tw: blood, abuse
Once everyone was ready, we walked within the shadows.
***
~That Night~
The moon glowed blissfully in the cloudless winter night.
A full moon blessing the lands with it's ghastly touch, spreading effortlessly over the large building that stood tall in the middle of a grassy field. The squad all waited in the shadows, even more effective because of the tall grass, as we all awaited Levi's return from his brief boundary search of what we were told was the interior brigade compound. A wagon we had brought with us was tucked away behind some trees, our horses deeper in the forest, likely chewing peacefully on some untouched nature.
"I'm sure of it." He voiced as he emerged from the grass. "That's the interior brigade compound, I can't believe we're already here. It's thanks to those two, and thanks to you, Jean. Let's go, this time, we strike first." And then we were off, creeping under the cover of shadowed blades of grass, inching closer to the compound with every soft step we took. Few of the windows within the building were reflecting candlelight, a sign there were likely occupants within. Scaling along the fence that surrounded the structure was oddly easy, no guards posted outside would typically mean they had faith they wouldn't get raided overnight.
"Jean, Sasha. Take the roof with the long range weapons, sort out the soldiers in the compound courtyard. Armin, I'll have you go back to the wagon and keep an eye on things back there. Mikasa and Connie, take top floor, I will take the middle floor. Y/N, you've got the bottom floor." Levi orders making my eyebrows shoot up in surprise. He was getting me to clear a floor alone? I wanted to protest but bit my tongue, choosing to stay silent. He didn't want me to kill anyone, yet puts me somewhere where I alone have to kill however many people.
"Don't kill them. Restrict their mobility so they can't follow us, stab their leg, dislocate their knees, hell, cut their foot off for all I care. Just don't kill them. We meet back here in ten." He adds. I suppose that makes me feel a little better about the situation at hand, knowing I won't have to kill anyone anytime soon. "Go." The ravens voice mutters through the shadows, everyone creeping out from the grass and allowing themselves to be showered by the light of the moon.
I move forward, gripping a hilt and placing a finger on the anchor trigger, readying myself for departure. I feel a hand on my wrist, my eyes watching Sasha and Jean flying up to the roof quickly before turning and facing the raven as he came out from the grass, immediately bathed in the moonlight. In this light, he looked ethereal. I drew in a deep breath, my gaze going from his face to his hand that held my wrist, then back up again. I had always described his eyes with the word 'glowing', but in this light, they literally glowed.
What was shown as callous in the shadows now only showed itself as empyreal.
"Don't get hurt." He murmured, gaze levelling with mine as I quickly avert my look.
"No promises." I breathe, feeling his grip drop from my arm, taking it as a sign to pull the trigger of my hilt and watch the anchor pierce through the thick stone of the building.
I flew over the fence with ease, detaching the hook early and allowing myself to fall freely to the ground, landing with a soft thud. Standing up straight, I pace around the building, pulling the hood of my cloak up and over my head, dimming out the visibility of my features. Disappearing around a corner, away from the sight of whoever remained in the grass, I spot four large windows, the grass outside of those windows glowing with the same hue the candles let off.
Incoherent conversation was being held in the room closest to me, my back pressed up against the cool stone. I moved along it, sneaking closer to the glass and listening as the words being exchanged became more clear. I noticed a small gap in the window, just enough to let a reasonable amount of air come and go as it pleases through it, the two men inside not bothering too much with hushing their discussion about wanting to steal some of the wine that settled in the compound cellar, which had me thinking, why would they steal their own wine in their own lair?
I bend down, reaching for the military issued knife I had tucked away in my boot and bringing the tip of it to the glass, tapping ever so slightly for it to emit just enough sound. It effectively gathered their attention, the room falling dangerously quiet for a moment before a small shuffle sounded from within.
"Did you hear that?" One asked, footsteps edging closer to the window. I got ready, watching fingers slide through the gap and open the window fully before a man leaned outside, looking one way, and then the other as his eyes set on me. "Hey-" My hand launched at him, firmly grasping his collar and ripping him out of the room. He tumbled over the grass and landed on his stomach, his comrade yelling out, alerting probably the entirety of Sina of my presence. Ignoring him for the time being, I drive the knife straight through the mans thigh and twist it.
His scream only called out to no one over the plains, the only reaction he really got was the shimmer of the grass waving in the breeze. Retrieving my knife, I use the handle and knock it hard against his nape, knocking him out cold. I make haste, climbing through the window and making eye contact with the other man in the room, hearing multiple rapid footsteps from the hallway just outside the closed door. I use an anchor, shooting it straight through his leg and into the wall behind him, letting the wire pull me with it. I plant my feet into his chest, the momentum launching him into the wall behind with a loud crash.
The impact knocked him out, choking unconsciously before he fell limp. Placing my feet back down onto the ground, he collapsed into a passed out heap on the ground. The door budged open and I react quickly, jumping over a table that was in the way, readying a sword before whipping the door open and slashing the blade across the knees of two different men. The cut instantly split, only the bone beneath their flesh flashing white in the brief moment I watched. They stumbled back in surprise and pain, colliding with the wall across the wall, another two coming out from either side of the doorway.
I reached over to the door, slamming it shut just before they brought their rifles up and aimed at me, two loud bangs and two holes being shot through the door simultaneously, just missing me as I dive out of the way. I hid behind one of the desks that was situated in the room, hearing frantic yelling outside of the door and then the door creak open a little, before slamming shut. The slam made me flinch a little, before multiple more loud knocks sounded from the door and the wall along the room, accompanied by grunts and loud pleas.
Silence.
Blowing out a breath, I prop myself up on my knees and peer over the table top. No one had managed to sneak into the room, until the door swung open, crashing into the side wall. I blink in response, watching Levi stride on in while using a rag to clean the blood off his sword.
"Fucking hell." I mutter, his hair shifting slightly as he looked up at me. He straightened up, head turned toward me before he craned it bit, tilting and allowing a crack to sound from his neck. His gaze fell onto the man that laid unconscious beside the door, then back at me. "You cleared the second floor rather quick." I remark cheekily, watching as he rolled his eyes and walked further into the room and toward the window.
"It wasn't as infested is down here, figured I'd come give you a hand." He said, looking out the window and then back at me, watching as I slowly rose from behind the desk. His eyes trailed down my left arm; the arm opposite the one I had injured at the Stohess library the day prior. His eyes lingered a while, a slight furrow in his brows as the room fell silent. It was then that I had heard it, drops of liquid hitting the wooden floor. My hand felt warm, and I finally muster up the courage to look down at my hand that was now painted red with blood.
"What the fuck?" I thought out loud, bringing my hand up to my face and twisting it around in front of my face. A wound, not major, embedded itself in the side of my hand, and leaked slowly of blood. "Huh." I utter out, unbothered, realising maybe one of those bullets had just managed to graze me.
"I told you to not get hurt." Levi deadpanned as he paced toward me. I let out a scoff in response, drifting my gaze from my hand to him.
"To be fair, it didn't hurt." My eyes watched as another stream of blood left the wound. "And I did say no promises." I remind, the statement only being ignored as he paced through the room and toward me. Out of his pocket, he pulled out a cravat, gaze not being peeled away from my hand at all as he gently took my arm into his grasp and lifted it up to where he wanted it to be, using the cloth as yet another makeshift bandage, wrapping it around my hand and tying it securely. "Thank you."
"Not an issue. Come on, just a few more people. We'll save one for interrogation in the forest." He says with a sigh, stepping towards the door again and disappearing from the room. I follow after, dawdling behind him by a few steps as I observe the men who laid throughout the hallway, groaning, ignoring us as we passed by while they tried to stop their wounded legs. I watched Levi check every room, eventually coming across a hallway that had one wall lined with windows overlooking the compound courtyard just outside, the ground littered with multiple men who scrambled across the yard in search of something to nurse their bleeding wounded legs.
"Seems they're finished with the exterior threats." I voice, seeing Jean and Sasha catch glimpse of us through the window and giving us a thumbs up.
"Good. I haven't seen any superior officer around yet, there's a few rooms down here I've yet to check." Levi informs, walking up to a room at the end of the hallway and reading the plaque that was screwed onto. "Maybe we won't have to look too far." The sign read 'Superior Officer Quarters.' Pretty straight forward.
I reach for the door handle, Levi's arm shooting out to stop me as he pulled me away from the front of the door and lifting his hand up, tapping his knuckles lightly against the wood. A loud bang sounded, similar to the ones from earlier, and a crack of wood followed straight after as a hole was shot through the door. We hear the struggle of the person inside reloading their rifle. The raven reacted immediately, ramming through the door. I didn't even get a peek inside the room as I heard Levi's anchor shoot from his gear and into a wall, just catching glimpse of him kicking the mans arm out of the way and the rifle scattering somewhere to the side.
He drew a sword faster than I could blink, the point pushing into the mans chest as he looked up at the raven who now stood atop the desk the man was hiding behind with the loudest of silent pleas.
"Move it." Levi's deadpan demand cut through the loud ringing that rung through my ears from the gunshot. The soldier stood up frantically, hands up in surrender before moving around the desk and rushing toward me, Levi following close behind. "Gather the others, we meet back at the meeting point now." He said and I gesture a nod in response. I look out the windows of the hallway, catching Jean and Sasha still perched on the rooftop and gaining their attention with ease.
Using hand signals, I get them to head to the rendezvous point now, watching as they nod before their eyes flash upwards and then Jean's mouth moving, muffled words leaving the boys mouth. I eye them carefully, watching as they disappear over the roof and Mikasa and Connie fly across the courtyard and tail after their comrades.
Met with the cool air once again, the night had become warmer. Perhaps it was the action from inside, or maybe the night really did warm up just a tiny bit. Levi grabbed the scruff of the mans and threw him toward the gate to the compound, a violent yet silent demand he opened the gate for us. The gate, in which I hadn't observed before we infiltrated the facility, was kept shut by a thick chain and a lock. The hostage fumbled with his pockets, forgetting what pocket he had placed it in. He panted, obviously fearful that a sword was being held directly to the back of his neck.
"Hurry it up." The raven deadpans, clearly irritated by the mans inaccuracy as he finally brought the key out but still struggled to fit it into the keyhole. Frustrated, I step forward and snatch the key from his hand and ease the key into the hole, twisting and hearing a small click. The lock separated itself from the weight of the chains alone, and I work it away from the gate. Dropping it with the loud hideous sound of metal against metal, I reach out and push the gate open, the hinges letting off a noisy squeak. Levi wasted no time in shoving the man out, watching him unimpressed as he stumbled into the grass just outside.
"Everything's all clear, Captain." Jean murmured from beyond the grass, and we stepped into the overgrown field. All was silent as we crept on through, the captive kept slowing Levi down, to the point the raven literally ended up dragging him through the grass. The man only pleaded louder, most of the squad ignoring him until we had made it into the forest. Armin was waiting patiently, not too far from from the edge of the woods, rifle in hand and eyes glancing innocently at the hostage. Levi dragged him up before kicking him into a tree, a harsh thud seeming to echo throughout the trees.
The man brought a hand up to his face, wiping away sweat from his brow and coughing heartily into his fist. Levi kneeled before him, but not in a manner of equality. His hand rested on his knee, glare blank and yet so condescending at the same time. The squad watched the vicinity, spread between trees all while silently paying attention to the interrogation that was about to take place.
"Nice moustache you have there." The raven compliments sarcastically. "Where are Eren and Krista?" The man glared back, panting heavily.
"Did you kill my men?" He countered, ignoring the question. Levi averted his gaze to the side.
"Unfortunately for you, they won't be coming to your rescue. Killing them would've been a bother, so they'll just be off their feet for the time being." He replied nonchalantly. "The interior MP's will be out of action for a while now." The hostage only snorted in response, dropping his head further down toward the ground as he leaned back against the tree, tilting his head back up again after a moment.
"Don't you sound brave? You think you're something special? You think cutting down a bunch of unarmed MP's makes you guys heroes?" He laughed breathily. "Some of the men and women in there were just servants. But you cut them all down with no mercy or remorse." Levi stood back up making me shift weight before folding my arms across my chest.
"I see. What a horrible thing we've done." He says with a fake sadness before shoving a boot into his mouth. "I feel awful for all of you too. And I especially feel bad about your mouth. I'd suggest using it while you're still able to speak. Where are Eren and Krista?" Levi removed his boot from the mans mouth after muffling his cries with it, giving him a second chance to speak.
"Useless!" He spits, baring what was left of his teeth in anger. "It's useless! No matter what you try to do, the only option the Survey Corps has is to stay on the run inside the walls! You're nothing more than a pack of filthy rats now! You'll be lucky to just survive!" He seethed, and even with the rage that was thick in his tone, everyone remained unfazed by his comments. "You've even abandoned your comrades! If you don't surrender, all the captured are going to hang! Why shouldn't they?! Considering what you've done, who's going to object?!
And the one on the gallows first'll be the man responsible for all this, your leader, Erwin Smith! Of course, if you admit to acting on your own and give yourself up, the lives of your innocent comrades could be spared at least." He rambled on about it for what seemed like forever until finally he stopped. It fell silent, the squad unmoving, Levi standing there with his hands resting on the canisters of his gear, just looking at him.
"Understand Levi? That's the only option you have left." He slowly stood up from the tree, heaving heavy breaths in and out of his open mouth and then placed his hands on the ravens shoulders. "Use your lives to save theirs. That's it. I'll speak on your behalf. It'll go better that way." I knew a lie when I heard one. That right there? Lies.
"I'll pass. Just tell me where Eren and Krista are." Levi replied, a light sigh taking his voice with it. The mans look hardened at Levi's response, clearly not happy with the answer he got.
"So you're going to watch your comrades be killed just to live a few days longer? What a strong bond you have with each other." He said with ice in his words. The raven only looked down a little, a small pinch between his eyebrows.
"Well, some Survey Corps lives are more important than others." In a flash, Levi gripped the mans wrist and flipped him around, shoving him forward sending him crashing back against the tree, wrist still seized in the Captain's grip. "Only those dumb enough to agree to that join us. Anyway, I doubt the crown would spare the others and throw away this perfect opportunity to exterminate the Survey Corps. This is for not answering my question, by the way. " The raven words before rapidly pushing the captives arm further up his back until a loud crack sounded, I cringed at the sound, soon followed by a bloodcurdling scream and him sliding down the trunk of the tree.
"Shut up. Tell me where Eren and Krista are." Levi demands for the third time in less than two minutes. He only turned his head to stare up at the raven with teary and pleading eyes, frantic cries slipping from his lips.
"I-I don't know! They barely tell us anything, I promise! Kenny Ackerman is extremely tightlipped!" He cried, the name of the myth grabbing mine, Levi and Mikasa's attention even harder than he already had it.
"Ackerman?" Levi repeated. "That's the bastard's last name?"
"Yes, why?" Mikasa stayed silent, turning back towards the woods.
"I don't suppose he doesn't give out many details. especially the important ones." The raven stepped forward, placing a foot on the mans back and reach for his other arm, pulling it back. "But you must have an inkling right? Perhaps I can jog your memory. You still have a lot of bones to break." The hostage was getting hysterical at those words, before he began crying even louder.
"You... you're insane!" He exclaimed. Levi only stared down at him, not one expression behind those eyes.
"Maybe I am." His voice ringing into the night.
"Someones coming from that way!" Sasha yelled, readying an arrow. "It's a group." Everyone hid, myself drawing a blade from the socket a little as I hid behind a nearby tree. Levi threw the man down and knelt on him, the rest of the squad lowering themselves just beneath the highest peeks of the tall grass that surrounded the clear patch we were in, all armed with rifles.
"Didn't I tell you?" The man uttered. "It's hopeless. It all is. The time has come for you to pay for what you've done. This is the end of the Survey Corps."
***
DOUBLE UPDATE WEEKEND FAM 💃💃💃
figured i'd spoil you guys bc you all spoil me with comments, votes and reads. i don't deserve you all 😭🫶 thank you all for everything and i hope my writing keeps you all happy!!!
AISHITERU!!!!!
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