Levi wasn't in his usual spot today. Wondering if he had finally healed from his injury and returned into the line of fire, she wandered around the nearby streets searching for him. Surprisingly, she found him kicking rocks in an alleyway, a blonde man who was easily a foot taller than him looking on with a raised eyebrow.

"Don't feel sorry for yourself, Levi," he told him, a hint of amusement in his tone.

"I'm not, Erwin. I'm just bored."

"You're frustrated. It's been many years since you've— Oh? Is that a friend of yours, Levi?"

Both her and the captain's eyes widened, for she had no idea how this Erwin character could have seen her, as she was perfectly concealed behind the corner of the wall.

"I'm used to being watched. You can come out," he said.

She obeyed, as she was already reaching the conclusion that this man was formidable, at the very least. Sure, Captain Levi was easily the most proficient soldier the Survey Corps had to offer, but he didn't have the same cold, calculating look in his eyes as the other man did. It seemed he knew something she didn't.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he hissed, glaring at her.

"That's no way to talk to someone who treated you to your favorite tea the other day, Levi," she replied cheerfully, inching closer to him.

"It's also no way to talk to someone who spent her entire morning crying," Erwin added lightly.

"Excuse me?"

She could see that she was being put in a defensive position now, but she couldn't wrap her head around how Erwin had come to the conclusion that she'd been crying, as she was sure there were no visible traces of it on her face.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize it wasn't obvious."

"Alright, jackass—" she started, but was cut off by her own startled gasp when she felt a forceful hand yanking her back by her hair.

"Oi," Levi said lowly, his eyes shining in a way she had never seen before, "Watch your mouth. Do you know who you're talking to?"

"Levi," Erwin mumbled, "Let her go."

She fell to the ground, coughing from the strain in her throat that the captain had caused with the harsh grip that had been rooted in her scalp, and she couldn't help the murderous look she was giving not to Levi, but Erwin. Her facade had been threatened, and she couldn't see the point in concealing her anger anymore.

"I apologize for my impoliteness, Miss Varga, but I have to admit that I feel a bit unsafe in your presence," he remarked as he crouched down in front of her.

"I don't understand," she admitted.

"Do you think he's attractive?"

"What?"

"Levi. Is that why you've been watching him so often? Is that the reason behind your advances towards him?"

"Erwin, what—" the captain attempted to interject, but his efforts were in vain, as the other man seemed to be exclusively entertained by her widening eyes.

"Or is it something else? Is it related to your tears from this morning?"

"Have you been spying on me?" she decided to ask, clenching her fists tightly.

How long had he been watching her? She had only been observing the captain for two weeks, and she was sure that fourteen days was not nearly enough time to come to such an audacious conclusion.

"Don't take it personally. The Survery Corps happens to be in a delicate position right now. Forgive me for being cautious."

"Erwin," Levi requested, "Tell me what's going on."

"It would appear that someone would like you dead, Levi."

Once again, she and the captain experienced the same wave of shock, because how could Erwin possibly—?

"It has occurred to me in the past that not everyone is particularly fond of him, but I had never been very concerned for his safety. Like him or not, he's done a lot to secure humanity's future. Surely you're smart enough to see that, aren't you?"

"I don't—"

"But recently, I've realized that not everyone seems to prioritize mankind's safety. Miss Varga," he said, firmly cupping her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze, "Why are you trying to kill my captain?"

"Erwin," Levi repeated, and she looked over at him for the first time since the other man had started interrogating her.

He stood completely still, his expression unreadable. Erwin seemed to be intrigued by his stature as well, turning his body towards the captain, his grip on her chin still strong.

"I see," he replied, looking back at her.

She didn't understand what he was saying, or what it was he saw on Levi's face. For once in her life, she was having a difficult time assessing her situation.

"You don't have any dealings in the Underground, do you, Miss Varga?" he asked, cocking his head.

"No," she said honestly, "Never been there in my life."

"I see."

How many times was he going to say that?

"She had a relative in the Survey Corps. I don't remember his first name, but I remember Varga," Levi announced, seemingly troubled.

"You remember him?" she asked quickly, as to be sure Erwin didn't cut her off or make any assumptions.

"Not really," he admitted, "I stop by the infirmary after expeditions. It's usually a miserable place, and it smells like piss. I saw a bunch of idiots gathered around the same cot once, though, and they were all laughing. The guy on the cot had gotten pretty messed up, but he was awake and talking. They were calling him Varga. I'd never seen so many healthy people in that shithole at one time. I guess that's why it stood out to me."

"Yeah," she whispered, "That's my brother. He'd be really glad to know that you noticed him."

Levi said nothing, giving her a questioning look as if he didn't really understand what she was saying, prompting her to continue.

"He talks about you like you're a God," she replied bitterly, wondering if the captain was truly perplexed by her claims or if he just wanted praise from her.

"Yet you want to kill him," Erwin said, a small smile on his face.

"Why would I want to kill a guy Lewis looks up to? For someone who thinks he's hot shit, Erwin, you're pretty stupid."

Before she could process the fact that Levi had ever even moved, she felt a sharp pain in her ribs, slowly coming to the realization that she had been kicked. She was flipped over onto her back, the toe of the captain's leather boot pressing into her throat.

"Keep talking shit and I'll cut out your tongue," he spat.

"Forgive him," Erwin interrupted, grabbing Levi's shoulder and gently pulling him back, "He's not usually this irritable, but he's been out of the action for some time now. Personally, I'd rather your tongue stay attached, as I'm curious to know why you've chosen this course of action. Now, I can either have you arrested by the Military Police, or we can be reasonable about this, and you can just come with me."

"I don't know if that's such a great idea," Levi pointed out.

"I'll go," she declared, pushing herself up off of the ground.

Levi was surprised, whereas Erwin seemed to expect this. He flashed her a grateful smile that didn't quite meet his eyes, and she was put even further on edge by how devious this man appeared to be. How did he manage to figure her out so easily? There's a reason she'd avoided arrest for so long; she was diligent, sneaky, even, and was relatively agile as well, always sure to cover her tracks.

It had taken Erwin two weeks to corner her.

Levi twisted the back of her shirt into his fist, not touching her skin, but still managing to keep a tight hold on her. In this way, he ushered her down the street, eventually shoving her into a carriage and climbing in after her. She sat on the side opposite to him and Erwin, the taller man seemingly unconcerned by the fact that she was not at all restrained.

"So," he began, sighing contentedly and glancing out of the cart's small window, "You were telling the truth about not really wanting to kill Levi, then. I appreciate your cooperation."

"I don't care what happens to him," she mumbled, "But I wouldn't willingly go after someone my brother admires so much."

"Sounds like a load of shit. You seemed fine with it when you were stalking me," the captain griped, crossing his arms.

"Yeah," she said, "I intended to go through with it. I still kind of do, if I'm being honest. Have you ever played chess, Captain?"

"No."

"I'm sure you've heard of a few of the terms, though. Do you know what a checkmate is?"

"Are you stupid? I just told you that I've never played."

"It's when your king is trapped, and you're not in any position to retaliate," Erwin explained, "Has your king been trapped, Miss Varga?"

"Yes."

"But not quite," he said, "You're the parrying piece, arent you?"

"Stop talking about this shit," Levi interrupted, "I don't know what you're saying."

"A checkmate can be blocked if a piece moves in between the king and whoever is threatening him. I believe she can only make such a play if you're out of the game, Levi." 

The captain tensed, glancing up at Erwin questioningly. The other man didn't acknowledge him, instead looking at her with an unsettling leer.

"You knew," she accused him, lips curving downward into a small frown, "You knew before I even started talking to him. How?"

"I'd been anonymously informed of a hit placed on Levi. It was just a matter of uncovering who would be carrying it out."

"You knowingly put his life in danger."

"He wasn't in danger. You were never going to kill him."

"I'm not even sure if that's true. There's no way you could be."

"Erwin endangers my life on a weekly basis," Levi mumbled, not looking at either of them, "And I'm not dead yet."

"You trust him that much?"

"I didn't say that," he snapped, "I just said that I'm not dead yet."

Erwin chuckled lightly at the exchange, relaxing in his seat.

"In any other scenario, I'd see to it that you're executed for plotting the murder of my strongest soldier," he explained, "But it just so happens that our interests align."

"How?"

"I have a suspicion. You met whoever wanted Levi dead, didn't you?"

"I didn't see his face."

"But you heard his voice."

"It's a little hard to convict someone based on what they sound like."

"I have a feeling more evidence will present itself in the future. So, here's your ultimatum: help me identify whoever approached you, or I'll have you hanged. Can you do that?"

She nodded slowly, a bit frightened by the prospect of being strangled by a rope, daring to ask, "What do you need me to do?"

"I need you to accompany some of my soldiers soon," he told her, his intentions still vague, "Until then, you'll be assisting Levi while he's injured. I'm sure you'll get along."

She did not share his certainty.

a/n: IMPORTANT! i made a lil oopsie in the description of this book. i forgot that the female titan arc occurred at the end of season one (ik i'm silly) so i put that this book took place during season two. so, correction!!! the beginning of this story is actually set right before the female titan mess. ik it's a lil confusing but it'll make sense in a few chapters i swear.

with that being said, thank you for reading! this is the fastest i've ever updated a story cuz i'm having intense levi brain rot lately yktv. if you're enjoying this story, please vote or leave a cool little comment for me to read. thanks so much!