It was still very early, but the courtyard was already filled with cadets preparing to the expedition when you made your way to the stables.
"Hello there, Cubie!" A wide smile spread across your face as you greeted your horse. Survey corps horses weren't officially named, but you had named yours Sugar Cubes, shortly Cubie. "Have you gone all lazy and fat during your little holiday while I was gone?" You giggled and patted her head, happy to see your friend after such a long time.
"[f/n]!" Petra cheerfully called your name as you saddled your horse in front of the stables. "Nice to have you back!" She gave you a smile as she made her way to you.
"Thanks, it's nice to be back." You smiled back.
"You seem to be almost done?" She asked as she watched you finish saddling Cubie. "Come on, let's join the others."
You glanced over her shoulder at rest of the bunch- Special operations squad members were finishing up as well. Of course, Levi was there too.
"Uh… Yeah, just go ahead and I'll join you guys shortly." You muttered, quickly turning your gaze down when Levi glanced at your direction. "I still want to check on Eren and the others before the launch."
You waited until the very last minute when Erwin announced the expedition to begin before joining to your squad. For your relief, when it was time to divide into the long-distance scouting formation, you went with Eld and Oluo.
"What the hell am I doing..?" You sighed to yourself, following your team through the prairie. It wasn't exactly the time or place to deepen into gloomy ponderings, but you simply had too much in your mind. "I can't keep avoiding him forever! I'm his adjutant, damn it..." Once again, you tried to assure yourself how you would confront Levi next time you had a chance- But most likely you would just chicken out again. You were still angry and hurt, but now on top of it... embarrassed. "He wanted to talk and I slammed the door in his face!" Only thinking about it made you cringe. "I acted like one… shitty brat." That last thought put up a slight smile on your face. "Hey wait a second..? I actually miss that stoic bastard?!"
"[f/n]!" Eld snapped you out of your thoughts. "Two titans in south-east!"
"Got it!"
Your team changed the course more to north-west as you shot up a green trail of smoke up in the air. Thanks to Eld's amazing ability to smell a titan from miles away, you managed to slip away before they even noticed you. Fighting in the prairie was something you wanted to avoid by all costs, since 3dmg wasn't exactly at its best in an environment like that. After two quick breaks and overall an hour of riding, one by one the teams united with the carriage and soon you reached your destination- An abandoned supply base.
"Whoa, look at that… It's huge!" You gasped as you dismounted from your horse inside the base walls.
"Yes, this is the biggest supply base outside or inside the walls." Eld nodded. "That's why it's such a remarkable location, the best possible HQ in the titan territory.
"We might made it here safely, but don't let your guard down yet!" Erwin announced. "Teams from 20 to 25, secure the base area. We don't want to have any titans lurking in these ruins! Teams 16 and 17 for the lookout. Rest of you, begin to set up the camp and distribute the lookout shifts for rest of the night."
Everyone did as told and the camp was set up in no time. Sky had slowly filled with threateningly dark clouds, telling you it was about to rain soon.
"Oh great…" Connie groaned as the first drop of rain hit the ground. "There will be one hell of a downpour during the night, mark my words…"
"What, are you scared of a tiny rain?" You grinned and handed a water flask to him.
"No." He rolled his eyes. "But I bet no-one like sleeping, or more like trying to sleep, in soaked clothes! Those cadet tents we put up... they didn't exactly look like very water proof to me!"
"I thought we girls were made of sugar? Boys were… snips and snails, wasn't it?"
"Ha-ha." Connie laughed rhetorically, seeming not amused by your jesting. "It's easy for you to say, you don't need to sleep in a crappy tent like that…" He shook his head as he handed the flask back.
"I don't?" Furrowing your brow in confusion, you took a sip of water.
"You didn't check the lists yet?" Armin joined the conversation. "As Lance Corporal's adjutant, you're sharing a tent with him."
Armin's announcement was such a shock that the water went down the wrong tube, making you cough uncontrollably for a long while until you were able to speak again.
"What… what the-?! No-one told me about this!" You stuttered horrified between of the coughs.
"And I thought you said that everything was fine between you two?" Armin lifted his eyebrow, but didn't look very surprised.
"No, it's not!" You howled in terror as you buried your face into your hands. "It's going to be so fucking awkward!"
"You can't keep avoiding him forever." Armin sighed. Unfortunately, he was right.
"I know, I know… And I won't!" With a sudden confidence boost, you straightened your back and made up a plan. "After the supper, I will go there and I will listen what he has to say for himself! No exceptions!"
"That's it!" Armin gave you an encouraging smile. "I'm sure everything will go-"
"Who takes the first night lookout shift after the supper?" Cadet with the lookout shift list interrupted you conversation.
"I WILL!" You shrieked in panic. "I'll take it!"
! Writer's note: You have been extremely patient, my little munchkins... But do not worry, your wait is almost over..! Soon..! 83 !