DISCLAIMER: I do not own Shingeki no Kyojin! The characters, plot, etc are owned by Hajime Isayama. I do own Inari, Shepp, and Kitty and any other creations/adaptions in this story. I hope you enjoy my story! Read. Review. Favorite. Follow. Enjoy!
Chapter 5
Time Skip…
(Levi's POV)
People are cruel. People are two-faced. People just suck. And yet, every life is precious. Sadly, I am taught this lesson every day of my life. Being a part of the Scouting Regiment is a depressing, grueling, stressful experience. It has its good days and its bad days, its busy days, and its slow days, its short days and its long days. Unfortunately, today was a bad, busy, long day.
I am accompanying Commander Erwin and Corporal Hanji to the military training camp to scout out possible recruits. We will be staying here for a few days, which is of great inconvenience to me, since I was in the middle of deep cleaning my office and room before we left. Anyway, the 100th Trainee Squad is graduating in a month, so we plan to speak with a few beforehand. I was recently promoted to "Corporal Levi," so I have to scout my own recruits for my new squad. I wouldn't say I'm a leader, but Erwin has faith in me, so I must trust his judgement.
Damn, my boots are all dusty now. Why would they put a camp in a fucking desert? I'll have to scrub them tonight. We enter the camp through the large wooden gate and make our way to the main building. There, Erwin introduces himself, Hanji, and I to the Trainee Squad commander stationed here. He introduces himself as Commander Shadis.
Erwin and Shadis talk nonsense as he leads us to the mess hall, since we had arrived just as lunch was starting. Hanji rattles my ears off with her latest titan experiments, though I don't really pay attention. I just keep my eyes trained ahead, blocking everything else out. The hall is alive with chatter, yet it becomes hushed when we enter. All eyes are trained on us.
Shadis yells, "Listen up! These good people here are Commander Erwin Smith, Corporal Hanji Zoe, and Corporal Levi Ackerman. They will be here to view your hard work and if you're lucky, specially invite you into the Scouting Regiment. Show them respect. Now, as you were."
The chatter picks back up and we make our way to a secluded table. As we walk down the center aisle, my heart nearly stops.
No…
It can't be possible!?
I stared at her dead, cold eyes.
My body reacts on its own.
Isa-… Isabel, she… she…
"Isabel!?"
…
(Inari's POV)
Levi. That name sounds familiar, but where? I quickly brush it aside when Petra tries to steal my loaf of bread from my plate.
"Isabel!?" Someone shouts behind me, then a hand grabs my shoulder, nearly spinning me off of the bench.
There, staring at me with steely, cold grey eyes, is the man Commander Shadis said was Corporal Levi. He stares at me with a look of shock, despair, and utter-disbelief.
"What?" I stutter. What did he say?
"Isa-"he says, but stops when Commander Erwin grips his shoulder. Levi looks to Erwin with a look of confusion then back at me. "This can't be," he whispers, dropping his hand from my shoulder. I release a breath I didn't know I was holding. His eyes cloud over and he takes a step back.
"Is something the matter?" I ask him.
"No-nothing. You just look like someone dear to me, but you can't be her," he says quietly.
"Uh…"
"I'm sorry if I scared you," he says and turns to follow Erwin, but looks at me again and says, "Tch, you have crumbs on your cheek… just like her." Then he leaves.
What the hell was that about? Though, I can't shake the name. Where have I heard "Levi" before? Shepp, who sits across from me, clears his throat, grasping my attention.
"You do have crumbs on your cheek," he laughs and reaches across the table, wiping the crumbs from my cheek. I roll my eyes and stab my fork into my chicken.
"The next time someone touches me, they are getting a black eye," I grumble. In response, Petra, Shepp, and Kitty jokingly move their hands forward as if they were going to touch me. I wield my fork threateningly, "I'm warning you." They all laugh and go back to their conversations and their food. I pop the piece of my chicken into my mouth, chewing aggressively.
"Easy there, tiger. Show some class. We are being watched," Kitty says, pointing to the table with our newly arrived guests, including the aloof Levi.
Shepp turns to her and pokes her arm, "I doubt they'll be judging us on table etiquette. Maybe on uniform attire," he gestures to her unbuttoned collar, brazenly showing cleavage.
"It was hot today. I didn't want to sweat so much," Kitty says defensively.
"Nu-uh. I saw you unbutton it when you caught sight of Erwin. You planning to seduce him with your tiny tits?" Shepp teases her further.
"Why would you be staring at my chest, Shepherd Harland? You like the view?" she teases back, lifting her boobs up a bit with her hands.
Shepp's cheeks turn red and he turns away, "As if! Besides, there's barely anything there. Even innocent Petra has a bigger bust than you," he jokes. Petra immediately wraps her arms over her chest, blushing like crazy.
"Whatever. We all know Inari has the biggest boobs here. How can you 3D maneuver with those knockers in the way?" Kitty teases, pointing at my chest with her knife.
"Hey! Don't bring them into your fight and I am at the top of the class, thank you very much," I retort.
"Maybe that's the secret. The bigger the boobs, the higher the scores," Kitty snorts.
"That's not right. Then, how is it that I'm ranked number two?" Shepp says.
Kitty gives him a mischievous smile, bringing her glass of water to her lips, "Fine, then let me rephrase that. The bigger the package, the better the scores." Kitty, Petra, and I laugh hysterically, while Shepp sputters for a response.
"Is there something you're not telling us, Kitty, Shepp?" Petra inquires. Kitty spits out her drink in disbelief and Shepp's face turns ashen.
"There is nothing between us!" they both yell in unison.
"Sure, sure," I joke. Oh, dear. My friends are too funny. As my friends continue to chit-chat, I can't help but glance behind me at Levi, who sits across the room. He stares right back at me. Shit! I was totally caught! I feel my cheeks heat up and I turn away quickly.
