Humanity's Strongest Woman

by xDollfie

In every empire, there is an epic era that defies the boundaries of time and immortalized itself in the history books. For mankind, an epic era they will never forget has finally emerged. The war between humanity and Titans has finally come to a head. Love cease to exist in a time like this, but they found it, and promised that it'll be worth it. Every stubborn inch of it [LEVIXOC]

7. A Glimmer Of Hope

A/N: HI! I am back with an update, thank you so much for your reviews and support so far! Finally, Eren, Mikasa, and Armin are introduced!

Chapter revamped: 10 March 2020

Thank you to my beta reader: ChocoCookiesMe!

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Humanity's Strongest Woman by xDollfie

Chapter 06 — A Glimmer Of Hope

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"This is fucking human labor exploitation," Ida grumbled bitterly just as they entered the headquarters' large wooden doors. Levi looked ahead and walked steadily beside her, dismissing her complaints.

"Slave driver..." she snarled again in a quiet voice, glaring daggers at his head, but that too did not provoke a reaction from Levi as she had expected.

All eyes turned to the two soldiers who had just emerged from the door, bearing down on the unsuspecting pair. Levi sensed the gazes immediately and turned a bored gaze to the crowd, intimidating them to look away. "What are you lot gawking at? Close your damn mouths."

Petra Ral was the first to break the tense silence, dashing forward to the pair. "Ida! I heard you were awake, why didn't you tell anyone where you went and…"

She paused and tilted her head as if she was trying to digest what was happening in front of her. "….What are you doing?"

Ida merely tensed up as Petra trailed her astonished eyes up and down her appearance. She was practically holding onto twenty brown bags loaded with cleaning necessities such as detergents and bleach.

Worst still, Levi just had to decide to buy a couple of brooms that were on sale before proceeding to order her to carry them back to the headquarters.

"Might as well make yourself useful," he had stated snarkily back at the cleaning supplies shop, clearly still pissed at losing the bet and having to heed to Ida's demands.

You could have imagined the embarrassment and humiliation when Levi tied five brand new brooms to her back. Ida could not for the life of her understand why Levi needed so many damn brooms, but she realized that as much as she had an obsession with sweets, her Captain had a particular obsession with cleaning necessities. So much so that he almost cleared the entire stock of brooms back at the department store.

"Captain, she's still recovering!" Petra chided him disapprovingly, assisting Ida in removing the bags of her aching arms. "You shouldn't have allowed her to carry such heavy things!"

Levi scoffed, placing his own bags down at a nearby table. "If she is well enough to whine and demand that I bring her shopping, she is well enough to hold the bags," he nodded grimly like he expected everyone to accept his theory.

A stunned silence echoed through the hallway, every member of the Survey Corps wide-eyed at the news. No one dared to breathe or move, holding in their breaths in an anticipating silence as they tried to process everything. Ida tilted her head in confusion.

"W — Wait… You went shopping with Captain?" Oluo recovered from the shock first, his expression indescribable.

Ida blinked and nodded softly in confirmation. She couldn't understand why everyone made it out to be such a big deal.

"Yeah, that bastard bought me sweets. I bought enough to share, do you want one?" she answered plainly and dug into her prized brown paper bag, throwing a piece of candy at her stunned comrade. Oluo did not catch it, too stunned at the revelation and the sweet bounced off his chest.

The intimidating Captain made a disgruntled sound, realizing how everyone was staring at him.

"It isn't what you think it is you think it is," he immediately defended flatly. "If you lot have the time to make ridiculous assumptions, then make yourself useful and put away the supplies in storage."

With that statement made, Levi made a sharp turn and left the vicinity, heading towards his private office upstairs and paying no heed to all the dumbfounded looks that followed him. As soon as Levi left, the rest of the Special Operation Squad jumped on Ida, curiosity burning brightly in their eyes as they took turns to attack the stunned redhead with questions.

Ida was beginning to become surprisingly aware that the rest of the legion had their eyes on her as they whispered amidst themselves.

"What was that all about?" Gunther immediately demanded, charging towards Ida as Petra helped her settle down on a chair.

Eld huffed beside him, crossing his arms over his broad chest. His lips were pursed as if he was deep in thought. "That is a surprising change of character… A candy store?"

"Currying favors with Captain, huh?" Oluo chuckled and hovered over Ida, giving her a lecherous leer. "Not such a bad idea for a brat like you if I would say so myself! Way to go Starke! Never thought you had it in you!"

He reached over to give Ida a hard thump on her back and she glared at him in displeasure in response.

"Tell me, did you really get Captain Levi to buy you these sweets and convince him to go shopping with you?" Petra asked anxiously. She hurriedly went to the bags to examine it. Petra squealed when she opened the brown paper bag and immediately helped herself to one. "These must have cost a fortune!"

Ida shook off all their incoming inquiries with a literal shake of her head, her voice as impassive and dull as ever. "Yeah, I dragged him to the candy store. What's the big deal?"

Thankfully, Gunther offered an explanation. "Because Captain hates shopping and he dislikes going to crowded places, usually it would be us who buys his large list cleaning supplies."

"Tch. He went with it because of a bet we had that is all." Ida stretched her arm, wincing when she felt a slight sore pain throb in her healing wounds. "Your brain must have gotten pretty fried if you're thinking about anything else."

"Mhm…" Petra sounded, not looking entirely convinced. "Are you sure?"

Ida stopped her stretch midway with an emotionless stoic expression. "Yeah." she plainly confirmed, feeling out of the loop. Why was everyone looking at her like that?

"How are your injuries?" Oluo questioned with genuine concern, changing the subject. "Even Commander Erwin looked extremely worried when Captain brought you back."

Ever since the last expedition, Oluo had gained some newfound respect for the rookie. In fact, Ida had accomplished the impossible. Just after her first expedition, she had managed to gain the approval of almost every Survey Corps soldier, seasoned veteran or not. Talks about how she was not qualified to be in the Survey Corps as she had never undergone formal training died down.

But the list, of course, excluded a certain cold Captain.

"I'm perfectly fine," Ida stated dismissively, sounding bored. "What about the notebook that four-eyed freak found?"

"Commander Erwin has given the green light to Hanji-san to resume Titan capturing operations," Gunther informed her. "However, we're still trying to decipher what 'Ymir's people' meant."

"Guess that means we'd be helping that four-eyed freak..." Ida's frown was immediate. "Has the next training and expedition date already been set?"

"You should rest more, just a few hours after you have gained consciousness you're already harping on about training." Petra chided her, shaking her head disapprovingly. "You're going to end up like Hanji-san sooner or later. Perhaps you should consider applying for a short leave to heal, your injuries were really serious."

Oluo smirked beside Petra. "I'm sure Captain Levi would want that as well," he added evasively.

Ida straightened herself out as soon as she noticed the mischievous tone he was using. "I'm fine, I refuse to stay cooped up in a room like a patient," she spoke with conviction and turned to address Oluo with a frown. "Plus, what does my recovery have to do with that midget?"

"You don't know?" Petra gasped in disbelief, mostly because she hadn't expected Ida to be so outdated on the juiciest gossip plaguing the Survey Corps.

"Know what?" Ida pressed urgently.

"That Captain Levi stayed by your bedside when you were recovering," Oluo explained before his ginger teammate could. He stared at Ida directly in the eye, hoping that she'd catch on what he was implying. "He even bought his paperwork and tea into your room."

"Oh, he was the one who found me after all. I was lucky." Ida densely replied, relaxing when she realized that it was nothing big. For a moment there, she thought something huge had happened.

Gunther snorted and shook his head, realizing that Ida was equally as dense as her male counterpart. "Captain didn't find you by chance, he went looking for you."

Ida blinked sharply at that statement. "What?"

"We were nearing the Walls when the message came informing us the entire right flank was rendered disabled by a horde of Titans," Petra elaborated for her teammate. "He suddenly just left his station in a hurry."

Though Ida admitted that it was unusual for Levi to irresponsibly leave his station during a crucial time in an expedition engaging in Long-Range Scouting Formation, she still didn't see why her comrades were making a big fuss of it. Levi did whatever the hell he wanted regardless of anyone's opinion anyway and he had the authority to do so — what was the big deal?

From what she had observed, Levi looked willing to obey any order from Erwin Smith, no matter his own misgivings. However, she realized that his obedience was only strictly limited to individuals he respected, and Levi certainly had no problem showing open disdain for authority from anyone outside of this circle.

With that thought in mind, Ida gathered that Levi was probably trying to curry favor with Erwin. After all, Erwin had placed him in charge of her well-being.

"Maybe he just thinks I'm incompetent?" Ida offered, deciding to sway the conversation elsewhere. The last thing she wanted was for anyone to find out about her connections with their Commander. "It's not a big deal."

Petra looked at the redhead strangely, "Did something happen between you and Captain?"

It was Ida's turn to look dubiously back at her teammates.

"Apart from the fact that we claw at each other at every chance we get and he's a chauvinistic bastard who orders me around like I'm his slave, I don't think so…?" Ida ended her speech in an uncharacteristically confused note, wondering if that was the answer that everyone was looking for.

"I see." Petra nodded to herself with a look of slow revelation. A suspicious smile crept up the ginger's face as she took a seat next to the redhead.

Needless to say, Petra's evasiveness was starting to bother Ida.

"Is it so astonishing to know that midget hates me? Are you guys blind or did you not see that he and I never, ever get along together?" Ida asked pointedly. She was getting a little annoyed now, why was it that everyone was behaving so strangely around her?

Eld snorted beside her, crossing his arms. "Hate you? If you think that Captain hates you after a display like that, I don't know what else to say."

Ida's head tilted to the side fractionally and she scowled at Eld's retreating back. "What's his problem?"

She was keenly aware that she and Eld didn't see eye to eye at times. Eld was always berating her because of her disrespectful behavior towards Levi — but what was that for? Though Ida knew that the blonde had taken a dislike to her, she couldn't simply understand what she'd done wrong this time.

Gunther chuckled softly to ease the tension. "Don't worry about him."

"Well, whatever. I'm exhausted," Ida dismissed the conversation abruptly.

Without saying another word, she limped straight for the door to the dormitory. Ida had enough of conversing with people for the day, she was tired and could do with some peace and silence.

"There's a funeral in two days for the fallen soldiers," Petra stopped her before she could leave. "You're coming, right? We'd be seeing off Marie and Jason. Their family members are coming as well."

Ida was paralyzed mid-stride. Slowly, she turned, silently observing the solemn eyes of her squadmates when Petra brought up the matter. Ida's skin prickled, and she was overcome with a familiar sensation of guilt.

"No," she answered plainly after a brief tense silence and left before they could demand an explanation.

How could she — when she was still guilt-ridden and ashamed by what happened? Ida didn't want to attend such a gloomy event, she was so sure the looks of their grieving family members would be enough to break her resolve to stay in the Survey Corps.

She had no right to attend.

o o o —xπ{Ö}πx — o o o

In another private room in the Survey Corps' headquarter, Levi Ackerman, slouched back on his office chair, his face as cool as a bronze mask.

Closing his eyes, he took a short break before continuing sorting through his large stack of paperwork that Hanji had piled on his desk — Levi was sure that the despicable brunette had slipped her some of her own paperwork as well.

Subconsciously, his hands seem to have dug deep into his pockets and he snapped his eyes open when his fingers touched a cool metal object. Grabbing it out from the safe confinement of his pockets, Levi frowned when he held it out in the sunlight to observe it.

The pastel-colored charm bracelet seemed to have glitter in the warm orange sunset rays that filtered through his large open windows. The beautiful charms in shapes of candies clinked together softly when a breeze of wind blew through his spacious office. Levi had bought it at the candy store back then, but he wasn't sure what had caused his impulsive reaction.

"What the fuck are you thinking, buying useless crap like this?" Levi spoke out loud in frustration as if to berate himself for his previous impulsive actions.

The creases in his forehead deepened as he contemplated over it. Frowning, Levi roughly pulled his lower drawers open and threw the bracelet in before slamming it shut with a long bang.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Determined to immerse himself into work and to maintain being level-headed and calm, Levi grabbed a few sheets from the stacks beside him. The papers furrowed in his rigid grasp as he skimmed through them one by one.

"Oi."

The fearsome Captain perked up at the sound. Levi peered up from his notes to glare at the impertinent cadet who had just entered his office without knocking.

"Do you even know how to fucking knock?" he demanded unhappily.

The red-haired cadet merely frowned in response, before slamming a fresh cup of tea in front of Levi's desk. Some of it sloshed out onto the table, wetting his paperwork and irking him when he caught sight at the filthy mess she created.

"For you… sir…" Ida muttered through gritted teeth, every syllable sounding like a curse. She cast one last murderous gaze to a scowling Levi, before hastily looking away in embarrassment. "That's for saving me… twice."

Ida swallowed hard, clenching her fist and curling it against her chest in a stiff salute. When Levi cocked a curious brow, looking as though he was wondering what the hell was happening to her, she tried to explain herself futilely,

"We're even now!" Ida stated a bit too loudly before sprinting out of the door in embarrassment and disbelief that she actually did that.

Grumbling at the mess she made, Levi stared at the steaming teacup pensively before picking it up anyway, bringing it to his lips. He scoffed when the fresh aroma and taste danced on his palette.

"That troublesome brat," he scoffed, staring at the teacup. "Out of all the tea, you just had to choose peppermint tea."

His mind flashed back to how Ida shoved dozens of peppermint rock candy down his throat just a few hours ago and he shook his head. Levi found himself at steaming teacup for another moment, like he was expecting for it to retort back like Ida herself before taking another small sip.

"But… it's isn't half as bad."

o o o —xπ{Ö}πx — o o o

Gunther panted as he frantically chased after his departing fully-equipped fiery-haired comrade. "You can't do this, your injuries are still healing!" he hollered after her. "What will Captain Levi say if he finds out?!"

"Oh, cut me some slack, Schultz! I'm just going out to train!" Ida retorted snappily, increasing her pace with a slight limp towards the legion's stables for a horse she could ride. "I refuse to stay cooped up in a damn room like a paralyzed patient! I'm perfectly fine!"

The truth was, Ida was plagued with the gruesome images of her blood-field fields of the previous expedition and no matter what she did, she couldn't suppress the vivid images.

Figuring that she needed to clear her mind, Ida opted for a nice wooden Titan slaying practice alone in the woods. She knew she couldn't afford for her skills to deteriorate, not if she were to embark on another expedition with the legion again.

"W — Wait!" Gunther persisted and chased after her, grumbling under his breath at how stubborn his new squadmate was. He could have dragged her back, but he opted not to, knowing that Ida would fight back stubbornly anyhow. "Starke!"

From his office windows, Levi found himself watching the scene with slight amusement, fingers curling around the window rails. Unknowingly, he began to snort amusedly to himself, the hot tea in his grasp swirling with each low snort he made. It was entertaining to watch at the very least.

"How is she?" Erwin Smith questioned from the sofa, observing Levi's uncharacteristic expression dubiously. He knew he was watching his daughter.

Clearing his throat, Levi quickly reverted back to his usual scowl when he was suddenly reminded that there was someone else in the room. "If you're asking if the brat is fit to go out for training, it's hard to say, her injuries were pretty severe. I'm sure you've read the report I sent you."

Erwin nodded understandingly. "…I was uncertain that Ida would do well as a soldier, but so far I have heard nothing but excellent things about her," he commented conclusively. "I've heard from Petra that she takes training seriously and has achieved nothing but good grades. The last expedition only shows how far she has advanced."

"That's good, at least she can be of damn use." Levi snarked, darting his gaze back towards his window. "I thought that her only shitty purpose in the Survey Corps was to bother me all day long."

After a brief observation, a secret smirk played on the Commander's lips as he watched his prized soldier.

Erwin's bemused expression and stare caught the attention of Levi, who irritably snapped his head when the silence between them prolonged.

"What the hell are you smiling at Erwin?" he inquired sharply with a slight hint of discomfort.

"Nothing," Erwin answered simply but there was something in the tone of his voice that made Levi do a double-take. He scanned the Commander in his office for a moment, not believing him one bit. He could easily guess what was going on in his head.

With his rising suspicion, Levi confronted Erwin immediately. "Liar, you're fucking enjoying this aren't you?"

With a raised bow, Erwin could only chuckle softly, downcasting his guilty gaze. "Yes..." he admitted. "I won't deny it if it's that obvious. It's nice to see you struggle sometimes."

Levi snorted sarcastically, scowling. "So to satisfy your sick fetish you sent your bratty daughter to bother me all day long?"

Erwin locked his hard gaze with him. "She's quite a handful isn't she?" he agreed calmly. "Though, I'm sure you'll be able to handle her well."

Levi only scoffed at his remark and looked away. "Is that all you want to say? If that is so, I am going."

He placed his half drank tea back in his saucer and headed straight for the door, deciding that he didn't want a part in where this conversation was heading.

"Levi." Erwin's strong voice reverberated through the room just as Levi placed his hand on the wooden door, ready to unlock it and to exit the room. "She might be a grown woman, but she is still my biological daughter nevertheless. Don't get too…"

Erwin's smirk widened when he saw Levi's irritated expression. "…Wrapped up around her…"

Levi was dumbfounded by his commander's subtle warning but he kept his stoned countenance. "What a stupid thing to say. Have you been hanging out with your daughter these few days to finally pick up her stupid shitty way of speaking?"

"I'm just saying, she's an intriguing woman…" Erwin eyed Levi, just waiting for the tiniest flicker of emotions. "I'm sure she had…" he paused as if to find the right words to say in order not to offend.

"Caught your interest…" Erwin finally finished in an implying tone.

"Tch. Really, you got to stop playing possessive daddy, Erwin. It doesn't suit someone like you," Levi scowled, a frown embedded deep into his forehead. Waving his hand dismissively, he pushed through the doors. "If that's all you want to say, I'll be going now."

To his credit, Erwin did not pry further and only nodded. "I'd be waiting for your next report, Levi."

Erwin Smith could only smirk in amusement when the famed Captain left his office. As much as Erwin had quick intuition, he had never expected things to turn out like this — Levi, taking an interest in someone?

Now, that was something he could never have predicted.

Outside, Levi stormed his way through the quiet hallway with an impassive expression, grumbling underneath his breath. "We've got to change the damn way we report…"

o o o —xπ{Ö}πx — o o o

She didn't know how she felt when her Captain came up to her suddenly, telling her to be prepared for a trip to the city in an hour's time. Levi had not deign to explain to her the reasoning behind their sudden trip. In fact, all he offered was that she should prepare herself and that this trip would not be a 'pleasurable experience'.

It was near evening when she arrived at the stables. Ida had expected that the rest of her new squad would be following them as well, but to her surprise, it was just the two that were going on a trip.

They had just dismounted their horses in a residential area in Trost. Usually, she would've demanded to know where they were going, but something told her that it was best for her to remain silent and simply obey his orders dutifully. Cloaked in strained silence, Ida observed him warily from the corner of her eye as their feet continued their walk on the pavement.

"Starke," Levi called in a deadpan, stopping outside a residential house. "Just shut up, and don't say anything when we get in."

Ida pressed her lips together into a thin line and nodded. After a firm knock on the door, a middle-aged woman opened the door, her eyes expanding when she saw two Survey Corps scouts outside her door.

"Ma'am," Levi greeted, his expression apathetic. "I'm Captain Levi from the Survey Corps, may we come in?"

"M — Marie?" The lady stammered, dread starting to spread across her features. Her face instantly paled at their appearance. "Is this about… my daughter...? She's under your squad right…?"

"Yes," Levi answered flatly.

Ida felt her world freeze at that moment. Comprehension finally dawned on her. She clenched her fist. That was when it all made terrible sense. She gazed somberly at the clearly frightened lady; it was clear to Ida that she knew what this visit was about too.

Shit, she wouldn't have come if she knew where he was going, but she couldn't possibly flee now.

Left with no other choice, Ida followed Levi into the house quietly, careful to eradicate all emotions on her features. She wanted nothing more than to run, to escape from this situation. 'I'm sorry,' she kept repeating within her, but her black soul continued to ignore her feeble attempt of apology.

With trepidation heavy in her stomach, she stood stiffly behind Levi as he took the offered seat on the table. Marie's mother sat in front of him. The candlelight on the table illuminated her face, making the shadows of her somber expression all the more clearer to her and Ida's stomach twisted at the sight.

"This is all of her belongings…." Levi said in a measured voice, placing the bag that he had been carrying on the table. "Unfortunately, we couldn't bring back her body. The Survey Corps would be hosting a funeral tomorrow for our soldiers that succumbed during the 49th expedition."

Marie's mother's trembling fingers reached out for the bag and a strangled sob clawed out of her throat when she grabbed it and brought it to her chest. Ida averted her eyes away, unable to look, but the sounds of her despair were equally as torturous on her soul.

"M — My daughter..." The mother croaked through her cries. "...Sh — She was all I had… She… was all I had left..."

"She was a formidable soldier and she died an honorable death," Levi said, his tone monotonous. He took out a piece of paper and slid it across the table to the grief-stricken woman. "This is the location of the funeral—"

"Funeral?!" Marie's mother bellowed, incensed. Through teary eyes, she glared at the soldiers before her with fury and hatred. "You couldn't even bring back her body! What's the point of a funeral?! She was all I had! What good does hosting a funeral without a body bring?! And you Captain! You couldn't even protect your direct subordinates! My daughter! Why?! How did she die?! How?! What did she die for?!"

Ida had expected Levi's irate personality to emerge, as she had known it to do so at times like this. Perhaps he would even calmly inform her about the reason why the Survey Corps kept fighting. And so, it confused her greatly when Levi merely lowered his head and said, "I'm sorry for your loss, ma'am."

"Get out!" The woman screamed, her lips quivering under the weight of her anguished tone. She swiped every object off the table violently, lost in her despair. Ida flinched at the sounds of plates breaking. "Get out of my house! I don't ever want to see any of you damned scouts ever again! Get out! Get out! Get out!"

"I understand, ma'am." Levi's features were stoic when he stood up and gestured for Ida to follow him.

Ida hesitated and she glanced at the trembling woman clutching onto the bag, clearly lost in the depths of her agony and grief. She wanted to apologize. To admit that she was there at the battlefield when her daughter died and that if she was stronger, perhaps she could save her. She wanted to beg for forgiveness, because if it wasn't for her volunteering to go the right flank and separate with the Special Operation Squad, Marie wouldn't have been assigned to follow her.

Above all, Ida wanted to say that it was not Levi's fault, but hers alone.

She understood the sad reality well. She knew that there was a glaring possibility that Marie and Jason were only assigned to follow her by Erwin because she was his biological daughter, and this special treatment disgusted her, inflaming her guilt more.

And for that, she hated herself more than anything.

But just as she parted her lips to speak, Levi's firm voice interrupted her. "Starke, I told you to shut up. Let's go."

Clamping her mouth shut, she tore her eyes away from the sobbing mother and forced herself to leave with her Captain. Once outside, Ida felt as though the weight of the world was lifted off her shoulders, but the palpable memory of Marie's mother's memory suffering seared her mind again.

She had always been great at maintaining her stoicism, but Ida was starting to feel a reaction from witnessing the heart-wrenching grief of Marie's mother. Meanwhile, Levi simply stared off into the horizon. The setting sun reflected in his gray eyes. Although they had just gone through a guilt puncturing experience, his aura never faltered.

In all honesty, from his demeanor just now, a tiny part of her hoped that maybe Levi was starting to crack. It was a good excuse to. Who can possibly sit through that and not feel any guilt? But she was wrong. Now that she had a proper look at his features, Levi looked as strong as ever. As composed as ever. As perfect as ever.

That was when Ida started to realize that this man before her was not only strong in physical prowess, but his mind would never break as well.

How annoying.

"Starke," Levi voiced flatly, his hard gaze capturing hers when he turned his head. "I heard that you didn't want to attend the funeral."

So this was why he called me along… Ida thought sullenly, finally realizing his intentions. He's here to berate me for my cowardice.

Momentarily, Ida debated on lying, but then she saw no point.

"I don't..." Ida replied, finding it difficult to find her own voice. "...I don't want to."

Levi exercised his jaw and Ida could see his annoyance slowly morphing on his features. "Do you know why we personally have to deliver the personal artifacts of the fallen soldiers to their families?"

"To inform them that they died," Ida answered softly. "For closure and respect."

"Tch." Levi did not seem pleased with her answer. "Just like I thought, you're just a damned brat after all."

Usually, Ida would bite back a snarky retort at his crass insults, but she found it hard to find the strength to do so. She could sense the judgment that was rife in his gaze. Ida knew then. In his eyes, she was completely in the wrong about everything.

"It is our duty as soldiers. That, and because those fallen comrades gave their lives to protect their fellow man," Levi informed her and Ida felt her throat tightened as he continued, "No matter what their contribution was, big or small, those of us who remained must remember their sacrifice. I thought you knew that when you said you wanted to inherit their will and dreams."

I want to, Ida wanted to argue, but she found herself unable to do so.

Because what was Marie Clarie's contribution anyway? What was the outcome of her sacrifice? Ida wondered when a plethora of her cynicism hit her. Freedom? But they were still trapped within the Walls and just as helpless as ever.

She was suddenly assaulted by the memory of how Marie desperately tried to get her out of the battlefield to safety when the hoard of Titans appeared. Her last words of 'trusting them' echoed in her eardrums.

It was easy to see why Marie made her relay the information to the central flank. Because she was a rookie, and seasoned veterans such as themselves simply weren't comfortable in letting her fight Titans. They wanted her to be safe.

And even when Ida was aware of that, she ran and followed their orders anyway. Ida was always one to believe in her own strength and abilities, but when push came to shove, why didn't she stay? She had always disobeyed orders, so why didn't she then?

So in her darkest time of contemplation over her deplorable behavior, Ida had begun to ponder for the answer as she brooded about her failure to perform. The voice that was her black soul inclined to give her the answer: 'You ran because you were afraid. You ran because you were weak'.

Indeed, Ida agreed solemnly, comparing herself with the perfect man in front of her. Because what would happen if Levi was there? The so-called 'strongest'. Certainly, he wouldn't have left his squad members. He would've fought beside them, protecting them with his strength.

And this fact killed her mind and threw her into a deep downward spiral of self-loathing. So many people Ida had wanted to protect and so many times had she failed. When will she ever learn?

She was just as weak as she was before the Wall Maria fell.

"You're fairly skilled, Starke," Levi suddenly said, snapping her out of her bitter thoughts. The dark scowl never escaped his visage. "Though this is the work of the more senior officers, if you continue to show progress, it won't be long when you'll have to do this on your own. Prepare yourself, brat."

She was surprised that he admitted that she was skilled, but she allowed none of her surprise to show on her features.

"If this is the type of work you have to do, then I don't ever want a promotion," Ida retorted in her customary bitterness and cynicism. "I don't need it. I don't want to visit the families of the deceased and tell them their family members died. That it's all for nothing."

Levi's brows creased when he narrowed his eyes in her direction, and Ida could tell he was studying her expression. "Wipe that damned grim look off your shitty face, brat."

Biting her lower lip, Ida averted her gaze away, ashamed of what she had just admitted.

Levi exhaled out a maddening breath before he added, "Here's your damn wake up call; as long as those Titans roam the land beyond the Walls, this horrifying tide of grief will never end. This is just another shitty thing we have to endure, the living doesn't have it any better."

"I just don't want to see anyone else die," Ida rebuffed with a sharp edge.

Levi scoffed incredulously. "I don't know what you've been through before you got here, nor do I care. But surely even a brat like you must know that everyone fucking dies."

"Of course I know that," she retorted with a frown.

"Then why?" Levi snapped with a hard grimace. "Are you still living in denial?"

"No, I'm used to deaths," Ida said ruefully, her features morphing into an expression of hard disdain. "I just didn't think that… there would be so many senseless deaths in the Survey Corps..."

"Tch." Levi snorted, unamused. "The worst part is knowing that there's going to be more deaths before we can wipe those damned Titans out. So, I suggest you get used to it and stop whining."

"What if I can't?" Ida looked away. "What if... I can't get used to it?"

Levi barely arched his eyebrow. "Then leave," he spat frostily. "You say you want to stay here because you want to give meaning to our fallen soldier's deaths — that you want to inherit their will and dreams. But it is clear to me now that you don't give a shit about that either. This is all part of the damn package. You're not determined enough."

Her fist clenched together and Ida made no moves to deny his insinuations.

Levi scoffed irately at her silence. "Tch. I'll get the resignation papers when we get back—"

"No, I'll stay," Ida interjected, her firm eyes landing on him. "I'll stay in the Survey Corps. I've been through worse than this, I'll be able to cope."

Unconsciously, he straightened his spine under her piercing, expectant stare. "Why do you want to stay here?" Levi demanded, and when Ida opened her lips to explain, he cut in before she could. "And don't give me the same bullshit about inheriting the fallen dreams, you ain't fooling me, Starke."

To find a purpose in my miserable life, to be as strong and perfect as you, Ida wanted to say, but she quickly decided that she would never be able to admit it. Her pride would not allow her to say it.

"To protect people," she admitted when she finally found her voice, and it wasn't a lie. Ida did want to. It was a simple reason, not as glorious as Levi's purpose surely, but it was the truth.

Levi scrutinized her before finally asking, "Why?"

"I just want to," Ida answered dismissively.

Levi narrowed his eyes suspiciously, trying to make out her thoughts, but there was nothing on Ida's countenance for him to detect.

Scowling, he breathed out heavily before he turned his heel and started walking to where their horses were parked. "Understood. Regardless of the reasons, if you're staying in the legion I expect you to carry out your damned duties, Starke. Don't be such a damned weakling."

Ida lingered behind and she watched him leave the vicinity in silence. She was instantly reminded of how incorrigible she was — she didn't want to attend the funerals of her comrades merely because she thought she couldn't cope with it.

But Marie and Jason had thought about her well-being right till the moment they died, didn't they? Isn't this the least that she could do for them? To pay them final respect?

Weakling, he calls me. Ida closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. At that point in time, Ida couldn't agree with Levi's statement more. Because she knew subconsciously that underneath all that arrogance she showed, she was nothing but a weakling. The latest expedition and her influx of emotions now only further cemented her beliefs.

Pathetic and useless, and so painfully weak...

The strongest, Ida thought wryly when she slit her green eyes open to stare at his retreating back. Does this really man feel nothing?

Even when Marie's grieving mother was crumbling in front of him, Levi was calm and he was just as unbreakable. Marie was his direct subordinate, and yet he did not even flinch. It had taken nearly all her self-control to not break down into a guilt-filled mess in front of Marie's mother, and she would've if Levi had not stopped her.

Perhaps this was why Ida found him so intriguing now.

His strength... His unyielding determination even in the face of the direst circumstances... His compassion... His righteous and noble purpose... The hope and dreams that shone in his gray eyes...

He would never make a mistake.

Ida couldn't deny that she was jealous, and she admired him because he was everything she wasn't and couldn't be. For years, she had been chasing power, fervently believing that strength was the only way she could protect those she had cared about. In pursuit of strength, she had trained herself relentlessly until she wanted nothing more than to break down and cry.

But even to this day, no matter how much stronger she had gotten, not a single person that Ida had tried so desperately to protect lived.

And when they died one by one — with each blow she received — Ida started believing that it was better for her to be alone, because she knew someone like herself couldn't cope with the aftermath when they leave. For her sanity, it was better to be alone.

Steeling herself, she threw one last glance at the closed door of Marie's home and exhaled deeply before she started walking towards Levi.

Ida Starke knew innately then that she was someone who had no honor, nor any noble dreams. Levi was right about everything about her, and she understood that perhaps it was best that someone as deplorable as her leave the Survey Corps. But even with all that said, Ida wanted to stay.

She wanted to protect people, and also because she was determined to break that rock. She wanted nothing more than to break down Levi Ackerman, because more than anything, she selfishly wanted the source of his power for herself.

She wanted to be strong like him too.

"Levi," she called him and he stopped mid-stride, turning around to glare at her.

"What?" he demanded snarkily.

"...Nothing," Ida murmured after a lapsed silence, walking passed him. "I'll be in your care from now on."

As she rode behind him back to headquarters, Ida found herself observing her Captain more than she would like to. Ida didn't know what the future entails for someone as wretched as her, but she couldn't deny she was curious. It would be a hard road to walk, perhaps even harder than the paths she had already walked, but it didn't matter to her.

Because maybe, just maybe, she'll be able to have hopes and dreams like him too.

And this faint glimmer of hope was enough for some so frighteningly empty as Ida Starke. It was more than she had bargained more.

Fine, Levi. I'll follow you...

Because maybe if I did, I'll be able to become as strong as you.

o o o —xπ{Ö}πx — o o o

Year 850. (One year later)

"You all have such interesting faces."

The final piercing cries of a Titan reverberated through the vicinity before it stumbled forward as a result of a deathly blow to its nape. Heavy seam emitted from the devastating wound, before all of the beast's strength and life force was drained and gravity pulled him to the ground.

He was as magnificent in using his gears as ever, if not even better. Levi Ackerman leaped effortlessly off the roof, turning 180-degrees with his feet suspended above the air. With a faint entertained smirk on his lips upon hearing the beast's final cries of defeat, he directed his wrath on his next target.

Still airborne, Levi maneuvered through the wind with splendor and unsurpassed skill. A loud click was heard as he released his blades from the handles, throwing the razor-sharp blades accurately at the Titan's bulging eyes. The beast roared in agony just when Levi's brown combat boots landed squarely on his head.

"Stay still," Levi taunted with an emotionless countenance, installing fresh razor-sharp blades in his hand grips. "Otherwise, I will never get a clean cut of your flesh."

Before he could leap into action to deliver the final blow, a gush of wind zoomed passed the Titan's nape, slashing it deeply and ending its life.

An irritated scowl erupted on his visage immediately, Levi didn't need to look to know who was responsible. There is only one other person capable of such speed after all.

Levi leaped from the Titan's head before gravity pulled the corpse down and shot his grapple towards a nearby building, reeling himself towards the roof.

Once he landed, Levi lifted his soiled left hand, a disturbing look flashing on his features when he saw the crimson blood, "Tch. It got all filthy…"

Taking his white handkerchief, he started to wipe down his blood-smeared blades.

"I hope the Titans eat you one day while you're cleaning," a feminine voice boomed behind him with a taunting glint. "Seriously though, I can never understand why you even bother to clean off even while you're on the battlefield, it's going to get all bloodied again."

"I don't really have to worry about that now, do I?" Levi snarked back snappily with a smug countenance, not even bothering to turn back to face her. "Not when you're unnecessarily looking after my back and slashing my fucking prey while I'm on a damn hunt."

His clever sarcastic retort painted a faint smirk on the fiery-haired woman's pink lips.

"Blame yourself for taking your own sweet time to enlist taunting remarks," she countered. "Well, I get why you're annoyed. But it's not my fault I was assigned to be your partner, so just deal with it."

"That's because you're the only one capable of keeping up with me," Levi spat the words like it was venom, spinning around to face her. "Don't like it get to your head, brat, you're still far behind me."

Ida Starke smirked in a challenge when they locked their glares. "Of course, sir. I'll always be watching your back, after all, I wouldn't want to miss the day where I get to save your stinking ass."

With another triumph smirk, she scanned the Titan infested area around them. "You clean up on the left, I'll go on the right."

"Issuing orders now?" Levi sneered, immediately putting her in her place. "Have you forgotten who's Captain here?"

She snickered airily. "Of course not." Ida shot her grapple towards a tower on her right, a soft smile on her face before she reeled herself in. "See ya, Captain!"

Levi sighed audibly, looking at the direction she was headed for — Ida was already charging towards an unsuspecting Titan.

It had been nearly a year since Ida had enlisted and awhile the fiery-haired woman had kept her obnoxious stubborn mindset, Levi had come to appreciate her skills and their similarities. He was relieved that he was not wrong in his judgment when he first laid eyes on her. Ida had proven to be an undeniable asset to the Survey Corps, and even though Levi would never admit it out loud, he couldn't deny that she was immensely skilled.

Averting his line of vision, Levi diverted his attention to the left side and immediately understood why Ida wanted to pick the right — there weren't that many Titans situated on the left.

Scoffing, he launched himself in the air. "Damn brat…"

Erwin Smith looked at the elite pair from afar with a great feeling of satisfaction and pride. The brunette Squad Leader beside him noted his line of vision, nudging him by the side to get his attention.

"Why didn't you promote her as a Captain of her own squad?" Hanji inquired curiously, watching as Ida mercilessly took down another Titan. "She's qualified to be Squad Leader."

It was a question that was on everyone's mind recently. Over the past year, Ida Starke's capabilities had risen to be the second most powerful soldier, just below her Captain. Hanji supposed it was not that surprising since Ida was already skilled at the beginning of her journey as a Survey Corps scout, and it didn't take long for her to gain abilities and improve her skills under the guidance of Levi.

Under her Captain's training, Ida had become a formidable Titan slayer in her own right. So much so that word had also spread outside of the Survey Corps about her abilities and achievement beyond the walls, earning her some recognition.

Hence, Hanji was sure that Ida would've been ordered to recruit her own squad, but so far, the only advancement that Ida had made was that she had taken over Eld Jinn's place as second in command in Levi's squad.

"I did. But Levi wasn't particularly happy with it and Ida declined the promotion," Erwin explained brusquely. "Too much work, she said. So, I didn't press the issue."

Hanji's mouth went into the shape of a circle, bemused by the explanation. "Really? I thought those two would've been delighted to be in different squads seeing how they still can't get ten-meters close without going for each other's throats."

"They might have a hostile relationship, but they are both greatly compatible as soldiers." Erwin reasoned, turning his horse around.

"Hmm… Come to think of it, Levi usually does solo kills in the past, his teamwork was terrible," Hanji mused, steering her horse to follow Erwin. "Now that there is someone compatible with him in terms of skills, is that why you assigned him both to be partners?"

Erwin simply nodded in confirmation.

"Those two as partners… Now that's a fearsome formidable Titan slaying pair," Hanji breathed out in awe before chuckling to herself, "Or more like… the midget duo pair… hehehe."

Hanji Zoe was glad that Ida and Levi were far away slaying Titans, she would've hated for them to hear the current hottest joke circling around the Survey Corps.

After witnessing what happened during the Survey Corps' 55th expedition, Hanji had learned to be extra careful with their 'nickname'. Snickering to herself, she recalled the incident.

The Survey Corps had settled into their destination for the night. It had been a successful expedition so far. The legion had arrived at their destination and managed to resupply stocks in the abandoned village. Though they were a few unfortunate deaths, the numbers were a record-breaking low.

Everyone was huddling together for the night while they ate their distributed rations in high spirits.

...and it was then did Oluo decided that it was fun to pull a joke in celebration of their success.

"The midget duo pair really worked well together," Oluo started, earning nods from his squadmates around the table. "Who would have thought that humanity's most formidable pair would consist of two short ass ever-scowling midgets?! HAHAH!"

Oluo was so busy laughing at his own jest that he failed to notice the newest additions of their table.

"Oluo!" Gunther hissed urgently. He gave a subtle nudge with his head, attempting to alert his unsuspecting squadmate of the intimidating presence behind him.

Oluo frowned, displeased that his comrades weren't laughing along with his joke. "What, you brat?"

He turned around to suddenly find himself face to face with two looming figures with murderous looks on their faces. At the sight, Oluo nearly pissed his pants.

"Captain! I apologize for not noticing you earlier!" Oluo immediately got off his seat, knocking over the old chair he was sitting on. He immediately poised into a sharp salute, every muscle tensed and ready at attention.

"Short ass ever-scowling midgets…?" Ida parroted breathlessly after him, deep in ponder. Her features were as calm as ever, but the murderous glint in her emerald eyes told a different story. "Wow, Oluo."

Levi leveled his subordinate with an intense venomous look, "Midget duo, huh? Now that's a first…"

"Should we hang him by the balls in the forest as Titan bait?" Ida proposed darkly, turning to her Captain. She blinked sweetly, unfazed by the toxicity of her words. "He sure looks appetizing..."

Levi shook his head, drawling in a cool tone, "I think it's better if we made damned mincemeat out of him and leave his shitty self behind when we depart back to the Walls."

The poor veteran soldier nearly pissed his pants just like the time he accidentally wet his pants on his very first expedition as a freshly enlisted Survey Corps soldier. Oluo didn't know what was more fearsome; the Titans, or a severely ticked off Levi and Ida combo.

While it was clear that the relationship between Ida and Levi was still strained and hostile, the only times they actually got along were in battle or when they were ganging up on someone who managed to piss them off.

It was the worst possible scenario for any Survey Corps soldier — or anyone for that matter — to aggravate the famed Captain, but earning the wrath of Ida at the same time instilling a whole other level of fear.

Since then, the legion had learned to avoid voicing their inside jokes in front of them after witnessing the punishment Oluo had to take after coming back from the expedition.

Let's just say that Oluo's arms ached a week after being made to clean the entire headquarters spotless, sleep in the stables, and sharpen the entire legions blades all without having dinner.

o o o —xπ{Ö}πx — o o o

It was times like this when Ida couldn't help but feel respect for her Captain. Though she wouldn't deny that he was undeniably a chauvinistic, abrasive, cold bastard, Ida admitted that he was a respectable figure; valiant, strong, and tall…

Well, not really tall, but Ida didn't really care for that part.

Spending the past year by his side, Ida had started to understand why everyone respected and revered Levi despite his abrasive personality. It was a hard pill for her to swallow, but Ida realized that underneath those layers of the prickly exterior, he was capable of feeling, much to her relief.

She watched unblinkingly from the sidelines as Levi firmly grabbed the bloodied hand of their dying subordinate with conviction, comforting him during his last moments, "You did great and you will do even more."

Her lips thinned as she observed him. Frankly, it had come to her as a surprise. The Ida of a year ago would've never thought that Levi — being so adverse to filth — would've ever put that aside to hold onto the dying hand of their subordinate all in an attempt to comfort him in his final moments.

Indeed, Ida had grown to respect this softer side of Levi, though he rarely shows it. She admired the great value he placed on preserving human life, and while subtle, it was easy for her to detect that Levi cared greatly for his subordinate's welfare. He was like a leading figure to his men. Even though it annoyed her that this trait only meant that he was more perfect than ever, Ida decided she didn't really hate him that much.

And it didn't take long for Ida to find out the reason why he adopted this level of stoicism either — there were too many deaths to even count.

Too many comrades that came and left in just a single span of a year.

Though it wasn't to say that they didn't have their differences; while Levi detested unnecessary deaths, Ida on the other hand, believed that there was no such thing as a 'necessary' death and abhorred all types of deaths altogether. While this clash in beliefs had oftentimes calibrated dangerous sparks between them, Ida found her opinion of her Captain gradually shifting throughout the years to a more favorable one.

But it wasn't only her judgment on Levi that changed throughout the year, she had changed as well.

With every expedition, with every death of a comrade, her hatred for Titans grew stronger, her resolve growing deeper, and now — she could safely say that like any other Survey Corps scout, committed to securing humanity's victory.

"Your spirit will stay with me and give me strength. I swear to you I will exterminate the Titans," Levi declared loudly.

Ida's chest constricted painfully while she watched the distressing scene, looking away. Witnessing the death of a brave subordinate in the hands of the Titans was never a pleasant thing.

"Captain…" Petra spoke softly when she realized that their comrade was no longer breathing. "…he had already passed on."

They were on their 56th expedition beyond the walls, the 7th that Ida had attended. From the outset, she was fully aware of the hazardous profession of being a Survey Corps soldier meant a low chance of survival. Few would return with each expedition beyond the Walls, the numbers of the legion depleting each time.

During the seven expeditions that Ida had experienced, she had realized that only the skilled — which was an unfortunate minority — would survive in the Survey Corps.

It was a merciless world that only the victors were allowed to live.

Ida had lost count of how many comrades she had watched being brutally devoured by Titans, how many hands she had held as they took their final breaths and how many corpses she had to retrieve back from the battlefield. Familiar faces that she regularly used to see ceased to exist now.

She had grown so accustomed to death, it was appalling.

But what she never got accustomed to looks on their faces — the look of a grieving fallen soldier. Ida detested it with the same burning passion as when she had first seen it. Blank bloodied faces, hollow empty eyes, and bloodied lips parted to say the last words that won't come out. She supposed it was the tragedy of living, the tragedy of being a survivor in this twisted world; you live only to see others depart before you.

Levi's face fell significantly when the hand in his grasp grew limp, averting his eyes to back to Petra in front of him, "You think he heard everything?"

With a passive face, Ida glanced at the face of her fallen comrade. Petra smiled sadly and nodded her head. "I'm sure he heard it all... he's resting so peacefully now."

"Good then…" Levi exhaled softly, standing up.

Ida sneaked a glance up at her Captain. She could just see the outline of his face, partially covered by his dark hair. As always, he radiated a sense of calm but moved forward with an air of determination. His gaze was locked firmly on the road ahead.

Now that she had discerned that he was capable of feeling, Ida just had to wonder if Levi felt the same bitter grievance she was feeling. If that were the case, none of it showed in his expression or actions, his face appeared completely neutral as it had always been.

How strange it was indeed, over the past year, Ida had paid particular attention to her Captain, trying desperately to emulate him. But regardless of her attempts, she found Levi to be as incomprehensible as he was the first time she saw him.

He was the man of stone, and no matter how dire the situation looked or how tragic the scene was, he was still unbreakable.

Therefore, Ida had reached the conclusion that he was indeed so perfect, there was no way she would ever be as strong as him.

"I'll get someone to see to pick up the body," Ida murmured softly, nodding to Petra who was still squatting in front of her.

"Oi, let's go," Levi muttered in a deadpan, extending his hand out. Ida grabbed on and he helped her off from the ground with ease. "Petra you handle the body, we'll go check on the other squads."

"Levi! Ida!"

The sounds of neighing horses and running hoofs caught the pair's attention. Erwin halted his white horse directly in front of the pair and said in a loud voice, "We're going back!"

Ida gaped at him in disbelief. Her frown was immediate. "Back?"

"We haven't reached our limit yet," Levi growled with slight indignation coloring his tone.

For the first time since his subordinate passed away, Levi showed a sign of grievance mixed with anger on his face. He scowled fiercely at his commander's orders for an early retreat. "Did our men die in vain, Erwin? Why the fuck are we retreating?"

Erwin ignored him and continued on with his explanation.

"The Titans have all started heading north towards the Walls just like five years ago. Something must have happened in the city," he elaborated, hoping that it would help them both grasp the severity of the situation. "Refill your gas tanks and blades and head to Trost as soon as possible."

"What is happening?" Ida muttered out, tucking the stray hairs that fell from her braid behind her ears. Frowning, she landed a hand on her Captain's shoulders, "I'll inform the rest of the squad."

Levi nodded briskly, a growl rattling in his chest. "You heard Erwin, we need to move quickly."

o o o —xπ{Ö}πx — o o o

"Eren! Armin!"

He could hear Mikasa's familiar voice laced with overwhelming concern calling out for him, and the warm small child-like hands curling around his body were no doubt Armin's. But as much as he wanted to respond to his friends, he couldn't.

Weak. He was feeling so incredibly weak, the throbbing migraine in his head felt like jackhammers pounding on his brain and it was hard to even breathe. The air around him felt like toxic gas and he was incapable of inhaling it.

The toll of using his Titan form was finally beginning to negatively impact his body, Eren felt completely drained out.

He could hear his soft heartbeat in his ears, but his mind was blank and incapable of processing anything. All that he knew was that Armin and Mikasa were there next to him, the very friends that have been with him through thick and thin from day one. Everything else was like a disorientated blurry mess.

Armin's arms started trembling around him and he could faintly hear his gasp of horror — what was happening?

Using every ounce of strength left in him, he lifted his heavy eyelids that felt exactly like the immense boulder that he has just carried to seal the gates of Trost District.

Two immense Titans loomed over their three figures, their grotesque hands outstretched and reaching for them. Eren knew in that instant that this was the end — he was too fatigued and Mikasa's gas tank had run dry. There was no way they could have made it out alive.

Just as Eren was about to close his eyes and submit to his fate, two fast blurry figures streamed through the backdrop of the setting sun, contrasting with the streaks of warm orange in the endless sky. The familiar sounds of pistol powered grapples echoed as it pierced through the wall behind them.

In an instant, the crimson blood splattered out of the freshly inflicted wounds on the Titans' necks. A defeated howl rang through the walls. Fast, so incredibly fast that he couldn't even make the figures out — was it because he was disorientated or were there actually soldiers capable of such astonishing speed? Their movements reminded him of Mikasa, and he was sure that they were as fast as her, if not even more.

Along with the fallen beasts, two figures dropped from the sky, skillfully landing their brown combat boots on the corpses. Their rich green capes fluttered triumphantly behind them as the winds blew, the wings of freedom stamped on their backs with pride.

Eren's fatigued features would have gone wide-eyed in astonishment if it wasn't for his diminished strength.

The wings of freedom…

Levi Ackerman turned his attention back to the trainees once he discerned that there were no more Titans in the vicinity. "Hey brats," he spoke in a frighteningly harsh voice. "What the hell is going on here?"

"What..." Ida muttered in disbelief beside him and turned around. She almost doubled over in shock when she saw the disintegrating Titan corpse behind the trainees — what the hell was that?

The two Survey Corps soldiers bore their hard gaze down on the trainees, expecting some kind of explanation. Ida watched the three recruits with a bated breath, but her eyes kept darting to the Titan corpse behind them.

"Oi, this is the part where you explain to me exactly what is it I'm looking at," Levi gritted his teeth, acknowledging the Titan corpse behind them as well.

That was the last thing Eren Yeager remembered before he lost consciousness, unable to withstand his body's fatigued form any longer.

o o o —xπ{Ö}πx — o o o

She observed the dingy underground prison in disdain, unamused that she was dragged into this. They had just concluded their meeting with Eren Yeager; the mysterious boy with the power of Titans. Erwin had explained the situation to him and they had reached the conclusion that the 'key' to his basement could give him the answers behind his powers. But in order to investigate his basement in Shiganshina District — which was a difficult task — there was a need for his Titan power in order to plug the hole in Wall Maria.

Surely Levi saw something in him when he offered to place Eren under his responsibility and accepted him in the Survey Corps. To be honest, Ida could see why Levi did so. Eren's unwavering determination and resolve, his anger, and hatred for the Titans... it was profoundly clear even to her, but she still found herself wary of him.

She knew that it was foolish to put her trust in someone that easily.

Is Eren Yeager an ally or a threat…?

"I don't see what the fuss about him is. He's barely out of his diapers, clearly still a brat," Ida murmured in displeasure, trailing behind Erwin and Levi. "Did they have to treat him like that? Chaining a child and locking him in the basement. How cruel… even for those damned pigs."

"He has the powers of the Titans Ida," Erwin reminded her firmly. "No doubt the other military branches would be dying to get their hands on him. Many see him as a demon that will lead humanity to destruction."

"Still… even if we can discern that he has no intention to lie," Ida voiced with a frown. "Levi has a point. Amnesia and his father suddenly goes missing? That's awfully convenient. He might turn on us one day."

"I understand your sentiments, but we'll proceed as planned. There's nothing else we can do but believe in him. If we don't take any risks, then mankind cannot advance," Erwin informed her with steel underlying his voice. He turned to the impassive Captain beside him. "Be prepared for the Military trial, I'll go meet with Darius Zackley."

"Yeah," Levi replied in a deadpan.

Erwin scurried ahead, leaving the two of them in the hallways. "Will that boy be joining our squad?" she asked.

"How else would I take responsibility for him?" Levi snapped, a scowl gracing his features. "You disapprove?"

"...You say you'll put him down immediately if he betrays us or goes out of control, but what if it's too late? What if he harms the rest of our squad before you could even react?" Ida argued, deadlocking her gaze with his. "Is that a risk you'd take?"

"Tch." Levi scoffed derisively. "You don't trust that I'm capable of taking him down?"

Her lips thinned into a grimace. "It's not that… You know that our level of skill set is different… from others… It's arrogance at its finest... but I just don't want anything to happen to them."

"After all the time you've spent in the legion, you're still a shitty brat," Levi growled with suppressed irritation. "Even now, you still fail to see the bigger picture. We don't have a damned choice but to trust him."

"I just don't want anyone to die," Ida retorted hotly, incensed. "You're not thinking of our squad—"

"No, I'm fucking thinking for mankind," Levi interjected harshly through a row of gritted teeth. "Just follow my orders and shut up, Ida. Despite whatever misgivings you have, that shitty Titan brat is what mankind desperately needs at this moment. He is humanity's last hope. If it wasn't for him, then Wall Rose would've been crawling with shitty corpses by now."

She bit her bottom lip to hold back another argument and averted her gaze away. Satisfied with her show of submission, Levi scoffed irately before he started walking towards the exit.

Of course, Ida thought solemnly. If it's him — the strongest — then he wouldn't even be afraid. Levi doesn't even know fear.

Truth to be told, the past year hasn't changed much in Ida. As much as she desperately tried to, she found herself unable to believe that there was any 'hope' for humanity regaining their freedom.

But then again… Levi had just called Eren Yeager humanity's last hope.

It was still a strange concept to her; a human capable of shifting into a Titan? It all seemed too surreal. But didn't she see Eren's Titan corpse? Didn't she witness it with her very eyes — a massive hole that was plugged by a boulder?

It was mankind's first victory against the Titans…

Thrown back to reality at this realization, Ida walked quickly down the narrow dungeons, knowing what she should do next.

She needed to see it for herself.

o o o —xπ{Ö}πx — o o o

It was exactly as she remembered it — broken buildings, unrecognizable corpses, and the grieving faces of the survivors. Ida Starke remained apathetic as she walked the streets of Trost District, remembering just how lively the town was the last she'd been here. Now, it was reduced to nothing, like her hometown of Shiganshina District. It had been just three days after the battle of Trost, and the wounds that the Titans left behind in the town were still fresh.

The ashes rained from the sky like snow and Ida took a deep breath when she saw a trainee soldier picking up another of their fallen comrade. Her frown deepened.

It had always been like this — new recruits, new comrades, deaths, and the devil's cycle repeats again without an end. She tore her eyes away from the sorrowful scene.

Blood, she saw. Crimson life source that leaked out of the deceased scouts. Trainees, Garrison soldiers, perhaps even a few Survey Corps members as well — it didn't matter to which legion one belonged to, they were all cattle to the Titans.

When will it stop? she wondered wryly. Will it ever stop?

"Trainee, do you know his name?"

Ida found her attention averting to a trainee conversing with a nurse that was going around to record the identity of the deceased. Her eyes darkened when she spotted the corpse of another trainee cadet on the floor. The body was nearly unrecognizable, with half of his limbs torn away.

The trainee staggered, ignoring the woman's questions. "I knew I hadn't seen him around... but this couldn't have happened to him…."

Disorientated and greatly disturbed from the sudden unceremonious demise of his comrade, the ashen-haired trainee rambled on, "Marco, what happened...? D — Did anyone… Did anyone see how he died?"

"What's his name?" The nurse asked firmly again, her eyes hollow and unblinking. "If you know, tell me now."

Ida's fist clenched and she stopped in her tracks, inventively listening in on the conversation as the nurse continued to press on relentlessly, "Do you understand, trainee? It's already been two days since the hole was sealed and we still haven't finished collecting the bodies. At this rate, there could be an epidemic. We must avert a second tragedy, there isn't time to mourn your friend yet."

It was when she saw the despaired face of the trainee did Ida decided that she could no longer just be a bystander to this tragedy any longer.

"Leave that cadet alone," she intervened sharply in a commanding tone, stepping forward.

The nurse appraised her with lifeless eyes — Ida supposed she had seen enough horrors for her to maintain her composure — and spoke with conviction, "Ma'am, an epidemic might break out—"

"Five minutes with his departed comrade wouldn't lessen the risk of a fucking epidemic spreading," Ida cut through her sentence pointedly, her glare hardening by the second.

The nurse stared at her apathetically, but Ida didn't falter.

"Leave the damn cadet alone," she demanded again, placing great emphasis on each syllabus. "He'd report back to you with the particulars of his friend after he finished saying his goodbyes."

Only then did the nurse back away reluctantly, moving forward to the next trainee. Ida scowled fiercely when she left, for once thanking that her rank granted her some sort of authority. She made brief eye contact with the paralyzed trainee by the side, clearly still too-out-of it to comprehend what was going on, before she turned her heel and headed in the opposite direction.

"W — Wait!" The trainee called out to her, stopping her in her tracks. Quirking her brows curiously, she turned. "Thank you…"

Ida considered the trainee for the brief moment, "Your name, trainee?"

"Jean…" he answered hesitantly. "Jean Kirstein."

Glancing once more at the corpse beside him, her lips tightened to a thin line. "Which training branch are you two from?"

Jean seemed surprised that she was inquiring more about him, "The 104th trainee squad."

"The same as that Titan twerp, huh?" Ida commented out loud, scoffing.

She wondered if Eren knew who they were, but she guessed he did. After all, from all the new recruits she had seen come into the Survey Corps the past year, they all seem to have a tight bond. If they did know each other though, the blow would have been devastating to Eren.

"Eren Yeager?" Jean inquired, which only confirmed Ida's suspicions. "What happened to him?"

Ida glowered at him intimidatingly in hopes that it'd get him to drop the subject. "It's confidential," she answered dismissively, averting the subject before he could ask any more questions. "Which part of the Wall Rose are you from?"

When she saw Jean's stunned expression, she clarified herself with a frown. "Your face, it's written all over it. You've never witnessed Titans tearing down a city have you?"

Jean chewed on his bottom lip and looked away. "I'm from Trost…"

She stared at him blankly before lowering her head down. "…You deserve a proper goodbye with your comrade," Ida stated slowly, sounding much more vulnerable than she'd like to. "At least now that the hole is plugged, it's fortunate that you managed to find his body in order to give him a proper soldier burial… It's a shitty thing, being unable to say your final goodbye… I never had a chance to say goodbye when I was around your age."

Jean stared at her with profound silence, and Ida guessed he was wondering why she decided to divulge such an intimate piece of her past to a stranger. Perhaps he realized that since they were in the same boat, her forwardness was impulse.

Ida was usually more tight-lipped when it came to her dark past, but over the past year of going on expeditions after expeditions, she could empathize with the trainee. He, who unlike her, knew nothing of death yet.

Jean deserved a proper farewell with his comrade and Ida wanted to grant that wish which she couldn't obtain for herself many times. It was safe here — Jean deserved at the very least to be able to mourn freely.

"…Are you from Shiganshina District?" Jean guessed and Ida snapped her head to look at him, noting his perceptiveness.

She could sense that he was scanning her attire for some sort of giveaway to which branch she belonged to. No one apart from the Military was allowed in Trost District yet, and Jean could guess she's was from a high rank seeing that she had authority.

But Ida had only adorned a casual outfit today since she'd sneaked out of the legion to come to Trost without Erwin's permission.

Ida nodded once to confirm Jean's theories.

"I came here, wanting to see it for myself…" she explained, deciding that it was alright to be honest with someone for once — it wasn't as though she was going to see Jean again. "...The aftermath of mankind's first victory against the Titans, however…" Ida scanned her lifeless eyes around the decimated town and her green eyes darkened significantly. "…it seems that the outcome is still the same, win or lose — too many people died..."

Mankind's first victory — a part of her still couldn't comprehend it. The cynicism was ingrained too deeply to her, but then a certain boy with the powers of the Titans came to the side of mankind and sealed the hole.

It was mankind's first victory… Ida reiterated to herself in the middle of Trost, and she felt something shift in her.

Hope, she remembered feeling when she saw the plugged hole, a faint glimmer of hope at the end of a dark tunnel. This realization astounded her. Someone like her, feeling hope?

The Ida a year ago would have laughed at that prospect.

Because somehow — as she thought about it now — the dreams of freedom didn't seem that far from mankind anymore. But Ida couldn't feel wholeheartedly happy about it. Instead, dread was more the more prominent emotion. Why did each small advancement to freedom always come at the price of hundreds of human lives?

And with the route that the Survey Corps was heading, could she continue to protect the people she foolishly had grown to care about? Ida wasn't sure.

"Which branch are you going to enlist to?" Ida asked when she found herself growing increasingly uncomfortable under Jean's scrutinizing stare.

When she saw him avert his eyes away quickly, she scoffed. "The Military Police, huh...? Pragmatic one, aren't you?" Ida guessed and from the trainee's astonished reaction, she knew she hit right on the nail. "Well, I guess living in luxury in Wall Sina and protecting the stupid king is a nobler and far safer cause…"

"You must think I'm self-centered…" Jean clenched his jaw, ashamed.

"I'm not judging you, do whatever the hell you want," Ida clarified in monotone, turning to look at the corpse once again to state her point. "You cared about your comrades. You value their lives. No matter which branch you go to, that's all the matters, really..."

Jean bit his bottom lip, turning to look at Marco's corpse one final time and his fist clenched till a point his knuckles whitened. "He… was a good friend… We planned to enlist to the Military Police together."

Ida observed him silently, watching the pain that he held in multiple. The sadness, the regrets, the agony — Ida could see it all, hear it in his very tone. It was so easy for her to spot these emotions in someone now after she been through a year in the Survey Corps.

"…A piece of advice, Kirstein," she said in a tone that showed no emotions. "The pain, it never goes away. You only learn to deal with it."

"...Was it the same for you?" Jean inquired in a frayed solemn voice. "Did you ever… learn to deal with it?"

"I don't know either," Ida admitted honestly, crossing her arms. "But the only thing we can do is to just keep trying."

Turning her heel, Ida advanced further down the city with an air of calmness.

"Wait, what's your name?" Jean held her back again. "Who are you?"

Giving him a wan smile, she answered honestly. "Just another insignificant soldier with idealistic dreams."

When she passed by the plugged hole in the gates, Ida stopped to stare at it in wonder, recalling how Eren's Titan body stood at the very same spot. A miracle, she thought. With a deep sigh, she tilted her head up to the sky, watching the birds soar.

Perhaps Levi was right... Eren Yeager could be what mankind desperately needed, he could be humanity's last hope...

All Ida could hope for was that Eren's court trial would go as planned and his custody would be granted to the Survey Corps. Then, Levi could keep watch on him and maybe, just maybe, mankind could score another victory, maybe even a resounding victory, one that didn't come at the price of a hundred lives.

She couldn't deny it any longer, the faint glimmer of hope that spread throughout her chest.

Maybe... even someone like her was capable of having dreams as well.

Because most people who are most afraid of their dreams convince themselves that they don't have dreams at all.

o o o —xπ{Ö}πx — o o o

"That was so mean of him," Hanji Zoe commented with motherly concern as she addressed Eren's wounds on his face. The poor recruit's face was swollen, with black and blue bruises decorating his plump cheek. "It must have hurt a lot."

Eren flinched in pain when the alcohol swab stung his face. "A — A little…"

Hanji immediately pounced forward, her eyes twinkling in fanatical interest. "Where's the pain?!" she demanded with a little too much enthusiasm causing the new recruit to back away in fear.

Erwin shook his head disapprovingly at Hanji's antics before he moved over the Eren by the couch. "Sorry about doing that, Eren. But as a result, we got you for ourselves. We were able to play our trump cards at the most effective moment. Your pain was worth our gain."

Eren was in awe when the famed commander of the Survey Corps spoke to him and he couldn't help but gape at him.

Erwin knelt down beside him, leveling his eye level with the Titan shifter, "I look forward to working with you, Eren."

He nervously grabbed Erwin's proffered hand and shook it awkwardly, "L — Likewise sir!"

The Titan shifter was in all high today, being able to talk with the famous Commander who he had always looked up to, and then joining the Survey Corps. The events of the court trial happened so fast, that it almost seemed like a dream to him.

But there was something fearful about joining the Survey Corps that got Eren doubting his decision, and part of that fear didn't come from the man-eating horrifying Titans, it came in a form of a short intimidating figure that had just plopped himself on the couch casually beside him.

As Eren flinched uncomfortably, Levi placed his arm around the couch frame casually and spoke in his usual bored tone that seemed to have Eren shaking in his knees, "Say Eren. Do you hate me?"

"N — No!" Eren quickly affirmed, not wanting to further provoke the Captain in charge of him. He had always heard rumors of the famous humanity's strongest soldier, but he didn't believe the town gossip over how intimidating he looked until he met the man for himself.

Eren bristled when Levi imparted yet another discerning glare his way and he quickly elaborated. "I understand it was necessary… You needed to put on a show..."

Levi scoffed at his remark. "Very well."

"You could've at least held back a little!" Hanji screeched. She took out a napkin from her back pocket, unfolding to reveal the broken tooth that Levi had knocked out during the court trial. "Look! You even broke his tooth for crying out loud!"

Levi scorned at the filthy object in Hanji's grasp like it was an abomination, "Don't pick that up, it's disgusting. In addition, I'd say getting beaten half-dead beats getting dissected by four-eyed freaks like you any day."

"It's an important sample for me!" Hanji retorted back defensively, shaking her head at Levi who didn't care much about Titan research. She had tried many times to get him more involved, but the cold Captain just refused to budge. "And don't put in the same league as them, I won't kill Eren!"

Levi sighed tirelessly, rubbing his head with his fingers when he heard the sounds of loud hurried footsteps approaching, "Speaking of belligerent freaks, here comes one right now."

On cue, the door to the room slammed open loudly, revealing a dismayed redhead by the door with fury brimming in her emerald eyes. Eren shrunk back immediately at the sight, recognizing her as the other Captain placed in charge of him beside Levi.

She wasted no time in confronting Erwin.

"Why the hell am I dragged into this?" Ida complained loudly, slamming her hand on the wooden desk. The desk creaked under the pressure as she ranted on, "It was Levi who wanted to be responsible for that Titan brat, not me! I don't see why I've to share the responsibility!"

It wasn't like she detested the boy — Ida simply didn't have the confidence to shoulder any responsibilities. Too jarred from her past experiences, she knew that she couldn't be depended on and she didn't even want to think what would happen if she failed in her task.

Erwin Smith sighed deeply, seated calmly on the wooden chair. "Ida, if the situation arises, it's best if we have another capable candidate to settle things," he explained calmly.

"I'm far from capable," Ida argued with a growl.

"Tch." Levi scoffed, peeling himself off the couch. "Then why did you say you will take the responsibly in keeping Eren in line and killing him if the situation calls for it back at the Tribunal?"

"How was I supposed to know that Darius Zackly would agree to assign me as well? If I were to decline, the Survey Corps might have lost the custody of Eren!" Ida countered sharply before turning to glare at her calm Commander. "Why the hell did you even suggest that Levi and I take care of him in the place?"

"Oh come on Ida!" Hanji slung her shoulders around the petite redhead in an effort to diffuse the situation. But Ida scorned at her, knowing that Hanji simply didn't want to scare her precious 'specimen' on his first day with the Survey Corps.

"Look at him!" Hanji turned Ida around roughly to face the stunned recruit at the couch. "He's such a cute little boy! Just take it as you and Levi are parents and Eren is your little kid!"

Hopping over to Eren's side, Hanji grinned widely. "Eren, you can call her mama Ida!"

"Uh… Hi…?" Eren greeted nervously, flustered and confused by Hanji's eccentric behavior.

"Shut up, you two are as noisy as ever," Levi continued with his blasé attitude, speaking like he'd been inconvenienced.

Ida groaned loudly, internally debating on pulverizing the brunette's face for even thinking of such a ridiculous thing. Angered, she stormed out of the room. Silence immediately filled the room when Ida slammed the door in a dramatic exit.

Eren Yeager blinked and turned to face Levi. "Do I… call you papa Levi then?" he questioned innocently and in a childlike fashion.

"Do that and see what happens, you little Titan shit."