Hello hello hello!

Welcome back for more Katsumi action! A slower chapter this time round, but I hope you enjoy it all the same!

Disclaimer: I do not own AOT.

Time. Sweat. Tears. That was what it took, and that was how I got there. Gradually, mission by mission, my nerves returned to steel and my dependability was restored. It took a lot to get me back out there, and it took even longer for Levi to be able to not want to be nearby, but we got there. Together, we finally got there.

It's been years since that first mission. At least three. I was faster, finding it easier to adapt, and quicker on mending the men and women in our care. Overall, I was making a new name for myself, being known as a healer rather than a destroyer. It was a little odd. But even with all this success, the wear takes its toll. That's inevitable, and no matter how hard I train the strain weighs me down. I barely sleep in the run-up to missions, and when we get back I have to have a good week of the come down. My nerves are wrought, and in all honesty I know Levi's are as well. The success was going to lead to a defeat sooner or later, and the last mission had had a couple too many close calls as it is. Another mission looms, and now Levi insists on the back-up plan. It was time to take a step back, to take Shadis up on his suggestion of helping with training. It was time for me to help with the forging of new soldiers. Even if it was only for one class' time in training, it would help me rebuild my backbone. I hate it, but at least I can be useful whilst recovering the ability to actively serve in my regiment. He's right, so I don't argue, I just let him wrap me in his arms and agree.

Is it shameful? I don't think I've made my mind up on that yet.

It took almost a whole day to get from HQ to the training grounds, and now that I'm here, I don't want to get out the wagon. Once I do, I'm no longer a Scout, I'm a teacher. My knuckles pale as I hold onto the straps of my pack. I can still help. That was the whole point in this. I hear the driver shifting about impatiently, and I get to my feet and step down onto the dusty compound.

There. Done.

Teacher Katsumi is in session.

It's about midday. I guess at this time, the cadets are in the mess-hall or something. Maybe Shadis worked to normal hours around here? I couldn't be sure. It's surreal being in a training area again, having only dabbled before being thrown into the regiment. Then again, my situation wasn't normal, so that didn't apply. God dammit I've not even met the kids yet and I'm overthinking.

It's quiet and open. Dry and dead. But the place is well built and clearly maintained. I walk along the compound and keep a careful eye out for someone. The dust kicks up with my stride, and I smell the distinct scent of mystery-meat stew and fresh bread. Lunchtime indeed. I had eaten on the way over, but wouldn't say no to a cup of coffee. I head that way, and hear the hubbub of conversation at last. Good, I was starting to wonder if my driver had brought me to the wrong damn place. But now, I can hear lively young voices, and the occasional clang of drinking tankards and cutlery. Yeah, this was a military barracks all right.

Once inside, no one pays me much attention, and really I don't blame them. It isn't like I want the fanfare or anything, but I guess I do need to find Shadis. I walk along towards the counter, and notice a couple kids glancing my way. I'm pretty short, but I think by now I must be showing signs of my age. Hanji always said I didn't, but then again the woman did view the world through bloody milk-bottle glasses. I get myself a coffee, the cook bidding me a good day and also giving me a once-over. I suppose by now, they all know each other's faces pretty well, so they know I'm a newcomer. But maybe, they don't know why. We sent word ahead of course, and Shadis had been talking with Smith for weeks about my coming.

Had Shadis announced it yet? Or am I some kind of limping surprise?

I look back to the room and see a few faces now outright staring at me. Most shy away when I look to them with a soft smile, but two remain. Recognition buzzes at the base of my skull. I tilt my head and peer a little creepily, wondering if I was just being daft. Then again, they were certainly looking at me like they recognised something. I head over, and now murmuring has taken over from boisterous conversation. Who is she? Why is she here? Someone should get Commander Shadis. This goes on and on until I'm only a few steps away from the still staring pair. A boy with bright green eyes, and a pale girl with a bright-red scarf around her neck. Scarf.

I blink and look them over again, tilting my head and blinking once more. "Uh... Eren Jeager?"

He gives a small nod and the hint of a smile before he seems to think better of it. At first my heart leapt, to see them both looking so well and alive! But then it fades to dread as I realise, they probably both hate me. I mean, the last time they saw me, I was helping drag them away from their mother. No wonder they recognise me. I was probably a person they cursed before falling asleep every night.

Mikasa stands, and in all honesty I expect a slap, a rant, a something. But she just nods and holds out her hand. Her face is so stoic, but my goodness she had grown into a beauty. I stumble a little, but shake her hand with my free one, looking between her and Eren still. Do I have the right to ask them how they are? My tongue feels like it's made out of lead. I dunno how to do this.

"I uh..."

"How have you been?" Mikasa asks, letting go of my hand and returning to her seat. She gestures the empty one across from Eren, and I take it without thinking. I must look like such a doddery old fool.

"I um... well I guess all right, by all accounts. But fuck me, how are you two?" I shake my head and sip my coffee. "I tried to get info out of Hannes, but as usual he was about as useful as a fucking chocolate kettle."

Eren snorts and clears his throat. "We're getting there. Been enrolled here as soon as we could, worked the fields for a while, but generally got by. We um... we tried to get in contact with you as well, but I guess we had the same problem." He scratches the back of his head and then fiddles with his meal. He must want me to leave, to turn about get back on that wagon. Why endure the woman that let your mother di- "I wanted to thank you though."

"Why?" I blink, and feel the whole room staring. Dammit, I knew how to make a scene, didn't I? I hold onto my coffee and sip it again, wishing Shadis would stop taking the world's longest shite, or nap, and head along here for his lunch. I hadn't known these kids would be here, and dammit this old heart wasn't ready for such a conversation.

"You saved our lives." Mikasa explains when Eren looks dumbfounded.

I place my coffee down. "I guess so... that's one way to look at it."

"It's the only way." Mikasa retorts with a hint of venom. I have no idea who she's angry at though, and I'm confused that it isn't me.

I run a finger along the lip of my mug. "I sorta expected you kids to hate me, you fully have the right to." I add with a half-hearted chuckle, it tasting bitter. The coffee here was as bad as they say. "But I'm glad you've got this far. Then again, I guess Carla would be thwacking me over the back of my head for not dragging your arses out of here."

"I... why would we hate..." Mikasa frowns and then shakes her head. "I suppose that's really what we've always wondered. Why were you there that day?"

The door to the mess-hall opens, and a bark-like groan snaps into the air. I think our conversation will have to wait. I nod to Mikasa, and then look to the rather red-faced Shadis.

I'm gonna guess it was a long-shit then.

"Oh for fuck's sake, no one told me you were here!"

"Suprirse, sir." I quip with a small wave, and some nervous laughter goes round the room. I stand up and hold my hand out to him, and he takes it, us both falling into a salute after that. "Sorry I guess I should have headed for your office right away? The call of coffee was strong."

"Not a problem, I'll have to reprimand my so-called watchtower soldiers. Fucking morons. They'll be doing laps for days."

"I assure you I was very sneaky." I add, not wanting to get some poor snot-nosed kid in trouble within my first thirty seconds of being in this place. Not exactly a sure-fire way of being popular with the kids now, is it?

He frowns and shrugs, indicating I should follow him to the head of the room. I feel dread pool in my gut. Oh gods, he's going to do that awful introduction thing isn't he? Couldn't we just sent out a note to the sleeping quarters? Or better yet, see what rumours the kids come up and pick the best one? I follow and then stand beside him as he clears his throat. Not that I know why, the room was already fucking silent. I roll my eyes and sip my coffee, listening to the man bark away like the angry old mutt he was.

"All right you little shits, listen up. This here is Katsumi, of the Scouting Legion. Not only is she a fully qualified soldier of our military, but a veteran of the Scouting Legion, which as you know doesn't often have soldiers serving more than a handful of years."

What a lovely generalisation. I cannot withhold the eye-roll, and I wince as a couple kids laugh. Shadis looks to me with a raised brow, and I just smile into my coffee.

"She's here to teach you for the time being, dunno exactly for how long, but you will listen to her as if she were the voice of the fucking walls themselves. Am I clear?" He barks, and a 'yes, sir' pipes up from them all. He then has the nerve to nod to me and step aside.

I sip my coffee and raise a brow.

He frowns and indicates the room, as if I prepared a speech or something.

I nod to the room. "Hi there, like Commander Shadis said, my name's Katsumi. I um... have several years experience in the field and now am a trove of knowledge for you to dig through, I guess? Feel free to ask me questions, and I look forward to gradually getting to know you all." I shrug and smile, looking to Shadis who looks half pleased. I'm guessing that wasn't 'barky' enough.

I see a hand slowly raising into the air, and it seems to belong to a boy with very blue eyes, and very blonde hair. He's sat beside Mikasa, although I have to admit I hadn't noticed him before. I nod to him and give a small smile of encouragement. "Go ahead."

"Are you the soldier that was in Shiganshina, when it fell?" He asks, and I feel those watching eyes suddenly get that little more interested again. I open my mouth, and then clear my throat as it scratches.

"Artlet, mind explaining to me why that's at all important?" Shadis snaps, and whilst the boy flinches back, and I know the man is just trying to save me some grief, I lay my hand on his arm and pat softly.

"It's fine sir, I did say they were free to ask me questions. And it's the biggest calamity we have in living memory, so yeah... I get the curiosity." I nod and then scuff the floor with my boot, hoping my nerve holds if I'm asked for details. They were just curious kids, wanting to know what they could be facing. No judgement.

Hopefully.

"I am." I say with a strained smile.

"Is it true you lost your arm and leg?" A fresh voice suddenly pipes up, and it belongs to a boy with a freckled face and dark hair.

In all honesty, the words have my heckles up, but the sincerity has them soon calmed. It was weird how genuinely concerned he sounded. I'm a god-damn stranger boy, why do you care? I look down at my hands though and quirk a brow, making those freckles fade amongst a blush.

I couldn't help myself. "I have a false leg, yes, but thankfully it was only my shoulder than got mashed up in Shiganshina. It locks a lot, and cant reach above a certain level, but generally the arm is still usable."

"So you can't actually serve as a Scout, any more?" Another new voice appears, and I look to the boy next to the freckled one. His hair is oddly two toned, and he wears an expression of interest, but one of cynicism as well. Good to know they weren't all wide-eyed and bushy tailed. I'd need way more coffee if I was dealing with optimists.

Shadis is growling a little, but I just clear my throat and get there before him. "I serve as a medic actually, because generally we remain in wagons. I can still use my gear, just not as effectively. So I can't risk being a part of an active Squad in the formation."

"Because you're afraid you'd die?" A blonde girl breathes, her big blue eyes looking ready to swallow my god-damn soul. I blink at her and shake my head, murmurings going round the room. Sweat beads on the back of my neck.

"No, I'm not afraid to die, but I can't risk my team because of my condition. It'd be foolish and ignorantly arrogant to still be taking up a place on a squad. I do what I can, and will continue to do so till I am truly no longer able." I nod to her and she nods right back, wearing an expression far too close to awe for my peace-of-mind.

Eren raises his hand. I swallow hard, a little afraid of what he might ask.

I nod to him.

"How did you lose your leg?" He asks, and a couple people gasp. I don't really know why though.

Shadis steps forward. "Not your concern. Katsumi is here to teach you brats, not be picked apart by idle curiosities." He says, though it doesn't have the harshness to it as usual. I can only hope this means Shadis is at least aware of which kids have come from Shiganshina.

Eren backs down, but looks disappointed.

"I-It's all right." I say, wishing my voice hadn't wavered. Shadis frowns at me, but I just clear my throat and try again. I'd stopped having such frequent nightmares about that day, but they do remain in my mind. I would never fully escape them, much like Eren etc. I'm sure. "I was thrown into a rooftop by the Armoured Titan."

The stare. They don't even gasp, they just fucking stare.

"You got that close?" Eren breathes, his eyes shining bright with something that I worry might be hope. What's cooking in that head, Eren? Had that fire in your eyes only brewed brighter over the years? Carla is going to haunt the sanity right out of me.

"Yeah... a bit too close really. I guess you could say I tried to stop the bastard getting through the gate, not that it did much good." I try to chuckle a bit, but it sticks in my throat and I look down for a moment. "It's totally possible for a vet to fuck it all up still, put it that way." I nod and see many of them looking at me with a real sense of awe.

I hate it. I'm not something to admire, I'm something to admonish.

I glance around, and note a particularly stocky kid sitting to the side. He's looking at me with such sorrow in his eyes, I have to wonder if he was on a boat still in view of the Armoured. Don't pity me kid, please.

I clap my hands together. "But never mind, you're here to be taught by this busted up old bucket, so I'll probably be seeing you all soon enough. But for now, Shadis, fancy showing me where I'm sleeping?" I grin at him, and he nods with a small smirk in place.

"Right this way, Claws." He nods and leads the way out of the mess-hall. I pass Eren and Mikasa and nod to their questioning looks. I can speak to them later. If anyone deserved the whole story, it was those two. I owed them a god damned lifetime worth.

It isn't exactly luxury, but then again, I don't exactly want that. I have my own room, and my own bathroom as well. All-in-all it's pretty damn cosy. It'll be strange sleeping alone again after so long, and I can already tell I'll need to request extra lantern oil if possible. Nightmares and being alone, don't bode well for this old hag. At least I'm a little ways away from the cadet's sleeping quarters, I just hope I'm far enough that they don't hear me. That wouldn't exactly bode well would it? Here, learn from the woman afraid of her own pillow.

I sigh and flop back on the bed, wondering what the hell kind of first impression that even counted as. They knew I'd survived Shiganshina, they knew I'd helped civilians escaped, but they also knew I was only ¾ of the woman I once was, and that I failed to stop the Armoured. Bit of a mixed bag. I put my hands over my face and grumble incoherently.

A knock sounds at my door.

I sit up on my elbows and look out the window, catching sight of a blonde head just by the bottom of the stoop. All right...

"Come on in, it's open." I call out, and sit up to see Eren, Mikasa and the big-blue-eyed blonde standing outside. It was a boy, right? I wave them in when they hesitate, and they shuffle on inside before closing the door behind themselves. "Thanks for coming along, saves me the limp." I chuckle, and they look around nervously.

Eren fidgets. "Sorry if we're bothering you, Katsumi, we just-"

"Eren, seriously it's fine." I hold out a hand and then shuffle back. "I have one chair, a desk to perch on and otherwise its the floor, or the foot of the bed. Fight amongst yourselves." I wave a hand, and whilst Mikasa smirks a bit, the two boys look at each other and then at the chair.

Thankfully Mikasa just perches on the end of the bed, and then Eren gallantly lets his more fragile looking friend take the seat, whilst he perches on my desk. He was a lanky bugger now.

"May I repeat my question?" She asks me gently, and I nod, leaning back against the headboard as she looks to Eren and the blondie before back to me. "Why were you at the Jeager's house that day?"

I blink. "Not to be rude but... why'd you call it that? You're a Jeager as well, ain't you?"

"Oh... Oh not technically." She blushes and tugs her scarf up a little. "I was kindly adopted by them after my parents passed away."

"Ah, right. Sorry love." I smile and she tugs the scarf again. I have a knack for shoving my boots in my mouth. If there's a nerve to be hit, I'll fucking stumble right over it. "But as for your question, I was at the Jeager's house because I was meant to be seeing Eren's father, Dr. Jeager."

"Oh..." they all say in unison, looking amongst themselves.

I cringe back. "Oh god, don't tell me I've done it again. Have you lost your father as well, Eren?" I feel like hiding under the damn bed by this point.

He shakes his head and clenches his jaw. "Nah, he's... well in all honesty I dunno where he is. So it's the more literal sense of 'lost'."

I nod and look down at my leg. "Well, I was at your house to see him about some rib injuries I had at the time, but I just missed him apparently. Think I was coming up the road just before you guys ran off... I had lunch with your mother and she... she asked for advice."

"Advice?" Mikasa asks, tilting her head and trying her best not to look at the false leg now visible due to the fact I'd taken my boots off.

I smile. "She was worried about Eren's aim to join the Scouts." I chuckle and bite my lip. "I think she wanted comfort, but also wanted a fearful story to hand over... she was in a bit of a pickle really. Spoke highly of you both though." I sigh and put my head back.

"You're just saying that." Eren pouts, and I open one eye to look at him scathingly. He glances at me, but keeps his lips pursed.

"Am I? Funny that, I didn't know you knew me so well, Eren."

"C'mon she was angry with me, she was-"

"Your mother." I interrupt before the kid pouts his way into my bad books. "She was angry because she was worried, and worry is born of concern, which is born of love you daft ass." I shake my head and clasp my hands together. "Your mother was speaking highly of you when I asked what sort of boy you were. And she spoke highly of your sister as well. Believe me or not, but that's my fucking story and I'm sticking to it. Got it?"

"Yes ma'am." he concedes, and for now I'll let the title slide.

"Thank you. But I... I am sorry." I frown and open my eyes properly, looking between him and Mikasa in turn as my own lips purse into a tight line. "I am so very sorry I had to leave her there. I've never forgotten her, and I swear I never will. She was a lovely woman... she deserved to live."

"You tried." Mikasa looks to Eren and then back to me, her young eyes somehow years beyond her. She said her parents passed away, but I get the odd feeling she wasn't telling the whole truth there. This was a girl who had seen a lot.

I click my tongue. "Yeah, guess so." I then clear my throat and look to the blonde. "But what's your name, young man?"

"Oh, I'm Armin. Armin Artlet." He stands and gives an awkward salute, to which I can't help but smirk and doff a non-existent hat to. "I grew up near these two with my Grandad."

"I see. He back in the city, now?" I lean back from the way his eyes darken and I hang my head. "Shit, I've done it again."

"To be fair Miss, it's hard to find someone who hasn't lost someone they love these days." Armin says in a slight laugh, and I look up to see a very kind smile. Damn these kids had their shit together, didn't they? I envy their resolve, if not their situation. I think it might be a kinder fate I have, to not really know where I came from. I have no one to miss, that way.

"So you lost him in Shiganshina?" I watch him squirm and shake his head. I then feel a sinking feeling. "He... was part of the civilian effort?" I say uncertainly, and watch that head bob up and down. Dammit.

"The cull you mean." Eren says bitterly, and I click my tongue before nodding. They look at me in surprise. "You mean... you think that, too?"

"Of course I fucking do. I and all the Scouts. We... when we heard... Fuck, I'm so sorry kids, you shouldn't be seeing me like this." I scoff, wiping my eyes and wishing I had a stronger nerve against these things. It had been years, yet the wounds refused to seal. Funny how much harder it was to move on, when you can feel the ground under your boots squelch with blood.

"You're a soldier, but you're still human." Mikasa breathes, and I sniff.

"Yeah... try and hold onto that mentality as long as you can, love." I wipe my eyes and clear my throat. "Don't go telling anyone I confirmed that, all right? I'm sure the MP's and Higher-ups are more than happy to keep that charade going as long as they damned well can."

"Seems interesting that Shadis wanted you to come teach us." Armin says, and at first I'm really not sure what to make of his tone. Was that... judgemental? No, it's more like I'm being studied. Suddenly those big blue eyes aren't innocent, they're just like Erwin's. This kid isn't looking at me, he's looking through me.

"Well he did, and it took three years of convincing."

"Did he not want you to begin with?" Armin asks, head tilting slightly. The magnifying glass zooms in.

I shake my head. "Three years of convincing me."

"Why?" Eren asks and stands up from the desk.

"Because of my pride, to be honest." I sigh and then get up from the bed to crack my back. "No offence kids, but I saw being here, as me bowing out. I know it isn't, and I know teaching you all will be a big help in the efforts of rebuilding the military's numbers but..."

"It isn't active duty." Armin surmises and I nod, not feeling proud about it of course. "I can understand that. You're a Scout, and to be honest they don't seem to function like normal soldiers anyway. Your regiment goes out there, its active, it's... involved. To be here is likely your worst nightmare, right?"

He was close to the Commander's insightful nature, but not there yet thankfully.

I shake my head. "Don't go assuming you know everything about me, because you know what crest is on my back, okay? Not every MP is an arsehole, not every Garrison officer is a drunken fool. I have had plenty worse situations than this, and trust me, the fact that I can still see a big blue sky above me, does the world of good." I sigh and then head for the door, not wanting to shove them out, but feeling fatigue tug on my mind. Travelling took it out of me, when I wasn't in the back of a medical wagon.

"So you come from the Underground city?" Armin breathes, and I wince. This kid is too sharp for his own good. Chai would have loved him, I'm already fucking wary.

"Enough study for today I think, I'm gonna kip for a bit, so if Shadis is blustering around looking for me, let the baldy know." I wave them out, and pause in closing the door as Eren lingers. He stares at his feet, before looking up with that weirdly charged determination.

"You might not like being here, but I'm really glad you are... feels like we can really learn something from you." He nods and then takes another step before pausing again. The kid was all over the place. "I also want you to know... I... I don't blame you for my mother's death."

"Can't say I believe that, Eren." I shrug and clear my throat. "But I appreciate the words, all the same."

"I hated you at first, of course." He amends, and I hold onto the door a little tighter. "But then I guess... as the years went by I grew up, and I kinda realised the position you were in... She told you to run, didn't she? She asked you to grab us, and go?"

"Yeah... yeah, she did." I purse my lips, hoping it wasn't too obvious that my eyes were prickling with three year-old tears.

He nods and then gives a small smile. "Then I have nothing to hate you for, do I? She wanted you to get us out of there, so you did... you and Hannes. I don't hate you Katsumi, I respect the hell out of you." He nods and then moves away properly, jogging across the dusty compound to where Mikasa and Armin were waiting for him. They walk away in their little trio, and for a couple seconds I watch them.

Carla would likely be furious that they had gone ahead with their plans. But to be honest... I can't fault the kids. What were their other options? Seek education and get a job in the city somewhere? Earn a little coin for a couple years, maybe start a family, and then watch as history repeated itself and Humanity was beaten back to Wall Rose, and eventually Cina? I close the door and put my head against it, breathing as slow as I can. Those images roll around in my noisy head. No, those kids had been there that day, they knew the terror, they had seen all manner of life fall apart. They knew the extent of the safety of these walls, and they wanted to be ready. Beyond that, they seemed to want to fight back.

Except I don't see a warrior in that Armin kid. No. I see a want to understand, a want for knowledge. I see a scarily similar curiosity to Smith's that has a knot of worry tying up my gut. The problem with seeking out the reason behind all of this, was that there might not be a reason. Maybe those interested minds could handle that truth, however, I very much fucking doubt it. I step away from the door and head into the bathroom to get the shower going. For the next... however long, this was going to be my home. I have to consider it that. I have to be here, and not thinking out there beyond the walls. I'm here to teach, to prepare, to likely scare the living shit out of these kids. I smirk and take off my false leg, hauling myself into the shower and nimbly washing myself down. After so many years being a cripple, I kinda have this thing down. My centre of gravity shifts as easily as my hair behind my ear.

This place was so small, that it was actually a help. I can manoeuvrer my way from the shower to my bed without even having to replace the false leg, and I snuggle under the fresh sheets to catch some sleep. It's a little noisy outside, but frankly the buzz just makes me smile. I barely doze, but it helps alleviate the sluggishness behind my eyes.

When I head out in the middle of the afternoon, it seems the kids are doing a jog around the compound, occasionally doing exercises as they go. I head to the platform where Shadis is keeping an eye on them, and I make my way up. When I get there, brushing my hands free of any splinters, Shadis nods to me and balks when taking note of who I actually was.

"You needn't haul your ass up here, Katsumi, you can observe from below." He tuts and I sigh, leaning on the barrier and shaking my head as my eyes look over the group running along. I hadn't allowed Erwin to ever baby me, I wasn't about to let Shadis do it instead.

Eren is a decent runner, but he's definitely competing with the two-toned hair kid. The one with the freckles is smiling way too fucking much, and I swear if the broad one was any further out front, I'd assume he was being lapped. Soon enough though, Mikasa is beside him again, and they speed up a little. Competitiveness was fine at this stage, but they had to learn how to work in teams. That was clearly a top priority.

Shadis takes his place next to me. "I was thinking you could take on the theory lessons after this, once they've got themselves cleaned up of course."

"Shadis, I am assuming I will be handling physical training as well?" I glance at him and see his blatant indecision. That was his trouble as Commander too, he was always worried about the right and wrong of the situation. Get the job done, man. "Look, I know I'm a cripple, I know I ain't a fully-fledged Scout any more, but I will not be babied either. You hear me?"

"I wasn't suggesting that you should, I mean really all I was thinking that-"

"No, you're wanting me to be careful. Well look, I've had this fucking wooden leg for over three years now, and I'm fine. It aches in the cold, and usually warns when a storm is about to hit, but beyond that I barely notice it. I'm going to be training for your gear route later on, likely when the kids are having their dinner."

"You want to help them with gear as well?" He mutters and I can hear those hands tightening behind his back already. The man was an open book by comparison to Erwin.

"Yup. But I'll need to study the course a bit first, to get a better bearing in order to help the kids. I wanna apply as much of my experience to their education as I can, and I can't fucking do that from behind a desk, Shadis." I raise my brow.

He purses his lips. "Not much point in me arguing is there?"

"Not really." I lean my chin on my folded arms and watch as Armin starts to flag behind.

Not that it surprises me, but I do wonder how much that brilliant mind finds it frustrating. That was a big difference. Erwin was locked inside his own head a lot of the time, but he was still a fine physical specimen. In that he can kick all the asses if he needs to. Did Armin view this side of training as simply a means to an end? He was clearly a bookworm, clearly born for sitting in a library or something, but here he was in field training. How odd. But then I see how hard he's trying to keep up with Eren. Ah, childhood friend. He was a part of the trio, but definitely of a different sort. How interesting.

This group, I dunno how many there are in that swarm of potential, will likely thin out as the weeks pass by. I had never known the exact statistics of course, but I heard that a lot of kids end up heading back to the fields soon after signing up here. The work surprised them, the strain took them off-guard. It was okay, it was better to bow out now than be caught out in the field, but of course, (and I smirk at myself for not thinking it before) just because they're here, doesn't mean they would be Scouts. Quite the contrary. Our sign-up levels weren't doing so well these days, and had slowly declined since my and Levi's renown had become common-place. We weren't the shiny toys any more. No, we were the grumpy Captain and the broken weirdo.

I stand upright and sigh. "Well, looks like a healthy group if nothing else. Got some run-downs of the ones I should focus on? I can only assume you have a formula for figuring out the drop-outs and such?" I look to him and see that slightly smug smirk.

"You know me rather well, don't you Kat?"

"Well no, I just think any half-decent training officer would have that down sooner rather than later, and you've been doing it a while." I shrug, and he grumbles something else. "So you have a list for me, or not?"

"Yeah, yeah woman, damn you haven't blunted at all, have you?" He sounds annoyed, but I can see the smirk he's trying to bite back. The man loves to hate me.

I wink. "Now, now, how could I claim the name Claws if I allowed that to happen?"

"Indeed not. All right, I'd say you've got a solid... eleven or so to keep an eye on. You already seem to know Eren, Mikasa and Armin though. Am I right?"

"Don't know them, nah. But I uh... well I met Eren and Mikasa briefly during the fall of Shiganshina." I clear my throat and focus on the running cadets. "I tried to help them get their mother out from under their house, I'm sure you know how that went."

"Ah... I see. That'll be why he stares at you so damned hard then." He murmurs to himself and then rocks back on his heels slightly. "Do I need to be concerned about that?"

"Nope. Apparently he doesn't hold it against me, so nothing to report. Not to mention it would be entirely justified if the kid did have a go." I crack my back and the man frowns again. I wave a hand at him. "I ain't saying he should be allowed to hang me, but if he has an outburst, I ain't gonna throw the book at him, Shadis."

"Well, you should."

"I should do a lot of things." I mutter, folding my arms and hearing the man try to gather up his patience. "Carry on, who're the others to look out for? What's the big one's name? The blonde with the body of a bull."

"I reckon you're referring to Reiner Braun. He's a good candidate, hangs around a lot with the lanky one too, that's Bertholdt Hoover. Reiner has the mind and constitution of grass-fed ox. Seems generally respected by his comrades, but who knows how that could change once hand-to-hand starts. Resentment isn't exactly rare."

"I see. All right, what about the lanky one? Bertholdt?" I watch the kid lollop around out there and wonder if it's a happy calf he reminds me of, or a newborn deer. Either way, it wasn't all that intimidating when he was next to the Reiner kid.

"Bertholdt seems to have a keen talent inherently, dunno what he's like on the gear yet of course, but seems to have most things at hand. But he's too mild-mannered in general. I reckon he would struggle on the battlefield." Shadis then peers at the numbers and clicks his tongue as a couple of the group squabble and seem to almost play-fight mid-run. "The two fucking around out there are Connie Springer, and Sasha Blouse."

"They're keeping pace at least." I shrug and try not to grin at the fact the man gave another irritated grumble. He was turning into a right grumpy old git.

"Connie Springer is agile enough, but to be honest he seems a few sandwiches shy of a picnic. As for Sasha, she's got weirdly good instincts overall, but doesn't seem all that keen on sharing them with her team-mates. Or her food for that matter." He adds in a weird tone that I decide to ignore for now. "You didn't mention knowing Artlet, so I'll give you a heads up. He's built like a daffodil, but academically he's probably one of the most brilliant cadets I've ever seen."

"Mm, proper bookworm then?" I raise a brow, and Shadis nods. "Good to know, thanks."

"The last two I guess to even really bother with remembering their names would be... Annie Leonhart and Jean Kirtschtein. She's pretty gifted with a sword, from what we've seen her do with the practise blades, but she's about as sociable as I am with a hangover. And Kirschtein's talented enough, but he has a habit of being a smart-ass and losing his temper easy. Watch for that in training."

"And those two would be..." I peer again.

"Oh, sorry. It's the blonde girl with the nose the size of a Titan's ass-cheek, and the boy with their weird two-tone hair thing goin' on. Oh, also there's a couple others... but fuck it I can't see them for shit here."

"First names will do then." I wave a hand as we head for the ladder.

"Christa is the wee blonde doll looking one, Ymir is the rather apathetic brunette attached to Christa like a leech of un-interestedness, and then there's Marco." Shadis explains as he wipes his hands off on his coat. "Marco Bolt is likely one of the most irritatingly sincere people I have ever met. You've been warned." He shakes his head and then gestures to the returning cadets to line up before heading to the showers.

"Which is Marco?" I whisper.

"The freckled one grinning like an idiot after running for half-an-hour." He sighs before heading forward to start barking at them all over again.

I look over the faces and think of the names. I likely won't retain the information right away, but it's good to know these kids were already standing out to Shadis. Having only been there a week, they were being noted down by him. It either meant they would be great, or they were already showing signs of being shit. He didn't suffer fools, and he kept a lid on the talented. Always was his way, and I'm glad to see the training life hasn't turned him soft.

I can only hope that means it won't turn me soft either.

So there we have it, Katsumi is now a teacher! It feels a little odd to actually be writing so early on into Season 1 happenings, but exciting as well. I hope you guys enjoyed it! Let me know what you think!

Thank you for reading, please leave a fav, follow and review, I love to hear from my readers! See you in 3-4 weeks!

SHOUTOUTS:

Fireraider363: I appreciate the effort you put into the review, it means a lot! And wow, that's quite the bit of praise you have there! Thank you so very much. I'm so glad you've enjoyed the story, and I hope you're continuing to do so!

Atreides03: Don't apologise, haha, you've been amazing for sticking with me and frankly you've been a godsend the past few months. So really, no apology necessary. I'm glad you like his portrayal, I'm having fun exploring the softer potential for his character, whilst trying to keep him still believable in himself. Sorry for the hard-hitting RBW though, haha, it is a heavier story for sure. And thanks for letting me know about the tears, haha, it's always interesting to know if I manage to evoke an emotional response! I do indeed love torturing my characters, its a bad habit I've picked up. Thanks so much for the luck, so far its going great actually. I hope you enjoyed this initial introduction to the cadets, and I really look forward to knowing how you found it. Thanks so much again! Speak soon!