Chapter 6: Illusions of Force
"Aaah!" Marco shouted as he charged at Heidi with a wooden knife.
"!" Heidi quickly parried his blow by using her arm to knock the attack off center, grabbing the wrist of his sleeve and the lapel of his jacket as she sidestepped, using his own momentum to flip him over. "Humph!!" Poor Marco landed on his back with a thud.
"Oww..." he groaned in pain. He really should have listened when she told him not to hold to back...
"Ah, sorry!" she apologized sheepishly as she helped him back up. "I'm used to fighting my grandpa, so I don't really know how to hold back..." Marco stared at her, looking a mix of shocked and appalled. He hoped she was joking. She fought like this with an old man? More like, what kind of monster was her grandfather...?
"I-I see..." he said with an awkward smile, feeling a bit lame. "But you're really strong, Heidi. I was surprised."
"Thanks," she replied with a smile. "Let's switch. I can teach you how to use that move as well as how to block it, if you want."
"Oh, thank you," Marco said politely, but he wasn't sure he wanted her coming at him even with a fake knife... "But I wonder what this training is about. Soldiers fighting other people? I'd hate to see that happen."
"What are you saying, Marco?" Heidi asked, blinking. "Didn't you want to join the Military Police Brigade? There's a reason why they primarily use firearms like rifles instead of the 3DMG. To the king nestled safely in the interior, who do you think is actually the bigger threat? The titans, who live outside the walls, or the people who are already inside and living close to him?"
"...!!" Marco gasped in realization. That's right! Even though a large portion of their grades was affected by their ability to use the 3DMG, the Military police still needed special permission to use it. Until five years ago, only the Survey Corps carried it regularly. And yet, they were required to master the 3DMG so they could get into the top ten just to qualify to join the Military Police...
"I've heard lots of stories from my grandfather about old royal families, and nine times out of ten, betrayal didn't come from the outside, but rather someone close to them. In the worst case scenario, you could end up in a situation like this, where you're the one who's unarmed. Even if you use your body to shield the king, if you can't take the weapon away from his attacker before you die, then he'll just step over your corpse and kill the king next, so it's better if you can take the enemy out first. Also... you're a nice guy, Marco, so this probably hasn't occurred to you, but... not everyone who joins the Military Police is doing it purely out of loyalty to the king, and from what I've heard, a lot of them aren't afraid to abuse their authority, either. So even if the king isn't hated, there are probably ill feelings towards the brigade. People may see you in your uniform and attack you out of spite," she said, furrowing her brow in concern. "When that happens, are you going to shoot them, or would you rather be able to disarm them without any casualties?"
"..." Marco stared at her, stunned.
'Ah. Maybe I said too much...' Heidi thought, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed. Sometimes she just went off a tangent and started to ramble...
"Please... Please teach me!" Marco said earnestly as he grabbed her hands, surprising her. She was right! Even if they weren't being graded on this, it was an important skill to learn if he wanted to be able to properly protect the king!
'How dare he hold her hands like that!?' Peter thought, seething with jealously as he watched Heidi practice with Marco (even though the sparkling atmosphere around them was all in his own head), tightening his hold on the opponent he had trapped in a side headlock.
"Ow! Oww!" Jean yelled at him trying to get lose. What the hell was his problem!? Didn't they agree to just pretend to go through the motions? Why was he getting serious all of a sudden!?
—∞—
"Hey, today when I fought with Annie... I realized something," Eren said later that evening as they were eating dinner together again. "I was so caught up in getting stronger that I never thought about it before, but it's such a clear contradiction... They're honing their titan killing skills just to get away from the titans! Doesn't that seem like a weird system to you?" Heidi raised an eyebrow. He was only realizing that now?
"It can't be helped," Armin said. "Before Wall Maria fell, only the Survey Corps had any real use for the 3DMG, and they're a small regiment. That put 3DMG expertise at risk... So this was a way to prevent its decline."
"Give it a strong blast for a just a second," Jean said, talking loudly to the people at his table. Eren furrowed his brow as he glanced at them. "Relying on inertia will save you gas. Well, it's not the sort of thing that can be done by just anyone, you know," Jean bragged.
"By the same token," Armin continued as he and the others ignored him, "to increase your chances of making it inland, you had no choice but to neglect your hand-to-hand skill. As for how this hasn't changed since the wall was destroyed, it's because the folks from the inland call the shots, and... If that trend keeps up, someday... Eren, are you listening?" Armin asked when he noticed how intensely he was glaring at Jean.
"Okay, I know I'm good at that maneuver thing... but don't go about advertising it too much," Jean said. "I could do without all the extra rivals." Eren gritted his teeth.
"Hey, Jean..." he called out, getting the braggart's attention.
"What is it, Eren?" Jean answered challengingly.
"Tell me... Don't you find it funny?" Eren asked bitterly. "Honing your titan-busting techniques in an effort to get as far away from them as you can, I mean."
"... Yeah, you're probably right," Jean said after a moment. "But that's the way it works, so you gotta deal with it. The same silliness applies to all, even a guy like me." Eren glared at him. There wasn't the slightest hint of remorse in Jean's eyes.
"You slimy piece of shit!!" Eren yelled in a burst of anger as he shot up out of his chair.
"Don't be a pain in the ass just because you lack talent! This is reality!" Jean shouted back mockingly, also standing.
'Here we go again...' Heidi thought chagrined. Maybe she should just let them duke it out for once so they could get it out of their systems.
"Not again!" she heard someone remark.
"Don't they ever stop?" another asked.
"Tell me, then!! How are we supposed to defeat the titans!!?" Eren demanded. "How, when all the competent people go lock themselves up inside...?"
"Don't ask me, I wouldn't know... I mean..." Jean said as he glanced in Mikasa's direction to see if she was watching. Unfortunately, Mikasa just let out a sigh. Her eyes were completely focused on Eren. Jean snapped.
"Don't fuck with me, you little bitch...!!" he roared furiously, grabbing Eren by the front of his shirt.
"Huh!??" Eren shouted in bewilderment. The fuck was his problem!!? "Let go! You're gonna rip it, dammit!!"
"Your clothes!? Who gives a crap!?" Jean yelled. "I'd kill just to be in your shoes!"
"Huh!? What are you talking about!?" Eren shouted. "!" It was then that he noticed that traces of tears were forming in the corners of Jean's eyes. And behind him, he could see Reiner and Annie. 'That's right... He's... the same guy I was not so long ago. Wearing his heart on his sleeve... he always has to take his feelings out on others...' Eren thought. 'But now, I'm different... Now I'm... a soldier!' Just as Annie had done to him during hand-to-hand practice, He grabbed Jean's wrist with one hand and reached out with the other to cup his neck and push back as he kicked his legs out from under him, flipping Jean onto his back. Jean hit the floor with a loud thud. Heidi's eyes widened in surprise as she and the others stared at them in astonishment. What was that move? She wanted to learn it...
"You prick!!" Jean growled, groaning in pain. "What the hell was that!?"
"This trick is something I learned the hard way while you were screwing around," Eren told him. "A carefree life spent in indolence, following your every whim. That's your idea of reality? And yet, somehow... you still dare to call yourself a soldier!?" he demanded challengingly. Everyone in the mess hall stared at Eren, stunned by his words. Jean furrowed his brow and grit his teeth.
"What do you call a soldier, then?" he asked, trembling with anger and frustration.
CREEAAAK.
Eren and Jean immediately occupied the closest open chairs as the door of the mess hall opened, revealing Commandant Shadis. He looked extra scary with his face cast partially in shadow. It was so silent, you could hear a pin drop. Sasha had frozen in the middle of licking her plate clean.
"That was a huge noise I heard a couple of minutes ago... Would anyone care to explain?" the commandant asked pointedly as he stepped inside. Knowing they would most likely all get punished if no one answered, Mikasa raised her hand.
"That was just the sound of Sasha farting, sir," she said with a straight face.
"Uuh!?" Sasha exclaimed in horror, shocked that Mikasa throw her under the carriage like that.
Everyone had to bite his or her tongues and lips to keep from laughing.
"You again..." Shadis said, eyeing her with disdain, as he held a hand to his mouth. He wasn't at all surprised.
"!!" Sasha gasped, mortified that he wasn't even questioning it.
"Learn some self-restraint, will you," Shadis told before turning and marching back out, shutting the door behind him. Several people were shaking from the effort of containing their laughter now, but no one dared to let it loose. They didn't want him coming back again. Sasha grabbed Mikasa's wrist and shook it, staring at her with eyes that demanded to know why she had been betrayed. Mikasa shoved her bread in Sasha's open mouth. Heidi smiled wryly when Mikasa was immediately forgiven for feeding her.
"That was a close call, Jean," Eren remarked with the hint of a smirk. "A little bit more... and that petty scuffle would have cost you your place in the Military Police."
"Can't say I'm happy, though... We'll never settle the score, at this rate," Jean retorted, still trembling with unvented rage. "But I can't get into a fight as long as I'm a part of this establishment."
"I think I know a good way you can sort this out," Heidi interjected. "We do have opportunities to trade blows openly, don't we? During hand-to-hand combat practice..."
"That's perfect," Eren said. He had just been about to make that suggestion himself. "I look forward to ripping you a new one," he told Jean with a devious grin.
—∞—
The next day, they were assigned different partners again, so while Marco put what Heidi had taught him to good use against Connie, Heidi found herself forced to work with Peter.
"You don't have to look so openly disappointed..." he told her, slightly chagrined.
"I'm not," she said stiffly. It wasn't disappointment on her face, it was disgust. At least she had a legitimate excuse to kick his butt now. "I'll play the rogue first, so do your best to try to take it from me."
'Well, whatever...' Peter thought as he braced himself for her attack. 'This is good chance for us to get closer...' As Heidi charged at him, he side-stepped her and tried to get behind her so he would have an excuse to wrap his arms around her. Heidi smirked. She had him right where she wanted him.
"Hah!" she thrust her elbow into his unguarded gut, taking a step forward before spinning around and head-butting him.
"Gah!" Peter gasped in pain as he fell to his knees, but after a moment he very bravely got up again. Determination was burning in his eyes. He wasn't giving up until he got to cop a feel!
"Tch!" Heidi clicked her tongue in annoyance and thrust the wooden blade at him. Peter quickly grabbed her wrist, but he was completely caught off guard when she placed continued by taking another step forward and placed her free hand on his shoulder to steady herself as she kneed him hard in the diaphragm.
"!!" Peter grunted as he the wind was knocked out of him. He let go of her and started to collapse to the ground, but she wasn't finished yet. Heidi clasped both hands around the hilt of the wooden knife and slammed the butt of the sword down in between his shoulder blades.
CRACK.
"Aaaghh!!" Peter cried out in agony as plunged to the ground, landing face-first in the dirt. The commandant nodded to himself in approval as he walked past. Heidi Trumbauer had definitely inherited her father's talent for close combat. That had been Odd's specialty.
'She's destroying him...' Eren thought as he and Annie watched from a distance, almost feeling sorry for Peter. She wasn't the only one. "... Hey, Annie? Is it just me... or is Jean actually exerting himself?" he asked aloud.
"... Looks like it..." Annie answered calmly. "Not that he wants to become a good soldier or anything... He just wants to be able to kick the crap out of you."
"You don't say... Still, he's serious about his close combat training now," Eren stated as they looked on. Annie was silent. "But hey, am I good kicker or what?" he asked on a lighter note. "I picked it up from watching you, but it worked out great."
"That was hopeless," Annie said, suppressing a laugh. His technique was way too sloppy. "A complete train wreck."
"Why... where did I get it wrong?" Eren asked, confused. He took Jean, down didn't he? Annie looked down for a moment.
"... If you like that technique so much..." She smiled slightly. "Maybe I can teach it to you?" she offered, glancing back up at him.
"Uh, thanks, but I'll pass," Eren said bluntly without the slightest bit of hesitation. "Those kicks in the legs hurt, you know?" Annie stared at him as a wind swept over the plain. Here she was, going out of her way to teach him one of her father's favorite techniques, and he had the guts to turn her down...?
"Come on," Annie said with an eerily calm expression on her face. "You don't have to hold back one bit," she stated, emphasizing her point by kicking his legs out from under him without warning.
"!!" Eren hit the ground hard with harsh thud.
"Ohh!" Heidi said as she gave Annie a round of applause, impressed. She had walked over to see what they were up to while Peter was out of commission and had arrived just in time to see that masterpiece. She could tell by the way Annie moved that she had completely mastered the technique. "So you're the one Eren learned that from. It's a great move. Would you mind teaching it to me?"
"... Only if you teach me some of those grappling moves and joint locks I saw you using the other day," Annie answered after taking a moment to think it over. At least someone here appreciated good martial art techniques when they say them.
"Deal," Heidi said with a grin, shaking on it.
"I wouldn't mind... learning some grappling techniques..." Peter moaned weakly from his spot on the ground as he struggled to raise his head. There was a river of blood flowing from his busted nose.
"No way," Heidi retorted flatly. She had a feeling he'd enjoy it too much. Annie was beginning to suspect Peter was a masochist.
—∞—
Winter of 847
As part of their training, to help build strength and confront any fears they might harbor towards heights or falling, all of the cadets were ordered to practice rock climbing on the face of a cliff using only the bare minimum gear required. They had to set up their own lifelines as they went. Having already been put through similar training by her grandfather to be able to retrieve lost goats in the mountains (you wouldn't believe the trouble they could get themselves into if left on their own for even a moment), Heidi was already leaps and bounds ahead of all the others. She was nearly at the top when she heard someone below her scream. She looked down and saw that Peter was falling. Normally his life line should have saved him, but he hadn't hammered the climbing pitons in deep enough, and they were pulled out as he fell. Peter was plunging to his death.
"!" Heidi gasped when she realized everyone else was too panicked and inexperienced to help him. There was no choice, she'd have to do it herself. But she had already moved her lifeline up too far. She couldn't use it to belay that far down... Furrowing her brow, Heidi quickly spun around and unhooked herself, running down the face of the mountain with gravity's pull.
"Heidi!!" her friends yelled in shock as she flew past them.
"Give me your hand!!" she yelled at Peter as she came upon him, reaching out with one of her own while she removed the ice axe from her belt with the other. Peter thrust his hand out to her and wrapped his hand around her wrist as she locked hers around his and dug the pick of the axe into the side of the cliff. Everyone held their breathe as they watched the two of them slide safely to a halt, stopping with only six feet from the bottom to spare. Peter stared up at Heidi, stunned. Despite everything she had said... she had just saved his life... Maybe there was hope for him after all?
"Heidi!!!" Sasha cried, throwing her arms around her friend, once they were reunited at the top. "I'm so glad you're okay!!!"
"Okay, okay..." Heidi said calmly, patting her on the back. "You can have my bread from dinner tonight."
"That was crazy..." Eren said, still amazed she had managed to pull it off. "I can't believe you risked your life like that for Peter. I thought you hated him..."
"Yeah, he's a creep," Heidi stated bluntly with a straight face. "But they say even an insect has half a soul..." Poor Peter flinched in shock behind her as he was running up, tripped, and face-planted in the snow. An insect... she thought of him as an insect...
"..." They all stared at her. That was so cool... but so harsh at the same time, that they didn't know how to respond.
'I think Heidi just delivered the finishing blow...' Armin thought.
