Nest & Wings (Annie Leonhardt x Male Reader)

Chapter 04: Cadet Training Camp

Everyone heads to the field immediately following the introductions. Even the first day of training was nothing short of hell as the instructor pushed everyone to their absolute brink. It was so tough that some quit the same day.

Afterwards, heads to the hall for dinner. You notice two familiar looking faces. The first was a boy with dark brown hair who he had a sharp look in his eyes; as if they were focused on something far ahead. Despite the grueling training, he seemed excited and couldn't stop talking. The other, in contrast was a relatively quiet girl. She wore a red scarf and had eyes that looked even more intense than the boy.

You recognize the two them from the attack on Shiganshina. They were the kids that the soldier was carrying as he came running towards your house. You approach them and introduce yourself. You learn their names, Eren Jager and Mikasa Ackerman. Also, with them was their childhood friend, Armin Arlert. He had medium length blond hair and seemed somewhat timid. But he was very articulate when he spoke.

"You're also from Shiganshina, right?" Eren asks.

"Yeah, if it weren't for you and that soldier, I'd be dead by now." You answer.

The four of you discuss your thoughts and grievances from Shiganshina. You learn how Mikasa was taken in by Eren's family after her parents were killed and how they watched a titan eat Eren's mother right in front of them. You couldn't even begin to imagine how harrowing it must've been to witness that while being powerless to do anything about it.

As you each shared your experience from the incident, the rest of the cadets gather around and starts questioning Eren about the titans. They were exceedingly curious as most of them had never seen a titan with their own eyes. As Eren went on talking, you take note of a few people that stood out to you.

The first was Marco, a boy with freckles who tried to stop everyone from bothering Eren, seeing as how it would've likely been a traumatic experience that one wouldn't want to relive. Eren says it's okay and continues explaining while Mina and the rest listened with intrigue.

There were two boys sitting at a table close to yours listening in on Eren's story. The buff looking one with short blonde hair looked anxious as Eren mentioned the Armored Titan. "Maybe he had seen it in person and still had PTSD." You think to yourself.

His friend was tall and had dark hair. He seemed more composed and didn't react much. Another boy with a long face that looked like a horse was also paying attention from a different table. His name was Jean Kirschtein if you remember correctly. Sasha, the potato girl and a few others were absent from the scene.

However, most notable to you was a short blonde girl who sat across the hall from you. She didn't seem interested in the conversation and didn't try to socialize at all as she ate by herself. She had a generally smug looking expression on her face, but you knew better, as it reminded you of yourself when you were cast off by everyone except Grandpa.

Coming back to Eren, he shares his ambition. "I'll enlist in the Survey Corps and exterminate the titans from this world."

It resonated with you as you too wanted to join the Survey Corps, albeit under different circumstances. While you also resented the titans, your goal was primarily to reclaim Shiganshina, as it held a special place in your heart.

Growing up without parents, you struggled to find a sense of belonging and eventually that void was filled by your hometown as it became the only thing familiar to you. The district was like an extension of yourself and helped you survive a difficult and desperate childhood. Having lost it, you were completely deprived of anything to call 'home' and decided to do whatever was necessary to reclaim it.