'Mayday Mayday! Jesus Fucking Christ someone help us!'

A burst of static.

'At least you can move on now' were the last thoughts that went through my head before I blacked out. Sometimes things just don't go according to plan. Like...you win some, you lose some, I guess.

The large red brick building stood behind me and I could hear the flag snapping in the wind off on one side. Apart from that everything was currently silent besides from the odd nervous cough. I stood stiffly to attention, my rifle beginning to feel heavy in my hand and uniform pulling with my taught posture as we all waited for the parade to start. I knew that the other guys would be surreptitiously scanning the crowd, stood with their cameras and smart phones out already to remember the day by, for their family members. I didn't bother. I knew my parents weren't there.

Finally a shout went up for attention, we all snapped to it and the band started up. Turning in unison, marching in time as we'd been practising tirelessly for and my graduation parade was over before I'd had chance to think about it too much. Which I didn't mind at all. The Tornado wowed the crowds as the pilot shot by overhead towards the end when we all stood proud before the onlookers in front of the jet behind us, flying low and twisting mid-air.

Fucking show off. I couldn't help the smile that twitched at my lips and the flip in my stomach at the sight.

Because I, Marco Bodt, had managed to graduate as a fast jet pilot. Tomorrow I would pack up my kit, clear my bed space for the next batch of hopefuls and head off to RAF Trost along with the other three who'd made it through, whilst the rest of the guys I'd spent the last three months here training with were spread all over in various regiments where no doubt more than a few would be back again next year to see if they could make the grade.

"Hey Freckles! We fucking made it man! I can't believe we fucking made it!" Reiner came over with that big cheesy shit-eating grin of his and pounded me on the back, causing me to stumble forward a step. I shot him a look and chuckled before seeing others coming over.

"Aw yes! Flying with the big boys now!" Connie joined us, Jean in tow and both with beers in hand. I took one that was being offered and drank with a grin of my own as I relaxed. We'd inevitably ended up in the local down the road from the barracks. It was surreal to even be here, I had to keep looking round at the others who were here with us and keep reminding myself where I was. It'd felt like the first day at High School when we'd arrived this morning. This evening was supposed to be getting to know the new squad but as usual it ended up with just the four of us propping up the bar. Old habits die hard and all that, but it was really more that we were little more than nervous kids.

Oh sure we'd all been flying for a few years now, I had a combat operation in Afghan under my belt as did Jean. That's where we'd met initially and I had him to thank for giving me the confidence to even try out for one of the coveted places here. I would have never had the guts otherwise. I knew my limitations, I was smart, sure, but when you were flying a Hawk to the limit of the aircraft's' capability with accuracy you needed to have the reaction speeds to match, which I had to train myself so god-damned hard to be anywhere near good enough to do.

Jean on the other hand…that was another matter. I smiled at him and sipped at my beer as he stood there, leaning against the wooden counter and trying to play it cool. He wore the expression of someone who's gotten exactly what they wanted in life and knows that they're good at what they do. Like no-one could touch him and he was invincible. Dark blonde hair artistically styled to be messy on top (how he got away with having it longer than the rest of them was anyone's guess), leaning against a wooden support beam of the pub's faux Elizabethan interior. Bright amber eyes twinkling with happiness. He radiated smugness. We were all riding on a high at the moment though so I guessed he could be forgiven. I only wished I knew what it felt like myself, to have everything you wanted...

Pull yourself together Bodt! None of that shit tonight, cut it out!

I chugged back some more of my drink and forced a laugh out at one of Reiner's crap jokes. I didn't need to start wallowing in self-pity right then. New start, time to push past things and get my head in the game. I was going to get over whatever infatuations I'd developed over the last year on my best friend and focus on my career. Hell, maybe I'd even get Top Gun if I did that, channel my repressed feelings into something more useful…

Eh. I'd been doing that since Afghan already. How else did I get here?

A wiry guy I recognised from introductions earlier came over shaking me from my thoughts. He looked like he'd had a good few already and was wearing a smirk that told me this wouldn't go down well.

"So you're the new buncha dip-shits we've gotta kick into shape then?" he started, earning himself a lip curl instantly from Jean.

I reached out and put a hand on his arm and caught his eye, a tiny imperceptible head shake. Not tonight I thought at him. But this guy, Eren I remembered his name was, just couldn't keep his big mouth shut. He was obviously looking for a reaction. Guys like him usually were, you got at least a couple of them in every squad. Guys with opinions. Guys who were good and they knew it and so did everyone else. You either respected them made friends or you competed and butted heads.

Unfortunately we already had one of those in the group and I could tell that we were going to be breaking up fights for the foreseeable.

"Don't worry, we'll go easy on you. For now," he laughed, "can't have you passing out at seven or eight Gs because you were trying to prove a point now can we?"

I heard a growl and groaned, looking at Reiner for back-up seeing as Connie looked as pissed as Jean right about now. He was usually the best one to have about in these kinds of situations. Big enough and intimidating enough to stop shit from kicking off too badly but calm enough not to get involved.

"What was your call sign again?" Jean asked with a look that I recognised and tightened my grip on his arm as he stepped forward, "Hothead? Mouth?" He smirked and I hung my head, "I got it, you're Weiner!" He laughed at his own joke and Connie joined in.

By now a few of the others had joined us and Eren was visibly fuming. He squared up to Jean and man he was fast for his size! The first punch was thrown and Jean's arm was wrenched from my grasp. We all went in to pull them apart and Reiner came out with his arms around a snarling Jean whilst a short blond guy who was obviously a lot stronger than he looked was dragging Eren back, who was sporting a bloody nose. He wiped at it angrily and shook himself free, staring daggers at Jean who was by now licking at a bleeding bottom lip.

"What the fuck!" Jean spat, "they told us to watch out for pricks at Trost." He was struggling to get free from Reiner's grip, who was having none of it. "Let me go!"

"Evening gentlemen!" A voice came from behind them. Cultured and with a ring of authority. Everyone stopped and turned, snapping to attention. The newcomer was tall, broad, had a short cut of blonde hair and was looking at them all as calm as a cucumber with piercing blue eyes, despite the scene before him. "Trust you're making our new recruits feel welcome?"

Reiner had let go of Jean by now, perhaps realising even he wasn't dumb enough to make a scene in front of the Wing Commander.

Looking at them all Wing Commander Erwin 'Eagle' Smith as I had diligently remembered gave a small grunt and a nod. "Good. Training starts at oh eight hundred hours. I expect to see you all there." He locked gaze with Eren and Jean in turn and then turned and left. Everyone slowly relaxed, though the beer in my hand didn't look so appealing any more.

"Fuck this shit, I'm out," Jean muttered angrily and turned to leave. I put my drink on the bar with a sigh and went to follow him, a quick raise of the hand to the others. "Night guys." I jogged a little to catch Jean up and kept pace as he stalked off, slowing a little when I showed up beside him.

"Smooth," I said as we walked, out through the beer garden and starting up the lane that lead back to base. There was a little village beside RAF Trost which was situated up in the Welsh mountains, pretty and old-fashioned. About the only people that lived there though were the families from the base seeing as they had to put up with the low-flying aircraft coming in constantly. As none of us new guys had family living with us and there was a waiting list for single quarters we were in barracks for the time being, which is where we headed for in the gathering twilight.

I stuffed my hands in my jeans pockets and looked sidelong at Jean, shaking my head at him. "You're a prat, you know that? That big mouth of yours is going to get you into real trouble one day. Not just a slap from some arsehole who thinks he owns the place."

Jean said nothing for a minute and I wondered if he was pissed with me, Eren or himself.

"Marco, you don't get it do you?" He asked and gave me a look which was far deeper than I'd thought for just a fight in a bar.

"What's to get?" I shrugged, wondering what he was going on about, "you called Eren Jaeger a weiner in-front of the squadron and he smacked you. That I could have seen coming, I've heard he's the best we've got, even if he is a hothead. You heard of Operation Just Cause right? Well that was Hunter."

I'd met the blond guy who'd pulled Eren off Jean earlier that day when we were having a break from shifting our kit. We'd got talking about who my new colleagues were and he was interested in us new guys. Seemed that Eren 'Hunter' Jaeger had a good few missions under his belt more than we had, even if he was only a little older. His latest being an operation in Syria that we weren't even supposed to be involved in with the US. It sounded impressive.

Jean looked a bit taken aback by the information but soon enough he was countering. "Well I intend to change that," he retorted and I could hear the passion in his voice, "I will be the best, I don't care what that little shit's done already. I know I have the skills, you've seen me! You watch!"

He stopped and turned to face me and I knew he was expecting me to agree with him. He was good, I gave him that, but I worried for him too. Because I knew he was reckless and that wasn't a great trait to have in combat situations. He flew on reserves too often, getting chewed out for it and laughing it off afterwards like it was nothing. He flew too close too and had scared the living shit out of me on more than one occasion.

I bit my lip and considered my response. In the soft darkness that was falling his eyes shone out at me. Bright and full of life. He had handsome sharp features which I knew by heart and it broke me when I came to think that he might end up doing something so foolish one day as to remove them from my sight. My gaze fell to his mouth where the lower lip was split, blood dried onto it now and I looked away and over his shoulder with an audible swallow and heat in my cheeks. I was grateful for the lack of much light to hide them.

"This isn't about you getting top honours. We're supposed to be here defending our country. Defending other countries who can't defend themselves." I looked back at him with pinched brows. "This isn't about you Jean. How about focusing on being a leader instead? You've got the potential. I don't want to be going to your funeral because your ego was too big for you to handle."

"Thanks Marco, thanks a fucking lot." He glared at me and I could tell even in the dark that his face was red, angry now at me. I sighed and he turned and marched away whilst I stood in the lane and watched him go.

I stood there until it was fully dark and I could hardly see where I was going. I stood thinking of absolutely nothing with the cold seeping in through my light clothing and I was shivering. It was what I did when I got too close to speaking what was actually on my mind, shutting everything down. It wasn't until I heard voices floating up to me from behind that I snapped back to where I was and I got moving again, hugging my arms around me and hurrying to get back to the warm.

I slid into my seat in the briefing room the next morning just before eight, almost everyone else already there. I'd stayed in the mess hall for breakfast till the last minute chatting to Armin, who I'd seemingly hit it off with right away. He was easy to talk to, quiet and really smart. Just from two short chats I'd gathered a fair bit of info that I hoped would get me through the first few weeks here without getting myself in too much hot water. Seemed his name 'Rainman' was well deserved. Kid had a darn near perfect memory for details so it seemed.

The only down side for now seemed to be that he was fast friends with Eren who'd sat eating his cereal with a scowl and a bruised nose. He hadn't exactly said anything to me as such but I got the vibe that I'd been singled out as enemy material after picking sides with Jean last night. I tried to include him in conversation to no avail. Even my perma-smile didn't seem to thaw him out.

"Don't worry about him," Armin had cheerfully told me whilst Eren was still clearly sat in hearing range, "he's like this every time we get new joins. As long as you don't prove to be the next Red Barron then he'll chill." Eren just muttered something into his bowl that sounded like 'horseface' and I shook my head and laughed it off.

I'd met most of the faces yesterday, even if only in passing though there were one or two exceptions. It wasn't a big squad with only four people getting in every year, less than twenty in total. A tall guy with dark hair sat up front who I didn't recognise with 'Hoover' on his tag. He turned to talk to someone behind who he'd heard called 'Blondie' yesterday, the name on shirt was Wagner.

Okay, another two to add to the list

Jean was sat a few chairs to my left and and avoided me since yesterday. I looked over and sighed. I'd have to find him later and try to get the idiot to calm down. He was my best friend but still that didn't matter as I knew he was capable of bearing a grudge even over something small for an awful long time if allowed to. I looked away unhappily and I was still surreptitiously checking to see if I could remember people round the room (a habit I'd developed early on and had stuck) when the door opened and a short guy with a severe haircut came in, looking annoyed just to even have to be there.

His insignia told me he was Squadron Leader and I sat up a little straighter. If the rumours were true then this guy was single-handedly the best that the RAF had ever had. He'd retired from flight duties only recently and had a raft of medals and accomplishments behind him. He was also known for not suffering fools gladly…

"Okay, listen up," he instantly held the room's attention. "If you're thinking you're going to come in here and start showing off with your hot shot skills fresh out of the academy then think again." Levi's eyes met my own and then moved on to Reiner, Connie and Jean's in turn. I noticed they narrowed on Jean and he held his stare before continuing. I couldn't help but think that his antics before getting here were going to follow him round.

"This isn't flight school and no-one's going to be holding your hand. You've got a job to do and you will do it as I say so starting from now. This," he turned and pulled down a cord behind him dropping a large scale contour map of the surrounding area and took out a laser pointer to show us where he meant, "is where you'll be training over from tomorrow. I know most of you know this, but seeing as someof you don't seem to be able to understand plain English then I'm going to go over it all again for the benefit of the newbies…"

Needless to say it was a long day. By the time Levi had finished going over or flight paths and squad formations and all of the technical info we would need I just wanted to go and sit in a darkened room and rest my brain. I felt like it had been stuffed full of all it could take for one day and was even contemplating skipping dinner. I could tell without asking that the others felt the same way. Everyone looked exhausted and we hadn't even been outside.

Guessing a shower might help I went back to my room to change, but half way through unbuttoning my shirt there was a knock on the door.

"Oh, hey." I stepped back as I opened it to an uncomfortable looking Jean to let him in.

"Sorry, I can come back…" he glanced at my open shirt and I coloured quickly, pulling it closed with my arms self-consciously across my chest.

"No, no, it's fine. I guess I need to apologise anyway after yesterday. I should've backed you up." I wandered to sit down and Jean followed me over to the small sofa.

"Seriously dude, you've gotta stop that." I looked up and Jean was giving me one of the lop-sided smiles of his that made my stomach do odd turns so I looked away quickly. It didn't deter him and he poked my arm.

"Someone round here needs to be able to tell me when I'm being a dick-head. And you were right. The world doesn't revolve around Jean Kirschtein, more's the pity." He laughed and I had to join in, feeling a bit better already.

"You don't need to be picking fights though," I told him, "especially not with Eren Jaeger. He has too many contacts, not your best idea ever."

"I heard his skills were honed by extra practice with Levi. Some, shall we say, extra tuition?" Jean waggled his eyebrows at me.

"Jean!" I swatted his arm and laughed.

"Oh come on. How else d'you think a guy only a year older than us ended up on top so quickly? I bet you he's over there right now getting a good seeing to, lucky bastard."

I stared at him open mouthed with a rush of heat to my cheeks. "You trying to tell me you have a thing for Levi now after one day with him?" Yeah, I didn't need dinner tonight; I suddenly had no room in there with all the churning going on.

"What? No. No!" His eyes were wide and he was all flustered and red, "I just…well I meant…You know what I mean!"

"Actually I don't."

"Look…it's just…been a while! Okay! Not that I want Levi though! Or Eren fucking Jaeger! Don't tell me you don't have urges too. Remember I was in the next bunk for the last three months."

Fuck! No! What the Hell'd he hear! Shit!

I knew I talked in my sleep; I'd been teased about it relentlessly at High School after having a few sleepovers with embarrassing consequences. That no-one had said anything in training I'd assumed I hadn't been recently, but sounds like that was wishful thinking. I dared to look at him and saw he was still red as anything and his lips were pressed together threatening to split open the cut again with the pressure.

"Do I want to know?" I asked carefully, trying to remain calm, even when my heart was hammering out of my chest about now. I'd kept my feelings completely under wraps and wanted it to stay that way. The last thing I needed was to lose my best friend because I sleep-talked.

But then…he'd not said anything till now so maybe I was over-reacting.

Jean looked up at me with a warm smile and I could have melted on the spot. "Naw, don't sweat Freckles, nothing I'm going to use against you. Probably a good thing we're all in our own rooms now though." He giggled and it was such a happy sound I couldn't help do the same, bumping my shoulder against his.

"Shut up, at least I don't snore after a couple of pints!"

"I don't snore!"

"Oh yes Jean, you most certainly do!" I made an imitation and he whacked my arm, both of us laughing.

"Good thing you don't have to sleep with me then!"

"Y-yeah, good job." My smile faltered only slightly and I got up, holding my shirt together again now which had been forgotten for a while. Jean took the cue and went over to the door.

"Catch you downstairs in a bit?" He looked hopeful, how could I refuse?

"Sure, save me a seat."

End of my first proper day at Trost and I collapsed into bed before midnight, which was early for me. I usually had difficulty sleeping, even after a full day, but tonight I was mentally exhausted which did me in more than a tired body ever could. I changed into a clean t-shirt and shorts, brushed my teeth at the sink in the corner of my room and crawled under the duvet, pulling it up around my ears.

Tomorrow and I'd be up in the air again for the first time in weeks and I couldn't wait. Flying was quite literally my life-blood, the adrenaline rush wasn't something that ever wore off. Not for me anyway and I didn't think for the other guys either. It was what we lived and breathed, it was why we'd put our bodies through torture to be here and would keep doing it until they gave up and we had to stop.

I drifted off knowing tomorrow would be a good day with a smile on my lips, though my traitorous brain decided that the last image I held before I lost conscious for the night wasn't the Hawk I'd be sat in, not the sight of the Welsh countryside and mountains rushing past at nearly six hundred miles an hour, but of Flying Officer Jean 'Rocket' Kirschtein in his jump suit and wearing that grin I loved so much.