"What the hell were you two thinking?! How idiotic can you two be?!"

I stood before Erwin. My lips were pressed shut while I fiddled with my fingers behind my back. I couldn't meet his gaze as there was too much humiliation stirring inside me.

The fight was long over and we were back at the castle ruins. No one died thankfully but, Nat and Edward had sustained horrible injuries. Nat had a couple broken ribs and arm while Edward had one broken rib with his forehead spilt open. I clench my jaw at the memory.

"Not only did you put yourselves at risk but you put others as well!" Erwin bellows. "And for what?! A fucking childish competition?!"

I flinch at his choice of words. Not once have I witnessed Erwin swear in such a way. He truly was pissed as he should be.

"Like I said before, I didn't start it!" Levi shouts from beside me. "Who the hell do you think you are to accuse me?"

"Your damn Commander, that's who I am!" Erwin yells while towering over Levi. I swallow thickly at how small he was compared to the Commander. "And I can accuse you of this since you're at fault! What kind of dumbass tries to state their dominance during battle?! Provoking Emma was completely stupid but what's even more stupid is you and her putting people in danger for your antics!"

Raw anger stirs inside Levi. I could sense his nasty glare and the hot anger racing through his body. I was too afraid to raise my eyes, that was until I see a finger pointed at my chest.

"I expected better from you, Lieutenant Wolfram." Erwin huffs in a disappointed tone. Slowly, with my heart beating thunderously in shame, I look up. I met his raging blue eyes and his downturned frown. "The one Scout I saw potential in when I first laid eyes on them now shows me how unreliable they can be."

His words cut deeper than I realized. I struggled to release a short breath and even found myself gripping at anything inside me to keep the tears from rising. I send my gaze past him noticing how Hanji and Nifa had hooked Edward's arms around their shoulders.

They notice my stare. They don't return anything worth reassuring. My heart plummets into my stomach and cast my eyes down in shame.

"Wasn't that mission enough?" I hear Erwin question hotly. "Wasn't losing twenty Scouts two years ago and being the only one making it out alive enough? Or did you not get your fill of making bad decisions?"

I understood his anger for I was angry at myself too. But why was he throwing that at my face? I'm trying my best not to my lose face but I feel him taking down every stone I placed up as a wall to protect me from it all. I grip my fists tightly retaining the urge to shake.

"What I did was childish. I get that," I say curtly.

"Do you now?" Erwin questions with a raised brow. He scoffs sarcastically, "So, you're saying you completely understand that you and Levi placed yourselves before others. That you decided to commit insubordination to prove some ridiculous rivalry and made a mistake that could've cost you both your lives." He shifts his gaze to Levi. "Am I wrong?"

Levi's feet shuffle beside me but not once did he lower his haughty glare. A moment has passed, he doesn't reply. It only made Erwin huff loudly.

"As I said before the mission, if I hear any information about you two unable to work together then you two are done. I've never realized how much it was a mistake to place you both on the same team."

Unconsciously I bite my bottom lip with sweat brimming my forehead. I wasn't sure what Erwin had in mind but I envisioned the worst. I wasn't sure if I could handle being discharged from being a Scout.

My beating heart thundered in my ears as all my blood rushes out of my cheeks. Levi, on the other hand, was angry. His usual stoic, expressionless face was twisted into rage.

His teeth bared into a snarl while glaring daggers at Erwin. If only looks could kill. Erwin straightens his shoulder. His face setting into a serious expression. He sucks in a breath.

"Captain Levi Ackerman and Lieutenant Emma Wolfram I place you both under arrest for insubordination."

\/\/\/\/\/\/

I wasn't sure what was worse; having the whole regiment know that their two best officers was under arrest. Or going through the streets of town on a wagon hand-cuffed. Coming back seemed to embarrass me more than Levi.

I kept my head down to avoid prying eyes as well as trying my best to hide my cuffed wrists. Levi sat up straight, his head raised like he wasn't taken into custody.

With no cloak to cover his wrists, they lay upon his lap with everyone able to see. I haven't given his back yet. We haven't spoken a word to each other ever since our arrest.

Angry as I was at him I knew he wasn't at fault. I was. I started everything and if I just swallowed down his insults thrown at me, I wouldn't be arrested.
Or him.

I steal a glance his way. He sat across from me with his eyes set in front of him. His lips were pressed tightly together while his eyes were narrowed but, were hard to read.

I wasn't sure if he was angry or upset, something was clouding his eyes. And I wasn't sure what it was. Levi catches my gaze.

I tense up under his hard gaze, it was like he was seeing through me. His eyes were blazing unlike moments before. I swallow thickly, was he also placing all the blame on me?

To my surprise he looks away without so much of a huff or a threatening glare. I blink twice at the action but couldn't think much of it. Tearing my eyes away from the Captain the wagon comes to a jolting stop.

I look to my left seeing that we reached headquarters. Everyone was making their way either inside or towards the small stables. Everyone except for us. We were left stranded on the wagon.

"C'mon, time to get off." Hearing a click of the wagon door opening, I turn away from everyone's scurrying bodies. Hanji has opened the door while making a gesture with her hand.

Levi was the first to jump off and stands a few feet away. I take my time hoping to catch wind of will happen to us next. Unfortunately, Hanji doesn't speak. In fact, she doesn't even look at me.

"Hanji, are you upset?" I mumble as I jump off. Mutely, she turns to latch the door. A strained moment has passed with my question lingering in the air. I watch her shoulders rise and fall as she lets out a deep sigh.

"No, I'm not upset," she mumbles. "Why would I be?" Glancing over her shoulder she gives me a tight smile.

I couldn't return it nor did any sensation of relief revive my core. I knew she didn't mean it. Averting my gaze to my left I listen to her slowly walk away.

If she was upset then there's no doubt everyone else is as well. Shame overcasts my mood making my shoulders slouch.

"Emma, if you don't hurry then Erwin will be even more upset." Head perking up, I see Levi with Hanji while Hanji slightly waves her hand to me.

With a tentative nod I saunter over to the two. Following Hanji into headquarters, she makes a sharp left down a hall. I listen to sounds of our boots against the stone floor and the soft clanking sound of our cuffed hands.

I wasn't paying attention to where Hanji was leading us. What did it matter?

"Alright, here we are!" Hanji announces with a loud sigh. Hearing the screech of an iron bar door I blink at the sight of a jail cell.

Hanji had led us into the basement where all captives were kept. Except, Levi and I were the only tenants. Peering inside the small cell I take notice to a bed on one side of the cell with another across.

A small desk was in the center of the front wall as well as a wooden chair. Only a torch from the hall gave light. The inside stunk of mold and rotting wood and I swore I heard a rat scurry under the bed. My nose wrinkles in disgust.

"You gotta be fricking kidding me." I whirl to Hanji who held the door open with one hand. "You making us stay in there?"

"Erwin's orders," she replies. It only causes me to scoff in disbelief.

"In a rotting dump? Are you serious?" Hanji doesn't verbally respond, only nodding her head with pressed lips. It only made my blood boil. "So, after what I've done for this regiment and the soldiers I get this in return?! I'm a damn lieutenant and should be treated as such!"

"Yet, as lieutenant of the Survey Corps you've committed insubordination."

Instantly I grimace at the deep, informative voice. It was the last thing I wanted to hear right now. And certainly wasn't the person I was pleased with.

Erwin sidesteps into my view with arms crossed behind his back. I glare darkly up at him, my fists shaking before me. After what I did for the last three years for him and the countless times I risked my life for our cause, this was how he's repaying me?

By locking me in a cell far below ground, treating me like a wanted criminal, and gazing down at me with an icy stare? I couldn't help but snicker at the thought while averting my gaze.

"Fucking unbelievable," I mutter. "You're ungrateful."

"Is that how you should be talking to your commander?" Erwin challenges tersely.

"Yeah, it is." I take a step forward with an ugly frown and narrowed eyes. Glaring up at him I do my best to look intimidating. "After all the things I did, this I how I get treated?"

"Don't act like the victim here, Emma," Erwin snaps. "You caused this, along with Levi. If you weren't so set on proving yourself in some stupid game then maybe you wouldn't be down here. Maybe you would be in the mess hall eating or possibly back at your apartment."

I click my tongue, he truly was pushing me. I had many things I wanted to yell and scream but surprisingly found all my thoughts to be overwhelming. I wasn't sure what to say first.

"You messed up big time and you're to pay for it." Erwin states coldly. Shaking his head like a disappointed parent he points at the cell to his right. "Now get in. Both of you."

I raise a brow at the word both. I look back at the cell. Levi and I were to stay in this cell? Oh, no, no, no, like hell I would stay in close quarters with him.

"Both?" Levi repeats disgustedly. He takes a step forward, blocking my view of the cell. He narrows his eyes with a deep frown. "Not only are you treating your best soldiers poorly but you also like seeing them suffer."

I give Levi a look. Suffer? Being in one cell with him is a pain but why the hell would he suffer?

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I demand. He turns to me before clicking his tongue.

"Oh, I think you know what I mean, brat," he replies savagely. "Being in the same room as you is taxing enough. You're too loud and annoying for my tastes. If anything you'll probably throw tantrums like a child like you are now and believe me, I would rather do some crappy stuff than listen to you bawl and whine."

I grit my teeth to the point I started to hear them grind against each other. My blood was boiling in rage, he thinks he describes me perfectly well. His eyes were filled with irritation while his lips were twisted into a disgusted scowl. I found myself reaching for his collar with both hands and brought him close.

"You listen here, asshole, I'm not so delighted with the idea of staying in the same cell with you either. Knowing your obsessive cleaning attitude, you'll probably clean every inch of that damn cell. You might even try to clean my bed while I'm asleep. So don't think I don't hate the idea too."

"Enough!" Erwin's voice bellows throughout the basement. "This is exactly why two are sharing a cell! Learn how to tolerate each other's guts for a change!" He takes out a pair of keys and gestures his hand to me. "Give me your hands."

When I don't let go of Levi's collar immediately, Erwin roughly grabs my wrists and takes off the cuffs. I was shoved into the cell with Levi not far behind. I whirl around to see the door slam shut in my face before being locked by Erwin.

"Tch, are you even going to tell us how long you're keeping us here?" I fume. Shoving the keys into his pocket he stares at me with a shrug.

"Until you two can be mature adults with one another." He then strides up the stairs without saying another word.

Hanji had lingered for a moment, her eyes going from me to Levi. She doesn't speak either before ascending the stairs. I scoff before kicking the iron bars. They rattle but don't break.

Erwin's words rang in my ears causing me to cast a look over my shoulder. Levi was sitting on the edge of his bed with arms crossed over his chest. He was glaring threateningly at me. I couldn't help but roll my eyes before turning away.

"Act like mature adults, my foot," I mutter. "Like that'll happen."

/\/\/\/\/

Y'all ready for some Levi and Emma interaction? >.<

Hopefully the next couple chapters will come out later this week!

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