𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐎𝐓𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 - ﹝𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐢 𝐚.﹞

﹝𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐖𝐎﹞

〔 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 〕

ﾒ

"Come in." Erwin's voice sounds softly from behind the door to his office.

I sigh before turning the doorknob and stepping inside. Once inside I'm greeted with dim, warm lighting from the lanterns in the office, and the commander himself is sitting at his desk waiting for me.

It's as if everything in his office is trying to make me feel welcome, and I couldn't hate it more.

He gestures for me to take a seat, and before I can say anything, he reaches below his desk and pulls out a complete chess board.

"Petra told me about how bright you are, and suggested we discuss the situation over a game of chess." he says with a warm look.

I stay quiet, keeping myself reserved. I know why he called me into his office, he doesn't need to act all friendly just because I'm new to the scouts. This is probably his tactic to make me let my guard down. Well, it's not gonna work!

I notice he placed the board so that I'm playing white, so without warning I make my first move. The faster I beat him the faster I can leave this uncomfortable environment.

Erwin doesn't seem phased at all, and silently makes his own move. As I begin my next one, he starts to speak.

"Captain Levi says you're quite the handful, and you've only been here for five days. I dare say you even rival his attitude." he says with a light tone, keeping his gaze on the board.

He continues as he moves a pawn, "Honestly I think it's pretty impressive you managed to get on his nerves that fast. He certainly did the same to me when he first joined the scouts." he seems to stifle a laugh, but he can't hide a small smile making its way to his face.

Despite him watching the board, I keep my focus split between him and the game. Captain Levi? "Humanities Greatest Soldier" Captain Levi? Yeah no, I find that hard to believe.

"So tell me, Y/N, what's your brother like?" he asks.

Trying to soften me up by asking sentimental questions huh? Nice try but it's gonna take a lot more than that.

I train my gaze on the board as I memorize it, "Hard to say, haven't seen him in almost five years. And up until about two hours ago I was 90% sure he was dead."

Erwin pauses for a moment, thinking over what to say. 

I move my queen to check his king. Gonna be pretty difficult to come up with a follow up question after that response, huh Erwin?

Suddenly I feel his gaze, and I shift uncomfortably as I attempt to stay focused on the board.

"Y/N, I know I may not seem like the most trustworthy source right now, but I can assure you the scouts were unaware of Armin's status. Even Oluo didn't know who he was when he went to deliver a message to Shadis regarding the trainees."

"Of course that doesn't excuse his rude behavior, but it also doesn't excuse starting a physical fight with him, creating tension within your squad." he says seriously, but with sympathy behind it.

"You don't have to be best friends with everyone in the scouts, but I do ask that, over time, you grow to trust us a little more. Otherwise, out there on the front lines, lives could be lost that could have been avoided." he finishes, moving his knight to take my queen.

What the- I didn't even see that move. How did he...

I finally look up to meet his gaze. Despite his serious tone on the topic his eyes are still soft, as if they're pleading me to open up.