Hello and welcome to my story! This is an AU story based right after the fall of Wall Maria in the first Season of the show. For context, I watched the show Dub, so some terminology will be different from the Sub such as ODM Gear = 3D Gear or Abnormal = Aberrant. Hopefully it is not too confusing for anyone.
There are also a lot of OCs in this story, so any original character that is my own will have an (*) by their name when they are first mentioned. Let me know what you think of all the new characters!
Later on in the story I plan to go more towards the AU route, so I hope you all enjoy. Please review and let me know what you think!
What You Left of Me
Part 1: The New Scout
Chapter 1
The new Cadets of the Survey Corps all gather together in their dining hall feasting on the stew for the day. Petra and Gunther sit gleefully as they enjoy the food that warms their bellies. They have just been accepted into the Survey Corps and eagerly wait for the Captain they will serve under, as well as their first mission on the field. Their bellies sing with delight as they eat for the first time after a long training session. They do not speak a word to one another, since their mouths are preoccupied with the food they eat as quickly as they can, enjoying every bite while it is still warm.
Oruo comes stomping towards them, crashing his bowl before them with sloppy force. "Hare stew! My favorite!" The sandy blonde man exclaims as he begins shoveling the stew in his mouth with no regard to table manners. "Did you all hear?" he animatedly speaks as food practically falls from his mouth. "They are sending a new Cadet our way. Should be here in the morning."
"A new Cadet?" Petra's amber eyes widen as she carefully taps her lips with her napkin. "Did someone change their mind about joining the Scouts? Can they even do that?" the strawberry blonde asks looking up at Gunther for an answer and is returned with an attentive shrug.
"Apparently he didn't even go through the Training Corps," Oruo states with an exaggerated frown that grows more prominent in his winkles. "Word on the street is they just picked him up and thought he was good enough for the Scouts!" he grumbles at the wasted man hours he spent to get here.
"That is not how that works," Gunther chimes in scratching his head in confusion, "You have to pass the Training Corps to pick your assignment." As he says this, Eld Jinn walks past the group with his stew in hand. "Hey Eld, you hear about the new guy coming to the Scouts with no formal training?" he asks knowing that if anyone has heard of someone joining the Scouts without training, it would be him.
"Yes," the blonde says distantly as he walks past the group of Cadets to sit on his own.
Gunther's eyes widen and so do Oruo's "Well spill the beans," Oruo calls out from his table as his eyes hungrily scan Eld for information. "Who is this guy and what makes him think he's good enough to join the Scouts with no training?"
"Seems like an awful risk to add someone to the Scouts without proper training first," Petra notes with concern, pressing the tip of her fingers to her lips.
"I don't believe it is my place to say," Eld says calmly sipping his tea as the others shake in anticipation. "You will see tomorrow. There will be introductions to the group during the Commander's speech."
"Ah come on that's a load," Oruo grumbles as Levi walks past the group. "Hey Levi," he calls out to the Scout. "You hear about the guy joining the Scouts with no formal training? Who does this guy thing he is?" he laughs but the Scout does not.
"She," Levi corrects him with a tone that is already bored with this conversation.
"Ugh?" Oruo grunts.
"The new Cadet is a she," Levi states, quickly losing interest in the conversation.
"You have got to be kidding me? They are going to just let some girl walk in here and skip all that training? Why does she get a pass?" Oruo murmurs in annoyance.
"Because she killed three Titans with no formal training and no proper gear," Levi retorts with no satisfaction or inflection in his voice. "I believe that is more than you, Oruo." Levi says with a slight twitch of a smile on his lips.
"She killed three Titans!" Gunther exclaims.
"12-14 meters from what I've heard," Eld affirms.
"How did she manage that?" Petra responds in awe.
"Maybe you can ask her tomorrow," Levi suggests stepping away from the others as their voices hush with grand suggestions and speculations. He walks to his table where he sits alone. He takes a sip of his tea with the same thought in his own head, wondering who this girl can be, and just how helpful she will be to the Scouts.
Since the discovery of the girl who killed three Titans, she has been named The Titan Killer by those in the camp until they have a name to the legend. Wild speculations of how the Titan Killer took down her targets circulate as the Cadets gossip amongst each other, feeling a turn in the tide for once in their fight against these beasts.
The following day, the Cadets gather in the main hall as they all eagerly wait for the mysterious Titan killer to join them and bring a face to the grand vision that they spent all their night conjuring up.
"I hear she used her bare hands to take one down," One of the recruits, Kira* reports as they wait for their day's instructions.
"I heard she got eaten by one of the Titans and ate her way out of their stomach!" Luke says while Dita gags at the idea.
"If she could kill two with no ODM gear, imagine what she can do with gear?" Petra asks as her wide amber eyes sparkle with wonder at such an idea.
"Oh, maybe she was able to knock one down and it killed the others by crushing them like a set of dominos," Dita suggests.
"That only counts as one kill," Oruo states with crossed arms, displeased at the situation before him, as he was eager to hold the title of highest kill count within the Scouts.
"Oh, what Oruo?" Petra teases, "Worried someone might be better at killing Titans than you?" She says with a sheepish giggle.
"No! That can't count as a three Titan kill!" Oruo yells out animatedly, "She just got lucky!"
Gunther laughs as he sees Oruo's displeasure at the events that transpire before them. He turns to see a Cadet standing next to him, uninvested in the conversation of the others. He looks down at the girl, examining her stature to see she is unhealthily skinny, with a mess of curly blonde hair that travels to the middle of her back. Gunther does not recognize the girl from the training crops, but figures she might have slipped under his radar. "What about you?" he asks the skinny blonde girl next to him. "What do you think about the new recruit?"
The blonde stays frozen, keeping her eyes on the stage waiting for the Commander to come and discuss the new events of the day. Eyes still fixated on the stage, she shrugs and says, "Maybe she just wanted to kill a Titan."
Gunther snorts at the simplification of the grand achievement. He turns to the other Cadets who are more willing to gossip about the fantastical girl. "Oh, do you think she found a weaker spot than the one on their nape?" He questions and everyone's eyes widen at the hopeful idea.
"Or what if she faked it?" Oruo states with a pressed tone. The mood shifts as the carefree smiles wipe from everyone's faces. Oruo's face grows grim as the winkles around his eyes and frown lines deepen. "I mean, who witnessed her kill them? Was it anyone creditable?" he asks between clenched teeth. "Sounds like she found a pile of dead Titans and took the chance to look like a hero."
Petra's face contorts in annoyance, her fists tighten and she stomps her foot to the ground as she says, "And would you assume that if she were a guy?" she throws at him in an accusatory way.
Oruo rolls his eyes, "It is not like that, Petra," he tells her with arms crossed over his chest, lifting his nose to the sky. "It's just too grand of a tale. Everyone that day was shitting themselves when the Titans attacked, and we are expected to believe that someone—boy or girl—took down three Titans with no proper gear?" He questions and everyone grows grim, coming to the same incredulous conclusion as Oruo. "It honestly sounds like a farfetched tale they are telling to inspire us to blindly rise up against the Titans." He says and everyone puts their head down in disappointment.
Levi watches curiously from the stage as the eruption of speculation on the girl's triumph over the Titans turns into a hushed conversation that grows grim on the Cadets' faces. He figures they question the validity of the claims as Levi himself did when Erwin approached he, Hange, and his two Captains Derrek* and Malik* with the news. They all questioned the possibility of someone killing three Titans with no proper gear or training, knowing the chaos of the day the Titans attacked. But Erwin kept his knowledge to himself, telling the four of them that they will soon understand the expectation for the girl that he held. Levi figured in that moment that she discovered an easier way to kill the Titans, and hoped that it would finally put an end to all the dying Scouts around him.
His eyes scan the crowd for the girl, knowing that she is standing and waiting with the others for the Commander to come and introduce her to the group. Levi wonders how the Cadets will welcome the Scout that did not complete the Training Corps with them, and expect trust to fight alongside them. Levi remembers the feeling of the Cadets when he and his friends joined the Scouts without proper training. He takes in a deep breath as their faces breach his memory.
He shakes their memory from his head and focuses on the present, and the new Scout. He can see the hesitation in everyone's faces as their grand speculations turn to questioning disbelief. They will not trust her, and they will not respect her, and when Levi told this to the Commander, he would not hear the Scout's concern. Despite any apprehension Levi addressed with the Commander, it was clear that regardless of what barriers the girl will have to overcome with her fellow Cadets, the Commander's sight was blindly set on using this girl as a weapon against the Titans.
Commander Erwin walks through the crowd, passing the Cadets as hushed whispers turn into deafening silence at the Commander's entrance. Next to him enter his two Captains, Derrek and Malik; a position that Levi knows he will soon have.
Everyone tightens into form and salutes the Commander with strong fists pressed to their chests. Levi scans the area for the Cadet who hesitates the salute, or looks for direction through their fellow Cadets, but he cannot find her.
Erwin steps onto the stage and looks back at the many eyes that watch him. His two Captains stand next to him, standing stiff and tall before the Commander. He salutes them with the same strong and respectful salute he is given. He loosens himself from his salute and the others follow his lead. He smiles down at everyone and begins his speech.
"I want to start by welcoming the new Cadets from the Training Crops," he calls out strongly for all to hear. Levi scans the group of incoming cadets with a frown on his face. There are less than three dozen people in front of him this year for the Training Crops. The number of incoming Scouts is dwindling and Levi worries for the future of the Survey Corps.
"You have all shown your strength in the Training Corps, and you have taken the leap to join the Survey Corps because you understand the importance of our position here," he says scanning the expressions of the new Cadets. "You did not choose the Survey Corps because it was easy. You did not choose the Survey Corps for the fame. You chose the Survey Corps because you wanted to make a difference, you wanted to end this Titan threat, and with each and every one of you, we are one step closer to achieving that goal!" he calls out and everyone cheers with excitement.
The Commander allows the Cadets to cheer for a moment, smiling slightly at their excitement to support the Survey Corps and bring humanity one step closer to regaining control of their destiny. He clears his throat and as the cheers die down, he begins again to discuss what is on everyone's mind. "Now many have heard of a new recruit who will join us in a most unconventional way," he begins and everyone stiffens at mention of the mysterious girl. "I understand everyone's questions and concerns with the talk of a new addition to the Survey Corps without the proper training from the Training Corps. That is why I have asked Lieutenants Levi and Hange to oversee her training prior to our first scouting mission." Both Hange and Levi look at one another, confirming the other was also not informed on this request. Levi wonders why the Commander would not tell the Lieutenants about the task prior to announcing it, and why he did not entrust the task to his Captains.
The Commander continues, "We will do everything in our power to ensure you all feel safe and supported beyond the walls, and that trust begins by welcoming anyone willing to join our team and support the fight against the Titans," he says and Levi watches as the doubt fades from some of the Cadets' eyes. He seems to be putting on a good show, and the Cadets trust him. "I am sure many of you have heard some grand rumors of our new addition's actions against the Titan threat. I want to remind you all, that we are not here to speculate or spread gossip," he warns harshly, "We are here to kill Titans and we are here to protect the people within these walls," he says and a few faces drop, realizing they are not going to get confirmation of how the girl killed the Titans.
"We will do our due diligence to ensure every fighter within the Survey Corps is properly trained and prepared to protect themselves and each other. But speculation and inquisitive inquiry into one's worth within the Survey Corps will not be tolerated," He says sternly, hearing Levi's concern and addressing it. "So, without further delay, Willow Frye* step forward!" he calls out over the crowd and Levi's eyes hungrily scan the crowd for the mysterious Titan Killer.
The crowd looks around for someone to step forward. Gunther notices shifting to his left and he looks down at the skinny blonde who was uninterested in gossiping about the Titan Killer. He takes a step away from her, and everyone in the immediate area does the same, opening a clearing around the girl. Gunther's eyes widen and the skinny girl. She is little more than skin and bones, with average height and thinning curly golden hair. She straightens herself and salutes the Commander in a weak stance.
Levi's eyes reach the girl who steps forward and it takes everything in Levi's power not to visibly convey his disappointment. He isn't sure why, but he expected more of her. More strength, more fierceness, more mass. But instead, he has a small skeleton of a girl who cannot match the gaze of anyone around her. There is nothing extraordinary about the girl, being so ordinary that Levi would not give her a second glance if he saw her on the streets.
Her skin is practically transparent and paper thin, with her bones pressing against the edges of her skin as her hands shake in salute. Her face is sharp with high cheekbones displaying just how emaciated she is. Dark circles form under her sunken blue eyes and she looks as though standing here before everyone is taking all her energy. Her button nose reddens at the tip as it turns slightly upward. Her golden hair is thinning from the lack of nourishment, with soft curls twisting around her face and down her back. Levi recognizes the look of her; seeing the signs of starvation a thousand times in the Underground. He frowns at the sight of her, empathizing with her struggle for proper nourishment. He swallows hard, wondering what Erwin was thinking when he looked onto her. She is a twig ready to snap in any second.
"Willow Frye has demonstrated her strength against the Titans, and her courage in the face of terror. When asked to join the Survey Corps, she accepted without hesitation. She is here to protect the people within the walls just as you all are. And she will be invaluable to our cause as each one of you are," he nods at Willow and she loosens her shoulders, lowers her salute, and makes her way to the stage stairs.
"Thank you all for your time, and your service within the Survey Corps," the Commander calls out. "Willow will join you all soon as I am sure many of you would like to meet her. Until then," he salutes the crowd and is returned with everyone taking their form. He nods and everyone releases their salute.
The Commander walks off of the stage and meets with Willow while the Captains and Lieutenants follow suit. He leads them all to his office where everyone follows wordlessly. Levi's eyes wonder the crowds of Cadets that watch them with wide eyes. They are all surprised by her not meeting their grand expectations as Levi himself is. He knows it is not fair to put such a grand expectation on her, but when she does such a seemingly unattainable task, she is built up in a way.
Levi is the last to enter the room, and closes the door behind him. Erwin sits at his desk waiting for everyone to settle in. Captain Malik stands next to him in a stiff professional stance, always ready to be Erwin's shadow. Malik is Erwin's first Captain and commander of three Elite soldiers in his squad, unwilling to add anyone that does not stack up in talent. Had Levi and Malik not bumped heads at every turn, the blonde Captain would have recruited Levi the rainy day he singlehandedly took down a group of Titans. Malik is strong, being the most muscular of the Scouts, with sharp features that make him naturally handsome and resembling the Commander in his younger years, something that Levi is sure the Captain consciously does to win over the Commander. His is Erwin's pet and a yes-man to anything the Commander orders; never once questioning his vision.
Erwin's other Captain, Derrek leans back in his chair wearing his typical carefree smile. The tallest of the Scouts, Derrek's body is stretched into long lean limbs. His brown hair curls uncontrollably atop his head, with a large mouth that turns upwards to a smile that Levi has never once seen turned downward. His mouth and lips are large, taking over the entirety of his lower face, and is his most defining characteristic. Despite the Captain's ability to kill Titans as adequately as Malik, Levi believes Derrek was chosen as Captain to be an opposing figure to Malik. Where Captain Malik is stoic, professional, and hard; Captain Derrek is carefree, energetic, and passionate. He is the Hange to Levi, which makes Levi question if he is anything like the ass-kissing Malik.
Levi's attention moves to Hange, who hangs at the back of the room, standing straight with eyes locked on the girl in the middle of the room. Levi lingers in the back of the room leaning against the wall with uninterest painted on his face at the most interesting circumstance. His eyes land on the new spectacle stands in the middle of the room with all other eyes on her.
"Feel free to take a seat if you would like, Willow," Erwin states with a motion of his hand.
"I prefer to stand," she says timidly and Levi's uninterested expression pulls down to a dissatisfied one. He tries to remind himself that she is not the grand killer he built her up to be, and is simply a little girl—no older than twenty—that was a product of perfect circumstances.
Erwin nods and reads the room, to see that Levi is not the only one with crushed ideals of the girl presented before them. He sees the quizzical look behind Hange's glasses as she examines the girl, Captain Malik's pressed brows at the sight of her, and though Captain Derrek's smile is unmovable, he still shows his skepticism in his eyes that linger on the girl. "I understand Willow is not what many of you expected. But trust that she is what we need," he says and Levi notices a slight stiffening in Willow's stance.
"So, are you going to tell us how she did it?" Levi asks, knowing that no one else will.
Erwin looks up at Levi with no readable expression painted on his face. "In time, I would rather show you," he responds simply. "Willow has acquired very interesting knowledge about the Titans that can turn the tide in their threat to humanity."
"When can you show us?" Hange hungrily asks, leaning in with anticipation at the idea of learning something new about the Titans.
"Before we present anything on these findings, I need Willow to know how to be proficient with vertical maneuvering," he says, shutting down Hange's inquiry. "Levi, you are our most skilled Scout with ODM gear. I want you to work with Hange to get Willow up to speed using the same Aptitude tests as in the Training Corps. Effective immediately," Levi nods and Hange does the same. "Captain Malik and I will take his squad and do further surveillance of surrounding area beyond Wall Maria and survey the Titan's movements. Derrek will be in command until our return," the Captains nod.
"Sir," Levi begins carefully, knowing his words to be controversial. "I understand you want to keep Willow's knowledge at bay until we have her adequately trained, but do we have reliable confirmation that she in fact killed these Titans that you believe?"
Hange and Malik stiffen at the comment, while Derrek's brows turn upwards at the inquisition. Levi's eyes look up at the girl in the center of the room. She turns her head slightly, looking at Levi over her boney shoulder. Her eyes land on his and he notices how bright they are. He looks at them, feeling as though he is looking at the clearest blue sky before him. His gray eyes narrow, challenging her expression, trying to read her features but cannot read her stone-cold face. He does not see betrayal, anger, confusion, or even content and figures he needs to gather a better baseline on the girl.
Erwin on the other hand has slightly pressed brows to show the clear dissatisfaction of Levi's accusation. "Commander Pyxis himself watched the girl take down all three Titans," he says in a flat tone. "Rest assured Lieutenant Levi, Willow is Scout material."
"Sir," Levi says nodding his head in a respectful bow. Willows eyes move away from Levi's and back to Erwin. Levi watches her from behind for a moment, taking in her stance and the back of her head. She stands with good posture, standing a bit taller than Levi himself. But what strikes the Scout so much is how skinny the girl is. It is clear she came from an impoverished home prior to the fall of Wall Maria, fighting for her next meal. But all that has Levi wondering how the girl managed to have the strength required to take down a Titan, let alone three.
"Once Levi and Hange have confirmed Willow effectively completed the Aptitude Test," Erwin continues, pulling Levi from his breakdown of Willow's stance. "We will go on our first scouting mission with the new Cadets." He says as his eyes flash to his two Lieutenants in the back of the room. "You have until Section Commander Miche Zacharias returns." Erwin says and Levi makes a mental note that they only have one week to have her proficient with ODM gear.
Erwin stands up and gives them all a salute, "Dismissed," he states, "Willow, a moment?" he asks as everyone slowly shuffles out of the room.
Hange meets with Levi in the hallway waiting for Willow to exit the room after the Commander has a quick word with her. "So, what do you think?" Hange asks in a hushed breath before the girl can join them. "New information about the Titans? This can be hugely invaluable," she says with glimmering eyes behind her goggles.
Levi crosses his arms over his chest, "I don't know, Hange. We could better train her if the Commander was more forthcoming about this curious new development."
Hange is interrupted before she can respond with the appearance of Willow. Levi looks her up and down, noticing that she holds herself introvertedly and without confidence as she tucks her malnourished arms into a hug around her chest. He knows that in order to effectively use ODM gear, she will have to gain better confidence and strength with her body.
"You're fairly skinny," Levi observes in a flat tone. "You will need to eat more than you're accustom to in order to gain muscle strong enough to take down a Titan," He tells her with a dry expression.
Willow nods without a verbal response, keeping her eyes on the ground.
"Why don't we get you something to eat first, and then we can work on getting you in the ODM gear?" Hange suggests with a warmer tone.
"I would prefer to just get started, Lieutenant," Willow speaks in an uneasy tone, eyes still fixated on the ground.
"You won't be able to kill many Titans with muscles like yours," Levi states snidely.
Her eyes shoot to Levi's and for the first time, she lifts her head up confidently. "I've already killed three Titans with the muscles I have, Sir. So respectfully, I would like to begin as soon as possible," she says in a firmer tone.
Levi smiles slightly at her growing tone. "What's the rush, Cadet?"
"I would like to kill all Titans, Sir." She says with eyes that burn in Levi's.
His smile creeps up the side of his face and he says, "Well then let's get started."