Chapter 2: Xiahou Trouble
AN: As I have mentioned before this story is heavily inspired by attack on titan, so if you fancy yourself some of that, you've come to the right fic
Warning: this fic contains adult themes that some people may find disturbing or uncomfortable.
Two years later…
The new recruits began to form lines as the sun began to rise.
Each cadet would undergo intensive military training for a 6-month period, by the end of this period successful cadets would be picked and assigned to the three different army divisions. The police, the garrison regiment and the scouts. The military police maintain law and order, the garrison regiment patrol the walls and protect the gates ensuring only authorised personnel go in and out of the city. Only the scouts regiment leaves the city to battle the grievers and collect resources.
"I hear the drill instructor's a real ass hole" Sima Zhao whined, placing his hands behind his head and yawning loudly.
Zhong Hui curled his nose and rolled his eyes.
Guan Ping exhaled lightly as he overheard. He looked around the training ground, it was now filled with new recruits. "Out of this many people, not many of us will make it" He shuddered at the thought.
With every year there was less and less applicants to the army, and with the military commander's nit picking their teams, the weakest links were the easiest fodder. Anyone not picked by the military police or the scouts would end up being assigned to the garrison regiment, where in the absence of the scouts they would be sent out to fight grievers that threaten the territory, most of them are not equipped for this and end up dead within minutes of setting foot outside. Many would join the army out of poverty, for food and shelter, and though they would get it here abundantly it's a real-life gamble.
The recruits quickly stood up straight and composed themselves upon seeing a 6 foot 10, man in military clothing, camo pants and a tight fitted shirt that showed off his hard chest muscles. The man scowled furiously, his bushy brows arching upwards in distaste as he disliked the weak state of the new recruits. He assessed them with his piercing gaze before he spoke. Frowned intensely, and then placed his hands on his sides.
"Hmm, the 90th training corps, you all look like weak maggots" He spat.
The new recruits looked around disheartened, placing a fist inside their palm and holding it out in front of them as a military salute.
Lu Bu walked down the line of soldiers, his intimidating figure causing a few of them to tremble as he passed them, each one begging to the skies he wouldn't target them today.
Guan Ping's heart sank when his eyes caught a glimpse of what looked like Xiahou Dun, he was walking in front of the demonstration behind commander Yu Jin. "Finally". He says to himself but almost hides behind Ling Tong's tall stature hoping not to get noticed and staying clear of staring again to confirm he was indeed who he saw.
"You!" Lu Bu points in the face of Xiahou Ba, who's barely tall enough to reach Lu Bu's navel. Xiahou Ba could already feel the sweat dripping down his forehead, he swallowed before he spoke.
"Ye-yes sir" He stuttered nervously.
"You walked into the wrong place, this isn't daycare" Lu Bu looked down on tiny Xiahou Ba, his brows expressing annoyance at his puniness.
Yu Jin and Xiahou Dun sat on wooden chairs in front of the demonstration to observe the new year's recruits get harassed by Lu Bu. The two men mirrored each other, both expressing nonchalant faces.
"I'm here to fight sir!" Xiahou Ba defended his voice almost cracking and attempting to raise the attention of his uncle for help.
"Fight what? What's your name worm?" Lu Bu looked bewildered that Xiahou Ba would even utter it with an attempt at confidence.
"The grievers! Xiahou Ba sir!" Xiahou Ba declares avoiding looking at the tall intimidating man and almost.
"Ba?" Lu Bu asked disgustedly. "That's the stupidest name I've ever heard, turn around worm! I'm sick of this shit" Lu Bu's gruff voice caused Xiahou Ba to shoot around in fear. The drill instructor walked on seeming bored and disinterested before he'd barely begun. He paced on, his hands behind his back.
"You! You come up to my demonstration looking like that?!" Lu Bu marches towards Gan Ning grabbing him by his collar aggressively. Gan Ning looked up at the beast bewildered at what he could have done to offend him so. Lu Bu throws him on the floor in a fit. "Take it off!" Lu Bu commanded him to undress and Gan Ning stood up aghast, looking at the leading commanders, commander Yu Jin and captain Xiahou Dun for help but they just watched expectantly. Gan Ning removed his creased shirt exposing his bare chest.
"What's wrong with my appearance sir?" Gan Ning enquired quietly.
"If you think it's appropriate to treat your military uniform like a rag then you don't deserve it" Lu Bu explained, his voice alternating between yelling and calmly talking between each sentence, causing pain to the ears of those who did not know which tone and volume to expect next. "ALL OFF!" He yelled and Gan Ning hurriedly began to unbuckle his belt and drop his pants. "You are insulting all of us maggot" Lu Bu bellowed.
Gan Ning placed his hand over his private parts to conceal them, and it seemed to be enough to finally get Lu Bu off his back, who walked away now looking more disgusted than before. Gan Ning felt the cold air whoosh against his naked rump which was now exposed for all eyes to see. How he would live that down is a mystery.
Xiahou Dun placed his hand in front of his mouth to feign stroking his beard as he turned to look at Yu Jin who stared back, and although looked like he would smile, maintained the same plain expression, the two stared at each other for a moment and then looked away. Xiahou Dun looked to the ground and then looked ahead at the rest of cadets to avoid looking at naked Ning.
Lu Bu flicked Lu Xun's forehead as he passed him. "They pulled you out of a compressor?" He remarked, continuing to frown violently. "What use are you going to be? A step ladder for your comrades to get on their horses? Lu Xun's eyes widened in horror, as he began to revaluate his entire existence.
"I will do my best!" Lu Xun affirmed.
"Shut it rodent, you should have stayed at home" Lu Bu looked him up and down wondering whatever happened to real men?
"What's wrong with your face fool, you smiling moron" Lu Bu peered at Sima Zhao who's only response was to continue smiling with his brows straightening up to meet each other. "Turn around I can't take looking at you tch" Lu Bu spat.
The rest of the day consisted of torture labelled as training, circuits of climbing, crawling through mud, and running laps with a fun twist for Captain Dun, who fired plastic bullets at them as they ran. Seeming more sadistic than beneficial, the whole-time Guan Ping avoided to be noticed, did as he was told to remain invisible in the crowd.
You've become cruel, or I may have not known you like I thought I did.
The evening came by and Guan Ping strolled into the food hall along with the other recruits, the morning chatter was reduced to mumbling amongst themselves from exhaustion and doubt that filled them at whether this life was worth the stake. If being a solider was above their personal hardships and happiness, to put humanity first?
Noble yes, sane? Hardly.
Guan Ping sat quietly a plate of cold porridge, a boiled egg and small loaf of bread in his tray. Was this the never go hungry they were promised?
Why does no one speak about how much your superiors tread over you like you're nothing, why was that never mentioned? All this was glorified like a cloudy daydream.
The mood in the room was consistent of disheartened self-doubting youth, and almost too crowded for anyone to have the space to breathe or have time for themselves. Guan Ping glanced at the man next to him, the strands of his jet-black hair danced around his face as he scans the room and decisively makes judgements in his head.
"What are you doing?" Guan Ping murmured his tone annoyed and wondering how the man had the energy to still use his mind so intently whilst the rest of them wanted to physically collapse.
"My theory is friend, only five people here appear to have the talent to survive at least a year outside the gates" He whispers not turning to Guan Ping and continuing to look around. "Fa Zheng by the way".
"You're seeing tired people who are still here because they've not given up yet" Guan Ping explained sounding offended. "Those aren't cattle you're counting friend"
Fa Zheng turned to look at him slowly his eyes narrowed. "I'd put a bet on your life you'd be from the first to go, but you don't look like you have much to give me". Fa Zheng rolled his eyes.
"I'd be dead" Guan Ping pointed out and Fa Zheng chuckled softly, and tilt his head to say good point.
"Guan Ping" Guan Ping introduced finally slowly blinking.
"Nice, but we don't do names here, people get attached and all that messy shit" Fa Zheng dismissed, and Guan Ping frowned and took another spoon of his thickening porridge, a part of him in denial about the truth in it but wondering why he'd introduced himself first.
Later that night Guan Ping strolled down the halls, sleep avoiding his eyes despite his exhaustion. What even is this place? Death drawing so near has only increased his will to live and feel alive, to search for a meaning beyond being a pawn on a chessboard. To live and be and not to just get by. The night was dark and cold, the flickering of the light down the path irritated his eyes, he squinted as he walked down slowly, no sign of any being or soul. The world is at rest in the AM.
Or so you'd think but the devil comes out to play.
Guan Ping hears a yelping plea that's almost as quiet as a whisper. He slows down, his footsteps cautious and alert.
"Please… Stop" The voice continued, sounding like a young boy or girl.
"Keep it down, will you" A gruffer voice hushed. "Just a little more" The voice of the man sounded happy in the other's suffering, lacking in compassion for his prey.
Guan Ping pinned himself against the wall, he could already make out what was happening, he held his hand on his mouth to silence his breathing. He couldn't bear to hear another second of it, but his legs were telling him to run and it seemed too late to help now.
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Flowergirly~