Love in a Time of War

Chapter Four

A fourteen year old Emiko swings through the trees, slicing the nape of all the fake titans that appear near her. Landing, she is immediately greeted by Jean and Connie "New record, nice one." Jean tells her, giving her a high five. "Thanks Jean." Emiko smiles. "Ackerman! You've been called to Commandant Shadis' office!" a solider tells her. "Sir!" Emiko nods. "We'll see you in the Mess Hall." Connie tells her. Emiko nods and heads to Shadis' office, knocking on the door "Enter." Shadis tells her. Emiko walks in and smiles slightly when she sees her brother "You've been given the rest of the day off, orders from Commander Smith." Shadis tells her. "Sir!" Emiko salutes. Levi stands and leads her out, the siblings heading to the back of the accommodation "I missed you." Emiko tells her brother, hugging him. "I've missed you too Emiko. Good to see I'm still the taller sibling." Levi tells her, hugging her back. Emiko playfully glares at him "I can still grow more." she tells him. "Sure thing." Levi chuckles. Emiko smiles slightly "I heard you're one of the top in your class." Levi tells her. "Mainly because I already knew how to fight and use the ODM gear." Emiko tells him. "Don't sell yourself short, you're obviously talented at all of this." Levi scolds, hitting the back of her head slightly. "Agh, hey!" Emiko pouts. "Quit complaining." Levi tells her.

Emiko rolls her eyes slightly "Come on, want to show your fellow trainees what real sparring looks like?" Levi asks her, looking over at the trainees. "Come on then." Emiko smiles, leading him over. The two siblings vault over the fence, Shadis looking at them "What are you two doing?" he asks. "Showing the cadets a real sparring session." Levi responds. Emiko smirks and gets into her fighting stance, Levi copying "What is Emiko doing?" Eren asks, stopping his sparring match with Reiner. "I don't know." Reiner responds. Eren looks at Levi's jacket "That's the Wings of Freedom, meaning that must be her brother." he says. Jean and Connie walk over with Sasha, Armin, Mikasa and Bertolt "What's going on?" Jean asks. "I think we're about to see Emiko's real fighting." Eren responds. As he says that, Levi swings at Emiko making her dodge "Hm, you've gotten faster." he tells her. "Maybe you're getting slower." Emiko smirks, swiping at his legs with her own. Levi dodges, going to grabs her arms but is blocked by her "Watch it, I'm going to be your superior." he reminds her. "You're still my brother though." Emiko tells him, the two of them blocking each others swings. "How are they moving so fast?" Connie asks. "Definitely her brother, remember what she said? Her brother taught her how to fight and use the ODM gear." Jean tells him.

The siblings continue to fight each other until Shadis interrupts "I have a feeling if I don't stop you now, we're going to be here a while." he tells them. Emiko straightens herself, blowing a piece of hair out her face "Probably. It's good to see that you've learnt more though." Levi tells his sister. Emiko smiles "Still remember what you taught me, you mean?" she asks. Levi turns away so no one else can see the smile he sends her "Come on, I still have a while til I need to leave." he tells her. Emiko nods, sending her friends a wave before following her brother. "That was something else." Reiner remarks. "They were so fluid and evenly matched." Eren nods. "Why do you think Connie and I take it in turns to go against her? She's been teaching us." Jean shrugs, leading Connie away. Eren watches after Emiko and Levi, frowning as he wonders where they learnt to fight like that.

Emiko hugs Levi tightly "Be safe." she tells him. "I will." he tells her, kissing her forehead. Emiko pulls away "I'll see you soon?" she asks. "I'll come see you when I get back from the expedition. Four eyes might tag along this time." Levi tells her. Emiko smiles "Good, I miss Hange too." she tells him. "Of course you do. Keep up the good work with your training." he tells her. "I will." Emiko nods. Levi hugs her again "I love you Emiko." he sighs. "I love you too Levi." Emiko responds, putting her face in his neck. "Make sure to get something to eat and a good amount of sleep." Levi tells her. "I always do Levi." Emiko smiles. "As your brother, I like to make sure you are." Levi reminds her. "I know and I love you for it." Emiko responds, hugging him again. Levi squeezes her gently "I'll see if I can bring a couple of book next time I come." he tells her, kissing her head before mounting his horse. "I'd like that." Emiko tells him, waving him off.

That evening, Emiko sits with Jena and Connie "We're guessing that was your brother you were sparring with earlier?" Jean tells her. "Yeah, he came to see me before he has to go on an expedition tomorrow." Emiko nods, fiddling with her necklace. "You know, we only have a year left of training." Jean pipes up, knowing that Emiko needs a distraction. "Weird to think we've know each other two years. Feels both longer and shorter at the same time." Emiko remarks. Connie nods in agreement "You still going into the Scouts?" he asks Emiko. "Yeah, Levi and I have an agreement though. He wants me to be part of his squad so he can keep an eye on me, Commander Smith has already signed the paper work." Emiko nods. "So you already have a place in a squad?" Jean asks. "Yeah, I already know all of Levi's squad so it makes it easier that way too." she nods, resting her head on Jean's shoulder. Jean rests his head on hers "You better come and visit me when you have time off." he tells her. "Obviously, I can't leave you in an Emiko free existence now can I?" she smiles, getting a playful nudge in response.