Yesterday's Enemy [AoT]

EIGHTY-NINE

'In wartime, it is most crucial we remember what peace is like. Pleasure, happiness and indulgent afternoons are what give us our humanity. Such is worth holding on to.'

-An extract from the book 'Evolutions' written by philosopher Adette Briggs.

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EIGHTY-NINE

Wall Maria, South Region, Port Noaks, Noaks Survey Corps Base of Operations

And then Lorelai and Levi were alone at last.

He couldn't quite believe the luck of it all. Levi had been so sure, so convinced that tonight was the night he would lose her. But, then again, Lorelai kept on surprising him.

"I thought I'd lose you tonight," Levi mumbled, slumping into an armchair. His nerves had been running rampant for hours; the relief from it made him drowsy.

Lorelai sighed, kneeling before him and meeting his eyes. "But I'm here," she smiled.

"Just barely." He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Always so intent on making me worry, my Lorelai."

"I kept my oath, love."

He smiled. "You did. Though every second you were away brought me closer to madness."

She huffed out a laugh, winding her arms around his neck as Levi stood up. That was all they could do for a few minutes, hold each other and assure themselves it was permanent. Though they both knew it was not.

"Will you ever stop worrying?" Lorelai whispered.

"Not until my bones grow cold."

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The next morning came far too quickly.

Levi, not yet too keen to let her out of his sight, followed Lorelai to various meetings with Erwin, Hange and the other superiors. They spent hours mulling over Lorelai's findings beyond the wall. It was positively baffling. None of them could fathom an explanation.

"What kind of titan doesn't eat its victims?" Erwin queried, furrowing his brow as he stared at the report.

"Perhaps a new breed we haven't encountered?" suggested Hange.

"No, this was calculated killing," Lorelai countered. "It took thought, conscious thought. Whatever it was, it couldn't have been a titan."

"Then what? No man could do this."

"Precisely. It's a mystery." She looked down. Levi reached for her hand below the desk, Lorelai spared him a soft smile before turning back to Erwin. "Do we continue with the mission to Havas?"

With all the greatest and most knowledgeable minds in the room, they still could not form an explanation. How were they to account for an enemy they could not describe nor explain?

Moreover, would this enemy come for them as they travelled to Havas?

Erwin considered it a moment. Going out there, blind to whether an attack was coming, would be dangerous, almost irresponsible. But then again, no operation beyond the walls came without risk.

There was no choice. It was a gamble they must take. "We will continue as planned," Erwin decided.

"Tch. How do we account for this attack, then?" Levi droned. "Are we just going to turn a blind eye? If they come, we'll be slaughtered."