Survival Of The Fittest ~ An Attack on Titan Fanfiction

Friend or Foe?

 Today we were to focus on teaching the cadets hand to hand combat, more so for safety measures, as hand to hand combat never actually played a part in the cadets' grade. It almost felt personal that these cadets took this part of the training seriously due to my past experience with violent encounters. Most cadets blew this part of training off due to it not having an effect on their overall grade, and I felt that it was part of my personal job to make sure every student knew at least one take-down technique before they graduated.

I watched as Shadis checked names off of a clipboard, making sure everyone was present. At this familiar sight, memories raced through my mind of Jamie and I going through training, had it really been a year already? I smiled a bit, my hand automatically finding Jamie's necklace. It was hard to believe that it had been such a long time since I was here, undeclared as a trainee, looking to get into the MP. Jamie being here with me just as excited as I was, then after that-.

"Hey, are you ok?" I looked up Eren, he pulled his brows together at my face. "Hey don't I know you?"

"Yes, I'm assisting in training cadets for a time, specifically assisting with 3Dmg."

"I know that I remember you introducing yourself to our class. I remember because you're with the scouts, right?" I pulled my brows together should I tell him about Shinganshina? Would he expect special treatment?

"Yes, I'm with the scouts." I looked away from Eren eying the cadets behind him as they waited for instruction. My gaze halted when I met eyes with two, Armin and Mikasa. At my sudden interest as to what was behind him, Eren followed my stare then waved. "Those are my friends-."

"Armin and Mikasa, I know. I remember you all from Shiganshina." Eren's head turned around so fast I thought snapped his neck.

"You were the girl with the bruises!" Eren did little to hide his astonishment. "But-!" Eren's eyes locked on to my crest of the wings of freedom on my jacket, "how?"

"Long story Jeager." I gave a polite smile, Mikasa and Armin approaching from behind Eren. "Good morning Cadets, sleep well?"

"Good morning, and yeah I'd say we're all pretty well rested." Armin smiled as he spoke.

"Guys, she's from Shinganshina too!"

"ALRIGHT CADETS GET IN YOUR ROWS!" Shadis didn't bother to spare his throat but the reaction from the cadets was nothing short of what he wanted. With their shoulders still to their ears, the cadets all hurried into their positions, saluting. "Get them into groups of two, Aaltonen. More hand to hand today." A sort of determination built up in my chest, watch out Logan.

"Yes, sir." I picked the pairs randomly, and surprisingly it seemed to work out evenly, even though I was sure that we had an odd number of cadets. I walked around a bit watching the groups I had put together receive their wooden knives. It was now that I was realizing that my previous goal for each cadet to know at least one takedown might be unachievable, but if I could at least challenge them, if I could at least force them to grow in some way, I would be happy with my impact on them.

The ground thudded as Reiner hit the ground,

"Sorry I gotta learn to hold back." Eren extended his hand out to Reiner, helping the much larger man up. How in the hell did Jaeger keep beating Reiner in hand to hand?! Of course it wasn't all about size, but Reiner should have the upper hand here, not that Eren wasn't a decent fighter but in reality, it should be Eren hitting the ground, my thoughts were interrupted when I noticed they weren't fighting anymore. I kept walking, eavesdropping.

"Yeah, what about her? The only thing she's ready for is any chance to slack off."

"You think so? Maybe somebody outta give her a talking to. Give her a little hard-knocks lesson in preparedness." Reiner leaned towards Eren as he spoke, staring at Annie. I knew that there was an odd number of cadets, how did she avoid me!? I stepped forward, then found myself stopping, I wanted to see how this would play out, what was Reiner doing? I looked back to Annie, her gaze fixed on me, her blank expression daring me to make her fight, I smiled a bit motioning for Annie to look in front of her.