"FOR THE LAST TIME, STAY IN FORMATION, (L/N)!" Petra bellowed, giving me a vicious glare as I started to veer off to the side again.
"It's not my fault! Boy isn't used to this bullshit!" I snapped back, not exactly lying. It was taking a lot of effort to keep him in line, and I was straining my bum shoulder to direct him back to my position behind the group.
I'm only doing this for Eld, anyway...
I felt my cheeks begin to burn as I recalled his unique way of drilling these formations into my thick head. I even pitied Oluo, who had stumbled into more than one of our little study escapades. He couldn't look either of us in the eyes for a good week or so.
I was chomping at the bit to cut down some titans, but that wasn't my job this time. All I had to do was guard Jaeger, and keep my eyes forward. Boy's ears were flat against his head, and I could feel his muscles twitch in annoyance.
I feel ya, buddy...
A black flare shot into the cloud-dappled sky, and I bit my cheek. The first abnormal sighting, and I wanted to get at it.
"(Y/N), don't you dare..!" Eld snapped me back to reality with a shout, and I realised I had began to drift off course again.
"S..sorry, El..!" I apologised, forcing myself to keep focused.
I had really been trying for him the past month. Not only did I allow him to drill those formations and commands into my head; among other things, but I had also done plenty of training on my own accord. I had spent countless hours training in agility and hand to hand combat with Reiner and Bertholt, as well as odm runs with Krista, Ymir, Jean and Dita.
I wanted to make him proud. That was the only reason I was trying to be obedient.
"Sir, yellow and blue flares from the right flank!" Petra called ahead to Levi, and I turned my head to see the multi-coloured streams dissipating in the air.
"We wait for the Commander's orders!" Levi replied bluntly, continuing on and not even bothering to check it out for himself.
Those mean...withdraw...and failure...Something bad happened...I'm Pretty sure that's where some of the guys are...
I coughed as I was pulled out of yet another daze, green smoke making my eyes sting as Oluo put his flare back in his holster.
"SIR! A MESSAGE!" A nameless scout rode up from the right, merging in with our formation momentarily. "THE RIGHT FLANK ENEMY SCOUTS HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED! THE RIGHT FLANK IS NOW BLIND TO ENEMY MOVEMENT!"
I wanted to move. I wanted to break away and go do what I apparently did best, but for some reason, I waited. Not for Levi's command, but Eld's.
"Petra. Pass it on." I could barely hear the captain as he spoke, but the woman shouted her compliance and parted from our formation. I fought against Boy as he tried to follow, my fists pulling tightly at his mane, whispering my apologies to him.
"You're doing real good, (Y/N)..." Eld gave me a small smile, but it was blatantly crooked. He was worried about something, and I could understand why. It was obvious that we were off course, and I could see the forest in the distance, growing closer by the second.
"Are we being pushed by the threat on the right flank..?" I questioned myself under my breath, ignoring the signal flares from the front of the widespread formation.
When we passed through the treeline, I felt an icy shiver down my spine, leaning my body over the arch in my horse's neck.
"...With just the central column in here, we can't detect approaching titans!" Eren was yelling out to the captain, eyes wide and confused. "Sir, how are we supposed to avoid the titans and protect the wagons?!"
Good question...
"Stop whining about the obvious. Of course we can't do any of that..." Levi responded bluntly, and a stunned silence washed over our entire squad. He went on to mention about how our surrounding environment was perfectly suited for our odm gear, and telling Eren to really think about the situation.
I could see the realisation hit him as he turned to look at all of us. None of us had a damn clue. Petra had already rejoined us, and I could see her gnawing on her lip in worry. Gunther and Oluo were muttering under their breaths and sweating by the buckets, but Eld...Eld was looking at me. He didn't have to say a word for me to know what he was thinking.
Yeah...you better stay alive, too...
"Draw your swords..." Levi ordered us in a hushed shout, pressing lower against Mire as a loud sound split through the forest behind us. Something was coming, and man, was I ready. It tore through the trees, mowing them down like weeds as it sprinted towards us. Fourteen meter class, and it looked almost female. Those eyes, though, chilled me to the core.
"We can't outrun it through the forest like this!" Gunther shouted in a panic, head turned over his shoulder, just like the rest of us.
"Shit, it's fast! It's gonna catch us!" Eld added, veering his horse closer to my position. I wanted to slash it to pieces, and I was readying my gear, before reinforcements arrived.
Trusting Boy to stay on the right path, I was nearly breaking my own neck watching what I knew would end in utter defeat for the two brave scouts. I could tell that titan was more than just an abnormal. It was too fast, and it was covering the nape of its neck. No braindead titan would be able to do that.
This bitch is like Eren...
Even though I was expecting it, watching those two being crushed like insects made my stomach flip, and I turned back around to face the front again, swallowing back bile that decided to try and bubble out of my throat.
"Sir, orders?!" Petria cried in a shaky voice, proving to us all thst nobody had any idea.
"I'm gonna chop it into pieces..!" Eld snarled, readying his blades, which made my entire body clench tight.
Levi pulled something from his holster, and all my attention belonged to him as he glanced over his flowing cape. I could see it in his eyes. He was worried.
"Cover your ears." For once, I did what I was told without question, squeezing my knees around Boy's middle and flattening my palms to my ears.
The loud screech of whatever he fired off was deafening, even when it was muffled. I pitied the horses, but I hoped it had served whatever purpose it had.
"What's your job? To give in whenever you happen to feel scared? I don't think so...That's not the squads mission. No, this squads mission is to keep that little shit from getting so much as a scratch..." I felt my blood freeze as I met his glare again, helpless in blocking out the words he said next. "...or die trying."
That's...not gonna happen..!
Eren was blowing his top, begging for everyone to turn around and fight the titaness; to save the doomed reinforcements that continued to swing in, but nobody was listening. Glancing over to Eld, I knew he hated it. He felt sick, not being able to do anything, but he was loyal. He was obedient.
"(Y..Y/N)...please..!" I blinked a few times, feeling that invisible pull of a good fight, and began to unsheath my blades.
"I'm with ya, man..." I nodded, blocking out Eld's protests, I watched as the shifter lifted his hand to his mouth, readying to bite.
"Eren?! What are you doing?! (Y/N), don't encourage this!" Petra cried, giving us both pleading looks. I didn't care. If they weren't going to protect themselves, and follow blindly after a man with a mere title, then I wasn't ready to sit around and let them race towards their demise.
"Eren, you're not wrong. If you wanna do it, go ahead." Levi startled us all with his complete nonchalance. He didn't seem phased by our insubordination at all. "I know. He's a true monster. It's got nothing to do with his titan power. No matter how much he's held back, no matter what cage he's in...no one can force him to submit...The same goes for (Y/N)...They can't be forced in any direction. Not unless that's what they want to do..."
Levi...
"The difference between our judgement and yours is experience. But...you two don't have to fall back on that choice..." He continued, barely flickering his eyes to check on the raging female titan behind us. "Believe in yourselves, or believe in us...The Survey Corps. I don't know the answer...I never have...Whether you trust in your own strength, or trust in the choices made by reliable comrades, no one knows what the outcome will be..."
If we don't do something, we're all going to die..!
Levi's eyes met mine, this time, and it was like a vicious slap in the face. A sobering wash of reality as he spoke those next words.
"So, as much as you can...choose whatever you'll regret the least..."
Eren was quaking with confliction, and I was about the same, until I turned to plead to Eld for answers. I knew what he was going to say; he didn't even have to open his mouth, but the look on his face confirmed my change of heart. I sheathed my weapons and clenched my fists.
"Thank you..." Eld mouthed to me, giving me the weakest of smiles as we both turned to focus on the path ahead. The thundering crash of the titaness' feet shook the earth beneath us. She was so close, I could almost feel the unbearable heat of her skin.
Dammit..! If I could just cut her fingers..! Then I could slice her nape..! Fuck, Levi..! You're gonna get us-
"FIIIIIIIIRE!"
...Erwin?!
I nearly pissed my pants when I heard a series of bangs and booms, but when I turned back, my jaw almost began to drag along behind me in the dirt. They'd captured her, using some kind of wire harpoon system. She was standing stock still amongst a taut web of copper and steel, completely immobilized.
"Tether the horses a little ways away and switch to vertical maneuvering. I've got my own task to carry out now. Eld's in command while I'm gone." Levi shot up and away from the group, and we slowed down for a few moments, all undoubtedly looking shocked as all sin. "Hide Eren a safe distance from that titan...and take care of my horse, got it?" There was a slight smile on his face, if my vision wasn't playing tricks on me, but my temper was at boiling point.
"YOU FUCKING PINT SIZED SON OF A FUCKING BITCH!" I screeched, following suit with my gear. "ELD, HOLD MY BOY! I'LL BE RIGHT FUCKING BACK!" I was on Levi's tail as he made his way back to the commander, shouting strings of vile curses, until he landed, leaving me to stumble onto the thick branch and faceplant into a solid chest.
"Please watch that language, (Y/N)..." Erwin chuckled softly, helping me to stand up right, but he was completely taken aback when I started laying into his chest with my fists.
"AND YOU! YOU SNEAKY, CATERPILLAR BROWED BASTARD! YOU COULD HAVE GOTTEN THEM ALL KILLED!"
"I could kick her, sir. Bet you five hundred marks that I could punt her scrawny ass right over that titan's head." Levi nudged me in the back of the knee with the toe of his boot, making me wobble off balance and fall into him. He held me up by the underarms, and I tilted my head back to snarl up at his mildly smug face.
"I bet you a full fucking thousand I could snap your midget cock off and carve it into a pipe!"
"Please, you two...We've succeeded, so I would greatly appreciate it if the both of you would ease up with the rather violent flirting." Erwin sighed, raking a hand down his face. Levi dropped me right on my ass, and I would have slipped off the branch if I hadn't clung onto the commander's sturdy ankle.
"I'm a taken woman, Smith...Even if I wasn't, Levi stinks like disinfectant and betrayal...and his tea tastes like piss..." I grumbled, climbing to my feet and poking my tongue out at my supposed captain. Levi's eye twitched, but he didn't bite back.
"Go meet up with the others, girl. Look after Mire for me."
Well...at least the name I chose stuck, I guess...
Flipping him off with all the grace of a drunken miner, I rolled my eyes as I shot off, back in the direction of the squad. My pulse was still crazy, and my teeth were chattering against each other, no matter how hard I tried to stop them. That had been too close of a call, and I wasn't ready to have to go through that again.
So...I guess Erwin thinks it's a person, too...Good...at least that's taken care of...
"Shit, kid...I've never seen you that angry before..." Gunther laughed nervously as I landed with a kid, tripping over my feet as I sprinted over to Eld, nearly knocking him over when I launched into his arms.
"Hey...It's alright...We sure were fast out there, huh..?" The blond tried to soothe me, nuzzling into my disheveled (H/C) hair, but I was still livid.
"Fuck you...I thought I was gonna lose you, you big, dumb idiot..!" I whined, kicking my legs as they dangled in the air. I dropped down quickly, pulling away and proceeding to go around, hugging the entire squad. They were all still shaking like leaves, too. Finally latching onto Eren, I stood up on my toes so I could whisper in his ear. "After this...you better not fucking let us down..."
The threat was harsh, especially after such a close call, but I wasn't playing around. If any of them; especially Eld, had lost their lives, all thanks to him making the wrong decision, I would destroy him. Returning to Eld, I smooshed my face into his chest, ignoring the way the buckle of his strap pressed into my forehead.
"I was so fucking scared you were gonna run off and get yourself killed back there..." He murmured, rubbing calming circles into my back.
"We made a promise, didn't we..? No dying..." I repeated that again to myself in a whisper, swallowing my pride and pulling back to meet his eyes. "Let's...make another promise now, okay?"
Tilting his head, the acting captain looked puzzled, but nodded along with my suggestion.
"Sure. Anything you want." After what had just happened, I was sure of it. It was quick, but so was life. I had to make the most of it, and I had to have him by my side.
"When we get back home...promise me that we'll get married!"
"H A H?!" The collective shrieks of the squad members; including Eld, made me flinch, but I stood my ground, knowing it was what I wanted. The man stared at me for a painful age, blinking rapidly before a large, almost goofy grin spread across the expanse of his face.
"Fucking hell, (Y/N)...You ruined it. I was gonna ask you that when we got back..." He bit his lip as a mixed look of shock and mortification crossed over my face. "But...yes...Absolutely yes...I planned to from the very beginning."
Holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shit ho-
"THAT'S ANOTHER FIFTY MARKS FOR ME! SUCK MY HAIRY ASS, OLUO!" Gunther pumped his fists in the air, dancing around Oluo as he tugged at his silvery hair.
"Fucking dammit! I seriously thought he'd beat her to it!" Petra sidled up beside him, poking his cheek and then giggling.
"Don't forget, this means you owe me fifty, too!"
Eld picked me up in a warm, constricting bear hug, swinging me around before sealing his lips to mine. That's exactly what I wanted. Feeling his pulse against mine, strong and alive, for the rest of our days. Even a family would have been nice, and we could both resign from the survey corps together. Stay safe together. Live together.
Yeah...that sounds like a life worth living...
"Oi, Eldy...Because she popped the question first, does that mean you're the bride..?" Gunther snickered, and Eld turned the most beautiful shade of rosy red.
"F..fuck off! At least I have a wife!"
"Ouch. Felt that."
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***[suspenseful music]***