[DISCONTINUED] Entangled in the Strings of Fate ~ Attack on Titan (Levi x OC)

04. A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing

Levi, Farlan and Isabel were gliding across the rooftops, with four people following not so far behind them. The trio had done several hard maneuvers to trick their pursuers, but they always managed to keep up with them.

"...Just what you'd expect from the Survey Corps," Levi slowly commented.

"Did you say Survey Corps? Are you sure?" Farlan widened his eyes at him.

Levi glanced back at Farlan. "Yeah. I saw their insignia when I passed them then... That was the Wings of Freedom."

"Whoa, as expected from people who battle titans! They're on a whole different level than those pigs!" Isabel somehow looked very excited.

"You shouldn't praise them like that, Isabel!" Farlan hissed peevishly at Isabel before looking ahead again. "Levi?"

"I have no intention to get involved with them," Levi replied nonchalantly. "...then again, those guys aren't people you can easily escape from."

"We'll beat 'em!" Isabel grinned energetically, while Farlan frowned. "Shit... this is so annoying..." Farlan clutched his head. "If we get caught, our gear will sure be confiscated..."

"Then we just need to avoid getting caught," Levi stated. "Yeah, that'd be best!" Isabel added.

Farlan sighed heavily before he eventually nodded. "You're right."

"You guys know what to do, right?" Levi turned his head to get a good look at his friends.

"'Course!" "Yeah, yeah..."

Without command, the three split up. The group behind them immediately followed after, with two following Levi and one following Farlan and one Isabel.

"Hehe, I don't care if they come from the corps!" Isabel grinned to herself. "No one still match against..." She glanced over her shoulder, and soon widened her eyes.

"...us?"

On Levi's side...

I guess I overestimated them... Levi walked away from his position. "Oh well... I just hope they didn't crash to anything."

Fwip!

Levi widened his eyes in shock, a blond man suddenly lunged him from his back. Levi used his strength to flip that man, slamming him to the ground.

There was definitely one more... Levi looked around cautiously before shooting his wires to a wall. "Where the hell is he hiding..."

Before Levi could realize it, a man came from above and swung his blades at Levi's wires, cutting them. The sudden force sent Levi crashing back-first to the wall.

"Did you bring him down, Erwin?" The first man went to approach the other man. "...No," Erwin, the man who cut Levi's wire, stated after he observed Levi.

Just like he said, Levi suddenly threw himself at him, aiming a small knife at his neck. "Kuh!" Erwin gritted his teeth. He barely blocked the attack using the blade in his hand.

When the blade bounced off from Erwin's grip, Levi proceeded to attack him again. The first man suddenly jumped in and quickly blocked Levi's knife with his own blade.

"Hey! Take a good look around you!" The man shouted. Levi glanced to the side before he widened his eyes.

There he saw the handcuffed Farlan and Isabel were each being pushed forward by a figure.

But what had made Levi kept his eyes widened wasn't them, but the person who was pushing Isabel.

It was Aile, the one they had considered as a dear friend.

"Squad leader, are you alright?" Aile pokerfaced as she asked Erwin. The man nodded in return. "Yes. Thank you for taking care of them, you two."

Levi glared at him.

"Let go!" Isabel yanked herself free from Aile's grip. "You damn traitor!!" She snarled at Aile, her green eyes showed absolute anger and hate towards the woman.

Aile was still keeping her pokerface, but she was visibly shocked and hurt by the girl's remark. She averted her gaze, not even having the slightest courage to look directly at Isabel.

Levi and Farlan just watched them in silent. "Mike." Erwin said as he glanced at the first man.

The first man, Mike, silently nodded. He went to Isabel's side after he had detached Levi's gear and handcuffed him. He pulled the girl to kneel between Farlan and Levi.

"I'd like you to answer a few questions," Erwin began as he lifted up Levi's 3DMG trigger. "Where did you get this?"

The trio didn't budge. "...You displayed exceptional skills in using 3DMG. Who taught you that?" Erwin asked again.

Farlan averted his gaze to the side, Isabel kept her stare forward, while Levi was looking down, but none of them replied.

Erwin now turned his full attention at Levi. "You are the leader, right? Did you receive any military training before?"

"..." Levi lifted his head, showing his deadly glare to Erwin. Noticing this, Erwin smirked. "You are thinking of how you are gonna murder me, aren't you? It's all written over your face,"

"I was hoping to avoid doing violence, but..." Erwin glanced at Mike, and the man nodded. Mike abruptly grabbed Levi's hair, and slammed his head to the floor with stoic face.

Farlan and Isabel widened their eyes in shock, while Aile remained silent with her gaze averted.

"Guh..." Levi gritted his teeth when he could feel sewer water wetting his forehead. "I will ask you again," Erwin now adorned more darkened facial expression. "Where did you learn how to use it?"

"No one taught us, so get off your high horse already, you fucking public servant!" Isabel snapped, while Farlan glowered at Erwin. "Yeah, someone who never tasted sewer water like you wouldn't understand," he added.

Erwin briefly glanced at him. "...My name is Erwin Smith. What's yours?" He looked at Levi again.

Mike slammed Levi's head to the ground again. "Why don't you just ask her?" Farlan coldly asked. "Yeah! She is your friend, ain't she?!" Isabel added, aiming her fury at Aile behind her.

"...I see," Erwin commented with a small smile escaped his lips. Somehow, that smile looked like it was amused at something.

"...I prefer to get it straight from the horse's mouth," he continued before looking back at Levi, who was choking for air. "You've got spirit, leader, but at this rate your friends gonna pay the toll."

"You bastard," Levi glowered angrily when he saw one of Erwin's subordinate raised his blade to Farlan's neck.

Aile slowly followed her comrade. She brought her blade closer to Isabel, making Farlan widened his eyes. "Oi, Aile! Are you really gonna do it?!"

Aile glanced at him. "...If the squad leader demands it," she slowly brought the blade closer to Isabel's neck. "...then so be it."

Farlan's face turned horrified when Aile glared at Isabel's head. Her gaze looked so bloodthirsty, even it was enough to make Levi shuddered a bit.

"A... Ah..." Isabel's eyes started to water once she heard how firm and cold Aile's tone was, contrasting with her usual cheerful and caring tone Isabel loved to hear everyday.

"Aniki..." Isabel cried for Levi's help.

Levi gritted his teeth as he glanced at Aile.

At that point Levi swore he will never forgive her and himself if she really did mean to kill Isabel...

But she... was she trembling?

Although Aile looked like she was ready to dirty her hands if Erwin demanded it, Levi could see through her eyes that Aile was as anxious as Isabel.

So Levi lowered his head and made the ultimate choice, that would later changed their lives forever.