The Universe In Her Eyes • Levi Ackerman

3 • the 104th Cadet Corps

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The years following the fall of Wall Maria were extremely hard for humanity. Specially for refugees, forced to leave behind their homes and posessions, to live inside Wall Rose, where they were all but welcome.

There were years of hardship for Eva, Eren, Mikasa and Armin, forced to work on the farms in order to alleviate the evident food shortage roaming free within Wall Rose. Even more so when around 250,000 people, 20% of the population,  was forced by the goverment to fight to retake the land, only to be wiped out by the Titans.

Armin's grandfather was amongst the people sent off to be devoured. And with that, the four friends from Shiganshina lost the only adult that could fend for them.

Luckily enough, Eva was more than experienced in the art of surviving, so she took upon herself to provide for her friends, just like Eren's parents had done for her.

As Eren, Mikasa and Armin were forced into the farms, Eva made a living out of the streets of Trost. Doing what she had always done except for her brief oasis of calm in Shiganshina — survive. Stealing, bartering, beating, robbing,... Eva knew how the streets worked, and what she needed to do to keep her friends up and well fed.

Her hands were skilled, and her eyes were sharp, ready to snatch away whatever item of value she could get ahold of, to deftly transform it into food for their four hungry bellies.

She told Mikasa about her past. About the Underground. Her sister understood perfectly well that she could take care of herself out in the streets, as long as they covered for her with the refugee authorities. And so they did, yet Eren and Armin were completely oblivious to her doings. She brought food to the table, so they could not really question her methods.

Despite the dreadful situation they were in, having now four mouths to feed, Eva's position was significantly better than her days Underground. At least she had citizenship.

She had an official name. Eva Jaeger. The government's bureaucracy had been overwhelmed due to the hordes of refugees fleeing Wall Maria into Wall Rose to pay attention to an insignificant girl.

Plus there has her deal with... them. That provided the citizenship record she needed.

And so they survived for two long years, until they were old enough to enlist in the Army. Eva and Eren out of pure passion for fighting titans and explore the world outside the walls; Armin and Mikasa, well, they did not have a promising future either way.

It all lead to that moment. To Commander Keith Sadies bullying the shit out of them. Screaming into their ears, with little droplets of his saliva flying into their faces.

Cadet Eva Jaeger was determined to make a good impression. From there, she could work her way into the kitchens, which would keep her and her friends properly fed. She was a survival expert, and she was going to keep on surviving.

Keith Sadies skipped her. If looks could kill he thought.

He, and the whole group of new recruits where soon distracted by a rather unbelivable sight. A girl eating a potato. Sasha Braus, also known as Potato Girl. Eva immediately liked the girl. We will get along well.

If she survived those five long hours that she had been running laps, that is.

The new recruits where now on the large dining facilities, savoring a tasteless meal. Eva's plan was going to be set into motion immediately.

She approached the Officers' table, where she overheard Commander Sadies explaining to his assistant that the following day, the leadership of all three branches of the military would be visiting, so a special meal would need to be arranged.