The Threat of Joy ○Levi Ackerman○

Chapter 1 - Rise and Shine

Three gruelling years. It only took them three gruelling years for their training to finally come to an end. Looking back on it, Elizabeth had thought that time short, much shorter than the two years as refugees, scrounging for scraps and warmth. But they had finally done it.

Elizabeth stood there, tied with Mikasa in first place. She was at the top of her class and she expected no less of herself. In her mind she'd trained for this moment since the wall fell. All the beatings she took, all the sneaking she did, everything to protect those three from facing the cruel reality of human nature.

For most of her life, Elizabeth lived a peaceful one. All she cared about was the wellbeing of her family, that was just how it is. When she had nothing left, she latched herself onto the three children she was destined to meet. She made sure they were safe, she made sure they did not go hungry or cold and she made sure they wpuld never have to get their hands dirty.

"Do you have heart?" A booming voice echoed over the training grounds. All two hundred and eighteen of them, the graduates brought up their right, clasped fist to their hearts. It was their salute.

"Yes sir!" Each and every one of them yelled back, many with passion.

"As of this moment there are three options open to you. Choose wisely." He started, eyes shifting over the group, "The Garrison Regiment, whose job is to reinforce the wall. The Scout Regiment, who rides out into titan country to take back what was once ours. And the MP Regiment, maintaining law and order under orders from his royal majesty. Those eligible for the MP have already been named! The rest of you take a look, these are the top of your class!" He was referring to the eleven that stood in line just before him.

Whilst there would usually only be a top ten, since there was a tie for first place they opted to keep it that way and let the person who'd be tenth stay in that position, which was lucky for Krista.

After the ceremony, they were sent to dinner as graduates. Their choice would be made tomorrow. Elizabeth sat with Jean, her plate was left almost finished and she held a cup of water.

Even though she was close with Eren, Jean had taken a liking to her. She was interesting, different from the trio she used to spend all her time around, she wasn't as sullen. To Jean, Elizabeth seemed to go with the flow and see what stream it would take her down. It was like she knew what was going to happen to her.

"How in God's name did I get ranked under Eren..." he muttered into his jug with a scowl before taking a sip.

"He has something you don't." Elizabeth piped up, causing Jean to turn his scowl to her,

"Yeah what could that be?" He stood from his seat, demanding an answer. Elizabeth stood from her own and gave him a small smile, something he wasn't expecting,

"Trauma." That one single word was enough to wipe the scowl from his face. "It's what kept him going." Jean took his seat again and scoffed, turning back to his drink.

"He's still an ass." Elizabeth sat again, this time with one leg on either side of the bench facing Jean. She laughed whilst taking a seat, causing the blonde man to look at her.

"I can't disagree, Jean." Elizabeth turned from the gwaking man, to look at Eren, who had a whole group of people around him. "You still going to the MP's?" She asked, turning back to Jean and changing the conversation.

Jean cleared his throat and nodded. He had been set on it for years.

"What about you? Will you be joining the MP's?" Jean questioned her. He was surprised when she shook her head. When she did, he knew where she was going. "Don't tell me... He didn't talk you into it did he?" Jean asked, pointing towards Eren.

"No, he has nothing to do with it." Elizabeth shook her head as she said this, "I looked after those three when we became refugees. I didn't know them that well but it was the right thing to do at the time. They kept me going. The day I knew that I wanted to join the scout regiment was the day I saw my mother get devoured, the day my sister and her baby had their lived crushed out of them." She started. Jean didn't expect for the story to get so grim. Elizabeth never talked like this, she never talked about her past.

The said girl turned back to look at the trio and her almost blank expression morphed back into a small smile, "They just kept me going, they gave me a reason to live, to fight."

Jean's jaw hung open slightly. He's forgotten that she was from the Shiganshina district. She was strong, stronger than he believed he could ever be. Jean had to admit through their training as cadets he'd looked up to her. She never buckled, everything seemed to come easy to her.

"So there's no changing your mind, you're joining the scouts." What he said was more of a statement. He knew he wasn't going to change her mind. Elizabeth nodded.

"There's never been a doubt."

"Are you insane?" Thomas exclaimed. He was loud, and caught everyone's attention. Every cadet went silent and turned their gaze to the group, including Jean and Elizabeth. Thomas, a pale, anxious looking blonde boy seemed to notice this, quickly looking around as everyone silenced. "How many people have died? We are talking a fifth of the population. If that doesn't paint a picture for you, I don't know what will." His voice was slightly quieter as he tried to reason with Eren, yet it quieted ever so slightly, "this is our life now. We can't beat them..." silence followed his last statement and he looked to the ground. He was beat before he even started, Elizabeth noticed this with many of the soldiers. A life inside the wall where they were safe was what they wanted.

"Yeah, so what?" Thomas looked back up to Eren with wide eyes. "We buckle? Take it all lying down? Things have changed, maybe not a he'll of a lot but enough. They aren't the mystery they were five years ago." Eren was right, "There's still a long way to go, but we've made progress. Every battle we lost taught us a lesson, gave us the tiniest in road to something like hope! You telling me it's better to cut our losses, let all the death and destruction be meaningless?" He was getting more and more heated, more passionate as he talked, "Just to ball it up and accept it? Not on your life! Humanities future lies outside the walls! And I'm going to clear the way. I'm going to take back what was ours. I'll drive them out!" His fist was clenched, "and as long as at least one of us can say that, were not done."

Eren noticed that everyone was staring at him, there were signs of tears in his eyes. He turned and left the room. Armin and Mikasa ran out following him. Elizabeth sighed, knowing that she'd have to follow them out.

When Jean noticed her stand and begin to walk away, his scowl softened. He knew she'd go after them, they were all she had now, at least that's what she must have lead herself to believe. As Elizabeth began to walk out onto the street, she stopped in the archway of the alleyway, they were talking.

"I'm through with letting other people fight for me." It was Armin who was talking,

"I guess it's the scouts for me too then." Mikasa spoke up, causing the pair to look at her. Eren turned to her in surprise, along with Armin,

"Oh come on! You were one of the top of the class, you'd be wasting your shot!" He tried to reason,

"Understand this, Eren. Where you go, I go. I made a promise to your mother before she died. I'm not letting you die. I've got your back whether you like it or not. So just deal with it." She looked to her friend, who look away, putting his hand up to his head,

"Yeah, well she's not here."

"A lot of people I used to care about aren't here either." Mikasa replied, causing Eren to turn back to her. Eren didn't reply, instead he looked up to the sky, to the wall. They all did in a silence which lingered over them for a moment.

"You know, I don't think any of us would be here without Elizabeth." Armin spoke up. The pair looked to him to see a smile on his face as he gazed into the sky, "She's done so much for us, even when we were just strangers. I want to prove to her that her efforts paid off." The other two nodded, smiling slightly and looking back out.

Elizabeth smiled, and decided not to interrupt the three and instead turned to head back inside. She knew at that moment she wouldn't need to look after them as much as she had, they were ready and she was ready to let them go.