Elijah
The last few days since the Titan attack on Trost have been crazy. Just three days ago, Eren was put on trial, his fate between the Military Police dealing with him or the Scout Regiment using him for their purposes outside Wall Rose. The commander-in-chief of the military, Premier Dhalis Zachary. I'll admit, I kind of agreed with the Military Police's argument that Eren, unchecked, is dangerous to us, his attack on Mikasa reveals that, but I didn't want my friend executed.
Commander Erwin suggested that Captain Levi supervises Eren, and the Premier agreed. Eren, in an unexpected way, became a Scout. The commander announced his plans after the tribunal to us cadets, that Eren is our best hope to beat the Titans, and it'll be proven in the next expedition.
After we were dismissed, Eren caught up with me for a private conversation. "Man, there are so many weirdos in the Scout Regiment. I'm sure glad you're here!"
I pat him on the shoulder, laughing. I remember initially meeting the Scouts back during the battle of Trost, making the same thought Eren creates now. "Yeah, they're definitely an odd group of people...but hey, you get to be with the best team in the Scouts. Believe me, they're good." Eren sighs. "Given that Levi thinks his team could kill me if need be, I'll take your word. By the way, I heard Hange picked you out personally. I wonder why, I mean, some of the others got good grades too, right?"
I shrug. It is true, the redhead woman who took an immense interest in me after the battle, Section Commander Hange Zoe, handpicked me for her team. I believe I made an impression on her with my abilities. Surely she's heard stories from others. However, Eren doesn't need to know that. I fold my arms as I turn my head to the side. "I don't really know, I just hope I can live up to their expectations."
Eren pats my shoulder. "Come on, you really need to stop selling yourself short. Well anyway," Eren causally segues back to our initial conversation, "I was always intending to join the Scouts, so it suits me. I'm gonna give it my best shot. I don't know how long you'll be sticking around, but it's good to be working with you."
"Yeah, same to-Wait, huh?" Eren chuckles as he walks away from my confused form, frozen on the spot as I ponder what he insinuates. Did he just… "Hey! Jaeger! You were the dumbass who got eaten!"
"Yeah, but I won't be the dead dumbass if he gets caught." I watch him walk away, deciding not to punch that little punk. I turn away, but I also can't help but chuckle. I think about getting some food. "At least I didn't get my ass whooped by Levi."
My words came back to haunt me as I laid on my back, seeing white clouds and blue sky. I can see Eren, Reiner, and Mikasa standing over me, hoping that I am okay. I try to get up, but with my pride busted twice today, I reside to my fate on the ground. I never knew fighting women, even in training, could be so painful.
"What the heck was she thinking," Reiner angrily says. "She really needs to learn to be a team player more."
"She's impossible to read, isn't she? I have no idea what she's thinking most of the time."
I manage to move my eyes to Eren, wordlessly cursing him. This is his fault, all of it. At the beginning of our hand-to-hand combat session, it was him being on Mikasa's mind that got me a bloody nose when she instinctively dodged my attack. This time, he used an unknown skill on me, hurting me for a second time. He spoke of learning a skill from Annie, and after asking her to show us, she did just that...on me. When you land on your back twice in one day and get a bloody nose, you just want to get and bed and sleep.
Mikasa looks at me, offering me a hand. "You should be careful around Annie. You, too, Eren."
I take her hand, wincing as my body starts to scream. "Ahh- thanks for the advice, Mikasa. You think I haven't learned it?"
"Woah!" I land in front of the red-brown-haired girl who invited me with her on some ODM training. In time, we began to mess around, freestyling in the air. I had just done a triple flip before setting myself for the landing. I'm still a little dizzy, but manage to maintain my stance. "Nailed it."
"That was an awesome move!" Sasha excitedly says, holding her right hand to her chest. "I love the way you use your ODM gear!"
"Thanks." We begin to walk through our forest surroundings, deciding that our own two feet are best for casual conversation rather than ODM gear. "You're honestly more amazing than me, Sasha, you made it into the top ten too."
Sasha's face lit up. "Really? Thanks! But you're good too. It's like you're a real hunter. You bide your time, then move in for the kill! If anything, you cannot deny you're a better killer of Titans than me."
I shrug. "I guess. 'Elijah, Conquerer of Titans.' How's that sound?"
Sasha laughs. "So scary. I think the Colossal Titan is shaking right now." We laugh for a moment, and then Sasha's face starts to drop. "Hey, Elijah... I should thank you."
"What for?"
"Trost. I know you don't need it, you're not that type of person, but you deserve all the praise you've gotten. You helped me when I was most afraid. You even saved my life, twice! You helped all of us, despite that you lost probably the pair you were closest to. I do not know how you did it."
"Oh." I look up to the sky, sighing as I remember the battle. "To be honest Sasha, it hurts to wake up, knowing Mina and Thomas are gone. Every time I touch my chest or neck, I scrape my hand against Mina's gift...and I'm reminded of my failure to save her. When I write in the journal Thomas gave me, I have to hold back my tears to not get the paper wet. But, for the most part, I'm holding up. I couldn't save them, but I got Eren, Mikasa, Armin… I even got you." I rest my hand on her shoulder, to which her face slowly burns again with a smile...and a blush.
"I just remembered, we never did get around to that dinner of meat we promised ourselves, did we?"
"Oh shit, we never did. As many times as I brought it up during the battle, I'm surprised we forgot about it." I drop my hand, placing it back to my side. "If it's meat you're after, we'll have to catch it first. Or make another raid."
"I sure could go for a steak right about now… Though it feels weird knowing I'll never get to enjoy it with Mina. There's no use sitting around feeling sorry for ourselves. What do you say we go grab a bite to eat… Hey! I just had a great idea!"
I know from prior experience that this might be a crazy idea. After all, this is the girl who bravely and boldly ate a potato and offered Sadies half of it. Now that I'm roped into this scheme, I'm a little intrigued. "What is it?"
She stands up, raising me up by pulling my arm. "You want to come hunting with me, Elijah? I bet we'd catch some great prey together."
I am hungry, I dare say so myself, but hunting isn't something I've done in years. Before I officially met Eren, Armin, and Mikasa, back after Shiganshina first fell, I sometimes had to hunt for small game just outside of the city, which wasn't easy since I had no proper hunting equipment or money to buy any. Being an immigrant child thrown into a city where they saw you as another mouth to feed was hell, but I survived. I always hunted with my mother whenever I asked her, to be honest, I think she always loved it when I came along with her. I still remember that first deer i killed with her. I think it might be fun to be with Sasha in her element. "Sounds great, Sasha! But I'm a little rusty. I haven't hunted in years, but I still remember all my mother taught me."
Sasha tilts her head. "You're mother was a hunter?"
"Yeah, I'll tell her more about her sometime. In the meantime, let's go hunting."
"Great! If you need any reminders of what to do, I'll gladly teach you! It's settled then. Haha, I can't wait! We could make it a regular thing! I bet we'll be n a great team!"
Sasha seems happy as we begin our hunt for lunch. For some reason, it makes me happy that she's excited about this.
"Armin?" I spot my friend out in the dark streets, begging for breath as he hunches over. Seems he just came from a run for some reason. "Hey, you okay man?"
"Hahh… Yeah, I'm good."
"Why are you out here running so late? It's almost bedtime."
"Hahh...hahh… I thought I'd try to toughen up a bit… Decided to...go for a run...before bed…" He finally straightens up, though his breathing is still heavy. "But...it's not done me any good."
I place my hands on my hips. "Armin, is this about earlier, when Jean said you're more fit for the operations room than the battlefield? When Ymir called you the class goofball?"
Armin drops his head. "Yes."
"Armin, true you're not the...best soldier out of all of us, but you're one of the smartest people I know. What you lack in physical ability is up there in that head of yours, and it is as powerful a weapon as Eren's power or my and Mikasa's abilities. More powerful, actually. It kept us alive three days ago."
"Hmph, I don't know about that. I just know I have to close the gap between me and the others somehow." Armin rubs the back of his head, possibly he came up with an idea. "Hey, Elijah… Would you do me a favor? Would you mind working with me while I get my strength up?"
I nod. "Sure."
"Really? That's great! I'd really appreciate it. If you were working out with me, it'd help to keep me on track." I smile as I pat Armin's shoulder and head for the barracks. Armin is determined to change, though I hope he realizes one day that he doesn't need to.
"Jean...hey, you okay man?" I see the cadet shaking by a window in the barracks, sitting alone. Concerned, I step over to him. He seems to be delirious, whispering to himself.
"Marco...and everyone..."
"Jean." I grip his shoulder gently, rousing his attention. Moving to sit on the windowsill, I release the boy. "Hey, what's wrong?"
Jean looks back at me with horror, confusion, fear, and loss. If I heard him right, he said Marco's name. From what I heard, Jean identified his friend's remains, and saying that there was anything remaining of Marco is to be nice about the regurgitated body. I haven't seen Jean since then, not that I was looking for him. However, Sasha and Connie have expressed their concerns about him for the last few days. "I... I can't believe Marco's gone... Thomas and Mina, too. Dead, every last one of them. Elijah I... I need your advice. Should I just enroll in the Military Police, do you think? Or join the Scouts instead?"
"I thought we were doomed back there, but I'm starting to see a glimmer of hope. No matter how desperate things get, there's always a way if you don't give up."
"How right you are my friend. I'll be honest, I didn't really know if we'd make it out of HQ. Or even make it, to that degree. My plan to take a few would've gotten us killed."
"It's thanks to Jean that everyone could gather at HQ. He, like you, is a natural leader."
I raise an eyebrow. "Me? A natural leader?"
Marco looks to me and nods. "Yeah. Connie spoke of how you and Eren were the first to engage the Titans when the Wall broke. While everyone hung in fear, you two used that fear and past experience to take up arms. He also claimed that you saved his ass multiple times today. You handled your squadron very well. I think your team is the only one that four cadets are still alive. And knowing how close you are to Eren, Thomas, and...Mina... Today must be hard. I honestly don't know how you're still going the way you are."
"When we escaped HQ, Marco spoke of how much a great leader you are. That if it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have survived. If I heard that from anyone else, it would sound like complete bullshit, but Marco was a smart guy...and an even better man. I liked him a lot. I miss him as well, along with Thomas and Mina. I'll trade any of them for Daz or Captain Woermann at this point." I smile at the thought, then look to Jean, seeing that he is laughing as well. "Wherever you go, I'll respect your decision. You've gained my respect since the first day I met you. But I can't make that decision for you, Jean."
Jean, calmer now, nods. "Y-You're right, I'm sorry... I shouldn't be asking others to make up my mind for me. Hold on... I'll give it some more thought."
"Good." I pat him on his shoulder again as I see Christa standing in the doorframe. Remembering that I told her I'll meet her here, I rise up but not without giving Jean one last piece of advice. "If I were you, and I watched three of my friends, pretty much many of my cadet class die in one day... What would I do if I was given the option to possibly avenge them and the world? Would I protect a city deep in human territory, protect the wall before it, or...make sure their sacrifice to humanity doesn't go in vain? What would Marco, Thomas, and Mina do if the tables were turned?" I walk away joining Christa.
She looks at Jean with worry. "Is he going to be okay?"
"Yeah. He just needed someone else who understands him, now that the one who did best is gone."
Present Day
"Section Commander?"
I walk up to Hange and Moblit, both standing on the sidewalk within the Trost District. She ceases her conversation with her subordinate, looking to me with, dare I say, excitement? "Hey if it isn't Elijah! Eren filled me in all about you! Is it true? Were you really already wowing people before we'd arrived in Trost District?"
"uhh...I guess so?"
"Well, heck, Everett! Why didn't you say so earlier? If you're half as capable as Eren says, I'd love to have you on the squad for our next mission. What do you say? Are you ready to head out?"
A mission with the Scouts again before I'm officially a Scout? Hell yes! I salute excitedly, "As ready as I'll ever be!"
Hange smiles. "That's the spirit! In that case, what are we waiting for? Let's go see Erwin!"
"Okay, Scouts! We've been tasked with getting rid of any Titans remaining in the vicinity of the Wall as part of the operation to recover Trost. So let's get this done ASAP so we can start preparing for our next extra-wall survey mission. Okay, you know what to do! Let's do it!"
As the Scouts file out, Hange steps up to Erwin, pointing me out. "Erwin, what do you think about the new kid taking part in this operation?"
Erwin looks at me analytically. "Hmph. Well, I know it doesn't seem like much, but we'll definitely be engaging with Titans, Hange. You sure he's ready for that?"
"I think it's the perfect opportunity for him to gain some valuable experience. I'll keep a close eye on him, don't worry."
"Well, I don't want to force him into it. What do you think, soldier?"
I perform the salute as I speak for myself. "I want to be part of this operation, sir. Others can speak for my abilities in Trost, as you may have heard, I can handle myself in combat. Sitting around and doing nothing while there are Titans still around is not preferable to eliminating them."
Erwin nods. "Okay, if that's how you feel, you're in. Let's hope the experience only makes you a better soldier."
"Okay, Hange," Levi speaks to my designated superior, "you brought this kid on board, so you can do the babysitting."
"Of course, sir! And listen, Elijah, come to me any time if you've got a problem, okay?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Yeah, you say that," Oruo says from behind me, "but as soon as a Titan appears, he's just gonna be in the way."
Hange looks at Oruo, tapping her ear. "You say something there, Oruo?"
"Oh, um, nothing. Haha."
Careful not to bite that tongue off, asshole.
So this is why we trained on horseback. I knew the Scouts used horses to travel, but I thought they would handle the training. Best I put what Sadies taught me to good use, my mother's training too. She was the one who first taught me how to ride one.
"Thanks for joining us today," Hange says to me as I ride up to her. "You seem to handle your horse well." She adds as i pat my horse on it's neck. The one they handpicked out for me has a beautiful pale gold coat. I think I'm going to like this horse. "You're probably nervous… But we'll be here to back you up." I am nervous, being around the Scouts more so than fighting the Titans I see roaming the area. I don't want to screw this opportunity up.
"I'll be alright, mame."
"And one look at these cute little Titans will make all your nervousness go away!" I feel a sweat droplet fall from my forehead. Did she call these Titans...cute? I thought Pyxis looking for an attractive Titan was weird but this takes the cake. We haven't encountered a definitive female Titan yet so both Pyxis and Hange will have to wait on it. I still cannot believe I promised the Garrison commander that I'd tell him if we encounter such a type.
"So then, let's take care of the ones nearest the Wall first." I follow Hange as we charge out to the fields outside the outer gate of Trost.
"HYA!" Another Titan dead by my blade, I land on the ground near my horse. Hange looks at my handiwork with slight disapproval. I, however, am proud to prove myself in battle. Our objective to clear the Titans closest to the Wall completed, I hop on my stead and ride to my superior. "Alright, what's next?"
"Good job, Elijah!... I'd prefer that you capture them alive, though."
Capture...Titans? Is she serious? "Huh?"
"Oh, that's right, you haven't learned how to capture Titans. Next time, then." Turning to the south, Hange spots a red smoke signal. Her eyes grew wide with excitement, turning and snapping the reins of her horse in a fervor. "More Titans? Splendid! I can't wait to meet them! This is why it's fun to fight on the front lines!" She turns to me, seeing my dazed expression. "Hurry up now! Aren't you excited to see what Titans are waiting for us?"
No, not really. I follow along with Hange, pushing our horses to the outskirts of the Trost area. As we came close, we could visualize the situation. There are two Titans outside of the canyon leading to the city, in which the Scouts are engaging, one a medium-class, the other a large-class. As we ride up, we see their execution by one Scout. He lands on the head of the larger Titan, noticing our approach after checking his blades.
"Hange, what are you doing here? You're supposed to be in charge of the Wall."
Hange chuckles as we ride by. "Oh, Miche, we finished everything there. So I wanted to take this special chance to meet more Titans!" We lead the charge into the canyon, Miche and the other Scouts using ODM behind us. The first Titan spotted is trying to climb the cliffs, leaving its nape exposed to the world. I take the opportunity to dash towards it, killing it before it knows what happened. A second, more active Titan, and when I say active, I mean it, is nearby, but I give it its swift end by dashing under its crotch and swooping upwards to excise the nape.
As the Scouts catch up to me, I catch Miche telling Hange "Wow...not bad for a cadet."
"That's why I selected him myself."
By the time we made it to the other side of the canyon, we've eliminated a great majority of the Titans. Standing by a homestead, we regroup ourselves once the coast was clear. After checking my blades and gas, I join up with Hange and Miche.
"We managed to survive their attack. Hey, you, cadet, what's your name?"
"Elijah Everett, sir."
Miche pats me on the shoulder. "I'm Section Commander Miche Zacharius. Glad to have you."
Hange chuckles. "You've received high praise from humanity's two strongest soldiers now and two Section Commanders." Miche must be number two, after all, I've seen Levi. I shake Miche's hand, giving him my thanks, just before a Scout walks over to us in a hurry.
"Section Commanders, we've spotted smoke! It seems to be a distress call!"
Miche nods. "Oh really? I'll take care of it."
Hange and I by extension excitedly follow Miche using ODM. "Alright! Then we'll go with you!"
"Hange, I don't mind you coming, but don't let that cadet die."
"Of course not! I'll be responsible and offer my utmost support!" She turns to me, winking. "Not that you'll need much." I smile and follow the section commanders along with the rest of the ranks. We arrive at our destination quickly, seeing a group of Titans harassing a few Scouts by an abandoned fort...including Captain Levi. Hange spots him, waving to the captain as she brings the cavalry. "Levi! We're here to help!"
"Four eyes… What are you doing here?"
Hange lands right beside Levi, pointing to the sky. "Ah, you know making sure my investment is totally worth it. Have a look." What they see is me, dodging a swipe from one of the two large-class Titans, then use the length of the arm as footing as I run towards the nape. I slice the nap as I run across the shoulders and the back of the neck. I hop off, descending on the back of a medium-class Titan like a hawk, removing a chunk of its neck before rising back in the air, making contact with the second large Titan, the final one attacking Levi's group. I land by Hange and Levi, taking good notes of my work.
Levi, his face stuck in that blank form as always, looks to Hange. "You're supposed to keep him out of dangerous situations."
"He just got you out of your situation, didn't he?"
"...That takes care of that. Now to retreat."
"Wait." I spot Miche smelling the air for some odd reason. I make a sniff too, smelling nothing but plain atmospheric air. Miche, alarmed, turns to the other section commander and the captain. "Another Titan is coming!"
Everyone except me takes this to heart. I look to Hange, stupefied by the Scouts' reactions. She laughs at me. "Oh, Miche has a very sensitive nose. He can smell a Titan across great distances."
Now I've been up and close with my fair share of Titans, but the idea they have a detectable smell is...horrifying. "What...do they smell like?"
"Bacon. Freshly sizzled bacon," Miche says, though, by his intense face, I cannot tell if he's serious or not. I hope he isn't. I happen to like bacon very much. My eyes on the approaching Titans, I see that they're of the Abnormal variety. I sigh, then prepare myself for a long battle.
Once we were done and back at the Wall, I spot Eren among the masses. Intrigued by his presence, I walk over to him. "Hey, Eren."
"Elijah! I heard you went out with the Scouts! How was it?"
I shrug. "Well, we made it."
"Awesome." Eren turns his head to the nearby Petra and Oruo, praising them as well. "You veteran fighters are amazing. Not just Lieutenant Levi, but all of you."
Oruo nods in an 'I'm so full of myself' manner. "So you're impressed huh? Yeah, I am pretty impressive." He turns to me. "But you've got a long way to go before you get to my level. Wait 'til you've run another hundred missions, huh?"
I shrug. "I think I'd rather have a different goal."
Petra smiles approvingly. "Good idea. You don't wanna end up thinking you're God's gift and biting your own tongue all the time."
"Petra," Oruo replies coldly, "you haven't got a clue, have you? You have no idea what I'm capable of-OW!"
"Attention!" I hold back my chuckle of Oruo clenching his tongue as Commander Erwin comes over. We line up and stand tall as he addresses us. "Okay troops, good job. We've done our duty here in Trost now. Now that the Wall here is secure again, we're moving on to an extra-wall survey mission, leaving from the Calaneth District. Eren, you'll be joining the Special Operations Squad for this one."
"The Special Operations Squad, sir?"
"Everyone just calls it the Levi Squad," Hange says. "It's his hand-picked team of elite soldiers."
"From now on," Levi adds, "you'll be under my command, in my squad. You'll be joining Petra Ral, Oruo Bozad, Eld Gin, and Ginther Schultz. That way, if you start acting up in your Titan form, we'll have the manpower on hand to take you out."
Bluntly put, Captain Levi.
"Don't worry Eren," Hange comforts with a pat on my friend's back, "you just have to keep control of yourself, and everything will be fine. And I'll be doing everything I can to help in that respect." Hange starts to giggle in anticipation of 'helping' Eren, which is a similar look to Sasha when she's around meat. Hungry. Desiring. Scary. Almost embarrassing to call her my squad leader.
Later that day, I was told by Hange that the commander wanted to meet with me. On my way to his office, I run into Mikasa, Connie, and Jean. Interested as to why Mikasa isn't within a meter of Eren, I stroll on closer.
"Everyone back in the village said a runt like me would never become a soldier, but I showed them! I'm a genius when it comes to ODM gear, right?"
Jean scoffs. "A genius? And modest, too. Okay you're good with ODM gear, but you're not so hot in class, are you?"
"And you make the wrong call sometimes when it comes to strategy, Connie. Mistakes like that are dangerous."
"Gimme a break," Connie says, taking immense defense to the words of the others. "I'll ace those things too before long!"
Jean sighs, turning to me. "Tell him, would you? We don't want Connie getting too big for his boots."
Oh I'm gonna enjoy this. I pat Conny on the shoulder. "Jean, Mikasa, Connie is a genius."
"Ha ha! So you can see it too, huh, Elijah? Yeah, I am a genius!"
"Yeah, a genius at getting me to save your ass." Jean and I share a laugh as I walk off, Connie's jaw being heavily pulled by gravity.
"Hey! I'll prove it to all of you that I am a genius! Just you wait!"
