Attack on Titan: Bloodline -- Version 2

• Chapter 16 •

The next day, the newly appointed Scouts travelled to the Scout Regiment HQ to begin their new training. It wasn't combat training, but rather, memorizing the long-range scouting formation Commander Erwin had devised. Although everything was written out in great detail, Eren's position on the map wasn't clear, leaving many soldiers confused as to where he was. The former Cadets were assigned to work under Commander Deiter Ness. He was quite a cheerful man with a special relationship with his horse, Charette, who apparently had a thing for chewing on hair. Perhaps this was the reason the man always wore a white bandana atop his head.

As the sun sank lower into the sky, the group was on their way inside to their living quarters, escorted by an officer. Lorraine and Reiner were towards the front of the group, hands laced together, when a familiar voice called out to them.

"Hey, Armin! Mikasa!"

Armin turned around, his eyes shining excitedly. Lorraine tugged on Reiner's hand excitedly. Mikasa suddenly seized Eren's hand, frantically interrogating him.

"Eren! Did they do anything bad to you? Did they subject you to cruel experiments? Mental torture!?"

Eren shook his head and said calmly, "No. Nothing like that." Mikasa huffed, "That pipsqueak really crossed the line. I swear I'll make him pay." Eren stammered, taking his hand away from Mikasa, "Pipsqueak? Y-you don't mean Captain Levi, do you?" Armin said cheerfully, "Eren! I'm glad you're okay!" Connie greeted Eren excitedly, meeting him with a friendly handshake, "Yo, Eren! It's been awhile, man!" Eren said, "Yeah! Wow. You guys are all here!" He smiled, but his face shifted to a look of surprise when he saw Lorraine and Reiner walking up to him, their hands still intertwined. He chuckled a little.

"No way. Reiner? Lorraine? You two...?"

Lorraine blushed and said, "Yeah. I-I guess you haven't heard the news. Reiner and I are...well...w-we're..." Reiner said, finishing her announcement, "You see, Lorraine and I are together. She is officially my girlfriend." Lorraine hid her face in her free hand for a moment, grinning, but a little embarrassed still. Eren smiled, but he raised an eyebrow. He said, chuckling again, "Wow. Congratulations, you guys! That's great." Lorraine said, "Thanks, Eren." Eren looked around and said, "So, if you're all here, then that must mean you all joined the Scouts!" Reiner asked, "Why else would we be here?" Eren said, "Then, only Jean, Annie, and Marco went to the MPs, right?" Jean stood behind Eren and said solemnly, "Not exactly. Marco is dead." Eren gasped lightly and his eyes widened. He stammered, "What? N-no way. Marco? H-he can't be dead. Stop kidding around, Jean." Jean sighed, "It's true. I wish I could tell you that he died a hero, but to be honest, I don't even know how he died. No one was around when it happened." Eren stood there in silence, too shocked to say a word.

"Hey, rookies!"

The group turned. Another soldier had come over, holding piles of cloaks and jackets. Commander Ness, standing next to the soldier announced, "Your new uniforms are here!" He passed out the uniforms to each new Scout and they all turned in their Cadet Corps jackets. Lorraine pulled on her new jacket, but before she could get to it, Reiner had grabbed her hair, gently tugging it free of her jacket. He let the soft strands slip through his fingers and down onto her back, watching as her hair fell over the Wings of Freedom on her back. She smiled and turned back to him.

"Thanks."

She walked off to join Eren, Armin, and Mikasa, leaving Reiner to collect his own uniform. Eren cleared his throat and asked, "So, Lorraine, how long has this thing been going on between you and Reiner?" Lorraine's cheeks flushed and she said, "Officially, not very long. Only since the day before yesterday." Eren said, "What do you mean, 'officially'? Were you two dating in secret?" Lorraine sighed annoyedly, "No, Eren, we weren't." Eren interrogated, "Have you two...you know...?" Lorraine snapped, suddenly more embarrassed than before, "God, no! Of course not!" Eren began to ask another question, but Mikasa put her hand on his shoulder and said, "That's enough, Eren." He sighed.