*Before you Read* - There are many names for the different regiments:
Scouting Regiment - Survey Corps - Scouting Legion - Recon Corps
Military Police Regiment (MP) - Military Police Corps
Garrison Regiment - Stationary Corps
I'm simply using the names from the Japanese version of the anime - Scouting Regiment, Garrison Regiment, and the Military Police
Enjoy!
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*Revised Version*
*Contains plot spoilers from S3*
As the newly recruited group of cadets stands in formation, I glance around, only about 30 people joined the Scouting Regiment. Hange and Levi addressed the small crowd from a wooden stage a few meters away. "Your first expedition outside of the walls will be in one week, so you'd better get settled in quickly. We will have a group of scouts escort you to your sleeping quarters and show you where you will be eating and training to keep your skills sharp. Dismissed! " It had been Levi that dismissed the cadets, and as Hange began to walk back to their office, Levi followed. A group of about four people, scouts that had joined last year, stepped out. It was among that group that I recognized the shiny, black, shoulder-length hair of Mikasa, her neck precariously decorated with her tattered red scarf. It took all of my will not to let out a squeak of excitement right then and there.
I gathered with the group of four others as we split off for the tour. I walked calmly behind her, she obviously hadn't noticed me yet. Gaining courage, I walked quietly up to her and continued along to the sleeping quarters. She gave me a suspicious, side-eyed glance before double-taking, finally realizing who I was. "It's been a while, (F/N)" she said, a rare smile slid across her face. I giggled slightly and returned this gesture with a huge smile, my eyes gleaming. "I told you I'd join when I was old enough." I said excitedly, though I kept my walking pace calm. I was a year younger than my childhood friends, so I had to wait an extra year to join the cadets. I looked up ever so slightly, Mikasa had matured so much in the year that they had been in the Scouting Regiment. It wasn't a look I liked to see on her face. Dark circles ran under her eyes from a lack of sleep, and the corners of her mouth had begun to form the slightest of creases, most likely due to repeated frowning.
I had only heard fragmented parts of the story so far, once the battle for Trost commenced, the trainees were tasked with helping other branches of the military keep their supplies up, as well as tend to civilians. I had given out everything from rations to new clothes, and had only seen glimpses of what I now understand was the battle between Eren and the Armored Titan. After that, the information on them was relatively quiet, for a few months at least. Then, before the battle for Shiganshina, there was a lot of chatter about the Scouting Regiment being unreliable, and possibly traitors. A few days passed and I read from the newspaper about Eren fixing the hole in Wall Maria. It has been two months since the retaking of Wall Maria, and citizens from within the inner walls have begun to move back to the outer ring, reclaiming their lost land. However, the grim look on Mikasa's face tells me that the story isn't nearly as simple as that.
A mischievous look appeared in Mikasa's eyes, like an idea sparked in her mind, she showed the other recruits to the sleeping quarters before beckoning me over. I was confused when she took a series of twisting turns away from the sleeping quarters. "Don't I nee-" Mikasa turned around quickly, quieting me by pressing a finger to her lips to indicate silence. She proceeded to a door along the narrow hallway and hesitated, listening for only a moment. She then knocked twice on the door, and a monotone "Enter" was heard from inside. Mikasa took the lead, opening the door, I followed and shut it behind us. I stood in the back of the room, my attention turned to Mikasa and the new figure. I recognized the small stature and familiar jet-black hair from the man announcing the cadets on the stage. "Captain Levi, I would like to request that (F/N) (L/N) share my sleeping quarters. I do not share mine with anyone at the moment, and being that she was nearly at the top of her class, I know she would be a great asset. I've known her for a long time, and I promise this simple request will not be faltered with." She said calmly.
My heart leapt in my chest when Mikasa said "Captain Levi", does she mean THE Levi, the Scouting Regiment captain with a knack for killing titans? Levi shot me a glance, it seems as though his silver gaze was reading the depths of my very soul, but I kept his gaze for a second before he turned it away, sighing, seemingly surrendering to the adept Ackerman. "Alright. I don't see a problem with it. See to it that she is made at home. If I get any trouble from you, I'll have you working your asses off by cleaning the entire head quarters for a year! Dismissed! " I offered a timid thank you before turning and following Mikasa to her room.
On the way there, I decided to inquire further about the man I had just met. "So, is that the Levi that all of these rumors have been about?" I asked hesitantly, not sure of what I was getting myself into. "Yes. Captain Levi Ackerman." She said quite in quite a flat tone, as if the thought wasn't exactly amusing to her. "Really, an Ackerman?" I retorted. "We are uncertain of the relation." She replied back to my astonishment. We rounded another corner before finally arriving back at the sleeping quarters.
It has been over a year since I've been able to have a long conversation with Mikasa, and my mind keeps bouncing around from one question to the next. I tried to bite my tongue to try avoiding prodding her too much, I'm certain she hasn't gotten enough rest since before her days in the Training Regiment, but curiosity overruled any other feelings. "So, how have things been in the Scouting Regiment?" I asked Mikasa, not sure what the answer would be. I had seen the destruction of the titans, but only from a distance, and I worry that not being a part of the action has resulted in me not understanding the reality of the situation. "It's been horrific." My companion spoke in monotone, I had obviously hit a nerve. I wasn't sure how to relieve the awkward atmosphere, all I could do was silently grieve for the time spent away from my friends.
After settling down in my new shared room, Mikasa lead me to the eating quarters, where I quickly grabbed a tray of food and followed her to the table. My bright (E/C) gleaming, I watched as the two males I recognized turned to see me. Mouths gaping, I smiled at them. Tears brimmed my eyes, I set down my tray and happily hugged them both in turn. "It's been so long" I said in the crook of Armin's neck before pulling away to sit down beside him. Mikasa sat across from me, Eren on her left. Eren hasn't cut his hair in quite some time, and from the very vague memory I have of Grisha, he has begun to look more like his father. There was a strange air around the green-eyed teenager, it almost felt melancholy.
"How have you been? Did training go well? How did you score in finals? " I was bombarded with a series of questions, and did my best to answer them in the order they were asked, "I'm good, I'm good. Training was hard." I paused "I... uh.. g-got 3rd place in finales." I said as a chorus of congratulations came from the three. Heads turned briefly from the surrounding tables, but were quickly occupied by food once again. Embarrassment flooded through my being and I ducked my head shyly. "I'm - uh.... I - I mean we, are so h-happy you're back. " Armin stuttered, I gave him a soft smile before turning to devour my food.
After the four of us finished, we headed outside. We all sat on a hill, looking into the darkening sky, just as we used to when we were kids. I sighed, nostalgia washed over me and my mind began racing with thoughts. Even though they are sitting on a hill under the stars, just as they used to, the feeling of the group has changed. I could tell these three had seen more heartache in a year than they should in a lifetime. 'If only I could have been there, by your sides to help you all...' My thoughts continued to trail off, bouncing from one question to the next. Curiosity definitely killed the cat.
'My God,... I'm going outside of the walls in a few days! ' I thought excitedly before turning to the three of them. "What are outside of the walls like?!" I said fairly loudly. I then noticed my outburst, and shrank into myself in response. "So sorry, you guys don't have to tell me, I know I'm going to be heading out there with you soon, I've just wondered my whole life..." I began to ramble on, feeling increasingly awkward by the second.
Armin's eyes gleamed slightly at the thought of the outside world, but that quickly changed to a look of pure terror, Mikasa's and Eren's gazes matched his. "I - it's amazing... " Armin started, " But sometimes, the beauty isn't worth the risk. Too many lives have been lost already... " his mind wandered off, obviously in thought. Eren looked at me, his gaze searching and intent as he realized what I had done. "Why did you join the Scouting Regiment...?" He mumbled, half to himself. I could see disappointment and fear coming from him, and the dark look in his eyes revealed that Eren was thinking intently about something. "I - I couldn't leave you all alone," I said, my eyes pleading, I'd hate for them to be angry with me for making the same choice that they had. I'd never second-guessed the decision I'd made about joining, but their gazes were filled with experience and memories of the outside world. "I see." Eren turned his gaze down, returning to his mind.
"J - just..." the quiet, emotion-filled voice of Armin tried to speak beside me, but it was Mikasa that continued, "Just don't die, okay? " I gave them all a small smile, "I won't, I promise. " I held Armin's gaze for a long second before turning my attention back up to the starry sky.