Chapter Text
Chapter 1: The New Recruit
The first sign that something was wrong was when the new recruit challenged Levi into a fistfight.
You paused halfway through signing off a training report to stare at her bewilderedly.
“Is she.. being serious right now?” you asked.
“Squad Leader, I think we should stop her,” Moblit anxiously whispered to you.
Across the training grounds, a brunette recruit had positioned herself into a fighting stance, fists up with determined eyes and all. Levi stood directly in front of her with crossed arms and his signature deadpan face.
Several Scouts watched the scene with a confused expression.
You were just going through a report with Moblit when out of nowhere, Levi appeared on the training grounds with the new recruit trailing right behind him. She had been talking loudly to him in a rather rude tone, which was what initially caught your attention. No one dares to speak to Captain Levi in that tone.
You couldn’t quite hear what she was saying, something along the lines of her not being afraid of him like everyone else. Perhaps Levi had told her off or said something she didn’t like, and she wanted to stand up for herself.
That’s when she announced to him that she’d like to challenge him to a fight.
“Wait, does she know who Levi is?” you asked Moblit. “She knows that’s the Captain, right?”
“Yes, she definitely does,” Moblit acknowledged. “All the new recruits have been introduced to Commander Erwin and Captain Levi.”
Just yesterday, the Survey Corps welcomed its newest group of recruits from the newly graduated cadet crops batch. One of them was that brunette recruit, whom you distinctly remember because of her unique name.
They call her by the initials “YN”, pronounced “why-en”. Most people have a standard first and last name, so hers stood out. What her initials stand for? You had no idea, and neither did you bother to ask. She had been assigned to Hange’s squad after all, so you only focused on learning the names of your own recruits. Everyone just calls her YN, so you go along with it.
YN has a petite build with long, straight brown hair with short bangs that slightly covered her eyebrows. She has fair skin, and her eyes are brown, large and doe-like with long lashes. She had a pink blush to her cheeks and lips, which made you wonder if she wears makeup to training or if she just naturally looks that way. She spoke with a high-pitched voice and presented herself as someone kind, innocent, and smart.
You did not take her for someone who would challenge Humanity’s Strongest Soldier to a fistfight.
“Fight me!” YN exclaimed.
Your mouth inflated with air and a sudden puff of laughter burst out. You slapped your hand against your mouth, holding in your laughter.
Moblit shot you a look. “This is not the time to laugh, Squad Leader.”
“Sorry. This is so funny,” you said in a muffled voice.
“Is she really going to fight him?” Moblit asked.
“Looks like it, but she’s asking for a death sentence. No one has ever won a sparring session against Levi before.”
“We should stop her!”
“You go stop her. She’s part of your team,” you said as you nudged Moblit with your elbow, causing him to let out a squeak.
Just as Moblit was about to cross the training grounds to knock some sense into the poor recruit, she suddenly took a step closer to Levi.
“I dare you to call me that again!” YN exclaimed.
“Call you what?” Levi asked, unimpressed.
“You—you called me a brat!” she shouted. “Who do you think you are? Just because you're ‘Humanity’s Strongest’, doesn’t mean you can go around calling people that!”
“Well, you were acting like one.”
“I–I’ll prove to you that I’m not just a brat,” she growled.
She swung the first punch, which Levi dodged with ease. She swung yet another one, and it nearly threw her off-balance.
“I’m not sparring with a new recruit,” Levi said and walked away.
“Afraid of losing to a woman, huh Captain?” she taunted, earning a distasteful glare from Levi.
“Learn some manners before you embarrass yourself further, rude brat,” he warned.
Before she could say another word, Moblit intervened, sweat beading on his forehead. It took everything in you not to laugh at Levi’s expression and Moblit’s distress.
“Enough, YN!” Moblit exclaimed anxiously. “You’re being disrespectful, he’s our Captain!”
“So?”
“What do you mean ‘so’? This is the military! Why would you challenge him?”
“Why not?” she asked, attempting to walk around Moblit, only to get blocked by him.
“Why not? Didn’t you learn anything about respect from cadet training? And it’s only your first day in the Survey Corps, stop making a scene!” he scolded, looking around at all the Scouts staring at them.
At that point, Levi has walked far away enough, which spurred the bystanders to begin whispering.
“He started it first!” the girl retorted.
Moblit ended up dragging her away from the training grounds.
It was a rare sight, for sure. Most new recruits are well-behaved and obedient, responding to every command and making sure they aren’t ever out of line. This one, though, seemed a little different.
Yet, you were willing to give her the benefit of a doubt. Knowing Levi, he can be a little.. jarring to those who aren’t used to his style.
“Who does she think she is, talking to Captain Levi like that?” Moblit grumbled to you after he sent her away to train with the other new recruits.
“Maybe she’s the sensitive type and didn’t take his comment well,” you shrugged.
“Even if she was, challenging your superior like that?”
“Maybe she was trying to make an impression. Well, anyways, that was fun to watch!”
“Fun for you, not me,” Moblit muttered. “I should report this to Hange and hope she cares.”
Unfortunately, that incident was only the beginning.
Over the next few days, more signs began to show that something was definitely wrong with the recruit.
Yesterday, she had tripped directly into Captain Levi’s path.
This morning, she tried to join Levi’s squad training.
By afternoon, she had pleaded to Hange to reassign her cleaning duty shift so that it suspiciously aligned with Levi’s.
You wondered if her strange behaviour only revolved around Levi, but apparently, you heard that she’s been causing a headache in other departments too.
Allegedly, she was making a fuss at the stable, demanding to be given a better-looking horse. She didn’t want a typical brown horse, but a shining white one. For what reason? You had no idea. Scouts don’t get to choose the horses, so of course, her request was turned down.
The new recruit had also complained about how the Scouts’ boots were too large for her, and how she’s particularly choosy about who she sits with at lunch. She had turned down a group of girls’ invitations to sit together, and sat with the boys instead.
You didn’t witness all these events yourself. Rather, you heard it from a number of different Scouts. As a Squad Leader who has been in the Survey Corps for nearly a decade, you were well-trusted and people often came to you when trouble arises. You have also witnessed plenty of happenings within the corps.
When the Scouts aren’t busy with expeditions, they aren’t immune to daily buffooneries, clique dramas, personal problems, and all sorts. Once, a Scout sought your advice after having his savings drained by a random widow at the local bar. Another time, you had to intervene when rumours about a Scout getting pregnant spiralled out of control, and there was also once a major rumour about a Scout sleeping around with high-ranking officers, which was proven untrue.
Just like any normal human, Scouts gossip, group up, and engage in drama. Some get jealous when a Scout seems to be particularly favoured or overshadowing the others, which triggers rumour-spreading.
You wondered if this time, the Scouts were just exaggerating the new recruits’ actions and were unnecessarily brewing up another rumour-storm.
Despite all these rumours, you still shrugged it off.
That is until today, when you run into YN outside the tool shed, soaking wet from the heavy rain.
You had quickly run under the rain to grab a toolkit to fix your broken chair, and you certainly did not expect to see her crouching helplessly there.
At the sound of your approaching footsteps, her face briefly lights up in anticipation. However, it quickly falls when she realises it was you, as though she has been expecting someone else.
“YN, what are you doing here?” you ask.
“Oh, I was looking for a broom since I’m on garden cleaning duty today, but I got caught in the rain,” she says meekly, fiddling with her hands as she crouches on the ground.
“Is the toolshed locked?” you ask, pushing on the door handle. The door swings open and you look at her, confused. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know how to open it?”
“Oh, it’s not that, I did manage to open it. I just wanted to, uh, wait for the rain to stop,” she replies.
But she had no reason to be marinated in rain like this, when she could’ve just waited inside the toolshed for shelter.
“Why didn’t you wait inside the toolshed?” you ask. “It’s better than being drenched with rain out here. Or even better, just run back to HQ. It’s not that far.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t want to risk it running under the rain like this. I might fall, the ground is very slippery,” she mutters with a small voice. You couldn’t help but notice the way she’s glancing left and right, as if searching for something or someone.
“We can go back together after I get my stuff,” you offer, holding out your Scout cape. “They are designed to be waterproof.”
“I wouldn’t want to trouble you! It’s alright, I’ll just wait here!”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I am! I.. uh, still have other things to do here anyway,” she insists.
“Okay, suit yourself,” you say, walking inside the toolshed to grab your things.
When you’re back outside, YN is still glancing around suspiciously. What exactly is she doing?
Well, it’s not your problem. Maybe she just wants to stay out here.
“Don’t stay out too long, you’ll catch a cold!” you say to her before leaving.
You jog back to the HQ, patting the raindrops off your clothes. A number of Scouts are walking about, some are mopping wet floors while others are idly chatting. Seems like everyone has safely escaped the storm at this point.
Then, Levi emerges from the rain, making a ‘tch’ noise as he shakes off his wet jacket. Guess YN wasn’t the only one still out there.
“Damn it. I just washed this,” he says, and then notices that you’re also covered in raindrops. “Got caught in the rain too?”
“Yeah, had to get a screwdriver for my broken chair,” you reply. “What were you doing out there?”
“Lost track of time cleaning my saddle at the horse stable,” he says in an irritated tone, then eyes your wet boots. “Don’t go walking around HQ with those muddy boots.”
“Yeah, yeah,” you wave him off. “I was gonna get to that.”
And then, it hits you. Levi was at the horse stable, and YN at the toolshed. They aren’t located too far away from each other.
You remember the way YN seemed to be looking around and anticipating someone. Had she been waiting for Levi to notice her at the toolshed? Maybe she noticed him nearby and wanted him to rescue her from the rain.
Wait. You shake your head. Okay, that sounds like a stretch. Maybe it’s just a coincidence!
“By the way, did you see anyone else out there?” you ask Levi.
“No. Why?”
“Nothing, just asking,” you hum. You brush it off and go about your day.
A few days later, you encounter yet another incident involving the new recruit. This time, during an ODM training session. Today, your team is supposed to train with Hange’s, but her team is missing a person.
“Hange,” you call out to your bespectacled teammate.
"Hey, Sunny!" Hange exclaims while waving to you. It’s your nickname in the Scouts, which had followed you since your rookie days.
Back then, your optimistic and easygoing attitude stood out among your exhausted and cynical seniors. You remember returning from a particularly disappointing expedition, but you continued to smile and encourage your demotivated squad members. Someone had started calling you “Sunny” as a joke, and before long, your squad adopted it, followed by the entire corps. Years later, it became the only name some people knew you by.
Over time, though you tried to get people to stop calling you that, they said it suited you. You were somewhat the unofficial ‘caretaker’ of the Survey Corps. You make herbal tea when your team member is feeling ill, you check on recruits who are lagging behind, lighten up the mood, and remember birthdays. You listen to Scouts who need an ear and advise those who are having trouble.
Though you aren’t as bubbly and active as you used to be in your teenage days, you still maintain that easygoing vibe. You like that Scouts and new recruits gravitate towards you for help, and you don’t mind helping people out. Being a Scout is hard enough as it is, so you try your best to care for others.
“We’re supposed to have 8 people in each squad,” you say to Hange. “There’s only 7 of you.”
“Oh? Who are we missing?” she says, looking around the training ground.
“It’s that girl again! YN!” Moblit groans.
“Ah, Bambi!” Hange exclaims. “Now where did she go?”
“Bambi?” you ask.
“Don’t mind her,” Moblit says. “She recently started calling YN by that nickname for no reason.”
“Because doesn’t she remind you of a lost baby deer?” Hange exclaims. “Her eyes are so big and doe-like, and she looks so innocent!”
“You should have seen her square up Levi,” you say, suppressing a snicker.
“I wish I was there to witness that!” Hange says.
“Squad Leader Hange, focus, where is YN?” Moblit asks. “We don’t want to keep their team waiting.”
“Right, right, let me just.. wait, I think she’s running here,” Hange says, pointing at the distance.
You whip your head and see YN running towards your group, arms swaying from side to side.
“Sorry I’m late!” YN exclaims breathlessly, her cheeks flushed pink and sweat beading on her forehead. “I—I was called by C–Commander Erwin! I just came from his o-office!”
“Relax, why are you stuttering like that?” you ask.
“Erwin? What does he want to talk about with a new recruit?” Hange hums.
“H-he just asked how I–I’ve been doing, that’s all,” YN stammers.
“Now that our squads are complete, let’s begin training,” you say. “I’ll get my squad.”
YN suddenly looks up at you with a surprised expression. “Y–you’re a squad leader?”
“Yes..?” you reply.
“Did you just learn that today?” Moblit asks. “You’ve all been introduced to all the Squad Leaders!”
“O–oh, I must have f–forgotten,” YN says. “I only remember some of you. I know Commander Erwin, Captain Levi, Squad Leader Hange, and…”
“You can call her Squad Leader Sun—,” Hange says, but you interrupt her. You give your proper name to YN.
You cringe at Hange. “Can we stop passing down that nickname to the new generation? Just keep it between us friends.”
“Why?” Hange whines loudly. “It’s endearing!”
“Let’s just get started with training!” you command.
Today’s ODM training consists of you and Hange’s squad zipping through obstacles in the forest and competing for dummy Titan kills. It is to improve the teamwork between the existing squad members and the new recruits, and the competition element makes everyone try harder. Both you and Hange’s squad each got 1 male and 1 female recruit, and you were eager to see how yours performed.
The first half of the training goes fairly smoothly. There are a few hiccups along the way, with the new recruits nearly barreling into your squad members or lagging behind. It’s only natural, adapting to the speed and rhythm at which veteran Scouts operate takes time.
However, during the break, something YN says strikes a nerve. You are all seated in a circle, chatting about the training and replenishing yourselves with water.
"I wish I could train with Squad Leader Miche or Captain Levi," YN sighs loudly. "They look so much stronger."
You pause halfway through cleaning your blade. Hange’s jaw drops. The other squad members perk up at her comment. Some of them blink, wondering if she just said that out loud.
What did she just say...?
YN, blissfully unaware of what she just implied, stretches her limbs nonchalantly. “Training with Captain Levi would be such a good opportunity for us recruits, don’t you guys think?”
Hange lets out an uncomfortable laugh. “Well, that was rude.”
The male recruit in your squad, Jonathan, winces at her comment. “No, I think it’s just you.”
“I mean, no offense!” YN continues, making it worse. “I don’t mean it like that!”
Meanwhile, everyone else looks horrified, even Hange.
“No offense?” you ask with a raised brow.
The blatant disrespect was astounding. Your squad and Hange's consist of a number of veteran Scouts, each skilled and talented in their own way. Sure, not everybody can be like Miche or Levi, but that doesn’t discredit the hard work and sheer bravery everyone put to get here. Hange is strong too, and so is Moblit and everyone else.
YN looks at you, still completely oblivious.
“You’ve only been here for less than a week, and you're already wishing for a new squad to train with?” you ask with a restrained smile.
“Oh—it’s not that, I’m just saying, I mean, don’t we all want to get better?” she adds, staring at you with her large brown eyes. She appears to be surprised by your comment, which she really shouldn’t.
There she goes again, implying that Miche and Levi are better and that she should be spending her time with them. The way she redirects the issue to ‘wanting to get better’ is rather manipulative.
“Of course,” you reply. “But our squad has also spent years risking our lives outside the Walls. We’ve been fighting Titans even before you joined the cadet corps. They’ve earned their place here, so it’s not very nice of you to say that.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t want to train with you and Squad Leader Hange’s squad!” she exclaims, her eyes growing teary.
“You implied it,” Moblit mutters, shooting her an icy glare.
“Being strong is not just about physical power,” Hange points out. “Intelligence is a power too, and so is the ability to strategise a plan or to bring your squad members together.”
Everyone nods in agreement, except YN, who continues to stare wide-eyed at Hange.
“I’m grateful that I could train with our Squad Leaders,” Jonathan speaks up.
“So am I,” says the other female recruit, Millie, on your squad.
“YN, you went too far,” says Finn, Hange’s male recruit. “I’m happy to be training under Squad Leader Hange.”
“If you’re not happy with Commander Erwin’s decision, you can go talk to him,” says Mila, one of your squad members with a haughty temper.
She wasn’t the only one. Hange’s squad members also looked seconds away from filing an official complaint.
“Oh.” YN says, eyes welling up with tears.
Suddenly, YN stands up. Before anyone can say a word, she takes off running while crying. With her hands in her face, she disappears into the forest. A moment of silence passes.
Moblit becomes completely slack-jawed, and Hange lets out a loud “huh???”
Immediately, everyone rises up and begins chattering. Mila points to YN’s retreating figure, her face red with anger.
“How dare that recruit insult us!” Mila yells. “Squad Leader Hange, you’ve got to teach her a lesson!”
“I can’t believe she just said that,” says Abel, one of Hange’s squad members. “And then ran off crying…”
“I just want to say.. I have nothing to do with her,” says Finn with his hands up. “I don’t know why she said that.”
“After challenging Captain Levi to a fight, this is what she does?” Moblit fumes.
“I’ve heard things about her,” snorts Luke, another one of your squad members. “So they were true.”
You cross your arms and shake your head in disbelief.
“Was I too harsh on her?” you ask. It’s unlike you to speak to recruits in that tone, but you couldn’t stand and watch your squad members get undermined. That kind of attitude had to be reprimanded, otherwise, she wouldn’t learn how to respect others.
“No, Squad Leader!” Mila responds. “You did the right thing.”
“No, she had to hear it,” scoffs Rashad, Hange’s squad member. “I might have yelled at her myself.”
“I hope so. Hange, let’s go get her so we can finish up the training,” you say. “Everyone, I know it was uncomfortable to hear that, but be assured that Hange and I will reprimand her properly after this training is over. Let’s focus on what we need to do today.”
Then, you and Hange split up to find YN in the forest. That was so dramatic. Why did she run off crying like that? Now where would someone upset and crying run off to?
The forest is a small one, connected to the training grounds and not too far away from the HQ. From the direction she ran towards, it seemed like she was headed to the main training ground.
After walking for about five minutes, you hear a rustle in the distance.
“YN?” you call out.
Upon approaching the noise, you spot YN crouched beneath a tree while sobbing, her face buried in her hands and her shoulders shaking.
Then, you realise she isn’t alone.
Standing right next to her is Levi, his arms crossed and staring down at the crying recruit with bewilderment.
He notices your arrival and his eyes meet yours. He jerks his chin towards YN, as if saying ‘explain’.
You sigh inwardly. Perfect timing. Out of all people.