During the Century of Peace, despite its name, there was a shortage of worthy soldiers. Twenty years before the rise of the Collosal Titan, Lance Corp. Levi and his crew were trainees. And where we start off is long before Levi's hardened state.
"_, _!" Hanji, a maroon hair'd girl shook awake her friend, _ _. _bolted up, yelling as she did so.
"3DMG Training today!" Her voice full of enthusiasm. _ Was so excited she slept in her suit, minus the harness. Somehow, it wasn't all wrinkled. She threw on her boots and harness, "This is going to be awesome, watch me, everyone will be jealous of me." Her eyes sparkled, fixing her _(Colour)_ _(Style)_ hair so that it wouldn't be a bother.
"Just wait, we'll be the best soldiers anyone's ever seen, _!" Hanji fawned, eager to get her hands on the gear.
"Yeah, but we have to get there first. There's already a line." Petra, another girl in the bunker said as she looked out the door. Hanji and _ ran out, dragging Petra with them.
"I won't let that Levi guy show me up again!" _ Hissed under her breath.
Levi had joined the trainee squad the same time as _. While she was great, he was even better. And it pissed her off. Everything he excelled in should have been _'s place! She was better than that thug.
The three got in line, hands folded behind their backs. Much to _'s annoyance, Levi was already there, and she was forced to stand by him.
"Ready to be showed up, Levi?" _'s voice leaked with poison as she spoke to the said boy, who was only a bit taller than her.
"I have no intention to "show anyone up", _. We're here to train and nothing more. It is not a competition." The staleness of Levi's voice would scare most people. But _ wasn't most people.
"You must really be nervous, Rivalle." _ had learnt that Levi hated being called by his full name, as much as she loved using it. She could even feel the air tense around the two.
"Whatever you say, _." Levi gave a tch, ignoring her completely.
Soon, everyone else that had not left the first day was lined up, eagerly examining the five sets of 3DMG and poles that would help them balance.
The squad leader came out, beginning his long and detouring speech about how to use the gear. _ hung onto every word like it would be her guide to succsess. Well, it was actually. And she was even more excited when she of the first five, including Levi, Petra, Hanji, and another kid named Erwin, to get in gear. _ had a bit of trouble getting the gear on, but did so before everyone else at least.
"Raise!" The squad leader boomed as soon as everyone was ready.
And of course, _ ended up face planting.
"Get up,_!"
_Tried hard, it was obvious. She grit her teeth, and tried again and again. But it was useless. _ glanced over to Levi, who was balancing perfectly. He rolled his eyes at her. Even Petra could do it with ease.
Levi sighed, and requested to be lowered. He was, and went over to _. He bent over, "Need a bit of help, _?"
"Not from you."
"_."
"Get away-" _ Didn't finish, seeing as Levi forcefully lugged her up by the back of her collar, helping the girl balance until he let go, allowing _ to balance. "…Thanks." She murmured, the embarrassment obvious. As grateful as she was, she wanted to smack Levi for helping her.
"No problem." Levi went back to the line, seeing as their turn was over. _ hopped out of gear as soon as she was lowered, returning to her place next to Levi.
The morning went by agonizingly slow. Those whom have had their turn were dismissed to breakfast. And again, much to _'s annoyance, she was forced to sit next to Levi when the other tables were filled.
"Why do you resent me, _?"
The question smacked into _ like a titan. She was surprised it didn't have the usual snide remark-
"Is it because I'm better than you?"
Ah, there it was. "Shut up, Ravalli. I'm just as good as you, and soon I'll be better." _ Replied cooly, soaking her stale bread in soup.
"I can always help you after hours-"
"I can do just fine on my own."
"I highly doubt that."
"What did you just say?" _ glared daggers at Levi, though he seemed oblivious.
"You obviously need help, considering you're pose is sloppy. I'm supposing that you wish to 'show me up', because I am the better-" Now, Levi was cut off, by _'s soggy bread smacking into his face.
"Go to hell." She hissed, standing up and turning heel, ignoring the shocked faces plastered everywhere, even on Levi's.
_ didn't bother going back to the training field just yet. She began to run laps, starting slow then her speed progressed. The squad leader looked particularly surprised, oblivious to everything that had previously happened. When the last of the squad went in for breakfast, and others began to come out, _ ran her 20th lap, and finally stopped and returned to her place in line, calming her heavy panting.
"Is something wrong, _?" The squad leader's voice was sympathetic for once. Pixis, was it?
"Just lost my temper, sir." _ answered, pivoting one of her aching knees. She didn't notice Levi had taken his place next to her, a fresh shirt dawned.
"Why, might I ask? Pixis continued.
"I just do not like my stature and abilities to be insulted, sir." _'s voice wavered, refusing to allow her mind to flash back to horrid times of her childhood.
"I'm sorry." Levi didn't look up, even when _ looked over to him, surprised.
"… Whatever." _ mumbled, looking forward.
Pixis had stood at the front of the group, "We will now practice maneuvering."
"Fuck me." _ Groaned.