-Quick Context. This takes place after Eren was attacked by the female Titan. In my story they had returned to their base to recuperate for a few days following the failed operation-

Sun poured through the windows without mercy. The curtains fluttered slightly from time to time but, for the most part, the air was still. Outside it felt like the whole world was on fire. Inside it was worse. Even the basement was muggy. Eren battled to peel open his eyes. There was a white haze over everything. His ability to heal so rapidly had saved him from the brunt of yesterday's damage. Even so, his body ached. The physical discomfort was nothing compared to the blow this loss had dealt to his ego.

Eren balled his hands into fists and pressed his knuckles into his furrowed brow. He could see the awestruck children smiling toothy grins as they rode through town. He could remember confusion as red, green and black flares went off from every direction. The Titans had broken through the formation so quickly. They were sailing through the canopy. Thunderous footsteps fell behind them. They were louder and faster than those they'd faced before. The apocalypse was knocking on their door. He looked in their eyes; Auruo Bossard, Petra Ral, Erd Gin and Gunter Schulz. They were so sure of themselves. They wanted him to trust them more than anything. Eren was not known for being a great team member. He had a tendency to let his fury take hold of him. Yet that one moment, when he needed to fight more than ever, he had ignored his instincts. Petra's hands were steady and sure. Her skin was fair except for one red patch. A human bite mark stood out at the base of her thumb. Eren thought about what Captain Levi had told him. He made a choice to have faith in his team. It was the wrong choice. Their mangled bodies flashed by nightmarishly. He could practically feel the copper undertones of their blood in his nostrils. His blood froze in his veins.

The next part of the battle, the important part, got progressively fuzzier. He could not for the life of him remember how the logistics of how the fight had gone. He was stuck in a vicious cycle. The more he struggled to bring it back, the worse the pain was. The worse the pain was, the harder the task at hand became. As it progressively worsened he would struggle more fervently and renew the cycle. He just could not seem to break through the fog of his mind. If he could, he would make tactical use of it. He would go over it with Levi until the sun went down. That way the next time he encountered that Titan broad, she would be on the losing end.

"Eren, don't do that. You'll hurt yourself." A melodic voice trailed over from the right side of the small bed. Eren broke back into the present. Mikasa knelt stoically beside him. Wisps of short black hair adhered to her face with perspiration. Her bare neck was slightly red from sunburn. Despite the heat, she still wore her uniform. Her red scarf was tied tightly around her waist like a belt. Mikasa would be damned before she let it out of her sight entirely. "You look better but still not good." She reached into a bucket of water by her side and removed a saturated rag. She wrung it hard and then laid it across Eren's burning forehead. It was cold and soothed his fried nerves. She removed it, dunked it into the bucket once more and began gently cooling his pulse points. As she tended to him she muttered under her breath. "He should not have insisted you report this afternoon. It was foolhardy. You are not well."

Upon hearing her concern, Eren was no longer tired. He was pissed off. He loved Mikasa and Armin more than words could express. They were his family. They had been with him from the beginning. He resented the condescending way Mikasa spoke to him. He did not want to be babied or protected by her. How could he eradicate the Titans from the Earth if she was always coddling him like a mentally challenged four-year-old? He needed to remind her he was also strong.

"Stop!" He snapped and shot up to a sitting position. Each muscle and ligament protested. He was hit by a sudden blood rush to the head. He didn't show his weakness though. Otherwise this whole demonstration would be for naught. "I am perfectly fine. I've been lying here too long as it is. Captain Levi is right. I should up and doing something productive."

Mikasa listened to him patiently. If his rejection of her care hurt her, she showed no sign of it. Her eyes were as guarded as always. "If you're so fine, why did you sleep until eleven o'clock this morning?" she retorted curtly. As usual, she had caught him off guard. Eren blinked in disbelief. It seemed like only five minutes ago that Levi had come in to wake him. He had just closed his eyes for one second. Had they really let him sleep in that late? He must have been worse than he thought. He shook it off quickly. Still, there was no reason for him to continue to be a lay-about. If Erwin felt he was ready to return to duty then that was what he would do. He brushed Mikasa aside and stood. Fortunately she had enough sense to leave him to dress in privacy without being asked. As he pulled on his clothes he whispered private wishes to himself about the day's tasks. Please don't let it be cleaning again. The downtrodden survivors had made an enormous mess upon their arrival at the old recon corps headquarters. The dining hall had been converted into a temporary medical ward where the injured were tended to. They needed to regroup and strategize before reporting to the capital. Eren dreaded the thought of tidying under Levi. He would surely end up doing the same task five times over. No matter how hard he scrubbed there would always be some little fleck of dirt that he had forgotten. It would never escape Levi's notice. He would scowl in disgust and demand that he start over again. Now is not the time for complaining, brat. Eren internally scolded himself. Having the heart of a soldier means facing undesirable tasks head on because it is what must be done. That man's voice was really in his head these days. He straightened out his uniform and headed into the hallway. Mikasa was standing ramrod straight against a wall. Her eyes were far away. What was she thinking about? Eren coughed, shifted his weight and she turned to face him. She gave him a quick once over. Even in those few minutes he felt steadier on his feet. They turned wordlessly and began walking to the grand hall where Levi and Erwin were waiting for him.

Mikasa stayed close to him as they walked down the hallway. Maybe she thought he would have another wave of weakness and wanted to be there to catch him. This was even clingier than she usually was. Despite his highly developed sense of independence even Eren could not entirely blame her. She had watched him get swallowed by the female Titan. It must have been a rather grisly sight. At least she hadn't had to see his arm and leg get snapped off, unlike Armin. Their boots clacked on the stairwell as they climbed. The air was heavy up here. Cicadas vibrated and buzzed outside. If circumstances weren't so miserable they might have admired the beauty of this tactically unsound outpost. It could be their first stop on their vacation to the…"osha?"…Ocean: the large body of water that went on to the horizon.

They passed under the arch and entered the grand room flooded with sunshine. Eren inhaled sharply. Even Mikasa gasped a little bit. It was spotless. The floor that had been covered in mud, bits of broken branches and blood was glistening. The long tables were cleared of bandages, medical equipment and body parts. The wood smelled like it had just been refinished. When did all of this happen? Mikasa asked herself. She hadn't left Eren's side for a minute all night. Furthermore, what were they supposed to be doing if it wasn't this? She couldn't help but notice the absence of the cadets. Was this going to be special Titan training? No, it couldn't be. They would have gone outside. One transformation in here would bring the whole place down. Hange would also be here. That twisted brunette never missed an opportunity to poke and prod at Eren. It made Mikasa uneasy.

A slight tinkle echoed through the chamber. Levi stirred his tea idly. It had been brewed just so. Only a single lemon slice cut paper thin floated on the surface. He lifted the teacup delicately and held it under his nose. He breathed in the tannic aroma, absolutely perfect. He had been up all night cleaning. He wouldn't deny his squad the rest they needed but he couldn't sleep. He was preoccupied with the issue of the traitor. Many thought that a common enemy would bring people together and resolve conflicts. That hadn't been the case. The warm amber liquid slipped over his lips and soothed his throat. His vocal chords were strained from all the yelling he had done yesterday. The tea was working miracles, absolutely perfect. Erwin sat at the head of the table. He didn't want any tea for himself. He was eager for Jaegar to arrive. He looked up at the two cadets who had just wandered in. The couple made their way to him at a brisk pace. When they were in front of the men, they stood at attention and gave them their best salute. "At ease." Erwin stood. Levi allowed his gaze to drift back to the teacup. He always seemed most at ease when gazing into a teacup.

"Today we are going to be doing things a little differently. Jaegar will be inside with us working on a special exercise. Ackerman, you will go outside with the others. They are performing routine maintenance." Mikasa tensioned. "With all due respect, I am monitoring Eren's condition, Sir. If it is possible, I would like to stay with him." She would never defy a direct order but her eyes flared up. " He has been through a lot." Eren clenched his teeth and fists silently. Shut up Mikasa. Why are you embarrassing me in front of my superiors? He thought with annoyance. Erwin considered this and glanced at Levi inviting his input.

Only Jaegar had been requested but Levi was not displeased by Ackerman's presence. Maybe she would learn something from this as well. Besides, this one didn't seem to get on his nerves as much as the others. She was quiet. She didn't blather on for hours about Titan experiments. She didn't try to devour everything in sight at record speed. She didn't panic and freeze in the face of danger. She was constantly alert. He could respect that. He didn't typically form such positive opinions about green recruits. More often than not they would serve as Titan bait while those in command gained distance. He did not take that fact lightly but it was the reality of the situation. However, Mikasa had a good head on her shoulders and was quick on her feet. He might even be optimistic enough to predict her living for a few more years. He made an almost invisible shrug. Erwin nodded at the subordinates. "Very well, Miss Ackerman, you may stay." Eren tried his best not to scowl. Damn.

Levi pushed out a chair beside him and gestured for Mikasa to take a seat. What? Mikasa seemed confused as well. She glanced between Levi and Eren, trying to understand what was going on. Eren addressed Erwin. "Sir? Aren't we going to train today?" The blonde man shrugged and reclaimed his seat at the head of the table. Levi took another sip of his tea. "There will be time to train your body tomorrow. Today I want us to do some exercises with your mind." Eren thought about protesting when Levi crossed his legs with discomfort. A crutch was leaning against his chair. Eren cringed when he thought of how Levi had swooped in to save him and got hurt in the process. So many people had gotten hurt or died over him. "Yes sir." He nodded firmly but his voice lacked resolve.

Eren sat down adjacent to Erwin while Mikasa was seated beside Levi. Levi reached under the table and brought out a box with a checked pattern on the top. He undid a latch on the box with his long slender fingers. Mikasa observed that, despite their length, his nails were exquisitely clean. Levi gave her a peculiar look as he opened the box. She had been staring. Her cheeks reddened slightly and she shifted her gaze.

Erwin thanked his second in command and removed beautiful chess pieces from their velvet bedding. They were carved from marble and looked expensive. Eren picked up a rook and turned it over. It was sculpted to resemble Wall Sina. "Where did you get these sir?" Erwin took the rook back from Eren and placed it on the board.

"It's a funny story actually. They were a gift from Commander Pyxis ." Eren's jaw dropped. Mikasa seemed impressed. "It wasn't too long ago." Erwin continued calmly as if what he said was a small matter. "He came out to meet us. He said he wanted a look at the 'suicidal morons who were squandering man power on pipe dreams.'" Levi smirked. Mikasa made a small sound in her throat. She hadn't seen much of Pyxis but she could tell that he was eccentric. "He stared at me for what felt like a long time and nodded. He only said two words. 'You'll do.' I found this in my quarters after he left. There was a note attached but it contained only his signature. I've never opened it until today." Erwin pushed the board towards Eren. Eren blinked at it quietly.

"I don't really know the rules, Sir." Erwin remained unperturbed.

"That's alright. I can explain it to you." He gestured to each piece and went over their various functions.

"We each have sixteen pieces: One king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights and eight pawns. The objective is to capture your opponent's king. It is it the most important piece but it also the weakest..."

Eren listened and did his best to remember all of the different rules. He certainly saw parallels between the game and their lives. Levi was "queen." He was strong, agile and always on the move. The pawns were members of the Survey Corps. They would venture beyond the walls to reclaim land for humanity and operate in a variety of unorthodox capacities. The knights and bishops were the Garrison. They would respond to attacks on the walls. The rooks were the Military Police. Eren swallowed. Does that make him the king? He was important to their cause. Was he also the weakest piece?

"It's time to make your move, Eren." The younger man grabbed the pawn immediately in front of his queen and definitively moved it to the middle of the board. Mikasa remained silent but she could instinctively tell that Eren had not made a good first move. The corners of Erwin's mouth turned up. He had something in mind. He leaned forward. "That is your choice. It's time for me to make mine." Mikasa gazed out the open window. She wondered what the other cadets were up to.

Out in the field Jean Kirstein lay spread-eagle amongst the weeds. Sweat dripped from his forehead. His mouth tasted bitter with adrenaline. His heart was racing. Why is this happening to us? Wasn't the bloodbath of yesterday enough? How much more was the universe going to test them? Other bodies were scattered around him. Vital fluid dripped from their chins and clots began to form. Their eyes widened in shock. Woozy murmurs buzzed from their parted lips. This is how it all ends for me. This is the answer to my question. This is how I die.

"Would you buffoons get over it already?" Hange snapped. "They're just breasts!" Hange's feet were planted firmly just a foot from Jean's head. Their brown hair was pulled up high on their head to get it off of their neck. A damp handkerchief hung from their pocket. They snatched it up in their right hand and wiped their moist brow. Their left arm balanced a broken 3D maneuvering device against their hip. Their muscular shoulders glistened. A small drop of perspiration slowly rolled down their spine into the small of their back. Their round bosom swelled in front of them. Jean did everything he could not to look at his half naked squad leader. "I mean no disrespect. I don't want to offend you. That is…I…why aren't you wearing your shirt?" He hollered and cupped his face in his hands. Hange cocked their head to the side quizzically. "Haven't you noticed how hot it is? I think I have the right to some minimal comfort. You lot need to get off your asses and start doing something useful." Jean had a suspicion that this was going to be a very long day.

"Check mate." Erwin leaned back in his chair. Eren blinked. He had lost.

"How did you do that sir?"

"It's called the Latvian Gambit, Jaegar. It's not a strategy one sees very often. Your opening is a common one for an amateur. I implemented a dubious and risky defense. When used correctly it yields success but often at the cost of many pieces." Eren was quiet. He sensed that Erwin was hinting at something. "There are no easy choices in battle. Sacrifices must be made and we do not have the luxury of regret. If we second guess then we open ourselves up to foolish error. You can only move forward." Eren nodded but inside he was struggling. How could he not feel guilty when there seemed to be so much he was at fault for? "I want you to remember that when we have to speak for our actions." Eren grappled with these words and forced himself to maintain firm eye contact.

"I gave humanity my heart." His voice faltered with emotion. "I will do whatever is required of me."

Erwin stared back. "Do not forget yourself. Tune out the excess noise in your mind and concentrate on the task at hand; rooting the weeds from our midst. I want you to take some time to think today. I suspect you already know who we're looking for. You just need to realize that."

Just like that, Eren was confused again. Mikasa started to gasp but stifled it. She needed some time to think. None of the men seemed to notice her except Levi.