Chapter Revamped: 13 December 2020
Humanity's Strongest Woman by xDollfie
Chapter 02 — Special Operation Squad
"Don't get so cocky, noob." Oluo Bozado, her assigned teammate, taunted beside her for the fifth time.
He leered towards Ida who remained stoic despite his remarks. "No matter how fucking skilled you think you are and just because Captain Levi was put in charge of supervising you, doesn't mean a piss-poor brat like you—"
Oluo never managed to finish his sentence since he abruptly bit his tongue while talking. Ida merely blinked when she heard his yelp of pain; watching impassively as the crimson blood came gushing out of his mouth.
"You were saying, Bozado?" she said sarcastically, digging her heels in her white horse and speeding off ahead of him.
Ida had just about had enough with Oluo's constant impolite remarks about her. It had been nearly an hour and the man just wouldn't stop. If this were the Underground, Ida could predict things would end up much differently. Malicious thoughts swarmed her mind before Ida, horrified by what she was thinking, mentally willed those thoughts to fade.
The years of violence and blood in the Underground City had seeped deep into her — without a second thought, she was ready to erase another person's life.
Disgusting, she thought bitterly.
Even after obtaining her dream of living back on the world above and even after being offered a different path in life, Ida miserably concluded that she still hasn't changed one bit. She clenched her teeth in disgust for herself, realizing that her sins couldn't be wiped off the slate that easily. What the hell is wrong with her? This wasn't the Underground City anymore was it? Things had changed.
Her squad came to a resounding halt when they reached their destination deep in the forest. Levi had them settle their horses by the river before turning to the rest of his crew and started barking orders, "Equip your gear and prepare for training."
Marie Clarie, another veteran in her squad, came running up to Ida who had strategically placed herself far away from the rest of the squad.
"Hey! Do you need any help?" she offered politely.
Ida embraced her grin with a passive look, her tone as drone as it always was. "No thanks, I can handle myself."
"Leave that woman alone Marie," Eld Jinn entered the vicinity with a dark frown. "She thinks she's good enough that she doesn't need to enlist our help."
He glared at her, sizing her up. Ida let him. Obviously, he didn't understand why Levi had assigned her into their squad. He probably thought she wasn't anything special. "Don't be so full of yourself."
"Eld, that's really mean of you!" Marie, the blonde girl in pigtails chided him. "We're a team now!"
As the two of them argued, Ida ignored them and strapped on her gear with familiarity. She simply couldn't understand why her squadmates couldn't just leave her alone. Albeit, it would be a lie to say that she didn't expect it coming.
It was only natural for them not to welcome her with warm open arms. Only the best of the elite was assigned for the Special Operation Squad and it was hard, even for Ida, to comprehend why a newbie like her was enlisted under the prized Captain's command.
Ida assumed it was because of her secret ties with the Survey Corps' commander, and admittedly, she found herself annoyed with this conclusion.
Whatever, she thought angrily, I just have to prove myself deserving of this role.
When she was done, she looked around in boredom. The only girls in the squad, Marie and Petra were relatively friendly compared to their male squadmates, but that didn't matter to Ida. She would much prefer to be in solitude, it was far easier this way.
What's the point anyways?
She had sworn to herself: never would she ever get close to someone only to have them be torn mercilessly away from her life again. Too many people had she witnessed left, too many lives she had taken, too many people could she not save. At the end of the day, Ida realized that she was all she count on.
It was just 'her' and 'everyone else'.
Someone once told her: 'To survive, it is not necessary to change who you are' — but Ida couldn't disagree more. When she'd set out to conquer the horrors of the world, she didn't change, change found her.
Her story had been nothing but tragedy after tragedy, and she was certainly not ready to submerge herself with people she could potentially lose again.
"Starke!"
Ida looked up just in time to see Petra sprinting towards her. "Yes?"
"I'm here to brief you on the objective of our training," said Petra with her usual bright smile. "There are wooden Titan forms stationed around the forest and our objective is to find them and—"
"I know what to do. Slice them in the neck, right?"
It took Ida a while to realize that her words came out a little too harshly after she saw Petra's surprised expression. She hastily averted her guilty eyes away.
Damn it, Ida cursed, hating herself.
She didn't really mean to be that harsh and neither did she particularly enjoy rebuffing the kind girl's attempts to be friendly, in fact, Ida was secretly appreciative. As cold and stoic as she might seem, it wasn't as if she wasn't capable of feeling remorse.
She was simply too bitter and too cynical to show any other emotions other than anger. She didn't know how to talk to people.
Jason Meerin, a big burly bald man scoffed beside Gunther. "Cocky, aren't we? Titans aren't that easy to take down as you think it is, stop acting like this is a damn joke. I can't wait to see if you can up that arrogant demeanor of yours when you're killed on your first expedition!"
"Do you know how many soldiers have been killed at the hands of Titans?" Gunther added for good measure. "Training isn't the same as actual fighting, you know. You can be killed in seconds if you aren't careful.
Though she felt the sting in her heart at their derogatory response, Ida kept an apathetic expression and stared at them blankly. She refused to show any signs of emotions and acted like it didn't bother her.
But the truth was, it bothered her greatly. More than anyone could ever imagine.
In all honesty, Ida wasn't intending to come off as an arrogant disrespectful prick. She understood that she had the penchant for using rather cold tones with her speech, and perhaps she should've been more careful. But she didn't know how to converse normally with normal people, it had been so long since she had formed proper relationships with people.
But since her new squad already had this impression of her and misunderstood her, then so be it.
If the world continues to reject her, then she will reject the world.
"Tch. We will see who dies first," Ida snapped back in an abysmal tone before she could hold herself back.
"What?!" Oluo was red-faced when he stormed towards her, putting his face close to hers. "Don't you dare talk to an outranking soldier that way, you filthy piece of shit!"
Not wanting to stay to listen to any more of their remarks, Ida decided that she was far too tired from her Captain's torturous punishment earlier on to even pretend to be listening to them.
Their words can't hurt her; she had been through worse than this. It was better this way anyway. The fewer people she allowed into her heart, the more it wouldn't hurt.
"Whatever, I'm going now."
Without waiting for instructions, Ida shot her grapple to a tree and took to the sky.
o o o —xπ{Ö}πx — o o o
As much as they wouldn't like to admit it, the members of the Special Operations found themselves watching the 'novice' in astonished awe. Her gear work was flawless, able to make every sharp turn and move completely with ease.
Marie's blue eyes followed Ida as she skilfully zipped through the forest. "Wow, she isn't half as bad. To be able to maneuver through these dense areas."
Petra nodded in agreement. "She has skills, it isn't easy to make a sharp turn in that speed she's going."
Jason folded his arms haughtily on his chest, "Wait till she goes on her first expedition. Let's see how well she does at a battle on the plains."
Oluo smirked in a challenge. "You call that skills, Petra? I'll show her how we veterans do it then."
Eld, the second in command of the squad, chuckled, already in his stance to prepare his launch. "Go easy on the newbie, Oluo," he reminded. "We don't want to hurt her ego too bad."
"She's an idiot," Gunther sighed, shaking his head. "She knows nothing about being a soldier, nor does she have any pride in being one."
"Let's go, Captain will have our heads if we are slacking off here any longer."
With that warning from Eld, the six comrades shot their grapple to the trees in unison.
As they entered deep into the forest, the shock slowly embroidered on their faces when they realized Ida had already slashed every wooden Titan within the near vicinity. Her slashes were precise and deep. Gunther and Jason couldn't help but grin in amusement when they saw it.
"Wow," Petra murmured, "she's quick!"
Oluo and Eld exchanged knowing looks. Both deciding that she would be a challenge.
As much as the boys didn't want to admit it, Ida lived up to her reputation as being the skilled mercenary in the Underground. Unfortunately, the newbie wasn't as incompetent as they had thought.
They have clearly underestimated her, but Eld and Oluo weren't backing down anytime soon. Over the past years, they have worked up sweat and blood to get to the position they are in today — they would be damned if they allowed a cocky newbie to win.
o o o —xπ{Ö}πx — o o o
The wind pressed on her cheek roughly as Ida steadily increased her speed. She had always enjoyed maneuvering, it was the only time she felt liberated and free. She had already placed some distance between her new comrades and her, but she was sure skilled veterans such as themselves could catch up to her in no time.
She was right with her prediction when she heard sounds of them maneuvering through the trees behind her. She smirked. It was to be expected after all — they were the elite among the elite, handpicked by the so-called 'Humanity's Strongest' himself. There was no way they would allow themselves to lose to a loudmouth.
This would be fun, she thought wryly with a smirk. But I'm not a pushover either.
For the next hour or so, a fierce battle raged in the forest, each aiming to earn a score with every mark on the wooden Titan's nape. It was an unsaid competition. Somehow, Ida had managed to tie the score with both Oluo and Eld, and she had heard that they were two of the most skilled soldiers in her new squad.
"Get the last score Oluo!" she heard Eld shout fiercely. Her eyes moved like a hawk and she saw he had made a sharp turn by the trees, his blades shining as the bright sunlight kissed it.
"Of course!" Oluo barked back." Who the hell do you think I am, you little shit!"
Suddenly, Oluo turned around to look back at her. She was hovering several metres in the air away behind him, staring at him with a stoic expression. His face slowly contorted, and Ida could tell her indifference irked him even more.
"Tsk! Look at that stinking brat!"
Ida only smirked, strangely finding Oluo quite endearing. But I wasn't even going that hard on you.
"That Titan is mine!" Oluo declared as he releases a warrior's cry, looking back in front charging his way over towards her, intent on reaching the destination first.
Right, it's time to end this. This is my victory.
"What the hell?!" Eld shouted when she suddenly increased her speed and overtook him with ease.
She saw Oluo take a second to glance back behind him. "What?!"
She overtook Oluo with ease, leaving the man gaping after her. Ida snickered to herself. Her eyes moved through the forest like a hawk and she spotted her target: the last wooden Titan.
Heartbeat accelerating, she made a sharp turn straight towards it. She knew what her comrades were thinking; they looked down on her and they didn't think she could do it.
She was an inferior and incompetent newbie not worthy of being in their squad.
But that was all going to change now, she was going to prove to them that she was strong now. Strong enough to even take on the Titans that could make any brave soldier shiver in fear — she wasn't the same girl in the past anymore, that girl had long died.
She would prove that she deserved a place in their squad.
A new conviction burned within her as Ida tightened her grip on her blades in preparation for a lethal slash and she positioned them in air, ready to strike the nape of the wooden Titan and secure her victory when…
BAM!
A sudden, dynamic force sent her plunging to the direction of the trees.
"Argh!" Ida landed on the harsh surface of the tree bark with a loud thud. Unable to keep her balance, she lost her footing on the branches and fell, tumbling down the branches as each hit threatened to leave another ugly bruise.
Luckily for her, she landed on a pile of bushes, cushioning the impact of fall.
"Fuck," Ida groaned in agony on the ground. Her back was hurting, and she felt like all her bones had been dislocated. Finding the strength to push herself up, she hissed in pain.
What the hell was that?
"VICTORY!"
Her eyes expanded in realization when she heard that triumphant declaration.
Ida snapped her head up to see Eld and Oluo high fiving each other on the branches. Shit! Hastily, she moved her gaze to the nape of the wooden Titan and found the missing piece on the wooden nape, the slash glared back at her as if to insult her further.
She exercised her jaw, indignant over her loss. Damn it. What the hell happened?
Ida staggered her way clumsily out of the thorny bush; bruised, bleeding and utterly confused over her sudden loss.
As though to answer her questions, the reason for her failure appeared, dropping gracefully from the air right in front of her. Immediately, Ida felt anger boil within her in recognition.
Without a second to waste, she charged towards Levi in an accusatory manner. "Did you do that?"
"Did what?" was Levi's unfazed and calm response, escalating her anger even more. He swept the imaginary dust off his green cloak, cocking his eyebrow up. "I was the one who kicked you out of the way if that's what you're asking, Starke."
Ida's lips twitched. She simply couldn't believe the amount of indifference he emitted! Never in her entire life had she had never met someone as cocky and chauvinistic as him. "We can't attack each other! That is the rule, isn't it?!"
"You truly are a genuine dimwit," Levi deadpanned, if he found it a hassle to even speak to her. "The trainees can't attack each other, but I, as your Captain, am your trainer. I thought you knew what to do since you dismissed Petra's help when she 'briefed' you on the training."
Ida could easily detect the underlying sarcasm brimming from his tone and her anger thrashed deep inside her, shaking her to the core. She flushed bright red, embarrassed at her backfired confidence, yet still insanely outraged at Levi for playing around with her.
Was he trying to teach her a lesson now?
Okay fuck this. There was no way she could work under him.
Ida clenched her fist tightly, knuckles paling. "You cocky bastard…"
As she glared at him, Ida panted and winched from her injuries, but her face was one of deep hatred.
Levi observed her for a moment longer, appearing to be in contemplation, before he scoffed and added:
"You might be a little skilled, but you allow your confidence to blind you. If you weren't so concentrated on winning in the first place, you could've easily detected my attack. But you were too confident of your skills and you paid the shitty price." Closing the gap between them, he pinned her with a formidable glare, "In expeditions where Titans butcher our subordinates like prey and display unpredictable behavior, you can never be too confident. If you were to act the way you are now…"
Levi's face was inches away from her now and Ida felt her throat closing up. He etched forward and spoke grimly near her earlobe, "…you would be fucking dead in a snap."
Ida pressed her lips together and glared at him, each word reverberating deep into her.
Her Captain absorbed her balance anger with an apathetic countenance, "The difference between us and you is experience. Remember that if you want to live."
A steel-edged lined her jaw and Ida looked away, defeat and speechless. She knew he was right. Even as she averted her eyes away, she could still feel his gaze burning into her. The disappointment and annoyance he was emitting was palpable. Somehow, she found it hard to meet his eyes.
"Go to the medic and tend to your injuries." As Levi said this, Ida saw him take a quick glance at the large gash on her arm. But she didn't think he felt any remorse for what he did. "We'll be commencing training on the plains later where gears would be at a disadvantage, and I expect you not to make the same mistakes again, cadet."
Their gazes held for a moment, before Levi shot his grapple and took the air, leaving Ida completely and utterly humiliated.
o o o —xπ{Ö}πx — o o o
Cool wind, warm sunlight, and the grass beneath his boots. It felt liberating to be out on the plains instead of that wretched office he had always cooped himself in.
Levi sat on the benches; his mood utterly foul. He found himself observing the scouts across the plains with intense boredom and growing impatience. His main attention, however, was solely fixated on the insolent brat that he had taken into his squad.
Ida was trailing behind his squad, purposefully putting a good distance between them and her. Levi grimaced. She didn't even bother to go the medic as instructed as he could still see the cut on her arm.
Yeah, that shitty brat did not have an ounce of subordination in her. It was beyond him, but he felt a phantom guilt crept up his chest as Ida pressed a hand on her arm and winced. Levi quickly swatted the foreign feeling off. He had quickly decided that Ida needed to learn the hard way, it was the only way she was going to survive.
Fuck it. Why should he give a shit anyway?
He was sipping tea from a flask that Petra had packed when a familiar voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
"Training seems to be going well. Taking a break now?"
"Before the next joint exercise," Levi deadpanned, not even turning his gaze to meet with Erwin. "Never thought you would assign the shitty task of training the new recruits to me as well."
Erwin appeared to be measuring up the true meaning of his words. Levi scoffed quietly when Erwin regarded him with a bitter, guilty smile. Normally, he wouldn't oversee the training of the new recruits, and this change could only mean something – or more exactly, Erwin had implemented this change intentionally.
And he had a damn good idea why.
"Despite her age, she's also a new recruit, I thought it was best to kill two birds with one stone. Ida is placed in a new squad with some of the most experienced veterans, she might be more comfortable being with the newcomers."
Levi snorted, showing just how laughable he thought Erwin's statement was. "That moody brat wouldn't even care about making friends, and she's far above the league of a damn teenager recruit, Erwin."
Erwin's eyes provoked an elaboration, Levi sighed deeply, diverting his gaze to the training field by the distance, his glare seemingly intensified when he caught sight of Ida. Just the sight of her alone vexed him.
"She's inexperienced, but her strength is unquestionable," Levi submitted his report in a monotone, wanting to get it over and done with. "What are you doing here, anyway? Worried I'd be too harsh on her?"
"I trust your decisions," Erwin said, but when Levi's frown demanded him to speak the truth, he complied. "…Though I have to admit, it really surprised me when you offered to place her under your squad," he settled beside him, "she reminds me of you when you first joined the Survey Corps. Skilled, but unrefined and uncontrollable."
Levi scowled. Like me? That brat is nothing like me.
"I don't know what you're thinking, Erwin. But whatever it is, wipe it off your brain. I didn't take her under my wing because she resembles me. It was because I felt that it was the best choice. We need more skilled soldiers in the legion — my decision was for mankind."
However, when Erwin only gave him a knowing look. Levi frowned.
Fuck no, he did not feel empathetic towards Ida Starke. In fact, he found her a hindrance.
"Plus, sending your Commander's daughter to prison is a shitty idea that only an idiot would do," he added for good measure.
Erwin chuckled dryly, knowing him too well to take offense. "But she does, doesn't she?"
"Tch." Levi lifted his teacup to his lips. "I don't ever remember being like that. She's a complete shitty brat. She thinks far too highly of herself. If she goes on expeditions with that mindset, there's a high chance that she wouldn't be returning at all."
Levi could understand her hatred, her never-ending resentment for everyone and everything, including herself. That was something that had become glaringly clear. Levi had experienced it before, that vicious rage for the world. But he also knew that he could manipulate Ida's anger and direct it towards a more productive cost. Perhaps, one day she'd even be a valuable asset to humanity.
Yeah, it was all for fucking humanity.
"She's worrying, isn't she?" Erwin smiled thinly. "Anyhow, don't be too harsh on her. Tune it down a little. I heard from Eld what you did."
"Playing protective daddy now, Erwin? If she's under my squad, let me train her my way. That's my condition."
Levi exhaled sharply, averting his eyes away from Erwin. Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind.
"Her mother…" he said quickly, finally breaching the subject he had been so hesitant to bring up. Erwin froze and turned to look at him with raised eyebrows. "I heard it from that brat... She's dead."
He observed Erwin carefully, his features held an indescribable expression, but after a resigned sigh, he decided not to skirt around the subject any longer. Perhaps he understood that Levi would question him about it sooner or later.
"I'm aware."
With a sideways glance, Levi thought over it before deciding his curiosity outweighed his concerns.
"Who was she?" he inquired briskly. "I know you have a damned pig-list of nobility that you greet occasionally and curry favors with so that they will generously invest in the Survey Corps… So what, did you knock someone from that list up?"
Though his statement conveyed his obvious resentment, Levi understood why Erwin had to do it. They needed the support of the nobility as allies to counteract the other nobles who were always pressing for the disbandment of the Survey Corps. As demeaning as it was to scrape for shitty favors, it was this way of politics that Erwin had been able to successfully maintain the legion.
"No…" Erwin admitted, clasping his hand together. "Her mother was the one who taught me how to manipulate the nobility actually."
This surprised Levi, and he looked at him, unamused. "As little interest as I have for those shitty pigs, even I know that the Starkes is one of the wealthiest and most powerful noble houses within the Walls. And I know that those damned pigs from that house are always egging for the disbandment of the Survey Corps."
"She was different from her family." There was not a trace of memory in Erwin's voice.
"So why did you leave them?" Levi couldn't help but pry further. Though he knew it was a sensitive subject, he was sure Erwin didn't mind. "You knew about Ida's existence, didn't you?"
"As you said, the Starkes is undeniably one of the most powerful houses. And Elsie was part of that glorious lineage, whereas I was nothing more than trainee soldier. It was never going to work out for us."
Looking away, Erwin focused his attention on the scouts. "…Even back then, I aspired to join the Survey Corps. I had dreams and ambitions. I couldn't even fathom the thought of having a family while being out on expeditions all the time. Her mother decided that I was never to be involved in her life."
So, in the end, Erwin still valued duty over his own family, Levi concluded, surprised that he felt disappointed by Erwin's answer.
Damn it. What was he expecting? Erwin was the same as him after all — a soldier who sacrificed everything they had for mankind. He should've known.
"You didn't know she was cast out to live in Shiganshina District?"
Erwin shook his head slowly, his expression unreadable and his eyes distant. "…When I found out, it was too late. Wall Maria had fallen. The official reports declared both dead. It wasn't until recently I heard of Ida's existence... She was a wanted criminal, but Darius Zackley pardoned her upon my request."
Levi shifted in his seat, his hand adjusting his cravat uncomfortably. The unsaid words on Erwin's face were so profoundly clear: if circumstances hadn't deterred them, perhaps things might have been different. He would've found Ida earlier and maybe even save her from experiencing such hardship.
"You could've explained to her you know," he suggested flatly, going back to drinking his tea. "That shitty brat practically hates your guts. She'd happily feed you to the Titans the first chance she gets."
"No," Erwin spoke firmly, his fingers intertwining with each other. He looked vulnerable and despaired for a second, his Commander facade cracking before he hurriedly sealed them back together. "Let her see me as am I. It's for the best. For both of us."
Levi grimaced, something about his expression made his chest constrict uncomfortably. "If that is what you think is the best, do whatever the hell you want. It's not my problem anyway."
After a short, comfortable, and companionable silence, both men had their gazes glued on Ida who awkwardly stood by the side of her squad as she stared impassively at the scenery around her.
Erwin stood up and patted him by the shoulder. "Take care of her. I'm leaving her in your care. Cut her some slack."
"Stop pleading for her damn benefit, Erwin. It's disgusting." Levi angled himself away from his touch, frowning.
Erwin gave him a bitter smile. "Apologies."
"Tch. I'm going to show her just what it takes to survive as a soldier and the reality of just how cruel this shitty world really is," Levi declared, though he had an inkling Ida already knew. He folded his arms. "The last thing I want is for another dead member in my squad."
"From what I can see, I'm satisfied with knowing how much you are worried about her."
"You misunderstand me," Levi said, not liking Erwin's tone. "She's not getting any special treatment from me just because she's your daughter. I plan to knock her off her damn high horse, that shitty brat needs to learn. The hard way."
Erwin chuckled. "Of course, and that is exactly why I trust you."
o o o —xπ{Ö}πx — o o o
The next training session was a joint exercise, Petra had kindly explained to her, and this time Ida listened intently. The last thing she wanted was to get chewed out and embarrassed by Levi again for her foolishness. Petra had elaborated that they would be training with the freshly enlisted Survey Corps recruits.
"It's odd don't you think?" Gunther said. "To think that we would be having a joint exercise with the new recruits…"
"Who knows what Commander Erwin is thinking," Eld said, throwing a fleeting glance at the bunch of unfamiliar teenagers that had just enlisted. "In any case, it's a good experience for them to watch and learn from us."
"Maybe Commander Erwin wants to show them the might of the Survey Corps veterans!" Oluo declared. He nodded to himself, looking dementedly satisfied with his remark before he leered towards the Ida. "You heard that you stinking brat?! You're just like those teenagers, still a fresh brat in her diapers!"
Ida grimaced. She was just about to shoot back a snarky retort when Petra smacked the back of his head. "Oluo! I've told you before! Stop harassing her and stop talking like that, it's getting annoying!"
"Heh, Petra trying to reign me in? If you want to act like my wife, there's a couple of steps you've skipped," Oluo said suavely, wriggling his brow, to which Petra smacked the back of his head again before she launched into an indignant berate session.
Ida exhaled loudly, already getting used to the couple's antics. She dragged her bored-like gaze away.
She found herself curiously observing the new recruits situated a few paces away from them. They were much younger than her; teenagers with a face that didn't know violence or the misery of the cruel world yet. Ida thought it was rather laughable that these innocent teenagers would voluntarily want to venture beyond the Walls to kill Titans, it was hard to even think of them as being ready to face the gruesome fatalistic images that Titans bring.
No, she thought, disagreeing with Oluo. She was nothing like them.
"I heard that Captain Levi would be taking the joint training exercise!" A recruit announced excitedly to his friend beside him. "He's Humanity's Strongest! I can't believe we get to train under him so quickly!"
"Yeah! We need to do our very best. If he likes what he sees, we could even be up for a promotion. Climbing up the ladder quickly would be a piece of cake!"
Ida frowned imperceptibly as she listened in on their conversation.
Why? She couldn't for her life of her understand what anyone saw in Levi Ackerman, so why was it that everyone only had great things to say about him? Was it because he was strong? So strong that he could inspire awe and admiration from even the newest recruits? He had to be influential as well if he could even influence how fast one was promoted in the Survey Corps.
Frankly, all Ida could personally discern from the past three days was that disagreeable midget had an unhealthy habit with cleaning. But then again, she was reminded of how fast he had managed to kick her mid-air.
So fast that she even didn't see him coming.
She peered surreptitiously at her new squad members, deep in contemplation. Even if she was holding back at their previous training session, Ida had to admit that they were formidable in their own right as well. If Levi could inspire even people like them to follow him, just how strong was he?
Maybe… he is even stronger than she was?
Her heart skipped a beat as she pondered over it.
Ida knew for a fact that she was strong, perhaps even different from the average human. If there was one thing she was ever confident in, it was in her skills. Her years surviving in the harsh Underground City proved that. The countless battles she fought, the numerous lives she stolen, the cries of the fallen who failed to escape her fury… Ida was often even told that she was on an unmatchable league even from the average soldiers even above the Walls.
But for some reason beyond her Levi made her feel uneasy. The way he looked at her, his gaze colored with prejudice and contempt as if he was so confident of taking her down... and it stirred something inside of her.
Damn it. How annoying.
Jason sighed, also catching onto the new recruit's talks. "All they care about is their own stupid gain. Captain is going to be pissed."
"Why?" Ida couldn't help but ask. "Isn't it natural for one to think about advancing through the ranks?"
At her inquiry, Eld's eyes watched her with a mixture of contempt and exasperation. "Like I said… you still have a lot to learn, Starke. There's more to a soldier's merits than just rank."
"Yeah, idiot!" Oluo barked at her, his features twisted in a despicable scowl. "You've got a lot to learn! You should start by fucking respecting your superiors! Don't forget that I have the highest kill count!"
"Moron," Eld rolled his eyes at Oluo's antics. He shook his head before he threw another definitive glance towards Ida and heaved another maddening breath as if she was simply hopeless.
She pressed her lips together, trying desperately to reign in her tongue at his blatant display of disdain. Thankfully, before her irate personality could clamor out of her attempted maturity, Levi appeared at the fields fully equipped with his gears. The new recruits' excited murmurs died down when he shot a heat-filled glare towards their direction.
At his sudden appearance, Ida watched him carefully, more carefully than she had ever done — this man that was called the strongest.
His gray eyes were on the small side, as if afraid to let the light in, but they held a haunting look that spoke of the unyielding determination he harbored. His mouth was small and rigid as if only used for the sort of smirks that masked cruelty, perhaps born of a lifetime of suspicion. Even though he was short in stature, Levi made up for it with an aura that emitted a special kind of superiority that radiates condescension and contempt. Even the way he carried himself spoke of volumes — a strong rigid back that told tales that no books had the spine to carry.
Ida's features were insipid when she realized how different he looked compared to how he was back in the headquarters with his cleaning outfit. Why hadn't she noticed this before? He looked so confident, so determined, and set on his purpose.
So... full of life and purpose…
And so painfully unlike her.
"This exercise would be about how to battle Titans on the open plains," Levi explained monotonously; his expression vacant. "Gears has limited mobility on open plains, but Titans don't give a shit about that — oftentimes, we scouts are required to battle them on open fields."
He turned to the direction of his squad. "Eld."
Eld poised every muscle rigidly at his call and scurried towards the wooden Titan on the fields. He grabbed the rope that was tied to the mechanism and started piloting the wooden Titan around, simulating a turning Titan.
"Watch," Levi stated impassively as he plugged a set of blades to the hilt of his handgrips.
A loud sound of sharp metal rubbing together in friction echoed when he extracted the blades, and before Ida could even prepare herself for the scene, the Captain had already launched himself mid-air with his gears.
Swift, incredibly fast, and lethal.
His gear work was astoundingly flawless, precise, and deadly. Levi was only a dull blur as he swirled himself mid-air like a dancing rapier and slashed the nape of the moving wooden Titan before he landed back on the ground with ease. It had only been a few seconds, but Ida couldn't believe how fast his movements were.
A wry smirk crept up on her lips when Ida formed the conclusion that he was on a different league from the average human as well.
How interesting, she thought, maybe he truly does live up to his reputation.
The new recruits gasped and cheered at the sight of his gearwork in unison. Meanwhile, Levi's trademark scowl was starting to emerge on his visage, and he appeared terribly annoyed at the sounds generated.
"Pair up," Levi commanded with an air of condescension, sheathing back his blade. "One of you move the mechanism, the other attempt to slice the nape. Take turns and don't generate too much noise while you're at it."
"Go there, brat," Oluo nudged her towards the group of the new recruits with a hard push on her back. "You should go with the rest of the newbies."
Ida turned to glare at him, but before she could even part her lips to speak, Marie had sensed the escalating tension and laced her arm around her and tugged her away. "Pair up with me, Starke!"
"Oh…" Ida murmured, stunned and silently grateful for the girl's kindness. "Sure, thanks…"
"Hey! You should stop pampering that shitty brat, Marie!" Oluo shouted after her, but Marie only ignored him as she continued to drag Ida away.
"Don't be so angry at them," Marie said when they were at a suitable distance away from the rest of their squad. "Oluo is a loudmouth, but he is a good comrade. His bark is worse than his bite."
"Yeah, I get it," Ida drawled in her customary bitterness. "New girl who did nothing and joined the Survey Corps through an illegitimate route gets promoted to the Special Operation Squad — of course, they wouldn't trust or accept me."
Marie's lips twisted into a nervous smile. "They are all just… Uhm… wary of you. The bonds that the Special Operation Squad has are… special, we trust and rely on each other. That's how we can last so long — how we are all able to survive beyond the Walls. It's a cruel world out there, and trust is the only thing that allows us to survive together."
You're wrong, Ida wanted to argue, but she thought it wiser to keep silent. The world is cruel and merciless within the walls too. I too had people I trusted and relied on, but where are they all now? Why was I the only survivor left standing?
No. In this cruel world, only the powerful survive.
All one needed is power.
"I don't know how it was like for you..." Marie pressed on to create a conversation. She turned her gaze to her, swift and emanating with resigned sympathy, "...but living in an Underground City has to be pretty tough, huh?"
"It was shitty," Ida remarked sullenly, disliking the turn of conversation. She didn't want to talk about her past. "Are you sure you want to pair up with me?"
"Of course!" Marie's warm smile was a blessing. "You're part of our squad now! It's only fitting that the veterans of the Survey Corps look after and guide the newer members!"
At her cheery declaration, Ida pursed her lips and nodded numbly.
Training with Marie went on without a hitch, and while Ida had suspiciously wondered if Marie was intending to pull a prank on her, she found out that the girl had no ill-intentions. At this discovery, she started to feel a twinge of guilt crept up her chest — she had heartlessly thought otherwise of Marie's genuine well intentions.
But it wasn't fifteen minutes into training when arguments started to break out among the newer recruits.
"What the hell? It's all your fault! Why did you have to move the wooden Titan so quickly?! Are you sabotaging me, Fleuner?!"
"Get real!" Another recruit barked back hotly. "You're the one who couldn't even maneuver properly!"
"I did all the work! You're just trying to make me look bad in front of Captain Levi, aren't you?!"
"Enough!" Levi shouted indignantly, appearing immensely annoyed. Immediately, the arguments died down and a stunned silence played as everyone looked at him nervously. The seething Captain glowered darkly at the scouts before he scoffed. "Training's over."
The new recruits were appalled. "B — But, sir! We only just got started!"
"You're dismissed all of you, get out of my sight," Levi growled with finality.
At the sight of the ferocious glare emitting from the intimidating man, the recruits clamped their mouth shut and held their heads low in defeat.
A squint furrowed Ida's brow as she observed the situation. Marie sighed beside her, shaking her head. "Well… We've all expected it… Come on Starke, let's head back to the barracks."
"Expected what?" Ida asked, a plethora of irritation hitting her. "That midget is being a dick. If he was entrusted with taking the training session, he should've seen it through to the damn end. Seriously, ending the training just like that…"
Bitter at the turns of events, Ida stowed away her blades and glared at the retreating back of her Captain. She had been looking forward to the training session, it was the only thing that could keep her distracted enough from her relentless thoughts.
"Well, Captain is always like—"
"They just wanted to impress him, there's nothing wrong about that," Ida said in a defiant tone.
Marie clapped a hand on her shoulder. "There'll be other training sessions. Captain is just..." she paused to formulate the right words, "...fed up with everyone trying to impress him. What the newbies should be learning is how to cooperate with each other."
Not listening to Marie's well-intentioned advice, Ida shrugged her hands off her. In a moment of impetuousness, she stormed towards the retreating Captain with a confrontational attitude.
"Are you seriously just ending the training just like that?" Ida chased after him. "Hey!"
Levi sighed and turned around calmly to face her, unfazed from the venom dripping in her tone.
Her expression was cold and full of stubbornness as she continued, "They're just kids, they worked so hard to impress you, and you just suddenly decided to drop the training session because of an argument that kids made?"
Suddenly, Levi's face contorted, and he matched her hard glare the moment her statement was made. He advanced towards her and stopped when his face was just inches from her. "Do you remember what happened when the fucking Walls was breached, Starke?"
She frowned at his sudden question. "Of course—"
"You know what happens," Levi cut through her sentence pointedly. "The same fucking shit is going to happen outside the Walls where these same brats want to venture out to. Things like trying to advance up the ranks, trying to prove themselves to people who don't give a shit…"
Ida knew for a fact that those words were meant for her as well, and she felt as though he had slapped her when he said that. But she only glared at him, not intending to back down.
Levi leveled her down with glare and snarled, "...It's fucking sickening."
His words had an air of finality to them and Ida knew that no matter how much she railed against it, she would not change his mind. When she didn't reply, an expression of some sort flashed over Levi's normally impassive face: anger, annoyance, as well as a tiny bit of sorrow, it seemed. Ida caught it, and guilt crept up in her chest. Her countenance, however, remained unbearably impassive — she would not yield to him.
With another incredulous scoff, Levi turned his heel sharply and walked away. "Stay out of my sight."
The sight of him retreating ignited her anger again, and she was just about to chase after him when Marie came from behind her and held her back.
"Don't," she advised calmly. "Captain just means well. These new recruits will face hell when they go on their new expedition, they should learn to work together in teams. He just wants everyone to survive."
"Starke," Petra walked towards them, concern inhibiting her tone. She met her anger with a placating smile. "Captain has his way of handling things, don't get too mad."
With a firm grit to her teeth, Ida snapped her gaze to the two women beside her.
"Why are you two so nice to me?" Ida demanded suddenly, finally asking the question that she wanted to ask for a while now. "The rest of the squad thinks I'm a spoilt brat who knows nothing, and I haven't been very nice either. Why do you two bother with me anyway?"
"Well…" Petra looked at Marie for support, before she returned her gaze back to her. "Haha, I know you can't really help it. It's not like we're not used to your way of speech and mannerism, you know? Captain is from the Underground City too. He was born there."
What?
Shock of the greatest kind flooded Ida, and momentarily, she was stumped. Just as she came to terms with this startling revelation, another influx of emotions hit her, only this time, Ida felt a rising irritation within her.
"Just because he is the strongest he thinks he is all that," Ida spat in an abysmal tone, shrugging Marie's grip away from her and stormed towards the other direction. "Just leave me alone."
When she was finally a good distance from the training field, Ida watched her surroundings. A gust of sudden cool wind flew past her and she shivered, it was almost as if it was chastising her for being so rude to Marie and Petra. Ida ignored it. She was surprised that she even had a conscience anymore after what she had gone through.
A wry smile crept up to her lips.
As the memory of what occurred faded into the backdrop of her mind, the liveliness and chaos of her surroundings also faded. Ida arrived at a secluded part of the training fields and she slowed down her pace. She let out a sigh and stopped.
Slowly, she closed her eyes. Ah fuck.
Now that she had thought about it maybe she shouldn't have been so… antagonistic towards Levi. She knew innately that he was right, that he had meant well. But he was irritating. Perfect, revered, respected, naturally talented, strong and he looked as though he always knew what to say and do. He cared about his comrades and he surely had the strength to protect them. Apart from his aggravating cleaning habits, Levi was undoubtedly perfect in her eyes.
The perfect survivor in this cruel world.
And because of that, Levi was everything she was not.
She was sullen and rude, weak, and pathetic. The dislikeable cynical one who had no noble dreams of honor. The one who always failed to see the bigger picture. The one who was incapable of even dreaming any longer. Even though she was skilled, she knew innately that she was a failure regardless.
Like him, Ida seldom smiled and scowled constantly, was easily irritated and rather anti-social, but in some way, Levi had gained the respect of everyone.
To top it off, Ida had just learned that he was from the Underground City as well and she felt as though Petra had punched her in the face when she divulged this information.
Why? Why on earth were they so different?
Surely this man had done things… Horrible things that go against all the ethics and morals that society dictates… Surely this man had seen equally as much as she did, washed more blood off him, seen countless people die... It was the only way to live in that rat hole of the Underground City; to kill or be killed.
And when one submerges themselves in the abyss for so long, they emerge nothing but a monster.
Levi's hands were probably just like hers: stained scarlet. In addition, he was a soldier in the Survey Corps. Ida was certain he was probably beyond redemption like her as well. His sins were probably immeasurable as well. Surely, he was ridden with guilt and an insatiable hatred for himself and the cruel world as well.
But they didn't look to be the case, did it?
Levi looked as if he was so full of life; the hero, the altruistic one, with a determined gaze that spoke of righteous dreams. Beautiful and strong. He wanted to continue to live, to continue fighting, while Ida was the frighteningly empty one, beyond redemption, with a sharp paranoid perception like tainted hooks, incapable of dreaming, and have little to no will to live in this world.
Most of the results of her persona had been a direct effect of what she had gone through. Ida was sure if Wall Maria hadn't fallen, had her mother Elsie Starke, still been alive, she would've turned out differently.
But this man… this so-called strongest, Ida was certain he didn't have a great history as well. Not when he was born in the Underground City. It was foolish, it was immature, but Ida had thought her tragic past was an excuse for her cynical attitude, but she couldn't justify it now, can she?
Not when Levi Ackerman embodied the living proof that your past was not an excuse. And so perhaps the problem lies within her after all, perhaps she was the one who was wrong.
And because Levi was so perfect, the spiteful Ida decided that she hated him more than anything.
She wanted to see him fall.
"Shit," she cursed, looking at the recruit trainees in the field far away from her. They were sullenly traipsing back to the barracks, clearly dejected over their dismissal.
Ida gritted her teeth in anger for herself and her fingers curled into loose fists.
Oluo was right after all. She was just like them, a fresh brat still in her diapers. She knew nothing, and perhaps she was so blinded by hatred and relentless spitefulness that she couldn't see the bigger picture again.
She raked her fingers in her hair, annoyed. Ah, damn it.
Ida turned around to find Petra and Marie. She supposed she should start with an apology to them first, she didn't mean to lose her temper and take out her frustrations on them. Her conscience was starting to eat into her, and it was restless.
o o o —xπ{Ö}πx — o o o
Hanji Zoe had known Levi Ackerman for years. She had met Humanity's Strongest on his first expedition, back when he was just an uncontrollable thug blackmailed by Erwin into joining the Survey Corps.
Even back then, Hanji knew he was special, or in a franker term, odd. She had never met anyone with his skills set or anyone like him for that matter. Especially with that brash and unapproachable personality that seemed to intimidate almost everyone and that strange tendency that demanded everything to be spotless.
Until a relatively similar form of Levi appeared in front of her eye's years later, as talented and confident he once was, and equally similar in their unsociable demeanor. However, Ida Starke was far more erratic and prone to outburst — as though she herself didn't know how to control her destructive emotions.
Still, the Titan Scientist could not deny the resemblance.
Was it because they both came from the Underground?
Curious for the answer, Hanji decided that these two would be the subject of her new study.
However, what Hanji couldn't comprehend — no matter how much she cracked her genius brain — was the reason why Levi and Ida couldn't exchange eye contact without aggravating each other to their wit's end.
It was general knowledge in the Survey Corps that Levi was extremely difficult to get along with. His preference for a solidarity lifestyle was well known and taken to heart. Though he was undoubtedly the strongest soldier, Levi lacked teamwork and was often seen parading around with a grumpy scowl that never seemed to cease. Not afraid to harshly berate anyone who sparked his wrath, this has caused him to have a strained relationship with many of his subordinates.
Ida was no different from her Captain, preferring to isolate herself and avoid conversations as much as possible — but she avoided interactions as though she was afraid of humans.
From the reports that Hanji saw when she peeked at Erwin's desk, she had immense potential. Everyone who had witnessed her training knew she was an outstanding soldier, and anyone who experienced her temper knew that she was a force to be reckoned with.
But no matter how similar they were, it looked to Hanji that they couldn't stop the urge to lunge for each other's throats the moment they caught sight of each other, and it was causing an uncomfortable tension in the legion.
It has been two weeks since Ida Starke had officially joined Survey Corps.
Levi had officially declared war when he made her scrub every staircase in the headquarters with a tiny toothbrush — and not to mention giving her intentional disadvantages during her training — since then, Ackerman and Starke were like oil and water; opposing each other so often that it caused laughable spectacles all over the headquarters.
Hanji had to give credit to Ida's resolve. She had endured many punishments; from polishing boots to running laps to even doing the entire legion's laundry. Mobilt told her she even went two days without meals for daring to oppose her ruthless Captain.
But it seemed to Hanji that Ida was determined to win this war; not backing down despite knowing she was at the losing end.
In fact, the pair was so incompatible that it appeared that the two couldn't even accomplish a simple task together…
...and the night's event started when Levi had yet again decided that her cleaning just wasn't up to his standards.
"This won't do," Levi's slammed his hand down on the table she was sitting at. The table trembled at the sudden impact, but Ida merely continued chewing on her bun, looking straight ahead. "Go redo the meeting room."
"No," Ida stated unyieldingly as if she wasn't even conscious of the glowering superior hovering over her. In fact, she didn't even regard the man. "I won't. Go do it yourself."
Levi narrowed his hooded eyes, his eyebrow twitching at her blunt defiance. "For a useless brat like you, you really do possess the intelligence of a pissin' Titan."
"For such a revered soldier like as yourself, you really do have an annoying need for cleanliness. Has anyone ever told you that, sir?"
"Get out of here and get it done. Now." Levi snarled fiercely, not backing down. "I should've known a spoilt noble capital brat like you don't even possess the capacity for listening to simple fucking orders."
Ida finally turned her head and regarded him with defiant eyes. "Why should I? The room was already cleaned."
His hooded eyes narrowed dangerously. Levi was seething. "Don't you dare go there, Starke."
Over her plate of dinner, Hanji bit back a laugh, watching in amusement as the two battled it out. She did admit that Levi's uncanny need for everything to be sparkling clean could get out of hand but seeing someone so openly defiant to his orders and putting him down was a sight to behold.
"Man…" Petra breathed beside her, tapping the end of her fork on her cheek as she watched the Levi ruthlessly curse of a line of insulting swears. "At first I thought that she would submit after enduring so many lectures and punishment. But just look at them go."
"I know!" Hanji yelped excitedly, trying — and failing — to hold in her badly hidden grin. She was enjoying the spectacle unfolding in front of her. It wasn't every day that she saw Levi being opposed.
"Not even the bravest soldiers could stand their ground when facing the powerful and intimidating scowling Levi, but she is on a whole other level." Hanji cradled her face in with her hands and sighed wistfully in awe. "It's fascinating."
Finally, Ida lost the war when she breached a serious protocol of insubordination, letting her frustration get the better of her. "Look, sir, no one really gives a pissing shit about your damn needs for everything to be clean."
Which in turn, earned her another loud curse-filled reprimand session in front of everyone in the mess hall.
Hanji watched attentively as Ida fell strangely silent and she lowered her head in resignation as Levi finally started raising his voice, issuing another backbreaking punishment of cleaning the legions' stables.
Just as the entire troop in the mess hall tensed up in anticipation, they released their held breaths when the vicious battle between the seasoned veteran and the amateur died down. However, just when they thought it was finally over, emerald eyes flashed with malicious intent and Ida, finally having enough of the unjust treatment, threw the bun she was eating at him, hitting him squarely on his forehead.
Thwack!
Instantly, everyone in the mess hall bit back their laughs upon seeing the bun bounce off the forehead of the Captain and rolled off to the ground. He froze.
No one breathed as Ida calmly got out of her chair, pushed it back in neatly. "I'll get to cleaning then, sir."
With that, she strolled out of the mess hall as though she hadn't thrown a half-eaten bread bun at her clean-freak Captain seconds ago. The atmosphere in the mess hall turned tense when she finally left.
As hilarious as it was to see Levi paralyzed in shock that someone would dare do something like that, no one wanted to risk the wrathful fury of his. But it was well known that the Survey Corps was filled with eccentric misfits, so it was expected that someone would eventually be unable to hold back their laughter, and it was no surprise to anyone that Hanji Zoe would be the first to breach the established 'no laughing' rule.
"HAHAHAHA! OH MY GOD!" Hanji couldn't hold it back any longer. Her ribs were aching. Tears started dotting the sides of her eyes. "HAHAHAHA!"
Levi had snapped back to reality when he heard her hysterical laughter. The purest form of anger was written across his face. Mobilt gulped dryly at that sight — it has been a while since he saw Levi this angry.
"Is it funny, shitty glasses?" Levi questioned darkly, steel threading behind his words.
"SORRY LEVI! BUT, BUT, SHE — BWAHAHAHAHA!"
Hanji wasn't even able to form coherent sentences. She could tell that even the Eld — who was known to always be serious — was hiding his smile behind his food. Even Petra's calm composure was cracking. She had her cheeks puffed out and was desperately trying her best to contain her roaring laughter that threatened to erupt.
"That fucking brat has just dug her grave…" Levi growled in an abysmal tone. "IDA STARKE!"
At the sound of that, many soldiers in the mess hall flinched, silently pitying the redhead for finally managing to push the usually stoic Levi over the edge.
Hanji only continued laughing when Levi stormed out of the room fuming. Once the entire legion was sure that the Captain was out of earshot, in unison, they burst into resounding laughter, letting out all their contained humor at once. It was a common occurrence by now to see the pair bickering, but it was taken to much higher stakes this time around.
Honestly, throwing a half-eaten bun at a clean freak like Levi? Now that was something Hanji thought deserved a medal.
No one dared to oppose the two whenever they started their childish fights, apart from Erwin, who served as an occasional referee. Once, Gunther had tried to break the pair off and take on the role of the peacemaker. Little did the poor guy know that their wrath and building hatred would be directed to him instead, and he took a sound scolding from Levi while the rest of his squad watched with sympathetic eyes.
As quick as Eld's serious composure left him, did it come back, and he frowned.
"If Captain Levi failed to scare that brat, I'm sure the Titans would," Eld commented loudly, clearly displaying his distaste for Ida. "I'd like to see how she'd do when she goes on her first expedition."
The whole legion in the mess hall fell back into silence when they heard his scathing remark.
The word 'Titan' alone was enough to bring their attention to a more important matter. With their next expedition date drawing closer, soon, the Survey Corps would venture beyond the walls again.
"The next expedition huh," Hanji smiled wryly, looking out of the window. "Maybe this time, I'll get a Titan..."
o o o —xπ{Ö}πx — o o o
Ida scanned her surroundings with a bored impatience, before deciding that she couldn't keep silent any longer, "Where are you taking me?"
"Just shut up and move, brat!" Oluo hissed back sharply, annoyed at her persistent questions. Ida arched a curious brow at his outburst. "Listen, if a newbie like you want to live the life of us seniors, you have to discern your position! What were you talking about so pleasantly with Captain Levi so early in the damn morning—"
The rest of Oluo's sentence got cut off abruptly as he bit down onto his tongue again, causing Ida to roll her eyes away dramatically, already accustomed to his antics.
When will this guy ever learn that it was not a good idea to talk while riding a horse?
After what seemed like ten minutes, Gunther slowed down and announced that they had finally arrived at their destination.
"Where is this place?" she inquired, swinging her feet off her horse and dismounting.
"The Southern Division Training camp. We're here to deliver some reports to the ex-commander of the Survey Corps, Keith Shadis," Gunther elaborated before handing his horse to the stables boys. "Hurry up, we're already late."
"Yeah! Don't you think of slacking off, you stinking brat!" Oluo barked at her from behind tauntingly, clenching his fist as he tried to throw his best death glare at the unfazed female. "This was supposed to be the newbie's job, but I don't know what shitty trick you've got up your sleeves to get Commander Erwin and Captain Levi to cut down your duties!"
Ida snapped her head around. She wanted to retort back that it was because she didn't know the way here as she had spent the past four years in the Underground City, but she decided it was more beneficial to remain silent, knowing that Oluo would probably accuse her of coming up with excuses anyhow.
Over the past weeks, Ida had warmed up to Petra and Marie. Even though she was determined not to form any attachments, she didn't feel good about openly rebuffing their persistent attempts to be friendly. She couldn't say the same for the boys in her squad though. It looked to her that they still hated her with the same burning passion.
Catching up with Gunther who was leading the way, Oluo nudged his comrade by the ribs to inform him of his presence.
"You think this is a good idea, Oluo?" Gunther whispered. "She's just barely enlisted, there's really no need to be in such a hurry."
"Nonsense!" Oluo retorted with a haughty scoff. "She's an official member now! She needs to learn to be prepared for anything. It's up to us to pound it into her thick skull! I don't know why, but everyone is going soft on that shitty brat! There ain't no way she's ever going to learn anything. Considering that, he may be our only hope!"
Gunther shuddered a little when his unpleasant memory with Keith Shadis flashed in his mind. In truth, even he himself didn't want to come here.
When they reached the main compound, Ida watched the training camp with a vague look of interest, passively staring at the trainees engaged in combat practice. They reached a fearsome-looking man standing in the middle of the field. Ida analyzed that he was an imposing man in his own right — with intense dark circles around his eyes and prominent wrinkles on his forehead.
"Sir, Keith Shadis!" Oluo and Gunther saluted rigidly when they saw him. Ida went into a salute too, observing the man in front of her silently.
"At ease," Keith ordered and threw them a quick dark glare. "I heard from Erwin you'll be coming over today. Did you bring the documents?" Without giving a moment for them to reply, he grabbed the documents from Oluo roughly and skimmed through the papers. "Alright. You're dismissed."
"Ah, sir!" Oluo shouted randomly, suddenly pushing a stoic Ida to the front.
"Huh?"
"This is the newest member of our squad!" Oluo ignored her surprise and introduced her with a suggestive tone. He knew that if Levi and Erwin failed to break her — the fearsome Keith Shadis would surely take a toll on the female.
Keith glowered at the short female in front of him. "I don't remember seeing you on the training grounds before. Which training division are you from?"
"She doesn't have any prior training, sir," Gunther said, mentally prepping himself for what was about to come. "Commander Erwin scouted her."
"Oh? Entering the Survey Corps through an illegitimate route, huh?" Keith Shadis raised a curious brow, turning his attention back to a composed looking Ida.
"Who the hell are you, recruit?!" he bellowed, clearly trying to intimidate and evoke some form of reaction from her.
"Ida," was her simple reply in a clear abysmal tone, not caring to even have eye contact with the towering man in front of her.
Gunther winched inwardly, knowing what was coming next. Everyone in the Survey Corps had been through the terror of 'Rite of Passage'. It was somewhat of a tradition that had been established over the years.
Oluo smirked triumphantly beside him, looking dementedly satisfied. He knew that he could count on Keith Shadis to break her. He was certain that he was the only one that can put the newbie into submission and fear.
"Is that the way to greet a superior, you worthless pile of shit?!" Keith suddenly bellowed fiercely in her face, "You think this is some form of joke, eh, cadet?! What the hell brings you here, you stupid pig?! Are you trying to be first-rate Titan-feed?!"
Ida finally lifted her head and deadlocked her gaze with the intimidating man in front of her. Keith Shadis rose a puzzled brow when he saw her expression, her emerald eyes shooting straight into his soul as she kept her strong silence. Though her eyes spoke of misery, her features were all too docile like.
"EH?!" Oluo and Gunther gasped out in shock.
It happened in the blink of an eye. Keith had lunged forward to grab her collar, but Ida had already predicted his movements and grabbed his wrist before he could.
Insolent, Keith thought, immensely surprised. He had expected her to cave in, but not once did Ida show any signs of faltering.
"I'm sorry, sir," Ida apologized smoothly. Though her tone spoke of respect, the challenge swarming in her eyes was astoundingly clear. "I'm afraid that I have a rather obsessive Captain who resents dirt and he'd surely flip out when he sees creases on my neatly pressed uniform."
Releasing her vice-like grip on him, she continued in a monotone, "In any way, I don't think it's appropriate for one's superiors to lay hands on their subordinates without a legitimate reason, don't you think so? I'm a Survey Corps soldier, not a trainee, sir."
To Keith's surprise, Ida stood there unyielding, face composed as a bronze mask when she released her grip on him. But he saw the blatant challenge in her eyes as if beckoning him to come up with a retort to defend himself.
How unusual, he mused, witty and sharp too.
Actually, it was more than unusual. Keith could easily count how many times on both hands when a soldier remained emotionless, much less calm through his merciless 'Rite of Passage'. Her expression showed no fear and neither did she flinch.
"Hmph." Keith pursed his lips, staring down at the unmoving petite female in front of him.
Keith was observant enough to discern one's character traits just by their expressions and mannerisms and it was clear that Ida just wasn't one to cave in even with a display of authority and intimidation. Even though she had a face that didn't look ready for war, her eyes showed all the terrors that she had been through in the past — this wouldn't shake her, she had seen and experienced much worse.
He turned on his heel, advancing to the appalled Oluo by the side, and kicked him in the shin.
"URGH!" Oluo cried in pain as he held onto his shin, jumping around. Gunther gasped in shock and hurried to help him.
Keith threw one last glance at Ida by the side, wondering silently just what kind of soldier she was destined to be.
There aren't that many interactions with Levi and Ida yet, but I wanted to settle the OC in first before I proceed to that and set the tone for their relationship and the plot. But with that note, they'd be going on an expedition soon!
Reviews would be highly appreciated.