Ackerman's Steppes / Levi x Reader

Chapter 17: Fight to Lose

"Commander Erwin," you quietly close the door behind you and look at him.

Erwin Smith glances at you, sitting in a wingback chair by a mahogany table in the back of the room.

His office explains his status well: it's generic, but compared to Levi's room way more extravagant. Everything is neatly set down where it should be. There are few charcoal-colored cabinets aligned by the wall with unknown books on top. Above them, you notice a big landscape painting. Huge red carpet with minor ornaments covers most of the dark wooden flooring. Behind him, there are massive windows, revealing the whole front yard of Survey Corps base. Though, greenish color curtains are covering most of the view, from what you suspect - for privacy. There is a candelabra and some scattered papers on top of his table, the only place where something is not well ordered. From what you have just seen, you can emphasize that all of the furniture in his office is better quality than in the whole base.

"Ella," he stands up. "Glad you're back and safe," he gestures for you to come in.

"Yes, thanks to you and Levi," you enter his room further until you reach his table. "May I know, why you requested me here?" you ask him in a polite manner, although you feel something isn't right.

"I wanted to inform you about the whole situation," he looks serious. "We managed to capture the ones responsible for planning your assassination."

"I suspected as much," you feel tense.

"You are allowed to see them if you want to," he adds.

"I don't think it's necessary," you reject his suggestion. It would be strange to see the people who want to kill you. He keeps his eyes on you.

"I think it is. One of the suspects is a woman, who insists she knows you and has nothing to do with it," he mentions. You quickly try to think of a woman who would want this. You have no idea who she might be. "Apparently, she showed up out of nowhere and wanted to see you. Of course, we were suspicious of her intentions because of the current situation, therefore we had to imprison her for safety precautions," he continues to explain. Who would be so reckless to meet you?

"When can I see her?" you instantly ask. It's too bizarre for you to not care about her identity.

"The sooner - the better. I don't want to keep her in there if she is innocent," he advises. "Also, I don't know what's between you and Levi, but I want to remind you - we prioritize work here. We have many new recruits too; you'll need to take care of them. You should be more alert, since captain Levi isn't allowed to constantly watch over you," he makes a polite remark with an intense tone.

-

Few guards are escorting you to basement where the prison cells area is located.

It's feels dull and musty. The light is dim. You wouldn't want to end up here no matter what. You can't bring yourself to be attentive; you feel threatened by Erwin Smith's words. Could it be that he already knows?

Every other cell has a person locked in. Some are resting, some are groaning and muttering nonsense. You try not to listen to them. It's not like you wanted to go here in the first place. You just want to make sure a random woman isn't tortured for your sake, especially if she has nothing to do with all of this.

Suddenly guards stop at the end of the corridor by a cell with secure metallic door. You know it's nothing good, since you hear some loud thumbing and growling inside.

You enter the cell and, instantly, smell of blood and other bodily fluids reach your nose, but it didn't bother you as much as the people who are making those guys growl. It's a truly terrific scene.