Fight for Love (Attack on Titan/SnK fan fiction)

Fight for Love: Chapter 7

The carriage is surrounded by Survey Corps soldiers and for each soldier is a single horse. The carriage is led by two white horses with a black ropes and harnesses attaching them to the carriage. At first the soldiers did not notice our approach, Erwin and I stop walking and stand there to watch the soldiers slowly recognize Erwin's presence. The soldiers hop off their horses and jog toward us surprise written all over their faces when they notice my own presence.
They stop in front of us and clap their fists over their hearts their eyes dance in between me and Erwin and finally one of them speaks.
"Commander Erwin, sir, shall we prepare for departure immediately?"
Internally I groan and walk past them ignoring the questioning looks,"Yes, we shall depart for HQ as soon as everybody is ready." Erwin replies.
"Sir, may I ask a question?" One of the soldiers pipe up.
Erwin raises an eyebrow,"What kind of question?"
I didn't get to hear the question, instead of standing there and waiting to hear it; I walk straight to the carriage and hop in.
The bench on the right has stacks of paper and a place cleared for someone to sit. Obviously Erwin is going to sit there, so, with a huff I plop down on the left bench and cross one leg over the other. Unconsciously, I pull the Wings of Freedom pendant out of it's hiding place and run my fingers over the flat surface. My mind runs over having to ride in this very carriage ALONE with none other then Erwin Smith. With a prolonged sigh I drop the necklace underneath the cloak and out of sight.
I should've got rid of this necklace long ago but, I got rather attached to the small necklace and I can't bring myself to pull it off of my neck. Especially since Erwin gave it to me out of the kindness of his heart and he bought it thinking only of me on my twelfth birthday. A small smile tugs at my lips when I think of my twelfth birthday, the way he was so sheepish and could barely form a full sentence without sounding completely idiotic. My hand rubs the bracelet that is wrapped around my wrist and instantly I start missing my friends another sigh escapes my lips and I hang my head.
The door to the carriage is jerked open and Erwin hops in with a small smile on his face. He takes his seat across from me and cocks his head watching me carefully his face is guarded, and I can't help but watch him as well. After a couple minutes, Erwin raises his fist and knocks his knuckles against the roof and with a jerk the carriage starts on its way.
"It will take at least a day to get to the HQ from here." Erwin says his tone hinting that he wants some kind of conversation.
I nod my head and lean closer to the window putting as much distance in between us as possible in the cramped carriage.
"So....training, huh?" Erwin asks.
I sigh,"What about it?"
"Well, you have been gone for two and a half years enduring some tough training." He starts,"I would like to know what you thought of it?"
I turn my eyes on him and he seems to freeze under my gaze,"You call it tough, that is not a word I would use."
He raises an eyebrow,"What word would you use?"
I purse my lips,"Challenging, but not tough."
He chuckles,"You have been trained for years before you went into the trainee corps. So, to you it might not be tough but, to others it would be."
I raise an eyebrow,"That could be true."
He nods,"It is, you were prepared for the difficulties of the trainee corps where others weren't."
I sigh and turn my attention to the heavily draped window,"I guess." I whisper.
Out of the corner of my eye I see Erwin shake his head with a small smile. He returns to his work while I find interest in watching the scenery outside the window flash by. The atmosphere slowly grows uncomfortable and tense and every now and then whenever the carriage hits a bump in the road our knees will knock against each other. Wanting to break the silence and maybe change the atmosphere I watch Erwin do his paperwork thoughtfully then ask him a question.
"Which squad am I in?"
His hand freezes from where he was writing on a document and slowly he raises his eyes to mine,"Corporal Levi's special operations squad."
I furrow my brow in confusion,"Are you sure?" My tone has a hint of surprise in it.
He raises a finger and slides around a couple papers before plucking one out and running his eyes over it,"Yeah, I'm sure."
"Wow.." I mutter.
"As soon as we get to HQ I will take you to get your training schedule and get you sized for 3DMG as well as get you some uniforms." He says watching me carefully for a reaction.
I cock my head and peer at him,"Do you have to do all that? I know that your the Commander so you have a lot of stuff to do so maybe so-"
He rudely interrupts me,"I am fine with doing that I have a duty as a Commander and that is to make sure all my soldiers are comfortable." He crosses one leg over the other and leans closer resting his chin on his hand,"You are now one of my soldiers."
My hands pick at the fabric of the cloak,"I am one of your soldiers now," A smile blossoms on my face,"I look forward to serving you until the day I die."
He flinches,"Yes," he whispers his eyes growing distant,"I'm sure you are."
I raise an eyebrow at his statement but, don't say anything about it. Erwin returns to his paperwork and I return to peering outside the window watching a town roll by. After about another hour of absolute silence boredom sits heavily on my mind. With a sigh I plop backwards and lay down on the bench, I cross my arms and place them behind my head and, with my size, find this position rather comfortable. I stare at the roof my mind trying to find something to do and not finding anything I reach up pull my hood over my hair and eyes and decide to sleep.