𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 | 𝐀𝐎𝐓

Chapter 6

When we made sure we stopped in a safe place, we used our gear to climb the trees. Not long later, the squad spoke about the plan Erwin and Levi made, and that no one knew about it since they weren't told. "So that was the plan from the start? We weren't flying by the seat of our pants? Look, I'm not complaining. I get keeping it from (Y/N) and I, but, come on! Keeping you guys in the dark? You'd think you'd earned a little more trust than that, right?" Eren complained from a branch as he stared at our group. "Damn, you're annoying." Oruo says, pretty unnecessary. "I hope you're not suggesting the Captain kept the plan from us because he thinks we're a liability!" They believe so much in Levi they can't think their captain can't have secrets? That's unreasonable and immature.

"I'm sorry, but I am!" Eren exclaimed.

I sighed and sat slowly as they kept arguing in the background, Gunther came to sit next to me. "How are you feeling, (Y/N)? Need water?" I shook my head and he flashed me a small smile. "You were pretty mature back there, are you sure you're 19?" I was kind of offended by that, but I know better than to yell at the people that can kill me. "Pretty sure, Gunther. I just don't want to cause... Death..."

"You're not going to, you've already gained our trust. Do you trust us?" I nodded silently, looking away from him. "For being as supposedly instrumental to the plan as we were, the captain didn't give us much to go on." What Eld said caught the attention of everyone, the bad one. "That means he doesn't trust us. Kind of a big deal. C'mon, you guys, think about it. If what (Y/N) said it's true, then maybe someone in the regiment's a Titan spy."

"A spy? Are you sure about that?" Gunther questioned his teammate. "Well, no. But I'm sure the commander believes it. He'd have to, and I'll wager you anything the only people in the know on this were the survivors from five years ago." Eld inquired, and the squad agreed. "I concur whole-heartedly. Hear that, Snivel-drop? There was a good reason." Oruo said, I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms at their idiocy. "Right. Yes. A perfectly good reason. It adds up. After all, in their position, it's the best way of narrowing down the list of suspects to a manageable number. Shiganshina's probably when the spy got in." Petra said, and Eld huffed as he leaned against a tree. "So, you think this person's responsible for killing Sawney and Beane?"

"Possibly. In fact, after it happened, the commander asked me that odd question." Said Petra and Eld hummed. "(Y/N) was right, it was to prove who did it. If we'd known the answer to that question, he probably would've let us in on what was happening today." This expedition was to capture the killer of the test subjects but to put so many people in danger... I still wonder how Erwin and Levi do it. "I knew. I just decided to keep my own counsel. Doubtless, you appreciate the reason for my silence." Oruo said all of sudden, annoying Petra. "Which would be?"

"Oh, come now. Surely you all know? Dear oh dear, perhaps I've said too much already. Well, one day, when you've reached my level of expertise..."

"Look, we all get that you like to pretend you're Captain Levi."

I glanced at Eren and I found him staring at me with doubt, my brows furrowed in concern and his did too, both of us looking down. "You two think the commander was wrong to leave us out of the loop?" We looked at Eld in surprise, this guy is good at reading expressions. "I can understand why you still have your doubts, but in time you'll come to realize, just like we all did, why Erwin Smith was entrusted to lead the Scouts and carry humanity's hope."

"Or why even someone as cagey as Captain Levi can trust him." Said Petra with a smile. Seriously this woman can only speak of him.

"Indeed. Live long enough and you'll understand the weight of it."

"He might have that weight on his shoulders, but even if humanity follows him doesn't mean they will trust him. Accept the burden of doing the unspeakable, just to go back and see them insult you because you can't do anything right." I commented, letting my arms fall to my side. The squad looks at me with unreadable faces, but Petra seems angry at what I said. "Stop it! We've lost many of the scouts, many friends and family because of the Titans, but it all helped mankind to find a way to stop them! We swore with our lives to follow them wherever they go because they trust us just like we trust them--!"