Hand in Hand

24. Friends

Section Commander Zoë Hanji sat back to back with her secondhand Moblit Berner behind bushes. They spied on the Military Police as they loaded into carriages and left their base. (Y/n) sat a few feet away from them reading the latest newspaper. The sun was almost set and it was about time to meet up with Levi at the rendezvous spot, but first, they had to speak with Erwin.

"About damn time," Hanji mumbled as the last carriage left the heavily guarded gate. She and Moblit stood up and dusted off their clothes. "(Y/n), let's get going. Erwin's in that base somewhere."

She didn't budge. Her eyes were fixed on the bold lettering under the "Local News" column.

'Three found shot dead within the Trost outskirts after a fight broke out. New information shows the deceased are two men and a woman from the Scout Regiment who were documented under the supervision of Section Commander Zoë Hanji. All Scout work is unauthorized. If you encounter a member of the Scout Regiment, report to the Military Police immediately.'

"You're a wanted person, Hanji," (y/n) said with a deep sigh.

Hanji grabbed the newspaper and tossed it in the bushes. "So are you." She stared hard at the girl before her. How was she supposed to be a mentor when she couldn't find the right words to comfort her? "We'll have a funeral after this is all over. Right now, we need to find Erwin before we meet up with Levi."

"If we go in through the back we won't be seen," Moblit told them. "Chances are Erwin's being held away from the main building anyway."

(Y/n) knew if she sat any longer she'd seem like a brat but the truth was, she felt hollow inside. Half of Hanji's squad was just killed, people shed worked alongside for years. If Levi hadn't insisted she go with Hanji, it could've been her. It was as if he already knew what was going to happen.

A meekly, "Alright," was all she could manage.

With the MPs already gone, slipping in through the back of the Military Police Base was easier than predicted. Luckily, the frenzy Levi had previously caused within Trost had called for the majority of MPs to be called to clean up his mess.

The base wasn't exceedingly large on the inside but there were interconnected corridors with multiple rooms on each side. Since they weren't in the Interior, the base was hardly guarded but it was old and molded between the cracks in the walls. The muggy air thickened the deeper they walked towards the back.

(Y/n) counted each room as they passed, anxiety building at the thought of seeing Erwin. It hadn't been more than two days since they last saw each other but he had left unfazed, just like a Commander should.

It was like Levi told her. She should keep her feelings out of work too, but she couldn't help it. That's who she was. She felt each death and friendship deeply, Erwin was no different. There was no doubt in her mind that she felt admiration and not love for him, and that the night they spent in Jinae was lust, but he was still... Erwin. It felt weird to only see him as the Commander of the Scout Regiment now.

Moblit cocked his head down the last corridor. "The last door on the left," he whispered. "I'm pretty sure that's where they're holding him."

"Then let's hurry it up!" Hanji grunted, sprinting down the hall.

"Section Commander, hold on a second!" Moblit grabbed (y/n)'s wrist and dragged her after Hanji. "Come on!"

"Moblit, watch it!" She snapped in a hushed voice as he pulled her to catch up.

Reaching the end of the hall, Hanji gripped the door handle and paused, looking oddly anxious. She looked at subordinates and cheesed. Her glimmering eyes seemed to say, 'Have faith in me.'