Chapter Text
Year 844, Walls
You have to be fucking kidding me. I thought to myself as I stomped through the halls toward his office, throwing my scout regiment jacket over my shoulders as I raced.
Maybe it’s my mistake for thinking he gives a shit about anyone other than himself. I continued fuming as I got closer.
After pushing past a few soldiers giving me concerned looks, I arrived at the office door labeled “Squad Leader Erwin Smith.” In a burst of rage, I slammed the door open without a single consideration.
Erwin, sitting at his desk directly in front of the doorway, looked up from the paperwork he was organizing.
“Sage. I was just about to look for you-“
“Do you seriously think you can get away with this?” I interrupted.
The blond soldier seemed hardly fazed by my confrontation, despite my intention being to catch him off-guard. He leaned back in his desk chair and asked,
“What are you referring to?” I took a deep breath, completely tunnel-visioned on Erwin’s bright blue eyes.
“You seriously think you can just bring in a bunch of Underground charity cases after your ‘success’ with me? And now you’re going to let them rise up the ranks without making them train?”
I placed my hands on his desk, lowering my voice and keeping my eyes laser-focused on him.
I had heard rumors about Erwin bringing in more prospective soldiers from the Underground from fellow scouts at lunch earlier. After asking around, it appeared that everyone seemed to know it was happening. Everyone except for me. The one person in this goddamn place actually from the Underground. I continued,
“I worked my ass off for months to make people forget where I’m from, and these bottom feeders will get to just rise to my level like it’s nothing? What’s your game here, Erwin? Are you looking for a replacement Underground poster child to make yourself look more charitable? And you didn’t even tell me. You just went right over my head straight to Zackly? Why? Because you knew I wouldn’t approve? When do you plan on bringing these recruits? There are so many dangerous people down there and you think you can just casually go soldier shopping? Are you crazy or just fucking stupid?”
I exhaled and took a step back, dizzy from my anger-fueled speech. I waited for Erwin’s reaction, expecting a scolding, but I was only met with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“What’s that look for?” I asked, exasperated.
Erwin stood and gestured to my left toward the makeshift conversation pit in his office, a few feet away from his desk.
The section of the room held two living chairs, three wooden chairs - clearly brought in from the dining hall or other spaces for the purpose of having extra seating - a bookshelf, and a couple of side tables.
The area sat a tall man with dirty blond hair, a small girl with auburn pigtails, an oddly familiar-looking man with black hair and razor sharp grey eyes, and the refreshing presence of my friend and roommate Section Commander Hange Zoe. All of whom’s presence I was obviously completely oblivious to during my outburst, and who were now staring at me in shock.
Mortified, I looked back at Erwin, who cleared his throat and said,
“Sage, though your demeanor was unexpected, the timing of your arrival couldn’t have been better. I’d like to introduce you to our new Scout Regiment recruits from the Underground: Farlan Church, Isabelle Magnolia, and Levi.”
I took in the sight in front of me, meeting the eyes of Farlan and Isabelle as Erwin introduced them. I lingered on the sight of the last one, Levi. After a couple of seconds, I realized exactly why he looked familiar.
“You.” I growled.
Then, without thinking, I lunged at him.