The morning sun bathed the fresh recruits in a warm glow, casting long shadows as they stood in formation. After what felt like an eternity of grueling training and endless battles, the cadets had finally been assigned to their respective regiments.
The previous night, after Erwin's heart-wrenching speech, a group of them—Mikasa, Armin, Jean, Reiner, Bertholdt, Sasha, Connie, Historia, Ymir, and others—made the bold decision to join the Scouts.
Jean had been reluctant, the weight of his choice heavy on his shoulders. But after burying his friend's half-eaten corpse with his own hands, all he craved was vengeance. The question of whether he was being reckless gnawed at him, but it was too late to turn back now. As for Reiner and Bertholdt, they had darker motives—they had joined with the sole purpose of killing Eren and Levi.
The others had their own reasons, personal and unique, for joining the fight. Except for Sasha. Her reason was as singular as it was bizarre: she wanted to tear apart the very existence of the Colossal Titan. The giant had unintentionally destroyed the stash of meat she had stolen from an officer's pantry when it attacked the cannons, and Sasha wasn't about to let that go.
As for Mikasa and Armin, no matter how much Eren begged them not to join the Scouts, remained resolute. Mikasa, driven by her unbreakable need to stay by Eren's side until the bitter end, and Armin, determined to see the world beyond the walls with his best friend, were unshakable in their decision.
Eren had been deeply disappointed, refusing to speak to either of them for days. The distance felt like a wedge between their friendship, but eventually, as always, they found their way back to each other.
After much persistence, Eren convinced Erwin to allow Mikasa and Armin to join Levi's elite squad. Erwin, seeing the bond between them, agreed. The three of them soon began living together in the old castle at Odel, bound not just by friendship, but by the weight of the war to come.
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Days Later
"Scouts, many of you already know that soon we will be carrying out the 57th expedition beyond the walls," Erwin's commanding voice echoed across the field, unwavering and resolute. His gaze swept over the regiment, who stood in neat rows, disciplined despite the relentless heat. "This expedition will take us toward Shiganshina, where we aim to uncover the truth locked away in the cellar. We depart in one month."
He let his words sink in for a moment before continuing. "Prepare yourselves—this will be a hard expedition. The formations will be discussed soon. The Levi squad, excluding Mikasa Ackerman, Armin Arlert, and Section Commander Hange Zoe, will be on the front lines, battling the Titans. The new recruits will primarily handle signaling and maintaining formation. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!" The Scouts shouted in unison, the intensity of their voices filling the scorching air as Erwin dismissed them with a curt nod.
As the regiment began to disperse, Mikasa quickly made her way over to Eren, who was deep in conversation with both Erwin and Levi. "I'll take the center front with Levi squad," Eren said, his tone determined.
But Erwin shook his head in disapproval. "No, Eren," he said firmly. "Levi, Eren—both of you, come by my office at dusk. We'll discuss the details then. Bring Jean Kirstein and the rest of Levi squad, excluding Mikasa and Armin."
Mikasa's eyes flickered with concern as she caught the end of the conversation, her instincts telling her there was more to this mission than Eren was letting on.
"Jean?... Wait, you mean that new recruit with a face like a horse?" Eren remarked, his expression a mix of amusement and confusion.
Erwin nodded, chuckling. "Yeah, and some of his face resembles yours."
Eren scoffed, a haughty expression crossing his face, but he was left more puzzled than offended. Erwin gave a small laugh as he excused himself for an upcoming meeting, leaving Eren standing with Mikasa and Levi.
"Eren... there's something I want to talk about," Mikasa said, her voice soft but urgent as she grasped his hand, pulling him aside leaving Levi alone.
Eren hesitated. "Ah, Mikasa, wait. I've got a meeting to attend... you know, commander duties. My schedule's getting busy."
"It won't take long," Mikasa insisted, her grip on his hand tightening slightly.
Before Eren could respond, Armin joined them. "Yo, guys! What's going on?" he said cheerfully, but the moment he saw Mikasa's troubled expression, his smile faded.
"Mikasa, what's wrong? You okay?" Eren asked, his brow furrowing as he noticed her growing tension, her grip on him tightening with each passing second.
"Eren... I... I want to be in your squad," Mikasa blurted out, her voice steady but laced with anxiety. "You see, they've put me on signaling duty..."
Eren, confused for a moment, quickly realized where she was going with this. He sighed, his tone soft but firm. "Mikasa, look, this is your first expedition. You don't have enough experience in the field yet, so I can't let you fight alongside me in the front lines. Not yet."
He gently patted her long, dark hair, offering a reassuring smile.
"But..." Mikasa began, her voice trailing off with a hint of desperation.
"No buts, Ackerman," Eren interrupted, his tone suddenly commanding. He smiled at her, leaning in to whisper gently, "I won't be able to fight properly if I'm worried sick about keeping you safe. That's why, just this once, listen to me. Okay?"
Mikasa stood there, torn between her desire to fight by his side and the trust she had in him. She nodded slowly, her resolve softening as she clung to the hope that, in time, things might be different.
Mikasa nodded, her face flushing a bit red. "Okay..."
Eren smiled softly before stepping away. "Jean Kirstein!" he called out from a distance.
"Sir!" Jean responded hastily, standing at attention.
"You'll be coming with me. Be ready by sundown—we've got a meeting with Commander Erwin," Eren instructed.
"As you say, sir!" Jean saluted, trying to be as obedient as possible, though the seriousness of the task weighed on him.
Eren turned to Levi, who was busy lecturing Oluo. "Oi, Levi, let's go."
Levi his gaze fixed at poor Oluo, continuing his conversation. "You shouldn't flap your jaws that much" Levi said, handing Oluo a napkin as the latter cleaned his bleeding tongue. Apparently, in his overconfidence while showing off to the rookies, Oluo had accidentally bitten down on it.
Eren smirked, teasing him. "Damn, your first impression's ruined now, isn't it, Oluo?"
A tear escaped Oluo's eye as he grinned painfully, trying to play it off. "Yeah...." he muttered.
"Well, he never learns," Eld remarked, standing beside Gunther, who was busy cleaning his blades.
"Alright, let's go, Levi," Eren said, glancing back at the squad. "We've got a meeting with Rico Brzenska. Apparently, she saw something during the battle at Trost that she wants to talk about."
Levi nodded. "I see. Let's move."
Together, they set off toward Trost, the very city Eren had once risked his life to save.
Meanwhile, Gunther called out to the remaining rookies. "Hey, rookies, let's get moving!" he ordered Mikasa and Armin, knowing they needed to head back to Odel and ramp up their training routines for the upcoming expedition.
Mikasa and Armin nodded in unison, quickly mounting their horses to follow the Levi squad as they made their way toward their next destination.
Soon after arriving at the castle in a couple of hours the castle stood eerily silent, its halls deserted except for Mikasa and Armin, who remained behind while Levi's squad, accompanied by Jean, convened with Erwin in a private meeting.
The day passed in a blur for most, except for Mikasa, who had been anxiously waiting for Eren's return. Eventually, exhaustion got the better of her, and she ended up falling asleep in his room without warning.
Eren and Levi returned to Odel late that night alongside their squad, with the exception of Jean, who had been sent to the regular scouts' dorms. As Eren rode back, the only words that echoed in his mind were the promise he made to Jean: "Put your faith in me, and I'll protect you with everything I've got, Kirstein. I know I'm asking a lot, but it's the only option we have."
The next morning, Mikasa woke up, blinking at the unfamiliar surroundings. She found herself wrapped in a blanket, tucked in perfectly on Eren's bed. The scent of the blanket was unmistakably his, stirring memories from their childhood. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she realized what must have happened.
When Eren returned to the castle the previous night, he had planned to collapse straight into bed. But when he entered his room, he found Mikasa fast asleep at his desk, her head resting on the wooden table. Without hesitation, he had carefully lifted her sleeping figure into his arms, cradling her gently. He carried her to his bed and placed her down, pulling a blanket over her to make sure she stayed warm.
Now, as Mikasa sat up, her thoughts were a whirlwind, her heart pounding. She knew it had been Eren who'd tucked her in, and the realization made her cheeks burn with a deep, rosy hue.
A faint knock on the door snapped Mikasa back to reality. "Ye... Yes..." she called out softly.
The door creaked open, and Petra stepped in, carrying a beautifully adorned tray. On it were eggs, yogurt, bread, and some meat. "Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't wake you, did I?" Petra asked apologetically, her tone gentle.
Mikasa shook her head, her gaze shifting to the food. As if on cue, her stomach growled loudly, betraying her hunger.
Petra smiled warmly. "Well, Vice Commander Eren asked me to bring this to you once you woke up."
Mikasa felt a wave of embarrassment, glancing at Petra. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience..." she said, her voice slightly awkward at being treated like a guest.
"Don't worry, I don't mind at all. Besides, I didn't want it to get cold since it's not every day you get to eat food cooked by Vice Commander Eren Yeager," Petra added with a soft laugh.
Mikasa's eyes widened, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. "Ereh... cooked this?" she asked, surprised. She had no idea Eren could cook, let alone make something so perfectly presented.
Petra nodded. "Yes, trust me, he's really good at it. You'll love it." She smiled knowingly, though she was unaware that even if Eren's cooking had been terrible, Mikasa would have eaten every bite happily, simply because it came from him.
Without another word, Mikasa dug in. The first bite was incredible, followed by another and another, each better than the last. Before she knew it, the plate was empty, and she found herself craving more.
Petra, noticing her contentment, smiled and fetched another serving for her. As Mikasa finished her second round, she hesitated for a moment before asking, "Umm... is it okay if I ask but, where is Eren?"
Petra set down the tray and replied, "He's training with Captain Levi."
"And Armin?" Mikasa asked.
"He's watching them train," Petra answered, her tone still light.
Mikasa, still curious, bit her lip before finally speaking again. "Would it be alright if I went to see them?"
Petra nodded. "Of course. I'm sure they wouldn't mind," she said, as she showed her the path to the training fields.
As they walked on the grassy path the sounds of grunts and clashing fists filled the air as Mikasa approached the training grounds. Her breath hitched, cheeks flushing red as her eyes unintentionally lingered on the scene before her. Eren, shirtless, was engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand sparring match with Levi. His toned body was on full display—muscular arms, defined abs, and a strong, sweat-slicked chest glistening under the morning sun. Despite her embarrassment, Mikasa couldn't stop herself from sneaking another glance.
Levi, also shirtless, moved with precision, launching a rapid series of punches. "Tch, idiot. Now that your friends are here, you're gonna start slacking, aren't you?" Levi muttered, his tone laced with irritation as he attacked with relentless speed.
Eren blocked the blows with ease, grinning despite the pressure. "Wait, what? Of course not! What makes you think that?" he replied, spotting an opening. With a quick twist, he spun and aimed a roundhouse kick at Levi's midsection.
Levi, ever sharp, grabbed Eren's leg mid-kick, stopping the attack cold. Without missing a beat, he tossed Eren effortlessly.
Eren executed a flawless flip, regaining his balance mid-air before landing neatly on his feet.
"Don't worry, they always train like this but they make sure that they don't injure themselves." Petra said, her gaze fixed firmly on Levi before glancing over at Mikasa. "Ah, Mikasa... you okay?"
Mikasa snapped out of her trance and turned to Petra, who suddenly gasped. "Your nose! It's bleeding!"
Mikasa blinked in confusion, then noticed a similar trail of blood running down Petra's face. "Yours is bleeding too," she pointed out. Neither had realized they were so captivated by the sight of Eren and Levi training that they hadn't even noticed their noses had started to bleed.
The sparring duo, now interrupted by the distant commotion, stopped and turned to look at the two girls, sensing something was off. Eren rushed over to Mikasa while Levi made his way to Petra.
"Hey, you okay?" Eren asked, concern in his voice as he noticed the blood running down Mikasa's face.
Levi pulled out a handkerchief, wiping Petra's face with the usual cool efficiency. Meanwhile, Eren placed a hand under Mikasa's chin, using his handkerchief to clean the blood.
"Maybe you should rest. It's been really hot lately, so the nosebleed's probably from the heat. Nothing serious, so don't worry," Eren reassured her, though he was completely oblivious to the real reason. Mikasa and Petra both nodded, agreeing, though the truth was far more embarrassing.
Levi straightened up, his usual stoic expression back in place. "Alright, Eren, let's call it quits for today."
"Yeah, let's hit the showers," Eren agreed, wiping the sweat from his brow. "We still need to give the report to Erwin about the meeting with Rico Brzenska."
Mikasa, regaining some composure, reached out instinctively and placed her hand on Eren's cheeks, her eyes softening cleanly ignoring Levi who left instantly with Petra. "Ereh, you should shower too. You don't want to catch a fever."
Though Eren, thanks to his Titan powers, wasn't in any danger of that, he simply smiled at her concern.
However, Eren's thoughts soon clouded, focusing on Erwin's plan—a gamble he had no choice but to trust. As Eren mulled over the strategy, Armin, who often felt left out, quietly approached, knowing he might be ignored again.
"Hey, Eren, there's something I wanted to ask..." Armin's voice broke the silence, hesitant but curious.
Eren looked up, intrigued. "What's bothering you, Armin?"
"Well... you're really strong. So, if you don't mind... would you train me?" Armin asked, pressing his hands together in a pleading gesture.
"Eh?" Eren blinked, caught off guard. But before he could react, Mikasa joined them.
"Me too, Ereh. You're always training with that puny captain," Mikasa teased, crossing her arms. "I was the top of our class, so I might give you a bit of competition."
Eren hesitated, scratching his head awkwardly. "I don't know if I can teach you anything... Levi's a great teacher, but I'm not sure how well you'll get along with his methods. Especially you, Mikasa..."
Mikasa's grip on Eren's hand tightened, her gaze locking onto his green eyes, unwavering. "Ereh, we don't need that shorty. You can train with me all you want, and I promise you won't be disappointed."
Eren chuckled nervously but eventually gave in, smiling warmly. "Alright, Mikasa, Armin... don't disappoint me. I'll do my best to train you both."
Days flew by as Eren dedicated himself to training both Armin and Mikasa, focusing on refining their ODM gear skills. They struggled in several areas, particularly with gas efficiency, but Eren patiently taught them the best tactics for killing titans and, more importantly, how to survive.
Mikasa, in particular, enjoyed their daily hand-to-hand combat sessions, even though she always lost. Eren made sure to hold back his strength to avoid hurting her, and his focus was always on helping her improve.
One of the more advanced lessons Eren taught Mikasa was how to tap into her Ackerman instincts. It was a challenging process, requiring her to calm her body and mind, focusing solely on the battle ahead and blocking out distractions.
Though it took time, Mikasa's improvement was clear. She became faster, more precise, and her combat skills sharpened significantly as she mastered the technique.
Her growth was remarkable, and Eren couldn't help but feel proud of how much she had advanced.
As for Eren and Levi, they were fully absorbed in perfecting a technique that could be their ace in future battles—a technique that no one else, not even Mikasa or Miche, could pull off. As they trained, Levi noted Eren's improvement.
"Perfect, Eren. 40 yards out," Levi said with approval, landing smoothly on the ground.
Eren, however, wasn't satisfied. He landed a bit off, breaking his ankle in the process. As steam rose from his foot, healing the injury, Eren shook his head.
"No... it's still not perfect. The landing needs more work. We have to master this technique. It's a gamble, but if we want to prevent more unnecessary deaths, we need to get it right," he said, determination etched in his face.
Levi nodded in agreement, his usual stoic demeanor hiding the weight of past losses they both carried. "We've lost good people because we didn't have this technique in our arsenal. But not this time. We'll get it done."
As Eren stood back up, steam still faintly rising from his shoe, Petra approached, patting him on the shoulder. Her reassuring presence kept him grounded. Levi turned to her, his gaze steady.
"Petra, call Jean Kirstein. We're heading to Erwin next."
Petra nodded, swiftly mounting her horse and heading towards the scouts' dorms to find Jean. The tension in the air was thick—every soldier knew the stakes of the upcoming mission.
The day finally came to an end, and soon the sun of the next day rose above the towering walls, casting long shadows over the scouts. Their faces were set with determination, while the new recruits could barely hide their terror. They stood at the sealed breach of Trost, waiting for what was to come. Horses were being transported up the walls by wooden lifts, as the gate was still under reconstruction.
A crowd had gathered, cheering for their hero, Eren, who stood alongside Commander Erwin. As usual, Erwin's presence lifted everyone's spirits, his calm strength like a steady beacon in the chaos.
The scouts formed their usual semicircular formation, with Eren beside Erwin and Levi's squad at the front lines, ready to carve a path through the titans. The rookies were positioned in the center, protected but crucial to maintaining the formation.
"My fellow Scouts," Erwin's voice cut through the air, powerful and commanding. "The journey ahead is hard, but with you by our side, we will annihilate every last titan outside these walls and show them what humans are actually capable of. On this expedition, we aim to reclaim Wall Maria and uncover the secrets locked away in that cellar. For humanity!"
With a fierce battle cry, the scouts departed, leaving behind the massive crowd. Their cheers rang out, but beneath the noise, their faces betrayed a mixture of worry and fragile hope—hope in Eren's power, and in the chance for victory.