No Regrets

Ch. 2

As I stood in front of these two incredible men, next to these fierce badasses, I felt inferior.  This felt like some sick joke. There was no way I was picked. I didn't think Levi even liked me.

"We will announce the squad officially during training tomorrow, but thought we would give you a heads up," Levi explained. "We will add this squad to the formation next month on our next expedition. Expect training to get harder and more frequent."

"Since you 5 will be one of our most important squads, we have found a house for you to live together just outside the headquarters main grounds," Erwin added. I raised an eyebrow and glanced down the line at my now fellow squad members for their reactions. "We need you to know each other inside out. Your voices, your expressions, your goals. Train hard together, because you will be a key part in humanities victory against the titans. Give your all to your squad mates and to Captain Levi."

Erwin was an excellent speaker. His words could rally anyone to do anything, even run to their death. And we would accept it and embrace it for him, and for humanity. To be fair, that's what being in the Survey Corps was about. Be willing to die for humanity.

"Be ready to move your stuff over tomorrow after training, and then spend some time getting to know each other," Erwin said with a smile.

"And be prepared to clean," Levi added in a deadly serious tone. This was a surprise to no one who has known him since he joined us. The damn neat freak and I were not going to have a good time.

"You're dismissed." We saluted the two of them, and then all turned around to leave. As Petra and I approached the door I heard my name be called. "Gwen, you stay here for a minute."

Petra turned to look at me in surprise. I'm sure it's a mixture of "why do they need you to stay" and "why are you in this squad in the first place". I intended to get answers for both. "I'll be down there with Hange and Nifa when you're done."

I nodded and closed the door behind her as she walked out. When I turned around the both of them were staring at me but with vastly different expressions. Erwin was giving me a soft smile, while Levi looked even more annoyed than he usually did.

"What's going on?" I asked awkwardly and reproached Erwin's desk.

"I'm sure you're wondering why I put you on Levi's squad," Erwin said. I guess he understood me pretty well.

"You would be absolutely right. Why did you pick me?" I turned my attention to Levi whose eyes seemed to darken and his face harden.

"Tch, I didn't. Erwin would you care to explain?"

I turned my attention back to the Commander who began explaining his crack pot plan. "It's safe to say you are one of our weakest links," he began. Ouch, but true. "But you have a lot of potential and I think you can learn a lot from these other soldiers. This was my decision, Levi didn't choose you. I need all my soldiers at their best."

I pressed my lips firmly together and held back my eye roll. Potential my ass. By the look on Levi's face he knew this was bullshit too but neither one of us were going to call it out in front of the other with Erwin present. There was no way I was going to take some better deserving soldier's spot.

"I'm sorry, but I have to respectfully decline. I can't, Commander Erwin. No offense to Captain Levi, it would be an honor to serve under you," I lied once again today. I would rather eat glass than serve under Levi. As much as I can appreciate looking at him, he's an asshole and I can't imagine what him training me personally would be like. "But I don't deserve the position. Miche would be much better suited for this than me. Or Hange."