1st POV
.
.
"beep bop da~ beep bop da~"
"What are you singing, Colith?"
"Fresh!"
"...what?"
I chuckled, looking at Eren's puzzled face next to me while reaching to pinch his cheek. He squeaked before slapping my hand away which made me snicker.
"I'll tell you more later sweetheart! "
"Quiet down you two and keep moving."
My eyes fell on the BEAUTIFUL corporal who was glaring daggers at us. Eren flinched, quickly looking forward while I waved my hand at the shorty behind us who tched, promptly looking away from me. We were currently on horseback on our way to the old survey Corps HQ with an apprehensive Levi squad who kept throwing curious glances at Eren and me, mostly me since they never saw me before. You know, the usual.
You may be saying: "WHAT HAPPENED AT THE TRIAL? WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO AFTER THE STUNT YOU PULLED?! DOES LEVI SMELL GOOD??" well, after my comeback to life —though I wasn't dead, just stunned— they got scared, obviously and, you know, I used their lack of knowledge on titans and fear of me to my advantage to state my conditions and just told them that a mere rifle won't be enough to kill me. Yeah, Nile was right. Too bad for them. Let's just say that I spooked the MP's so much they left Eren and I in the Survey Corps care. Chickens. Ah yes Levi smells good.
The first thing that happened when we were in that office where an entire generation of fujoshis began shipping Eren and Levi (ngl I shipped them hard until I realized the age gape and quickly resigned from this...unholy ship! Ehgh 12 year old me was cray-cray *shivers*) was that Hanji immediately began assaulting me with questions! I mean, getting shot then walking like nothing happened was not something you'd witness every day, so I...kinda lied with the shifter's regeneration since it was remotely close to my instant heal because I wanted to tell Eren, Mikasa, and Armin the truth first since they deserved it.
"Us shifters gained the same abilities as pure titans, which means that the only way to kill us is by cutting the head, otherwise we'll just pop up like I did back there," I told Hanji who kneeled in front of Eren and me since we were on the couch with Ilse next to us. Erwin and Mike stood at both sides of us, paying close attention while Levi leaned against the wall with his usual resting B face.
"Why disclose such weakness to us, Cadet Tobe? Wouldn't that become a hindrance to you on the long run?" Erwin's intrigued voice inquired. I simply shook my head.
"Call me Colith I don't mind! And of course, it would, but I thought that letting you know more about shifters would help you in case you encounter another one in the futu-"
"There are others like you?!" Hanji's already excited voice squealed, making Eren flinch while Ilse sweatdropped. The crazy scientist received a disapproving glare from Levi which was ineffective since her back faced him.
"Well, yeah the Colossal and the armored titans are, I thought you knew?" I directed this question to Hanji who glanced at Erwin as if saying 'she knows?!'
"We were aware of the likelihood of them being humans controlling titans...'shifters'...as you call it but had no means to thoroughly investigate the issue. Do you have an idea of who it could be?" the commander inquired, trying to get more information from me.
"no, I never got to see any of them in action and I was already living at Trost when Maria fell. But I had an idea they were like Eren and I since no pure titans could accomplish such feat and disappear right after." I choose to lie since it wasn't the time to tell them yet.
"Why should we believe you? You're an outsider, who's to tell you're not one of them?" in came Levi's skeptical voice which got all our attention. He had every rights to doubt me once they discovered that I was no citizen of the walls, in short, a potential threat. Eren scowled, not liking the way the corporal spoke to me.
"you're right, I'm not from here but I assure you that I'm on your side. I did my best to help out in the attack, why would I do that if I was against you?"
"Tch. Maybe it's a way to deceive us."
"Levi!", Hanji squawked in indignation.
"No no, he has every right to doubt my words. Everyone can have different opinions on me, I don't mind! besides It's not like I ordered every titan I crossed path with to leave y'all alone during your missions for the past 6 years or something." I waved my hand dismissively, looking away. "Oh yeah, Mavea says hi." I smiled at Ilse's gaping face.
We could hear a pin drop on the ground by how silent the room suddenly became while all their eyes were on me. I snorted.
"LITH?!" The freckles brunette's outburst snapped everyone out of their daze.
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!" Hanji screeched while Erwin, Levi, and Mike's eyes widened in shock.
"wha-what is happening...?!" poor Eren was frantically looking at me and everyone in the room, not comprehending the situation. Poor kid.
"Aaaah I want to change this shirt, it's all bloody-"
"wait wait wait, IT WAS YOU!?"
"WHO'S MAVEA?!"
I ended up confessing that I had, indeed, settled outside for a while and helped by ordering titans left and right to leave them alone during most of their expeditions. Let's just say that they were flabbergasted by this revelation except Ilse who kept glancing at me but kept silent on our encounter. it seemed like she wanted to ask me why and how I was here but decided to refrain from it in front of the others. Hm... should talk with her later. Eren had no idea I was doing all this and funny enough, watched me with gleam in his eyes after finding out that I wasn't an enemy. Bro I was literally reducing the scouts' casualty by myself. I mean yeah.
Erwin was thankful to have me on their side with how much progress they had done without most of the time being attacked by pure titans while Hanji ascended to heaven. My man Levi stayed silent, still suspicious but in the end had to give it to me since most of his comrades survived thanks to me. Though they still had questions but I refused to say more with a :
"I don't wanna."
until my beans were at my side, I wasn't planning to say more than necessary. This...didn't sit right with the Corporal because he threatened to beat me to a pulp If I don't say more...which would've worked on any sane person who valued their lives, but heh, didn't work. I am proud to say that this [Mother of all] bullshit gave me balls I don't even possess. In the end, Erwin decided to leave Eren and I in his care in Levi squad and that's how I found myself on a horse with Eren and said grumpy captain keeping an eye on us.
"Do not be deceived, greenhorns,"
"excuse me..?"
Oluo and Eren's voices caught my attention since I was too busy thinking of things I'll have to change or leave. I had no apparent attachment to the Levi squad but ight, it would be dumb to let them die after beginning to save others so yeah...plus any major changes would have to wait after Historia's coronation or should it...? hmm, I'll think of something when the time comes. I barely listened as Oluo tried intimidating us while the others choose to solely look forward, not backing him up the slightest.
"don't be expecting the royal treatment whether you're titans or humans don't imagine for a second we all share the good captain's-"
On cue his horse missed a step, causing him to bite his tongue and proceeded to release cry of agony.
"ouuuch, that must hurt like hell..." I muttered quietly while trying not to laugh at his misfortune. Eren had a worried look on his face at the sight of blood.
"Serves him right, told him to avoid talking on horseback but that nincompoop never listens." Gunther said, unaware of the glare Oluo threw at him when he heard the guy's insult. Eld and Petra struggled to keep a straight face while Levi simply rolled his eyes, too used to this.
I chuckled "here take this, be careful next time, don't wanna go mute right?." I rummaged through my pockets and gave him a tissue to put in his mouth.
Everyone held puzzled looks on their face when they saw me offer help even though he was previously trying to intimidate Eren and I. An embarrassed blush came across his cheeks as he rudely snatched the tissue from me, grumbling about "cheeky brats" or "disrespectful punks", though they all came out slurred. Unbeknownst to him I was older but decided to leave it with a shrug and kept on humming random tunes.
With a lighter atmosphere than before, because yes there was somewhat a wary aura surrounding them since they didn't know what to feel about two shifters in their squad, we finally got to the old HQ which was frankly in bad condition. Of course, Levi squad wasn't informed of my abilities and were only aware of my shifter ability alongside Eren since I seriously told those present in the room to keep it a secret since I had an inkling that Eren and I would be targeted in the future. Well, that's the reason I told them.
They didn't understand at first until I explained that first time the Colossal and armored titans only hit once and disappeared because they were in search of something, also, with Eren and I coming out as shifters, we were probably what they came for. Erwin asked how I came to this conclusion which I smoothly answered by stating that the Armored's lack of appearance during Trost attack may be because of Eren and I's transformation which caught their attention. If they weren't interested in us, they would've destroyed the inner walls as they did five years ago and put humanity in jeopardy again. This seemed to convince the Commander as he gave us clearance and promised to keep the 'titan control part' secret until I say so. Yippie.
Upon our arrival there I dismounted my horse not without gently petting her mane which made her neigh softly before looking around. Well shit this place dead as hell, Levi's gonna have a field trip with all the shit to clean.
"Do you guys happen to have a garden here?" I softly asked Eld and Gunther who looked at me from their spots in question.
"Huh...I think there's one, why?"
"OH just asking! I got an idea!", I plan to grow different fruits and vegetables in that garden to vary the future dishes we'll eat for the next few days because hell, I wasn't gonna eat that bland soup again. Had to sneak in the kitchens back in camp just to drop fresh rations to avoid eating tasteless food and kinda make meals bearable for everyone. The cooks' reactions were hilarious whenever they found fresh vegetables every morning— they obviously couldn't afford— but in the end they were happy to serve everyone decent meals. Let's just say some people thought that a fairy resided in the kitchens, and it got to the point where Sasha dragged Connie and I one night to capture it so she could have free food for herself while I did my best not to guffaw at her disappointed face when we didn't see it. Little did she know said fairy was just next to her lmao, that was fun.
The two men looked at each other before Eld suddenly asked.
"so...it's true that...You're from outside? What's it like...to live with titans roaming everywhere? Weren't you scared?"
"don't be stupid Eld, if she can change into one, must mean she had no problem till now, right Tobe?" Gunther asked, receiving an annoyed nudge from his blond friend.
"Actually, I'm...quite different from Eren since pure titans see him like a normal human to eat." said boy perks up when he heard his name from his spot in the courtyard where Petra was scolding Oluo for his carelessness. I knew Levi was paying attention as well since the tiny man was just a few feet behind me.
"different? How so?"
I smile. "that's for me to know and for you to find out!" they were clearly disappointed with my answer, even heard a 'tch' from Levi. "but to answer your question, living outside is far better than being stuck between the walls. If not for the titans, living out there and seeing the vast scenery without a wall restricting the view is honestly an amazing experience. Just, nature at its finest. " I hummed, getting envious looks from the teal-eyed boy and he has a right to! the air isn't the same here than outside. It gives a feeling of freedom I never knew I needed till 6 years ago. "Don't worry Eren, you'll get to it soon!" the boy send me a small smile while the two men still had questions for me. That is until the corporal interrupted them from inquiring more.
"Enough with the questions, we got work to do. you'll ask whatever you want later, but right now." he glared at the filthy place, as if it has done him the greatest offense possible. "best grab a broom and get to work." Levi left no room for argument as dread came from everyone except poor Eren who was unaware of what was to come. Poor soul.
'boi tis gon be hell. Thank Allah I got powers because I hate cleaning with passion!'
We were all assigned different places to clean, and by cleaning I mean me walking in an office, snapping my fingers, and poof! the place is spotless. Hell no was I gonna put any effort into this. What's the point of having powers if you're not gonna utilize them in the first place? I knew I was lazy but there's no way imma destroy my back just to swipe the floor (in my country, most people bent down to wipe the floor with their hands, which I'm unfortunately accustomed to *sigh*).
Since I was finished with my tasks I decided that looking around would be a sweet idea and found myself strolling in the empty hallway while singing quietly.
"Yoooooooo !!!
Jugemu jugemu gokou no surikire
Kaijari suigyo no suigyoumatsu
Unraimatsu fuuraimatsu
Kuuneru tokoro ni sumu tokoro~?"
I started to skip walking while swaying my hips to the rhythm.
"Yaburakouji no burakouji
Paipo paipo paipo no shuuringan~"
As I was far into this, I whirled around about to continue just to freeze upon seeing greyish puzzled orbs staring at me. There stood Levi in all his cleaning fairy outfit glory, looking at me like I was some strange creature.
FUCK
"What the hell are you doing."
"walking." I blurted out before mentally slapping myself THAT WAS MORE LIKE A PENGUIN DOING SALSA THAN WALKING MISS.
"...walking?"
"Yeah, walking."
We stayed like this for a moment, me looking like a dear caught in the headlight while Levi was literally the car speedin toward it. Sheesh, I was slowly dying from second-hand embarrassment cause FUCK, LEVI FREAKING ACKERMAN CAUGHT ME DANCING LIKE A MORON! Lemme just die in a pit now- Okay calm down Coco, you're a 25-year-old grown woman- physically 19, you can handle thi-
"aren't you supposed to be cleaning instead of twirling like an idiot?" He scowled.
Bro
"I uh, I'm done actually!" I sheepishly said with an embarrassed blush since I had a major crush on this man for like...10 years? to the point of reading fanfictions on him every. God. Damn. Day in a row without interruption.
The short raven-haired male raised a brow, his eyes holding a bit of surprise with how quick I was with my task, well it's unnoticeable if you don't know him that well-me creepy? Nooo—
"is that so? Mind if I take a look, best pray the room's spotless or I'll have to punish you, understood?"
'Yes, daddy- fuck that ain't halal at all! Bad Colith!'
"Of course." I nodded, automatically leading him to the old office I cleaned while trying to engage a semblance of a conversation. Keyword tried.
I looked down at him with a hesitant smile. "nice weather, isn't it sir?" fuckin bitch wtf are you sayin—
Levi's eyes narrowed, choosing to simply hum in response while watching me carefully. It looks like he was still salty about me not telling them more but no can do fam! A soft sigh escaped my mouth at his silence as I lightly scratched my neck, reminds me to take a bath later.
"So...you like cleaning right? Understandable, I hate filth, can't stand nasty places too. Would rather die than stay somewhere dirty" a shudder of disgust washed over me at the memory of that nasty cell. "jackasses can't even keep a cell clean! I mean, I know cells are supposed to hold criminals and stuff but at least, don't leave rat remains inside-"
"Just show me the damn room."
"Okay."
So small talk with an annoyed captain is a no-go. Noted.