Carousel of Affection [Attack on Titan/Black Lagoon Crossover] [Complete]

Levi

Levi's Perspective

I gathered my best attitude for this meeting as I shut my computer down for the weekend. I'm already sure it's about me being fired since the email was so personal, seemingly. But I truly don't care; I saw this coming from just about five years into the job. Somehow, the board wanted me around; they said "despite your punctuality, your work ethics are unlike we've seen". Pfft, yea right...

My things are put together so I can grab everything and go. I pass Rebecca's office on my way to the conference room; she's talking to the maintenance guy with Sasha. I smile to myself, remembering I do have a date with her tonight. Can't wait for that.

The door is cracked and I can hear commotion from inside. Great, witnesses to me getting fired. How sweet of Rokuro. I push the door open and take an empty seat next to Mr. Springer and across from Armin. He sends me a warm smile in the break of his conversation with Ms. Kirstein. I nod in response.

"Alright, staff," Okajima walks in, shutting the door behind him, "I'm glad everyone showed up. That is, the editing division and Mr. Ackerman." He takes out a folder of papers and sets it on the table as the room quiets down. "I hate to be brief but my bosses demand I do so and bring this to the forefront."

Papers are passed around to the eight of us at the table. "Can someone tell me one thing they notice about all of these? Feel free to compare and exchange papers." I look at the one in my hand. It's an old article: The Lily - Unseen Treasure. I switch papers with my coworker on the right: Butterfly Affect. "Oh my god," I look up to see Armin's excited face, "These are all by Actor Man!"

"Right you are, Arlert. Now, everyone flip the papers over. These are where they've been email from and the computer." The information reads with one email on my paper and a new one on another. Each email address I was familiar with. What is going on?

"Computer 025-97?" Armin speaks, "Is that the internal coding?"

"That's the number it's bring tracked from. Each of these were emailed from a new email address. Each email was sent from the same computer. The current user of said computer?" Copies of photo was slid on the table with information next to it. I took one to see my face, my name, my information. "Yours truly, Levi Ackerman, Publisher from computer 025-97. Also known as Actor Man."

My chest burned. I felt like I was about to give birth through my neck. And I refused to look up because I knew there was a set of large, curious, depressed sea blue eyes staring at me. "Levi Ackerman, are you aware that submitting to your own paper is against policy?"

I shook my head, finally looking up at Okajima, "I don't recall hearing that."

He nodded, looking at the rest of the present editors, "Were any of you aware or had slight suspicions of this case?" Everyone shook their heads or mumbled a no. "Mr. Arlert? As head editor, your verbal answer please?"

I looked at Armin who looked like he was going to break down any moment. He glanced at Okajima, "Ackerman and I have had our conversations over Actor Man. Actor Man is my favorite read and Mr. Ackerman said he may introduce him to me one day. But I can't say I'd ever suspect Actor Man to be my coworker, sir."

"Very well." Okajima took the papers he handed out and put them back in their folder before reading from a new one. "Work policy states, 'Under no circumstance is any one worker allowed, permitted, or under right to submit to this paper The Titan so long as they hold their position. Should this rule be neglected or broken, they are to cease their actions as a submitter or as a worker under this paper The Titan'.

He looked at me before continuing. I swallowed hard before locking eyes with him, "At this point, the ultimatum is this: you give up your alias, your writing, your alter ego, or you are relieved from your position as head publisher and are discharged from this business."