Blue and White - Levi Fanfiction

Ch. 99 - Of Promises and Goodbyes

We were quite a way into our journey when Magath got to complaining about the Azumabito again. I tuned out most of what he said and instead gazed out at the landscape as we neared the coast. Once we got to the base, I'd change Levi's bandages again, maybe nab a clean uniform, and hell, maybe I'd be able to sneak in a shower. I could sure use one.

It was a shame that Magath felt the need to complain because really, we'd been having quite a lovely conversation before he started on his tangent.

We'd been speaking on all kinds of things, ranging from the terror of the Rumbling to where we thought Eren might be headed. Ok, so maybe we weren't speaking on all kinds of things. But we had a job to do, and we couldn't divert from it. And these were pressing matters anyway.

Then, the topic of the Yeagerists came up. I was munching on some dry rations that I had passed up earlier when Hange started talking about them.

"It might be important to bring up that I informally joined them," I piped up after quickly swallowing down the food.

"You did?" Hange asked, turning to face me. "When?"

"Right after the Rumbling," I answered. "When everything settled down, Floch approached me. He offered me a position alongside him, telling me that my leadership experience would be appreciated and put to good use."

Hange scoffed. "Put to good use, my ass," she muttered. "It's more likely that he'd just leave the heavy lifting to you and put the blame on you if anything went wrong because you're a higher rank than him."

"That's about what I figured," I said. "I didn't expect much more than just becoming a scapegoat, but that's not why I joined."

"Why did you?"

"I figured it'd be a good way to get information," I said honestly. "After being left out of... well, everything, I needed an in. And that was the only way I could think of."

It wasn't lost on me that Hange looked away, but it didn't seem to be in a pointed manner; rather, her eyes seemed to drift away as she took my words in. she blinked once, then refocused all at once, her eyes finding my own once more.

Knowing that she was partially to blame, it was obvious she seemed remorseful; but seeing in my eyes that I did not blame her nor hold it against her, her eyes softened and for now, she looked like she wanted to believe me.

"At any rate," I continued, "I didn't sign anything. So, technically, I'm not really one of them. I was never in in the first place, I don't think. I wasn't involved in anything, either. But before I sneaked away with you guys, news of me joining had reached the regular members. They all seemed to accept me with open arms. They seemed excited to have me, anyway."

"He does have a big mouth," Hange said, rolling her eyes as she referred to Floch. "Of course he would want people to hear that the Captain Amaya Ackerman had joined them."

"I'm sure it's less about me and more about the fact that I was the last commanding officer around," I considered, and immediately, Hange looked as though she was going to protest, so I continued. "Though I guess Anka is still around."

Dropping whatever it was she was going to say before I added the last part on, Hange said, "Anka never wanted to lead. I doubt she would change her mind about that now, considering how close she was to Pixis. I don't think that's changed, even now that he's... no, especially now."

"I agree," I said. "With his support, maybe she would have accepted a higher position. But on her own..." I shook my head rather ruefully as Hange continued.

"I'm surprised she didn't have any of the wine, as much as she was around him."

I shrugged. "Anka was never a heavy drinker, and of everything, that likely won't change now, given what's happened. She liked to avoid it as much as she could. Even at the usual military balls she would stay sober, just so she could watch over the old man."