What More Could I Want (Book #1) AOT Fanfiction *COMPLETED*

Briefings

I slowly open my eyes, groaning. My head hurts. I didn't even drink last night but I feel like I drank half of the inner district's wine. Levi and Suri are still fast asleep, as they should be. As the commander, I have to be awake and ready for the morning briefing. There's so much to do now and I can't get it done if I stay in bed. 

I sit up and carefully leave the bed without disturbing the two. I tiptoe to the bathroom to bathe and definitely wash my hair out. After sitting in steaming water for about twenty minutes, I come back out in my underwear and bra. I see my uniform is freshly clean and ironed. Only Levi spoils me this way. Why? I'm the last person who deserves it. As I'm buttoning my vest, I remember my confrontation with Petra's father. 

The look in his eyes. I didn't retaliate because I couldn't deny the pain I saw. I know he loved Petra as much as he could. He tolerated her being in the military and her going outside the walls to fight for our freedom. The cut is already close to healing but I can still feel that burning sensation. I will use it to light that fire in my heart. I want to ensure I never have to break the heart of a parent ever again due to the work we do outside the walls. 

I put my bolo tie over my head then throw on my green cloak. My gear case is in my office but I doubt I'll need it before training with the Elite today. I walk out of my bedroom, yawning. I make a quick stop by Eren's bedroom. I peek in to see he's spread out on his bed, snoring with visible drool coming from the side of his mouth. What a brat. With his clothes pulled up, I can see all of his wounds and injuries have healed completely. Good. 

I close the door and head outside to the stables. I go to the nearest horse and begin feeding it out of a bucket. Once I'm done, I saddled it and climbed up. I hang an empty satchel that's kept in the stables from the side since I plan to stop by the market. Right before I'm about to leave for the inner district, I hear someone yell, "Saichi!" I look all the way up to see Hange hanging out the window, waving. I sigh. "Bring me back something from the markets!"

I click my tongue and bring my hood over my head. "Hush, Four Eyes! I have a sleeping child and subordinates!"

I ride into the inner district to find Nile. The best place I know to search is near the entrance of the former king's residence. As I expected, Nile is standing outside with Pixis. I guess they knew I would come to find them today. I slide down from my horse, approaching the two old men. Nile brings a rough hand down on my shoulder, giving me a slight shake. "Look who it is, the new commander of the Surveying Scouts," he says. I swear our division has too many names to keep up with. I'll keep it in mind to choose a single name. "What's your first order of business?"

"I still have the team cleaning out the Trost and Karanes District," Pixis tells me. "I think once all Titans are eliminated and there are no more bodies to account for, we can work on removing the boulder to replace with another gate."

"That is something we should worry about when we finally plug Wall Maria," I reply. 

"There's also the fact that we need Yeager to move the boulder in the first place," Nile adds. "I have every person I can keeping things in here under control but the numbers are becoming too much, not enough food and supplies to keep everyone alive. Nobles decided to hold women and children at a higher regard for the food and water until something else can be done."

Nobles have more money than all three military divisions combined. They could feed everyone with no problem. Three of us look over to see a small family going down the stairs to the Underground. "I realized many have been resorting to going down there over starving up here," I say, sighing. "It'll be too late when they realize how much worse it is to live down in the Underground." Changing the subject, I bring up my plan for the Elite. "I actually need a favor, Nile."

He crosses his arms, raising an eyebrow. "What?"

"I would like you to call in a favor for new uniforms."

"New uniforms?"

"You heard me the first time. This new Elite squad is like a new project. I plan to turn those brats into the best soldiers the military has to offer. When I'm satisfied, they will be presented as the soldiers that will restore the walls and work toward earning our freedom."

"You sound crazy."

"Just like Erwin," Pixis says, chuckling.

I roll my eyes. While Pixis goes to command by the walls, Nile walks with me through the village while I lead my horse by the reins. I stop by a stand that is selling glass jars of all sizes. I buy a few of different size and shapes. That stupid Hange. As I'm paying, Nile wanders off to another stand then comes back with a white stuffed bear. It's perfect but is obviously done by hand. I secure the packed jars to my horse then give him a strange look. "Aren't you too old for that, old man?" He rolls his eyes, plucking my nose. "Ow!"

"This is obviously for Suri. I haven't seen her in some time."

"I'm not giving that to her."

"If you want those uniforms, you will. And, just because you have the horrors of parenting, I'll throw in a new shipment of your knives."

I sigh. Ugh, this man tires me out. "And throw in bows and arrows."

After the morning briefing with the Survey Corps, I join the Elite Squad for the training. I approach the training grounds to see everyone gathered around Levi. Hange is standing to the side with Moblit while holding Suri. I drop from my horse, grabbing my satchel filled with the things I bought.  When I walk up, the subordinates salute out of respect. Levi waves them off to gear up. "How did it go with the other commanders?" Levi asks.

"To be honest, we're heading in the right direction but it isn't enough when we have nobles who could care less about the fate of humanity. For now, we train this squad." I reach in my satchel and hand Levi a box of tea. It has a crown warrant on the top. It's something Erwin introduced to us around the time we first started working under his command. This is by far Levi's favorite, out of all the tea's he has ever tried. He just hasn't had much opportunity to drink it since it's very expensive. The leaves are rare and most of it is held at the royal palace. "I expect a cup of this after we're done training."

His eyes almost sparkle as he looks at the tea. "How..."

I put a hand on my hip, rubbing the back of my neck. "Don't think I have money pouring out of my ears. Being the new commander that replaced Erwin, the lunatic, I was given that for a very low price. That tea shop near the nobles has great stuff but rather high prices." I hold out my hands toward Hange. He laughs, handing Suri over to me. I press my lips to her warm cheek, scoffing. "Good morning, Suri."

She giggles, pulling on my hair. She is very strong. I take out the teddy bear from Nile and hand it over to her. It stops her from pulling hair from my head and scratching my face with her small but sharp nails. Hange begins whining. "But you didn't bring me-!"

I throw my satchel at him. "Take it and do some actual work you freak." He and Moblit go inside, to his lab I assume. I slowly hand Suri off to Levi so I can gear up myself. I'm checking my triggers when Erwin comes outside. "Good, you can watch Suri while we train today."

He laughs, pressing his hand to my head. "I heard how well your first day as the commander has gone."

I slap him away. "Shut up! People are just relieved a crazy person like you isn't in control anymore."

Once Erwin has Suri, Levi and I stand near the trees. I know we can turn these brats into indestructible soldiers that can defeat the Titans and reclaim what we've lost. "What are we doing for today?"

"This is a new squad of ours, Levi," I reply. "Synchronized training is never out of style." We both sigh, looking over at the squad. I begin cracking my knuckles. "Let's break some bones, shall we?"