I felt Hanji's firm hand over my shoulder. She had stopped me before exiting the kitchen and to my knowledge I wasn't sure why. I roughly shrug off her grip and turn around.

"'Bout what?" I question coldly. I wasn't sure where my sudden coldness and anger came from but it was pumping through my veins rapidly.

Seeing her equally cold and hard gaze made me angry. A part of me just wanted to snarl at her like an animal.

"When are you going to own up?" Her questions baffles me. It was sudden but to the point. It almost made me laugh.

She wasn't cheery or teasing anymore. She looked at me as though I was some lousy jerk. I click my tongue at that.

"And what exactly should I be owning up to?" I question hotly. "I don't remember doing anything to you."

Hanji releases a scoff before shaking her head in disbelief. I found nothing shocking.

"You're kidding, right?" She asks with a look. "You know exactly what you did. You ruined the expedition!"

"Oh, you mean that," I nod mockingly before crossing my arms. "Wasn't sure how that affected you but you can stop being an ass."

I was stunned by my words. They rushed out of me like a unpredictable flood. I was angry at her, yes, but I was taking it too far.

I wanted to stop but I was already let loose. My temper got the better of me.

"Excuse me?" Hanji gasps with wide eyes. "I'm not an ass! You're being one right now! Of course what you did back then affected me! It affected everyone! Did you not realize how worried I was?"

"No and don't care," I spat bitterly. "I got a question though, if you were so worried how come you've been ignoring me?"

"You know why," Hanji mutters with narrowed eyes.

"Clearly, I don't," I snap. "That's why I'm asking."

She shakes her head with an exasperated groan before running a hand down her face. I was pissing her off and I hated it. I wanted things to go back to normal. But I couldn't bring myself to admit that.

"Look," she seethes through her teeth. "Just apologize to me and that'll be enough."

"To hell with that!" I stomped my foot abruptly and got in her face despite the height difference. "Why the hell should I apologize?! If it's to Levi and my squad members then that's one thing but to you is another! You weren't even there!"

"That doesn't change the fact that you almost died, Emma!" Hanji yells back. "You pulled something stupid and you made me worry sick! If you apologize now maybe we can go back to normal."

I click my tongue, is that what it took? We couldn't just forget about it and move on? Seeing the disappointment in Hanji's eyes I realized that wasn't an option.

I did yearn for her to speak to me again and the others as well. I became so accustomed to having people around that I didn't want to go back to being alone. The mere idea frightened me.

But I was angry too. I was angry at her for throwing me to the side the way she did after the expedition. I hated the fact she looked me like I was nobody to her.

I despised the way she never visited me when I was in that cell or the fact she ignored me. Her abandonment hurt me more than she realized. And I won't be the first to apologize. I step away and turn my angry gaze to the side.

"It's your loss then," I mutter. "Because I'm not apologizing for something so stupid. Now, if you'll excuse me, I got better things to do than stand here talking to you."

I storm out of the kitchen before she could say another word. People were already making their way into the mess hall and passed by me without much of a glance. I was breathing heavily while my fists shook down at my sides.

I walk out the mess hall and down the bright lit hall. I cursed colorfully at myself and my goddamn pride. I knew damn well I fucked up. If I was Hanji I would've lost complete respect for me just now.

"Well, that went downhill."

I jump in surprise. My heart almost lurching out of my chest at the sound of that familiar deep voice. I whirl my head to the left to see Levi walking beside me. He made no eye-contact.

"You heard?" I breathe.

"Obviously," he states. "You two were loud."

I look away feeling quite embarrassed and ashamed at the same time. I wasn't angry that he overheard. No, I was just upset that he had to listen to me act like a child.

"Why were you listening?" I ask with pressed lips.

"It's not like I wanted to, Emma," Levi sighs. "I was waiting for you."

As if on cue, I stumble over my feet and stagger till my hand presses against a wall. I stare at the floor with wide eyes with nothing registering in my head. I listen to Levi's footsteps stop before me, I could see his feet pointing at me. I could practically imagine the questioning look on his face.

"What's with you?" I hear Levi question impatiently. His words sent my heart into a hammering rage against my chest while my mind became an empty pit.

My stomach had lurched to my throat. It felt like I was falling through the sky. It was an odd thing that I decided not to think upon.

I shot up my head, locking eyes with the Captain. He flinched at the sudden hardness coating my eyes.

"What'd you say?" I ask.

He holds my stares for a long moment. It was like he could see through my eyes and could read me like an open book. However, I knew he wouldn't find anything to answer whatever question that riddled in his brain. Even I don't know what I'm thinking.

"What, you didn't hear my question?" He finally questions in a slow tone.

I shake my head and drop my hand to my side. I began to wonder if he could hear my beating heart.

"No, before that," I restate. "You were doing what?"

"Waiting for you?" Levi answers, unsure. "Is that it?"

I nod ever so slowly and start to fiddle with the leather straps around my thighs. I immediately avert my gaze to the window to my left. I took great interest to the cloudless morning sky.

"Why were you waiting?" I murmur. My voice was slowly beginning to fail me. The more I spoke, the more flustered I became.

It started to annoy the hell out of me. Levi shuffles his feet before clearing his throat a tad too loud. I sneak a peek to notice his furrowed brows and pursed lips.

"Because we both have to see Erwin, remember?" He reminds with a glance to the wall beside him. "It's better to see him now than in the afternoon."

For an odd reason, his answer dampen my jittery mood. It was like I held high hopes for something but wasn't sure what for. I tried to push that feeling aside but seeing how Levi quickly dismissed the topic, I felt disappointed.

I could only mumble out an, "oh," which lead to an awkward silence between us. We couldn't meet each other's eyes as the air started to become thick with awkwardness. I wasn't sure what to say or do and became determined to keep my eyes on the window.

Finally, I hear Levi release a loud sigh then his heel turning. "Let's go."

I allowed him to walk ahead a bit before following after him. We didn't say a word till we reached Erwin's office. When we were permitted to enter, I notice Erwin was once again at his desk looking through papers.

I always wondered if the man ever went home. Or has one for that matter, considering the majority of his time he spends here. We stride towards his desk and stand before it.

I made sure a reasonable distance was put between Levi and I. It was the best option to calm my racing thoughts. When Erwin finally looks up, he blinks twice at the sight.

I wasn't sure if he expected both of us to come here together voluntarily. But the lingering confusion disappears with a frown coming to his lips.

"Was there something wrong with the exercise today?" He inquired.

I shake my head, "No, sir, we're just curious about something."

"Are you familiar with the recent murders that happened here in Trost?" Levi questions bluntly.

Erwin casts his gaze towards his captain. He holds Levi's stare with some sort of energy radiating between them. I wasn't sure what it was.

But Levi doesn't back down and straightens his shoulders. Erwin became the first to look away.

"Yes," he finally replies. "I've been reading the papers." His reply was too flat, it was bothersome. I quirk up a brow with a small frown coming to my lips.

"You've realize that the two who were murdered were Scouts, right? Kirsten and Basel?"

"How'd you find out there names?" Erwin head was perked up and his icy blue eyes narrow at my piece of information. He keeps his gaze solely on me and I wasn't sure why he seemed upset by what I said.

"I thought you knew the names," I breathe while crossing my arms.

"They never stated the names in the papers, Emma," Erwin shakes his head. "How do you know it's them?"

Levi had also turned his gaze to me. I could sense his curiosity and questioning demeanor. I never told him this part of the information since I only just figured it out hours earlier.

"Basing off the information given by the MPs in the papers, they stated one female died and one male. They also wore their Scout uniforms," I begin to explain. "Despite the basic information I began to calculate the time both were murdered. Basel was the first and was murdered the first week we arrived back to Trost. Kirsten was next and was killed the third week. And Scouts give weekly reports, right? So I went through those."

"You looked at every single report?" Levi gapes. "From each week?"

I nod at him with a small sigh, "It was tiring since there's at least there's three hundred eighty-four Scouts but I found that Kirsten's third report missing and Basel's two."

He gawks at me like an amazed child. Levi blinks rapidly and I stare back with a small pout. I wonder why he stared at me like that.

"Emma, you didn't have to do that."

I turn back to Erwin to see he also looked at me in the same way. I shook my head, "I had to."

"No, the MPs are looking into it," Erwin restates.

"And what are you doing?" I demand. "Are you even helping them?"

"Emma, murders happen frequently unfortunately," Erwin sighs. "And even if Basel and Kirsten are from the Survey Corps there is little I can do but give out information."

"What 'information'?" Levi demands. "You didn't even know they died. Emma did all the work without you telling her and probably stayed up all night doing it."

I wasn't sure if I was hearing things but Levi sounded proud, impressed even by my efforts. Even though he didn't smile or even show any emotion indicating how impressed he was it still placed an effect on me. My chest swells in pride and I do my best not to smile.

"Are you even trying, Erwin? Or are you slacking off?" Levi's question lingers in the air.

Tension builds in the room as both men hold their fury glares. Erwin still sat upon his chair while Levi stands before his desk with crossed arms and an irritated scowl.

"Look, the MPs have their job and so do we," he says cooly. "We kill Titans. They patrol each district and hunt down criminals. We can't do their jobs and vice versa. And besides if I were to intervene we would have the same information as them and no lead."

"So, you're saying you're not even concerned for our soldiers who might die at the hands of a murderer? You don't even want to hunt down a serial killer?" I question hotly. Erwin abruptly stands with a heavy sigh. He sounded and looked exhausted.

"First, I never said that. And second, we don't even know if these are serial murders or just a coincidence."

"That's why we find out!" I exclaim. "If we just look more into this and maybe team up with the MPs--"

"Why are you fixated on this, Lieutenant?" Erwin demands with a firm tone. He stares down at me with cold, hard eyes making me shut my mouth immediately.

For a long moment it was silent and Erwin kept his eyes upon me. He wasn't going to look away anytime soon unless I were to give an answer. But that's where it became difficult.

I didn't want to say Booker and Arron started it. Nor did I want to say their words still brought a prickle down my spine.

"Never mind the question," Erwin mutters. "I understand you two are worried but everything will be cleared soon. Just focus on your work."

"But--"

"That's an order." Erwin frowns his lips and glowers down at me. I was no mood to question his authority and gave a stiff nod.

Without another word we left his office. Silence brewed between Levi and I as we walked down the hall. It was not to notice each other's irritated mood.

"Tch, what was the point telling him?" Levi mutters after a while. "It wasn't worth it."

I nod along before airing out a deep sigh. "Well, at least we know one thing."

"And that is?"

"That Erwin isn't willing to take a full step to giving those Scout's lost lives justice and we are."

/\/\/\/\/\

Such a BAD chapter I know!

Creating a filler wasn't my go to plan but it'll be worth for the surprise.

Trust me>.<

But quick question; do you think Hanji and the others have the right to be mad at Emma?

Lemme know in the comments!

Vote and Comment!♥️♥️