Chapter Text
By the time you woke up and read the clock by the bedside table, it was already twenty minutes past eleven. The rumbling of your stomach pulled you out of bed, and after briefly washing your face, you tiptoed out of your room.
The darkness of the night enveloped the entire living room, mirroring the void. You carefully strained your eyes for the candle by the counter and felt the drawers for a light match. Not for long, a flickering ember puffed into existence, casting dancing shadows against the wall. You weren't going to risk turning on the lights and attracting any patrolling Marleyan officer around—if there were even any; you weren't risking your chances all for a midnight snack.
You sneaked around the kitchen, opening cupboards and the drawers for something quick to eat. To hell with shame, you thought. Food always comes first in your book.
“There's bread and jam in the rightmost cupboard.”
You almost shrieked. Swiftly turning around, you came face to face with an evidently amused Zeke Yeager.
“Impeccable reflexes, Lieutenant,” he casually commended, hands raised. “Now can you—uh, put the knife down, please?”
You blinked a few times before your gaze fell and you realized your hand had instinctively grabbed a knife. Your eyes returned to him, still wary, but you slowly lowered your hand.
“What are you doing here?”
“Excellent question,” Zeke said as he walked toward the cupboard. You kept a wary eye on him the whole time. “I wouldn’t feel offended at all if this wasn’t, you know, my house.”
Okay, fair point. All things considered, you were the one trespassing in his kitchen.
“I thought you were asleep,” you said.
“Hard to when there are two war soldiers under my roof.” He pulled out a plastic bag of bread and a jar of jam from the cupboard, setting them on the counter. “Not to mention one of them’s probably itching to kill me in my sleep.”
You huffed. “Maybe if you fixed your attitude, you wouldn’t have to worry.”
“Appreciate the concern, Lieutenant, but my attitude’s as perfect as it gets.”
You were about to retort when Zeke turned, took the knife from your grasp, and replaced it with a jam sandwich. You stared at him, then at the sandwich.
“I didn’t poison it,” he said.
“Hard to believe.” You rolled your eyes but took a bite anyway. The sweetness of the grape jam spread across your tongue. “This better not be expired.”
“I think the way you’re chowing it down says it all.”
You paused mid-chew and looked away from the smug grin on his face.
“Asshole.”
“I try my best.”
With a chuckle, Zeke put the knife back in the rack and returned the bread and jam to the cupboard. The gesture was oddly... sweet. Until you realized your train of thought.
Sweet? He’s the goddamned Beast, even when we’re in an alliance. You reminded yourself to never trust this man.
You finished the sandwich and looked at him—only to find his eyes already on you.
“What?”
“I just realized this is the first time I’ve actually seen you eat in the house,” he said, arms crossed. “You’re always cooped up in your room.”
“Well,” you trailed off, leaning your hip against the counter to face him, “even your devil Eldian Scout needs to eat, no matter how much I detest seeing your face.”
“Too charming for your taste?”
“Too ugly.” You deadpanned, earning a wholehearted chortle that made him bend over, clutching his stomach. You could never read him—no matter how sharp your insults, he took them all in stride, as if they were his favorite part of the day. It only made him more irritating.
“Keep your voice down or the neighbors are going to report us,” you hissed. “If you want to get hanged by Marleyan authorities, do it yourself.”
Zeke’s laughter finally subsided, though he was still snickering.
“Oh, not to worry. I’ll just tell them my girlfriend came to visit.”
Fury flared in your chest—you were sure horns had sprouted from your head. With a sharp huff, you brushed past him, jabbing him in the side on your way to your room.
“Not funny, Yeager.”
He laughed behind you. “Good night, Lieutenant.”
You slammed the door shut.
—
The sing-song of birds outside the window ushered in the new day. You stifled a yawn as you stepped out of your room, your eyes landing on the individual already in the kitchen area. Erwin was leaning by the counter near the sink, nursing his usual morning coffee—his new favorite drink ever since the Anti-Marleyan Volunteers led by Yelena arrived at Paradis three years ago and introduced imports from abroad.
You shared eye contact, feeling the sudden heaviness in the air.
“Good morning,” he greeted, low baritone rumbling. You nodded at him.
“Morning.”
“There’s bread in the toaster,” he said after a while, and you nodded once more as thanks before you walked over.
You stopped by the cabinet of plates and helped yourself with some toasts, begrudgingly popping in another pair of bread for Zeke (he was your host, after all). You glanced at Erwin and noted his formal attire.
“Going somewhere?”
He hummed as a response, eyes fixated at some point in the living room. You preferred that than him looking at you, anyway.
“Some executives of Ostraven are helping me make contact with Belvaria. I’ll be leaving via port before ten.”
It was then that you noticed the luggage sitting on the sofa. Ostraven. It was the nation primarily responsible for supplying weapons to the Mid-Eastern Allied Forces in their ongoing war with Marley, with Belvaria as one of the active frontliners.
Apparently, ever since Marley’s operation to retake the Founding Titan had failed, news of the loss of the Female and Colossal Titans spread throughout the world, alerting nearby nations to Marley’s dwindling military might. It became the catalyst for the current war—one that Erwin had surmised would end in Marley’s eventual victory. He and Zeke also predicted that once the war ended, Marley would most likely invade Paradis to resume their previous objective: capturing the Founding Titan. It was only a matter of time before Paradis joined the conflict, and Erwin’s current goal aside from establishing alliances with nations opposed to Marley, was to search for alternatives to prevent the war—a goal you knew was bleak at best.
You had only visited Liberio, but you already understood the world’s deep-rooted prejudice toward the people of your race. Only the Azumabito clan from the nation of Hizuru were willing to offer their aid—and even then, it was with reluctance. Their true interest lay in the unique resources of Paradis, and you should’ve known their assistance would come at a price. In fact, the negotiations might have fallen apart entirely had it not been for Erwin’s quick wit and tactical eloquence; the Commander had always been a master of persuasion. You were certain that no country would have even considered allying with Paradis if Erwin hadn’t been at the helm.
You glanced at your Commander. He wore a dark business suit paired with a crisp white dress shirt, a tie, and polished shoes. With Kiyomi Azumabito’s assistance, Erwin had established communication with several countries that were beginning—more or less—to cooperate with Paradis, thanks to his persistent correspondence. You hadn’t bothered with the details, but at present, Erwin was operating under the alias Matthias Reinhardt, ambassador of Ostraven, to stay off Marley’s radar. You, on the other hand, were traveling under the name Ilsa Alberich, a political journalist from abroad.
“When will you be home?”
Erwin had been holding meetings with different political figures from nearby countries while simultaneously avoiding Marleyan authorities, so as the only one accompanying him in a foreign land, it was only natural for you to be worried.
“Day after tomorrow at the latest,” he said, before turning to you. “I need you to stay here and continue the investigation on the Tybur family.”
Tybur family. Despite being Eldian, they were treated far more differently than those living in the Internment Zone. Considered as one of the elites of the world, they held influential power over Marley, making Erwin believe they were actually more than the simple ‘wealthy’ family they were trying to portray themselves as.
It was your task to uncover that family’s secret.
“On it,” you affirmed his order. A brief silence followed between you.
“Is that really what you see me as?”
Erwin’s query echoed in your memories. You bit your tongue and looked away, praying he wouldn’t read your thoughts.
You hated this. You could never quite look Erwin in the eye without being reminded of your confrontation. It was all.. too complicated.
“Another thing.”
You looked at him, waiting for further instructions.
Erwin placed the empty mug on the sink, eyes clouded in an unreadable gaze, as if in deep contemplation. Then, he turned to you.
“Don’t lower your guard. Am I understood?”
His sudden directive took you for a slight loss.
“I never lower my guard,” you said defensively.
Erwin’s face never betrayed an emotion, but his tone spoke of an underlying implication.
“Remember the objective. And.. don’t lose sight of the enemy.”
Your mind immediately went towards Zeke Yeager. Was Erwin hinting at something? You knew you couldn’t carelessly talk about it considering your close proximity to the man in question.
But..
Lower your guard? Did it seem like that to him?
Needless to say, you were slightly offended at the thought. Getting chummy with the Beast Titan was an insult to the memory of your comrades. Of Miche. When you first found out about it, you knew you had to be the one to kill Zeke Yeager. The only things stopping you were Erwin’s plans and the alliance.
You still remembered your first meeting with him, two and a half years ago.
You stood at the far end of the room, leaning against the wall. Your sharp gaze fixed on the man seated at the opposite end of the table, facing Erwin.
The Beast Titan, the War Chief of Marley. Zeke Yeager.
Seated beside Erwin was Hange, the three of them engaged in a discussion over key points and clauses concerning the alliance. You were already familiar with Zeke’s proposition from the general meeting you’d attended with the other military leaders back on the island. And so, Erwin had brought you, Hange, and Levi here to Liberio for a private dialogue with Zeke—and, safe to say, you hadn’t liked the man.
“Well, that concludes it. All that’s left is for both sides to keep their side of the deal,” Zeke said, reclining against his seat with crossed arms. For a War Chief, he acted too relaxed for your liking. With the way he was continuously throwing out jokes left and right, you’d think the fate of the entire world wasn’t at stake here. It would have been an awkward meeting had Hange not been there to humor him. If you were to describe him, he was the complete opposite of Erwin.
“You have my word that Paradis will keep our end,” Erwin said, “so long as you keep yours.”
Zeke offered a smile that you knew was only for courtesy.
“Even in war, there are rules we must abide by, Commander. I have enough diplomacy for that.”
You couldn’t roll your eyes further. “Says the bastard who killed an entire village of innocent civilians with no remorse. Drop the courteous act.”
Hange turned to you with a look and called your name cautiously. “We agreed not to be hostile.”
“He won’t crumble to dust just because I said the truth.” Your words dripped in venom. You weren’t planning on warming up to this man just because of a fragile alliance that you knew deep down was a farce. Zeke Yeager was a cunning man of many schemes.
His eyes flicked over towards you, allowing you to peer the glint of interest twinkling in his face. He even had the audacity to smirk, as if relishing your furor.
Your name rolled off his tongue in that taunting voice you had grown to hate in the span of an hour after meeting him.
“Your Lieutenant, if I remember correctly?” He looked at Erwin. “Fiesty. I suppose it’s a must-have trait for your Scouts. Then again, you wouldn’t have survived this long on an island full of titans otherwise. I like that.”
An involuntary growl crawled out your throat. “I don’t need your compliment, you son of a—”
Erwin called your name, and you stopped—albeit begrudgingly. You watched as your Commander rose, his chair sliding back with the movement.
“If there isn’t anything else, we’ll be heading back to Paradis. This has been a fruitful meeting, Zeke.”
Zeke Yeager’s eyes lingered on you for a few more seconds before he finally looked at Erwin. He stood and shook his hand.
“Pleasure is all mine, Smith.”
You couldn’t help your frown.
“Do you think I’m an idiot?”
Did Erwin think you were dumb enough to be friends with Zeke Yeager? You, of all people?
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Do you even trust me?”
For a split second, Erwin’s face twitched. A crack in his usual stony facade, but you couldn’t figure out why.
“Of course I do.” His admittance caught you mildly off guard. “It’s him I don’t.”
Before you could press further, the sound of a door creaking open interrupted your conversation. You turned toward the source and saw Zeke stepping out of his room mid-yawn, his hair sticking up in disarray. He noticed the two of you and froze, his eyes flicking between you and Erwin.
“Hope I didn’t interrupt,” he said. You bit back a curse and looked away, pretending to busy yourself by rearranging the utensils in the cabinet.
“On the contrary, you’re just in time. I’d like a word before I leave for my meeting with Belvaria’s representative.” You couldn’t see Erwin’s expression—and you refused to look at him now, what with all these conflicting emotions swirling inside you. You heard his footsteps grow fainter as he walked toward the living room, Zeke following close behind.
“Belvaria,” you heard Zeke follow with a noncommittal hum. “Right. You mentioned that yesterday. You’re close to sealing the deal with them, aren’t you?”
“Yes. With the momentum of the war currently leaning towards Marley, it's a further incentive for them to agree to my proposal.”
“Mhm. Not to mention Belvaria’s naval force is the most superior among the Allied Forces, so they’ve taken the most casualties.”
You committed the information to memory. Knowing full well that Marley’s naval forces were underdeveloped due to their excessive reliance on the power of the Titans, the Mid-Eastern Allied Forces had taken advantage of the sea—most of the battles were fought there.
“I must say, Smith. It’s only been a few weeks since you arrived and progress with the other countries is going smoothly,” Zeke lauded. “You have your work cut out for you.”
You turned around just in time to see Erwin shake his head.
“It’s not nearly enough,” he said. “Might I remind you, the Allied Forces are moving rather hastily—they’ll surrender to Marley soon enough, unless they play their cards right at the war’s end, which I highly doubt. Even then, their combined strength won’t be enough to supply Paradis.”
Supply Paradis, he said. As if he saw all those countries as additional munitions to equip your homeland with. You always knew Erwin was ruthless when the situation required him to, but he had certainly grown more callous for the last three years.
You could hardly recognize him as the bright young cadet you once trained alongside with.
A quiet pang hit you somewhere inside your chest, which you tried to ignore. Deciding this wasn’t a conversation you necessarily had to listen to, you retired quietly back to your room.
::
“You astound me, Smith.” Zeke lifted his mug and took a slow sip. “I still can’t believe that the very nations once terrified of Paradis are now choosing to accommodate you.”
He studied Erwin, who sat deep in thought.
“Unscrupulous methods are hardly foreign to us,” Erwin finally said.
When the words sank in, Zeke let out a low hum. Unsurprising. In their line of work, avoiding blackmail was nearly impossible. Especially for men in their positions. He would’ve been far more shocked if Erwin had managed to stay clean through his entire term as commander.
“And as I said,” Erwin added, “the Allied Forces aren't sufficient to stand our ground against Marley. We need a stronger deterrent.”
“There's always the threat of the Rumbling,” Zeke suggested.
Erwin's eyes sharply flicked over towards him.
“It's an option I would very much like to avoid,” he firmly said. Zeke shrugged innocently.
“I'm just reminding you of your cards; it's the strongest one there is.”
“And the most reckless.” Zeke was mildly surprised that, despite all of Erwin’s cold calculations, he still possessed a semblance of morality. Then again, Erwin Smith had always struck him as the flexible type—the kind of leader willing to make sacrifices when necessary no matter how heartless, yet inclined to choose the path with lesser deaths whenever possible.
A combination of heart and mind, realistic and idealistic. Perhaps that was the virtue of a Scout. Zeke wondered if he could maintain that delicate balance for long.
“So, you’re planning on communicating with countries aside from the Allied Forces?” Zeke asked.
“Yes. The more allies, the better.”
Zeke levelled a steady stare at him, before he slowly grinned.
“Risky, but a worthwhile goal—if you succeed. You sure you’re not overestimating yourself, though?”
If Erwin was offended, he didn’t show it. But then again, he almost never showed Zeke any emotion other than steady composure. It had sparked Zeke’s curiosity since the day they first met—what exactly would it take to tick Erwin Smith off?
Erwin stood from the sofa and grabbed his suitcase. He threw Zeke a nonchalant glance.
“Well, I’ve always been a gambler. Whether it succeeds or not, we’ll both have the pleasure of finding out at the same time.”
Zeke’s grin widened as he watched Erwin head to the entrance, noting the way the blond walked with his shoulders pressed straight and head held high—like the true commander that he was. He was close to actually commending his disposition until Erwin mentioned your name.
“I trust you’ll assist her with the investigation on the Tybur family in the meantime.”
The idea lit up a thrill. He was going to have a field day testing your patience once more. Zeke Yeager was not dense—he clearly knew both you and Erwin Smith held your own doubts about him. But Smith wasn’t the only gambler. And he certainly wasn’t the only one with brains.
“Oh, not to worry, Commander. I’ll take good care of your precious little lieutenant.”
Erwin stopped right at the doorway and Zeke was about to question him until he spoke,
“Yes. I trust you’ll take care of everything.. within the bounds of what’s appropriate.”
Zeke’s brow rose.
Oh?
That didn’t sound like his usual response. The Commander had more or less learned to take his sarcasm in stride during conversation.
Erwin didn’t wait longer to clarify. He shut the door behind him, leaving Zeke pondering in the living room.