercy. What in the world led to this?Her consciousness ebbed and flowed like waves against a shore. Each time she surfaced, snippets of chaos filtered through: the thunderous footsteps of the Female Titan, screams echoing through the streets, the distinctive hiss of ODM gear.In one moment of clarity, she heard Eren's titan roar—a sound that made her bones vibrate even from this distance. The next time her eyes fluttered open, she caught glimpses of steam rising above the buildings.Another wave of darkness took her, and when she next stirred, the sounds of battle had changed. There were voices shouting about crystals, about containment. The word "underground" made her flinch, even in her semi-conscious state.The final time she came to, before fully losing consciousness again, she heard Hange's voice nearby, speaking rapidly about preservation and study. The urgency in their tone suggested something significant had happened, but Winnigan couldn't piece it together. Her head throbbed, but despite the instinct to sleep, she gave herself a sharp smack across the face to bring her to her senses.“Section Commander?” Winnigan asked hesitantly. Hange whipped around suddenly, eyes blown open in surprise, before briskly shuffling to her side. Winnigan took in their surroundings as Hange grabbed her face, inspecting her pupils. The damp smell of the dimly lit room brought unease, gooseflesh creeping up her arms. She had heard underground, there was no mistaking it, but there was no indicator of whether this was the city, or just some basement.“Great, you’re awake! You’re definitely concussed… I’m seeing now that we probably shouldn’t have let you sleep so much.” Hange began to ramble on about pupil dilation and the possibility of going comatose, a word that quickly brought back Winnigan’s attention. “Though, I really hate that they always entrust the injured people to me… just because I’m a scientist does not mean I’m a doctor.”Winnigan only blinked in response, her eyes struggling to adjust to the dank surroundings. Everything still had a haze surrounding it since she hit her head, though Winnigan could have sworn she saw something twinkling a couple yards away. When she tried to focus her vision, her head spun, and Hange quickly grabbed her for support. “Though I daresay I’m the best you’ve got,” Hange quipped with a restrained laugh. “Where does it hurt?”Winnigan forced a chuckle. “Captain didn’t tell you? It hurts everywhere. Where is everyone? Where are we?”Hange sighed, sitting on the edge of the cot and squeezing Winnigan’s hand. The sudden show of resignation from the Section Commander worried her. “We’re in a secure location underneath Wall Sina, with Annie.”Winnigan perked up.“She’s unresponsive. I’m here to study her, and you’re here in hopes you can illicit some reaction from her. If I’m not mistaken, the two of you had a sexual relationship of sorts?”Winnigan choked. “No! Not sexual. I guess you could say we were… romantically involved? If you could even call it that?”Images of days prior flashed through her mind. The way they had devoured each other in the alleyway entirely, lost in the heat of newfound lust. Winnigan pushed the memory away and followed Hange's gesture toward something glinting in the darkness. Her eyes searched the darkness, still unable to make anything out clearly. Hange smiled sympathetically, grabbing Winnigan’s forearms and helping her to her feet. The room spun and her sore legs nearly buckled beneath the weight and Hange’s grip elicited a yelp from her.“As I suspected, there’s likely a fracture somewhere in your forearm. There’s significant bruising, but no clean break to make it obvious. Don’t take any deep breaths, your ribs are likely shot as well.”“What the hell, Hange?” Winnigan gritted, dropping all formalities. “If you knew my arm was broken, why would you grab it like that?”Hange shrugged, leading her to the other end of the room. “I was just trying to help, like I said, I’m no doctor!” They scrutinized her eyes for a moment, before adding: “We’ll see about you getting some glasses. Here,” Hange guided her to a chair in front of what Winnigan finally recognized as Annie.She was encased in transparent stone, or… ice, Winnigan wasn’t certain. Though Annie’s eyes were closed, she looked far from peaceful. Her eyebrows knit together, her arms clutched around her chest. She was frozen in anguish.“Annie…” Winnie whispered, a gut-wrenching sob suddenly overtaking her. Her ribs were on fire from clutching in on herself, but it couldn’t be helped. Hange’s calloused hand patted her back lightly, before pulling a pair of bifocals from their pocket and inspecting the stone material closer.“It’s some sort of crystal,” Hange mused. “It’s indestructible, as far as I can tell. I believe it’s made from a sudden crystallization of the titan flesh surrounding the nape?”Winnigan heard their words but listened to none of it. She placed her palms on the crystal, sliding off of the chair and onto the floor to be nearer to her. Annie looked so scared… despite all that she had done, was there a chance that it wasn’t her choice? “She didn’t want to do this,” Winnigan whispered.Silence followed as Hange scribbled hasty notes into a small notepad, occasionally glancing at Winnigan in their peripherals. The stone floor was cold, as was the crystal that Annie resided in. Winnigan began to shiver as she realized her jacket had been taken from her at some point.“I need to talk to Erwin,” she demanded suddenly, attempting to push herself to her feet. The pressure on her arm, chest, and the impaired vision sent her reeling. “Please,” she hissed.Hange tsked, pocketing their notebook and peering over their bifocals. “No can-do, Winnie. You must’ve still been knocked out, but Commander Erwin was taken into custody during the battle.”Winnigan gasped, grappling the chair in front of her to steady herself. “What, why?”“Insubordination,” Hange said simply, unclipping their cloak and draping it over Winnigan’s shoulders. “Treason. You name it. There’s no telling how many casualties happened in Stohess.”They glanced at Annie, then back at Winnigan once more. “She had no visible reaction to your presence… but that doesn’t mean anything in particular. I had hoped there would be some sort of reaction. Armin tried as well when he helped carry you in here. The medics have probably arrived by now, so I’ll walk you to them. However, be prepared to return at any time. I’m not done experimenting yet!”“Yes, Section Commander,” Winnigan sighed.…A handful of soldiers were receiving medical treatment when Hange and Winnigan arrived at the makeshift infirmary set up in the wake of the Stohess battle. Among them was Captain Levi, in civilian formal wear, his broken leg propped up on a pillow.“God, what happened to you?” Winnigan asked as Hange helped her into the cot next to him.He sneered. “You should see yourself. I had to babysit you while your lazy ass was sawing logs in my carriage.”"I didn't ask to get knocked out cold," Winnigan retorted, wincing as a medic began examining her ribs. "And I certainly didn't ask to be hauled around in your fancy carriage like some noble's daughter."Levi's expression softened slightly, though his tone remained stern. "Next time try not getting yourself thrown around by a titan. We didn’t haul you anywhere, you flew into us."The medic silently pulled a curtain between the two as Hange helped Winnigan undress. He poked at each of her ribs, scrutinizing the purple and green blotches blooming around her ribcage. “It’s a miracle she didn’t puncture a lung. I think more ribs are broken than not,” he retorted to Hange, who nodded, eyes glued to Winnigan’s torso. If it weren’t for the blinding pain, Winnigan would’ve felt embarrassed.“Hey, my eyes are up here!” Winnigan quipped, scrunching her eyes shut as she fought off another wave of nausea that accompanies the splitting headache.“Oi, Hange, stop perving on my cadet,” Levi barked from the other side of the curtain.Hange shook their head as they assisted the medic in wrapping tight bandages around her sides. “A little hard to focus on your perky tits when you look like a corpse,” Hange laughed, patting Winnigan on the shoulder lightly. Winnigan blushed a deep scarlet, and she could’ve sworn she heard Levi choke on his tea through the curtain.The medic cleared his throat, returning to his work. "You'll need to stay in bed for at least a few weeks," he instructed, carefully splinting her forearm. "And absolutely no ODM gear until further notice." Winnigan groaned at this, knowing she'd be relegated to house chores for the foreseeable future. As Hange finished up covering Winnigan’s chest in bandages, they thew open the curtain that partitioned Levi from the rest of the group. Suddenly aware of her bare shoulders and lower stomach, Winnigan slumped further into the cot.“The head injury alone was gonna keep you out of the gear,” he said, setting his tea on the table between the two of them. “Did I hear them say you can’t see right?”Winnigan sighed, slightly nodding her head. “Everything’s blurry, except whatever I’m focusing on. It’s gotta be close up, though.”“She was two yards from Annie and couldn’t see her,” Hange offered, unhelpfully.Levi nodded curtly. “Noted. We’ll get you some glasses, but I’m sure that’ll clear up as you recover.”Winnigan stared at the ceiling, her body aching with each shallow breath. Annie's crystallized form lingered in her mind, haunting her thoughts. How had everything gone so wrong, so quickly? Now Annie was trapped in a prison of her own making, and Winnigan couldn't even see straight enough to make out her face clearly.Her vision blurred, though this time it wasn't from the head injury. She quickly wiped away the tears before they could fall. There would be time for grief later. Right now, she needed to focus on healing, on getting stronger. Because something told her that Annie's crystal wasn't the end of this story - it was just the beginning of something much bigger than all of them.As sleep began to overtake her once more, Winnigan's last coherent thought was of Annie's anguished expression frozen in the crystal. What were you so afraid of?