It Started With Cadet Training (Reader/Levi/Erwin/Hange/Mike)

Fight For You

You kept your eyes on the sky for other signals as your squad races behind you. As you raced through the grassy landscape, you recalled everything that had lead you to this point.

The day that you'd been told your parents weren't coming back. Training so hard to be accepted into the cadets. Erwin's bright smile as he introduced himself. The Commander calling out your name with Levi as the Captains of your training-squad. Each strategy, each plan Erwin had.

Graduating into the Scouts. Watching your Captain being eaten. Having to chop off Mike's leg. Becoming a Captain of your friends. The debut of your squad. The Commander pressing you for your opinion on his successor. The admittance of your feelings to your squad.

The fear in Bertolt and Reiner's eyes as you searched for their 'Uncle'. Going back for Annie and meeting Nile. The domestic days were nothing else but the kids mattered. Erwin leaving for his mission, and coming back without an arm.

Adopting the other kids, and the 104th protection act. How your family had grown so quickly. Learning about titan shifters and the urgency to reclaim wall Maria. Learning about the outside world. Learning how horrible everyone else really was.

Everything that lead up to riding horseback towards Shinishaga. It played in your mind as you rode to what surely was your death. It would be worth it, to give the kids freedom, but you had so many regrets, things that you'd never accomplished. All you could do was continue to ride towards the wall and pray.

As Shinshaga came into view, you felt the knot in your stomach tighten. You had no idea what to expect, no idea if you'd even be able to pull this off, and the desolate city wasn't helping to conceal your anxiety.

It looked exactly as you'd left it, covered in rubble and ruins. It stung worse knowing why it was ruined in the first place. The greed of man-kind driven to using children as weapons. Your mouth turned an awful, foul taste as you snapped your heels together to drive your horse forwards. You had no idea what to expect, but there wasn't sense in delaying much longer.

As you reached the overflowing city, Erwin was already giving out orders to the Scouts, instructing them on where to go and what squads are responsible for what. Jumping off your horse, you tether it to a nearby stall before quickly making your way over to Erwin.

"Ah! Squad Lance you're responsible for the safety of the three titan-shifts with Mike's squad," he reminds you with a smile, the plan that had been prepared since the first formations were planned out.

"Yes Commander," you say with a smile, holding yourself back from kissing his cheek and giving him a salute instead. You couldn't risk the enemies seeing your connections with the other Captains, let alone the Commander, or you'd all be in danger.

He nods his head with a smile, returning the salute before dismissing you. Quickly you guide your squad over to where Mike was passing out extra gear and instructing his squad. As you approach you give a small wave to Nanaba. She waves back, heading over to you.

"You ready to do this?" you ask as the rest of your squad joins Mike's in warm-ups.

"Protecting three kids or defeating Marley?" she retorts with a chuckle, adjusting her ODM gear.

"Put an end to a war before it begins," you state, glancing up at the wall.

"If it means being able to see Lynne another day, I'd do anything," she says, determination bubbling behind her eyes as she meets your gaze.

"I know this is a lot to ask, but if you're the closest - if you have to make a decision - save Mike before me. The others, they need him more -"