𝔇𝔦𝔰𝔬𝔟𝔢𝔶 (𝔏𝔢𝔳𝔦 𝔵 ℜ𝔢𝔞𝔡𝔢𝔯)

VI - With Them

"Keep telling yourself that." 

***

"There's honestly no reason for you to freak out about it," Farlan reassures. His comment only makes me roll my eyes as we continue to stroll through the Headquarters, searching the maze for the mess hall. 

"Isabel is sharing a room with her," I retort immediately. "How does that not concern you?" 

"You know there's this thing called 'intuition', right? I have a good feeling about her, she seems like someone we can trust wholly," he argues. 

"That's beside the point, she's-"

"Levi, she defended us. What person from the surface would willingly defend underground criminals like us?" He asks. 

"One that's trying to weasel her way into our heads and use everything we know against us!" I snap. He only sighs, rolling his eyes as he runs a hand down his face before turning to look at me with a bored expression. 

"Are you being so serious right now?" He asks, his tone almost bored and now bordering on annoyed. "That isn't a rhetorical question, I'm actually expecting a real and completely valid reason as to why you think she's trying to use us." 

"Her affiliation with Erwin. They're close, if you can't see it you're blind. He's definitely asked her to keep an eye on us, as has the other old bald angry fucker. They don't know our motives, it's a must that she never finds out."

"And if you're wrong?" He's quick to reply. I run my tongue along the front of my teeth, eyes narrowing on him in an irritated glare. 

"Then I'm wrong. And if I'm right?" I turn the question back on him. 

"Then exactly that, you're right." 

We push through a door, and by sheer luck it's the mess hall. As soon as we enter, arms are wrapped around his from the side. My eyes widen, my mouth parting to rip into the person who dared touch me, the words dying on my tongue as I realise it's a very happy Isabel. The cold demeanour melts a little at her bright lively eyes and her wide smile.

"Hey kiddo," Farlan greets with a slight chuckle. 

"Hey bros! What's happening?!" She exclaims happily as her gaze flickers between us, her arms looping through mine and Farlan's arms, her hands grasping at our forearms gently as she steers us in the direction of a free table at the edge of the room.

"Well someone told us that this is about the time dinner is served," Farlan muses quietly as he takes a seat. 

"No, you idiot, like what's happening in your heads?" She asked, planting her chin in the palms of her hands, her wide eyes looking up at us eagerly. We sit in silence for a few moments before she sits back, folding her arms and rolling her eyes, raising a peculiar eyebrow at us. Her expression was almost bored, as though she knew there was something playing on our minds. "You may think you're good at hiding your thoughts but you really aren't," she says. Farlan raises his own eyebrow. 

"Oh? What makes you so sure?" He asks. 

"You both get the same look in your eye when you refuse to say anything. I'm not sure what it is that's making you both all frowny and shit but--" 

"I don't trust her," I state bluntly, looking off to the side and catching glimpse of her friend staring in our direction. "Something about both her and her little posse just doesn't seem right," I say. In the corner of my eye, I see her about to open her mouth, knowing her it was very likely it was to defend her new 'friend.' "No. No, I don't care what you say. You choose to stay close to her? Fine, but you use her own tactics against her. Find information about her and forward it to either Farlan or I." She clicks her tongue, narrowing her eyes on me a fraction.