Shingeki No Crystal

How to Train Your Cadets

"Move over!" Hange demanded as she slid herself into the table next to me. I had been at the Corps for two weeks, and she insisted every day that she sit with me during our lunch.

"You're not eating much today, Major," she poked my side as I slid down the bench, not bothering to look up from my book.

I didn't get much time away from the cadets. Though training only lasted six hours, they seemed to follow me everywhere. I had finally been forced to create a rule that nobody is to bother me at lunch, or they'd run laps until night fall. I took this time to myself personally.

"Not hungry," I offered plainly. I hadn't been very social since being here. Not with anyone but my cadets really. When we weren't doing Titan research with Hanji and Eren, training, or other duties, I spent my time reading my books and doing my paperwork.

"Will you ever get your nose out of a book for anything?" She asked, half stuffing her mouth with a roll.

"My cadets killing each other or dying," I answered, turning a page, "not much else."

I continued to read, listening to Zoe go on and on about all of the research she'd been doing on my son. Every now and again, I would nod to give the allusion I was paying any attention to her.

"-and he grew over fifteen metres! He's a god, Avery, you really should stick around for practice more often." She finished.

"I think it would suit the Major to come to many more events within the corps," I heard from behind me.

A voice I'd heard more than once, yet it brought a shiver to my spine every time I heard it.

"Captain," I voiced, bringing my gaze to meet Levi's as he sat in the seat before me, "How lovely to see you outside of the Commander's office."

"It's never nice to be reminded that you're replaceable," he growled. "So it's shit to see you."

I closed my book and slipped my large round glasses off of my face. I'd begun to hate this man with a passion, his mere presence causing stress in my body.

"I wasn't asked if I'd like the promotion, Ackerman, it was just done," I argued, taking the tea pot that sat next to me and pouring myself another cup.

"Looks like you two have quite the disdain for one another," Hanji laughed, taking yet another bite of food. The corner of her mouth was covered in mayonnaise from her sandwich, and she ate as if she hadn't gotten the opportunity to in days.

"None at all,"

"Nope,"

Levi and I had answered simultaneously.

"I don't hate him," I offered afterward looking Levi in the face, yet addressing Zoe, "I'd just like to beat him the way he beat Eren at the tribunal."

Ackerman rolled his eyes and sipped his tea, holding his cup by the rim, not the loop.

"There's no way in hell we would've gotten custody of him if I hadn't have knocked his stupid tooth out," he shrugged, "If you wanted him to go to the MPs, you were welcome to stop me."

I huffed and breath and straightened my posture, pouring Levi another cup of tea as he placed it on the table. Though our mutual feelings of hatred for each other were obvious, we were not ever overly rude. If he wanted tea, he was welcome to it. I would even pour it for him, not letting him peek past the hard, ladylike visage I had built over the years.

"Ooh, does Erwin know you hate each other?" Zoe asked with an awed tone, "I bet he'd have something to say about it if I asked."

"No!" Levi snapped. "The Commander doesn't know, nor does he need to. Avery and I can work together professionally, can't we?"