Importance || AOT || Levi x OC

|2| Mission

"Get your damn head out of your ass and listen to your Captain, Oruo." Tomoko barked. He was currently bragging about his skills to his squad, all while Levi was explaining their current situation.
"Back off princess, you're not even supposed to be here, be grateful I'm even bothering with you right now." Oruo sneered back, Petra profusely apologizing for his behavior.
"Respect your superiors, Oruo." Tomoko calmly remarked. "I didn't ask to be here, I was told by commander Erwin I was to help with the expedition tomorrow."
"That's enough you two. Don't make me intervene in your petty argument." Levi snapped, Oruo flinching when he annunciated the 'don't.'
"Now that that's over, Captain Levi, I believe we have more to discuss." Tomoko spoke up.
"She's right, we haven't finished explaining why Yamada is here." He sighed.
"She's here for one reason and one reason only. Her shitty squad isn't smart enough to comprehend true combat skills, so they'll be hanging back here, cleaning while we're gone." Levi stated. "Not to mention, Captain Yamada's skills are exemplary, she'll be of some use to us on this expedition." He finished.
"Exemplary means she's good Oruo." Petra whispered to the short-tempered man.
"I know what exemplary means!" Oruo shouted back, causing Petra to burst our laughing. Tomoko chuckled with her. Petra and Tomoko got along quite well, there was a bit of an age difference but that didn't stop their blossoming friendship. Petra was very welcoming and kind to Tomoko, Gunther and Eld as well, they may have only been training together for a week but they've grown close.

The next day and it was time to go. It was Tomoko's first expedition, she was a bit nervous but she felt fine. After all, everyone faces nerves. It's inevitable. No matter how used to death and violence you are, those nerves still creep up on you. The hairs on your body standing straight up, rough bumps crawling all over you arms and legs, the blood rushing to your face, heating it up. It was a normal human occurrence, yet it felt almost unnatural.

Tomoko held the reins of her horse tightly, enough to see her knuckles go pale. The man on the horse next to her noticed.
"Calm down, it's embarrassing seeing a supposed Captain quake over a tiny expedition." She heard the monotonous voice next to her, yet she kept her gaze forward, focused on the thoughts and fantasies about the other side of the walls.
"Hey, Yamada. Get your head out of the damn clouds and focus." He spoke louder.
"I'm far from the clouds Captain Levi. I'm keeping focused. Something someone told me to do," she replied calmly, recalling the simple speech he gave to her about leading a squad and staying focused. A faint tch could be heard as Levi turned his gaze back towards the gate. Suddenly Erwin's voice could be heard and the gates opened. This was it. This was her long awaited first expedition.

"Hey, which regiment do you plan on joining?" Axel questioned the blonde girl in front of him.
"Oh, the military police, why? Which do you want to join?" She replied, turning around to face him directly.
"The scouts." The girls eyes widened. "Axel it's dangerous! I don't want you to put your life on the line like that. You should join the military police like me, that way we'll be together." She suggests, concern lacing her voice.
"As much as I love you, it's been my dream since I was young. Besides, I'll keep myself safe. I didn't graduate top of the class for nothing." He winked at her.
"Fine, I love you Axel. Just please consider it more." She pleaded.
"Haha, alright fine, I'll reconsider." He smirked and leaned in to kiss her cheek, holding her hand with her ring on it.

Tomoko rode on, the thoughts of her ex-husband crossed her mind briefly but she pushed them aside. It's better left forgotten what had happened so long ago. She was only 31 yet she felt like she'd experienced enough to be a retired scout veteran. Oh how she desperately missed the affection Axel gave her and the love he shared for her family as well. He was a wonderful husband. It's a shame things had to end the way they did, but in this hell scape of a world, nothing's shocking anymore. That's why she quit the Military police, that's why she dedicated herself to the scouts, that's why she'll work until she drops dead.

Tomoko snapped out of her daze when a faint red smoke signal was spotted in the distance. Levi had told her she was in charge of the smoke signals, so she swiftly loaded the gun and shot into the air, red smoke shooting up, alerting her comrades a Titan had been spotted. Not a single word has been spoken among the special operations squad since they left the walls. Levi had turned to look behind the group, making sure the squad behind them had shot off the smoke signal as well.
"Captain Levi!" Tomoko shouted sharply, drawing Levi's attention to what was in front of them. A large abnormal was running towards their squad, blocking their way in front of them. Tomoko again swiftly grabbed the smoke signal, this time a black one. She shot it into the air and glanced over at Levi for further instructions. To her surprise he was staring right at her.
"Time to prove your skills as a squad leader." Levi sighed, wondering if leaving it up to her was a good idea.
"Alright, fine. Oruo, Petra. You two will guide the Titan towards our right, while Eld, Gunther and Captain Levi keep on the path. We'll catch up the those three later, after the Titan is dead. If anything happens I'll fire off a purple signal flare and then you'll come back, got it?"
"Yes ma'am!" Everyone said in sync. Tomoko wasn't confident in her plan but it's the best she could think of as the 15 meter abnormal charged towards them all.

"Go!"

Eld, Gunther, and Levi all swerved, steering clear of the Titans path. Oruo, Petra, and Tomoko kept pushing towards the Titan.
"You two take it from either side, and while it's distracted, I'll attempt to take it down." She instructed. However, the Titan had noticed the other three.
"Shit, change of plans, we're rushing it." Tomoko grunted. She braced herself before whipping the reins of her horse, sending it sprinting as fast as it could run towards the abnormal. Petra and Oruo followed after. By now Levi had noticed the Titan was chasing them instead, but he continued to do nothing, leaving it up to Tomoko. Her horse was nearly caught up the giant when she switched to her odm gear. Standing on her horses back before leaping into the air, sending herself towards the Titan. It had kept its focus on her three comrades, so all she had to do was swipe her swords against its nape. The Titan fell as Tomoko dropped back to the ground, and as she stood up her horse slowly ran by, giving her time to hop on.
"Well, let's go." She uttered nonchalantly.

Oruo and Petra excited about the kill, kept to themselves as they continued their expedition, which had ended successfully. Tomoko couldn't help but feel proud of herself. It was just one measly kill compared to the other commanders and captains kills but it was her first feeling of revenge after what had happened to her husband.