Aot Underground City Fic

"For this mission, we will be traveling into the underground cities. I caution all of you new recruits as we partake in what may be a challenging expedition. For this mission, we will not have our 3D Maneuver Gear, to give us the advantage of blending in. Only these Cadets will participate: Eren Jaeger, Mikasa Ackerman, Reiner Braun, Armin Arlert, Connie Springer, Sasha Blouse, and Jean Kirschtein. Your skills are vital to this task. Our objective is to investigate the motives of the kidnappings that have been happening underneath the surface. As your Commander, I will be taking part of this expedition as well, along with Squad Leader Hanji Zoe, and Corporal Levi, who once lived in those very underground routes. I wish you all luck. We leave first thing tomorrow morning." – Erwin Smith

To the Underground City

Eren let out a yawn, the carriage jolting as they sped over some bumpy roads. The sky, Eren saw through the window, was already dark. "Who knew the ride would be so long…we've been driving since this morning."

He heard Jean give a huff of agitation. "If you don't like riding with the rest of us, why don't you just transform into a Titan and walk there?"

"Shut up, Kirschtein! I hardly even complained!"

"It was enough to bug me, Titan scum."

"Why aren't you pulling the carriage with your kind, Horse Face?!" Eren launched a glare, Jean giving him a snort in return. Reiner let out a tired sigh. "Guys, calm down. I already have to sit in between you two, at least behave yourselves. Just go to sleep until we get there."

A loud snore interrupted them, Jean crossing his arms. He pointed at Connie, who was across from him. "How can I try sleeping when his snores are blasting through the carriage?!"

"Jean…be quiet…" Armin moaned sleepily. His head was resting near the window, a book clutched to his chest. Once it got too dark for him to read, he had fallen asleep just as quickly as Connie had.

Jean sighed, "Sorry…Armin…"

"Uh huh…" Armin gave another half-asleep response.

Jean mumbled under his breath as another snore from Connie erupted through the carriage. "At least the girls don't have to put up with this."

They heard a snort come from Corporal Levi, who was sitting in between Armin and Connie. "They have Hanji with them. She snores just as loudly."

Levi then eyed Connie with annoyance as another snore escaped his throat. "Then again, Springer may have her beat."

Eren smirked, "And Mikasa's probably awake watching Sasha drool or something."

A chuckle came from Jean, "Most likely."

Reiner gave another grunt of annoyance, his eyes shut now. "Who knew a carriage ride could make someone so tired. I'm beat."

Eren fidgeted beside him. "I'm tired from it too, but I can't take sitting still this long."

"Neither can I." Jean complained.

Reiner gave a huff, "And I bet they didn't have to make a pit stop so that someone," he opened his eyes to glare at Connie, "could vomit in the grass."

"At least he's asleep now." Jean grunted, "I never knew someone could get that sick from riding in a carriage. I mean Armin can read in this thing without being bothered, yet Connie stares out the window for ten seconds and nearly dies from it!"

"That's not…nice…Jean…" Armin mumbled.

"Are you even sleeping?!" Jean countered.

There was no response, and Jean gave an irritated huff. "Oh, fine. Don't answer me then, you little faker."

Reiner nudged him with his elbow. "Sometimes he responds in his sleep. Right, Eren?"

Eren had nearly dozed off, his head drooping, but he jumped when Reiner said his name. "Huh? Oh. Yeah. He talks in his sleep…I've had…" he yawned, "I've had conversations with him like this…" Eren's head started drooping again, but he was jerked back awake when the carriage jolted.

Corporal Levi sighed, the area around them darkening, "We've made it to the entrance to the underground."

For a few minutes, darkness surrounded them, but in an instant light returned, lit candles up in the ceilings of the caverns. "Wow." Jean breathed.

"It's nicer than the surface makes it out to be, but it's still not an ideal living place." Levi sighed, "Without sunlight, one can die."

"Way to bring us down, Corporal." Eren groaned.

"I'm just saying, the people who live here may not take kindly to surface dwellers. They'll either be like that out of jealousy, or pure hatred. It's just a warning, Jaeger."

Another snore erupted form Connie, and Levi gave the smaller boy a death glare. "When we get there, I'm throwing him out of the carriage." Levi nudged Armin with his elbow, "Wake up, Arlert, we're here."

Armin spoke groggily, "I'm up…"

Eren gave him a kick in the leg, and Armin jumped, his eyes snapping open. "Ow! Eren!"

"Just waking you up." Eren grinned smugly. "We're in the underground city."

"Hmm?" Armin peeked out the window. "We're on the rogues side of town. It makes sense the criminals would lurk around here. Families live around here too, unfortunately."

"How did you know that?" Levi questioned.

"Oh…uh—my Grandfather used to come visit his friends here…he brought me sometimes…"

"Tch. And you can remember this place from that long ago?"

"Well…yeah."

Reiner chuckled, "What haven't you seen, Armin?"

Armin gripped his book tightly. "A lot of things…"

Their carriage stopped with a jolt in front of one of the homes. Levi spoke, "This is that place Erwin is renting out for us. They should already be here. But before you brats try to get out of this blasted carriage…" Levi kicked open the door, grabbing Connie by the collar and tossing him out of the carriage.

Armin gasped, Jean and Eren bursting into laughter at the sight, Reiner letting out a sigh of defeat. They all heard a groan from Connie, Corporal Levi exiting the carriage. "Come on, brats. Let's go get settled."

The others followed him out, Jean and Eren still trying to fight back laughter as they entered the house, Mikasa instantly scolding Eren for not sleeping on the way there. Reiner yanked Connie up from the ground, the smaller soldier rubbing the back of his head with a wince. "Ow. Reiner, did he just throw me out?"

"You were snoring again, like always."

Connie snapped his fingers. "Damn it. I guess I'm lucky he didn't just stab me on the way here."

There was a squeal, Connie letting out a yelp as Sasha tackled him to the ground. "Connie! They have meat for us! They have meat!" She yanked him off the ground, dragging him into the house. Reiner sighed, following them inside. "I guess I'm the only one with sense…"

"That's how I feel sometimes."

Reiner jumped when he saw Armin beside him. "I thought you entered with Eren and Jean."

"No, I was behind you, actually." Armin brushed past Reiner, joining Mikasa and Eren, Sasha and Connie already starting to pick away at the food. The main room had a sofa, and a small fireplace. There was also a table with food supplies nearby.

Levi let out an irritated sigh as Hanji embraced him. "Hey, shorty! How was the ride without me?"

"Other than bickering and snoring, quite pleasant."

"Oh, good! Erwin and I are going to go out and get those files on the perps. Will you be alright watching the Cadets by yourself?"

"Tch. Of course."

"You won't kill them off while we're gone?" Hanji teased.

"Just go get those blasted plans, shitty glasses."

Hanji grinned happily, skipping out the door, calling to the other carriage. "Erwin! I'm ready! Everything is under control! Let's go!" She slammed the door shut behind her, her gleeful cackle heard from behind the door.

Levi watched as the Cadets were all doing the usual things they did. Armin was trying to read, Connie and Sasha were eating, and Mikasa was babying Eren. Reiner usually hung around Berdholt, but since he wasn't on this mission, the taller soldier went to talk to Armin on the sofa.

"Hey." Levi spoke.

The Cadets froze, their attention on him now. He sighed, "You brats realize where we are, right? This place isn't exactly a playground, so I want you to be careful. Tomorrow, anywhere you go, you take someone with you." He eyed Armin. "And I don't care if you've been here, no Cadets leaves unaccompanied." He reverted his gaze back to all of them. "We'll discuss the plans in the morning, when Erwin says so. But right now, your all going to eat something, then go to bed. I'm not going to get yelled at from you being sluggish, because you won't be. Understand?"

Everyone nodded, Sasha mumbling a yes with food already in her mouth. Corporal Levi headed towards the bedrooms, "Get to bed soon. But don't think that just because I'm gone, that I'll be asleep."

He left then, Eren responding with a shudder. "Well, I'm not even hungry. I just want to sleep."

Reiner nodded in agreement. "That what I want to do, too."

Sasha grinned, "More food for us!"

"But you have to eat something, Eren." Mikasa huffed. She shoved a piece of bread into Eren's hand. "There. Eat that, and I'll let you off the hook."

Eren rolled his eyes, but he stuffed the bread into his mouth, by some miracle swallowing it without choking. "Good night, Mikasa. Reiner, you going to bed?"

"Heck yeah. If I don't sleep now, I'll die. Let's go. Armin, you ready too?" Reiner nudged him, but he had started reading his book again. "Did you want something, Reiner?"

"Never mind." Reiner sighed. "I'll catch you guys later. Let's go grab a room or something, Eren, while these knuckle heads risk death."

Reiner and Eren wandered off into the hall, Mikasa tapping Sasha on the shoulder. "After you eat, Sasha, let's go find us a room."

Sasha grunted something with her mouth full, Mikasa taking it as a yes. Connie and Jean were whispering to each other, both of them wandering off into the back of the house. "They'd better not go get lost."

"In a house?" Sasha chuckled, "If it's Connie and Jean, they'll definitely get lost." Sasha gulped down the rest of her meat. "Okay! I'm ready Mikasa, let's go off to beddy bye!" She skipped towards the hallway, Mikasa following. She turned in Armin's direction. "Don't forget to actually sleep, Armin."

"What?" He looked up from his book. "Yeah. I will."

Mikasa sighed, chasing after Sasha's skipping form.

Armin started reading again. The next chapter was about Rain forests, the images of animals unheard of coming to his mind, the heights of the trees. A faint clanging came from another room in the house. He ignored it, moving onto the descriptions of the plants. There was more clanging. He sighed, flipping through the next few pages. Whatever Jean and Connie were doing, they weren't doing it quietly.

Armin figured it might be best to check on them, but decided against it. At this moment he'd rather be reading without interruption. He went into the hallway, surprised by how many bedroom doors there were. He opened one room, Eren completely passed out on one bed, Reiner fast asleep in another.

Guess he'd have to go read in one of the other rooms.

In fact, he knew then he'd probably end up rooming with Connie and Jean. He sighed, realizing then he'd have to deal with Connie's snores later on. "Thanks a lot Eren…" He muttered.

Armin opened the door to the next room, thankful that it was empty. He shut the door behind him, plopping down onto one of the beds and opening his book. After the Rain Forest came underwater volcanoes.

The Ocean had those?

He finished that chapter quickly, captivated by the other things that lay within the Ocean's depths. A few chapters later, he heard some laughing from the hallway, not able to tell how long he had really been reading at that point. The door to the room he was in burst open, Connie and Jean laughing hysterically. Connie stumbled, laughing his head off. "J—Jean, that was—you totally beat me man! You beat me!" He laughed again, a flushed look on his face. In fact, Jean had the same expression.

Armin's eyes widened.

Oh no.

"Um…guys?" Armin spoke, "What have you two been doing for the past hour?"

Jean sat down beside Armin, placing his arm around the blonde's shoulders. He slurred a response, "We found a—a liquor cabinet down the…" he hiccupped, "Down the hall. C—Connie here dared me, so," He hiccupped again, "So I dared him." He laughed, Armin cringing at the smell of his alcohol breath. "Jean, you mean to tell me the two of you got yourselves drunk?"

Connie let out a laugh, plopping himself down on the bed as well. "Pfft. Nah, we're not drunk. We—we're just totally happy!" He leapt off the bed, stumbling around the room in a fit of giggles. Armin sighed, yelping when Jean pulled him into an awkward hug. "Whatcha' Readin' there Armin?"

"J—just stuff…hey!"

Jean snatched the book from Armin's hands, holding it up to where he couldn't reach it. "Pfft. How can ya read this without any," he slurred, "Pictures…" He tossed it onto the floor, Armin trying to wriggle out of his grip. "Jean, that's rude. Now let go of me."

Jean gave a drunken smirk, his grip remaining. "And what if I don't want to."

"Jean, quit it. You're just drunk."

Armin jumped when he heard a thud, Connie having collapsed onto the floor. He rose, his giggles turning into groans. "Man, guys…I don't feel well…" He threw open one of the windows in the room, sticking his head out and vomiting out of it.

Armin gave a repulsed sigh, still trying to free himself. "Jean, let go. Don't make it to where I have to get Corporal Lev—"

"Hey! I could sing us a song!" Jean interrupted.

Connie broke out into more laughter, "Dude, go for it!" Then he let out a grunt, hacking out the window once again as Jean belted into song, his voice loud and off key, "Ohhhhhh, Eren Jaeger is an asssss, the Corporal, he is a short ass, aaaannndddd one dayyyy we're all going to dieeeeee!"

"Jean, shut up!"

He heard Connie vomiting in the background, Jean belting, "Aaaaanndd Mikasa has a good lookingggg aaaa...ow!" Armin managed to elbow Jean in the stomach, breaking free from the taller boys grip. He headed for the door, Jean somehow managing to get in front of him. "Heyyy, Armin." He stood in the doorway, blocking the path. "Where ya' off to? Can I come?"

"No, Jean, stay in here." He tried to move around him, Jean blocking him. Armin sighed in annoyance. "Look, I'm going to get you some help. Now mo—" Jean's hand clapped over his mouth, Armin's yelp muffled as Jean slammed him against the wall. "You want to tell Corporal Levi, don't you?" He slurred, "That's…not…very nice…" He hiccupped. "It's because I'm not as…cool as Jaeger…is it?"

Connie let out a slurred response, and started moaning as half his body dangled out the window. Armin's voice was slightly muffled, "Jean, you need to—mo—" Jean's hand pressed harder over his mouth, the smell of alcohol on his breath shooting right into Armin's face. Jean slurred, "You can't…tell the…Corporal…Armin. We're having too much fun. Aren't we, Connie?"

Connie's only response was further vomiting.

Armin tried to squirm out of Jean's grip, but he pressed himself against him."You could have some fun, too…Armin…" Jean breathed into his face.

Connie fell from the window, collapsing onto the floor in the room. Jean looked back momentarily at his fallen comrade. "Connie…you idiot…stop falling over…"

Armin used this distraction to knee Jean in the stomach, the taller boy wincing, Armin shoving him off and bolting into the hallway. The sound of more singing came, and he burst into another room, shutting the door behind him. It didn't sound like Jean was following, but he had to tell somebody before Connie coughed up his lungs. The room he was in was dark, and he realized he was in Eren and Reiner's room.

Could he tell Eren?

Armin thought about it, but Eren would most likely just get into a fight with Jean rather than help him. He could go find where Mikasa was, but that would mean risking running into Jean on the way there, and with Jean's physical advantage, that probably wasn't the greatest idea.

He eyed Reiner, figuring that would be his best option. He crept towards where Reiner was sleeping, shaking his arm. "Reiner? Hey, Reiner."

Reiner let out a grunt, and Armin shook his arm again. "Reiner, get up."

"Huh?" He sat up slightly, responding groggily, "Is that you, Armin?"

"Yeah."

"Wh—what's up? Why'd you wake me?"

"Well uh—it's Connie and Jean…" Armin whispered.

"Huh?" Reiner half-laughed. "If you're trying to swap rooms with me, forget it. I dealt with Connie's snores last time."

"No, no. It's not that at all. The two idiots got themselves drunk."

Reiner raised an eyebrow. "They what? How'd they manage that?"

Armin sighed, "Jean said something about a liquor cabinet and them daring each other to drink."

Reiner gave an irritated sigh. "It figures they'd do something stupid like that. They did it on our first night here, no less. Hey, speaking of that you look a bit freaked. Did they do anything crazy?"

"Uh…" Armin stuttered, thankful the dark hid how red his face was. "C—Connie was vomiting out the window and uh—Jean was—J—Jean was being Jean, but a ten times more a—annoying Jean."

Reiner's eyes widened slightly, "Vomiting out the window? Poor stupid Connie."

"Y—yeah…"

"And Jean was just annoying?"

Armin stuttered, "S—something like that…he started singing…"

Reiner mumbled something, then responded, "Okay. I'll come check on them." Reiner tossed off his blankets, surprised when he heard a small yelp come from Armin. "Hmm? What is it?"

Armin had his eyes covered. "R—Reiner, I think you f—forgot something…"

Reiner was confused for a second, and then a wave of embarrassment surpassed him. "Oh. That." He chuckled, "I forgot I don't sleep in pants. Sorry about that."

"Oh yeah, sure. You're sorry. Who in their right mind…" Armin sighed, shielding his vision as he went towards the door. "I'll be out in the hall…"

Armin exited the room. He was thankful Jean wasn't lurking nearby. He was probably in the room trying to see if Connie would join him in song or something like that.

"What are you doing up, brat?"

Armin jumped at the sound of the voice, Corporal Levi directly across from him, a cup of tea in his hands.

"I uh—well…" Armin nearly felt his heart stop. "I was just—st—standing here."

"Uh huh." Corporal Levi took a sip from his tea. "And you just decided not to take me seriously when I said to go to sleep, did you?"

"I uh...don't exactly…well…you see…I already slept in the carriage so—I'm wide awake now."

"Uh huh." Levi took another sip of his tea. "I see."

"What I mean is…I don't sleep much?" Armin felt his heart racing.

Damn it, he was going to die.

The Corporal was going to kill him.

Corporal Levi gave Armin a look of disbelief. "Tch. Don't give me that. Are you trying to stay up and read or something?"

He didn't want to give up Connie and Jean. He stuttered, "I—well…"

Armin jumped when the door opened, Reiner letting out a yawn, a smug grin on his face. "Hey, I found my pants. Let's…" His eyes widened when he caught glimpse of Corporal Levi. "Shit—uh—H—Hello, Corporal…"

Levi took another sip of his tea, then nodded. "I think I understand now, Arlert." He smirked, "I too prefer those who are a lot taller than I am. But out of everyone here, I didn't expect it from you."

Armin let out a small squeak, Reiner stuttering, "Wait, wait. Corporal, it's not what you think…"

"I see." Corporal Levi leaned against the wall. "Then humor me. Why are you two up? I for one don't need much sleep, so we can stand here all night if you want."

Armin let out a small whimper, his eyes on the floor. "W—we…well…um…"

"Armin saw uh—well, there's this…um…"

Levi nodded, "Fascinating story. It really is. Well, the next time you two decide to have some fun..."

Reiner stuttered, "Wait, wait, wait! Corporal! It's—it's Jean and Connie, actually."

Levi gave another nod. "Ah, so all four of you switch off, huh?"

Armin let out another squeak, Reiner certain he'd break at any minute if Levi kept on like this. "No." Reiner spoke, "Jean and Connie—Armin, I can tell him?"

Armin gave a shaky nod, Reiner continuing, "Jean and Connie were messing around in the back room. They're drunk now, and Armin came to get me to help him out. That's all."

"I see. I didn't think Arlert to be your type, anyway, Braun."

Reiner's face went red. "Y—yeah…"

Levi gave a smirk. "Now, that wasn't so hard, now was it? Was it, Arlert?"

Armin shook his head, "N—no, Corporal," a flustered expression spread across his face.

Corporal Levi headed for the other room, Reiner and Armin following. They opened the door, Connie passed out on the floor, but with no sign of Jean. Armin's eyes widened, "Jean?! Jean, where'd you go?"

Reiner scurried over to Connie, poking his face. "He seems to be alive, Corporal."

Levi sighed, "I guess I shouldn't tell Commander Erwin. He'd have them sent back, and I want them in this mission."

Reiner eyed the Corporal in surprise. "Y—you're not going to tell the Commander?"

Levi snorted. "Tch. Springer's sleeping, just like I asked you brats to do. Right?"

Armin let out a sigh of relief, his arms still shaking from the worry that had taken over. "Thank you."

"Tch. Don't thank me. All four of you are in charge of going out to get supplies. Got it?"

Both nodded, and Levi sighed, "All right, so where did Kirschtein…"

There was a yelp from Armin, Levi spinning around to see Jean hugging Armin tightly. "Hey! I knew you'd come back!"

Armin squirmed, pushing Jean away from him. "Jean, you need to calm down."

Jean caught a glimpse of Levi, "Hey…" his voice turned into song, "Corporalllll aaassssss…." he was cut off by Levi kicking him in the abdomen, Jean collapsing onto the floor. Levi grunted, "There, he's asleep. Goodnight you little shits." He hopped over Jean's unconscious form, exiting into the hallway. Reiner scooped up Connie, "Hey, Armin, you'll be okay in here with these two?"

Armin shrugged, "I should be, if Jean stays out like that."

"Heh." Reiner snorted, "it is a lot more peaceful when he's like that. Anyway, there's another bed in the room I'm in. I could take Connie, unless you want to come in there with us."

"No…I'll just stay in here. You take Connie."

"If you say so. Well, goodnight." Reiner walked off, a snoring Connie in his arms. Armin gave a glare to the unconscious Jean, grabbing a blanket from one of the beds. "Yeah, no way I'm staying in here with you. Sorry Jean." He stormed into the hallway, shutting the bedroom door behind him.