I own neither HTTYD or Shingeki No Kyojin.
Though the corner of the table was occupied by only three people with plenty of space left between them and the rest of the trainees, the thick tension almost made it seem crowded to Armin. It was often like this when his best friend was in one of his moods. None of them spoke as Mikasa and he ate their breakfast slowly, and Eren just stared ahead intensely, breakfast-less as he was due to the punishment placed on him by the commandant along with Jean.
He could see from his spot that the other troublemaker was faring similarly, though the diplomatic Marco Bott - as opposed to the introverted trio - was much better at getting his best friend distracted from his hunger. In comparison to the three of them, they at least exuded a minimal semblance of normalcy.
They must look like a sad, awkward bunch.
He was sort of used to it. Not like it was a rare occurrence. Eren had been like that since the first time the blonde had met him; quick to anger, slow to cool down. He honestly doubted it would change any time soon, if ever.
One could always hope, though.
A growling sound broke the silence with all the force of a sledgehammer striking against hot iron, causing the two enjoying their morning meal to cast their gaze on the somewhat sheepish, green-eyed teen, the downward tug of his still present, but accompanied with a small blush that negated its effect. Frankly, it was an amusing sight, and a small grin graced Armin's visage.
Mikasa, on the other hand, merely continued to give him a blank stare, unimpressed. "This wouldn't be happening if you hadn't picked a fight with Jean."
"He picked a fight with me! You were there!" Eren growled irritably.
Not untrue. Jean was the one who usually instigated their little spats. Eren was normally too busy with his training and studies to give him any notice otherwise, not that it made the results any different.
"Then don't answer him in kind," the black-haired girl lectured. "Just ignore him. You'll make way more enemies than you need if you always lose your temper at the slightest provocation."
Her adoptive brother rolled his eyes. "Horseface's just an asshole, not an enemy. And I'm not some weakling who backs down from a challenge or runs away."
Armin could see plenty of flaws in that perspective, as could Mikasa if her resigned sigh was any indication. The young intellectual didn't know if that martyrdom mentality of his would aid or hinder him in the Survey Corps. The infamous regiment certainly demanded a significant promptitude for life-risking in service of a greater cause.
Still, that temper of his offered plenty of insight on his ability to control his impulses, and if a soldier of reconnaissance needed anything to survive in the world out there, it was discipline.
"Throwing stones at every dog that barks doesn't make you any more of a man, Eren. If anything, it makes you look like a child," Mikasa said, her tone almost reminiscent of a stern mother. "Imagine how well that would go over with the Survey Corps."
"Thank God for the Scouts' unconditional admission then. Let me worry about that instead of you. You're not my mother," the brunet grumbled in response, tired annoyance flashing in his eyes. This had been far from the first time his lack of restraint had been brought up, and Armin knew it wouldn't be the last.
The blank mask slipped a bit, concern becoming visible in her expression. "But I am your family, so I'm allowed to worry."
Eren was caught flat-footed for a moment before looking away with a light exhale from his nose. His best friend, however, could see his expression softening, obviously affected by her words. No matter how much he might moan about Mikasa's nagging, a part of Armin believed the only reason he wasn't reciprocating was due to her own superior skills and his strict focus on his own improvement.
After all, that earlier comment about "letting him worry" had merely been another way of him saying he wanted her to steer clear of the danger of Titans that Eren had dedicated himself to abolishing.
The blond decided to chime in, "And besides, weren't you the one who told Jean that soldiers shouldn't give in to their feelings almost half a year ago? A real man doesn't go back on his words. Right, Eren?"
A frown of betrayal was sent his way, one that clearly said 'not you too!'. A teasing, slightly apologetic smile was his only answer. He wasn't about to let his friend go off that easy.
"Ah, crap. As if one of you wasn't bad enough." Eren looked between them, thoughtful, before finally sighing in resignation and turning to Mikasa. "I'll work on it, okay?" he grunted.
She responded with a barely noticeable upturn of her lips and a nod. The two dug back into their breakfast, and while there was no conversation going on, the earlier tension was mostly gone. If none of them felt a need to discuss anything, which was neither common nor rare, then they had no issue letting the silence do all the talking.
The door being violently wrenched open put a swift end to that piece. There, at the entrance, stood their main training instructor Keith Shadis, a look of scowling vigor that the likes of Eren and Jean could only achieve in their dreams. Even Armin could almost trick himself into believing that the man had been born with it.
"Attention, cadets!" he shouted, causing all the trainees to get up on their feet with their fists over their hearts. "Gather at the three-dimensional aptitude gear! If you haven't yet finished stuffing your faces, too fucking bad! Sometimes you'll be called forth for duty at the most unexpected of times, so learn to get your meals in ASAP!"
In tandem with their training, the trainees filed out of the cafeteria in an orderly fashion. Nevertheless, confused muttering filled the air, the up-and-coming soldiers no doubt wondering about the reason for the short trip. They hadn't been at the aptitude gear site for over nine months, not since the 106th Cadet Corps had done their test.
Whatever the reason, it must've been important if all of them were to convene at a part of the training grounds rarely used more than once in their time as trainees. When they got there, however, it was to the sight of the commandant surrounded not only by the assistant instructors but also by one vaguely familiar face, and one totally unfamiliar one.
Both were young women, one of them who happened to be Section Commander Hange Zoe of the Scout Regiment. 51 kills total, 34 of which were solo kills and 17 assists.
Last he heard, the Scouts had gone on the 55th Expedition several days ago, which meant either she had opted to stay behind this time, or the expedition had been cut short by heavy losses or another unfortunate event. Perhaps she was here to advertise her division's cause in hope of amassing some future recruits. Regardless, Eren would be eager for her presence.
As for the other...
If he were to go by first impressions, Armin would describe her as an older, female version of himself. Straight, blonde hair in a braid with striking blue eyes, she was what Connie would call a 'hot babe'. An appropriate term, since the woman, who appeared to be in her early-to-mid twenties, was really beautiful, maybe even more than Krista.
She stood about half a head shorter than Commandant Shadis, which was to say she was one of the tallest women he had ever laid his eyes on. More importantly, he was pretty sure that was a men's jacket she was wearing. He could understand the need for it, though, considering the fact she was the most broad-shouldered woman he'd ever seen.
Outside the eyes and hair, that was where their similarities ended, for he honestly had doubts about his physique ever reaching the same level of muscularity and fitness as her, visible even through the uniform.
And he was a guy.
He felt some of the insecurities he'd been trying to bury bubble back up to the surface. Glancing away from her, he shifted self-consciously; like if it wasn't bad enough the only physical skill he had an average proficiency for was ODM maneuvrability.
"We have a new addition to this shitpile of a training corps! Welcome the new recruit with open arms, ladies and gentlemen!"
Keith nodded to her, the newcomer taking it as a signal to step forward and do the official military salute. "My name is Astrid Hofferson. Pleased to meet you all."
That was odd. No place of origin? It was near-mandatory practice to state one's hometown after introducing themselves. Shadis, however, didn't bother to correct her, looking entirely nonplussed. It was possible she was an amnesiac who the higher-ups had decided to assign for training instead of letting her be just another mouth to feed, Armin mused.
Although, the firm confidence she spoke with, the composure she exuded, and the complete absence of anxiety in the face of so many people were all traits suggestive of an experienced soldier.
"She is the only survivor from a mountain village southwest of Wall Maria. The landscape managed to suppress the advance of the Titans for a few years, but her village was attacked about two months ago. Miss Hofferson was found by the Survey Corps on the 54th Expedition, and the brass has decided to put her to work here. Hailing from a long lineage of warriors, she's got plenty of stuff to teach you impuissant maggots. Maybe we can make soldiers out of you shitheads yet!" the commandant yelled.
So she hadn't lost her memory or anything, but that didn't explain why the instructor would be the one to reveal all that. This Astrid had already proved she could speak for herself in front of a crowd. His intervention could even be seen as offensive, but the blonde woman merely kept staring at the gathered cadets with a calculating gleam.
Thus far, this whole situation had been rather fishy and weird in Armin's opinion.
"I'll be helping Commandant Shadis in improving your physical fitness, swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, and survival skills. However, I myself am not going to serve as an official assistant instructor, but joining you as a fellow trainee like yourselves," Astrid explained.
A most unusual arrangement. The others were obviously confused too, having realized the same thing.
"This is only officially, maggots! As far as I'm concerned, if she asks you to scrape the horseshit off her boots, you get down on the ground and do it!" Keith ordered with a withering glare, most of the trainees nodding fearfully in compliance. "Now, like all the other recruits, she'll be doing the three-dimensional aptitude test. The result won't have any influence on her staying here, but if she passes, she'll be undertaking the ODM training alongside her teaching duties."
With that, they took the short walk to the gear where Astrid strapped herself to the cables. Armin sincerely hoped she wouldn't flop like Eren initially did, defective belt or no. It would not set off her relationship with her fellow cadets to a good start. With her holding a level of authority over them, and yet simultaneously holding the same rank, not to mention her late admission, he could already foresee some animosity from the more petty trainees. If she failed, it'd be adding oil to the fire.
However, when she was raised off the ground, all his worry swiftly evaporated to be replaced by awe, an emotion emulated by the rest if the muttering was any clue. She remained perfectly balanced, unbothered by the new position of hanging in the air. Hell, she almost looked downright bored.
She began moving her limbs, probably trying to test the gear out. His awe only grew when he saw what the performance she was putting on.
"Wow. She's incredible," Connie right next to them said, wide-eyed and impressed. He couldn't blame the guy, though. "She's doing as good as you did, Mikasa."
"No," was Mikasa's prompt answer. Her eyes were narrowed, not in suspicion or envy, but more scrutinizing than anything. The blond had no doubt she came to the same conclusion he did. "She's better."
A perplexed frown graced his the bald boy's face. "What do you mean? How?"
Armin chose to provide the answer, "She's moving."
"Moving?" Sasha asked, standing next to her best friend and appearing equally as confused.
"Yeah, and keeping her balance perfect all throughout," Eren supplied. "It's not much, but you should know how easy it is to lose your equilibrium in that gear. Even the tiniest wrong movement can send you reeling, but whenever Astrid shifts one part of her body, it's like she knows exactly how to shift another to keep herself upright. And she looks totally relaxed while doing it."
"Right." Mikasa nodded in agreement, her gaze still on the newcomer. "I got a perfect score by staying in a single position, no fancy maneuvers. I wouldn't have been able to keep myself balanced if I were to have moved every second like she's doing right now."
"So... she's like a prodigy?" Connie asked.
"Possibly, though I don't think it's necessarily that. The commandant said she's from a family of warriors, which means she's had prior training. She wouldn't have been assigned to instruct us while being a trainee if she wasn't," Armin argued. "If the Titans had a hard time reaching her village, it's quite possible they were fairly isolated. We don't know what kind of training she went through, nor how useful it is with the ODMs, but it can be safely assumed that it wasn't the standard military sort."
But it was an assumption and nothing more. She was an enigma, no matter the information Keith Shadis provided them about her. Maybe it was just the skeptic in him, but he knew it to be true.
Nonetheless, if the bigwigs had given their thumbs-up for this arrangement, then there probably shouldn't be any reason to worry.
"Here you go, Miss Hofferson," Marcus Cleary, the lecture commandant said while handing her a small stack of papers.
"Thank you, Commandant Cleary. Seeing as I plan to join the rest of the recruits for lunch at the cafeteria, I don't have much time to review these," Astrid responded, taking the top document from the pile, which contained the 104th Southern Division's current ranking among trainees. The rest of the documents had a helpful, if rather superficial assessment of the cadets.
"Take it slow, and don't pressure yourself too much. My advice is to focus on the top 30 for the time being. You can become better acquainted with the rest as you go along," Marcus said, sitting down on the chair opposite of her, the stack and a table between them.
"I shouldn't give 30 trainees preferential treatment over the other 189, Commandant. Official or not, I've been given a task, and I don't think it would set a good impression if I were to fail in following through," she argued calmly but firmly.
Her chances of convincing the Supreme Commander Darius at the upcoming trial were going to be dictated by the smallest of details. As it stood, the predominant arguments for both allowing her to aid them and demanding she leave them be weren't tipping the scales in either direction. In comparison to Zackly and the Military Police, she imagined the Scouts had been quite easy to persuade, what with their unquenchable curiosity for the world beyond the Walls.
The Viking heir didn't believe the rest would as indulgent.
The lecturer chuckled with a lightly derisive undertone, though it didn't seem to be aimed at her specifically. "Our country's political structure should offer plenty of insight into our mindset, Miss Hofferson. People are not created equal, I'm afraid. Besides, we've been spawning soldiers for over a hundred years now. You're not really here to pick up our slack so much as you are to add the proverbial cherry on top. Give these men a better fighting chance, if you will, especially for those aiming to join the Recon Corps."
Honestly, as cynical an outlook it might've been, Astrid understood full well what the man meant. Not every warrior on Berk was equally skilled, and while the chief made active attempts not to play favorites with his people, the villagers had a tendency to put the strongest among them on a pedestal.
If his people decided to lavish attention and give favors to certain villagers from an individual standpoint, then there wasn't much Stoick or anyone could have done. On the plus side, it was good encouragement for self-development, and that attitude played no small part in the Vikings' great military might.
Speaking of the military, "Mr. Cleary, what branch were you a part of before becoming an instructor?"
"Ah. That takes me back." He sighed, adjusting his glasses. "I used to be an officer of the Military Police."
Erwin and Levi's warnings came to mind, though she didn't allow herself to have a physical reaction. Curious to hear about the most privileged branch of the military from an insider's point of view, she asked, "Really? If I may ask, what'd you think of your time there?"
He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. "Well, the most accurate way to describe my experiences is to say I was a proud MP officer but considerably less proud to be called a part of the MPs if that means anything to you." Seeing her bewildered expression, he laughed. "Yeah, didn't think so. Sorry, I'll rephrase that.
At the start, I was just like most of the others, wanting to join the Police for the promise of an easy life. However, rookies take the brunt of the work, and you ain't got much choice but to obey if you wanna move up and have it easy. I was assigned to a more dilapidated part of Stohess District, and that's where things changed for me. There are simply times in your life when your moral compass doesn't just point you to do the right thing; it pulls you like a wild boar on a leash, regardless of the consequences. So, I cleaned up my act, and did my best to be a good police officer."
He ran a hand through his slicked-back grey hair. "Not that most of the others shared my opinion, but it didn't deter me. I did my job, I was dutiful, but a few men, no matter how righteous, can make a change in a system that's meant to be as rigid as the Walls themselves. After 5 years, I resigned and applied for a job here, and I've been teaching greenhorns for the last three decades."
"And you never looked back?" the heiress asked.
Marcus scoffed. "A person who claims to be just or 'just human' can't claim to have no regrets. I do question my decision sometimes, especially when I first left the MP, but I don't regret becoming an instructor. These kids are the future, and you need to think of the future as much as of the past and present."
Astrid felt her respect for the man grow, hearing his words of wisdom. It was obvious he'd gone through his own set of experiences and came out better for them. He allowed regrets to change him for the better without letting them hold him back, always thinking of the ways he could be most useful for the future generations of his people.
It was like looking at a mirror image of herself; a young, naive child who thought she knew everything, riddled with faults and mistakes of the past, whose remorse laid the foundation for the finer version of herself that would be built over the span of several years.
The Astrid Hofferson of today.
"Well, I shouldn't monopolize any more of your time. Like you said, you've got a job to do, and I oughtta get back to my own." The lecture commandant stood with a grunt and headed towards the door, giving a lazy wave over his shoulder. "Later, Miss Hofferson."
"Later, Commandant Cleary," she returned before looking down at the document in her hand.
1st: Mikasa Ackerman
2nd: Reiner Braun
3rd: Bertolt Hoover
4th: Annie Leonhart
5th: Eren Yeager
6th: Jean Kirstein
7th: Marco Bott
8th: Connie Springer
9th: Ymir
10th: Sasha Braus
These were the current top 10 of the 104th Cadet Corps. Next to the names were what she assumed to be highly accurate drawings of the aforementioned trainees. Acquiescing that Marcus had been right about taking things slow and concentrating on the best of the crop for the time being, she began memorizing the names and faces.
A few short hours later, the lunch bell rang through the camp. Electing to wait a little bit for all the cadets to file into the cafeteria, she slowly made her way to the building, where the sounds of chatting and feeding could be heard. As soon as she walked through the door, however, the noise stopped almost immediately.
Having expected such a reaction, she merely raised an eyebrow and walked forward. The muttering started up again, though she paid it little heed, never having really been a woman interested in gossip, or who even condoned it. That was how faulty rumors started after all, and she preferred to play no part in such an objectionable affair.
She did pick up a few comments of her exemplary performance this morning. Apparently, it was a pretty big deal.
Personally, Astrid didn't think so, though she might've been biased. Hanging from the cables hadn't been in any way difficult for her. Some fundamental differences aside, it was mostly the same as trying to remain balanced on a dragon, which she had an abundance of experience with. Whether it was sitting down or standing up, just like with the machine, it was mostly about the hips, legs, and center. From what she'd glimpsed of the ODM gear, the weight during the motion of flying and swinging was distributed along the lower body and torso, where the straps and belts had been wound.
She'd been practicing flight with Stormfly while standing for the last seven years, and it was safe to say she was something of an expert at it. A few heart-stopping incidents had happened, sure, but it had been a huge help on both their synchronized flight and combat capabilities. In comparison to the speed and sharp turns her dragon did, just hanging in place had been child's play.
Grabbing a tray, she put a loaf of bread on it, a plate of soup, and a few vegetables. Satisfied with her choice, she looked around the dining hall for a free seat. Several trainees still gave her stares that ranged between cautious, admiring, and envy, but most of them had gone back to engaging in conversation with their friends.
One of them suddenly stood up, a short boy with an appearance surprisingly similar to her own, and waved her over, pointing down to a vacant seat opposite of him. Nodding, she made her way to his table, where two others were also occupying it, both of whom she recognized.
Mikasa Ackerman and Eren Yeager.
Unlike the vibrant green of Hiccup's eyes, the boy's irises were a dull green, in strong contrast to the brown hair so dark it bordered on black. He had something of a pretty-boy face, though the frown and shifty look in his eyes belied it somewhat.
The slanted eyes and soft visage of the girl were features she'd seen before, in Hiccup's drawings from his travels. Asian, she recalled. Black hair and black eyes, Mikasa was as exotic among the people here as Hiccup must have been in the countries of China and Hizuru he'd talked about a lot in his tales. The last thing Astrid had expected was to find an Asian girl here.
The blond boy put a fist over his heart, his two friends copying him. "Armin Arlert from Shiganshina District, ma'am. Thank you for joining us."
Shiganshina? A survivor of the catastrophe from five years ago, then. "A pleasure," she answered before directing her gaze at the other two. Despite being aware of their identities, she knew it would be better to ask and keep up the appearance of non-preferential treatment. "And your friends?"
"Eren Yeager from Shiganshina, ma'am."
"Mikasa Ackerman from Shiganshina, ma'am."
So they were all witnesses to the horror of Titans. Their eyes said it all; they carried an intensity and strength about them that spoke of great hardship. While Mikasa's were composed in their vigor, Eren's were like a fire in the middle of the night, both soothing and dangerous.
Like hers' had been.
"At ease, you three. I'm not your superior, so there's no need for that," she insisted, sitting down next to the other female on the table and started digging in.
Silence permeated the area around the four of them, none quite willing to be the one to break the ice. Astrid felt a bit bad for interrupting their routine and making things awkward. These kids had more likely than not been friends from before the Titan attack, and such experiences tended to forge powerful bonds between people.
As an adult and informal superior, she felt that the responsibility of making the first move fell on her. It would be a sting to her pride to let a kid do it. "So, all three of you were there, huh?" When they gave her perplexed looks, she elaborated, "Five years ago."
Their reactions varied; Armin seemed surprised and then a bit downtrodden, there was a small tightening around Mikasa's eyes, and Eren's frown deepened, the fire burning even more intensely. For a moment, he looked unfocused and his hands shook, which the Viking discerned as signs of reliving a particularly traumatic memory.
He lost someone dear to him in that attack.
"Y-Yeah. We were. It was..." the shortest of the group replied, uncomfortable. He then gave her a sheepish smile. "Though, I guess I don't need to tell you that, Miss Hofferson. Your entire village and people were annihilated by the Titans not too long ago."
Keeping up the facade, she nodded. "The mountains and rock formations surrounding my village served as a natural defense against the Titans. We were safe for a while after the fall of Wall Maria, and our relatively isolated position had probably made the higher-ups forget all about us. But... a small tremor on a rainy day caused a mudslide that ravaged our village and killed over half the population."
Her listeners were wide-eyed, already engrossed in her lie. "But, I thought it was the Titans that killed the villagers," Armin questioned.
"You could say they finished the job." She scoffed, melancholy in her execution. "The mudslide opened up a way for them to enter the valley, and we were soon overwhelmed. A few of us barely escaped. The others didn't last long, but I didn't have the luxury of shedding tears. The only reason I survived is because I alone didn't attract much attention... and because the Scouts found me just in time. And, well, you know the rest."
An understanding seemed to pass between, the kids gracing her with a knowing look. There wasn't any pity, for it would only be offensive. Too bad the entire tale was one big, fat lie to conceal her real origins and purpose here.
Eren's grip on his spoon tightened, and he gritted his teeth in anger. "Another casualty of the Titans. I'm gonna kill all of them."
"Kill... all of them?" she asked, noticing the concerned glance Mikasa sent his way.
Smoldering, green irises cast their gaze upon her. "I'll lay them all to waste; every single one of them. They'll pay for what they've done. Humanity will be restored to its rightful place, and I'll be there every step of the way. It's why I'll be joining the Scouts after graduation."
"Oh, really?"
An arm was suddenly draped over Astrid's shoulder, Hange's grinning face visible in the periphery of her vision. "Well, then I'd be happy to inaugurate you myself. That fire in your says a thousand words. I like it!"
"Section Commander Hange!" Armin yelped, standing up in the blink of an eye, saluting the woman. The other two were quick to mimic his actions. The noise had caught the attention of some of the surrounding trainees, but a blank stare from the heiress was effective in convincing them to mind their own business.
So much for discipline.
"In the flesh!" Still beaming, she placed herself between Astrid and Mikasa. "I hope you don't mind me encroaching on your little pow-wow, but I just couldn't help but overhear your conversation and chime in. Plus," the scientist's smile turned teasing, "I didn't want to leave my friend here to fend for herself. Such a sensitive thing, Astrid is."
"We were just discussing our future prospects, Hange. No need to get worked up," the Viking replied with calm exasperation, pointing her spoon at the brunet teen. "You've got a recruit for your cause right here. Eren Yeager plans to join the Survey Corps."
"Oh, I heard." The teen turned a bit pale when Hange's eager if disturbing grin was pointed his way. "As there are no prerequisites for the admission into the regiment, aside from graduating, we'll be happy to have you, Eren, regardless of your ranking in the Cadet Corps. If I may ask, what is your current rank?"
"Fifth," Astrid supplied. "I had a bit of time on my hands before lunch. Thought I'd use it productively." She smirked Armin's way when his eyes widened, no doubt realizing she'd already known their names. Smart kid.
The hand holding Eren's spoon was suddenly grabbed by two of Hange's, who didn't seem to mind the broth staining her hands and sleeves. "I see. Though I don't discriminate by rank, it's always a good thing to see talented recruits joining our woefully undermanned division. You'll be a great addition."
The male trainee smiled, both pride at the praise and unease at the brunette's attitude wafting off him. It was an amusing sight to the dragon rider, especially since the scout hadn't yet let go of the kid's hand.
"I'm joining the Scouts, too."
All of the table's occupants turned to Mikasa, the one who spoke. Knowing that Hange was going to freak at the next tidbit of information, Astrid nudged her lightly before pointing at the girl with a small smile.
"First."
Hange didn't disappoint, switching her grip to Mikasa's hands with the speed of a bullet. The female teen didn't even grimace at the sensation of the liquid staining her appendage and sleeve, her composure impressing Astrid.
The bespectacled woman opened her mouth before freezing. Just as the Viking was about to express her concern, she twisted to grab one of Eren's hands, the same one from a minute ago in fact, which he'd been waving in the air to shuck off the soup. Her grin almost maniacal now, she switched to gaze between the two of her unwilling participants of this oddball affair.
"How wonderful! We haven't had a top graduate join the Scouts in seven years. I can tell," Hange smiled at Astrid,"this is going to be a great year!"
The blond adult huffed in amusement, the idea behind her friend's words clear as day. "Hange, we've got an audience here, ya know. If you keep up this display of yours, your crazy-ass ways are going to dampen the spirits of all the other potential recruits here. To them, you're the image of their future should they join the Scouting Regiment."
"Miss Hofferson, are you going to be a part of the Recon Corps, too?" Armin asked out of the blue.
She was quiet for a few short moments. "I'm not sure."
"What? What do you mean you're not sure?" Eren asked loudly, clearly shocked at the answer. "Titans killed your family, your friends. Don't you want to avenge their deaths?!"
"Part of me does," she lied through her teeth, her mind going a mile a minute to figure the best ways to respond. "But a part of me also wants to get as far away from them as possible. I don't want to see more people die."
"You will see people die whether or not you join the Survey Corps! At least, with the Scouts, you'll be able to fucking do something about it!" he yelled, outrage shining in his eyes. "Everybody thought the Walls would protect us forever, but now, we all know that's just a load of crap. For all we know, the Colossal and the Armored Titan could appear tomorrow, or in a year. You showed us how good you are with the ODMS. We'll never beat them if the ones best suited for fighting them, like you, duck and hide like a bunch of cowards!"
"Eren! Calm down!" Armin implored his friend frantically, putting a hand on his shoulder. He turned to her, apologetic. "I'm so sorry about this, Miss Hofferson. He's just-"
"Armin, shut up!" Eren commanded, not taking his eyes off her.
The reaction had caught the blond boy by surprise, hurt flashing in his expression. "But Eren-"
"It's alright, Armin. I'd like to hear what he has to say," Astrid calmly said, unfazed by the brunet's outburst. Compared to some of the villagers on Berk, the strength he exuded was nothing. "He just needs to vent. He'll apologize to you later."
Eren's scowl faltered, uncertainty and regret mingling in with anger. Good. He at least realized his mistake and seemed willing to make amends. But, as she told Armin, that would be later. Ending her discussion with the green-eyed cadet here would only cause him to bottle up the rage and affect their relationship as trainees.
She watched him steadily, his anger simmering down slightly by the second, though still demanding answers. Astrid decided to oblige him. "Who was it that died by the Titans' hands that makes you hate them so much?"
He stiffened, dumbfounded by her question, and so did his friends. Mikasa looked ready to interject, but Eren responded before that through gritted teeth, "My mother."
The Viking heiress nodded, having figured that family was involved. With her having confessed her painful experience to them, fake as they were, he probably didn't feel all too self-conscious in revealing his own to her.
"Is revenge the only reason you're planning to join the Scouts?"
"No," was his swift rebuke. "Even before that, I decided that I would see everything the world has to offer. The Titans and the Walls, they're cages that rob us of our freedom. I was born into this world, and nothing will stop me from seeing what's out there."
"Freedom, huh?" she asked, taking a bite of her loaf. Just like Hiccup. However, she wondered if curiosity was really the main reason for his wanderlust like it'd been for the former heir. "A fine goal... but a goal that is your own. Does imposing your own beliefs and motives on others really make you any better than a cage yourself?"
She tilted her head at his outraged expression, unclear of her insinuations but hating them all the same.
"After all, aren't you trying to rob them of the freedom to make their own choices?"
Eren froze, his mouth gaping open, too stunned to argue. Armin seemed to be halfway there, while the Ackerman girl was giving her a scrutinizing once over along with Hange. Seeing how the male teen had a way with words once he got going, and his passion was all but unmistakable, Astrid imagined he had rarely ever been gotten the better off like this.
He grimaced, obviously brainstorming for a good counterargument. "We're on the brink of destruction, Miss Hofferson. We don't have much of a choice."
Not true, but she'd vowed to avoid telling anyone not-in-the-know of that tidbit. However, from the ignorant perspective of everyone here, it was not a bad point. "Maybe, but it doesn't matter all that much when it comes to me. I haven't been near a Titan in two months; who knows how I'd react if I were to run into one now?" Not to mention the upcoming trial that would ultimately determine whether she'd be allowed to stay and help.
"I don't get it. What's that got to do with anything?" Eren asked dubiously, though rather subdued in comparison to earlier. Her argument must have struck a nerve with him, and he didn't know how to process it yet.
"I might keep my cool, or I might get so scared I shit my pants and take a hike with my tail between my legs. Perhaps revenge would overwhelm me, and I'd run amuck like a crazy, bloodthirsty bitch." She shrugged. "The point I'm trying to make is that in a scenario where discipline and cohesiveness with your comrades is your best survival tool, the soldier who runs off on his own, acting on impulse in the heat of the moment and putting not only himself but everybody else in grave danger... is nothing more than a liability."
Adopting a severe visage, she gave the teen a grave look. Perhaps more than anyone else, he needed to hear this. "The fields of blood out there are no place to let your emotions cloud your judgment or to think you know better than your superior officers. You follow orders and exercise the discipline to not act on your own arbitrary whims. That's what a good soldier does."
Eren stared at her weirdly for a minute before leaning his head down, biting his lower lip. For an instant there, Astrid wondered if she'd broken the kid. His peers seemed to be of the same mind, moving forward to convey their worry.
However, he stood abruptly, surprising the other occupants. "I'm not hungry anymore," he exclaimed and grabbed his tray with the half-finished meal. As soon as he made his way to over to dispose of the objects, Mikasa and Armin followed him with a brief look in her direction, no real emotion present other than concern for their friend.
She didn't particularly care either way. It was most important that Eren contemplated her words of warning.
"Do you think that was necessary? To lecture him like that?" Hange asked, neither pleased nor displeased.
Astrid continued wolfing down the bread, replying only when the loaf was finally secured in her belly.
"It's just as you said, he's got a fire in his eyes. If he can't control it, it's gonna burn him and others to ashes."
Finally, the fifth chapter! Would you believe me if I said I wrote this chapter in the span of a day and a half? 7k words! I'm awfully proud of myself for it.
For the more observant manga followers, I have a question, whose answer I hinted in this chapter.
How long has Annie been training Eren in her hand-to-hand combat style? Good luck.
In any case, one thing you oughtta know about the HTTYD characters is that their bodies will have more realistic proportions. For example, Astrid and Ruffnut don't have those skinny, cylindrical arms with no muscle tone as they do in the movies, and Fishlegs doesn't have super-short legs. In my mind, I personally imagine them being in the anime style of Attack on Titan, with black outlines and all.
If you want an accurate depiction of Astrid's physique, then I'd say it's exactly the same as the character Matrona from the Seven Deadly Sins, or more accurately, her anime depiction in Episode 8, Season 2.
By the way, Astrid is not the only HTTYD character with different physical features than in canon; specifically, their height and weight. Plus, I'm putting it so that Vikings naturally have denser muscle fibers and bones than other characters, in order to justify their great strength. By that virtue, they will have 5-6 kilograms added to their weight, more so if they're bigger or more heavily built characters like Stoic or Snotlout.
For example, I put Astrid having 77 kg and 181 cm, but she has the musculature and physical build that would much sooner give her the weight of 71-72 kg. You can use that to more or less determine their appearances while being aided by the descriptions in the story.
I'm sorry if it confuses you, but it's not anything overly important, so don't put too much stock in it. It's just something I do for fun.
Keith Shadis
Age: 43
Stats:
ODM Maneuvrability: 9/10
ODM Combat: 9+/10
Swordsmanship: 7+/10
Rifles and Pistols: 8/10
Hand-to-Hand Combat: 7/10
Strength: 8/10
Speed: 6+/10
Stamina and Durability: 8+/10
Agility: 7/10
Reflexes: 8/10
Wits and Intelligence: 9/10
Teamwork: 7/10
Hange Zoe
Age: 27
Stats:
ODM Maneuvrability: 9/10
ODM Combat: 8+/10
Swordsmanship: 7/10
Rifles and Pistols: 7/10
Hand-to-Hand Combat: 6+/10
Strength: 6/10
Speed: 7/10
Stamina and Durability: 7/10
Agility: 7/10
Reflexes: 8/10
Wits and Intelligence: 10/10
Teamwork: 7+/10
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
I might be deleting this story and reposting it. It wouldn't be a rewrite as the changes would be minimal, the most obvious being the order in which the events so far happened. The title will also be changed to something a bit catchier.
