Chapter Two

"I'm the wind in the pines."

Levi hobbled down the steps. Damn bum leg. The meeting had been eventful, to say the least. Thoughts swirled in his mind and he didn't notice as a flurry of limbs ran past him. However, the young looking soldier clipped his leg with hers and he groaned as pain coursed through his leg.

"Sorry, late!" She yelled back and continued running. Ordinarily he would've cursed the soldier and gone on his way, but as he looked at her retreating back, his mind settled on one thing.

Petra.

The girl who'd just caused him such immense pain had hair reminiscent of hers. However, as he caught one last fleeting glance, he realized that it wasn't true. Petra was dead, along with the rest of the Special Operations Squad. And that girl. Her hair wasn't anything like Petra's at second glance. He just saw what he had wanted to see.

Guilt suddenly hit him, but he shook it off. Even if he wasn't on the battlefield, this was no time to get even remotely emotional. Nevertheless, Levi knew that no matter what, that guilt would follow him in life. In fact, there was a particular someone who would never let him forget it. Her father. He could still remember the crestfallen look on his face – the disappointment, the anger…and ultimately, the absolute sadness. A shot of pain ran through his heart – one of the many reasons he didn't like to think about the past…

Shaking off his thoughts, Levi remembered what Erwin had said after the meeting had concluded.

"If you want to contribute, help with training. Besides, you can get your anger out that way instead of throwing things like a child or cleaning maniacally."

Levi sighed, but figured it was better than doing nothing. He had already cleaned and checked (and cleaned once more, just to be sure). He couldn't keep doing that without going crazy. Besides, he was bound to go stir crazy before anything else set in. He was always independent. Just because his ankle was hurt didn't mean he was suddenly going to go on and start asking people for help.

Well, if there was nothing else to do besides stand around, he could at least torment some of the newest members of the Survey Corps. Walking (albeit slowly and carefully) over to where Nanaba was standing, looking as bored as ever as she called roll.

"These are the members from the Southern region of the Garrison. It was on Pixis' recommendation that they join us."

"Hmph." He somewhat acknowledged. "What's wrong with them?"

"All the files are in Commander Erwin's office, Captain." She offered with an indifference. "I know a few are in trouble with the chain of command, some aren't fit for duty with the Garrison and will be taking simple jobs with us and some, strangely enough, wanted to join of their own accord."

Levi nodded, staring at all of them as they stood in position, fists held over hearts in respect. He glanced over at them uninterested for the most part. A few stood out, but not many. As Erwin would put it, titan fodder indeed. Maybe a few would make it past their first mission – granted with lots and lots of training.

"…Commander Erwin wants them split into groups based on aptitude." Nanaba had clearly been speaking, albeit quietly, this entire time. "…which is why the files are being taken to your office as we speak. He figured you could use something to do while we put most of them on chores."

He could only scowl. He wasn't intimidated by paperwork, in fact, he reveled in it. Organization and detail was necessary, and those two things happened to be some of his top skills. Besides the whole "Humanity's Strongest" thing. But the fact that Erwin was so flippant about it – 'use something to do'…

Then again, maybe he was just being irritable about that. Erwin was right. He was bound to go stir crazy sooner or later (more than likely, sooner) if he didn't have something to work on.

"…the ones you think have the most aptitude are the ones you can go crazy on. Train them until they bleed sort of thing." Levi had always respected Nanaba for being the quiet kind of person unless words were necessary. But clearly since he wasn't in a chatty mood, she was having to fill in on the silence herself.

"Make sure they scrub everything until they can eat off of the floors." He ordered. Nanaba would surely make sure the jobs were done correctly. "And whoever does stable duty better not smell like shit by the end of the day."

"Yes, sir." She saluted. Levi knew she was the right person to go to with direct orders – she would fulfill them to a tee, unlike other people who would find slight ways to mess up what was specifically detailed.

Now all he had to do was finish reading about fifty files and figure out who he could whip into shape for a successful mission.

Losers. Dot Pixis had given them the absolute lowest of the low from the Garrison. That…asshole. Levi's face fell into a deeper scowl as he continued reading about the idiot who had "accidentally" broken into the supply storages.

That idiot could be properly dealt with by Mike. Surely he could knock some sense into him. And if not, he could at least smell if he was up to no good. For a second, a shudder struck through him – the man's sense of smell was a little uncanny, and quite frankly, equal parts scary.

He slammed the file down unto the "Mike" pile. Truthfully, he couldn't assign this "Cole" person to Mike, but he knew that that loser wasn't going to part of any training with him. Picking up the next file with a grumble, he skimmed the name.

Aisling Rossi.

"What kind of name is that?" He grumbled to himself. Already dislike was building for this girl. If he didn't know how to pronounce her name, how was he supposed to snap her into shape?

It was official – Levi hated Dot Pixis. There was no one even remotely decent in this transfer. They were all likely going to become delicious titan treats.

Lifting Rossi's file again, he figured he could continue reading. He may have disliked her already for her name, but maybe she was worth something.

"Effective with 3DMG to an extensive degree; inconceivable speed in hand-to-hand combat, but lacking the necessary strength to follow through; problems with direct authority and difficulties with certain characters; attitude is a burden and thusly, despite very high marks, will never amount to anything without proper leadership and learning to control her anger issues."

Reading further down, Levi found something interesting.

"Barred from the Garrison due to disciplinary issues. High marks could place her in the Military Police, however she has refused and insists on joining the Survey Corps."

Very interesting indeed. Maybe he could find a way to break this Aisling Rossi's attitude.

Elsewhere, Aisling Rossi sighed in tiredness as she continued scrubbing the floors on hands and knees. She felt like someone was conspiring against her. Then again, this job was probably one of the least vile ones. She felt sorry for the fools that had gotten stable duty, or the poor girl who was stuck cleaning out the chimneys.

This day was not going to end fast enough. Her muscles ached and she was sure she was still bruised from her misadventures. Her mouth had gotten her in trouble once more. Well, not just her mouth, unfortunately, but her fists too.

Although she had always wanted to be here, in the open freedom that only the outside world could provide, she hadn't been able to immediately after graduating from her class. And damn if she was going to delve further into the walls. So she went as close to the outside as she could – the Garrison.

Maybe her loud mouth ways had been a good thing. It had come at the right time – with no one to scold her now, maybe she could achieve the greatness she knew she was capable of.

"Rossi! Report to the front for roll call." A rough voice said. Aisling didn't even have a chance to turn and see who it was before a group went clambering into the hall and onto her wet and, most importantly, clean floors. And worse of all, they were from the stables. Their boots were filthy. And they were stomping all over her shiny floor.

Anger grew from somewhere deep inside and it was then she knew that she was about to completely and absolutely lose it right before they had to meet with their superiors.

These bastards.

Levi limped down the hall, when he heard an angry female voice bellowing insults. As he turned around the corner, a bucket that was still sudsy flew past his face, almost grazing him.

There was a tornado in the room, and he knew exactly who it was.

It was time he met the infamous girl with anger issues.

A/N: Hello again! Although a new chapter wasn't expected, I got suddenly inspired and I couldn't help but post this. So, yes, introduction to the title character (well, besides Levi). We'll learn more about her as the story progresses - hooray, character development!

Many thanks to Theluckystar22 for reviewing last chapter! Also, thanks to those of you who followed and favorited this in so soon! It's always a nice boost of confidence to know that people out there are reading. I'm not the kind of writer to demand reviews, but it would be nice to hear some more feedback from any people who are out there reading.

I don't know when the action will start since I'm in the process of outlaying the groundwork, but once we get there, we'll hit the ground running! Until next time, lovelies!

-Audrey

P.S. Although there will be an explanation on how to pronounce her name, Aisling is pronounced like this: "Ash-lin" - silent 'g' and 'is' makes a 'sh' sound. Also, I'm hoping to keep a weekly update schedule, so we'll see how it goes from here :)