It had been three days since Chase's induction into the Scouts, in that time Eren used his hardening ability to make weapons on the walls. It was the first of its kind to allow the neutralization of Titans without the risk of human life... It was a start however minuscule it was.
"That's great, we finally have a chance, with weapons like that killing titans will be easy as breathing!" Marlo cheered but no one else around the table seemed to share his enthusiasm.
Jean was the first to shoot his eagerness down, "you're so damn excitable, you should know better that to be pumped about joining the Scouts...I should know."
"Yeah I never took you as the type to willingly join the survey corps, didn't you have a big plan about reforming the military police or something?" Chase asked taking a sip from his drink.
"You're one to talk, last I checked you were the one focused on rising up the ranks. You made designated marksmen in less than a year after all." Marlo retorted as he ate a spoon full of soup.
"Yeah, that was back when my life was cut and dry...still though, I figured Hitch would volunteer before you did, however unlikely that would have been...god knows she didn't want you to go."
Marlo gave him a confused look, "huh, she didn't, how come?"
Sasha and Connie grinned like idiots before the hunter spoke up, "because she's a thirsty girl and you're a tall glass of water!..."
Marlo didn't even comprehend the jest, "can't say that I follow, but she did chew me and Chase out before we left, she especially gave me the brunt end of it. Said I wasn't cut out to be a Soldier, told me to stop trying to be something I'm not and just to roll with the flow. I thought she was better than that, so I told her I was wrong about her."
The others cringed at his bluntness...
"Wow."
"Really?"
"Asshole."
"Are you really that dumb Marlo?"
Sasha sighed, "there's definitely not a brain under that bowl cut."
Eren cut in, "calm down he didn't say anything wrong."
Chase snorted, "really I was there, we met with her right after packing up our barracks." Chase turned to the former bowl-cut MP. "Marlo, I know you're dense as rusted iron but I can't fathom how you didn't know she was into you!?"
A blush grew on his face, "w-well how was I supposed to know she is... 'friendly' with pretty much everyone else, I didn't know."
Chase nodded in agreement, "you're right on that one, she pretty much snuggles up with every guy that looks her way or gives her a sliver of attention..."
Connie snorted, "did she ever try to snuggle up with you Chase?" He asked giggling with Sasha.
He shot them an annoyed look before answering, "yeah a few times actually, let's just say she can be rather tempting at times."
The duo just snickered some more before Chase turned back to Marlo, "dude trust me, tumble in the sheets with her a couple of times..." Chase glared down in his cup in grim thought. "Because It might be the last time you'll ever get a chance too."
The table went silent, the only noise was from the mess hall around them. He could feel that ever familiar presence sneaking upon him, his eyes widened for a second and he was about to let out a manic cackle before he stopped himself.
'No, Stop it, stop it, stop it!'
"Chase, are you alright?" Armin asked worriedly.
Chase shook his head snapping out of it, "S-Sorry, I'm just nervous, this is our first time, and I..." Chase was cut off by Eren.
"You have every right to be, a lot is riding on this operation." He looked down in contemplation, "a lot riding on me."
"I can't imagine the stress, it would probably kill most people," Chase remarked, glad he wasn't in Eren's shoes.
"It doesn't matter, we have to do this all of humanity is counting on us..."
"Elida." Chase corrected, running a hand through his hair.
The other looked at him in question, "It's where we're from, these walls we are Eldians and this is Eldia."
"Right..." Eren recalled the briefing of their true enemy and what world awaited them.
The news was brought to all the walls, the people knew and some couldn't care less as they went on about their lives. Others it understandably turned their whole world upside down.
"I know you'll get it done Eren," Chase gave him a wry smile, "hell you got us this far right?"
"Anyway" Jean cut back in, " the only people that are excited as you Marlo, are the other new recruits with hardly any battle experience might I add..."
Jean's remark seemed to catch the attention of one of said recruits from the table across from them.
"Give me a break, you think you're some kind of hardened veteran now?" The Auburn recruit asked arrogantly.
Chase narrowed his eyes in annoyance, Floch that guy annoyed the shit out of him during training, he remembered wilderness survival training with that pretentious prick, what a fucking mess that was...
He looked around to the others, then again their squad had it easy compared to what the others went through with Historia's kidnapping and all.
God that felt like a lifetime ago...
Jean kept a hard stare before answering, "I know I am, compared to you at least..."
"That's rude, we were in the 104th same as you. Besides we're not the only ones excited, everyone is. We're gonna take Wall Maria back, we're finally winning!"
"You think so?"
Floch's smug smirk was replaced with a look of uncertainty, "well you guys do seem a little different now, there's something about your faces...what exactly happened?"
Jean eyed him from the corner of his eye, "you really wanna know?"
The recruits stood their wordless before Floch answered for them, "N-No I'll ask some other time..." With that, they walked out of the mess hall.
Silence once again took hold of the table until Chase spoke up, "what is it like out there really, like Trost or?"
Armin gave him an uneasy stare, "Yeah imagine Trost multiplied by ten. Of course you probably already have a good idea what it's like already."
Chase swallowed a lump in his throat he didn't know he had, "that unsurprisingly doesn't comfort me at all, I can only hope I'm prepared for this shit..."
"Well I'm out, see you later," Connie announced standing and picking up his tray.
"Already?" Sasha asked.
"Tomorrow is our furlough day, so I'm planning on heading to my village in the morning. There's a chance I'll find something new there, something to help my Mom, good night." With that Connie walked out dumping his tray.
Chase grunted as he stood, still sore from Levi's beating, "me too, I got some people I wanna see before we're deployed in a few days. I'll catch you guys later."
"Hey, Chase are you going to see Annie?" Sasha asked hesitantly.
The dirty blonde cleared his throat as the others have him suspicious and pretentious looks. "Y-Yeah she's on my list...why?"
"Could you ask her about Connie's Mom and if there is a way to help her, maybe turn her back to normal someday?"
He nodded, "sure thing I'll run it by her see what she knows."
"Be careful Chase, remember what I said about her," Jean warned.
"You're attachment to her is keeping you from seeing the truth." Mikasa said coldly, "she is dangerous and the only thing keeping her from attacking us is her word and quite frankly I don't trust her as far as I can throw her...and that's pretty far, but still..." Chase interrupted her.
"Yeah, yeah guys I get it, you think when I developed a relationship with her the first thing that came to mind was that she was a fricking Titan shifter? No, just because she is doesn't mean my feelings magically disappear and aren't there anymore, just look at what information she's given us, we know our enemy and what's waiting for us on the other side of that big ass lake!"
"Sea." Armin corrected, "it's called the Sea."
"The sea." Chase said the world still new on his tongue, "right, anyway I'm done talking about it, I just wish you could see her the way I do." Chase sighed straightening his uniform jacket, the wings were still new to him, every time he looked down he was expecting to see the unicorn of the military police but what replaced it was the Wings of Freedom. That was going to need some getting used to...
"It is nice to have another friendly Titan shifter, even if it is Annie," Eren admitted much to the disdain of Mikasa.
"Yeah and perhaps she could help you in-depth with your hardening abilities, though I doubt the Brass is going to just let her out of her confinement anytime soon." Armin chimed in deep in thought.
"It's not all that bad, guys just give her a sliver of a chance, all it takes is a leap of faith...I'll see y'all later." Without another word, Chase dumped his tray and left all the while Mikasa was pestering Eren about the food left on his tray.
X-X-X
"Hey."
Annie looked up from her book to see Chase standing in the doorway.
"I didn't hear you come in."
He stepped through the threshold and closed the wooden door. "So how do you like the new cell?"
"It's definitely better than the last one, it has furniture and the only time I have to wear the shackles is if I leave the confines of this place. So considering I'm still a prisoner, it's not all bad."
He nodded pleased Erwin and the leadership accepted his request for better living conditions for her. She was after all a military asset trial or not. They managed to put her in one of the cells that were made to hold nobility or someone else of similar prestige. It had wooden floors and furniture as well as curtains covering the barred windows. It was almost like an apartment...almost. In any case, It was a far cry to the pit she was staying in.
He took a seat across from her and eyed what she was reading. "Whatcha reading?"
She looked back down to the novel, "its just a story about these boys and their time in the underground...trying to find their father."
He didn't miss her clue as where she was going with this. "We will Annie, you can count on it, so... how have they been treating you?"
"I'm not going to be on their list of friends any time soon but not terrible." She admitted closing the book.
"Mhmm, that's great.' He replied absentmindedly.
She noticed this and quirked an eyebrow in question. " You ok?"
Chase nodded, "they have been training the shit out of me for the last couple days, I'm tired as hell."
"That bad huh, well aren't you guys going to get some leave before the operation?"
"Yeah I'm actually planning on heading out after our visit, I'm going to see Rita and Emma for a few days." He chuckled, " gonna be a great chance of pace that's for sure."
Annie nodded, "that's great, maybe someday soon I can meet them." She suggested; It would be nice to meet the people Chase considered family...because he lost his, all because of her. She sighed sadly, god how she hated her past, and what she had done.
She leaned her head to the side of her bed's headboard, "I've helped cause so much hell and misery on you and so many other people. The only way I can live with myself is help you and just try and make it right."
He nodded slowly seeming in deep in thought.
"What is it?" She asked, the wearily look on his face wasn't reassuring.
"It's just I keep thinking about what you are...were."
Before he could continue she cut him off, "Chase, we've been over this, y-you really don't trust me? I just said I'm trying my best to make it right..." She said hurt.
He frowned, thinking about what the others said to him about her. "No I don't trust you...not in the way I did, not like that ever again, you don't possibly think that's unreasonable do you?"
Sighing she folded her hands in her lap, "no...no I don't."
Chase stood abruptly and started walking out, "look, Annie, I...I gotta go, just wanted to make sure you were ok." He said eyeing the back of her room."
She frowned, nothing was there, then she realized. Yeah, nothing was there for her but to him, that was a different story.
His demons were present, was it her or did the room grow colder?
He made for the door but was stopped by her hand grabbing his wrist.
"It's ok, look at me," she mumbled.
He did just that but his eyes kept shifting to the back of the room. This...condition he had was her fault and she'll fix it, at least she hoped so.
"Annie...I," before he could finish she cut him off with a kiss.
She wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him closer. Unfortunately, the desired effect wasn't what she wanted.
He pulled back, eyes darting back and forth, "I-I...'
"Chase," She said his name sadly, "did it work, is it gone?" She asked, confused by his sudden break to their kiss.
His eyes told her all she needed to know.
"I'm sorry..."
"I thought I helped with it?"
He took in a shaky breath before locking eyes with her. "You used to."
Her heart felt like it shattered for the millionth time.
No...
He cupped her face and planted a kiss on her forehead. "I'm sorry but I gotta go."
With that he left the room and the atmosphere of reverted back to its usual boring tone.
She eyed the dark corner of the room where his fear was founded, as if she could detect the evil she created.
"Damn it!"
X-X-X
Later that night Chase ventured further into wall Rose, on his trek to the Ford's estate. He stopped at an inn for the night.
What he saw today pissed him off, and at the same time scared the shit out of him. Did he truly want to keep living this way?
He took a swig from a bottle of cheap liquor he got off the inn keeper. He winced as it went down, loathing the taste but on the bright side the world around him started to blur and it left a warm sensation in his gut.
He looked over at the firearm laying on the bed beside him, it had a shot in it primed and ready to go...granted that it wasn't wet again. He picked it up and stared it down, the inanimate object seemingly peered back even with its obvious lack of eyes...
"Do it son."
A breath caught in Chase's throat, he looked over and saw it, that fucking thing.
Much like earlier that day, it took the form of his father. Of all the people why...why his damn father!?
"You'll be in a better place son," he walked up and knelt beside the bed.
"G-go away!" Chase stammered whether it was from fear or the alcohol he didn't know.
A Devilish smile he never knew could form on his father's face took hold.
"Come on just one squeeze of the trigger, just one pull of some metal and all your worries will vanish, poof!"
He surrounded Chase's hands and the pistol with his own and brought it up to Chase's chin.
"Do it."
The last time he and his father's hands were gripping a firearm together was when he was teaching him how to shoot. Shaking Chase closed his eyes, 'God help me!"
"Ugh," Chase struggled to hold back tears, but then he realized, at the end of the day this wasn't his father.
The imitation of his father grew frustrated, "do it!"
"N-no, I-I..."
He specter's face contorted, "do it! do it! do it! do it! do..."
"NOOO!" He screamed shoving the spectre and throwing the instrument of death across the room.
Slowly his "father" backed into the shadows, a sinister look across his features.
Chase gritted his teeth and lashes out, "fuck you, I fucking hate you with every fiber of my being!"
The room was silent till a feminine voice broke the vale. It was the demon's favorite puppet, Emily...
"I really thought I had you for a second..." she sighed, "oh well."
Chase shook his head taking a greedy sip from the bottle. "Yeah, better luck next time." He said sarcastically.
"We'll see you never know!" Emily said exuberantly jumping belly first onto his bed.
Something came over him, he didn't know if it was the liquor or the pent-up rage but he lashed out and pinned the demon to the bed and trapped it beneath him.
A manic grin came across his features and he leaned down to Emily's ear. "We haven't tried this before...so you can be touched.
He wrapped his hands around her throat and began to squeeze...
He could honestly say he was happy, he could fight back!
Chase was so lost in his reverie that he didn't notice he was strangling pillow.
" What the...?"
Emily's voice sounded from behind him. "That was fun, didn't know you had a choke fetish, might wanna tell Annie about that though, she might not be that into it."
He launched himself from the bed and pushed her into the wall causing the picture frames to rattle.
"Why can't I kill you!"
The demon smiled, Chase's squeezing having little effect.
"Because silly I'm here to kill you."
Before Chase could shoot a retort the demon shapeshifted into...himself?"
Before He realized he was wringing his own neck. Surprised he let off and backed away.
"Or rather help push you along, then finally drag you kicking and screaming to hell, either-or."
Chuckling Chase walked back to his bed and took a nice long swig before setting down.
"About that..." he started wiping the drivel from his lip. "I joined the scouts, that's just as good as dying right?"
His doppelganger tilted his head in thought.
"That's good enough right, will you finally leave me alone? Besides...I'm probably going to die this coming expedition anyway."
"True, but that doesn't mean I'm just gonna leave you alone."
Chase shrugged, "at this point, I don't give a fuck."
The Specter chuckled darkly, "I can only hope."
"Asshole." He slurred while passing out on the bed.
X-X-X
Chase knocked on the door of the Ford's Estate. Wincing every time his knuckles made contact.
Moments passed before the door was opened, all the while he chided himself for getting drunk the night before. Although he didn't lie to himself alcohol made him feel good, really good...just not right this second.
This would be the first time since Trost that he visited them, so much has happened. He's definitely not the same man that came here all those months ago.
The door opened to the familiar face of Rita, her dull eyes lit up to once again seeing him.
"Chase!?" She brought him in for a hug. His head pounded at her raised voice but he smiled and gladly returned the gesture.
"Hey, It's good to see you again Rita."
She pulled back and quickly looked around before pulling him inside and into the foyer. "What are you doing here, as much as I love seeing you again, this isn't," she paused looking for the right words, "the best time?"
Adjusting his clothes from their rough treatment from Ford's head maid, he looked to her in question. "Why, what's going on?"
She bit her lower lip nervously, "It's Emma, she's gone..."
Suddenly his hangover took the back seat as his mind processed her words. "Gone, what do you mean gone?!"
Rita raised her hands in a calming gesture, "under her own free will mind you, she left."
Chase's panic eased at that, though ever so slightly. "Ok, well I guess that's preferable to her being kidnapped sure, but where and why?"
Rita opened her mouth to answer but was cut off by a voice from behind them.
"You!"
They turned and Ford was standing in the entryway of the kitchen, he was clearly inebriated his usual facade of an adept noblemen runied by his disheveled appearance. He looked to be in the middle of grabbing another bottle of liquor before he noticed them.
Unsure Chase cleared his throat before giving the older man a greeting, "Mr. Ford."
Ford curled his lip in a snarl, "that's all, that's all you have to say!?"
Starting to get irritated by the drunk man's declarationsa Chase took a deep breath and let out a sigh. "What in your eyes have I done this time?"
Ford paced madly around the Mansion's foyer, "It was all you! You put those asinine ideas in her head!"
"I beg your fucking pardon? What do you mean?" He turned back to Rita, "where in the world did she go off to?"
Ford stifled a sarcastic chuckle, "the God damn military, and the Scouts no less!"
Wow he definitely wasn't expecting that, "look I don't see how this is my fault but I do see how this is a bad idea..."
Ford laughed, "something we can finally agree on! I've seen the letters you two have exchanged, you guys are quite the pen pals!"
Chase narrowed his eyes dangerously, "what are you implying Ford?"
"I've seen it, even when you were younger, you wanna take my little girl from me. My only heir?"
"Wha-"
"God she's convinced she wants to be just like you, her knight in shining armour a Soldier, bah, Fodder!"
So much for supporting the uniform. Chase thought sarcastically.
"Look it's not my fault she would off and do this, but I'm at least gonna try and talk her out of it."
Ford's eyes softened, 'y-you will?"
"Of course and if nothing else I'll try to get her to join another branch." Chase stared off in thought. "The last thing I want her to do is to end up like me...or worse."
"Thank you, perhaps I was wrong but please whatever the case, talk her out of it."
God, he sounded pitiful, Chase rolled his eyes at the sorry sight before him. "Relax old man, the last thing we need is for you to have a heart attack. Chase turned to the door and gave Rita a nod.
"Oh and do try to sober up, we want a father for her to come home to yeah?" Chase couldn't help but chuckle at his hypocritical words.
Man, I would love not to be sober right now.
X-X-X
He rode to the nearest training station and began looking for her. It helped that he had Ford's noble papers but still he had trouble getting into the actual training company.
"You don't understand that cadet is a noble and her father has sent me to take her back."
The gate guard looked unimpressed, "look unless the laws have changed under the new Queen and somehow we were uninformed. Anybody can join and no one can say otherwise."
"Look man just let me in I gotta talk to her..."
"Holt?"
They turned to the voice of none other than Commandant Shadis.
Out of habit, Chase rendered a salute, "sir!"
The seasoned Soldier waved him down, "I'm getting a lot of visitors from the 104th lately, can't say that I mind though."
He waved Chase in and reluctantly the guards stepped aside.
As they walked shades pulled out a pocket watch, the very same he used track ruck marches and the like. "So tell me what's brought you back to my little corner of Hell? Most soldiers wouldn't come back to their training sections if they were paid to."
"Well, sir you see there's this girl...a noble." A hot blush formed on his face. "Well, I lived with her and served her family before my career as a soldier began."
"You don't want her to make the same 'mistake' you did huh?"
"Yes, I mean I didn't have many prospects when I was younger, and well... I guess since the old tyrannical government has been deposed I can reveal my secret."
Shadis looked at him almost curiously, probably the first facial expression Chase had seen him make other than screaming and scowling.
"I was gonna assassinate king Fritz and any Royal who stood in my way of revenge!" He declared but soon retreated back to reality. "let's just say hindsight is twenty, twenty since he turned out to be a vegetable and a fucking puppet for other assholes just as sinister."
Surprisingly the instructor chuckled, "I always wondered what lit the fire under your ass, always wondered why you shot me that death glare once I put you in 11th place, guess now I know." They stopped in his office and Chase took a seat.
"I just wish things could have turned out different..."
"With Braun and Berthold...or Leonhart?"
Chase shook his head, all of them I guess, at least I was able to convert Annie to the cause... regardless of however strings there may be attached."
"Humph figures I'd be the one to train our enemies. Speaking of which you may be pleased or not to hear your girl is in my company. Not much from what I've seen but as everyone she has potential."
As Shadis said, Chase didn't know whether to be glad or not.
"Anyway I'll go get her for you, but don't expect this to be a recurring theme, it's not like I can afford too many Cadets growing cold feet in training. The grinder needs its meat after all."
Chase sighed wearily, "yeah don't I know it..."
With that, the commandant went to retrieve Emma. All the while Chase was left there to figure out what to say to convince her this was a bad idea.
It seemed like hours of waiting for all the while his demon taunted him. Chase glared at the creature used to ignoring its presence.
The click of the door stirred him out of his thoughts.
Emma stood in the doorway he'd imagine she thought she was getting called in to be reprimanded for something but when her green eyes locked on his she was taken aback.
"C-Chase?"
"Emma." He stood from his chair, it's good to see you again-" Before he could finish his sentence she bombarded him with a hug.
"God I missed you!" She said into his chest.
Chuckling he returned the hug. "I missed you too, but as much as I would like, my visit isn't a social one...as much as it was from the start."
"What do you mean?"
"You're father sent me..."
She scoffed, "since when did you care what he thought?"
"I don't...but he and I share a common conviction, and that's to keep you safe."
"Chase..."
"You don't wanna go through the hell I've been through and the way it's looking a lot of good people are gonna have to give up their lives before things change. I don't want one of them to be you..."
Chase sighed as he saw the look of trepidation on her face.
"You have a family and future waiting for you back home. You're the successor to a vast Fortune for god's sake, a noble!"
"What about you huh?" Once you came of age you just up and left us...me. I was your friend...and I thought something more."
Chase was shocked, to say the least, "I-I"
"I loved you since you saved me and my family..."
He laughed nervously, "come on Emma, there are a lot of better guys out there than me!"
"No... there aren't. Ok let's say I go back, then what do I get married off to some rich asshole and pop out two or three kids, even more?"
Chase began to protest but was interrupted as she continued, "Then I watch as our enemies invade and kill us safe in my mansion somewhere in Sina?"
Emma huffed annoyed, "this isn't just about following in your footsteps but I need something more in my life, a purpose, and direction, " she smirked.
"That direction just so happens to be where you are."
Chase stood there stunned, he took a seat.
"I know you're right, it's just I don't wanna lose anymore of my family."
She sat in the chair opposite of him, her body worn out from the day's training. "When I said I loved you I mean it, and if not as a partner as a brother a friend..."
Chase immediately thought to Annie, did he love Emma yeah, in a way she described once upon a time yes. He smiled remembering of how he used to kiss her hand for appearance in front of the Fords, and the time she kissed him in the kitchens pantry. In all honesty, they were kids, so did he love her?
"Oh and don't worry I know all about Annie," Emma said smirking.
"H-How could you possibly..."
"Simple, eavesdropping of course!" She laughed, "my father has connections throughout the military...it actually surprised me when they left me to continue my training." She looked at him knowingly, "until you of course."
"So you know she's a..."
"Titan, yeah...still freaks me out that we can turn into those things. When I heard you were with her." She chewed on her lip self-consciously, "I cried for a week ok? there!"
Chase laughed, "you continue to amaze me, Emma Ford."
She smirked, "even when you found she was a monster you still remained by her side...you must really love her then."
He nodded thinking back on all that had been done, "yes we've had our ups and downs...and even more downs. I don't know but as you probably can guess love is a strange thing."
She nodded in understanding.
"But back to the topic at hand, I'll ask again will you at least consider joining the garrison regiment hell the MPs if you can! I've seen things that have fucked me up."
He took her hands in his, "I see things, horrible things, I'd never wish on my worst enemy Emma. I love you too much to let you go through that!"
Emma smiled, "Chase I know you care about me but, I've made my choice, I've chosen to serve and I'll do it in the Survey Corps, I wanna be a field medic."
"Then be a garrison nurse like Rita was!"
"No I know what I wanna do, there's no changing my mind I'll save more lives from the front...heh I've already passed my ODM qual. We'll be flying around this time next week!"
Chase nodded his head, she made her choice, he smirked there was no stopping her now.
"Ok," he said simply.
"Ok?" Emma asked.
"I can't stop you and the only advice I can give you is don't give up, there is a war coming and it's just not gonna be against Titans, it's gonna be against people too. It will be a whole new type of warfare." He stood.
"I'd best be getting back to HQ, we gotta mission soon you know?"
Rita looked down in recognition, "you're gonna take back wall Maria."
He nodded "we can only hope, and the sad truth is that l might not be coming back."
Emma leaned closer to him and kissed his cheek then brought him in for a hug.
"You will, I know it."
"Heh," he leaned in and wrapped his arms around his childhood friend. "Good luck."
She looked off somewhere in the room before she replied, "I think we're both gonna need it."