Yesterday's Enemy [AoT]

THIRTY-TWO

'In a world where bravery often resembles recklessness, it seems the mantra of the Survey Corps that the ends will justify their means. Time and time again, our soldiers ride out into Titan Country, risking life and limb for far-off dreams. I know only this: victory at the expense of those frail dreamers is hardly victory at all.'

-An extract from the newspaper article that caused the Survey Corps to lose half of their funding in one day, written by scholar and journalist Aksel Briggs.

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THIRTY-TWO

Wall Maria, South Region, Shiganshina, Shiganshina Survey Corps Base of Operations

Levi awoke to firm knocking on his door.

     Grumbling, he realised it was still dark outside. He checked his pocket watch, resting on his desk where he must have drifted off. It was barely 0400 hours.

     He glanced around his temporary rooms. The Survey Corps was staying in a base in Shiganshina for the night. It accommodated the regiment rather snugly. The building was old; it creaked and howled with the wind as he began to sit up.

     Wiping the sleep from his eyes, Levi rose lethargically to his feet and went to open the door. There, he found Lorelai, who seemed very much awake. She was dressed smartly in her uniform and bore two mugs of hot tea.

     "Lorelai? Why are you here at this hour?" he asked irritably.

     "I need your help." She pushed past him into the room and set the mugs down on a table in the corner. She turned on an oil lamp that illuminated the darkened room.

     Levi huffed. "When I said I was your ally, I didn't mean you could show up at 0400 hours."

     "Well, any other time Erwin, Hange, or whoever else would be listening," she explained.

     "Fair enough," he gave up. Sitting down with her at the small table, Levi took a sip of the tea she had brewed for him. Another placation, no doubt. "What is it, then?"

     "In short, today, we need to try to limit the amount of H.A.T. bullets Erwin gets as much as possible."

     Levi sighed. "Why? We need them to get to Havas."

     "Screw getting to Havas. In case it has evaded you, this war is still on, and it'd be a pretty poor idea to let the enemy get too many of our weapons," Lorelai explained seriously.

     "The enemy?" Levi repeated incredulously. "Erwin is hardly our enemy, Lorelai. What would he even use the weapons for if not to get to Havas?"

     "To get rid of us, of course!" she exclaimed. "What do you expect will happen after we get to Havas? That he and the rest of the higher-ups will just forget about us?"

     Levi gave her an unsure albeit mostly concerned look.

     Lorelai sighed, calming herself a little. "Look, over this past month, I've become more than acquainted with your justice system in the Walls, Levi. You're not past lying, disposing of threats secretly, going back on your word; I have to take precautions. What happened to my people last month cannot happen again."

     "I understand you're worried, but-"

     "But what?" she interrupted. "You said in the forest that you would take my orders!"

     "No, I said I had your back," Levi countered. "This isn't the right choice, and by telling you that, I'm proving it."

     "Don't you think I can decide for myself what the right choice is? Are you with me or not?"