Birdie (Levi x OC)

nine

The rest of my sleep was a lost cause. My mind remained trapped in the shadows of the forest, caught between lingering nightmares and the staggering weight of Armin's theory. If he was right, the monster that had decimated the Survey Corps wasn't just a Titan; it was a peer.

I dressed in the quiet of the dawn, tying my hair back with a cream-colored ribbon. A quick glance in the handheld mirror revealed the toll of the last forty-eight hours: dark, hollow circles under my eyes and a fresh bridge of freckles across my nose from the relentless sun. I set the mirror face-down on the dresser. I didn't want to look at myself.

The barracks were just beginning to stir as I stepped into the hall. Outside, the sky was a bruised palette of red and orange; the kind of sunrise that usually promised beauty, but today only felt like an omen. I made my way to the mess hall, offering hollow nods to the Scouts I passed.

Inside, the air was thick with the scent of scorched porridge and the steam from large tea kettles. I scanned the room for Armin, but the table where we'd sat the night before was empty. I grabbed a bowl and some tea, forcing myself to eat. If we were going to face the Commander, I couldn't afford to be light-headed.

Ten minutes later, Armin appeared. He looked like he'd been through a war of his own. His face was bloodless, his eyes darting toward me with a mix of resolve and terror.

"Good morning," he said, his voice barely a thread of sound as he reached the table. He was wringing his hands so hard his knuckles were white.

"Hey, Armin," I said, keeping my voice low and steady. "Eat something. You're going to need the energy."

He shook his head, looking nauseated. "I can't. It wouldn't stay down."

I understood. Accusing a former comrade of mass murder wasn't a task that sat well in the stomach. I drained the last of my tea and stood up. "Then let's not waste any more time. Shall we?"

"Yeah," he whispered. "I'm ready."

As we navigated the stone corridors toward Commander Erwin's office, the silence between us was heavy. "Have you told the others yet?" I asked quietly. "Mikasa? Jean?"

"No," Armin muttered, his gaze fixed on the floorboards. "I need to tell the Commander first. Once I say it out loud to him...there's no taking it back."

"It's the right thing to do, Armin. If this person is the Female Titan, every second they stay hidden is another life at risk."

We reached the heavy oak door of the command office. I took a breath and knocked.

"Name and business," the command came; sharp and immediate.

"Birdie, Sir. I'm with recruit Armin Arlert. We have urgent information regarding the expedition."

"Come in."

I pushed the door open. Commander Erwin sat behind a desk piled high with casualty reports and supply logs. He looked as if he hadn't slept at all, yet his presence was as formidable as ever. We both snapped into a sharp salute.

"Birdie. Arlert," Erwin said, leaning back. His blue eyes, usually unreadable, were narrowed with a sudden, clinical intensity. "What is so important that it couldn't wait for the morning briefing?"

I stepped aside, giving Armin the floor. He hesitated for a heartbeat, his breath hitching. I gave him a firm, encouraging nod.

"Commander," Armin began, his voice trembling but growing stronger with every word. "It's regarding the Female Titan. I've analyzed her behavior, her knowledge of our formation, and her reactions to us in the field."

Erwin's eyebrows rose, his hands folding beneath his chin. "Go on."

Armin took one final, shaky breath, and the name finally forced its way out into the cold air of the office.