Rivetra Week Day 1: Survive
"Levi, wait up!" Petra huffed, feet pattering quickly over the cobblestones.
"The Survey Corps are back!" Levi shouted, increasing speed.
Petra sighed and rolled her eyes. There was no slowing him down. He was the fastest kid in the underground, after all.
They had to stand behind the mass of adults, or risk being trampled by the crowds.
It was the same scene they saw after every expedition. Sullen faces, bloody bandages, bodies wrapped in cloth.
And it didn't take long for the shouting to begin.
"No!" a distraught man tore away from the crowd to the cart carrying the bodies. "It can't be!" He had somehow recognized the body of his daughter. Soldiers rushed to silence him - not that it mattered.
"Why are there more bodies each time you return?" someone wailed.
Anxious whispers broke out among the crowd. "This is where our tax dollars are going? Into the graves and bellies of the titans!"
The square erupted into arguments. Those who thought the titans should be ignored and those who still believed in the progress and freedom the Survey Corps promised.
"Levi, we should go before people start fighting," Petra advised. Quickly, they made their way through the back alleys.
"Those idiots don't know anything," Levi growled. His father gave up his life fighting the cause. "Petra, in three years, we can join the Survey Corps."
Petra nodded. "Yes, we'll join together. We'll defeat the titans..."
"...and we'll survive. Together."
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Petra groaned, dropping her head into tired hands. "I feel like every muscle in my body is jelly."
Levi shrugged and ate some bread. "At least you didn't fall on your face."
She glared. "Thank you, Mr. I'm-So-Good-at-Everything."
"What are you so worried about?" Levi asked. "They said you're a natural for the 3DMG."
"Yes, and you're a prodigy."
"Doesn't make me less of a target."
"No, it just means you'll live."
Levi stopped. "You won't die, Petra."
"But what if I do?" Her voice cracked slightly. "What if I'm good, but not good enough?"
He didn't know what to say to that. Because humanity has never been good enough.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"First expedition." Petra nervously fiddled with her gear. "Are you ready?"
Levi nodded. They were going to try out a new formation, with the goal of avoiding titans rather than facing them. But they were ready if any abberants attacked.
Finally, the gates opened.
"Levi," Petra breathed. "It's beautiful."
He agreed. He'd heard tales of the endless sky and bright green landscape, but what he envisioned in his mind was nothing like what they saw.
A sudden plume of red smoke shot up at their right. Petra quickly sent up another signal flare.
"That fast?" Levi growled.
The green flare came up, directing them to proceed to the left. But after half a minute, a red flares came from all directions.
"They're closing in on us," their squad leader shouted. "We have to prepare to fight!"
The first roar came from behind. Two soldiers dodged the bumbling creature, and as it passed, leapt from their horses and into the air. It was killed within seconds.
"Levi!" Petra shouted. "On your left!"
He had already launched his hooks, spinning through the air. Petra joined him, and the titan tried to grab her wires, but hours of practice made her movements quick and smooth. Levi distracted the titan, slashing at its eyes as Petra made a killing blow.
"Good job," he nodded when she landed beside him. He saw that her hands were covered in blood, and he handed her a handkerchief.
Rolling her eyes, she wiped her blade handles. "Titan blood evaporates, you know."
"It's still disgusting."
"Well, it's about to get a lot bloodier," she replied, and launched into the air again.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"We've decided to promote you," Shadis explained. "To Captain of the Special Operations Squad."
Levi blinked. "Why?" Sure, he had an unusually high kill count, but he was also disagreeable and hard to get along with.
"You'd be a good leader, Levi." Erwin insisted.
"I don't work well with people."
"You'll choose the members of your squad yourself," Erwin persisted. "We have a large group of candidates, all top soldiers. You won't be disappointed."
Levi muttered, "I'll think about it."
Why does this man always end up convincing me to do something ridiculous?
Later that day, he told Petra what happened. "Levi! That's great!"
He cursed. Of course she would support it.
"Come on, Captain," she teased. "Captain Levi. Captain Ackerman."
"Not that," he snapped. He had bad memories with a man by that name.
Petra slapped a hand to her mouth. "Oh! Sorry." He nodded in acknowledgement. "But really, Levi, it's a great honor to be chosen as the captain for the Special Operations Squad."
"I'd prefer not to."
"It's not like I wouldn't be there," Petra declared confidently. "I have a pretty high kill count too."
Levi shrugged.
A couple days later, he walked into Erwin's office, growled a few choice words but ultimately conceded.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Erd Gin, his second-in-command, because Levi knew he could trust him to make split second decisions. As a veteran, he had enough experience to know that there was never time to hesitate.
Gunther Schultz. A strong soldier, with keen eyes and an observant nature. Extremely loyal, never thinking twice about laying his life down for his teammates.
Auruo Bossard, annoying yet skilled. He worked hard to hone his skills, to reach the level of his captain. He and his teammates grew close through banter, learning each other's strengths and weaknesses, a great advantage while taking on the titans.
Petra Ral - best coffee in the Survey Corps, and a spitfire personality. One of the highest kill counts recorded in the Survey Corps.
One titan was enough to take them down.
Dammit, Petra. He hovered overhead, noted how even in death, her eyes were fixed to the sky. We were supposed to survive. Together.
In the end, it seems...no one is good enough.