All of us new recruits were standing in line outside by the training field. I was all the way at the end on the left, watching as Mike and Hangi made their way down to me and told us what squad we would be signed to. When they finally got to me he looked at the paper then back to me, Hangi was smiling with all teeth and waiting by his side.
"Janice Robin, you'll be signed to Victors squad. You will report to him right away at the stables", Mike walked away and Hangi followed him as he stood in front of all of us, "You are all dismissed, and good luck with your new squad", we all saluted Mike and Hangi.
Hangi was nodding her head and mike nodded once then walked away. I started walking away from the group first, no need to stand around when I could be getting started on being a scout. I walked on the grass and over to the stables, passing by scouts training and others just sitting around and talking. I was at the front stable doors, I didn't walk in but peered in, I didn't hear anything besides the horses.
"Hello? I'm the new recruit, I'm a signed to Victors squad?", I said and let my eyes rome over the place.
"Hey!?"
I took a step away from the stable doors and turned my head to the left, seeing a medium built man, with light brown hair and tan skin walking over to me.
"Can I help you?", The man asked as he stopped a few feet in front of me.
"Yes, I'm the new recruit to Victors squad-" I turned to fully face him, "-I was told to report to him right away".
"So you're the girl that doesn't work well with others and can put a man down, huh?", He said as a smile grew on his tanned face.
"Janice Robin, Right-" he looked me up and down, "-I'm Victor, nice to meet you", he held out his hand to shake.
I looked at it for a quick second before I shook his hand.
"Thought you were gonna leave me hangin'", he said as he shook my hand.
"Don't talk much do you?", he asked and let go of my hand.
"Yes and no, I talk when I need to or feel like it. I also don't like making friends or things of that nature, sorry don't take it persanoly", I said and looked away from him.
"I guess that's where the 'doesn't work well with others' come in right?" He air quoted with his fingers.
"Exactly", I looked back at him.
"Well follow me, we're not a big squad, but you only get sent to me cause you don't fit in with the other squads. So there's just the five of us, come on", he gestured with his head and turned to walked away.
I walked behind him as he led us behind the stables to see three other people, two guys standing and talking, while the other guy was leaning against the stable wall.
"Yo, guy's, here's our new recruit. This is Janice, Janice that is-", he pointed to the first guy talking on the left, he had short black hair that was slicked back and was roughly six feet tall, with brown eyes, "-Lance, and the guy he's talking to-", he pointed to the guy across from Lance, he was a bit shorter then Lance, but not by much, he had brown hair that was shaggy and green eyes, "-that's Beck. And last but not least-", He pointed to the guy leaning against the wall. He was definitely the most unique, He was Lances hight of six foot, but his hair was a light blonde almost white and his eyes were a light crystal blue. "-that's Zane, he doesn't talk much, maybe even less then you do", Victor nudged my shoulder and I took a step away from him to the side.
"Welcome" Lance said.
"Hello, hope we work well" Beck did a small wave.
I looked over to Zane and he just nodded his head once, more like a bob then a nod I guess.
"Uh, hi", I said and did a 'one arm hand wave windmill' thing.
"Alright, well now that you know our names and we know you, what should we do for our first day as a new member squad? Any requests?", Victor asked all of us.
Beck just stared at him like he was crazy or had two heads, Lance had a small smile on his face like he was humored by his squad leaders antics, and Zane just looked away from us. I looked at him with a blank look wandering what he did to become a squad leader.
"No one? No? Ok then, how about we,-"
"- no", and Zane walked away.
Oh, I'm gonna like him. We all watched as Zane walked away from us and around the stables out of sight. Lance, Beck and I turned to see Victor, his head was tilted down looking at the grass like someone just told his puppy.
"I'm gonna eat", I looked up and saw Beck walk besides us.
"I'll second that", Lance walked by Victor and smacked him on the shoulder, "come on Leader, let's get some grub", and Lance pulled Victor by the arm and Victor stumbled a bit trying to catch his footing from being dragged sideways.
"You coming Jan?", Lance yelled back to me.
Jan? Was that a nickname or something? God, I hope not.
"It's Janice", I said and walked up to them.
"Not a fan of nicknames?" Lance asked while still dragging Victor.
"No", I told him.
"So we have another Zane on our hands, but hey, at least you talk more then he does, but just so you know, Zane is one hell of a listener if you ever need to talk, and if he feels like it, maybe he'll reply to you". Lance shoved Victor through the door to the cafeteria and he tripped and stumbled again. Lance then turned to me and gave me a smile then walked in himself.
We were all sitting at the empty table in the back corner. I was sitting with my back to the wall beside Zane, while Beck sat across from me, Lance to his right and Victor to his left. What a weird group to put together, but then again, Victor did say that we were the ones that didn't fit in with the other squads, so in other words, we were the reject pile.
It made sense in a way, I mean here you have Victor, an easy go lucky guy with a hyper attitude. Like Hangi but in male form I guess, so why wasn't he in her squad? Beck, He hasn't done much to show who he is yet. Lance though, I could almost guess that he used to be like Victor, but some things have happened and now he is more mellowed out and goes with the flow. Zane, he was my favorite so far, quiet, didn't talk, perfect for me to be around.
"So guys, I heard at dinner tonight that the Commander will be making a speech, so you have to show up, ok?" Victor told all of use, just before he stuffed a huge chunk of bread in his mouth.
"K," I said and went back eating my food, Lance gave a thumbs up and Beck said "Ok", Zane just bobbed his head and ate his stew.
I took a bite of food and looked around the room, looking at Eren and Jean bicker back in forth while Armin tried to calm them down, poor little guy never stands a chance. Mikasa stood up and was saying something to Eren that made him calm down just a bit, but then Jean said something and Eren was heated again. But none of them seen Captain Levi getting more and more ticked off by the second by their bickering. I saw him stand up and march over to their table, everyone he past on his way quieted, he was right behind Eren and Jean and grabbed both of them by the back of the neck and face slammed them into the table top, making the dishes that held their food rattle.
"If you two don't shut the hell up, I will make both of your asses clean this entire cafeteria. Got it?" he said loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Yes Sir. Sorry Sir", Jean said and scrambled out of his hold to salute him.
"Sorry Captain Levi, won't happen again", Eren said while also trying to saluting.
"Tch. See to it that it doesn't", and Captain Levi walked away from their table, leaving behind a fuming Mikasa.
Armin was holding onto Mikasas's arm so she wouldn't go after the Captain, Jean was sitting down and rubbing his neck, while Eren was sitting down rubbing his head. I looked over and saw the Captain, still having a ticked off look on his face as he sat down at his table. The other people sitting with him were all talking amongst themselves while he just sat there, sipping his tea.
"If you look any harder Jan, you'll give him a hole in his tea glass", I redirected my eyes to look at Victor and saw him giving me a smirk.
"I was watching Eren and Jean get into a yelling match, then Captain Levi grab them and slam their face on the table. If that is what you are referring to, then ok", I said and took a bite of my stew.
"Mmm hmm", Victor went back eating his food.
I risked glancing up and at Captain Levi again, I saw him say something to someone at his table then pick up his tea glass and close his eyes, when he reopened them, they were looking right at me. What was it with him and giving people hardened looks? His body was calm and collected, but his eyes were alive and on fire, they held all his emotions, and what I was seeing right now, was aggravation and curiosity. What a mix to be feeling. I brought my fork out of my mouth and sat in in the bowl of stew, I looked away from the Captain and out the window that was behind and away from him. Grey clouds were moving by the window and the wind was blowing them quickly by, I wonder if there is going to be rain soon? I hope so, I love the rain, though I love thunderstorms even more. Feeling the rain droplets fall on your skin after a rough work out, smelling the water in the air and coolness it brings. Hearing the thunder role across the sky and trees, seeing lightning shoot across the sky and light it like a candle in a dark room. It's peaceful to me, feeling and hearing everything a storm has to offer.
"Well, I'll see you guys later", Lance stood up and walked away to give his dishes to the cleaning lady.
"Me too, bye", Beck stood up and did the same.
"Tomorrow training will start for us, so be out at the stable by nine, ok?", Victor told me and Zane before he stood up to leave.
"What a weird group", I said and put the last chunk of bread in my mouth.
"But, we're protective and safe", Zane said before he looked at me and nodded. Pain flashing threw his light blue eyes so fast that I thought I imagined it.
"What's safe when we're in the Scouts? Protective? I don't need protecting, just let me die if it is to happen, I don't want to take someone with me", I said and stood up and gathered my tray.
"If being protective saves you but kills them, then just let them die", Zane said as I past behind him.
I looked back at him and saw a far off look in his eyes, what happened to this man for him to say things like that, what happened to him for him to have so much pain? I know being in the Scouts you lose people, but he looks and behaves like he lost more then friends, and even family. I turned around from him and went back on my way to drop off my tray to the dish lady.
"Thank you ma'am", I said to her.
"Oh, you're welcome sweetie", she said and smiled at me.
I walked away from her and down the center isle, a place in mind outside on the roof to see the clouds roll by. I glanced at Zane one more time before I walked out the door and his eyes were still unfocused, but he was standing up and cleaning his area. I walked out the door and shook my head, don't get close to them, you don't need it. I walked up the stairs that led me to the roof and I stepped out the door. The wind was blowing and birds were flying by to the trees. I walked over to the side of the small town, sat down and leans against it. I was right, it did look like it was going to rain, maybe not just yet, but it was going to, maybe before dinner or during. I just had to wait.
I heard the Scouts down below training at fighting, 3DMG and horse back ridding. I scooting closer to the edge and looked down to see the different things going on. One poor kid was getting his butt handed to him at sparring, someone else was getting scolding for using too much gas and a tiny girl was trying to get up on a massive horse.
"What are you doing up here?", I looked behind me and saw Captain Levi looking down at me from beside the tower.
"Sitting, relaxing, waiting for the rain to come, Sir", I looked him over as we were just staring at each other. His uniform was well pressed, not a single wrinkle or crease. His cravat was pure white like it was brand new, his brown boots were so well polished it makes one think that they have never been worn. His hair was cut and trimmed perfect for his bob undercut look. Nothing on this man was out of place.
"Aren't you suppose to be training?", he question not taking his grey eyes off me.
"Squad Leader Victor gave us the day off, training starts tomorrow, Sir", I told him and I stood up.
I dusted my pants off and hands before I stood straight to look at the Captain again.
"Was there something you needed of me, Sir?", I asked.
"Cut the 'Sir' crap, it's Captain Levi to you brat", he said, "and when you approach me or see me or I call for you, you will salute me, or did they not teach you that in training?" He went from being agitated to pissed off in a matter of seconds.
Who knew this guy was set off so easily and quickly? I knew he was rude, but dang.
I straightened up and saluted him.
"Sorry Captain Levi, it was my mistake, I won't let it happen again", I looked him dead in the eyes and kept mine blank, if he wanted a solder right now, he was gonna get one, cause if there was one thing I was good at, it was following orders to the 'T'.
"Tch. You piss me off", he spun on his heels and walked out of the door that opens to the roof.
What was that about? I wonder what his whole point was of coming here and I guess talking to me? I don't know. I sat back down and leaned against the tower again. I stretched my legs out and crossed my ankles. I put my hands in my lap and shut my eyes. I let the sun and breeze relax me enough to where I was able to take a nap.
"Run!" I yelled at my legs to run, to move, to do anything, to get me out of this Titans path.
Tears were running down my face and was mixing with the rain that was falling side-ways as the storm was roaring above my head. I looked behind me and saw the Titan in all its big ugly glory walking to me, that's right it was walking not running.
I never knew Titans to not run at their kill, they were always running like the blood lust crazed thing they are. I looked back at my feet and trying to move them was like trying to move a tree, they wouldn't budge. I was pulling and trying to jump, something to get my legs to move, but they wouldn't.
I twisted and looked back around and saw the Titan was only a few meters away from me. It reached down for me and wrapped its hand around me and lifted me up like I was a feather. I was hitting its hand with my fists and trying to kick my legs, I knew nothing would work, but I still had to do something, even if it was useless. It held me in front of its face and just looked at me, then slowly it opened its mouth and lifted me above its teeth, and dropped me in.
My eyes opened wide and I threw myself forward and was grabbing my legs while trying to catch my breath. It was a dream, it was a dream. I kept repeating to myself over and over. I calmed down enough to register that it had started to rain. I looked up at the sky and shut my eyes, letting the rain pelt my face while still trying to rid myself of the mini nightmare I just had. and calm my breathing.
"You ok?", I jumped, startled by a voice that was beside me and turned to look at the person.
"Yeah", I said and started to stand up.
"I heard screaming and things moving from up here when I was down there talking to the other scouts. I wondered what was going on so I came up here, I was going to wake you, but you woke up as I got beside you. Sorry If I scared you" Victor stood up with me, making sure I didn't fall or something.
It started to rain harder with every second we stood out here.
"That's ok-" I said, "-sorry I worried you. It was just a nightmare, I'm good", I started to walk past him when he lifted his hand to my shoulder and squeezed it, making me come to a stop and look at him.
"I know you don't know me-", he started, "- and I know you don't want to know me do to personal reasons, I get that, but we are a team now and I am your leader, you can talk to me if you want to vent about anything", he lifted his hands up in front of his face, "-and hey, I won't even talk if you don't want me too", he gave me a goofy smile and dropped his hands to his side.
"Now come on, I'm drenched and so are you, let's get dried off and changed", he bobbed his head and turned away from me and headed for the door.
I stood on the rain for a few more seconds, just letting what he said to me sink in as I watch him walk away. Him, someone to talk too? I couldn't do that, I couldn't do that to myself, reliving the past, a dang sure couldn't do that to him. If he knew about my past, my parents, my friends, he would never be able to get the look of pity out of his eyes every time he looked at me.
I didn't need his pity nor did I want it, I didn't need anyones pity. Dealing with my own pity and sorrow was enough, and sometimes it was too much for me to even bare, where the only way to deal with my emotions, was to turn them off and not feel anything, to be void of everything.
"You coming?", I looked up at Victor from the roofs floor and see his head sticking out of the door frame, rain drops sliding down his face and his hair sticking to his cheeks.
"Yeah", I said and looked down away from him as I took the first step towards the door.
The silence between us was defining, we both didn't say or utter a sound as we descended the stars. The only thing you heard was our boots squeaking as they made contact with the next step. I took the last step and I saw someone run past the opening of the stars. I took a step out and saw two more scouts running down the hall towards us.
"Can't believe it", a scout said as he past us.
"He's gonna die!", The other said.
"Wonder what's going on?", Victor said and stepped around me.
He started walking down the hall to the flight of stairs that led to the first floor. I was curious also, so I followed. We walked to the door that led outside and saw a group of scouts forming a circle. Did they not know it was rain out there? I took a step out of the door to get a better look, I'm already wet, why not.
"Man", I heard Victor walking behind me.
"Come on guy's, we're gonna get in trouble!", Was that Armin?
I heard as we got closer.
"Oh, shut it Arlert, he started it!", said a male voice.
Was this a fight?
"Yeah Jeager! Come on!", Was that Jean?
Victor and I looked at each other and pushed the scouts out of the way so we could see what was going on. Yep, it was Jean and Eren, giving each other a glare down, and there was Armin, holding onto Erens arm, trying to pull him back away from Jean so he wouldn't do anything stupid. Where was Mikasa? I looked around and couldn't spot the black haired girl anywhere.
"Let go Armin, or you'll get hurt", Eren told his friend.
"No, stop it you guy's", Armin tried again, tugging his arm.
"Move!" Eren shoved Armin away and he almost hit the ground, but Victor was fast enough to catch him.
Eren attacked Jean and Jean wasn't holding back either. They were punching and blocking each others fist and kicks that were thrown. Mud was being kicked everywhere.
"What started this" I looked to see Victor asking Armin.
"Well, Jean said something about Eren seeing the Titans and stuff and it made Eren mad, and well, you know how hot headed Eren gets and how arrogent Jean is", Armin winced as he saw Eren get hit in the stomach.
"Come on Janice, let's stop this", Victor said to me.
"Uh, why?", I asked.
If two hot headed teenagers wanted to duke it out in the rain over something stupid, I wasn't going to get involved and have myself get in trouble too.
"Really? Come on, if we're caught here watching and didn't try to stop it, we'll get in trouble", Victor reasoned with me.
"Fine. Who do you want, Eren or Jean?", I asked.
"Eren", he said and went forward.
Of course he would leave me with the bigger kid and the one more skilled at fighting then Eren.
"Jean, stop", I said as I got closer to him.
"No!", he yelled.
Well, I tried to talk. When Jean went to kick Eren, I kicked Jeans knee and made him drop to the ground and mud splattered all over his pants.
"Hey!" Jean yelled at me.
I saw Victor grab Eren from behind in a bear hug, he was sliding in the mud, but he kept his hold. I looked back at Jean and saw him get up and run at Eren. Eren leaned back having Victor support his weight making him stumble a bit in the mud, before Eren kicked his feet up and hit Jean in the chest, giving him two muddy boot prints on his wet white shirt.
Jean stumbled back a few steps before regaining his balance, then went to punch Eren. I Stepped up and grabbed Jean from the back of his shirt and yanked him back, I heard a button 'pop' and a few stitches 'snap'. I pulled Jean behind me and threw him on the muddy ground, stepping on his chest so he wouldn't get up again. Now, I'm angry.
"That is enough!" I raised my voice so they both would stop trying to get at each other.
I looked at Jean under my muddy boot, and I could see he paled a bit and his eyes were wide and he was breathing hard. When I was mad, I heard I was a bit scary.
"Stay down and knock this shit off!", He flinched a little.
I shot Eren a look and he stopped moving and was holding onto Victors arms. He too, also paled a bit.
"Eren, knock your shit off right now!" His eyes got a little big and I could see Victor peek from behind Erens shoulder to look at me. "What has gotten into you two?-" I looked at both of them then stopped on Eren, "-so he said something to you when you were talking about Titans and what not, get over it. You know what you saw and heard.-",
I looked at Jean who was still under my muddy boot, "-and you. You think you know everything and that by down grading someone that makes you look smarter, and that being arrogant is cool? You're just acting like a spoiled prick that doesn't no anything? Get over yourself" I pushed down on his chest a little before I removed my boot and took a step back.
I looked back at Eren and Victor, then looked around me and saw the other scouts look a bit scared and took an uneasy shift on their feet.
"Leave", I said to them, and they walked away without any fuss, some looked happy and relieved to walk away from the seen, or me.
I looked and saw Victor let go of Eren and Eren took a few steps away from all of us, wiping his hand over the side of his face to remove the trail of blood that had dripped down from a cut he got from Jean. I looked and saw Jean stand and look at the mud all over his uniform and take a step back away from me when he saw I was looking at him. I looked at Victor last and he looked surprised to say the least.
"Think before you act. If Commander Erwin, Hangi, Mike and even Captain Levi didn't see something in you, trust you and your Titan shifting ability, they wouldn't have risked everything to keep you out of the MP's hands" I told Eren.
"I'm going to change now", I said and turned on my heels and walked to my room.
"Was it just me, or does she remind you of someone when she's mad and when her hair's down?", I heard Eren ask.
"Yeah, she looked a bit like Captain Levi with her hair down like that and that look on her face", Jean said.
"Yeah, Freaky", Victor commented.
I was drenched to the bone, and now I was muddy on top of that. I walked up the stairs and down the hall to my room to grab a change of clothes so I could shower. Before I opened my door, I saw a trail of muddy foot prints that led to where I'm standing now, great.
"Man, I'm gonna have to clean that". I huffed.
I opened my bedroom door and walked inside and shut it. I grabbed a towel and sat it on top of my dresser, and pulled my clean uniform from the closet along with my soap, shampoo and conditioner. I picked up everything and walked out my room and down the hall. I heard foot steps coming up the stairs then I saw who it was. He was wearing a discussed look on his face and was not pleased. I saw his eyes follow the muddy foot prints on the floor up to my boots, up my legs, over my chest and rested on my face.
"Why the hell is there mud everywhere?", he growled out.
"I was outside breaking up a fight and got muddy in the process trying to stop it Captain", I told him and stood up straight.
His eyes were scanning my face looking for something or staring at something.
"Who was it?"
"Sir, it was Eren and Jean".
"Hmph, figures", he mumbled under his breath then looked away and crossed his arms, then he looked back at me.
"Get cleaned up" he pointed with his finger to a door on his left, my right, "cleaning supplies are in there when you're done showering. I expect this place clean before dinner", and he walked back down the stairs.
I waited till he was down the stairs and out of sight before I walked down the stairs and to the showers. No one was in here when I walked in to the showers, great. I liked taking showers that were quiet, it made it more relaxing. I turned the shower on and set the temperature to how I liked it.
I stepped back and undressed, leaving my soiled uniform on the floor by the bench, then stepped under the water, letting it wash off the mud that soaked through the clothing. I just got my hair wet to wash it when I heard someone some in.
"Oh, hey, Janice right?", I wiped water from my eyes and saw Petra putting her stuff on a bench in front of her shower stall.
"Yeah" I said and put shampoo in my hand and started washing my hair.
"I'm Petra, incase you forgot", she said and started her shower.
"I remember", I said and rinsed my hair.
She didn't say anything else. I got the feeling that eyes were on me and I turned around and saw Petra staring at me.
"What?", I asked, it was kinda creepy, her just staring at me like that.
"Oh, I'm so sorry to stare at you like that, I just saw the scar on your back, and got curious", she said.
"It's nothing", I told her and reached for my conditioner.
"Can you tell me?", She asked looking at me with a soft look on her face.
"No", I said and shut my eyes to lather up my hair.
"Sorry", she said and I peeked my eyes open and saw look of hurt pass over her features as she walked to her shower stall.
She didn't need to know, and I wasn't about to relive it to tell her how I got this scar.
I was clean, dressed and heading back to my room to drop off my dirty clothes, then to get to work cleaning the floor. I grabbed the supplies I needed and got to work. It didn't take me too long, maybe an hour at most to clean up my muddy foot prints.
I put the supplies back where I got them and put the rag in a bucket that held other dirty rags. I walked out the door and decided that it should be getting close to dinner, so I walked to the cafeteria and got in line to get my food. I was sitting at the table that I sat at last time with my 'team' and started eating.
I had my fork in my mouth when Zane sat beside me. I looked at him and he started eating. I wasn't going to ask why he decided to sit there beside me and not on the other side, when Lance and Beck sat down across from us.
"Hey Jan, Zane", Beck said and dug into his food.
"Sup, guy's" Lance greeted and took a sip of his drink.
"Guess Zane let's someone sit beside him now after all this time", and there's Victor.
He plopped down beside Beck and looked at Zane. Zane just looked at him with a blank look, but his eyes were telling Victor something.
"Chill, eat", he said and pointed to Zane's food with his fork.
Zane just looked down and started eating his food again. Victor started eating with a smile on his face like nothing happened, Beck exchanged looks with Lance then glanced at me and started eating. Was I missing something here? I looked at all the guys and they were either looking at their food or around the room.
"Oh, here comes Commander Erwin", Lance said and we all looked at the Commander as he walked in the room.
"Good evening everyone, and welcome new recruits", he said and looked around the room.
"I have an announcement to make. In two weeks time we will be going on an expedition outside the walls, we will be trying a new formation which your squad leaders will learn and train you on. On this expedition, we will also be capturing two Titans to bring back as experiments. So prepare yourselves for the up coming expedition, train hard and be safe. I'll see you out there". Commander Erwin finished saying and he walked out of the cafeteria, leaving the room in total silence.
After everything he said started to sink in, chatter started to slowly fill the room again and conversations went back to normal. So, two weeks huh? That's all that was on my mind, the expedition. Our table finished eating in silence and we all went our separate ways.
I was heading to my room, needing to lay down and think about what I was to be encountering outside the walls. I was about to pass the table that held Captain Levi and his squad, I heard Petra talking about me and how she saw a diagonal scar on my back that stretched across it from hip to shoulder.
I heard the Captain, "Tch, everyone has scars Petra", and he sipped his tea.
"I know, but she only just became a solder", Petra said.
"Not everyone has an easy life. Some have fought and suffered to survive" the Captain said.
I looked at Petra as I past her side of the table and she looked at me, wide eyes and a blush was on her cheeks. I looked away and kept walking. I heard one of the guys laugh and another snicker.
"Way to go there Petra" One of them said.
"Yeah, I don't think she heard you at all", said another in between his laughing.
"Oh man", I heard her say.
"Tch".
I walked out of the cafeteria and over to the stairs. It was time for bed, not a nap. I climbed he stairs and walked to my room, boots clicking with every step I took. I opened my door and stepped in and kicked it shut with the heel of my boot. I sat on the edge of my bed and took my boots off, setting them at the foot of my bed for easy access incase I needed them for emergencies. I peeled back the blanket and crawled under it. Hopefully tomorrow will be more eventful then stopping a fight.