Chapter Text
It had been years since the Colossus Titan had appeared and destroyed Wall Maria. Since then, the Stationary Guard has worked nonstop to ensure the safety of citizens in the event of its reappearance. Under Captain Weilman, we know the evacuation instructions like the back of our hands. It has become second nature.
A delightful surprise came to me atop the wall early this morning. Some of the cadets of the 103rd joined me. Everyone had grown so much since I'd last seen them. Mina Carolina is as eager as ever. Thomas Wagner is less cowardly than he had been when first accosted by Instructor Shadis.
Eren Yeager… nothing about him has changed. Nothing at all.
As per usual the daily schedule, we got stuck preparing the cannons. Eren and Connie are in a discussion about joining the Scouting Legion.
“Don't be embarrassed. He's not the only one,” Thomas Wagner walks up, blushing bashfully. I cock an eyebrow, that being the only indication that I'd been listening to their conversation.
“Thomas… You don't mean…?”
“While you clowns all live out your fantasies of slaughtering titans, I'll be here prepping these cannons,” I speak out. “All by myself. Like now…”
“Hey, what happened to you joining the Scouts?” Mina turns to me with a smug smile. “Did you always talk about that being the only branch worthy of being in?”
“Tch. It is the only branch worthy of being in. I simply wasn't given the privilege.”
“You've been outside of the walls before! I saw you riding with them once. Not too long ago actually,” Eren notes. His green eyes shine with a certain ferocity - even more so than they had when I'd been a trainee.
Before I get the chance to respond, Sasha Braus walks towards our group with a crazed look about her. She hides something in her jacket.
“Um, everyone?” She looks around one last time before a large amount of meat. She explains that she's brought it from the officer’s storehouse. “We can all share it later-”
“Oi, I'm beginning to wonder whether or not you are insane or just simply an idiot,” I sigh, not bothering to stop and give her my undivided attention. “You know that as an officer, I'm going to have to report this?”
“(F/N),” Thomas’ voice wavers in surprise. Everyone has turned to look at me. Their eyes are widen in disbelief. “Y-you wouldn't! You couldn't do that!”
I shrug, finishing the last of the cannons. “I could. It's my duty as a team leader. Fortunately though,” I smirk, “I don't care about the higher-ups enough to report you. Have fun with your meat.”
“Team leader?” Eren questions. Connie laughs. “So much for joining the Scouts.”
“Get back to work, brats. Or you'll be found out and we'll all be in for it-”
A loud crash interrupts my speech. We all stare off the wall dumbfounded.
The Colossus Titan.
By the time I realize it's intent, the giant humanoid’s leg is already sailing through the air coming towards the wall.
“Hook in!” I shout. Just then the wall quakes beneath us. A wave of dirt and debris comes racing towards, throwing several of the cadets from the wall.
I jump from the top of the wall, sinking my hooks into its side face. There, my former classmates are all trying to regain their bearings. I had six, but I only count five.
“Samuel!”
The brunet boy is plummeting down the wall, unmoving.
Racing down the wall, Sasha sinks one of her hooks into his calf.
“Is everyone alright?” I yell over the commotion.
“T-the wall… It’s broken!”
“It's happening again!”
“The Titans are going to get in!”
A silence looms over us. Only the whipping of the wind speaks. Footsteps begin to grow closer.
“Mounted Cannon Maintenance Squad Four! The target is the Colossus Titan dead ahead!” Eren yells, swinging around to go attack the titan.
“Eren, no!” I shout, readying myself to follow him. I stop midair, remembering that I have five other lives to worry about.
However, I can't let him fight it alone.
“Let's go!” I order the cadets, deciding to follow Eren.
When we reach the top of the wall, both Eren and the titan are gone.
He comes back to the top of the wall with Connie and Thomas. I stand on the edge facing the city. Soon, it shall be flooded with titans and dead people.
“We need to get to headquarters now. The Response Operation is already underway,” I order my handful of cadets. As I'm responsible for their lives while up here, I'm not going to let them just stand and gawk at the titans.
We make it back long before they break through the vanguard. Everyone is in complete disarray. I see Mikasa standing with Eren and go over.
“I trust you both received your assignments from Captain Weilman?” I ask, my tone entirely too calm. I finish tying my windswept (H/C) locks into a ponytail before crossing my arms. “Regardless,” I start again before anyone responds, “I have special orders for Mikasa. You'll be joining me in the rear guard today.”
Her grey eyes widen, though I'm unable to tell if it's from shock or the idea of being separated from Eren.
I suppose it doesn't really matter though.
“I'm not skilled enough! I'll only be a burden.”
“We're behind schedule as is. They've already begun to infiltrate the city. If we don't move quickly, they'll be right on top of us eating the citizens. Pull your shit together and let's go.”
I turn my back and head out to assist with the evacuation. The entirety of Wall Rose’s population is hysterics. Mothers cradle their children and whisper empty reassurances in their ears. The men argue over how far away the titans are and who is going to perish first.
Merchants try to bride us into allowing them to pass through first with their goods. I watch as a few of my comrades shamelessly accept their coins.
“Hey, you! Get me to the front of the line and I'll cut you a profit once we get into the inner wall. What do you say?”
I raise an eyebrow curiously. He completely lacked discretion and now every man, woman, child and soldier is staring at me. As if unsure that he's speaking to me, I make a gesture.
He nods.
“You're going to pay me to let you through the gate?”
“Well don't just stand there like a fool! Help me!”
Within seconds, I've drawn my blade and am standing it's length’s distance away from the man. Beads of sweat dribble down his blotchy skin. The wiry strands of hair above his lip resemble the whiskers on a cat. Beady brown eyes look down at me with a mixture of both fear and wonder.
One of his lackeys, a sickly looking young man places a hand on his shoulder, warily glancing at me. “Sir, that's Captain Levi’s daughter. Perhaps it best-”
“Nay, I ain't scared of this bitch,” he gulps, taking a step forward. I unsheathe one of my swords, lifting it to sit under his chin. This earns a collective gasp from our audience along with a few murmurs of disapproval. Neither of the other officers step in to stop me.
“It'd been wise to listen to him. I'll have to punish you now,” I frown. Holding his gaze, I slide my blade across one of his stockpiles of grain. The incision is small, but enough to make his goods pour from its bag onto the dirty ground. Before he has the opportunity to react, I place the blade at his throat. A trickle of blood runs down the length of his neck. “You should concern yourself less with the threat of the titans. Even they won't kill you as terribly as I will if you insult me again. Now get in line like everyone else.”
The next couple of hours move along smoothly. No titans are spotted coming anywhere near the gate, which means that the soldiers placed in the middle guard are handling their jobs well. Hopefully, it also means that the casualties are at a minimum.
“Ackerman!”
Cables reel in as Jade and Zegler approach along with a squadron full of new members of the Garrison. These fresh recruits were some of the best in the 102nd and 103rd groups.
“You’ve been requested in the middle guard,” Zegler announces before I can properly salute them. “The cadet kids need some help if they’re gonna hold the titans back long enough for everyone to evacuate.”
I eagerly nod my head, excited for the opportunity to finally kill titans. To prove that my skills are being wasted in the Garrison.
“I understand. Any specific squadron?”
“No,” Jade says, looking over my shoulder to see for herself how many more need to evacuate. “Go anywhere you see they need reinforcement.”
Just before I’m about to jump off of the rooftop and advance into the city, she places a gentle hand on my shoulder. Brown eyes meet mine sadly, as if this is the last time that we’ll ever see one another.
Alive, anyway.
“Don’t go trying to be a hero, (F/N). They always die first.”
“Yeah,” Zegler chimes in. “Do your damned best to make it to sunset. If you can make it to then, you can make it until dark and live.”
“Good luck, Ackerman,” both salute me as I head off to earn my first kill.