Chapter Text
Captain Mikasa Ackerman is stationed on a long-term mission with her squad in a fortified stronghold due south of Wall Maria when she receives word to report to the eastern branch of the Cadet Corps Headquarters as soon as possible. At the bottom, a sternly worded order not to die along the way.
It takes two days on the fastest horse available. She cuts into the flat farmland inside Wall Maria and curls her way east and upwards, as close to flying as she can get without her ODM gear propelling her through the air. She sets up camp in the dense forests scattered throughout, anchoring herself to a high-up branch and sleeping in the air with her horse moored below.
After being stationed south for so long, the bustling Stohess district is a shock to Mikasa’s system. The reverence afforded to the wings emblazoned on her uniform in the outer districts isn’t as freely given here. Too-obvious whispers follow her through the streets until she reaches the Cadet Corps eastern branch on the city’s northernmost outskirts, on a patch of barren, unused farmland.
A lieutenant, a short woman with round glasses and a long, vibrantly red braid, meets her at the entrance and snaps into a salute. “Captain Ackerman. Welcome to the eastern branch of the Cadet Corps. We’ve been expecting you.”
Mikasa waves her off as she dismounts her horse and hands it off to a stable hand. Her legs shake as she finds the ground. “At ease, Lieutenant.”
The lieutenant drops her salute but remains ramrod straight. “Please follow me, Captain. I’ve been tasked with escorting you to where Commander Smith is waiting.”
The lieutenant leads Mikasa through the barracks, only minorly different to the southern branch where she joined the cadets. It’s quiet of people in the early afternoon, pungent with whatever the cooks are making for lunch. They climb two flights of stairs to a third-floor balcony overlooking the training grounds. Erwin stands with his back to her, hands braced on the railing.
Mikasa clears her throat and snaps into a salute of her own. “Good afternoon, Commander Smith.”
“Captain.” Erwin turns and nods, dismissing the lieutenant with a wave. “You made good time. How was the trip?”
“Uneventful.” She relaxes her stance and moves to stand beside her commander. Below them, a hundred cadets are paired off and sparring under Shadis’ watchful eye.
“And life in the stronghold?” he asks.
“Nothing of note to report,” she replies as she pushes up the sleeves of her jacket. “No breaches or major accidents. There have been a few eight-metre class within a two-kilometre radius for the past month. They haven’t come any closer yet, but Hange thinks they’re getting curious.”
Erwin hums. “I read Hange’s report. I trust you’ll all take the appropriate precautions.”
She bites back a sigh and leans against the railing. “With respect, Commander, if you wanted an update, you’d read the reports I sent along with Hange’s.”
“Of course I read your reports as well, Captain.”
“Then why have I been called back? Your letter didn’t give much away.”
Erwin juts his broad chin towards the cadets. “In the middle towards the right. Short, with dark hair in an undercut. Watch him.”
Mikasa scowls at him. “You called me back to watch a raw cadet?”
Erwin’s expression doesn’t change at all. “Yes.”
She spots the cadet in question and frowns. The great scowl on his bloodied lips is visible even from their vantage on the third-floor balcony, and when he turns, the crossed swords of the Cadet Corps insignia on his jacket are torn down the middle and fluttering behind him in a parody of a cape.
“Is he being singled out for being shorter than the others or something?” she asks. “Why is his uniform ruined?”
Erwin snorts, the closest he’ll ever come to a laugh. “Pay attention to him, Captain.”
The hits that do land on the cadet are rare, otherwise he dodges them like he’s dancing a dance he’s known all his life. When he does retaliate, he moves like a storm, a deluge of quick, powerful hits with no finesse. He sends his opponent crashing into the dirt over and over and waits for them to get back up just so he can do it all again. No technique, just raw strength, and palpable anger.
“Being shorter than the others doesn’t help,” Erwin says quietly. “They still manage to get the jump on him when he’s distracted. But the potential in him is immense.”
Mikasa nods. “I can see that. What’s his name?”
“Levi. Levi Ackerman.”
She chokes on her next breath.
She coughs, clears her throat, but her voice still rises rattled. “Where did he come from?”
“The Underground city below Mitras, originally. The son of a prostitute and an unknown father. A bit of a thug, too, from what we’ve managed to discern.”
“And he just decided to join the military?” She snorts, quirks a brow. “There’s something you’re not telling me, isn’t there?”
“After.” Erwin passes her a thick paper folder and crosses his arms. “He’s a little older than the others at nineteen, twenty in a few weeks. He will graduate top of not only this class, but also those of the other cadet branches, too. He’s achieved top scores across the board, and he has a kind of strength I haven’t seen in anyone else besides you.”
She swallows. “It’s an awful lot to wear.”
“A relation of yours, perhaps?”
“Maybe distantly?” She flips through the papers, noting names and locations and Shadis’ chicken scratch scrawl in the margins. A laundry list of unstuck charges and warrants from the Military Police make up the last pages. “Doubtful, though. My father was an only child and didn’t come from anywhere near the inner walls, so…”
Erwin hums. “It might do well to talk to him, see if you can sway him into joining the Survey Corps. His talent would go to waste in the interior.”
Mikasa shakes her head and passes the file back, watches the cadet bring another of his peers to the ground. “Not to mention, they’d likely arrest him on sight. Besides, he doesn’t appear to be the sort that would listen.”
“He’d make an incredible addition to your squad.”
“My squad is already incredible.”
Erwin hums in agreement. “I’d like you to spar with him.”
“What would that accomplish, Commander?”
“I’m curious.”
“Your curiosity is going to get someone hurt one day.”
“No, it won’t.” He nods towards the ground. “Head down. I told Shadis to expect you.”
She glares at him. “You do realise I’ve been riding two days straight to make it here in time?”
Erwin blinks at her. “Do you require longer to prepare yourself?”
Mikasa grits her teeth and makes for the stairs, knuckles white under her grip on the rails. “No, sir.”