Outside the Walls (Attack on Titan fanfiction)

Chapter 3- Ayano

Ayano's POV

Slowly, Ayano opened her eyes, sleep still dragging her body through the mud. She felt the cold sting of metal around her wrists and immediately woke up fully, jolting slightly. She was chained to a wall inside a cell, her hands cuffed slightly above her shoulders. Her feet were also shackled. She strained against them, testing their strength and length. It didn't offer much movement.

"I see that you are awake." A stoic voice came from outside the bars. The girl turned her gaze to a tall man with blonde hair standing in front of the gate. "My name is Erwin Smith, the Commander of the Survey Corps. I've been told that your name is Ayano- is this correct?"

'This man is very straightforward... I like him,' she thought . Ayano nodded. "And are you the female titan that assisted us on our 58th recon mission?" She vaguely remembered the titans that she had killed...

'Oh, how stupid they were... I told them,' she thought, although she didn't know why. It meant nothing to her. She simply nodded again.

"So you also have the ability to transform into a titan?" Another nod.

"Would you stop that inferior nodding and just speak?" an annoyed voice spoke up. It came from the same man that she fought with yesterday. In comparison to the rather tall man next to him, he looked like a dwarf.

"This is Captain Levi, the leader of the Special Operations Squad. You see, the only reason he is here is because he noticed your immense strength when you two sparred." Levi muttured something about those not being his words. Erwin cleared his throat. "I therefore recommended that you join his Special Operations Squad."

"In other words, I can't say no. And neither can you," Levi answered. His grey eyes pierced the girl as they narrowed. "But I don't know if you can be trusted or not. So, first question. How long have you been able to transform into a titan?" Ayano frowned thinking deeply. No memories surfaced of the first time she transformed.

"I don't know," she answered plainly.

"What the hell do you mean 'you don't know'? I'd think that I would remember the first time I transformed into a fucking titan," Levi said, losing his patience with her. Ayano enjoyed seeing him lose his cool.

"Can't you remember anything of your life?" Commander Erwin asked.

"No, I can't."

"Then how did you get out of the walls? Were you left behind, and if so, how did you survive?" Erwin asked.

"I don't know."

"Do you remember anything except your own name?" Levi asked, angry now.

"I remember you almost breaking my bones. And that woman with the glasses," Ayano answered curtly, narrowing her eyes at the corporal to imitate his expression.

Levi scowled. "Tch."

"I think that she's fine. She can't remember anything, so she can't have any goal to hurt humanity." Commander Erwin unlocked the gate. "I'm going to let you out now, but I'll have to keep you cuffed, unfortunately." He walked closer and changed the cuffs of her hands first. Ayano didn't put up any fight. When she could walk again, she followed the giant, her hands tied in front of her. It was connected to a chain and Levi was given the task to lead Ayano, his rough hand holding the chain tightly.

They walked into an open space, passing some scouts who were training. They stopped to stare at the girl, their faces perplexed.

"Did I say you could stop? No!" the squad leader yelled and they immediately resumed. The trio came to a big door and was answered by the same woman Ayano saw yesterday. She gasped as if a present had just been presented, those owl-like eyes sparkling behind her glasses.

"Oh, it's you! I'm so glad I could see you again!" She beamed. Her hair was a mess and her glasses were slightly scew.

"I'm glad about that, because now she's your responsibility." Levi pushed Ayano forward. The woman gave a puzzled look.

"Training and everything?" Levi nodded. The woman wearing glasses then squealed with joy and took hold of Ayano's cuffed hands. "I promise you, I will take good care of you and train you well!" The girl nodded. "My name is Hanji, by the way. Lovely to meet you again, Ayano-chan."

"Be sure to train her properly- I want her fit for the Special Operations Squad." Hanji gaped at Levi as they walked away

"Wow, you must be something special if Shorty wants you in his squad!" Ayano thought that the praise was unnecessary, since neither she nor Levi had a say in this decision. Hanji inspected the girl's face and her arm where Levi's cut was supposed to be. "Seems as though your injuries from yesterday already healed." The brunette was obviously fascinated by Ayano. Ayano looked up at the woman and held her cuffed hands up, asking her question silently through pleading eyes. "I don't know... I don't want you escaping..."

"Escape to where?" Ayano asked. Hanji thought for a while, considering every outcome carefully, then shrugged, unlocking the cuffs. Ayano rubbed her wrists.

"Alright, let's go get your uniform and I'll throw in a little tour as a bonus!" Hanji winked down at her, then walked away, Ayano following close behind. Hanji, who was older as well as taller than poor little Ayano, lead her to a room completely reserved for spare uniforms. She walked between the many shelves and picked a uniform labeled 'small'. It was traditional white blouse with a very light beige pair of pants. Hanji added the mandatory straps and the brown jacket proudly displaying the crest of the Trainee Corps- two swords crossing each other.

"How does it fit? It looks perfect though!" Hanji crooned, checking Ayano over and over. "The straps should sit securely - do they need to be adjusted?"

"They feel fine," Ayano replied, somehow feeling comfortable in the outfit. Hanji had her tie her long hair, and now it hung down her back in a ponytail.

"Great! I'll start the tour then!" Hanji walked out of the fortress, the same open space stretching out in front of them that Ayano had passed earlier. "This is the training grounds, where we train our cadets to be the strongest!" They attracted a lot of eyes, especially since Ayano was wearing their outfit. They moved on, though Ayano could still feel the eyes at the back of her skull.

"This is the mess hall." Hanji introduced the big space reserved for eating. "This is where you come morning, afternoon and night to fill your grumbling tummy!" Hanji walked on again. "And this is where you will be staying!" She showed the girl a door. "You can't stay with me, unfortunately, since I only have one bed. But I'm just down the hall so you can holler if you need anything!" Hanji opened the door, revealing the room. "I'll leave you to settle in for now. I'll come back for you in a while, since dinner will be served in about an hour." Hanji waved away as Ayano entered her new room. The new recruit peeked into the room, evaluating the furniture and contents.

It was spotless. The single bed had white covers and a closet stood next to a window overlooking the training grounds. A desk and chair with a lamp was also provided - there was no bathroom. Ayano assumed that cadets showered together to save water. It wasn't the room of a queen, but it was better than that cell. Ayano collapsed on her bed, sniffing the clean blankets.

'Why can't I remember anything from the past?' The thought emerged before she could stop it. Ayano frowned, but eventually slipped into a light state of sleep. Her brief nap was ended by a knocking on the door.

"Ayano? Let's go, food is ready!" The cheerful voice of Hanji came from the other side. Ayano followed her again obediently, exiting the room as quickly as she could to not be left behind. They entered the mess hall, chattering and delicious scents filling the air. Although, the talking stopped when the scouts noticed that Ayano had appeared.

"Oh, don't stop just for us, scouts! Carry on!" Hanji called, picking up a tray and giving one to Ayano. The conversations eventually continued.

'Don't tell me we're going to go sit with them,' Ayano thought as they moved closer to a table where Levi and some other scouts sat.
'Well, shit.'

***

Author's note:

Hello my dearies! I hope you're enjoying the story~ Slash that star, kill the comment section, and make this author happy! Happy titan slaying 💕