ii. COMING CLEAN

episode 15: special operations squad; eve of the counterattack, part 2

CHAPTER TWO

COMING CLEAN

•••

FORMER SURVEY CORPS HQ

It was no secret to the Regiment how a bounty hunter had been causing trouble within each district. Freya had been famous to many, especially to those from the Underground City. Low-life thugs that idolized her mischief with the law. She did make a name for herself. Once in a while suddenly disappearing from the map, almost as if she didn't exist for months before another daily city report would be broadcasted in newspapers, and wanted fliers for missing persons. Being given a name, and her job would be to find them, hunt, or execute. The former being one of the numerous reasons why the law had been chasing her the second her name went spreading in each wall.

Years, months, no one had wanted to capture her more than the Regiment. She was an infestation that wouldn't go away, her name already stirring a problem in each nook or corner, yet, here she was, meters away from their grasp as she unproblematically rode her white stallion, stifling a yawn from the long journey with nothing but glares and scowls pointed her way.

"I don't understand."

"I don't think anyone does."

"How can Corporal allow this?"

"Either way, we get to kill the two of them when we're given the chance."

Eren's back tensed at the last statement, suddenly going rigid and tightening his hold on the leash of his horse. He peered left and right, head unmoving from being seen as nervous from the cover of his green cowl. However, it was obvious enough with his constant fidgeting that he was getting antsy. He didn't like how no one attempted to at least whisper their thoughts in private, instead, stating them with confidence and dubiety. It was evident that not a lot of Scouts agreed with the fact that a disguised Titan aligned with them, more so with a criminal being glued by his side.

"Ignore them. It's just fear talking." Freya muttered, uninterested and the least bit threatened at the fact it was the two of them being the subject of the topic. Riding her horse by his left side, blinking at the trees and sun's rays beating down at them, frankly she was starting to be irritated with the whispers.

He looked down, eyes slightly widening that Freya spoke to him. It was her first time speaking up as she stayed silent during the duration of the ride. "But I don't understand too."

He really didn't. Nothing but orders were meant to be given to him, information didn't pass by him, leaving him to be clueless about the arrangement. And why suddenly Freya Nightwalker, of all people, joined. He wasn't as dense as most would think. He immediately caught how her attention had been tied down to him the moment they all grouped together. Her name and her story was known to everyone, including him, which threw him off guard to see someone with her background randomly pop into the Survey Corps.

"It's better if you don't." She told him. After she was ordered of being a part of a squad the day of the tribunal, her two cadet bodyguards were back, all following her throughout the day, standing out her bland room provided by the Scouts, and surveyed, before she was led to her all familiar white stallion the next morning with a group of Scouting Legions. She was reluctant at first, hiding her distaste from causing a scene but it was clear on her features that she wasn't happy at all with the contrivance of traveling meters away with Eren and the Special Operations Squad. Or Squad Levi as she remembered it to be.

She couldn't shake off the strange feeling in her stomach when the journey started.

Of course, she noticed him once it began. He was difficult to miss even though he swayed far from the crowd and chatter as he sat atop of his horse. She remembered their little stare from yesterday. The moment of long silence that neither parties backed down or gave away. Nearly, she grinned, knowing that only a few inches away, he followed behind her. He was incredibly quiet for a man who had a face that told he had a lot of opinions in mind.

Captain Levi.

Refraining herself from snorting at the title, she was sure that she wasn't going to address him anytime soon. It didn't feel right, giving down in to a high ranked officer with her current position, especially for a woman like her who didn't like feeling any less.

Her horse whined when someone stepped in front, blocking her path as she softly tugged on the leash of her stallion from ramming into the person and slowing down her pace a step or two. From keeping a close distance of staying by Eren's side, she was pulled back from him, her vision watching his back and a man who overtook her. She scowled at the intrusion.

"The former Survey Corps HQ." The man said to Eren with his voice going uncharacteristically low. "As an old castle that was renovated to be our base, it definitely looks extravagant. But since it's this far away from the walls and the river, it really wasn't something we needed. It was used back when we were first formed and our spirits were still high. I never imagined we'd be keeping you in that old decoration."

Looking past behind his shoulder, Eren saw that Freya didn't try to hold back an eye roll this time. His eyes slid beside her, and immediately his attention went back to her front, fidgeting in his seat again.

Curious at what got him skittish, Freya glanced to her left, her gaze meeting with a pair of cold ones. He didn't try to hide the fact that he was staring, head straight on the makeshift dirt road but eyes directed at her, and as always keeping a blank face. Uncertain of what to do, she ignored him, biting her tongue from making a remark to Levi.

The man beside Eren continued. "Don't get ahead of yourself, recruit."

"What?" Eren's eyebrows furrowed.

"You may be a Titan or whatever, but a pissy brat like you being under Lance Corporal Levi's watch–" The man let out a gruntled yelp, a mix with a pitch scream as he bit his tongue. A misstep on a large rock caused the horse to stagger and Freya raised her fingers over her mouth.

She chuckled quietly, "What an idiot."

Unsure of where the comment came from with the riot of his horse swaying rather untimely, and the laughs from others, the man whipped his head left and right with his tongue weirdly sticking out, "Wha-was –ah?"

Past from tree branches and leaves, Frey could already see the rundown castle that got everyone excited. From a distance, she could already tell how incredibly high it towered with its massive size and structure. Grey walls were stained with grime dirt and green ivy growing out from the open cracks. The navy blue roof were covered with dried leaves that blew over. And two overlooking towers stood by its side. She gnawed the inside of her cheeks, biting harder this time, clutching the leather strap of her horse at the sight.

Freya felt her stomach drop, not enough to make her sick, but have her uneasy. A slight chill ran down her spine despite the blaring heat. Looking down at her hand, back to her rings, she started to twist them one by one. Her hearing focused on the slow gallop of horses, whistle from the wind, and chatter from those excited at the castle. They weren't enough to distract her, but she remember his cold stare. His lingering gaze that stayed on her was good enough to have her thoughts from lingering into deep territory.

•••

"This is what you get for yapping away on horseback." Petra scolded, hands on her hips as she looked down at Oluo who sat down on a staircase leading up to a well.

Oluo grinned smugly. "First impressions are crucial. That recruit was scared stiff."

"I think he was just surprised by how stupid you were."

"At any rate, everything went as planned.

"Say, that's not how you usually talk, is it?" The woman questioned slowly. "If... if that's your idea of imitating Corporal Levi, could you seriously stop it? Then again, it's not like it was similar in any way."

"Are you trying to keep me down, Petra? You haven't gone through the proper steps to act as my wife." Oluo raised a damp rag on his mouth.

"If only you had but your tongue off and died..." She dragged on. "You're always bragging about your Titan kills too."

"Relax. I bragged for you guys too while I was at it."

"Marriage..." Freya scoffed as she passed by the two squad members. "Who would even go through such monstrosities." She dropped the heavy bucket on the ground filled with water that she ridged from the well just as she was ordered to when they arrived. It sloshed inside the container, a few drops splashing on Oluo as it landed beside him. With him being too distracted by the sting in his mouth, he didn't notice the damp side of his cape as he soaked his rag into the bucket of water.

A simple command, she was already hating it. Freya walked past the bickering duo, and the term like an old married-couple was suitable to describe their ongoing banter. From a few feet away, she heard a clasp of belt buckles and grunt of annoyance come. Turning her head, she saw Eren. His hands fumbled with the straps of his horse, the leather material stuck in a knot that he couldn't untangle, but only tightening.

"You're doing it wrong." She said, startling him.

Immediately, he blinked at her with those wide eyes, mouth parting as if he didn't know what to say. Brushing of his reaction, she moved him aside with a push on his shoulder. He didn't say anything as she took his place, her hands reaching up for the strap around the horse.

"See them?" She asked him, eyes focused on her working hands but her attention elsewhere. "You know them?"

He finally spoke as he turned his head when she nudged her head to the side. He came across the two Special-Ops cadets who were now in a heated argument. "I do."

"What's her name?"

The question confused him. Nonetheless, he answered. "Petra Ral. Her solo Titan kills went up to 10. Titan kill assists; 48." The woman had brown soft eyes, hair that Freya didn't know if it was a shade red or brown, and a kind smile that she would often give to Freya for reasons unknown to the latter.

The high number was impressive. But it wasn't something that Freya asked as she moved on to the man beside Petra. "How bout Horse Tongue over there?"

"Oluo Bozado. Solo Titan kills; 39. Titan kill assists; 9." The man who had a smug grin for no apparent reason had somewhat grey hair curled into a style. Wrinkles were below his small eyes, making him appear to look older, though the way Freya noticed how cadets treated him showed that they were all the same. "They're elites beyond a doubt." Eren said.

Freya hummed. She picked up on footsteps passing by. Tilting her head to peer behind her shoulder, a man with blonde hair tied into a bun walked past them. "Him?"

"Eld Jin. Solo Titan kills; 14. Titan kill assists; 32"

Another individual with black hair followed behind. "The other one?"

"Gunther Schultz. Solo Titan kills; 7. Titan kill assists; 40." Eren breathed out in finality. "These people are the Survery Corps' Special-Ops Squad, a.k.a Levi Squad. They're all elites hand picked by Corporal Levi himself."

Freya paused her movements. "The Captain picked each and everyone one?"

Eren, noticing her state, scrunched his eyebrows, rubbing the back of his neck as he hesitated to answer. "So, I've heard..."

She wondered if she was ever put in a category full of candidates. Or if this was just plain bad luck handed to her. She pulled on the strap, nearly finishing the job as she took her time. "If you ever go berserk with that power of yours, these people will be the ones to kill you." The horse neighed as she tugged on too roughly, her voice going low. "So don't go too crazy with what you've got. I've got plans, big plans, and I want to be alive to do them."

The response she received was nothing but silence. She didn't turn to look at him at first, gently running her hands over the mane of the horse, up to the neck. He looked down, and his answer confirmed Freya's thoughts that he must've thought about it. "I know."

Suddenly, a squeak rang. Metal rubbing against its hinges as a loud thud rammed into the open space. Something solid hit the cement walls. So loud that it echoed within the area above. Freya jumped at the bang, eyes widening. "What the–"

She looked up from the source and saw Levi staring down at them, a level or three high up with his hands holding the wooden windows open. He pulled down the cloth covering his mouth under his chin. "You two," He stated loudly to Freya and Eren seeing as they were the only ones looking at him. "Start with the upper floor."

•••

Nothing but dust coated each surface inside the castle walls. Compared to the outside interior, Freya had to admit that she was fervent with the embellishment of each room. With Eren's help, the two of them took on the upper floor. While rest went on in the other buildings and levels. It was difficult considering how it was just the two, and in an enormous castle. Stifling a sneeze and wiping off sweat from her temples, she was glad that this was their final sleeping quarter room to finish up with.

Her dark colored cape was off, revealing that she was in a black collared long sleeved shirt and a pair of brown trousers, the ends tucked in her black knee high boots. Her uneven bangs tickled her eyebrows, dirty blonde strands framing her face as it was tied into a low ponytail with a dark ribbon. Her hand stopped as she finished wiping the wooden frame of the top bunk bed, letting out a sigh as she gripped the edge and leaned on it, dropping her forehead on the surface with closed eyes. She opened them after awhile, turning her head to the side and looking out the window. It was turning to be midday, yet to her, it felt like night was falling.

She blew another sigh, her lips pursed as she murmured. "It's just like you said it would be."

The castle; grand, open, and somewhat dirty no matter how many times you cleaned.

She almost smiled thinking of those words forged into writing.

The door creaked and she whirled her her attention behind her. She found Eren looking at her as if he was trying figuring out her intentions, what she was doing, standing with a long gaze. She returned back to the window and spoke, "You don't talk much, do you?"

"I– well..." Eren brought the white cloth from

his mouth down.

"Or is there a problem?"

"No!"

"Is it because of me?"

"No."

She exhaled heavily. "It's usually because of me." She picked up on how the cadets had just blatantly ignored her, acting as if she never existed. She didn't blame them, thinking that it was the only thing holding them back from actually killing her. She knew that she wasn't the most favorable person to be a part of the Survey Corps, more so that she was in Squad Levi. A statement that until now surprised her just by thinking about it.

Eren, unsure of what to say, replied. "I don't think so." Although, he did catch up on how silent a room would turn whenever she entered.

"Are you usually this quiet? It's disturbing, really."

Ironically, at the same time, Eren said. "Can I ask something?"

At that, Freya's eyebrows raised. "I'm not really in the–"

"What made you join the Survey Corps?" Eren spewed out.

With how quick he spoke, she had to ask him to repeat again. "Hm?"

He tugged on the collar of his shirt. "W-What made you join the Survey Corps?"

She shifted on her feet, turning to face him and lean her back on the wall. "You think I wanted to be a part of this?"

Parts of him started to regret asking. "Well, it–"

"Did you want to be a part of... this?" She said with an underlying tone of disgust. "As far as I know, we've got no say in the matter. Either we join them, or die. You understand that, don't you?"

A subtle nod of his head was his answer. He looked away with a solemn face. "The upper floor is clean now. I'll go report back."

"Knock yourself out." Freya shrugged as he left without shutting the door. She wasn't very cooperative when giving an explanation. That much was obvious and having Eren be further more confused just made her feel satisfied. Being clueless about the world frustrated her at a very young age. It was an endless possibility of what laid outside the walls. Growing up, she soon learned that there were things better left unsaid, a mystery that had her head turning no matter what. The feeling that she wasn't the only one uninformed about it all eased that aggravating annoyance.

She turned to the window, looking down at her hands that held onto the dirty rag. She almost grimaced that she forgot to wear a tied cloth over her mouth just like everybody else. Shifting her stance on one foot, she tilted her head to the left, speaking into the air. "Are you going to keep standing there?"

The small heel on his boots clicked on the floor when he entered, pushing the door even wider as he stepped in. She saw from her peripheral vision that he raised his hand, fingers ducking underneath the top bunk bed and running it over the surface. Specs of dirt fell on the floor before he wiped his fingers clean.

"You missed a spot."

Freya neglected the statement. "I don't see it." She said in a light tone.

"Right..." He was standing behind her when he pointed a finger forward, his arm hovering above her shoulder as he directed it at the glass window. "There." He referred to the dark stain tinting the windows in dots that no matter how many times Freya rubbed the material, it wouldn't come off.

The longer she stared at it, the reflection bouncing off came clear. She could see herself, light blue eyes blinking through her messy bangs. Then her eyes met his incredibly dull grey ones focused on the stained spot. He was in a light grey long button-up shirt, a white ascot tucked in the collar, and brown leather harnesses going across his chest and shoulder blades. She almost chuckled at the sight of two white bandannas tied over his head and another underneath his chin.

She turned to face him, not expecting to him be suddenly so close as she dropped the rag on the floor. The height difference between the two was something that threw Freya off guard. He was strikingly shorter than her. Although, Freya was tall, she didn't completely tower over him with maybe two inches or three measuring over her slim figure. There were dark circles underneath his eyes, but she was slightly envious of how young he looked. His lips were pursed into a tight line when he peered down at the fallen rag.

Unbothered by how eerily quiet he was being, Freya shrugged. "Do it yourself."

"What was that?" He met her gaze. It was a look that frightened most cadets with his intimidating demeanor but calm expression. Yet, to Freya, she was all too familiar with the personality that at this point, it didn't disturb her facade.

"I said, do it yourself." Her stubbornness and tiresome attitude was talking. She didn't show it, but her muscles were aching at this point. It was a whole castle that they were cleaning, a break or two wasn't even included in between, and she was surprised by how she hadn't snapped yet to anyone, knowing that it wouldn't exactly be in her favor. If anyone had her heard her speak to him in that manner, they would be thinking that her next few days would be considered as hell.

His words were very reserved, short, and cold. "Do it all over again." He left without waiting for a response.

•••

The upper floor was far from clean before the second they had a retake. Only this time, Freya had taken it upon herself to watch, observe, and put her heated gaze on Eren as he did the work in a nervous jitter under her watch. Truthfully, she found amusement in his hurried actions, often making her chuckle at his frantic behavior around her presence. What made it better was that he made no move to ask her to join in on the cleaning.

"I expect we'll be on standby for a few more days, but I heard there are plans for a large-scale expedition in thirty days." Eld said as he brought his empty teacup down on the small plate, glass clinking in the dark candle lit dining room. "And we'll be joined by the new recruits who graduated recently.

"Are you serious, Eld? That's rather sudden, especially since the latest Titan attack has undoubtedly taken its toll on them." Gunther replied to his left.

Oluo leaned back, resting his one arm behind the back side of his chair, his teacup raised midair as he sat opposite from Eld from the wooden table, "The brats must've all lost their backbone."

"Is that true, Corporal?" To Oluo's right, Petra asked with a worried look on her face.

Night had just fallen when the Special-Ops squad and Eren rested in a quiet dining room. The flame of the candle illuminated the contour of Freya's features as she sat beside Petra, Eren to her right as he stayed at one end of the table, the Corporal opposite from him.

One thing that Freya noticed was how he sat with his right arm resting on the back of the chair with closed fists much like how Oluo imitated his position, his teacup was half full on the table, and he didn't seem as worried as his squad members as Levi answered calmly. "I'm not in charge of drafting plans. But remember, this is Erwin. I'm sure he's thinking much further ahead than us."

"The situation itself is unusual. The route we advanced at the cost of countless sacrifices to recapture Maria was erased in an instant." Eld interlocked his fingers together, turning his eyes to the left as everyone followed and switched their attention. "Then suddenly, a completely different hope appeared."

Eren glanced down, a dribble of sweat slid down his temple.

"I still find it hard to believe, but what exactly does it mean to transform into a Titan, Eren?" Eld asked.

"My memories from that time aren't clear, but it felt like I had lost myself. I do know it's triggered by self-injury though." Eren explained.

"You guys are aware, aren't you? The reports cover everything we know now." Levi picked up his cup, tilting his head back the slightest when he connected the rim to his lips. "Well, I doubt she'll stay out either way. But she might go too far and end up killing you, Eren."

At at that possibility, Freya spoke up, raising an eyebrow. "She?" She continued to stir the contents of her cup with a tiny spoon, dissolving the hefty amount of sugar added. No one answered, only staring at the woman in uncertainty which Freya clenched her jaw from lashing out.

Then there was a bang on the door located behind Levi. It was barricaded with a wooden plank for reason unknown to Freya. And as Petra stood up to raised the barricade of the door, it slowly swung open. From the other side, a woman waved her hand with a bright smile. "Good evening, members of the Squad Levi. How's it feel living in a castle?"

Freya quietly scoffed, raising her teacup to her mouth as she spoke from being heard. "I would say we're living."

"You're early." Levi observed.

"I just couldn't stay put." The woman stepped in. She was the same person that Freya saw the day of the Tribunal. Her excited glee towards a bloody tooth was still stuck in her mind, that, and the rectangular rimmed glasses she wore.

"Squad leader Hanji?" Eren recognized.

Hanji smiled as she approached him. "Sorry for the wait, Eren. I'm– wait..." The lens of her glasses glinted as she stared at Freya, familiarity flashing. " "It's you again!" The woman shrieked in joy. "I was a bit worried that you wouldn't come. But here you are!" Confused by how the woman was so overwhelmed by her presence, Freya looked away. Hanji was definitely different from the rest despite just looking at her. Hanji continued to speak. "I'm in charge of investigating two Titans we captured in the city, and I want your cooperation for tomorrow's experiment. I came to get permission for that."

"An experiment?" Eren asked. "What would I..."

"Well, it's..." Hanji's cheeks turned a shade pink, her thoughts wandering. "The most exciting thing ever."

"U-um..." He looked at Freya. "I can't grant you permission myself. I don't have any authority over my decisions." Freya shrugged, telling that she wasn't the answer to that little problem.

"Levi, what are Eren's plan for tomorrow?" Hanji questioned.

Levi blinked and deadpanned. "Cleaning the garden."

"No problem then! It's decided." Hanji finalized. "Eren, I look forward to tomorrow."

"R-Right." Eren stuttered. "But what exactly are we going to do?"

"Hmm?"

"Uh, well..." He paused. His thoughts remembered back to Freya and their previous short filled conversation. "What do you mean by 'experiment–'"

"Don't ask." Oluo grumbled. The rest nodded in agreement.

But Hanji was already speaking, pulling up a chair to sit down. "Oh, I knew it. You sure looked like you wanted to know."

"Come on." Petra quietly said to Freya.

She looked around to find Oluo, Eld, and Gunther out the door, Petra staring down at her, and Levi still alone on his seat. Confused by the sudden request, Freya rose from her chair, glancing back to Eren and Hanji who were now in a deep conversation that she didn't understand. The topic must be a tiring one for them to leave just like that. Without a second thought, Freya followed.

Walking in the hallway lined with lighted candles hung up, she then heard a chair screeching from behind and familiar boot heels clicking before the door was closed. She didn't need to look to see who came. The rest was already climbing a flight of a stairs leading to the upper floor and respective rooms. Gnawing the inside of her cheeks, she contemplated whether to ask where her room would be or take a guess and move into an empty looking one.

However, before she could do that, Levi's monotone voice spoke to her. "You're staying in the basement."

"What?" She stopped and swiveled on her heel, facing him with knitted brows. "No." The Special-Ops squad had disappeared from above, stranding Freya with the man.

"That was part of the conditions given in exchange for Eren." He told her. For some reason, the blank face was starting to bother her.

"Well, I'm not him, am I?" She countered. The basement was disheveled twice the amount of any room in the castle. It was cold, with the harsh wind blowing, she could hear the howl echoing between the walls, a musty scent wafted that her wanting to scrunch her nose every second when she was there for a short minute, and she didn't want to start with the distance of having to walk numerous flights of stairs to reach it.

Levi's hand went to the back pocket of his trousers, grabbing for something. As he finally enclosed his hand around the small item, he threw it out towards Freya. She caught it with ease in one hand, midair. Taking a sneak at it, it was a key. He clarified what it was for when he noticed her slight down turn of her lips.

"Basement."

His shoulder brushed with her as he walked past, stopping for a moment, a few feet away with their backs turned. Freya continued to stare at the key in her palm, and she swore she detected the slight tone of vanity as he said, "You'll be cleaning the garden tomorrow."

•••

— AUTHOR NOTE —

i don't want the story to be so rushed that's why i'm taking my time with the interaction between levi and freya, hope that's okay and don't forget to vote! can y'all guess which anime face claim i'm using to portray her lmfao