𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 | 𝗹. 𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻

𝗜𝗜. 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹

"So, what happened?" Annie asked, Carrie looking up from her food to her as she was seated just across from her. Carrie looked around a bit before she lowered her voice down to a whisper. "The superior officers of every regiment were outside the training area earlier, I'm guessing to discuss certain candidates for their regiments. I'm not sure. But, it looks like I got the attention of the Scouts Regiment."

"How so?"

"Well, Shadis was talking with them and they kept looking my way when I walked off. So, that's probably a sign." Carrie replied, continuing to bite into her food. Annie sighed quietly, returning to her food as well. Both were silent for a moment before Carrie looked up again from her food to Annie. "Have you made your choice yet? About which regiment you're joining?"

"The Military Police. I'm not here to play soldier, I'm here to do one job and one job only. After that, we're going home." Annie stated with no hesitation. Carrie couldn't blame her, she wanted the same thing, but she knew they would have to look for the Founding Titan, which meant if it was outside the walls, they had to find it. And with Annie being in the Military Police, no one would suspect her as a Titan. Herself, Reiner, and Bertholdt won't be so lucky worst case scenario, but at least she knew Annie would be safe.

"I chose the Scouts. If we have a chance of finding the Founding Titan, that regiment is where I have to be." Carrie explained to Annie, Annie staring blankly at her before her attention went back to her food. "I hope you know what you're doing."

"Come on, Annie. You should know me by now."

The two went quiet again, the silence was slightly uncomfortable, but it was, at the same time, at ease. Carrie knew this was a difficult decision to make, but for the sake of Marley, for the sake of her people, she had to do this. Even though Annie isn't a little kid anymore, Carrie still had the obligation, the need, to protect her. That was her job as her big sister.

"Cadet Carrie Leonhart! You're needed in the meeting hall by orders of Commander Shadis!" A superior officer shouted throughout the entire mess hall. Carrie looked back to this officer before her eyes trailed the entire room. Everyone's eyes were now focused on her and this made her extremely uncomfortable. What was this all about?

It's not like she did anything wrong. Not that anyone knows of.

"Yes, sir.." She muttered, getting up from the table, her eyes staying fixed on Annie. Though she didn't show it, Carrie could sense Annie's worry and confusion. It's something the two shared long before they acquired the Female Titan. They had that kind of connection. With a short nod, she gave Annie a look of reassurance before she left out of the mess hall, making everyone return back to their conversations as if nothing happened.

---

"You asked to see me, sir-" Carrie began while entering the meeting hall only to see Shadis with Erwin and Levi, all taking their attention to her as she walked through the door. "I'm guessing I'm..not in trouble?"

"Commander Erwin Smith and Captain Levi requested to speak with you. I think you'll be interested in what they have to say." Carrie looked from Shadis to the two men opposite of him and she nodded, implying that she was listening.

"Well, you know of the Scouts Regiment and you know what our job is. From the looks of it, you seem like you want to fight. That you're prepared to." Erwin began while Carrie crossing her arms over her chest. "It's your decision whether you want to or not, but I've always told cadets like yourself to go where your heart lies."

"If you're asking me to join the Scouts, I'm in." Carrie simply stated, now all three men looking between each other. So they all were right. "And your sister?"

"She's still undecided." Carrie lied. If they knew that Annie was going to the Military Police, they would start asking questions and she didn't need that right now. "Well, we could use soldiers like you in the regiment. It would be a shame if you chose different."

"There's nothing special or outstanding about me, Commander. I'm just a person. A woman who wants nothing more than to protect her family. So, if joining the Scouts ensures their safety, then so be it." Carrie looked from Erwin down to her hand, clenching it tightly like her life depended on it. That means if she did join the Scouts, a lot of things can happen. One of them being her identity. Her Titan form would be exposed to everyone.

She's willing to take that chance. If it meant protecting her sister, then it'll happen. But for now, she's just herself.

"I don't normally say this for brats like you.." Levi began, her attention now taken to the man to her right, who stood just a few inches taller than herself, bur he still towered slightly over her. "But I admire your attitude. We don't get that much. But don't forget that it can get you killed, too. So don't be reckless."

"My objective is to eliminate the Titans. I'm not suicidal, I know what I have to do to survive. But one thing I can promise, if we need to survive, then I'll do what needs to be done."