Forced Union

1

"Where are you going?" Levi asked.

He'd caught Hanji in the middle of getting ready to head out of the base.

"To a meeting with another Commander," Hanji replied as she secured her eyepatch over her eye.

"There's more?" Levi asked.

With everything that had been going on lately, many people had stepped down from their positions.

"I received a letter regarding a military meeting a few days ago," Hanji said.

"It was asking for today to meet and I agreed. We need all the support we can get."

"Tch, I'm going with you," Levi replied.

"You are staying here," Hanji said.

"Hell no." Levi replied.

"You need to have extra protection. You are the Commander of the Scouts and some people don't like it or approve of it."

"Fine, but stay out of sight," Hanji said.

Levi grumbled but agreed. He got prepared as well. Soon it was time to leave. Levi did as she asked and kept in the shadows. Hanji arrived at the meeting place about an hour later. Levi didn't like it one bit. It was in a small clearing in forest, where no one could see her from the town, which wasn't that close anyway. Levi hid up in tree, staying out of sight. Several minutes passed. No one was around.

"Where is this person...?" Hanji muttered.

They were supposed to be meeting at noon, it was nearly half an hour past that. Just when Hanji was about to leave, a figure appeared amongst the trees.

"Hello?" Hanji called.

"Why hello there, Commander," an all too familiar voice said.

"Floch, go away," Hanji replied.

"I have a..."

"Meeting?" Floch said.

"I know all about that."

A twisted grin appeared on his lips and he pulled out a folded up piece of paper, Hanji's response letter...

"You're the one who sent that letter!" Hanji said.

"Took you long enough to figure it out. Damn I thought you were supposed to be smart," Floch replied.

He let out a loud, short, whistle. Before Hanji had time to react, several Marleyan's jumped her. They pinned her to the ground and began to bind her.

"LEVI..." Hanji started.

One of the Marleyan soldiers tightly pulled a thick piece of fabric between her lips, silencing her cries. Moments later, Hanji heard an angry yell and felt the Marleyan's thrown off her.

"TOUCH HER AGAIN AND YOU ARE DEAD." Levi hissed, anger in his voice.

Floch cursed. Hanji quickly freed herself from the loosely tied rope and pulled the fabric from her mouth.

"I should have expected that you'd have your bodyguard with you," Floch growled.

"No matter. I can still get what I want."

Levi protectively stood in front of Hanji.

"When I say so, run," Levi said.

"I don't think so," Floch replied.

He pulled out a gun and fired it at Hanji.

"HANJI!" Levi exclaimed.

He shoved her out of the way. Hanji heard a pained grunt followed by a thud. Levi had been hit.

"Hmm, didn't expect that but hey, makes my job easier," Floch muttered.

Hanji rushed to him and kneeled by Levi. He'd been shot in his side, but it wasn't fatal. Hanji was relieved but still worried.

"Levi! Come on! Get up!" Hanji said.

Levi was acting strange. He wasn't moving much and his speech was all mumbling and hard to understand.

"He won't be doing much," Floch said.

"What did you do?!" Hanji demanded.

"The bullet was laced with a rather strong sedative," Floch replied.

"It was meant to be used only in urgent situations but I can't let you escape. Too bad your idiot boyfriend took the hit instead."

Hanji looked at Levi. How strong was this sedative? What would it do to a normal person if it was causing Levi to act like this...

"Han...Hanji run..." Levi managed to say.

"I can't leave you!" Hanji replied.

"Yo...you have to..." Levi said.

Floch motioned to the Marlayen soldiers. Two of them grabbed Hanji and dragged her away from Levi.

"Let go of me!" Hanji yelled as she struggled against them.

"Tie her up, we need to get moving," Floch said.