Chapter Text
Captain Levi Ackerman walked down the halls of the Squad Committee Headquarters. His face showed no sign of any particular emotion, but deep down, he was nervous. That idiot, Major General Pixis, was supposed to assassinate the Fuhrer this morning but no one has said a peep. Actually, the Fuhrer seemed more alive than ever.
Levi went up the stairs and walked down another hall. Another turn and he would arrive at Commander Smith’s office doorstep. Erwin had sent Petra for him fifteen minutes ago with the message that he wanted to see him. Levi was hoping the Commander would tell him Hitler was dead, but his common sense bid him an idiot.
When he turned the corner, he saw a man and a woman on each side of the big window at the end of the hall. They were both wearing navy blue military trousers, beige button shirts and big black rain jackets. The male had small hazel eyes and shoulder-length wavy brown hair. He was definitely not from around here, especially not in this time.
The woman, however, clearly belonged. She looked like the perfect German woman. She had dirty blonde hair that went a little over her shoulders. Her skin was the color of milk and her eyes appeared to be bits of the sky. Her lips had a tint of pink, but Levi was sure makeup never touched her face.
He stopped in front of the door and knocked quickly, then watched the man and woman from the corner of his eyes. They appeared to be discussing something; something the man wanted to do and the woman didn’t. The woman rolled her eyes and looked at Levi. They made eye contact. Her stare sent chills down Levi’s spine, but he used his all to not show it.
The woman raised one perfect blond eyebrow and smirked. “It’s twenty-five dollars an hour, Shorty” she said with a thick Southern accent and snickered. The man looked at Levi and laughed too.
Levi could feel his cheeks redden, despite his mental warning. He was two second away from socking those two (according to their accents) Americans in the face and throwing them out the window. Suddenly, the door opened and Levi faced a wrinkled face with a gray mustache.
“Captain Ackerman, please come in” said Major General Pixis. Levi gave the two Americans a last dirty look and stepped inside.
He met Commander Smith’s eyes behind a big oak desk and sat in one of the chairs in front of him. He heard Pixis tell the Americans he would be with them in a moment and heard the American woman make a sarcastic remark about taking all the time they need. Levi narrowed his eyes at Erwin, to which he looked away.
Pixis closed the door and sat on the chair next to Levi. “Hello Levi, would you like a drink?” offered Erwin. His voice was low and calm. It made Levi even more irritated.
“Don’t bullshit me Erwin. Hitler’s not dead, isn’t he?” snapped Levi.
“No, he’s not” said General Pixis as he rubbed his hand on his bald head. Levi turned to him and scowled.
“What did you do?” He hissed.
“I didn’t do anything. The bomb was simply a dud and it failed to detonate!” defended Pixis. Levi wanted to take his old-ass out too.
“Pixis will go tomorrow morning to Berlin to retrieve the bomb and not arise suspicion” said Erwin calmly.
Levi scoffed and turned to Erwin. “Good luck with that. If you idiots manage to get caught, don’t expect me to come to your rescue!” he stated.
Pixis simply cleared his throat and stared at his leg over his knee. “Levi, how is your squad doing?” asked Erwin, trying to move the conversation forward.
Levi rolled his eyes and stared at Erwin, mentally asking if he was really asking this here and now. “Wonderful, Commander. They are the top of the ranks. I think the Fuhrer wants to lick my hand.”
Erwin smiled and said “Point taken, Captain.”
“Why do you care?” asked Levi as he leaned forward. He could see in Erwin’s eyes that he had a plan.
“Those youngsters under your command are very loyal to you, right?”
Levi smirked. “That’s right.”
Erwin leaned in closer and asked “Are they loyal enough to betray their country?”
Levi bit the inside of his cheek and mentally went through each of his soldiers. With enough effort he could convince Mikasa, who would manage to convince Yeager, Arlert, Blouse, Springer… he wasn’t sure about the rest due to their full blooded German families. “With effort, I can convince half.”
“That’s good, we only need five soldiers” said Erwin as his eyes sparkled.
Levi chuckled. “What the hell are you going to do with five soldiers?” he asked.
Erwin smiled and rose from his chair. He walked to the mini bar inside a World Globe in a corner. “Have you ever heard of the American Secret Service squad known as ‘The Basterds’?”
“Everybody in the German Army has heard about the Basterds” said Levi.
Erwin turned around and held what appeared to be plain whiskey in his hand. He took a sip and smiled. “Obviously, in the eyes of Germany, they resemble the Devil, and who better to work with to take down Hell than with the Devil?”
Levi scoffed. “And what makes you think that the Basterds would want to work with rebellious German soldiers?”
Erwin took another sip and sat back down on his chair “What makes me think that, Captain, is the appearance of the two commanding officers of the Basterds right outside my door.”
Levi instantly wanted to flip the oak desk over Erwin. “Those two pigs are the commanders of the Basterds?!” he asked flabbergasted as he pointed at the door.
“Spoken like a real German” Joked Pixis and chuckled with Erwin.
“I think it’s time we let them in. We’ve kept them waiting” said Erwin and Pixis got up and walked to the door.
Levi arranged his cravat and stood up. “I think I’ll take you up on that drink now.”
Erwin chuckled as the American’s entered the office. They stood behind the chairs. Pixis motioned the woman to Levi’s chair. “Please sit, Ma’am.”
She smirked. “I’ll pass, besides, Shorty doesn’t look too thrilled to give up his seat” she said as she looked at Levi beside the bar. He wasn’t glaring at the chair, he was glaring at her.
“Captain Ackerman and Major General Pixis, this is Sergeant Robinson and Lieutenant Raine” introduced Erwin. “Would you like something to drink?”
“So, the American Beauty has a name? And a title? Lieutenant!” thought Levi. Robinson bowed his head slightly at his introduction, and Raine simply smirked in Levi’s direction.
“Commander Erwin, we happen to be on a tight schedule so, could please cut through the old crap cake and inform us about your plan?” she said as she crossed her arms. Levi eyed her, then Erwin. He had to admit he was shocked. He had the same attitude towards Erwin, but they had been friends for years. They had history. This woman barely knows him! “Right?” Levi mentally questioned.
His eyes slightly widened when Erwin chuckled “You’re right Lieutenant. I apologize. How much have your superiors briefed you about us or the operation?”
“We know a good deal about who you are and what you’re trying to do. Take the enemy through the inside? That’s very sacrificial of you” said Raine with a hint of sarcasm. It was obvious this woman didn’t trust them.
“Isn’t that exactly what you’re doing?” added Levi. He stared at his scotch then downed it. He was definitely going to need it.
“Lieutenant Raine, we know how odd this may look to you. A group of treacherous German officers asking for American help does sound a little farfetched, but drastic times call for drastic measures” explained Erwin.
Raine’s arms remained crossed and her eyes still pierced Levi. Levi avoided it at all costs and stood beside his commander. “So, why have you contacted us? Commander Hicox mentioned an ‘Operation Freedom’” said Robinson. His voice was soothing and had a hint of New York.
Erwin turned his chair, stood up, and motioned to the big European map on the wall. “In around two weeks, Joseph Goebbels will throw a Gala Premier for one of his new movies in Paris. He will be joined also by Goring, Bormann, and most of the German high command, along with many ranking officers of the SS.”
“You appear to have all your rotten eggs in one basket, Commander” said Raine.
Erwin turned to face her and smiled “Yes Lieutenant, and the objective of Operation Freedom is to blow up the basket.”
Everyone’s eyes, even Levi’s, widened. This was the opportunity of a lifetime. “I don’t see what this has to do with my squad” complained the small Captain.
Erwin looked at him. “For this operation, we hope to use both squads. A mixture of the two will infiltrate the gala, while the others guard and reinforce” he explained.
“Work with them?! Erwin, you can’t be serious!” thought Levi and scowled as the Commander turned to the Basterd Commanders. “Each squad must pick your top five men, and the day after tomorrow, you leave for France.” Erwin then looked at Levi again and said “Your squad must assist the Basterds in their operations.”
“And what about my operations? You’re not my only superior Erwin” said Levi as he crossed his arms.
“I have written a fake telegraph requesting your squad’s assistance in North Africa. Pixis will take it tomorrow morning to Berlin. Our members in North Africa have been informed and will verify that you’re there.”
Levi scoffed and headed to the mini bar again “You’re not as stupid as I thought” he said.
“Ditto” said Raine and smirked.
“Details about Operation Freedom will not be available until we get to France and make contact with our double agent. That’s all I have for you Lieutenant Raine and Sergeant Robinson” said Erwin. “Will you cooperate?”
Levi poured himself another scotch and leaned on the wall as he sipped it. Raine bit her lip and studied Levi. He could feel his cheeks warm up and considered himself lucky for being in a dark corner. Raine then looked at Robinson, who slightly nodded. Finally, she looked at Erwin. “Alright. We’ll cooperate. Anything to take down Hitler” she said.
Erwin smiled “Excellent. You must join us for a drink. You too Pixis” he said as he motioned everyone to where Levi was.
Pixis hesitated, but decided that he would probably need it for tomorrow. Erwin poured whiskey for everyone. He stood between Pixis and Robinson as Raine stood next to Levi. Erwin raised his glass “A toast, to down with Hitler!” he said.
Everyone repeated “To down with Hitler!” and clinked their glasses. Raine stared at Levi in the eyes and he did the same. They both smirked and clinked their glasses together.