Hello everyone, Agheron here. This story is a request made by a fellow user, BraveVesperia1, who told me about an idea they had for a story and which i agreed to try, mainly because i'm not used to writing effeminate male characters and i welcome the change in pace. This takes place in the canon universe, with minor changes aside from a new character and Mikasa being a hermaphrodite (or whatever is the right terminology, i just use this one).
Chapter 1: An unlikely meeting.
It was an afternoon like many others in the training camp. Two gender-mixed groups of cadets were training: one made warm up excercises while the other ran laps around the place under Shadis's vigilant gaze. As the runners passed in the background, Mikasa's eyes followed them. Eren was between the front ones, racing against Jean and Reiner. Bertholdt and Connie came behind. Annie was in the middle of the formation, while Armin and Mina came close behind.
Her eyes wandered to the last runners: the ones either getting tired or wishing to avoid exhaustion. One of them, the last one, even showed clear signs of struggle just to keep the pace. Ackerman stared while stretching her muscles; it was a light brown haired girl, clearly panting from the effort of running and slowly getting further behind.
_Maxwell! -Shadis boomed- Keep the damn pace or you'll have stable duty for a whole week!
_Y-ye-yes Sir! -the petite cadet shrieked, trying to speed up.
Beside Mikasa, Sasha sighed.
_Oh, poor little thing. Hope he doesn't faint or something.
Mikasa blinked. He?
_Wait, did you say "he"? -Braus looked at her and nodded.
_Yep. That's Josh, sleeps in one of the guy's barracks. I too thought he was a girl at first.
Ackerman looked again at the gi... boy running in the distance. Even after knowing his gender, she couldn't find a trace of manliness; he was slim even by slim standards, and his body had a hourglass shape. His features were soft, even feminine and his movements had a girl-like swing that didn't help to avoid mistaking "him" for a "her".
_I hadn't noticed him before.
_Can't blame you. Other than his appearance, he doesn't really stand out. Many think he'll quit one of this days.
_Is he that bad?
_Not bad but... weak. He struggles to get anything done, and he's quite behind in gear training. But he's as stubborn as they come, so he doesn't give up.
Ackerman hummed and focused on her excercise. The military's world had no place for failure or time for weakness; her last thought about the boy was that he'd better quit before he hurt badly. A short while later, the girl stopped thinking about the issue completely.
The day went by following the same training routine; the hours passed quickly to the asian, who was more than used to physical effort. She was returning from 3DMG training for her strategy lessons when she saw a group of people clustered against a building; four guys with their backs turned on her, looking at something, or...
With a faint feeling of uneasiness, she strode silently towards them. It could be anything, but her experience as a child had honed her instincts. A chuckle from one of them confirmed her suspicions: she knew that kind of laughter, and what originated it.
Bullying.
_Are you guys sure he's one of us? -asked one of the people- I mean, little Joshie is very shy around us in the showers, right?
_Yeah, maybe he's a girl trying to get some dick after all. Maybe we could find out.
_P-please stop! Let me go, you know i don't like this! -the cadet's voice reached her from behind them, and Mikasa stiffened; that meant it wasn't the first time.
_Come on, you never really complain loudly. I think you actually like it, don't you? You should be grateful spend time with you, faggot.
Ackerman nearly hissed at the comment. She got closer, without making a sound; in that moment one leaned on and she heard the sound of clothes rustling made when a bully grabbed a victim by their collar.
She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by a strangled curse when the guy stepped backwards, clutching his nose and mouth. In front of the girl and the shaken boys, Josh stood nervously, his forehead showing a few drops of blood; his body tense and his breathing harsh and fast.
_You... piece of shit! -shouted one of the bullies.
Before anyone could do anything he punched Josh right in the stomach; he dropped to his knees, struggling to breathe.
_Hold him! -said the one whose nose was bleeding- I'm gonna...!
_Gonna what?
They froze and turned slowly, flinching at the asian's murderous glare. The hurt one stepped back, still covering his nose.
_I... we were just...
Mikasa didn't waste a second and shoved her knee on his stomach, leaving him moaning on the ground. Another one, angered at his friend being knocked out, rushed at her throwing a punch that she blocked easily and countered with a blow on his jaw that dropped him cold. The other two retreated to each side of Maxwell, eyeing her fearfully. She gave them a brief look before kneeling beside the boy panting and clutching his belly.
_Are you okay? Can you stand?
He whimpered slightly and nodded, leaning on her with wobbling legs. Mikasa looked at him with sad eyes. It reminded her too much of the days Armin suffered the abuse of other children, back at Shiganshina.
_And here i thought i wouldn't see it again.
_What? -he said softly.
She turned to him, realizing she had voiced her thoughts without knowing. The girl gave him a slight smile and a shrug.
_I have a friend who used to be bullied. My brother and i helped him as children.
_Oh, i see. -Josh let go oh her shoulder, holding his elbow shyly- Th-thank you Mikasa.
_It's nothing Josh, don't worry.
He looked back at her, blinking in surprise.
_How did you know my name?
_Sasha told me. Anyways, are you okay?
He looked down, nodding with a sigh.
_I'm fine. I'm used to...
_Don't say that. You should never say that; being abused is not normal or good. You need to stand up to them.
_But how? I don't have anyone to help with them.
_No one? Don't you have any... any friends to help you?
_No. A few people try to stay by my side from time to time, but we're in separate training groups. Marco, Ike, Ajay, Nikolai...
_Nikolai? White hair, smiles, knives? That Nikolai?
_Yeah. He's nice enough once you know him; too bad he was transferred to the second training camp, he really helped me sometimes.
_What was he transferred for? -Josh smiled.
_He was found having sex with a trainer. She's um, inactive right now. But i'm mostly alone. No one in my group is very friendly with me. -he finished with a whisper.
_You don't have to be alone. Why don't you sit on my table tonight?
Josh's eyes widened at her words. He looked at Mikasa gaping slightly, he knew her reputation as a top ten cadet. He fidgeted a bit uncomfortably; she couldn't help to notice how cute he looked.
_Thank you, but... you don't have to. You saved me from those thugs, you don't have to pity me...
_Oh, i don't. Josh... if you've lasted this long here, it means you are strong. Perhaps you're not top ten material, perhaps you are in the last ranks... but you're still here, choosing to fight every day and weathering all the training, the pain and the abuse those sick fucks forced you through, and stay nonetheless. That makes you strong in my eyes. So, will you eat with me and my friends tonight?
Maxwell blinked a few times, and she saw his eyes sparkle slightly. He took a slow breath before speaking.
_Do you... really think that?
_Yes. You haven't given up, and that itself requires strength of spirit. Too bad some people are too blind to see it.
Josh giggled, looking down with his hands laced in front of him. Mikasa felt a faint heat going to her cheeks. He was so girly, and yet... shaking her head, she put a hand on his shoulder.
_Come on Josh. I want you to meet my freinds... my family. And let the others know that if they mess with you, they'll have to face me.
_Wow... i never expected to hear those words from you. You're worlds away from me, so awesome and strong.
_That's why i want to help you. I became a top cadet because i found my inner strength long ago, and i know anyone can find theirs with the right guidance. And you are definitely stronger than you think. Because strength doesn't mean being able to kick ass. It means much more.
_Like what? -she smiled softly at him.
_You are the one who has to find out. And i'm going to make sure you do.
Josh nodded, slow and solenmnly, before following her to the hall. He had to admit he never thought he'd meet her like this, with Ackerman saving him from the familiar abuse. Or to find out she was so kind despite her cold, controlled exterior.
Mikasa walked in front of him, thinking as well. Of how the tender, girly looking boy was subject to the mistreat of those thugs, of how he struggled in spite of his physical weakness. And how he'd shown, in that moment of resistance, that spark in his eyes she'd seen on Eren's that promised a fire; but that spark threatened to vanish unless someone chose to fan it into th flame it was meant to be. And she wanted to be that someone. Her mind told her how strange it was, all things considered, how they met and how he opened so easily to her. It was... unlikely.
But more than welcome.
End of chapter.
DAMN! This kind of character is hard for me to write, but i like the challenge. I hope you guys like it. Oh and my OCs may have short cameos everynow and then, but it won't alter the story; it's mainly a quirk from me. You won't even notice ;).
