ATHRONE WITHOUT FAITH IS DEAD

Levi Ackerman:

Captain Levi was not a military leader. He had never been a military leader. Military leaders planned, commanded, and coordinated armies. Levi took orders. He worked in small squads miles from the top of the decision making chain. The difference between them was the difference between stones and mountains.

Yet, people commonly mistook him as the latter. Even now, gathered around the long meeting table in the palace with some of the most renowned leaders within the walls, he could see in their eyes the weight of their expectations.

Leader.

Hero.

Protector.

They regarded him with the same respect they themselves garnered. They clung to his words despite his brutal delivery. Couldn't they see him for what he was?

A simple captain.

A soldier.

"An Ackerman…" A voice in his head harangued.

His invitation to the meeting told him that even Historia, despite personally fighting in his squad, overestimated his role in her military.

Queen Historia he reminded himself.

Dressed in regal white, backlit by the sun streaming in through open curtains, she glowed in her position at the head of the table. Her golden hair flowed over her shoulders, the look in her eyes as firm as the walls.

Sitting poised and postured, it was almost hard to see the placid girl he'd known as "Krista Lens" sitting in the Queen's seat.

Almost.

Though she presented a powerful image, Levi saw her small glances around the room, never letting her eyes rest on something for more than a moment. She repeatedly clenched and unclenched her hands into fists, twiddling her fingers nervously under the table. Sitting next to Historia felt like tightrope walking in a lightning storm. She probably didn't think anyone noticed but from his vantage point sitting directly to the side of her, the electrified movements kept catching his eye.

She had a right to be nervous, he mused. Barely a week ago, these people wouldn't spare Historia the time of day. Now, despite her inexperience, they'll do whatever she tells them to. He would be intimidated too!

Levi studied the room's occupants. Nine of them in total sat around the long table, General Darius Zackly, Commanders Dot Pixis and Nile Dok, Damion Burns—the Captain of the Military Police in the Mitris District, the garrison section commander for Wall Rose, two chiefs of the Military Police from Stohess and Orvud, Historia, and himself. Erwin would normally be in his spot, but for some reason Historia had specifically requested he attend.

He wrinkled his nose, frowning. Though much had changed in the last two weeks since the uprising, he could still detect trace amounts of alcohol coming off the Military Police representatives across the table from him.

Lazy bastards.

He didn't know why he was surprised they were still slacking off. An entire kingdom overthrown and a new monarch put in place and the only consistent thing you could count on is that the Military Police would get sloppy drunk every night.

At least Nile had that going for him. Every single officer under him might be a hopeless wreck, but the man actually had one shred of dignity for himself. Although the mustache he grew almost erased that shred entirely.

Levi's eyes flicked back to General Zackly as he spoke up.

"I vote we take the nobility that continue to resist and give them...ah motivation to stop." He smiled a gleeful, almost disturbing, toothy grin.

Groans and "oh god no" echoed around the table. A look of horror and disgust spread across several faces, Historia's included. Levi's lips twitched ever so slightly upward.

"General," Captain Burns leveled a steely gaze at Zackly. "You've really been allowed a lot of leeway with your...methods. You aren't serious about continuing with it?"

"Deadly." The general met his eyes.

"Excuse me—" Historia tried to cut in.

"Come now Zackly, don't you think it's a bit soon to bring that wretched contraption out again?" Nile asked.

"Excuse—"

"Absolutely not!" Zackly said with a smile. "And I haven't heard a better idea thrown out in the hour we've been here already. You all might think it crass, but you have to admit; it's effective."

Pixis raised an eyebrow. "Effective is one word for it."

"Excuse me!" Historia cut in with a raised voice, eyes flickering between the officers. Their heads immediately turned to her outburst, and she noticeably shrunk under the gaze.

"I think we've derailed enough off of the original topic. Rerouting supplies doesn't have that much to do with nobles, like I mentioned 15 minutes ago." She gave a pointed look to Zackly who shrugged.

"Shall we move on to our next topic?"

The occupants of the table hushed as the queen shuffled through the neatly aligned papers in front of her on the table again, searching for something specific. Levi glanced at his own stack, noting their disorganized state. Aside from his initial brush through them, skimming the information thereon, he hadn't touched them for the entirety of the meeting.

He groaned internally, suddenly remembering a mountain of paperwork waiting for him back in his office.

Why am I here? He sighed internally. A list of soldiers better suited to attend the meeting numbered off in his mind, Erwin and Hanji at the top of it. If Historia wanted input on literally anything, Titans, strategies, or random scientific facts, they were the ones for the job. All Levi could offer were some organizational tips and tricks for keeping dust off surfaces.

But of course, Erwin was resting after the events of the last few weeks and Hanji was back at headquarters under medical leave. A leave required by an emphatic Moblit and himself. She'd tried to reject it, but he'd threatened to shoot her again if she didn't rest.

Historia cleared her throat, having located her desired notes.

"The children in the walls are suffering."She announced, eyes glancing downward. "Specifically the orphans. Titan attacks leave us all scrambling to regain some semblance of normality, but none more than the orphans. Many of them lose parents or siblings to the monsters. Some die of starvation because no one makes sure they are fed."

Levi peeked at the paper in her hands. Her voice was stiff and she kept glancing at the words scrawled across it hastily, like she was...reading off of it.

That poor girl. He glanced at Zackly who looked bored. The man had been talking over her almost the entire meeting, and now he had the nerve to demean her, even in that small way.

This was why Levi never gave speeches.

"As you should all know by now, I have planned an initiative to rescue and nurture all the suffering orphans within the walls." She said. "Operations for this initiative began three days ago, under the direction of Commander Dok, and have been running smoothly. "

That's a good boost to her reputation though, Levi nodded silently. The queen had announced the initiative within days of her coronation, and people were already starting to praise her name for it as though she were a deity.

"However," the Queen continued glancing up, "Despite the contribution from every branch of the military, I am disappointed to see no efforts made toward certain sections within the walls."

The leaders shared looks.

"Your majesty," Nile spoke first, his tone gentle as if he was talking to a distraught child. "I apologize, but we've delegated every city to Military Police squadrons. There wasn't a single town or village that wasn't considered."

"I agree with Commander Dok," Pixis said next. "I've personally assigned Garrison soldiers to allocate resources in rural areas as well as more populated towns. We've sent troops everywhere."

The others nodded their own agreement.

"Yes, and like I said, those efforts have been greatly appreciated." Historia said, steady. Her nervous ticks were beginning to melt away. "But it hasn't been enough."

Even Levi flicked an eyebrow up at that.

Where are you going with this?

"Commander?" She directed at Nile. "Is the underground district within the walls?"

The somewhat relaxed atmosphere vaporized in an instant. The words about to fly out of Nile's mouth shriveled and fell away.

Levi's eyes widened. You can't be serious. His heartbeat jettisoned and he grit his teeth.

The underground was not the place for the government to intervene. There was no law, no order. It was chaos and pain and dark all swirled together into a heinous scar under the capitol. Like a bouquet of poisonous thorns amidst a wedding. And Historia wanted them to be working an operation there?

All eyes regarded Nile.

Nile hesitated before answering. His voice caught awkwardly in his throat, like he was trying to describe the most gruesome details of a murder scene.

"Er—well yes. Yes it is."

"And," She paused, "are there currently people living in the underground district?"

"Yes…But your majesty—"

"Then why, pray tell, did zero consideration for the district come up in any of the drafts I saw? Why were no squadrons assigned to the city?"

The silence returned, more robust this time. It was like a thick ooze had slowly flooded the room, stifling the words that would begin to dissuade Historia from this track of thinking.

Zackly and Pixis exchanged looks. Nile clenched his teeth, looking like he wanted to say more but didn't. Levi stayed quiet, tongue tied, yet curious as to how this would play out.

"The underground," Nile began slowly at last, "Is dangerous. There are regions of it that we don't dare enter. The entire place is crawling with bandits, thieves, and worthless scum." He glanced at Levi.

Levi flicked an eyebrow up in response. "Really?"

"Furthermore," The commander hurriedly continued, looking back to Historia. "Aside from the few patrols always stationed down there, we don't run investigations or searches in the district. It would be suicidal. As it is, our outpost sends reports of frequent lootings and near deaths almost every month."

He paused, glancing at Captain Burns who nodded gravely.

"It's just too risky, your Highness."

Historia's jaw clenched.

"I see." She said calmly. "And I suppose that means we ignore them altogether?"

Nile wisely didn't answer.

Historia's eyes gave away nothing as she scanned the faces around the table. Each looked down in turn, unable to meet her eyes.

"I suppose that because we were born with an advantage that we forget about our brothers and sisters who weren't so lucky? That we abandon the humanity we just worked so hard to take and leave people, children, infants, at the mercy of a dark world where the only answers are death and poverty?"

"My life hasn't been half as hard as those who live underground, but all I knew for most of it was confusion. All I knew was that I was a burden. I was worthless. If I've been given a shot at a better life, then others deserve it too."

"As I stated previously, I intend to help all the children within the walls." She declared, pausing. "That includes the ones in the underground. And I would like the underground district to be included in the initiative."

A determination flared in her eyes, one that no one knew what to say to. The council members glanced at each other again or looked away.

Levi let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, suddenly finding his notes very interesting to stare at.

An inkling of why he'd been requested here was now very apparent.

She wants your support.

And without meaning to, Levi found himself racing through the streets of the underground again. Twelve years old and stealing from stores to stay alive. Twenty years old and running strikes against the police. Thirty years old and being recruited by Erwin.

The dirty atmosphere and constant chill of fear tasted like stale bread in his mouth. An emotion he used to know. A memory he'd forgotten.

He shut his eyes against it. He didn't want to remember. Historia was right of course. Living conditions underground were almost as bad as living outside the walls in Titan territory. Everyday was a gamble. He knew that better than anyone else around this table.

And yet...

He thought about faces he'd known in the underground. Faces he'd long since forgotten the names for. Other children who hadn't been as lucky as him. Not that he would describe his life as lucky, but when their faces disappeared off the streets they never returned.

It wasn't until long after his mother had died that he'd realized what must have happened to them.

But this…opportunity...we could change that for some of them...

Something inside of him tugged at his conscious. Like Historia said. She'd been given a second chance. For whatever reason, Levi too had been given a second chance.

But, a small voice reminded him, it wasn't his problem. He wasn't even supposed to be here. He was a soldier for god's sake.

But we could give others the same chance we got…

No! He shouldn't be making these kinds of decisions. These were life changing policies and he wasn't qualified to make them—

"I support including the underground in the operation."

All heads snapped to him.

Oh god, what am I doing?

"I'll even help oversee the inclusion." He continued, before he could talk himself out of itt. "I know the underground. I can run the operation smoothly."

Silence.

His knuckles were turning white with how tightly he was gripping the table.

"His—Queen Historia is right." He said, clearing his throat. "Humanity's borders don't end at the surface. The underground community deserves our help, and now that we stand on firm ground we can give it to them. We start with children and the young and move our way through the system."

The others stared at him. Pixis in particular wore a slight smile, his eyes twinkling. Levi, refusing to show his discomfort, turned back to Historia.

The gratitude in her eyes was brighter than the sun behind her.

Thank you, her expression said as she smiled.

I didn't do it for you, responded his sullen mind.

It was Captain Burns that spoke next.

"You know, he brings up an interesting point." He mused. Thankfully, most all the heads in the room turned to him, away from Levi

"Most people living underground were relocated after the fall of Wall Maria. With our plans to retake the wall...well I'm sure people would be happy to move home." The police captain said thoughtfully.

Levi nodded. "While that's true, those people aren't the primary objective. There are loads of unlucky brats with no homes and no homes to move back to. They would be our primary focus."

The military folk nodded. Some scrawled additional notes on their papers.

"An operation in the underground…" Burns spoke again. He brought a hand to his chin, pondering the notion. Then, he slowly began to nod, a smile spreading across his face. "I can't turn down a good challenge. And with Captain Levi down there, I would be more than willing to lend support from the Mitrias police force."

"I appreciate that Captain." Levi nodded. "But all the same, I would direct the operation from above ground—"

"From here?" Burns grinned at him with humor. "My patrols down there know the streets, sure, but you, Levi? You lived there. We'd have the upper hand. I would even go as far as to say that without you, we might as well not send anyone into the underground."

Historia tilted her head. "I'm not sure if I would agree to that extreme, but he makes a valid point Captain Levi."

Levi shifted his gaze to Burns and Nile, holding back frustration. This was why he didn't make decisions. He already lost control of the situation!

"Regardless," he said, changing the subject, "It would take some two dozen or so of your high trained soldiers. Do either of you have men to spare for that?"

"...possibly…"

"Absolutely!"

Nile and Burns' shot each other a look at their simultaneous answers, Burn's smirk and Nile's frown contradicting each other

Levi sighed. Leave it to Nile Dok, the biggest pain in his ***, to be as unhelpful as possible in any situation.

"Anyways, from there," he continued. "We can divide the city into sectors and assign groups to search them. Each group will have a directive to look for orphaned or poverty stricken children and bring them above ground. When a system gets in place, it will be a smooth operation without need for much monitoring from anyone."

Nile folded his arms, sitting back in his chair.

"It's certainly risky...but...I don't see any reason that wouldn't work." He said, narrowing his gaze at Levi.

Burns flashed Levi a subtle thumbs up, grinning as if they had just become best friends.

Levi loathed it entirely.

"Then it's settled." Historia declared. "Captain Levi will lead the operation. The troops will go underground and commence the instructions. Are there any objections?"

Levi looked at her, objection on the tip of his tongue. He didn't want to go underground. Not at all, but as he gazed at her, sitting upright and poised, no more nervous ticks distracting her, he couldn't. He would find a way out of that part of it, but he would do it discreetly. No need to rail on her confidence. Especially not publicly, like some of the others had been doing.

No one else spoke up, although they looked considerably more thoughtful and completive about the operation.

"Captain," She spoke to him, "I'll expect the operation to get underway immediately. I am assigning Commander Dok to this as well. The two of you will share equal responsibility for the operation and I expect compliance."

Nile's eyes bulged out of his skull like someone had just choked him.

"Your Highness—" He started, but was abruptly cut off by Historia.

"That will be all for the day." She concluded."I think this meeting has gone on long enough. Thank you all for your input and attendance. I'll be sending a follow up message tomorrow with directions and instructions on how to proceed with what we've discussed today."

Chairs crashed against the floor as the occupants of the table immediately began moving and standing up.

The weight of what he had just agreed to hit Levi at once, and he wanted to bury his head in his hands. This was not what he needed right now. You just gave yourself another months worth of paperwork you idiot! He chastised himself. Plus the headache of getting yourself out of actually going down there!

But suddenly a hand landed on the table beside him. Damion Burns his neatly trimmed goatee appeared, looming over him.

He was a handsome man, the kind that made a small twinge of self-consciousness shoot through Levi at being so near him. His perfectly tailored military suit hid what was obviously a well toned body. Not many military police took the time to work out and it showed. But Burns looked too clean and posh to not give a damn about maintaining a reputable look.

"I didn't mean any disrespect earlier." The police captain said, sliding into a chair at Levi's side and pulling it in close. "But I was worried you might back out if I didn't add the pressure of the council."

Levi frowned at him, pushing his own chair back slightly. "Of course not."

"I really think your support in the underground is essential to our success. However, in exchange for my offering your services, I'd like to make an offer to you as well." Burns' deep brown eyes sparkled as he spoke.

"What kind of offer?" Levi said.

"An offer of my aid. To help and assist you with anything you may need!"

"You would come underground too?"

Burns paused before answering. "Not exactly...unless you think it would help. Being your eyes and ears above ground was more of what I had in mind." He sheepishly admitted.

Levi's eyes flicked towards Nile, who was talking urgently to Historia. He still looked upset.

"But I can lend supplies, safe-houses, contacts." The police Captain continued. "You say the word and it's there."

Levi considered the offer. He didn't know Burns well enough to distrust his offer, and all he'd ever heard about the man was how much of an asset he was to the police force. He seemed genuine, which was refreshing after a day spent in politicking.

A shadow suddenly crossed his face as someone passed through the light of the window from his side. It was a man who stalked over to Burns, leaning down to whisper something in his ear, and Levi found that he could not tear his eyes away from him.

Because the man's skin was completely white. Alabaster light reflected off his bald head, and when Burns nodded and the man straightened up, Levi was ashamed to admit how horrified he was of his face.

Sunken red eyes glanced at him from gaunt features. His lips pressed together in a line so thin, Levi wildly wondered if he had a mouth at all. His military police uniform looked fresh and new, yet that only added more dissonance to his appearance.

The man reminded him of how shadows used to scare him as a child. Tall and scrawny, yet elongated features and limbs looking like they could rip him apart. Scared faces etched into permanent frowns.

He shivered in spite of himself.

"Later Zane." Burns waved a hand in the air dismissively. "It can wait."

The man nodded with a customary salute, but it looked so wrong. Like a peace treaty written with blood. He stiffly walked away and back through the door he had just entered through.

"Excuse my cousin." Burns said, twiddling with a ring on his finger. "Zane is the only family I trust these days. He just got promoted to my head chief here in Mitrias, but sometimes he forgets that business can wait."

"It's fine." Levi said, trying to forget the look in Zane's eyes. It took him a moment to remember what they had been talking about.

"I'll need to consult with Hist—the queen before I solidify my decision on your offer." He said, rising from his chair. "I'll be in touch."

And with that, he turned and left the room.

Zane was thankfully nowhere to be found in the crowded, sun-lit hallway. He did however spot Nile again on his way out and discreetly shot him a dirty look. The commander glanced his way, but Levi was already pushing through the crowd by then.

He wanted to get out. Out of the palace. Away from the people.

Especially since images from the underground pressed against him. Hunger and fear. Darkness and ice.

He would not go back. He couldn't go back. Not now. Not after learning about Kenny being his uncle. Not after the discovery that he was an Acker—

Stop! He chastised himself. Just stop, you're not going back!

He would talk Historia out of it and tell Burns he was too busy to do more than direct the operation. They could find someone else for that part of the job. It was ridiculous to think that he was the only person who could be a guide underground. You could pay any one of the low lives down there a coin and they'd lick the dust off your boots.

"Captain Levi!" A girl-ish voice behind him interrupted his thought.

He turned to see Historia, rushing towards him through the throng of people, skirts rustling between her legs. She brushed against nobles and military men alike, they in turn jumping at the sight of their new queen breezing past them. Her bodyguards, who had been waiting outside the doors, were startled by the sudden flurry of motion and also moved through the crowd to follow.

He waited for her to clumsily catch up to him, bodyguards right behind her.

"Captain," She panted, "I thought I would miss you. You left fast so fast!"

He blinked.

"Anyways, I was wondering if we could have a word in private." She gestured to a side hallway.

"Of course." He responded immediately.

"Great!" She motioned to the guards. "Leave us."

He motioned for her to lead the way, which she did. A few of the stragglers in the hallway watched them go, most however turned back to their respective conversations which died out as they ventured further down the hallway. As Historia settled on a worthy meeting spot, she turned back to him, eyes bright.

Levi stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"First of all, thank you so much Captain!" Historia bubbled over. "Thank you for listening! That council is so frustrating, and I knew they would disagree with me about the operation unless you backed me up."

She shook her hands in the air, showing her frustration, and it struck him once again just how young Historia was.

We were both asked too much at far too young an age.

"But I'll just get right to the point." Her eyes shone brightly. "I'd like to be a part of one of the squads in the underground."

What? He opened his mouth to answer, then frowned as she continued.

"And I know what you're thinking, I shouldn't go and it will be too dangerous and—"

"Yes, it's too dangerous." He cut in. "You'll get killed."

"Right, but if you'll just listen for a—"

"No."

"Captain Levi—"

"What do you have, a death wish?" He hissed at her. "How many lives did it take to put you where you are? And now you want to throw that away?"

Did all the sacrifice mean nothing to her?

With Historia gone, the nobility would rise up in rebellion against the military. Most of them had military men in their pockets anyways. The Survey Corp would be gone. Murdered. The Garrison wouldn't be in much better shape. And then what would humanity do if the Colossal or Armored Titan decided to return?

"We can't risk you on a throwaway mission to the slums." He said, steeling his eyes on hers.

The light was gone from them. A raging fire burned in their place.

"Let me speak." She said coolly.

Levi bit his tongue. She had command over him now. He took orders from her. It didn't matter what else he had to say to her.

"I didn't ask to be the queen." She jabbed a finger dangerously close to his face. "I seem to recall you and your comrades were the ones who put me here. I was happy playing soldier."

She raised a second finger at him.

"Second, there are people who need my help. I'm not going to turn my back on them."

Her eyes bored into his, fierce determination burning in them.

"And third," She faltered, arm dropping. "You know as well as I do how much good we can do for those people. We owe it to them. I owe it to them"

And there it was again, that little prick in his heart.

She's right.

He sighed.

But she has to make it out alive...which means...goddammit.

He tried to dodge around where his thoughts were pointing him, but it was blindingly obvious.

The chill returned to his spine, spreading through every nerve.

"Fine." He huffed in defeat. "But I'll only allow it on one condition."

"Yes! What is it?" She practically yelped.

He matched the intensity in her gaze. "You will be under my constant supervision, and you don't get to make the rules. It's kill or be killed down there and my job is to keep you alive. Understand?"

She nodded furiously, eyes wide.

"Good." He looked outside to the courtyard below. The sun was shining, providing an absolutely gorgeous day. Warm light bounced off the walls and he could smell the freshness of the air.

All things that would vanish in an instant upon his return to the underground.

He held back a shiver.

"I'm going to speak with Nile. Expect to plan for the operation within the next day or two."

He moved to walk away from her as she nodded again.

"And Historia?" He said.

"Yes?"

He took one last look at her, white dress, confident stance returning, wide eyes, and child-like expression of excitement.

"Don't speak a word of this to anyone else."

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