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The streets of Trost were dark after sunset, the moon’s light barely able to cast a shadow on the buildings around you. Combined with the fact you barely knew the city, it was enough to put you on edge during your night patrol.
Growing up in the northern territories, you’d rarely come to the city, and never for work purposes. With the Scouts sparking up unrest in the area due to their harbouring of Eren Yeager, extra MPs like you had been drafted in to keep the peace.
Trost was a far-cry from your usual stationing in Stohess, crime much more common and the area still reeling from the latest titan incursion. Although you’d been fortunate enough to miss the battle, Annie had told you more than enough to make your skin crawl. Evidently, the MPs had been a good choice for you. If you were lucky, you could go your whole life without ever having to set eyes on a titan.
Perhaps the echoes of the battle, the faded patches of blood on the streets that couldn’t be completely scrubbed clean and the buildings under repair, was why you felt so on edge that evening. Every creak and shout from afar made you tense, even owls fluttering about was enough to make you clutch your rifle just that little bit tighter. You couldn’t help the feeling deep in your stomach that someone was following you. Stories of the underground city and the criminals down there that preyed on MPs were at the front of your mind. That wouldn’t happen above ground, would it?
You’re just being paranoid. You repeated the mantra in your head over and over again. It was true. You certainly were on the jumpy side, especially for an MP. Annie was always telling you to relax; you imagined she was there to say it to you in person. Of course, if you had someone else with you, there’d be less reason to panic in the first place, especially if they were as fearsome as Annie.
You stopped and took a deep breath. There was no reason to be so jumpy, Trost was a nice town with nice people - you’d just been drafted in as a precaution, nothing more.
Without warning, you were grabbed from behind. A large hand clamped over your mouth, stopping the scream even before it had left your lips. An arm was around your chest, pinning your arms to your sides with such force you couldn’t even attempt to use your ODM gear. You struggled wildly against the hold, legs kicking out as you tried to do anything you could to dislodge your captor.
A second figure stepped into view and began to work on the straps of your ODM gear, ridding you of your only means of escape. They were short, black hair peaking out from the hood they wore. A green hood. A Survey corps hood. The identity of your attackers as fellow soldiers did little to comfort you. You thrashed any way you could, trying to make their job more difficult, and landed a well placed kick to their stomach.
“Ah fuck, you damn brat. Would you quit it already? We just wanna talk.” Fine words for someone that had jumped you in the dead of night.
You didn’t stop struggling as your gear was finally removed, trying to get away from the hand around your mouth so you could scream. But no matter how hard you tried, nothing seemed to dislodge the gargantuan man behind you.
After some more kicks and some swearing from your captors, a blindfold was tied over your eyes, your arms and legs quickly being bound next. You weren’t sure what was happening over than that you were being moved, slung over someone shoulder and thrown onto the back of a wagon.
You weren’t sure how long you spent in the wagon, only that the journey was long. You’d tried to feel around with your bound hands, looking for something, anything sharp that you could use to cut your way out or maybe use as a weapon. Whoever was in the back with you caught on quickly, a boot tapping against your side and an order to be still.
What were they playing at? Were the Scouts trying to stage a coup? You couldn’t think of any other reason for kidnapping an MP. With a titan like Yeager on their team, they might actually be successful. The only chance the others would have against an attack like that would be advanced warning - if you managed to escape that is.
Would Annie be ok? She’d taken some time off to visit extended family in one of the eastern districts but you knew she’d be back to work soon - perhaps as early as tomorrow. If the Scouts planned to kidnap more MPs, you hoped she wouldn’t be one of them.
When the wagon stopped, you were pulled out with little ceremony. Someone holding onto each of your arms, you were lead into a building. It wasn’t particularly warm and your footsteps echoed off the stone floor as you pressed on. Navigating the stairs while blindfolded proved to be a challenge. One of the Scouts accompanying you seemed to grow impatient with how slow you were going, taking matters into their own hands and hoisting you down themselves.
The basement level of the building was far colder than the first. You shivered and curled in on yourself as you were manhandled into a chair. Your binds were cut and the blindfold removed roughly, your captors evidently caring little for your comfort.
It took several moments for your eyes to adjust after being blindfolded for so long. The torches in the room were bright and dazzled you for a second before your eyes focused on the man before you. He was tall, imposing with bright eyes and neat blonde hair. Although the two of you had never met, you recognised him instantly as the Scout’s commander. There were two other men in the room with him and now that they’d removed their hoods, you recognised them too. The short soldier you’d kicked earlier was Captain Levi while the other was a squad leader you’d seen a number of times with Erwin, even taller than the Commander and just as imposing.
You stared at the three of them in a state of shock, not sure of where to begin with your questions and complaints. Erwin considered you for a moment before taking the decision out of your hands.
“Thank you Mike, Levi. You may leave us.” He smiled, both at them and at you, and sat down in the chair opposite. While Mike left almost immediately, Levi seemed more hesitant to leave the two of you alone. It wasn’t difficult to see why.
Your hands were unbound, unrestricted. And with just a single person in the room with you, the playing field was much more level. Of course, you doubted you’d be a match for the Commander if you tried to escape, but no one else needed to know that. After a few moments and a long look with Erwin, Levi left the two of you alone.
“Cadet Y/N, isn’t it?” He asked, tone disarmingly kind. “I’m sorry for all the theatrics and taking you off duty as we did, but I’m afraid it couldn’t be avoided - secrecy is key at the moment. Once we’re done here, your ODM equipment will be returned to you and we’ll find an adequate excuse for your superiors.”
You stayed silent even after Erwin had finished speaking, partly out of spite and partly because you weren’t sure what to say. It wasn’t difficult to understand their tactics when you took a moment to think about it - shaking you up with your apparent kidnapping, only to be presented with someone soft who you could confide in.
Instead of falling for the ploy, you were quiet a while longer - but then a thought occurred to you. Whatever they wanted, they obviously needed you for something. Information perhaps? A favour? Either way, you’d be no good to them dead. But that being said, these were soldiers of conviction, prepared to risk their own lives for their beliefs and kidnap an MP - if you didn’t cooperate, they’d certainly torture you to reach their goal.
“Why the fuck am i here?” Establishing any dialogue was a good thing, and perhaps you’d be able to gain some information in return. “You can’t just- just kidnap me like this! You must have a damn good reason.” Erwin simply gazed back at you levelly, unaffected by your anger, before replying.
“I’m afraid I can't tell you everything - as an MP, I don't know if I can trust you yet and the burden of information is not yours to bare.” You frowned at him, the idea of the Scouts trying to seize control seeming more likely. “... There’s been a security breach in the Military Police. We’re investigating as secretly and independently as possible before the person in question can act or slip away.”
A ‘security breach’? Is that why you’d been detained? Did they think you’d done something? In truth, you didn’t think you had the guts to disobey an order, let alone the kind of betrayal Erwin seemed to be talking about. You weren’t sure what exactly had led them to you but why investigate this at all? Shouldn’t security breaches be investigated internally?
“Why didn’t you contact Commander Dok with this information? You could question far more people than just me, and you’d have the time to do it all thoroughly instead of stealing people away when they’re supposed to be on duty.”
“We don’t need to question many people, just those we believe hold relevant information… And as an MP yourself, you’re more than aware of the tumultuous relationship between our two regiments. They’d hardly be receptive to an accusation of a mole in their ranks.”
A mole? For who exactly? The government already had a say in how the MPs operated and criminals would only need to bribe a few officers to meet their goals. You couldn’t think of any particularly group in need of insider information. Erwin seemed to follow the train of thought behind your eyes.
“We need to establish who we can trust. Can we trust you? The lives of all those within the walls is at stake.” If Erwin meant the lives of everyone, there was only one possible group the mole could belong to. They had to be working with the armoured and colossal titan. Still, you weren’t sure why they’d need someone in the MPs or what exactly you had to do with any of this. You asked as much to the commander.
“Why me? What could I possibly know that you don’t? I’ve never even seen a titan!”
“You’re close with Annie Leonhart, is this correct?”
You froze. You were much closer to Annie than was acceptable - the two of you having started dating after meeting in the MPs. Relationships between teammates were strictly forbidden in almost all circumstances, the MPs even going as far as re-stationing recruits to keep them away from each other. As such, you and Annie had agreed to keep your relationship a secret from everyone, including your roommates.
Erwin couldn’t know that, could he? Even Hitch didn’t know. Was he using it to blackmail you?
“I am, yes. We’re in the same squad… is this about her?”
“When was the last time you saw her?”
The fact that Erwin refused to answer your question unsettled you. Annie must have gotten herself in some deep shit if the Commander of the Scouts was asking questions about her. You shifted nervously in your seat. Without knowing what she’d done, there wasn’t any way for you to know what to say and what to keep to yourself. Even the most insignificant comment could be incriminating and you wouldn’t even know it. Now, why they’d taken you so abruptly, made more sense.
“Three days ago, i think. She’s had a few days off to see her family…”
“What family is that?”
“Um… just some extended family in one of the eastern districts i think. She didn’t really say.” Erwin hummed in acknowledgement.
“What was she like before she left? Excited to see them?”
“She seemed fine… a little quieter than usual… But she doesn’t really get along with her family - that’s why she doesn’t visit often, so being quiet is pretty understandable.
“Have you ever met this family? What are their names?”
“I-” You cut yourself off with a frown. No, you had no idea. You didn’t even know how exactly they and Annie were related. It struck you then, just how little you knew of Annie’s personal life. So far you’d been happy to go along with vague details of the home she once knew, accepting that her parents were no longer in the picture and not asking any questions beyond that. When you thought about it, did you really know her at all? “No… I don’t know them… they’re not my family and it’s not really any of my business.”
“Of course.” Erwin smiled when he noticed you becoming uncomfortable again, waiting a few moments until you’d calmed down. “Before then, has Annie seemed interested in the Scouts since her graduation?” The answer to that was an easy one.
“Sure i guess, she’s always keeping tabs on their expeditions and how it’s going… A large number of her cadet class signed up so it makes sense she’d keep an eye out.” You frowned as you spoke. Surely, it was normal for her to take an interest? You weren’t sure and you had the sneaking suspicion that you were confirming whatever theory the Commander already had. God, you hoped Annie hadn’t got herself caught up in anything dangerous. The idea that she could be working for an enemy outside the walls was far fetched.
“Yes, a large number of her cadet class from the southern districts signed up. Does she get many letters from them? Do they keep in contact?”
“A few i think, yes.” How was this relevant exactly?
“What do these letters say, do you know?”
“Why would i read someone’s personal letters, Commander?” You snapped back. You didn’t like this line of questioning and you certainly didn’t like being kept in the dark. It was plain to see Erwin knew the extent of your relationship with Annie and was intent on exploiting you for any information he could get.
“I just thought she might have shared some details with you, that’s all. I can’t think of any reason to keep them hidden. Now, you met Annie after you both signed up to the MPs, is that correct?” You nodded.
“I was in the northern corps, she was in the south. We didn’t meet until graduation night.”
“I see. And do you know anything about her life before this? Maybe where she lived before her training or what her family was like - what jobs they had?” The lack of information you seemed to have about your own girlfriend was unsettling - you weren’t sure how you hadn’t noticed until then.
“Not really… no… All i know is that she was from a village in wall Maria… I’m not sure about her parents, she doesn’t talk about them at all. I think they must’ve died in the fall.” Why wouldn’t Annie trust you with information like this? Even if the memories were painful for her, you still thought she’d tell you something.
“Right… And now cadet Y/N, i have one last question for you. Think carefully about the answer you give me. Do you think Annie Leonhart is capable of killing anyone?”
You were silent for several moments, just blinking at the Commander. Certainly, as a trained soldier, Annie was more than capable of killing someone - it was a real possibility now that she was an MP too. But Erwin must have known that already. You guessed that wasn’t the type of killing he meant. Did you think Annie was capable of cold-blooded murder for her own gain? In all honesty, you wouldn’t rule it out - but you couldn’t let the Commander know that, especially since you didn’t know what she was being accused of.
“No. When it comes down to it, Annie is closed off for sure but she’s not a murderer! What is it you think she’s done anyway? What’s so important you couldn’t just bring her in for questioning instead? You’d probably get a lot more answers from her.”
“Treason, Y/N. Conspiring to end humanity as we know it.”
You sat back in your chair, part of you shocked at such an accusation and part of you trying not to laugh because of it. Annie could never do that, could she? And if she was involved, that’d mean she was willing to have you killed too. Erwin took your silence as leave to continue.
“We’re planning to bring her in and get proof - but we need your help to do it.” This time, you really did laugh.
“You’ve kidnapped me, slung me in the back of a wagon and dragged me down to your basement blindfolded, and now you need my help? Annie is my friend! I wouldn't betray her like this and i certainly won’t be the reason she goes to prison!” Erwin was infuriatingly calm and collected.
“If you truly believe she’s innocent, this is your chance to help us prove it. We have a plan that will establish the facts beyond all doubt. And i assure you that even if she’s guilty, we won’t be taking her to prison.” You weren’t sure how to take the comment. While it had clearly been meant as a reassurance, you know Erwin wasn’t revealing his whole plan to you. But even so, if there was a chance you could help Annie out of this, you had to take it.
“What.... what do you need me to do?”
You shifted nervously, eyes flitting up and down the deserted street as you waited for Annie and the Scouts to join you. The dark opening of the entrance to the underground city unsettled you almost as much as the knowledge of what you were about to do - betraying Annie’s trust. You only hoped that whatever the Scouts had in mind, it would prove her innocence.
In truth, you weren’t entirely sure why the Scouts needed your help in this operation in the first place. It seemed as if you were just there as an extra, someone to make the story more believable and to help persuade Annie to comply. You ran over the story you’d been told in your head and prayed you wouldn’t mess up.
When the four of them rounded the corner into the street and took sight of you lingering close to the wall, Annie froze. Your heart leapt into your mouth as you did everything in your power to appear calm. Usually, she seemed as if she could stare into your very soul; you hoped against hope that wasn’t true. You released a breath when, after a few seconds, Annie started moving forward and joined you at the top of the stairs.
“What are you doing here?” Although Annie seemed calm, you knew she was irritated or even annoyed by your presence. Since you’d known her, she’d always made a point of telling you to keep your head down, not to do anything noticeable or against the grain - and there you were, helping criminals.
“I, um…” You panicked, almost forgetting the story you’d been prepped with. With any luck, Annie would dismiss your jumpiness as your usual nerves and the pressure of helping Eren escape. “We’re helping Eren buy more time right?” You sounded unsure so tried to continue more confidently. “You can’t get him through the checkpoints on your own, you’d need two MPs for that, so they asked me to come and help to. And since they’re your friends, i said yes because i know they’re important to you…” You trailed off. “...That’s ok right? I just wanted to help!”
“Makes no difference anymore, you’re already here.” Was Annie’s reply. “But for the record, next time someone asks you to commit treason, say no. I don’t need you sticking your neck out for my sake.” Annie’s reply was harsh but you understood why.
As Armin turned to walk down the steps, the other two following suit, you flicked your eyes nervously over to one of the rooftops, knowing who was hidden on the other side and praying they wouldn’t have to make themselves known. When you looked back to Annie, she was still staring at you, but this time there was a small, almost imperceptible frown on her face.
“Come on guys!” Eren called back, ever impatient.
Swallowing, you turned to follow, descending down several steps before turning to make sure Annie was coming too. To your surprise, and perhaps dread, she remained on the top step, unwilling to go any further.
“Come on Annie,” You knew your voice was shaking but you at least had to try. “They need our help, right? If you trust them, so do i.”
“Y/N, you’re afraid of the Underground.” Fuck, you’d been hoping she’d forget, not questioning why you were so willing to go down there too.
“We… We’re the MPs, right? The best of the best. If i can’t do this and help your friends, I’d be a pretty lousy soldier, right? Of course I’m scared, but I’m being brave. And you know… I’d be a lot braver if you were down here with me…” You added, looking down to play coy. In the past, Annie had always seemed to take pity on you with things like this, accompanying you anywhere you were too scared to go alone, you only hoped it’d work this time.
“I’m scared too.” You looked up at her in shock. Granted you hadn’t known Annie that long, but you’d never heard her admit she had any emotions, never mind fear. Perhaps she was scared, and that’s why she didn’t want to come down. After a moment, your shocked expression morphed into a gentle smile. You opened your mouth to try and coax her down, but Eren interrupted you.
“Annie, stop it, that’s enough! Come on, damnit, we’re running out of time!”
You were barely able to follow the conversation that came next, too focused on the impending dread bubbling up in your stomach. Eren seemed to be getting more and more irate, Armin too. You weren’t sure what exactly they were accusing her of, something to do with their last expedition? Armin said he’d known since Annie hadn’t killed him. Known what? And why would Annie kill him, let alone be on an expedition in the first place? She’d been visiting family, right?
“Annie?” At her name, the group went silent, waiting for you to continue. “I… I’m not sure what’s going on but i know whatever you’re accused of doing is bad… please come down and we can talk it out, alright? There has to be some kind of mistake!”
“What have they told you about me?” Annie’s voice was measured but you could detect an edge to it, almost as if she was anxious about what you’d say next.
“Nothing! At least, not very much… All i know is that they think you’ve done something, so I’m here to prove them wrong - you’re innocent, i know it! They think you’re a killer!” You exclaimed, making no effort now to hide the distress you were in.
“All you have to know, Y/N, is that no matter what i am, I’ll never hurt you.” While it was meant as a reassurance, the fact that she hadn’t denied the fact she was a killer unsettled you even more. “You’ll hate me after this, i know you will, but always trust that I’ll do my best to keep you safe.”
“Annie!” You all but shrieked, taking a step towards the blonde. “This has to be some kind of joke! I know you’d never hurt me! Just come down here and we can work it all out, alright?” You implored again. But you already knew it was a lost cause.
“I’m sorry…” Her voice was quiet, filled with pain like you’d never heard before.
You took a few steps up, meaning to join her at the top and give the girl a hug, only for Mikasa to pull you back roughly. As she did, Annie shot forward, apparently on reflex to grab you back from the brunette.
“Get your hands off her!”
“Now!” You weren’t sure who shouted, but mere seconds later, a crowd had gathered at the top of the steps to restrain Annie. Why so many people? Yes, Annie knew how to fight, but you were sure this amount of force wasn’t necessary. You made another shout of protest as Mikasa dragged you backwards and away from the scene and fought against her hold.
As Annie managed to get a hand free, you managed to break free from Mikasa’s grip. You raced towards the blonde, all shouts deaf to your ears. You had to help her, this all had to be some kind of misunderstanding.
Annie let your eyes for a single moment. You could practically hear her saying ‘I’m sorry’ but for what?
Before you reached the crowd that had gathered, there was a flash of light, and heat so scalding you were forced to cover your face and take a few steps backwards. When it was cool enough to emerge again, there was a giant hand reaching out to grab you, the hand of a titan.