Jonathan sat with Eren, Mikasa, and Armin and they were all eating happily. Well Jonathan was eating happily mostly because he was also eating Armin's food. "Wow… Jonathan you sure do eat a lot…" Armin said looking at Jonathan and watching as he shoved bread into his mouth, Jonathan ate to fast though and now he was full. Jonathan looked at the last piece of bread.
"Mikasa you want it?" Jonathan asked blushing at her and smiling.
"No thanks Jonathan. Thanks for asking though…" Mikasa said looking at Jonathan, she weirdly made eye contact with him which is something that she rarely did with others. But then Jonathan felt someone looking over his shoulders, Mikasa looked at the person and then turned back to her own food.
"Hey… Jonathan right…" It was potato girl, well Sasha… Jonathan turned to Sasha and she was right in his face causing Jonathan to blush extremely deeply. "May… I have your bread?" She asked putting her hands together almost begging.
"O-Of course Sasha!" Jonathan still blushed because of how close Sasha was.
"Thank you!" Sasha's eyes lit up and the next thing he knew his bread was gone, and she quickly bit and ate it getting some crumbs on Jonathan. "Thank you so much Jonathan!" Sasha said smiling at him.
"N-No problem Sasha…" Jonathan said blushing still because of how uncomfortably close she was.
Jonathan wasn't paying attention to Eren because he was focusing on Sasha and the fact that she ate bread in two bites. Eren was talking about his plans and talking about the titans, and how his mother was eaten. People could tell them that they were getting extremely upset with the questions and a rather tall boy named Marco stepped in he had freckles and had black hair. "Guys.. let's not ask Eren more questions…" Marco said.
"It's fine… I'm fine Marco. But I swore to kill all of these damn titans…" Eren said.
"Yeah…. Okay. I'm assuming you want to join the scouts? Why would you join the scouts just to die nameless?" A boy named Jean asked, all that Jonathan knew was that Jean was almost as tall as him and he looked like a horse. His face… looked like a horse.
"Of course you wouldn't understand Jean. You're taking the easy way out by joining the military police…" Eren said as he got up, Jonathan wanted to stop him but honestly he wanted to see where this was going.
"What did you say?" Jean asked getting into his face and then pushing Eren. Jonathan's eyebrows raised as that happened and then he quickly got up as he saw Eren throw a punch to the side of the head. Jean held his head and then everyone backed up except Jonathan and Reiner, Reiner apprehended Jean and Jonathan grabbed Eren. Since they were both rather big they were able to hold them back.
"Calm down Eren!" Jonathan shouted.
Shadis heard all of the commotion, he put his hand in his face as he walked up to the cabin. 'I only left for a few hours and already everything has gone to hell.' Shadis burst through the dinning hall extremely angry. "What the hell his going on in here!" Shadis voice boomed throughout the whole hall which caused the cadets to slightly cower in fear.
Jonathan couldn't speak he was to nervous, Reiner was the first one to spoke up. "Just a little fight, sir. We have it handled." Reiner said letting go of Jean, Jonathan did the same and then let go of Eren.
"Mhm, are you sure you have it handled?" Shadis asked, his eyes almost turning red.
"Yes sir." Reiner said looking slightly unfazed.
"Alright. Everyone out…" Shadis said, "We are going to sleep." Shadis walked out not turning back at them.
"You could've let me hit him another time…" Eren said looking at Jonathan.
Jonathan thought he was kidding or at least hoped. "It would be unfair since Reiner already had him…" Jonathan commented. "Maybe later when we graduate…" Jonathan played with the hair of Eren and Eren pushed his hand off.
"I'm the same age as you Jonathan…" Eren said crossing his arms embarrassed.
"Eren." Eren turned his head and Mikasa was there. "He said it's time for bed, come on." Mikasa grabbed the arm of Eren. Jonathan stood there chuckling into his hand, that's when Mikasa looked at Jonathan. "You to, Jonathan." Mikasa said.
"Awww…" Jonathan whined as he turned around with Eren and then they both walked into the boys room, luckily it wasn't all musty and hot in there it was actually pretty cool… Jonathan laid on his bed and then soon drifted off to sleep.
"How…. Does he sleep like that?" Jonathan asked with Eren as they looked at Bertholdt. Bertholdt was a tall 6'4 boy, he was really… really tall. He also seemed to be shy since he never talked a lot which was strange considering he was 6'4 he had nothing to be scared about. Bertholdt was sleeping in a weird position, his back was against the wall with his legs in the air the back of his head was on the bed and he had his hands crossed.
"I don't know…" Eren said looking at him, it was quite weird but at the same time quite amazing. Jonathan didn't know Bertholdt and he kind of wanted to meet him, he seemed like a nice enough kid. "We better go for our morning jog, or else Shadis will make us all run."
"Aren't we already running with the jog?" Jonathan asked looking at Eren weirdly. Eren thought about it for a moment.
"Not the Shadis way, he will try and kill us… anyways come on." Eren said walking out.
"One second." Jonathan called after him and then he turned to look at Bertholdt sleeping, he was awake and looked at Jonathan blushing out of embarrassment. Jonathan jumped backwards running into Reiner and Jonathan swiftly turned around again and jumped. "Oh my goodness! You guys are trying to give me a heart attack!" Jonathan said holding his heart.
"Why are you looking at Bertholdt?" Reiner asked looking at Bertholdt as he got up.
"I thought it was unique the way he was sleeping!" Jonathan said defensively not trying to get into a fight with Reiner.
"Oh, yeah it can be unique to see especially if you haven't seen him before… Bertholdt meet Jonathan." Reiner said, Jonathan turned around and extended his hand and Bertholdt nervously shook it. Jonathan figured Bertholdt was extremely shy.
"Hi… my name is Jonathan Rhodes." Jonathan said patting Bertholdt on the shoulder.
"Oh. That's nice my name is Bertholdt." Bertholdt said, Jonathan already knew that but whatever.
"I haven't seen you guys inside the walls. Where have you guys been?" Jonathan asked looking both at Bertholdt and Reiner.
"We come from a place outside the walls…" Bertholdt said as Reiner eyed him.
"It's our hometown." Reiner said.
"What's the name of your hometown?" Jonathan asked, he was interrupted by the presence of Shadis.
"Rhodes! Braun! Hoover! Come on!" Shadis shouted as he stood in the way.
"Yes! Sir!" All three of them said as they headed out and then went for their jog.
After the jog, they were supposed to do a ODM gear test. Everyone seemed to keep their balance, Jonathan got on and felt himself slightly losing his balance but quickly regained it back. Mainly using his abdominal muscles to try and keep himself up, and it worked. But Eren, Eren had a problem with using the ODM gear, because he fell flat on his face Jonathan wanted to laugh but honestly the fall looked like it hurt. Mikasa, Armin, and Jonathan helped him up and then god him out of the gear. "Yeager, I'm afraid if you cannot balance on your gear then you cannot pass… I'll give you another chance later…" Shadis said with the look of disapproval.
"Y-Yes sir!" Eren said, as everyone left Mikasa, Armin and Jonathan stayed. To help him out, Jonathan tended to Eren's slight wounds and Eren seemed thankful so did Mikasa.
"Okay, Eren the key is to use your abdominal region. To keep yourself up." Jonathan said as he put on his gear and then put himself in the machine and was able to keep himself up. "It should be easier for you considering the fact that you are much smaller than me. If Bertholdt can do it, you can do it you have a strong center of gravity taller people tend to have a weak center of gravity." Jonathan was able to balance for a while but then fell on his face. "Ow!" Jonathan shouted as Armin and Mikasa helped him out. "Okay don't get cocky Eren." Jonathan said feeling his wound.
"I'll help him you get Eren Armin…" Mikasa said putting Jonathan on a crate. She looked at the wound and then wrapped it up, it was on his forehead so it didn't block his sight. "You need water?"
"That would be nice…" Jonathan blushed as Mikasa looked at him, she looked really cute to him. Mikasa went to go get him some water also looking at Eren, he was still not getting it luckily Armin was there to catch him.
Mikasa came back with water and gave Jonathan some. "Anything else?"
"No you have done more than enough…" jonathans said smiling at her, "Hey…"
"Hm?" Mikasa asked.
"I'm sorry for leaving you and Eren. In Shiganshina." Jonathan said looking at Mikasa.
"Jonathan, were fine now. What happened back then was horrifying but it's behind us now." Mikasa said as she sat down next to Jonathan looking at Eren fail over and over again. "Plus, your mom was hell bent on getting you out. "
Jonathan took a swig of the water and it was nice a cold. "I-I know, I just feel like I could've helped more. My mom is still alive, we could've stayed together."
"But Eren, and I also have a mom." Mikasa said.
"But, I feel like I could've helped. Last night, I didn't know his mom died from the encounter…" Jonathan said frowning.
"Jonathan, you are putting way to much pressure on yourself." Mikasa said putting a hand on his shoulder. "That is the way the world goes…"
"Mikasa… you…" Jonathan noticed her scarf and Mikasa saw the look in his eyes.
"That's right… I didn't tell you. I, uhm… you see… Eren." She seemed extremely uncomfortable talking about this. Jonathan got up.
"You don't have to continue, maybe later Mikasa." Jonathan said.
"Really? Okay thanks.." Mikasa said with her eyebrows slightly raising. "Come on let's help Eren. He is graduating with us whether he likes it or not…"
"Thanks for the chat Mikasa." Jonathan said holding out a fist, Mikasa was shocked by this and then looked at Jonathan. "What it's a fist bump."
"Oh." Mikasa bumped fists with Jonathan, and then kept on walking. "Feels weird…"
"You haven't done one before?" Jonathan asked.
"No, not at all…" Mikasa said, "I could get used to it." Mikasa said putting her fist out again, Jonathan hit another fist bump.
Jonathan smiled, but Mikasa didn't. 'Why doesn't she smile, she probably has the most beautiful smile ever. She is already beautiful…' Mikasa noticed the long stare Jonathan was giving her. She hid her face using her scarf, it was hot out Jonathan wondered why she had it on. "Mikasa… why do you have that scarf?" He asked.
"That's a story for later…" Mikasa said turning her head watching Eren fail again but Armin caught him.
"Alright, Armin Mikasa. You guys have Eren right?" Jonathan asked.
"Yeah…" Mikasa said.
"I'm going to… check on that girl…" Jonathan said looking at some random girl in the forest who was running.
"That's Annie. Be careful with her…" Mikasa said eyeing her.
"She looks sweet…" Jonathan said out loud and then covered his mouth blushing deeply. "I mean nice!" Jonathan said. That incident caused Eren to cheer up laughing at him but then suddenly he fell back. Armin caught him.
"Good luck." Mikasa said holding her fist up again, Jonathan gave her another fist bump.
"You are getting really used to this." Jonathan said smirking at her. Mikasa nodded with her scarf still over her face and then Jonathan walked over and then looked at the girl known as Annie. Jonathan looked at her and started walking over.
"What." Annie said not looking at him, Jonathan saw her piercing blue eyes. Jonathan walked up to her.
"Hi there.. your name is Annie right?" Jonathan putting his hand out and then Annie stared at the hand. "Mine is Jonathan."
"If you came here to make friends you picked the wrong place buddy…" Annie said coldly.
'Ow….' Jonathan thought.
"But you did have the courage to come up to me." Annie shook the hand, "I'll give you that you're gutsy. My name is Annie, Annie Leonhardt."
"Jonathan Rhodes." Jonathan said smirking at her. "I see you like doing martial arts!"
"I don't like doing it, it's one of the things I do. Anyways it isn't needed or fighting titans." Annie said, Annie looked over Jonathan he looked like a nervous wreck.
"Can I join you?" He asked nervously. "I heard my father did martial arts. My mom showed me some moves."
"Did he do it or did he not…" Annie said staring at him.
"I don't know. My mother said he did, she never lies. I never got to see my father." Jonathan said looking at Annie, Annie felt slightly bad for bringing up that memory for him.
"Okay. But keep up, come on let's go for a jog." Annie said jogging.
'Oh god running. My worst enemy…' Jonathan followed her but was much slower.
Eren fell on his head hard. "Eren!" Mikasa shouted helping Eren up. "That is enough training for today!"
"But Mikasa! I can't do it!" Eren said getting out of his gear and Mikasa helped him up. "How come you Armin, Jonathan, and the rest of the people can do it but I can't! How do I get up to your level!"
"Just… move… on Eren." Mikasa said touching Eren on his shoulders. "I wouldn't have the strength to kill those intruders if you never came, I heard the pain in your voice… I heard the anger and it awoke something inside of me…" Mikasa said surprisingly not blinking or breaking eye contact with Eren. "You gave me this scarf, and I always keep it… on me… both of our parents our dead… but we move on… and we get stronger."
"Mikasa…" Eren tried to say something but Mikasa cut him off.
"I told Jonathan, and I'll tell you it's a beautiful but very dangerous world…" Mikasa said as she sighed, Armin came over.
"Armin?" Eren asked looking over at him.
"We should probably take a break." Armin said looking at Eren and putting his hand on his shoulder.
"No! How are you guys so much better than I am!" Eren said frustrated as he looked at Mikasa. "Jonathan! Armin! Jean! Sasha! Connie! And you! They all can do this but somehow I cannot!"
Mikasa tried attempts to calm him down failed, miserably. Little did they know Shadis was looking on from his office, 'Such strong warriors…' Shadis thought as he looked at Eren who was storming away. 'I made a promise… a promise… that I probably…. Cannot keep…' Shadis got up and then opened his door to see Annie running, Jonathan… was lollygagging behind. Shadis just remembered Alan Rhodes every time he looks at Jonathan, it seems like he could not escape… those memories… he left Alan and his comrades in the woods to die. He had a choice, but everyone else thought he was a hero everyone else thought that he had no choice…
"Annie!" Jonathan shouted as he was walking behind her, "I cant run anymore!"
"You last longer than other people I'll give you that." She said looking at him and then throwing a towel at him, "Use that you are extremely sweaty…" Jonathan caught the towel and then started to wipe himself down.
"Where are you from?" Jonathan asked looking at Annie.
"Same as Bertholdt and Reiner, we came from a place outside of the walls…" Annie said.
"But where…" Jonathan asked.
"A village… it didn't have a name since it was a small village…" Annie said looking at Jonathan, "We barely escaped."
During the night, Eren was looking around begging people for help. Jonathan was just standing and closing his eyes, until he heard Eren crying out for some help.
"Come on guys! You know your way around ODM gears! You have to help me!" Eren said looking at both a small shaven boy and Jean… the boy that Eren got into a fight with. Jonathan knew it could turn ugly, but they didn't look like they wanted to fight. Infact they were taunting Eren.
"Well… I do happen to know my way around the ODM gear…" The shaven boy's name was Connie Springer. He was a alright soldier, but he needed to shut his mouth most of the time. He was bragging and going about like he was the next best thing.
"Please come on guys! I'm begging you!" Eren begged.
"Eren, I thought you were the one who said. If you couldn't handle the pressure then you should leave?" Connie asked smirking at him, Jonathan wanted to fight them but he figured it wasn't worth it.
In the same night, Jonathan heard them again talking but this time they were talking with Bertholdt and Reiner. Jonathan didn't want to interfere considering he was tired as hell but also he could tell, Eren had been doing this for a while and was probably getting on the nerves of everyone.
"Come on you guys have to help me!" Eren said, "Reiner! Bertholdt!"
"Sorry.. kid, there is no trick to hang in thee for a few seconds. If you want advice I'm not your guy." Reiner said looking at Eren.
"Wait… why do you guys want to be soldiers? You guys are from Shiganshina right? So you saw first hand how terrifying those titans are…" Bertholdt asked looking at both Armin and Eren.
"J-Jonathan was there with us… He saw the titans first hand to…" Armin commented, "I really didn't see any, but I heard that Eren was right near one."
"I was…" Eren said bowing his head.
"Refresh my memory, Jonathan is the guy who is rather tall with the long hair right." Reiner asked.
"Correct." Jonathan couldn't help himself but get into the conversation. He got down from the bunk and then looked at both of them, "Mind if I sit?" Jonathan asked. They all seemed to be in agreement so Jonathan sat with them.
"I don't think I told Jonathan this yet. But I told him we were from a village outside of the walls, we were the last ones to get the news… the titans… they were right on top of us…" Bertholdt said as he looked down at nothing. "After that…. Everything was a blur…"
"Hey, don't get yourself worked up now." Reiner said putting a hand on his shoulder.
"All I know is, all five of us… aren't like them…." Bertholdt stated as he looked at a lantern…
"Hey… come on Bertholdt. You need some fresh air." Reiner said getting up. "You're all invited to join us."
All the five of them started walking on a trail, talking about the walls, being a soldier, and their childhoods. "-and I'm still sorry… about leaving you Eren." Jonathan said looking back at Eren. Jonathan's face was illuminated by the gas lamp which was the only light that was being given off except the moon. "I know it's…" Jonathan sighed deeply.
"It's not your fault Jonathan." Eren said, "What happened. Happened, it's over now." Eren was getting a bit pissed off by Jonathan always apologizing and Jonathan could sense the anger in his voice.
"Eren, calm down." Reiner said looking back at them. "Jonathan, I never asked this. Why did you join the cadets?"
"My father, I wanted to follow the footsteps in my father. And kill the titans, I actually heard that he was on a mission with Shadis." Jonathan said as he looked at Reiner.
"I hope you know what your getting into. I don't mean to be rude… but your father didn't die from regular causes. He died because of a titan." Reiner said looking back making sure he didn't offend him.
"I-I know…" Jonathan said looking down as he felt miserable. Armin comforted him patting him on the back, Jonathan turned around and flashed a slight smile at Armin. "Why did you join?"
"To someday… take back and go back to my hometown. That's my only goal…" Reiner said staring straight ahead and not looking back at Jonathan. "Now… Eren… about that ODM gear."
"Yeah?" Eren asked looking at both of them.
"I'll help you…" Reiner said as they exited the forest and saw the moon and the lake down below.
"That's…. beautiful…" Jonathan said looking at Armin.
"Yeah… it really is…" Armin said smiling.
"Sometimes reminds you that you have to look around… and see the sights sometimes…" Jonathan said.
"You think that is great? Just wait until you see the ocean!" Armin said.
"You're still set on seeing the ocean aren't you?" Jonathan asked.
"Of course I am…" Armin said smiling at Jonathan, he knew that they would see the ocean. He read it in the books, and books don't lie.
"A couple of sessions, and you will be able to hang." Reiner said looking at Eren. "Yeager… Eren Yeager right."
"Correct…" Eren said.
"I'll make sure that you pass…" Reiner said looking off into the moonlight.
Today was the day, after all training and practicing that Eren did yesterday. Eren was walking towards the ODM testing area, where he had to balance for a while. Jonathan put a hand on his shoulder, Eren surprised turns around.
"You got it." Jonathan said looking down at Eren, "I believe in you."
"Thanks Jonathan." Eren said smiling back at him as Eren walked up to the ODM balance machine. He strapped himself in, and then closed his eyes for a second hoping that he could stay there for ten seconds. They lifted him up.
Jonathan was praying for Eren, and Jonathan saw him balancing but quickly saw Eren panic and then lose his balance. Nobody said anything, they just looked down at Eren who didn't clench a fist he didn't even shout. Shadis looked on in disappointment, but something popped into his head. Shadis looked around and then saw Marco. "Marco." Shadis stated.
"Yes sir?" Marco asked walking up to Shadis.
"Give Eren your gear…" Shadis said, Eren looked up at this and his eyes widened. Was Shadis really going to give him another chance? "Put it on Eren."
Shadis handed the gear to Eren and Eren put it on. He got back into the machine and was then lifted up, for a few seconds it didn't look like he would fall…. He was staying there! He wasn't falling! Jonathan wanted to clap but he would probably distract Eren. Eren was able to stay there for ten seconds! When Eren did that and got off Jonathan wanted to rush over to him but he figured Shadis would make him run if he did that.
"Congratulations Yeager, you pass…" Shadis said still showing no emotion in his face. Eren looked extremely excited, Shadis still had something to say. "In a few weeks there will be a wilderness test. If you guys pass that, you will be able to graduate." Shadis said looking at all the cadets. "Dismissed." Shadis said as he then walked away.
"Eren!" As soon as Jonathan walked away Jonathan was there and lifted Eren up hugging him tightly.
"Whoa!" Eren was surprised at how strong Jonathan was as he lifted him up.
"I knew that you would be coming with us!" Jonathan said smiling and then putting him down gently.
"Remember Jonathan, we don't pass until we do the wilderness training." Eren said trying to calm him down. Jonathan hugged him again, "Jonathan!" Eren was embarrassed by this behavior from Jonathan.
"I'm sorry I'm just so happy for you!" Jonathan said smiling and then moving back, "Sorry…" He apologized again and looked at Mikasa and Armin.
"We should probably rest now, we still have training later. Remember that run through the woods that we are doing today." Mikasa said looking at Eren and Jonathan.
"Oh yeah that's right. I'll take a nap now, that would probably be a good idea." Jonathan said as he started to walk away, he paused and then turned around. "You guys should to."
"Yeah, that's a good idea." Eren said following Jonathan.