Promises (Attack on Titan)

3. Arrangements

Three days. Eren's been out for three bloody days, and for two of those days, Erwin had been bombarding me with questions about him. Questions about our relationship and what I thought about my little brother being able to turn into a titan.

He was getting information out of me regarding all I knew about Eren, and he wanted to make sure that I was on his side when he was tried. Erwin thought it crucial that I be on his side.

Erwin, Levi, and I had barely been allowed to come to the cells and speak with Eren. But he was still unconscious, lying in a bed wearing light blue pyjamas and shackles around his wrists and ankles. It was an interesting fashion choice. One I didn't agree with.

I was leaning against the wall on the right side of Erwin who was sitting in a chair, and Levi was on the other side of him. I wasn't initially allowed to see Eren, having been so close to him as a blood relation, but Erwin was able to coax and pull some strings. If he hadn't, I would have snuck in, anyway.

With my arms crossed over my chest, I stared at Eren with a frown. My entire body ached and my feet hurt, my body was still sore from the titan clean up in Trost. The straps on my feet that allowed me to properly manoeuvre through the air had been riding into my skin, and my feet were still a little sensitive.

Expeditions were usually extensive, but I had never used the 3D Manoeuvre Gear for as long as I had that day. It was taking a toll on my body, and a part of me wished I could sleep as long as Eren currently was. I wish I could just conk out for a few days.

"Why do I have to be here?" I asked, a tired sigh escaping me. I was sure the lack of sleep was clear on my face. I know the scowl was. I had been in Levi's office pacing and annoying him with how quiet and worried I was. "I'm tired."

"And I'm tired of you," Levi muttered, scowling at the floor.

"Now, now," I said, smirking slightly, "there's no reason to be rude, Levi." I fought the shudder of fear when I noticed he'd turned his scowl to me.

A part of me wondered what it would be like to experience the brunt of his annoyance for once. He never called me very harsh names, and I wanted to know what it felt like to have him tear apart my self-confidence and possibly my face with a single punch.

"When was the last time you spoke to your brother?" Erwin asked, not taking his eyes off Eren. His blue eyes were bright and intrigued, practically sparkling.

He wanted Eren in the Survey Corps. Not only was his titan ability incredibly useful, but I knew a big part of him wanted to see how Eren and I would fight together. I was considered a competent soldier—a talented one, even—and he wanted to see if Eren perhaps possessed the same aptitude as I did.

"I don't know," I answered truthfully. "Probably a year. He's a cadet, after all." I shrugged and looked back at Eren. "It may have been longer. These last four years have been a blur, honestly."

"Are you sure you're siblings?" Levi asked, making a face and looking over at me. "You two look nothing alike."

"You know, Levi, it's almost as if everyone has a different face regardless of their relation," I said, forcing a gentle voice.

He clicked his tongue and looked away from me, muttering, "You piece of shit."

I rolled my eyes. "You wound me."

We glared at each other, and I tried not to cower under his intense glare. If anybody else had spoken to him like that, he would have no doubt punched them in the face. And maybe that's what I was working for. Maybe I wanted to see what being punched in the face by Humanity's Strongest Soldier felt like.