Breaking the Chains
Shadis, in all demanding glory, hammered into the Cadets. Analysing their faults and their strengths, committing it to memory for his report for later as he observed the cadets going through the advanced ODM course he had set up prior to their arrival.
Reiner Braun: Strong and dependable, one would think he's an oversize Ox. He holds the trust of all his peers. Downside to him is that he gets distracted easily when in the presence of the next subject.
Christa Lenz: people looks to her for help, which she freely gives, her kind demeanour and exceptional teamwork makes up for her lack of skill with the blade. Her nimble form does give her the speed with ODM gear.
Eren Yeager: His temper tends to get him into situations, that causes trouble for himself and those around him. But his determination and perseverance to train harder than anyone else enabling him to be the third best close quarters fighter. He has potential to grow, sadly it gets stunted when his sister gets overprotective.
Jean Kirsten: Cocky in his extraordinary talents with his ODM, having the means to back up his talk. He tends to butt heads with Yeager over petty disagreements, due to his tendency and desire to be in the Military police. If he gets his head out of his arse, he has great potential for greater leadership, making quick judgement calls at the situation they be in, which will be invaluable talent.
Sasha Blouse: Dexterity up to par, due to her upbringings in a hunter clan north of wall rose, keen sense enabling to manoeuvre the course with ease, her appetite for food gets her into trouble with her superiors and her incredible unhealthy obsession for Meat. Teamwork skills slightly improved during the mini expedition.
Connie Springer: Self-proclaimed Genius, yet his intelligence disagrees otherwise, took the Idiot a whole year to salute properly. Besides he has exceptional skills with the ODM gear, not a total idiot, seeing he is still alive. Needs work on his team skills as he tends to rush in to show who's the best.
Garrus Dreiken: Hail from a wealthy merchant family, third child in line. The man tends to a vulgar mouth leading him into spats, yet his wit tends to bring amusement to both parties, Showing exceptional leadership skills and making calls during the course, directing some of his 'friends' to perform better to prevent colliding, keen awareness of his surroundings and reaction as he swerved round a titan dummy taking the sand bags on its neck. ODM skills needs some extra work as he consumes gas a bit too much. Fighting skills improved a lot, hinting he may have had one to many fights with the strongest cadet. Their attitude improved into a respected rivalry, which forces Dreiken to become better than and superior, need to keep an eye as potential improvement.
Armin Artlert: Tactical genius for strategies, may have to employ a flag capture scenario within the coming month to make the boy shine with his genius. Sadly, inadequate with his ODM manoeuvring and not the strongest in combat, better off for war room strategies, but he tends to make up for will.
Bertholdt Hoover: Very capable with his gear and tends to hold off pretty well during combat, judging his demeanour he tends to suffer from lack of confidence allowing others making decisions for him, if he breaks out of it, he could be a damn good soldier.
Annie Leonhart: A cold distance girl, her skills with the ODM is exceptional, able to manoeuvre with ease but her abilities truly shines in combat with her devastating kicks and techniques, noting that She may have taught a few to the strongest cadet. Team working skills are lacking, being on her own majority of the time.
Mikasa Ackerman: This Soldier outstands her abilities to her limits, her control of emotions enables her to make use of her abilities and reaction skills to non-human levels that even Shadis thought is impossible, she would have easily be made number one in the whole corps if it wasn't the next candidate. Her mommy coddling over Yeager lessened compared to the last year, hinting an outside influence being involved. Like Dreiken she proceeds to push her unnatural human limits to be the strongest, going to be a hard choice if she improves.
Alan Braun: This man is like a god on the battlefield, if he thought of Ackerman is unnatural, comparing the two he far surpasses all abilities and expectations. Maybe at the end of the three years of training, honing his skills he could easily rival Humanity strongest Soldier. His leadership skills are exceptional giving commands and calling out shots but his tendencies to go lone wolf calls into question of his teamwork skills.
Yet his strength and speed is to be in awe with as if he is like a ghost moving so fast even Shadis's keen eye couldn't keep up with, leaving destruction in his path as disregarding the sand bags, tends to shred the wood with his swordsmanship, leaving nothing but splintered wood. His combat skills tends to hint he has more strength as Shadis notes that he is holding back, testing the waters of his opponent and pushes them to overcome their limits before deciding to finish it, His intelligence to strategize on the move is non like he ever scene, his combat fights demonstrates, predicting the opponents moves and forcing them to play by his rules. His personality tends to be one of humour but like Ackerman have complete control over his emotions and that's when he tends to be most dangerous. Is obsessed with his diary not allowing anyone to read it, goes through pencils too quickly, may need to requisition more of them for next shipment order. He keeps a knife of unique shape knife strapped to his leg, rarely uses it unless dire circumstances call for it.
Evaluating the cadets is his job but also allows the cadets to bond knowing that when they must pick either the Garrison or the Survey corps as only the top ten are allowed to join the military police, they need someone they can trust for an easy transition. Looking to the other drill instructors, proceeding to plan their little strategy exercise. Capture the flag or capture the soldiers. Maybe do both, seeing how well they can cope with the odds stack against each other debating the exercise will be longer than a day depending on how they handle their situations.
Also further wanting to see how the top two can go battling each other, his malicious grin etching across his face.
Training was to say the least exhausting, Shadis did not hold any punches when he said the second the year is tougher than the last year, true to his word as usual.
Being in the mess hall has its ups and downs where on one side has the usual quietness, where they can enjoy their meals and chat in private, then you have the rowdy side where everyone tends to get hyped and tensions builds to build between rivalries, this week does not have that luxury as tensions builds a the winning group has Meat, eye's darting and glowering to the five, as they scoff their meat eyeing one intruder constantly attempts of theft.
Jean had enough holding his fork to the next person who approached him "We won this fair and square, so back the fuck off" shouting at the devious hungry looking Sasha, being held back by Connie and Garrus, both unsurprised with her behaviour towards meat.
Everyone took the hint as even Eren was being territorial, but more cautious with Mikasa watches silently, giving dark glares to anyone who approaches his meal. Armin offered to share, to prevent any hassle with Marco stopping him, indicating if he does it once they will not relentlessly stop, causing Sasha to writhe closely to Armin. Connie on the other hand, took his food closer to the group knowing Sasha would coerce him through friendships and tricks to swipe any little meat he left.
Having enough Garrus roared dragging her struggling body to the nearest post, demanding someone to give him rope and proceed to tie said annoyance to said post. Three days this has continued, first day he found it amusing, second was getting annoying third day he lost his shit.
"Dammit Shit breath, get your head out that fucking obsession, you're not getting any and so am I, so be a good girl and sit" strengthening the knot on the other end of the post. Sasha's mouth now unnaturally frothing again.
'Seriously get this girl a Rabies shot!' Amused from the other end Alan calmly watches the spectacle, while Annie eats her food in front of her. Reiner and Bertholdt wondered to the end, preferring to get a better view of the show. Teasing Garrus's distress of the situation.
"what happened with you two on that mountain?" Annie inquired glancing to Alan, drawing his attention.
Preferring to look down at his book, rather answer the question, he sketches furiously pretending he didn't hear it.
"I won't ask again." Her tone being more agitated.
Sighing in defeat "Nothing actually happened Annie, what brought the question about?"
Annie nodding to the other side towards the individual constantly looking to their direction, whenever she isn't busy protecting Eren. "She been giving me the glare and constantly looks to you." Saying as a matter of fact "Don't think I didn't notice, whatever you two do is none of my business, but." Looking down to food once more "Be careful with her, she's a lot like you when she's quiet, dangerous" giving her opinion on the matter they sat in silence.
Alan looked up to the other side and gave the person staring at him, his little smile. Then drawing his own attention to his diary once more.
Mikasa blushed to his small smile, she kind of liked it, bringing a small smile to her own. Erens voice distracts her attention, when she prefers to look at the object with fascination.
"You like him don't you Mikasa?" pointing out his attentiveness to her eyes gazing. Blushing and drawing the scarf to her face.
"I don't know what you're talking about" Stoic as usual as Eren not convinced.
"Mikasa I know you too well, when you try to hide the truth from me you always draw that scarf up to your face hiding yourself" his features agitated, Eren doesn't like being lied to but he lets Mikasa get away with it since she's his sister.
Silence lingered until Mikasa began to speak, gaining his attention "Eren" finding the words to her voice, it's been three days since the mountain "Do you see me more than a sister?" finally releasing the question she wanted to ask for a very long time.
Startled at such a subtle confession, Eren mind start doing loops, yet his heart did not beat as any boy would. He never saw her that way, hell he even tried to entertain the idea but just couldn't picture it, his mind too focused on fighting the Titan's and his mother's death at their hands. Shaking the memory, he laid his eye's on Mikasa, seeing her face troubled other than the stoic expression she gives. Eren gulped.
"Mikasa" he began, seeing a little sparkle in her eyes 'this is going to be hard' "I love you as a Sister, as my family and I will never take that away from you, I will always have your back no matter what." Pausing for the words to sink in he continued, feeling this should have been in private, but Mikasa seem to need that answer now than never.
"I cherish you more than anything, as a brother would to a sibling, but I cannot give you more than that" guilt hitting him as her eye's lowers, that sparkle gone, brow creasing.
He wants to say sorry but, how could he? She asked for something he could not give, and it annoyed him, but it is what it is and she needs to accept that and move forward. Before he can say another word, she looked up giving a small smile, stopping him in his tracks.
"Thank you" she whispered a tear strolling down her cheek, Eren caught it and gently wiped it away.
"Don't cry, never cry about that, just smile" giving a smile of his own, nodding they returned to their food, Eren sneaking a piece of meat to her plate, which she hid under her mashed potatoes, smiling in thanks.
Eye's widening Sasha gave out a strangled cry witnessing such a crime when it should have been her to receive it "GAAAAAAAAH" before she could get another word out, Garrus gagged her with a full potato from his own plate.
"WILL YOU JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP" roaring towards her, patience snapped "Here have this fucking potato before you kill us all with your shitty breath" ramming the potato further into her mouth until only muffles and sobs in between each nibble of said rammed potato.
"Jeez Woman, never do I have to babysit such a pain in the arse" Garrus grunted with his friends snickering at his amusement. Sitting closely to the pain in case she causes more trouble.
Sasha glowering towards him, yet thankful he shared his own food to her, taking this a victory in it's weird little way, she slowly chomps, cheeks hurting on the potato he carelessly jammed in her mouth, She be having a sore jaw at the end of this for sure. But content for the time being, wishing this week to be over through the torturous meat not being in her stomach.
Deciding she needed fresh air, she slipped unawares through the door, allowing the breeze to gentle caress her cheeks.
Her heart and mind battled with each other, her mind saddened by the rejection, but her heart was glad for the release it deserved, now she knows that Eren can not be hers, she felt free as the chains that bound her crumpled to the ground. Unsure why the feeling felt right, gazing to the night sky, the stars shining with the Full moon beaming down illuminating the ground below.
This world can be so cruel, but moments like these is the moments she finds when they are at their most beautiful. Tears falling as she can no longer fight back after the rejection. Walking to the edge of the camp to the entrance of the mountain pass, she solemnly stared at the ragged rocks formations, thinking back to her fear and pain, as he fell. Why is she feeling like this towards him? She only knew him for a whole year, but Eren for longer. What has he done to me? Gazing to the floor, fighting for the answers that couldn't come.
Is she refusing to see those feelings as something to be happy or would it only give her heartache. Her mind couldn't decide the turmoil.
The flash of a memory came quick as it came, bringing the blood flor to her cheeks, wondering what would have happened if those lips met. Smiling for longest she ever smiled for, retreating to barracks, awaiting her slumber.
Armin watched from afar, worried for her, for he heard her confession, followed by rejection, seeing her now, he gathered that she will be ok for the time being, looking back to the mess hall knowing he had something to do with her change. Happy that it went well, returning to Eren who awaits his reaction to the missing sister and friend who sneaked off without notice to those who are not paying attention.
Alan stood at the doorframe, bumping into Armin, apologising for his tardiness.
"Are you looking for Mikasa?" Armin inquired, receiving a blink or two, smiling as Armin shook his head "Something changed between the two of you on that mountain, just look after her" before returning back inside.
Caught off guard, blinking while registering what happened, he looked over to the retreating shadow, heading towards the female barracks, looking down, frowning, conflicted in his own mind.
A hand laid on his shoulder, followed with a gentle squeeze whirling his head to look into brown eyes belonging to Reiner who in turn watching the figure retreating in the distance.
"For as long I know you brother, you never hesitated" his glare boring into him "Not since we met and not now" Alan looking back to the figure now gone, he sighed.
"First time Reiner" pausing to see if the answers would come to him "I don't know what to do, all these years, I survived, for so damn long, ever since..." halting his words the memory to painful, his eyes following down his leg to the knife strapped to it. Haunting him.
"Say no more about that, we are soldiers, we push through like we always have" Reiner reminding him "What was it you always said even in moments of being unsure?"
"We keep moving forward" the phrase escaping his lips, as if he recited it all his life.
"Exactly, you keep moving forward" glancing over to the sky "Remember when we first met, you was holding that thing" nodding to the knife on his leg "You was so scared, scared about what happened and what would happen if you was on your own"
Alan was silent, stoic expression across his face remembering it all to well "You took me in, when no one would, you're the first to accept me for who I was and what I can do" smiling to that distant memory as if it felt like a lifetime ago.
"Yeah I did, and I still do" his smile fading to a small content smile "We are, who we are, and no one can change that" leaving the silence to linger between, leaving no words needing to be spoken.
"You do what you feel is right, but never forget Alan, don't ever forget" stretching his arms, the crack of his joints, releasing the tension Reiner wanted to get in. "Let's get back inside, I hear Garrus is about to release the beast and hell, I'm sure I don't want to miss it"
Laughing Alan returning with him glancing back to the distance, a small smile reaching the corner of his lips.
Garrus tentatively watching the tied up crazy who apparently fell asleep with bits of food falling out of her mouth causing him to grimace at the sight, 'this girl tends to get tied up a lot' thinking it may have been him doing most of it, shaking his head, holding onto a blunt knife starts cutting the thick ropes. Grunting as he tried to cut it open.
"You need to convince her to get over her obsession of meat" Jean calmly stating, receiving a glare from Garrus.
"Did you just seriously just say that Kirstein? You think I haven't tried?" glaring daggers, with Jean only Shrugging.
"Well you seem to get along with her just fine since you shared food with that crazy food lover" receiving an even angrier glare.
"Fucking hell Kirstein, you try convincing her, it's like fighting a sword battle with her with a fucking spoon" waving his arm showing the sleeping shit breath in all her glory "But no since I shove a potato in her mouth, we must be close, next time I bend her over and ram it up her arse" halting his words, blushing at the image, maybe that wouldn't be a bad idea, she can literally shit it out.
Disgusted at the image Jean revolted "hell Garrus, I do not want to have that image in my head" Marco nearby chuckling "What you laughing at Marco? Want to see that potato go up there" pointing to Sasha.
Connie laughed tears strolling his cheeks "She be eating it as well" receiving a mass disgusting wretch as the onlookers heaving at the thought.
"Would explain the shit breath" Garrus pulling a look of pure disgust, "Oh well, ladies you can drag this sorry excuse of a woman, I'm hitting the sack"
A simple chuckle from Sasha "Heh, sack and ass" snoring back to sleep, causing Garrus to stare at her with rage, he has half a mind to just throw her in the canyon, deciding against it, for the time being.
Mina and Ymir carrying the passed-out Sasha by the arms and legs, with Christa walking by the side in case she wakes up, heads back to the female barracks, smiling at the situation.
Sighing they too head back to their barracks, waiting for peaceful slumber.
Rocks falling, buildings on fire, his blue eyes, frantically looking around as a crowd surrounds him, he looks down to see a pale man, his eyes casting shadow over his face, his hair short as if military, brown as the dirt looking up for his blues eye's meeting his own dark blues, inaudible sound escapes his lips, kneeling further down, until a gigantic hand reached down, grasping the disappearing form, the small boy cried out, arms reaching as he watched the hand disappear.
Tears flowing down his sides as the knife appeared in his hand as if the air formed around it, a flash of yellow lightning came out the blue with the plated titan, with hair brown as the dirt they walked on, standing tall, gazing down upon him, contemplating as it stared at the frail boy in rags, kneeling down it out stretched hand moves towards him.
Dark Blue eye's shot open, jolting up, Alan clung to his chest trying to catch his breath, sweat furiously dropping down his head, hands shaking, as he fought tears, again threatening to be released.
He could never forget the Titan that reached, pulling the diary from underneath his pillow, eyes strained against the dim light the moon allowed to give, he read from the beginning, to the point the wall had fell, his handwriting has improved over the years, as he compared between the two. He read the pages before the day the walls collapsed, glancing between the pages, the writing was happy and so positive, so full of life, no drawings, just happy thoughts as the farmer hands him food, as he looked over to few kids running in the streets, content to the world he lived in, now the pages are filled with thoughts, personal feelings as all his pent up feelings was written the pages, with drawings that crossed his mind, in need to be put down to paper as soon as it comes.
One page is the drawing of himself, as he was the little boy in rags, the three titans looming and the plated titan. Shaking the memory, wishing to forget that moment, he skimmed through, drawings of Bertholdt and Reiner, Annie too. But the ones that caught his eye is Mikasa, how he captured her smile, that rare happy smile that moment when he first saw it, like he was blessed to see how beautiful she was. Blinking at the thought that just crossed. Closing the diary, to only stare out the window next to his bed. Wishing things were different in some ways, shaking his head to the negative thought there's only one thing can do.
Is to only move forward, entertaining the idea with her walking by him, with that beautiful smile, clinging onto that memory. Allowing to fall to sleep once more.
Morning came too quickly for his liking, hearing the usual sniggering, assuming the daily routine of predicting the weather, glancing over to see the form, to his surprise, Bertholdt is now performing the handstand, arms bent as he rested on his neck and shoulders.
This time Armin took his turn, inspecting each formation closely.
"I predict a really sunny day, with cool winds" confirming his evaluation.
"I think some rain would come, seeing how he can piss down" Connie argued pointing to his legs being straight in the air, causing the group to howl out loud tears escaping their eyes as they gasp for breath.
"come on guys let's get some breakfast" Reiner ordered, all agreeing in unison.
The next few days have been simple yet strange, Drill instructor Shadis, had the whole 104th corps doing cleaning and simple training, he had them clean their equipment, demanding it to be in top form, for in the next day, would have another special exercise, which would take as long as it can. He is not pulling his punches on their second year.
Alan guessed that this month, with 3 weeks remaining is to test their skills, or his evaluation on how to work with the cadets he has, seems fair and throwing them in the deep end seem to not settle well with others except for Eren.
"think about it, he's getting us to stand on our own two feet" proclaiming his theory "The Titans won't allow us to breath so why shouldn't we be ready for such" some voicing their agreement Alan included, Mikasa just nodded, her eyes remaining on him.
Jean countered saying if they drop dead of exhaustion they might as well be titan food, stating the obvious, with another chorus of agreement, which as usual a heated confrontation erupted from the two.
Shaking his head, Alan returned to inspecting his ODM for any cracks that needs attention, feeling someone just stood next to him, seeing to his surprise Mikasa to be there, also inspecting her ODM, 'when did she get there?' sceptical returning his attention to his ODM.
Awkward silence lingered between the two, unsure how to proceed, their feelings in conflict, clashing like a raging storm, before Mikasa can say anything, Mina, appeared out of nowhere facing to Alan.
"Hi, erm" her face going red finding the words, Mikasa noticing the blushing, directing towards Alan, her heart beating fast and sudden horrible crept into her stomach, once not liking the feeling, she now despises it. "Can you help me with my wires please" Mina pleaded, Alan blinking, unsure what to do, opened his mouth to answer, but closing it, sensing daggers shooting passed him or either towards him. Feeling this is one of moments that either choice would spell his death, spotting Reiner, he tried to mentally signal his attention.
'Come on you big oaf, read me, READ ME' pleading within his mind, Reiner glanced to his direction, to his grin getting wider 'smug bastard' with his grin losing the effect as he looked behind to the person glaring darkly. His eye's widened indicating it as an Oh Shit you need help. Chuckling to himself Reiner head over behind Mina.
"Hey guys need any help?" Reiner confidently asked.
Mina pouted towards the interruption but non the less turned to Reiner "Yeah can you help with the wires in my ODM, I seem to get it stuck somehow"
Reiner giving his warm smile "Certainly, it is our duty to help each other" walking away with Mina turning his sides, giving the thumbs up with a smug grin, 'Smug Bastard'.
Alan never been so thankful, Reiner has his back again, he got to repay him someway or another, chuckling to his rescue.
Mikasa features relaxed, now stoic yet again, she needs to keep an eye on Mina. Shaking the dark thought, no, that's just jealousy getting to her, she's better than that, went back to the content silence, no longer awkward.
Alan glances to her direction as she did the same, their eyes catching each other, quickly returning their attention to their respective gear. Blushes creeping to their face, yet a small smile forming on their faces.
No words need to be said as their presence calms each other, content with their task.
Garrus watching the whole thing, quite jealous, ignoring the presence next to him, all he heard the whole day is her being relieved that the torture is finally over, 'jeez it's only fucking meat' then remembering th rabbit meat he ate, which was succulent and juicy, enjoying the memory of him eating it while Sasha was tied up, ah that was a memory and the way he smacks her arse, that soft round bouncy arse, glancing down perving onto her rear, only to see her face red. Blinking 'is she enjoying my attention'
"Err Shit breath?" startling her "Why are you red? Did you eat a tomato?"
Stuttering her words "No Scarface I'm just seeing how you're just perving on my ass" stating it loudly, questioning looks now targeting Garrus.
Going red himself, he's the one stuttering "Why would I look at that shitty area? If I were to look at it I be expecting shit to roll down your leg, so I wouldn't step in it"
Puffing her cheeks and shooting daggers, she turned to her gear muttering "Pervert", causing the man to be a loss of words.
Both red in the cheeks, Sasha took the chance to look at his rear in revenge before suddenly thinking 'If only I could get a piece of that' before shaking her head at the sudden lustful thought, disgusted with herself.
Daz watching the whole thing "You guys should get a room" instantly daggers shot at him, quieting him from fear as the two beetroot faced from either from embarrassment or rage, chuckling quietly to himself, content to his own little work the ODM gear in front.
Having a feeling that tomorrow would be an exhausting exercise.