The Heart of Humanity

Chapter 2: Peace Offering

The trek back had been mostly silent. As expected, The Commander and other officers were unimpressed by his recruitment of criminals. However, Erwin had a way with words and convinced them this would be for the best. They would be assigned a team, three of them to Flagon's squad but at Erwin's request, Eva was separated. He had assumed Levi was the key, but he had a feeling about Eva. An instinct that told him not to undermine her position in their little crew. For now, it was best to separate them.

"When will you break it to them?" Miche asked.

"Commander Shadis will, tomorrow during their introduction to the regiment."

"That'll go over well," He chuckled.

"I'm sure it will be fine."

"It's your funeral," Miche joked, finishing his drink.

"Done already?"

"Night-guard duty today. I'm already late," He replied. Erwin chuckled, shaking his head, and watched as he left. His eyes fell on the newcomer entering the bar for the very first time. The first thing he noticed was how good she looked in the uniform. The second was her hair. It was longer than he had noticed the first time but like the first time, he was enamoured by her eyes. Those eyes, full of something he couldn't quite understand but wouldn't mind spending his life figuring it out. He almost smacked himself, he had been around other women, better women for who he was. Besides, it would be inappropriate considering he recruited her and was currently her superior officer. Yet he couldn't help but wonder and indulge in the what-ifs.

"Erwin, right?" He hadn't realized she had gotten so close. He noticed she already had two drinks in hand.

"Yes."

"May I sit?" She asked and he nodded, perhaps a little too enthusiastically. She sat across from him and offered the second drink.

"Is it poisoned?" He asked, and she grinned. That smug grin he had already come to enjoy.

"It's a peace offering," She replied, and he took the glass.

"Peace offering?" He questioned, watching as she tucked a stray strand of dark hair behind her ear.

"Well now that we'll be working together, I figured I should apologize for trying to kill you," She explained.

"But c'mon you didn't put up much of a fight."

"You took me by surprise, you were...unexpected," He replied, choosing his words carefully.

"We had been asked to help with three thieves," He added. She laughed, and Erwin's thoughts were briefly lost to him.

"As I said, the MPs are fools."

"I believe you said the Survey Corps were fools," He reminded.

"I believe I said you were pathetic, but don't worry I'll clean up your reputation. You can just sit back and watch," She replied with a wink. A view that he could admit to himself he wouldn't mind.

"The uniform suits you," He decided to say instead and noticed a blush tint her cheeks.

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it. I always thought it would be nice to feel part of something bigger than yourself," She mused, smoothing out her new jacket.

"And your brother?" He asked, noticing how she scrunched her nose.

"Levi isn't a fan, but he always finds something to be pissed about," She said dismissively and took a long drink from her glass. He followed her lead and noticed her eyes on him. He recognized the taste.

"You look like a scotch man, was I right?" She asked as he set down the cup.

"I'd like to say yes but it would do nothing for this ego you have," She laughed again, motioning to the barkeep for another two drinks. He wouldn't admit it but this ego she had was charming in a way. Erwin wasn't challenged often but to find that in the unexpected, in someone who wasn't afraid of him, who was confident albeit cocky in themselves was a breath of fresh air. Something he never thought he would enjoy.