STEAMY

You're Welcome

I'm dressed and waiting in my chair. I click my tongue making noise while I spin around bored. Where is Hanji? Why are they taking so long? Well it's Hanji, so I guess no need to think further into that. I guess they forgot and I don't have to go anymore. The ceremony already started. I can see the lights and the group of scouts walking into the courtyard from my window. While I dazed off there it is again. A loud bang of my door swinging open. Hanji.

"You know a simply knock and a 'I'm here!' will suffice Hanji."

"I'm sorry." Hanji says. "Okay come on we are running late!" They grab my hand and we hurriedly walk out the door and down the hall to the stairs. "You know WE aren't late for anything. YOU are the one that's late." 

"Don't be rude. If I'm late so are you." 

We jog down the stairs and make our way outside and quickly walk our way over to the courtyard that's a couple minutes away from us. I can hear this booming voice speaking to the scouts. I wonder who's talking. It's probably the commander. I hear he's intimidating. Hopefully I don't have to run into him. I definitely don't need him to find out about my unfinished reports. 

We finally make it in and slowly make our way quietly to the side with the rest of the top ranks. 

"Hanji I can't believe you're late." I hear Petra whisper to them. 

"It's Hanji, what did you expect." I say getting a happy surprised look from Petra. 

"Y/N! I'm glad you came. Although I'm sorry you got dragged to this with Hanji." Petra says smiling.

"Hey! I'm a great escort!" Hanji whispered aggressively.  

We all turn our attention to the stage. That's when I see him. Finally in person I see the commander. It's crazy to think he probably doesn't even know who I am. He's dressed sharply and has his hair combed back. He's quite tall. Maybe that's just the stage. I wonder what he's like. Never mind I can't meet him, at least not like this. I feel like a mess. 

He gets done talking to the remaining scouts and we are all released to go eat and talk to the scouts. I kind of stand away from everyone. The crowd only got bigger as a mix of loud noise overtakes everything. Everyone is drinking and eating. I hear the new recruits asking a million questions. I could never teach or talk so much to people like that. 

I go to grab myself a drink and relax myself in a corner somewhere while Hanji talks to the recruits about their experiments and advancements for humanity. As I walk over I see Commander Pixis. It's been a while sense we've last talked. I walk over to him. 

"Pixis long time no see, commander!" I wave at him

"Y/N! I'm surprised to see you here! How's the scouts working for you?" 

"Well it's as good as it gets not being dead, sir. "

"That's right, I want to thank you again for the last lay out you sent to us. It was a big help in re-stationing our troops."

"Oh, it was no problem commander Pixis."

"Come sit down let's celebrate our new recruits for giving their brave souls away!" he shouts raising his flask to me.

"If you insist." I sit beside him and he hands me a drink. 

I take a sip and whatever concoction he made is strong. I cough at the surprise. "I'm sorry boy I forgot to let you know it's my secret stash." "I see that now." I go back to drink some more, finally composing myself better. I hear him chuckle a bit at my reaction. We both sit for a while watching the scouts. Drink after drink me and Pixis carried on. The event is slowly coming to an end and everyone is going to their dorms. "Well it was nice to accompany you Pixis but I must go find my friend Hanji." I say standing up feeling dizzy. I knew I shouldn't have had so much of that stuff. I place a hand on my head and see my way off. "It was nice to see you again Y/N."

I stumble past some scouts and I can feel my legs slowly turn into jello. I grab whoever is closest to me. I feel their weight shift to hold me up. 

"I'm sorry, Pixis just gave me this drink and-" I start to say.

"Of course Pixis." says a deep relaxed voice says close to my ear. 

I look up and see his blue eyes and dirty blonde hair. His face was so close to mine. My eyes widen. 

"Commander Erwin Smith!" I yell to his face. 

I see him smile and he faces me still holding my hands tightly. I snap back to reality as best I could.

"My apologies commander I didn't me-"

"No, it's quite alright. If anything Pixis should apologize." he says slightly letting out a laugh. 

I don't know what to say. The man I meant to avoid is standing in front of me. The man I thought was scary and intimidating. He seems so composed and calm. I could feel my face heat up. Not to mention "You're so fine." I see his face a little taken back and red. "Holy shit did I say that out loud?" "Yes you did." I could feel my heart race. 

"Would you like me to escort you back to your room? You seem-" 

"Drunk? Umm, no that's alright. Hanji was going to take me back."

"It would be no trouble." He said trying to reassure me. 

"Okay but can I tell Hanji first?" I ask reluctantly. How could I say no to my Commander. I'm already on thin ice. Being drunk and bumping into him. My late reports. It's better to play nice. 

"Of course." He says with a charming smile, looking up to find them. 

We walk over and I step away to grab Hanji tightly. "Oww!" Hanji says turning around and seeing me. "Oh, What are you doing? Are you drunk? You smell awful friend. Also you might want to get your shit together Commander Erwin is right there." 

"I know!" I yell whisper, tightly gripping their shoulders again. 

"Ow! Stop that. And why are we whispering?" 

"Because the Commander asked to take me to my room and I'm drunk and I'm nervous and I called him hot!" 

"Damn. I left you for one night. You're supposed to be the smart one!" Hanji says. "Well strap yourself down and just go home with him." Hanji says trying to cheer me up. 

"Don't say it like that!" I say while my face goes dark red. 

"Look that's the best you can do right now." 

"Okay you're right, I'll see you later. Don't forget you said you'd help me tomorrow with my papers." 

"I won't forget, have fun." Hanji says winking at me.

I slowly make my way back to Erwin and he holds out his hand for me. "Shall we go now?" I nod my head and take his hand. It big compared to mine. I kind of lean on him as we walk. We slowly make our way to the dorms for captains. "So I never got your name?" I hear him say. "It's captain Y/N, L/N." I say focusing on my feet. "Nice to meet you finally." 

"Finally?"

"Yes, I get your reports and cadet files delivered to my room all the time. Your handwriting is quite impressive, exceptional. I look forward to seeing your letters." 

"Thank you Commander."

"You're welcome. You can call me Erwin, no need for formalities after business hours."

"Well then, thank you Erwin."

"You're welcome, Y/N."

I smile to myself. I never knew the Commander would recognize me. Much less say my hand writing is exceptional. We finally make it there and walk upstairs. I gesture down the hall where my room is and he leads the way. I see my door coming up. I kind of want him to stay. He's not what I thought.