A FEW DAYS LATER:

I wake up in a bed, I haven't slept in a bed in forever. I glance around, my head throbbing. The red head sits in the corner, his blue eyes cloudy with remorse. Everything rushes back to me. "Lizzie..." my voice is raspy, and no tears come.
"Your awake. I thought I put you into a coma." The man says. He appears about 22.
"You tried to kill me."
"I didn't. I just needed you to shut up and stop struggling, or else we would both be dead."
"It would be for the better" I say staring at him. His hair is shaggy and pulled into a low, short pony tail. His bangs frame his face.
"Don't say that!" He growls. He face contorting in anger, then smoothes over into a fake calm. "What is your name?" I don't answer him. I stare blankly at a wall. "I'm Leo, I just graduated from the Survey Corps."
"... Jaq. My name is Jaq." I say. I notice a glass of water next to my bed. I down in a second. We sit in silence for a while.
"I found this, it fell out of your pocket when I brought you here." He tosses something and I catch it. Looking at it I begin to sob hysterically. It's Lizzie's ring. He gets up and rubs my back. Suddenly he pulls me into his arms and just holds me.
"It's hard, I know. I lost my wife and 6 month old daughter." I sob harder and he lets me. My entire body convulsing, unable to control my emotions. I cling to his shirt.
"It... Hurts!" I choke.
"I know." It sounds like he's crying too. "It isn't going to be easy. Loss never is kid." I cough and soon I am no longer capable of crying. He lets me go after a couple more minutes. "I'm going to see if I can get you a place to stay."
"I want to join the military." I suddenly say. He looks at me, tears in his eyes.
"... are you sure?"
"For Lizzie." I say. He looks as if he's debating saying no.
"How old are you kid?"
"12. I am old enough to join. Don't you dare tell me I can't." Something creeps into my voice and he half smiles.
"I think your perfect for the military, Jaq."

ONE YEAR AFTER GRADUATING:

I frown at those who pass me, they have no regard for anything. They're drunk, and make rude gestures at me, and whistle loudly. I ignore them, although I would love to kick them right where it hurts most. I run a hand through the unshaven half of my head, a habit of annoyance. One of the men is bolder than the others, and he puts his arm around my waist pulling me to him.
"Hey, Ms. Soldier lady, Ms. I'm-in-the-Survey-Corps, wanna play tonight?" He asks me, his hand travels a little lower.
"Don't touch me." I say without looking at him.
"What's that Princess?" He asks laughing. "Haven't you ever been with a man before?" He blows in my ear.
"Unhand me if you want to keep those fingers." I threaten. "I've done it before, and I'll do it again."
"Babe, don't be like that. We just want to show you a good time." Another says. I clench my fists, and right as I'm about to let one fly, a voice interrupts me.
"Boys, lets be reasonable." The male voice says with fake kindness. Then his tone changes into the man I'm use to being around. "She said to let her go." The man is 5'11 with shaggy red hair stands at my side. The men leave muttering under their breaths.
"Been a while Leo. About 4 months." I say, crossing my arms.
"Sorry kid, hope I didn't miss anything to important." He nudges me.
"Only my 16th birthday." I scoff, not actually caring, just giving him shit.
"And apparently half your hair." He teases, real kindness in his voice. He's always been over protective of me for what ever reason.
"It's only a quarter." I half smile. The most I've done in a while.
"I like it." He tugs on my shoulder length black hair. I slap his hand away. "I don't think your going to grow anymore" he teases me.
"I'm perfectly content with my height." I scoff.
"Your shorter than Captain Levi."
"I not! I'm the same height."
"Sure." He walks down the street with me. Its warm out, but there's a breeze. I sigh. "Your in my squad." He suddenly says.
"What strings did you pull for that?"
"I have my ways."
"Who else is in our squad?"
"Nana, Bree, Mark, and Jess."
"They all graduated in my class."
"I know... hey look over there." He points in front of us. Its the same men from earlier. They're harassing a person selling fruit. I notice one of the guys run off with a couple pomegranates.
"Dammit... I got it." I groan as the sales men shouts at the thief. I chase after the man, and I catch up to his slightly wobbly run, easily. "Stop running and hand over the fruit." I say calmly. He's already out of breath. But he doesn't stop. I sigh. I grab his arm, and I slam him into the wall, gripping his head in one hand, and twist his arm behind his back with the other. "I said, stop!" I growl.
"Please, Ms. Soldier, I just need to feed my wife and kids. Please understand." He sobbs. I frown, and take the fruit from him, letting him go. He stares at me in shock.
"Don't move. If you move I will not hesitate to turn you into the Military Police." I return to the fruit stand and give the pomegranates back. I then return to the man shaking in absolute horror. "Take this." I say and hand him all the money in my pocket. "It's not a lot, but you could by bread. Bread is filling." I tell him. The man begins to sob heavily.
"Thank you miss! I will be forever grateful!"
"Then stop causing problems for the soldiers, I understand times are hard. But you have to pull through." I frown at him. He nods and runs off. Leo comes up behind me and puts an arm around me leaning down to my height;
"Your a good person, no matter what you try to say" he whispers, then he stands up straight again. I sneer at him.
"Oi! Makosky!" A voice calls. I glance over and see a blonde man running towards us, waving his arm. He's only a little taller than myself. He's only 14, they saw his skill and boosted him forwards in training. He graduated 2nd in our class. Once he reaches us he looks at me and whispers, "I saw what you did. And you always act like your cold hearted, your softy." I glare daggers at the boy.

"You want to test that theory?" I growl.
"Ha! No thanks, but maybe next time." He smiles sincerely. His brown eyes shining. I frown at him. Why the hell is he so happy all the time? Not even Leo is that happy all the time.
"Hey look, its some kids the newest graduating class." Leo says. I look to where he's pointing and see two men running.
"Hurry Marco, we'll be late." One of the men jogs a little ahead of this Marco person. His hair is a light color on the top, and darker on the bottom.
"Jean, you worry to much, we'll be fine." Marco says smiling slightly. Freckles scatter his face. Leo looks at me and smiles as the men jog up beside us.
"Actually, I've learned that Keith Shadis likes to start things early occasionally. To keep the men on their toes." He says. A faint smile crosses my face for a second then is gone in an instant. Messing with the newbies, he would. He did it when I was a trainee as well. The two boys look at each other and pick up their speed.
"You're an evil man, Leo" I say.
"Evil, eh?" He asks. Suddenly he picks me up and throws me over his shoulder, just as he did that day.
"Leo! Put me down you ass hole!" I growl and pound my fists into his back. Leo is stronger than me, in hand to hand that is.
"But Jaq, I'm an evil man, and evil men don't do what pretty girls say... unless its in bed that is." I blush.
"Dammit Leo, you're 10 years my senior."
"I don't see why that means anything." He laughs as we reach the two trainees.
"Leo! Put me down now! This isn't a joke!" I growl.
"You are going to have to ask nicer than that. Beg for me Jaq." He laughs. Mark runs along side the trainees and looking at the fear and amusement on their faces, I look like I'm going to kill someone. That someone being Leo. I yank on his hair.
"Leo. I will fucking kill you."
"Sure you will." he laughs poking me in the back of knee. I twitch in his arms and blush.
"Leo!"I growl.
"Ohh was that a turn on?" He teases, doing it again.
"No! Now knock it the fuck off." I hiss. He laughs loudly. "People are staring at us!"
"Let the stare" he laughs, "it won't change how I feel about you."
"Stop that, you're always saying stuff like that." I say, I fall limp in his arms giving up. I can't win against him.
"Maybe because it's true, and you know it." He whispers so only I can hear. I sigh.
"...Leo" I scold.
"Don't Leo me, Jaq." He laughs loudly.
"Mark! Do something!" I complain.
"Sorry Ms. I Graduated Head Of The Class, First In Almost Everything. You should be able to get out of this yourself ." He laughs. I glare at him. "So scary... heheh." He laughs nervously. I jerk in Leo's arms.
"Hey! Watch the hands!" I complain. He only laughs. "You ass hole!" Marco laughs, and I glare at him. Jean only looks worried about being late.
"We're almost there, Marco." He huffs.
"I think I'll run you through the new recruits like this, Jaq, sound like a plan?" Leo chuckles. I don't answer.
"Oi! Leo!" A voice calls and Leo looks over.
"What?" He asks.
"Put Jaq down, and come get your mission." I notice it's Tim. Leo puts me down and leans to whisper in my ear.
"I have to talk to you later."
"Alright." I reply and I watch him walk away. Mark slaps me on the back and leans in;
"Our mission? Already?" He asks, walking besides me.
"I guess." I reply, heading to the dinning hall. Marco and Jean head the opposite direction.
"You and Leo are pretty close aren't you?"
"I guess. We've been friends since the fall of Wall Maria."

"I see." He walks besides me, keeping my pace. "Look, there is Nana, Jess, and Bree." He suddenly points out as we enter the dinning hall. They're sitting at a table in the corner, keeping to themselves.
"Yup." I say getting into line.
"Hey Jaq?"
"What?" I ask sighing, he's still young, I need to have patience.
"Do you think we could be friends?" He whispers, almost not wanting me to hear. I'm taken back. No one ever wants to be friends with me except Leo. The only other people I even talk to are Annabell, and her voice/ friend Alex. Annabell is a mute. Easy to get along with. Bold too. I begin to think of the past.