...Uncovering...
You and Eren waited with Levi in the dining hall of the castle.
It was a few days later after the last mission outside the walls. The two of you sat in silence while Levi was off to the other end of the table, mumbling under his breath as he drank his tea.
"You going to keep talking to yourself or are you going to tell us why we're here?" you asked.
He glanced at you tiringly. "Can you go on five minutes without talking or what?"
"See, I wouldn't be bothering you if you didn't tell me and Eren to shut up when we were just having a light-hearted, civil conversation. In fact, you could've told us to quiet down a little. That would've solved the problem. But no, you decided to make things boring for all of us. So really, it's actually your fault, sir."
Eren's jaw fell slack at your audacity. Levi just rolled his eyes. "No wonder you never got adopted."
"Yeah, because no one can handle someone as awesome as me."
"You mean someone as annoying as you."
"Oh, I'll show you what annoying is," you said as you got up but Eren pulled you back down. He gave you a sharp look to shut up. You huffed and went back to lazily playing with your butter knife. Twirling it around with your fingers, flipping it up into the air again and again.
"Who taught you that?" asked Levi.
"Oh, so now you want to talk," you mocked. "No one did. I taught myself when I was younger."
"So while the other children played with dolls, you went ahead and taught yourself little tricks with knives. I'm sure I'm not the first person to tell you this, but something's wrong with you, brat."
"'Wrong'? There is nothing wrong with me. Tell him, Eren." You nudged him and nodded your head towards Levi.
"Uh..." Eren's gaze slid to the side.
You scoffed. "You know what, Levi? You're just jealous of my knife skills. I'd like to see you do it any better."
He picked up his own butter knife without another word and flawlesly started doing tricks you've never even imagined of existing before, all the while remaining with a bored expression. His ending move was landing and balancing the hilt onto his finger.
Your eyes were wide in awe, swimming with glittering stars. You pounded your clasped hands onto the table, as if you were in a prayer. "Teach me, Levi! Please!"
He furrowed his eyebrows, looking more concerned rather than pissed. "Do you ever run your words through your mind before saying them out loud?"
"No, but that's not the point. I recognize talent when I see it. Don't you, Eren?"
But he didn't even look like he was listening. It was clear that his mind was wandering somewhere faraway. Then he turned to Levi as he said, "Sir, I'm...I'm still sorry about what happened. It was all my fault."
"Oh, of course," you muttered. "There you go, taking the blame. Again."
"If I had just thought things through than none of this would've ended up the way it-"
"You made a judgement call," interrupted Levi. "It's not as if you could've known what was going to happen. You can't read minds. Or look into the future."
"Hey, but imagine if you could? That'd be cool," you said, which brought a small smile out of him.
The doors opened and Erwin entered. "Sorry for the wait." Along with him were the rest of your friends. "We believe we have uncovered the Female Titan's human identity."
Everyone settled down as Erwin unfolded a map of Stohess, where in two days the plan would take place. It would be the only chance there'd be because the moment Eren would step foot into the interior, the government would take custody of him. So the Scouts' plan was to use him as bait and lure the enemy into the underground passage before she'd be able to go titan-mode.
"So we know for sure she'll be in Stohess?" asked Eren.
"Yes, we do. Armin helped identify her."
"With the help of Y/n too," he added.
"Me? What did I do? I haven't seen you in days."
"Mikasa told me what you observed about the titan's human form. Cold blue eyes and shorter than, um, someone else in here." He sneaked a glance at Levi. "Which fully confirmed my suspicions."
"She's an MP," said Erwin. "Likely responsible for the deaths of Hange's test subjects. And a Cadet from the 104th Training Corps."
Ah, fuck..."It's Annie Leonhart, isn't it?" you asked apathetically, resting your cheek in your palm.
"Yes it is, Y/n."
"There's no way!" exclaimed Eren. "Y/n, you were friends with her, even bunkmates! You don't actually believe that, do you?"
"Eh," you shrugged, "well you didn't even know you were a titan yourself until more than a month ago. There's a lot of things we don't know. So."
"Since you were friends with her, Y/n, were there any suspicious actions where you observed from her?"
"No, Erwin," you said, lightly shaking your head. "She's my friend. Or, was, now. Because she tried to kill me. But whatever."
As the others argued with him, trying to convince him, you found yourself thinking back to your Cadet days. It was like remembering Shiganshina, which happened not so long ago but felt like it had been decades. Annie and you used to eat together, train together, fly together, and you recalled those rare girltalks you had.
You shut your eyes, making you look like you were sleeping during an important meeting. God, Annie, why did it have to be you?
. * . *
The midnight before the Stohess Plan, when the rest of the Scouts had settled into their beds, the usual four of you lounged in the cold, dusty library.
"We should give a name for our group," you said. "We've been through some shit. We deserve an official title at this point."
"Shiganshina Quartet?" suggested Armin.
"I was actually thinking L/n's Children."
Eren made a disturbed face. "But we're not your children."
"I know that. But remember, L/n's not really my last name. It was the orphanage's. The reason why I'm thinking of that is because, well..." You scanned your eyes across the three of them.
"Because we're all orphans now?" asked Mikasa. When you sheepishly smiled, she sighed, shaking her head from your ridiculousness.
"So...the L/n Quartet then? We can compromise," said Armin.
"I like that. Does that work for everyone?" Eren and Mikasa didn't really have much of a choice but to nod.
"And uh, Y/n, I have something to ask of you," said Armin. "I know Commander Erwin has put me in charge of luring Annie into the trap, but I don't think it's going to work that smoothly without you. Since, you know, you were friends."
"You want me to be used as the emotional leverage?"
"Don't put it that wayâit makes it sound like I'm the one using you."
"I wouldn't mind if you were. If it'll lure that two-faced bitch out, then I'm all in. I'll do it."
"How are you so calm about this?" Eren asked you. "I mean, you've always been calm in under pressure situations, but you're being asked to confront someone who you thought was a friend."
"Well, she's not you," you said. "Nor is she Mikasa, nor is she Armin. I spent three years with her. But I've spent about, let's say, almost a decade with you all. That shit's different. And it's not like any of you are enemies, betraying humanity or something. So I can get behind the traitor being Annie." Even though it doesn't feel any less shitty.
"It's kind of a bit of a shame. I thought she was really nice," said Armin.
"You know, she thought you were nice too," you told him.
He glanced up. "Really?"
"Yeah. She told Mikasa and me during one of our girl talks. Man, that was a while ago."
"It was fun while it lasted, I guess," said Mikasa, yawning. "We should go to sleep. Long day tomorrow. Can't be caught falling asleep in the middle of fighting like somebody."
Eren followed her eyes to you. "When did you fall asleep during the middle of fighting?"
"I did not! She's lying againâI was only hurt. Which was embarrassing enough as it is so stop bringing it up." You gave her a shove but she didn't even budge. Then nearing the stairs, you told Mikasa and Armin, "You guys go on up. I'm walking Eren to the cellar. He gets scared of the dark."
Eren gasped. "Oh, Mikasa embarrassed you so now you embarrass me?!"
"Come on," you said, tugging him along by his hand. The two of you went down about four sets of staircases into the dungeons as you arrived at the cellar. Neither of you had let go of your holds. In fact, somewhere along the line, it had only tightened. You weren't sure if you were the one who tightened it or he was. "Alright, good night-"
"Is it, um...weird if I asked you to maybe...stay?"
All the muscles on your face slackened. "What?"
He scratched his neck, avoiding your eyes. "Well, tomorrow's going to be pretty stressful, since Erwin said it'd be my responsibility if she transforms. So..." Then he clicked his tongue. "You know what, forget it. I don't know why I even said that. Good ni-"
"Yes."
His eyes lit up. "What?"
"It is weird. I'm not staying in a creepy cellar with you."
He ducked his head. "Yeah, I figured-"
"But, uh, it wouldn't be that weird if you had asked to stay in my room. With me." You wanted to slap yourself. No fucking way I just said that.
He glanced up, a shine in his eyes. Your heart beat suddenly quickened. "Yea-"
"Not a chance." Levi randomly stepped out of the corner.
You and Eren jumped away from each other. "Sir, this is not what it looks like," he quickly said.
"I don't even want to know." He pointed a finger at Eren. "You, get in the cell. And you." He pointed to you. "Come with me."
You barely spared a look at Eren as you hurried after Levi up the stairs, embarrassment finding its way into your guts. You honestly wanted to smash your head into the stone wall. Why the fuck did I suggest that he should spend the night with me? "So, uh Levi," you spoke, distracting yourself from using your brain too much. "Were you following us or what?"
"Don't flatter yourself. The four of you were not the quietest talkers."
"You're a light sleeper? So am I."
"Then you must know how irritating it is to have others disturb your peace."
"Actually, not really. I hate silence and I love disturbance."
He let out a deep, long-awaited sigh. "Why do I even bother." He opened the door to your room. "Get in and don't come out. Not until tomorrow morning." He waited until you plopped yourself face-down onto the bed to leave.
* . * .
You and Armin walked through the alley, draped in your Scouts raincoats, hoods up. You kept in mind your jobs. He was the logical reasoner. You were the emotional leverage.
When he called for her, she came. "Long time no see, Y/n."
"You too, Annie." You held out your arms with a smile. "Hug? You know you've always wanted one."
She rolled her eyes. "So what brings the two of you to Stohess?"
"We have a plan for Eren to escape and we're hoping you can help us," said Armin. "We only need to hide him for a short while."
"Isn't he supposed to be arrested by the government by now? The Recon Mission failed, they say."
"Yeah, that's true," you said. "So the Scouts are planning a little act of protest to stall some time. They just need to find enough proof to make sure he doesn't end up in the hands of the MPs."
"Well Y/n, that sounds like a problem for you. Since you care the most about him or whatever."
"Annie, they're going to kill him!" whispered-shouted Armin. "They'll kill him because they don't understand him, and anything that's happened out there. You have to help us."
"Why me? Don't tell me it's just because we're all ''friends.' Your Commander probably has enough connections in the higher ups to pardon Eren."
"Well if he did, then we wouldn't be finding you," you said. "And yes, we're asking this of you because you're our friend. We trust you more than anyone else in the MPs. So please, lend us a helping hand, will you? For old time's sake? Remember the time I got you water? This can be your form of paying off the debt."
She looked away, eyebrows crossed in thought. "Fine. Only this once. For the water." As she turned to leave, something fell out of her pocket, rattling onto the ground.
You picked it up. "Nice ring."
She took it back quite quickly and slid it on her finger. "Thanks."
After you all met up with Mikasa and Eren who were in their coats too, Annie led you through the city. It was an easy walk, since all the civilians passing by were all Scouts in disguise.
"Hopefully they don't see through my stand-in. Jean and I don't look anything alike."
"It's close enough," said Armin. "You both have got the same angry scowl."
"Yeah, but I don't have his horse face."
"You sure aren't as tall as him either," you added.
"I'm still growing, Y/n!"
You all reached the entrance to the underground passage. The four of you, the L/n Quartet, headed down the stairs but Annie stayed up there.
"What, you scared of the dark?" asked Eren.
"What if I am?"
"Annie, don't be pathetic. It's not like you," you said, gesturing your hands for her to come. "Let's go."
"No. I won't."
"Come on, Annie, just trust us!" bursted Eren, already losing his cool. He could never keep his temper anyway.
"Trust?" She snorted. "How can I when none of you even trust me? Don't think I overlooked the fact that the streets are deserted. This is Stohess. Not Shiganshina." That was a good comeback, you thought. "This was planned. You wanted to catch me, didn't you?"
"So are you admitting or are you just joking?" you asked, your hand slowly going to your blades.
"Annie, this isn't funny! Just come down here! We're helping you!" yelled Eren.
She smiled. That smile became chuckling, and chuckling became laughing like a fresh drunk. "Oh Y/n, you don't know how happy I had been when I was still your friend. And now, I realize I should've killed you in that forest when I had the chance. Then our friendship would've ended on happy terms. Now look at us."
"Yeah." You unsheathed your blades. "Looks like happiness never lasts for two-faced bitches like you."
She lifted her finger up to her lips and Armin fired the smoke signal. Within seconds, the fake civilians rushed over and knocked her down. Then a tiny blade flicked out of her ring.
You groaned. "I'm such a fucking dumbass-"
Lightning struck.