Levi's POV

One thing that Armin and Erwin seemed to have in common was playing games. Erwin liked to dangle something in front of their face before ripping the cloth over our eyes to reveal a fake. I remember that's why I wanted to kill him in front of everyone. I didn't care. Rage took over. All of our work up to that point was all for nothing. They would've been on my side... and I would've taken care of them.

Now, I'm playing their game. Dangling myself in front of her, hoping that she'll take the bait. Depending on the outcome, we would like the result. That or she'll wish for my death and attempt to kill me. I believe that would happen.

Play into it?!

I shook my head, not believing what I got myself into. How do I play this game? How do I dangle myself in front of her?

Returning to the tower, I still haven't figured out what to do. Play games...

I opened the door and saw her reading her book. She glances at the door, giving a sorrowful smile. She struggles to say my title, "C-Cap... tain."

"Don't speak. Just nod or shake your head. Is your throat feeling better?" She nods her head. "Do you want to try to talk again?" Once more, she nods her head. "Alright, let's try again."

I spent an hour trying to help her to speak again. By the end of it, she was already drowsy from trying to speak. But she has made progress. She was able to speak a bit more, not giving me any of those snarky comments. When she did, it wasn't insulting me. 

"You're doing good," I complimented her, giving her book back. "You can finish reading."

"I'm done with that one." She chuckles a bit, "Next one?"

"That's the end of it."

I saw her eyes droop down a bit, "Oh..."

"Do you need another book?" She nods her head, "I'll try to find another one." I say to her, giving her another glass of water before leaving to the library. 

A few minutes of looking through the library, I took a book from a 25 book series and took it upstairs. I remember reading this one with Isabel as we were trying to teach her how to read. I didn't like it too much since it's about the love life of 2 people that cannot love each other. Isabel loved it because she thought about living in a better life where the only problem was not finding someone to love us as a lover. Farlan... he preferred it because he was always the loverboy.

But since the last series Hanji read was another love story, she might as well like this one. I take it back upstairs, seeing her look outside with saddened eyes. "Once we trust you more, we can let you walk outside for a bit." I say, putting the book on her bed.

"Doesn't help the fact that I'm stuck up here."

"It's better than being stuck underneath the ground." I murmured, "I can see your voice is better. Are you good enough to have your interrogation with the MPs?"

"Do I have any choice?"

"If you want us to trust you more, then no, you don't have a choice." I say.

Hanji gave a small nod, "And the Eldians?"

"They're in a better condition."

"How am I supposed to know that you'll keep your word, Captain? If you're struggling to trust me, why should I be so willing to trust you this quickly?"

Is this where I'm supposed to dangle myself in front of her? I sighed, shaking my head as I knew that it'll be another one of the commander's plan. "What do you want me to prove that I'm telling the truth?"

"Take me to see them."

"After the interrogation. And I can't promise it to you. Do you understand?"

Hanji nods her head, "I understand. After everything, am I able to go home? I have my parents that were expecting me back home."

So did everyone in the Survey Corps. Their family members were expecting them back home. The one time it hit me hard... that's when your colleague jumped into our expedition. Even though we knew it was a trap to lure her out, it still haunts me to know that everyone were expecting them back home.

I kept my anger in and I responded, "As long as you won't betray us, we'll try our best to get you home. But that means you're siding with us. Completely."

"If I don't side with you, I die. If I do, Marley kills me." Hanji sighed, walking back to her bed before plopping herself onto it. "I just... want to get out of this situation. I joined the program to give my family the best life an Eldian born in Libero could ever have. I want them to be safe."

"I'll handle it."

She looks at me with some sort of confusion on her face when I said that. Play the game. I walked over to her, reluctantly patting her head and walking out of her room.

"I'll be back in a few hours for your lunch."

Upon locking the door, I couldn't find myself walking down those steps. Instead, I threw myself against the wall, slamming my hands to my head, tugging on my hair a bit. I should've hated playing the game... but for some reason, I felt comfort. Why... why... why?