Wings of Freedom

Screams crying out, flashes of yellow lightning, reaching hand,

Alan shot up from his nightmare gazing down to his own hand as if something was meant to tell him. He couldn't forget no matter how much he tried, collecting his thoughts he gazed out the window, still pitch black.

It has been a week in training, well training would class as learning the mechanics and how to clean the ODM's apparently, they can't get to use them until they get to the balancing correctly which would happen in three days' time.

He gazed around having his eye's adjusting to the darkness quickly. He decided to go for a night walk, getting off the top bunk he pulled his pants on and looked down at the bowie knife under his pillow. He stared at it as long he could remember and strapped it to his leg, feeling something of familiarity that he feels comfortable but hidden out of sight.

He crept without disturbing the guys sleep and before he opened the door, he did a last check if anyone is awake, Eren snoring his head off, Armin rolled up in his blanket, Reiner half in and out. Bertholdt which made him to stifle his laugh arm out of his bed but left leg somehow behind his head, how he got into that position he will never figure out. He slid out and allow the fresh cold air to take him, he looked to the peaceful sky and gazed to the stars, his moment of peace trees not so far, which hatched an idea that came to his head.

He paced and silently his footsteps allow, flinching at the steps that made the gravel crunch. He gotten rusty, now to get those skills back. He crept and parkoured around wooden houses, the instincts coming back to him in his muscles, his breathing slowed, his eyes narrowed, to any person it be the wind running passed them, to him it's untapped skill he hasn't touched for so long. It's how he survived; it's how he's not been devoured for so long. A flash of a masculine stubbled man flashed across his eyes, he faltered falling to the floor with a bang, with his knife unsheathed from his leg sheath, it clattered in front of him as he is on all fours, it's reflection from the moonlight caught his attention, he gazed at it, holding back the tears that was long been there for as long he can remember. 'No, not now. Not when I have a promise to fulfil, he made two years ago.' He picked up the knife looking and mulling over his thoughts and sheaths it securely this time into his leg.

He catches his breath for the time being and silencing his own self, he listened, his sense heightened, he's being watched.

Darting towards a warehouse, speed and reflexes he recently tapped back into until he comes across the door, he stares at the lock before him and crushes it with his on hands, he halts gazing at his own hands, wondering why of all times his strength decides to come back to him now. None of that he proceeds inside his desired building knowing full well someone was watching him.

Inside the building, he flipped the light which lead to a dimly lit room there was crafting benches to his right and to his left are ODM gears along with blades and canisters full of gas. Expecting them to be empty two of them was full. He paused knowing this is a set up but decided against it, he wanted to do it, he could not wait, he need to feel what It feels like.

He reencountered his lessons on the ODM's how to equip them, how to secure them to his body and canisters. It was easy enough, he half expected them to be heavy, but they felt light as a feather as he applied the canisters to his sides. He walked outside feeling the cold air taking him again he breathed and strolled to the nearby huge trees.

Once he gotten to the trees, he looked around to see a good place to start, yet the feeling of being watched is unnerves him. He closed his eye's and empty his mind, he pressed his fingers and the hook anchor shoots out, the sounds of wires whirling out of the anchor with a small applied of gas enabling it to shot, in moment he hit his mark and smiled.

For a rookie it would be difficult but to him it felt natural, he moved his hip to the left so the left hook shoots out and he starts his momentum, swerving out of the trees, avoiding the branches as he closes in, he use short bursts of gas, using his momentum for speed and shooting his hooks for directions, giving small bursts of gas to encourage his desired direction, he decided to shoot himself through the tree tops.

He closed his eyes, feeling the breeze flow through him, his arms spread wide as he soured over the top of trees, as if he was flying. Tear starts to trickle down his cheeks, he smiled, a genuine smile only his closet friends, family would see. He feels Free.

From the distance through a pair of binoculars Shadis, watched him and observed him. He had a hunch this recruit would try something like this, hence why he left to full gas canisters aside on purpose and a weak old lock in place of a sturdy one. His surprised was how he mastered the ODM even though it's his first time using it. He watched the recruit gracefully swing. No Fly as if nothing is holding him back. If the boy was failing miserably, he would have him punished severely but the talent and skill radiating from the him, is awe inspiring, first time in a while Shadis smirked and awaited inside the warehouse waiting for the recruit to return.

It must have been an hour or less. Alan could not tell, he landed on his two feet skidding across the floor to break his momentum. His smile was replace with sadness for a breath moment returning to the storage where he got the gear from. He walked in and saw Shadis standing there. He stopped and went to attention and gave his salute, knowing he been caught, he awaits his punishment.

Shadis watched him closely walking towards him, eyeing every detail Infront of him, a moment silence stood for a while.

He expected the recruit to sweat, be nervous. No, he stares back waiting for the punishment yet to come. He has his respect, usually the other recruits will piss their pants but know this one seen a lot worse, maybe been through worse.

"Braun" he stated, seeing the boy, no, this Man, Infront of him. His eyes meeting his in a instant. "First time using this ODM gear?"

"Yes Sir" Alan replied in a heartbeat.

Shadis stared him down again before continuing. "Usually I would have you punished severely for this, but I am surprised with the skill and dedication you have displayed. I would think you are a soldier already."

Alan stayed alert but relaxed a little, his brow scrunched up with indication that he's confused, Shadis specified what he meant. "Fact you didn't damage the equipment and far as I can tell not using even half the gas, your dismissed."

Seeing Alan relax his shoulders he internally smirked at his posture, he watched him place the canisters back into place and replaced the gear back to where they belong and watched him walk out back to his barracks.

Alan kept watching but couldn't feel like he's still being watched, unbeknownst to him Mikasa was watching from her barracks outside on the roof, witnessing the whole ordeal with him flying.

Her interest is peaked and her heartbeat faster. Why is she feeling like this suddenly, questions filled her head yet couldn't find the answers? Watching him retire, she did so herself awaiting the three days until she can use the ODM's.

The next three days has passed, he's gotten to know some people as but mostly some left before the real training began, Which to Alans amusement and Eren's irritation. Eren cursed out loud. "They just can't hack on what's to come. We just got to keep going and we be one step closer to killing all those fucking Titans." His eye's gleamed with rage, while glancing to Mikasa's and Armin's direction this seem to come normal with Eren and titan's.

Alan shook his head and felt the urge to tease him. "You know this unhealthy obsession your making with the Titans, I would half expect you to start making out with one the first chance you get"

Eren faltered and glared at him in disgust as if he uttered something rather crude with a sudden shudder at the thought of it, receiving a chuckle from Armin with Mikasa just smiling. 'Least she's not a complete robot' he thought, wanting to know more of this mystery woman.

Before he could ask Reiner came along and patted on his back. "I would pay to see something like that" he laughed out loud. "Although he would have to take the titan to dinner first" with that Alan and Eren laughed at the very crude joke Reiner made knowing the irony of 'dinner' behind it.

With tension lifted Alan reached out to his inside pocket and flipped out his diary, proceeding to reach again. His face contorting into an annoyed look.

Reiner mused and shook his head at his friend's reaction and reached into his own jacket. "Since Bert's not here to be your Logistics assistant" he tossed a pencil to Alan which he caught in mid air with a nod of thanks. "Sate my curiosity Al. But what the hell you are drawing this time?" With a raised eyebrow from Alan, he gave a small grin.

"What gave it away this time?" he snickered.

"Maybe every time you draw you seem to go through your small pencil pretty fast, got you to pace yourself, doubt we have pencils lying about all the time"

With a lift of his chin "That's what logistics assistants are for Reiner. They supply me with materials needed"

Noticing Armin is mulling over his thoughts he asked him what's up.

"Just nothing, I noticed how you two have the last same names as each other, yet look nothing alike?" Armin inquired, with Reiner glancing over to Alan, with Alan now plastered a neutral face hiding emotion.

Giving a long sigh "I just didn't have a last name. I just, been living alone after my father have passed that, I don't remember. After what happened two years ago, I came across Reiner. He helped me out of a darkness that I couldn't get out of, now I see him as a brother who I wouldn't trade for the world" saying this he glanced at Reiner who was rubbing the back of his neck smiling to each other.

"Jeez Alan, sure to big me up, now we are soldiers we have a duty to everyone now."

Eren looking on in awe "That's Reiner, helping everyone now, besides we got to go now because we have to do that balancing shit before we even get to touch the ODM" signalling to Shadis calling out to the recruits to get their arse's to gear for the next training.

When people are getting into training Shadis pulled Alan to the side. Giving him a confused look "Your excused from this one Braun. After three nights ago, I think this be child's play to you, so I'm moving you to advance training. Plus, you get to watch these runts make a fool of themselves" giving a wicked grin which received a chortle.

Not too far away another recruit glared menacingly towards Alan which puts him on edge, unsure what to do he ignores him.

'What's his problem' ignoring he watches. He watches potato girl just casually swinging, amused she might be thing of food, Jean just balancing like he knows his stuff.

Mikasa caught his, amused that she's just still bored of the world around there and just limp. Intriguing you can keep balance while being dead weight. Damn those hips he casually gazed which caught the attention of the desired person, noticing he been caught he casually walked away to see on how the others are doing.

Watching him walk away she couldn't help being curious. Her eye's followed to where he's gone into the crowd with someone following close by with a menacing glare, she couldn't help but want to see what happens. Until a big bang fell nearby. Concentration broken she got off to see Eren upside down with his head injured. 'EREN!" her hearts thumping, cursing herself she couldn't prevent him hurting himself.

All you can hear his cursing and muttering No, no, no, no, no. As if his whole world gone upside down, from unable to balance correctly.

Alan casually walked but senses someone coming nearby, before the stalker could do anything Alan instantly swirled around and dodged a punch aiming for his face. 'What the hell'?! his eye's concentrated on the suppose attacker, his hair black, short yet his fringe is long, his eyes are strangely black with a scar across the bridge of his nose.

"You think you're so great huh? Been here a week and you got Shadis kissing your arse" he spat.

'So, it's jealousy that got his pants in a twist' Alan mused to himself hiding his emotions behind a stone face, circling around him waiting for something stupid again.

Noticing this the guy backed off and spat at the floor and stormed off.

Hearing the commotion Bertholdt came running to the seen. "Alan you ok?" sound of concern in his voice.

Still looking at the guy that walked away into the crowd "Yeah, I'm good. You?"

With a nod Bert smiled "Me and Reiner passed our training here, we were actually wondering how you're not doing it?"

With a sheepish grin Alan ran his hand through his hair "I bet you want another good story of the century again huh?"

With a shake of his head he moved his arm to the side for him to tell his tale.

After telling his tale Bert just nodded "Huh you seem to make friends wherever you go. I remember how you was like that when we first met." Alan smile how can he forget, after meeting Reiner, he introduced him to Bertholdt, who in turn introduced him to Annie. Speaking of Annie, she seems to be invisible most days not conversing.

He may have to speak to her when he gets the chance. Feeling guilty he neglected one friend he had after his nightmare.

He set off just to do that. Wasn't too hard to find her, her signature white parkour hoodie stood out like a sore thumb, their eyes met and she nodded to the other direction. Following they sat next to one of the barracks.

Annie stares out to the crowd and just been silent for a minute. "One thing I like about you is that, you remain silent and not disturb until it gets disturbed"

Alan chortled "Oh yeah? Maybe I just disturb the air around you, to get you to talk"

With a low groan "Aaaand there's the downside, you open your mouth and I remember what I don't like"

Alan placed a hand on his heart in faint shock "Annie, you wound me, have I ever set such a low opinion for you?"

A quick glance from Annie with a creeping smirk threatening on the corner of her lips "I still need to kick your arse for that" seeing the confused look on his faced she raised her eyebrows.

Upon realisation "Oooh when we first met, I called you a miserable cow." Looking the other way, he could feel glare digging into the back of his head. "Well all I know is that next week, I may have overheard Shadis saying about Close Combat training for beginner's" Mischievous glint his eye's glanced towards Annie "Maybe you get some payback then"

Annie cock her eyebrow up and with the same glint in her eyes "Don't go easy on me, just because I'm a woman"

With a chortle "Doubt you can beat me at my fullest" with that a playful smack on his arm which reminded him not to mess with this one too much.

From the distance Mikasa was watching over. Now she has a strange feeling in her gut. It made her feel uneasy and she doesn't like it one bit, shaking her head she turned her attention to Eren who now is getting bandaged up from the wound from his head, if she was paying attention she would have caught a glimpse of steam emitting off his head.