AU/Crossover Fic. Credits/Disclaimers: Inspired by Tumblr user Soterianyx's SNK/ATLA/LOK crossover post. Only the story is mine, everything else belongs to their respective creators. Accompanying image from Google.
Title: Shunya (Void)
**The word "shunya" in Sanskrit means "void". It refers to a fifth element apart from the four: air, water, earth and fire.
Chapter 1(Prologue): अहमस्मि योधः - "Ahamsmi Yodha - I Am A Warrior"
Prodigious as she was, Mikasa Ackerman took her training seriously. All her childhood, she had been discerned to be a Waterbender, for her calm demeanour and excellent precision foreshadowed the coming of a great Waterbender. It had come as a surprise to her and quite the immense shock to the Academy when she had surfaced as the most talented Firebender with a specialty in Lightningbending. There were a few Firebenders in the 104th Squad of the Academy, but very few had the affinity to Lightning and even fewer could manage it as nothing more than a fledgling of a bender. Mikasa always went above and beyond everyone's expectations.
And so had Eren Jäger in his Academy years. Always hard-headed and always stubborn, he had worried one too many people with the threat of becoming a Firebender, but Earthbending emerged within Eren as he matured, which served to almost calm the fearful ones. Almost. Eren managed to specialise in Lavabending, which immediately put him back on everyone's radar. The boy was not known for his level-headed-ness and Lavabending, a fairly new control of the elements, was still understudied and far too risky. Perhaps, it tempered the nerves of some to know that at least Mikasa was a Firebender and would probably to be adequate in harnessing Eren when he refused to listen to reason.
The top students of the 104th were the pride of their Masters for not only did they excel astoundingly but they proved to be good people. Even the proclaimed class clown, Connie Springer and the girl-with-the-quirky-brain, Sasha Braus were genuine people with beautiful hearts. What overshadowed these young children and their prodigal endeavours, their clownish behaviours and random mess-hall fights, was the reality of life.
Of course, no one was under any illusion. It was well circulated in the land of the living – the three nations, situated in concentric circles – Water, Earth, Fire – from outside in, that humanity was under constant threat from the Titans – large, violent, humanoids with the four basic bending abilities and seemingly minimal weaknesses, who cast infinite gloom over life. The segment of the military tasked to keep the Titans at bay, the Reconnaissance Corps, were always dwindling in numbers – but these young kids seemed to bring in some hope. The 104th was somewhat special.
The Masters – the elite of the Recon Corps had hardened over their years of service. They were hailed and hated alike for their merits, but these Masters were not ones to abandon responsibility. Not only was the current leading group prestigious for their capabilities, but it was also one that had a never-before-seen chemistry amongst them. Some believed that the other military divisions were actually jealous of the suicidal Recon Corps for that single reason alone.
As graduation of the latest Trainee Squad approached, the 104th was to be divided into a typical five-person cell for mission purposes. Missions were typically conducted to research the Titans, but sending out research teams alone was a terrible idea. Thus, every mission consisted of most of the feeble number of the Corps running out. The Commander of the Recon Corps, Erwin Smith had ensured the best possible strategies to maximize work and reduce casualties. Erwin's brains were feared far and wide – as far as the Crown sitting in the safety of the Fire Nation and as wide as circumference of humanity's sanctuary. Erwin was, unsurprisingly, a Waterbender. What was not known by many was the latent skill of Bloodbending that he possessed. His second-in-command, Mike Zacharius was privy to this. He was perhaps the most relaxed one out of the group and somehow, all his subordinates seemed to be naturally attuned to Mike. His capability of carrying secrets were nothing short of frightening. It was a marvel that Mike was an Earthbender specialising in Lavabending, much like the hot-headed Eren Jäger. Next came the Recon Corps genius, Hanji Zoë. Hanji could not be defined with simple words like quirky or brilliant or even crazy. The woman was on a level of her own and one of the only people to keep a happy demeanour amidst the death-game that they called life. Hanji's work much like her strangeness, preceeded her reputation. She was the person solely responsible for the development of the 3-Dimensional Manoeuvre Gear, in short, 3DMG, that was the life source of the Corps. Hanji was also an Earthbender, but excelled in Metalbending and Sandbending - capabilities that reached far beyond regular benders and required exercised control. Bubbly, chattering Hanji had scared even Erwin from sharing his secret with her. The last, but not the least, to make up the elites of the Corps was one Lance Corporal Levi – the only Firebender with Lightningbending abilities, until the emergence of Mikasa. What distinguished Levi was his unmatched skill of Blue Fire and his unmistakable lack-of-interest-in-anything bearing. Levi was physically easy to discern – short stature, rude comportment and a foul mouth. But even with such a reputation – he was the Corps most talented warrior.
Erwin's speech was bone-chilling. Like always, that man, had the ability to terrorize young recruits into backing out simply by stating what the Corps did for a living. Most claimed that it was not the job that actually scared the fresh graduates, but Erwin's manner of speaking. Most graduates retreated, leaving only about thirty standing strong wanting a part of this grim life. Laudable was the fact that the Top Ten, who could have chosen to run, never even flinched and stayed on.
Not that the "kids" were aware, but Mike, Hanji and Levi were standing not-too-far off and skimming the fields for new potential members. And he would never accept to himself, Levi seemed to have frozen on spot as his eyes fell on a certain morose-looking girl hailed to be another Lightningbender and the top graduate. And he was certainly not longing for the girl to walk into the death trap of a career but something in him tugged as he watched her and tried to drown out Hanji's jubilant chatter. Undoubtedly, this was a larger batch than was the norm. And it did not escape Levi's notice that she had chalked up as a soldier as well. It made him wistful and somehow, a little glad.
That speech had been intimidating, Mikasa would give Erwin that but she was not fazed. She believed that getting fazed was not an option. She had a duty. To protect Eren and she would see to it. When all had left except the new members of the Corps, she had turned around and walked along the perimeter of their little human circle looking for something. It was odd that she was searching since she had nothing or no one to search for. Just something in her being seemed a little stirred. Maybe Commander Smith was that intimidating.
At the break of dawn, the following day, all the fresh graduates were rounded up for their cell division. Excitement seemed to be a word too hopeful, but emotions were running high as the Recon Corps' leaders stepped out onto the platform where Erwin had given his speech the night before. The team assignments were to be announced this morning and Mikasa had a certain lump in her throat that would not go down. She knew what five-person cells were and she knew that the chances of ending up with Eren in one were slim at best. The names were read out followed by their leaders:
Mikasa Ackerman, Connie Springer, Historia Reiss and Marco Bodt with Commander Erwin Smith.
This was a fairly probable situation. Chances of being in the same team as Eren and Armin were low, but Mikasa had not counted on being thrown in with the people she knew the least. At least, it was Erwin's squad, which meant that she could plead with the Commander if she had to.
Armin Arlert, Jean Kirschtein, Annie Leonhardt and Reiner Braun with Squad Leader Hanji Zoë.
That did not bode well with many. Mikasa knew she would have to make a decision if she wanted to follow Eren and the tall, quiet boy..Bertholdt, was it? seemed a little saddened. The last of the recruits were thus announced:
Eren Jäger, Sasha Braus, Ymir and Bertholdt Fubar with Squad Leader Mike Zacharius.
As soon as that sentence finished, murmurs broke out. The squads were oddly designed and the only person whose appointment made sense was Marco's, since having a healer with the Commander would be beneficial. Healers were rare after all. What was also curious was the fact that Corporal Levi had not been given any of the new recruits. Levi's Special Ops Squad was full and functioning, conceivably that was not to be disturbed at any rate.
Next came the dispersal to the meeting rooms and discussion of the first mission. They were less-than-a-day-old members and their first mission started in a few hours. Mikasa had less time than she had originally estimated for a reassignment. So, she did the only thing that came to her and made a swift follow after the Commander.
Twenty minutes later, she had been told, retold and ordered not to break rank and remain where she was assigned and being dejected was an emotion she was not to fond of. Erwin had been understanding, but apparently, the divisions had reason, for instance, Mike's nose would direct the safety of Eren, the Lavabending powerhouse – whatever that meant. It helped to know that Mike was also a Lavabender and Erwin hoped that maybe Eren could form an understanding with his Squad Leader. As discomfitting as it was to Mikasa, she knew that her hands were tied. She had been separated from her best friends and the thought of Eren making alliances with Mike unsettled her a little. Did Eren need anyone other than a top-ranking childhood friend? Obviously, the leaders were failing to see clearly. She would have chided herself for the jealousy, but Mikasa was trying hard not to let the loneliness of being separated from her friends, unravel her. So she held onto some jealousy and some rage about the situation.
She had spied Corporal Levi out the corner of her eye standing a little distance off, staring her down. She did not know what it was that he wanted from her but she had had enough of superior officers for the time being. She saluted Erwin and marched off with her fate sealed. It was at times like these that she remembered how broken of a person she was that she could not think outside of Eren and Armin, that her world was so small and she was somehow content in it, that she was looking forward to dying in one of the missions so that only the beauty of life remained and she could avoid witnessing more of the cruelty.
Mission commenced in an hour. She would have to be consolidated and prepared by then. Broken Mikasa would have to wait.
Levi stared at her as emotions flickered in her eyes. Unfortunately they were too quick for anyone to grasp, fortunately all of his life had taught him how to read split-second-long-messages. The girl with the blank face had a lot of life inside her, but it seemed like she was already tired of it. The thought was ludicrous, really. Here he was, a man of humble beginnings and struggling youth and much older than her, and this young girl looked like she was done with it all. Levi did not know why she mattered to him, but she drew him towards herself. Maybe that suppression of life inside her drew him. But he did not like this one bit and that made him dislike her. They were soldiers with no certainty of the next breath. If this girl was detached then it was better for her and her training as a warrior. And if, no, when - when she died not many would miss her.
