Thump. Thump. Thump.
My heart was beating in time with the quaking ground. I took a deep breath, knowing I would be unable to outrun it, so I threw my legs onto my horse, Midnight, as she continued to gallop faster and faster. I squatted on her back for a moment, readying myself before jumping off her, kicking my 3DMG into gear. I flew by, cutting off the Titan's hand, freeing the scout inside. I wasn't sure who it was, nor did I care. I flew back around, landing my 3DMG on the nape of the Titan, before slicing a huge gash in it. I jumped, falling with the head as the beast fell to its death, it's menacing smile never fading. I stood there, catching my breath, before taking off again. I found my horse still running, and I soon landed on its back again. We rode faster, falling back into formation, as we neared the gates. Gradually slowing down, I watched as the gate opened up, revealing the town crowded around it, waiting for our arrival. We slowly rode in as the crowd whispered amongst themselves. I growled a little, watching and listening to them. Suddenly... "Look! It's the Survey Corps! They're back!" I turned my head to see a small boy with blonde hair standing next to a girl who looked like his sister. He was smiling like an idiot, his eyes full of awe. I gave him a little smile, and saluted him. He gasped, his smile growing, as he mimicked my actions, sending me the same salute.
"Where is he?" I looked forward to see a lady looking at Captain Levi. "W-where is Adrien?" She was shaking and sounded like she was on the brink of tears. Levi just looked forward, showing her no sympathy. "He's dead." Then he brushed it off as if it were just and annoyance, whilst she broke down in tears. I honestly can't blame him too much. So many people lose their lives in the Survey Corps expeditions. But either way, I rode my horse a little faster, catching up with them. Getting down from my horse, I looked at the lady. She looked at me in fear, and I looked at her in sympathy. I pulled her into a hug, and let her cry into my shoulder. I knew she was his wife, and now she had no one. I soon pulled away and hopped back on my horse, giving her one more sympathetic smile, before trotting back into line with Levi and Erwin. "Was that necessary?" I followed the voice to see Levi. I looked at him, before quickly returning my gaze forward. "Probably not. But then again, was what you did necessary either?" I glanced at him, and saw him turn away looking more annoyed than before. We continued back through the town, before heading to HQ. Midnight trotted along as we neared the huge building. I looked down, my hands playing with the reigns. "You okay?" I looked over to see Petra. She gave me a slightly worried look, but I hid my pain behind a smile. "Yeah," I said, trying to sound reassuring. I knew Petra could see through it, but instead of pushing things, she just smiled. "Okay," she said in her usual happy tone. I continued to smile as she rode on ahead. My smile vanished as I remembered the day when I was, in a way, Steve's wife. I was 12 at the time, and my father was the squad leader. They had gone out on an expedition, and a week later had returned. I remember running up to the front in search for my dad, but he wasn't there. "W-where is my father? Captain (L/N)?" I asked. The lance-corporal at the time glared at me before plainly saying, "He died." I remember looking at the corporal with tears in my eyes, and anger in my blood. "No. Y-you can't be s-serious," I started choking on my words. My father was all I had left. My mom died when I was born, and I had no other relatives or friends. Tears streamed down my face as I stared at the corporal, who had stopped his horse. He just looked at me, before hopping off his horse, and pulling me into a hug. I clung to that man like he was my dad, and cried. Eventually the corporal left, getting on his horse and riding back to the front of the line, and I just stood there watching him leave. I stayed there even after everyone had left, before I curled into a ball, wrapping my arms around my legs, and cried to myself. I was alone.
I hopped off of Midnight, pulling her into her stall. I don't think that man ever knew how much I needed that hug, how much it meant to me. I went to my office, before cleaning myself up. I usually don't show sympathy to others, but every once in a while, when Levi's selfish, heartless ways crushed a person, I give them what that corporal gave me all those years ago. I sighed at the memory, finishing off my report, before heading into my room. I changed into a new uniform, and headed out to the dinning hall. I sat down sideways in one of the wooden chairs, throwing my legs over the arm rest. Erwin walked in and we discussed our expedition, before handing in our reports. I sighed as we were dismissed. "(Y/N)!!!" I turned, before being engulfed in a hug by Hangi. She spun me around, and we were now both walking to the kitchen, her arm slung over my shoulder. "Want some tea?" I asked as we entered the large kitchen. "Sure," she said in her usual excited manner. I smiled, heating up a pot of water. Hanji took an apple from a bowl on the counter, polishing it on her uniform. "So, have you heard any news about the recruits?" I asked as she took a bite out of her apple. She shook her head. "Nothing exceptional. But they still have another year of training," Hanji replied through her apple. I nodded my head as the water came to a boil. I poured it into a teapot with some tea leaves, letting it sit to steep. "True. I've heard we have some strong cadets though," I said leaning on the counter next to Hanji. I sighed from the fatigue in me, Reaching up to get the tea cups from the top shelf. I was about the height of Windex-lover, and Hanji occasionally liked to tease me about it. I mean, I am the height of an average woman my age, but then again, Hanji is taller than most of us on the special-op team. She laughed as I reached for the last cup, but couldn't quite grab it. She reached over and got it for me with no struggle. I groaned annoyingly, whilst she just laughed. I poured everyone a cup of tea, before taking my own. Hanji got hers, and we headed back out to the dining area. "Tea's in the kitchen," I called out to the others, as they all filed in past us to get their cup. Hanji and I walked around for a little while, sipping our tea as we went. "Why do we even live in a castle anyway?" I asked as we walked through the labyrinth of hallways. "God knows," Hanji replied. I sighed as we circled back around to the dinning hall, everyone sat at one table, drinking their tea and talking. Hanji and I sat down to join them, when Captain Clean himself walked in. "Hey Captain," Petra called out as he sat down at the other end of the table. He glanced at us before turning away. "Tea is in the kitchen," I called out in a monotone voice. We all sat in an awkward silence as he got up and moved to the kitchen. A few minutes later, he walked back out, holding his tea cup by its rim. He sat back down, setting his cup down with a small clink. "Well brats, are you all just gonna sit there like a bunch of idiots or what?" Levi said and I looked down sighing. I took another sip of my tea before getting up to put it away. I cleaned it out before drying it and putting it back on the shelf. I walked back out, passing everyone at the table. "We'll be cleaning the place tomorrow." I stopped in front of Levi as he said this. I didn't look at him, but instead continued walking. "What's up with her?" I heard Gunther whisper as I turned down the hallway and to my room. I touched onto the bed, fatigue washing over me. I sighed looking at my ring. It was a plain black ring that I always wore on my thumb. Almost as a good luck charm. Not like such a thing exists. I threw my legs onto my bed, closing my eyes.
...
Ok guys. There's the first chapter. It's not too long. Just something to kind of set the mood for the rest of the book. -L
