Birdie (Levi x OC)

four

The following day, I went to Commander Erwin's office to drop off the blueprints, which I had barely finished in time. The detailed notes on the inner mechanics were a mess of tea stains and crossed-out equations. The blueprints and detailed notes were sealed inside a large envelope labeled, "Special Target Restraining Weapon," the name I had given the new gadget.

After dropping off the envelope, I headed straight for my room, intent on cleaning up and then sleeping. I hadn't slept at all the night before; the blueprints kept me occupied until dawn, and I was utterly exhausted.

My room was already a disaster, despite only having been here a day. Books and papers were scattered across the floor and over my desk. I had just begun to pick up a book when my door burst open.

"Birdie!" Hange yelled.

"Today, you are going to meet the rest of the squad, and then this evening, we are traveling to the old headquarters to see Eren," she smiled at me, completely oblivious to my lack of sleep.

"Sure, Hange. I just need to get changed into some clean clothes," I said, stifling a massive yawn.

I was dead tired, but Hange looked so excited, and I genuinely wanted to meet the rest of the squad and Eren. Plus, Commander Erwin said the supplies for the prototype wouldn't arrive until tomorrow, so I didn't have to worry about work today.

Hange nodded and left, telling me to meet her outside headquarters in fifteen minutes. I quickly changed into fresh pants and a t-shirt before putting on my new Scout jacket and cloak. I ran a brush through my hair, a seemingly pointless exercise given the knots from pulling at it all night, but managed to get it to a point where it was unruly but presentable.

I stepped out of headquarters and into the morning air, where I was immediately swept up into Hange's orbit. She was waiting for me alongside Moblit and three other Scouts who looked like they had stepped straight out of a long day in the field.

Hange introduced them with her usual high-energy flair. There was Nifa, a girl with a sharp, reddish-brown bob; Keiji, whose buzz cut and angular, scarred face gave him a formidable silhouette; and finally Abel, a blonde man who wore a pair of goggles similar to Hange's. Despite the grim nature of their work, they greeted me with a genuine warmth that caught me off guard.

They seemed like kind, grounded people; much like Hange and Moblit, and certainly more approachable than the intimidating Captain Levi. Standing there with them, I felt a sudden, fierce wave of gratitude; Hange had built a good squad, and for the first time, I felt like I truly belonged.

The rest of the morning and afternoon blurred into a whirlwind of activity. Hange led me to the stables to get me situated with a horse. I had never ridden before, and the sheer height of the animal was daunting at first, but I found a surprising rhythm in the saddle. Once I learned to trust the movement, the initial nerves morphed into a quiet, exhilarating sense of fun.

By late afternoon, I wanted nothing more than to collapse into bed, but the Survey Corps didn't seem to believe in rest. Hange already had us mobilized for a journey to the old headquarters; we were to meet Eren Yeager and begin the next phase of his Titan experimentation. After a hurried dinner, we packed our gear and swung into our saddles, heading out toward the distant, crumbling castle where Levi and his elite squad were currently residing.

The journey was swift, Hange keeping me awake throughout the entire ride with her ceaseless ramblings. I enjoyed the easy conversation and bright attitude. The landscape grew darker and more sparsely populated, shifting from farmland to dense, older forest as we rode. The air became heavy and cool.

We reached the old headquarters, which was now nothing more than a ruined castle. The stone walls were scarred and crumbling, and the imposing structure felt vast and empty against the night sky, a haunting reminder of the Survey Corps' past failures. The interior was dimly lit with lamps and candles, guiding our way until we heard voices coming from a room off to the left.