"Grimm der Gott" - Captain Asta Grimm

I remember not being there and knowing after they were gone that I could have made the difference. At the same time, I thank God that it was only my parents who had died. Adal was only a baby and to this day doesn't realize who it was we lost. Nikolaus and Kai, however, were overwhelmed with grief. I never had the time to face my pain, I was the oldest of four children and suddenly responsible for their future. The following year, my training was completed and I became a soldier in the Scouting Legion. To me, the only important thing was to keep my family safe, even if it meant that I gave up my identity in the process.

I was 19 when Kai joined the Scouting Legion, three years after the appearance of the colossal Titan. The fall of Wall Maria changed the type of soldier you had to be in order to stay alive, but Titans weren't my only enemy. The human capacity for evil served as a grim reminder that we'd be killing each other if the Titans weren't eating us. It wasn't Titans who had killed my parents.

Two Years Later, Present Day

There was nothing I could do but listen to Erwin. He'd gotten it in his head that I couldn't join the 56th expedition beyond the wall, but Adal was sick again and Kai had research to do with Hanji. To be perfectly honest with myself, I was relieved to know she wouldn't be in danger for at least a little while longer. So, I watched as the procession of my comrades rode out towards the gates.

"Captain Grimm?" I looked up, slightly startled to be pulled out of my thoughts, and saluted Erwin, who had yet to get on his horse.

"Sir?" He looked at me a moment, then smiled almost childishly.

"Don't let Kai and Hanji burn the place down, alright?" I nodded, then grinned slyly.

"I'll be sure that they do, sir." My attempt at humor was met with a surprised smirk before he mounted his horse and sped out with the rest of the legion. I looked on until they left my sight, I wouldn't be seeing nearly half of them ever again and I selfishly prayed that it wasn't the comrades I was closest to.

"How's Adal's fever?' Kai peeked her head over a pile of papers, knocking some of them over. She was probably the shortest person in the Legion, and certainly shorter than Captain Levi – much to his delight. It was a popular sentiment for Levi, Mike, Erd, and Petra to pat her head as if she were a child – much to her dismay.

"Fine, it went down and Nikolaus completed his training so he's there watching him for a little while. He should probably be up on the wall with the rest of the Cadets, but having two ranking officers for older sisters probably let him off without an argument."

"With no death threats to his commanding officer, I hope?" Kai eyed me carefully, and I gave in to a smile.

"I don't have to anymore, they already know by now." She rolled her eyes and smiled as well.

"He's lucky he was able to complete his training, with all the times we've pulled him away for various things. How did he do, anyway?"

"Seven of ten, he would have gotten a higher rank if the training officer didn't seem to have it out for me."

"Well, I don't blame him. You hurt his pride when you kicked his ass in front of Nikolaus' class." I laughed, remembering the intimidated look on his face. I was never this carefree in front of anyone else but my family, and some of the people in the Legion, especially Hanji. She had trained me herself, and I had once been under her command before Levi requested me when I was still just a Cadet.

"It's what he gets for mocking me." I yawned a little and leaned back into my seat, the rub bruises around my harness were particularly sore today. I avoided Kai's concerned look by watching Hanji come in with another stack of papers.

"That special ops Erwin had you do with Levi these past two weeks took quite a toll on you, Asta." I looked up to meet Hanji's curious gaze, then her mouth curled up into a twisted smile. "With all that time with Captain Levi, Asta, what could you possibly have done~?" I gaped at her for a moment and Kai erupted into laughter, Hanji started laughing with her and I shook my head.

"Oi, Hanji, how many times have I s-"

"Nobody believes it, you know. You spend so much time with h-"

"He's my friend, Hanji! No different than you or Mike and Petra." She only shook her head, grinning because she knew it bothered me when people assumed I was in some sort of relationship with Levi. I couldn't envision it, he's a good head shorter than me... Awkward.

"So what is Erwin really having you do out there?" Kai gave Hanji a sly glare when she put the new stack of papers on her desk, then looked back at me.

"Unfortunately, I can't say. It's between Levi, Erwin, and myself." Kai only pouted for a moment, then grinned maliciously.

"Maybe I should have a special chat with Er-"

"I'm a soldier, Kai. Just like you or Levi, and I require no special treatment."

"Who would you receive special treatment from?" Crap, Hanji was curious now; always getting into my business like she somehow thought she could live vicariously through me.

"No one, Hanji."

"Hey Hanji, Asta's got a secret love w-" A thunderous crash echoed from outside. Kai and Hanji were quick to run out the door. I went into the next room, grabbed our gear, and followed them outside.

"My God..." Before us stood a frightening image; the colossal Titan had appeared once more.

I had never been so nervous before, but it wasn't for myself. Our house lay near the gates of Trost. I looked over at Kai and my own worries were reflected in her eyes. Hanji had gone to send a word to the Garrison Commander, Pixis, to ensure that the plan they had made after the fall of Wall Maria was effectively carried out. As we flew passed the gates, we saw a Cadet on the wall launch himself at the colossal Titan. I was only glad it wasn't Nikolaus.

"Kai, we're the only ones aside from Hanji here from the Scouting Legion. After we get Adal evacuated, you may act as you see fit to help the rear guard when the Titans come through, so long as Nikolaus stays with you." She looked over at me for a moment, then nodded.

"Yes, sir."

I launched myself at a ten meter class Titan that had found its way through the broken gates already, spearing its mouth and swinging around to cut out the nape of its neck. Without a second thought I moved onward toward the house, which was now in sight. Kai landed on the roof first then jumped down onto the street and into the house just as I slide down onto the roof nearby and kept watch. Just as she got out of the house with the boys, a deviant type propels itself at us and crashes into the house. Kai and the boys fly forward from impact, Adal in the air and screaming. This moment was the slowest I had ever seen, almost as if my six year old brother was just floating there. Next thing I know, I jump up and spear the Titan in the arm as it started to get up, and use that momentum to swoop down and catch Adal. I disengaged from the Titan and attached to a wall and lowered us to the street just as Kai and Nikolaus got the their feet.

"Kai, the Titan!"

"Got it!" Kai hooked onto the Titans back, and in a flurry of auburn hair and green cloak, she was back on the street as the Titan collapsed behind the house. I looked over and Nikolaus was scared stiff.

"Nikolaus!" I walked up to him and put my free hand on his shoulder, smiling reassuringly. He turned his head and looked me in the eyes. "We're here Niko, it's okay. Everything will be alright." I saw him relax a little as he got a grip on himself.

"Niko, watch out!" I looked up and another, smaller, deviant type Titan was running towards us. I felt panic when Niko tried to use his gear, only to find he had broken it in the fall. I quickly shove Adal into Niko's arms and fly up, spinning around as I attached to a lower wall and cut out a chunk of flesh from the Titan's neck. Just as I landed on the ground, I heard them. The loud rumbling of about twenty Titans heading right for us.

"Kai, get them out of here!" I flew up and downed the closest Titan to us, and landed on the roof just above them, to see Kai run to Niko and Adal.

"I'm not leaving you here, Asta!" I glared down at her.

"Get them to the wall or I will never forgive you!" I jumped off the roof, moving up onto the next closest Titan. I could see just as it fell to the ground, that Kai was staring at me. "Go!" I saw the tears fall from her eyes as she grabbed Adal and then Niko, hoisting them over her shoulders and fly off. I could only hear Adal's cries.

"Asta!"