A Wall Of Blue Roses(Un Mur de Roses Bleues)

The Truth About Levi

Early the next morning, Belle was finishing up with kitchen duty with Iona after breakfast had been served and eaten.

"There we go. That's the lot done." Iona remarked as they both put the last of the dry dishes away, relieved now that they had finished the job.

Belle nodded as she drained and rinsed the basin before she and Iona left the kitchen. As she turned, she was met with Kristof.

"Oh, Belle. I was just about to find you. Looks like I did." Chuckled the Irish cadet.

"Oh yes, of course." Belle chuckled back.

"Anyway, Commander Erwin needs to see you." Informed Kristof.

Belle's eyes widened. "Oh, is there something wrong?"

"You're not in trouble or anything. He needs to see you right away." Answered Kristof.

Belle nodded and made her way to the commander's office. She discover it would be different from Levi's but it would be a little similar nonetheless. Upon arriving at the large door, Belle took a moment to know.

"Name and business?"

"Belle Boyer, sir. You wanted to see me." Belle responded to her commander's voice.

"Enter."

Belle slowly opened the door to be greeted with a sight of Erwin's office. It was very well lit in the sunlight as there was a window behind the desk and chair, he was seated at, a bookcase on one side of the room and a couch on the other side. Belle looked around, seeing many gifts that Kristof had left, smiling to herself, before taking a seat provided for her to face her superior.

"Well, cadet. I've seen you've been doing well." Remarked Erwin.

"Yes, yes I have, commander." Belle nodded.

"And somehow, you don't seem phased by Captain Levi during the last month of being here, am I correct?" The commander asked, raising an eyebrow in question.

"No, sir. I hope you don't mind but..is there a reason why you asked?" Asked Belle, curiously.

Erwin sighed as he got up from his chair, before turning to face the window behind him. "It's time you knew something about him. It's a story that I never once told a living soul...but if you wish to hear it, I think you deserve to."

After finishing that sentence, Erwin turned to Belle, a stern look in his cobalt blue eyes. "But only if you don't tell anyone about it and not Levi himself, nor question him about it."

Belle nodded, acknowledging what he meant. "I promise, commander."

Erwin nodded back before reaching into his drawer and took out two files of two cadets and their photos, both were marked deceased.

One photo depicted a young man with light grey eyes and dark blonde hair with bangs hung over his forehead, between his eyes.

The other photo depicted a young woman with green eyes and red-brown hair tied in two pigtails.

"Those two deceased cadets are Furlan Church and Isabel Magnolia. Before they came into the Survey Corps, they were part of a trio of thugs in the underground city below Wall Sina. Levi was their leader. They used the 3DMG to commit heists but we caught them red handed. I interrogated them, asking where they got the 3DMG and where they learned how to use it but the thugs didn't answer us until Furlan said that they were self taught. I even made a deal with Levi."

Belle gasped a little, before she asked. "What kind of deal?"

"I would let all of his crimes go unpunished if he agreed to lend us his strength and join the Scout Regiment in return. If he refused, he and his cohorts would be handed over to the Military Police." Answered Erwin.

Belle's eyes widened in shock as she sat and continued to listen.

"Then during the 23rd expedition outside the wall, it was during a heavy rainfall that we had to reduce speed and seek refuge, knowing that we would be vulnerable to the attacks of the Titans in these harsh weather conditions. I told Levi about making choices and not having doubts. He even discovered the remains of his cohorts, Isabel's decapitated head and an Titan biting Furlan's body in half. He slaughtered it out of rage. After the whole incident, I advised Levi one thing."

"What did you tell him?" Asked Belle, pale from shock.

"I advised him not to regret for it will dull his future decisions. Nobody could foretell that outcome and that each decision he makes, holds meaning only by affecting his next decision."

'Oh mon dieu...Poor Levi...' Belle thought as her eyes looked as if they were about to start tearing up but she managed to keep her emotions strong in front of her commander as she felt one of large hands rest on her shoulder.

"I know it hurts to lose someone dear to you." Erwin reassured her. "Even when you're worried about Claudius and how you want him to be safe and bring him back."

"I really hope he's okay but...thank you anyway." Replied Belle.

"It's no trouble at all. You're dismissed for now." Erwin nodded before he and Belle exchanged salutes and the brunette left his office.

After closing the door behind her and passing through the halls of HQ, Belle suddenly couldn't help but feel sorry for Levi, having heard the commander's story. She felt as if her heart was about to break when she listened to every single detail.

'Levi...I know how you feel...'