*Training Days*

Ayyye, back at it again! I thought I lost muse for this, so I went and read a bunch of Attack on Titan fanfiction and went through some fanart on Tumblr to get me back in the spirit, though truth be told I feel like this isn't my best writing.

Anyway, on with the show!

*S*

Song: I See Fire by Celtic Woman

*S*

I believe that the ideal world lies somewhere, but that world may not necessarily be a perfect world. Are flaws really bad? Because they are not perfect they become worried… they don't stand still and instead move forward. After they become perfect, they will stand still. Incompleteness is the ideal.

Keima Katsuragi (The World God Only Knows)

*S*

Chapter 4: Missions Pt.1

Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months, which easily turned into the cadets first year of training being over. At the end of the week they would be embarking on their first training mission on their own. One to see how alert they stay in times of peace, though Hanij knew there had to be some ulterior motive if Shadis was stationing her in the forest the cadets would be meeting at before returning back to camp. But before then, Hanji had her own mission to go on. Having been fully healed and medically cleared by a doctor (though not mentally in his opinion) for about 8 months now she was joining in on a short mission into Wall Maria with the rest of the Survey Corps. By now of course most cadets had a running bet on which trainer was from what military branch. It amused Hanji to no end that the majority of the cadets had her labeled as Garrison. She snickered as she snuck through camp; having grown tired of running back and forth to the Trost HQ and the training camp, the brunette had finally sucked it up and accepted a room on site. She slid into the stables and quietly started tacking Titan up and making sure her gear was ready to go, she'd returned to the main Survey Corps HQ and grabbed her own gear, wanting to use something she was overly intimate with out in titan territory. She was sliding her arms through her Survey Corps jacket when she heard a small gasp. She spun around, her eyes narrowed until she saw who it was.

"Krista?" Hanji inquired. The small cadet had a hand covering her mouth, her blue eyes wide. Personally Hanji saw through most of the young girl's quiet and shy façade, she wouldn't have lasted the year she had if she weren't hardened in some way. Though she supposed it helped that her fellow cadet Ymir was never far behind.

"I-I'm sorry Miss Zoe!" Krista stammered. "I know I'm not supposed to be out of my dorm yet but, I just…" the girl blushed slightly.

"Just what dear?" Hanji asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. She pulled her jacket down slightly, getting the bagginess out of her shoulder area and watched as Krista's eyes darted to the patch on her breast pocket.

"I come out every morning to bond with my horse," the cadet said quietly. Hanji laughed quietly.

"So much worrying for nothing!" She said loudly, she gently tugged on Titan's reigns, leading him out of the stable. "Out of all cadets I think you worry us the least when it comes to strange activities." It was true, they'd busted Sasha and Connie Springer multiple times for stealing food. Jean and Eren for sneaking out to fight when they assumed no one could hear them. Mikasa for trying to get revenge on Jean. Eren again for trying to get in extra practices. Berthold and Reiner for reasons the boys still would not give up. And just a few days ago Thomas Wagner for trying to sneak into the girl's dorms. There were a few mystery incidents; involving some cadets strung up in trees by their undergarments or their ankles, that Shadis had been sure that Ymir had been responsible for, but there was never any concrete proof, and the victims, always boys, never would say who had done what. So honestly Krista coming to see her horse was least of anyone's worries.

"S-so, I'm not in trouble?" Krista asked, her body visibly relaxing.

"Not if you and your guard dog can keep quiet about this," Hanji said hooking a thumb towards her chest, more accurately her Wings of Freedom patch. Krista blushed slightly at hearing the words "guard dog" but she knew Hanji was right, Ymir was never far and the goggle-wearing trainer had probably seen Ymir before Krista had (the other girl was leaning against a building in the shadows).

"Yes ma-am!" Krista said saluting her immediately after recovering slightly. Hanji smiled and placed a hand on the girl's head as she lead her horse past her and started on her way out of the grounds. "Good luck!" Krista called as quietly as she could while still being able to be heard.

"Come back in one piece," Ymir muttered as Hanji passed her "hiding" spot. "You're the least annoying adult figure here."

"Don't worry!" Hanji said waving her hand, but a grin still made its way to her face. It would seem like she'd grown on the cadets, and if she was being truthful, some of the cadets had grown on her. "I'll be back to annoy you all with my knowledge by the end of the week! Just in time for your training mission!"

"Joy," Ymir snorted sarcastically as she watched the strange woman lead her horse away. Hanji snickered as she swung up into the saddle, her gear clinking. She would be late because of her short conversation with the cadets, but she supposed it couldn't be helped. She knew she couldn't go all out just to get to the gate at Trost, she needed Titan's strength and stamina once they were beyond that. Maybe she could even convince Erwin to capture a titan for her to study up close this time!

"You're late," the words were muttered loud enough for her to hear, but not quite so for those around them once Hanji had woven her way through the masses to the front, taking her usual spot in between Levi and Mike.

"Oh really?" Hanji said with a laugh, she looked around quizzically. "I just thought everyone else was early." She grinned when she noticed the dark-haired male's eye twitch in annoyance.

"Tch," Levi turned to face the front, where Erwin was sitting on his white mare. The commander looked around once, checking that everyone was in their positions and ready to go. He nodded once at Hanji and looked forward as the bells started to ring.

"Thirty seconds until the gates open!" He roared, his deep voice carrying over the ranks. "All personnel prepare to depart" Hanji could barely contain her excitement, having been on the figurative bench for just a little over a year. She managed to plaster a bored look on her face and she gave a loud moan.

"I'm tired of waiting!" She drew the words out, sounding very much like one of the cadets after a long day of training. She perked up suddenly. "Hey Levi—"

"No."

"But I didn't even say anything yet," Hanji said with a pout. The man hadn't even looked her way before denying her.

"You didn't have to," Levi muttered, his eyes trained on the gates in front of him. "You want me to help you capture a titan, correct?" He scoffed slightly, seriously, the woman never changed. "It's a waste of effort and I'll take no part of it." Hanji gave a low noise of distress before turning her head to face the man on her other side.

"Mike? What about you? Care to give it a go?" She asked, tilting her head slightly. Her fellow squad leader smirked slightly and shook his head. Hanji sighed and shrugged, at least she tried. Looks like she'll have to do it herself. "Same old boring answers from the same old boring men." She ignored the feeling of eyes burning into her side, rumors flew around the new recruits that Levi's glares could kill titans and Hanji didn't want to find out if that was true or not. She quieted down when the gate in front of them started to open.

"The 49th expedition begins now!" Erwin cried. "Forward!"

*S*

Hanji trudged back into the training camp several days later well after sunset. She knew Levi wasn't far behind her, making sure she got back safely, and she was sure he'd probably apologize, or attempt to for the way he had handled her a few days earlier. She paused to look around, making sure no cadets were out and about, she might not yell at them for being out past curfew, but that didn't mean Levi wouldn't.

"Shitty glasses," Hanji turned to see Levi standing behind her with his arms crossed. His horse's reigns were tied around a fence post a little ways back.

"Oh, you can go now Captain," Hanji said. "I'm sur you want to get cleaned up." They were both covered in dirt, blood, and sweat. Funny thing really, simple missions going wrong. Though she supposed it could have been worse… After all she did almost get Olou killed. Levi ignored her and snatched Titan's reigns from her hands and led the horse into the stables. He didn't get but three steps in before he stopped dead, causing Hanji to run into him. "Ow, Levi, Titan's stall is near the back." She muttered.

"Shitty brats, aren't you supposed to be in bed?" Levi asked, causing Hanji to peer over his head into the dimly lit stable. In front of him was a panicked looking Armin, a non-expressive Ymir, and a sleeping Krista.

"Oh!" Hanji grinned stepping around Levi, taking the reins back from him. "I do hate to be a downer loves, but the man is right." She smiled gently at the three of them as she walked past. The stable was filled with an awkward and tense silence as Hanji set about untacking Titan. She slid off her cape and jacket, wordlessly handing them to a still glaring Levi.

"Krista was in here every night after you left, waiting to see if you'd come back," Ymir said suddenly. Hanji's hands froze in the action of bolting Titan's stall door closed. "She fell asleep two nights ago and Jackson caught her. Gave her laps, and being the good girl she is she took them with no complaints." It was clear by her tone she blamed Hanji.

"Maybe you brats should do as you're told then," Levi said coldly, his eyes sweeping over the cadets. He smirked slightly when the blonde boy trembled slightly under his gaze.

"Now now Captain!" Hanji said laughing. "You're scaring Armin with that grumpy face of yours!" She bolted Titan's stall and walked forward until she was beside Krista's sleeping form. She crouched down and poked the younger girl's forehead. "Wake up Krista," she said gently. She looked up to see Ymir and Levi in a stare off and Armin was looking back and forth between the two of them.

"So I know why Krista and Ymir are here," Hanji said as Krista started to rouse. "But why are you here Armin?"

"Oh, I was asking around when I noticed you weren't at training for two days in a row, and Commander Shadis got mad and told us not to worry over something that didn't concern us, and I figured it meant you had something to do with the Survey Corps," Armin said, his eyes shifting nervously. "I ran into Kirsta and Ymir in the stables one night." He smiled and scratched his face.

"Oh you smart boy you," Hanji said. She would fight tooth and nail to have that boy on her squad if she had to.

"You're back Miss Zoe!" Krista's happy voice brought all of their gazes to the girl.

"That's right dear!" Hanji said. "I hope you didn't worry too much! You see I have grumpy pants by the door to look after me!"

"Not to mention your perpetually scared assistant," Levi muttered. Hanji grimaced, poor Moblit had cried when Hanji had returned to camp with Levi and his squad.

"Ah, yes well some things can't be helped," Hanji laughed nervously. She stood up and offered her hand to Krista. "But you lot have a long day ahead of you, and I really need some sleep in an actual bed."

"What you need is a shower shitty glasses," Levi growled. "I'm heading back to HQ. Keep your mouths shut brats."

"Bye bye Captain!" Hanji waved at his retreating back, a grin spread across her face.

"You just let him call you shitty glasses?" Ymir asked. "I'd have punched his short ass in the mouth." Hanji laughed loudly as she escorted the three cadets back to their dorm.

"Hmmm, I suppose if it were anyone else calling me that I would," she said. "But Captain Levi and I are part of only a handful of veterans left in the Corps and he's been calling me that since he arrived." She yawned and stretched her arms above her head. "I'm not exactly the easiest to get along with if you guys hadn't noticed." Armin and Krista started to make excuses but Ymir snorted and gave a loud laugh.

"At least you're honest," the girl said. Hanji smiled slightly.

"Get some rest and good luck tomorrow," she said leaving them in front of the mess hall. She made her way to the officer's dorms and gathered her night clothes before hitting the showers. She would be the first to admit that her hygiene fell short on her list of important things, however after a mission she always showered no matter what. She sighed as she watched the blood and dirt swirl in the drain, while they hadn't lost too many people today compared to normal missions, they shouldn't have lost any at all. Hanji narrowed her eyes and punched the wall with a growl. If only Erwin had let her capture a titan. What would it take to make him see that it was important?

*S*

And another chapter bites the dust! I think I've screwed over some timelines, but YOLO because I need it to work for the story. (I mean not really, but oh well.) So this chapter heavily, and boy do I mean heavily, implies that it takes place during the first OVA, Ilse's Notebook. Next part will be based on the 3rd OVA. And then after that smooth sailing into the climax of the story! I'm still trying to decide whether I want to continue in the story's universe after this is over. It's up in the air at this point in time.

As always dear, any questions, concerns, or comments can be left as a review or a PM. I love hearing from you all!

Shimmerz